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 […]
Jose Rizal is alive and well in Hong Kong! If you know where to look, you can find our national hero in this bustling metropolis. All you need is a good pair of shoes and a city map. Then seek out the historical markers. There are three historical markers scattered across Hong Kong island. These […]
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 […]
This year (2015), the Philippines and the People’s Republic of China commemorate 40 years of diplomatic relations. The joint communiqué was signed June 9, 1975 by Philippine President Ferdinand E. Marcos and China Premier Zhou Enlai.The day is now celebrated as Philippines-China Friendship Day. It underscores the centuries of friendship between the two countries, begun […]
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 […]
The book, Domingo De Salazar, O.P. First Bishop of the Philippines (1512-1594): A Study of His Life and Works, by Lucio Gutierrez, O.P., reveals the early years, milieu, student and missionary life of Domingo de Salazar, the Philippines’ first bishop and one of the key figures of the Church. It also gives valuable insights into […]
On Nov. 8, 2013, less than two months after becoming acquainted with Ed Lim on Facebook, our country was struck by one of the worst natural disasters in history. Super Typhoon Yolanda (international name Haiyan), the strongest typhoon on record to ever make landfall, hit the Visayas. Approximately 6,300 people were killed, infrastructure and livelihood […]
This epic quest involves several families and spans locations from China’s Fujian province, to Hong Kong, and to the Philippine islands of Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. Despite extreme obstacles, each find is a result of unexpected but fortuitous happenings.Precedence My late father-in-law, Engr. Antonio B. Ty (鄭道党), is my role model in my relative-finder quests. […]