Tony Candelaria also known as Tsing Tong Tsai, made his name as a martial arts actor....
Tony Candelaria, also known as Tsing Tong Tsai, made his name as a martial arts actor.
While Tsinoys have been recognized for their contributions to Philippine culture and history, their role in the development of the local film industry is less well known.
In line with the celebration of the centennial year of Philippine cinema, this article highlights the influence of Tsinoys on the growth of the local movie industry.
Not only will we celebrate Tsinoy performers and film producers, but we will also learn about how the local film industry collaborated with filmmakers from China and Hong Kong.
The earliest involvement of the Chinese in the local film industry dates back to the early days of Philippine cinema, including the release of one of the earliest movies filmed in the country, “La Vide de Rizal,” in 1912, written and directed by American Edward Meyer Gross.
Film historian Nick Deocampo shared that the film’s portrayal of the Spaniards angered quite a few people. So, a group of Chinese-Filipino businessmen – Carlos Palanca, Jose Tiotico, Jose Lauchengco an