International Journal of Arts and Social Science www.ijassjournal.com ISSN: 2581-7922, Volume 6 Issue 9, September 2023 Brian Bantugan Page 141 Pandemic, Phenomenology, and Power: Chinese Graduate Students’ Lived Experiences of the COVID-19 Pandemic in China Brian Bantugan, PhD 1, Xiaomeng Chen 2, Susha Huang 3, Ke Li 4, Chengdong Luo 5, Yuanyuan Sun 6, Gensheng Wu 7, Guizheng Yang 8, Gang Yuan 9, Wang Zhiyu 10 1 (Faculty, St. Paul University Manila) 2 (Graduate Student, St. Paul University Manila; Director, China Internet Information Center) 3 (Graduate Student, St. Paul University Manila; National Center for Schooling Development Programme, China) 4 (Graduate Student, St. Paul University Manila; Faculty, Hechi University, China) 5 (Graduate Student, St. Paul University Manila; Faculty, Hechi University, China) 6 (Graduate Student, St. Paul University Manila; Faculty, Sichuan University of Science and Engineering) 7 (Graduate Student, St. Paul University Manila; Faculty, Hechi University, China) 8 (Graduate Student, St. Paul University Manila; Faculty,Hechi University, China) 9 (Graduate Student, St. Paul University Manila; President, New Writing Institute, China) 10 (Graduate Student, St. Paul University Manila) Abstract: This research addresses the stigmatization and xenophobia faced by the Chinese population during the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly focusing on Chinese graduate students unable to pursue international studies at St. Paul University Manila College of Education due to travel restrictions. It investigates their experiences to foster human connections and combat racism, discrimination, and hate. A phenomenological study was conducted, exploring the mental frameworks that shaped Chinese graduate students' perceptions of the COVID-19 pandemic. Nine participants from various regions of China engaged in online reflection activities. Data from their responses to the question, "What have been your personal encounters with the COVID-19 pandemic in China?" were subjected to phenomenological thematic analysis, unveiling the subtleties and facets of their experiences. Three major themes emerged from the analysis: (1) Experiencing what can and could not be done, encompassing health-related empowerment, general agency, and institutional interventions; (2) Disturbing changes at micro, meso, and macro levels, affecting personal lives, community dynamics, and policies; (3) Emotional shifts, including discomfort, relief, and physical struggles. The overarching finding was that powerlessness overshadowed physical pain, indicating that the pandemic posed an existential challenge rather than just a health crisis for participants. Their experiences were multi-layered and multi-dimensional, reflecting the complexity of human experiences during the pandemic. The research highlights the significance of power and powerlessness in the participants' narratives, demonstrating that their experiences were more about struggling with a loss of agency than dealing with physical pain. It underscores the existential nature of the pandemic for them, emphasizing the importance of being able to make a positive impact despite the threat of COVID-19. The study offers a model illustrating the multi-layered and multi-dimensional aspects of the participants' pandemic experiences, shedding light on the complexity of human responses to such crises. Keywords: Lived experiences, COVID-19 pandemic, phenomenology, mental constructions, Chinese graduate students