Tagalog-speaking Chinese show love for PH culture
08/27/2012
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| Wu Jing and her mother visit Malacanang Palace with her Filipino friends. |
MANILA, Philippines - As "Buwan ng Wika" (Month of Filipino Language) draws to a close, two Beijing-based Chinese nationals are showing a love for the Filipino language and culture that would probably put many Filipinos to shame.
Li Feng and Wu Jing, who are fluent in Tagalog, work at the Filipino News Department of government-run China Radio International (CRI), which airs programs for Filipinos.
In an e-mail interview conducted in Filipino with ABS-CBNnews.com, Li Feng and Wu Jing shared why they chose to study Tagalog in Beijing University, what they admire the most about Filipinos and why they love “dirty ice cream” and champorado.
Postcard sparks interest in PH
Li Feng, who goes by the name Lito, said he first discovered the Philippines through a postcard.
"Noong bata pa ako, nakita ko ang mga postkard na naglalaman ng magandang tanawin ng Pilipinas. Mula nang panahong iyon, naakit ako nang lubos ng bansang ito, at mayroon akong magaan na damdamin para sa Pilipinas, kaya gusto kong mas maraming malaman tungkol sa Pilipinas, kaya nag-aral ako ng Tagalog sa Beijing University," he said.
After studying Tagalog, he learned more about Philippine history and culture.
Lito saw for himself just how beautiful the Philippines was when he visited in 2001. He and his classmates were invited by Ateneo de Manila University for a 14-day study tour. They visited Metro Manila, Villa Escudero in Quezon, Manila Bay, Tagaytay, Baguio, and Mayon Volcano in Albay.
“Nakita ko ang napakagandang tanawin ng bansang ito, at napakalinis na tubig ng dagat sa Pilipinas, at sariwang-sariwa ang hangin doon. Hindi ko makakalimutan ang magandang kapaligirang ekolohikal sa Pilipinas,” he said.
A fan of Freddie Aguilar’s song “Anak,” Lito said he enjoyed mango juice, “dirty ice cream” or sorbetes, and especially lechon during his trip.
Lito noticed Filipinos’ talent for singing and dancing, but most of all, their good nature and optimistic attitude.
“Madalas na sinasalanta ang Pilipinas ng mga kalamidad na gaya ng baha, bagyo, pagsabog ng bulkan, at landslide, pero malakas ang loob ng mga Pilipino, hindi nawawalan ang mga Pilipino ng tatag ng puso.
Matapang at optimistiko sila sa pagharap sa mga kalamidad upang maitayo ang isang mas magandang lupang-tinubuan,” he said.
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| Chinese students and teachers of Filipino Studies class in Beijing University. |
'Mysterious' Philippines
Wu Jing, who goes by the name Andrea, said she has always been interested in learning Asian languages. At Beijing University, she had the option of studying Filipino, Burmese, Vietnamese, Indonesian and Noth Korean, but was attracted to the Philippines.
“Mysterious ang Pilipinas para sa akin. Ayon sa kasaysayan, ang Pilipinas ay may impluwensiya ng mga bansang kanluranin, at ito’y nasa Asya. Kaya, sa isip ko, ang bansang ito ay tiyak na may katangian ng Silangan at Kanluran. Ito ang pinakakaakit-akit para sa akin,” she said.
Andrea even did her graduation thesis on the Igorot’s practice of “head hunting.”
As she became immersed in Philippine culture, Andrea noticed some differences between Philippine and Chinese culture, regarding religion and way of thinking.
“Direkta, simple at logical ang paraan ng pag-iisip ng mga Pilipino, katulad ng mga Amerikano. Sa kabilang dako, dahil sa malalim na impluwensya ng Confucianism, karamihan ng paraan ng pag-isip ng mga Tsino ay hindi direkta at mas masalimuot na maunawaan. Minsan may implication, minsan ‘to say yes means no’,” she said.
Last year, Andrea had a chance to visit the Philippines with her mother and Filipino friends. She traveled to Manila, Palawan, Tagaytay, Subic Bay, Angeles City and even Malacañang.
Her trip was quite memorable since it had a lot of “firsts”-- her first time to ride a kalesa in Manila; her first time to ride a horse to Taal, and her first time to visit the official residence of a country’s president.
“Sa Palawan, nakita ko ang pinakamaputi at pinakamagandang dalampasigan, pinakamaraming uri ng halaman, at sinakyan ang pinakamaraming uri ng bapor,” she said.
She also counts halo-halo (shaved ice with evaporated milk, fruits and other sweet ingredients), longganiza (sausage) and champorado (sweet chocolate rice porridge) as her Filipino favorite dishes.
Asked about her impressions of Filipinos, she said: “tapat, masigasig, hospitable, optimistiko, laging masaya at palangiti ang mga Pilipino, at may talento sa pagkanta at pagsayaw.”
One of the Filipinos she admires is singer Gary Valenciano. She first saw him in a concert in Beijing in 2009 and was wowed not just by his performance but his outlook in life.
“Gulat ako nang sabihin niyang tatlong dekada na niyang nilalabanan ang diabetes, at hindi siya malungkot dito dahil ipinalalagay niyang ang pagdurusa na tulad ng pag-iwan ng kasintahan, pagkakaroon ng sakit o pagkawala ng trabaho ay mga bagay na lalo lamang nagpapatatag sa isang tao,” she said.
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| Wu Jing (Andrea) and her mother visited Puerto Princesa Underground River in Palawan. |
Bringing Pinoys, Chinese together
Lito and Andrea both work at the CRI Filipino Service, whose programs seek to provide Filipinos with information about Chinese culture, society, economy and tourism. It is the only service that is in Filipino language broadcast via shortwave radio, outside of the Philippines.
“Umaasa akong magiging mapagkaibigang kapitbansa ng isa’t isa ang Tsina at Pilipinas sa hene-henerasyon. Ito rin ang hangarin at layunin ng pagsasahimpapawid ng CRI Filipino Service,” Lito said.
The CRI Filipino Service has news and special programs such as Diretsahan, Pag-Usapan Natin, Dito Lang Yan sa Tsina, Mga Pinoy sa Tsina, Pop China, Gabi ng Musika, Pelikula Tsino Nood Tayo and Cooking Show. It also has a Filipino-language website filipino.cri.cn, which has news, videos, blogs and Chinese language lessons.
Andrea, who is an editor, producer and host, works closely with Filipinos at CRI, namely Ramon Escanillas, Machelle Ramos and Rhio Zablan.
“Sila rin ang pinaka malapit na mga Pilipino sa akin. Pawa silang propesyonal, mabait, tapat, optimistiko, at romantiko. Talagang nakakatulong sila sa iba’t ibang aspeto ng usapin ng serbisyo. Sa pamumuhay, kami ay mabuting magkakaibigan,” she said.
Lito and Andrea offer some advice for Filipinos who may be losing their love for Filipino language.
“Sa tingin ko, ang wika ay isa sa mga pinakamahalagang simbolo at importanteng bahagi ng isang bansa, at ang wikang Pilipino ay isang napakagandang wika. Sayang kung may mga Pilipinong nakakamilot sa kanilang wika,” Lito said.
Andrea added: “Napakahalaga ng sariling wika para sa isang bansa. Dapat mag-aral nang mabuti at galingan."
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