Mid-Autumn Festival, a timefor mooncakes and game of dice

We played a game of dice, and after three rounds, I won 300 pesos, making 100 pesos per round. Not bad for someone who has never won big at the casino.

The game was the highlight of an advanced Mid-Autumn Festival hosted by businessmen Wilson Lee Flores and Eddie Cabanquiat at Kamuning Bakery on September 27. The two were there as representatives of the Federation of Filipino Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (FFCCCII).

This year’s Mid-Autumn Festival, which falls on October 6, 2025, a Monday, will witness, according to weather forecasters, a particularly beautiful full moon, following the Chinese lunar calendar.

Chinese people everywhere look forward to what is known as the Mooncake Festival, an ancient, annual, colorful, celebration.

FFCCCII, through its, President, Victor Lim, cheers the time-honored Mid-Autumn Festival as it reaffirms its commitment to foster promoting peace and prosperity for the Philippines by fighting corruption.

The Federation’s charitable initiatives, rooted in 71 years of history, extend beyond the festive season. Under its “Operation Barrio Schools” program, the FFCCCII has donated over 6,500 public school buildings nationwide.

Furthermore, the Federation mobilizes relief goods for disaster victims, conducts approximately 88 free medical and dental missions yearly for urban poor communities, and supports educational initiatives.

The Federation also stands in solidarity with the nation’s anti-corruption clamor, advocating for a more transparent, better, and inclusive Philippine economic growth.

Lim emphasized that the Mid-Autumn Festival is a time for family reunions and thanksgiving.

The Mid-Autumn Festival is deeply enriched by traditions such as Pua Tiong Chiu, a cherished dice game that brings families and communities together. This is the dice game we played and tried winning earlier.

Playing it brought me back to my favorite childhood game, called beto-beto, another dice game usually played during town fiestas.

Pua Tiong Chiu, also known as Bo Bing in Mandarin, is a traditional dice game originating from the southern Fujian province of China, particularly Xiamen. It is played during the Mid-Autumn Festival as a way for families and friends to gather and celebrate. The game is also a beloved custom among Chinese communities overseas, especially in the Philippines, where it is called Pua Tiong Chiu in the local Hokkien dialect.

Pua Tiong Chiu involves six pieces of dice and a large porcelain bowl. Players take turns rolling the dice into the bowl to win a variety of prizes based on the combination rolled.

In its original form, prizes consisted of 63 different-sized mooncakes, with the winner of the grand prize receiving the largest and most ornate one. Today, prizes can range from mooncakes and other foods to household appliances, toys, or money.

More than just a game of chance, Pua Tiong Chiu is a way to strengthen bonds and create a lively, celebratory atmosphere. It is a symbol of unity, prosperity, and gratitude.