I would like to extend my heartfelt congratulations fo the Federation of Filipino Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry Inc. (FFCCCII), headed by my very good friend, Dr. Cecilio Pedro as its President.
The FFCCCII will be celebrating its 70th-anniversary celebration on March 9, 2024 and under the leadership of Dr. Cecilio Pedro, the federation is currently in the thick of preparations for the grand occasion.
Heard that it has also already invited foreign investors and business leaders worldwide, in an effort to make them explore investment opportunities in the Philippines.
It is such good news that at least 14 foreign business delegations from various countries have already confirmed their attendance. These distinguished foreign business leaders and industrialists from the Asia Pacific region have been invited to invest in the Philippines with emphasis on the importance of engaging with ASEAN neighbors and major trade partners.
These countries include Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong, the United Kingdom, China, Myanmar, Vietnam, Australia, Macau, South Korea, Indonesia, Canada, Japan and Thailand, among others.
Despite global uncertainties such as recessions in industrialized countries and geopolitical tensions, FFCCCII remains optimistic about the economic growth of the Philippines.
We in the City of Manila join the FFCCCII in the celebration of its 70th-anniversary.
Under the theme, “Dugong Tsino, Pusong Pinoy,” the occasion is meant to symbolize and promote the shared identity between the Filipino and Chinese communities.
Over the years, the FFCCCII has established its wide connection nationwide, having under its wing a total of 170 Filipino Chinese chambers of commerce and industry associations.
Apart from its various economic endeavors, the FFCCCII lso constantly and actively engages in socio-economic development, civic initiatives and philanthropic works.
These initiatives include advocating for the “Buy Pinoy” movement, supporting national industrialization, modernizing agriculture for food security and various philanthropic activities such as relief aid for calamity victims, school-building projects, medical and dental missions, and support for volunteer fire brigades.
Manila has been among the lucky recipients of the FFCCCII’s philanthropic deeds. For these and many other reasons, we are very thankful.
In the recent celebration of the Chinese New Year, the FFCCCII once again showed its all-out support that contributed to the huge success of the occasion.
The FFCCCII’s 70th anniversary celebration, coincidentally, comes on the heels of the forthcoming celebration of the 430th anniversary of the Manila Chinatown, the oldest and biggest in the entire world.
The Manila Chinatown anniversary is a big event, specially for the capital city and members of the Filipino-Chinese community. Just like the observance of the Chinese New Year, we also expect to draw huge crowds even from pure Pinoys who are just as excited to join in the revelry.
The Chinese New Year celebration, marked by the New Year countdown featuring a 12-minute grand, musical fireworks display and the Solidarity Parade, drew a crowd of at least 1.5 million.
Its huge success was also largely in part due to the help and cooperation extended by the FFCCCII.
Indeed, the FFCCCII has been a huge part of the city’s current progressive state and as such. we look forward to many more years of cooperation and fruitful, harmonious relations.
