Candidates aren't the only ones making the rounds of educational institutions these days.
Over the past four months, Ateneo de Manila, De la Salle, the Asian Institute of Management, six universities and colleges in Bohol and a state university in Luzon have invited the same speaker: Chinese Ambassador Ma Keqing.
China's top diplomat in the Philippines celebrated the Lunar New Year last month in Baguio City, where she also addressed cadets at the Philippine Military Academy. She told the PMAyers of her country's ancient civilization and its commitment to peaceful development.
The PMAyers asked 10 questions, among them Ma's impression of the Philippines and Filipinos, what China can contribute to the regional economy, and of course about the West Philippine Sea and the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
Ma was struck by the fact that none of the cadets had visited China. They also wanted to know more about her country, and asked for books, which her government will be donating to the PMA.
Students at the other learning institutions earlier mentioned also wanted to know more about China specifically, about prospects for scholarships to study there and employment opportunities.
It seems Pinoy youths are leading the way in fostering better understanding and friendlier relations with China as it starts another decade under new leadership.
Tension over the West Philippine Sea has simmered down. Ambassador Erlinda Basilio is now in Beijing. And both sides are working on the many other aspects of bilateral relations even after Manila brought the sea dispute to the United Nations for a clear delineation of the country's maritime entitlements under international rules.
Ma told me yesterday that China would not participate in the arbitration process. She noted that China shares land borders with 14 countries, and 12 territorial issues were resolved through bilateral talks. China has overlapping sea claims with eight countries.
* * *
In a chat yesterday at the embassy residence, Ma reiterated that her country's foreign policy would not change even with their once-in-a-decade leadership change.
With the formal installation last week of Xi Jinping as president and Li Keqiang as premier, the handover of power is complete. Their target for the next 10 years: "the great renaissance of the Chinese nation," according to Xi, and the realization of "the Chinese Dream" ‑ the current buzz phrase in her country, according to Ma.
The Chinese set specific goals: to double GDP and per capita income by 2020, with average annual GDP growth pegged at 7-7.5 percent.
While last year's 7.8 percent GDP growth was low compared to the 11-12 percent when China started opening up its economy three decades ago, Ma points out that last year's growth rate was based on a much larger economy and was still the highest in the world.
The Chinese believe they are only in the middle phase of industrialization, with urbanization only at 52 percent ‑ way below the 80 percent in advanced economies. In the next decade, the Chinese government is pouring $6.7 trillion into urbanization, allowing people to move from the countryside to the cities armed with the necessary skills for job requirements.
This in turn calls for more investment in public education (free and compulsory up to the 12th year of basic education). Currently the most popular university courses are foreign languages, law, international relations and economics, computer programming, and courses related to renewable energy and new materials technology. Ma said they will build more polytechnic institutions.
A notable shift in development strategy is to loosen government control and allow market forces to reign. President Xi is familiar with market reforms: these were launched by the late Deng Xiaoping in Xi's home village of Fengyang, China's poorest, in Anhui province, where Xi spent eight years as a village officer assisting in development efforts.
New graduates are now encouraged to do the same, with work as village officers seen as sound credentials for landing good-paying jobs later in the cities.
Job creation is a priority in a country whose higher education institutions churn out six millions graduates every year. Unemployment in China is currently at more than four percent. Government workers do not lose their jobs even as ministries continue to be collapsed into others. From about 100 ministries in the 1980s, China now has only 25, with railways recently collapsed into transportation and family planning absorbed by the health ministry.
The Chinese manufacturing juggernaut has slowed down, with labor and other production costs going up, but Ma is heartened by the 6.9 percent rise in foreign direct investments in February ‑ the first increase in FDI recorded in nine months. Ma points out that China still has low labor costs in its inner and western areas, and good infrastructure to offer investors. And then there is of course the country's massive market of 1.3 billion consumers.
Curbing pollution from coal-fired plants and promoting renewable energy are also among the priorities of the new leadership.
* * *
With China still confident of sustained growth, there is continuing speculation about its rising rivalry with the United States.
Ma describes the US as a "competitive partner."
"We don't think confrontation is inevitable between China and the US. If we work well, cooperation can prevail," she told me. "Common desires, common interests will overcome disputes."
She reiterated that the region is large enough to accommodate the two powerhouses, adding, "We hope US actions will be conducive to peace and stability in the region."
From 1840 during the Opium Wars until the founding of communist China in 1949, her country was left behind in development, Ma noted. Now that the country is working toward its renaissance, she emphasized that "the aim is not to become a superpower, to bully the others," but to contribute Chinese services and products to the world.
With economic growth comes responsibilities and China is ready to shoulder them, she said.
"We realize that we cannot progress in isolation. We have to work with other countries, especially neighboring countries," Ma told me.
Their new leaders, she said, have reaffirmed their commitment to peaceful development.
"China means what it says," she said, even as she stressed that they would maintain "pro-active defense" of their territory and development interests.
China and the Philippines are supposed to be observing 2012 and 2013 as the "Years of Friendly Exchanges."
"Last year we didn't do much," Ma sighed. "This year we have to catch up."