I regularly have lunch at McDonald’s at Mckinley West, Taguig City. Though I cannot completely say that the place has all the amenities that a regular McDonald’s branch has (Most of the time some of the menu are not available.), I am somehow satisfied with their services. I have been going to that place to buy my favorite brewed coffee. The isolated franchise along the road is equipped with a modern touch-screen technology that taking orders has become (supposedly) customer-friendly, despite the fact that such modernization still calls for so much room for improvement.
Everything went normal as usual until one day I saw this:
Yes. The menu is now available in different languages. One can now order in Korean and, in most cases, Chinese. My interest, however, lies in the propagation of the latter not only in the Philippines but in the world as a whole. What would have been considered inconceivable decades ago has now been happening in many McDonald’s branches here in the Philippines. Who would have thought to find a Chinese menu in a fast-food chain in the Philippines, where most of the people can hardly even read (much more write!) a single word in Mandarin? Indeed, we are now entering the dawn of a “Chinese Economy” not only in the Pearl of the Orient, but in the entire Asia or perhaps the whole world. The dragon is no longer sleeping and it spits fire!
One can only imagine how the Philippines or the world is going to look like 5 to 10 years from now. I would not be surprised to see some business establishments post their ads or instructions in both English and Chinese. In Hong Kong this is not new. Cantonese and English labels are everywhere.
In Macau, its neighboring former Portuguese colony, it is not uncommon to hear the IVR (Interactive Voice Response) to announce the next bus station in 3 languages (Cantonese, Portuguese and English). Their presence already adds more color to the melting pot of 3 rich cultures.
Disclaimer: Photos in Hong Kong and Macau were taken back in 2014
The Philippines, on the other hand, is a different story. Albeit there are a number of historical documents and evidence that show the long-standing relationship between the Pearl of the Orient and the Middle Kingdom since the Pre-hispanic times, not one of the Chinese languages can be considered as ubiquitous as that of Spanish (another former colonizer) and English (courtesy of the United Sates, another colonizer). In a country that has Filipino as its national language but its laws written in English and a national anthem originally written in Spanish, not one of the Chinese languages had such presents until now. This part of Asia as well as the world is going to change.
In this case, there are only 3 possible outcomes: to ignore such change, to resist or ride with and take advantage of it. The first option is good only for those who prefer to let life take charge of them rather than the other way around. This type of laissez faire attitude is the normal reaction for those who only act when the fire has started — when it is already too late and there is less to gain. The second one is for those purists who refuse to give in to change and see it as another one of China’s political and economic machinations with the end goal of conquering the world. Exaggerations aside, I used to think this way until one day I gave up. The third is the more logical option. The old cliche of you joining whatever you cannot beat may not necessarily be a negative thing. Personally, I am totally against the so-called Chinese Money Trap. Like any thinking individual, I still have my reservations. Nevertheless, I have nothing against progress, i.e. change for the better.
To paraphrase the old wisdom passed upon us by the Ancient Greek philosopher, Heraclitus: Change is the only thing that does not change in the world as we live in a world of constant change. (Literally there is a lot of “change” in that previous statement, but you get my point.) The presence of Mandarin in the Philippines is a by-product of the ever growing Chinese investment that our government accepted with open arms. Along with it comes Chinese jobs, Chinese companies and everything Chinese! There is no point in murmuring and complaining about forces that is beyond our control. Instead of being stuck with the denial state, it is more productive to learn Mandarin or better yet, do what many countries of the world is doing: let their children learn Mandarin for them to have a better future. In a previous post, I wrote about how learning another language can double or triple one’s salary. (See Bilingual Opportunities.) Moreover, it is also helpful and productive to add to one’s reservoir of soft skills anything that can be used to make the most out of the inevitable reality that is Chinese economy. A simple research on the Chinese culture especially on how it can be helpful in doing business would be a good start.
The world is going Chinese and there is nothing we can do about it. Therefore, it is incumbent that we do what it takes to use it to our advantage.
My Road to Success! 
I highly commend your good analysis on modern China today. Having achieved a market led capitalist economy, China is not socialist anymore. Maybe, in its political structure with the CCP it has a tight control on th whole economy. I agree with your 3 options (how people deal) on China:, Ignore, Resist and Accept (inevitability). All options have their advantages and disadvantages. However, you seem to deal on the last. Based on the philosophies of Heraclitus and modern pragmatism, which are sound and clear. The two precedent options are also good to hear, provided we look beyond skepticism, sophistic and cynical arguments. Meaning, less biased. I admire the development stride of China from the pragmatism (I don’t care if the cat is black or white as long as it catches mice) Deng Xiao Peng (who toppled the Gang of Four after his previous humiliation). My point is, development is not enough if we do not see eye to eye the problem of Freedom, Democracy and Inclusivism in Thinking and Doing). China from the Eastern Board is highly developed in Trade and Industry. But its inner Regions like Tibet, Mongolia, Uigurs and Indigenous Regions are not so developed (maybe I am biased). My take is on Hongkong which is to be a One China with 2 Policies as Autonomous, the thread and threat of Control to the CCP is becoming messy. Of course, GDP is now less than 20% to the Mainland economy and that is dispesable. China will have to move forward, only and if and only, it can muster the strength to unite its People not only on the Economic utilitarian development but must open its world to the UNCLOS, UN mandate and multi party system, Democracy and World trade of Fairness, Equality and Justice. Vague terms and universalization of terms, but I wish I can visit China and verify these data and ideas to dust off my cobwebs of looking at the Middle Kingdom from the Western prism and coloured glasses of free speech and expression. Seriously yours😑
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Thank you the comment, Sir Tony. As one of the best epistemologists, public relations strategists and political lobbyists I have ever known at least in this country, I have always valued your ideas.These are interesting inputs you added. Indeed, I have taken the last of the 3 options I raised out pragmatism, but you are right in saying that there is nothing wrong in choosing the other two. For sure there are different opinions on the matter depending on the standpoint one is taking. Perhaps the very reason why I chose what I chose is because of the reality that Chinas has brought upon on other countries such as the Philippines and how it would be for our best interest to position ourselves to benefit from such move as it is assuming its new role as a global powerhouse in economics, politics etc. Again, thank you for the invaluable feedback my great philosopher paisano.
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I agree let’s do what it takes to use it to our advantage. I grew up in Cebu where a lot of my friends are Chinese and they belong to a rich family which almost of them owns a big business. I speak a little Chinese and for them if you can speak their language you gain their trust. I think it’s better to embrace change ( China) rather than arguing, it makes sense 😊
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That is an interesting experience you shared. I could not agree more with you, Lemuel. It is true in Dumaguete as well. Change is a two-edged sword. It is positive for those who opt for progress, while at the same time it is negative as to disrupt the status quo of what many call an established order. That is precisely the reason why it is balanced with resistance. At the end of the day, things change and there is nothing else we can do about it. In the case of China leading the world, I guess if we cannot stop such change from happening, let us adapt to it and take advantage.
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