PH-China Friendship Day celebration cancelled due to ‘word war’

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MANILA — Because of the ongoing tension between the Philippines and China, the Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry decided not to celebrate the Filipino-Chinese Friendship Day.

“Although there is no war, there is a word war and so we think it would be best not to push through with it,” Angel Ngu, president of the host Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry told reporters on Monday night.

“We all see that the tension in the West Philippine Sea seems to be escalating. So we think that this is not a good time,” Ngu told reporters.

He added that the federation has decided to celebrate the Philippine Independence Day, instead.

“We all thought to just have the celebration of Philippine Independence Day rather than have a celebration of Filipino-Chinese Friendship Day,” Ngu said.

He added that the Chinese-Filipino community in the country is rather “concerned about what is happening in mainland China.”

“I am a Filipino and I love the Philippines but I don’t want the Philippines to have a conflict with where my father came from,” Ngu added.