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SHANGHAI, 16 June 2023 – Government and business VIPs from Shanghai and surrounding provinces toasted to the Philippines’ gains and continued success at the 125th Independence Day Diplomatic Reception hosted by the Philippine Consulate General on 16 June.

Leading the roster of over 250 guests trooping to The Portman Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Jing’an District was Shanghai Vice Mayor Li Zheng, who took the stage with Consul General Josel F. Ignacio to honor the occasion.

Adding luster to the occasion was the participation of the most important and prestigious Municipal bodies. The Shanghai Municipal People’s Congress was represented by Deputy Director Lin Haiping (in charge of Overseas Chinese, Ethnic and Religious Affairs); the Shanghai Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) by Deputy Director for Culture, Health and Sports Xiao Zeping; and the Municipal Foreign Affairs Office (FAO) by Deputy Director General Bei Zhaojian.

Consul General Ignacio opened the reception with a well-received speech that concluded with a hearty toast to the Philippines and its ties with host country China. He also paid tribute to four decades of sister city ties between Metropolitan Manila and Shanghai, the anniversary of which fell on the previous day, 15 June.

A cake-cutting ceremony led by the Consul General and Vice Mayor Li ushered in the more festive segment of the program.

Guests whipped out their phone cameras as they enjoyed a high-energy performance of Bacolod’s famous Masskara dance led by Filipinos from the Pinoy Teachers’ Association in Shanghai (PITAS).

As looped videos of Philippine tourism destinations played, guests treated themselves generously to a buffet of delectable Filipino dishes such as adobo, kinilaw, crispy pata, lumpia, guinataang hipon, and pansit guisado, paired with desserts such as halo-halo, leche flan and pandan-mango rolls.

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The bar showcasing Filipino fruit beverages as well as famous alcoholic drinks was busy throughout the event. San Miguel Beer and expertly mixed Tanduay Rum- and Boracay Rum Coconut-based cocktails earned rave reviews.

Representatives of the FAOs of Provinces covered by the Consulate General also traveled to Shanghai for the event. Hubei was represented by FAO Director General Zhang Xiaomei.

Attesting to the Philippines’ motto of being a “friend to all”, the Shanghai consular corps turned up in full force, the majority represented by no less than their respective Consuls General.

Not to be outdone were executives and representatives of several Chinese enterprises with investments or operations in the Philippines, whose presence attested to the intensity of the country’s economic engagement with Shanghai and the surrounding Yangtze River Delta Region

PID2023 3Also putting the country’s best foot forward were the leaders of Filipino community organizations, and executives of Filipino companies with operations or commercial presence in Eastern China. Among the enterprises represented were Liwayway China Co. Ltd., Dai-ichi Electronics Manufacturing Corp., Metrobank, ASPAC Land Development Shanghai Co. Ltd.

In a show of Filipino hospitality, departing guests were delighted to receive generous goody bags of Philippine brands such as Century Tuna, Pongpong Banana Chips, DOLE dried mangoes, Bebebalm skin products, and snacks from Oishi (Liwayway China Co. Ltd.). Rounding off the “loot” were PAL aircraft models and DOT tourism promotion flyers.

It was the first full diplomatic reception by the Consulate General in Shanghai in over a decade. In June 2021, with COVID-19 restrictions still in place, then newly arrived Consul General Ignacio hosted a limited Independence Day reception at the Parkyard Hotel in Pudong. In 2022, the Shanghai lockdown in Spring and remaining restrictions ruled out large-scale gatherings.

The diplomatic reception comes on the heels of a solemn outdoor flag-raising ceremony held on June 12 itself by the Consulate General held by its chancery in Changning District. END

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Putuo District, SHANGHAI –  Team Philippines ruled of the two-day 19th Shanghai International Suzhou Creek Dragon Boat Invitational held over the weekend.

Rainy weather did not diminish the Filipino paddlers’ power as they ruled the 200-meter straight-track race for 12-person dragon boats on 18 June amidst a heavy downpour, decisively outpacing teams from Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan. The previous day, they showed their prowess and dominated in the 500-meter event.

Philippine Canoe, Kayak and Dragonboat Federation (PCKDF) President Ms. Leonora Escalante accompanied the Philippine Team and expressed elation over the good showing amid “fierce competition.”

On hand to cheer for the team on Day 2 win and extend enthusiastic congratulations for the impressive win was a delegation from the Philippine Consulate General in Shanghai, led by Consul General Josel F. Ignacio.

It marked the first time the Suzhou Creek competition was held after a four-year hiatus owing to the COVID-19 pandemic. A total of 52 teams from China and overseas competed in multiple race categories.

The PH Team flew back to Manila later in the day.

Outside the international segment in which the Philippines competed, the Suzhou event featured “elite category” competitions for 22-person dragon boats in 100-meter, 200-meter, and 500-meter straight-track races. The men’s category had eight competing local teams, with Team Guangdong Foshan emerging as victor. The women’s category, won by Team Dongguan, featured four local teams. Shanghai Ocean University topped the public category.

The Suzhou Creek race is one leg of the larger 2023 China Dragon Boat Open Tournament. END

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SHANGHAI – Philippine Airlines (Greater China) Regional Head Mr. Joe Kwok and Business Development Manager Mr. YK Ang Bryant, visiting from Hong Kong, paid a courtesy call on Consul General Josel F. Ignacio on 14 June.

Present at the call were PAL Area Manager for Eastern China Ms. Geri Zhuang, Consul John Francis S. Herrera and Department of Tourism Office Administrative Officer Warren S. Palacio.

Both sides took stock of developments in the revival of outbound travel from China and welcomed the uptick in two-way air passenger traffic and flight connections between the Philippines and the Chinese Mainland. The PAL officials briefed the Consulate General on the Philippine flag carriers’ plans for the China market.

PAL Optimism about further visitor and passenger numbers from China into the Philippines permeated the discussions, as the Philippine Government and tourism sector continue to take measures to meet Chinese travel demand favoring Philippine destinations.

In 2018 and 2019, over 1.2 million and 1.7 million Chinese tourists, respectively, trooped to the Philippines. END

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Pasay City, PHILIPPINES –  Food trade between the Philippines and Mainland China won big at the 16th annual International Food Exhibition (IFEX) at the World Trade Center in Pasay City last 26-28 May, as Chinese buyers closed substantial deals and orders with participating Filipino food enterprises.

The Chinese buyers were part of a 25-person delegation to the IFEX -- the first large Chinese business mission that came over to the Philippines since Mainland China lifted restrictions to outbound travel earlier this year. The delegation was put together by the DTI through the Philippine Trade and Investment Center (PTIC) in Shanghai.

They represented major Chinese enterprises such as Hema/Freshippo Supermarket, Dole Packaged Foods Shanghai; Yuanhe Investment, Zhangjiang Research Institute, Lianyungang Dawn Trading, Virgin Healthcare Technologies Shanghai, Minheng Group Co. Ltd., Prestige International Trading Co. Ltd., Dashang Group, Jiangsu Suhang Supply Chain Group Co. Ltd., and Wuxi Renzhou Technology Trading.

Also part of the delegation were major Philippine companies with operations and product presence in China, such as Liwayway China Co. Ltd. (Oishi) led by its President Mr. Larry Chan, and Century Shanghai Trading Co. Ltd. represented by CEO Mr. Adrian Campillo.

Present in Manila to accompany the delegation were Philippine Consul General in Shanghai Josel F. Ignacio, PTIC-Shanghai Chief Mario C. Tani and his team, and Agriculture Counsellor (Beijing) Ms. Ana GM B. Abejuela.

Also receiving them were CITEM Executive Director Dr. Edward L. Fereira, DTI/FTSC Assistant Secretary Glenn Peñaranda. Senior Agriculture

Undersecretary Domingo F. Panganiban hosted the delegation to a welcome lunch on 26 May, while Consul General Ignacio tendered a farewell dinner at Intramuros on 27 May.

Food trade is a major contributor to bilateral trade between the Philippines and China, and is seen by the Philippine Government as an avenue to easing the substantial merchandise trade deficit with the economic powerhouse.

Philippine food industry players also actively participate in turn in Chinese trade exhibition platforms, such as the annual China International Import Expo (CIIE) in Shanghai where the Philippines netted USD 655 million worth of deals last year.

Meanwhile, the Philippines also shipped its first exports of fresh Golden Puyat durians to China in April this year.

Billed as the largest gathering of Philippine food industry players, IFEX Philippines is the country’s premier international food trade show and is a major selling and sourcing platform for Philippine and global food and ingredients. It is heavy on regional food small and medium enterprises (SME) representation as well, enabling such players to vie for opportunities and deals to expand their business and markets. END

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