Award for Promoting Philippines-China Understanding (APPCU) 2023 call for nominations now open

After the successful 2021 and 2022 Award for Promoting Philippines-China ceremonities for the Understanding (APPCU), the Association for Philippines-China Understanding (APCU) and the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the Philippines recently announced at the Pandesal Forum of Kamuning Bakery Cafe in Quezon City its call for nominations for APPCU 2023.

The speakers who explained the APPCU were led by APCU President Sixto Benedicto, China Embassy Counsellor Ji Lingpeng, APCU Executive Vice-Pres. Peter Lavina, APCU Director Anna Malindog-Uy, Dr. Rommel Banlaoi, Herman Laurel and Wilson Lee Flores.

The 2022 APPCU awarding ceremony was successfully held at the grand ballroom of Dusit Thani Manila Hotel in Makati City before government and business leaders, diplomats led by President Bongbong Marcos and First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos, former President and now House Senior Deputy Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and former President Joseph Estrada, China Ambassador Huang Xilian and other dignitaries.

The 49-year-old APCU is the pioneer and the leading non-government organization (NGO) in the Philippines in promoting people-to-people diplomacy, bilateral understanding, and friendship between the Philippines and China.

The Call for APPCU Nominations is open from 16 January to 17 March 2023. The deadline for submitting nominations is 17 March 2023 at 5:00 P.M., Philippine Standard Time. A preliminary review of nominees will be conducted right after the deadline for nominations, while the second round and final reviews of nominees will take place in April 2023.

The announcement of APPCU 2023 winners is in the 2nd week of May. The official award ceremony will be held during the 2nd week of June to celebrate “Philippines China Friendship Day” and commemorate the day when the formal diplomatic ties and relations were established between the Republic of the Philippines and the People’s Republic of China on 09 June 1975.

APPCU promotes the spirit of friendship and understanding between the Philippines and China. It aims to extend recognition, acknowledgment, and appreciation to individuals who made a mark and contributed much to the improvement and advancement of Philippines-China bilateral relations, understanding, and friendship using their respective endeavors in different fields and disciplines such as media and journalism, public service, humanitarian and social actions, commerce and trade, arts and culture, people-to-people relations, the academe, information, and communication technology (ICT), science, health, and medicines. (VICTOR BALDEMOR RUIZ)