STAR’s Flores conferred 2022 APCU Award

MANILA, Philippines — The Association for Philippines-China Understanding (APCU) and China embassy on June 10 conferred on multi-awarded STAR columnist and Anvil Business Club honorary chairman Wilson Lee Flores its Award for Promoting Philippines-China Understanding (APPCU) at the grand ballroom of Dusit Thani Hotel in Makati.

The APPCU award was presented to Flores by incoming first lady Liza Araneta Marcos, Sen. Koko Pimentel and APCU president Jeffrey Ng.

APPCU recognizes leaders in diverse fields for their contributions to better Philippines-China understanding.

Speakers at the awarding ceremony were led by president-elect Bongbong Marcos, APCU chairman emeritus and former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian, APCU chairman Sec. Raul Lambino and APCU president Jeffrey Ng. Another 2022 APPCU awardee in attendance was former president Joseph Estrada.

Flores is a 15-time Catholic Mass Media Awards (CMMA) recipient and three-time Palanca award-winning writer. Awarded for his socio-civic and cultural endeavors, Flores is also college teacher, economics/pop culture/history/politics analyst, FFCCCII board member and public information committee chairman, 83-year-old Kamuning Bakery Cafe’s Pandesal Forum moderator, realty entrepreneur with Red Apple Properties & Management Inc., English and Filipino-language poet, author of five books.

Also at the awards night were former presidential spokesman Harry Roque, incoming National Security Adviser Prof. Clarita Carlos, incoming press secretary Trixie Angeles, Rep. Sandro Marcos and former Manila congressman Harry Angping.

Since the video showing the diverse socio-civic and unique cultural accomplishments of Flores to promote better understanding between the Philippines and China was the longest video shown that night, he decided to discard his prepared speech and just gave the night’s shortest speech to express gratitude for the award and to wish for continued strong friendship between the two countries, which he said have been traditional allies and trading partners for over 1,000 years.

Flores was accompanied that night by his younger sister, entrepreneur Marilou Flores So.