Dear friends of the Filipino-Chinese community.
The Christmas bells are ringing and the lively festive songs are echoing in the streets and lanes, the advent of Christmas also signals the end of 2022. After the relentless attack of COVID-19, we realized how precious it is to be safe and healthy, and cherish all the people and things around us. As we welcome and celebrate the first Christmas after the epidemic has subsided with our families and friends, we would like to send our heartfelt thanks to all those who have shown their care and support over the past year.
As we look back on a turbulent and difficult year in 2022, the three years of the epidemic brought serious challenges to all sectors of society. The new government is focusing on economic growth, the country's balance of payments is improving, and President Marcos Jr. is committed to creating jobs and improving the economy. We believe the new government will be able to cope with the current inflationary and fiscal pressures and continue to stabilize economic growth expectations.
In terms of international focus, it is important to note that the war between Russia and Ukraine has been raging for nearly 10 months and has caused huge losses for both sides, and the conflict between Russia and Ukraine has intensified since Russia launched a special military operation against Ukraine on February 24 this year. Despite several rounds of negotiations between Russia and Ukraine, except for the agreement on the export of agricultural products from the Black Sea ports, the crisis in Ukraine is still difficult to see the dawn of peace, which is also a drag on the development of the global economy. As Christmas approaches, we sincerely pray that the conflict will end and that peace will come soon.
In February, the 12th National Convention was held online, with His Excellency Duterte, former President of the Philippines, His Excellency Leni Robredo, former Vice President of the Philippines, His Excellency Huang Xilian, Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines, and the late Ambassador Romana of the Philippines to China as the guest speakers. The 13th Board of Directors and the new leadership were elected to set a clear direction for the future development of the association and the implementation of our social service programs under the new circumstances.
As a major member of the Philippine community, the Chinese-Filipino Business Club, Inc. is committed to promoting the economic development of the country and serving the community by donating raincoats and national flags to government law enforcement agencies, promoting the improvement of public order and traffic, and promoting patriotism. The organization has always paid attention to the physical and mental development of the youth and encouraged them to actively engage in beneficial sports activities to strengthen their health and fitness. We held a unique Italian wine and Chinese cuisine business social feast with the Italian Chamber of Commerce to promote cooperation with international chambers of commerce. We are also actively involved in various social welfare activities such as disaster relief, poverty relief and fire truck donation.
In order to promote the development of local small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and to enhance the competitiveness and progress of the national economy, the MSME Center signed a letter of intent with the Department of Trade and Industry and co-organized the MSME Business Fair, with the aim of supporting local products, promoting the purchase of local brands, helping the economic recovery and increasing employment.
To help the public better understand the new administration's approach to judicial reform, the Center invited Attorney General Jesus Crispin C. Remulla to hold a one-on-one public Q&A forum, which was well received by the Chinese community. This year, we continued to enroll underprivileged students in our “Pagharap sa Pangarap" program. A total of 47 students received full tuition and miscellaneous fee assistance, and nearly 500 students have successfully obtained their bachelor's degrees. Now that the COVID-19 pandemic is slowing down and all industries are slowly reviving, CFBCI is trying to continue to work for the welfare of the Chinese community and our Filipino brothers through various ways.
As the bells of the New Year are about to ring, I would like to take this joyous moment to say Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all our Chinese friends from all walks of life in the Philippines on behalf of all my colleagues in the Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry. We wish that the country's economy will be more prosperous next year and that there will be no more disasters or wars.
We also hope that China and the Philippines will be able to resolve the South China Sea issue in a proper and peaceful manner and establish a new situation of mutual benefit which will lay a solid foundation for the friendship between the two peoples for generations to come. I also hope that our colleagues will continue to support each other and work together in the new year.
菲華社會的各位朋友：
聖誕的鐘聲響起，悠揚的節日歌聲迴蕩在大街小巷，聖誕節的來臨也預示著二零二二年即將進入尾聲。在經過了新冠病毒的無情沖擊，讓我們體悟到平安健康的可貴，更加珍惜身邊的人事物以及擁有的一切。當我們與家人、朋友在迎接及歡慶疫情緩解後的第一個聖誕節時，同時要為過去一年來給予我們關心和支持的所有朋友送上最衷心的感謝。
回首二零二二年是個動盪又辛苦的一年，三年的疫情給社會各階層都帶來嚴峻的挑戰，在此期間本會和華社各團體及慈善組織紛紛捐款、捐物資，體現了華菲一家的同胞親情。本國今年政權和平移交也傳來許多好消息：新政府注重於經濟的增長，國家收支平衡不斷改善，總統小馬科斯承諾創造就業和改善經濟。相信新政府有能力應對當前通脹和財政等方面壓力，繼續穩定經濟增長的預期。
國際焦點，需要關注的是俄烏烽火已蔓延近十個月，戰爭造成了雙方巨大損失，今年二月廿四日俄羅斯發起對烏克蘭的特別軍事行動以來，俄烏衝突局勢愈演愈烈。儘管俄烏雙方進行了幾輪談判，但除了達成黑海港口農產品外運協議外，烏克蘭危機至今依然難以看到和平曙光，也拖累了全球經濟的發展。在聖誕來臨之際，我們誠心祈禱讓衝突早日結束，願和平早日到來。
今年二月，本會在雲端召開了第十二次全國會員大會，時任菲律濱總統杜特地閣下、時任副總統羅帛禮道閣下、中國駐菲大使黃溪連閣下、已故菲律濱駐華大使羅馬納擔任大會貴賓演講，有關國家駐菲使節，參、眾兩院議員，與各部會首長，駐菲外國商會、華社各大友好團體代表，紛紛發來視頻祝賀。大會選出第十三屆理事會及新一屆的領導層，為今後的會務發展和如何在新形勢下，更好的執行本會即定的各項社會服務方案，明確了發展方向。
菲華工商總會作為菲律濱社會的主要成員，秉持著促進國家經濟發展，以及服務社會的宗旨，持續向政府執法機構捐獻雨衣、國旗，推動社會治安交通的改善，及宣揚愛國熱忱；雨季為各華校噴灑滅蚊劑，預防登革熱。本會向來注意青少年的身心培養，鼓勵青少年積極投入有益的體育活動，強生健體，分別與菲華乒乓聯合會及菲律濱嶺南國術總會舉辦了「工商杯」桌球邀請賽及舞獅比賽，豐富青少年的業餘生活。與意大利商會舉辦別開生面的意大利葡萄酒搭配中式佳餚商業社交饗宴，開展與國際各商會的合作關係。本會積極參與賑災、濟貧與捐助消防車等各項社會公益活動。
為推動本國中小企業的發展，提升國家經濟的競爭力與進步，本會微中小型企業中心與工商部簽訂合作意向書，並共同舉辦微中小企業商展，旨在支持本土產品，提倡國民購買本國品牌，幫助經濟復甦，增加就業率。本會為了讓民眾更好地瞭解新政府的司法改革方針，特別邀請司法部長Jesus Crispin C. Remulla舉行一對一公開問答論壇，受到華社各團體的好評。本會的「點亮未來」助學方案今年繼續招收貧寒學子，又有四十七位學員獲得全額學雜費資助，該項目至今惠及近五百名受助生順利取得大學學士學位。現在疫情趨緩，百業待興，本會力圖通過多種多樣的方式繼續為廣大華人以及我們的菲律濱兄弟謀求福祉，當然，每一個方案的開展都離不開華社友好團體和菲律濱政府相關部門的大力支持，更要感謝華文媒體對本會的支持和鞭策。
新年的鐘聲即將敲響，藉這辭舊迎新的喜慶時刻，本人謹代表菲華工商總會的全體同仁，誠摯地向菲華各界華人朋友們道一聲聖誕快樂和新年進步。共同祝願明年國家經濟會更加發達，不再有災難和戰爭。更希望中菲兩國，今後能夠妥善而和平地解決南海問題，建立起互利雙贏的新局面，為兩國人民的世代友好奠下鞏固的根基。也祈望本會同仁能在新的一年裡繼續相互扶持，攜手奮進！
