GOVPH

Sacrifice and legacy of Dr. José P. Rizal honored in Shanghai on 126th Anniversary of Martyrdom

30 December 2022 – The Philippine Consulate General in Shanghai joined Philippine government offices, civic organizations and Filipinos in the motherland and the diaspora in paying tribute to Dr. José P. Rizal on the 126^th anniversary of his martyrdom.

With the city still seeing elevated COVID-19 spread levels, Consul General Josel F. Ignacio led consular personnel in a simple wreath-laying ceremony before the national hero’s bust at the chancery.

After a minute of silent homage, Deputy Consul General Marlowe A. Miranda and PCG personnel took turns reciting stanzas of the National Artist for Literature Virgilio S. Almario’s Tagalog translation of Dr. Rizal’s poem “EL CANTO DEL VIAJERO” (Song of the Wanderer).

The piece, recommended by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) for this year’s commemoration, expresses the hero’s own thoughts and sentiments as a lonely traveler, evoking the feelings of modern-day overseas Filipinos.

“By looking back to Rizal, a hero ahead of his time, we find a comforting continuity to our national purpose, and the impetus to work forward to a nation worthy of his dream”, said Consul General Ignacio, quoting a presidential Rizal Day speech from 1986. END

Leading coconut firm Hainan Yedao steps up PH import plans, PH assures strong backing

SHANGHAI – Hainan Yedao (Group) Company Ltd., a major beverage company and one of China’s top importers of coconut leading fruit and fresh produce traders, is keen to boost its fruit imports from the Philippines. It is also mulling to break other Philippine fruits into the Chinese market.

Hainan Yedao laid out its plans in a meeting with Philippine trade and agriculture officials converging in Shanghai from Beijing, Xiamen and Manila for the 5^th China International Import Expo (CIIE) led by Consul General in Shanghai Josel F. Ignacio.

The group included Agriculture Counsellor Ana GM B. Abejuela, Philippine Trade and Investment Center Chief Mario C. Tani, Consul Francis M. Herrera, CITEM Business Representative Raymond Tan, DTI-Export Marketing Bureau Specialists Ms. Heizle Trasmañas, Christine Grace C. Victoria, and Raiza A. Caybot, and Ms. Forrina SUN.

Joining the Philippine entourage were snack giant Oishi/Shanghaojia’s (Liwayway China Co. Ltd.) President Larry A. Chan and his R&D team.

The group was received by executives led by former President FENG Biao, Managing Director Ms. QI Miao Miao, General Manager Ms. Lily SHUI, and Chief Strategy Officer/Director Oswald WONG. Also in attendance were Yedao’s banking and other partners for its operations and plans.

The Philippine officials committed their assistance in Hainan Yedao’s collaboration with Filipino exporters in its drive to raise Philippine imports and the company’s expansion of overseas operations.

At the conclusion of the meeting, a ceremonial presentation of Hainan Yedao’s purchase commitment for coconut products to the DTI-EMB took place, with Consul General Ignacio and delegation members witnessing. END

Philippine food and agri export sector reaps record sales and deals at 5th China International Import Expo

SHANGHAI – The Philippines ended its participation in the 5^th China International Import Expo (CIIE) on a truly high note, total sales and deals closed hit a record USD 655.15 million.

The Philippines fulfilled its avowed target of exceeding last year’s CIIE sales of USD 597 million, improving on the latter by a solid 9.74%.

The outcome also sustains a five-year streak for the Philippines of consistently higher sales, year-on-year dating back to the Expo’s inception in 2018.

According to the Philippine Trade and Investment Center-Shanghai (PTIC), the value of this year’s CIIE sales is also the highest this year for Philippine country participation in a trade expo anywhere in the world. “Our trade and agriculture officials and exhibitors did a marvelous job. This stellar outcome also leaves no doubt about the robust demand for quality Philippine food products and agricultural produce in China’s huge and still expanding market”, said Consul General Josel F. Ignacio. “There is plenty of room to fill, and the annual CIIE is unmatched as a vehicle for our future promotion and closing those crucial deals”.

Contributing to the outstanding results was the participation of a record high 62 food and food-related PH companies, and the spotlight trained this year by the Philippine government on coconut and specialty coffee.

The core Philippine government delegation this year was composed of Consul General Ignacio, Agriculture Counsellor (Beijing) Ms. Ana GM B. Abejuela, PTIC-Beijing Commercial Counselor Emmanuel Niño W. Ang, Consul John Francis S. Herrera, CITEM Business Representative Raymond Tan, and DTI-Export Marketing Bureau Specialists Ms. Heizle Trasmañas, Christine Grace C. Victoria, and Raiza A. Caybot.

The CIIE is the world’s largest import-themed exhibition and takes place in Shanghai every November. END