Chinese in the Philippines
Chinese in the Philippines
by: Maria Christine Halili
During the Spanish times, the Chinese were called Sangleys, derived from the terms xiang and ley meaning "traveling merchant." Since Legazpi and those who succeeded him favored Sino-Philippine trade, more trading junks from China came to the Philippines annually, bringing merchandise like silk, textiles, and porcelain wares.
Prior to the coming of the Spaniards, the Chinese had established their settlements in the country. The Chinese, who were able to learn the styles and techniques from native craftsmen, predominantly occupied the manufacturing of carriages, stone masonry, printing, shoemaking, and tailoring.
In Manila, they were forced to live outside the city walls.The place was called Parian, erected in 1581 by Governor General Gonzalo Ronquillo de Penalosa. Outside Manila, many Chinese engaged in retail trade, which others invested in land. Many Chinese settled in the Philippines after the Taiping Rebellion (1851-1864) in China. A number of them were converted to Catholicism and married Filipina women. Their descendants, called Chinese mestizos, were formed.
During the Spanish period, the Chinese mestizos were able to acquire land from peasants through the pacto de retroventa. This was also known as pacto de retro, which was a contract under which the borrower who conveyed his land to the lender could repurchase it for the same amount of money that he had received. Generally, the borrower could no longer pay the sum of money of money; thus, the transfer of land ownership to the lender has been completed.
The Chinese in the Philippines had given valuable service to the community but still they were not given fair treatment by the Spanish authorities, owing their constructive role in the economic development of the country. To discourage Chinese immigration to the country, the Spanish authorities taxed them heavily. They were also taxed twice the amount required of Filipinos because they earned more. The Spanish government encouraged the immigrants to become agricultural laborers. Soon, the Chinese gained position in the cash-crop economy in the provincial level.
The Chinese mestizo could legally change his classification through the dispensa de ley, which involved the transfer of his family to the tax register of indios. The Chinese compound name was combined into a single surname e.g., Tan Hwang Co to Tanjuangco. He wore the camisa de chino and the top hat, a status symbol of the native principalia.
The first Chinese threat to Spanish rule in the Philippines was the invasion of Lim-Ah-Hong. He appeared in Manila Bay on November 29, 1574 with 62 war junks and shiploads of farming and husehold goods. He was in search of a kingdom.
In Paranaque beach, Lim-Ah-Hong landed a force of 600 men under Sioco, his Japanese lieutenant. On November 30, 1574, Sioco attacked Bagumbayan, killed Marshal Martin de Goiti, and assaulted the city of Manila. But the SPanish forces aided by Filipinos, drove the invaders back to their ships.
Lim-Ah-Hong himself led the second attack in Manila. This time, Juan Salcedo has already arrived from Vigan upon knowing the previous attack in Manila. He succeeded Goiti as marshal.
Sioco died in action while Lim-Ah-Hong retreated with his ships and men northward, to Pangasinan. He established a colony at the mouth of Agno River. However, Lim-Ah-Hong's colony in the Philippines did not last long. marshal Salcedo with a fleet of 1,500 Filipinos and 250 Spaniards sailed from Manila to Pangasinan and destroyed Lim-Ah-Hong's stronghold in Lingayin Gulf.
Lim-Ah-Hong evaded capture. He managed to escape through a man-made canal and fled to the hills and mingled with the Igorots and Tingguians. Then, he returned to China and reorganized his forces but he was defeated by the Chinese viceroy in Fookien in a naval battle of Palahoan. He fled to Thailand but was not permitted to stay there. He went to other kingdoms, but for fear of China, these kingdoms did not welcome him. He wandered from one place to another, till his whereabouts could no longer be traced.
The first Chinese revolt was brought about by the deep-seated suspicion of the Spaniards. On May 23, 1603, three Chinese mandarins arrived in Manila. They wanted to see Chin-San (Mountain of Gold), which was believed to be in Cavite. The Spaniards looked at it as a plausible scheme. After the mandarins had left, the Spaniards strengthened the city defenses. which alarmed the Chinese residents.
In Parian, secret plot to overthrow the Spaniards was planned under the leadership of Eng-Kang, a rich Chinese merchant. They attacked Tondo and Quiapo on October 3, 1603 by setting the buildings on fire and by killing the inhabitants. Don Luis Dasmarinas (former governor general) and Captain Tomas Bravo de Acuna (nephew of Gover General Acuna) led the retaliatory attacks but they were ambushed.
However, the Chinese failed to capture the city walls because of the Spanish, Filipino and Japanese joint forces, including the friars as well as the residents of the are. The Chinese rebels retreated to the hills of San Pablo, Laguna, but they were defeated by the forces led by Cristobal Axqueta Monchaca.
In 1639, the Chinese revolted for the second time. This was caused by Governor General Sebastian Hurtado de Corcuera's order forcing the Chinese to work in Calamba, Laguna. The Chinese denounced the abuses committed by Spanish tribute collectors. On November 19, 1639, histilities began in Calamba and it spread to other towns killing several Spanish friars, including the alcalde mayor of Laguna, Marcos Zapata.
In the early part of 1662, Koxinga (real name was Cheng Chengkung) was able to take Taiwan from the Dutch. He sent Fr. Victorio Ricci to Manila, to extend his directive for tribute from the Spanish authorities. This infuriated Governor General Manrique de Lara and thus, he prepared to drive out all Chinese residents in the country.
The Chinese retaliated by burning the district of Santa Cruz. Many Filipinos and Spaniards were killed. An army of 4, 000 Pampanguenos under Francisco Laksamana came to the rescue and defeated the rebels who had fled to the mountains of Taytay and Antipolo.
The fourth Chinese revolt (1686) was planned by Tingco, a Chinese ex-convict. He was desperate to raise money to return to China. He tried to burn the city of Manila and to loot the churches. His group of rebels attacked in August, starting at the Parian, in the house of Don Diego Vivien, the alcalde mayor. The government forces arrived and routed them. Tingco was caught and executed.
To put an end to possible Chinese insurrection in the country, the governor in 1729 ordered that all unbaptized Chinese in Manila were to reside in the Parian. The baptized ones had to reside in Binondo and Sta. Cruz.
However, when the British came and occupied Manila in 1762, the Chinese collaborated with them to fight the Spaniards. The Chinese in Manila as well as the Chinese in Guagua, Pampanga, secretly plotted to massacre the Spaniards on Christmas Eve of December 24, 1762. One of the plotters happened to reveal the plot to his Filipina sweetheart. The latter relayed the news to Fr. Jose Salas, the parish priest of Mexico, Pampanga.
Governor General Simon de Anda who was informed of this plot led his forces to Guagua on December 20 and crushed the Chinese rebels. This bloody confrontation was considered in Philippine history as the "Red Christmas".
Reference:
Halili, Maria Christine N. "Philippine History" (Rex Book Store, Inc.) (Philippine Copyright 2010
pp. 86-88
The Chinese in the Philippines had given valuable service to the community but still they were not given fair treatment by the Spanish authorities, owing their constructive role in the economic development of the country. To discourage Chinese immigration to the country, the Spanish authorities taxed them heavily. They were also taxed twice the amount required of Filipinos because they earned more. The Spanish government encouraged the immigrants to become agricultural laborers. Soon, the Chinese gained position in the cash-crop economy in the provincial level.
The Chinese mestizo could legally change his classification through the dispensa de ley, which involved the transfer of his family to the tax register of indios. The Chinese compound name was combined into a single surname e.g., Tan Hwang Co to Tanjuangco. He wore the camisa de chino and the top hat, a status symbol of the native principalia.
The first Chinese threat to Spanish rule in the Philippines was the invasion of Lim-Ah-Hong. He appeared in Manila Bay on November 29, 1574 with 62 war junks and shiploads of farming and husehold goods. He was in search of a kingdom.
In Paranaque beach, Lim-Ah-Hong landed a force of 600 men under Sioco, his Japanese lieutenant. On November 30, 1574, Sioco attacked Bagumbayan, killed Marshal Martin de Goiti, and assaulted the city of Manila. But the SPanish forces aided by Filipinos, drove the invaders back to their ships.
Lim-Ah-Hong himself led the second attack in Manila. This time, Juan Salcedo has already arrived from Vigan upon knowing the previous attack in Manila. He succeeded Goiti as marshal.
Sioco died in action while Lim-Ah-Hong retreated with his ships and men northward, to Pangasinan. He established a colony at the mouth of Agno River. However, Lim-Ah-Hong's colony in the Philippines did not last long. marshal Salcedo with a fleet of 1,500 Filipinos and 250 Spaniards sailed from Manila to Pangasinan and destroyed Lim-Ah-Hong's stronghold in Lingayin Gulf.
Lim-Ah-Hong evaded capture. He managed to escape through a man-made canal and fled to the hills and mingled with the Igorots and Tingguians. Then, he returned to China and reorganized his forces but he was defeated by the Chinese viceroy in Fookien in a naval battle of Palahoan. He fled to Thailand but was not permitted to stay there. He went to other kingdoms, but for fear of China, these kingdoms did not welcome him. He wandered from one place to another, till his whereabouts could no longer be traced.
The first Chinese revolt was brought about by the deep-seated suspicion of the Spaniards. On May 23, 1603, three Chinese mandarins arrived in Manila. They wanted to see Chin-San (Mountain of Gold), which was believed to be in Cavite. The Spaniards looked at it as a plausible scheme. After the mandarins had left, the Spaniards strengthened the city defenses. which alarmed the Chinese residents.
In Parian, secret plot to overthrow the Spaniards was planned under the leadership of Eng-Kang, a rich Chinese merchant. They attacked Tondo and Quiapo on October 3, 1603 by setting the buildings on fire and by killing the inhabitants. Don Luis Dasmarinas (former governor general) and Captain Tomas Bravo de Acuna (nephew of Gover General Acuna) led the retaliatory attacks but they were ambushed.
However, the Chinese failed to capture the city walls because of the Spanish, Filipino and Japanese joint forces, including the friars as well as the residents of the are. The Chinese rebels retreated to the hills of San Pablo, Laguna, but they were defeated by the forces led by Cristobal Axqueta Monchaca.
In 1639, the Chinese revolted for the second time. This was caused by Governor General Sebastian Hurtado de Corcuera's order forcing the Chinese to work in Calamba, Laguna. The Chinese denounced the abuses committed by Spanish tribute collectors. On November 19, 1639, histilities began in Calamba and it spread to other towns killing several Spanish friars, including the alcalde mayor of Laguna, Marcos Zapata.
In the early part of 1662, Koxinga (real name was Cheng Chengkung) was able to take Taiwan from the Dutch. He sent Fr. Victorio Ricci to Manila, to extend his directive for tribute from the Spanish authorities. This infuriated Governor General Manrique de Lara and thus, he prepared to drive out all Chinese residents in the country.
The Chinese retaliated by burning the district of Santa Cruz. Many Filipinos and Spaniards were killed. An army of 4, 000 Pampanguenos under Francisco Laksamana came to the rescue and defeated the rebels who had fled to the mountains of Taytay and Antipolo.
The fourth Chinese revolt (1686) was planned by Tingco, a Chinese ex-convict. He was desperate to raise money to return to China. He tried to burn the city of Manila and to loot the churches. His group of rebels attacked in August, starting at the Parian, in the house of Don Diego Vivien, the alcalde mayor. The government forces arrived and routed them. Tingco was caught and executed.
To put an end to possible Chinese insurrection in the country, the governor in 1729 ordered that all unbaptized Chinese in Manila were to reside in the Parian. The baptized ones had to reside in Binondo and Sta. Cruz.
However, when the British came and occupied Manila in 1762, the Chinese collaborated with them to fight the Spaniards. The Chinese in Manila as well as the Chinese in Guagua, Pampanga, secretly plotted to massacre the Spaniards on Christmas Eve of December 24, 1762. One of the plotters happened to reveal the plot to his Filipina sweetheart. The latter relayed the news to Fr. Jose Salas, the parish priest of Mexico, Pampanga.
Governor General Simon de Anda who was informed of this plot led his forces to Guagua on December 20 and crushed the Chinese rebels. This bloody confrontation was considered in Philippine history as the "Red Christmas".
Reference:
Halili, Maria Christine N. "Philippine History" (Rex Book Store, Inc.) (Philippine Copyright 2010
pp. 86-88
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