Manila celebrates Fil-Chi Friendship Day

The City of Manila celebrates today the 5th Filipino-Chinese Friendship Day with fun and colorful activities at the San Lorenzo Ruiz Plaza in Binondo, Manila.

The day will kick off with Tai-Chi Aerobics by the Fil-Chi Tai-Chi Association at 7 a.m. to be followed by the Fil-Chi Friendship Parade and exchange of flags and gifts at 7:30 a.m. to be led by Rep. Miles Roces and the Chinese Filipino Business Club officers.

At 9 a.m., the Manila Zoo will stage an animal show to be followed by a puppet show at 10 a.m. by the Manila City Library, a dog show and competition by the Veterinary Inspection Board at 1 p.m., to be followed by the martial arts exhibition by the Wu Shu Federation at 4 p.m.

At 5 p.m. the 2nd Manila Youth Dance Festival dubbed as "Kabataang Maynila: Umindak Sumayaw Iwas Droga" will be staged. This dance competition is presented by the Manila Youth Bureau and is expected to draw more than 120 dance groups or more than 1,800 dancers.

A grand fireworks display will take place at 8 p.m. and a street party featuring live bands will entertain the guests afterwards.

Other activities will also be conducted throughout the day at Ongpin street corner Quintin Paredes street such as a foreign and local jobs fair; medical and dental mission; mini food festival; anti-rabbies vaccination; trade and livelihood demonstrations; fire fighting demo; inventor’s fair; and issuance of senior citizen cards and reading glasses.

"We invite our Filipino Chinese friends to come celebrate with us with the activities that we have prepared for this special occasion, ito’y libre para sa lahat," Mayor Lito Atienza said.