Our duty is to love our country, head of Fil-Chinese org says

Speaking like an enlightened pastor, Federation of Filipino Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (FFCCCII) president Dr. Cecilio  K. Pedro urged his audience of media persons to focus only on good news, celebration of love and grace not only during this Christmas season but throughout our lives.

“It is our duty to love our country, to help improve it. The Filipinos are the best people in the world. We are hardworking, but we have to work harder here at home,” he said during a December xx  Christmas thanksgiving event at a Quezon City restaurant.

“In Japan, people work 12 hours a day. In Korea, 14 hours. Working hard for one’s family is working hard for the country,” he continued. 

Dr. Pedro, former head of Lamoiyan Corporation, maker of Hapee Toothpaste, also thanked singer and businessman Jose Mari L. Chan for his unwavering support of the foundation’s various socio-civic charitable endeavors.

FFCCCII is an extensive network of 170 Filipino Chinese chambers and diverse industry organizations nationwide from Aparri to Tawi-Tawi. It plays a pivotal role in economic advocacy, calamity relief, free medical missions, and support to rural public schools, as well as providing assistance to Filipino Chinese volunteer fire brigades which aid victims of fires and disasters regardless of ethnic or socio-economic backgrounds.

In response to six recent significant typhoons, the FFCCCII led the Filipino at Tsino Magkaibigan Foundation to promptly deliver emergency food relief supplies to hard-hit Bicol region, flood-affected areas of Metro Manila, and other provinces.

Dr. Pedro reiterated the longstanding commitment of the Filipino Chinese business community in assisting fellow Filipinos affected by disasters and to uplift underprivileged communities across the nation.

Spreading goodness is spreading love, he said, as we replied in silence, between bites of delicious Oriental Palace dishes, a heartful “Amen.”