Vivian 周慧敏 'Leaving A Depressing Habit' Album Review

   My blog post would not be complete if I have not included this album review of mine about Vivian Chow's album,  离开忧郁的习惯 Li Kai You Yu De Xi Guan. This album was really memorable for me because this was the first Chinese (Mandarin) album that I got. Wayback, I asked my late aunt to buy any Chinese cassette tape for me. They always go in Chinatown before to buy pearl cream. This album was recommended to her by the seller. Sadly, I lost the cassette tape, in the previous language school that I have worked before. But I have never forgotten all the music in that album. Today, as I am typing this blog post, it is cloudy, and raining a bit. I remember I often listen to this album before when the weather is like this. I am glad that I have found this album for sale online. It is pre-owned. But I still bought it. I already ripped the music from my pc at work. So my playlist there is JJ Lin, and Vivian Chow's music. The album is still in good condition, it comes with a lyrics photo book.

There are 10 tracks in the album. I'll just list there English titles here. Track 1 Leaving A Depressing Habit, Track 2 I've Never Been to Me (English Version), Track 3 Look at The Sea, Track 4  Look at My Eyes For Awhile, Track 5 Accompany You By Your Side, Track 6 Dancing in the Night, Track 7 Feeling Touched, Track 8 Cannot See Clearly Which One is the Real Me, Track 9 Leave Some Love Until Tomorrow to Love Me, Track 10 Oh! Do Not Talk. I highlighted all of my favorite tracks (songs) in the album. Why I like Vivian Chow? First because she's very pretty, angelic beauty. She's like a Chinese angel to me. I also like her voice which is really sweet to listen too! A fact for you to know, she's a radio dj before! So that's maybe when speaks or sings, she's nice to listen to! I remember during my college days, I would surf the net, and just look at her photos online. I dreamed of having one of her cd's. It has happened, thanks to the Chinese friends that I have met online. We lost touch, but I will never forget you. Hope you are reading this! Today, you can see her photos online, it seems she has not aged at all. I also have her Best Hits, Vivian Chow Gold album, a gift from my online friend - Ms.Yu, a Vivian Chow 1994 'Touch' photo book, also a gift from Mr. Yeung, another online friend of mine, wayback and a pirated karaoke cd that I bought in Chinatown before. Below is her classic music video, 'Leaving a Depressing Habit.' The meaning of the song, is moving on because we are done with being sad, and crying for the person we have loved before. We are leaving that stage. It is a positive song for me. Life goes on, so we must move on, and face bravely another tomorrow. The song has kinda a relaxing feel, same with the music video. Vivian, is shown here as happy, and a carefree person, that is free from worries.

JJ Lin Message in A Bottle and Music Knight Hits Deluxe Collection

  Today, I got the latest cd of JJ Lin that I have purchased online. Last month, I ordered 2 cd's of JJ Lin. I really did spend a lot buying JJ Lin's cd since they are not available in my country. I bought the cd's from online sellers abroad. They are from Malaysia, and Taiwan.

The first cd that has arrived, that was delivered on my doorstep is JJ Lin's Music Knight Hits Deluxe collection. It is packaged neatly in a box. This album has 3 cd's and a lyrics booklet. The 3 cd's are compilation of JJ Lin's songs from his his various album. This cd came from Malaysia.

The next cd that I bought was JJ Lin's 'Message in Bottle' (outer edition). The packaging was really nice. When you open the box, you will see a small bottle with a letter inside, written on it is a message that JJ wrote. The bottle is somewhat deformed. I have learned that the bottle was patterned after JJ Lin's grasp. (the way he's holding a bottle). So there's really an artistic touch to it. The cd comes with a lyric book, and a 7-11 small ad-paper of JJ Lin, about his message in a bottle album. The inner edition has no bottle included. This album by the way is a bit hard to find now. I am fortunate that I have found a seller from Taiwan who carries this outer edition cd.

I came to like JJ Lin above all Chinese artist, because he's really cute, especially when he smiles, and his dimples shows. He is a talented musician, and composer. Lastly, we share the same faith. I like his songs because they tell a story, and when he sings its really full of emotion. I came to know JJ Lin's music through a friend, who shared to me a video of JJ Lin and Charlene Choi of the Twins. The song is called, Little Dimples.(小酒窝). Other favorites of mine are Ta Shuo 她说,  Dou Jiang You Tiao 豆浆油条. etc. JJ Lin hails from Singapore, he is known as Wayne Lim by his closest friends and loved ones. If you haven't heard his music, please try to listen to it. Happy listening!

(I'm a volunteer administrator to a local JJ Lin fan page in facebook: JJ Lin 林俊傑Philippines) Thanks to Kara Sky - Karyl Sora Parohinog for making me a co-admin. in her blog. This blog was created 4 years ago. To all JJ Lin's fans in the Philippines, please do visit and like the page.

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!  

My Article at Nin Hao magazine: Confessions of a Chinese Culture Enthusiast

"Never be tired of learning or teaching others." - Confucius

I spent almost half of my life collecting books, reading, and studying anything with regards to Chinese culture, language, arts and anything that has a connection with it. So I was really, really happy and proud seeing one of my blog entry published in a Filipino-Chinese newsletter/magazine. It's more than twice the happiness that I felt seeing my letter to the editor (comment about Nin Hao magazine) being published before. 

I have included all the names of my Filipino-Chinese friends and acquaintances in this article of mine in the credits part. I am grateful to them because, they were all part of my life's journey, my own 'Silk Road' journey. I'm also thankful to GOD for giving me the chance to realize my dream because without His help I wouldn't be able to meet all these wonderful people who helped me along the way, who helped me fulfill my dreams little by little.

Truly I can attest, if you really want something, just don't give up. Pursue your passion. If one person believes in you then that's enough to make you go on, and never stop. I'm thankful to 施華謹先生 Shi Hua Jin  (Chinese studies scholar, and translator of Chinese works into Filipino, former president of KAISA Heritage Center, former secretary general of Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, and at present Manila Doctors Hospital Corporate Secretary) for giving me a chance to share my article, and for appreciating what I wrote. Because of him I was able to fulfill my dream of being a real writer. 

My article was published last May-June 2014 issue of Nin Hao 您好! Nin Hao magazine. (Nin Hao means good day in Chinese Mandarin). You can get a copy of this magazines for free in Binondo area and some business establishments there like PSBank. Truly it is indeed a good day!

Book Review: The Chinese Language It's History and Current Usage

   I saw this book while browsing at a local bookstore. When I saw it, I knew immediately that I got to have it. So the next day after work, I rushed to the mall and went straight to the bookstore and yes! The book was still there, waiting for me. 

   I'm studying Basic Chinese 2 at Confucius Institute and I have been trying to learn Chinese since I was in highschool, a friend of mine even gave me a Chinese phrasebook assuming that I'll be able to use it when I travel to China in the future. 

  Chinese language is a very challenging language to learn. As mentioned in the book Chinese language is the putonghua, it is the common and national (official) language of China. The sentence structure differs from the English language, and it is also tonal. Mandarin has four tones. Like the Philippines, China is comprised of different dialects. Mandarin is a Northern dialect. Filipino-Chinese speak Fookien (Hokkien) since a large number of Filipino-Chinese came from Fujian province in China. In Hong Kong, the dialect that is widely used is Cantonese.

  This book was written by Dr. Daniel Kane. It is not unusual for Caucasians to be good or even an expert in the Chinese language. In fact foreigners studying the Chinese language, their numbers are increasing even more. For Chinese language learners, and for those who are Chinese studies enthusiast this book is indispensable. This book is divided into six chapters. It talks about the Chinese language, the characters, history and dialect, grammar, pronunciation, and suggested books for reading.

   To those who want to study the Chinese language, and want to learn more of its history and origin, then this book is for you.

Back to School at Confucius Institute in Ateneo

   Today was my first day of class in Ateneo. I enrolled in Basic Chinese 2. My interest in studying Chinese was put on hold for a decade. I was still in my college days when I studied Chinese in my college university, Centro Escolar University and I took it as a summer course in Languages Internationale. 

   It felt good to be back in school again after a year of not stepping on any school grounds. It was just last year when I finished my Master's degree course in Miriam College, and now I'm back again in Katipunan, and this time in Ateneo. 

   My brain was in a state of shock this morning because after we recited the pinyin, b, p, m, f, etc. We proceeded to counting numbers, and it was not just 1 to 10 but up to 100. It's a good thing I still know how to count in Chinese. After that we learned some vocabulary words with regards to food and drinks. We were also made to recite a tongue twister, 'si shi si', to brush up on our knowledge with regards to the tones. Our professor also taught us the Chinese names for the 12 animals. I must admit I'm also having a hard time with the tonal system of Mandarin. From what I know Mandarin language uses four tones, I guess I should be thankful because in Cantonese its maybe 6 or 7. My classmates also have their textbook with them. I don't have a textbook because I was not aware of what we are going to use. Some of my classmates know each other already because, they have attended the Basic Chinese 1. The textbook that they've used before, they will also use in Basic Chinese 2. We had a lot of fun in our class. I even made a blooper because instead of saying, 'Wo xihuan chi dangao'. (cake), I've said 'dongao', I'm looking forward already for our class next week. After our class I bought the book, and I inquired about my school I.D., according to the staff, Ms.Airen it is not yet finished. I saw that our book was from Beijing Language Cultural University press, wow! That school is really famous for those who want to learn Chinese, I know its impossible for me to study there. Also, the tuition fee is quite pricey. So I'm just contented with the book for now.

   I was pondering while in the classroom, if I should transfer to Basic Chinese 1. I made up my mind that I'll just stay in our class because its a good challenge for me. Besides, I've already studied Chinese before. We are 12 in our class. We have 3 boys and the rest are girls. One of my guy classmate who's older than the rest of us was really funny, his answers were really funny, so we cracked up with laughter. Our laoshi's name is Ms. Maria Joanna Tecson, and her Chinese surname is Chua. She said that she also teaches in Chiang Kai Shek college in Manila. I find her nice and cute.

  Confucius Institute according to Wikipedia is:

   a non-profit public institutions aligned with the Government of the People's Republic of China that aim to promote Chinese language and culture, support local Chinese teaching internationally, and facilitate cultural exchanges. Confucius Institutes are sometimes compared to language and culture promotion organizations such as Britain's British Council, France's Alliance Française and Germany's Goethe-Institut. 

  From what I read, the institution promotes the study of Chinese culture, history, language, music (learning how to play traditional Chinese musical instrument, Guzheng), calligraphy, painting, and martial-arts (tai-chi and qigong). The courses offered in Ateneo are limited only. Their music class is available only in their Makati campus, as well as the other courses that were mentioned.

  So if you want to de-stress, learn something new or just do what you love to do. Like me, a Chinese studies enthusiast. Then I suggest you enroll in Confucius Institute in Ateneo. Let me end this post by quoting Confucius saying.  

"Never be tired of learning, or teaching others." - Confucius