Speech delivered at SM City Iloilo during the celebration of Chinese New Year 2023
Congresswoman Honorable Julienne Baronda, Representative Honorable James Ang Jr., Iloilo City Mayor Honorable Jerry Treñas, Chairman of the Chinese New Year 2023 Task Force Mr. Charles Ho, Leaders of civic organizations in Iloilo City, School Heads, faculty and learners of the Chinese-Filipino schools in Iloilo, Ladies and gentlemen, Good evening.
Two years of interregnum in a continuum of 2 decades of Chinese New Year Celebration in our city might be perceived as a regrettable glitch, but taken against the backdrop of 5000 years of uninterrupted civilization in which Chinese New Year is an intrinsic component, 2 years is evidently a negligible fragment, a mere ripple in a vast eternal ocean.
Yet, while we have resiliently withstood the unprecedented global challenges, we recognize the necessity of reclaiming what seemed have drifted away, and the urgency of doing so.
The Chinese New Year Celebration tonight is a strong expression of such conviction. I was a witness of how this year’s celebration has come about, from the planning stage, to the preparation, to its splendid realization tonight and in the days to come. The event is an embodiment of comradely collaboration, unambiguous coordination, and well-ordered execution, everything was meticulously scrutinized, profoundly deliberated, and passionately implemented.
Witnessing the entire package that is the Iloilo Chinese New Year Celebration 2023, one can’t help but be elated and say, alas, the hiatus caused by the pandemic has not changed the spirit of unity, the ingrained optimism of our Ilonggo Community, if ever change there has been, the adversity has made us stronger.
At this moment, please allow me to greet briefly our brothers and sisters in the Ilonggo community in Mandarin.
在我市连续20年的农历新年庆祝活动中，两年疫情造成的间隔为实是一个令人遗憾的缺陷，但在5000年不间断的伟大的中华文明背景下，两年显然是一个微不足道的片刻，只是浩瀚海洋中的涟漪。今年，在怡朗市政府的主持下，在市长 Mayor Jerry Trenas 的亲切关怀下，我们重拾温馨的回忆，编织着五彩缤纷的梦想，在新征程上踏步前行。
Without a doubt, today’s event has been made more memorable by the display of cultural and artistic prowess of the children from the four Chinese-Filipino schools in Iloilo City. On behalf of the primary sponsor of this celebration, the Office of the City Mayor, and Mayor Trenãs himself, and the civic organizations in Iloilo City, our sincerest thanks therefore go to the administration, faculty and learners of Hua Siong College of Iloilo, Sun Yat Sen High School, Ateneo de Iloilo – Santa Maria Catholic School, and Iloilo Scholastic Academy.
Mabuhay ang Ilonggo Community, Happy and prosperous Chinese New Year to everyone, 恭喜发财，万事如意。Thank you, 谢谢。