PH Consul General Visits Fujian’s Meizhou Island Ahead of Mazu Pilgrimage to the PH

Consul General Julius Caesar A. Flores (center) receives a token of appreciation from Mr. Lin Jinzan, Chairman of the Board, Meizhou Mazu Ancestral Temple, in Meizu Island, Putian, Fujian Province. (Xiamen PCG photo)

Mr. Lin Jinzan (second from right) is joined by (from left) Ms. Lin Yumei, Member of the Board of Directors and Director of Reception Division of Meizhou Mazu Ancestral Temple in Meizu Island, Consul General in Xiamen Julius Ceasar Flores, Administrative Officer Flordeliza Delos Santos, and Consulate General Interpreter Cheryl Yang in paying respects and offering prayers to Mazu, Chinese Goddess of the Sea, for prosperity and good fortune. (Xiamen PCG photo)

XIAMEN 19 October 2018 — Consul General in Xiamen Julius Caesar A. Flores visited Mazu Ancestral Temple in Meizu Island on 19 September 2018, to discuss preparations for the pilgrimage and cruise tour Manila on 20-23 October 2018 entitled “Go to Nanyang (Southeast Asia) to Retrace the Maritime Silk Road” via COSTA Atlantica Cruise.

Philippine Consulate General in Xiamen delegation was warmly received by the Temple’s Board of the Directors led by Chairman Lin Jinzan.

The cruise forms part of Chinese President Xi Jinping and Chinese Premier Li Keqiang’s policies on Mazu culture under the framework of the 13th five-year plan to actively respond to the Belt and Road initiative, and to promote people-to-people exchanges with countries along the Maritime Silk Road.

The Philippines is the latest Southeast Asia country destination of the tour following similar pilgrimages to Malaysia and Singapore in 2017.

The tentative program of activities in the Philippines include a welcome ceremony on the Port of Manila, a visit to an orphanage, and the grand worship ceremony at the Rizal Park.

The cruise is organized by the Meizhou Mazu Ancestral Temple, Board of Directors, and sponsored by Chinese Mazu Culture Exchange Association, Putian Municipal Tourism Development Commission and Meizhou National Tourism Resort Administration. It is also co-sponsored by the Xiamen Port Holdings Group and Taiwan Mazu Fraternity.

Meizhou Island, located in Putian, Fujian Province, is well-known as the hometown of Mazu, Chinese Goddess of Peace or Sea Goddess, and the origin of Mazu Culture. It is also recognized as the “Oriental Mecca” which has a great influence among overseas Chinese especially among the Taiwanese people. There are reportedly 160 Mazu temples in the Philippines, the oldest built in 1572 in Manila’s Chinatown.

It is widely visited by hundreds of thousands of Mazu devotees from all over the world to visit the temples and worship the statue of the Goddess, believed to provide a safe voyage to fishermen, bountiful harvest to farmers, and good fortune as well as heal the sick.

Mr. Jinzan and its Board of Directors expressed its appreciation for the support and commitment extended by the Consulate General for the success of the said pilgrimage, which set sail from Xiamen to Manila on 20 October 2018 END

Mr. Lin Jinzan (left) and Consul General Julius Ceasar A. Flores (right) pose for a souvenir photo with Mazu statue on the background. (Xiamen PCG photo)

Consul General Julius Ceasar A. Flores (center)and Administrative Officer Flordeliza Delos Santos (second from left) with Mr. Lin Jinzan, Chairman and other Board of Directors of Meizhou Mazu Ancestral Temple in Meizu Island, Putian, Fujian in one of the Mazu Temples in the island. (Xiamen PCG photo)