In celebration of the Lantern Festival of the Year of the Wood Snake, and the 50th Anniversary of the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations Between the Philippines and China, the Chinese Filipino Business Club, Inc. (CFBCI) facilitated the “Chinese Lantern Making Competition Awarding Ceremony” on February 9, 2025, Sunday, at Lucky Chinatown Atrium.
The ceremony was graced with the attendance of esteemed guests including Hon. John Marvin “Yul Servo” Cruz Nieto, Manila Vice Mayor; Hon. Shi Wei Jian, Consul of the Chinese Embassy in the Philippines; Mr. Willord Chua, Chairman of Manila Chinatown Development Council; member-organizations of Filipino at Tsino Magkaibigan Foundation; and other representatives of Chinese-Filipino community groups.
At the atrium of Lucky Chinatown Mall, 14 lanterns were displayed, made by students from the following schools: Chiang Kai Shek College, Saint Jude Catholic School, St. Peter the Apostle School, Quezon City Christian Academy, Philippine Cultural College, Philippine Chen Kuang High School, Philippine Academy of Sakya, Hope Christian High School, St. Stephen’s High School, Philippine Malabon Cultural Institute, Philippine Cultural College – Annex, Pace Academy, Philippine Sun Yat Sen High School, and Jose Abad Santos High School. Mall goers and other speculators were amazed by the creative design of each lantern, inspiring them to capture photos with their friends and loved ones.
The awarding ceremony hosted by Mr. Dominique Hao began with the solemn singing of the Philippine National Anthem. Afterwards, Mr. Gerald Uy Chan, Executive Vice President of CFBCI, delivered the welcome address. In his speech, EVP Chan said, “Today, we are celebrating the Chinese Lantern Festival not only as a symbol of our cultural and national pride, but to also exhibit our hope and relentless advocacy for peace and prosperity. May these colorful Chinese lanterns remind us that as we ascend to greater heights, we can also act as a beacon of light where there is misunderstanding and illuminate the paths of others in their journey towards success.” In Filipino, “tayo ay magliwanag, at magbigay-liwanag sa ating kapwa,” he added.
Afterward, Mr. William Rogando, Director of CFBCI, introduced the guests and his fellow officers/members. Then, Vice Mayor Nieto gave a message in which he recognized the consistent efforts of CFBCI and the Filipino at Tsino Magkaibigan Foundation in strengthening the ties between the Philippines and China. His message was followed by the speech of Hon. Shi Wei Jian who praised the craftsmanship and cultural awareness of the competition’s participants. To enlighten the crowd about the history and significance of the Lantern Festival, Mr. Antonio Tan, Vice President of CFBCI, also gave an impactful message.
Then, the judges were introduced, namely: Mr. Dewey Tan, a calligraphy expert; Mr. Baldwin Kho, a visual artist and a humanitarian; Ms. Aileen Chiu, a renowned author; Mrs. Andrea Ong, a literary expert, and Mr. Manuel Kiwahko, a veteran painter. They received a token of appreciation from CFBCI as well plaques of appreciation. The member-organizations of Filipino at Tsino Magkaibigan Foundation presented gifts to the trainers from the contending 14 schools.
At the heart of the ceremony, the winners were announced who each received cash prize and trophies. Here are the winners of this year’s Chinese Lantern Making Competition:
OVERALL WINNERS
🥇 First Place
Quezon City Christian Academy
🥈 Second Place
Philippine Cultural College – Main
🥉 Third Place
Saint Jude Catholic School
EXCELLENCE AWARDEES 🏆
🏵️ Most Unique
Chiang Kai Shek College
🏵️ Most Original
Philippine Chen Kuang High School
🏵️ Best Concept
Hope Christian High School
🏵️ Best Craftsmanship
St. Stephen’s High School
🏵️ Most Eco-Friendly
Jose Abad Santos High School
SPECIAL AWARDEES 🏆
🏵️ Philippine Cultural College – Main
🏵️ Pace Academy
🏵️ Philippine Academy of Sakya
🏵️ Philippine Malabon Cultural Institute 菲律賓嗎拉汶文化書院
🏵️ St. Peter the Apostle School
🏵️ Philippine Sun Yat Sen High School
SOCIAL MEDIA POPULARITY AWARD 🏆
🥇 First Place (2.8k reactions)
Chiang Kai Shek College
🥈 Second Place (2.7k reactions)
Jose Abad Santos High School
菲華工商總會訊：本會於二月九日（星期日）下午二時，聯合馬尼拉市政府，馬尼拉華人區發展委員會，菲中愛心基金，菲律濱華文學校聯合會，嘉南中學，菲華電視台，菲中電視台等單位假美加廣場中庭舉辦「金蛇慶元宵，菲中永結好」元宵節燈籠製作比賽頒獎典禮。當天應邀出席頒獎禮的貴賓有馬尼拉市副市長尤素福，中國駐菲律濱大使館領事施偉健，馬尼拉市政府華人區發展委員會主席蔡臻蔚，馬尼拉華人區描籠涯組織主席劉少強，菲中愛心基金成員單位代表：菲華商聯總會副理事長許學禹，菲華各界聯合會理事長蔡永寧，菲律濱中國商會會長侯世練，旅菲各校友會聯合會主席洪珊誼，菲律濱晉江同鄉總會理事長姚金鎮，菲律濱各宗親會聯合會主席許文忠、洪國強，世界福建青年菲律濱聯會常務副會長王名渠，菲律濱漳廈龍同海總會理事長李敏，菲華溪仔婆聯合總商會副會長高劍靈等人。本會名譽理事長謝國萬，執行副理事長曾國強，副理事長楊良田、陳華民，董事杜祖蔭、柯仁義，常務理事吳治平、留牡丹、洪海濱、莊南文、葉啟龍及理事佘玲玲、呂偉利、王明雄等人，到場共襄盛舉，場面即熱鬧又盛大。
當天美加廣場中庭，井然有序地排列著十四盞由公私立學校初高中生製作，具獨特創意的元宵節燈籠，分別是：計順市基督書院、Abad Santos High School、僑中學院分校、中正學院、天主教崇德學校、嘉南中學、聖公會中學、培基中學、僑中學院總校、菲律濱佛教能仁中學、晨光中學、嗎拉汶文化書院、菲律濱中山中學及天主教培德中學，造型各異的作品，吸引了大批商場民眾圍觀，拍照留念。
頒獎典禮由郭彥希擔任主持人，並且在演奏莊嚴肅穆的菲中國歌後拉開序幕。本會執行副理事長曾國強致歡迎時表示，感謝各界貴賓、學校師生及社區代表的踴躍參與，並表示本會一直致力於推動菲中文化交流，期盼大家能夠繼續給予支持。他也指出，此次元宵節燈籠製作比賽不僅是對傳統工藝的致敬，更象徵著兩國友誼的薪火相傳，並補充說，「今天我們不僅慶祝元宵節，更是為了展現我們對和平與繁榮的共同願景，希望這些色彩繽紛的燈籠，能夠提醒我們在攀登更高峰的同時，也要成為照亮他人前行道路的光明」。他也以菲律濱語 「Tayo ay Magliwanag, at Magbigay Liwanag sa Ating Kapwa」（我們要發光，並照亮他人）作結尾，呼籲大家攜手合作，創造更美好的未來。
隨後，由本會董事杜祖蔭介紹出席活動的貴賓及菲中愛心基金成員單位領導。馬尼拉市副市長尤素福發表感言時，肯定本會與菲中愛心基金的貢獻和努力，並指出華社對菲律濱社會的發展貢獻良多，也促進了馬尼拉與中國的友好關係。
中國駐菲律濱大使館領事施偉健在致詞中表示，元宵節不僅是中華民族的傳統佳節，更承載著團圓與希望，並且高度讚揚此次燈籠製作比賽，稱每一盞花燈都凝聚了參賽者的匠心巧思，展現了文化自信與創造力。 她也回顧了中菲半世紀的深厚友誼，強調兩國在文化交流中不斷深化理解，期待未來能攜手共創更加美好的篇章。菲中愛心基金代表、商總副理事長許學禹致詞時，期盼華社未來能夠舉辦更多有助於促進兩國友好交流的活動。本會副理事長陳華民也向所有與會人士闡述簡介元宵節的由來，讓現場觀眾進一步了解這個非常重要的華人傳統節日。
緊接著，介紹五位評審委員：郭國利，陳瓊華，楊逸萍，莊玄良，張文霖，並由本會領導上台頒贈感謝狀和禮金，隨後有請菲中愛心基金成員單位代表上台贈送禮品予十四所學校指導老師。接著由中國駐菲大使館領事施偉健頒發五個資優獎，每隊獲得獎狀及獎金六千元：
「最具特色獎」：菲律濱中正學院。隊員：王梓涵，葉巧瑜，蘇曉蘭，林金泉。指導老師：許麗麗。燈籠作品主題：福蛇送財。
「最具獨創性獎」：晨光中學。隊貝：黛德麗，凱特，紮伊亞，施安安。指導老師：鍾富有。燈籠作品主題：靈蛇迎春，花燈送福。
「最佳主題獎」：嘉南中學。隊員：南志強 ，陳春木，區尼戈，王文霜。指導老師：紅雲。燈籠作品主題：盤蛇共榮。
「最佳手工獎」：聖公會中學。隊員：王仟仟，邱文昌，高雅倩，陳嘉嘉。指導老師：李偉有博士。燈籠作品主題：蛇耀同光，捨得同心。
「最具環保概念獎」：Jose Abad Santos High School。隊員：Jake Gonio，Chriz Paul Marbibi，Nathaniel silvanathan，Ian Pelpinosas。指導老師：Nestorio L. Reyes Jr.。燈籠作品主題：Golden Snake Lantern。
隨即宣佈萬眾矚目乙巳年「金蛇慶元宵，菲中永結好」燈籠製作比賽的冠、亞、季軍得主，由菲中愛心基金成員單位代表、馬尼拉市政府華人區發展委員會主席蔡臻蔚及本會執行副理事長曾國強等上台頒發：
冠軍得主：計順市基督學院。隊員：吳良濱，尤力偉，李艾玲，蔡梅梅。指導老師： 吳宏澤。燈籠作品主題：菲中建交五十載，蛇年吉祥富貴花。獲得冠軍獎牌及獎金一萬五千元。
亞軍得主：僑中學院總校。隊員：黃光燊，黃文斌，林佳霖，王美琳。指導老師：鑒康利。燈籠作品主題：龍蛇共舞，五十同輝。獲得亞軍獎牌及獎金一萬元。
季軍得主：天主教崇德學校。隊員：陳璁儀，蔡依廷，姜識弘，吳珍珊。指導老師：盧亞蕾。燈籠作品主題：靈蛇獻瑞新春至，中菲攜手共繁榮。獲得季軍獎牌及獎金八千元。
菲律濱華文學校聯合會領導則頒發六個優秀獎，每隊獲得獎狀及獎金五千元，分別是：菲律濱僑中學院分校。隊員：陳曉琳，呂瀅榆，吳佩珊，許晶晶。指導老師：孫黎黎。燈籠作品主題：錦繡巳意。培基中學。隊員：蔡瀚霖，許詩妤，蔡依琳。指導老師：莊真文老師。燈籠作品主題：瑞蛇和鳴。菲律濱佛教能仁中學。隊員：佳怡，佳琦，詩麗，楊振捷。指導老師：Mr. John Deo Del Castillo。燈籠作品主題：蛇來運轉，菲中同心。菲律濱嗎拉汶文化書院。隊員：劉艾莉，陸吉安，毛莉，羅娜。指導老師：山儒力。燈籠作品主題：祥蛇獻瑞。天主教培德中學。隊員：許慧琳，陳津瓊，洪琳琳，林素妃。指導老師：Ms. Melody Mae Benitez。燈籠作品主題：福滿蛇年 情繫菲中。菲律濱中山中學。隊員：王小龍，蘇依良，洪吉蓮，陳珍。指導老師：李如好。燈籠作品主題：蛇年大吉，福星高照。
最後頒發「菲華工商總會最具人氣獎」，該獎項是由前一天（二月八日）下午燈籠製作完成後，秘書處把成品照片上傳到本會臉書，供民眾瀏覽參賽燈籠，並集廿四小時得到民眾點贊最多的燈籠獲得。無盞燈籠都獲熱烈反響，最終由菲律濱中正學院2.8K點贊率獲得該奬狀和獎品；另外Jose Abad Santos High School獲得2.7K點贊率，由於點數相近，亦獲頒獎品鼓勵。頒獎典禮順利於下午四時圓滿結束，緊接著由各華校學生為慶祝元宵節準備的文藝節目匯演。
圖片說明：
上圖：（左起）曾國強，尤素福副市長，施偉健領事，許學禹，陳華民，杜祖蔭，郭彥希致詞、主持之影。
中圖一：本會出席領導同仁在頒獎典禮前與貴賓合影（左起）佘玲玲，吳治平，杜祖蔭，洪海濱，柯仁義，留牡丹，王名渠，楊良田，陳華民，蔡臻蔚，許學禹，許根鋒，尤素福副市長，姚麗英，劉少強，曾國強，Terence Alibarbar市議員，葉啟龍，王名雄，李敏。
中圖二：（左圖）頒發感謝狀及紅包予四位出席評審委員（左起）蔡臻蔚，楊逸萍評審，謝國萬，陳瓊華評審，曾國強，莊玄良評審，楊良田，郭國利評審，陳華民。（右圖）乙巳年元宵節燈籠製作比賽冠、亞、季軍獎牌。
中圖三：菲中愛心基金成員單位領導頒贈禮品予十四位指導老師。
中圖四：五盞榮獲特別獎燈籠（左起）菲律濱中正學院「最具特色獎」；晨光中學「最具獨創性獎」；嘉南中學「最佳主題獎」；聖公會中學「最佳手工獎」；「最具環保概念獎」：Jose Abad Santos High School。
中圖五：頒發冠軍獎牌及獎金予計順市基督學院（左起）李敏，洪國強，許文忠，侯世練，蔡永寧，許學禹，蔡臻蔚，曾國強，李仁仁校長，吳宏澤指導老師，施偉健領事，陳華民，姚金鎮，高劍靈，楊良田。
中圖六：頒發亞軍獎牌及獎金予僑中學院總校，由校長黃琬蓉博士接受。
中圖七：頒發季軍獎牌及獎金予天主教崇德學校。
中圖八：頒發「菲華工商總會最具人氣獎」予中正學院（左圖）及Jose Abad Santos High School（右圖）。
下圖：菲律濱華文學校聯合會領導頒發六個優秀獎。