The Federation of Filipino Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (FFCCCII) organized a joint virtual event on Wednesday to celebrate in advance the 124th Philippine Independence Day (June 12) and the 21st Filipino-Chinese Friendship Day (June 9). Outgoing President Rodrigo Duterte and incoming President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr. graced the online event. Also in attendance were incoming Vice President Sara Duterte, former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, lawmakers, diplomats and other guests.
The 68-year-old FFCCCII, which represents over 170 business and trade associations from all over the Philippines, traditionally celebrates the country’s Independence Day over the years. The Filipino-Chinese Friendship Day was incorporated in its celebrations after President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo issued Proclamation No. 148 in 2002, declaring June 9 of every year as Filipino-Chinese Friendship Day. The Philippines and China established their diplomatic relations on June 9, 1975.
In his speech, President Duterte focused on the celebration of the 124th Philippine Independence Day by reminding Filipinos about the importance of celebrating Independence Day on June 12 as a testament to how the country’s forefathers fought for the freedoms that we enjoy today.
“Take heart all the learnings from the past, especially the countless hardships that we had to endure as a people. Let our rich histories move to translate our love for this country into real acts of goodwill for all our fellow men. Let us also work together so that we could realize our vision of a more harmonious and progressive Philippines. May we have a meaningful commemoration,” the President said.
For his part, the incoming president expressed optimism on the diplomatic relationship and friendship between the Philippines and China. “The centuries-old relationship and friendship of the Philippines and China has been and will continue to be of great mutual benefit to our people, from trade, arts, culture, athletics to regional peace and stability to the employment opportunities for our people, and all the significantly generous efforts extended to us during the pandemic, the cooperative partnership of our donations continue to reach new heights,” Marcos Jr. said. “I join you in this celebration as we look forward to more years not only of diplomatic relations but of continuous, fruitful engagements between China and the Philippines as we continue to enjoy the friendship that we develop over the years.”
Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian earlier said he personally relayed Chinese President Xi Jinping’s message to the incoming president. “I had the honor to convey the congratulatory messages from Chinese President Xi Jinping to President-elect Ferdinand Bongbong Marcos Jr. and from Chinese Vice President Wang Qishan to Vice President-elect Sara Duterte respectively,” he said. “We look forward to working with the next Philippine government to upgrade our Relationship of Comprehensive Strategic Cooperation to new height and bring more tangible benefits to the peoples of our two countries,” he added.
This early, there are auspicious signs that China-Philippine relations will improve under the incoming Marcos administration. But certain quarters said they are getting feelings of déjà vu. Chinese President Xi Jinping, they said, described President Duterte’s first state visit in 2016 as springtime after a winter of mutual discontent.
Pundits said President Xi Jinping and President Duterte have met face-to-face eight times, drawing up strategic blueprints for the continuous development of China-Philippines relations. But in the six years of the Duterte administration, the Philippines has filed hundreds of diplomatic protests against China’s aggressive actions in the South China Sea.
President Duterte has considered China a friend of the Philippines. But China continues to act not as a friend, but as a bully. No wonder some Filipino nationalists are saying that Philippine strategic interests are not served by giving China our complete trust.