Sia, salamat!

First published in Tulay, Fortnightly Chinese-Filipino Digest 24, no. 13 (December 6-19, 2011): 5. The Chinese surname 謝 (Xie in Mandarin, Sia in Hokkien), literally means thanks or salamat in Filipino. It ranks 23rd among Chinese surname in the Philippines, and 24th in China. It is said that 謝 was among the four big famous …

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呂 (Lü, Li) in PH

First published in Tulay, Fortnightly Chinese-Filipino Digest 24, no. 11 (November 1-14, 2011): 5-6. The Chinese surname 呂, pronounced as Li in Hokkien or Lü in Mandarin, ranks 22nd among Chinese surnames in the Philippines and 43rd in China. 呂 is a very ancient surname in China. It is said that the Lü ancestor was …

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戴 (Dai, Te) in PH

First published in Tulay, Fortnightly Chinese-Filipino Digest 24, no. 9 (October 4-17, 2011): 5. 戴 (Dai in Mandarin, Te in Hokkien) is the 21st most popular Chinese surname in the Philippines. It ranks 57th in China. The surname Te originates from the imperial clan of the Zhou (周) Dynasty (1066-256 BC). When the first emperor …

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柯 (Ke, Cua) in PH

First published in Tulay, Fortnightly Chinese-Filipino Digest 24, no. 7 (September 6-19, 2011): 5-6. Although it ranks only 28th among Chinese surnames in the Philippines, the surname 柯 (Ke in Mandarin, Cua in Hokkien) is of special significance in the Philippines because it is the Chinese surname of Domingo Lamco, the great-great-grandfather of our national …

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Tamad nga ba si Juan?

First published in Tulay, Monthly Chinese-Filipino Digest 2, no. 5 (October 22, 1989): 8-9. Sa aking trabaho, paminsan-minsa’y may nakakasama akong taga-ibang bansa, at tuwing may pagkakataon, sa mga pakikipag-usap ko sa kanila, paarok kong itinatanong: Ano ang masasabi nila sa Pilipino? Madalas na nababanggit bilang positibong katangian ang pagiging masayahin at palakaibigan ng mga …

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