THE speech delivered by Cecilio Pedro, President of the Federation of Filipino Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry Inc. (FFCCC II), during the program preceding the Chinese New Year countdown on Feb. 9 on Jones Bridge, moved many and resonated among the thousands of attendees, composed of Filipinos, Chinese and Chinese-Filipinos.
He was optimistic that the Year of the Wood Dragon would bring a good, beautiful year for everyone, stressing the ‘dragon’ is regarded as a very auspicious Chinese zodiac sign. Well, apart from the fact that the gathering that evening was meant to usher in the ‘Year of the Dragon’ with revelry highlighted by a grand, 12-minute musical fireworks display, Pedro said there is a more significant reason for the celebration, and that is, the celebration of the China-Philippines relationship.
Based alone on the pronouncements made by City Administrator Bernie Ang, who was on top of the successful events related to the Chinese New Year celebration, that the world-famous Manila Chinatown is marking its 430th founding anniversary on March 29, 2024, it only means that the relations between China and the Philippines go way beyond centuries.
Pedro has noted that at least 30 Chinese-Filipino organizations from all over the country have joined efforts to help the office of City Administrator Ang mount the events leading up to the Chinese New Year and the 430th anniversary of the Manila Chinatown, which is not only the oldest but also the largest Chinatown in the world.
Apart from the said organizations, other Chinoy-owned establishments were also represented in the said events that were made possible through the joint efforts of the Manila City Hall and different Chinese-Filipino groups as well as the Manila Chinatown Barangay Organization headed by Jefferson Lau and the Chinese-Filipino Youth Businessmen Association led by Peter Zhuang, among others.
Under City Administrator Bernie Ang’s tutelage, Ati Co, head of the Manila-China Cultural Affairs Office, as well as Willord Chua and Kaye Cruz of the Manila Chinatown Development Council, spearheaded the mounting of the events, in coordination with Charlie Dungo and Tammy Tamayo, head and assistant head of the Department of Tourism, Culture and the Arts-Manila or DTCAM, respectively.
Pedro struck a special chord in the hearts and minds of the thousands of spectators present to witness the fireworks display, when, after citing the long-standing relationship between China and the Philippines, he said: “kami ay naniniwala sa pagsasamahan ng Pilipinas at China… ituloy pa natin…’til death do us part.”
“Di ko iiwanan ang Pilipinas.. Amen!” said Pedro, as he stressed that he was born in the Philippines and will thus stay here for as long as he lives.
“Together, we welcome the Chinese New Year as one community and family…a celebration of our friendship and partnership. Our federation had always served as a bridge to promote unity and harmony among our Chinese-Filipino brothers and sisters since 1954,” Pedro said, as he announced that the FFCCCII will also be celebrating its 70th anniversary next month.
The FFCCCII celebration with a theme “Dugong Tsino, Pusong Pinoy,” which he supplanted with the words, “kami po ay dugong Tsino pero ang puso namin ay Pilipino. Maniwala kayo o hindi, ako ay Pilipino.”
He also vowed, on behalf of his group, to do whatever they can to help the country move forward and be ‘happy,’ a pun to ‘Happee,’ the brand of toothpaste that he owns.
“As we usher in the lunar new year with the Chinese zodiac sign of the dragon, let us imbibe courage, tenacity and intelligence,” he said, as he ended his speech with a call lifted from the Bible: “Trust the Lord in all the things you do and he will make your path straight and successful.”
It is simply amazing how someone like Pedro takes so much pride in being a Filipino in heart, mind, and actions, although he is clearly of Chinese descent. The kind of loyalty he exhibits for the Philippines which he considers as his native country far exceeds those of full-blooded Filipinos. And, mind you. Pedro is not alone. There are many, many more Chinoys who are more Filipinos than Filipinos themselves.
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