In March and April 2026, the Chinese Filipino Business Club, Inc. (CFBCI) conducted two ceremonies conferring the title of “President Emeritus” upon Mr. Basilio C. Yap, Chairman of the Board of The Manila Hotel and Chairman of Manila Bulletin Publishing Corporation, and Amb. Carlos Chan, Founder of the Liwayway Group.
The conferment of these honorary titles served not only as a tribute to their exceptional achievements but also as a strategic affirmation of CFBCI’s commitment to strengthening ties with key industry leaders. By aligning with figures of such stature, CFBCI reinforces its role in advancing economic development, fostering solidarity, and expanding opportunities for future collaboration within the Chinese-Filipino business sector.
On 12 March 2026, CFBCI President Gerald Uy Chan led a delegation to the Manila Bulletin headquarters in Intramuros, Manila to formally confer the title of President Emeritus upon Mr. Basilio C. Yap. Representing CFBCI, President Chan was accompanied by Honorary President Samuel Lee Uy, Honorary Vice President Johnny Lee, Executive Vice President Paul Yeung, Vice President Antonio Tan, Vice President William Rogando, Director Gregorio Lagamayo, and Director Jimmy Ang.
In his remarks, President Chan underscored that true entrepreneurial success is measured not only by business accomplishments but also by meaningful societal contributions and mentorship of future generations. Mr. Yap was recognized as a model of the Chinese-Filipino entrepreneurial spirit, exemplifying diligence and civic responsibility.
Subsequently, on 10 April 2026, President Chan spearheaded a second ceremony in Don Don Tei Restaurant in Pasay City to confer an honorary distinction upon Amb. Carlos Chan, the founder of Liwayway Group and the famous Oishi Snack Brand. His recognition as a recipient of the Magnolia Gold Award, his designation as an Honorary Citizen of Shanghai, and his service as the Philippines’ Special Envoy to China reflect a life committed to building bridges and fostering mutual progress.
To award the prestigious title, President Chan was joined by Honorary President Samuel Lee Uy, Executive Vice President Paul Yeung, Vice President Henry Lim, Vice President Vicente Co, Vice President Antonio Tan, Vice President William Rogando, Director Ng Kong Kiong, Director Mylene Hao Co, Director Jimmy Ang, Director Ellen Martines, Director Robert B. Chua, Corporate Secretary Henry Go, and Member Christian Chan. Jameson Ong. Executive Assistant of Amb. Chan, is also present at the ceremony.
In his address, President Chan emphasized Amb. Chan’s longstanding service to CFBCI, highlighting over two decades of quiet yet impactful leadership, marked by integrity and sustained support for organizational growth and community advancement.
To commemorate these milestones, CFBCI presented both honorees with a symbolic “Golden Bridge,” inscribed with the message, “A golden bridge connecting the world, a glorious legacy that lasts forever.” This symbolizes their significant role in strengthening ties between China and the Philippines and fostering international trade and goodwill.
Moving forward, CFBCI aims to continue benefiting from their guidance and wisdom, as it advances its mission of cultivating business leadership, promoting social responsibility, and contributing to national progress.
菲華工商總會訊：本會於二零二六年三月及四月份先後舉行兩場意義非凡的聘任儀式，敦聘馬尼拉大酒店董事局主席、武力鎮報社主席葉謀隆先生（Mr. Basilio Yap），及上好佳集團創辦人施恭旗特使（Amb. Carlos Chan）擔任榮譽理事長。
該儀式旨在致敬兩位商界巨擘，長期以來深耕菲華社會、引領行業發展的卓越成就。此次榮銜的授予，不僅是對兩位領袖非凡風範致以崇高敬意，更象徵著本會與業界巔峰力量的深度凝結，為未來共促華社繁榮、共拓商貿新局奠定了堅實的戰略基礎。
二零二六年三月十二日（星期四）下午，本會理事長曾國強親率董事會成員，專程赴馬尼拉王城區《馬尼拉公報》（Manila Bulletin）總部，向葉謀隆主席頒授榮譽理事長榮銜。隨行成員包括：名譽理事長黃書瑋，名譽副理事長李少平，執行副理事長楊良田，副理事長陳華民、杜祖蔭，以及董事許福星、洪海濱。馬尼拉大酒店董事局副主席葉永敏博士亦親臨現場，共同見證這一莊嚴且具歷史意義的時刻。
曾國強理事長在致辭中對葉謀隆主席的卓越領導力給予了極高評價。他表示：「一位偉大企業家的成就，不僅鐫刻在其宏大的商業版圖上，更體現在其對社會的無私回饋與對後輩的智慧啟迪。」曾理事長讚譽葉主席是菲華企業家精神的傑出典範——其勤奮務實的作風、洞察時代的視野以及慷慨奉獻的胸懷，為菲律濱的國家建設與華社繁榮作出了不可磨滅的貢獻。
另外，於二零二六年四月十日（星期五）下午，本會理事長曾國強偕同多位領導同員，專程前往位於巴西市、由施恭旗特使家族旗下的 Oishi Gourmet Foods, Inc. (OGFI) 引入菲律濱的特許經營品牌「丼丼亭」（Don Don Tei） 日式餐廳，向施恭旗特使頒授榮譽理事長榮銜。此次隨行的領導同仁包括：名譽理事長黃書瑋，執行副理事長楊良田，副理事長林天德、許長泰、陳華民、杜祖蔭，董事黃光強、侯逸蘭、洪海濱、蔡文微、施玲玲，立案秘書吳恒利，以及理事長公子曾華銘。施恭旗特使特助王勇先生亦在場共同見證。
曾國強理事長在致辭中滿懷敬意地表示，施恭旗特使不僅是一位在國際商貿領域取得非凡成就的巨擘，更是菲華商界堅持誠信、踐行使命的精神指引。曾理事長特別動情地回顧道：「施特使在過去二十四年間，長期擔任本會董事一職，始終秉持謙遜低調、潤物無聲的處世態度，默默支持本會會務發展。其高瞻遠矚的智慧與循循善誘的指導，不僅推動了本會的成長，更為菲華社群的長遠發展奠定了穩固的基石。」
為了銘記這兩份橫跨時代、惠及僑社的卓越貢獻，本會於授銜儀式上，分別向葉謀隆主席與施恭旗特使致贈了寓意深遠的「金橋」，題詞：「金橋連四海，情誼固千秋」。這不僅是對兩位領袖多年來聯通中菲、橋接全球貿易與友誼之豐功偉績的至高評價，更是雙方歷久彌新、堅如磐石之情誼的縮影。
展望未來，本會深切期冀能繼續得到葉謀隆主席與施恭旗特使兩位榮譽理事長的鼎力支持與高瞻遠矚的指導。憑藉兩位領袖豐厚的商業智慧與社會影響力，必將引領本會更精准地把握時代脈搏，為會務注入不竭動力。
本會將始終秉持服務社會、促進發展的宗旨，在兩位前輩的提攜與見證下，攜手各界領袖，傾力培育新一代企業人才，為國家進步與華社繁榮持續貢獻磅礴力量。
圖片說明：贈送「紀念金橋」予兩位榮譽理事長。
上圖：（左起）杜祖蔭，李少平，楊良田，葉永敏博士，葉謀隆，曾國強，黃書瑋，陳華民，洪海濱，許福星。
下圖：（左起）施玲玲，侯逸蘭，曾華銘（後立者），杜祖蔭，陳華民，黃書瑋，楊良田，施恭旗特使，曾國強，林天德，許長泰，洪海濱，吳恆利，黃光強，蔡文微，王勇。
