Eat less, live more

How often have you heard someone say, “I’m so full I can’t eat another bite?” Unfortunately, although the stomach may appear satisfied, this “all-you-can-eat” habit may actually reduce one’s lifespan. Eating less may be the new secret to prolonging life. One piece of evidence comes from the people living in Okinawa Island, Japan, which boasts …

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Music Lessons

You know you’re Tsinoy when you have a piano in your living room and had piano lessons whether you wanted to or not. We had a high-quality piano when I was growing up. My mom bought it at a hugely discounted price from a friend who was migrating to the US. With the piano came …

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2016: Year in Review

2016 was replete with surprises, twists and turns in-country. President Duterte made the headlines around the world with his merciless stance on drugs; the Philippines woke up to the surprise burial of Marcos; and we finally won exclusive sovereign rights within its economic zones in some disputed areas in the West Philippine Sea. As we …

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2017 Year of the Rooster

This year’s Chinese New Year falls on Jan. 28, the Rooster year. Rooster is related to gold which indicates luxury, beauty and wealth. Rooster is also connected to the season of autumn or harvest time and people can experience relaxing or joyful time enjoying the fruits of their diligence. Malaysian-based spiritual feng shui practitioner Lilian …

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A few ‘cocktails’

This year, starting on Saturday Jan. 28, the Rooster reigns, his early morning cock-a-doodle-doo proclaiming the start of a new day. The 10th animal in the Chinese Zodiac will struct through our lives for the next 12 months. The Rooster figures prominently in many cultures, as these four stories show. How the rooster got his …

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Chinese and Filipino community in Seoul

 First published in Tulay Fortnightly, Chinese-Filipino Digest 29, nos. 14-15 (January 17-February 6, 2017): 24,26. Since the 1970s, Seoul has seen different stages of urban expansion. Today, Seoul has three major business districts in the city: the historical city center, the island of Yeoui and Gangnam. A fourth area is in gestation around the Digital …

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Home of the Phoenix

The legend goes that the phoenix – feng huang (鳯凰) – lived in the mountains of Hunan province in western China. As the mythical bird – symbol of the empress (the dragon is the symbol of the emperor), it represents longevity since it re- emerges from the flames each time it is consumed by fire …

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