Deputy Director General of Fujian Foreign Affairs Office (FAO) Mr. Hu Chang Chun and Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of Xiamen's People's Congress Mr. Chen Zhao Yang were the evening's guests of honor. Both delivered speeches on the occasion of commemorating the 115 years of Philippine Independence. A 44-minute audio-video presentation on Philippine Tourism provided by the Department of Tourism (DOT) was shown during the dinner.
The event was even made special by performances by the Sindaw Dance Troupe, accompanied by the Philippine Acoustic Ensemble of classic Filipino songs and dances, interspersed with pop songs and ballroom dancing. The delegation was brought in by the Philippine Tourism Office in Shanghai in cooperation with Cebu Pacific Airlines and Oishi. The troupe also performed for a Philippine Tourism Promotion Activity held in SM City Xiamen Mall in the afternoon of the previous day.
As a raffle prize, Cebu Pacific also sponsored a round-trip ticket to Philippines from Xiamen, while the Department of Tourism sponsored the hotel accommodation in Resorts World Manila. The lucky winner of the raffle was an official from the Nanyang (Southeast Asia) Research and Studies Institute of Xiamen University.
Everyone enjoyed the reception and the camaraderie and warmth brought forth by the hospitality of a traditional Filipino party which was truly felt by everyone present. END.A two-day celebration marked the 115th Anniversary of the Proclamation of Philippine Independence through activities organized by the Philippine Consulate General in Xiamen.
The celebration commenced with a large gathering of the Filipino community from the provinces of Fujian and Jiangxi on Sunday, 16 June 2013 at the Consulate General's premises. This was followed by a flag-raising ceremony attended by the Consulate General's officers and staff and their families, 17 June 2013. A formal dinner was held at the Grand Ballroom of the Kempinski Hotel Xiamen, which was attended by guests from the Fujian Provincial government, the Xiamen Municipal government, the consular corps, the business sector, Filipino community leaders and Xiamen media, among others.
Filipino Community Gathering
On 16 June 2013, Sunday, about 200 Filipinos from all over Fujian and Jiangxi provinces gathered at the Consulate General premises to celebrate 115 years of nationhood in the company of kababayans. The Consulate General's front courtyard was transformed into a fiesta venue complete with tents, banderitas and festive music. The occasion served as a get-together of the Filipino students, entertainers, teachers, office staff, skilled workers, technical personnel and business executives living within the Consulate General's jurisdiction.
The formal program started at 11:00 a.m. with the Catholic Mass celebrated by Father Joseph Zhao who studied under the Dominican Order at the University of Sto. Tomas. It was followed by a flag-raising ceremony with the singing of the Philippine national anthem and recitation of the panunumpa sa watawat. Consul General Cruz and Consul Ambrosio Brian F. Enciso III read the Independence Day messages of H.E. Benigno S. Aquino Jr. and Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert F. Del Rosario, respectively. In his opening remarks, Consul General Adelio Angelito S. Cruz thanked everyone for celebrating this significant event with their fellow kababayans.
He lauded the community leaders for their continued and invaluable support of the Consulate General's programs and activities which included the successful one-night performance of the Loboc Children's Choir at Gulangyu Islet, Xiamen
At 12:30 p.m., a sumptuous pananghalian, which featured Filipino dishes (pork adobo, bihon guisado, spring roll, lumpiang gulay, chicken barbeque and puto), was served.
The Filipino Association in Xiamen (FAX), led by its president Mr. Angelo Austria, took charge of the program in the afternoon which included fun games with prizes, entertainment provided by Xiamen-based Filipino bands and raffle draws. The grand prize was a round-trip ticket of Philippine Airlines, Xiamen-Manila-Xiamen.
National Day Reception
The traditional formal dinner reception, held on Monday, 17 June 2013 at the Great China Ballroom of the Kempinski Grand Hotel Xiamen, was another occasion for the Philippine Consulate General to gather together local Chinese government officials, Filipino community leaders, Filipino and Chinese businessmen and other friends of the Consulate from the consular corps, the academe, travel agencies, including private sector partners who have supported the Consulate General and its projects through the years.
Highlighting the robust ties between the Philippines and Fujian, especially in trade and people-to-people exchanges, the Consul General remarked, "That Filipino Chinese relations actually date back to several centuries when traders and migrants travelled from the mainland and came to the Philippines, engaged in commerce and intermarried with local inhabitants, enriching Philippine history and culture. Thus, the friendly ties that bind the Philippines and China have flourished through the years Consul General Cruz also remarked that under the leadership of His Excellency Benigno S. Aquino III, the Philippines today has transformed itself into one of the most robust economies in Asia driven by good governance and sound economic and social reforms.
In referring to this year's Kalayaan2013 theme, "Ambagan tungo sa Malawakang Kaunlaran," Consul General Cruz encouraged all Filipinos to individually and collectively excel in their chosen fields thereby contributing to the economic development of the country". The Consul General also expressed his gratitude to the various foreign affairs offices and private firms/individuals for their tireless support of the Consulate General's activities.
Deputy Director General of Fujian Foreign Affairs Office (FAO) Mr. Hu Chang Chun and Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of Xiamen's People's Congress Mr. Chen Zhao Yang were the evening's guests of honor. Both delivered speeches on the occasion of commemorating the 115 years of Philippine Independence. A 44-minute audio-video presentation on Philippine Tourism provided by the Department of Tourism (DOT) was shown during the dinner.
The event was even made special by performances by the Sindaw Dance Troupe, accompanied by the Philippine Acoustic Ensemble of classic Filipino songs and dances, interspersed with pop songs and ballroom dancing. The delegation was brought in by the Philippine Tourism Office in Shanghai in cooperation with Cebu Pacific Airlines and Oishi. The troupe also performed for a Philippine Tourism Promotion Activity held in SM City Xiamen Mall in the afternoon of the previous day.
As a raffle prize, Cebu Pacific also sponsored a round-trip ticket to Philippines from Xiamen, while the Department of Tourism sponsored the hotel accommodation in Resorts World Manila. The lucky winner of the raffle was an official from the Nanyang (Southeast Asia) Research and Studies Institute of Xiamen University.
Everyone enjoyed the reception and the camaraderie and warmth brought forth by the hospitality of a traditional Filipino party which was truly felt by everyone present. END.
