On 07 June 2025, the Chinese Filipino Business Club, Inc. (CFBCI) attended the Jones Bridge Lighting Ceremony in celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the Philippine-China Bilateral Relations, in the presence of His Excellency Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., President of the Republic of the Philippines, and Mrs. Louise Araneta-Marcos, First Lady of the Republic of the Philippines. The historic occasion was held on the said day at six-thirty in the evening at Plaza Mexico, Riverside Drive, Intramuros, Manila.
The ceremony was also graced with the attendance of various dignitaries and officials including Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian, Senator Koko Pimentel, Former Manila Mayor Honey Lacuna, Manila Mayor-Elect Francisco Moreno Domagoso, etc. Our President, Mr. Samuel Lee Uy, was also invited to attend the event to cherish this milestone with other leaders of Filipino-Chinese community organizations.
In his speech, President Marcos Jr. said, “Tonight, we are re-lighting this classic bridge and breathing new life into it. It is a meaningful event that symbolizes not only the 50 years of friendship and shared history between the Philippines and China, but also the prosperity and cultural legacy of Manila’s Binondo, the oldest Chinatown in the world,” he said.
He also emphasized that the revitalization of the golden age of Manila is an important part of the redevelopment of the historic city and the promotion of Filipino culture. That night, the lighting ceremony started after the music, the bridge lit up with the blue, red and white colors of the flag of the Philippines followed by a breath-taking fireworks display.
Jones Bridge is one of the important passages leading to Manila’s Chinatown. This event symbolizes the long-lasting friendship and cultural exchange between the Philippines and China, and also adds a new tourist spot to the capital of the Philippines, Manila, attracting more domestic and foreign tourists to enjoy the new style of urban night scenery.
Known as the “Queen of Manila Bridges,” the Jones Bridge spans the Pasig River, connecting downtown Manila with Binondo. The fireworks display marked the beginning of the “Pasig: Bigyang Buhay Muli Revitalization Project,” a project of President Marcos Jr. and his wife. This project will begin on June 7 with weekly light and music performances that will bring a new nighttime experience to the public.
菲華工商總會訊：總統小馬科斯與第一夫人瑪麗‧路易絲‧「麗莎」‧阿拉內塔‧馬科斯於六月七日（星期六）晚間，蒞臨馬尼拉市華人區著名地標——鍾示橋，親自主持亮燈儀式，隆重慶祝菲中建交五十週年。出席嘉賓還包括中國駐菲大使黃溪連，參議員彭敏直，馬尼拉市長拉庫納、候任市長莫雷諾，菲政要官員以及菲華各主要僑團領袖、代表。本會理事長黃書瑋亦受邀出席此盛會，與多位菲中政商名流齊聚一堂，共同見證這溫馨一刻。
小馬科斯於致詞中表示：「今晚，我們為這座經典的鍾示橋重新點亮光芒，為其注入新的生命。這場活動別具意義，不僅象徵菲中五十年的友誼與共同歷史，也見證世界上最古老華埠—馬尼拉岷倫洛的繁榮與文化傳承。」他也強調，復興岷倫洛黃金歲月，是推動歷史街區重建與弘揚菲律濱文化的重要一環。
當晚，隨著亮燈儀式啟動之後，音樂響起，大橋亮起菲律濱國旗藍、紅、白顏色，整座瓊斯橋燈光絢麗，讓人驚艷，接著璀燦的煙花在上空綻放，如火樹銀花傾瀉而下，吸引不少市民駐足觀賞、拍照留念。鍾示橋是通往馬尼拉中國城的重要通道之一，此次活動，象徵菲中長久友誼與文化交流，也為菲律濱首都馬尼拉市增添新亮點，吸引更多國內外遊客共賞都市夜景新風貌。
鍾示橋素有「馬尼拉橋后」之稱，橫跨巴石河，連接馬尼拉市中心與岷倫洛華埠。菲中兩國於一九七五年六月九日正式建交，此次燈光秀也正式為「巴石河活化計劃」（Pasig: Bigyang Buhay Muli）揭開序幕。這是由總統小馬科斯伉儷所推動，巴石河城市復興工作的一部分，並於六月七日起，每週將舉辦燈光與音樂匯演，為民眾帶來全新夜景體驗。
圖片說明：
上左圖：理事長黃書瑋（左）與小馬科斯總統（中）和菲華商聯總會理事長林榮輝在慶典活動上合影。上右圖：當晚的燈光煙花秀一幕。
中圖：理事長黃書瑋與中國駐菲律濱大使黃溪連閣下（中）合影。
下左圖：理事長黃書瑋與馬尼拉市長拉庫納合影。
下右圖：理事長黃書瑋與馬尼拉候任市長莫雷諾合影。