On 19 January 2025, the Chinese Filipino Business Club, Inc. (CFBCI) attended the “2025 Chinese New Year Reception by the Embassy of the People's Republic of China in the Republic of the Philippines." CFBCI officers and members, led by President Samuel Lee Uy, were delighted to attend the mentioned banquet, which was also graced with the attendance of various business and political leaders in the country.
Vice President Sara Duterte and First Lady Liza Marcos sent congratulatory videos to express their best wishes for the Chinese New Year. More than 1,000 Filipino politicians and businessmen, members of the diplomatic corps, representatives of Chinese enterprises, leaders of major Chinese community groups, students, volunteers and teachers, and media personnel gathered to celebrate the festive season together in a grand and bustling scene.
Upon arrival at the venue, the organizer's welcome staff draped a red scarf with the word “褔” and the pattern of “golden snake” embroidered on the two ends of the scarf on each of the attendees, highlighting the vibrance and festivity of Chinese New Year.
His Excellency Huang Xilian, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People's Republic of China in the Philippines, relayed his greetings and said that the Spring Festival is a common festival for the people of many countries, including China and the Philippines, and it has been recognized by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) as an intangible cultural heritage of mankind.
He also emphasized that this year marks the 50th Anniversary of the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations Between China and the Philippines, and hoped that the two countries would look back to older times, listen to the voices of the people, and jointly cherish and safeguard the relationship between China and the Philippines for the betterment of the 1.5 billion people of the two countries. He wished the people of both countries happiness and well-being. “May the traditional friendship between China and the Philippines last forever!” he said.
The evening was filled with the sound of drums and lion dances, delicious wine and food, as well as wonderful performances, which made the evening a joyous one, with men in suits and women in dresses sharing a joyful atmosphere. During the reception, CFBCI officers and Ambassador Huang Xilian exchanged greetings for the Chinese New Year, and all the guests wished each other good luck in the Year of the Snake, and wished that China-Philippines relations would continue to foster positive changes in both nations.
菲華工商總會訊：一月十九日（星期日）下午六時卅分，理事長黃書瑋，執行副理事長曾國強，副理事長蔡金東、陳華民，董事洪香泉代表本會，與其他同仁；立案秘書吳恆利，常務理事謝文炳、蔡清景、王榮躍、施惠萍等人分別代表其他團體，應邀出席中國駐菲律濱大使館、菲華商聯總會、菲華各界聯合會及菲律濱中國商會，假達義市博尼法西奧環球城香格里拉大酒店所聯合舉辦的「乙巳蛇年，溫暖迎春」新春招待會。副總統莎拉與第一夫人麗莎‧馬科斯分別發來祝賀視頻，透過視頻向華僑華人及所有與會人士送上最誠摯的新春祝福。千餘位菲國政商界人士、外交使節團成員、中資企業代表、華社主要團體負責人、留學生、志願者老師及媒體人員齊聚一堂，共同歡渡佳節，場面盛大而熱鬧。
當晚本會出席的領導同仁在抵達會場時，主辦單位迎賓人員就為大家披上一條紅色圍巾，圍巾兩端分別繡著「褔」字和「金蛇」圖案，讓所有與會人士感受到濃濃的年味。
中國駐菲律濱特命全權大使黃溪連致歡迎詞時，首先向祖國人民、在菲同胞和菲各界人士致以新春祝福，並表示春節是包括中菲兩國在內許多國家人民共同的節日，目前已被聯合國教科文組織列為人類非物質文化遺產。黃大使同時指出，今年是中菲建交五十週年，期待中菲雙方回溯建交初心、傾聽人民心聲，共同珍惜和維護好中菲關係，更好地造福兩國十五億人民。最後希望所有人共同祝願中菲兩國繁榮昌盛！祝願兩國人民幸福安康！祝願中菲傳統友誼地久天長！
當晚鑼鼓喧天，舞獅賀新春，除了美酒佳餚，還有精彩的歌舞表演節目，年味十足，男士賓客西裝革履，女士套裙翩翩，把酒言歡，一片喜氣洋洋。在招待酒會上，本會領導同仁和黃溪連大使互致新春問候，和所有與會嘉賓互相祝賀蛇年行大運，祝福中菲關係行穩致遠、友誼長存。
圖片說明：酒會上合影。
上圖：（左起）蔡清景，吳恆利，黃書瑋，黃溪連大使，曾國強，蔡金東，謝文炳。
下圖：（左起）王榮躍，洪香泉，曾國強，蔡金東，蔡清景。
