Ignacio Paua: Born Mainland Chinese, Died Filipino

Does one have to be born Filipino to be truly Filipino? That was a question my Filipino teacher asked to provoke the mind, back when I was in the Fourth Year of High School. Chinoys may have their identity crisis. It can be like, "If Chinoys are already Filipinos, why are they forbidden from marrying Filipinos?" The term huan-a can be derogatory. The term huan-a is also used in Malaysia and Indonesia, referring to anyone of Malay-Indo descent. In the Philippines, huan-a refers to Filipinos of Malay-Indo descent. 

Back in college, I researched and stumbled on the name Jose Ignacio Paua, a Filipino who was actually born in China. Jose Ignacio was born in Lao-Na in Fujian Province. His real name would've been Lâu Hingpua̍h (劉亨賻) or Liú Hēngfu in Mandarin. It was at that time when I realized that several Filipino heroes, were actually Chinese by blood such as Jose Rizal, Emilio Aguinaldo (though this is debatable since he did questionable stuff), Vicente Lim, Lorenzo Ruiz (a martyr during the Japanese occupation of the Philippines, actually Lorenzo Dy), Tomas Pinpin, Sergio Osmeña Sr., Roman Ongpin, Mariano Limjap, Julian Felipe, and the 13 Martyrs of Cavite. 

Honestly, I tend to exist as a critic of Andres Bonifacio, and I tend to lean towards Aguinaldo. Unlike most Katipuneros of Chinese descent (and they were already mixed due to interbreeding with either Indios or, in some rare cases, with Spaniards), Ignacio was actually born in China. The Tulay website gives this information on Ignacio as a Chinese turned Filipino:

Paua was born on April 29, 1872 in an impoverished village of Lao-na in Fujian province, China. In 1890, he accompanied his uncle to seek his fortune in the Philippines. He served first as an apprentice blacksmith on Jaboneros Street, Binondo, a job he held for many years until he became an expert. His knowledge as blacksmith served him in good stead during the revolution. He became an expert in the repair of native cannons called lantakas and many other kinds of weaponry.

Basically, this was centuries after the Sangley Rebellion, which was pretty much mutual hatred between Spaniards and Chinese. Honestly, I'm glad I'm not living during the Intramuros Days! I could've been forced into isolation or would've perished during the Sangley Rebellion! What was noted was that Ignacio was once from an impoverished village. Unlike other Chinese Filipinos that time, Ignacio was naturalized at 18 years of age. However, historian Teodoro F. Agoncillo would later say that Ignacio was more Filipino than many Filipinos. In short, how many are born Filipino but are actually doing things that are disgraceful for the Filipino identity?

It would be hard to imagine, but this naturalized foreigner was actually responsible for helping overthrow the Spaniards. Just reading this makes me think of pragmatic war strategy:

At the outbreak of revolution in 1896, Paua quickly joined the army. Aware of the acute shortage of arms, he suggested to Aguinaldo to set up an ammunition factory in Imus, Cavite. With the help of his fellow Chinese blacksmiths, he finished the arsenal in two days time.

“Under his skillful supervision, old cannons and broken Mausers captured from the enemy were repaired; large bamboo cannons taped with wires were manufactured, numerous paltiks (crude firearms) were made, and thousands of cartridges were filled up with home-made gunpowder.” (Gregorio Zaide, p. 5).

Not only did he manage the factory, he also taught the Filipinos how to melt metals, including church bells, for the manufacture of the much-needed arms and bullets for the revolutionary army.

Just imagine if there were no Chinese Filipinos during the revolution. Would the fight for independence against Spain be successful? It's irritating to read ignorant comments against Chinoys, as if Chinoys are even Mainlanders. Some boomer Filipino idiots say, "You favor foreign investment because you're Chinese." Please, do they even realize foreign investment's sources are from any country and not just China? Sadly, some degree of bigotry still exists in the Philippines against Chinoys. Fortunately, that degree of racism is nowhere near as bad as discrimination against non-whites in the USA.

However, Ignacio was a Mainlander who had become a Filipino at heart! As I was reading through the biography, this can also be read:

When the Filipino-American war broke out, Paua was again at the forefront of the battle. Taught in the rigid discipline of martial arts, he trained his men well. Among the very few battles won against the superior fire power of the Americans were those led by Paua.

Paua became a scourge of the American troops, who greatly feared his attacks. UP historian Prof. Luis Dery wrote: “The ferocity with which he contested every inch of Philippine soil lost to the American troops showed his total transformation from Chinese to Filipino — in heart and in deed.”

In another detail, Ignacio may have married a non-Chinese, after all

It was often taboo for Chinese to marry non-Chinese. I often got into trouble for speaking huan-a oi (Malay-Indo dialect, which includes Filipino dialects). Chinese Filipinos were always told to "Never marry huan-a." The anger can often be more directed because the husband is having an affair with a huan-a po (Malay-Indo woman). Never mind that the huan-a po may have been his college sweetheart denied to him by overly demanding Chinese parents, who live in the Philippines but refuse to be called Filipino. Like what? In my case, I had the American dream and thought of marrying a blonde-haired, blue-eyed hot woman, and never return to the Philippines! But now, that dream may no longer be feasible. 

I talked about Ignacio, and I was asked, "What? You would still want to marry a huan-a?" However, it seems that Ignacio was probably married to a huan-a. Ignacio's wife may have been a huan-a, given the surname. Again, I could be wrong, and maybe Ignacio's wife was still a Sangley, carrying the Imperial surname. Chinoy TV gives this detail on his married life:

The Chinese community in the Philippines has significantly contributed to our country’s culture, history, and traditions. This is evident in the legacy of Gen. Paua, who inspired Chinese immigrants to become proactive in fighting for the land that embraced them as its own. 

After the war settled, Gen. Paua married Carolina Imperial and was elected Mayor of Manito, Albay. He died of cancer on May 24, 1926, establishing his legacy through a statue dedicated to him in Silang, Cavite and Legazpi, Albay, a street named after him in Imus, and a historical marker laid in Camp Pantaleon. 

This Filipino girl may have been a Spanish woman born in the Philippines, a Malay woman (the huan-a), or a Chinese Filipino. For that, I couldn't be certain if this Carolina Imperial was actually a huan-a po or a Spanish woman. All that was known was that she was identified as a Filipino woman. This might be my ticket to actually marrying a woman I like, who's not ethnically Chinese. I could say that Ignacio was from China, but wait, he married a huan-a po! This should also be a shame to other Chinese Filipinos, who refused to call themselves Filipino. Please, the word Filipino should never be regarded as a race but as a nationality. The same goes for American. When I think of the USA team that beat China's team, they may be Chinese by blood, but they're still American. Right now, I've considered myself more Filipino than ever, despite my Chinese blood! It may also be because some people I know are married to Chinese Filipinos, got into troublesome marriages. 

In other ways, Ignacio's marriage may have proven that culture isn't static either. After all, the Philippines was once a nation of natives. Over time, the Philippines evolved because of the Spanish, American, and Japanese occupation. The Empire of Japan died during the Second World War, and Japan changed its culture. Ignacio became Filipinized, even when he only moved to the Philippines at age 18.