There’ s no denying that I like pandas… a lot - It is my identity, my soul, my all. If you were to ask me when this all started, I could not. Since I was a child, I have had a soft spot for these big yet cute, fluffy yet stubborn, black-and-white bears. (This essay is hugely devoted to them. I know. I’ m a bit biased.)
So you cannot imagine how exhilarated I was when I heard that two Beijing-gifted pandas “An An” and “Ke Ke” were coming to town, as well as it was around the time of the birth of the local panda twins, nicknamed “Elder Sister” and “ Younger Brother” by the public.
The scene is set perfectly: the names are eloquent - the former “An Ke” wishes good fortune to come upon Hong Kong, while the latter embodies the human warmth unique to Hong Kong people. (At the time of writing, their names have not yet been decided; I hope the nicknames can stay.) My companions flooded the headlines for weeks, so as an avid lover of pandas, what more could you ask for?
The Sprout of Economy
From an economic standpoint, the surge in Hong Kong’ s panda population has also done wonders. Ever since the arrival of the new pandas, it has been hoped that they could revitalize our stagnant economy and tourism industry, and so it has. With the non-stop touting of the “Panda Economy” idea by the Hong Kong government, authorities and lawmakers, everyone has been jumping on the “panda fever” bandwagon - from stocks of plushies to self-made custard buns, and from decorated train stations to custom-themed exhibitions. Retailing, food and beverage, hospitality, transport… You name the industry, and pandas have got their back.
Hong Kong’ s craze over pandas has not stopped since - Ocean Park has been actively focusing their spotlight on the new cubs: online broadcasting the twins daily at designated times, hosting a panda twins naming competition, establishing the “Panda Twins Fan Club” , to name a few. They have given a fresh impetus to Hong Kong’ s rather dire economic status. Not only have they encouraged a rise in Hongkongers’ s domestic consumption and competed with the trend of “Going North” , but they have also captivated Mainland and foreign tourists to travel to Hong Kong to catch a glimpse of my friends.
They have, in a sense, become the ambassadors of Hong Kong. Appearing everywhere in promotional materials, they have successfully uplifted the overall friendly atmosphere and cohesion of our society What’ s, even more, so is the statistics that prove themselves, with surveys finding that more than half of Hongkongers are happy with the birth of the local twins, being more willing to splash cash on related products, as well as recommending other friends and relatives to come here.
The Supposed Characteristics of My Beloved
With their chubby cheeks and dark circles, we can all agree that pandas resemble cuteness and laziness, their signature moves include chewing bamboo, “lying flat” , sleeping and rolling down a hill. Moreover, being the national animal of China, pandas symbolize the morals that the people adore - peace and friendship - and have been deeply instilled into our beliefs. Traditionally, the black and white furs of pandas are also considered a manifestation of Yin-yang - they have the perfect balance of the two colours, which are two opposing forces of nature, representing the importance of harmony.
Being listed as one of the endangered species in the world, pandas are icons of environmental conservation not only in China but across the globe. Ironically, however, they are plentiful in Hong Kong in terms of counterfeits. I may be subjective aesthetically, but it is rather apparent that some retailers give no effort in creating a visually pleasing panda product. It’ s fair to say that our streets have been peppered with panda defects, with their true value slowly gravitating towards a shallower goal: society’ s materialism.
Don’t get me wrong - I greatly enjoy the emotional support my friends provide me, but deep down, something’ s been off The serenity they once exuded, the concept of standing aloof from worldly affairs, the reminder that we should cherish the environment I’ m afraid that, in Hong Kong, it has slowly but surely vanished.
Prophet or Profit?
Another question then comes: will this economy even work in the long term? From representing the admired and praised spirit of a country’ s people to a mere mascot, the image of my friends has been dramatically exploited by some as just a means of attention-grabbing and, to an extent, a source of pure revenue. It cannot be denied that this new batch of pandas has magnetized a new audience in Hong Kong, but what is the next step? We can ’t expect more of my friends to suddenly appear in Hong Kong and bring about another wave of economic benefits
Heavily relying on them to sustain an entire economy is an unreasonable thing to concur with. Yes, pandas are cute (very), but could we really expect my companions to be our financial saviour and save us from this long-running woe? We - and I speak for the community of pandas - are not prophets nor profits. We are more than willing to become the centre of attention but are nowhere near being the saints of Hong Kong’ s economy. Let’ s not put us on the pedestal that some highly proclaim to be.
Ultimately, roots must be of the right climate to be formidable such that they can support the entirety of a tree. Not because I don’t trust my adorable friends, it’ s just that the responsibility ahead is out of our capability. Will this be viable? Only time can tell.
Losing the Cultural Roots of Hong Kong?
The thing I worry most about, however, isn’t really how my good friends are being rather mistreated (although true), but what this means to the unique cultural heritage Hong Kong once had.
Famed for being a cultural melting pot, people come from far and wide to adore such a place, to be immersed in such an environment, and to spread the word to their friends. This is an anxious sight to see, lamentably, for it seems that the people, the government as well as the economy now considerably depend on this “panda mania” to thrive. Not that it’ s necessarily a bad thing per se, but Hong Kong has so much more to offer - the unmatched night skylines of Victoria Harbour, the delicate dim sums, the hand-crafted mahjong, the spirit of the Lion Rock… Why are these unparalleled features of Hong Kong not harnessed and promoted more? The panda theme could well be incorporated more into these treasures of Hong Kong, initiating a trend of collaboration that is memorable, long-lasting and sustainable.
For the sake of the prestigious stature of pandas, the fragile prosperity of Hong Kong and the precious cultural roots, the balance has to be struck precisely. To preserve and to flourish is exactly what Hong Kong should be doing, not just hopping on a fad and hoping for the best to come.
One misstep, one will fall, others will follow, and everyone will crumble
Ho n g Ko n g i s a mu l t i cu l t u ral c i t y m a d e u p of va r i o u s cu l t u re s , wh i ch m i r ro r th e m a ny e th n i c
g ro u p s th at i n h a b i t th i s co s m op o l i ta n c i t y I t i s a mu l t i - e th n i c c i t y wi th m a ny Ch i n e s e , S o u th
s t i t c t e of r o s t re s ch ro th e a e th c i a y. a - o u
As i a n s , I n d o n e s i a n s , F i l ipi n o s , a n d o th e rs , a n d th e fe r t i l e cu l t u ral h e r i ta ge of th e s e
co m mu n i t i e s g re atly co nt r ib u te s to th e co n s t r u ct i o n of th e i r i d e nt i t i e s a n d t ra d i t i o n s C u l t u ral
o r i g i n s fro m Ho n g Ko n g a re s t ro n g ly i n f lu e nt i al . T h e y m a n i fe s t i n fa m i ly t ra d i t i o n s , mu s i c ,
a l ipi u r atly th i d d i i i ly i i i i i t i i i
fe s t i val s , a n d ce l e b rat i o n s No t o n ly d o th e y kee p e a ch co m mu n i t y d i s t i n ct , b u t th e y al s o wo r k
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FAMILY TRADITIONS
Fa m i ly cu s to m s a re h i g h ly s i g n i fi c a nt to th e e th n i c m i n o r i t y cu l t u ral h e r i ta ge i n Ho n g Ko n g Fo r
fe s t val s a d ce e b rat o s No t o o th e kee e a ch co mu n t s t n ct b u t th e al s o wo y. m n
m o s t S o u th As i a n co m mu n i t i e s , pa r t i cu l a r ly th o s e I n d i a n s a n d Pak i s ta n i s , fa m i ly i s ro o ted i n
As s ly th o
l ral h n th l d ly co d d th fa ly
cu l t u ral n o r m s e mp h a s i z i n g re s p ect fo r th e e l d e r ly , co - re s i d e n ce , a n d th e i mp o r ta n ce of fa m i ly t i e s .
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Fe s t i val s l i ke D i wal i a n d E i d a re ce l e b rated wi th a l o t of z e s t T h e y a re t i m e s fo r b i g fa m i ly ge tto ge th e rs , t ra d i t i o n al cu i s i n e , a n d r i t u al s th at re af fi r m th e i r cu l t u ral i d e nt i t y. T h e m ak i n g of s o m e d i s h e s l i ke b i r ya n i o r s a m o s a s i s u s u al ly a fa m i ly a ct i v i t y T h e rec ip e s a re h a n d ed d own th ro u g h th e ge n e rat i o n s , wh i ch h e lp s to pre s e r ve th e cu l t u ral h e r i ta ge .
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T h e F i l ip i n o co m mu n i t y i n Ho n g Ko n g al s o ce l e b rate s fa m i ly th ro u g h p ra ct i ce s ce nte red o n m ee t i n gs a n d g ro u p a ct i v i t i e s . T h e ce l e b rat i o n s l i ke Ch r i s t m a s a n d th e F l o re s d e M ayo ye a r ly ce l e b rat i o n h ave a s t ro n g fa m i ly o r i e ntat i o n , wi th fa m i l i e s co m i n g to ge th e r to ce l e brate th e i r
cu l t u re th ro u g h r i t u al s , praye rs , a n d m e al s . T h e fa m i ly p ra ct i ce s b u i l d a s e n s e of b e l o n g i n g a n d e n a b l e yo u n ge r m e mb e rs to b o n d wi th th e i r h e r i ta ge , af fi r m i n g th e i r i d e nt i t y i n a n e w co u nt r y.
MUSIC AND DANCE
M u s i c i s a n i mp o r ta nt cu l t u ral h e r i ta ge a n d m e a n s a g re at d e al to e th n i c m i n o r i t i e s i n Ho n g
s n ge e ly e yo m to h ta fi n nt t nt r nt h i t n a ge wh
Ko n g . Fo r i n s ta n ce , th e S o u th As i a n co m mu n i t y h a s a ve r y r i ch mu s i c al h e r i ta ge m a d e u p of mu s i c ge n re s l i ke b h a n g ra a n d q aw wal i , wh i ch a re re gu l a r ly p l ayed du r i n g wed d i n gs a n d cu l t u ral fe s t i v i t i e s T h e s e l i ve ly mu s i c ge n re s a re n o t p l ayed fo r m e re e nte r ta i n m e nt ; th e y al s o te l l s to r i e s a n d kee p h i s to r y al i ve . T h e mu s i c al b e at s a n d r hy th m s ech o th e cu l t u ral h e r i ta ge of th e p e op l e , e vo k i n g m e m o r i e s of th e i r h o m e l a n d s a n d g i v i n g th e m a s e n s e of u n i t y
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F i l ip i n o p e op l e , b e i n g k n own to b e go o d mu s i c i a n s , h ave a te n d e n cy to i nt ro du ce t ra d i t i o n al mu s i c i n va r i o u s fo r m s , l i ke fo l k s o n gs a n d co nte mp o ra r y p op Act i v i t i e s s u ch a s " P i s ta n g
B aya n " e n a b l e F i l ipi n o s to ex pre s s th e i r cu l t u re th ro u g h mu s i c a n d d a n ce . I t fe at u re s t ra d i t i o n al
e e e e vo n m e m o r i e s e r o m e a n d s a n n e m a s e n s e n own n e ce r d nte n a a ce
d a n ce s s u ch a s T i n i k l i n g , wh i ch i s a m a n i fe s tat i o n of th e re s i l i e n ce a n d i n ge nu i t y of th e p e op l e
M u s i c ce l e b rate s cu l t u ral h e r i ta ge , al l owi n g i n d i v i du al s to b e pro u d of th e i r h e r i ta ge wh i l e
a n ce s s a s n n ch s a m a n s o n e re s e n ce a n d n nu e e e u v of e ge
s h a r i n g th e i r cu l t u re wi th th e wh o l e of Ho n g Ko n g
wi e n
FESTIVALS AND CELEBRATIONS
Fe stivals are a vibrant manife station of cultural heritage, celebration and reminder alike of the unique traditions of e ach ethnic minority. The Chine se New Ye ar is perhaps Hong Kong's most well-known fe stival, yet the city is also host to a medley of celebrations belonging to other culture s
The Indian fe stival of Diwali is marked by the Hindu community through the lighting of lamps and firework displays to repre sent the triumph of light over darkne ss. The community come s to gether and celebrate s in fe asts, music, and dance to pro claim their cultural identity in the midst of a city that bre athe s and thrive s on diversity The Filipino "Sinulo g Fe stival" in January illustrate s how Hong Kong's ethnic minoritie s celebrate their cultural heritage It honors the Santo Niño and is marked by colorful parade s, traditional dance s, and street partie s. It serve s as a reminder of home and as an exercise in cultural exchange, with individuals from different backgrounds encouraged to join in and be a part of the fe stivitie s.
The Indone sian community also celebrate s special events like Idul Fitri and the B ali Arts Fe stival
The fe stivals showcase traditional dance s, handicrafts, and delicious foo d. The fe stivals give people pride in their culture and te ach others about their traditions. This helps everyone in Hong Kong to understand and appreciate e ach other better.
MERGING OF ROOTS
Different cultural backgrounds merge to help form a harmonious so ciety This is seen in most elements of everyday life, including foo d, art, and how individuals get along with e ach other. The colorful street markets of Hong Kong are full of flavor. Indian currie s and Filipino adobo mix with Chine se cuisine here . This is indicative of the city's multicultural nature . Furthermore, cultural performance s in which people work to gether, like the Hong Kong Arts Fe stival, showcase piece s of different ethnic groups In this way, people are able to exchange ide as and piece s of artwork
This helps to cre ate a spirit of to getherne ss since various people unite to share their heritage along with le arning from e ach other. In recent ye ars, activitie s in the promotion of cultural appreciation and understanding have become more popular. The se activitie s encourage people-to-people dialo gue and cooperation among communitie s S chools and communitie s hold celebrations of the different cultural backgrounds in Hong Kong, where children and familie s can le arn from e ach other's culture s This kind of sharing not only enriche s one's knowledge about other culture s but also encourage s re spect among individuals, le ading to a more harmonious community.
In short, the cultural heritage and origin of Hong Kong's ethnic minoritie s gre atly shape their identity and activitie s Traditions within the family, music, celebrations, and holidays are major ways of articulating their distinctive backgrounds, which give me aning to their sense of belonging and identity. When all the se different culture s come to gether and interact, they form a dynamic and harmonious community that shows the true nature of Hong Kong. It is a culture where different cultural storie s exist and evolve to gether, helping to shape the city's vibrant character.
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Writing is a therapy, dear diary’s my witness. It knows your name well, that I scribbled inevitably. The ink that exhausts by your name, the pages stained with longing. Buried and engraved, where memory takes root. You still live beneath every inch of my skin, being the anchor of my soul.
The day you proposed, you murmured, “I can’t live without you,” against my earlobes, your voice trembling with a truth I didn’t yet understand. Even so, your eyes are covered internally as you lie silently inside the white willowed coffin, leaving tears gliding its path off my chin. “Liar”, I heard my voice trembling. It was a December morning that awakened the long lost memory of a winter within solitude.
Since then, I keep seeking fragments of you in everything I do. Within our house as familiar as ever, inhabitual silence feels ponderous when I call your name. The shadow that used to reflect your lithe stature, yet now a ray of light that exasperates. Habitually, I gaze through the window, compassionately praying to find you fixated with your novel under the shades of our oak tree. Somehow reminds me how miraculously you notice my sight every time and smirks back, enlightening a fiery blush that crept up my cheeks. Impossible to ignore, while I make faces at you. Whereas now, keeping the window blinded by the silk curtains with my uncharted prayers left behind.
3 March 1970
It’s early march, “damp soil, tender grass, and the breeze that is losing its momentum”, I scribbled in cursive, seemingly crooked like a toddler’s handwriting. I sat under the oak tree that has been vacant since you left, glimpsing the window that reflects the ever blinded view. “Tracing over my sight - how?”, contemplating as I felt the creases embedded on the exposed roots, Sinewy texture, gnarled and intertwined, being vulnerable without soil. It reminds me of your wrinkles, passages that extend as the time we shared. Some perceive aging as a deprivation of beauty, yet, looks perfectly fine on you. How your temples crinkle with crow's feet when you smile, mi tesoro. I grasp at the memory, desperate to preserve, frantic with your laughter slipping out my mind. R o o t e d w i t h i n t h e s e a s o n s -
Whereas the compliments you address, about how beautiful I am, with wrinkles. You described it as curves that gently ridged with seasons, holding stories in its folds. I protested, you smiled back. The itch of roots regained my attention, having residue of soil printed on my fingerprints. A gust stirs the grass silently, sheds the last withered leaf off our oak tree that spirals on my diary. I wondered if it was the wind that tied the knots of our gaze.
9 September 1970
Autumn, as leaves drift along the breeze that scratches the dirt on roots. Somehow, the daily rest beneath our oak tree remains, with the air feeling disparate, the freeze of my palm that never enkindles again. The bright ripple of children’s laughter fades with autumn making its bizarre entrance, finding myself wondering how many of them have grown twisted into these roots, their memories knotted deep in the oak’s bark like initials carved. I started to notice the roots of plants around the oak tree starting to decay, feasting on dying tendrils. Perhaps the roots fulfilled its commission, a lifelong devotion for the flowers that once were a seed. All spring and summer, they had been anchors, gripping the earth with silent desperation. Then, a banquet, offering up their stored riches to the blooms above. And yet, until death as it lingers, gripping the stem with its last breath that had never been apart. The warmth that engraves in the life of plants as if the comfort when you hold my hand on your deathbed. Stubborn as if even in dissolution, they cannot bear to let go. “It kills me”, I murmured as the petals of the plant drifted along the stem, landing beyond the soil.
13 December 1970
“I hope we meet again”, as the black ink dripped on the last line, as if a coma that awaits my next phrase. Or a full stop, that envelops all the feelings that I kept from you, like roots unseen, weathering drought and frost. It intertwined, yet A stubborn, tangled devotion. They intertwine with their charges, not just as anchors, but as the plant’s quiet, ceaseless confession throughout the seasons. Being the sole existence of the plant despite the showering of sunlight and the soil that washes away during the rain, the roots remain, invariably. Where our memories are constrained with my routine, the fragments of you I’ve gathered rearrange into a mosaic of an art of the four seasons. I touch each piece like a rosary, an exquisite, broken testament to the seasons we shared. Perhaps the people say the roots remember, but yet the oak does too. They always do.
