People
Media
Part of The Republic
- Title
- People
- Language
- English
- Source
- The Republic (Issue No. 24) 1 September 1973
- Year
- 1973
- Rights
-
- Fulltext
- Travel & leisure CULTURAL HERITAGE Manila presents a modem ambience beneath which one finds basic Filipino touches and familiar Chinese, Spanish and American influences. In China town, in particular, one senses a sharp contrast between the modem facade of the metropolis and the quaint, 19th century Chinese district. The Chinese in the Philippines by their length of stay and their various contributions to the nation may be considered a local sector of the na tional community yet, strangely, the Chinese have remained “foreign.” Daniel Doeppers, an American socio logist, in his study of the historic growth of Philippine cities, points out the fact that Chinese immigrants tended to settle in well-defined region al clusters which remained stable in their make-up through SO years. Al fonso Felix, Jr., in the book “The Chinese in the Philippines,” writes that the non-assimilation of the Chi nese may be circumstantial as it is cul tural. The history of the Chinese in the Philippines reveals numerous in stances when they had to virtually coalesce to overcome discrimination, particularly legislative discrimination. Admittedly, however, Chinese in fluence in the Philippines has been “deep and extensive,” pervading many aspects of Philippine culture, includ ing language, customs, beliefs, eco nomy and medicine. Wealthy Chinese businessmen, as the late Roman Ongpin, contributed large sums to the rev olution and, at least, one Chinese im migrant, General Pawa, was known to have actively fought with the forces of General Antonio Luna. We learn that as early as the 6th and 7 th centuries, the Chinese have been to various parts of the country trading silk, orna ments, tea, and gunpowder for Philip pine gold, indigo, rattan, shells, ebony, bird’s nests and lead. A little bit of China in Manila Mainstreet, Chinatown: Novel idea for a “ghetto.” Viewed along these considerations, the Chinatown Development Project is not simply a scheme to beautify the old Chinese district but a conscious ef fort to thaw the barrier that for years have kept the two peoples apart. Manned by a trisectoral committee composed of the City of Manila, the Filipino-Chinese Community, and the Department of Tourism, the project is geared toward developing Chinatown as it evolved in Manila. As conceived, Chinatown shall “depict how the Chinese in the Philippines contributed to the emergence, development, and progress of the Philippine nation.” The development of Chinatown is divided into two phases: a) the more immediate, that is, the reconstruction and the restoration of buildings typi cally Chinese, and b) the more perma nent and long-range aspects like the revival of certain typically FilipinoChinese festivals, the construction of actual life-sized copies of Chinese sam pan and others. Phase One of the project includes the re-routing of traffic, the repair of streets, the improvement of the drain age system, and the cleaning of the esteros by the city government. The Filipino-Chinese Community, for its part, will take charge of retouching the facades of Chinese buildings, the revival of Chinese festivals, and the construction Of permanent arches or gates at the entrances to Chinatown at Rosario, Ongpin and San Fernando. Phase Two lists, among other proj ects, the reconstruction of: a) the Aicaiceria de San Fernando, a combined customshouse, wholesale mart, and living compound in Binondo in the late 1950s. b) the Tribunal de Sangleyes, the Chinese court, along San Fernando Street, and c) actual lifesized models of Chinese sea-going ves sels and sampans. The development of Chinatown has drawn the interests of various sectors of the country, particularly the First Lady. For her part, Mrs. Marcos do nated P4 million for the cleaning and dredging of all the esteros in the area. Mr. Tang Tack, secretary-general of the Federation of Filipino-Chinese Cham bers of Commerce, pledged full support to the project while Minister Yu, speaking in behalf of the Chinese, said: “We will do all we can to help realize the laudable project.” As agreed by the planners, the ground-breaking ceremony will be held during the “August Moon Festi val,” a favorable time according to Chinese belief. Specifically, it will be on September 11, thus coinciding with the birth anniversary of the Presi dent. A whole day affair, it begins with the comerstone-laying pinpointing the site of the first commemorative arch, a display of the model of the gate and, most probably, a tour of Chinatown itself. A program featuring Chinese cultural dances and a lantern contest will follow in the afternoon. The development of Philippine Chinatown, Secretary Aspiras said, is in line with the plan “to preserve and develop Manila Chinatown as part of the nation’s cultural heritage.” PEOPLE Sentiments range from elation to nostalgia. “I still can’t believe it! ” enthuses former Manila newsman Mike Ligon, at the cleanliness and signs of progress in metropolitan Manila. He had been staying in Canada for the last three years. Another newspaperman, Emiliano Francisco, waxes nostalgic, “I have been away for 48 years, and that certainly has been a long, long time. I will be happy to bring back home my family and convince the rest of the people in my communi ty to remove their doubts about re turning to the Philippines.” For M.H. Jacaban of Bataan News in Sacramento, California, his trip is one “long overdue,” and for Jose Esmilla the Philippines is a fondly remembered Pagsanjan Falls. Tony Reyes is all agog: “It’s terrific — I feel like staying for good.” A mot ley group of around 30, these news papermen and various personalities have come to the Philippines upon the invitation, of President Marcos and Tourism Secretary Jose Aspi ras. They are to spearhead “Balikbayan,” a program to bring home for a visit as many overseas Filipi nos as possible between September this year and February 28 next year. Incentives include reduced air line fares, a tax holiday and hospi tality discounts. With all these, Fili pinos abroad may yet fulfill their yearning to return, an archetypal rebirth — in their own time. Margie Moran and Eugene Torre had something in common: both came back to the Philippines within the week. Eugene Torre, a chess luminary at 21, returned at 3:00 p.m., August 27, after a year-long chess activity that had him wowing chess wizards in prestigious Europ ean tournaments, including former world champion M. Tahl, his idol, whom he beat in the interzonals in Leningrad. It was a beaming Torre that came home after winning the 10-man Orense tournament held in Spain only last August 24. Mean while, Margie Moran had her share of adulation when she came home August 30. Preparations for her arrival had been made by Tourism Director Jose Clemente, the Binibining Pilipinas contest executive committee, Malacanang represent atives, PAL officials, representatives of mayors, et al. These included a motorcade from the airport to the Manila Hilton with an escort in full regalia, a courtesy call on the First Family, a luncheon-press confer ence afterwards and another luncheon hosted by Tourism Secretary Jose Aspiras. After all, Margie’s face (and figure) is one to launch a thousand to do’s. While overseas Filipinos and luminaries are coming in, four Ma kati cops are going out —but for good reason. Police Chief Ruperto B. Acle, Lt. Col. Armando C. San Miguel, Captain Luis Lambrento and Lt. Romeo Pena are off to the United States and England to un dergo specialized police training courses. Acle will train for three months at the International Police Academy in Washington, D.C. on police management and administra tion. Lambrento and Pena will train in the same institution on budget and narcotics administration, res pectively. San Miguel, for his part, will attend a 15-week course on traffic management and supervision at the Bramhill Police Academy in Hampshire, England. Following this, San Miguel will make an obser vation tour on traffic systems and procedures in Bangkok, Teheran, Athens, Rome and London before he returns to the Philippines. Who ever said police work cannot be im proved? Filipinos are like Italians — “sunny, always smiling, and warmer than the climate.” This was the observation of Msgr. Bruno Torpigliani, 58-year-old papal nuncio to the Philippines who arrived last month to assume his new post, vice Msgr. Carmine Rocco. The papal envoy said Fili pinos exude an “unmistakable charm” compared to the “rather reserved” attitude of peoples of the countries he had visited. Msgr. Torpigliani served as apostolic envoy to Guatemala and El Salva dor in South America and Zaire in Africa and worked in pontifical representations in Colombia, Peru and England before he became papal nuncio. The multi-lingual ambassador — Spanish, French and English — said “I don’t feel like a stranger to your country.” Al though this was his first trip to the Philippines, the envoy had been working with the Vatican secretary of state which used to handle church matters in English-speaking; Catholic countries, including the Philippines. “That made me deeply attached to Filipinos,” he said. Page 8 1 September 1973 THE REPUBLIC
- pages
- 8