In the evening, many families gathered to eat dinner together in the Philippines. Those who were still working overtime or the night shift turned on the evening news to help keep them awake if their workce allowed watching television or listening to the radio.
Some were stuck in traffic. Those who had their own vehicles freely turned on their radios or portable TVs to listen to or watch the evening news. Those who used public transportation were at the mercy of their drivers when it came to the channel. Those who had their own mobile devices wore earphones to enjoy their chosen entertainment.
Millions of Filipinos tuned in to today''s evening news as usual.
"Good evening, Philippines. This is ''Patrol 24'' giving you timely news from all over the country and the world."
The headlines were a mixed bag as usual. There was good news, bad news, interesting news, and boring news.
Politics, crimes, cmities.
Achievements, feel-good stories, funny incidents.
"Patrol 24''s" team of news anchors were all known household names. They were all professional and held high status within the country''s journalism world.
Finally, it was time for one of the news program''s most popr segments.
A celebrity actress had been moonlighting as the segment''s host for a few months now.
"For tonight''s ''Showbiz Hour'', Chinese singer Iris Long''s private jetnded at the Man International Airportte afternoon earlier today. She is here in the Philippines to promote theunch of Orchidia Philippines. A crowd of her fans called the ck Stars Philippines all gathered outside the airport to wee her arrival. One of our correspondents also went there and managed to get a brief interview with her."
Next, footage showed a crowd of fans outside the airport''s waiting area holding signs that read "Wee to the Philippines, Boss Iris". Many of them wore suits that looked handmade.
They sang Iris Long''s most popr songs in the country, "Shining Eyes" and "I, the Dreamer".
Their voices harmonized together like a lively choir.
Finally, another footage showed the actual arrival of Iris Long. Her fresh face and casual outfit only emphasized her natural beauty.
Screams erupted as soon as her fans saw her.
"Boss Iris!"
"We love you, Boss Iris!"
Then they all began singing "ck Star" in original Chinese.
"Oh, stars above
Oh,nd of dreams….
"Now I sing this song
A song entirely mine
A song only I can sing….
"I''m a ck star with no light
But so what? I''ll glow again
My dream glows bright in my heart
I''m a ck star that''ll light up, you''ll see"
In the video footage, Iris Long was seen holding back tears as she took the time to listen to her fans serenading her with her own song. After they finished singing, she sent them several flying kisses before giving them her iconic curtsy bow which sent the entire crowd in another cheering frenzy.
Then she approached them and took her time chatting with them while signing autographs and smiling for selfies.
Her bodyguards protected her tightly without being rude to her fans. In fact, the airport security and the local police were rougher, pushing some fans away, to which she could be seen intervening and asking them to be gentler.
While all these were happening, the reporters present began asking her questions.
"I''m from ''Patrol 24''. Wee to the Philippines, Iris Long!"
"Thank you very much."
"Why did youe to the Philippines?"
"I''m here primarily to promote theunch of Orchidia Philippines. I''m so excited to bring mypany, Orchidia, to the Philippines. For the longest time, I''ve been working hard with our Filipino partners to bring our innovative and high-quality products to this country and the Southeast Asian region while keeping the costs as reasonable as possible. Pleasee to ourunch party tomorrow. I''m sure that you''ll find something you''ll like from our wide product range."
"Is this your first time in the Philippines?"
Iris Long beamed. Her bright smile almost blinded everyone present. Another round of screams erupted.
"Yes," she said. "This is my first time in the Philippines. My best friend and assistant is Filipino. And our families are very close. They''ve invited me to visit their home country many times in the past, but it''s only now that my schedule allowed me to finally do it. So I''m super excited to explore your beautiful country. I kept hearing that it''s more fun in the Philippines!"
Everyone cheered upon hearing her words.
The camera also zoomed in on the mboyant man standing beside Iris Long. Dominic Chua smiled and waved.
"Do you have any other ns while you''re here in the Philippines?" the reporter asked next.
"I''ll be doing some exciting things which you''ll find out in the next few days. I''m also looking forward to exploring your beautiful nature, tasting your delicious local food, experiencing your unique culture, and most importantly, meeting all of you, the Filipino people."
Her words made everyone so excited that some people even started sobbing from too much happiness.<fn7> The source of th?s content is find·novel</fn7>
"How is your family?" the reporter asked. "Your husband and your children?"
Her entire demeanour softened at the mention of her family.
"My husband wille and join me tomorrow. As for our children, we decided that they''re still too young toe here now. But we''re already nning a family trip here to the Philippines when the kids are older."
Then the footage showed Iris Long waving goodbye to everyone as her bodyguards led her to a waiting van.
Finally, the segment about Iris Long ended. Even the celebrity actress hosting the "Showbiz Hour" couldn''t hide her excitement after reporting about Iris Long''s arrival.
Most Filipinos watching the evening news had no idea who Iris Long was until tonight. However, most of them had heard her hit songs "Shining Eyes" and the newest one, "I, the Dreamer". These songs were constantly being yed everywhere—in the cabs, jeepneys, restaurants, and malls. Everywhere.
"Shining Eyes" was also a popr choice for singing with the karaoke. Recently, the powerful song, "I, the Dreamer", was already being used topete in singing contests at the local municipalities, towns, and cities.
Now, many Filipinos finally learned what the singer behind these hit songs looked like.
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After checking in at the hotel and leaving their luggage in their rooms, Iris and her team drove straight to the Chua family''s home.
The Chua family''s ancestors travelled all the way from China to escape the great famine decades ago and somehow reached the Philippines. Here, they decided to take root and build businesses. They thrived and became the first wealthy Chinese-Filipinos in the Philippines.
However, Dominic Chua''s family was just a minor coteral branch that didn''t inherit anything from the main branch of wealthy Chuas.
Dominic and his sisters grew up in a normal, average working-ss household. Their parents, Reina and Domingo Chua, worked hard to provide their children with a decent upbringing and a focus on education.
Their family had never been dirt-poor, but they had never been rich either.
It was only when Domingo Chua managed to connect with his distant cousin in China, Cai Guang, who was Long Tengfei''s long-time assistant that his son, Dominic Chua, had the opportunity to find better career prospects outside the Philippines.
Then Cai Guang rmended his distant nephew, Dom, to the newly awakened Iris Long who had been in aa after a serious car ident.
It was then that Dom''s life hadpletely changed, and in extension, the entire Chua family''s fortune improved by leaps and bounds.
Iris Long provided Dom and everyone in his family with countless opportunities to develop their skills and to prosper economically in ways that they could never have imagined before meeting her.
Their only son, Dominic, was Iris Long''s closest confidante second only to her own husband. He also lived with her family, granting him direct ess to her family''s massive wealth of resources. He was her right-hand man who had the authority to make decisions under her name. Thanks to his friendship with Iris Long, he was able to rmend his own family members to Iris Long and her husband.
The eldest daughter, Marjorie Chua-Ferrer, and her husband, Paul Ferrer, were now the bosses of their own property developmentpany in partnership with Jin Liwei who provided them the capital funds.
The second daughter, Linda Chua, had now be the CEO of Orchidia Philippines.
The youngest daughter, Clover Chua, was currently in France as the CEO of Liberté.
And as the parents, Domingo and Reina Chua were now semi-retired but would still help their eldest and second daughters with theirpanies.
Now all of their children were literal bosses.
Their only son, Dom, might not be a "boss" but as the assistant to their greatest benefactor, Iris Long, he was the one who paved the way for all of them. Without him, they would never have imagined that they would one day be close to reaching the level of the main Chua family''s wealth.
When Marjorie and her husband, Paul, and Linda began building theirpanies, the main Chua branch noticed. At first, the main Chu family pretended not to care. But now that Domingo Chua''s branch family had be high-profile, especially when they had been preparing for Iris Long''s arrival in the Philippines, the main family finally took the initiative to contact them and "reconnect".
Although Domingo and Reina knew that the main family only wanted their connection with Iris Long, and of course, her billionaire husband CEO Jin Liwei, they decided that there was no reason to refuse the main family''s gesture. Hence, they epted.
After this "reconnection" of their minor coteral branch family with the main family, Domingo and Reina Chua along with their children were granted ess to exclusive connections among the elites in the Philippines.