1880: The Chinese in Tagbilaran Were Already Part of the Body Politic Proem During the Spanish era in the Philippines, the Chinese were prohibited in many aspects of society. They were allowed only to engage in commerce and trades and crafts. Despite the many prohibitions many Chinese managed to become rich in the Philippines. Many Chinese in Tagbilaran, Bohol managed to become rich. They eventually become part of the body politic in Bohol. ESTEBAN BUTALID,THE PROGENEITOR OF THE BUTALID CLAN IN BOHOL was a Chinese by the name of Kiozon. HE WAS THE CONTRACTOR OF THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE BOHOL CAPITOL BUILDING IN 1855. Many Chinese obtained a Christian name when they were baptized and became Christians. They intermarried into the community and could no longer be distinguished from the native residents, however, there where those who tried to retain their Chinese identity. Petition for Governor’s Retention In 1879, Governor Adolfo Martin de Baños was first assigned in Bohol. He was able to have a good rapport with the people of Bohol. When he was ordered to be reassigned to another place, the people of Bohol made a petition to the Governor General of the Philippines that Governor Baños be retained. Among those who made a separate petition were the Chinese in Tagbilaran, Bohol. The main argument in the petition were: a.) Previous Governors of Bohol had a tour of duty from six (6) to eight years. Governor Baños was still one and one-half years in office; it is still too early for him to be reassigned. b.) He was very active in the construction of school houses and the schoolteacher’s residence. c.) He was widening the roads to six (6) yards in width. He ought to be retained to finish his projects. d.) He was very active in the application of the quintos (draft for military service). The Chinese Petitioners The petition made by the Chinese residents in Tagbilaran on May 10, 1880 were signed and sealed by them. However, some signatures are difficult to read. As far as I can decipher, the signatories of the petition were: 1. Jose Palma Penga. 2. Fernando Reyes. 3. Yu Un Lao. 4. Co-Tiangco. 5. Tan Sun Co. 6. Pelemeno Lim. 7. Cua Ciu Jannes. 8. Ygnacio Sanchangco. 9. Victoriano Herrera. 10. Uy Tiao Yong. 11. Uy-Suico. 12. Antonio So Climaco. 13. Fernando Climaco. 14. Fernando Elisaga. 15. Yap Con Te. 16. Tan Sianco. 17. Jose Reyes Lim Sangco. Notable among the signatories was Fernando Reyes. It was at his house where the Boholanos planned how to fight against invading Americans. He was popularly known as Insik Ina Uy. Before he married Micaela Dalmao of Tagbilaran, he was baptized as a Roman Catholic. His godfather was Alfredo Reyes, a son of Governor Bernabe Reyes who was the leader of the Boholano Republic. Insik Ina took a Christian name Fernando and the family name “Reyes” from his godfather. Some Observations I am not sure why some put their Chinese seal beside their signatures. Maybe it was an indication that they were not yet “Filipino” citizens. Fernando Reyes no longer had a seal. Fernando Elisaga, Yap Con Te, Tan Sianco, and Jose Reyes Lim Sangco did not have signatures or rubrics but wrote their names in the Chinese characters. It was an indication that they were educated Chinese before they came to Bohol. In my opinion, the reason why some Chinese became rich was that they were already well educated in China before they came to Bohol. They may not speak Spanish or Bisaya but their brains were already well developed. They were actually mentally superior to the Boholanos during that time. A question could be asked, where are now the descendants of these Chinese residents of Tagbilaran? For example, the first to establish a movie house in Tagbilaran was a Chinese by the name of “Lee.” I no longer hear of any “Lee” in Bohol. How many of them returned to China or Hong Kong?
Posted on: Tue, 02 Dec 2014 11:45:15 +0000