These past few days I have been busy watching another Chinese
drama starring Zhao Lu Si. I first came to know her in the drama, “I Hear You.”
I really liked that drama and I want to try another series, so I decided to
watch it. Before that I have tried watching a few Chinese series which I did
not finish. I am a subscriber of iQIYI one of the popular Chinese online video
platform. Through iQIYI, I am updated with the latest and trending Chinese
dramas. I usually watch Cdramas from this online . I am proud to say that from
start until the end I have finished watching this drama. Watching Wuxia Romance
Fantasy Chinese series is really enjoyable. The scenery and the costumes are
all beautiful. That is why I am an admirer of Hanfu clothes.
I have seen Mr. Bad Guy, starring Shen Yue, the lead before of the Cdrama, “A Love So Beautiful”. This is a fun drama to watch since it’s a modern fantasy about a person who loves to write and the character in her novel comes to life. I just got impatient watching this that I fast forwarded it. But don’t imitate me because this drama is a good watch. I remember another series entitled, “Cute Bad Guy’, who has a similar plot. This time the female lead is cartoonist and her character an ultimate villain came to life. I still have not finished that drama.
Next, that I have seen is the “Song of the Moon” Cdrama, another wuxia, drama and fantasy genre. Beautiful and handsome female and male lead, starring Vin Zhang and Xu Lu. This is about reincarnation, about the God of sun and the God of moon. I also got impatient and fast-forwarded this series. One of the Chinese actresses that I admire is Bai Lu. Her beauty is similar to another Chinese actress Cecilia Liu (Liu Shi Shi) whose drama I have enjoyed watching before. Her leading man in this drama is Leo Lu. If you like their tandem they have another contemporary series, “Love Is Sweet”.
‘Till the End of the Moon is another good drama. This one is a long drama too! 40 episodes. Also, the impatient me, fast-forwarded this series again. All of the ending is satisfying, in my opinion. I have missed watching Chinese dramas and by watching all of these dramas. It felt like home.
Last month, I finished another drama. I have found out about this drama from my officemate. Actually, she was supposed to watch this, but I end up getting hooked on it. This is a Chinese drama. According to Wikipedia, this was aired on Tencent video from November up to December 2017. If I'm not mistaken here in the Philippines, it was aired 2 months ago.
Most Chinese tv series that I have seen are period dramas. So this was something new for me. This drama is about Chen Xiaoxi, a student who has a crush on her classmate named Jiang Chen. This reminds me of my younger days when I really like a classmate of mine.
This drama is about young love, friendship, heartbreak, and true love. This drama has become one of my favorite Chinese drama. If you have not seen this drama I suggest you should watch this. I also love the soundtrack of this drama series. My favorite is 小美好 sung by Feng Jia Qi.
Most of the people I know when they find out that I like Chinese culture, music, anything that's related with it they find it strange. Sometimes, I'm the butt of joke, a fried of mine wayback often say sarcastically, (whenever we encounter oriental or 'chinky eyed' people), "Oh your friends, your people!".
Sometimes I get annoyed and pissed when they do that to me. Even if I don't show what I really feel, deep inside I'm already fuming. Is it really strange? I don't really think so! We all have our own interests and hobbies in life. Some study Spanish, French and other languages. While others are addicted to Korean and Japanese music, and tv dramas. Maybe, the only thing that's different, in my case I kinda embraced everything, and have really fallen in love with the Chinese culture, anything that's connected with it.
Also, I'm not following any fad. I remember it was the height of Korean dramas when I became an ESL instructor to Koreans. I know a thing or two about Korean culture because I have dealt with Koreans before. Still, my interest in China didn't change, it still there lying dormant. It was only now that this passion of mine has been awakened. I guess, you always come back to the one you love doing. Besides, I already have finished doing my masteral, and I'm not really that occupied now so I can really spend a lot of time doing what I love. That is studying and writing about my interest.
Someday, I dream of becoming like Dashan. I read a story before about Dashan in my Lonely Planet: China travel book. That was one of my expensive books with regards to China. I bought it during my college days. I remember in our Chinese class yesterday we learned how to say 'big'. The Chinese character for that is 大 it reads as 'da' using the pinyin system. You'll really be amazed because Dashan, Mark Henry Rowswell is his real name, speaks really good Chinese. Actually there are a lot of Caucasians who can speak Chinese very well. I won't mention them all here. My point is, I'm not the only one in love with the Chinese language and culture, and it's not strange at all.
In the music scene, I came to know Frankie P., he is an Italian-American born and raised in the U.S. He speaks and can sing Cantonese very well. Just check out his videos on YouTube. It's really encouraging to see someone who also has the same interest. I've got some encouraging words from him, to just keep on practicing. Another one is an English woman named Mary Jess, she won and bagged the grand price in a singing contest in China, entitled 'I Want to Sing to the Stars.' 民星唱翻天 (Min Xing Chang Fan Tian). "Mary-Jess began studying Chinese at the age of 13 when it was offered as an extra-curricular GCSE at St. Peters RC High School in Gloucester. At the age of 15, Mary-Jess travelled to China for the first time with the school and whilst there she sang at the opening ceremony the summer school that she was attending. Her performance was credited by a lot of local press coverage. During this trip she fell in love with China and knew that she would continue to study Mandarin Chinese." (source: mary-jess.com) So it's not only me. A lot of people around the world likes and appreciate the Chinese culture. Why? there are a hundreds of reasons and maybe, because its the cradle of the civilization, as mentioned in a local newspaper that I've read wayback. Here in my country, you can't deny the influence and the role of the Chinese in the Philippines way of life and culture.
I also don't understand why a lot of people blame the Filipino-Chinese here in the Philippines, saying they are controlling everything. Most of the successful leaders here are PBC or Philippine Born Chinese and of Chinese lineage. It's not their fault, if you knew the life of early Chinese settlers here in the Philippines, it was not easy for them. They were the first peddlers, selling 'taho', dimsum (Chinese snacks), etc. on the streets. (visit Bahay Tsinoy in Intramuros to see the life like dioramas, and to learn more about the Filipino-Chinese history). They are just simply hardworking, and the times back then if you really work hard success is not that far behind. That's one thing we should learn from them. In appreciating the Chinese culture and language, I hope I have proven my point, that truly, I am not the only one in love!
I had the chance to watch some good Chinese 'wuxia' or martial arts, fantasy, romance and suspense movies. The first movie that I have seen was Detective Dee and the Mystery of the Phantom Flame. I was reminded of the 'Guan Yin', statue near the South Sea of China, when I saw the 'Buddha' statue that the first Empress of China Wu Zeitian, commissioned her workers to finish it just in time for her coronation. Anyway, I won't talk about that movie anymore since, my movie review is about 'Bai Hu' 白狐 (white fox), the English promotional title of the movie was called, 'The Fox Lover'. For a person like me who's a sucker for love stories, I was really interested to watch this film, and it has been a long time since I have watched a Chinese fantasy movie.
According to a review in IMDB (movie database) this film is about:
Pu Songling's 蒲松齡, "Strange Stories from a Chinese Studio." It is a collection of nearly 500 mostly supernatural tales.The Fox Lover is about
white fox spirit Xiaochui (Gillian Chung), who is irrevocably in love
with a mortal fool Wang Yuanfeng (Chilam Cheung). In the universe
resides the largest bat demon that strikes terror amongst the people.
Inside Wang’s soul, there is a hidden power able to destroy the fiercest
demons. When Xiaochui’s loyalties are tested in the clash between
humans and demons, she is willing to sacrifice her life for love.
It was a very good movie. I also liked the costumes that was used in the movie. Very colorful costumes, for the 'fox sisters'. My favorite costume was the one worn by the lead character, named Willow, because I really like the color blue. Nice combination of blue and white. I've included a photo of all the 'fox sisters'. Here are their names.
Gold is the one holding a rabbit, and of course the color of her clothes is gold.
Dream is the one in an orange colored clothes.
Plum is the girl with a brown or earth color clothes.
Ling is the earthly daughter of Madame Fox, she was adopted, she's wearing a colored tan with a dark green inner clothing.
Lotus is the one with scarlet colored clothes.
Bamboo is the one wearing green.
Peach is the one wearing pink.
Jade andFlower have the same color of light purple clothes.
Willow is the one wearing a sky blue and white clothes.
I haven't watched the other movie version of the 'White Fox', so I can't really say if this movie was worst compared with the other movies. For example, I have seen a tv special of 'The Monkey King' movie remake, and for me, Jet Li and Jackie Chan's version still remains the best. I have yet to see Donnie Yen and Chow Yun Fat's version.
The movie was a tear-jerker! I cried in some of the movie scenes! Best of all I also like the soundrack. I will include the music video here for everyone to see. I also typed the English translation taken from the movie. If you haven't seen this film I suggest you check it out.
Some memorable quotes from the movie:
Willow: Yuanfeng, do you love me?
Yuanfeng: What does love mean?
Willow: It means embracing with you forever, or if you love one girl. You want to stay with her, and take her in your arms and never leave her.
Willow: Don't leave me.
Yuanfeng: No.
Willow: Even a knife in your back?
Yuanfeng: No. I won't leave you.
Willow: Even if you are hit by an arrow?
Yuanfeng: No.
Willow: Even with fire to burn you?
Yuanfeng: No. I won't leave you!
Yuanfeng: The thing of love is interesting.
Yuanfeng: Willow! Willow: Do you know me? Who are you? It seems I have met you before.
Yuanfeng: I was the fool named Wang Yuanfeng.
Willow: Wang Yuanfeng. Why are you crying? Oink! Oink! A piglet will never cry. Who are you?
Yuanfeng: I am Yuangfeng, who loves you the most.
Willow: Love... What is love?
Yuanfeng: It means embracing you forever. It means if you like her, you'll want to stay with her and embrace her no matter what happens. Never let go. Even a knife on the back, or hit by an arrow, burnt by the flame. Never let her go. Never...
I was not planning to write another movie review, since my last entry was about the latest film that I have seen. I just felt I need to write a post about this film now, lest I forget about it. I will be busy this coming months, aside from my regular work, I've decided to study Chinese again at Confucius Institute, based inside the campus of Ateneo de Manila University.
This film was recommended to me by a friend. I wasted no time, and I immediately took the chance to watch this movie. Warning: A bit of spoiler. The scene at the beginning of the movie is a rainy one, and a girl reciting a poem. I'm the type of person who types the characters dialogue if that line is really meaningful. So I searched for the poem and I found out that the title is, "Love at First Sight" written by Wislawa Szymborska. Here is a the first stanza of the poem,
Both are convinced
that a sudden surge of emotion bound them together.
Beautiful is such a certainty,
but uncertainty is more beautiful still.
I was hooked immediately for I also like poetry. Ok! I confess, I'm really a mushy, hopeless romantic person. Early this year, I just bought a book of poetry by a famous contemporary writer Lang Leav.
The movie was based on the story book of Jimmy Liao. The original title was, "A Chance of Sunshine." The movie was a collaboration of Hong-Kong and Singaporean movie makers. It stars, Takeshi Kaneshiro, and Gigi Leung.
This film will really will get you hooked. They also added 'villainy' characters in the story. Such additions, has made the story even more exciting to watch.There are scenes that really made me cry. I also like the soundtrack of the movie. I also came to know that there's also a tv series, the popular 'Tong Hua' singer, Guang Liang was the one who sang the series' OST. There are also unforgettable quotes from the movie. Here's a translated quote from the movie.
"If
two people meet and they both fall in love, that's destiny for sure. If
neither loves the other, even if they meet millions of times, it's still
not destiny. If one's in love and the other isn't, and the one who's in
love grabs on and won't let go while the other just wants to run away,
not only is it not destiny... It's pain." - John Liu
It's obvious that I really like the movie. I also got an idea, to draw the lead characters, and I made it into my social network's cover page. After watching the movie, a question just popped up my head, like what if, 'the one's' just around the corner and you really have no idea. My thinking's somewhat changed now, if we think that each of us has a person that's meant for us, then what about those who are still unattached, those who are still single until now, and those who chose to remain single. I think its unfair to think that way. What I know is certainly, there's a time for everything.
Below is the OST of the movie, sung by Stephanie Sun. 'Yu Jian' (Encounter).
I was browsing
through the net, checking the lists of Chinese love stories. Then I came across
this story, about a couple who have bravely fought for love, defied everyone,
and faced everything against all odds. After watching a short documentary of
their story on the net, I can’t help but be teary eyed.
I remember a
beautiful quote that I saw painted on a jeepney while I’m on my way home. It
says, “Love is the best gift you can give to one another.” Just like the marriage
vows of couples, through thick and thin, through sickness and in health, you must
never leave your partner. That’s the real test of love. Love knows no age,
time, race and boundary.
Below is the transcript
that I’ve typed. I’d like to share this with everyone, to those following this
blog of mine. Just give the best love,
and don’t be afraid to love.
Steps of Love
In 2001 an
expedition was found in the mountain through a dense virgin forest suddenly
they saw a shabby house made of modern straw they were surprised to see a house
at an altitude of 1500 meters who lived in it? They walked in and found an old
man and a woman. This discovery unveiled a touching love story.
The old man and
woman were couple who lived there for about 50 years. They came from Zhongshan old
town in Chongqing. 50 years previously
the young man fell in love with the widow who was 10 years older than him with
three kids. The love was not accepted by the family and the local society. They
decided to escape from the gossip and so moved to the top of the mountain
without any contact with the outside world. It was big challenge to live in the
forest, they ate wild food, made everything by hand, and fought with wild
animals. The couple and their seven kids managed to survive however. Many years passed and the wife missed her
relatives, and wanted to visit them but her legs were not flexible anymore because
of the humid environment. The husband planned to construct the stone steps from
mountain top to the bottom to fulfil her dream. The husband usually worked the
whole day making the steps using the iron chisel just. He was a strong young
man when he cut the first step but when he finished the last one he was over 70
years old.
The husband Liu
Guojia passed away in December , 2007. The wife, Xu Chaoqing passed away in
October, 2012. The couple never said, “I love you” to each other, but the 6,000
stone-step path tells their love story quietly. Lots of pilgrimages of love
include climbing the steps. A Hong Kong TV play series is based on the love
story. A movie about the love story was first shown to the public in 2011.
Since I'm posting about one of my
hobbies and passion in life, let me also share with you some of my
Chinese song recordings. Pardon, that this is not recorded
professionally in a studio unlike my other two local songs which was recorded in a studio, it is
also included in my YouTube video page.
I've been singing Cantonese songs since my college days, mostly
songs by Vivian Chow. She is my most favorite Hong Kong artist. Other
recordings of mine included songs by the late Ms. Teresa Teng, which I
know is a must that I learn her song because she is one of the
well-respected and admired artist in the Chinese scene and all around
the globe. Also, I did covers of contemporary singers like Penny Dai and
Rainie Yang, Charlene and JJ Lin's duet, and also a cover version of
Wang Lee Hom's song.
Anyway, here's a sample of my recorded song. Thank you for checking out my blog and thanks also for checking out my YouTube videos.. 謝謝! xiexie!
(The music video below is my cover version of Vivian Chow's song. It's in Cantonese. 'A Long and Lasting Love')
Most of those who knew me and also those who
are connected to me 'socially' online will know that I really like
Chinese language, culture, arts, almost anything that is related to it.
Anyway, this afternoon I collected all my Chinese books, (I put them
somewhere around the house). I wanted to keep them all together, for
safekeeping just like my Christian books, which are neatly arranged and
safely tucked inside a small cabinet. Before, I said that this hobby of
mine was my first love but I corrected it and said it is just my second
love, because GOD should always be the first. :)
Anyway, I took a shot of these books, which I've been collecting
since I was a teenager (highschool days) and a few given to me by my
friend and Filipino-Chinese friends/acquaintance. My collection ranges
from history, novels, philosophy to language books. Also, included in my
collection is the mainstream history and culture of the
Filipino-Chinese, which is also a part of the Filipino culture.
I remember my former 老師 laoshi (teacher), in mandarin
language. He told me that it's a rarity to find someone like me who has a
passion like this. He's also the one who encouraged me to continue
doing what I love, and that someday I'll able to contribute something to
the society.
Here's a peek into one of my passion and interest. I listed the titles below. I categorized them.
History/Culture/Travel:
1. China Lonely Planet Guidebook
2. The Chinese Mestizo in Philippine History - author: Edgar Wickberg
3. The Chinese in Philippine Life (1850-1898) - author: Edgar Wickberg
4. The Ethnic-Chinese as Filipinos (part II) - edited by Teresita Ang See
5. Chinese and Chinese-Mestizos of Manila (Family, Identity and Culture 1860s - 1930s) -
author: Richard T. Chu
6. China author: Zheng Shifeng, et al. 7. A Short History of China author: Gordon Kerr 8. Tsinoy (The Story of the Chinese in the Philippine Life) edited by: Teresita Ang-See 9. Living Abroad in China Including Hong Kong and Macau authors: Barbara and Stuart Strother 10. The China Business Handbook 2008 11. China A to Z (2015 edition) authors: May-Lee Chai and Winberg Chai 12. A Geek in China (Discovering the Land of Bullet Trains, Alibaba, and Dim Sum) author: Matthew Christensen
Novels/Fiction
1. The Good Earth - author: Pearl Buck
2. Falling Leaves - author: Adeline Yen Mah
3. The Joy Luck Club - author: Amy Tan
4. The Hundred Secret Senses - author: Amy Tan
5. The Kitchen God's Wife - author: Amy Tan
6. The Story of the Stone (a.k.a. Dream of the Red Chamber vol.III) - Cao Xueqin
7. The Three Kingdoms (retold by: Christine Sun) - author: Luo Guanzhong
8. The Water Margin (retold by: Christine Sun) - author: Naian
9. Dream of the Red Chamber (retold by: Christine Sun) - author: Cao Xueqin
10. Journey to the West (retold by: Christine Sun) - author: Wu Cheng'En
11. To The Sky Kingdom - author: Tang Qi
12. Chinese Fairy Tales and Fantasies - edited and translates by Moss Roberts
Biography and Non-Fiction
1.Xi JinPing - The Governance of China
2.Wild Swans (Three Daughters of China) - Jung Chang
3. Bai Ren - Lagaglag Sa Nanyang (Adrift in the Southern Seas) translated by: Joaquin Sy
Language/Chinese Writing:
1. Say It in Chinese - Foreign Language Press Beijing
2. Learn Chinese Efficiently with Super Pinyin (phonetic) vol.I - edited by Jose Averia, English Translated by: Tinna K. Wu; Pilipino Translated by: Francisco G. Co
3. Easy Chinese Phrasebook and Dictionary - by: Wendy Tung
4. Speak Fujianwa (Fookien/Hokkien) Easy - by: Betty Lee
5. 300 by: Joaquin Sy
6. Niubi The Real Chinese You Were Never Taught in School - by: Eveline Chao; Illustrated by Chris Murphy
7. Teach Yourself Cantonese - by: Hugh Baker and Ho Pui-Kei
8. Chinese Flashcards (vol.I) - Tuttle Publishing
9. The Chinese Language: Its History and Current Usage author: Daniel Kane
10. Simple Strokes (Everyday Essentials) - by: Song Liwen Simple Strokes (Architecture and Culture) - by: Song Liwen
11. Chinese for Dummies (with cd) - by: Wendy Abraham
Local Literature:
1. Tsapsuy: Mga Sanaysay, Tula, Salin atbp. - by: Joaquin Sy
2. The Best of Tulay (Voices: Mga Tinig) - edited by: Teresita Ang See, Caroline Hau and Joaquin Sy
3. Weaving A Dream (Reflections for Chinese-Filipino Catholics Today) - author Ari Dy, S.J
4. Beyond the Great Wall (A Family Journal) - author: Mario Miclat
5. Broken Mirror: Inside a Chinese Marriage - Aurora Teo Mei Ling
6. The Ties That Bind: The Saga of the Sultan of Sulu in China - Teresita Ang See
7. Ang Piping Balalaika - Ba Jin (salin ni Joaquin Sy)
Comic Books:
1. Stories of Love - Illustrated by: Huang Qingrong; Translated by: Shen Siqin
Other books:
1. Chinese Zen - prepared, compiled and translated by Thomas Sy
2. Love Poems from Ancient China and India - notes by Prem Jesus Jesswani, Ma.Carolina Chua and Ajit Mansukhani
3. Chinese Philosophy author: Peter H. Nancarrow
4. The Chinese Medicine Bible author: Penelope Ody
5. Women and the Art of War: Sun Tzu's Strategies for Winning Without Confrontation author: Catherine Huang and A.D. Rosenberg
6. The Art of War - Sun Tzu and The Book of Lord Shang 'Shang Yang'
7. Tao Te Ching (The Classic Translation by R.B. Blakney) - author: Lao Tzu
(repost from my personal blog dated: January 23, 2014. Updated 07/28/19)
These past few days I have been busy watching another Chinese
drama starring Zhao Lu Si. I first came to know her in the drama, “I Hear You.”
I really liked that drama and I want to try another series, so I decided to
watch it. Before that I have tried watching a few Chinese series which I did
not finish. I am a subscriber of iQIYI one of the popular Chinese online video
platform. Through iQIYI, I am updated with the latest and trending Chinese
dramas. I usually watch Cdramas from this online . I am proud to say that from
start until the end I have finished watching this drama. Watching Wuxia Romance
Fantasy Chinese series is really enjoyable. The scenery and the costumes are
all beautiful. That is why I am an admirer of Hanfu clothes.
