Tulay April 9-22, 2013 (Elections).indd - Kaisa Para Sa Kaunlaran

1Tulay FORTNIGHTLY April 9-22, 2013

2fortnightlyINSIDECHINESE-FILIPINO DIGESTPublisherKAISA PARA SA KAUNLARAN, INC.Managing EditorANG CHAK CHIEditorial ConsultantsDOREEN YU • MIRIAM LIEUSONYVONNE T. CHUASub-editorsGRACE PE-BACANI • MEAH ANG SEECover 8-10Best elections money can buyPhilippine elections arestill about money andfame. Only elites getelected – a travesty ofPhilippine democracy.MembersANGELA YU • DEANIE LYN OCAMPOELEONOR LEE-TSUMURA • GANNY TANColumnistsTERESITA ANG SEE • GO BON JUANWILLIE T. ONG, M.D.ContributorsJADE LOPEZFR. ARI C. DY, SJEDUARDO CHAN DELA CRUZJONAH C. MARTINTranslatorsLINETTE CHUAREYNARD HINGProduction AssistantLISA LOPEZArtistsKASSE RAMOS • BLADIMER USICommunity News 3-4China Embassy hosts Filipino writersHK nixes foreign helpers’ bid for permanent residencyChinese painting class at Yuchengco MuseumPhilippine DOT among most innovative in 2012Taiwanese nabbed for extortionBinondo gang member nabbed in drug bustKidnap WatchOpinion 5Tsinoy Beats and BytesGems of HistoryComic reliefRound Up 7TSINOYTOWNABOUT THE COVERMany politicians need a huge amountof money to fund their campaigns;after election, they serve only their owninterests.Special Feature 10NGOs join hands to help urban poor in PampangaHealth 1114 tips to healthy digestionTulay is published fortnightly by Kaisa Para Sa Kaunlaran, Inc.with ed i to ri al of fice at 2nd Floor, Kaisa-Angelo King Her i tage CenterAnda corner Cabildo Streets, Intramuros, Manila, 1002 PhilippinesAll contents and opin ions ex pressed in the pa perare the sole re spon si bil i ty of Kaisa Para Sa Kaunlaran, Inc.Tels.: 482-0512 • 527-6083 • 526-6796 Fax: (63-2) 527-6085E-mail: tulayweekly@gmail.com • kaisa.org.ph@gmail.comhttp://www.kaisa.org.ph/tulayENTERED AS SECOND CLASS MAIL MATTER AT THE MANILACEN TRAL POST OFFICE ON FEB. 17, 1992 UNDER PERMIT NO. 307ISSN 0116-6689 VOL. 25 NO. 21Chinese Culture 13Features 14-16Relative Finder: Two heads better than oneChinese Buddhist temples of the Philippines (Part 6)• Manila Buddha Temple• Baguio Buddha Temple• Ocean Sky Chan MonasteryApril 9-22, 2013Tulay FORTNIG HTLY

wheretoRIVERSCAPES IN FLUXMetropolitan Museum of ManilaBSP Complex, Roxas Blvd.Malate, Manilauntil April 13 708-7829www.metmuseum.phChina Embassy hosts Pinoy writerscommunity news3Leeroy New: MONSTROSITIESGalleria Duemila210 Loring St., Pasay Cityuntil April 16 833-9815gduemila@gmail.comwww.galleriaduemila.comBETWEEN DREAM ANDENCHANTMENTGaleria de las Islas3/F Silahis Center, 774 Gen. Luna St.Intramuros, Manilauntil April 19 527-2113galeriadelasislas@yahoo.comTHE MIDNIGHT MARRIAGESilverlens Gallery, 2/F YMC Bldg.2320 Pasong Tamo Ext., Makati Cityuntil April 20 816-0044info@silverlensgalleries.comYOU HAVE EVERY RIGHTAteneo Art GalleryKatipunan Ave., Quezon Cityuntil April 20 426-6488BEGINNINGSKaida Contemporary Gallery45 Scout Madriñan St.South Triangle, Quezon Cityuntil April 20 709-0289kaida529@yahoo.com.phDiokno Pasilan: GANTAJorge B. Vargas MuseumG/F Lobby and West Wing GalleryUniversity of the PhilippinesRoxas Ave., Diliman, Quezon Cityuntil April 20 928-1927vargasmuseum@gmail.com@Artinformal277 Connecticut StreetGreenhills East, Mandaluyong City• Antipas Delotavo:MALLCONTENTS• Steph Lopez: REVERENCEuntil April 22 725-8515ODILONBoston Art Gallery72 Boston Street corner LantanaStreet, Cubao, Quezon Cityuntil April 23 722-9205aceboston@yahoo.comTERRAIN: THE WORKS OFNELFA QUERUBINAyala MuseumMakati Ave. Cor. De La Rosa St.Greenbelt Park, Ayala CenterMakati Cityuntil April 28 757-7117 to 21museum_inquiry@ayalamuseum.orgMINHWA: THE MEANING OFSYMBOLS IN FOLK PAINTINGKorean Cultural Center2/F Mancor Corporate CenterBonifacio Global City, Taguiguntil April 30 555-1711UMPIL chair Karina Bolasco turns over books to Counselor Pan.It was all smiles over dinneras Filipino writers and Chinesediplomats traded ideas on how toimprove better ties between theirtwo countries, including exchangevisits of their writers.Discussions were honest andlively between members of the ChineseEmbassy in Manila’s CulturalOffice – headed by Counselor PanFeng, First Secretary Zhou Xu andAttache Zhang Ke – as they recentlyhosted a Chinese dinner for officersof the Unyon ng mga Manunulatsa Pilipinas.On the Chinese wish list: visitsto the Philippines of the ChinaWriters Federation headed by itschair, renowned woman writerTie Ning and Nobel Prize winnerMo Yan, plus visits of basketballsuperstar Yao Ming and aUMPIL’sAntonio doesan impromptuBalagtasan.100-member Chineseballet troupe.Chinese hosts had ataste of Filipino artistictalent when UMPIL secretary-generalMichaelCoroza sang kundimanclassics, while Teo Antonio did animpromptu Balagtasan.Gifts of books and silk ties andscarves were exchanged.HK nixes foreign helpers’ bid for permanent residencyIt is final. Foreign maids in Hong Kong cannot become permanentresidents.The city’s top court recently ruled against Filipino domestic helpersEvangeline Banao Vallejos and Daniel Domingo who were seekingpermanent residency.The decision affects all foreign maids in this prosperous financialhub. By some estimates, it is home to some 300,000 foreign maidsfrom southeast Asia.The Court of Final Appeal ruling was unanimous, and effectivelyoverturned a 2011 ruling in lower court that permitted long-stayingforeign maids the right to residency.Opposition to the domestic helpers’ case argued granting themresidency would enable maids’ families to move in, and strain thecity’s already overburdened social services such as medical care, publichousing, and schools.The decision means Filipino plaintiffs Vallejos and Domingocannot settle permanently in Hong Kong after being there at leastseven years.Vallejos has worked in Hong Kong since 1986 and Domingosince 1985.Other foreigners (professional working expatriates) may applyfor right of abode after living in Hong Kong for seven years, earningthe right to vote, have access to public services and do not need awork visa.Chinese painting classat Yuchengco MuseumTraditional Chinese painting –shui mo – will be taught over 10weeks this summer at Makati’sYuchengco Museum by Tsinoyartist Pieh Tsai Shiu-Yuin (ArseniaLim).Previous experience in Western orChinese painting is recommended.Subjects of painting lessons willinclude bamboo, poinsettia, mapleand banana.The instructor will demonstratelessons, describe the steps and properhandling of tools and materials.Students will then be free towork on their own paintings, whilethe instructor checks on individualprogress.The workshop fee of P6,000does not include materials, whichcan be purchased from the teacherseparately.Lessons will be held Saturdayafternoons 2 p.m.-5 p.m. beginningApril 27 until June 29.For more information, call CarlaMartinez at 889-1234 or emailinfo@yuchengcomuseum.orgTulay FORTNIGHTLY April 9-22, 2013

4community newsTaiwanesenabbed forextortionTaiwanese illegally in the Philippineswere nabbed for cybercrime.At least 30 Taiwanese werereportedly arrested in three separatehouses inside the Subic BayFreeport Zone by the NationalBureau of Investigation for allegedlybeing involved in extortionactivities using computers andthe Internet.Their targets are corporatevictims in Taiwan and China.When arrested, the perpetratorsdid not have passports.A group of the raiding teamwho pretended to be bank employeescalled up victims andgot them to reveal their accountnumbers.Others pretended to be prosecutorsand convinced victimsinto settling a non-existent complaintby depositing money intoa syndicate’s account.The team confiscated variousgadgets, including computers,laptops, and mobile phones.Freed Aussie hostage’s familywants kidnapers capturedThe family of freedemaciated and barelyhostage Warren Richardable to walk after 15Rodwell said they hopedmonths of captivityhis abductors will bein the Zamboangacaptured and punished,peninsula or nearbyso such ordeals do notislands.happen again.Philippine militaryMedia reportedintelligence believe threethat Rodwell, ex-armed groups may haveAustralian soldier was Rodwell been involved in thereleased in Pagadian City kidnaping: rogue members of thein Zamboanga del Sur, dazed, secessionist Moro Islamic LiberationJustice for Sermonia kidsEight kidnapers were sentencedto life imprisonment March 26and ordered to pay P60,000 eachin damages to the victims and theirparents.The eight convicted were foundguilty of kidnaping for ransomthree children of the Sermonia familyand their nanny Eulalia MadaraCuevas.Found guilty were Crispin PelaezAraneta, Annabelle Araneta Olidan,Benjamin Erlandez Olidan, LynferBaylon Bicodo, Rogelio Caloring,Rey Alada, and police officers JoseLonmar Zapatos and Antonio DomingoAntonio.Cuevas and her charges – Vinz andKlevwelt, 11, and Genritz, 9 – weretaken Aug. 30, 2005 in Filinvest II,Quezon City while enroute to school.Three men in police uniformsstopped their car, got in and droveaway with the victims.Front and the Al Khobar kidnapgang, while ransom collection wasleft with terrorist group Abu Sayyaf.Abu Sayyaf commander PurujiIndama had agreed to Rodwell’s releaseif P4 million ransom was paid.Rodwell’s family struggled toraise the funds, reportedly evenselling family property.Indama offered to return themoney if the release failed.Rodwell, 54, was kidnaped onDec. 5, 2011 from his home in Ipil,Zamboanga Sibugay.He is married to a Filipina andhas been staying in ZamboangaSibugay for quite some time.They were later kept in a bathroomin a safehouse.The kidnapers demanded a P50million ransom from the mother.During the trial, the childrenidentified all the defendants, includingCaloring, who used to becompany driver of the children’sfather Jovito.The victims were rescued by officersof the Philippines Anti-Crimeand Emergency Response.Binondo gang member nabbed in drug bustAn alleged member of the Binondo drug group wasarrested for reportedly trying to sell the illegal narcoticshabu to an undercover policeman in Quezon City.Arrested was Johnson Sy, 42, who hails from Xiamenand lives in Greenhills, San Juan. He yielded two plasticsachets of shabu.He was trying to sell 48 grams of the substance forP180,000 in a gas station in New Manila.Philippine DOT amongmost innovative in 2012The Philippine Departmentof Tourism hasbeen named one of the“most Innovative ForeignTourism Departments”for 2012.Winners were chosenby a panel of editors fromThe Beijing News, as well as members of the Beijingtourism industry.Tourism departments of New Zealand, Macau, Franceand Italy also received the same award.The DOT campaign “It’s more fun in the Philippines”was cited as a winning factor for the award.KID NAP WATCHCollected by Movement forRestoration of Peace & OrderSix cops facedismissal forwomen’s kidnapSix policemen were chargedwith illegal detention and robberyextortionon April 5 for allegedlyraiding a house without a warrantand kidnaping two women inMuntinlupa City.Police Offi cer 2 HerminigildoGajeto Jr., assigned at the SouthernPolice District, and PO1 RyanManga of the Police CommunityPrecinct 11 in Parañaque City arein police custody.Investigators are tracking downPO2 Michel Marcos and PO2Domingo Abarico, both of theSPD Holding Office; PO2 RigorOctaviano of the Pasay City police;and PO1 Dennis Quinto of theNational Capital Region PoliceOffice Regional Police HoldingAdministrative Unit.Philippine National Police chiefDirector General Alan Purisimacommended the PNP Anti-KidnappingGroup, led by SeniorSuperintendent Renato Gumban,for arresting Gajeto and Manga andrescuing Jennilind Rodriguez andher companion.NCRPO chief Director LeonardoEspina ordered the conductof summary dismissal proceedingsagainst the six policemen.Reports reaching Espina stated thatthe six policemen arrested Rodriguezand her companion in MuntinlupaCity April 3 on drug charges.They brought the two womento the RPHAU barracks in CampBagong Diwa, where they reportedlydemanded that Rodriguez’s relativespay P40 million for her release.Senior Superintendent MitchFilart, who heads the NCRPO’sregional investigation and detectivemanagement division, said itwas not the first time that Mangaand Gajeto arrested Rodriguez ondrug charges.April 9-22, 2013Tulay FORTNIG HTLY

Gems of HistoryBy Go Bon JuanCamoteand China’spopulationWith more than 1.3 billion people, Chinahas the world’s biggest population.Yet it is a little-known fact that the camotehelped make it so.Introduced to China by the Chinese in thePhilippines in the 16th century, the lowly rootsaved tens of millions of Chinese from starvationduring famine, especially in the southeastcoastal area.The fact recently emerged in a book byMin Wei Guo () in Chinese America:The Huge Company (),”published in November 2012.The book says according to the History ofChina’s Population, in 1086, China’s populationwas 80,145,200. Growth was slow, evendiminishing during war years.In 1731, China’s population was 84,848,200.This was a modest 5.54 percent increase in 645years. Thereafter, China’s population began torise quickly. By 1790, China had 302 millionpeople: up 255.3 percent in 60 years.In a mere 59 years from 1731-1790, populationgrowth was almost 15 times greater thanduring those 654 years from 1086-1731.The reasons for that included stablesocial conditions, robust development of acommodity economy, the massive openingup of arable farmland during Qing (1644-1911) Dynasty and benevolent policiesimplemented by its emperors.Nevertheless, before that, the Ming (1368-1644), Yuan (1206-1368) and Song ( 960-1276) dynasties also saw simlar periodsof very stable economic and political conditions,but without burgeoning populationgrowth.The only difference between those periodswas the successful introduction to China ofthe high-yield food crop camote, the Americansweet potato.Although introduced to China in 1593early during Emperor Wan Li’s () reign,it was during 1731-1790 when the camote waswidely planted.The yield of this prolific root crop outpacedeven rice, China’s traditional food crop.Recent research bears this out.In 1999, the Tropical Agricultural ScienceGEMS, p. 6What’s the real scoreAre leaders and member organizations of the Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Inc. tax evaders? Ihope the FFCCCII will do a survey to find out so what is right can beemphasized and what is wrong can be set right.Some past officers of the federation say theypay personal tax bills that run into six and sevenfigures, their companies even more.This appears to contradict President Benigno S. Aquino III’s allegationlast month that few members pay their taxes, and only in small amounts.In response, Federation president Tan Ching recently told mediathe membership will police its own ranks and urged everyone to paythe correct taxes. Meanwhile, as of Tulay presstime, Tan has called for ameeting with the Tsinoy community to discuss the matter.He added that most federation member organizations are non-stock,non-profit, and appealed to all members to ensure proper compliance.Aquino’s admonitionTan’s statements brings to mind memories of Aquino’s lack of delicadezaduring the March 22 opening of the FFCCCII’s 29th biennialconvention at the Mall of Asia complex in Pasay City.During the event, he spoke bluntly and castigated openly his hosts,the FFCCCII, something so contrary to Filipino culture and traditionalcourtesy. He dressed down a stunned audience – FFCCCII membersand guests, including members of foreign missions and chambers – withhis remarks on tax evasion.The talk itself needed to be done a long time ago. But the choice ofthe occasion and manner of delivering the message was a bit harsh; itwas a happy occasion after all, and an opening ceremony at that.The consensus was that had the President brought up the issue inprivate with federation leaders, he would have more positive results andless hard feelings because there would be room for explanations.The good thing is he caught the attention of delegates and guests. Ihave attended many social functions of the Tsinoy community, includingthose hosted by the Federation for important China leaders and theChinese Embassy.I have often lamented that guests in Tsinoy functions could notpractice civility and simple courtesy of keeping quiet, listening attentively,and turning off or putting mobile phones on silent mode. Buton this occasion, the hall with more than a thousand guests was quietas Aquino spoke.After his speech, he left immediately, perhaps oblivious to the bighowl of protest that ensued, with the general comment that his speechChinChin en NoyNoyTsinoy Beats & BytesBy Teresita Ang Seeopinionleft many gaps and misinformation.Only few pay taxesThe President cited records of the Bureau of Internal Revenue, whichshowed few Federation members pay taxes.From 207 firms included in the group’s directoryin 2011-2013, only 105 of them have TaxIdentification Numbers; among these, only 54filed tax returns. What the President probably did not know is thatincluded in the membership roster are non-stock non-profit organizationsuch as charity clinics, volunteer fire brigades and trade associations,which are most probably tax-exempt.Of course, being non-stock, non-profit does not exempt these organizationsfrom registering with the BIR. So, Tan is right in his appealto all federation members to comply with the rules.On the other hand, consider this: in the 1980s, I worked part timeas secretary of the Flour Merchants Association, one of the members ofFFCCCII. I had only a desk and typewriter in a borrowed office, and Iwas given only transportation allowance.The situation is probably similar for many trade associations. Theiractivities consisted mainly of social functions and FFCCCII affairs anddo not generate taxable revenue. Hence, they find no reason to registerwith any government agencies because they consider these associationsas akin to “family affairs.” However, the FFCCCII should find out whatthe rules require and ask their members to comply.Aquino said of FFCCCII’s 552 individual members, 424 have TINs.I thought this is 77 percent, which is pretty good. But he clearly didnot see it that way.Apparently, the BIR reported to Aquino that many paid income taxesof less than P100,000, some less than P1,000.“I was shocked, to say the least, when I learned this, because thatwould mean that you are making even less than what I receive everymonth,” he added.Research neededIn the 1970s, when Pagkakaisa Sa Pag-unlad (predecessor of KaisaPara Sa Kaunlaran) researched the basis for an accusation made abouttax evasion among Tsinoys, the figures showed that as a sector, Tsinoybusinesses are the biggest number of taxpayers and aggregately paid thehighest amount of taxes. Some individuals may not have paid the correcttaxes but the aggregate was still the largest.ni Bladimer Usi5BEATS, p. 6Tulay FORTNIGHTLY April 9-22, 2013

6 opinionBEATS, from p. 5Compared to the general population,the greater number of Tsinoys,who make up 1.2 percent of thepopulation, paid their taxes. Furthermore,people in the mainstreamsociety who paid taxes were a minisculepercent of the total population.In fact, the constant lamentationthen, as now, was that governmentpenalizes people who obeyed the lawand paid taxes because those who didwere always the same ones harassedby the BIR.I do not know if it is same situationtoday. Among past FFCCCIIpresidents onstage during theopening ceremony, the average agemust be about 75 if the incumbentTan Ching’s age is excluded.GEMS, from p. 5Institute of China developed a newvariety of camote, (NewAgri 1) during spring, 1 mu (, 1/15of one hectare) can yield 7,000 kilos.Twelve years later, on Sept. 19,2011, the “Father of Hybrid Rice”Yuan Long Pin () developeda new variety of rice, with an averageof 926.6 kilos per mu.A new world record of rice productionwas born. But even thisrecord breaking yield is far belowthe yield of camote. Thus, it is easyto see why the camote helped China’spopulation growth. It was food forthe masses.And don’t forget, it was introducedto China more than 400 yearsago from the Philippines throughthe Chinese here – commonlycredited to Tan Jin Long (),a Xiucai (one who passed thefirst imperial examination) turnedSangley, who went home to China.The few who still serve as directorsin their companies said they dopay their taxes. One past presidentsaid although he is retired, he paysP500,000 in personal income andhis company pays P300 million.Another one said he pays a personaltax bill of P1 million and that hiscompany pays at least P100 millionin taxes.On the other hand, many of theirelderly officers have since retiredand do not receive remunerationfrom their own companies anymore.Could this be what the Presidentreferred to?Damage controlKaisa past president Aquino Leewas with me at the table during theconvention. He commented that in1986, one of the triggering pointsthat led to Kaisa’s formation wasthe Presidential Management Staff’sreport, which found the Tsinoy businessmenas convenient scapegoats foralmost all economic ills in Philippinesociety.Former President Corazon Aquino’sPresidential Management Staffreport accused Tsinoys of smuggling,tax evasion or avoidance, price manipulationand hoarding.That report gave impetus for Kaisato be formed: we thought it unfairfor Tsinoys and also for the countryto single out Tsinoys for blame. Wesubmitted an alternate report to thePMS in defense of our position.The newly-elected leaders of theFFCCCII have some urgent damagecontrol to do.Tan is right in pointing out manyFederation members are non-profit.He is also right in his appeal thateveryone complies with the rules andpay the right taxes.It is only the right thing to docome April 15.CHINESE-FILIPINO DIGESTfortnightlySubscription FormName:_____________________________________________________Ad dress:__________________________________________________Age:_________ Occupation: _________________ Tel. ____________Fax:________________ Email:_______________________________Fill up and send sub scrip tion form to: KAISA-ANGELO KING HER I TAGE CENTERAnda cor. Cabildo Sts., Intramuros 1002 Manila, or fax subscription form to 527-6085 oremail to tulayweekly@gmail.com.LOCAL: P240 (24 issues)FOREIGN: U.S.$40 (Asia)U.S.$50 (U.S.A., EU,Canada)April 9-22, 2013Tulay FORTNIG HTLY

New York museum shifts focusfrom Chinese to Asian-AmericanNew York-based Museum ofChinese in America has shifted froma historical focus toward explorationof Chinese and Asian-Americancontemporary culture, partly due tothe influence of Chinese-Americancurator Herb Tam, say the media.While understanding that thehistory of Chinese immigration anddiscrimination in the U.S. is important,Tam believes the rise of Chinaand Chinese-American culture providesa broad range of contemporarytopics for exploration.Recent exhibits include “AmericaThrough a Chinese Lens,” a surveyof photography by Chineseand Chinese-American artists; thedual presentation “Marvelsand Monsters: UnmaskingAsian Images in U.S. Comics,1942-1986” and “Alt.Comics: Asian AmericanArtists Reinvent the Comic;”and a series of installationsby the conceptualartist Lee Mingwei.Panel discussions atMOCA have touched ontopics such as basketball playerJeremy Lin, the history of Asian-American grassroots political activismand Chinese poetry.Hong Kong-born Tam, whogrew up in San Francisco’s Chinatown,has guided museum focusround upEarth Hour sparks Internet debate in ChinaHK airport gets kudos for carbon emission cutsEven as 127 cities in Chinaexercised an hour’s lights-out forEarth Hour on March 23, Internetdiscussions actively debated whetherthe sudden drop in consumptionwould result in power outages.The annual Earth Hour, organizedby World Wildlife Fund forNature of Gland, Vaud, Switzerland,encourages everyone to shutoff non-essential lights at 8:30 p.m.This is to raise awareness on theneed to take action against climatechange and global warming.Meanwhile, Hong Kong InternationalAirport received the AirportCarbon Accreditation “Optimization”certifi cate last month fromthe Airports Council InternationalAsia-Pacific Region.It is the only airport in the Asia-Pacific to be so cited.Airport authority said HKIAreduced carbon intensity by nearly14 percent in the last two years, andis on track to meet its 2015 goal ofcutting by 25 percent from emissionlevels of 2008.Meanwhile, one Internet denizensaid power saved from shuttinglights during Earth Hour cannotbe stored and the massive outagemay influence the power grid load.The Internet user claims to workfor the power grid and knows howit works.Not so, WWF project officer LeiGangin Wuhan told media.Power for lights only makes up12 percent of China’s total electricityconsumption, he said, addingthat not every building shut off itslights. Thus, the power fluctuationis not enough to affect the grid.In Nanjing, media reported theChina’s families: more allowed 2nd childChina continues to tweak its onechildpolicy, introduced in 1979 byChinese leader Deng Xiaoping to containthe country’s burgeoning growth.In recent development,government population plannersare allowing rural Han couples inShanghai, Tianjin and the provincesof Liaoning, Jilin, Jiangsu, Anhuiand Fujian a second child if thehusband or wife is the only childof their families, the media reports.The number of people aged 19-59 dropped by 3.45 million yearon-yearin 2012.Meanwhile, the number of peopleaged 60 and older is estimatedto top 200 million this year, says aFebruary report from Beijing-basedthink tank Chinese Academy ofSocial Sciences.The infamous one-child policywas introduced to stem birthsamong Han Chinese living in urbanHerb TamThe Tengwangge Pavilion () in the southern region of Yangtze River before andafter turning off lights at 8:30 p.m. to mark Earth Hour on March 23.centers.Ethnic minorities are exempted.Han Chinese farmers similarlymay apply to have a second childif the first-born is female. Hansare estimated to represent some 90percent of the Chinese population.One political adviser notes thatunder the present policy China’spopulation – an estimated 1.343billion in 2012 – is expected tobegin to decline beginning 2030.from just Chinese issues to Asian-American matters.He acknowledges there are overlapand similarities of experience betweenbeing Chinese, and being someone ofKorean or Japanese descent.Events in modern China will continueto shape the overseas Chinese.city’s power supply load rose duringEarth Hour, indicating that shuttingoff lights in public buildingsdid not reduce consumption.In China, 127 cities observedChina’s premier Wen Jiabao, whowill retire soon, expressed his thanksfor having had the opportunity toserve his people and country.He spoke at the first session of the12th National People’s Congress,China’s national legislature.He also expressed confidence inhis successor, who will be electedduring the session.He quoted an ancient Chinesepoem, which suggested young birdssing more beautifully than olderones, and said he believes his successorwill do better than he did.He also spoke of hopes that boththe country’s future continues toimprove and public sentiment be“happier and happier.”Wen said during his tenure, hehas pushed reform forward, boosted7Earth Hour, up from 124.Worldwide, more than 7,000cities in over 150 countries andregions participated, up from 6,950cities and towns last year.When young birds sing…Wen sure successor will shinethe economy, improved livelihoodand promoted social progress.In a 2012 news profile by London-basedBritish BroadcastingCorp., Wen was credited with engineeringChina’s steady economicgrowth and relative stability underhis watch, despite declining exportsand the 2008 global recession.Not one to shy away from media,Wen – nicknamed by some as“Grandpa Wen” – was often thefirst Communist leader on the scenewhen China was hit by naturaldisasters.Notably, he was pictured comfortingearthquake survivors inSichuan province 2008.Wen has served as premier since2003. Li Keqiang was voted to succeedhim.New rules on stem cell workNew rules on stem cell researchhave been drafted to protect bothdonor and recipients in China.All clinical experiments on stemcells are subject to an ethical review,say the Ministry of Health and theState Food and Drug Administration.Researchers must submit to thereview board such information asstem cell products, selection criteria,consent forms, safety evaluationreports, research plans, andresumes of main researchers, saidthe regulations.Only certified hospitals may applyto be the site for such experiments.Those on whom the experiment isbeing tested should not be charged.Violators will lose their certificationand be penalized.Tulay FORTNIGHTLY April 9-22, 2013

8 coverMiranda knows thebusiness of elections.He is a public opinionexpert, co-founder oftop Philippine surveyfirms Pulse Asia and SocialWeather Stations,and professor emeritusof the University of thePhilippines PoliticalScience Department.He was also advisorto many aspiring politicalcandidates, some ofwhom have won seatsin congress, senate andeven the presidency.“Awareness is alsopart of the game. MirandaKnown personalities have an advantage. Twohundred million pesos as base capital is okayas long as your name is known to the public.Without exposure, then you will need moremoney,” he adds.Candidates should start their campaign atleast two years before elections to gain exposureand contacts, “that’s why old candidateshave an advantage over new names, and whyricher candidates have an advantage over thosewith less money.”“Exposure” is political capital, politicalscientists say.“To win a national position, you need towin at least 40 percent of the 50 million voters,or 20 million votes. You will need to spendat least P10 per voter, or a total of 200 million.Actually, often times only about 80 percentof voters turn up, and with many candidates,votes are divided, so you only need to winfrom 12 to 14 million votes,” Miranda notes.But P200 million covers only the 90-daycampaign period.In the two years leading to the election,more is needed “to build that ‘awareness’among voters about yourself...It’s also connections,if the media like you or are bettingon you, then you get free publicity. Samewith surveys, they charge less if they like acandidate.”Given the realities, only the rich or theircandidates have any chance at a political seat.“In rare cases, Philippine elections openBy Jade LopezP200 million, no less.That is how much it takes these days to win public office at the national level.Thus estimates Felipe B. Miranda, who has been studying Philippine politicsfor 40 years. “Do not start with a paper approach: counting the number of barangaysand (voters)... when you join elections, especially at the national level, you must thinkfirst of capital, how much money you have to begin with.”The author (left) with Comelec lawyerTawagon (right)possibilities for the betterment of the politicalsystem, of government. That’s why causes,candidates with causes, cause-oriented groups,are important,” Miranda said.In 1986, during the first EDSA PeoplePower Revolution “people realized the needto put people in office who could work forthe betterment of our society.”But for the most part, he said, it is questionablewhether elections in the Philippineshave worked to make conditions more democratic,conditions that allow the non-elite totake a national position.There is little historical evidence electionshave ever been democratic, honest, regularor fair. Circumstances allow only the rich tocompete. Less violence, a more honest count,and greater voter turn-out are not enough toshow a successful election process. Proof ofthe pudding is when candidates representinginterests of the majority are elected.No level playing field“The law is clear,” says soft-spoken SittieMaimona Tawagon, lawyer with the Commissionon Elections’ Law Department.“Candidates for president and vice presidentare allowed to spend only P10 per voter: P3per voter for candidates for senator, congressman,governors, mayors and other localgovernment officials who belong to a politicalparty, and P5 per voter for political parties,party list groups and candidates for senator,congressmen andlocal governmentposts who do notbelong to a politicalparty.”At P10 per voter,that limits campaignexpenses forpresident and vicepresident to a littleover P500 million.For others, P5per voter worksout to about P260million, and it ismillions less at P3.These limits include spending for rallies,propaganda material, advertising, travel, foodand everything else. Donations or spendingby supporters must be accounted for in candidates’statements of expenses, Tawago says.As well, the Comelec this year issuedimplementing rules and regulations thatreiterate and clarify laws on election spendingand propaganda.“The problem is not in the law,” says anotherComelec lawyer, Nilda Concha. Rather,it is lack of manpower to monitor and auditcandidates’ reported expenses.Break the rules onceand a candidatepays a small fine ofP1,000-P30,000.Best emoneBreak them again and he or she pays P2,000-P60,000, and are considered out of therunning.But “no candidate has ever been disqualifiedfor spending more than what the lawallows,” Concha noted.In the 2010 presidential national elections,nongovernment organizations and mediajoined hands to survey how much moneycandidates for president, vice president andsenators actually spend for campaigns.It confirms Miranda’s election spendingestimates, and reveals some candidates fornational positions, particularly for presidentand vice president, actually spent P400million-P600 million each for the 90-dayofficial campaign period.The report, “The Ground War, A CampaignField Finance Monitoring in the2010 Philippine and National and LocalElections,” was published by the Institutefor Political and Electoral Reform (QuezonCity), the Consortium on Electoral Reforms,Pera at Pulitika, and two Washington,D.C.-based agenciesUnited States Agency forInternational Developmentand InternationalFoundation forElectoral Systems.Likewise, ACNielsen Media Researchof Schaumburg,April 9-22, 2013Tulay FORTNIG HTLY

cover9lectionsy can buyIllinois, monitored political ads in 2010.It estimates candidates for those two postsspent a total P4.3 billion on just political adsmonitored during the 90 days.Just as damning was the report on how 12party list groups affiliated with the Aquino-Roxas ticket were found to have spent overP426 million for television ads alone.And worse, that while their ads campaignedfor Aquino and Roxas, neithercandidate included the costs in their expensestatements.Akabayan, the party list to which Aquino’ssisters contributed tens of millions of pesos,was monitored to have spent over P112 millionfor their campaign.This violated election laws on campaignexpenses, as party list groups only need twoper cent of the total number of votes nationwideto win a seat, or about 1,040,000 votesper seat.Thus, they needed to spend only about P5million to win one seat, and P15million for three in Congress.Party list groups are allowedup to three seats at thelower house, dependingon the number ofvotes they can muster.They are supposed torepresent the poorest, lessprivileged sectors, andare expected to be morerestrained, and serve asexamples of less traditional, less expensiveforms of politics.Incredibly, while all surveys agreed thatalmost all candidates spent more than whattheir expense reports said, thus breakingspending limits, Comelec only chastised afew local candidates.Ferdinand Rafanan, lawyer, past directorof Comelec’s Law Department and now itsdirector for Planning, concurs with the surveyfindings.Lawmakers and the commission itself havemade laws on amounts for election spendingand media exposure “almost impossible” toimplement, says Rafanan, because enforcementrules and procedures have become “soambiguous and convoluted.”He adds that Comelec lawyers are toothlessand unable to enforce the rules properly, citinglack of manpower to audit the paper trail anddocumentation.Tawagon, three years at the Comelec, is theonly lawyer who monitors election expensesfor the 2013 elections.She will work with a Comelec director andhas one legal assistant, both of whom alsohave other things on their plates, as does she.“I handle about 100 other cases... caseson candidates asking for exceptions from thegun ban or who have violated the gun ban,complaints against candidates who violate thelaw regulating poster sizes, many other cases.”So, realistically, all the Commission hasbeen able to do every election is to see thatcandidates submit their election fi nancialstatements on time, says Concha.“There are new laws asking the Bureau ofInternal Revenue, the Anti-Money LaunderingCouncil to help us audit all these papers...it’s not exactly clear how they are supposed tohelp, and what sort of help they can give us.There are only a total of 15 lawyers assignedat the Law Department.”True cost of costly electionsUltimately, Miranda notes, the true cost ofelections is not monetary.“Costly elections work to destroy a democracy.Even without violence, the way wePublic funds –taxpayers’ – assertsMiranda, pay for theircampaigns. And if thoseare not enough, theysolicit contributions fromfriends and businesses.Thus, “for generations,these families have onlyserved their own andtheir friends interests,and not that of thepublic,” he says.conduct elections denotes the destruction ofdemocracy,” he says.“The dominant pattern of electionsthroughout our history has been that theyare incredible, dishonest, opportunistic andelitist.”The system itself, he adds, is oligarchic, theelections really contests among oligarchs, thusit creates and promotes political dynasties.“Ruling families monopolize governmentpositions and use these positions to enrichtheir clans and perpetuate themselves inpower.“The Commission, supposed to guard thevote, has shown bias for or against candidates,and has itself violated the law,” Miranda says.For his part, Rafanan says, “Winners cancontrol everything in their constituency,they monopolize the politics and use theirpower to control government finances andprojects… the very few, very rich, or theirfavored candidate, can compete in elections,it is the very few who have also dominatedpolitics throughout history. That’s why wehave political dynasties....they put their wives,children and other relatives in government togain more monopoly over power.”As of last count, over 70 percent of congressmenare members of political dynasties.That means over six out of 10 in Congressare from families who have ruled over a region,province or city for decades, and haverelatives, wives, husbands, grandparents,ELECTIONS, p. 10Tulay FORTNIGHTLY April 9-22, 2013

10special featureELECTIONS(from p. 9)parents, children and so on, in aposition of power in government.“Dynasties destroy good governance,”Rafanan adds, “because youcannot make these families accountablefor whatever laws they breakor what taxes they steal... the jokeis on us, the voting public, becausethese families do not even spendtheir own money during elections.”Public funds – taxpayers’ – payfor their campaigns, he asserts.And if those are not enough, theysolicit contributions from friendsand businesses.Thus, “for generations, thesefamilies have only served their ownand their friends’ interests, and notthat of the public.”He is referring to incumbent candidateswho use government publicworks like building roads, schools,clinics, and so forth, to maintain orgain more votes or even buy votes.By attaching their names to suchprojects – paid for by taxes – theymake it appear as if the voting publicshould thank them for the newschool or bridge.In the 2008 fertilizer fund scam,former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo was accused of havingredirected over P700 million toher 2004 campaign kitty, whichincluded big shares for her congressmensons in Pampanga and Bicol.The funds were to go to fertilizersand farm inputs for poor farmers.Pork barrel funds are likewise usedby legislators to dole out projects tofavored constituencies to increasetheir chances of winning in elections,even using public works, funded bytaxes, to shore up their names.To break this pattern, lawmakersmust “enforce the anti-dynastyclause in the Constitution...Prosecute those who violate alllaws on fair elections,” Rafanan says.Miranda is less optimistic.“It will take three or moregenerations for us to reform theelectoral system. And only if wehave by that time, a truly patrioticresponsible leadership, leaders whosincerely want our people andthis country to move forward, todevelop, and not leaders who onlythink of their families, friends andbusiness interests,” he says. TTNGOs join hands to helpurban poor in PampangaBy Jonah C. Martinhe partnership started withefforts by Kaisa Para SaKaunlaran to fight povertyby encouraging private sectorTsinoys to join hands with government.One result is a partnershipthat developed between Livingfor Christ Foundation, Inc. ofCaloocan City and May GinhawaAt Gawa-Action To Serve (MGAGAWA-ACTS), Inc. of Manila.The two joined hands to addressthe needs of Nayong Tsinoy communityin San Simon, Pampanga.Nayong Tsinoy is a housingproject for the homeless. Plansare to build 800 houses on a10-hectare property with provisionfor community centers, facilitiesand livelihood establishments.The land was donated by CathayMetal Corp., Quezon City.After a study tour at NayongTsinoy over two weekends, MGAGAWA held a “Tuina (),Kalusugan at Kabuhayan” seminaron Feb. 14-17.At the community, Dr. Tan ChoChiong and the MGA GAWAprovided orientation sessions explainingthe importance of health,how it can impact on daily lifestyleand to pass knowledge and skills toparticipants.Tan also explained how applicationof learning can bring in additionalincome to feed the family.Thirty-one of some 300 residentsattended the Batch Onetraining.Topics discussed were: strengtheningleadership capacity, roles incommunity health, basic health,proper nutrition, herbal medicine,bioenzyme, Tuina massage therapy,meridians, setting up a Tuina clinicand sustainability.Tan also discussed what to do incase of emergency, how to locatethe patient’s pulse, how to deal withhypertension, food that causes unhealthyconditions and affect liver,kidney, stomach, heart andother meridians.The participants weretaught to apply lessons inthe primary health careprogram.Tan spoke of China’s experiencewith barefoot doctors:peasants who serve asdoctors in far-flung areas.The seminar was heldwith an eye on two of the eightMillennium Development Goals:reduce child mortality and improvematernal health.These targets were aimed at significantlyreducing poverty by theyear 2015.Member countries of the UnitedNations reaffi rmed in 2000 theircommitment to world peace andsecurity, good governance, and attentionto the most vulnerable byagreeing to support these goals,which also address other issues,including education, environmentand development.Tan’s seminar laid the groundworkfor training future communityhealth workers to serve NayongTsinoy and communities beyond it.The four-day seminar-workshopincluded lessons about bioenzymecleaners.Participants learned the code “Itend to three” (1-10-3), which refersto the formula that combines onecup sugar, 10 cups water, and threecups fruit peels.Keep this mixture for threemonths or more, it becomes an effectivecleaning agent for the floor,pipes and comfort room clogs, airspray and dishwashing liquid.Trainer Elizabeth Yu saidif establishments, schools andgovernment agreed to adopt thisbioenzyme cleaner, “this couldcontribute to healthy environmentin the country.”The 31 participants shared interestsin the preparation and cookingof herbal medicine. There was cooperationand smiles as they preparedthe ingredients.They talked about how theycan expand the entrepreneurshipproducts they have just learned.They learned to prepare variousconcoctions: BSL (bawang-luya-sili)oil (one cup garlic, one cup ginger,three cups vegetable or coconutoil) for rheumatism and arthritis;Lagundi granules (one cup sugar,three cups lagundi leaves, three cupswater) for coughs and juices fromvegetables and herbal plants; andlemon grass with ginger for thosewith stomach pains, moringa ormalunggay juice and camote leavesfor anti-oxidants.Dr. Tan and other MGAGAWA volunteers giveseminar-workshopon health (top left),bioenzyme (top),preparatioin and cookingof herbal medicine(above) and reflexology(left) to Nayong Tsinoycommunity in Pampanga.Learning modules by MGAGAWA and trainers’ guidancehelped the participants pick upthe lessons.They were also keen to learnabout ventosa or cupping, a traditionalChinese health treatmentsaid to be effective for commoncolds, coughs and flu, chronicbronchitis and asthma, muscularpain and tension, lower backache,frozen shoulder, tennis elbow,digestive weakness and irregularmenstruation and dysmenorrhea.The trainees practiced andshowed their results to the conferencespeakers and organizers.When the workshop was over,participants received certificates.MGA GAWA received a token ofappreciation from LFCF.Meanwhile, MGA GAWAmade a commitment to hold moretraining sessions in the future afterother needs of Nayong Tsinoyresidents are identified. TApril 9-22, 2013Tulay FORTNIG HTLY

health11Eating and digesting food are majorfunctions of the human body. We eatto get energy to work. Our stomachand bowels need to digest and absorb properlythe nutrients we eat.Here are 14 stomach-friendly tips to helpyour digestion:1. Eat six small meals a day. Most nutritionistsrecommend five to six small mealsa day.First, this will help reduce sudden surges inyour blood sugar. Second, it prevents overeatingbecause of hunger. Third, the smaller foodintake is easier to digest. And fourth, frequentmeals help prevent hyperacidity and ulcers.Eat several times a day, but just a little. Abanana or an apple can be considered a snack.14 tips forhealthy2. Twobananas aday keeps thedoctor away.Bananas are thehealthiest fruitsbecause they helptreat diarrhea, fatigue,heartburn, insomnia,menstrual problems andkidney problems.A six-inch banana contains 16 percentof the dietary fiber, 15 percent of the vitaminC, 11 percent of the potassium and 20 percentof the vitamin B6 recommended each day.Based on these nutritional values, wecould make a case for the banana as a naturalmultivitamin.Between banana varieties, the lakatan type(yellowish and tastier) has a higher vitamin Ccontent compared to the latundan (white withthinner skin) variety.3. Avoid the working lunch. Lunch ismeant for eating only. Combine eating andmental work, and this can lead to indigestion.Your body will be confused on what youwant it to do. Do you want it to digest yourfood or think? A possible consequence: stomachupset and hyperacidity.digestionHealth MonitorBy Willie T. Ong, MD4. Drink eight to 10 glasses of water aday. Drinking water is good for the bowels.Water helps wash off the acid in thestomach. It can also help cure kidneydiseases, urinary tract infection and migraineheadaches.The best way to drink water is to sip itlittle by little throughout the day rather thanto gulp down two glasses at once. Doing sowill lessen the stress on your heart.5. Wash your hands properly. Accordingto infectious disease expert Dr. MediadoraSaniel, washing the hands is the single mosteffective technique to prevent infections.Wash them thoroughly with soap andwater before and after eating. You can preventdiseases like typhoid, gastroenteritisand cholera.6. Choose “stomach-friendly” food. Trykeeping a food diary and list the food gentleto your stomach (you feel good and calm afterwards)and those that wreak havoc to yourstomach (you get gurgling and discomfortafter eating).Generally, avoid too much spicy food,like chili and hot sauce. Consume in moderationsour food like vinegar, calamansi andpineapple juice, as these can cause hyperacidity.Some food, like yogurt, contain healthylactobacilli bacteria which are good for thestomach.7. Choose hot, instead of cold food.Studies show that compared to the Japanese,Chinese people have fewer cases of stomachdisorders probably because the Chinese liketheir tea, rice and food piping hot. On theother hand, the Japanese have their cold sushiand sashimi diet.Hot chicken soup, tea, milk and plain hotwater are excellent food because they canwarm and relax the stomach muscles.Avoid very cold drinks that jar and upsetyour stomach.8. Choose soft, instead of hard, food.Congee, rice, noodles, papaya and boiled fishare easier to digest than steaks, crispy pata anddry meat. Hard food make the stomach’s jobdoubly hard.When eating these food, use a sharp knifeto cut your food into little pieces, and chewthoroughly. Be careful when chewing meatbecause bony fragments can chip your teeth.9. Eat more vegetables and fruits. Thesecontain healthy fiber, which are good for thedigestion. Fiber promotes bowel movementand helps prevent bowel cancer.A common bowel disease called diverticulosisresults from eating too little fiber.Vegetables like okra, kangkong and cabbageare rich in fiber. Fruits rich in fiber are appleswith the skin and oranges with the membranein-between.10. “No” to santol seeds. To all santollovingpeople: Never, never swallow a santolseed. It could be your last.There are hundreds of reported deathsfrom swallowing it. The seeds have sharppointy edges that can perforate the intestines.Smaller seeds, however, like those found intomatoes and okra are safe and will not causeappendicitis.11. Wear loose pants. If you are proneto heartburn, avoid wearing tight jeans. Thetightness of the pants constricts and addspressure to your abdominal cavity, causingfood to back up.Some people also have stomach hernia:the closing valve between the stomach andesophagus is loose. This makes them proneto heartburn.My favorite tailor can make speciallydesignedadjustable pants with garter. Theseare stomach-friendly pants that stretch whenyou sit or eat a lot.12. Eat slowly. Eating slowly gives yourstomach time to digest the food, thus causingless stomach upset. Just relax and eat well.13. Walk after eating. After a full meal,take a 15-minute leisurely walk. Staying uprightand helping gravity push the food downaids digestion.You’ll also avoid becoming a victim of“bangungot syndrome,” which is probably dueto acute pancreatitis. So instead of dozing offafter a heavy meal, take a stroll.14. Pray before meals. “What does prayergot to do with it?” You might ask?Well, it’s nice to say grace before eatingand give thanks to the people who preparedthe food.We can also pray for those who have lessfood to eat. And once the food is blessedand you are all relaxed, you can now enjoyyour meal.TTulay FORTNIGHTLY April 9-22, 2013

12featureChinese Buddhist templesof the PhilippinesEditors Note: This is the sixth of a series about the 36 ChineseBuddhist temples of the Philippines. Much of the informationis from a thesis of Venerable Chuanmiao (Hsuan Chuang University,2008), a Buddhist monk affiliated with the ThousandBuddha Temple in Quezon City.14. Manila Buddha Temple 普 陀 寺1155 Masangkay Street, Sta. Cruz, ManilaTel.: 254-7901 • 254-8645Ruman (), its founder, first came to Manila in 1939,invited by Xingyuan () – the first monk to come tothe Philippines – to assist at Seng Guan Temple.While there, he compiled a Dharma service or liturgy forchanting the name of Amitabha Buddha () that isstill in use today at most of the temples in the Philippines.In 1948, he decided to rent his own place on AlonzoSt. and named it Buddha Temple (). He also invitedhis Dharma brother, Ruyi (), to come from China andassist him.The temple’s present site was bought in 1951 andconstruction completed in 1958. Ruman was abbot and in1969, also built Baguio Buddha Temple. Ruyi became abbotthere. Both monks died in 1983.The temple’s board of directors arranged for a successionof monks to take charge of both temples. Xinli () served1984-1991, Tiwen () 1991-1996. Then the present abbot,Daoyuan (), came for an indefinite stay. Since 1984,both temples have been headed by only one abbot.15. Baguio Buddha Temple碧 瑤 普 陀 寺Assumption Road, Baguio City(near St. Louis University)Tel.: (074) 619-2594Baguio’s cool climate is very conducive tospiritual retreats, but for a long time, thecity had no Buddhist temple where monasticsand devotees could stay.This prompted Ruman of Manila BuddhaTemple to purchase land in 1967 and beginconstruction of a temple. The project tookseveral years and opened in 1978.While Ruman was the founder, his Dharmabrother Ruyi was the first abbot. Both monksdied in 1983. Since 1984, Manila and BaguioBuddha temples have had only one abbotheading both.A strong earthquake in 1990 heavily damagedBaguio Buddha Temple, and reconstructionwork took two years. Daoyuan has beenin charge of this temple since 1996.In 2001, he invited Hengzhi () – aMain buildings. The temple has one building with threefloors. The ground floor entrance houses the shrine to Maitreyaand leads to an open area. The second floor has thetrained in California’s City of Ten ThousandBuddhas under Master Xuanhua () – totake charge of the temple’s daily affairs.Since then, she has gradually improvedfacilities and rented out to student boardersrooms originally intended for retreats.In the 1970s, Ruman created a Buddhistgarden with a large statue of the Buddha in thecity’s Burnham Park. However, the predominantlyCatholic population reacted negativelyto the project, and the large statue was broughtto the temple grounds.Main buildings. Like most buildingsin Baguio, the temple is on a hill. It isa tight complex of three buildings, plusthe small park with the Buddha statue.There are numerous bedrooms owing to theoriginal vision of the place as a Buddhist retreathouse. The main shrine is in the centralbuilding, and there are three Italian whitemarble statues of the Buddha flanked by theBodhisattvas Manjusri and Samanthabhadra.The ancestral hall and dining room is ona lower fl oor. Facing the main shrine, thebuilding to the right has a hall with altars toKsitigarbha, Guanyin, and Amitabha Buddha.A small chan meditation () room with aBy Fr. Ari C. Dy, SJancestral hall, shrine to Ksitigarbha and the dining area. Themain shrine to the three Buddhas is on the third floor, alongwith the monks’ quarters at the back.Leadership and primary activities. Since 1996, Daoyuan,who came to Manila aged 33, has initiated many culturalactivities. A painter himself, he organized four cycles of freepainting and calligraphy lessons. He published a picture bookof his own artwork, established a Buddhist cultural association,and started a monthly magazine called Buddhism in thePhilippines in 2006.He and assisting monk Guangzhi () have maintainedgood relations with Taiwanese groups like Tzu ChiFoundation () and Foguangshan (), as well astemples run by nuns such as Un Siu and Holy Buddhist,where they frequently lead Dharma services that have tobe led by male monastics.Manila Buddha Temple’s regular chanting day is the 29thof the lunar month, and the devotion is usually to SamantabhadraBodhisattva.The Guanyin feasts are observed on the 16th of correspondingmonths to prevent competing with other temples,especially Seng Guan Temple nearby.Other highlighted feasts are those of Samanthabhadra (21stday, second month), the Buddha’s birthday (observed on the4th day sixth month), the Yulanben festival (10th-12th days,seventh month), the Mid-Autumn Festival (chanting the Buddha’sthousand names on the 13th-14th days, eight month),and the year-end service (29th day 12th month).statue of Bodhidharma crowns the building.To the left of the main shrine is a pagodawith cremated remains of Ruman and Ruyi.Leadership and primary activities. Thereare no regular services here. People are freeto come on any day for their devotions, butthere are not too many devotees because fora long time there was no resident monastic.After Ruyi’s death and until Hengzhiarrived as caretaker, the abbot of both templeshas been based in Manila.Once a year in late March or early April, afew busloads of devotees come from Manilato chant the thousand names of the Buddha.This lasts from one day to three.Hengzhi has focused on finding resources toimprove the quality of the building’s interiors.When this is finished and with rental incomefrom student boarders, she hopes to initiatemore activities to propagate Buddhism. Sheserves as a kind of chaplain or prefect to the studentboarders, and has participated in interfaithactivities at the nearby St. Louis University.Chinese-Filipino nun who had renounced and TEMPLES, p. 13April 9-22, 2013Tulay FORTNIG HTLY

TEMPLES, from p. 1216. Ocean Sky ChanMonastery 海 天 禪 寺716 J. Abad Santos St., San Juan CityTel.: 723-6132 • 726-0600http://oceanskymonastery.blogspot.comThis is a branch temple of the Zhongtaishan(a.k.a. Chung Tai) Chan Monastery() in Puli (), Central Taiwan,founded by Master Weijue () in 1987.The grand monastery of Zhongtaishanwas inaugurated in 2001, and a Philippinedelegation was present. The delegation was somoved by the place and the ceremonies thatthey invited Zhongtaishan to open a branchin the Philippines.A five-storey building was built in SanJuan City. In 2002, two monks arrived andsupervised the design and construction of thebuilding’s interiors. Chan classes and chantingservices began in 2003.Main buildings. The ground floor housesa modest shrine to the three Buddhas, reception,and dining hall. The second floor has aclassroom and audio-visual room, library, offices,and Chan lineage wall. The meditationhall is on the third floor, and the upper floorsare the monastics’ living quarters.Leadership and primary activities. Atpresent, there are three nuns serving at thetemple, headed by Ven. Jianyong ().With a small group of volunteers, they organizenumerous activities, the most regular ofwhich are basic, intermediate, and advancedclasses in Buddhism and Chan meditation,offered in both English and Chinese.There is a weekly chanting service/repentanceceremony held on Saturday evenings,and morning services on the first and 15thof the lunar month. Other feast days are alsomarked, and throughout the year, one-dayChan recollections are organized on Sundays.More advanced devotees are invited toattend an annual seven-day retreat at theZhongtaishan monastery in Taiwan. Everysummer, two free summer camps for childrenare organized for different age groups. Eachlasts two weeks and includes classes in martialarts, art, and meditation.TChinesesurnamesDuring the Northern Song Dynasty (960-1127), the book A Hundred ChineseClan Names became popular. In it arecollected all the Chinese surnames in use at thattime, arranged in four-character lines of which alleven-numbered ones are rhymed.Although there is no coherence in subject andno apparent connection between one line andthe next, the lines read smoothly and were easyto remember.The book begins with these two lines: ZhaoQian Sun Li, Zhou Wu Zheng Wang.This was because the foundingemperor of the Song Dynasty hadsurname Zhao, which thereforebecame the symbol of the state andso occupied the first place in the listof surnames.The order of the other surnamesis basically a reflection of the politicalstatus of the families that bore them.The practice of deciding thestatus of a man by his surname didnot begin with the Song Dynasty.Before the unification of Chinaby the First Emperor of Qin, familyname and clan name were two differentbut related concepts.Family name denoted consanguinity;one was born to it. Later,when the aristocracy became moreand more conscious of their status,the use of clan names began.Clan names were adopted fromthe names of principalities, ranksor territories conferred on thearistocracy by the ruler.During the Warring States Period(475-221 B.C.), the familyname system and the clan namesystem got confused and after theunification of the country in theQin Dynasty (221-207 B.C.), thetwo merged.However, it was not until theHan Dynasty (206 B.C.-220 A.D.)that an integrated surname systembecame fully established.Towards the end of the EasternHan Dynasty (25-220), a specialsocial stratum consisting of bigpowerful families took shape ashigh officials and big landownersbegan to exert their political andeconomic powers.These families were dubbedgaomen (literally high gate) whichmeant a “socially and politicallyinfluential family.”Later, Emperor Xiao Wen Diof Wei designated the four wellknownsurnames of his day – Lu,Cui, Zheng and Wang – as gaomen.The family of Li sent a representativeto plead with the sovereignto include Li among gaomen. Henot only failed but Li became thelaughing stock of the day.In feudal times, marriage couldonly be arranged between matchingfamilies. In other words, someoneborn to gaomen would neverbe permitted to marry another ofhumble origin.During the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), Kong was given first place forthe purpose of promoting Confucianismand inculcating respect forthe great thinker and educator.In feudal society, the emperorhad the prerogative of grantinghis surname to officials who hadperformed outstanding service.A Hundred Chinese Clan Namescontains 438 single-character anddouble-character Chinese surnames.According to statistics, there arein fact more than 5,600 surnamesthat have existed in Chinese documentsare still existent. Tchinese culture13百 家 姓 Tulay FORTNIGHTLY April 9-22, 2013

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feature15The author (rightmost) and his family visit to Lirio Chan-Dapulag (seated,third from left) at her residence in Bobon, Northern Samar in November2009.RELATIVE, from p. 16help broadcast our search. On Jan. 5, someonecalled Chuan to say he is Yun Hui’s grandson.The following day, Chuan visited theirhouse and found family photographs sent byJose in the 1970s.Shenzhen TV, one of the media groups thathelped broadcast the search offered Chan-Dapulag’s family free airplane fare to Chinato cover the reunion they organized.Three relatives volunteered to come: acousin, Nelly Chan-Cruzat, from Batangas;Chan-Dapulag’s sister Jocelyn Chan-de Torresfrom Richmond, Canada; and her AuntieConching (Conchita Chan, Jose’s youngersister) from Antipolo. Chan-Dapulag herselfcould not go; her husband was very ill then.Not onlydid Chuanand Ihelped withthe search,we endedup acting astravel agentsourselves!He helpedorganize theevent withthe TV stationwhile I helpedthe Philippinedelegation puttogether theirtravel documents,such aspassports, visasand letters.Before she leftI met up with Chan-Cruzat to provide hersome final tips about traveling to China andlent her my handheld digital dictionary: itcomes in really handy for those of us whocannot understand Chinese.The three ladies met up in Hong Kong andtraveled together to Guangzhou on Jan. 28.Chuan was also there to guide the representativesof Yun Hui’s daughters.Too old to travel, Yun Hui herself couldnot be there. On the evening of Jan. 30,both families met for the first time duringa live Chinese New Year show at ShenzhenTV station. The show was broadcast all overChina, Hong Kong and Macau. Segmentsof the show were made available via Internetvideo upload.The next day, relatives took the three ladiesto Xiamen. There, they were treated to theweeklong Chinese New Year festivities.As well, there were additional momentsof fame when they were inter-viewed by the Xiamen Dailynewspaper and Fujian TV.They say time goes fast whenyou are having fun. With allthese happening in just overtwo months, time’s passagemight have felt more like aflash of lightning for the Chanfamily of Bobon!It was a-nother wonderfulmoment for me to have helpedreunite yet another family.It was especially moving tosee this happen during theChinese Spring Festival.This time, it was extraspecial because I met Chuan,a new friend and Chinesecounterpart who helpedmake it possible. TXue Ya Zhen, in this letterto Lirio’s father Zeng Fu Xi,pleads him and Zeng BingYuan to immediately visit hersick mother Yun Hui.Owen Chuan (),Xiamen’s relativefinder.Story coveredby Xiamen Dailynewspaper ().Surviving children of ZengYun Hui – Xue Ya Zhen, left,and Xue Yun Zhen, right –flank Conchita Chan (one ofthe daughters of Zeng BingYuan).Screen grabs of the video showing themoment the descendants of Zeng Bing Yuanand his sister Zeng Yun Hui were reunited.(Shenzhen TV, Guangdong province, China, Jan. 20, 2010.)Featured story: Jocelyn de Torresand her Chinese Aunt Xue YunZhen being interviewed by a FujianTV reporter.Dinner with the families of ZengYun Hui’s deceased son, Xue FuPing, during the Chinese New Yearfestival in Xiamen CityTulay FORTNIGHTLY April 9-22, 2013

16featureTulay FORTNIG HTLY09-22 April 2013Relative FinderTwo heads better than oneBy Eduardo Chan de la CruzMost of the people I have helped to find their Chinese relatives had links to ruralChina. Either their parents or grandparents grew up in an agricultural village, orhad once lived in one.For those unfamiliar with Tsinoys’ humble beginnings, searching for roots in China mayseem daunting. Actually, it is not, specially if one has a good understanding of the language.Just get hold of old letters from the mainland; usually, the village address is on the envelopes.These villages are same-surname-villages, everybody knows everybody.Zeng Bing Yuan’slast photo in early1980s. (Courtesy ofLirio Chan-Dapulag)Then there are exceptions.The family of my grandfather Zeng WenYi’s () friend is one example. His nameis Leonardo Chan or Chan Ping Guan (ZengBing Yuan ); he is originally from Xiamen.He settled in Bobon, Nothern Samar, atown next to my hometown.Most people visiting the Minnan speakingareas of Fujian province enter China atXiamen and are familiar with this large,bustling and fast changing metropolis. BingYuan may not have recognized it if he werealive to see Xiamen today.In November 2009, my China cousinscame to visit us in Samar. We toured themaround the residences of families in our areawith the same surname as ours: Zeng ().One of them was Lirio Chan-Dapulag,Bing Yuan’s granddaughter. At her house, sheshowed us some documents she had been keeping,documents that included letters from hergrandfather’s sister, Zeng Yun Hui (),from Xiamen.As a young boy in the early 1900s, BingYuan accompanied his uncle to seek betterlife in the Philippines. He had left behind inChina his sister Yun Hui.For decades, the two stayed in close touch.Bing Yuan made sure his children recognizedtheir Chinese kin and involved his eldest son,and Chan-Dapulag’s father, Jose (Zeng Fu Xi), in writing correspondence to China.In the early 1980s, both Bing Yuan and hissister were feeble from old age, so Jose madearrangements for his grandfather’s travel backto China. But in those years, getting traveldocuments proved problematic. In the end,both brother and sister died without a chanceto meet in person.With the elders gone, Jose ceased writingto China. He too died in early 2000s. Noneof Jose’s children or their cousins knew howto reconnect with their overseas relatives butremained curious about their distant kin.April I knew 9-22, it 2013 would be Tulay extremely FORTNIG difficult HTLY toZeng Yun Hui, Zeng BingYuan’s sister. (Courtesy ofher daughter Xue Ya Zhen.)look for Bing Yuan’s kin in a metropolis. Iwould have quickly given up, but it is unusualto see someone as eager as Chan-Dapulag toknow her roots.Happily, the hunt for her kin did not endin vain: it opened up an opportunity of newdiscoveries and a wonderful adventure forChan-Dapulag’s family.It was Dec. 12, 2009. How to start mysearch? I was stumped. I browsed the Internetand found a discussion forum http://www.askmehelpdesk.com. In it, someone in theUnited Kingdom was asking for help lookingup Xiamen relatives.Someone in China had responded to hisinquiry, saying he had been helping foreignersfind their roots in China and was willing tohelp. There was an email address, so I wrote tohim about my unusual hobby: relative finder.We exchanged experiences of relativePhotograph sent by Zeng Bing Yuan tohis sister in Xiamen showing his family inBobon, Northern Samar. (Photo courtesy ofZeng Ya Zhen, Yun Hui’s daughter.)searching and got to know each other: OwenChuan (Zhan Xian You ) an ethnicHakka who grew up in Fujian’s mountainousregion.Hakka people are well known for very closefamily bonds, closer than the usual Chineseties. Just look at their enclosed one-buildingvillages called Fujian Tulou (),earthen rural dwellings built between the12th and 20th centuries. These are three tofive storeys high housing up to 80 families!Before long, Chuan and I agreed on acollaborative project: to find Chan-Dapulag’sgrandaunt.He checked the old address from the lettersI gave him and found the old house in whichYun Hui stayed. But it has already stoodempty for many years.I sent Chuan scanned copies of Chan-Dapulag’s documents to give him more informationto work with. Chuan contacted thepolice to look for the names we found in theletters as well as asked his friends in media toRELATIVE, p. 15