Oe RIZAL AND THE CHINESE CONNECTION Learning Outcomes: 1. Discuss how the Chinese were able to rise as an important element in Philippine society 2. Evaluate the role of Chinese mestizos in the context of Philippine history 3. Understand the implication of the ascendancy of Chinese mestizos THE ROLE OF THE CHINESE IN THE PHILIPPINES Chinese immigration to the Philippines has been going on since precolonial period. In terms of overseas trade the Chinese were predated by Malay seafarers from Champa and the Sri Vijaya Empires. As China was a land empire, its attention was focused on the overland silk route. Compared to the Malays the Chinese were latecomers in terms of trade and migration to the Philippines. Evidence of this fact came from archaeological sources. An examination of the Pandanan wreck site in southern Palawan showed what initially appeared as a Chinese vessel considering the cargo of porcelain plates and jars, which remained intact. The provenance of the vessel dated back to 700 AD. Most of the wooden parts of the vessel had rotted away but the bottom or the keel part encased a seal in the form of an elephant statuette, The seal was written in Kavi, the type of writing used only in the Malay world. It showed that the Pandanan boat was a Malay boat that had a royal imprimatur from the kingdom of Champa, then a Malay kingdom. A closer investigation of the cargo showed that there were not only Chinese wares but also potteries, which were of Champanese and Annamese origin. There were also items from Siam and Burma, It showed that the Malays were busily trading with the various ports facing the South China Seas, which was known as the Sea of Champa. Chinese trade conducted by Chinese vessels began much later around 900 AD. By the time ofthe Ming period during the time ofthe Emperor Yungle (Yung Lo) the gates of China were opened to the world and the Chinese ports of Amoy and Swatow were the origins ofthe boats trading in Southeast Asia. It was during the period that Emperor Yungle demanded that the barbarian world recognize the superiority of China and demanded tribute. A great leet was, prepared in Southern China and sailed as far as East ica. Though the fleet didnot sail totheAmong them was PunT30 Kong ao whose inscTiption Was alg demanded tribute from thy aries to collect tribut ‘ ko cha-lao nds but Philippines, ¥ ‘ungle did send some emissé feos tomb can be found in Jol, Sul and another Was I found in Sulu. The Chinese did not occupy any partof the Is} local rulers. assy to Beijing bearing gifts er 11417, the faster King of Sia Pada Baar ines mare tha ZS ribute. Emperor Yunge reciprocated by ranting MM BE TT ay, is remalns ares Paduka gave him On his way back, Paduka was taken ill an awa cake care of buried there and his descendants also remained there to take 3 ving the monso It was during the Ming when Chinese went tothe rend oven ‘winds they wouldarrveintheislands during thenortheastmonsoonO°% Ta te February an return during the soutwest monsoon vig Fin withthe natives and ivedamong them. The Ming shih or Annals ofthe MBE ts of about the honesty ofthe natives despite their barbarian characte. THY TAN influences among the precolonal natives such asthe use of yellow color Fo ‘of loose-itting pants and vests and the manufacture of tools and weapons: Calpe Influenced Filipina cuisine, Many ofthe terms of Chinese origin were BOAR TA hss Such as ate (ach), kya (koa kong (dn), tse (Ax), (i Pam } (shenshi, ete ‘At the time af the Spanish contact there were some Chinese encountered Py ni de Golti in Manila, With the start of Spanish rule the Chinese were allowed to live within what Is ‘Row Intramuros. Tis was the original Parian or the Chinese community in Mama, Tt gave the Spaniards access to the skills of the Chinese who were skilled bakers, cooks, stonemasons and shoemakers. However as the Chinese community grew they became a menace as it was seen that they were just converting to Christianity just to have access to trade and wealth. Many of the Chinese who migrated to the Philippines were uneducated and were very rude. During the first Chinese revolt the Chinese almost routed the Spaniards if not for the help of Japanese ‘mercenaries and native troops. They were routed and expelled. However the expulsion had dire ‘economic consequences for the young colony as there were no more shoemakers, bakers and ven laundrymen to cater to the Spanish community. Eventually they were allowed back into the Philippines. They were allowed to settle outside the city frst in what is now the Manila Post Office. Later they were moved across the Pasig River tothe district of Binondo. In allocations the Chinese community was in the range of Spanish guns at Intramuros. ‘There were other revolts of the Chinese in the Philippines. The last serious one was during the British invasion of Manila in 1762. In all revolts, the Chinese were ruthlessly routed, After the British invasion, the Chinese community made a recovery. They had not one but three silk markets in Binondo and by the end of the 19th century they began to ease out the mestizos, ‘The district became a Chinese one and is called Chinatown. It was claimed that the Manila Chinatown is the oldest of its kind in the world. Elsewhere there were stualler Chinatowns in Cities like Hoilo and Cebu, AAs an ethnic group the Chinese who were called sangleyes by the Spaniards were ‘among the lowest rung of colonial society just above the Moros or Muslims and the infleles or ‘what the Spaniards considered as the uncivilized peoples of the Philippines which included the ‘Tingguianes, Igorots and Aetas. In order to beaccepted into the colonial society and to be allowed to stay in the islands firs, the Chinese had tobe baptized. The institution of baptism also allowed.‘the pagan Chinese to link up with people with influence. Spanish officals and the religious stood. as godparents to the newly baptized Chinese. The baptized Chinese retained the surnames of ther father: Thus, we have Filipinos having the surnames as Co, Go, Uy, Yap and Ong. Others retained the fll names of their fathers creating ‘sumames such as Teehankee, Other Chinese mestizo may elect to Romanize their father’s names ‘creating such surnames like Cojuangeo, Yuzon, Dizon, Sison. Some names end with the word "co" ‘which was a polite suffi: meaning elder brother. Examples of these surnames were Yaptingco, Ongsiako, yjuco, and Siiongco, In some cases, according to Antonio Tan, a researcher inthe special research project ofthe National Library ofthe Philippines, the mestao elected to use only the surname cofhis mative mother: One example was Hilario Camacho, the legitimate son of Juan Ten Say and Marcia Camacho. According tothe same researc, the newly baptized Chinese would take the surname of his godfather Inthe gremtos ofthe Chinese of Binondo there exist a recordin 1632 fora 36-year old Chinese born in China took the name Don Pedro Mendiola, after his godfather, Sergeant Major Pedro “Mendiola. Another important example was the merchant Tan Quien Hsien who adopted the name of his godfather, Major Carlos Palanca, Tan Quien- Hsien was the model for Quiroga in Rizal's second novel El Fibusterismo, Some Chinese adopted Spanish and Tagalog names and totally dropped their Chinese ‘names as means of being integrated into the colonial society, In the gremio or register of the mestizos sangleyes in 1882, the following surnames were listed: Tagle, Villanueva, Jimenez, Mojica, Monzon, Espiritu, Bustamante, Poblete and Aguinaldo, Becoming Christians not only allowed the Chinese to stay in the islands but also to conduct business with the Spaniards. The Spaniards depended on the Chinese as they were skilled artisans and workers. The first book printed in the Philippines the Doctrina Christiana cannot be possible ‘without the help of Chinese printers. The book was printed notjustin Spanish but also in Chinese and In Tagalogusing the Chinese method of wood block printing, Fortifications like the walls fIntramuros ‘were built with Chinese expertise. So were the galleons on which colonial Philippine depended so ‘much because ofthe galleon trade. The Chinese workers were highly paid for their skills Inthe Parian or the Chinese quarter the Spaniards ha their shoes made or repaired, bought their bread, had their clothes sewn by Chinese workers, Many religious images especially that of the Nuestra efiorade a Naval was catved by Chinese craftsmen who eft their mark onthe statue withthe Chinese-loling almond eyes ofthe Virgin andthe thre lies around her neck which was a Chinese symbol ofa person of high rank and morality, The Spaniards depended on the Chinese so much that following the Chinese revolt of 1660, they deported what remained ofthe Chinese community and ‘prevented the entry of new Chinese immigrants and sa resut they found no one to bake their bread, repair ther shoes or build their ships. Eventually they were allowed back but with restrictions. The Chinese community of Manila was relocated outside of the city walls but within the range of the ‘eannons from the Walled Cty As the pot of Manila was then located atthe mouth ofthe Pasig Rive, ‘the districtofBinondo became the convenient first stop of Chinese immigrants, They were ministered bythe Dominicans who hed the Church of Binondo. This explains the closeness of the Rizal family to the Dominicans. ‘The ancestor ofthe Rizal Lam-co was baptized as Domingo, after the founder ofthe Order and through association wth the Dominicans Lam-co was able to live and work inthe Dominican hacienda of ‘As for the Chinese community through hard work and economic savwy the Chinese were able to goin economic power, They also intermarried with the local population, creating nich was the counterpart of sto, Jasificaton was created iN 1741 for sifiea ‘Chinese was taxed at 3 pesos; the igo Chinese mmpted from paying this head tay, 3 ew social caste the mesiz sangley oF the Chinese me the mestizo Espafol or the Spanish mestizo, A new social taxation purposes. pure Chinese was taxed 6 pesos: a mestiz0( Indio paid 150 peso, Spaniards and spanish mestizos Were AMT std porn ofboth The Spaniards also devised a way on determining who was ames mec Chinere mea cena restate sent ‘The same happens toa child ies aie ie af ‘mestizo but with a native or indio mother. However ia childs parents ‘mestizo Chinese mother, the child is considered an indi. As the local community of Chinese and Chinese mestizos becomes more affluent, they began to ‘manifest their wealth n the way they live. Mestizos were responsible for Innovating clothes using elaborate designs on pita cloth, which resulted in the barong Filipino, and adorning their headwear and altars in silver The homes of the rich mestizos became known as the bahay na bate. Mestizo Chinese also went beyond basic education offered by the friars ‘and a number of them took up higher ‘education. Since religion was then the only field persons lke the mestizos can gain advancement, -anumber became priests and religious. Perhaps the greatest religious among the Chinese mestizo ‘community was Mother Ignacia del Espiritu Santo who founded a religious congregation that was supported by the Spaniards. In other fields Chinese-Flipinos excelled such as Tomas Pinpin who ‘was hailed as the prince of Filipino printers. Chinese merchant athe Pari in Mena ‘Asa community, the Chinese looked after each other, In Manila they established a hospital which is now the Chinese General Hospital, one ofthe leading hospitals inthe city. There are many Chinese schools and there is cemetery in northern Manila for the Chinese which was bought by Yu Chingco. To protect their businesses from fire the Chinese community created various volu eer fre brigades. These fireunits served not only when Chinese establishments were involved but they also put out fires in other places ‘The Chinese community became a major economic lifeblood ofthe Philippines. They owned most ofthe shopping ‘alls, banks, all the airines and the shipping lines of the Philippines. ‘They donated to causes such as giving patrol TenGerhvenCarosFoarca.ore &atS forthe police. Since they were affluent, they were targets fe fowmos Chines leaders” for corrupt politicians who milk them for campaign funds as ng ‘well as kidnap for ransom groups. They were also accused of causing or abetting corruption through bribery. ‘There were also criminals among thelr ranks. Some were involved inthe illegal drugs trade and smugeling ities in nical aint ei aia‘Tothink thatthe Chinese wereanafluent group but it should be remembered that many ofthem were Poor and almost penniless when they came to the Philippines, Many started out as small businessmen, But because of their business acumen and discipline they became industry leaders and at least two Mr. Henry Sy and Mr: John Gokongwel are counted inthe Forbes List of Billionaires as the most influential people ofthe Philipines. AAS a people, their interest in the Philippines was mainly economic, However, in the recent years some of the best doctors, lawyers and educators are Chinese. Aside from having Rizal who had an ethnic Chinese background asa national hero at least two Presidents, Corazon Aquino and his son President Benigno S. Aquino Ii also have ethnic Chinese backgrounds. The role and the importance ofthe Chinese in Philippine society needs tobe studied if one wishes to study their path to prominence THE ANCESTRY OF RIZAL: THE CHINESE CONNECTION Like mary Filipinos Rizal bloodline came fromalineofmany ethnicities His great great srandfther was a man named Lam Co, He was the son of Siang Co and Zo from the village of Singue in the district of Chin Chew in Fujian, China. 1n 1690, Lam Co migrated tothe Philippines and settled in Manila. During the early times, China had already a burgeoning population and evens such s a prolonged drought, floods or war can send large groups of Chinese tryingto ste ‘outside their country. Lam Co landed at the district of Binondo and since the district of Binondo \wasunder Dominican supervision, he adopted the name Domingo-the name ofthe founder of the Order. He was baptized at the age of 35. There was no doubt Lam Co lived in ths district ater arriving in the Philipines. Lam Co marred a Chinese mestza named Ins de la Resa. Domingo amo (his mame s now written inthis manner) was friendly wit the Dominica ras Francisco Marquez and Juan Caballero who convinced hi o settle at Dominican estate In Bifian, Laguna. ‘There he helped construct the irrigation canals in the hacienda. Domingo and Ines had many children. One of them was a son named Francisco who ‘was named after one of Domingo’ friar-friends. Francisco who was born in 1731, assumed the ‘surname Mercado. Mercado in Spanish means “market" Francisco was a merchant and later he married Bernarda Monica who lived in the nearby hacienda of San Pedro, which was also managed by the Dominicans. The marriage of Francisco and Bernarda produced two sons, Clemente and Juan, Juan Mercado was Jose Rizal's grandfather, In 1783 Francisco Mercado was elected gobernadorcllo or municipal mayor of Bian. His son juan Mercado was elected capitan de! pueblo in 1808. He was re-elected to this position in 1813 and 1823. Juan Mercado was married to a Chinese mestiza named Ciila Alejandro. The ‘marriage produced 13 children. One ofthese children was Francisco Engracio Mercado who was Riza’s father. When he was a young boy his father Juan Mercado, died. At the age of eight years, he helped his mother run the family business. The Dominican hacienda of Bihan produced rice, ‘comand sugarcane. In 1848, Governor General Narciso Claveria Issued a decree ordering that all natives adapt new surnames so that they can be taxed properly. This would solve confusion as there ‘were many people with identical surnames. While it helped facilitate the collection of taxes thenections between families decree had an unintended effect: It helped erase historia connect “i ‘made historical research very complicated and dificult ose a new SUTMaM from Under this decree, ordinary indios or natives bad a ee did not contain only Span te called the Catalogs Alpabetico de Apellidos. THs et as ug inmates but also some native words incaing derogatory and ROMY TA babu ga etc, Exempted from this decree were Filipinos frm Lakandulas and Makapagals whose ancestors helped ‘Ssempted were the pure Chinese who had a separate ta ‘Revmaried with mestizos and ved in the sland for genera 8 natves, Rizal's father chose the name Rial which meat ited surname“ tase confsion nhs business and hisclents prompting him 0 use amoeRN STN Ria Mereado There were also many instances that Francisco and Rial ame Mercado alone without the Rizal they were now conside fields” But the name ch ila. He li ia’ father mare Tera Aono Reda a a of Maal et Ns wag Ghd to be traceable to Lakandula bt this cannot be proven, Her lineage eins Wh Fugen Ursua,a man of Japanese ancestry, He was married toa native named Benign. ide Quel ‘as named Regina who was Rizal's great grandmother. She was marviedto Manuel de Quintos, 3 mestizo from Bifian. The union bore a daughter named Brigila Quintos who was Teodoras mother a