Greeting the Lunar New Year

Over plates of delicious Chinese dishes at lunch at the Shang Palace, Shangrila-Makati yesterday, officers of the Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Inc., regaled us with the accomplishments of their organization, which was established March 29, 1954, to unite into one organization the various trade, business, industrial, and financial institutions in the Filipino-Chinese community. John K.Tang and Tan She Ling proudly talked of the federation's having built more than 2,000 school buildings around the country. Each building, consisting of two classrooms that can accommodate 50 pupils each, costs P300,000, the money coming from contributions from federation members. John said the buildings are most welcome in places where classes were only held under trees and pupils there were no classes at all when it rained. John recalled how Sen. Frank Drillon gave P100-million of his countryside development fund to the school-building project – a fact that has made not only the federation membership – but also President Macapagal-Arroyo proud.

Another project is the medical missions which bring federation member-doctors to indigent areas, and medicines. Whenever there are natural calamities like typhoons, the federation is quick to wrap up packs of goodies for the victims.

John and Tan talked enthusiastically about the fire brigades, which are made up of young volunteer fire fighters. There are more than 100 brigades around Metro Manila, some of whose fighters are scions of rich families who volunteer their services "to be of service to the country," said Tan.

John, who got his bachelor in engineering degree from Mapua and master's at Yale University, talked of the young-generation Chinese as far removed from their parents‚ time. In his time, said John, families kept to themselves, but today, the fourth-generation Chinese have integrated themselves into mainstream Philippine society, been brought up by yayas from whom they learn to speak Pilipino like Pinoys, study in secular schools and go out with friends who are yuppies. Why, these kids cannot even speak Fookien or Mandarin anymore. John says he has to talk to his grandchildren in English.

The luncheon, held to celebrate the Chinese lunar year, was attended by federation officers, led by John K.C. Ng, president for 2001-2003. The federation magazine had pictures of officers for the same period, and the familiar names are Lucio tan and Congressman Harry C. Angping. I'm sure all the other faces leaping out of the magazine are those of prominent Filipino-Chinese businessmen.

The federation is the largest ethnic-based organization with a membership of close to 170 Filipino-Chinese chambers of commerce. Since its inception, it has exemplified strong distinguished leadership. Prominent business leaders have devoted their time, talent and resources toward the implementation of the federation's goals and objectives.

After the hearty lunch, us media people were given boxes of tikoy – a very Chinese way of greeting the New Year.

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On the Value Added Tax (VAT), which a number of professionals who earn thousands of pesos a day do not like to pay, a girl we shall call Vicki sent this e-mail: "I have a friend who has a violent reaction to the loud protests of entertainers and professionals to VAT." She is a frequent visitor at doctors‚ clinics. She says many physicians are not going to be impoverished by paying VAT. Just look at their lifestyle. For example, a kidney specialist makes his patients wait two hours, and when he arrives, showered and perfumes, he is followed by his driver carrying his golf clubs.

Then there is that obstetrician of movie stars who is based in a Greenhills hospital; he owns, among others, a Jaguar. What about pediatricians whose fingers are dripping with diamonds? Anybody who has had to consult a specialist is witness to the long lines of patients who after treatment are not issued recipients; these doctors openly welcome drug company reps bearing offerings of spa gift certificates, appliances, plane tickets, expensive paintings, and other blandishments. In countries with a more efficient tax collection system, these gifts are taxable! Why can't our doctors be forced to pay the Value Added Tax?

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Planning a wedding? Visit the bridal fair at the Westin Philippine Plaza February 9 for ideas on how to make your Big Day memorable, sweet, hassle-free. It will be the biggest and most comprehensive fair of wedding planners, suppliers, service providers and professional consultants.

Beginning at 10 a.m., there will be a show of wedding gowns b top fashion designers, to be followed by a honeymoon fashion presentation featuring the Westin's new Heavenly Bed. Starting at 2, there will be panel discussions on relationship counseling with Sonny and Deedee Siytangco, Anthony and Maricel Pangilinan, and Julius Babao and Tin-Tin Bersola. There will be tips on tactics on wedding preparations, talks on legal rights before and after marriage by lawyers Katrina Legarda and Jesse Andres, and pointers on bridegrooms looking good on their wedding day. At 6 p.m., Rajo Laurel's bridal creations called Traje de Boda will be the crowd-drawer at a fashion show at the Westin's Transparent Garden Tent.

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