15 hours ago
Marcos highlights shared history between PH and China in Binondo event
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Saturday led the Jones Bridge lighting ceremony in Binondo, Manila, where he spoke about the shared history between the Philippines and China.
In his speech, Marcos recalled familiar foods associated with Binondo, such as dumplings, lumpia, mami, hopia, and siopao.
'As a young boy, my earliest memories about Binondo [were] about food… I still always return to the comforting delicacies from the Binondo shops that have stood the test of time,' he said.
'More than the food, it is also about the feeling. When we are here, we can feel the sense of place that has shaped Manila and its people. Now, essential to Binondo is the historic Jones Bridge—a landmark—it has endured wars, floods, and a long, long history,' he continued.
Among those present at the lighting ceremony were First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos and China's Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian, whom the President described as a "valued guest and friend."
'I am also glad to share that tonight's event has a deeper meaning. This project commemorates 50 years of diplomatic relations between the Philippines and the People's Republic of China. Half a century of friendship and shared history, all reflected here in the world's oldest Chinatown,' he said.
He said the Chinatown Revitalization Project aims to ''transform Binondo into a place that we can always return to.''
'Because how can we know our history and culture if we do not know and experience them ourselves? So, I encourage everyone, especially the younger people, to visit Binondo. Come back to Ongpin, Escolta, Carvajal, and the streets that have yet to be discovered and celebrated,' he said.
'In times like these, when everything can feel loud and fast and confusing, I believe what we need is right here. A place as simple as a bridge or a street that tells us to pause and to reflect on who we are and what we share as a nation,' he added.
The Philippines and China, trading partners locked in a maritime dispute in the West Philippine Sea, will commemorate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties on Monday, June 9. —Jiselle Anne Casucian/VBL, GMA Integrated News
