Over pandesal and coffee on a Friday morning, the conversation at Kamuning Bakery Café turned to something larger than business. It was about the long, quiet distances families cross for one another.
FFCCCII presscon supporting “Dear You” movie led by Federation of Filipino Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (FFCCCII) President Victor Lim (4th from left) held at Pandesal Forum at Kamuning Bakery Cafe in Quezon City.
The Federation of Filipino Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (FFCCCII) and the Anvil Business Club gathered at the Pandesal Forum on July 24, 2026, to announce their sponsorship of two advance screenings of Dear You, the Asian box-office hit that has drawn audiences across the region with its moving portrait of the overseas Chinese experience.
Leading the announcement were FFCCCII President Victor Lim, Anvil Business Club President William Terence V. Lim, Jr., FFCCCII Assistant Secretary General Gino Chen, Public Information Committee Chairman Wilson Lee Flores, and Public Information Committee Co-Chairman Eduardo Cobankiat.
Lim opened the press conference in Filipino. He said, “Magandang umaga po sa inyong lahat. Maraming salamat sa inyong patuloy na suporta sa mga programang nagtataguyod ng kultura, pagkakaibigan, at pag-unlad ng ating bansa.”
For Lim, the event was never simply about promoting a film. It was about reaffirming the Federation’s broader mission.
Others in photo, from left: FFCCCII Public Information Committee Co-Chairman Eduardo Cobankiat, Asst. Sec. Gen. Gino Chen, Anvil Business Club President William Lim, Jr., President Victor Lim, Public Information Committee Chairman Wilson Lee Flores
“Our Federation has always been committed not only to promoting sustainable and inclusive economic growth in the Philippines and supporting meaningful socio-civic and charitable initiatives, but also to advancing cultural exchanges that foster mutual understanding, strengthen friendship among peoples, and celebrate our shared heritage,” he said.
That philosophy, he explained, has long guided the organization’s projects. Just a month earlier, the Federation invited vertical drama actress Zhang Yingfei, known for the hit series Linda Walker, to visit the Philippines. The initiative was intended to inspire young Filipinos through her story of perseverance while also introducing Chinese audiences to Philippine destinations.
“Through her visit, we hoped to inspire our youth to value education, perseverance, and hard work in pursuing a better future,” Lim said.
The effort echoed one of the Federation’s most enduring civic programs, Operation: Barrio Schools, through which the FFCCCII has donated more than 6,500 public school buildings to underserved communities across the country since 1961. At the same time, Lim noted, promoting tourism through cultural exchanges helps build stronger ties between nations, creating what he described as bridges of goodwill and mutual respect.
It was from that same perspective that the Federation embraced Dear You.
Tracing the lives of overseas Chinese families between Thailand and southern China, the film tells a story of separation, sacrifice, resilience, and hope. To Lim, its themes feel remarkably familiar to Filipino audiences.
“We believe its message will resonate deeply with Filipinos,” he said. “As a nation with millions of Overseas Filipino Workers serving in many parts of the world, we understand the sacrifices, separation, and emotional journeys of families striving to build better lives for their loved ones.”
The film also carries a cultural familiarity for many members of the Filipino Chinese community. While Dear You is performed primarily in Teochew, the language shares considerable similarities with Hokkien, which is widely spoken among Filipino Chinese families. English subtitles accompany the screenings, making the story accessible to broader audiences while preserving its cultural authenticity.
Beyond its emotional appeal, Lim believes the film offers an opportunity to better understand the history of Chinese migration and the values that continue to bind families across generations.
“It reminds us of the timeless importance of strong family values,” he said, adding that stories like Dear You help deepen cultural understanding between communities.
The FFCCCII is sponsoring two advance screenings of the film in cooperation with the Anvil Business Club:
- Wednesday, August 5, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. — SM Mall of Asia IMAX
- Saturday, August 8, 2026, at 6:30 p.m. — SM North EDSA Cinema 3
The Anvil Business Club is one of more than 170 Filipino Chinese chambers of commerce and business organizations under the Federation, whose membership stretches, as Lim noted, from Aparri to Tawi-Tawi.
As the morning drew to a close, Lim returned to the message with which he had begun. He said, “Maraming salamat po sa inyong pakikiisa at suporta. Nawa’y patuloy nating gamitin ang sining, kultura, at pagkakaibigan bilang mga tulay tungo sa higit na pagkakaunawaan, pagkakaisa, at kaunlaran. Mabuhay po kayong lahat!”
Art, culture, and friendship act as bridges. That fact is a fitting thought to leave with, especially for a film about people whose lives are shaped by the journeys they take for those they love.
