Bridging cultures: What makes Tsinoys beautiful

Nicole Cordoves

Celebrities with Chinese lineage are quite popular nowadays. Kim Chiu, Richard Yap, the Teng brothers, Chris Tiu, Joyce Ching and Gretchen Ho are just a few that have gained notice because of their talents and overall appeal.

The hopefuls that have joined this year’s Mr. and Ms. Chinatown, a beauty pageant spotlighting Tsinoys, are likewise out to prove themselves.

Kurt Joshua Ong, a 19-year-old looker from De La Salle University, admits that he joined the contest to further his acting ambitions.

He belies the traditional stereotype of the shy and conservative Tsinoy, maintaining that he and his ilk are now more “modern” and “confident in expressing ourselves.”

Ong also points out, “The best thing about being Filipino-Chinese is that we are familiar with both Pinoy and Chinese cultures and it helps us establish connections particularly in business.”

Another candidate is Nicole Cordoves, 22. While she doesn’t look like your typical chinita, Cordoves is fluent in Fukien and Mandarin.

Kurt Joshua Ong

Cordoves redefines the modern Tsinoy as someone capable of changing with the times, but still keeping to the beauty of traditional custom.

“If you’re Filipino-Chinese, you have the best of both worlds: You’re sweet and out-going because you’re part Pinoy but you’re also driven and industrious because you’re part Chinese,” she opines.

If she wins, Cordoves promises to be a role model for young Tsinoys.

Last year’s winners, Randy See and Rolini Lim Pineda participated in a number of charity events including those benefiting victims of typhoon “Yolanda.”

“Mr. and Ms. Chinatown try and help bridge Filipino and Chinese communities because I really believe that if we are united, we will be more progressive,” Pineda states.

Bridging cultures: What makes Tsinoys beautiful

Source: Mb.com.ph (June 28, 2014 at 03:15PM)

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