QUOTE(sg_han @ Aug 26 2007, 10:33 AM)
Tell me more about life of a typical filipino chinese. i am interested to know about it. care to tell me=)
I can only tell you about it during my generation of growing up in the Philippines the time line would be from the late 50s to the mid 90s.
Majority of early Chinese who came to the Philippines were not rich most of the Chinese are from the Fujian province from villages and areas such as Quanzhou or Chan chiu, Chio Sai, Xiamen, Putian, etc. averagely are from Quanzhou.
They left China out of neccessity because of the ongoing civil war, uncertainty, social turmoil, and the threat of an open war with Japan. They consist of farmers, carpenters, businessmen etc. etc.
Many of those early Chinese immigrants share the same expereince with all other hua kiaos from North America to Europe they all have to struggle and work in difficult situation they were heavily discriminated.
In Manila, Chinese preservere and work hard to blend in with the Filipino society they share their culture and their traites, there was intermarriages. Heavy distrust of local Chinese towards the Filipinos was high because IMO the native Filipinos who were generally very freindly and welcoming have been heavily influence by their colonial rulers back then that situation develop a hostile attitude towards Chinese.
The Fil-Chinese became defensive and the more they felt that they have to stick together in order to survive in that kind of environment.
Fil-Chinese were hard working, they have strong bond towards family members, clan members and fellow Chinese. Early Fil-Chinese social virtue was strong and honorable it was so strong that verbal contracts & promises was highly acceptable and is bonding enough in the business community.
They would work long hours, community centres that took the form of martial clubs, clan association and temples were very helpful to provide assistance and aid to Fil-Chinese who are in trouble be it medical, social, education or business.
Life in the 60s as I can remember were very dificult as far as associating with locals. 85% of Fil-Chinese would be confronted with verbal attacks, and physical assualt when ever they venture into the mainstream commnity. The only way a Fil-Chinese can escape such abuses is for them not to be too Chinese or look like Chinese. Chinese who have darker skin and less kinky or slid eyes can easily blend in.
But for Fil-Chinese like me who have kinky eyes it is difficult not to get attack. In spite of all these social hostility Fil-CHinese were able to found success and stability life of Fil-Chinese were more stable and secure compare to local Filipinos and IMHO it is because Fil-Chinese have the following traites:
1. Honest
2. Integrity
3. Hardworking
4. Fortitude
5. Sense of pride
6. Family and community responsibility
7. Foresight for a better tomorrow
8. Virtue
One thing that I like to share and the reason why I say those attibutes is because I have witness through my father, grand parents, grand uncles, and many of my elders especially my father that in his early business life his financial aid or loans was granted to him through verbal contracts only. Bankers and financers give more value to verbal contracts then written ones. Now a days both verbal and written contracts are still not good enough to secure an honest loan or aid, now a days honor, virtue, respect, and integrity are all but a fools man own habit. Too many people are cheating each other and taking advantage of those who are honest.
In the late 80s to the mid 90s there was a spike of kidnappings targetted against Fil-Chinese. These kidnappings was later learn was being operated by organize crime at first it was thought that it was local base mostly Politicians, and other ranking public officers such as those in the law enforcement. Later although no clear evidence was presented it was highly suspected that it was criminal gangs from mainlabd China who introduce this "lucrative bussiness" by partnering up with corrupt local officials.
Fil-Chinese rally together against this criminal act and we even approach the Chinese (PRC at that time the ROC have already lost their status) Embassy for help but was informed that there is nothing they can do except to issue a public opinion regarding what is happening. And the reason was because the PRC do not recognized the rights of overseas Chinese even though many of them are still "Chinese citizens". We were basically left on our own
The Philippine government finally took some serious action after they received reports that Fil-Chinese were planning to start arming themselves (not with martial weapons but with firearms) and create a self defense police force. The Philippine government then created the PACC (Philippine Anti Crime Commission) and the Fil-Chinese were "encourage" to throw all their support to this agency.
Now, thatI am not in the country for more than 10 years what I have seen from my nieces and nephews is that 85% of racial attacks towards Fil-Chinese have disappeared. Things are a lot better now as far as social life is concern but not in security.
IMO, new generation of Fil-Chinese are slowly loosing their identity and integrity of our forefathers.
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Add if you please. My list is very incomplete.
