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Ongpin Stories
"I hope you have pursued you Ongpin story as far as it can go. I know you are on track and need only to go on. Ongpin lives in these stories" NVM Gonzalez
These stories are about the Chinese in the Philippines and the Chinese Filipinos before they were stereotyped as wealthy businessmen. In these stories we see the effects of global forces on the lives of simple people who want to live in dignity amidst racism, povery, and persecution. Underneath the comic and painful situations, we read about how generations sacrificed their lives for the hope of a better future, how identities are formed in the crucible of national and international anxieties, and how the present generation of Filipinos are reaping the fruits of immigrant sacrifices may have too easily forgotten what it means to be children of the diaspora.
These stories are about the Chinese in the Philippines and the Chinese Filipinos before they were stereotyped as wealthy businessmen. In these stories we see the effects of global forces on the lives of simple people who want to live in dignity amidst racism, povery, and persecution. Underneath the comic and painful situations, we read about how generations sacrificed their lives for the hope of a better future, how identities are formed in the crucible of national and international anxieties, and how the present generation of Filipinos are reaping the fruits of immigrant sacrifices may have too easily forgotten what it means to be children of the diaspora.
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First published January 1, 2008
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
April 30, 2022
for comms pt.3
This is about naman Tommy who was so good in Math. He's Chinese (nakalimutan ko if chinese-filo or full Chinese huhu) yet he is bad at English. One time, he had the opportunity to compete on National Television for math para na rin marepresent yung school nila. He was doing so well kasi all questions are written on the board. He was about to win, last two questions na lang, when the host articulated the questions in English eh hindi nga siya marunong mag english t__t Ayon, napatigil siyang mag-solve at umiyak sa stage.
The story also shows how language causes social divisions. Idk parang stigma talaga noon na mas nakakataas yung marunong mag-english sa hindi : ( Diniscriminate noong host si Tommy >:( Kasi daw English yung name niya (Thomas Jefferson Go) pero hindi siya marunong mag-english.
This is about naman Tommy who was so good in Math. He's Chinese (nakalimutan ko if chinese-filo or full Chinese huhu) yet he is bad at English. One time, he had the opportunity to compete on National Television for math para na rin marepresent yung school nila. He was doing so well kasi all questions are written on the board. He was about to win, last two questions na lang, when the host articulated the questions in English eh hindi nga siya marunong mag english t__t Ayon, napatigil siyang mag-solve at umiyak sa stage.
The story also shows how language causes social divisions. Idk parang stigma talaga noon na mas nakakataas yung marunong mag-english sa hindi : ( Diniscriminate noong host si Tommy >:( Kasi daw English yung name niya (Thomas Jefferson Go) pero hindi siya marunong mag-english.
September 13, 2009
The last time I read a book written by a Filipino was in February of this year: PARA KAY B by Ricky Lee and that was 40+ books ago. So, I picked up this book and read it. The cover was Binondo in 1901 so I thought that the book was about that period. I love old Manila because its stories are always fascinating to read and its pictures to look at. However, after I read the 2 stories (there were 8), I realized that the setting was in the 70's (during the Marcos era) when probably the author was in his growing up years. However, the stories all happened in Ongpin - a street that I heard a lot from my policeman-father when I was young.
The short stories are crisply told and easy to read. I could picture in my mind my chinese colleagues and friends who used to or up to now are staying in Binondo area. Five to ten years ago, I used to pass by almost everyday in Binondo to eat at Wai Ying and buy hopia at Eng Bee Tin because I had to drop my friends from the office. However, the scenes in the book could not happen now because the streets are now congested with vendors, cars and passersby. The river is now stinking and definitely not nice to look at. I also no longer remember if there were two stores and the restaurant that the grandfather put up in that street. Maybe they are all gone now.
The collection of the stories has that Olive Kitteridge (Pulitzer 2009 awardee) effect on me. I thought that the book was just a loose collection of author's short stories earlier published in a weekly magazine. However, winding down the last three stories, I realized that they form part of the childhood experience of the author and each story contribute beautifully to the totality of the whole book. I had that urge to read the book once again after I was through with the first page. For example, I realized that in the first story, the driver was already mentioned but that story was about the author failing his Mandarin subject for the 2nd time. Then later that driver has his own story and his impact to the rest of the book was just enough to make him one of the main characters of the book.
I like the honesty of R. Kwan Laurel and I share his sentiment that in this country, the writers do not have the opportunity that most writers in richer countries have. However, he should recognize that having published this nice memorable book is already an achievement. This is definitely better than PARA KAY B. I think that book only sells because it has Ricky Lee's name on its cover and all those endorsement from his friends in showbiz.
Hope to read more from you, Mr. R. Kwan Laurel! Good job!
The short stories are crisply told and easy to read. I could picture in my mind my chinese colleagues and friends who used to or up to now are staying in Binondo area. Five to ten years ago, I used to pass by almost everyday in Binondo to eat at Wai Ying and buy hopia at Eng Bee Tin because I had to drop my friends from the office. However, the scenes in the book could not happen now because the streets are now congested with vendors, cars and passersby. The river is now stinking and definitely not nice to look at. I also no longer remember if there were two stores and the restaurant that the grandfather put up in that street. Maybe they are all gone now.
The collection of the stories has that Olive Kitteridge (Pulitzer 2009 awardee) effect on me. I thought that the book was just a loose collection of author's short stories earlier published in a weekly magazine. However, winding down the last three stories, I realized that they form part of the childhood experience of the author and each story contribute beautifully to the totality of the whole book. I had that urge to read the book once again after I was through with the first page. For example, I realized that in the first story, the driver was already mentioned but that story was about the author failing his Mandarin subject for the 2nd time. Then later that driver has his own story and his impact to the rest of the book was just enough to make him one of the main characters of the book.
I like the honesty of R. Kwan Laurel and I share his sentiment that in this country, the writers do not have the opportunity that most writers in richer countries have. However, he should recognize that having published this nice memorable book is already an achievement. This is definitely better than PARA KAY B. I think that book only sells because it has Ricky Lee's name on its cover and all those endorsement from his friends in showbiz.
Hope to read more from you, Mr. R. Kwan Laurel! Good job!
September 17, 2025
Ongpin Stories are eight connected short stories about Chinese Filipinos living across Ongpin Street in Binondo, Manila—the world’s oldest Chinatown. The narrator is the same all throughout and because the stories are connected, one might think that Kwan Laurel should’ve just written a novel. But because each story focuses on one character, Kwan Laurel was just right to have written a short story collection.
Kwan Laurel studied literature and philosophy (which happens to also be the two subjects I love). I commend how despite his sophisticated education, Kwan Laurel wrote ordinary stories in simple language. I’ve always believed that it takes more creativity and wisdom to write simply ordinary stories with depth.
Kwan Laurel captured the authentic voice of Chinoys.
Ongpin Stories show that not all Chinese entrepreneurs in Manila are rich. Kwan Laurel’s characters are realistically pessimist. I’m not a pessimist, but I understand why Kwan Laurel chose to end every story with the failure of the characters the readers would root to succeed. The pessimism of Kwan Laurel’s stories shows more effectively that many life’s struggles are not our fault, but often because of societal systems.
Kwan Laurel’s stories are good examples of “show, don’t tell”. By just showing the conflicts of the characters, without preaching, the moral is still clear—no matter how hardworking, smart, talented, honest, and/or kind people are, a comfortable life is not a guarantee, especially with systemic injustices.
Kwan Laurel studied literature and philosophy (which happens to also be the two subjects I love). I commend how despite his sophisticated education, Kwan Laurel wrote ordinary stories in simple language. I’ve always believed that it takes more creativity and wisdom to write simply ordinary stories with depth.
Kwan Laurel captured the authentic voice of Chinoys.
Ongpin Stories show that not all Chinese entrepreneurs in Manila are rich. Kwan Laurel’s characters are realistically pessimist. I’m not a pessimist, but I understand why Kwan Laurel chose to end every story with the failure of the characters the readers would root to succeed. The pessimism of Kwan Laurel’s stories shows more effectively that many life’s struggles are not our fault, but often because of societal systems.
Kwan Laurel’s stories are good examples of “show, don’t tell”. By just showing the conflicts of the characters, without preaching, the moral is still clear—no matter how hardworking, smart, talented, honest, and/or kind people are, a comfortable life is not a guarantee, especially with systemic injustices.
July 29, 2017
Have some good criticism of the academe, literary prizes, and sell-out novels. However, mired by bile against his enemies and by an uncritical absorption of a metaphysical Kautskyian analysis of the world capitalist system that is dressed up as "Marxist"
July 21, 2025
I have mixed feelings about this one.
This is a collection of eight rather ordinary stories set in Binondo (which I had only visited once).
The stories are brilliant because of their sheer simplicity. The author presents a premise, sticks with it, and holds on to it until the last page, and for that the readers stay.
I do have some issues with how most of the stories closed out. When I first experienced this with “Sir Jim,” the second story, I just shrugged it off, thinking maybe the author just wanted to leave things hanging. But when I had the same feeling with “Streets of Gold” and “Giat Co,” I figured these endings were intentional.
There were times that I got so excited with the buildup of the story only for it to end on such an anticlimactic manner.
This is not to say that stories can’t have cold endings. I mean such worked for “Math Wizard” and “The Most Honest Man in the World” and even “Amah.” I guess an anthology is indeed bound to have hits and misses.
Unlike other collections, it’s interesting that Ongpin only has one narrator for every story, which made me speculate if these pieces are actually fragments and false starts of a could-have-been novel.
I’ll never know. Nonetheless, this 118-page collection was a short and entertaining read.
This is a collection of eight rather ordinary stories set in Binondo (which I had only visited once).
The stories are brilliant because of their sheer simplicity. The author presents a premise, sticks with it, and holds on to it until the last page, and for that the readers stay.
I do have some issues with how most of the stories closed out. When I first experienced this with “Sir Jim,” the second story, I just shrugged it off, thinking maybe the author just wanted to leave things hanging. But when I had the same feeling with “Streets of Gold” and “Giat Co,” I figured these endings were intentional.
There were times that I got so excited with the buildup of the story only for it to end on such an anticlimactic manner.
This is not to say that stories can’t have cold endings. I mean such worked for “Math Wizard” and “The Most Honest Man in the World” and even “Amah.” I guess an anthology is indeed bound to have hits and misses.
Unlike other collections, it’s interesting that Ongpin only has one narrator for every story, which made me speculate if these pieces are actually fragments and false starts of a could-have-been novel.
I’ll never know. Nonetheless, this 118-page collection was a short and entertaining read.
December 23, 2024
Ongpin Stories features eight short stories set in Ongpin St. Manila, narrated from the perspective of a Filipino-Chinese high school student. The stories not only delve into the main character's challenges in school, but also explore the struggles of the adults around him, navigating love, life, and business.
At first, it took me a while to warm up to the stories, but eventually, I found myself sympathizing with some of the characters and their struggles, while gaining a better understanding of a culture different from my own. I hadn’t realized how certain segments of the Fil-Chi community have been marginalized, especially since we mostly hear about the more affluent ones that most people aspire to become. This book has helped me develop greater empathy and insight into their experiences.
At first, it took me a while to warm up to the stories, but eventually, I found myself sympathizing with some of the characters and their struggles, while gaining a better understanding of a culture different from my own. I hadn’t realized how certain segments of the Fil-Chi community have been marginalized, especially since we mostly hear about the more affluent ones that most people aspire to become. This book has helped me develop greater empathy and insight into their experiences.
March 14, 2025
https://chopsueyngarod.wordpress.com/...
From R. Kwan Laurel’s Ongpin Stories, there was the titular character, Tommy “The Math Wizard.” How much of this was a stereotype, and how much a refraction of some reality—this you’re-Asian-you-must-be-good-at-math conception? Laurel focuses on Tommy: “His lack in looks made him study harder, but he didn’t seem to resent it whenever girls said his mother married a calculator. He took it as a compliment for his math wizardry, but my classmates were referring to his face looking like a miscalculated creation” (49).
From R. Kwan Laurel’s Ongpin Stories, there was the titular character, Tommy “The Math Wizard.” How much of this was a stereotype, and how much a refraction of some reality—this you’re-Asian-you-must-be-good-at-math conception? Laurel focuses on Tommy: “His lack in looks made him study harder, but he didn’t seem to resent it whenever girls said his mother married a calculator. He took it as a compliment for his math wizardry, but my classmates were referring to his face looking like a miscalculated creation” (49).
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews