On November 24, Sunday, a huge fire broke out in the slum area of Isla Puting Bato in Tondo, Manila. The fire was raging and spreading rapidly, and lasted for more than six hours before it was finally extinguished through the joint efforts of the local government fire brigade and fire volunteers. The fire led to the destruction of nearly 1,000 homes, and displacement of 2,000 families who are now seeking shelter in temporary relocation centers of the city government.
In collaboration with the Filipino at Tsino Magkaibigan Foundation, Chinese Filipino Business Club, Inc. (CFBCI) President Samuel Lee Uy, Executive Vice President Gerald Uy Chan, and Vice President Paul Yeung, and other members of the organization visited the temporary relocation center for the victims of the mentioned fire on December 3, 2024. They successfully distributed five kilograms of rice to each of the 2,000 fire victims, a kind gesture which received much appreciation from the residents.
CFBCI President Samuel Lee Uy had the opportunity to personally address the residents in a short, sincere speech. He encouraged the fire victims to continue supporting each other and lift one another during this time of recovery. Above all, he sincerely asked the citizens to pray for peace and solidarity in our country, and root for its progress and development.
“The Filipino at Tsino Magkaibigan Foundation was formed by 32 major organizations in the Filipino-Chinese community, with CFBCI as one of its founding members, to promote the mutually benefiting friendship between the Filipino and Chinese people.”
菲華工商總會訊：馬尼拉市敦洛區「白石島」（Isla Puting Bato, Tondo）貧民區於十一月廿四日（星期日）上午發生一起八級火警，火勢洶湧，漫延迅速，持續將近六個多小時才在政府消防隊及菲華打火兄弟的全力灌救下，最終被撲滅；該場無情大火導致將近一千棟鐵皮屋被燒毀，超過二千戶家庭流離失所，災民被安排暫住在市政府的臨時安置中心。
本會理事長黃書瑋，執行副理事長曾國強及副理事長楊良田等人配合「菲中愛心基金」發揮「人溺己溺，人飢己飢」的人道救援精神，於十二月三日（星期二）下午，前往馬尼拉市敦洛區「白石島」災民臨時安置中心，發放每包五公斤大米及其他物資予二千受災戶，受到當地描籠涯官員及災民們的熱烈歡迎，每位領到大米的災民都很感謝來自華社的愛心。中國駐菲大使館新公處主任吳陳棋亦率隨員到場慰問災民及協助發放工作。
本會理事長黃書瑋在現場與災民們互動時表示，「菲中愛心基金」與災民們在逆境中同行，共渡難關，期盼大家能夠早日擺脫火災陰霾，重建家園，恢復正常生活。他也勉勵大家要彼此互相幫助及關懷，幫助別人不分貧富，大家都能以自己的方式，如用語言去讚美、鼓勵別人，用你們的善良去改變生活；為我們的國家祈禱，希望我們的社會愈來愈祥和，前景愈來愈美好。
「菲中愛心基金」是由華社三十二個主要團體所共同組成，本會亦是主要成員之一，旨在促進菲中人民之間的友好關係。
圖片說明：
上左圖：理事長黃書瑋慰問災民。
上右圖：（左起）曾國強，黃書瑋，楊良田與領取大米的災民親切合影。
中圖：菲中愛心基金成員單位代表在現場幫忙發放大米。
下圖：中國駐菲大使館新公處主任吳陳棋（中立者）與菲中愛心基金成員單位代表合影留念。