Tokyo: Representative Dr Tsewang Gyalpo Arya of the Liaison Office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama for Japan and East Asia concluded his one-week maiden official tour to the Philippines today after a series of interactions and lecture events on the Tibet issue in the regions surrounding Manila City.
The Philippines was one of the few countries that supported Tibet in the United Nations in the early 1960s to condemn Chinese occupation of Tibet and questioned the veracity of the ‘liberation’ of Tibet. The prestigious Ramon Magsaysay Award of the Philippines was awarded to H.H. the Dalai Lama in 1959 for his leadership in the preservation of Tibet’s society, religion, and culture during a critical time.
Representative Dr Arya met with Hon. Congressman Adrian Amatong and discussed his schedule in the city. He updated the Congressman on the Tibet issue and the vision paper of the 16th Kashag of the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA). While presenting a copy of the recent U.S. Resolve Tibet Act, he briefed the Congressman on the Act and requested the introduction of a similar bill in the Philippine parliament.
Congressman Adrian Amatong welcomed Dr. Arya and expressed pleasure meeting him and said that many people in the Philippines support the Tibet issue because Filipinos are freedom-loving people and Tibet represents a non-violent and justified struggle for freedom and justice. He advised continued efforts to negotiate with China for a peaceful resolution of the Tibet-China conflict.
Later, Representative Arya met with Hon. Wallace Chow, Representative of the Taipei Economic & Cultural Office in the Philippines, and discussed the situation in Tibet, Taiwan, and China. They agreed that freedom and democracy in China as important factors in resolving their issues with China and expressed solidarity to work for freedom and democracy around the world.
At the invitation of the University of the Philippines College of Mass Communication, Representative Arya visited the University, where he was received by Dean Fernando Paragas, Prof. Diosa Labiste, and the students. In his talk to the students, he briefly spoke of the early imperial power of Tibet, how Buddhism pacified the Tibetans, and how the Tibetans lived in peace under the leadership of successive Dalai Lamas until the Chinese communist invasion of Tibet in 1950. He talked about the historical distortion the CCP leadership is making to justify their claim on Tibet and warned the students of Chinese propaganda and disinformation.
Representative Dr. Arya visited the Philippine Palyul Tibetan Buddhist Dharma Center at Santa Mesa, where he met with the monks and explained the purpose of his visit to the Philippines and updated them on the workings of the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA), and shared with them the vision paper of the CTA.
Madam Susan Afan, President of the Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation (RMAF), and Joy Alampay, Director of Ramon Magsaysay Transformative Leadership Institute, met with with Representative Dr. Arya and discussed the Tibet issue and the four missions of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. The President and the members of the RMAF visited Dharamsala and had an audience with His Holiness last September. The President emphasized the importance of sharing His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s vision for world peace in the region and celebrating the 90th birth anniversary of His Holiness next year through seminars and other events.
Because of the typhoon emergency warning, the two lectures planned at the University of the Philippines Asian Center Forum and Del La Salle Saint Benilde’s School of Diplomacy and Governance Forum were done online. Dr. Arya spoke on the theme “The Tibetan Struggle: Search for Freedom and Justice” and “The Philippines and Tibetan Relations: Helming vibrant partnership amidst diversity” at the two forums.
Representative Arya thanked the government and the people of the Philippines for their support in the early 1950s and for awarding the prestigious Ramon Magsaysay Award to His Holiness the Dalai Lama in 1959. He said he appreciated and wanted to revive the Filipinos’ bold and freedom-loving spirit.
Representative Dr Arya, in his presentation at the two colleges, elaborated on how Tibet has been an independent nation since ancient times and how the CCP has been trying to distort this part of history to legitimize its occupation of Tibet. He explained how the CCP is a threat to China, Asia, and the world and how the freedom-loving nations around the world should work together to free China from the CCP’s authoritative regime.
Faculty members and students asked many questions about the situation in Tibet, Chinese religious interference, historical distortion, China’s transnational repression and surveillance, His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s reincarnation issue, and the whereabouts of Panchen Lama. As the questions exceeded the time limit, it was decided to answer through email.
The deans, faculty members, and students thanked Representative Arya for his presentation on the history and current situation of Tibet and requested such talks in the future. The University presented a certificate of appreciation to Dr Arya. Prof. Maricel Fernadez-Carag, in her closing remark, said that though Tibet and the Philippines are some 3662 km apart, we are united by the shared value of freedom and non-violence. “We need this international partnership to promote global citizenship education.” She said. Some suggested starting Tibetan studies at the University and requested reading materials on Tibet. Representative Arya welcomed the idea of Tibetan studies at the University and promised to send reading materials on Tibet.
-Report filed by Office of Tibet, Tokyo