You know you’re Tsinoy when you have to work at your family’s tiamkhaw (store) on weekends and in the summer… for free! These days, not all Tsinoy kids work 100 percent at the tiamkhaw. Many work at dad’s or mom’s office checking email, answering the phones, checking inventory. My parents are both teachers so there […]
When you hear of a person named Antonio Arsenio in the Philippines, what would you think is his nationality? Most probably Filipino. Well, Arsenio was Chinese. He was a staunch supporter of Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo who owned a big house in Cavite, once a naval storehouse of the Spaniard. When the American troops under Brig. […]
The number of casino-related kidnapping, torture, extortion and murder is increasing, the Movement for Restoration of Peace and Order warned. Chinese national Lu Qiang died from head injury on Feb. 27 after being released by abductors due to gambling debts. On Feb. 24, the body of Charlie Chua was recovered in Cavite. His kidnappers demanded […]
Anti-kidnapping operatives rescued an Australian national and arrested his four kidnappers in Makati City on Feb. 20. Authorities identified the victim as 29-year-old Jianting Chen. The Anti-kidnapping group (AKG) of the Philippine National Police said Rachel Ball, a member of the Australian police, informed them that the victim’s friend, Willian Choi, who is residing in […]
“It was frustration, anger, disgust, despair.”—Mike de Leon That was acclaimed director Mike de Leon’s explanation to ABS-CBN News Channel television network on what moved him to produce the five-minute short film “Kangkungan.” It was released on Feb. 24, the eve of the 33rd commemoration of EDSA People Power. Social media has been widely circulating […]
In late 2017, a group of physicians and scientists called Doctors for Truth and Public Welfare expressed their dismay and alarm at how the dengue vaccine controversy was degenerating into a fiasco. They predicted that the consequent erosion of public confidence in the country’s vaccination programs would result in outbreaks of vaccine-preventable illnesses such as […]
In a talk before the Chinese Filipino Business Club, I asked the audience if anyone remembered the original name of San Fernando Bridge. Only a few raised their hands and said “Baybay Kio” or Baybay Bridge. Young people and newcomers are no longer familiar with the essence of Binondo that made it unique in the […]
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 […]
One thing I have observed in the last decade or so regarding the Chinese New Year celebration in the Philippines is how it has slowly been injected with Filipino flavor. I am not talking about the vendors who come to Binondo to sell their wares or the Ati-atihan dancers and fire eaters. What I am […]
Queen Du Gu (獨孤), wife of Emperor Sui Wen Di (隋文帝 581-601 AD), was of noble origin. Even as a queen, she did not abuse her power or yearn for and seek vanity. Rather, she worked hard and attached importance to the state. When the Turks (突厥) traded with Sui Dynasty, they had a suitcase […]