The Manila Times

AWARD FOR PROMOTING PHILIPPINES-CHINA UNDERSTANDING (APPCU) 2022, MAJOR CONTRIBUTION: RODRIGO KAPUNAN

THE Award for Promoting Philippines-China Understanding (APPCU) pays special tribute to Filipinos who have made efforts through time to strengthen friendly ties and promote mutual understanding between the Philippines and China using their respective advocacies and expertise in the various fields and disciplines of mass media and public service; trade and commerce; and arts, culture and the sciences.

Awardee in the Major Contributions category – where individuals are recognized for their works and efforts that have a growing reach and impact on the lives of specific groups or communities of people at the grassroots level – is Rodrigo “Rod” Kapunan.

A columnist-writer, Kapunan is the voice behind the popular “Backbencher,” a column previously featured in the Daily Tribune from April 2001 through March 2010 but later became a regular item in the Manila Standard Today from 2011 up to the present. He is also a regular contributor of the China Daily Global Edition and the Global Times, both internationally circulated newspapers.

Academically, Rod earned his undergraduate degree course in Political Science and a Bachelor of Laws from the University of the East. He has also earned some Master’s units in Political Science at the University of the Philippines in Manila.

Having a background in politics and the law, it is not difficult to see where his interests and leanings toward various political issues might have been rooted.

He has been vocal about his views on many issues that continuously confront Philippine politics and government as a writer and political analyst. He has written and published relevant articles and pieces that offered alternative views towards understanding the Philippine political culture and economy. These publications include “Reflections on Martial Law: Saving the Republic,” which is an analysis of the circumstances that led to the imposition of martial law by the late President Ferdinand Marcos; “Revolution from the Center: A Quest for Peace and Progress, Vol. I” which is a political and historical analysis of the achievements of the late President Ferdinand Marcos; and “Labor-Only Contractors: New Generation of Cabos” published in the Philippine Law Journal, Vol. 65 Nos. 5 and 6 in March 1991.

Kapunan is also an active member of the Huaren Society Association of the Philippines Inc. and the Philippines-China Friendship Club. As a member of the Huaren Society Association of the Philippines, he has given a talk on the issue of the conflict in the South China Sea, and on several occasions, as a guest speaker and resource person on topics involving Philippines and China relations, at the “GNN Talk News,” with Herman Tiu Laurel as host.

As a columnist, he has written several articles on China’s foreign policies, culture and shared community principles enunciated by Chinese President Xi Jinping and other important issues involving the South China Sea disputes.

On various occasions, he has accepted invitations to speak as a political analyst and resource person on the critical issues involving the Philippines and China such as resource speaker at the South China Sea BOAO Sub-Forum for Asia in 2019 held at Hainan, China – an invitation that was extended by Ambassador Zhao Jianhua of the People’s Republic of China through the National Institute for South China Sea Studies (NICSS).

As may be gleaned from his writings, Kapunan is keen on the support and aid extended by China to the Philippines as an Asian neighbor. Contrary to the mindset that has blinded many Filipinos today, he sees the Philippines-China cooperation as an opportunity more than a threat to the country’s economy and security.

As he wrote in his column back in August 2019, there are five critical areas that the Philippine government must look closely at if it is indeed sincere in enabling the economy to thrive.

One is building bilateral financial cooperation in which both sides agreed to revisit the current currency swap arrangement to manage foreign exchange risk.

Two, exploring areas of cooperation in infrastructure, education, tourism, technology, power, ports and information technology.

Three, enhancing agricultural and trade cooperation and assessing the growth potential in the agricultural sector and shared opportunities where the countries can mutually gain benefits such as the export of Chinese-made agricultural equipment, expansion of Philippine export to China such as tropical fruits such as banana, coconut and pineapple; and highend marine and fishery products like lapu-apu, bangus, tuna, crab and shrimps.

Four, addressing reported trade gaps, improving exchange information on export/import data, and curbing the entry of illegal drugs from China to the Philippines.

And five, assisting in the joint development of tourist areas in the country which China expressed interest in establishing hotels to cater to the increasing number of Chinese tourists arriving in the country.

It is in this light and reason that the Awards for the Promotion of Philippine-China Understanding (APPCU) recognizes the efforts and contributions made by Kapunan as a writer, columnist and political analyst in forging better relations with China and by acknowledging the important role of China in aiding the development of the Philippine economy.

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2022-05-28T07:00:00.0000000Z

2022-05-28T07:00:00.0000000Z

https://digitaledition.manilatimes.net/article/281835762324489

The Manila Times