Fu returns to his hometown Quanzhou every year. [Photo provided to gofujian.com]

For Filipino-Chinese student Fu Bohan, learning Chinese was both a family legacy and a personal challenge. Born to Fujian immigrants in Manila, the 15-year-old initially struggled with writing Chinese characters despite being fluent in spoken Chinese.

Eventually, he came to understand the wisdom in the saying: "A faint pen is better than a good memory." From that point, he began practicing writing poems from memory and even developed his own method: "Memorize first, then write from memory. That way, it sticks better."

In 2015, Fu enrolled at the Philippine Cultural College Caloocan Campus, where the curriculum is uniquely structured: English classes in the morning, Chinese classes in the afternoon. With 15 Chinese lessons a week, his language skills improved significantly.

The school places a strong emphasis on preserving traditional Chinese festivals. Celebrations like lantern-making competitions and cultural performances during the Spring Festival are eagerly anticipated events, which further deepened Fu's connection to his heritage. At school, Fu actively participates in various competitions related to Chinese culture.

Annual visits to Fujian reinforce this bond. "Hearing Hokkien dialect in the streets feels like home," he said, particularly moved by the floral headdresses of Xunpu women.

As more overseas youth begin learning Chinese, Fu has noticed that many are motivated not only by China's growing economic influence but also by the global spread of Chinese TV dramas, video games, and viral short videos. Inspired by this cultural wave, he aspires to study it China's Jinan University and become a cultural bridge between the two nations.

At school, Fu (fourth from left) actively participates in various competitions related to Chinese culture. [Photo provided to gofujian.com]

Fu (right) with zanhua, floral accessory headdress, in Quanzhou. [Photo provided to gofujian.com]