One hundred school children who were victimized by a devastating earthquake in China on Friday personally thanked Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo for bringing them for week-long rehabilitation visit.

In the Hero Hall of the Presidential Palace Malacanang, the children, dressed in school uniforms and ethnic attires, sang a Chinese song "Grateful Heart" in front of a smiling Arroyo.

Students of Qiang ethnic also presented to the president a home-made good-will bag, traditionally believed to bring fortune and happiness to the grantee.

"During the trip, we felt the warmth of Filipino people almost everywhere. I felt so grateful that I pray for the ever-lasting happiness to President Arroyo and all Filipinos," said Fan Caiwen, a high school student from Beichuan, Sichuan Province.

Fan's hometown was hit by an 8.0-magnitude earthquake on May 12, 2008 that left more than 87,000 people dead or missing.

And many more were orphaned by the quake, considered the most devastating natural disaster China experienced in three decades.

During her visit to China that included a front leg to Sichuan quake zone last August, Arroyo formally invited 100 quake-stricken children to rehabilitate in the Philippines. She named her special envoy to China Carlos Chan to facilitate the children's visit.

The 100 children, aged 11 to 16, who came from 11 high schools in land-locked Sichuan, started their eye-opening trip to the archipelagic state on last Sunday. During the week, they visited schools, museums and interacted with local students in Manila while touring around Tarsier farms, chocolate hills and the stunning beach in Bohol province in central Philippines.

"I was so excited because it was my first time to get close to the ocean. It is so beautiful and magical that I was able to put all worries and concerns aside," said Leng Ke, a student from Dongqi high school in Deyang city.

He said the sand on the beach was so fine and pure white that he could not help finger-drawing on it "I love Bohol, I love the Philippines."

Du Kewei, head of the delegation who is also an official with China's Education Ministry in charge of primary and secondary education, told Arroyo that the week-long trip has helped the kids to shake off psychological shadows of the killer quake and has broadened their minds which would certainly benefit their growth.

"I would like to thank President Arroyo again and say 'we love you'," Fan said.

(Xinhua News Agency January 16, 2009)