The dawn of a new year brings fresh opportunities and renewed aspirations, especially for the scholars of the Chinese Filipino Business Club, Inc. (CFBCI). On January 19, 2025, CFBCI held its highly anticipated Life Skills and Motivational Seminar (LSMS) at Sky 1 Tower in Binondo, Manila.
The day commenced with a warm welcome and a check-in session, where scholars shared their thoughts on the new year. Facilitated by Mr. Richard Alviar, Chairman of the CFBCI Education Committee, the session served as a “kamustahan" (catching up), giving attendees the opportunity to reconnect, share personal reflections, and set intentions for the months ahead.
One of the key highlights was the Serendipity event led by President Samuel Lee Uy. Scholars participated in an insightful activity where they listed significant events from 2024 and their personal manifestations for 2025. Group discussions followed, fostering meaningful exchanges about achievements, goals, and aspirations. Mr. Uy further motivated attendees by sharing CFBCI’s remarkable milestone: in 2024, the organization proudly produced 26 graduates, including one summa cum laude, nine magna cum laudes, and 19 cum laudes — a testament to CFBCI’s commitment to academic excellence.
Building on this momentum, the seminar transitioned to a session focused on personal growth and well-being, with keynote speaker Ms. Mexica Bausa taking center stage. An alumna of the University of the Philippines Diliman and a CFBCI scholar from Batch 2020, Ms. Bausa, who is currently employed as a Public Affairs Officer at CFBCI, delivered a thought-provoking talk, “Ako Rin sa 2025: 8 Tips to Enjoy Life More.”
Ms. Bausa underscored the importance of balancing resilience with rest, emphasizing that life should not be purely about perseverance (padayon) but should also allow space for rest (pahuway). She spoke about the interplay between IQ and EQ, highlighting how emotional intelligence is just as crucial in navigating life's challenges.
Throughout her talk, she shared five core values she strives to live by: Gratitude – appreciating what we have, Reliability – striving to always do her best, Humility – acknowledging that we all have flaws, Authenticity – being true to oneself, and Compassion – showing kindness to others.
To illustrate the power of self-awareness and personal growth, Ms. Bausa presented a poignant scene from “The Hows of Us”, a film that portrays the struggles of pursuing dreams while balancing relationships. The scene resonated with scholars, highlighting themes of perseverance, self-worth, and the courage to walk away from situations that hinder growth. She then unveiled her 8 Tips to Enjoy Life More:
1. CHOOSE YOURSELF. LEARN THAT CHOOSING YOURSELF IS NOT SELFISH. Recognize that prioritizing your own needs and well-being is a powerful act of self-care, not an act of selfishness.
2. ENJOY THE MUNDANE AND LEARN TO MAKE BETTER CONVERSATIONS. Find beauty and growth in the ordinary moments, and use those experiences to deepen your connections through meaningful dialogues.
3. DEFINE YOUR OWN SUCCESS. Success is personal; it’s shaped by your values, passions, and goals, not by societal expectations.
4. BUILD AND CULTIVATE DISCIPLINE. Discipline is the foundation of achievement. Commit to small daily habits that push you toward your greater purpose.
5. ACHIEVE THE COURAGE TO BE DISLIKED. To stand in your truth requires bravery, even if it means not everyone will approve of your choices.
6. LEARN WHEN TO TURN THE PAGE, FEED THE MIND, AND SEEK NEW EXPERIENCES. Embrace change, challenge your perspective, and allow new experiences to nourish your growth and creativity.
7. BE MINDFUL OF HOW YOU USE YOUR FRIENDS. Friendships are valuable. Be intentional in your relationships, offering support and respect in return for the care you receive.
8. RECLAIM YOUR FOCUS IN A DISTRACTED WORLD. In a world filled with distractions, take control of your attention. Prioritize what matters most and practice staying present.
And to reinforce these lessons, Ms. Bausa conducted an interactive activity called “I Got Your Back.” Scholars taped papers on their backs, allowing peers to write anonymous first impressions and positive affirmations. Laughter and excitement filled the room as scholars discovered the kind words others had for them, proving that we often underestimate the goodness seen in us by others.
The LSMS concluded with the much-awaited Mr. and Ms. CFBCI 2024 Pageant, an event that had been postponed the previous year. Excitement filled the venue as scholars cheered on their fellow candidates, who showcased their confidence, talents, and charisma. Tricia S. Bernal of Universidad de Manila (UDM) was crowned Ms. CFBCI 2025, while Nicolai Dalumpines of Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (PLM) claimed the title of Mr. CFBCI 2025.
Jade Lucimell L. Clavido from PLM and Mark Joseph D. Andrade from UDM secured the 1st Runner-Up spots, while Jan Rica Rose Salvador of Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) and Oliver E. Concise of Eulogio “Amang" Rodriguez Institute of Science and Technology (EARIST) took home the 2nd Runner-Up titles. The Best in Tropical Attire award was given to Mark Joseph D. Andrade and Tricia S. Bernal for their stunning ensembles that embodied elegance and creativity. Following the pageant, scholars indulged in a delightful chicken barbecue meal with ensalada, a perfect way to cap off the seminar.
To further strengthen camaraderie, CFBCI officers encouraged volunteers to participate in the upcoming Chinese New Year celebration by contributing to the creation of the organization’s parade float. The first LSMS of 2025 was more than just a seminar — it was a launchpad for the scholars’ year ahead. Filled with reflection, motivation, and camaraderie, the event set a promising tone for the coming months. With strengthened values and a clear sense of purpose, CFBCI scholars are now ready to face 2025 with renewed determination and inspiration.
菲華工商總會訊：本會為培養受助生全方位的成長，每月定期邀請學友會成員，以各自的專業舉辦主題講座，開闊學員們的心靈，讓他們吸收新知識，成為德才兼備的青年，於元月十九日（星期日）上午，假八樓禮堂為「點亮未來」助學方案的受助生舉辦二零二五年一月份修養講座。當天本會理事長黃書瑋，董事曾煥眉，常務理事留牡丹及理事張其安等人到場聆聽，並給予專業指導。出席的受助生及學友會成員共一百十四名。
當天的主講人是二零二三年以優異成績(Cum Laude)畢業於菲律濱國立大學政治學系的受助生梅西卡(Mexica Bausa)，現任職於本會秘書處，擔任西文外交工作。講座的主題為「八個秘訣讓你更享受生活」。
講座開始前，董事曾煥眉說，這次修養講座起到了「問候」的作用，讓所有與會受助生及學友會成員有機會重新聯繫、分享個人感想，並為未來幾個月設定目標。另一個重要亮點是本會理事長黃書瑋讓與會受助生回顧二零二四年所發生的重大事件，以及這些事情將如何影響到他們二零二五年的個人表現。理事長黃書瑋向所有與會學員分享本會二零二四年總共栽培了廿六名受助生畢業，其中破記錄迎來第一位以最優異學業成績（Suma Cum Laude）畢業、九名以優異成績（Magna Cum Laude）畢業和另九名以優成績（Cum Laude）畢業。這是一個新的里程碑，希望各位學員繼續努力。
隨後，主講人梅西卡開始她的演說，她強調生活不應該僅僅是堅持不懈（padayon），還應該留出休息的空間（pahuway）。同時談到了智商和情商之間的相互作用，說到情商對於應對生活中的挑戰同樣至關重要。她分享了自我努力踐行的五個核心價值觀： 感恩—感激我們所擁有的一切；可靠—努力做到最好；謙遜—承認我們都有缺點；真實—做真實的自己；慈悲—善待他人。同時展示了電影《我們如何》中的一個感人場景，這部電影描繪了在平衡人際關係的同時追求夢想的艱難歷程。引起學員們的共鳴，突出了堅持不懈、自我價值以及勇於擺脫阻礙成長的環境等主題。
接著進入「八個秘訣讓你更享受生活」主題，八個小竅門分別是：「永遠首選自己」、「享受平凡的生活並學習進行更好的溝通」、「定義自身的成功」、「建立和培養紀律」、「鼓起勇氣面對不喜歡」、「學會何時翻開新的一頁」、「注意與朋友之間的交往」及「在分心的世界中重新集中注意力」等八個秘訣讓你更享受生活。為了強化課題，梅西卡安排了一項名為「我支持你」的互動活動。讓所有學員們在自己的背上貼上白紙，其他學員則匿名寫下第一印象和鼓勵的話。當學員們閱讀別人對自己的讚美時，歡笑聲和興奮的氛圍充滿了整個禮堂，這也證明了我們常常低估了別人對我們的好感。
本會出席領導同仁也在講座後發表了對議題內容的意見及看法，並且分享了各自的親身經驗，接著頒發感謝狀予主講人梅西卡並合影留念。學員們在歷經三小時的專題講座後，受益匪淺。
隨後，「二零二四年菲華工商總會先生、小姐」選秀加冕儀式也在講座會後熱鬧登場，本屆冠軍由馬尼拉市立大學（PLM）的Nicolai Daumpines、和馬尼拉大學（UDM）的Tricia S. Bernal獲得冠冕。馬尼拉大學（UDM ）Mark Joseph D. Andrade、和馬尼拉市立大學（PLM）Jade Lucimell L. Clavido獲得亞軍。羅里藝示科技大學（EARIST）Oliver E. Concise、和菲律濱理工大學（PUP）Jan Rica Rose Salvador獲得季軍。Mark Joseph D. Andrade和Tricia S. Bernal則斬獲最佳熱帶服飾獎，由本會常務理事留牡丹及理事張其安頒發獎狀及紅包。選秀結束後，學員們盡情享用豐盛的午餐，並於下午一時圓滿結束。
圖片說明：
上圖：主講人梅西卡；當天主題簡報；理事長黃書瑋。
中圖一：頒贈感謝狀予主講人。（左起）張其安，黃書瑋，梅西卡，曾煥眉，留牡丹。
中圖二：講座會現場學員們參與活動。
下圖：常務理事留牡丹及理事張其安頒發獎狀及紅包予「二零二四年菲華工商總會先生、小姐」及最佳熱帶服飾獎得主。