Come to a Chinese celebration and you would swim in red.
The 110 years anniversary of the Filipino – Chinese General Chamber of Commerce (FCGCC) is one prime example.
The long hallway leading to the grand ballroom strictly followed China’s one red policy.
Red receptionists
Red table cloths
Red birthday cake
Red stage, red backdrop
FCGCC Chairman Emeritus Dr. James G. Dy was the one who invited me.
He’s also the one who runs the Chinese General Hospital.
Dr. & Mrs. Dy recently celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary. Mrs. Dy looks so young and sexy.
Dr. Dy is celebrating his birthday on December 9, his 84th.
He’s still very active organizing charitable projects for the chamber.
They donate school buildings, irrigation systems, medical clinics, etc.
I saved two seats for Yen and Derrick
Early birds
I guarded their seats with my life.
Menu is more interesting to read than the program
Translation: Please be silent when the guest of honor delivers his speech. Thank you for your cooperation.
I was seated with some politicians from China.
This is Willy Lam, a congressman from Namping, City of Fujian.
He was elected because of his compassion to the poor.
Willy and business partner Kevin Cham, developed the ADB Avenue Tower in Pasig, a mixed-use commercial and residential high rise condo.
(L-R) 1. Willy Lam, 2. Wu Wuhuang, Secretary General of the Returned Overseas Chinese Federation of Fujian Province, 3. I couldn’t read his name it was written in Chinese 4. Kevin Cham
The Chinese government officials and politicians flew in from China just to attend this event.
I had the perfect timing. I arrived at 6 pm, a full hour ahead of what’s indicated in the invitation. Ever since I arrived, I was already feeling the urge to “may I go out” but I went straight to the grand ballroom to save our seats. Oyen and Derrick arrived, I still didn’t want to leave my seat. Until it was past 8 pm and the program hasn’t started, I stood up and went to the toilet. Ang galing ko, tyempo pang parating yung guest na pinagkakahintay-hintay.
Ambassador Zhao Jianhua of the People’s Republic of China
Did you hear the receptionists greet the guest “good evening sir”.
Buti na lang hindi sinabi good evening mam sir.
It was only when the Chinese Ambassador to the Philippine arrived before they served the food. I was dizzy from hunger.
Fish lip soup
Lauriat makes me fat. Eating three servings would make me fatter.
I finished this, I did a second round, and a third. The scallop was so fresh and delicious.
How come we don’t deviate from tradition? We always have lauriat.
I wonder if the one thousand guests would complain if Filipino food is served instead.
The prawns were huge. One piece was hard enough to finish.
After the appetizers were served, some guys from our table were already waiting for the rice. But it came last. Busog na kami kaya ang daming natira.
The buchi was very good. I didn’t touch the tiramisu. I scraped the top part of the mango pudding and left the pudding.
We didn’t win.
Some rich guy won this P145,000 quartz ball. When will I ever win something in a raffle?
We hurriedly left before hundreds of cars clog Sofitel’s driveway.
