#MadeInChina

EYES WIDE OPEN

- IRIS GONZALES

The first time I visited Fujian some years ago, I saw the famed Gulangyu island where there are mansions of rich Chinese businessmen who made it in the Philippines decades after their forefathers or they themselves migrated from Fujian, China.

Indeed, many of the Filipino-Chinese billionaires in the Philippines today are the sons and daughters of Chinese migrants who settled in Manila.

But did you know that, on the other side of the coin, many Filipinos also made it big in China?

The Philippine embassy in Beijing has put the spotlight on these overseas Filipinos who have found success and fulfillment in different professions and in different parts of China, as part of its commemoration of the 50th anniversary of Philippines-China diplomatic relations. The embassy collaborated with the Philippine consulates general in Chongqing, Guangzhou, Hong Kong, Macau, Shanghai and Xiamen to find these remarkable individuals.

Indeed, while bilateral ties have yet to normalize due to the South China Sea dispute, there are stories worth celebrating, stories of Filipinos who seized opportunities, built successful careers and have contributed to their communities and professions.

The embassy has put together their stories, first in an online series from January to June and then in a book to be launched on Tuesday in Beijing.

Carlos Chan

Leading the list is the low-key snack foods tycoon Carlos Chan who, as I've personally witnessed, has indeed made it big in China and in many parts of the world.

Here is an excerpt from the series: