BAGUIO CITY – The newly installed consul and head of post of the Consulate of the Peoples Republic of China based in Laoag City, Ilocos Norte was impressed on the strong partnership between the local government and the City’s Filipino-Chinese Community in the celebration of the annual Spring Festival in the country’s undisputed Summer Capital.
Consul Zhou Youbin, who was the guest of honor and speaker during the Dinner Awards Night of the 2019 Spring festival celebration in the city, commended the local government led by Mayor Mauricio g. Domogan for having institutionalized the celebration of the Chinese Lunar New Year in the city over two decades ago that contributed in strengthening the harmonious working relationship between the Filipinos and Chinese living in the city.
See: Consul Youbin‘s speech
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=te2uzOezEZs&feature=youtu.be
He stated that the stronger diplomatic relations between the Philippines and China which is being espoused by President Rodrigo Duterte is a sign of much stronger ties between the people of both countries who are aspiring for growth and development.
“We will continue with the age-old tradition of strengthening our partnership for the benefit of the people of the two countries. China will always be at the forefront of extending assistance to less developed countries through a series of exchanges,” Youbin stressed.
He disclosed that one of the priority programs that he will initiate will be an exchange of local governments in China and the Philippines and the establishment of sisterhood relations between them for the enhanced exchange of best practices that could result to the growth and development of localities in the different parts of the country.
For his part, Mayor Domogan commended the Filipino-Chinese Community in the city for their unrelenting and uncompromising support extended to the local government and the people, especially during the onslaught of natural calamities and emergency situations, because they are always at the forefront in extending assistance to the people without being called upon to do so.
Domogan claimed the spirit of voluntarism of the Filipino-Chinese Community is worthy of emulation by other foreign nationals who are also living with the residents so that there will always be an interplay of people in helping the city move up to greater heights.
Ordinance N. 18, series of 1999 institutionalized the celebration of the Chinese Lunar New Year otherwise known as the Spring festival in the city purposely to strengthen the bond between the Filipinos and Chinese who are living together in the city.
Peter Ng, chairman of the 219 Spring festival celebration in the city, assured city officials and residents that the support being extended by the Filipino-Chinese Community will not change but will continue to improve amidst the fast changing times because they learned to co-exist with the people in the different barangays.
He underscored that as bonafide residents of the city, they also feel the same problems as the Filipinos that is why they are always keeping their doors open for whatever assistance there are capable of providing to those who are in need to ensure the significant improvement in their existing living conditions. Ng pointed out that the Chinese are known for their being compassionate and generous to those who are in need that is why among the major activity that were lined up during this year’s Spring Festival Celebration were gift-giving activities in a number of city barangays.
By Dexter A. See
Banner photo: PIGGY FACE – Baguio folks join the Chinese community in the celebration of the Chinese New Year, February 6, 2019. Joseph B. Manzano
