Here’s a few of my personal list and you will find out why I love almost everything Chinese.
- I love Chinese food. Dimsum, tofu, suckling pig, yang chow, noodles, tea … name it, I love it. I am fascinated how they work fast. Even the way they half-toss, half-drop the bowls and saucers on the table no longer bothers me.
- I am charmed about Feng Shui, how it brings harmony to one’s life.
- I love Fortune Cookies. I like cracking, eating a fortune cookie at the end of a meal and see what’s in store for me. I’m bursting with excitement, finding some words of clichéd wisdom inscribed in an already-good cookie.
- From the many fine Chinese people I know, I learned the value of money, how to be prudent when it comes to spending and saving.
- Tikoy. I am dazzled about the myth behind it. That sticky sweet snack was believed to be an offering to the Kitchen God, with the aim that his mouth will be stuck with the sticky cake so that he can’t badmouth the human family in front of the Jade emperor, the ruler of heaven. It warms my heart too knowing that tikoy symbolizes togetherness/closeness, “the family that eats tikoy together stays together”.
- I admire their work ethic, their commitment to hard work. They never rest on their fame.
- Poreless Porcelain Skin. I conform they have flawless skin. Forever they have young face. They have found the fountain of youth.
- I love how the Chinese are understated. How they teach their children to work from the ranks, to do as their employees do. How they instill to young children the foundation of hard work and the appreciation and respect of all its fruits.
- Ang pao.Regardless of the amount inside, the red envelope is exciting enough as it denotes energy, happiness and good luck. I have kept all the red envelopes I have received because they say you are not supposed to throw them away.
- I love how they can exist simply, even if their bank accounts are bulging at the seams with many.
- I remember I did an Audio Video Presentation for a well known Chinese Bank and it was a real-life couple story board . RJ was my “love team”. Also, for some reason, I never had any TV Commercial with male partner. Much to my surprise, my first was with the breakthrough actor Richard Yap, a Chinese man.
- I marry a “Chinoy” (Chinese Pinoy). Oh yes, not so pure but his Chinese attributes and culture prevail. I am delighted to find the “YIN TO MY YANG”!
To end this, I can still recall a few days before my wedding I was asked by someone (an old Chinese woman) if I have Chinese blood I said—tracing the root, I have a little of Spanish and Chinese blood from my maternal great grandparents. But just a little. So she said, you will soon be a Chinese as you will marry an Uy. I said yes…. by marriage. Then I was told, just simply answer yes because you will be one.
Then a Chinese friend came to me goofing around and said, soon you will be injected by a Chinese blood. Double entendre, I laughed heartily.
And so how I love my name became even shorter, 8 letters including the middle initial. As I fill out a form, a woman asked me: So are you Chinese? I smile and say…….. yes, I am Chinese…. at heart!
Kung Hei Fat Choi!
Hugs,
Heidi
