Chongqing PCG Celebrates 2019 National Heritage Month and Labor Day Celebration: Larong Pilipino sa Mayo Uno
01 May 2019, Chongqing. The Philippine Consulate General in Chongqing celebrates National Heritage Month cum Labor Day by organizing a National Heritage Sports Festival, entitled: “Larong Pilipino sa Mayo Uno” for the members of Filipino Community (FilCom) in Chongqing, featuring traditional Filipino games. The event was held on 01 May 2019 at Weiming School in Yubei District, Chongqing.
The celebration was in partnership with the FilCom, which created an ad hoc committee in the absence of a duly established Filipino organization.
Prior to the sports festival, there was a short program. In Consul General Crescente R. Relacion's remarks, he welcomed the 84 members of the Filipino community who were in attendance and joined the celebration of 2019 Labor Day and National Heritage Month, and thanked the FilCom’s ad hoc committee composed of Mr. Ferdinand Miguel, Mr. Clark Abarquez and Ms. Sara Fernando for co-organizing the event. He emphasized the importance of having an organization for ease of communication between the Consulate and the members of the FilCom, and for organizing social activities like the labor-day event. He also encouraged the FilCom members who are living in China for a long time to pick up the good traits of Chinese people, particularly their being on time in all their activities. It is not only a sign of respect for the time of other people but could also be a key to success in any endeavor. He then informed them of the forthcoming activities of the Consulate including the conduct of overseas absentee voting which started on 13 April and will conclude on 13 May 2019 at 6:00 PM. The Consulate distributed the mailing packets of some Filipinos present at the event and received sealed ballots from the attendees who preferred to personally hand over their ballots instead of mailing them to the Consulate. At the end of Consul General Relacion's speech, he officially opened the event.
The program also included the introduction of the officers and staff of the Consulate to the Filipino community. Vice Consul Adrian Miras also gave a briefing on what consular services Filipinos can avail themselves of. Vice Consul Miras gave emphasis on the POEA’s Memorandum Circular 08-2018 since most of Filipinos working in China are direct hire. He explained that for the purpose of their application for Overseas Employment Certificate or Balik Manggagawa, they need to first apply for the acknowledgment or verification of their contract at the Consulate and ensure that there are stipulations on the minimum provisions pursuant to said memorandum circular, such as repatriation, medical insurance, and others. A copy of the memorandum circular was further sent through email to all members of Filipino Community for their reference.
The festival consisted of traditional Filipino games (patintero, sipa), fun games (tug of war, sack race, limbo rock and Chinese garter) and Pinoy’s favorite ball games (volleyball and basketball). The festival proper was opened with a Zumba followed by the team cheering competition.
The participants, including the Consulate’s personnel were divided into three competing teams: blue, red and white. The scores in each game were tallied and summed at the end of the festival to determine the winning team. The blue team was declared the overall winner (1st place) followed by the red and white teams, respectively.
Recognition of the Members of Filipino Community
During the awarding ceremony and as part of the celebration of its 10th Anniversary of establishment in Chongqing, the Consulate recognized members of the FilCom in Chongqing who are legally working and residing in Chongqing for a minimum of 10 years and had involved themselves with the activities of the Consulate since its establishment on 29 December 2008. The recipients of the “Certificate of Recognition” were the following: Agudo, Earnest Joseph (2008), Agudo, Ma. Earnest Joy (May 2005), Andres, Kathrina (January 2008), Andres, Marlon (January 2008), Ates, Analy (May 2008), Cabrera, Rhoda (2005), Catuday, Mario (1998), David, Dennis (2005), Dela Cruz, Rex (May 2005), Garcia, Teodoro (1997), Lagrimas, Josephine (December 2007), Layug, Armin (nov 2001), Loren, Ladimar (2001), Licup, Elvira (August 2004), Manansala, Christopher (May 2008), Mendiguarin, Antonio (November 2004), Miguel, Ferdinand (October 2006), Oliver, Josephine (Nov 2001), Reyes, Xerwin (2008), Samalburo, Meziah (March 2008), Santos, Jacqueline (August 2004) and Viñas, Eufrocina (2001).
The event was successfully concluded and all the participants, including second-generation Filipinos in Chongqing, were very satisfied with the event. The event helped them relax, laugh, socialize with other Filipinos and enjoy the labor-day holiday and celebrate the National Heritage Month. The event also promoted the spirit of “bayanihan” in the team events, as well as during the preparations, set-up and clean-up after the event. It likewise promoted health and wellness through the physical activities and camaraderie. Most of them enjoyed the festival and are looking forward to similar and other social activities in the future.END