At 10 p.m. on March 17th, amidst jubilant cheers, the "Hinghwa Food & Cultural Festival" concluded triumphantly, leaving the staff not just with the scent of Hinghwa delicacies but also with an unparalleled and cherished experience. President Fang Zhizhong of the Singapore Puxian (Hinghwa) Network commended the staff in a brief but significant wrap-up, expressing his excitement: "We've accomplished something extraordinary with this festival. You've all been incredible!" This sparked immediate cheers and applause from the assembled staff.
President Fang also expressed gratitude for the blessings from above. Over the past 6 days, the weather had been clear, and everything had proceeded smoothly until the final moment of the night when an unexpected "lucky rain" descended, as if it were a blessing of beautiful scenery from heaven.
President Fang Zhizhong extended special thanks to the council members of the Association for their year-and-a-half-long dedicated efforts. They repeatedly deliberated on every aspect of the event, ultimately selecting the finest solutions and meticulously planning and executing the activities to the highest standards. It was this decision that made the Food & Cultural Festival an unparalleled celebration, contributing to the brilliance of today.
President Fang also expressed deep gratitude and admiration for the dedication of the food area staff at the Festival. Despite facing hot summer days and heavy workloads, they persevered with smiles, demonstrating remarkable endurance and dedication. He firmly believes that their spirit of perseverance contributed significantly to the festival's success.
President Fang Zhizhong also shared the overwhelmingly positive feedback he received regarding the Festival. Even constructive criticism was offered with the intention of helping the team improve further. He mentioned that visiting community from the various associations and organizations were deeply impressed, considering the team "amazing," which he sees as the best reward for their hard work.
Finally, President Fang expressed gratitude to all the partners and sponsors who supported and trusted the "Hinghwa Food & Cultural Festival." Their support provided a solid foundation for the successful execution of the event, showcasing the unity and efforts of the Hinghwa community.
On March 17th, at 10 p.m., President Fang gathered all the staff members, temporarily setting aside their cleaning duties, to hold a brief yet extraordinary summary."
The success of the "Hinghwa Food & Cultural Festival" is not only attributed to the outstanding performance of the planning team but also serves as a source of pride for the Hinghwa community. Behind this grand event lies the diligent efforts and close cooperation of countless Hinghwa compatriots, especially the selfless and pro bono professional advice provided by the council members. Their professional support and guidance were invaluable at every stage of the festival. Moving forward, the Singapore Puxian (Hinghwa) Network will continue to uphold this enthusiasm and effort, constantly exploring innovation to bring more anticipated events to our Hinghwa community. Let us draw inspiration from the festival to unite and strive for a brighter future together as Hinghwa people!
"Hinghwa Food & Cultural Festival" organized by the Singapore Puxian (Hinghwa) Network cost approximately 2 million Singapore dollars and took a year and a half to prepare.
The inaugural "Hinghwa Food & Cultural Festival" held its opening ceremony on Tuesday evening, March 12, 2024, at the Ngee Ann City Civic Plaza on Orchard Road, hosted by Minister for Defence Dr. Ng Eng Hen. Minister Ng, also a native of Hinghwa, received a wooden carving souvenir "Putian craft" from President Fang Zhizhong of the Singapore Puxian (Hinghwa) Network.
The opening ceremony of the inaugural Hinghwa Food & Cultural Festival was attended by Minister for Defence Dr. Ng Eng Hen (center), accompanied by President Fang Zhizhong (fifth from the right) of the Singapore Puxian (Hinghwa) Network, Executive President Dr. Wu Wei (fifth from the left), and Executive Vice President Zhou Jiameng (fourth from the left).
On March 13th, the Hinghwa Food & Cultural Festival welcomed Minister for Culture, Community and Youth, and Second Minister for Law, Edwin Tong (wearing a floral collar). Accompanying the minister was President Fang Zhizhong of the Singapore Puxian (Hinghwa) Network. Also present as a distinguished guest was Vincent Ng (second from the right in white), founder of Singapore Wufang, world martial arts champion, and former Mediacorp TV artist.
The opening ceremony was lively, with local singers Joanna Dong and Nathan Hartono, both of Hinghwa-origin, performing energetically on stage.
The renowned Hinghwa-origin Singaporean singer Pan Ying is well-known for her captivating voice and exquisite singing skills.
Singaporean renowned Hinghwa-origin television news anchor Huang Xiuling also showcased her singing talent at the Festival.
The Southern Shaolin Temple monk troupe from Putian, China, also delivered a splendid performance for the ministers.
The Hinghwa Food & Cultural Festival is also a martial arts exchange event. From left to right: Abbot Monzheng of Southern Shaolin Temple in Putian, founder of Singapore Wufang, world martial arts champion, and former Mediacorp TV artist Vincent Ng, Abbot Xuehang of Guanghua Temple, and Abbot Kongxing of Southern Shaolin Temple in Putian.
Minister for Culture, Community, and Youth, and Second Minister for Law, Edwin Tong (wearing a floral collar), interacted with world martial arts champion and former Mediacorp TV artist Vincent Ng, along with his disciples from his martial arts academy "Wufang," at the scene of the Hinghwa Food & Cultural Festival.
Abbot Kongxing of Southern Shaolin Temple in Putian presented a calligraphy piece titled "Shaolin," created by Huang Jiafang (first from the left), the head of the Putian City Matsu Calligraphy and Painting Institute, to Minister for Culture, Community, and Youth, and Second Minister for Law, Edwin Tong. To the left of Edwin Tong is Abbot Xuehang of Guanghua Temple in Putian, and to the right is Abbot Monzheng of Southern Shaolin Temple in Putian.
The prodigious 3-year-old prodigy Cai Yucheng performed a seamless ensemble with Singapore's Putian Traditional Ensemble, adding many moments of laughter and highlights to the musical performance. In conjunction with the arrival of the 3-year-old prodigy, Singapore's Putian Traditional Ensemble also specially extended their performance.
The splendid excerpts performed by the Putian Opera Theater from Fujian Province in the Hinghwa dialect resonated deeply with both native-born and Singapore-residing Hinghwa people, evoking a strong sense of familiarity.
Putian-native visual artist Huang Fengrong painted for Minister for Defence Dr. Ng Eng Hen.
Hinghwa-origin singer Lin Huang Anqi (right) and fellow Hinghwa native, emcee Sharlyn Lin, interacted on stage, revealing that she is just 20 years old, which surprised the audience. Despite her young age, she showcased extraordinary singing talent.
In addition to presenting brilliant excerpts of traditional opera, actors from the Putian Opera Theater engaged in a lighthearted role-playing game with the audience, led by emcee Sharlyn Lin. Onstage, audience members earnestly imitated the carrying sedan actions from "Spring Grass Storms the Hall - Sedan Carrying," eliciting uproarious laughter.
Established in 2019, Singapore's Putian Traditional Ensemble has added a unique charm to the local Hinghwa culture. In ancient times, "Ten Sounds and Eight Melodies" were used for celebrations and festivities. Today, the Putian Traditional Ensemble has evolved into an art form with Hinghwa characteristics, garnering widespread popularity.
Hinghwa Calligraphers wielding their brushes.
With concise elegance and bold strokes, Huang Jiafang, the head of Putian City's Matsu Calligraphy and Painting Institute, demonstrated his prowess in cursive script at the venue.
Renowned for her expertise in clerical script, calligrapher Yu Yinghong's works are dignified and graceful, with smooth lines. Yu Yinghong also serves as the Vice Chairman of the Putian City Calligraphy Association.
Zhu Wenhong, the head of the Putian City Matsu Calligraphy and Painting Institute, with bold and vigorous brushstrokes leave a profound impression on the public with his majestic presence.
Specialty brands from Putian, Fujian, China, also participated in the exhibition, including Sanfu Art Furniture, Sijunzi Classical Furniture, Huachang Jewellery, Putian Wood Carving Craft, Fumao Meat Pie, Tianzong, Tiangui, and others.
