7. Getting involved in impromptu Chinese monologues
“Salita ka nga ng Chinese!” (Speak in Chinese!) My friends often say this. It’s kind of weird, though.. much like reading Chinese characters, they won’t know if I’m actually swearing. Haha.
6. Being asked what random Chinese characters mean
People assume I automatically know the meaning (and care) about Chinese characters whenever I see them.. And it’s not like they would actually know if I translated 你是笨蛋 to you’re really beautiful, ne? Spoiler: That’s not what it means.
5. Having Tan, Lee and Ang as surnames
There are a lot of other surnames besides this.. not as many as Filipino surnames, but we do have some more. After finding out I was Chinese, someone once me asked if my surname was Tan. Like really.. it’s not the only surname out there. There are also surnames that do not consist of a single syllable, but combines quite a few, like Yuchengco or Tanlimco.
4. Going to China for a vacation
I do have a few friends who spend their Christmas and summer vacations in China, but not everyone does. There are a lot of Chinese people born and raised in the Philippines, such as myself, for example; and while my grandparents have a house in Hong Kong, they don’t go there as often anymore because they have come to love the Philippines, too.
3. “Ang Chinese ay para lang sa Chinese”
That’s another common phrase that I hear. This is also part of Chinese nature; but since Chinese people can be found just about anywhere, it’s unlikely to stay a tradition. However, there are also a lot of Chinese people who prefer Chinese partners because it makes them feel more secure to have the same background and dialect. This mostly depends on personal preference, though.
2. Living in Chinatown
No, not all of the Chinese people in Manila live in Ongpin, Chinatown or Binondo. If that were the case, Ongpin would be swarming with yellow people by now. I actually live in Binondo, though. Lol.
1. Being called GI, intsik, and chekwa
I’ve heard that these terms are supposed to be insults, but I’ve already gotten so used to them, so no harm done.
Did I miss anything? Share your Chinese experiences with us!
