Chapter 02: Tsinoy | Binondo
BINONDO
Welcome to the oldest Chinatown in the world, located in the heart of Manila. The story of Binondo (bee-NOHN-doh) is the story of the Chinese-Filipino, or Tsinoy.
Starting from the 9th century, traders from China sailed to the Philippines, bringing their traditions, ingredients, and cooking methods.
Binondo was established by the Spanish in 1594 as a settlement in Manila for Chinese immigrants. Our series explores how Filipino and Chinese cultures have come together and influenced one another.
Tonight’s menu is brought to you by Istorya’s Chef Cat Carlucci, the stories from our founder Walbert Castillo, and everything that makes this possible by team Istorya.
Infinite thanks to our historians and culinary experts Felice Prudente Sta. Maria, Meah Ang See, Anson Yu, and Ivan Dy.
A message from Ivan Dy
“I grew up in Binondo for the first eight years of my life. It’s where my grandfather started his life when he came here from Fujian province in China before the Second World War. Just learning about the history and the heritage of the place, that’s why I made historical walking tours of these areas.”
*Ivan is the founder and lead guide of Old Manila Walks. If you ever travel to Manila, highly recommend booking your next food tour with Ivan here.
We asked the Tsinoy (Chinese + Filipino) community to recount the memories of the dishes we are serving you this evening. Start your storytelling journey below by tapping the text below while you wait for your food. Maraming salamat.