New immigrant from the Philippines wins hearts of Taiwanese with hometown taste!

In cooperation with IC Voice FM97.5 【New Students Registration-We are in Taiwan】, a series of exciting stories about new immigrants in Taiwan is launched. This episode invites host Jia Jing’s (佳晶) parents Zou Qing Chao (鄒慶朝) and Zou Xie Xi Er Da (鄒謝熙爾達), who are new immigrants from the Philippines, to share how Filipinos celebrate Christmas together.

Because the Philippines is a Catholic country that attaches great importance to Christmas, therefore they would celebrate the festival from September to December and have a reunion dinner on Christmas Day. 【Taiwan Immigrants' Global News Network】presents this episode in 5 languages including Chinese, English, Vietnamese, Thai and Indonesian, enabling more readers and listeners to explore how Filipinos celebrate Christmas.

Read More: New immigrant from Malaysia creates a picture book “Bangau Oh Bangau” in the form of collage art, promoting hometown culture

Zou Xie Xi Er Da wins hearts of Taiwanese with hometown taste. (Photo / Provided by鄒謝熙爾達)

Affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, Jia Jing’s mother was unable to return home. However, she still promotes the Filipino culture through delicacies served in a restaurant she opens in Taiwan - "halo-halo Nanyang x restaurants x groceries (南洋x餐館x雜貨)". Zou Xie Xi Er Da said that it was not easy to start a business due to insufficient funds and much stress. Jia Jing thus would help her mom by painting the walls and cleaning the environment.

Read More: Singaporean in Taiwan misses the taste of home, looking for Nanyang cuisine in Taipei to satisfy her cravings

The elements in restaurant design consist Taiwanese & Filipino cultures. (Photo / Provided by鄒謝熙爾達)

The creative inspiration for interior design derives from Jia Jing’s mother. With hometown elements, the whole restaurant becomes a Taiwanese-Filipino eatery

Which offers gourmet food.

Zou Xie Xi Er Da said that although starting a business is challenging, she is still glad that she has persevered with others’ encouragement and made a lot of interesting & fond memories with the family throughout the journey.