“A good provider is one who leaves,” an interview subject told the author. For the majority of Filipinos who work abroad, it is the only way to provide for their families. In 1986, Jason DeParle, a reporter with the New York Times, wanted to study poverty and asked Sister Christine Tan to help him find […]
Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables daily. This is my consistent advice to anyone wishing to keep themselves fit and healthy. Evidence-based medicine has proven that the daily consumption of fruits and vegetables prevents heart disease, hypertension and cancer, particularly colon cancer. The latest research also shows that this daily habit, together with exercise and […]
In Taal, Batangas, the origins of a Catholic devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary, known as the Virgin of Caysasay, can be traced back to a statue of a woman of Chinese appearance recovered from the sea, which local Catholics venerated as the Virgin Mary. It is highly probable that the statue was one of […]
Silver played a big role in the Galleon Trade between Manila and Acapulco, Mexico that lasted 250 years, from 1565 to 1815. The silver from Mexico and Peru not only sustained the Philippines’ economy through the Galleon Trade, but encouraged the trading of Chinese goods, mainly silk and porcelain. Silver was in great demand during […]
“Ninja cops” currently hog the headlines, but they are not new creatures in a dysfunctional police force. I first heard about them in the mid-1990s. Members of the Manila Police Department would kidnap Tsinoys and bring them to police stations, which they described as “safe houses,” to demand ransom from the victims’ families. One victim […]
Barack Obama did it first. He became the first US president from an ethnic minority. Now, Andrew Yang, a Chinese-American, is following suit, aspiring for the White House. While his chances are slim, he is inspiring thousands of young Asian-Americans with this impossible quest. Will Yang’s story also inspire a Tsinoy to make history by […]
Visits to the doctor are inevitable. People get sick, like it or not. It is always a relief when one realizes that waiting for the doctor will not take long. But how wonderful would it be if doctors or their hospitals and clinics can offer and manage appointments to cut waiting times for their patients. […]
Hokkien, on the tongues of Tsinoys, has grown and evolved, taking on 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 […]
A person I regret never meeting was photographer John K. Chua (蔡傑安), widely regarded as a leading local advertising photographer. His works have appeared in advertisements for Mitsubishi, Audi, Lexus and Mountain Dew. It was John and his company, ADPhoto, that pioneered the use of digital photography in the local advertising industry. John was also […]
Kaohsiung (高雄) in southern Taiwan is a city of interesting contrasts, even contradictions. Its name translates to “high hero,” although its original name is decidedly less noble – “打狗 beating the dog.” It is Taiwan’s largest port and third largest city with its share of skyscrapers, but the city’s focal point is the Love River […]