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 Paul Gutierrez.