2 Pinay scholars in China on returning to PHL: ‘Kung may opportunity doon, gusto naming bumalik’
FUJIAN, China — Filipino students Wesly and Wency Romulo, scholars at Huanqiuo University in Quanzhuo here, have not forgotten their motherland.
Despite being in China for the last 10 years, the 21-year-old twins are still longing for the Philippines and even intend to return to the country after they graduate.
"Kung may chance, kung may opportunity doon gusto naming bumalik," Wesly said during a talk with visiting journalists from the Philippines, including GMA News Online, on Thursday.
However, she said they do not know yet if there is a job waiting for them in the Philippines.
"Kaso hindi namin alam kung ano ang nangyayari ngayon," Wesly added.
Wency nodded in agreement, saying they also miss Filipino foods such as bagoong, daing, and laing.
Another Filipino-Chinese student, Mark Zhuang, said he would go where there is an opportunity for him to make a living. "Maski saan ako magtatrabaho basta malaki ang sweldo," he said.
Wesly is studying Product Design while Wency is taking up Interior Design. Both entered the university in 2013.
They studied elementary at Baliuag University in Bulacan before they went to China when they were 11 years old. Zhuang, meanwhile, is a freshman Arts student. He finished high school at St. Stephen School in Manila.
Studying in China
Wesly said they were already in Grade 5 in the Philippines, but when they enrolled in China, they needed to return to Grade 2.
She further said that they did not know any Chinese word prior to their arrival to China.
"Mahirap po noong una dahil zero ang [alam namin na] Chinese word, nag-aral kami ng 10 years dito saka pa lang nakapasok ng college," she said.
But studying in China, Wesly said, is not that difficult. "Hindi naman po kasi mayroong pang foreigner na klase at mayroong pang mainland. Sa amin pang-foreigner mas marami po yung English," she said.
The twins said since the university is for overseas Chinese, they receive more privileges than Chinese students from the mainland.
Some 400 Filipinos are studying in the three campuses of Huanquiao University. The other campuses are in Xiamen.
The Romulos have a sibling studying in the Xiamen campus. Their parents are both Filipinos, although their mother has Chinese blood. Their father is teaching English while their mother teaches Accountancy in one of the universities in Quanzhou. —KBK, GMA News
Despite being in China for the last 10 years, the 21-year-old twins are still longing for the Philippines and even intend to return to the country after they graduate.
Wency and Wesly Romulo. Photo by Amita O. Legaspi
However, she said they do not know yet if there is a job waiting for them in the Philippines.
"Kaso hindi namin alam kung ano ang nangyayari ngayon," Wesly added.
Wency nodded in agreement, saying they also miss Filipino foods such as bagoong, daing, and laing.
Another Filipino-Chinese student, Mark Zhuang, said he would go where there is an opportunity for him to make a living. "Maski saan ako magtatrabaho basta malaki ang sweldo," he said.
Wesly is studying Product Design while Wency is taking up Interior Design. Both entered the university in 2013.
They studied elementary at Baliuag University in Bulacan before they went to China when they were 11 years old. Zhuang, meanwhile, is a freshman Arts student. He finished high school at St. Stephen School in Manila.
Studying in China
Wesly said they were already in Grade 5 in the Philippines, but when they enrolled in China, they needed to return to Grade 2.
She further said that they did not know any Chinese word prior to their arrival to China.
Wesly (second from the right) and Wency (far right) Romulo, together with Mark Zhueng (fourth from the right) and other Filipino-Chinese students and Filipino journalists. Photo by Amita O. Legaspi
But studying in China, Wesly said, is not that difficult. "Hindi naman po kasi mayroong pang foreigner na klase at mayroong pang mainland. Sa amin pang-foreigner mas marami po yung English," she said.
The twins said since the university is for overseas Chinese, they receive more privileges than Chinese students from the mainland.
Some 400 Filipinos are studying in the three campuses of Huanquiao University. The other campuses are in Xiamen.
The Romulos have a sibling studying in the Xiamen campus. Their parents are both Filipinos, although their mother has Chinese blood. Their father is teaching English while their mother teaches Accountancy in one of the universities in Quanzhou. —KBK, GMA News
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