THE Award for Promoting Philippines-China Understanding (APPCU) pays special tribute to Filipinos who have made efforts through time to strengthen friendly ties and promote mutual understanding between the Philippines and China using their respective advocacies and expertise in the various fields and disciplines of mass media and public service; trade and commerce; and arts, culture and the sciences.
Awardee in the Major Contributions category – where individuals are recognized for their works and efforts that have a growing reach and impact on the lives of specific groups or communities of people at the grassroots level – is Prof. Celso Cainglet.
A vocal academician, and public intellectual, Cainglet has been very straightforward with his positions in socio-political discourses.
With a background in Philosophy, and a Master's Degree in Applied Ethics obtained with honors (Cum Laude) at the Catholic University of Louvain in Belgium, Cainglet deserves every right to the honorifics of a communication expert and strategic analyst.
As a strategic communication expert, he has been known for his success and contributions in the creation and delivery of communication training, tools, programs, guidelines and evaluations for government agencies, and private companies and corporations.
As an academician and a public intellectual, he has not only rendered services as a tri-media consultant, editor, socio-political analyst with a long list of publications in newspapers, magazines and scholarly journals; but more importantly, he has been very dynamic with his views especially where matters of international relations are concerned, such as the issues on the West Philippine Sea.
His career and professional life may be described as largely academic in nature, serving as faculty member in various universities, colleges and academic institutions in the country to the present day.
His experiences include serving as instructor, and as a research and technical apprentice at the Institute for Social Research and Development of the University of Saint La Salle in Bacolod City from 1989 to 1991; as lecturer in De La Salle University Manila, handling courses on Ethics of Peace, War in International Relations, from 1990 to 1991; as course director and instructor on Military Ethics, and Literature at the Philippine Military Academy from 1991 thru 1995; as a lecturer on Military Ethics, and Literature at the Philippine National Police Academy from 2002 to 2003; as lecturer at the Saint Thomas of Villanova Institute in Quezon City from 2006 to 2007; as a lay professor at the San Carlos Seminary in Makati, handling courses on Ancient Greek and Medieval Philosophy, and Philosophy of Science, from 1998 thru 2012; Lecturer in the Armed Forces of the Philippines Civil Relations Services; and as academic supervisor and faculty in the Philosophy Department of the University of San Agustin in Iloilo from 2019 to 2020.
Currently, he is serving as Philosophy professor at the University of the Philippines Visayas.
Apart from the academe, his engagements in both government and consultancy services are equally inspiring. Over the years, he has held important positions in both public and the private sectors, namely as head executive assistant and program director of the National Council on Food Security and Jobs Creation from 2003 to 2004; as executive director of Global Filipinos from 2004 to 2006; as secretary for Special Concerns in the Philippine Province of the Society of Jesus in 2004; as correspondence director at the Office of the President of the Republic of the Philippines from 2008 to 2010; and as senior analyst and assistant editor-in-chief of the Center for Strategy, Enterprise and Intelligence (CENSEI e-newspaper) in Mandaluyong City, Metro Manila in 2012, to name a few.
Other relevant engagements include consultancy services for various government agencies and offices, among others, the Office of former Sec. Heherson TAlvarez, in the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) from 2001 to 2002; for the same official at the Office of the Presidential Adviser for Overseas Filipino Communities from 2003 to 2004, to name a few.
At present, the noted academician renders consultancy services for the Committee on National Defense of the Philippine Congress.
Given his humble but truly inspiring background and experience, Cainglet is recognized by the Awards for the Promotion of Philippines-China Understanding (APPCU) for his vocal expression and potent stance in promoting better ties, understanding, friendship and cooperation with China as a neighbor in Asia, particularly on issues involving the West Philippine Sea and the eastern parts of the South China Sea.
For him, there are valuable lessons to be learned from the experiences of Taiwan and Vietnam, especially where international diplomacy is essential.
Accordingly, while there may be disputes on territorial claims, as a nation, Filipinos must not be stuck with this discourse as there are other aspects that require immediate attention such as enabling the economy to thrive for the good and benefit of the majority.