That’s “Happy New Year” in Mandarin. Or at least I think it is. Sorry! My Chinese is very bad. I went to a Chinese school for 13 years (pre-school to high school) but I might as well did not, if you know I mean. My Chinese teachers would not be too pleased to hear that everything I’ve learned from them are now gone with the wind.

It’s funny how people would always doubt if I’m really Chinese because of how I look. I look just like the ordinary, everyday Filipina. I’m not white nor do I have small eyes. So I tell people that I’m not to avoid further confusion. I just happen to be born with a Chinese family name and a little bit of Chinese blood. 12.5% percent to be exact. That’s close to zero than it is to 100, you know.

Growing up, I also had an indifferent attitude toward my “Chinese descent”. I would excel in my regular subjects, but I’d just be average or below-average in my Chinese classes; I didn’t follow traditions; and my family didn’t practice anything Chinese at home, except maybe to refer to “money”, “food” or “helpers”, because those are the only Fokien my dad is familiar with, heh. I would only feel like I belong when I’m at school (with a classroom half full of Filipino-Chinese students) or when I’m at reunions. The ANG clan would get together twice a year either to celebrate New Year’s or our great grandmother’s birthday. I think she’s close to 100 years old now. Yep, she’s very health-conscious thus the longevity.

At our reunions, everybody is required to wear RED, because red is the symbol of happiness in Chinese (correct me if I’m wrong). But ever since my older brother and I were old enough to think for ourselves, we decided not to be conventional, just to see how our relatives would react. Lol. So we would go to reunions wearing any color BUT red. He would wear blue, I would wear brown… and there was a even time that we both wore black! We just shrugged off a few “Why are you wearing black?” stares from some of our relatives but that was it.

Year of the RatSo, it’s the Year of the Rat. To tell you the truth, I’m not entirely sure what year I was born. It’s either the year of the Rat or the Pig. Chinese New Year’s day are inconsistent that sometimes it would fall on or before January 29th which is why I’m not quite sure. But because I’m a bit on the flabby side, I say it’s the PIG. Lol.

Happy Chinese New Year! I don’t believe in those Feng Shui stuff, but this is just to recognize my Chinese ancestry and to say that I am proud to be (sort of) part of the Fil-Chi community, even though most of the time it doesn’t show. :P

To commemorate this day in my own little way, I’m wearing a blouse with a Chinese collar! And I’m very open to receive Tikoy gifts from my Chinese friends. Haha. Thanks, Aurus!