Coming Home for CNY

 When you are overseas, be it studying or working, the time that you will feel the most "homesick" is actually during festive occasions like Chinese New Year for many Chinese around the world. Nearing Chinese New Year, my mom would start asking me "What are you doing for Chinese New Year?"

All I can answer when I am away is "Go chinatown?" or perhaps have dinner with friends WITHOUT my favorite dish Yee Sang! That already doesn't make it feel like Chinese New Year! Being home in Malaysia, I can feel the camaraderie and energy of many Chinese people by the decorations in malls, buzzing of Chinese New Year songs all over the place, the crazy traffic jams at malls, and endless amounts of reunion dinners! This time around, I am glad to be a part of the festivities in Malaysia with family and friends because home for me, is where the heart is!

I would say that Petronas actually had the same idea when creating their new CNY commercial, which everyone always waits for..... The launch itself was very ceremonial and traditional with..

An amazing lion dance and the whole troupe

Petronas Twin Tower will always be a sight to behold

 

With the Senior General Manager of Group Corporate Affairs Division Dato Mohammad Medan Abdullah and company

A special preview was held on the 17th of January with the launch of a new campaign

Before I go into the details of the campaign which all of you can be a part of, check out the long-awaited CNY commercial for 2012!!

And that's what it's all about...the gist of the commercial basically revolves around a dentist posted to a rural part of India celebrating the New Year with his family in his home country via Skype, a little boy in China having a simple dinner with his family, and a young girl in London working two jobs to earn a living and yet still able to “celebrate” Chinese New Year with her extended family – her customers.

The essence of the TVC lies in the struggle that each individual goes through in life – be it working two jobs, or having to be the head of the family at a young age, as in the case of the little boy in China. This commercial is basically a powerful universal message that transcends cultural, generational, creed and ethnicity barriers.

 Along with the launch of the campaign, Petronas is organising a photography contest themed "Reimagining Emergy" in collaboration with Leica Camera AG. All you have to do is capture your best Chinese New Year moments or what it means to you and submit it to the Petronas Facebook page HERE and stand a chance to win great prizes! 

Like the commercial, it's how you choose to celebrate and be close to the people you love during Chinese New Year. As a friend told me, him and his family always travel  on Chinese New Year and it has become a yearly tradition with over 20+ of them boarding a plane out of the country but most importantly, celebrating together!

Don't forget your roots alright guys, especially those who are overseas?!?I'm sure your loved ones(PARENTS) want to hear from you... I will be celebrating with my family this year, having the usual vegetarian cuisine in the morning at my father and mother's side of the house and a crazy round of visiting to my extended family's houses(but I can't visit this year because my grandpa passed away in August last year T.T)....possibly have a gathering with friends as well and go for a short trip.....

What about you? Do share your traditions with all of us, the quirky ones especially!!!!

Gong Hei Fatt Choy
Meiz