https://www.scmp.com/rss/523235/feed Roberto “Bobby” Coloma returned home to Manila in 2023 after working for 28 years as a foreign correspondent overseas. He is still an active independent writer in the Philippines. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Roberto Coloma Roberto Coloma It began as a settlement for Chinese converts to Catholicism. Four centuries later, the world’s oldest Chinatown is a living reminder of how migration can shape a nation. At its height, Binondo was the Philippines’ commercial capital. From here, Tsinoy merchants – “Tsinoy” being a blend of the words Tsina (Chinese) and Pinoy (Filipino) – built their fortunes in banking, retail and trade. Some of the country’s richest families can trace their roots to this single square kilometre of Manila: five... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3324545/binondo-400-year-old-heart-filipino-chinese-heritage-manila?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3324545/binondo-400-year-old-heart-filipino-chinese-heritage-manila?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 06 Sep 2025 04:00:14 +0000