Kwai Hing, Hong Kong – The Filipino Bowling Club of Hong Kong (FBCHK) rolled a perfect 300 on a sunny Sunday, November 23, blending the roaring twenties with the unmistakable clatter of falling pins as members gathered in full Gatsby splendor to celebrate the club’s 14th anniversary and honor the champions of Season 2025.
Held at the sleek Richard’s Property No.1 function hall on Lei Muk Road, the venue was transformed into a scene straight out of West Egg: sequined flapper dresses, sharp pinstripe suits, feather headbands, and enough pearl necklaces to make Daisy Buchanan jealous. Even the bowling trophies gleamed like champagne coupes under the chandeliers.
“It’s not every day you see bowlers trading their ugly rental shoes for wingtips and suspenders,” laughed one party-going member, still adjusting his black bow tie after the oath-taking. “But this is FBCH—we bowl hard, and we party harder.”
The evening’s special guest, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) Welfare Officer Marilou M. Sumalinog, brought warm greetings from the Philippine Consulate General.
Whether they are throwing strikes on the lanes or supporting each other off them, the sports-minded FBCHK are true champions of the Filipino community in Hong Kong.
Longevity in the Lanes
A moving highlight was the presentation of Plaques of Appreciation to members who have rolled with the club for ten years or more. Veterans stood proudly as their names were called—living proof that FBCHK is far more than weekend games; it is a family forged over countless turkey dinners and 7-10 splits.
Season 2025 Champions Crowned
After the nostalgia came the glory. Season 2025 medalists and trophy winners took the stage amid thunderous applause and camera flashes, with the men’s and women’s individual champions hoisting their gleaming awards like Olympic torches. Team championships, high-series, and most-improved honors were also handed out, each recipient quick to credit the club’s spirit of bayanihan.
Passing the Torch (and the Presidency)
The event’s final frame saw the formal turnover of leadership for 2026. Founder and eternal guiding light Jenny Gafate Biasca administered the oath to the incoming officers:
- President – Ador Bernardino
- Vice President – Jun Carlos
- Secretaries – Gem Esquillo & Tony Fesalbon
- Treasurers – Babes Mercado & Francis Magbanua
- Auditor: Larry Ortega.
- P.R.O.s – Simon Dimas, Gracia Pierrepont, and Jay-R Abainza
- Founder/Adviser – Jenny Gafate Biasca
In her closing remarks, Biasca, visibly emotional, reflected on the club’s humble beginnings in 2011.
Here’s to the next frame, the next party, and many more days of Gatsby glamour under Hong Kong’s skyscrapers.
