After long years of waiting, the Chinese Filipino Business Club, Inc. has resumed one of its most colorful and festive projects. Through partnership with the Department of Tourism, Culture, and Arts of Manila, the local government of Lungsod ng Maynila, the Manila Chinatown Development Council, Chinatown Barangay Organization Manila, Lucky Chinatown, Association of Chinese-Filipino Schools in the Philippines, Hope Christian High School, and CHiNOY TV, CFBCI celebrated the Chinese Lantern Festival and facilitated the Chinese Lantern Making Competition 2023.
The competition was held in Hope Christian School on February 4, 2023 where eleven groups, each composed of four delegates from the following schools, have attended: St. Stephen’s High School, Quezon City Christian Academy, Saint Peter the Apostle School, Philippine Cultural College Annex, Philippine Institute of Quezon City, Philippine Cultural College, Philippine Sun Yat Sen High School, Philippine Academy of Sakya, Philippine Cheng Kuang School, Hope Christian High School, and Chiang Kai Shek College. Each lantern was rated by an exceptional roster of judges namely Mrs. Andrea Ong, Mrs. Kuang Wenhun L., Mr. Chua Hu Hua, Mr. Baldwin Kho, and Mr. Dewey Tan.
The awarding ceremony proceeded the day after at the Lucky Chinatown Mall Atrium which was attended by numerous honorable guests including Manila Vice Mayor Yul Servo and His Excellency Hoang Huy Chung, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam to the Republic of the Philippines. The Philippine Institute of Quezon City bagged the First Prize (PHP 15,000), Quezon City Christian Academy won the Second Prize (PHP 10,000), and the Philippine Academy of Sakya brought home the Third Prize (PHP 8,000). Aside from cash rewards, each group also received a trophy from CFBCI.
In terms of excellence awards, Saint Peter the Apostle School won the Most Unique Award, Philippine Cultural College obtained the Most Originality Award, Hope Christian High School secured the Best Concept Award, Chiang Kai Shek College attained the Best Craftsmanship Award, and St. Stephen’s High School earned the Most Eco-Friendly Award. Each school received a plaque of recognition and cash reward worth PHP 6,000 each from CFBCI. Aside from excellence awards, the following three schools also received the Cooperative Award: Philippine Cheng Kuang School, Philippine Sun Yat Sen High School, and Philippine Cultural College. These school received a plaque of recognition and cash reward worth PHP 5,000 each from CFBCI. Lastly, the Philippine Academy of Sakya was hailed as Lucky Chinatown Shoppers’ Most Liked Lantern which received tickets to Chinatown Museum provided by the Lucky Chinatown Mall.
After the awarding ceremony, a cultural presentation was held where ten groups of performers exhibited the cultural heritage and pride of the Filipino-Chinese community. As CFBCI President Stephen Sia said, may the Filipino-Chinese community learn from Chinese lanterns the lesson that as we ascend to greater heights, we can also light the paths of others in their journey toward success. The organization encourages everyone to continue helping each other in ways no matter how big or small.
菲華工商總會：本會聯合馬尼拉市政府華人區發展委員會，於元宵節前夕，二月四日上午假嘉南中學舉辦《宏兔大展慶元宵》華校學生燈籠製作比賽。這次比賽特別邀請到多位文化藝術界的知名人士擔任評審，以他們的專業及豐富閱歷，共同為競賽評選把關。以下是評審老師的簡介：
陳瓊華女士，光年印刷公司董事長。王國棟文藝基金會會長，亞洲華文作家文藝基金會董事，亞洲華文作家文藝協會常務理事。耕園文藝社常務理事。聯合日報耕園文藝周刊主編。
李文蘅女士，服務華校四十二年，歷任教師，主任，校長。於二零二一年退休。曾榮獲宿霧無名氏模範華文教師獎。現任亞洲華文作家基金會理事兼秘書長，現任亞洲華文作家協會秘書長，現任菲律賓華青文藝社工作委員。華青園地月刊主編。現任千島詩社委員。
蔡富華先生，自幼愛好書畫琴棋，菲華書法學會秘書長。自得書畫會會長。書法作品與文章投稿於世界日報文藝副刊。二零一五年榮獲聖公會中學頒發「傑出校友—文學藝術科學獎」。
莊玄良先生Mr. Baldwin Kho，是菲律濱的視覺藝術家和人道主義者，以宣導各種慈善事業而聞名。是第一個榮獲世界和平祈禱協會頒發獎項的菲律濱華人，二零一一年被國際和平組織授予國際和平人道主義者獎，二零零九年KAPAYAPAAN國際兒童藝術節創始人。菲律濱華人博物館“Bahay Tsinoy”的館長。
張文霖先生Mr. Dewey Tan，自幼愛好書法，剪紙，宮燈等手工製作。曾榮獲馬尼拉市政府舉辦春節燈籠比賽兩次冠軍。曾參加海內外華人書法大展參展，韓國華人書法展參展。現任菲華青年企業家會員，菲華書法會會員。
五位評審老師分別來自文藝界、教育界、書法界和文化藝術界等各個領域，都是學有專精，極具公信力的專業人士。
此次比賽共有十一所大岷區華校報名參加。在經過參賽學生四個小時緊鑼密鼓的精心製作，終於下午一時完成作品，並與指導老師離開賽場。五位評審老師於下午兩時蒞臨比賽現場，由理事吳治平及秘書蔡艷霞親切接待，並講解評分規則，根據手工技藝、獨創性、綜合難度與色澤選配、文化元素、和作品結構等為依據，進行評選。為保密及公平起見，每盞參賽燈籠都只註明所抽號碼，評審根據成品從文化角度和藝術視野，逐一對十一盞參賽燈籠進行評分。在評審過程中，老師們也提供了以往多次參與各項評鑑活動的經驗，指點出優劣點。最終名次獲得五位評審一致通過，順利完成比賽程序。
十一盞參賽燈籠現展示在美加廣場後面新天地商場(City Place Square Mall)三樓小教堂附近(3rd floor near side of the chapel at the prosperity wing)。將展覽至二月底。歡迎廣大民眾前往觀賞打卡。
圖片說明：
上圖：（左至右）本會秘書處同仁吳宛盈，秘書蔡艷霞，菲華電視台台長姚麗英，張文霖，李文蘅，陳瓊華，蔡富華，莊玄良，吳治平。
下圖：五位評審在現場對參賽燈籠進行評分 。
