Interview by William Chan
Local art organisation PO Art Studio recently launched a two-part programme delving into the experiences of second-generation Filipinos in Macau.
Director Gary Ao Ieong Wun Un and one of the interviewees, Jorge Miguel Villanueva Carvajal, spoke to the Post last week at a bar near Rua do Campo.
‘Living Here, Living Together’: Art and Identity
The project, titled “Living Here, Living Together”, explores the daily experiences of second-generation Filipinos in Macau, using art to highlight the fluidity of identity through two creative mediums.
Part I: Documentary Film
According to Ao Ieong, the first part of the project is a documentary film focusing on three second-generation Filipinos. Ao Ieong noted that each interviewee relates to identity in a different way: one identifies as Chinese, another as a mix of both Chinese and Filipino, and the third primarily as Filipino.
Carvajal, who grew up in Macau and attended Escola Secundária Luso-Chinesa de Luís Gonzaga Gomes, identifies as Chinese. “My parents came to Macau and preserved their Filipino values, combining them with the Chinese values they discovered here. They have adapted to Chinese culture while still considering themselves Filipino.”
Having grown up among ethnic Chinese friends, Carvajal considers himself very much a local. Speaking fluent Cantonese, he said, “Honestly, I don’t think there’s much difference between myself and my Chinese friends. Our hobbies and language are similar.” Nonetheless, he notices subtle differences: “We Filipinos are more relaxed, while Chinese tend to be tenser. I’m also Catholic, like many local Filipinos, which adds another layer of difference.”
One scene in the documentary is shot at Carvajal’s favourite noodle shop, Lun Kei (聯記). “It’s the kind of traditional place you’d expect only local Chinese to frequent,” Ao Ieong remarks. “Seeing Jorge there challenges stereotypes – it’s surprising at first, but also not, because he is a local. This contrast highlights how tightly we hold onto stereotypes about ‘others’, even when reality contradicts them.”
Through research and candid conversations, the documentary aims to show that identity is not fixed, but fluid – constantly evolving and shaped by both internal and external influences. “Each guest in our film has a unique background that shapes their sense of self. But there’s no simple formula or common experience that determines identity. It’s all contingent and ever-changing,” Ao Ieong explains.
Ao Ieong pointed out that “Living Here, Living Together” reflects on the challenges and dilemmas faced by specific communities and demonstrates how identity can transcend ethnic boundaries while evolving fluidly. “Race, gender, family and religion are just some of the concepts that we apply when describing or identifying someone. In reality, we are all unique and none of the above concepts truly defines what we are,” Ao Ieong underlined.
Part II: Roaming Audio Exploration
The second part of the project is an immersive Roaming Audio Exploration. This activity uses daily sounds and personal memories to express individual identities and lived experiences in Macau. Participants embark on a self-guided journey through the cultural landscape of Rua da Alfândega, following a booklet and audio prompts.
The story, written by Ao Ieong after gathering many stories from the community, centres on a second-generation Filipino youth born and raised in Macau, struggling to find his identity amidst societal integration. “The story is a composite, summarising the challenges many face – especially the tension between their own values and those of their parents’ generation.”
Facing the realities of family expectations, friendship, and workplace bias, the protagonist must decide whether to endure in silence or embrace his own path. The audio experience is narrated by Carvajal and another, older Filipino, portraying a father-son duo. “When I recorded the audio, it felt very organic, almost identical to my everyday conversations with my parents,” Carvajal noted, pointing out that this was the first time he voice-acted.
With most of the conversation in Tagalog, Ao Ieong and Carvajal noticed some unique quirks while preparing the script. “For example, ethnic Chinese speakers often use references to death to emphasise the seriousness of a situation, such as saying ‘starve to death’ [餓死]. However, Tagalog tends not to have this kind of expression, often substituting it with other phrases or avoiding it altogether, perhaps due to religious beliefs or cultural habits,” Ao Ieong and Carvajal observed.
The documentary is freely available online through PO Art Studio’s platform, and the Roaming Audio Exploration is also accessible to the public. For more information or to register, visit: https://tally.so/r/w7gKkR.
Three interviewees – Jorge Miguel Villanueva Carvajal (left), Yang Hoi Teng “Eunice” Centeno (centre) and Maria Shandra Eliza L. Musa – pose earlier this month during the filming of the documentary “Living Here, Living Together” in front of a church in the city centre. – Photos provided by PO Art Studio
This undated file photo shows director Gary Ao Ieong Wun Un posing.
