A post-event reflection of Lannang Symposium 2025

by: Marilyn Abella

Future Lannang Leaders Symposium Grant Awardee (2025)

I found the Lannang Symposium 2025 to be enlightening, inspiring, and entertaining. The diverse panel of speakers allowed for various angles of the Lannang heritage, culture, history, and language to be examined, opening my eyes and heart to aspects I don’t usually get to explore in my Lannang identity.

I found enlightening:

● The keynote speaker Caroline Sy Hau’s scholarly discussion of the Lannang history from a regional perspective. She touched on deep topics such as “diaspora”.

● Breakout session speaker Eduardo Dela Cruz and Laurence Lu’s “Relative Finder” project, where they endeavor to help Philippine-based Lannangs trace their ancestral roots and reconnect with their long lost family members. Such a meaningful and noble project!

● The talk show consisting of Tsinoy representatives from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao, such as Ilocos, Iloilo, Cebu, Zamboanga, and Davao, facilitated by Wilkinson Daniel Wong Gonzales & Carmelea Ang See. It helped me appreciate the nuances and diversity of language use of Lannangs in other regions which was eye-opening for a Manileña like me.

I found inspiring and uplifting:

● The panel speakers Richelle Sy Kho and Harveen Ang who had the courage and conviction to venture into non-traditional professions and succeed in them.

● Breakout session teenage speaker Maddigan Hailey Sy who assembled a Lannang nursery rhymes book in order to keep alive her fond childhood memories of being read and sang Lannang nursery rhymes by her grandma. Such an empowered youth!

● Hokkien language instructor Marvin Kaiser Sy’s advanced level of proficiency with his command of the Hokkien language and his heart for preserving the language. The group discussion session he had facilitated was very relevant and insightful!

● The work of “Now Steaming!” podcast team Stanley Sy, Cedric Cheng, and Kimberly Mas. They have creatively and courageously produced content that attempt to normalize difficult conversations in Tsinoy households and communities. Listening to their podcast had been therapeutic for me.

● The efforts of Lannang filmmakers John Peter Chua and Gershom Chua to showcase the creative works of regional filmmakers Hanz Florentino (Cebu), Kurt Soberano (Bacolod), and Adrian Lo (Davao). There were aspects of the film excerpts that I found relatable, such as the family business angle and the food angle (i.e. where ngo hiong spice which was commonly used in Lanning household dishes was used as a tool for reconnecting with a fond family memory).

I felt entertained and in awe of:

● The masterful, comedic hosting style of Stuart Gan.

● The creativity of Ansis Sy, Thunderson Tan, Justin Chua, and Samuel Best Cua in using humor and comedy to make light of the sometimes colorful, sometimes confusing and traumatic life experiences of being a Lannang. I have been an avid follower of their online content and am inspired too to come up with my own version of humorous content as a way to cope with and process challenging life experiences.

Overall, I found it remarkable to know that there are strong grassroot efforts from the Tsinoy youths and the “young once” to keep alive the Lannang culture and language using modern, creative formats relevant to the evolving times. It is reassuring to know that I am not alone in my journey of rediscovering my Lannang roots and challenging cultural stereotypes. Thank you once again to the organizers, sponsors, and volunteers of the Lannang Symposium!