Ethnic Chinese stars in Philippine showbiz
Unknown to many, members of the ethnic Chinese minority have been involved in the development and growth of Philippine entertainment industry through generations. Entertainment is considered a “non-traditional” career path for the usually business-oriented ethnic Chinese minority. Since it is the Chinese New Year, let us acknowledge their manifold contributions to the exciting and colorful world of showbiz.
1 MOTHER LILY YU MONTEVERDE Top movie producer Mother Lily of Regal Films is the daughter of Filipino Chinese community leader, Uno High School owner and copra tycoon Domingo Yu Chu, while her husband Remy Monteverde is the son of a successful ethnic Chinese copra trader with the Chinese surname Dy.
2 JOSE MARI CHAN The famous singer-songwriter is the son of the late Chinese immigrant self-made tycoon Antonio Chan who became one of the Philippines’ top sugar industry leaders. Joe Mari Lim Chan speaks fluently Ilonggo, Tagalog, English and Hokkien Chinese.
3 SUSAN ROCES Movie queen Susan Roces is a Filipina/Jewish/ Chinese mestiza who could speak Hokkien (south Fujian province language) and knows some local Filipino Chinese customs.
4 AMALIA FUENTES The late movie queen was the child of a German/ Spanish mestizo who married a Chinese Bicolana mestiza, and she told Philippine STAR columnist that she was still a teenager studying at Grace Christian High School (now Grace Christian College) before she was discovered for showbiz.
5 RICHARD POON The singer-songwriter is the son of the Hong Kongborn restaurateur Robert Poon and the Taiwan-born Eva Huang. His sister Eva Marie Poon is multi-lingual singer and host. 6 KIM CHIU The actress is the daughter of a Mindoro businessman William Chiu and Surigao del Sur resident Louella Yap.
7 XIAN LIM The actor reportedly got his name from the famous ancient Silk Road starting point city of Xian in China.
8 CONEY REYES Her real name is Constancia Angeline Reyes Nubla. This respected and idealistic Christian actress is Chinese mestiza. Her father’s Chinese surname is “Ko”, and “Nubla” was an adopted name. One of her relatives was the late Ralph Nubla, legendary president of the Federation of Filipino Chinese Chambers of Commerce & Industry, Inc. (FFCCCII) and chairman of Philippine Bank of Communications (PBCom). Another relative was the late China Bank Chairman Marcelo Nubla.
9 ENCHONG DEE The actor is a Chinese mestizo who graduated from Naga Hope Christioan School, an excellent private school with Chinese-language classes.
10 RICKY F. LO The late legendary PhilSTAR entertainment editor and columnist Ricardo Fua Lo was the son of an immigrant Chinese who became successful trader in Las Navas in Northern Samar, and Ricky Lo graduated from the century-old, prestigious Tabaco Pei Ching School of Tabaco, Albay province.
11 JAMES G. DY Music industry tycoon and philanthropist James G. Dy is famous for building up Dyna Records, Wea, Universal Records. He heads the Philippine Chinese Charitable Association, the Chinese General Hospital, and he was past president of the Filipinas Civic and Fraternal Association (Long Se Lee association of all members of the Li, Lee, Dee, Dee clan).
12 RICHARD YAP A former furniture executive, the actor is full-blooded ethnic Chinese from Cebu and has restaurant investments.
13 RICKY LEE The multi-awarded scripwriter and novelist Ricardo Lee is the son of the late long-time secretary general of the Camarines Norte Filipino Chinese Chamber of Commerce. Born and raised in Bicol, he studied AB English at University of the Philippines (UP) in Diliman. He nevertheless chose to write mainly in the Filipino language.
14 JASON DY Talented singer born in Cebu, he won “The Voice” singing competition.
15 RACHELLE ANN GO Top singer and international music theater actress.
16 DENNIS TRILLO Trillo is only his screen surname, his real surname is Ho. 17 SLATER YOUNG
The actor and “Pinoy Big Brother” winner is son of a Filipino Chinese steel manufacturing entrepreneur in Cebu, and Slater’s wife is blogger Kryz Uy.
18 WILSON TIENG Big boss of Solar Films and Solar Entertainment.
19 ROBBIE TAN Producer of the once famous Seiko Films.
20 MICHELLE DEE & DEREK DEE Michelle is Chinese mestiza beauty queen, daughter of beauty queen actress Melanie Marquez and former action film actor Derek Dee. Michelle is seventh generation member of the Dee/Dy/Lee clan of entrepreneurs who came to Manila in 1750s, became lumber pioneers in the 19th century due to lumber tycoon Dy Han Kia and her granduncle founded China Bank in 1920.
“Entertainment is considered a “nontraditional” career path for the usually business-oriented ethnic Chinese minority.”