Redefining what it means to be “Chinoy” in Season 5 of Chinese by Blood, Filipino by Heart
“As I grew older, I realized that being Chinese is actually more Filipino than we think, and being Filipino is more Chinese than we think.” – JP Chua, filmmaker and writer
The Chinese-Filipino community is not without its quirks, nuances, and extensive history, and the conversations about these topics are ever-present and never-ending. While one could find numerous books and multiple pieces of content online about the life of the Chinese in the Philippines anywhere, CHiNOY TV takes the discourse to a whole new level in the upcoming Season 5 of “Chinese by Blood, Filipino by Heart.” (CBFH) with the theme: Dugong Tsino Pusong Pinoy.
CHiNOY TV’s “Chinese by Blood, Filipino by Heart” is a documentary series that brings the different aspects of Chinese-Filipino culture to light by inviting prominent members of the community to impart their own knowledge and experiences to the audience. In previous seasons, some of the cast members included television hosts Gretchen Ho and Tim Yap, renowned chef Sharwin Tee, Filipino civic leader Teresita Ang See, and many more.
While the documentary has always focused primarily on the Chinoy community, Season 5 will give the audience an even deeper understanding of the community’s roots, redefining what it means to be Chinese-Filipino, furthering the discussions on Chinoy languages, and spotlighting new concepts of culture-sharing in the current generation.
The cast of Season 5 will also include a wide variety of personalities from different areas of the Chinoy community, such as Dr. Cecilio Pedro, President of the Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce (FFCCCII), Dr. Wilkinson Gonzales, assistant professor at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, and Dr. Z Teo, the CEO of the Aivee group of companies.
Two of the episodes this season are done in collaboration with FFCCCII, an organization of Chinese-Filipino businessmen in the Philippines, and will highlight the contributions of the Chinoys to the country and the friendship that the Chinese-Filipino citizens continue to foster with other communities. In line with the documentary’s name and message, the episodes will also champion the organization’s 70th anniversary theme, “Dugong Tsino, Pusong Pinoy.”
With topics as big and important as the history of friendship between neighboring and intermingling communities in the season, CHiNOY TV’s refinement of the documentary turns it into a series befitting the more in-depth discussions within the five episodes. Taking into account the documentary’s wide variety of audiences, the fresh perspectives and artistic direction of the series are testaments to the passion that the “Chinese by Blood, Filipino by Heart” team has for the cause of educating the public on the Chinoy experience.
Make sure to catch the season premiere of CHiNOY TV’s “Chinese by Blood, Filipino by Heart” on September 8, with new episodes airing every Sunday at 8 PM on One News! You can watch it on Cignal TV, channels 8 SD and 250 HD, or stream it on Cignal Play. Plus, if you miss an episode, catch the replay every Saturday at 8:30 PM. For further updates, follow CHiNOY TV’s social media platforms.
