The Tsinoys among us

The Year of the Fire Monkey starts today.

Happy New Year to the Monkeys among us.

Gentle reminder: No monkey business, please. That’s a joke.

Let’s welcome the Year of the Monkey on that note, bright and breezy, light and easy. The monkey can be playful, right?

I got the following from my friend (a Tsinoy, but of course, who requested not to be identified):

Kung Hei Fat Choi from your Chinese friends who were…

• Born in the dark: Andy Lim

• Born blind: Kenneth See

• Born blocked: Kenneth Go

• Born fat: Bob Uy

• Born tiny: Kathy Ting

• Born different: Eva Yan

• Born loser: Tina Lo

• Born winner: Nana Lo

• Born on Sunday: Lyn Go

• Born sweet: Ken Dy

• Born secretly: Tina Go

• Born floating: Lulu Tang

• Born confused: Lily To

• Born normal: Nat Ting Wong

• Born abnormal: Sam Ting Wong

• Born deep: Lala Lim

(Tsin to sia, Ahia!!!)

* * *

While we are in a New Year mood, might as well call the roll of the Tsinoys in showbiz and related fields, those that come to mind at the moment anyway.

• Actors: Xian Lim, Kim Chiu, Rachelle Ann Go, LJ Reyes (Hong Li Ying), Ricardo Cepeda (Go), Dennis Trillo (Ho), Carlene Ang Aguilar, Joyce Ching, PJ Go, Ken Chan, Richard Yap, Richard Quan, Fred Lo (theater) and Ali Sotto (whose maternal grandfather, Dr. Alejandro Sancianco, was pure Chinese).

• Music: Singers Jose Mari Chan and Richard Poon; record producers Kathleen Dy-Go, Ramon Chuaying, Rudy Tee, Narciso Chan; and composers Danny Tan and Nonoy Tan.

• Film producers (active and inactive): Mother Lily Yu Monteverde, Robbie Tan, Baby Go, Wilson Yuloque, Wilson Tieng, The Pascuals (William Lao and Baby, among them), Amado Tan, Romy Ching and Jessie Chua.

• Scriptwriter: Ricky Lee

• Director: Buboy Tan

• TV: Lyn Ching, Tim Yap, Cathy Yang and Luanne Dy

• Stylist: Liz Uy

• Talent managers: Keren Pascual, Shirley Kuan and Malou Choa-Fagar

• Sports: Atoy Co, James Yap, Teng brothers Jeron and Jeric, Chris Tiu and Kim Lo

• Media: Jullie Yap-Daza, Kane Errol Choa, Wilson Lee Flores, Chinkee Tan, Michael Tan, Francis Kong, Oscar Franklin Tan and Michael Sy Lim (Fashion Pulis). The owners of The Philippine STAR and Manila Bulletin are also Chinese.

Even Kris Aquino and her Cojuangco relatives have Chinese ancestors, and so has Susan Roces (whose father had Chinese blood). And the Locsins, too?

Oh yes, also Ben Chan and Jeannie Goulbourn.

Food for thought

And here’s another thought-provoking item from STAR contributor Edu Jarque who got it from somewhere else:

An obituary printed in the New York Times:

Today we mourn the passing of a beloved old friend, Common Sense, who has been with us for many years. No one knows for sure how old he was, since his birth records were long ago lost in bureaucratic red tape. He will be remembered as having cultivated such valuable lessons as:

• Knowing when to come in out of the rain;

• Why the early bird gets the worm;

• Life isn’t always fair;

• And maybe it was my fault.

Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial policies (don’t spend more than you can earn) and reliable strategies (adults, not children, are in charge).

His health began to deteriorate rapidly when well-intentioned but overbearing regulations were set in place. Reports of a 6-year-old boy charged with sexual harassment for kissing a classmate; teens suspended from school for using mouthwash after lunch; and a teacher fired for reprimanding an unruly student, only worsened his condition.

Common Sense lost ground when parents attacked teachers for doing the job that they themselves had failed to do in disciplining their unruly children. It declined even further when schools were required to get parental consent to administer sun lotion or an aspirin to a student; but could not inform parents when a student became pregnant and wanted to have an abortion.

Common Sense lost the will to live as the churches became businesses; and criminals received better treatment than their victims.

Common Sense took a beating when you couldn’t defend yourself from a burglar in your own home and the burglar could sue you for assault.

Common Sense finally gave up the will to live, after a woman failed to realize that a steaming cup of coffee was hot. She spilled a little in her lap, and was promptly awarded a huge settlement.

Common Sense was preceded in death,

• by his parents, Truth and Trust,

• by his wife, Discretion,

• by his daughter, Responsibility,

• and by his son, Reason.

He is survived by his five stepbrothers;

• I Know My Rights

• I Want It Now

• Someone Else Is To Blame

• I’m A Victim

• Pay me for Doing Nothing

Not many attended his funeral because so few realized he was gone.

(E-mail reactions at [email protected].)