The Chinese Filipino Business Club, Inc. participated in the Chinese New Year Parade organized by the City of Manila in collaboration with the Chinese community on Sunday, January 22, 2023.
On that afternoon, Manila Mayor Honey Lacuna, Vice Mayor Yul Servo, Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian and his wife, other esteemed guests, city officials, students of Chinese schools and leaders of Filipino-Chinese organizations rode on floats along the main streets of the Chinese community in Manila to greet the people and distribute red envelopes, candies and sweet barley.
Tens of thousands of people flocked to the event. During the event, lion and dragon dancers danced in front of the procession to celebrate the Chinese New Year, which was an unprecedented event.
Since Chinese New Year falls on a Sunday this year, many local Filipinos made the trip to Chinatown to enjoy the festive atmosphere of the Lunar New Year and to be part of the festivities. The Chinese New Year Parade was organized by the City of Manila in collaboration with various Chinese community groups. The two floats were designed by the students themselves, and the two red rabbit ears were very cute and playful among all the other floats in the parade.
Some of the leaders of the Association who attended the parade on that day included the President of the Board of Directors, Mr. Stephen Sia, the Honorary President, Mr. Allan Wong But Loy, the Executive Vice Chairman, Mr. Samuel Lee Uy, the Director, Mrs. Linda Lao, Mr. Benson Yang, and the staff of the Secretariat.
菲華工商總會訊:本會於一月廿二日(星期日)農曆新年下午,參加馬尼拉市政府聯合華社各大團體所舉辦的癸卯兔年的迎春大遊行。當天下午岷市市長拉古那、副市長尤素福、中國駐菲大使黃溪連偕夫人、參議員彭敏直偕夫人、菲新任駐華大使吉米·弗古律斯偕夫人、中國駐菲使館參贊兼總領事王悅、市府人員、各華校學生和菲華社團領導,分別乘坐花車,沿岷市華人區主要街道,向民眾拜年,並分發紅包、糖果、甜稞,吸引了數以萬計的民眾蜂擁而至,共襄盛舉。期間鑼鼓喧天,由舞龍舞獅在隊伍前面向民眾拜年賀新春,聲勢浩大,盛況空前。
由於今年農曆新年是在週日,因此許多菲國本地民眾,專程來華人區歡渡佳節,感受農曆春節的氛圍,沾沾喜氣,華人區的街道上張燈結綵,到處人山人海,洋溢著春節的喜慶氣氛。這次新春大遊行是由馬尼拉市政府聯合華社各團體共同主辦。本會「點亮未來」助學方案的七十多位受助學生,也參予了遊行隊伍,本會的兩輛花車也是由受助生們親手設計製作,兩隻紅兔耳朵,活靈活現,在遊行中爭奇鬥豔的各式花車中,屬於特別俏皮可愛型。
出席當天遊行的本會領導人包括理事長謝國萬、名譽理事長許長安、執行副理事黃書瑋、副理事長楊良田、許文忠、立案秘書吳恆利、常務理事許福星、理事留牡丹、楊錦程和秘書處工作人員。
圖片說明:
上右圖:參加春節遊行的本會領導在花車前合影(左起)楊良田、許福星、黃書瑋、謝國萬、許長安、許文忠、吳恆利、留牡丹。
上左圖: 菲華社團的領導和市長拉古那、副市長尤素福、中國駐菲大使黃溪連偕夫人、參議員彭敏直偕夫人、菲新任駐華大使吉米偕夫人等合影。
中圖:本會領導在花車上。
下左圖:本會出席領導與「點亮未來」受助生們在花車前合影。下右圖:七十多位「點亮未來」受助學生參加遊行喜迎新春。