Center - CG Maria Antonina M. Mendoza-Oblena, 2^nd from left - Mr. Chen Taixue Director of the Foreign Affairs Office of Putian Municipal Peoples Government. Rightmost - Mr. Kristian Manuel, Attache Xiamen PCG, 2^nd from right Ms. Lin Fengyan, staff of Putian FAO  and leftmost-  Mr. Fubin Huang staff Xiamen PCG.

Putian, 18 November 2023 – Consul General Maria Antonina M. Mendoza-Oblena led the Philippine Consulate General in Xiamen’s delegation at the 25^th China Meizhou Mazu Cultural Tourism Festival and the 8^th Global Mazu Forum held in Meizhou island, Putian City, Fujian Province from 17 to 19 November 2023.

Guests, tourists, and worshippers flock to Meizhou Island each year to join in the annual activities dedicated to paying tribute to Mazu, Goddess of the Sea, patroness of seafarers, including fishermen and sailors. This grand event, steeped in tradition and cultural significance, draws people from far and wide.

During the Festival, the audience was treated to a mesmerizing spectacle wherein the performers, adorned in vibrant and festive traditional costumes, took center stage in a grand ceremony to honor Mazu.

A ceremonial presentation of performers dressed in festive traditional costumes during the opening ceremony of the 25th China Meizhou Mazu Cultural Tourism Festival in Meizhou Island, Putian City, Fujian Province.

The Mazu Culture boasts more than 300 million followers, and more than 10,000 temples devoted to Mazu can be found all over the world in 49 countries, including the Philippines in San Fernando La Union.  END