In the midst of chaos and despair, a candle burns, giving light to others. This sentiment sums up how people see this octogenarian. The Lim family – Adeline, her sister Gerry, brother Ellery and mom Luz – describe Father Benjamin Sim, 80, as supportive but firm, generous, humble, simple and low key. Other parishioners remember […]
Zhou Chu (周處) of the kingdom of Wu (吳) had lost his father at a young age during the Three Kingdoms Period (222-280 AD). By the time he turned 20, he was already a man of great strength that no ordinary person could match. But he had never cared to learn good manners and right […]
Ferdinand Blumentritt (1853-1913), best friend of our national hero Dr. Jose P. Rizal, was one of the greatest experts on Philippine history, culture, language and geography in his day. He was an Austrian and had never been to the Philippines. Yet here we are referring to him in relation to the Chinese in the Philippines. […]
In the Philippines, there are three worms that cause the most health problems: roundworms (Ascaris lumbricoides), whipworms (Trichuris trichiura) and hookworms (Necator americanus and Ancylostoma duodenale). These three have been a burden to humanity for centuries. They are called soil-transmitted helminthiasis and are found in the soil. Helminths. Helminths are really parasitic worms (like aliens) […]
Family weddings are a wonderful time for family reunions and for exchanging gifts. My relatives from overseas flew in this month with suitcases bulging with gifts. In turn, I was ready with my own gifts to give out. Those who appreciated Chinese art received a hardbound copy of the book His Legacy Our Heritage: Professor […]
Hokkien, on the tongues of Tsinoys, has grown and evolved, taking a life of its own.Sometimes words simply fail us. With some creativity, Tsinoys have strung together words to form colorful phrases that simply hit the bull’s eye.Here are some expressions unique to Hokkien as favored by Tsinoys. Idioms, expressions Hokkien pronunciation Literal translation Meaning […]
In one conversation with the husband, we noted how our neighborhood was sprouting more children every month. We’re often deathly scared of running over tiny toes whose owners were never taught to step aside when a car is coming along. In the afternoons, we see fathers or mothers dragging a child by the arm with […]
The difference between learning in school and real life:• In school- learn a lesson first then take a test.• In real-life- encounter tests (and failure) everyday, then learn the lesson from it. I hit the big 3-0 this past May. Reaching my first milestone decade in the school of real-life led me to reflect. I […]
Catarman Tsinoys join hands to save one of Samar’s last Chinese-language schools. In most Tsinoy communities in rural areas, Chinese-language schools are the focal centers of community involvement. Supporting the school creates a bond among residents who trust the school not just to prepare their children to become successful individuals but also to pass on […]
There are always hard-to-miss moments whenever Janice Liuson-Young (柳真女) looks at people’s faces. Even as a child, she would often sketch people in her free time using pencils. She has come a long way since those childhood days. Today, she is Associate Dean of Fine Arts at FEATI University in Manila. Because she was constantly […]