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Some 300 members of the Misamis Orient al Filipino –Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (MOFCCCII) celebrated their annual Thanksgiving and Lunar New Year Party with their families last Feb. 20, 2016 at the Grand Caprice Restaurant & Convention Center at Limketkai Center.
“This is a traditional gathering of our members and their loved ones by which we give thanksgiving for the graces and blessings received in the previous year as well as our fellowship for the Lunar New Year,” said Greg Marten G. Lao, MOFCCCII president.
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Oro Grace Christian School students peform the traditional Lion Dance for good luck
The joyous occasion was spiced by another palabas by students from Oro Christian Grace School who performed the traditional Lion Dance for good luck, traditional Dagu drum performance and traditional Chinese ditties. Also guesting was the XU C9 Dance Troupe from Xavier University-Ateneo de Cagayan.
According to a hand out graciously provided to this guest by Vice President Tony Uy (who did a splendid job hosting the event with Secretary General Ricky Go), “lion dance troupes from the Chinese martial arts schools or Chinese guilds and associations visit houses and shops of the Chinese community to perform the traditional cai qing (literally plucking the greens) whereby the lion plucks the auspicious green vegetables like lettuce hung on a pole or placed on a table in front of the premises.”
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Emcees Ricky Go and Tony Uy
The “greens” (qing) are tied together with a red envelope containing money and may also include auspicious fruits like oranges. In Chinese cai (to pluck) also sounds like the Chinese words for “vegetable” and “fortune.”
The lion will dance and approach the “green” and “red envelope” like a curious cat, to “eat the green” and “spit” it out but keep the “red envelope” which is the reward for the lion troupe. The lion dance is believed to bring good luck and fortune to the business.
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Awarding of red envelopes to teachers from Oro Grace Christian School by the MOFCCCII officers
Besides the production numbers, the officers of the MOFCCCII led by President Greg also distributed the traditional “red envelopes” to teachers from Oro Grace Christian School and Kong Hua School.
Besides Pres. Greg, also present in full force were all MOFCCCII officers including Lucio Tan (Immediate Past President); Adelfa Sia (Incoming president); Simon Ching, Robert Chee and Tony Uy (Vice Presidents); Ricky Go (Secretary General); Sonny Choi & John Sia (Chinese Secretaries); Roland Ramos, Benjamin Chan, Jr. & Ariel Tan (English Secretaries); Dolly Siao Ong & Rosa Sia Go (Treasurers); Jessie Co (Auditor); Efren Uy, Tomas Sia, Antonio Tiu & Peter Lim Lo Suy (Foreign Affairs Committee); Johnny T. Lim, Jeffrey Ang, Edward Lim Hua Yeh & Jose Gordiel Jr. (General Services Committee); Lorenzo Sancho, Peter Sia, Jose Un, Jr., Annie Sia & Robert Ching (Membership Committee); Antonio Ty, Jr., Betty Lu, See Hong & John Go (Culture & Education Committee); Senin Lim, Francis Ku, Lioncio Lim Lo Suy & Alarico Lim (Labor & Tax Committee); Nelson Sia, Emerson Chiu, & Peter Lim (Recreation, Sports & Celebration Committee); Frank Rolida (Welfare Committee).
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MOFCCCII officers lead the group toast for a healthy, prosperous and peaceful New Year
To conclude the evening’s festivities, Pres. Greg and the past MOFCCCII presidents led everyone in a toast for good health, prosperity and good luck in the Year of the Fire Monkey.
GONG XI FA CAI!
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