There will be no gift giving at the Bell Church compound at the city limit this year for the Chinese New Year or Spring Festival as announced by Bell Church International.
In a letter to its beneficiaries, Bell Church International President Albert Leong said the organization’s board of directors led by Rev. Elias Ng made the decision.
“It is with deepest regret that we must announce the cancellation of this year’s Bell Church International Chinese New Year or Spring Festival celebration gift giving event,” said Leong.
He said instead, they decided to convert the traditional giving of gifts to another kind of program that will benefit more indigent recipients in the longer term.
“The organization remains committed in helping the community through various programs created by the church for the benefit of the people,” he said.
When asked further for the programs the group has in mind, Leong said the board is “leaning towards giving direct help to persons in need.”
Every Chinese New Year, long lines would fill the highway at Km. 3 where Bell Church is located, composed of young and old and mostly indigent individuals, to get a bag of goodies from the church.
The tradition dates back as far as the ‘70s, according to journalist March Fianza.
“I remember children from surrounding barangays lining up for candies or gifts from the Bell Church lobby to the driveway entrance at La Trinidad road. The house beside the entrance of the gate is my aunt’s building where I stayed during elementary days,” Fianza recalls.
He said most of those who would line up are from neighboring areas only but as the years progressed, even those from far barangays travel to lineup at the entrance of the church.
Aside from the annual gift giving, the Bell Church International and other civic groups of the Chinese community also have their own charity works not only during the Chinese New Year but also all year round, giving back to the city that they love. – Ofelia C. Empian
May 4, 2024
