GOVPH

Consulate General marks children’s day with Consular Society Shanghai

SHANGHAI – Female diplomats of the Philippine Consulate General and their children joined colleagues in the Consular Society Shanghai (CSS) at a fun and socially meaningful commemoration of “Children’s Day”.

Observed every June 1 in China and several other countries, “Children’s Day” is marked to highlight the importance of the well-rounded development of children as inheritors and future drivers and pillars of societies. The CSS Children’s Day event was held at Life Hub in Shanghai’s popular Hongkou District. The program included a Charity Puppet Show, the creation and exchange of greeting cards, and a Charity Auction that included works by special needs children.

The Philippine Consulate General was represented by CSS members Attaché Jeannie F. Petrola and Attaché Gigi Marie U. Llanera, together with their respective children.

Attaché Petrola participated in the charity auction, acquiring the highly imaginative painting “Pearl-Scaled Dragon” by 16-year-old Zhang Rujian.

Founded in the 1990s as the ‘Consular Spouses of Shanghai’, the organization changed its name in 2024 to reflect its broader membership of all active diplomats, consular officials, and family members in Shanghai’s large consular corps.

A non-profit and apolitical organization, the CSS provides a supportive and engaging community for diplomats assigned in Shanghai and their spouses. It organizes cultural tours, museum visits, charity event and other activities.

Female diplomats of the Philippine Consulate General have been active in the CSS since 2021, in advancement of the Mission’s networking and public and cultural diplomacy goals. END

Shanghai badminton tourney forges friendship between Filipinos and Chinese aficionados

SHANGHAI – Filipino-Chinese friendship was the champion at the recently concluded Badminton Friendship Games, a special event commemorating the 50^th Anniversary of Philippines – China Bilateral Relations organized by the Filipinos in Shanghai Badminton Association (FILSBA) held at the Nayufeng Badminton Court, Wuzhong Road, Shanghai on 31 May 2025.

Drawing players from the Filipino and expat communities as well as local Chinese aficionados of the sport in the Chinese financial capital, the Tournament marked the third iteration of the games since their revival in 2023.

Opening the tournament was Consul John Francis S. Herrera, the Acting Head of the Consulate General. He commended FILSBA and its Chair, Mr. Nicol Francisquete, for their unremitting efforts to advocate of badminton and of the health and community-building benefits of sports among Shanghai’s large population of Filipinos.

He also lauded the games for highlighting friendship between Filipinos and Chinese, against the backdrop of the ongoing commemoration of 50 years of diplomatic relations between the Philippines and China.

Players competed in three groups, featuring both men’s doubles and mixed doubles matches.

At the games’ conclusion, Consul Herrera and Filipino community leader Michelle Teope-Shen handed out the medals and awards. Among the victors were the Consulate General’s Cultural Officer and Attaché, Ms. Jeannie F. Petrola. END

Asia's leading food trade show is back in Shanghai

SHANGHAI, CHINA - SIAL, Asia's leading agricultural and food trade show is back in Shanghai as it officially held its Opening Ceremonies on 19 May 2025 at the sprawling Shanghai New International Expo Center (SNIEC) in this city's Pudong District. Shanghai PCG's Vice Consul Richard L. Recella and PTIC's Vice Consul (Commercial) Jose Ma. S. Dinsay were among the attendees to the by-invitation only affair composed of officials of the Shanghai Municipal Government, members of the Diplomatic and Consular corps, and major food traders and suppliers.

The 2025 edition of the SIAL attracted more than 5,000 exhibitors from over 75 countries including the Philippines. Serving as the centerpiece event for this year is the participation of Tutto Pizza from Napoli, Italy, globally known for its authentic and long-standing tradition of Neapolitan pizza­ making.

Nine food sectors were housed in all of SNIEC's vast exhibition halls namely: dairy sector; baby food village; food sector; organic and wellness village; meat, poultry and cured meat sector; seafood sector; pulses and grains sector; alcoholic beverage sector; and non-alcoholic beverage sector.

Four booths were present to showcase Philippine products, they are Oleo-Fats Incorporated, Asian Premier Resources Trading Corporation, Amley Food Corporation and Lianyungang Dawn Trading Co., Ltd. Their products range from specialty fats and oils to virgin coconut oil, dried mango and other fruits snacks. Lianyungang Dawn, on the other hand, is a distributor of Philippine food and beverages to the mainland which it sources from companies such as MY San, Nutri-Asia Inc, Century Pacific Food, Monde Nissin and San Miguel Brewery. END