It was such a great honor and privilege to be chosen to represent my country the Philippines for this year's ASEAN Media Officer and Journalists Seminar. Among all of the participants, I was the only one who has been to China for the second time. However, everything that I had experienced here in Beijing and in Kunming was uniquely incomparable in all forms. Indeed, learning Chinese culture cannot be done in just two weeks even if you've been to China a couple of times.

Learning the media ethics of my Chinese counterparts made me realize that I have little knowledge about China. Without a doubt, the Philippine media is really different from the Chinese media practices. Nevertheless, as media practitioners, both cultures are similar in being the voice of the public, educating the people, disseminating information, connecting worlds and preventing corruption in the government by exposing extortion, promoting transparency and pushing for accountability to create reforms that will benefit the people. This is what journalism is all about; our role in society extends beyond cultural differences.

Furthermore, being the sole-representative of the Philippines in this short-course program it was no doubt that the relationship between China and my country at the present stage were mentioned whenever the South China Sea issue was discussed. And being a journalist, it is my job to be objective and open-minded, and to listen to the other side of the story to create balanced and unbiased reporting. Moreover, as a citizen of the Philippines, I myself also wanted peace not just for my family but for the next Filipino generation. Clearly, China and the Philippines have differences but these differences are not sufficient reasons to prevent a harmonious relationship within the region. Like what my father said, the best way in settling a conflict is to listen. I am one of the million Filipinos who are hoping for a peaceful settlement and to be more united with our neighboring countries in Asia through people-to-people relationships and cultural exchange.

In line with this, we all may have our own opinion about the Chinese culture, Chinese political system and China's geopolitics, but at the end of the day, who are we to judge and who am I to judge? Like the Chinese saying, even if the shoes are small it is only the owner who would know if they suit her. It is not me or any single person who can tell the Chinese people what is good for them because they already know what is right for them far beyond the shallow judgments of others. No doubt, you can never fully understand China if you do not experience China.

Therefore, I would like to express my sincerest gratitude to China International Publishing Group, the Ministry of Commerce, the State Council, the Provincial Government of Yunnan and the Chinese Embassy in Manila for the opportunity they have given me, the additional knowledge that I have gained these past two weeks and the chance to see the wonderful sights in Kunming. Furthermore, this seminar will never be memorable without the people who are involved.

Confucius once said, never establish friendship with people who are not more virtuous than you. I guess I'm just fortunate. I have not just established new contacts but I have gained new friends who aren't only more virtuous than I, but value the core essence of respect. Respecting each other's differences in terms of religion, practices, tradition and culture is paramount. Therefore, I am very much humbled that I managed to be part of this circle even though I am the youngest in both age and professional experience.

As we part ways and get back to our respective countries and continue with our daily routine, I just want you to know that there is a young female journalist in the Philippines who cherished you all in the sincerest definition of the word. Thank you for teaching me about your culture. Thank you for accepting me, my perfectly imperfect personality and please accept my apologies to all the shortcomings I have committed or if I offended anyone during the process. Nevertheless, the memories that we've shared here in China will remain as a handprint on my heart; so, in whatever ways each of our stories ends, I know you all have rewritten mine by being my friends.

Jhemmylrut Teng (Carla Lim) is a TV5 correspondent for foreign affairs in the Philippines.

This post is part of her speech at the closing session of the ASEAN Media Officer and Journalists Seminar which China recently hosted.

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