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CONSUL GENERAL FLORES VISITS FUJIAN’S MEIZHOU ISLAND IN PREPARATION FOR THE MAZU PILGRIMAGE TO THE PHILIPPINES

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Left Photo: Consul General Julius Caesar A. Flores (center) receives a token of appreciation from Mr. Lin Jinzan, Chairman of the Board, Meizhou Mazu Ancestral Temple in Meizu Island, Putian, Fujian Province.
Right Photo: Mr. Lin Jinzan (2nd from right) is joined by (L-R) Ms. Lin Yumei, Member of the Board of Directors and Director of Reception Division of Meizhou Mazu Ancestral Temple in Meizu Island,
Consul General Flores, Ms. Flordeliza Delos Santos, Administrative Officer and Ms. Cheryl Yang, Interpreter, Philippine Consulate General in Xiamen
pay respect and offer prayers to Mazu, Chinese Goddess of the Sea for prosperity and good fortune.

 

Consul General Julius Caesar A. Flores visited Mazu Ancestral Temple in Meizu Island headed by its Chairman, Mr. Lin Jinzan on 19 September 2018 to discuss preparations for the forthcoming pilgrimage/cruise tour Manila on 20-23 October 2018, themed “Go to Nanyang (Southeast Asia) to Retrace the Maritime Silk Road” via COSTA Atlantica Cruise. The Consulate General’s delegation was warmly received by the Temple’s Board of the Directors led by Chairman Lin Jinzan.

The cruise forms part of President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang’s policies on Mazu culture under the framework of the 13th 5-year plan to actively respond to the Belt and Road initiative and to promote people-to-people exchanges with countries along the Maritime Silk Road. The Philippines is the latest Nanyang (Southeast Asia) country destination following similar pilgrimages to Malaysia and Singapore in 2017.

The tentative program of activities in the Philippines include a Manila Port welcome ceremony, visit to an orphanage and the grand worship ceremony at the Rizal Park, among others.

The cruise is organized by the Board of Directors of Meizhou Mazu Ancestral Temple, Putian and sponsored by Chinese Mazu Culture Exchange Association, Putian Municipal Tourism Development Commission and Meizhou National Tourism Resort Administration as well as co-sponsored by the Xiamen Port Holdings Group Co., Ltd. and Taiwan Mazu Fraternity.

Meizhou Island, located in Putian, Fujian Province is well-known as the hometown of Mazu, Chinese Goddess of Peace or Sea Goddess, and the origin of Mazu Culture. It is also recognized as the “Oriental Mecca” which has a great influence among overseas Chinese especially among Taiwan people. There are reportedly 160 Mazu temples in the Philippines, the oldest built in 1572 in Manila’s Chinatown.

Meizhou Island is widely visited by hundreds of thousands of Mazu devotees from all over the world to visit the temples and worship the statue of the Goddess believed to provide a safe voyage to fishermen, bountiful harvest to farmers, good fortune as well as heal the sick.

Mr. Jinzan and its board of directors expressed its appreciation for the support and commitment extended by the Consulate General for the success of the said pilgrimage which is set to sail from Xiamen to Manila on 20 October 2018.

For more information, visit www.dfa.gov.ph, www.facebok.com/dfaphl and @dfaphl on Twitter. END

  

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Left Photo: Mr. Lin Jinzan (left) and Consul General Flores (right) pose for a souvenir photo with Mazu statue on the background.
Right Photo: Consul General Flores (center), AO Flordeliza Delos Santos (2nd from left) with Mr. Lin Jinzan, Chairman and other Board of Directors of
Meizhou Mazu Ancestral Temple in Meizu Island, Putian, Fujian in one of the Mazu Temples inside the Island.