Kultura at tradisyon sa pagdiriwang ng Chinese New Year, alamin!
Kultura at tradisyon sa pagdiriwang ng Chinese New Year, alamin!
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00:00 The population of Chinese and Filipino Chinese in the country is also large,
00:05 especially in the part of Manila.
00:06 So it's really curious how they celebrate the occasions like this Chinese New Year.
00:13 That's right.
00:13 So this morning, we are with Dr. Lily Lim,
00:17 the Vice Chairperson for Media and Public Information Affairs
00:21 of the Federation of Filipino Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc.
00:25 Welcome back to Rise and Shine, Filipinas!
00:28 We are glad to have you back again.
00:29 Thank you.
00:32 Not only for me, but also an honor and pleasure for us to be part of your program.
00:38 Alright.
00:38 Ma'am, what are the traditional rituals or traditions that you do
00:44 during Chinese New Year for our fellow SPs?
00:48 There are so many.
00:52 Let's go one by one.
00:54 Actually, you mentioned that I'm the Vice Chair for Media and Public Affairs of our organization.
01:03 However, since last year, we had an election.
01:07 And after 18 years in the Media Affairs Committee,
01:11 I'm now with the Education and Culture Committee.
01:16 And now, let's talk about the traditional.
01:19 How do we celebrate Chinese New Year?
01:22 So, the culture of the practices.
01:26 Number one, important.
01:30 Like us, today, this morning, we are all wearing red.
01:36 It symbolizes good luck, prosperity.
01:42 And then, we are happy that we are going to step into a new year.
01:50 In simple, we have to be together.
01:55 Family bonding.
01:57 It's the same culture in the Philippines.
01:59 When Christmas comes,
02:02 the cousins and the siblings will go home together.
02:07 It's like that.
02:09 And then, the other most important is,
02:13 we will eat "tikoy".
02:17 The reason for "tikoy" is bonding.
02:22 We will bond together.
02:25 Because it's sticky.
02:29 That's why it symbolizes the close ties of relationship.
02:36 Not alone, only family members, relatives, but also to your friends and colleagues.
02:44 Alright, from tradition, let's go to the actual celebration.
02:47 How do the Filipino-Chinese celebrate the Chinese New Year here in the Philippines?
02:53 Here in the Philippines, there are so many important things.
02:59 We prepare food, especially the famous "Dragon Dance".
03:06 The Lion Dance.
03:09 The purpose is to get rid of the bad elements.
03:16 And then, we welcome the new elements for us to step into the new year.
03:21 And then, we will have the countdown.
03:26 New Year's Eve is the most important.
03:30 Also for Chinese culture, families.
03:34 They must get together, eat together, and then wait for the new year to come.
03:42 That's how it is.
03:43 So, we have countdown.
03:45 Also here in the Philippines, tonight in Chinatown, we prepare activities also for countdown.
03:52 So, I would like to invite everybody to come to Binondo, Chinatown, and see how we celebrate the New Year's Eve.
04:01 The experience here last year.
04:04 Last Chinese New Year, I was with Dr. Relief in Chinatown.
04:07 You should be with me.
04:08 You should be with me, you didn't come.
04:10 Anyway, Dr. Relief, how is it different?
04:13 Are there any changes in the way of celebrating the Chinese New Year in the Philippines compared to other countries with a large Chinese population?
04:21 Almost the same.
04:24 Although, most of the practices here in the Philippines originated from the Phuket province.
04:32 Because most of the migrants came from the Phuket province.
04:36 But basically, it was the culture and tradition spread throughout the countries.
04:42 Not only for the Philippines, also other countries.
04:46 Because since this is a joyful event, why don't we adopt more types of celebration, more practices?
04:57 It doesn't harm and in fact, bring you joy.
05:03 Isn't it?
05:04 We want to be happy, especially for New Year's.
05:08 And then, we eat the "bilo-bilo" with red.
05:13 Yes, you prepare the round fruits on the table.
05:22 And also, you hang the pineapple on top of either which you dim properly.
05:30 So you are hoping.
05:33 What does pineapple mean?
05:35 Pineapple, the pronunciation in the food chain is "ong-lai".
05:41 "Ong-lai" means come luck.
05:44 "Ong" means luck, you are very good luck.
05:47 You will be lucky.
05:49 You can buy a lot of pineapple after the show.
05:52 They also have fruits.
05:54 But I'm curious, because you said that when it's Chinese New Year, it's really important to get together with relatives.
06:02 Because here in the Philippines, we are also like that.
06:05 But what if there are some differences or differences in the heart?
06:11 In Chinese culture, do they still get together?
06:15 Of course, especially if the elders are still around.
06:20 So when the elders say, "Come to the family, we will celebrate."
06:24 They will follow.
06:25 They will follow.
06:27 Okay, you mentioned earlier how this is done here in the Philippines.
06:32 But like you said, there are fireworks, dragon dance, eating together.
06:39 But aside from that, what other activities are usually included in the celebration of Chinese New Year?
06:45 Is there anything else? Aside from what you said earlier.
06:48 There is.
06:49 The most important is the firecrackers.
06:53 Fireworks, right?
06:55 Although, because of the fireworks, it causes injuries.
07:02 But the reason for it, we have the safety one.
07:06 The meaning for it is to remove the bad elements.
07:12 That's why the fireworks and the new luck.
07:18 So it's similar to the new year of the Filipinos, right?
07:23 Every January, December 31.
07:25 Actually, we adapted it to Chinese culture.
07:28 What is the incenso for?
07:31 Incenso, okay.
07:33 Normally, that is being practiced by the Buddhism in the temples.
07:40 They believe that the first one to put the incense on the one will be having a very good luck throughout the years.
07:53 That's why, try to observe New Year's Eve, the temple, before it's open by 12 midnight.
08:00 So many people are already there, lining up to steal.
08:04 And then everybody prepare the incense.
08:07 So, each one has their own incense?
08:10 Normally, the temple provides it.
08:13 But they couldn't wait for the temple, in case it's late.
08:17 That's why they prepare it.
08:19 It's just new.
08:20 Last year, in my observation, when I was with Dr. Lim in Binondo,
08:24 there are areas outside the temples where our fellow Filipinos are chosen to light the incense.
08:32 But ma'am, how do you establish the celebration of Chinese New Year,
08:37 the culture and unity within the Filipino-Chinese communities?
08:42 How?
08:48 How do you establish the Filipino-Chinese communities?
08:54 In the relationships between the Filipinos and Chinese?
08:59 Or maybe they are just joining together?
09:02 Actually, they are just joining together.
09:04 Because we consider ourselves as one only.
09:07 Although, you are Filipino, I'm Chinese, this and that, but we are under one country, so one family.
09:14 And maybe the traditions are the same, so in a way…
09:18 Yes, actually, Filipino culture and Chinese culture have so many similarities, many similarities.
09:25 Especially the family ties, they would like to be bonding together.
09:30 In the past, even the elderly Filipinos, they would like to be together,
09:37 even if they have children, and so on.
09:40 They are still together.
09:42 It's just a trend now to be independent, but when important dates come, they are still together.
09:50 But I noticed that the elders are still following, even the millennials or the new generation of Chinese.
09:57 Yes.
09:58 The elders are still following.
10:00 Because they believe that it doesn't harm anything, it helps also the bonding and then interaction.
10:11 Because sometimes, when you don't have communication, there's a gap.
10:15 But if you communicate, interaction, "Ah, so it's like that, I understand."
10:22 It's a good thing, the Filipinos and Chinese alike.
10:26 Okay, lastly, how do you pass on to the younger generation of Filipino-Chinese
10:31 the importance and continuity of their Chinese New Year?
10:37 Okay, try to adapt the culture, be inherited generations by generations,
10:44 because it won't harm you anything.
10:46 In fact, it will be helpful for you, and also the culture will be transferred from one generation to others.
10:58 And you will see the booming of your family tree.
11:04 Not only for you, but for everybody.
11:08 In our country, it's already tried and tested by our elders, so it's a matter of just passing it down,
11:14 so that you will get the same result, or less.
11:16 It's very pleasant to think that even though these traditions are originally Chinese culture,
11:22 and usually made in China, it's adapted and practiced by the younger generation,
11:27 that is half Chinese, half Filipino, or other nationalities that have Chinese blood.
11:32 Yes, right. Aside from experiencing the culture of their ancestors,
11:38 they are also preserving the many traditions they have.
11:41 Thank you very much, Dr. Lily Lim, for visiting us this morning.
11:45 Thank you very much.
11:46 Thank you very much, my honor and pleasure, on behalf of our organization also.
11:52 Happy Chinese New Year.
11:53 Thank you, happy Chinese New Year to everybody.
11:56 Gong Hei Fa Choi for everyone.
12:00 Good luck to everybody.
12:02 I really need that luck, Audrey.