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MANILA, April 4-- Staff from the Chinese embassy in Manila swept tombs on Thursday for Philippine Chinese who died in the Philippines in their fight against Japanese invaders during the Second World War. Tan Qingsheng, deputy chief of mission and minister counselor at the Chinese embassy, led the embassy staff members visiting the Manila Chinese Cemetery and laying flowers at the foot of the Philippine Chinese anti-Japanese War Heroes Monument. The commemorations fell on the eve of the traditional Chinese Tomb Sweeping Day, during which Chinese people remember their late loved ones. During the ceremonies, Tan said that in the Second World War there was a group of Philippine Chinese who devoted themselves to the anti-Japanese fighting in this southeast Asian country, adding these brave Chinese people fought side by side with the local Filipinos, making a significate contribution to the victory of the war. "These overseas Chinese martyrs are not only the pride of China, but also the historical witness of the friendship between China and the Philippines," said Tan. After Japan invaded the Philippines on Dec. 8, 1941, the Chinese people who lived in the Philippines organized guerrilla warfare, called "Wha Chi," fighting alongside their Philippine comrades, against Japanese aggressors. More than 200 Philippine Chinese died during the war. The guerrilla army was made up of mainly Chinese, whose previous generations came from China's southern Fujian and Guangdong provinces. It started with 52 members and expanded to more than 700. | 
