Ma Mon Luk (1896-1961) was a pioneering Chinese-Filipino restauranteur and entrepreneur. He established the popular Chinese restaurant that bears his name, Ma Mon Luk. It has been suggested that Tsinoy be merged into this article or section. ...

Born in Guandong, China, he was a grade school teacher in Canton when he decided to emigrate to the Philippines in 1918. According to legend, he migrated to the Philippines in order to earn his fortune and win the hand of a girl whose wealthy Canton family looked none to kindly on his poverty. Arriving penniless in Manila, Ma Mon Luk decided to peddle chicken noodle soup, utilizing egg noodles. He soon became a familiar sight in the streets of Manila, plodding down with a long bamboo pole slung on his shoulders with two metal containers on each end. One vat contained his especially concocted noodles and strips of chicken meat, while the other stored chicken broth heated by live coals underneath. With a pair of scissors, he would cut the noodles and meat to serve to his customers. Among his frequent customers were students from the various schools and universities in Manila, whom he would regale with tales about China. Ma Mon Luk himself called his concoction "gupit", after the Tagalog word for "cut with scissors". Soon however, Filipinos took to calling the dish "mami", an amalgam of Tagalog words for chicken ("manok") and egg noodles ("miki"). Guangdong (Simplified Chinese: 广东; Traditional Chinese: 廣東; pinyin: ; Wade-Giles: Kuang-tung; Postal System Pinyin: Kwangtung or Canton Province, Jyutping: gwong2 dung1; Vietnamese: Quảng Đông), is a province on the south coast of the Peoples Republic of China. ... ... The City of Manila (Filipino: Lungsod ng Maynila), or simply Manila, is the capital of the Philippines. ... A bowl of homemade chicken soup. ... Trinomial name Gallus gallus domesticus A chicken (Gallus gallus domesticus) is a type of domesticated bird which is often raised as a type of poultry. ... Different types of scissors - sewing, kitchen, paper Scissors are a tool used for cutting thin material which requires little force. ... Tagalog (pronunciation: ) is one of the major languages of the Republic of the Philippines. ...

Ma Mon Luk soon opened his first restaurant in Binondo, where he introduced his equally famous siopao, a steamed pork dumpling enhanced by a secret sauce. Ma Mon Luk nonetheless continued to peddle his wares on the streets, advertising his restaurant by giving away free samples. By the 1950s, Ma Mon Luk and his mami were nationally known, and Ma Mon Luk became the iconic Chinese restaurant, sprouting many imitators who failed to equal its success. At one point, in the mid 1990s, there were at least five Ma Mon Luk restaurants in Metro Manila, but as of 2006, only the branches in Quiapo and Quezon Avenue remain open. Binondo is a enclave in Manila primarily populated by overseas Chinese who chose to live in the Philippines. ... Chicken filled steamed bun. ... For the film, see Dumplings (movie) Dumplings may be any of a wide variety of dishes, both sweet and savoury, in several different cuisines. ... For the article on the capital city of the Philippines, see Manila. ... Quiapo is a well known district of old Manila and a place which offers cheap prices on items ranging from electronics to native handicrafts. ...

Ma Mon Luk himself died on September 1, 1961 of throat cancer and is buried at the Chinese Cemetery in Manila. September 1 is the 244th day of the year (245th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1961 (MCMLXI) was a common year starting on Sunday (the link is to a full 1961 calendar). ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Head and neck cancer. ... For other meanings of the word, see Manila (disambiguation). ...

External links

• A Mami Love Sonata: The Ma Mon Luk Story of Love, Survival, And Fame