On 30 July 2024, the Chinese Filipino Business Club, Inc. (CFBCI) represented by President Samuel Lee Uy attended the 2nd State of the City Address (SOCA) delivered by Manila City Mayor, Dra. Honey Lacuna. The esteemed ceremony was held at the PICC Forum Tent in the City of Pasay and was graced with the attendance of 1,000 of individuals from the local government including barangay heads, city officials, city councilors, lawmakers, business leaders, community organizations, and members of news and social media outlets.

In her second SOCA as the Mayor of the country’s capital, Mayor Lacuna presented her administration's numerous accomplishments and plans for Manila. As one of Manila’s consistent partners, CFBCI is deeply impressed by the city’s programs for marginalized sectors aiming to improve the daily lives of Manileños. She also proudly announced during the event that the city government has successfully paid over P2 billion of the city's inherited debt from the past administration amounting to over P17 billion.

CFBCI commends Mayor Lacuna’s immense humility as she thanked her fellow public officials, employees and the residents of Manila for helping her achieve numerous achievements including monthly allowances in addition to the continuous provision of birthday cakes and special Christmas gifts for a total of 184,572 registered senior citizens in Manila.

The Mayor also shared that the Department of Tourism and Cultural Affairs of Manila (DTCAM) has registered 14 million local and foreign tourists, hence it being awarded as the “Worlds’ Leading City Destination" in the December 2023 in the World Travel Awards, the highest recognition in tourism worldwide. Furthermore, she also reported that the number of index crimes in Manila has been declining due to the good collaboration between the Manila Police District (MPD) and local barangays.

CFBCI President Samuel Uy had the chance to shake hands and converse with Mayor Lacuna. He relayed the organization’s warmest congratulations to the milestones achieved by Manila under her excellent leadership. “Mga kapwa ko Manileño, isa pong karangalan ang patuloy kayong pagsilbihan. Ngayon man o bukas, umaraw man o umulan, hinding-hindi ko kayo iiwan. Maynila, ikaw lamang ang una kay Honey Lacuna," Mayor Lacuna said in closing of her outstanding address.

菲華工商總會訊：本會理事長黃書瑋於七月卅日（週二）下午，應邀出席馬尼拉市長拉古那（Mayor Maria Sheilah “Honey" Honrado Lacuna-Pangan）假巴西市菲律濱國際會議中心（PICC）舉行的第二次市情咨文發表會（SOCA）。當天的發表會其他貴賓計有，眾議員、副市長、市政府官員、市議員、描籠涯主席、商會領導、「菲中愛心基金」成員單位代表及新聞媒體人員等近千人出席。

拉古那市長在演說中，闡述其任內的政績及介紹她對馬尼拉市未來的各項計劃；她　列舉了在過去一年的成就，包括：其所帶領的市政府團隊目前已成功償還了上屆市政府所遺留下來超過一百七十億菲幣的城市債務中的二十億菲幣。以及馬尼拉旅遊、文化和藝術事務處（DTCAM）資料顯示，目前已有一千四百萬位本地和外國遊客造訪馬尼拉市，因此本市於去年十二月份在世界旅遊獎評選中被評為「世界領先城市旅遊目的地」，這是全球旅遊業的最高榮譽。她還指出，因為馬尼拉市警察局（MPD）和當地描籠涯之間的良好合作默契，本市的犯罪指數有明顯下降。

對於未來的計劃，市長表示馬尼拉的發展，必須與生態保護、文化傳承、社會和諧相結合。我們將繼續推動教育事業的發展，提高市民的文化素質；加強社會保障體系，確保每一位市民都能享受到公共服務的紅利。馬尼拉將繼續發揮其作為首都的地位，推動菲律濱的整體發展。我們將進一步優化城市管理，提升市政服務水準，打造一個更加宜居、宜業、宜遊的城市。同時，也將積極融入亞太地區的合作，爭取更多的投資和機遇，為馬尼拉的發展注入新的動力。

最後，拉古那市長以「馬尼拉市民們，能繼續為你們服務是我的榮幸。不管是現在或未來，晴天或雨天，我不會丟下你們。馬尼拉，你是唯一的第一」結束她的精湛演說，並得到所有與會貴賓起立鼓掌及致敬。
理事長黃書瑋向拉古那市長轉達本會對其主政兩年來取得的成果表示祝賀，並感謝她對馬尼拉市民的用心付出。
圖片說明：

上左圖：理事長黃書瑋（右）與市長拉古那（左）合影。
上右圖：理事長黃書瑋（後左）、榮譽理事長許長安（後左）與馬尼拉市長辦公室主任秘書轆順（前左）、馬尼拉市政府行政官洪英鍾（前右）合影。
中圖：馬尼拉市長拉古那（中）、副市長尼耶道與馬尼拉市各區眾議員合影。
下圖：「菲中愛心基金」成員單位代表及僑界領袖出席馬尼拉市長拉古那第二次市情咨文發表會並合影留念。