MANILA, Philippines — Philippine Ambassador to China Jaime FlorCruz honored the heroism of Filipinos who fought for the country’s freedom, as he joined the celebration of the 127th anniversary of the Philippine Independence on Thursday.
In his speech at the Independence Day Reception in Beijing on Wednesday, FlorCruz mentioned how Filipinos fought for the country until they gained independence from invaders.
“On June 12, 1898, our people declared independence from more than 300 years of colonial rule and asserted our freedom as a people and a nation,” FlorCruz said.
“Ours is a story of honor, camaraderie and bravery in the fight for independence and self-determination. It is a story of our fight for freedom and nationhood,” he added.
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As he cited the relevance of Independence Day in the Philippines, FlorCruz also recalled what happened during the Battle of Sta. Cruz, in 1945, “where Filipino and Chinese guerilla forces fought together to liberate the town of Laguna during the Second World War.”
He also cited the “long-standing ties” among Filipinos and Chinese, highlighting the 50th Anniversary of Philippine-China Diplomatic Relations commemorated last June 7.
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“Fifty years ago, President Ferdinand Marcos and Premier Zhou Enlai in Beijing signed the Joint Communique formally establishing diplomatic relations between the Philippines and China,” he said, adding that the “Philippines-China relations have since flourished across the spectrum of politics, trade, tourism, education and culture.”
FlorCruz also commended the people “who have been building bridges of friendship between the Philippines and China.”
“Our friendly ties go way back beyond 50 years. Our national hero, Jose Rizal, actually spent significant time in Hong Kong, along with several other Filipino patriots who fought for the birth of an independent Republic of the Philippines,” he said.
During the event, the Chinese Embassy launched the book #MadeItInChina, a compilation of stories that featured Filipinos who have succeeded in China across different professions.
“Their stories are a testament to the strength and resilience of our people and highlight their distinctive contributions to the narrative of Philippine-China friendship. Their stories show that China is a place where Filipinos can find their chosen careers, thrive and succeed,” said FlorCruz.
Descendants of a Filipino-Chinese guerilla force who fought along with the Filipino freedom fighters in the Second World War also attended as guests in the diplomatic reception.
