SOME Chinese-Filipino friends recently sent me a disturbing video.
It showed two highly respected, prominent figures in the Chinese-Filipino community acting like kids over a petty issue.
The video shows them engaging in a heated verbal exchange and near fistfight during an event inside a hotel in Metro Manila.
The protagonists were Cecilio K. Pedro, owner of a toothpaste brand and currently the president of the Federation Filipino Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry Inc. or FFCCCII and Ambassador Francis Chua, honorary president of the same organization.
The event, according to grapevine sources, was the “Manila Forum for Philippines-China Relations.” It was held in a hotel in Pasay City.
Reports said the altercation stemmed from a simple picture-taking.
Pedro was said to have protested Chua’s having occupied a spot not meant for him.
Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian was said to have witnessed the embarrassing exchange between the two pillars of the FFCCCII and the Chinese-Filipino community but no longer dipped his hand into the matter as cooler heads intervened.
Hong Kong Chinese General Chamber of Commerce chairman Jonathan Choi Koon-shum was also present.
A news portal reported that FFCCCIII Vice President Victor Lim, owner of VECO Paper, pacified the two, averting what could have been a physical, ugly exchange of blows.
Before that, there was already some throwing of table nameplates that had taken place. There was also some shoving that happened, as seen in the video.
Of course, there were attempts to stop people from filming the incident but obviously, this did not succeed.
Camps have differing versions of the incident.
I would rather not delve into them as they are all hearsay and may depend on whose side the one telling the story is on, right?
I wasn’t there and only saw the video so I will talk only about it.
My humble take on the matter is this.
Both Chua and Pedro are bigwigs in the organization and the Chinoy community. They are also both senior citizens already.
Younger Chinoys and even non-Chinoys, as well as budding entrepreneurs, look up to them as role models.
With the way they behaved in the said very public event and in the presence of the Chinese ambassador at that, they have brought shame not only to themselves but to the very organization they represent.
If it is true that the forum was meant to polish plans for better relations between China and the Philippines, maybe those present should start with their ranks.
As the saying goes, “charity begins at home.”
The issue, if true, is so petty it could have been resolved by just drawing lots. Tsk.
What a shame. Really.
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