President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., leads the lighting of the Jones Bridge Saturday night. Photo from RTVM/YT.
MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., and First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos led the Jones Bridge lighting ceremony as a celebration of the 50th anniversary of Philippine-China bilateral relations at the Pasig River Esplanade in Manila on Saturday evening.
Among the officials who were also present were Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian, Federation of Filipino Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry President Victor Lim, and outgoing Manila Mayor Honey Lacuna.
“I am 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,” Marcos said in his speech.
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“Half a century of friendship and shared history, all reflected here in the world’s oldest Chinatown,” he added.
The President commended the lighting up of the historic Jones Bridge and the restoration of Binondo while “reaffirming its cultural and historical place and significance to our shared heritage.”
`Chinatown revitalization’
“This is what the Chinatown Revitalization Project is all about,” Marcos said.
“We will transform Binondo into a place that we can always return to. From the old Manileños to the first-time visitors, lahat welcome dito (all is welcome here). Because how can we know our history and culture if we do not know and experience them ourselves?” he added.
The President then encouraged the public, especially the youth, to visit Binondo.
“Come back to Ongpin, Escolta, Carvajal, and the streets that have yet to be discovered and celebrated,” he said./mr