The Chinese Mestizo in Philippine History

Metacognitive Reading Report # 2

Name: CARREON, Keneth C. Date: 02/25/2020

1. Three (3) Things that I significantly learned from the readings:

 I learned how deep is the connection between Filipinos and Chinese

citizens through the emergence of their descendant called ‘Chinese
Mestizo’. These Chinese Mestizo played a significant role in uplifting our
race during the Spanish colonization by dominating the commerce, rising
the social status from middle class up to social prestige, and actively
participating in social reforms lead by Dr. Jose Rizal. One of great example
is Doroteo Ongjungco, who opened his house to Rizal paving the foundation
of La Liga Filipina, a progressive organization aiming for reform movement.

 The articles made me realized how Filipinos were severely treated slave in
their own lands and how they are considered as one of the lowest social
group of the society. I learned how social stratification, like how the
Philippine society were divided before into Indio, Chinese Mestizo and
Chinese severely affects the people within a society. Unfortunately, social
stratification does still exist today creating a larger gap within Philippine
society.

 I also learned that Chinese Mestizo played a vital role in the formation of
Filipino Identity and dignity as they have been fighting along with the
Filipinos for their rights. The birth of the Filipino consciousness was even
documented and emphasize by Pedro Paterno and Gregorio Sancianco,
both Chinese Mestizo. Sancianco was even the first one to explain that
Filipinos are not really indolent, it was their reaction to the long due
exploitation of the Spanish government.

2. Three (3) Things that are still unclear to me

 I find it confusing because it was mentioned in the text that Chinese Mestizo
holds the biggest wealth in the Philippine during their era and they even
made the Cebu rich province yet they did not even made any significant
movement that could possible defeat the Spaniards.

 If the Chinese Mestizo are on the side of the Filipino or Indio at that time,
why it was mentioned that they are buying the natives land that they even
conquered most of the provinces?

 Another vague idea for me in the text was the idea of why the Spaniards
allow the Chinese Mestizo be the ‘Economic Giant’ of their times if they
are threatened in the first place by their education and liberty?
3. I used to think that Chinese are people that Filipino should not trust in
comparison with Americans. With the recent issues arising between China and
Philippines especially in the course of West Philippine Sea, most Filipino lose
their trust to Chinese as we felt abused. But after reading these articles which
describe how deep is the relationship of the early Filipinos and Chinese in terms
of economic, social and cultural aspect that even pave way for the birth of
Chinese Mestizo, I realized that China, somehow have played a significant role
to whom we are right now. It they helped us build who we are before and even
help us during our darkest years, I think it is not impossible to bring back that
healthy camaraderie between us two nations.

4. Three (3) questions that I want to ask about the readings

 Why is there’s almost no recognition in for the contributions of the Chinese

Mestizo for the Philippine Independence in our history textbooks and
classes?

 If the Spanish government is threatened before in the emerging population

of Chinese Mestizo who are more educated and liberated than Indios, why
did they not created a policy deporting all the Chinese way back in China?
How are the Spaniards benefited from the existence of Chinese commerce
in the Philippines?

 Aside from Jose Rizal who had a bloodline of being a Chinese Mestizo, who
other Filipino heroes are considered Chinese Mestizo?