The Chinese Filipino Business Club, Inc., at the invitation of the Chinese Embassy in the Philippines, held an online and on-site gathering to celebrate the Chinese Lunar New Year on Tuesday evening, January 16, with the presence of CFBCI President Mr. Stephen Sia and other officers.
The Chinese Lunar New Year reception was a lively affair. President Bongbong Marcos, First Lady Louise Marcos, and Vice President Sara Duterte sent their congratulatory video messages to the event, which was attended by nearly 1,000 people, including Foreign Minister Manalo, a number of ministers, senators and congressmen, senior officials from various departments, Manila Mayor Lacuna, and other mayors of cities in Metro Manila, foreign ambassadors in the Philippines, as well as representatives from Chinese institutions, international students, volunteer teachers, and Filipino-Chinese organizations.
On behalf of the Chinese Embassy in the Philippines, Ambassador Huang Xilian first gave a speech to all the guests and greeted them with the Chinese New Year of the Rabbit. He said the rabbit is an auspicious object with rich cultural connotation. The rabbit is good at jumping and always passes in front of obstacles, which means it is not afraid of difficulties and surpasses itself. In the new year, let's carry on the spirit of “free son" and join hands to leap over the obstacles to welcome a brighter future together.
In the video, President Marcos expressed his pleasure to celebrate the Chinese New Year with everyone, and the event gave the opportunity to learn about the rich culture and history of both countries and strengthen the ties between the two peoples. At the end of the video, the President and his wife wished everyone “congratulations and prosperity" in Chinese! In addition to congratulating everyone for the New Year, Vice President Duterte mentioned that President Marcos Jr.'s visit to China was a successful and fruitful one, and looked forward to closer relations between the two countries.
In addition to wine and food, there were also wonderful performances of songs and dances, a photo exhibition of “China's Extraordinary Decade in the New Era", a “Spring Festival Corner" with rabbit ornaments and a “Humanities Station" showcasing the achievements of humanistic exchanges between China and the Philippines, as well as an area for experiencing Chinese food, wine, tea and music. The Chinese New Year was full of flavor and cheerful. At the reception, our leaders and Ambassador Huang Xilian exchanged greetings and wished each other a happy Chinese New Year.
菲華工商總會訊：一月十六日（星期二）晚上，本會理事長謝國萬，名譽理事長許長安，榮譽理事長黃拔來，執行副理事長黃書瑋，副理事長蔡金東、林天德、施茵茵、許長泰，常務理事許有福、蔡清景，應中國駐菲律濱大使館的邀請，出席假環球城君銳大酒店宴會廳舉行的線上線下歡度中國農曆春節招待會，場面熱鬧非凡。總統馬科斯與第一夫人麗莎、副總統莎拉分別發來祝賀視頻，菲律濱外交部長馬納羅在內的多名部長及參議員、眾議員，多個部門的高級官員，馬尼拉市長拉庫娜等大岷各市市長，外國駐菲使節以及中資機構、留學生、志願者老師和菲華社團代表等近千人出席晚會。
黃溪連大使首先代表中國駐菲律濱使館致詞，向所有在場的嘉賓致上癸卯兔年新春問候。他說兔子是吉瑞之物，具有豐富的文化內涵，兔善於跳躍，在障礙面前總是一耀而過，寓意不畏困難，超越自我，在中文中，兔還諧音「途」，寓意前途似錦、大展宏圖。新的一年，讓我們發揚「免子」精神，攜手躍過障礙，共同迎來更加美好的未來。
馬科斯總統在視頻中表示非常高興同大家一起慶祝兔年新春，這次的活動讓大家有機會瞭解兩國豐富的文化和歷史，加強兩國人民之間的聯繫。視頻最後，總統夫婦用中文祝福大家「恭喜發財」！副總統莎拉除了向大家致上年節的祝賀外，並提到此次馬可斯總統成功訪華，取得豐碩成果，期待雙方關係能更加緊密，並祝願兩國民眾在新的一年事業有成，吉祥如意！
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，現場展出「新時代中國的非凡十年」圖片展，場外有用兔子飾品特色精心佈置的「春節角」和展示中菲人文交流成果的「人文驛站」，並設有中國美食、佳釀、香茗、雅樂等春節文化體驗區，年味十足，男士賓客西裝革履，女士套裙翩翩，歡聲笑語，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問候，同祝新春快樂。
圖片說明：酒會上合影。
上圖：（左起）許有福，黃拔來，林天德，許長安，黃書瑋，黃溪連大使，謝國萬，蔡金東，施茵茵，許長泰，蔡清景。
下左圖：（左起）蔡清景，菲華電視台製作人姚麗英，黃拔來，中國駐菲使館參贊兼總領事王悅，黃書瑋，謝國萬，施茵茵，蔡金東，許長泰。
下右圖：（左起）許長安，黃書瑋，馬尼拉市長拉庫娜，施茵茵。
