31 August 2016 — The Philippine Consulate General in Shanghai visited the Liwayway (China), Co., Ltd. Manufacturing Plant in West Shanghai to reach out to the Filipinos working at the factory as part of the Consulate’s month-long mini Filipino Festival for Buwan ng Wika (Filipino Language Month). Consulate officials and staff were welcomed by the corporation’s officials, led by Mr. Archie Chan, Executive Vice Chairman; Mr. Walter Angsanto, Executive Vice President; and Mr. Benjamin Tan, Vice President. Liwayway is a company that provides snack foods and confectionery products distributed widely in the Philippines. Some 20 Filipinos work in the company’s Shanghai manufacturing plant, located in a sprawling 21-hectare compound in the Qingpu District.

The first round of the Consulate’s mini film fest in Shanghai was the screening of All You Need is Pag-Ibig (All You Need is Love) at the Liwayway Shanghai offices, which was well-received by its audience. The screening is part of the ongoing joint project of the Department of Foreign Affairs’ Office of the Undersecretary for International and Economic Relations (DFA-OUIER) and Star Cinema Productions, which aims to bring Pinoy blockbuster hits All You Need is Pag-Ibig (All You Need is Love) and Beauty and the Bestie to different Filipino community enclaves in Shanghai.

Vice Consul André Peter C. Estanislao, speaking on behalf of Consul General Wilfredo R. Cuyugan, the Head of Cultural Affairs of the Consulate, informed participants at the film screening of the 2016 Buwan ng Wika celebration theme, “Filipino: Wika ng Karunungan (Filipino: Language of Wisdom)” and encouraged everyone to continuously use Filipino not only as a medium of communication among other Filipinos but also as an effective tool to debate ideas and gain further insights into one’s heritage and culture.

The next round of film screenings and community outreach will be held at the International Philippine School in Shanghai sometime in the coming weeks. END