With other dignitaries in the Freedom Grandstand

I actually have a small percentage of Chinese blood that can be traced from my mother's side

The first time I joined the Chinese New Year parade from the capitol to the Freedom Grandstand


Enjoying the Chinese Cultural Show in a mall

Chinese Dragon Dance

January 28, 2008

In 2005, I was honored to have been chosen as a Philippine-China Youth Ambassador and was able to visit 3 cities in mainland China, namely, Beijing, Huangzhou and Shanghai. My first travel abroad in 1997 was in Hongkong and Shenzhen which are also part of China.

The Chinese have a good place in history especially when it comes to trade and industry. They are also known for their ability to make a small business grow even with just little profit per item. Up to today, big commercial areas like Divisoria are full of Chinese merchandisers, retailers and wholesalers who sell value for money items. Furthermore, a lot of the big companies and industries in our country are owned by Filipino Chinese individuals or families.

In our local scene, a lot of Filipino Ilonggo Chinese help our local economy become more vibrant with their shops, restaurants, hotel, resorts and other business establishments. They also help in giving employment to our fellow Ilonggos. Thank you to our Filipino Ilonggo Chinese friends for helping our local economy grow.

Let us all work together with all Filipinos, 100% or with a mix of other nationalities and cultures like the Filipino Ilonggo Chinese for the progress of our beloved Iloilo City.

Happy Chinese New Year to all. I am wishing everyone the best of luck.