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Chinese New Year Traditions in the Philippines

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Long before the Spaniards came to claim the Philippines, the natives already had a long business relationship with traders from China. Some of them chose to stay here for good. They are what we call “Tsinoy,” Filipino citizens of Chinese heritage. The word Tsinoy is a combination of “Tsino” a Filipino word meaning Chinese person and “Pinoy” a slang word meaning Filipino.

There are around five million Filipino-Chinese in the country which makes up five percent of the Philippine population. They continued to practice various traditions such as celebrating the Lunar New Year. Some Filipinos also celebrate the occasion hoping that it would also give them good luck and fortune.

The Filipino-Chinese celebrate the new year in January or February. This year, the Filipino-Chinese community will be welcoming the Year of the Rooster on January 28 (Saturday). The government has designated it a special non-working holiday.

Just like Filipinos, the Tsinoys have various traditions in celebrating Chinese New Year. Here are some of the traditions and reasons why:

Dragon and lion dance
One of the most common sights during Chinese New Year is the Dragon and Lion Dance along the streets of Binondo in Manila and other parts of the country. With the loud banging of drums, the dragon and lion dancers would move from one house or establishment to another to collect the ang pao (red envelopes) hanged on the entrance or gates of houses and/or establishments.

The Lion is carried by two dancers, one in charge of the tail end and the other controls the head, he can make the lion’s ear wiggle and blink its eyes. He is also in charge of getting the ang pao.

As for the Dragon, it has a longer body and controlled by eight to ten people. The dancer in front is in charge of the head while the other dancers use poles to control the body.

Ang Pao

The red envelopes with Chinese characters or ang pao with new bills are usually given by couples and elders to unmarried and young ones. It is said to bring good luck and long life to the recipient. According to tradition, the amount should start with even numbers because odd numbers are used for the amount given during funerals.

New Year’s Eve dinner
The New Year’s Eve dinner is considered as the most important dinner for Chinese families. And the most popular food during this occasion is tikoy (year cake). Made from sticky rice, tikoy is served to symbolize unity among family member. Other foods served during the occasion includes; noodles which signify long life and represent the eater’s life, fish which symbolizes good fortune in their culture and dumplings which resemble Chinese currency. It is also said to symbolize good fortune.

Red
Chinese believe that the color red symbolizes energy, happiness, and good luck. Because of that, the Chinese wear red during New Year celebration. They also decorate their house and establishment with red decorations.

Cleaning and paying off debts

To remove bad luck and welcome the good fortune in the coming year, the Chinese clean their home days before New Year. After cleaning, they decorate the house with red scrolls on which Chinese characters are written and hang up red paper lanterns. Plants are also placed around the house to signify life and renewal. They also make sure to pay off their debts as a way of starting fresh and anew with the new year.

Fireworks and firecrackers
Of course, no New Year celebration would never be complete without fireworks and firecrackers. The Chinese in particular light up firecrackers and fireworks because of the belief that it would ward off bad luck and the evil spirits. The fireworks display is also their way of starting the new year with a bright and colorful start.

New Year greeting
Chinese across the globe greet each other Kiong Hee Huat Tsai in Hokkien language which most Filipino-Chinese use. In Mandarin, Gong Xi Fa Cai and the most popularly used is the Cantonese version in Hong Kong which is Kung Hei Fat Choi which means “Congratulations and Be Prosperous.”

Chinese New Year

Photo of a New Year greetings via Pixabay

If there are things to be prepared or done, there are also things which should be avoided on the first day of the Chinese New Year such as the following:

Taking medicine
Chinese believe that taking medicine on the first day of the year means you will get ill for a whole year.

Eating porridge for breakfast on New Year’s day
Porridge should not be eaten on New Year’s breakfast because only poor people have porridge for breakfast, and people don’t want to start the year “poor”.

Empty rice container
Rice container must be full as empty container may cause grave anxiety because having no rice to cook during the New Year is considered to be a bad sign.

Doing the laundry
Chinese people do not wash clothes on the first and second day because these two days are celebrated as the birthday of Shuishen, the Water God. This must also be the reason why they do the cleaning before the new year starts.

Washing hair
The first day of the lunar year is a no wash hair day. Not doing the laundry during New Year’s Day may be okay because who wants to do chores after a party right? But in Chinese tradition washing your hair must be avoided too because, in Chinese language, hair has the same pronunciation and character as ‘fa’ in facai, which means ‘to become wealthy’. Thus, it is believed that it is not a good thing to “wash one’s fortune away” at the beginning of the New Year.

Using broom
Chinese believe that if you sweep on New Year’s day, your wealth will be swept away too. So basically, New Year is a no-chore-day.

Wearing torn/damaged clothes
Wearing torn/damaged clothes during Lunar New Year can cause more bad luck for the year according to Chinese belief. So you better keep your ripped jeans and shirts for a few weeks if you don’t want to invite bad luck this year.

Chinese New Year

Photo of a ripped jeans via Pixabay

Never wear black or white
As I have mentioned earlier, Chinese people traditionally wear red clothes during this occasion to attract good fortune. And the colors they avoid wearing are white and black clothes as these two colors are traditionally associated with mourning.

Killing things
Blood is considered an ill omen, which will cause misfortunes such as a knife wound, or a bloody disaster. In connection to this…

Using sharp object
Refrain from using knives and scissors to avoid an accident because it is believed to lead to bad luck and losing wealth.

Chinese New Year

Photo via Pixabay

Giving of certain gifts
As sharp object must be avoided, you must also never give clocks and/or scissors as gifts on New Year for these things have a bad meaning in Chinese culture.

Most of the Filipino-Chinese in the Philippines still follow these traditions which were passed on by generations. Some Filipinos who believe that the Chinese got their luck in business because of following traditions are also adopting them. As for me, I believe that if you give your best in everything you do, success is not impossible to attain with or without following ancient traditions. But for those who want to try to practice Chinese traditions with or without Chinese blood, I hope this article will be able to help you make preparations for the Chinese New Year.

Kung Hei Fat Choi!

7 Yolanda Memorial Monuments in Leyte and Samar

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The second year commemoration of the Super Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda) went well. Even if it was raining, thousands of people in Eastern Visayas especially in Tacloban City took part of the various activities dedicated to the victims of the super typhoon which struck most part of the region during that frightful morning of November 8, 2013.

The highlights of the two-day commemoration was the candle lighting activity along the main streets of Tanauan, Tolosa, Palo and Tacloban City, unveiling of the memorial markers in Anibong, Sagkahan, and installation of the commemorative tablet at Daniel Z. Romualdez (DZR) Airport where Pope Francis celebrated a Holy Mass on January 7, 2015, a spot which was considered as ground zero during the said typhoon.

Speaking of memorials, there have been many memorials which have been built in honor of the victims and the people who helped the survivors to build back what was destroyed by Haiyan. Here are some pictures of the memorials made after super typhoon Yolanda:

1. M/V Eva Jocelyn Yolanda Memorial Marker, Anibong, Tacloban City

M/V Eva Jocelyn remnant, one of the cargo vessels washed ashore during the storm surge, made as a Yolanda Memorial Marker in Anibong, Tacloban City.

M/V Eva Jocelyn remnant, one of the cargo vessels washed ashore during the storm surge, made as a Yolanda Memorial Marker in Anibong, Tacloban City.

Unveiled on November 7, 2015. This is the actual bow of the M/V Eva Jocelyn made into a memorial marker. This memorial is in honor of the residents of Barangays; 67, 68, and 69 who died in that spot when this cargo vessel was swept ashore by a gigantic storm surge that was caused by the strong wind that reaches 375 miles per hour.

Read more about this here: The Unveiling of Anibong Memorial Marker

2. Yolanda Memorial Monument, Sagkahan, Tacloban City

The Astrodome Memorial Marker was unveiled on November 8, 2015 located in Sagkahan District, Tacloban City beside Tacloban Convention Center where more than 8 thousand people evacuated and survived the storm surge.

If you want to see more photos of Astrodome Memorial Marker more photos check out our facebook page here: FAQ.ph

3. Holy Cross Memorial Park, Brgy. Basper, Tacloban City

This mass grave is located in Brgy. Basper, Tacloban City is the final resting place of thousands of people who died during the Super Typhoon Yolanda. This was 3,000 white crosses were put on top of the mass grave as markers where families, relatives and friends could put a flower, light a candle and offer a prayer for their loved ones who lost their lives during the storm.

4. Araw Memorial Park, Government Center, Palo

Araw Memorial Park is located at Brgy Candahug, Palo, Leyte. This shows both the post Yolanda response and the sacrifices of Filipino soldiers during the Korean War in the 1950s.

This was unveiled on December 5, 2014 a few days before the South Korea Military Joint Support Group left. Since December 2013 the South Koreans were able to repair of 66 public buildings including; 37 schools and 25 government facilities. They also helped in the clearing operations, medical services and feeding programs.

To see more photos of Araw Memorial Park, check out our facebook page at FAQ.ph

5. Eternal Flame Memorial Garden Common Graves, Palo, Leyte

Eternal Flame Memorial Garden Common Graves located in Brgy. San Joaquin, Palo, Leyte is the final resting place of 378 residents of the said barangay who lost their lives to the Super Typhoon Yolanda.

The memorial is located right outside San Joaquin Parish. Names of the residents who were buried in the mass grave are written on granite. There is also a shade-like structure with names of the people who died including their birth date and death. There is also a sculpture of a candle at the center called “Eternal Flame”, instead of flame; a praying hand would be seen on top.

See more photos of this memorial here: FAQ.ph

6. Tanauan Yolanda Monument, Tanauan, Leyte

The place where Yolanda Monument stands now was once a mass grave located in Barangay Calogcog, Tanauan, Leyte. More than 200 people are buried in this memorial park which was blessed on March 31, 2015.

7. Yolanda Memorial Marker, Sta. Rita, Samar

The Yolanda Memorial Marker in Candaya Rotunda in Sta. Rita, Samar was put up and blessed last year during the commemoration of the Super Typhoon Yolanda.

These memorials will be there to remind us all and the next generation about the horrible devastation done by the strongest typhoon ever to hit the Philippines. They likewise represent the resilience of Filipinos that no matter how harsh the condition gets, no matter how much we lost, no matter how much pain we endure and how hopeless the situation gets, we will always get back on our feet and continue to fight back whatever challenges that may come our way.

Little by little we have recovered from the great loss. As we can see, most of the places which were greatly damaged two years ago are in a much better state than it was before. We can see new establishments opening which also opens an opportunity for a reliable income to the locals. As we move forward to a new and better life, may we never forget the people who helped us during the darkest days of Eastern Visayas. And may we also find it in our heart forgiveness for the people who did not despite their capacity to do so.

Two Years after Yolanda, Hundreds of Families still Live in Bunkhouses

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Bunkhouses in Brgy 63

Bunkhouses in Brgy 63, Tacloban City

Two years ago Super Typhoon Yolanda left 6,300 casualties; and more than 28,689 people with injuries. 1, 061 remains missing and hundreds of families still live in bunkhouses.

According to the latest report of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), the damage to property caused by Yolanda stands at P89,598,068,634. This includes the thousands of houses of people along the coastal areas who were left homeless. Because of the help coming from various international Non-Governmental Organizations or iNGOs, NGOs, and the government, infrastructures and houses were rebuilt.

In an article posted on thestandard.com.ph on October 29, 2015, Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Dinky Soliman, was quoted saying; “We are assuring [the public] that by the end of October, there will no longer be bunkhouses in Tacloban. These aren’t safe so we’ll remove them.” Yet, when our team visited the place on November 6, some 307 families still remains at NHA Bunkhouse in Barangay 63, Tacloban City. [Read more…]

2nd Typhoon Yolanda Commemoration: A Look Back, Starting Anew and Moving Forward for a Better Tacloban

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M/V Eva Jocelyn

It has been two years since the Super Typhoon Yolanda hit the provinces in Eastern Visayas, but it still feels like yesterday. I would never forget the sound of the raging wind mixed with the sound of shattering glasses, cringing roofs, and most of all the voices of people asking for help or calling for their loved ones being carried away by the storm surge.

We were wrong when we thought that it will all be over after the storm passed because more challenges came after. Fires broke out, the communications were down, there was no source of water or food, dead bodies and debris all over the streets. It seemed like all hell break loose, it was a perfect picture of a hopeless situation but thanks to the international Non-Government Organizations (NGOs) who came to help. [Read more…]

The Unveiling of Anibong Memorial Marker

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M/V Eva Jocelyn

M/V Eva Jocelyn Memorial at Anibong District Tacloban City

Time flies so fast, two days from now we will be commemorating the darkest day ever faced by the people in Eastern Visayas specially Taclobanons. I am sure those who were here that dreadful morning have a story to tell. An experience we would never forget until we grow old.

Many lives have been taken away, many lives have been ruined because of the loss and destructions but with the help of various local and international Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO’s) the region have slowly risen back and even better.

Almost two years ago, 10 cargo ships were swept ashore by the storm surge caused by the force of the Super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan). Eight (8) of which were stuck within in barangays 68, 69, and 70. For some months, there had been deliberations whether they should be dismantled or be pulled back to the sea. The last option faced a huge problem, though. Residents of Anibong and Rawis, Tacloban City started to rebuild their houses even if the government had declared the area to be a no build zone.

One of the most visible cargo vessels was M/V Eva Jocelyn which reached the edge of the road in the Anibong area. It was one of the shipping companies who got the salvage permit from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH). For some months, the company tried to get the ship back in the sea but before the first year anniversary of the super typhoon, Sangguniang Panlungsod of Tacloban have decided to transform the said vessel into a memorial.

Even before the city council resolution, the remnant of the M/V Eva Jocelyn already attracted local and foreign tourists who would go to that area to take a photo of the most visible evidence of how strong the typhoon was.

August of this year a building permit was issued to the construction of Super Typhoon Yolanda Ship Remnant Monument and it will be unveiled tomorrow in a ceremony at around 6 in the evening as part of the commemoration events sponsored by the City Government of Tacloban. A Holy Mass will also be held right after the unveiling ceremony.

Because we could not wait for tomorrow, FAQ.ph team went to Anibong yesterday to take some pictures of the memorial. And we would also like to share them with you:

M/V Jocelyn

A memorial of M/V Eva Jocelyn

M/V Eva Jocelyn

M/V Eva Jocelyn

M/V Eva Jocelyn

M/V Eva Jocelyn

M/V Eva Jocelyn

M/V Eva Jocelyn

 

Aside from the unveiling there are also other events lined up starting this midnight. An Ultra Marathon from Tolosa, Leyte to Tacloban City was organized by private organizations. By 10:00 AM tomorrow, a blessing and turn-over of Health Center at Abucay Bus Terminal will be held. This project was sponsored by the Rotary Club of Makati South and Rotary Club of Jonan, Japan.

There will also be a premiere showing of a documentary film entitled, “Fields of Hope” at Robinson’s Movie world. This free showing will be until November 8 only. If you can’t make it to the premiere, no worries you can watch it in advance tonight at exactly 8:00 PM via CNN Philippines.

There are still more events to look forward to on November 8 but to give you a little suspense, we’ll save that for my next post tomorrow.

A Cruise along San Juanico Strait

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San Juanico Cruise

San Juanico Bridge

Last year, I wrote about 10 Facts You Should Know About San Juanico Bridge in Samar and Leyte. I talked about my first visit to this magnificent structure in Region 8. I described it to look like a dragon from afar.

Sure, most of us have seen it from a picture, from afar or have passed through it but how does cruising through it sounds like? Interesting, isn’t it? Never in my wildest dream have I imagined going (sailing) under it until October 29, 2015.

Thanks to the people who have thought of the brilliant idea of converting the fishing boats donated to the Yolanda survivors by Oxfam (an international non-governmental organization) into a tourism-related livelihood, a cruise through San Juanico strait is now a reality. [Read more…]

List of Telephone Area Codes in the Philippines

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A rotary dial telephone, made in 1966.

A rotary dial telephone made in 1966. Photo by Holger Ellgaard via Wikimedia Commons

The telephone was the first communication device granted with a United States patent in 1876. It was invented by a Scottish immigrant Alexander Graham Bell and has long been one of the most used communication devices in the world.

Sorry to say, but telephone (landline phone) is not on the list of my most favorite communication device. I usually get confused on what to dial. I am not particular with area codes and I am not just good with memorizing numbers. Unlike the mobile phone where you could talk to your contact with just one click, when using a telephone, you have to dial all the numbers. So, I only use it when necessary.

If you have the same problem of memorizing various area codes here in the Philippines, here is the complete list of the area codes that could help you.

National Capital Region (NCR)

Caloocan City2
Las Piñas City2
Makati City2
Malabon City2
Mandaluyong City2
Manila City2
Marikina City2
Muntinlupa City2
Navotas City2
Parañaque City2
Pasay City2
Pasig City2
Pateros City2
Quezon City2
San Juan City2
Taguig City2
Valenzuela City2

Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR)

Abra74
Apayao78
Benguet74
Ifugao74
Kalinga74
Mt. Province74

Region I – Ilocos Region

Ilocos Norte77
Ilocos Sur77
La Union72
Pangasinan75

Region II – Cagayan Valley

Cagayan78
Batanes78
Isabela78
Nueva Vizcaya78
Quirino78

Region III – Central Luzon

Aurora42
Bataan47
Bulacan44 (Abangan Bulacan 4422) (Saint Francis 4463)
Nueva Ecija44
Pampanga45
Tarlac45

Region IV-A – Calabarzon

Batangas43
Cavite46 (Bacoor 02, 046)
Laguna49 (Majayjay 49305)(Liliw 043)
Quezon42
Rizal2

Region IV-B – Mimaropa

Marinduque42
Occidental Mindoro43
Oriental Mindoro43
Palawan48
Romblon54

Region V – Bicol Region

Albay52
Camarines Norte54
Camarines Sur54
Catanduanes52
Masbate56
Sorsogon56

Region VI – Western Visayas

Aklan36
Antique36
Capiz36
Guimaras 33
Iloilo34
Negros Occidental34

Region VII – Central Visayas

Bohol 38
Cebu32
Negros Oriental35
Siquijor35

Region VIII – Eastern Visayas

Biliran53
Eastern Samar55
Leyte53
Northern Samar55
Samar55
Southern Leyte 53

Region IX – Zamboanga Peninsula

Zamboanga del Norte65
Zamboanga del Sur62
Zamboanga Sibugay62

Region X – Northern Mindanao

Bukidnon88
Camiguin88
Lanao del Norte63
Misamis Occidental88 (Plaridel 88344)
Misamis Oriental(Cagayan de Oro 8822, Gingoog City 8842, Tagoloan 88)

Region XI – Davao Region

Compostela Valley84
Davao del Norte84
Davao del Sur82
Davao Oriental87

Region XII – Soccsksargen

North Cotabato64
Sarangani83
South Cotabato83
Sultan Kudarat64

Region XIII – Caraga

Agusan del Norte85
Agusan del Sur85
Dinagat Islands86
Surigao del Norte86
Surigao del Sur86

Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM)

Basilan62
Lanao del Sur64
Maguindanao64
Sulu85
Tawi-tawi68

Important things you need to remember when using a landline phone:

– The international exit code is 00
– The country code of the Philippines is 63
– The Subscriber’s Numbers (without an Area Code) are 7 digits
– When calling from abroad to the Philippines – dial “00” + 63 + Area Code + Subscriber Number
– When calling a landline within the same Area Code – simply dial the Subscriber Number.
– When calling a landline outside an Area Code – you have to dial “0” + Area Code + Subscriber Number.
– When calling any cell phone number – dial “0” + Area Code + Subscriber Number.
*Calling cell phones from landlines used to be considered “long distance” because it does not have a geographical location which means you pay per minute. But now, telecommunication companies offer unlimited calls from landline to cellular phones for a particular service provider.

List of Postal Codes (ZIP codes) in the Philippines

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Before the invention of cellular phones, writing a letter and sending it via air mail was the best way of communicating to our loved ones. People then must be very patient because they would have to wait for a week just for their letter to reach its destination and it would take another week for them to get the reply. Now, people would be aggravated if their text mates would not reply within an hour. And with the fast changing world most of the youths now don’t even know the Postal code or ZIP code of their own town. Why would they when they don’t need to send letter through the post office anymore, right? Instead of going to a post office to send a letter, we could just send it via e-mail, and as for packages, there are now fast cargo companies that are more reliable.

Most of us don’t even know what a ZIP Code is. ZIP actually stands for “Zone Improvement Plan”. It was first used in the U.S and was adopted by the Philippine Postal Corporation (Phlpost). America uses five digits while the Philippines use only four digits. The main purpose of using ZIP code is to simplify the distribution of mails.

If you want to send a letter, greeting cards or packages this Christmas season in an old fashioned way but don’t know the Zip Code to the place where you want to send it to, FAQ.ph got you covered; here is the complete list of Postal Codes (ZIP Codes) in the Philippines: [Read more…]

Top 20 Scariest Pinoy Horror Movies of all Time

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The Healing

A scene from The Healing where Kim Chui’s head rotated. Photo screenshot from YouTube/ABS-CBN Star Cinema

It’s Halloween season again, and with this Filipinos have various traditions. Unlike in the U.S. where people celebrate it by wearing scary costumes, and trick or treating, we usually spend a few days sometimes a whole week to prepare for the All Souls and All Saints Day. Before the said days, people would go to the cemetery to clean up the graves of their loved ones who have already passed away.

This is also the time when most family members would go home to their provinces so it becomes like a reunion. And when families gather the elders would usually talk about horror stories to children. Even various TV channels would always have a Halloween special episode for scary stories. Others especially teens would want to have a movie marathon of horror movies, mostly English or Japanese horror movies because they are the most terrifying. But we also have our own scary movies here in the Philippines which would also make you so scared you wouldn’t want to sleep alone anymore. [Read more…]

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FAQ.ph stands for Facts, Answers and Questions about the Philippines. It is an online place where you can read interesting facts, useful answers and frequently asked questions about our country, its places, events and people. Our mission is to share stories that will help Filipinos and the world gain knowledge about everything in the Philippines, including its beautiful spots, rich history, unique society, and solutions towards the nation's progress.

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