Chinese Mestizos

Monday, October 25, 2021

by: Crystheen Louiannah Francisco 

History 

They were already in the Philippine archipelago in the 16th century. However, some historians claim that the Chinese initially arrived in the Philippines as merchants between the ports of Manila and China during the pre-colonial period. Chinese immigration did not become prominent in Philippine society until the Spanish colonial period. Binondo was established in 1594 by Spanish Governor Luis Perez das marines as a permanent community for Chinese mestizos who had converted to Catholicism. Chinese merchants and people in business were free to do business in this district of Manila. Intermarriages between Chinese immigrants and Filipino indigenous occurred in Binondo, resulting in the emergence of Chinese Mestizos.

Contributions

Filipinos have historically paid "tribute" as a sort of taxation. When I investigated further, I realized that it symbolized Spanish sovereignty. Furthermore, a hierarchy existed, and it is terrible that we, in our own country, belong to the inferior class, while the Spanish and Chinese got far more than our people deserve. Spanish tenants are exempt from paying such tributes because the former produces more money than the latter. However, the Chinese and Chinese mestizos pay more than the Filipinos.

Significance

Chinese mestizos became prominent and influential figures in the areas of industry, commerce, and business during the Spanish colonial period. They carried on a lucrative trade by collecting goods from the north and selling them to Manila and nearby provinces. They monopolized the internal trading in the Philippines while the Spanish mestizos were concerned with foreign trade. They also played a significant role in our society by forming the Filipino identity. This was evident during the latter part of the 19th century when they became clearly influential in the economy of the Philippines as a Spanish colony. This caused the Spaniards to be concerned with the ability of the Chinese mestizos to cause discord in society. Their writings were nurtured by Jose Rizal, a known pride of the Malay race but also a chinese mestizo. Their involvement in the armed revolt against the colonizers showed that they recognized Spain as the oppressor. The philippine revolution of 1869 to 1898 was part of Filipino-Indios and Chinese mestizos alike- to claim the incomparable bright hood or the birthright of the nationhood for themselves and future generations.

Influences

The Chinese mestizos have exerted a tremendous influence on our history. Yet, paradoxically, the role the Chinese mestizos have played in the making of the Filipino nation has received little attention from our scholars. The Chinese mestizo also had an essential role in forming and developing the Philippine economy during the colonial period. The Chinese were thought to be "money creators," while the Filipinos were "laborers," with the mestizo in the center. They were flexible, capable of managing agriculture, trade, or both. This is why they were able to earn more at the time than Filipinos, demanding more excellent tribute offerings. To this day, it is undeniable that China has a significant impact on the country's economy.

Rizal and the Chinese Mestizos

Rizal is a Chinese mestizo of the fifth generation. He and his father, on the other hand, were considered Indios. According to several records and scholarly publications, Rizal despised being termed a Chinese mestizo or tsinoy in the contemporary sense and avoided any Chinese ties. Rizal exposed the excesses and corruption of the Spanish government in his writings Noli Me Tangere, and El Filibusterismo attacked the colonizers' subjugation of the people and mocked the Spanish friars' hypocrisy and arrogant attitude.