As part of the series of activities to commemorate the 120th Anniversary of the Declaration of Philippine Independence, Consul General Julius Caesar Flores hosted a dinner reception at the Kempinski Hotel in Xiamen City on 12 June 2018. The talented group Kamerata Klassika Manila regaled the guests with varied musical performances.
Xiamen City dignitaries attended the occasion led by Xiamen City Vice Mayor Han Jingyi, Jiangxi Foreign Affairs Office (FAO) Director General Shen Zhongchun, Fujian FAO Deputy Director General Lou Guanzheng, Xiamen Foreign and Overseas Chinese Affairs Office (FOCAO) Director General Li Xiaoping, Singapore Consul General Chi Chew Sum and Thai Consul General Karntimon Ruksakiati. 400 guests from Fujian Foreign Affairs Office (FAO), Xiamen, Jinjiang, Quanzhou and Shishi Cities Foreign and Overseas Chinese Affairs Office (FOCAO) officials, members of the Fujian diplomatic corps, Filipino-Chinese businessmen in Fujian province and Filipino community leaders, academe, media and Post’s official contacts.
In his message, Consul General Flores mentioned the long history of friendship, cooperation and trade between the Philippines and China as exemplified by the visit of Sultan Paduka Batara of the Sultanate of Sulu to the Ming Emperor in Dezhou, China more than half a millennium ago to extend friendship and promote trade. This historic voyage was reenacted by the Philippine (Kaya Ng Pinoy) – Balangay Expedition to China from 28 April to 20 May 2018, including its Fujian leg.
Consul General Flores also highlighted the major accomplishments of the Consulate General in Xiamen in its efforts to pursue its political, economic and cultural diplomacy thrusts in 2017 and the first semester of 2018, highlighting the exchanges of visits between Philippine government officials and business leaders and their Fujian and Xiamen counterparts.
The musical performance for the evening was provided by Kamerata Klassika Manila. Composed of sopranos Stefanie Quintin and Krystl Buesa, countertenor Kyle Tingzon, tenor Ervin Lumauag, and bass Nil’s Flores, accompanied on the guitar by Anton Luis Arevalo Avila, the group was warmly received by all the guests.
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