Philippines: Taiwanese Practitioners Invited to Cultural Events by the Naga City Government

On the morning of September the 16th, invited by the government of Naga City in the Philippines, Taiwanese practitioners participated in the Annual Regional Civic Parade. Practitioners' procession included a dance group, a waist drum troupe and a decorated float with the Falun Gong exercise demonstration. The practitioners' performance attracted the Philippine citizens' attention and the host of the parade introduced Falun Gong positively to the public. During the parade, a delighted lady told us that she felt that Falun Gong was the best and the most beautiful group. After receiving "Falun Dafa is Good" bookmarks from practitioners, many spectators also shouted loudly, "Falun Dafa is Good!"

Taiwanese practitioners performing traditional dances during the parade	Young practitioners demonstrate the Falun Gong exercises
Philippine citizens are eager to obtain Falun Gong information	Children learning Falun Gong exercises during the parade

While the parade in the morning went very smoothly, the float disappeared when the second parade in the afternoon was about to begin. Nevertheless, we participated in the parade with success. After the parade, according to the schedule, there were 17 programs scheduled and Falun Gong was to be the first one. However, we were informed after the parade that our program had been rescheduled to very end and our show would be 20 minutes long.

At the time, we still had a few hours of free time before the performance. So we used this time to demonstrate the Falun Gong exercises, distribute informational materials, and teach the exercises as well as songs composed by practitioners. It rained for while, but we continued our activity with righteous thoughts. Soon afterwards, the missing float showed up, and our program was ready to begin. As we were the last one, thousands of people watched our performance with a lot interest and the performance was also broadcast live throughout the nation.

On the third day of our visit to the Philippines, we went back to Manila to promote Falun Dafa. We went to Chinatown and we soon ran out of materials, as local residents were so eager to know the truth of Dafa. Many local residents also learned the exercises at our activity sites, and the impact was very good.

When we went back to our hotel, we felt the atmosphere was a little unusual, and then the president of the Philippines arrived at the hotel shortly afterward. A practitioner in a yellow Falun Dafa shirt shook hands with the president. We later found out that the Philippine Chinese Business Association was having a social meeting in the hotel. We thus clarified the truth to every meeting participant whom we could reach. Though the chairman of the association was not so friendly and he even ordered members of the association not to take our materials, many members simply ignored such an unreasonable order and happily accepted our Falun Gong truth-clarifying materials.

Telling people the facts of Falun Gong in the hotel	Members of the Chinese Business Association were eager to learn about Falun Gong

On the fourth day, we went to a nearby park to practice Falun Gong, and our waist drum troupe also went there to rehearse. When we got there, we found the whole park was packed with a huge crowd of people. We were told that they were having a grand sports competition, which is only held once every 100 years. What a precious occasion! Many people saw our practice or viewed our poster display. A lot of people also learned the exercises, and the impact of our truth-clarifying effort was very good. One gentleman started to follow us in doing the exercises. When we did the third exercise, to our surprise, this person who had never practiced before did every move precisely. The Philippine people are very kind and pure; they can easily accept Falun Gong and the principles of "Truthfulness, Compassion and Forbearance."

People viewing posters with photos exposing the persecution of Falun Gong in China	The waist drum troupe attracted a lot attention