BINONDO: SYMBOL OF PERSEVERANCE
The sense of history one feels while walking from end to end of Ongpin is heightened upon seeing old but strong-looking Chinese women selling ‘tikoy’ — the sticky rice cake offered as good luck for the Chinese New Year.
On the surface, Manila’s Binondo district, the world’s oldest Chinatown community, may have lost its old glory to the ravages of time and march of progress. But its rows upon rows of stores offering jewelry, traditional medicine, charms and food remain open especially in anticipation of the Lunar New Year.
This is most evident on Ongpin Street, its main road which is bookended by two religious destinations, Binondo Church (more formally the Minor Basilica and National Shrine of Saint Lorenzo Ruiz) and Sta. Cruz Church (Our Lady of the Pillar Parish).
The attendants at the jewelry shops look bored and forlorn, probably due to slow sales owing to the pandemic, but the eateries draw residents and visitors alike.
There’s still an abundance of siopao, siomai and hopia — available at both the mom-and-pop stores and the Salazar and Ho-land bakeries.
The biggest of them all, Eng Bee Tin, now looks like a swanky department store, its interiors similar to that of an airport souvenir shop.
Sidewalk vendors boast having the freshest looking veggies and fruits.
The sense of history one feels while walking from end to end of Ongpin is heightened upon seeing old but strong-looking Chinese women selling tikoy — the sticky rice cake offered as good luck for the Chinese New Year.
These are the folks whose ancestors comprised the early wave of immigrants that left China during its impoverished, turbulent years to find and build a new life in the Philippines.
The ABS-CBN/Viva talent is appearing with Janine Gutierrez in ‘Dito at Doon,’ a new film where they play characters who meet in an online drinking session
Actor JC Santos is frustrated with long-distance relationships (LDR).
The ABS-CBN/Viva talent recalled traveling to Hong Kong just to be with a loved one. They have since parted ways.
JC is appearing with Janine Gutierrez in Dito at Doon, a new film where they play characters who meet in an online drinking session.
The characters make do with meeting on social media amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
Dito at Doon is directed by JP Habac who also helmed I’m
Drunk I Love You and BL series Gaya Sa Pelikula.
It is produced by the independent group TBA Studios and will premiere on 9 and 13 March at the Cine Libre Umeda in Osaka, Japan.
Its Philippine release is on 17 March.
Habac’s films are known for their open-ended denouements. Fans might think this will also happen in Dito at Doon.
However, at the media video conference, Habac kept mum about the film’s plot.
But he said it will tackle the state of romantic relationships during the pandemic, where the sense of intimacy is blurred.
Unlike JC, Janine said she’s okay with LDR. The 2020 Gawad Urian Best Actress pointed out that it helps to have an understanding boyfriend, referring to actor Rayver Cruz.
After the showing of a trailer of Dito at Doon, JC and Janine said that most of the film is about a couple’s arguments.
They also mentioned that shooting the film didn’t feel like work because there was onscreen chemistry as they were delivering their respective lines from the script.
Dito at Doon’s soundtrack will feature Ben&Ben’s “Nakikinig Ka Ba Sa Akin?”