60TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION OF THE FEDERATION OF FILIPINO-CHINESE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY.

Greatly honored to be invited in representing the Association of Young Filipino-Chinese Entrepreneurs (Anvil Business Club) during the 60th Anniversary Celebration of the Federation of the Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (菲 華 商 聯 總 會), or FFCCCII. In an extravagantly-prepared program which literally left no stone un-turned, the FFCCCII staged an elaborate celebration marking the prestigious chamber's diamond anniversary. Government officials, led by Philippine President Benigno S. Aquino III, former Presidents Joseph E. Estrada and Fidel V. Ramos, Senate President Franklin M. Drilon, Senator Juan Edgardo M. Angara and TESDA Director-General Joel J. Villanueva, lent prestige to the grand event.

Industry pillars, with the likes of Dr. Lucio C. Tan (陳永栽), Henry Sy (施至成), Andrew L. Tan (吳聰滿), Tony Tan Caktiong (陳覺中) were honored by the chamber for their outstanding contributions to Philippine business, while FFCCCII's pillars and past presidents were likewise acknowledged for lending their leadership to the 60-year-old organization.

The birth of the Federation in March 1954, was inspired by the late President Ramon Magsaysay who, shortly after his election in 1953, met with the leaders of the local Chinese community and appealed to them to organize a more compact association that could render greater support to his government and further strengthen the existing ties of friendship between the Filipinos and the Chinese in the Philippines.

Men of vision, dedication and integrity from the Chinese-Filipino community have provided the needed leadership and direction for the Federation. Through multifarious acts of charity, compassion, and humanity over the years, the Federation has transformed itself into one of the leading organizations in the country today, very deeply involved not only in the economic but, more importantly, in the civic, social and cultural life of our nation.

Stirred to action by President Magsaysay’s unprecedented appeal, the leaders of the various Chinese chambers of commerce and trade associations throughout the country convened at the Manila Hotel in a historic convention in March 1954 and organized the Federation of Chinese Chambers of Commerce in the Philippines. Later, it was renamed Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce to make it more reflective of the citizenship of its actual members, which is that of Filipinos and Chinese alike. Later, it was renamed Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Inc. to mirror the broadening range of participation of its members in the national economy.