The Confucius Institute at the University of the Philippines and the Learning and Development Office of the Philippine Immigration Bureau jointly organized the 2026 Year of the Horse New Year celebration in the Clark Freeport Zone. Photo courtesy of the Confucius Institute at the University of the Philippines
People's Daily Online, Manila, February 23 (Reporter Fan Fan) Recently, the Confucius Institute at the University of the Philippines and the Learning and Development Office of the Philippine Immigration Bureau jointly held the 2026 Year of the Horse New Year celebration in the Clark Freeport Zone. With the theme of "Working Together to Create Prosperity", this event aims to celebrate the New Year together through colorful cultural displays and interactive experiences, connect Chinese course partners, and deepen the traditional friendship between the people of China and the Philippines.
Magnanye, deputy director of the Learning and Development Division of the Philippine Immigration Bureau, delivered an opening speech. He focused on reviewing the long history of cooperation between the Confucius Institute at the University of the Philippines and the Immigration Bureau, spoke highly of the outstanding role of the Chinese courses of the Confucius Institute in improving the multilingual ability of front-line staff of the Immigration Bureau, and expressed his gratitude to the Confucius Institute at the University of the Philippines.
Dr. Chen Lu, Philippine Director of the Confucius Institute at the University of the Philippines, said in her speech that the Spring Festival is not only the most important traditional festival of the Chinese nation, but also a bond connecting the people of China and the Philippines. This celebration is a vivid embodiment of the two sides’ vision of “shared prosperity.”
As the volunteer teachers of the Confucius Institute at the University of the Philippines extended New Year greetings to the attendees, the performance of the event officially began. This event not only prepared cultural performances such as singing and martial arts, but also set up cultural experience areas such as calligraphy, paper-cutting, weaving, Hanfu, and tea art, allowing guests to experience Chinese culture up close.
Volunteer teachers from the Confucius Institute at the University of the Philippines extended New Year greetings to those present. Photo courtesy of the Confucius Institute at the University of the Philippines
This New Year celebration is not only a cultural exchange, but also the epitome of the long-term cooperation between the Confucius Institute at the University of the Philippines and the Philippine Immigration Bureau. This is the fourth customized training that the two parties have cooperated with since 2018, which fully reflects the positive role of the "Chinese+" curriculum system in serving the local needs of the Philippines and improving the quality of public services.
Staff of the Immigration Bureau of the Fakla Free Port Zone experience the folk art of paper-cutting in front of the Chinese culture booth. Photo courtesy of the Confucius Institute at the University of the Philippines
Staff of the Immigration Bureau of the Fakla Freeport Zone try on traditional Chinese costumes and take photos. Photo courtesy of the Confucius Institute at the University of the Philippines
