Smileys in SQLite databases

I'm making a backup App for my different messengers.

The App copies (on rooted phones) the db files from each App, modifies the db to make it lighter, uploads with FTP and a PHP scripts copies data to a Mysql database.

Everything works just fine but the whatsapp Smileys.

When I open msgstore.db file on my android device with a SQLite reader in the "data" field (text) I see the smiley image, not a text equivalent (like in other Apps that I see things like (: )

When I open the db file in my computer I see a square like char. 😊

And when I open mysql I see nothing. Like if no data was uploaded.

What is really stored in that field as a smiley? How can I see it in my computer? How can I get it to mysql?