The Chinese Filipino Business Club, Inc. (CFBCI) represented by president Samuel Lee Uy, executive vice president Gerald Uy Chan, vice chairmen Henry Tiu, Ramon Cheng and Ramon Uy, took part in this year’s commemoration of the Qingming Festival at the Martyrs’ Hall of Manila Chinese Cemetery on April 3.
The festival, also known as Tomb-Sweeping Day, holds significant importance in Chinese culture, dating back 2,500 years. It is a time for families to honor ancestors by visiting graves, cleaning them, and making offerings.
The event, jointly organized by the Chinese Embassy in the Philippines and the Philippine Chinese Charitable Association Inc., honored the fallen anti-Japanese martyrs of the Second World War.
Chinese Embassy in the Philippines counselor and consul general Wang Yue, deputy chief of mission Zhou Zhiyong, defense and armed forces attaché Li Jianzhong, 90-year-old veteran soldier Lu Shuiya of the overseas Chinese anti-Japanese guerrilla movement in the Philippines, leaders from various Filipino-Chinese associations, representatives from local Chinese schools and family members of the anti-Japanese martyrs participated and paid their respects to the fallen heroes by offering fresh flowers and bowing in tribute to their sacrifices.
“The heroic acts of the martyrs would forever be remembered by the people of both China and the Philippines. Let us continue promoting the heroic spirit of the martyrs and the stories of friendship between the two nations,” said Zhou.
Lu expressed how much events like this meant to the families of the martyrs. “My heart is filled with tears being able to visit the tombs of more than 2,000 of my compatriots. I hope that the strong friendship between the Philippines and China that cultivated during the fight against Japanese invaders would endure through generations,” said the 90-year-old veteran.
The Chinese Embassy donated funds to the Philippine Chinese Charitable Association Inc. to renovate and maintain the Manila Chinese Cemetery and Memorial Hall.
