Confucius Institute at the University of the Philippines

      I received an invite last week from the Filipino-Chinese president of the Philippine-China friendship club, Mr. Austin Ong. The invitation was about the inauguration of Confucius Institute at the University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City. I was a former student of Confucius Institute based in Ateneo de Manila, Katipunan, Quezon City. It was last year when I finished Basic Chinese 2. (Pls. do check out my previous post about studying Chinese at Confucius Institute in Ateneo).

      I almost failed to attend the inauguration because I need to stay at my area since my co-worker can't report to work due to an unforeseen circumstance. As they say if there's a will, there's a way so I asked someone to fill in for me for just a short time. I arrived just in time at the UP theater. I waited a bit, and I looked around. I think I don't know any of the people in the event. I'm thankful that I saw Mr. Joaquin Sy, the last time I saw him was almost 7 or 8 yrs. ago if I'm not mistaken. I greeted him and asked for a photo op with him. Then after that he told me that he'll take a photo of me together with the ambassador of China to the Philippines, His Excellency Zhao Jianhua. I didn't know what to say after the photo op but I just repeatedly said the mandarin word for thank you, 謝謝! (xie-xie). Truly this is another milestone in my life. One was when my article was feature in a Filipino-Chinese magazine, Nin Hao. I'm really thankful to Sir Joaquin.
   
      I also witnessed the opening ceremony, the dragon and the lion dance performed by the UP Wushu team. I also listened to a group of UP musician's play a very popular melody entitled, 'General's Mandate or A Man of Determination', often used in Chinese Wuxia, or kung-fu movies like my favorite Once Upon A Time in China, starring Jet Li Lian Jie. I really like this song because it is a song that speaks of being courageous, one that is never afraid in the battle that he's/she's going to face in this life, and being a hero in your own way.

      I'm looking forward to the courses that they will offer at Confucius Institute. I hope that they'll have a music class here. I want to learn how to play classical Chinese instruments. Anyway. to all who are interested in learning Mandarin you can try and enroll soon at Confucius Institute at UP Diliman. In closing, as my former mandarin teacher says, jia you! (go!go!go!) 
   

KAISA Heritage Center (Bahay Tsinoy)

           The Philippines is our country. it is the land of our birth. the home of our people.

      Our blood may be Chinese, but our roots grow deep in Filipino soil.

  Our bonds are with the Filipino people.

      We are proud of the many cultures, which have made us what we are. 

       it is our desire, our hope, and aspiration -- that with the rest of our people, we shall find

        our rightful place in the Philippine soil 

                  ~ Kaisa Credo ~

    We cannot deny that our country has not only a rich history, but also a cultural melting pot. (colonized by Spaniards, Japanese and Americans.) We are not colonized by the Chinese, but we can see that their culture and tradition have assimilated and became our own, through the Filipino-Chinese. Our society is imbued by these distinct group of Filipinos, known to us as the Filipino-Chinese. In my previous article before, (pls. see The Filipino-Chinese Surname blog post), I have defined who are the Filipino-Chinese, When we say Filipino-Chinese it can either mean of Chinese descent;mixed blood, of Chinese and Filipino descent, that is, the mother or the father is Chinese, or their ancestors (grandparents are Chinese). We say Chinese Mestizos, if the father is a Chinese and the mother is a Filipina. As I've mentioned before in one of my articles, the Germans (Goethe), and the French (Alliance Francaise) has their own cultural centers here. While the Spanish mestizos, like the Ayalas, have their museums. Now, the Filipino-Chinese also have their own. It is located in Intramuros. I have been in this museum thrice, and I really feel at home here. I guess I'm among the few who really enjoys going to the museum, and I really never get bored. During my college days wayback, we had a tour here as part of the requirements for our foreign language class which is Basic Mandarin II. I haven't visited the museum for more than 10 years now. I still remember I got some good books there, a Mandarin language book that includes a cd, and a shirt from their gift shop located at the ground floor. I still have in my possession a postcard from Kaisa, 10 years ago. I even urged my former Mandarin teacher,(who's a mainland Chinese) He Zhuo, to visit the museum while he's still here in the Philippines. 

     The museum was a brainchild of the late Prof. Chinben See, the husband of Mrs. Teresita Ang-See, the founding president, and one of the spokesperson of Citizens Action Against Crime. KAISA's aim is to bridge the two cultures. The museum has beautiful life-sized dioramas that depicts the way of life of Chinese in the Philippines, and also the Filipino-Chinese (Tsinoys) back then. This is really my favorite part of the museum. There is also a library that specialized in the ethnic Chinese in the Philippines and abroad. The former president of KAISA Sir Joaquin Sy (multi-awarded Filipino-Chinese translator, speaker, writer, consultant of a Filipino-Chinese magazine Nin Hao), told me that  I can research about the origin of surnames at Kaisa. Also, there were  displays of old ceramics, collections of ancient coins, a hall dedicated to prominent Filipino-Chinese (now and then), who made incomparable contributions to the Philippine society. 

     You will really learn a lot when you visit Bahay Tsinoy. I remember I also enjoy getting the back issues of Tulay fortnightly (sort of a Filipino-Chinese culture digest) which is free. I am just not sure if they still give these away for free now. I also suggest that you get a copy of the coffee-table book entitled, Tsinoy, The Story of the Chinese in the Philippine Life (P2,500.00). It's really a collector's item, and a wealth of information about the Chinese in the Philippine life, then and now. I got mine from Fully Booked bookstore. If you've enjoyed the museum tour, I'm also sure you'll enjoy reading this book. From the beginning until now, truly, the tie that binds.

--

KAISA Heritage Center (Bahay Tsinoy)

32 Anda St, Intramuros, Manila, Metro Manila

(02)527-6083

A Chinese Food Journey

“As Ancient as the Great Wall and as enduring.  The story of China is the story of food.” – Anthony Bourdain

I enjoy dining at Chinese restaurants. I thank God for the provision, and for the chance to dine in these wonderful food establishments such as Din Tai Fung in Singapore, famous for their soup dumpling. I have also tried dining in a not so well-known restaurant in Hong Kong 16 yrs. ago, at Fat Nam in front of B.P International hotel where my aunt and I ate a bowl of noodles. I believe that I have acquired a taste for Chinese cuisine because when I was still a kid, my aunt and mom loves to dine at Chinese restaurants. I remember this simple and small Chinese restaurant in Greenhills (where you need to go down the stairs to enter the restaurant) that serves large siomai’s (not the usual small ones). I can still recall those bamboo steamers. We also love to eat in this simple hole-in-the-wall restaurant in Cubao (if I’m not mistaken), and the name is Shantung. I love their stir-fried bittergourd (ampalaya) with beef. I never liked bittergourd but I really like it if it’s cooked this way especially when paired with a hot cup of steaming rice.  If Chowking is a popular Chinese fast-food nowadays, back then (when I was still a kid) I know it was Ling-Nam, their specialty is noodles.

When tsinoy.com (Filipino-Chinese website brainchild of Mr.Dux Raymond Sy, the website features articles regarding Filipino-Chinese, as well as Chinese culture, tradition and Cuisine, and it also includes a forum) was still existing, Since I love to write, I volunteered to write articles from time to time, and I was able to contribute in the Cuisine section, a Chinese recipe called ‘Hunan Stuffed Cucumbers’. Ms. Blessy Feliciano was the editor at that time.

My favorite local Chinese restaurant is Mann Hann. I love their Yang Chow fried rice, and their tasty chicken feet. We usually order the green sea-food soup, and the fish and tofu hotpot. I’m also just fine with Lo Tofu similar with the hotpot taste but it has no fish. Savory restaurant is also a favorite of mine when it comes to Chinese fried chicken. I just love the tender and flavourful chicken. Popular restaurants like Lugang Cafe, I really like their veggie dumplings, and their Kung Pao Tofu. I have also tried dining at Tim Ho Wan, and I’ve tasted their popular bbq pineapple glazed bun, it was just okay for me. What I really like in their menu is their steamed egg cake. It really tastes like a local steamed rice cake.

I guess I have talked a lot about my favorite Chinese restaurants. It’s obvious that this is another favorite topic of mine to talk about. I have watched various documentaries regarding Chinese food, I suggest you watch the comprehensive documentary about Chinese food, ‘A Bite of China’ produced by CCTV (China Central Television). Another is by a famous American tv host, chef and author, Anthony Bourdain, entitled, ‘China Food Journey’.  This documentary not only focuses on the vast and rich geography of China, and its struggles to feed its people. But also, it tackles on how modernization can greatly affect the people, their health and lifestyle. For example, in the province of Anhui, factories that were established there has poisoned the water, and even endangers the lives and health of the people living in the area.  Ah! The price of modernization!  It is similar also to what’s happening in the Philippines.

Chinese cuisine has a wide range of cooking styles. I have read that their cooking style is also influenced by the climate. For example, in Sichuan where it is normally warm and humid climate, eating spicy food such as chillies, has a cooling effect on the body.

Chinese cuisine can be divided into four regional categories. In my research it is also considered that China has 8 recognized culinary styles (notice that the number 8 has an auspicious meaning in Chinese). They are as follows,  Anhui, Cantonese, Fujian, Hunan, Jiangsu, Shandong, Szechuan, and Zhejiang.

I would like to focus more on the regional categories, North, South, East and West. North includes Beijing and Shandong, Southern, the Cantonese and Chaozhou, the East,  Shanghai, Jiangsu and Sichuan.

In Beijing and Shandong (Northern) rice is not a staple here but rather noodles and bread. The popular Peking duck originated here. While Cantonese cooking is the most popular among all the other regional cuisines. It involves, boiling, steaming and stir-frying and uses minimal amount of oil. So if you’re a health conscious person, you will love the Cantonese style of cooking. Quoting from a popular chef and tv host, Chef Johnson Wong said, “Anything that flies on the sky and walks on the ground, as long as its back is facing the sky you can eat it.”

Dimsum is also a popular Chinese food. It is simply a snack. If Westerners have chips and cookies for snacks, dumplings is to the Chinese. In the Philippines, these are popularly known as siomai (meat and veggies, or shrimp wrapped in wonton wrappers and then steamed or fried), siopao (bread bun with fillings such as meat and veggies), another is called cuapao ‘hokkien or fookien dialect’ (it means steamed bread alone, no filling). Popular Chinese ‘Michelin’ awarded restaurant, Tim Ho Wan has a famous bun, it is baked and not steamed, it is called BBQ (barbeque) pork pineapple glazed bun. Other unusual food items or what we call delicacies also originated in Cantonese cuisine, like the century or hundred year old egg, turtle or snake soup, dog stew, nido soup (Chinese bird’s nest soup), and many more.

Eastern part (Shanghai), the dishes here are commonly stir-fried, and what I noticed is some of their dishes like their noodles are a bit oily. I have tried the stir-fried noodles in Lugang Café, while the noodles are tasty, the oiliness was also evident. Sugar is an important ingredient in Shanghai cuisine. They also use soy sauce and rice wine. Sichuan cuisine are known for their spicy or fiery dishes. They use what we call flower pepper (Chinese/Sichuan peppercorn) in Mandarin it is called huajiao. Mapo Dofu is a popular dish consisting of tofu (bean curd), minced pork and chopped spring onions in chilli sauce.

So that ends my ‘short’ post and experience with regards to Chinese food, and a bit of its history. I have discovered that Chinese food is really diverse and indeed delicious!  好吃 ( hăochī ) So until my next food adventure.

---

Sources:

China Food Journey (a documentary – Anthony Bourdain)

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_cuisine

http://www.chinahighlights.com/travelguide/chinese-food/eight-cuisine.htm

sallybernstein.com/food/cuisines/china/b.htm

Lonely Planet: China (6^th ed. 1998)

Photos: (I own them)

From my food blog:

pilgrimsfare.blogspot.com

3d Cubic Puzzle 3d World Style China Series

    I am interested in anything that is related to Chinese things. Aside from my love of collecting books, watching Chinese movies. I do not forget to take a break. I draw during my free time, usually graphic drawings. I also have a Deviantart page, and I also do polymer clay art (miniature food art). Today I'll talk about puzzles. When I was a little kid, my brother and I used to play with puzzles (usually Disney themed puzzles like Cinderella, Pinocchio, Bambi, etc.). Imagine my glee when I saw this 3d puzzle about China when I was window shopping at SM North, Toy Kingdom.

   The 3d puzzle series that I bought was the 'China' series. This is a world series, and they have other countries available. You can collect everything, and the puzzles, once they're completed. You can match the piece altogether, to create the complete world series. Other countries I have seen are Turkey, France, Italy, and US. I am only interested in their Chinese series so I bought all the 4 series. I have completed building the series in a day, and I really enjoyed it. I plan to place it inside a glass box, or make my own case out of an illustration board with plastic cover to preserve it.

   The China series consists of the following: China Flavor - Chinese Snack Shop, Lenming Tea house, Linglong Steamed Stuffed Bun Shop, and Longxiang Tavern. My favorite out of the 4 series is the Steamed Bun Shop.I find the bamboo steamer cute, and it has buns inside. All of the 3d puzzles are very nice and dainty. The scene reminds me of the classic Chinese movies I used to watch when I was a kid. Jay Chou has a song the best describes what I'm talking about and the title when translated is, 'The Worldly Tavern.' The puzzle price is reasonable if I remember it right, I bought the puzzle set a year ago, and the 4 series costs around a thousand pesos (P1000) only.

   The 3d puzzle is easy to build. It can be played by children (just check the label for the age, I believe 8 yrs. old and above is the suitable age for this puzzle. I discourage hobbyists in letting toddler and babies play with this, and be careful if you have babies or toddlers at home when you're building this because there are small parts that are dangerous to babies and children, and they might swallow it.). Anyway, even adults like me will have a fun time in building it. What I like about it is that you don't need scissors to remove the pieces, it is detached easily by pushing the puzzle pieces, and it has numbers to guide you. A set consists of an instruction guide, and a pamphlet in Chinese that says something about the series. 

    If you love puzzles, hope you try and build your own 3d Cubic Puzzle World Series. Hope you will have lots of fun. 

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!

Movie and Book Review:The JoyLuck Club by Amy Tan

'There is only one pretty child in the world, and every mother has it.' ~ Chinese Proverb

  I'm not sure if I will do a movie review or a book review on this one. But I guess I'll just write a review about the novel and the film, 'The JoyLuck Club'. I am a fan of the works of Amy Tan. I have enjoyed novels that she wrote. Another novel of hers that I like is entitled, 'The Kitchen God's Wife'. I have collected some of her books. Her novels mostly depicts the life of American Born Chinese (ABC) or people who are of Chinese descent who migrated to America.

 I first saw this movie when it was shown on tv in a local channel. I was immediately drawn to it because the opening has that 'oriental or Asian' feel to it. The scene that I remember the most was a group of elders and a young woman playing the famous Chinese game called 'mah-jong'. 

 The JoyLuck Club is about the life  story of four mothers and their daughters. The movie scenes alternates between the past and the present. With regards to the movie, I think it is faithful to the novel. Also, like in many novels that's adapted into a movie, due to time constraints it's only usual that not everything that's written in the book is included in the movie.

  I am not actually familiar with the actors and actresses who played the role of the mothers and the daughters, as well as the other characters in the movie. But they all did well in playing their role. This movie shows what a mother would do for her child. I was reminded of this movie/novel when I read the tribute of a famous journalist to her late mother.

The movie is very realistic. I really learned a lot from this novel. It has clearly shown the truths with regards to marital problems that some people rarely talk about, thus it resulted to an even bigger emotional abuse. It also shows the role of Chinese women in a male dominant, power-driven culture. I also have learned about filial piety, matchmaking, and other Chinese traditions. If you are a voracious book reader, or a movie fan. Either way you will enjoy watching and reading, the work of Amy Tan.

  I recommend this movie to all the mother and daughter's out there. Truly a mother's love is truly admirable. A mother, and being a woman is worth more than a priceless gem out there.

Book Review: The Chinese Medicine Bible (Penelope Ody)

Chinese medicine began with myth, its practice has been recorded for centuries. 

   I recently bought a book entitled,"The Chinese Medicine Bible" written by Penelope Ody. When I saw it on the shelf of a popular local bookstore I knew in an instant that I got to have it. As a book lover and a Chinese studies enthusiast, I consider this book indispensable. Nowadays, most people are into naturopathy or alternative medicine, one that relies in the natural healing power of nature. More and more people are becoming health conscious. We can see that through the increasing demand of organic fruits and vegetables. 

 This book is a mini-book. It can be carried easily and you can carry it along inside your bag. It also has a lot of pictures that makes it even more so interesting to read. The classification of food is also included in the book. It says in the book that there are five energies from food. That is the cold and cool foods, neutral, warm and hot food and the balancing food. 

   When I had tonsilitis before (swelling and infection of the tonsils) I went to a doctor who is into the natural and scientific methods in curing an ailment. After checking my throat, he prescribed an over-the counter medicine and food that I should not eat until my tonsils is back in its normal state. He further explained the reason why I should not eat certain food. For example, if I have oral-thrush or mouth sores, what we call 'singaw' in our native language, I should avoid eating 'hot' food. It's not really about the temperature of the food, what he meant by 'hot' is the effects that this particular food have on our body. Pizza is categorized in the 'hot' food. I told him that I frequently eat pizza, and he said, "So you see the effect it has on your body!" Some doctors would dismiss this theory saying that mouth sores are caused by a fungal infection. 

    Here in the Philippines, in Chinatown you can find Chinese traditional drugstores. For throat ailments, I've heard from a friend about this sweet sticky syrup that goes by the name 'Pei Pa Koa' (枇杷膏 pi pa gao). It is a famous Chinese cough syrup. Today, they came out with 'Pei Pa Koa' candies. I have not tried this but I'm using a herbal spray whenever I have sore throat, and it works well for me.

     The book has six chapters. It talks about the theory of Chinese medicine, causes of disease and diagnostics, acupuncture and acupressure, types of Chinese herbal medicines, understanding Chinese food cures and body works. 

     I see nothing wrong in trying alternative medicine and going organic. After all, in the bible it says there that Adam and Eve were to eat only vegetables and fruits (Genesis 1:29). Natural is always the best. Have you noticed that our grandparents have longer life span compared to the generation of today. As they say, everything is instant now, and that's also the same with life. In closing let me quote a famous line, "What you eat today is what you will look and feel tomorrow!" So I say always stay happy and eat healthy!