Splashing water is a traditional New Year's custom in the Thai-Myanmar region (April 12 to 16 is the local New Year), in order to remove the old year's disasters and pray for the coming year, also known as the "Thingyan Festival." (Splashing Water Festival)
There are more than 80,000 Burmese overseas Chinese in New Taipei City. Zhonghe City is the place where the nationals of Myanmar are the most concentrated. There are 48 Myanmar specialty snack bars in Huaxin Street.
Every year, New Taipei City Government (NTCG) and the Myanmar Overseas Chinese Association jointly hold the Thingyan Festival at Huaxin St., Zhonghe Dist., hoping that this traditional festival with Southeast Asian flavor can be promoted to more people.
Every year, the Thingyan Festival in Huaxin Street is full of excitement, and the splash is flying and the people on both sides of the street were cheering. In addition to splashing water and praying, the event is also interspersed with performances such as the Royal Dance of Myanmar and the dance of hot songs, allowing thousands of people on the scene to spend a happy Sunday.
In order to showcase the diverse cultural diversity of New Taipei City, NTCG hosts the International Culture and Education Month, which includes a multicultural food festival, a drama train and a variety of performances and parent-child activities to make the entire New Taipei City alive.
To serve New Taipei City's newcomers from different countries, NTCG publishes the "New Immigrants Happiness Quarterly" and available for download in seven languages. NTCG also publishes "New Immigrants Basic Learning Materials" to help new immigrants to cross the test of cultural adaptation.
The early Ankang Market business model is similar to other traditional markets. It sold fresh goods such as fish, meat, vegetables and fruits, and had grocery stores that sells dry goods. In addition, there were barbershops, hardware, fortune tellers, children's wear, boutiques, etc. entered. About ten years ago, grocery stores selling Southeast Asian daily necessities began to appear. In the past 3-4 years, there have been shops selling Vietnamese gold ornaments, records, and Permanent Eyebrows. In the positioning of the Taipei City Market Administration Office, Ankang Market is a public traditional retail market. Its main business attribute is the morning market. After noon, the shops selling fresh goods continue to rest, and only some businesses such as barbershops, children's wear, and fortune tellers continue to operate. However, at this time, the store that has gradually become more and more popular is a few vendors who sell Vietnamese goods. Their customers are mostly entering the market after two o'clock in the afternoon. Local shoppers have always been scarce, and Vietnamese vendors are prosperous. Especially on holidays, the business differences between local vendors and Vietnamese vendors are more significant.
The popular Ankang Market, which is sparsely populated, is suddenly flooding into a large number of customers, and endless in the whole afternoon, and there can be dozens to hundreds of people. To this end, some local vendors also have some business, so they do not exclude Vietnamese vendors in the market, and even very welcome. For example, there is a fortune-telling booth in the market. Recently, the Vietnamese signboard was specially attached, and through the translation, some Vietnamese ethnic customers were attracted. References: Wang Chih-Hung, Shen Meng-Ying, 2006.10, Time and Space Mosaic of Ethnic Identity: Ankang Market, Taipei City— ”Vietnam Street” Research, The Third International Symposium on Transboundary Dispersion: Governance, Survival, and Movements ", Graduate Institute for Social Transformation Studies, SHU
On Sunday, the 3rd section of Zhongshan North Road is like two worlds. Around the St. Christopher's Church, the Taipei people who work here on weekdays are far away, and a group of Filipino friends from all over Taiwan flock to it. Their laughter echo throughout the street, making it a joy for Philippine migrant workers.
Sunday Service–Zhongshan North Road>>
Early on Sunday morning, outside the office of TIWA (Taiwan International Workers’ Association), Section 3, Zhongshan North Road, a group of girls who had just finished the Filipino service at St. Christopher's Church came to the door. This place is their holiday home. Whether you want to take a break, ask for help, or prepare for an event or a carnival, you can do it here. They rehearsed in the small living room after discussions with Director-General Wu Ching-Ju and Secretary General Ku Yu-Ling, who were going to discuss the activities to be held next week. The recorder released Filipino music, and several people swayed hotly, flipped hair, and danced dynamically; They are born with a rich and sensitive body language that exudes enthusiasm and romance. Many people are coming in and out, and some people come to work for the problem of employment. More are just to say hello to Taiwan’s sisters in their eyes. Young and lively Grace wants to walk with me in their holiday life circle.
We first go to the nearby St. Christopher's Church, where they told their employers to go to the "Zhongshan Service" on Sunday. The holiday life circle of Filipino migrant workers extends from the church and extends all the way to the Qingguang Market. To the west, it extends to Nong'an Street, Dehui Street and Shuangcheng Street. Although not in the week of service, there are still many Filipinos praying in the church quiet and solemnly. In the past, St. Christopher's Church continued to provide English masses in response to the American soldiers stationed in Taiwan during the Vietnam War. This practice has continued. After the introduction of foreign workers in the 1990s, it just provided the Sunday service for the Catholic Filipino, which in turn forms the "Philippines region." In fact, since the development of this area, it has been inextricably linked with exotic conditions. As early as in the era of Japanese rule, here were the streets where the Japanese lingered, and in the 1960s it was a bar area where American soldiers spent their night life. Today, the gathering of Filipino migrant workers has also changed the holiday roadside stalls on Zhongshan North Road. Rows of clothes, purses, watches, shoes, mobile phones, and phone cards are in the demand for them. Even the Philippine department store, Bing Go, EEC, KFC have a good reputation, and the service items are all-encompassing, including groceries, exchanges, international freight, bank accounts, insurance, social security cards, and even lottery. Some of the grocery stores also have a buffet and karaoke, and the EEC also invited the Philippine pop singers to come to Taiwan to perform concerts for these migrant workers. This business opportunity is infinitely expanded. The original Jinwanwan shopping mall, which mainly sells imported goods and uniforms, is currently selling Philippine goods at the 90% booth on the 2nd floor, including mobile phones, Philippine light meals, beauty salons, books/DVDs rental stores, and telephone cards booths, etc. Even the famous Filipino fashion brand Natasha is stationed here, and it is so crowded every Sunday. We went around the alley behind the church and came to Shuangcheng Street. Grace took me to the stairs and went to the basement, which was a dimly small buffet serving Filipino food. As it is close to noon, many people are eating. The boss said that he only does business on Sundays. As long as the guests consume, they can sing karaoke and dance for free. Going forward, the Kiss Me Bar opened by a Taiwanese is very interesting. The boss is on the side of the crowded kitchen and has several computers, known as the Philippine Internet Cafe.
Shopping on the go this way, after five or six similar small restaurants, we came to the Queen's Burger, which was crowded with Filipinos. Grace said that this fried chicken is better than KFC. "Look! Everyone has a big plate." Since this was recommended, I just ordered a chicken leg to try. After biting, it is really tender with gravy, but the skin is crispy. With the Indonesian chili sauce on the table, it is really delicious. I asked the proprietress whether to adjust the taste for this group of foreigners, she proudly said: "What do I do, they will eat." Going back to TIWA along the 3rd section of Zhongshan North Road, all the way is the hawking of Philippine hawkers. Grace pointed to the Philippine bananas that many stores have sold and said that they are delicious. "Do you buy it?" I asked. “Too expensive! That kind of price can buy a bunch in our hometown." However, she pinched the banana and smiled with her eyes bent, as if she had already imaginary satisfaction, so satisfied.
Source: Lin Jui-Chu, Wang Neng-You, “Releasing Homesickness in the Philippine Areas and Indonesian Streets”, Taipei Pictorial No. 472, Department of Information and Tourism, Taipei City Government
