Symphony of Giving: FFCCCII thanks Jose Mari Chan for his support to the org’s charitable initiatives
The spirit of giving doesn’t always wear a Santa hat, and good will isn’t confined to Christmas carols. Jose Mari Chan, the man whose voice heralds the holiday season in the Philippines, is a Christmas icon. But unknown to many, his generosity extends far beyond the festive tunes he’s known for. Like the Federation of Filipino Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FFCCCII), Chan understands that compassion and community support are year-round endeavors.
Dr. Cecilio K. Pedro, President of the FFCCCII, also known as the man behind successful business organization Lamoiyan Corp., stood before a gathering, not just to celebrate the season of giving, but to illuminate the spirit of giving that burned bright within their organization throughout the year. He spoke of the FFCCCII’s expansive network, 170 Filipino Chinese chambers strong, stretching across the nation, from Aparri to Tawi-Tawi.
A lifeline, they were. Dr. Pedro painted a picture of their work: economic advocacy, a shield against calamity, free medical missions that brought healing to remote corners, and the steady hand supporting rural public schools. He highlighted the bravery of the Filipino Chinese volunteer fire brigades, always the first on the scene, battling blazes and offering aid to victims of disasters, regardless of background.
The recent onslaught of six typhoons had tested their mettle, but the FFCCCII, hand in hand with the Filipino at Tsino Magkaibigan Foundation, had risen to the challenge. Emergency food relief flowed like a river of goodwill to the battered Bicol region, the submerged areas of Metro Manila, and other provinces reeling from the storms.
Jose Mari Chan, a man whose music was synonymous with generosity and goodwill, also knew the melody of giving well. His own life was proof to the harmony of business success and charitable endeavors.
Dr. Pedro, acknowledging Chan’s support, emphasized the enduring commitment of the Filipino Chinese business community: “Aside from that, I also believe that the key moving forward, hindi lang yung media, dapat lahat tutulong, lahat ng Pilipino ay makakatulong sa pag-uunlag ng bayan. Every single individual should participate in this movement to help the Philippines.“
He continued his call to action, “Ang galing po ng Pilipino, everywhere you go outside the Philippines, you will bump into Filipinos may overseas workers sila. They are really nice and we are very proud to be part of this Filipino community. ‘Pag nagsalubong ang Pilipino, ‘pag nagsalita ka ng Tagalog, parang kilala ka for so many years.”
“This is something we treasure. This is something good about the Filipino race, let’s put it this way. Ang Pinoy for me is the best people in the world,” Dr. Pedro said.
Education: Lighting the Lamp of Knowledge
Dr. Pedro’s words turned towards education, a cornerstone of their charitable efforts. “Hello. Kasama kami sa Ateneo Scholarship Board. Tumutulong kami para mag-provide ng scholarship. Marami pong gusto mag-aaral sa Ateneo kaya lang mahal ang tuition. We’ve been serving there for decades, many years.“
Their Ateneo Scholarship Program sponsorships, an opportunity for countless young Filipinos, stood as a testament to their dedication.
Building for the Future: Brick by Brick
But their commitment to education didn’t stop there. “Kami po engaged in classroom building for the last 35-40 years. We built 6,500 classrooms as of now sa mga tawag namin barrio schools. Daming barrio na nangangailangan ng eskwelahan. Wala silang classrooms. Kami ang pumapasok at tumutulong. So that is one of the projects we do.“
Thousands of classrooms, built in far-flung barrios, were concrete symbols of their investment in the future of the nation.
A Blazing Spirit: The Volunteer Fire Brigade
The conversation shifted to the Volunteer Fire Brigade, a vital force in times of crisis. “On top of that, we also do the volunteer fire brigade. Alam niyo yung mga fire brigade natin ngayon, marami nang fire trucks na volunteer. ‘Pag may sunog, laging nauuna sila. Siguro napanood niyo na maraming fire trucks galing sa volunteer fire brigades. Nauuna sila. Bakit po? Sila po yung mga volunteers. That’s part of our program. Also started way back in the ’60s.“
Their support for these brave men and women demonstrated a deep understanding of community needs.
Healing Hands: Medical Outreach and Disaster Relief
Dr. Pedro spoke with passion about their medical outreach programs: “And third very important project is the what we call medical outreach. Every week lumalabas kami sa community. May team kami going out to provide assistance sa medicines. Marami pong mga Filipino na hirap pati yung medicines, common medicines they cannot afford. So we go out of our way. We bring tons and tons of medicine throughout the year to help our Filipino brothers and sisters in the community.“
And in the face of disaster, their response was swift and compassionate. “On top of that, during typhoon lagi kami nasa harap. We just formulate, put together a fund worth about P60-65 million to buy rice. So katakot-takot nang rice ang binibigay namin lalo na nakaraan ng mga bagyo. Anywhere in the country.“
Their disaster relief and rice distribution efforts were a lifeline to those who had lost everything.
As the evening progressed, the message was clear: business and charity are not mutually exclusive. They could, and should, exist in harmony. The FFCCCII, with the support of individuals like Dr. Pedro and Jose Mari Chan, is living proof of this beautiful symphony of giving.
