GOVPH

ADVISORY: On Overseas Voter Registration

The Resident Election Registration Board (RERB) will hold a meeting on 17 July 2023 (Monday), 9:00 am at the Philippine Consulate General in Shanghai for the hearing of the applications of registrants who registered during the period 01 April -30 June 2023 for overseas voting for the 2025 midterm elections.

Please advise the Consulate General should there be any objections against the registration of the following applicants on or before 10 July 2023.

LIST OF APPLICANTS (01 April-30 June 2023)

Shanghai celebrates with the Philippines on 125th Anniversary of Independence

SHANGHAI, 16 June 2023 – Government and business VIPs from Shanghai and surrounding provinces toasted to the Philippines’ gains and continued success at the 125^th 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.

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

Also 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

PH Dragon Boat Team rules 2023 Shanghai International Invitational Race

Putuo District, SHANGHAI –  Team Philippines ruled of the two-day 19^th 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