On the morning of January 14, the Chinese Filipino Business Club, Inc. (CFBCI) Metro Manila Delegation arrived in Bacolod City, the “City of Smiles,” marking the sixth stop of its series of regional business forums. The delegation led by President Samuel Lee Uy also included: Honorary President Stephen Tan Sia, EVP Gerald Uy Chan, Director William Rogando, Director Edwin John Ty, Trade and Commerce Committee Vice Chairman Jimmy Ang, External Affairs Committee Vice Chairman Benito Uy, External Affairs Committee Vice Chairman Ramon Uy, Members Dr. Eduardo Tan and Paul Gabriel Co, and Secretariat personnel Ellen Chong, Mex Bausa, and Judith Tan.

Departing Manila via Philippine Airlines, the delegation was warmly received at Bacolod-Silay International Airport by our provincial members together with Bacolod Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce & Industry Inc. (BFCCCII), Bacolod Filipino-Chinese Junior Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and Chamber Volunteer Fire Brigade members. The presentation of locally crafted mask ornaments set a cordial and ceremonial tone, underscoring the strong ties between the delegation and local business and civic groups.

Accompanied by our provincial members, the delegation proceeded to Silay to visit several well-preserved ancestral homes, immersing themselves in the heritage of the “Little Paris of the Philippines” during its sugar industry heyday. They also toured Emma Lacson’s Delicacies, a century-old pastry shop, where members observed traditional handmade processes and sampled its renowned empanadas. The visit continued at The Ruins, a historic landmark celebrated for its romantic lore and European-inspired architecture, offering a vivid glimpse into the region’s cultural legacy.

At noon, BFCCCII hosted a luncheon at Gina’s Seafood Restaurant, featuring an array of fresh local seafood that fostered lively interaction and camaraderie. In the afternoon, accompanied by representatives of the BFCCCII, the delegation visited The Negros Museum. Through miniature models, murals, and traditional crafts, the museum’s narrative approach provided deep insights into the region’s history from indigenous roots and the Spanish period to the rise and transformation of the sugar industry, highlighting the resilience and adaptability of the local community.

The delegation later paid a courtesy visit to the BFCCCII Headquarters and its Volunteer Fire Brigade Headquarters, where they were briefed on organizational operations and public service initiatives, including the deployment of a 55-meter hydraulic aerial ladder fire truck designed for high-rise emergencies. In the evening, BFCCCII hosted a dinner at Nena’s Rose Restaurant, featuring Chicken Inasal and other local specialties. The warm exchange of ideas and fellowship over dinner brought the first day of the Bacolod visit to a meaningful and memorable close.

菲華工商總會訊：本會第十四屆外埠巡迴訪問團於一月十四日（星期三）上午，順利抵達素有「微笑之城（City of Smiles）」美譽的描戈律市（Bacolod），開啟為期三天兩夜的第六站交流行程。訪問團與當地商會及社團展開密集交流與實地參訪，進一步深化了本會與當地商貿組織及社團的友好合作關係，為雙方未來的經貿對接奠定堅實基礎。

訪問團於當日上午自馬尼拉搭乘菲航班機，順利抵達描戈律－錫萊國際機場（Bacolod-Silay International Airport）。本會地區理事洪宗華、鄭國仁——亦是現任描戈律菲華工商聯合會理事長，率領該會領導成員、志願消防隊員和青年商會成員，早已在機場熱情等候。迎接隊伍為巡訪團成員掛上富有地方特色的精美面具掛飾，場面熱烈隆重。

隨後，訪問團在本會地區理事的陪同下，前往人文薈萃的錫萊市（Silay City）。團員們隨後穿梭於多座名聞遐邇的 祖傳屋（Ancestral Homes），在古木幽香與精緻雕琢間，細細品讀這座『菲律賓小巴黎』在糖業黃金時代的璀璨風華。站參訪抵達傳承百年的糕點名店 Emma Lacson’s Delicacies，透過現場觀摩工人傳統手工製程，深入了解當地飲食產業的匠心精神，並品嚐其馳名中外的手工肉餡餅（Empanada）。接著參訪歷史名勝 The Ruins ，在壯麗的斷垣殘壁間，品味這座結合浪漫傳奇與歐式建築美學的百年遺跡，深刻體驗當地特有的文化魅力。

正午時分，描戈律菲華工商聯合會特假當地享譽盛名的 Gina’s Seafood Restaurant 設宴款待。席間，主辦方準備了多道鮮甜道地的在地海鮮珍饈，讓長途跋涉的團員們大飽口福，席間賓主互動熱絡，情誼融洽。

下午，在描戈律菲華工商聯合會志願消防隊員蔡中一，和王允謙律師的陪同下，訪問團抵達內格羅斯博物館(The Negros Museum)。這座坐落於歷史建築內的文化殿堂，以其「不收藏古物，只訴說故事」的獨特理念令團員印象深刻。透過館內精緻的微縮模型、大型壁畫與傳統手工藝品，訪問團深入了解了當地從原住民起源、西班牙殖民時期，到「糖業帝國」興衰的演進史。在參觀過程中，特別感佩於當地人民在面對產業轉型與歷史變遷時所展現的韌性與智慧。

隨後，訪問團一行前往禮訪描戈律菲華工商聯合會及其所屬的志願消防隊會所。該消防隊於去年七月接收了一輛五十五公尺級（約 180 英尺） 的液壓高層雲梯消防車。該車具備三百六十度旋轉平台與每分鐘三千加侖（GPM）的超大噴水量，最大救援與作業高度可達十八層樓，專為應對描戈律市日益增多的高層建築火災而設計。在深入聽取關於僑團運作及消防體系建設的簡報後，訪問團對該會長期投入社會服務與公益事業，表達高度肯定。

晚間，描戈律菲華工商聯合會於 Nena’s Rose Restaurant 盛情設宴。主辦方特別準備了描戈律最負盛名的城市名片——道地炭烤雞（Chicken Inasal）及多道當地特色料理。席間氣氛溫馨歡愉，賓主雙方在品味珍饈的同時，進一步分享商貿經驗、暢敘同胞情誼，為首日的考察行程劃下圓滿且充滿溫度的句點。

本次描戈律外埠巡迴訪問團第一天成員包括：執行副理事長曾國強，董事杜祖蔭、鄭奕偉，常務理事顏漢龍、洪海濱，同仁楊金豐、許煒楠，中文秘書蔡艷霞、西文秘書梅西卡，以及聯絡吳宛盈等。

圖片說明：
上左右圖：本會外省巡迴訪問團受到當地同仁及華商熱情迎接，賓主在機場合影留念。富有地方特色的精美面具掛飾。
中圖一：（左右圖）品嚐Emma Lacson’s Delicacies的手工肉餡餅和參訪當地歷史名勝 The Ruins。
中圖二：（左圖）晚宴品嚐當地特色料理道地炭烤雞（Chicken Inasal）。（右圖）禮訪描戈律菲華工商聯合會及其所屬的志願消防隊會所，兩隻祥獅熱烈迎接巡訪團成員的來到；在理事長鄭國仁辦公室合影留念。
下圖：巡訪團成員與描戈律菲華工商聯合會領導同仁在志願消防隊的高層雲梯消防車前合影。