Meeting Prominent Chinese-Filipino (part 2)

 I have long been an admirer and supporter of Bahay Tsinoy. This Chinese-Filipino museum is very close to my heart because it tells the story of the ties and shared history between China and the Philippines.

It was there that I first met its former president, . He is an award-winning Chinoy writer, former Secretary-General of the Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, former President of Kaisa Para sa Kaunlaran, and a recipient of an award from the in 2025.

I have read his translation of Lagalag sa Nanyang, and he once gave me a Chinese phrasebook containing 300 useful phrases. When my husband and I moved to Bulacan, we donated most of my collection of Chinese and Filipino-Chinese books to our barangay library, as my husband wanted to declutter our home.

Fortunately, I still have a few books that I purchased from Bahay Tsinoy. I was also able to meet Mr. Sy again at the inauguration of the Confucius Institute about a decade ago.

He is one of the most prominent Chinese-Filipinos I have encountered throughout my journey of learning about Chinese culture and Philippine-Chinese relations. I remain grateful for the role he played in my learning journey and for his contributions to the Chinese-Filipino community.

The Ties That Bind by: Teresita Ang-See (Mini-book review)

   Last week my order of the mini-book, "The Ties That Bind" (The Saga of the Sultan of Sulu in China). This is the 2nd edition, written by well-known, and respected Filipino-Chinese writer, and academian. Known in the Philippine media press, as an anti-crime crusader. She is also also one of the founders (along with her late husband Prof.Chinben See) of Kaisa Para sa Kaunlaran, and Kaisa Heritage Center.

From tulay.ph: 

"The Ties that Bind – the Saga of the Sultan of Sulu in China (Kaisa Para Sa Kaunlaran, 2017, 109 pp.) uses references and resources from China and the Philippines – including valuable photographs – to document the historic visit of the Sultan of Sulu to pay tribute to the imperial court of Ming Emperor Yong Le in 1417. The booklet is published in commemoration of this most significant event which highlights the enduring friendship between the Philippines and China."

You can order online, and have it shipped to your place. Just follow the instructions of their staff. I also contacted them through their Facebook account, and Ms. Meah See, director now of Kaisa, and the daughter of the author was really accomodating. You can finish the book in one-sitting. The book is printed in glossy pages, and the photos are rich, with colorful pictures. As a supporter of the Philippines and China's positive and harmonious relationship,  and as a member of the Philippines - China friendship club. This mini-booklet is full of interesting facts, and details about the long-standing relationship, and friendship of the two countries. Did you know that the Sultan Padaka has living descendants up to now? They have also visited the Philippines.

The story of the Sultan of Sulu, and the Emperor of China was made into a movie wayback. The title was 'Hari sa hari, Lahi sa lahi,' the international English title was 'King and Emperor.'

If you are a Chinese culture enthusiast like me, or if you are interested in culture and history, you should definitely grab a copy of this book. I got my 2 copies for P140.00, plus additional shipping fee. I also requested for the book to be signed by the author. I have not met the author personally, but I'm looking forward for a chance in the near future.

Or you can visit Kaisa, located in Intramuros, Manila. They have a gift shop there when I visited them wayback. They sell t-shirts, and various educational books about Filipino-Chinese culture and history. You should also check out their museum also located in the same building. It is a museum of the Chinese in the Philippine life. It is a definitely must-see. I really enjoyed touring the museum before.

(Fast forward to year 2026, I finally met Ma'am Teresita Ang-See through my new doctor who is her sister.)

For orders and inquiries: 
You can contact them through their facebook page Kaisa Para sa Kaunlaran or you may email them at info@kaisa.org.ph 

The Reading Room: Bai Ren's Lagalag sa Nanyang (Salin ni Joaquin Sy)

I have a few Filipino-Chinese related books. I got them wayback from Kaisa Heritage Center in Intramuros Manila. I am also fortunate to have known and met a few Chinese studies scholars and experts along the way. One of them was the translator of Bai Ren’s work, Adrift in the Southern Ocean, Mr. Joaquin Sy. This novel has a former title in English but I just chose to mention here the latter. I was supposed to do a book review, but since I’m just in the middle part of the book, it would be unfair. So I just titled this entry, ‘The Reading Room’. There are a bit of spoilers here.

This is the true to life story account of Bai Ren, and his experiences here in the Philippines, as a huankhe in Hokkien or huaqiao in Mandarin, it means an overseas Chinese worker. I’m sure that Filipinos will also hold this story close to their heart because we have a similar plight with the Chinese people back then. Most of the head of the family of many Filipinos today go abroad, in order to provide for their family, especially in terms of financial.

I have never read a book before written in our own native tongue (with the exception of short romance novels when I was a teenager, and other books that I got from KAISA). I have heard a lot of good reviews about this book in a social networking page, and how it was translated very well by Mr. Joaquin Sy. I've decided to buy one for myself when I went to a local bookstore, National Bookstore at Trinoma mall. As fate would have it, I found one! It is the lone copy at that time, so even if the book is not in a very good condition, I bought it. I've just put a clear plastic cover on it. (see the attached photo).

Reading the book, I can picture the scenes slowly unfolding in my mind. As if I’m watching a mini-series, or a movie. I like how Li Xin/A Song, in the story narrates  his every experiences. From their packed sweet snack, called hopia (usually a small round pastry snack, with sweetend mung beans filling, nowadays it has a variety of flavors), to the double decker bus, the swarm of mosquitoes, and the ‘vampires’ at night, the deadly bloodsuckers. I am now halfway, and I have met a lot of characters along the way. The Buddha-like owner of Asia Bazaar, Ang Taoke (Boss Ang), the three co-workers of Li Xing. Mr. Dy, the right hand man of their boss, a workaholic person – rarely takes a vacation leave, Mr. Lim, the cook a short and chubby fellow, and a distant relative of their boss, and lastly the big, burly man, Mr. Tan. (I've just decided to put a honorary title in front of their surname). I am saddened with the heartbreaking love story of Isha (a mestiza – half Caucasian, daughter of a white man, but her mom basing from what I read is Filipina), and Tan Sua. I also read, and learned a lot of Hokkien word, like apeh, achiak, huanpo, ahia, amah, koyi, huanna, huankhe, tsutyiya. I also stumbled upon good quotable quotes, “Ang luwad na hindi hinubog, hindi naghuhugis mangkok.” By Ang Taoke. This translates in English as, the clay that was not properly formed, will never become the shape of a bowl. I guess, he likened it to a person not properly reared by their parents, the child will soon be may be a wayward or a prodigal child. I highly recommend this book, especially to Chinese or Filipino-Chinese studies enthusiast like me, lovers of Filipino literature, or for those who just want to read a good Tagalog translated Chinese novel. This book is for you. Two thumbs up!