Learning About Jose Rizal's Chinese Ancestry (and Blood) Back in High School (and College)

JoseRizal.com

Today is Rizal Day and I found myself admiring him. I don't have his level of genius. Some people often joked that practiced the Rizal hairstyle. He was only 5.28 feet, which may have been considered tall at that time compared to today's standards. This takes me back in time when my Filipino teacher (forgot her full name) asked, "Do you have to be born a Filipino to be truly Filipino. If we must accept it, Rizal's blood was Chinese." Rizal would be a Chinese mestizo. Look into his history. Rizal's great-great-grandfather was a Chinese immigrant. Those questions forever shook my mind slowly but surely. I'm Chinese by blood but I was born into the Philippines, from Filipino citizen parents, even if my great-grandparents were mostly from China.

Concerning Rizal's ancestor, this is an interesting detail:

Domingo Lamco: A Beacon of Resilience
Domingo Lamco, also known by his Chinese name Cua Yi-Lam (“Ke Yi-Nan” in Mandarin), was a trailblazer in the face of oppressive Spanish colonial conditions. Born in the village of Zhangguo (“Siongque” in Hokkien) in Jinjiang County (now a city), Quanzhou City, Fujian province, Lamco navigated the tumultuous era of Spanish colonization. Segregated in the Parian ghetto along with other Chinese traders and artisans, Lamco overcame hardships and persecution.
Overcoming adversity, Lamco was a “rags-to-riches” entrepreneur and later moved to Laguna province to become the founder of the high-educated, esteemed Mercado family. “Mercado” was an adopted surname by Domingo Lamco for his children and descendants. The Mercado family would later play a significant role in shaping the economic, cultural, and social fabric of the Philippines.

The Chinese and the Spanish didn't like each other. That's why the Spanish built the Intramuros Wall in Binondo. Fortunately, we no longer live in the Intramuros Days. I could already interact with Spanish people, or even marry a woman of Spanish descent. Some Chinese Filipinos have Spanish Filipino partners. The same wasn't so true back then. The Spanish looked down on the Chinese during that time. The Chinese also didn't like the Spanish. Some Chinese Filipinos also called the Spanish "huan-a" even if the term has been more commonly applied to Southeast Asian natives. The term "huan-a" has also been used in Malaysia and Indonesia.

In college, I remember how our professor discussed Rizal's lineage. Both Rizal's parents had Chinese ancestry. It made me remember how Rizal's lineage was from both sides. My Filipino teacher even said, "Well, Rizal was really Chinese. But did Rizal have to be born Filipino to be truly Filipino?" One may even discover several great Filipinos were actually of Chinese descent. Sure, most of them were born as Filipino citizens. However, Ignacio Paua was actually a migrant from the Fujian Province. Others who may be less than half-Chinese, still look Chinese. It still reminds me of my misadventure whenever I speak Hokkien to non-Chinese Filipinos thinking they're Chinese. That's why I seldom ask, "Are you Chinese?" before I continue the conversation, to avoid confusion.

Future Teacher Facebook Page

Here's the picture of Rizal's family tree. The photos of Francisco Mercado and Teodora Alonso show their Chinese features. Sure, they aren't bearing Chinese surnames like most Chinese Filipinos today who are born from third to fourth-generation migrants. However, the Chinese ancestry couldn't be denied one way or another based on the photos.

As the teacher would say, Rizal was Chinese but he was Filipino by heart. I'm Chinese by blood but I'm not a Chinese citizen. Some idiots on Facebook even say that I may have gotten a fake citizenship frm Davao (but couldn't provide proof) because of the recent Alice Guo controversy. Some idiot boomers even say, "Well your surname is Chinese so you're obviously going after Chinese interests." Never mind that the late Benigno Simeon C. Aquino III's ancestry was actually Chinese too! The late Jesse Robredo's grandfather was descended from a Chinese immigrant known as Lim Pay Co. However, nothing suggests (but I may be proven wrong) that Jesse's widow Atty. Maria Leonor "Leni" Gerona-Robredo is of Chinese descent.

Also, the term Filipino was originally meant for Spanish residing in the Philippines. Most of the local population was called indio. The majority of Filipinos today were called indios. What's not so suprising is that the name Indonesia from the Greek word Indos, or Indian. The term Indian tends to be mistaken for native Americans. It was said Christopher Columbus thought he discovered India. Overtime, the term Filipino means anybody who is a citizen of the Philippines. It's like I can say I'm a Filipino of Chinese ethnicity. Most Filipinos can say they're Filipinos of Malay or Indonesian descent. Rizal is still considered a Filipino, despite being ethnically Chinese.

The Foolishness of Complaining About Stupid Voters and Stupid Candidates, While Insisting the 1987 Constitution of the Philippines is "So Perfect"

I was looking into the Facebook page of Butthurt Philippines . Honestly, it's easy to complain but what's the use of complaining if you reject the solutions? The art produced by its administrator shows some problems. However, if the administrator here believes that the 1987 Constitution of the Philippines is "perfect as it is" (and he seems to be throwing a "saving face" by saying it was just sarcasm, and I failed to detect it) then it's really something. It's one thing to keep complaining. Complaining can be good. However, what's the use of complaining if you reject the solutions. Even worse, complaining about the quality of candidates for the upcoming 2025 midterm elections, while still saying, "It's not the system it's the people!" Please, that kind of thinking has been refuted even by basic psychology and political science! It's really good to point out the three problems. Distractions? Check. Keeping people hopeless? Ch...

The Curious Case of Dayang Dayang, Not Dayang Daya

I remembered the song "Dayang Dayang" which had a parody cover called "Dayang Daya". Some people wondered if it was from India. Some say it was a Muslim song which makes more sense. It's because the beats almost sound like one from Filipino Muslim dances. Granted, a lot of Filipinos descended from either Malaysian or Indonesian settlers then it would make sense if Dayang Dayang is danced to the Pakiring. The song I just share comes from an Indonesian singer who probably popularized the song. Many words from the Filipino language match up with Malaysian language or Indonesian language. The Filipino word for help (tulong) is tolong in Indonesian and Malaysian. The Malaysian (or Indonesian) term Dayang is said to mean a noble lady. It would make sense of the song "Dayang Dayang" would've come from Indonesia, Malaysia, or from Mindanao in the Philippines. This was the most common version heard. I think the video maker wrongly attributed it to Bollywo...

The Hypocrisy of the #JusticeForFlor Movement

It may already be past the late Flor Contemplacion's death anniversary. However, I felt like writing this piece because of two severely miscarried cases . The first case was the Vizconde Massacre (read here ). The second case is that of the Chiong Sisters (read here ). The cry has stayed the same since 1995 up to 2024. It's still #JusticeForFlor and it'll be 40 years by 2025. As far as concerned, a movie was made about the Vizconde Massacre while the trial was going on. A film about Flor's life was made in the same year she was executed. A movie about the Chiong Sisters Case was only made in 2018. Some people insist that Flor was innocent. However, we need to compare the justice system of the two countries. I used to believe that Hubert Jeffry P. Webb and Francisco Juan "Paco" G. Larrañaga were guilty. I was shocked to find out that a friend of mine was with Paco in Quezon City , on that same night of the crime. There were several witnesses. Why didn't t...

Are Political Dynasties, Not Presidential's Name Recall System, the Real Problem?

As a person fighting for constitutional reform, I looked at this video by Orion Perez Dumdum. Some people are still relying on the allegations made by a certain fat lady on Facebook. I even got blocked by a certain fat man with glasses. I feel victorious after that fat guy blocked me. I watched this video and thought, "Are political dynasties the problem?" People fuzz over political dynasties. Some people even go as far as to blame political dynasties, not the ridiculous 60-40 equity restriction, as to why FDIs have chosen Vietnam. Yes, Communist Vietnam which is a one-party state . The "next best solution" is what? Ban political dynasties altogether. Whether we like to admit it or not, every family has bad eggs and good eggs . A good king can sire bad sons. A bad king can sire good sons. It's all about upbringing that determines the direction of one's offspring. This would also play a double stnadard. Why did people clamor the late Benigno Simeon "Noy...

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PEH.ph Some time ago, I wrote a critical review of the movie called The Flor Contemplacion Story . I rewatched it because it was uploaded on YouTube by VIVA Films themselves. The fate of the family of the late Flor just got worse. After the rightful execution --I'll share whatever data I got from the Internet. Take note that I'm just another writer, not a big-time historian. So what really happened? One "sequel" to the movie was given in Magpakailanman (Whenever) on GMA-7. It was when Flor's only daughter, Russell Contemplacion, who got pregnant at 17 years old with her estranged irresponsible partner, gave the details of what happened. Unlike the "hit movie", the episode showed that her father Efren, her brothers Xandrex and the twins Jonjon and Joel (who starred as themselves in the film) got into shady dealings. Xandrex even died in jail on September 1, 2012, though the cause may have not yet been revealed, until this very day. The details given by ...

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Is it me or are many Filipinos addicted to betting? It's a common problem that Filipinos would rather gamble than invest. Gambling often offers that feeling of faster gratification than investing money in the stock market. Some people prefer day trading over investing in an individual stock or an index fund. Whether we want to admit it or not, gambling always sends this sense of a thrill . Along with the release of dopamine to the brain, gambling comes with other potential rewards, including money, social participation and enjoyment . While most of us are able to walk away when we lose and practice safer play habits, others may continue gambling to win back the money they have lost in a phenomenon known as chasing losses. These individuals may begin to develop problems with gambling. Research conducted by Brain Connections explores how gambling can spiral from an enjoyable pastime into an addiction. When the brain’s rewards system becomes altered by problem gambling, new habits f...

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