First published in Tulay Fortnightly, Chinese-Filipino Digest 25, no. 4 (July 24-August 13, 2012): 8-10. Editor’s Note: The paperback edition of the author’s book, Chinese and Chinese Mestizos of Manila – Family, Identity, and Culture, 1860s-1930s, was launched at Ateneo de Manila University, Quezon City. The author is Tsinoy who now lives and teaches at …
First published in Tulay Fortnightly, Chinese-Filipino Digest 25, no. 4 (July 24-August 13, 2012): 9. Dr. Jose Rizal, Corazon Cojuangco Aquino, Anna Dominique Coseteng, Mariano Limjap, Claudio Teehankee are familiar names. They have one thing in common, all of them have Chinese forebears. For centuries, Chinese have intermarried with Filipinos. During the Spanish colonial regime …
First published in Tulay Fortnightly, Chinese-Filipino Digest 25, no. 3 (July 10-23, 2012): 8-10. Quintin Paredes is more than a street name in Binondo. This name, which replaced that of Rosario, belonged to a lawyer, statesman and senator who had a prominent hand shaping Philippine history. Quintin Paredes was born on Sept. 8, 1884 in …
The Teehankee family gathered at Kaisa-Angelo King Heritage Center in Intramuros, Manila on June 23, 2013 to commemorate the 70 death anniversary of their patriarch, Dr. Tee Han Kee (鄭漢淇 1879-1943). Tee was the first Chinese doctor to be appointed in government service. As public health officer, he was assigned to attend especially to the issues …
Many Chinese immigrants to the Philippines settle, not just in Manila, but in towns and cities across the country, one of which is Asia’s Latin City: Zamboanga City. In this charming, seaside city of some 800,000 inhabitants, where Chavacano, the Spanish-based Creole language – not Filipino – dominates conversation, Tsinoys live and play as best …
My search for missing Chinese relatives have led me through winding paths and side trips to unexpected destinations. The journey has enriched my life, broadened my horizons, and put me in touch with many people. After my visits to the Calbayog cemeteries searching for Li Xianggu’s tomb, I learned of a survey done in the …
I have a short memory. This is why memorabilia, such as old photographs, are so important to me. They help me recall yesteryears, however faint the memory has become. Without them I am lost. This story is about one search that took so long, traversed so many of my other-relative finder quests and even became …
Ed’s Note: This is the third installment of Relative Finder’s “Saga after the storm,” July 5-18, 2016 issue. After my failed guidance of Aunty Marites (Reales) on her travel arrangements, I needed to find a way to help her meet her long lost uncle in China. In December 2014, I got engaged to my girlfriend …
History can sometimes be found in the most curious of places, even in the back alleys of Binondo. Take for example this obscure historical marker in a driveway along Masangkay Street in Binondo. Since it is not visible from the street, only a few are aware of its existence. The marker honors a Don Higino …
In 1580, the Mexicans expelled the Chinese to outside the walls – Extramuros – at a spot along the Pasig River, “within sight and cannon shot of Intramuros” and where they would localize the great silk market called Parian. Thus, Parian became the name of Manila’s Chinatown. As Manila was an extension of Mexico in …
