Written by: Grace Castillo, Clarissa Mediavillo & Joan Cadenas
One of the top Filipino athletes who the Federation of Filipino Chinese Chambers of Commerce & Industry, Inc. (FFCCCII) is rooting for is Filipino Chinese pole vault athlete and now ranked world No. 2 Ernest John “EJ” Uy Obiena, whose Chinese name 蔡華強 is pronounced as “Chua Hua Kiong” in Hokkien, Minnan or south Fujian province language and “Chai Hua Chiang” in Mandarin.
A giant digital torchbearer & China swimming Olympic champion Wang Shun lighted cauldron of Hangzhou Asian Games in spectacular grand opening rites
FFCCCII President Dr. Cecilio Pedro said that like the Federation’s Filipino Chinese entrepreneurs nationwide in its 170 chambers from Aparri to Tawi Tawi, EJ Obiena and other Filipino Chinese athletes competing to bring honor to the Philippines, they exemplify what he describes as “Dugong Tsino, Pusong Pinoy” or ethnic Chinese who cherish their cultural heritage and also at the same time are full-pledged Filipino citizens helping Philippine progress.
EJ Obiena is alumnus of Chiang Kai Shek College, a school good in Chinese-language classes and teaching Confucian moral values, also the alma mater of philanthropists FFCCCII Chairman Emeritus Lucio Tan of Tan Yan Kee Foundation, George S.K. Ty of Metrobank Foundation, Henry Sy of SM Foundation, Oishi founder Ambassador Carlos Chan (who donated 100 public schools through FFCCCCII’s philanthropic “Operation Barrio Schools”) and Tony Tan Caktiong of Jollibee Foundation.
EJ Uy Obiena is Filipino Chinese contribution to Phil. sports, graduate of Chiang Kai Shek College like philanthropists George Ty, Henry Sy, Lucio Tan, Amb. Carlos Chan & Tony Tan Caktiong (1)
FFCCCII, ECOP, PCCI support Philippine team in Hangzhou Asian Games
Good luck and support for the Philippine team of athletes to the Hangzhou Asian Games were expressed by FFCCCII President Dr. Cecilio K. Pedro at the September 15, 2023 Pandesal Forum at Kamuning Bakery Café in Quezon City, a week before the opening rites of the Asiad.
Hangzhou Asian Games main venue is a lotus shaped & high tech mega stadium nicknamed the Big Lotus, with 80,000 people seating capacity
Aerial view of lotus shaped mega stadium of Hangzhou Asian Games, with glittering skyscrapers of Hangzhou City at the background
Dr. Pedro also sent his best wishes to host city Hangzhou of China for the success of the Asian Games, which shall have a record 12,400 athletes from 45 nations competing for 481 gold medals in 40 sports. Aljazeera reported: “The Games are bigger than the Olympics when it comes to the number of athletes and sports—and this year’s competitions is billed as the biggest in history”.
Dr. Pedro’s other co-speakers were Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) President Bambol Tolentino, Employers Confederation of the Philippines (ECOP) President Sergio Ortiz Luis, Jr. and Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) President George Barcelon. They all manifested strong support for the Filipino athletes.
Philippines delegation entering Asian Games opening rites in Hangzhou City, China
Biggest ever & most high-tech Asiad opening ceremony
POC President Bambol Tolentino said that he hopes the Philippine team shall exceed the four gold medals in the last Asiad, and that he expects Hangzhou City and China shall stage a “spectacular and amazing Asian Games” because he said that’s how the Chinese nation usually stages international events.
Indeed, the high-tech, stunning Hangzhou Asian Games’ opening rites in the lotus-shaped mega stadium marked the richest and most skillful use of augmented reality in history, shedding spotlight on the sustainable and digitally enhanced future of such gala events, according to the creative team. Even though Chinese civilization invented fireworks thousands of years ago for celebrations, this historic use of stunning digital fireworks “showed fireworks could be a thing of the past” according to British newspaper “The Guardian”. Chinese organizers used digital fireworks for environmental sustainability. The stadium’s lotus design was inspired by Hangzhou City’s world-famous scenic West Lake and its lotus blossoms.
Futuristic show combine with ancient cultural performances at grand Hangzhou Asian Games opening ceremony
Futuristic performances combined with dazzling, ancient cultural performances to showcase not only the progress of beautiful city of Hangzhou, but also the epic socio-economic transformation of China into the world’s No. 2 biggest and still dynamically growing economy.
Hangzhou Asian Games held a glittering, high tech opening ceremony
More than 4 Golds goal & better Philippines-China friendship at Asiad
POC President Bambol Tolentino said the Philippine sports delegation to the Asian Games in Hangzhou City will be 396 athletes, and he has high hopes that the country can surpass the previous performance of 4 gold medals in the last Asian Games.
Tolentino praised China’s preparations for the Hangzhou Asian Games, saying he expects it to be “amazing and spectacular” because that is the way they usually host and organize events. He added, the famous Italian traveller Marco Polo described Hangzhou City as “Paradise on earth”.
Hangzhou Asian Games opening rites had many colorful performers, music & high tech surprises
Philippines-China sports cooperation, Hidilyn Diaz was aided by China coach
ECOP President Sergio Ortiz Luis, Jr., PCCI President George Barcelon and FFCCCII President Dr. Cecilio Pedro all expressed high hopes that Philippine athletes will do well in the sports competitions and that better friendship between the Philippines and China can be promoted due to this Asian Games.
The business leaders said the Asian Games us good opportunity to foster friendships among Asian countries, especially between the Philippines and host country China.
Barcelon cited Olympic gold medal winner Hidilyn Diaz’s victory with big help of her China coach, which Barcelon cited as “a good example of fruitful Philippines China cooperation”. Barcelon said sports is one area where the Philippines and China can have good cooperation.
For more information visit https://www.ffcccii.org https://www.facebook.com/ffcccii.official?mibextid=ZbWKwL
ADVT