BAGUIO CITY – Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines, Huang Xilian lauded the local government and the organizers for the conduct of a well runned Spring festival in the city.
Ambassador Xilian was the city’s guest during the conduct of the Spring festival grand colorful parade Thursday afternoon that drew some 59 participating contingents from various sectors of the city.
The Chinese envoy also hailed the residents and visitors for patronizing the annual celebration of the Spring festival in the city that will greatly contribute in enhancing the bilateral relations between the Philippines and China amidst the brewing tension in the West Philippine Sea caused by the Chinese aggression.
He claimed that it is his first time to attend a Spring festival celebration outside the National Capital Region (NCR) and he was impressed by the way the organizers handled the event and the warm reception of the people while the participants were parading along the city’s main streets.
The huge crowd that gathered along the parade route from Upper Session Road to Magsaysay Avenue, Harrison road and at the Melvin Jones football field greeted the parade participants with cheers as they gave out goodies, candies and red envelopes which is a usual scene during the annual grand colorful parade.
Ambassador Xilian was also impressed on the showcasing of the Cordillera culture and dances during the parade that speaks well of the richness of both the Filipino and Chinese cultures that go together a long way.
The annual grand colorful parade is one of the major highlights of the city’s celebration of the Spring festival which is usually held in the afternoon.
Xilian said that the Year of the Wood Snake will surely provide wisdom, resilience and progress for the Filipinos and Chinese considering the distinct characteristics of the snake that will pave the way for better relations between the two countries.
Baguio is the first local government in the country that institutionalized the annual celebration of the Spring festival or the Chinese Lunar New Year with the enactment of Ordinance No. 18, series of 1999. By Dexter A. See