Friday, February 16, 2018

Celebrating Chinese New Year 2018: Prosperity and Abundance


Chinese culture and tradition were preserved by the Chinese-Filipino living in the Philippines for several generations, and they have continued to influence Filipinos in many ways.

Our lifestyle, which includes food, clothing, belief system, and even modern technology, is embraced and valued. We are always delighted by the colorful sights and architectural designs and entertained by classical musical instruments. These are some of the influences we've adapted for centuries and will continue to exist for generations. 

Chinese tradition is worthy of preservation since they show us how to love our culture, show respect to older people and share blessings with others.

It was in 2013 when I first experienced the Chinese new year in Binondo. The street was less crowded than at the celebration in 2018, yet people enjoyed the scenes and the Chinese cultural presentation. Celebrating the Chinese New Year 2013: A New Beginning is worth reminiscing about since it awakened my curiosity and fascination with Chinese history and culture and their massive influence on Filipino culture. Today, Binondo is a great cultural hub and an important economic center in Manila. 

The district is vibrant and creates nostalgia as the world's oldest Chinatown. Centuries of cultural and economic ties have formed great friendships and closer relationships. There's a particular bond that unites us, and by embracing each other's culture and beliefs, we're leaving a legacy to future generations of the lasting friendships we have formed through the years. 

The video above; click the arrow to view

Celebrating Chinese New Year 2017: An Auspicious Celebration was about optimism and higher hopes of what will happen or a prediction of fate. Truly a magnificent celebration becomes surreal, and it does a beautiful thing about present and future living. The forecast has become magical with the Chinese zodiac, bringing a wondrous surprise. Being hopeful to the highest degree attracts opportunities, which was a reality in 2017. Something extraordinary happened, and another chapter has opened, which is bigger and brighter. 

2018 was also welcomed, with hopes and aspirations for a more abundant and prosperous life. We have been dreaming of a comfortable and simple life dedicated to service. No matter what influences we have embraced, still, we are Filipino in words, deeds, and thoughts. 

We will continue to be more optimistic about what is unknown and not live in fear but dare to face the challenges with perseverance and a positive attitude. Like the Tsinoy or the Chinese-Filipino, they have succeeded because of their mindset of abundance, having enough, and always asking for more to share what they have. 

Prosperity is about receiving and acknowledging the blessings coming into our lives and taking a part of it to give back and become a blessing to others in need.

May 2018 give you a meaningful life, a prosperous and abundant life, and dreams coming true in the years to come. 

© 2018 Del Cusay



Sunday, February 11, 2018

Never Chase For Happiness: You can Create it


Some people say that to be happy, we must be successful at what we do; we have to reach for our dreams, our destiny, and not the imagined reality. That sounds true to some, but happiness starts to ignite from within. It is not to be chased, and it is never a destination. It may be a journey we create that, even at the crossroads, we still find that little spark of happiness.

There was a guy who was never content with his present life. He finds his world as dull and unexciting. Full of doubts and negativity, he always finds happiness in the presence of a group of friends and is dependent on them. He is not entirely in control and tends to worry in the absence of his friends, whom he considers his own family. He has a lifestyle others couldn't afford and feels happy to have friends with the same personality and lifestyle. The guy wanted to win his friends by bragging about the new things he owned, and that makes him happy when he is praised or idolized. It's a narcissistic personality that is too expensive for someone to possess. He has to compete with others wherever he goes and wants to stay caught up. He can be happy if in the presence of friends but can't motivate himself. He has to chase happiness from others to get comfortable and secure and feel down when alone.

Happiness is something we create and is not entirely dependent on other's opinions of us. There is happiness in solitude, even more than in the presence of a group or team. Happiness comes from the security of oneself and the confidence to own a personal battle. Wherever we go, we find happiness from even meaningful small things. Indeed, we create our own reality, and we can always survive a journey of a thousand miles if we can rely on ourselves. Happiness comes from within and is projected onto others. We create a wave of happiness that is contagious, and that improves our feelings and intrapersonal relationships. Happiness is everywhere, but it can be found first, not from afar or a specific type of person or a group. When we recognize our soulful desires, our heart feels joyful, leading to the eternal happiness we deserve.

© 2018 Del Cusay



Sunday, February 4, 2018

Pasinaya 2018: Love for the Philippine Arts


As a Filipinos, we always must uphold loyalty and patriotism to our country. When we were conquered by foreign invaders, we adopted their ways; language, arts, music, culture, and tradition. For hundreds of years until now, we have had these influences on our lifestyle, our way of living. We have embraced colonialism and slowly neglected our original identity of being Filipino. Although we are considered to be of mixed races by blood, our identity will still be the soul of our nation, and as One Filipino, we will take pride in our culture wherever we are and in whatever we do.

However, today, we must preserve our culture through the arts. The latest generation of Filipinos would have to appreciate the richness of the Philippine culture and pass it on to the next generation. Culture and tradition should never stop; they must continue to exist and evolve, but not obliterate. Hence, we can genuinely preserve it in literal form and in our minds and hearts. 


To appreciate and preserve our culture through the arts, the Cultural Center of the Philippines has been celebrating its annual Pasinaya Festival, which means to 'inaugurate' or 'opening' something grand and festive. The Pasinaya festival, in its 14th year, is gaining much-deserved attention from those who love arts and culture. It is a 2-day festival dubbed "Palihan at Palabas" where art lovers can enjoy workshops on various arts like dancing, singing, acting, writing, and theatrical performances. This is followed by a great showcase of artistic talents and renditions before thousands of viewers who appreciates and loves art. 

This is my 4th year experiencing the Pasinaya Festival, which never fails to amuse and entertain. Being Filipino is a great feeling to see performers from different art genres from other parts of the country. The viewers continue to grow yearly and are joyful with the presentations they may not have seen before. Ancient Filipinos' elegance, graciousness, and glamour only show some refinement in their way of living. So today, in our time, we glimpse how modern Filipinos can take us back to the early days when life seemed simple.

The CCP Resident companies are always in the spotlight. The classical pieces of the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra; The modern parts of the UST Philharmonic Orchestra;  the gracefulness of Ballet Philippines and Tanghalang Pilipino and the Bayanihan Folk Dance Company and other performing groups have shared their timeless pieces that are indeed a product of class and elegance.

Last year's Pasinaya 2017: Arts for Peace was a great experience, and the viewers were moved by the years' theme when Filipinos can be united through arts despite the unending conflicts. Skills for peace are significant in years to come as we battle to achieve everlasting peace and harmony. While on this year, 2018, is a calling to show our deepest love for the arts to revive our pure sense of patriotism.

Cultural preservation and fascination through arts will go a long way if we are united and show deeper love and loyalty to our national identity. Pasinaya Festival will be one of the greatest gifts we could offer future generations as they reflect deeply on who they are and what they can show and contribute to the world. This is just the beginning of igniting our artistic abilities to prove ourselves and show the world that we are Filipinos with a soulful desire and the greatest love for our nation through cultural appreciation and rendition. 

© 2018 Del Cusay