18 December 2014 – Philippine Ambassador to China Erlinda F. Basilio led the Philippine Embassy in Beijing as it successfully participated in the annual "Love Knows No Borders – to Deliver the Hope of ‘Heart’ to the Children in the Impoverished Mountainous Areas" International Charity Sale held in Beijing’s Chaoyang Park on October 19. This year’s charity bazaar was organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China under the chairmanship of Madame Qian Wei, wife of Foreign Minister Wang Yi, together with the Beijing Municipal Commission and the Beijing Foreign Affairs Office.
A total of RMB 30,000 (approx. US$5,000) was turned over to the organizers at the close of the bazaar.
The Philippine Embassy joined about 90 embassies, representative offices of international organizations and state-owned enterprises in China in this year’s charity bazaar, the proceeds of which were earmarked for the sponsorship of the pediatric congenital heart surgery project in Guizhou Province through the China Charity Federation.
After the opening ceremony, Mme. Qin Wei, wife of Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, came by the Philippine booth and admired the arrayed Philippine handicrafts and products. Mme. Qin Wei and MFA officials expressed interest in the varied Philippine products featured, such as dried yellow and green mangoes, lambanog (coconut wine), mango and pineapple balls, exquisite Philippine handicrafts such as evening bags, coin purses, luncheon sets made of abaca and capiz and many other finely crafted Philippine products.
Some of the best-sellers at the Embassy booth were the Philippine dried yellow and green mangoes, the colorful native pamaypay or abanico made of buri and the Philippine hot chocolate prepared by the Embassy, which were all crowd-drawers at the bazaar.
Ambassador Basilio said, “It always gratifies us at the Embassy to be part of this worthy cause of helping save the lives of children with congenital heart disease, while introducing top-notch Philippine products to our Chinese friends and foreigners in Beijing.” END