CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY- For the first time ever, the Cagayan de Oro Filipino-Chinese Community will be conducting a free Medical and Dental Mission on Tuesday, February 4, 2025, in commemoration of the 10th Anniversary of the festival starting 8:00AM at the Limketkai Mall Atrium in Barangay Lapasan.
According to CDO Filipino-Chinese Community President Benjamin Chan, the medical mission will be led by Medical Director Dr. Samuel Ang, and Program Director, Charity and Outreach Program, both from the Chinese General Hospital and Medical Center, and five other Filipino-Chinese doctors from the private sector.
“They will be joined by 20 doctors and nurses, and six dentists from the Cagayan de Oro City Health (CHO) office, and 10 dentists from the Cagayan de Oro-Misamis Oriental Chapter of the Philippine Dental Association (PDA) to render free medical and dental aid to 1,000 medical and 300 dental beneficiaries identified by the Cagayan de Oro City Government,” said Mr. John W. Asuncion, Overall Chairman of the the Cagayan de Oro Chinese New Year Festival Committee, who is the Local Economic & Investment Promotion Officer (LEIPO), and Department Head of the Oro-Trade & Investment Promotion Center (Oro-TIPC).

“The launching program will be graced by no less than His Excellency Huang Xilian, Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines, Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Manila,” said former CDO Filipino-Chinese Community President Greg M. Lao. “Aside from the 10th anniversary of the CDO Chinese New Year Festival, this mission also commemorates the 50th Anniversary of the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations between China and the Philippines.”
Also gracing the opening ceremonies is a delegation from the Philippine Chinese Charitable Association, Inc. which is sponsoring the medicines to be given to the beneficiaries, who are also concurrently officers of the Filipino-Chinese General Chamber of Commerce Inc.
They will be led by Chairman of the Board Antonio Tan, Honorary Chairman/Executive Committee Chairman Dr. Benito Goyokpin, EVP/President & CEO Kelly Sia, Vice Chairmen Alberto Tan Lee and Manuel Co, Treasurer Antonio Hilario, Auditor Go Kong Kep, and Directors Ramon Chuaying, Eduardo Uy, Edmund Santos, Juancho Pacheco, and Antonio Dino.
A UN Holiday
During the 2025 Chinese New Year Reception hosted by Ambassador Huang on Sunday, January 19 at Shangri-La The Fort in Taguig, he noted how the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly in December 2023 adopted a resolution to designate the Spring Festival as a UN holiday, thus making the “Chinese New Year” a “Global New Year”.
In December 2024, UNESCO listed the “Spring Festival” as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of humanity. Nowadays, many countries and regions in the world proclaim the Spring Festival as an official holiday, and about one-fifth of the world’s population celebrates the Spring Festival in various ways.
Huang highlighted the importance of strengthening bilateral ties, which he believes will benefit the over 1.5 billion people of both nations.
“I look forward to seeing both sides remain committed to original aspirations, answer to the call of our two people, and work together to enhance bilateral ties so as to bring even greater benefits to our two countries,” the ambassador stated.

50th Anniversary
The Chinese New Year this year coincides with the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and the Philippines. During his address, Huang remarked on the shared historical memories and the strong people-to-people bonds between the two nations, emphasizing the depth of their friendship.
Earlier during the reception to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China held September 27, 2024 in Manila, Huang noted how the older generation of leaders of our two countries made the right decision of establishing diplomatic ties in 1975 despite the shadow of bloc confrontation.
“2025 will mark the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the Philippines. Their courage leaves an invaluable legacy for all of us,” the Chinese envoy said.
“The peoples of China and the Philippines have been close by heart and tied by blood. Over the past 50 years, our cooperation in various fields has yielded fruitful results. Harmonious coexistence, friendship and cooperation as well as common development between China and the Philippines are in line with the shared desire and fundamental interests of the 1.5 billion people of our two countries together.”
“History has shown that China-Philippines relations have maintained a general trend of forward-moving, despite some ups and downs. History has also shown that as long as our differences are properly managed, the road of China-Philippines cooperation will be even broader.”
“So let us renew the original commitment to our diplomatic ties, keep in mind the well-being of the two peoples, always remember the fundamental interests of our two countries, and work together to steer clear of disruptions, and advance China-Philippines friendship and cooperation for common prosperity and lasting peace.”