“This is it pansit” is a Filipino expression usually associated with significant milestones in life.
Every Pinoy celebration will not be complete without the staple food pancit that is considered a manifestation of Chinese influence in Philippine culture.
Pancit, also known as pansit, encompasses a diverse range of traditional noodle dishes that hold great significance in Filipino cuisine, especially when it comes to joyous occasions like weddings, baptisms, graduations, and, above all, birthdays.
The pancit is associated with inherently Chinese belief for edible harbingers of a long life and must not be cut short so as not to stall the symbolism.
The term “pancit” originates from the Hokkien phrase “pian i sit,” which translates to “something conveniently cooked fast.” Initially, Pancit did not exclusively refer to a noodle dish; instead, it encompassed any quick and easily prepared food item.
Noodles were introduced to the country by Chinese immigrants that have been fully adopted and modified in conformity with local customs and cuisine, even incorporating Spanish influence.
There are numerous types of pancit, often named based on the noodles used, method of cooking, place of origin, thickness, the toppings, or the ingredients. The most commonly used and consumed noodle variants are sotanghon, bihon, canton, or miki.
Pancit was mentioned in Chapter 25 (Laughter and Tears) of Jose Rizal’s El Filibusterismo, where he described the plate as a “soup made with mushrooms, prawns, shrimp, beaten egg, rice noodles, chicken, and God knows what else!”
Another expression is “iiwanan ka ng panahon kung lagi kang natutulog sa pansitan,” which means failure to grab an opportunity because of laziness. Pansit-pansitan (shiny bush, Peperomia pellucida Linn) is a very common herb that grows quickly in cool, damp places—carpeting nooks and yards with their soft, fleshy leaves.
Workers on the field often took a respite from their job and the harsh sun by napping on a patch of pansit-pansitan—hence, “natutulog sa pansitan.” A few might take their naps longer, and this sleeping on the job can result in unfinished work—and lost opportunities.
A replica of plate with pancit is displayed on a table of the portion of the Bahay Tsinoy museum that showcased the Filipino-Chinese kitchen.
The Bahay Tsinoy is a building in Intramuros, Manila that houses the Kaisa-Angelo King Heritage Center, a museum that documents the history, lives and contributions of the ethnic Chinese in Philippine life and history.
I am usually among those who converge along the streets of Binondo in celebration of Chinese New Year for the special performances (Dragon/Lion dances), cuisine, lucky charms, prosperity fruits, and boxes of “tikoy.”
Considered the world’s first and oldest Chinatown, Binondo was established in 1594 as a permanent settlement for Chinese immigrants, particularly those who had converted to Catholicism and intermarried with indigenous Filipinos.
It was positioned near Intramuros, but across the Pasig River, so that colonial rulers could keep a close eye on their migrant subjects amid fears of an imminent invasion from China.
In the years that followed, Binondo became the first stop for Chinese immigrants who arrived in Manila in search of a new life. It is the foundation of the Filipino-Chinese community amidst multiple occupations by our colonizers.
At present, the number of Filipino citizens who happen to be ethnic Chinese is now more than 1.2 million, or 1.2 percent of the total population of the Philippines.
Teresita Ang See of the Chinese-Filipino NGO Kaisa Para Sa Kaunlaran (KAISA) said in a paper that historically, there have been Chinese immigrants to the Philippines since the era of Spanish colonial rule.
However, the contemporary influx of Chinese immigrants into the Philippines started in the 1970s, especially after the establishment of diplomatic relations with China in 1975. It escalated in the 1980s with the market reforms instituted by Deng Xiaoping and the opening up of China to foreign markets.
The term “Tsinoy” was created by KAISA in 1992 as an alternative to “intsik,” which is quite harsh to the Tsinoy ear. Tsinoy is Tsinong Pinoy or Chinese Filipino, not Filipino Chinese (Filipino is the noun, Chinese is the adjective).
Ang See stressed that while the Tsinoys may recognize and take pride in their ethnic cultural heritage, they are simultaneously assimilated into all aspects of Philippine socio-economic and political life.
For the Tsinoys, Ang See added, their loyalty is first and foremost to the Philippines.
This sentiment is best encapsulated in the KAISA credo, which states: “Our blood may be Chinese, but our roots are deep in Philippine soil and our bonds are with the Filipino people.”
Kong Hei Fat Choi!
Peyups is the moniker of the University of the Philippines. Atty. Dennis R. Gorecho heads the seafarers’ division of the Sapalo Velez Bundang Bulilan law offices. For comments, e-mail info@sapalovelez.com, or call 0917-5025808 or 0908-8665786.