Red

I read somewhere that a sign that you might be a Chinoy is that you have a red shirt in your closet. That is true! As shown above, in celebration of my father's 80th birthday, we were all in red!

Red in China is a symbol of good luck. You see a lot of red in celebrations like weddings and birthdays. When I was growing up, black was prohibited in our home. At that time, when there was a death in the family, we wore black. Then we have to wear a black pin for some time. I did not own a black pants or black shirt until I left the Philippines. I now married a pianist who wears black all the time when she performs on stage. Interestingly, since I joined Binondo Heritage Group and started writing this book, I noticed that the black car that I bought recently needed something red. I attached a red ornament.

Speaking of red and good luck, there were other things that we do and do not do when I was growing up. When my father saw a thin man coughing, he would immediately walk to the other side of the street with us in tow. He would cover his mouth and nose and asked us to do the same. I do not understand that when I was growing up. Now that I am a physician, my best guess is that there are many cases of tuberculosis in the Philippines. He might be concerned about it.

The is a street called Misericordia that we would pass on our way to Chinatown. There was a funeral parlor on the left side of the street. When we get close to it, he would ask us to look to the right until we pass. I did not ask him about it. Up to now, I still do not know why.

Death is also taboo in our house. For my mother, it is a curse if we talk about it. In the days of advance directives now, where patients discuss whether they want to be resuscitated or not, we still do not talk about it. For me, I made it clear to my wife that I want to be cremated. I want my ashes to be spread in the Pacific Ocean because I have friends and family in other sides.