He Was Just 2—Then a Foreign Couple Changed Everything

Source: OT-Team(G), Faro de Vigo

Pablo Ferreira Bispo proudly describes himself as "100% from Ourense and Galicia." That identity might surprise those who know he was one of the first Chinese children adopted in the region—at a time when nearly all international adoptions from China involved girls.

Born near Hong Kong 19 years ago with the original name Xu Zi Quiu, Pablo arrived in Ourense in 2008 at the age of two and a half. His parents, Luis Ferreira and Genoveva Bispo, had waited three years to complete the international adoption process. When they finally received a photo of the boy who would become their son, everything changed.

"From the moment you see the photo, you know you're going to be a parent," they told Faro de Vigo at the time. "From then on, the only thing that matters is being with your child."

The family had prepared for the child with love—and with the expectation that they would be welcoming a girl. "We even had a towel with the name 'Alba' on it," Genoveva recalls, reflecting a common assumption about Chinese adoptions at the time. But the child they brought home was Pablo—a boy full of curiosity, creativity, and warmth.

An Early Love for Art

Even as a child, Pablo stood out for his creativity. "While others were playing football, I was drawing," he says. "That's always been my passion." His mother remembers him constantly creating: "He was always drawing, always making things."

Driven and responsible, Pablo completed his education with clear purpose. "I've always taken my studies seriously and tried to do my best," he says. In his final year of secondary school, he chose to pursue an arts-focused path, first enrolling in the arts baccalaureate at Universidad Laboral, and later switching to a Higher Degree in Graphic Design at the Antonio Faílde School of Art and Design in Ourense.

He finds inspiration in Spanish illustrators like Estudio Catastrófico and Gema Vadillo, and dreams of working in editorial design or visual identity development. His father, a photographer, also influenced his artistic vision. "He introduced me to photography. I think it's all connected—photography, design, illustration. It all leads back to art."

Still, he wishes there had been more support for students like him earlier on. "In secondary school, there was very little education in these subjects, and even the school counselors didn't really know what to say when I told them I wanted to study design or illustration," he says.

Grounded in Identity and Family

Despite his origins, Pablo has never struggled with his identity. "I was born in China, but this is my home. My life is here. This is my family," he says. "I don't lose sleep over not knowing my birth country. Rationally, I ask myself: What would I be looking for there? To see people I don't know? Maybe someday, but right now, it's not something I need."

He acknowledges being surprised to later learn he was one of the first boys adopted from China to Galicia, but says he has never felt excluded. "Maybe a few minor incidents in preschool or early secondary school. But in high school and university, I've always been part of a diverse and welcoming group."

Pablo dreams of participating in the Erasmus program and studying abroad in places like Italy, Poland, or Portugal—countries known for strong design cultures. "It's a way to open the door to more knowledge," he says.

Asked about his parents, Pablo smiles. "My mom is the serious one when it comes to education. My dad is more the funny one. I've taken things from both of them—they shaped who I am."

A Belief in Adoption

Reflecting on his journey, Pablo speaks openly and confidently in support of adoption. "It's a gift for both sides—for the adopted child and for the parents," he says. "I was incredibly lucky. I have the best parents."

His story also sheds light on the broader context of adoption in Galicia. Between 2010 and 2022, according to official figures, there were 1,805 national and 1,590 international adoption applications in the region. The process can take up to nine years, particularly for domestic adoptions. Ourense, in fact, had the fewest international adoption applications during that period—just 115.

Still, for families like Pablo's, the wait was worth it. "Not long after bringing him home," his parents once said, "we couldn't imagine what life was like without Pablo."