Fil-Chinese or Chi-Noy?

By Ermin Garcia Jr.

 

HERE’S a trivia. To this day, we continue to refer to a “Filipino-Chinese” community as nationals or naturalized Filipinos with Chinese ancestry, not really understanding the nuance behind it.

As correctly pointed out by Teresita Ang See, a noted activist in Manila’s Chinatown, the right phrase should be “Chinese-Filipino” (not the long accepted “Filipino-Chinese). She explained that the first nationality should refer to the ancestry and the second nationality should refer to the adopted country, i.e, Fil-American, meaning Filipinos that have adopted American citizenship.

Following the same application, the Pinoys among us that have Chinese ancestry, should, therefore, be appropriately referred to as ‘Chinese-Filipinos’ or as Ms. Ang See suggested – Chi-Noy (‘noy’ for Pinoy) in short!

Going further, with Pinoys with Indian ancestry, it should not be ‘Fil-Indian“ but Indian-Filipino” (or ‘In-Noy’?) And those with American ancestry as ‘American-Filipino (or ‘Am-Noy’?). Those with Spanish ancestry as ‘Spanish-Filipino’ (‘Spa-Noy’ or ‘Kas-Noy’?). Hmmm…where does ‘Ab-Noy apply’? Just wondering, no need to answer that.

We note, of course, that ending the phrases with “Noy” can sound denigrating so perhaps someone ought to coin another word. Try Fil (For Filipino) or Pino (for Pilipino) for effect.

But forget about defining Pangasinenses with alien ancestries. Some may be inclined to use the work Pangalatok to refer to Pangasinan natives. The results will sound even far denigrating: “Chin-Alatok,” “Ind-Alatok,” “Am-Alatok,” “Kast-Alatok”, etc.”

Ok, let’s end the lesson here before we end up with worse and outlandish suggestions. For now, in the spirit of the Chinese New Year, let’s stick with “Chi-Noy.!”

*          *          *          *          *

GUV’s NIGHTMARE. I can understand and appreciate the not-totally unexpected outburst of Guv Spines that accompanied his State of the Province Address (SOPA).

The black sand mining issue is a cause of major frustration on his part. What he envisioned as a major tourism development project for the province has been completely mangled, and turned into a nightmare that hounds his administration. Worse, it cost him the valuable services of his provincial administrator, Raffy Baraan.

I have seen the mound of black sand extracted from the planned 18-hole golf course at the eco-tourism area that remains dumped at the coastline. The governor certainly had reason to believe that the untouched and unmoved mound of black sand should be enough to belie claims of his detractors that he was involved in the illegal sale of the extracted black sand, but it was not to be.

For reasons, I, too, fail to comprehend, is how and why the Ombudsman saw merit in the complaint that alleged illegal mining and sale of black sand but not being a lawyer, I can only surmise what happened, and whether Guv Spines likes it or not, his detractors believe they have a political arrow to pin him down.

*          *          *          *          *

UNWITTING ALLY. The reaction of former Cong Mark Cojuangco to Guv Spines’ outburst that was obviously calculated to impugn his credibility as one of the suspected instigators behind the “smear campaign” was also understandable.

My common sense tells me Mr. Cojuangco does not stand to benefit from the alleged smear campaign because it is not Guv Spines that he will face in the gubernatorial contest but his son, Pogi. Certainly, an allegation about the father cannot credibly be passed on to the son who had nothing to do with the alleged wrongdoing.

Interestingly, Mr. Cojuangco made a statement that he sees nothing wrong per se with the extraction of the black sand if it were meant for a good purpose. While he did not mention it specifically, I read it as a support for a legitimate and worthy project like the construction of a golf course as an added tourist destination for the province. In a way, that actually made him an unwitting ally of Guv Spines.

Unlike the original complaint that zeroed in on the mining and sale of the black sand, Mr. Cojuangco correctly observed that the problem was in the timeline involved in the processing of documents to legitimize the extraction of black sand from the area meant for a golf course, not about the extraction of black sand. Of course, extraction of a mineral is a mining activity, and there is no denying that.

*          *          *          *          *

BEYOND POLITICS. But looking beyond today’s controversy that hounds Mr. Espino’s administration, it’d be interesting to know how Mr. Cojuangco, in fact, will handle the black sand issue himself if it should remain unresolved by the time he succeeds, assuming he wins in his bid to become governor. Will he make the provincial government spend to plow back the black sand to its original location? Or will he cause the sale of the black sand and risk being used for the same reason that Guv Spines is now being taken to task? Or will he shift to another project? Bottom line, will he continue the golf course project?

On Guv Spines’ part, I believe he has fully explained himself on the issue. The next pertinent question is – Will he still encourage Pogi, assuming he wins, to restore the suspended golf course project?

Let’s strip the black sand mining issue of politics and get down to the business of governance. What’s in it for the province?

*          *          *          *          *

KAPITANS AS KINGPINS. Without a doubt, the campaign of the Espino administration against illegal drugs is slowly but surely gaining momentum in the towns, obviously with the initiative of the local police stations.

However, after Guv Spines issued the policy requiring all towns and cities to allocate funds for the campaign, the initiative and participation of the Liga ng mga Barangay in the campaign still leaves much to be desired. I say this because only the Liga can provide the effective intelligence network that can yield dramatic results in the campaign.

Each barangay kapitan in the province knows who the small and big pushers are in their community. Hence, if it’d be helpful if Liga provincial chairman Pogi Espino can closely monitor the progress of police operations and identify the kapitan in whose jurisdiction the arrested drug pushers operated.

*          *          *          *          *

LEADERSHIP TEST. In this regard, it would help project a credible leadership on the part of Mr. Pogi E if he can rally all the Liga chairmen to agree to some sanction on a barangay kapitan who was remiss in reporting the presence of the arrested suspect in his village.

I’m afraid that without it, Mr. Pogi E can only bank on Espino name and the pledge to continue the legacy of his illustrious dad as his only real qualification to seek to succeed Guv Spines as governor.

In contrast, Cong. Marc C’s leadership and executive experience already precedes him. His only uphill battle lies in improving his name recall, something that the name Espino has in excess capacity.

Let’s see Mr. Pogi E show some spunk and rally the kapitans to his cause in the field, not from press releases and photo ops. Time to hit the dirt!

*          *          *          *          *

Manay Gina de Venecia is truly blessed with many true friends. Former classmates, movie personalities, childhood friends, politicians, media practitioners, name it… they came in droves to greet her on her special day even on a hot high noon to partake of her celebration. Surely, not many can lay claim to have good friends around them like Manay Gina can. It speaks of her character as a person one cannot learn to hate.

Back to Homepage

 

Share your Comments or Reactions

comments

Powered by Facebook Comments