The Chinese New Year

Yesterday was the Chinese Lunar New Year.

It's called Lunar New Year because it is based on the moon. So, starting yesterday there will be 15 days of celebrations to culminate on Feb. 13 during the full moon.

Muslims likewise have their festival celebrations based on the moon. While the Chinese revere the Full Moon, the Muslims adore the New Moon. So, Islam is represented by a crescent. Christianity too has its celebrations based on the moon. The Holy Week follows the moon cycle. Jesus Christ was born not on Dec. 25, but tradition is the one that made it December 25.

* * *

How great has been the influence of what the Europeans called in earlier times as "the Silk People who lived in a land many months of journey by caravan route across mountains and deserts of Central Asia."

They were the Han who occupied northern China and the T'ang who were on the southern territory, the two dynasties to rule the nation for centuries.

In 481 B.C., the lord Szu-ma Niu was driven by the rival barons from northern China and settled in the great Yangtze region to establish a strong government.

Later the Han and the T'ang became the People of Hua. Hua is Chinese. Hua Ming is Chinese School and Hua Kong is Chinese Drug Store.

This is the Chinese Year of the Fire Dog. So, this must be the year of the Chihuahua, that small soft-haired dog. Chi is Chinese and hua is also Chinese. That fits it. Does it not?

* * *

Let's put history aside. Saturday night we attended the birthday party of the Sy patriarch, philantrophist Sy Bon Tit, father of my friends, City Councilor Elmer and businessman Edgar.

It was there I saw how successfully the people of Hua have assimilated with the Pinoy way of life. To me, there are no more Chinese nor Pinoys as we act, think, and move like one.

People of Chinese origin, even the old folks now enjoy the ribbing about themselves. They are now so confident of their being a part of society.

And I have Chinese friends who would text me jokes about themselves.

* * *

Last Saturday, the grandchildren of Mr. Sy Bon Tit put up a short skit about the old Chinese mannerisms of the Old Man who enjoyed the ribbing like everybody in the group.

Mr. Sy is 84 but, in Chinese, according to Elmer, he is 85 because in the Chinese reckoning, they start counting the age upon conception.

This means one year added to the age. And, I think, one's birthday can vary too. The date of birth or the date of conception.

Cheers to Mr. Sy. Looking at how active and agile he moved around, he can easily make it to beyond 90.

* * *

A friend, a fighting cock aficionado, told me he received a text from a friend last Saturday, advising him to use his cock or the dog will bite it the following day in the Year of the Dog.

Saturday night he had a good dinner making an adobo of his broad cock. He called me up yesterday to report on what he did. I used my cock, he crowed. I didn't ask further questions.

* * *

I salute the Leonardia family on how they bore their sorrow and tragedy with dignified equanimity.

Other politicians would have exploited the tragedy for some political purposes. Not Bing and family.

I believe, this is how tragedy and sorrow should be borne. Just to one's self.

I met Binky's father Cesar and asked what was really the cause. Cesar said, he did not bother to know. I agree, it would just deepen the anguish.

I was told though that in Oman, they have zero crime incident because all tragedies like this are just recorded as accident.

* * *

I like this text I received yesterday afternoon while writing this piece.

It said, this is an AMITY STORY. A rich dad took his son to a farm of a poor family. On the way home, the father asked, "How's the trip, son?"

The son answered, "Great, dad."

The father said, "Now you see how poor some people can be."

The son answered, "Yes, dad. We have one dog. They have four. We have a swimming pool, they have an endless creek. At night we have our fancy lanterns, they have the stars."

"We buy our food, they grow theirs. We have walls for protection. They have friends to defend them. Thanks, for showing me, how poor we are."

***

The visit the other day of President Arroyo to Iloilo was fruitful.

The President agreed to the plan of a railway system from Boracay this means Caticlan in Aklan, to Roxas City, then to Iloilo City, then to Guimbal in southern Iloilo.

I know the fellow behind this is former Congressman Oscar Garin, the Presidential Assistant on Agriculture. And Oca is a performer and given the time, he'll push it through. Railway system is the cheapest form of transporting people and cargo. It's lamentable how politicians destroyed the Panay Railways by skinning it alive.*

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