The Federation of Filipino Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry Inc. (FFCCCII) is bringing the acclaimed Asian film “Dear You” to Philippine audiences through two advance screenings aimed at strengthening cultural understanding.
Presented in partnership with the Anvil Business Club, the Asian box-office hit will be screened on Aug. 5 at the SM Mall of Asia IMAX Theater and on Aug. 8 at SM North EDSA.
“Dear You” follows a debt-ridden grandson who travels to Thailand in search of his supposedly billionaire grandfather, only to uncover long-held family secrets connected to qiaopi, the historical letters and remittances sent by overseas Chinese laborers in Southeast Asia to their families in China.
According to FFCCCII, the multigenerational story of migration, sacrifice and family reflects the experiences of millions of overseas Filipino workers while highlighting the importance of preserving family ties.
Speaking at the Pandesal Forum at Kamuning Bakery Café in Quezon City, FFCCCII President Victor Lim said the organization chose to support the film because its story resonates with Filipinos working abroad and underscores values that transcend nationality.
“During the 1960s and 1970s, many people migrated to Southeast Asia, including the Philippines, Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia. The movie tells the story of people from southern China who moved to Thailand and had to keep sending money back to their families. It’s the same situation today. Our overseas Filipino workers are doing the same, and they contribute about $38 billion every year to our economy,” Lim said.
Calling OFWs among the country’s greatest contributors, Lim said he hoped the film would encourage them to prepare for the future, invest wisely and prioritize their children’s education.
“Our OFWs are the heroes of our country. Their contribution is not a simple thing. We encourage them to save part of what they earn, invest in business and make sure their children study well, especially science and technology. Today is the era of artificial intelligence, and we need more young Filipinos to become competitive in these fields,” he said.
Lim added that the film’s lessons extend beyond the Filipino-Chinese community by showing how migrants leave their homeland in search of better opportunities while remaining deeply connected to the families they leave behind.
For Anvil Business Club President William Lim Jr., “Dear You” also serves as a bridge between generations, giving younger Filipino-Chinese audiences a clearer picture of their ancestors’ journeys.
“From our perspective as young Filipino-Chinese businessmen, we’ve heard these stories from our great-grandparents who migrated from China. This movie tells those stories in a very cinematic, beautiful and poignant way. Instead of simply hearing about them, we’re able to see the experiences of an entire generation that sent money home through handwritten letters long before modern remittance services existed,” he said.
The younger Lim added that the film encourages audiences to look beyond today’s fast-paced digital world and appreciate the hardships endured by earlier generations.
“Sometimes we’re so caught up with technology and the latest trends that we forget how hard our parents and grandparents worked to give us the lives we have today. This movie gives us time to reflect, slow down and better understand the sacrifices that made our lives possible,” he said.
Organizers also believe that stories centered on family and perseverance can strengthen relationships between cultures by emphasizing shared experiences rather than differences.
“When there is a crisis or misunderstanding, it is better to find similarities between people. The more similarities you discover, the more you realize you were never enemies to begin with. Hopefully this movie will bridge that gap and continue building good relationships with one another,” William Lim said.
Victor Lim, meanwhile, acknowledged the economic challenges Filipino families face amid inflation and rising energy costs. He urged the public to remain optimistic, work harder, save and prepare for the future.
FFCCCII said supporting “Dear You” continues its commitment to education, nation-building and cultural exchange. Through Operation: Barrio Schools, the organization has helped build more than 6,500 public school buildings nationwide since 1961.
