The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business
By Isabella Cuartero
It was my first time playing the Chinese dice game, and I had no clue what I was doing. So, I simply went with the flow—no expectations whatsoever.
Little did I know, I was slowly stacking up points and had already landed the highest score at our table. What started as a completely clueless attempt soon turned into an unexpectedly winning streak, much to my own surprise.
The traditional Hokkien (Southern Fujian-style) dice game Bo Bing, also known as “Pwa Tiong Chew” is one of the highlights of the Mid-Autumn Festival held every year in China and other countries.
Played with six dice and a bowl, the game uses specific dice combinations to determine prize ranks, traditionally including mooncakes.
More than a game of chance, Bo Bing is a social tradition that celebrates good fortune, friendship, sharing and togetherness during the Mid-Autumn Festival.
The Federation of Filipino Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry Inc. (FFCCCII), led by President Victor Lim, held an advance celebration of the Mid-Autumn, or Moon, Festival on Sept. 10 at its building in Binondo, Manila, under the theme “Celebrating Harmony, Tradition and Strong Media Partnerships.”
Lim was joined by Manila Mayor Isko Moreno, other government officials, FFCCCII officers and members, and media representatives for an afternoon of fellowship, food and cultural tradition.
“We’re very excited [about] celebrating our culture and tradition being passed on to the next generation,” Moreno said.
Among those who attended were Vice Mayor Chi Atienza, Presidential Communications Office Assistant Secretary for Private Media Arthur Lawrence Los Baños, FFCCCII Honorary President Dr. Cecilio Pedro, FFCCCII officers and media guests.
Mooncakes were presented to Moreno, Atienza, Los Baños, and participating media guests. A defining symbol of the festival, mooncakes represent reunion, togetherness, and gratitude as families and friends gather under the full moon.
This year’s Mid-Autumn Festival falls on September 25, 2026, the 15th day of the eighth month of the Chinese lunar calendar. Celebrated across China, the Philippines and other parts of Asia, the festival is traditionally a time to reunite with family and friends, give thanks for blessings and celebrate the harvest. It is regarded as one of the most important celebrations in Chinese culture, second only to the Lunar New Year in prominence.
For FFCCCII, the advance celebration also reaffirmed its longstanding partnership with the Philippine media while promoting appreciation of Filipino-Chinese cultural traditions.
Lim thanked the media for its continued support in communicating the Filipino-Chinese community’s contributions to unity, service, progress and stronger communities. He also highlighted FFCCCII’s civic initiatives, including Operation Barrio Schools, which has constructed and donated more than 6,500 rural public school buildings nationwide.
The celebration showed how an age-old tradition continues to bring people together in modern Manila through food, friendship, culture, and good fortune.
The Federation of Filipino Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry Inc. (FFCCCII) is an umbrella organization of Filipino-Chinese business organizations in the Philippines. Beyond business and economic advocacy, it undertakes socio-civic, charitable, educational and cultural initiatives that strengthen ties between the Filipino-Chinese community and Philippine society.