Chinese envoy a no-show at Heroes Day rites

MANILA, Philippines - China’s Ambassador Liu Jianchao did not attend yesterday’s celebration of the National Heroes Day at the Libingan ng mga Bayani, where President Aquino was the guest of honor.

Chinese embassy spokesman Sun Yi said counselor for consular affairs Li Qinfeng attended the event because the ambassador was “out of town for a pre-arranged agenda.”

Liu’s absence was thought to be part of China’s protest against the Philippine government’s mishandling of last week’s hostage drama in Rizal Park that left eight Hong Kong tourists dead. The hostage taker was also killed after an 11-hour standoff.

Earlier, the Chinese embassy announced that Ramon Magsaysay awardees Pan Yue and Fu Qiping were not coming to Manila for personal reasons.

The third Chinese awardee, photojournalist Huo Daishan, is already in the country to attend the awarding rites on Tuesday.

Pan, vice minister at the Ministry of Environmental Protection, and Fu, chief of Tengtou village in Zheijiang province, were cited for creating opportunities to address China’s environmental crisis.

As vice minister of China’s environmental protection agency, Pan has actively implemented the Environmental Assessment Law of 2003 and the Open Government Information Regulations of 2007.

Fu, a farmer who has been a village chief since 1980, has taken advantage of China’s decentralized system to turn Tengtou into one of China’s most prosperous villages through strict practice of environment-friendly agriculture and the use of renewable energy.

The village of only 830 inhabitants has a wastewater treatment system and solar-powered streetlights.