Taking time from her busy schedule in her entrepreneurial pursuits and in the festivities to welcome the Year of the Rabbit, Lily Tan visited the Daily Tribune office to guest in our online show, Pairfect, with my editor, Dinah S. Ventura and myself, as co-hosts.
A few days earlier we visited Lily at the headquarters of the Federation of the Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry where she gave us a tour of the building. In the auditorium, we saw piles of relief goods ready to be distributed should there be a need.
We also visited a conference hall and reception area where we saw the permanent exhibit of the organization’s memorabilia including gifts and plaques from international dignitaries who paid a courtesy call on the various presidents of the FFCCCII.
Gracious and hospitable, Lily treated us to a lauriat at the famous long-running President Restaurant. When we said goodbye, she gave us round tikoy cakes and boxes of peanut balls which, she said, would bring us good luck this Year of the Rabbit.
We left with with good cheer in our hearts and looked forward to her visit at our Daily Tribune office where she answered all our questions enthusiastically. Lily, without a doubt, has been successfully promoting the FFCCCII, which is now preparing for its annual assembly and elections.
Founded on need to unite
Below are excerpts from our Pairfect interview:
Daily Tribune: Let’s talk about your organization, the Federation of Filipino Chinese Chambers of Commerce. When was this founded? And why?
Lily Lim (LL): Our organization is already 68 years old. It all started when these Filipino-Chinese businessmen who were scattered all over the country saw the need for an organization where they could work together, support one another in their common interests, and help one another in solving their problems and achieving their respective business goals. And since they have come to know one another, they felt that they were ready to extend assistance to the various communities where they operated their businesses.
DT: What is the composition of the FFCCCII?
LL: An association, whether it’s a provincial or city chamber, or a group of businessmen who belong to the same sector, can qualify as members. There are no individual members.
So, the businessmen in San Juan belong to the San Juan City Chamber of Commerce. Those in Mandaluyong put up the Mandaluyong City Chamber of Commerce. Those in automobile supplies, for example, can put up an organization for auto supplies and so on.
DT: What are objectives of the federation?
LL: We have three major objectives. First is we donate school buildings. We realize that in places far from the city, they may lack classrooms. The kids have no proper place for studying and so they end up attending classes under the mango tree. So, we would donate school buildings in such baranfays. After the construction, we turn over the building to the Department of Education and the local government. We decided to assist in education because it is vital to the development of our young people and therefore to the future of society.
Second is we conduct medical missions where these are needed. These missions were conducted weekly until they were stopped during the pandemic. Now, we are resuming this project, although we have yet to go to far places. What we do now is turn over medicines for use in the far-flung areas.
Third, we have fire fighter volunteers. We would hear about fires taking place almost everyday or every week. They caused big damage to family homes and commercial establishments because there was no available equipment to stop fires. The federation, responding to the need, started with just one truck. Then, two and so on.
DT: Who are the leaders of the FFCCCI?
LL: Our president now is Henry Lim Bon Liong. He is famous for his choice to become a farmer. He is identified with the Dona Maria Rice. He started with Sterling Paper but he was also interested in agriculture because he realizes its vital contribution to development especially the welfare and health of the people. ‘The hybrid rice started from his time.’ Although this went through its trial-and-error cycles. He has no farm but he provides hybrid variety seedlings to farmers.
The federation president has a tenure of only two years. He cannot extend beyond the two years. The election would have been in 2021 but that was not possible because of the pandemic. So, we postponed it for 2023.
DT: How does the election take place?
LL: Since we have associations as members, they send their delegates to our three-day convention. Delegates for each association are the ones registered. And then, these delegates vote among themselves. Some express their desire to be elected. It happens too that even if one has not expressed his willingness to serve, the delegates still choose them because they are perceived as assets to the organization. So, if you’re liked, the delegates themselves will vote for you. A Comelec supervises the election. From among those elected or shortlisted, they will elect a board, and the board members will elect a president, vice president, treasurer and auditor. The core officers will appoint chair of the various committees.
DT: Are you running this year?
LL: I am one of the delegates and then it’s up to the delegates if they would want me to continue with the board.
DT: We can see that the organization is devoted to giving back to the community. What are your other projects?
LL: We realized that during disasters and calamities, the FFCCCI should do something to help the victims. Just like this recent pandemic, we donated so many essentials including rice, canned goods, face masks and other needed things. Actually, long before the pandemic, we were always providing help during those critical times. To bring the goods that we donate to places that are difficult to reach, we partner with the Kapuso Foundation. On a personal level, we encourage our members to do something for their neighbors in such difficult times.
DT: It’s all a matter of give and take.
LL: Yes, give and take. And not only that, the Chinese have a saying that to have a good neighborhood is better than to have good relatives. Because your relatives may be far away. They cannot reach you even if they want to.
DT: Would you like to name your outstanding and famous presidents?
LL: Okay, we have this 9-story building in Binondo. The construction and turn-over happened during the term of Don Antonio Roxas Chua. We used to lease office space for the organization. Mr. Roxas Chua said, “If we decide to continue this organization. We must have our own home.” So, the members responded to the best of their ability and Mr. Chua took care of what was lacking. So, that was the starting point and now we have a big building.
During the time of Ambassador Francis Chua, the standards of the Federation were raised. We forged ties with various organizations to organize and implement projects. For these, we tied up with the American Chamber of Commerce, European Chamber of Commerce, Philippine Chamber of Commerce and the international organizations. With them, we conducted business forums, and, with the promotions office of the Department of Trade and Industry, we invited foreign investors to the Philippines.
19-year wait
One famous president is, of course, Lucio Tan Sr. He waited for 19 years before he could become president. It was during his term when the bylaws of the federation were changed, so that no president could be reelected. This way, everyone is given the chance to serve in that position.
During his term, he supported all the projects, especially those involving education, a cause that he considered very important. I think it is because he was not able to pursue higher education, Later, when he was already successful, he finally graduated. He also received his Ph.D. honoris causa and, on top of it, bought the University of the East and other educational institutions. And then, before the pandemic, he was always with a professor as he never stopped acquiring knowledge. In between work, he would tell his secretary, “I have time now. Please call the teacher.”
DT: Let’s shift gears. What is the stand of the federation regarding the two Chinas?
LL: The stand of the federation is that we follow our government’s policies. Before, when we were young, we did not have diplomatic relations with People’s Republic of China. So, our diplomatic relations were with Taiwan. But in 1975, we started our country’s official diplomatic relationship with the People’s Republic of China. It was around this time when the People’s Republic of China adopted an open-door policy. So, there was an interaction. Although, we never go into politics because we are just a business organization. So, it really depends on one businessman to another if they do business with the People’s Republic of China or Taiwan. Usually, one wants a cheaper price for something or a better quality for a product. We don’t interfere as an organization so they are on their own.
So, it really depends. But we hope everybody can settle down, sit down and talk because we come from the same, how do you say that, from the same roots. Same ethnic groups. Especially Taiwan, because before they moved to Taiwan, they were in China. The name was Republic of China. And when they lost in the war or struggle, they settled in Taiwan where they put up the Republic of China. And on the other side, the mainland China, they put up that People’s Republic of China. They considered themselves liberated. So, each has its own policy. But I understand that both have been talking already.
Cooperation, main ingredient
DT: And we suppose there is cooperation in very many ways.
LL: Yes, yes. Especially on the business side of things. Like they really do help each other out anyway, because business is business.
DT: How supportive have political administrations been of the FFCCCII?
LL: Presidents have been supportive. I remember that during the time of President Ferdinand E. Marcos Sr., he declared a Federation Week. This was sometime in 1974 or 1975. It was a most remarkable event.
DT: How many Filipino presidents are of Chinese roots? Sergio Osmeña Sr., who else? Ferdinand E. Marcos Sr.
LL: Yes. Marcos, yes. Cory Aquino and the son. In fact, Pres. Macapagal and Pres. Garcia were very close to my grandfather, or grandparents.
DT: Did your grandfather work with the government also? Was he consulted by government officials?
LL: When Pres. Macapagal was the Vice President, he would visit our drugstore in Quiapo. PGMA at that time was still a child. We would just be watching, looking at them. And then during Holy Week, my grandparents, would go up to Baguio and we would join them. Pres. Garcia would be at the Mansion House. My grandparents would visit the First Family and we would accompany them but only as far as the gate. Only my grandfather would enter in his car while we waited outside.
DT: That was great, for your grandfather to be friends with two of our great presidents. As our final question, what is your message to everyone, both the Filipino-Chinese and the pure Chinese, concerning this Year of the Rabbit?
LL: My message is not only for the Filipino-Chinese or the pure Chinese. But also for our brothers in the Filipino community. This is the Year of the Rabbit. Let’s be optimistic and positive and believe that everything is possible. There is no such thing as hard or impossible. As long as you have faith, you can achieve anything and everything. Just don’t give up.