THE UPRISING OF THE FILIPINO CHINESE

Philippine history can attest the fact that some of the early rulers in the Philippines were of a combination of a Filipino and Chinese ancestry. It was later on when they formed a group and were given special privileges by the Spanish colonial authorities. There were significant numbers of Chinese immigrants long before Spaniards arrived in the Philippine archipelago. And most of the Chinese immigrants who came in during the Spanish years were Cantonese, who were into retail trades. The huge number of Chinese immigrants outnumbered the Spaniards by ten to one ratio which led to grabbing powers and forming revolts during the early Spanish Colonial period. The early revolution were immediately put down by the forces of indigenous Filipinos, Japanese and Spanish.

The relationship between the Spanish government and the Chinese people were considered a periodic outbursts of hostility and mutual distrust. The Chinese then provided goods and all services which help the economic life of the country but the Spanish Colonizers resented them and took control of their activities.

It was on the 3rd of October 1603, the Chinese, on the suspicion that their water was being poisoned by the Spaniards, led by Eng Kang, a christian convert attempted to take over Manila. Quiapo and Dilao ( now Paco) have been attacked. The group of Spanish authorities with the help of some Filipinos counter attacked and defeated the Chinese enclave of Parian, recovered Dilao ( now Paco), pursued the Chinese to Cabuyao. Eng Kang later on was hanged.

Chinese were able to settle in the Philippine archipelago even after the Second World War. Chinese Filipino soldiers fought against the Japanese Forces from 1941-1945 during the Japanese Occupation in the Philippines. Thousands of Filipino Chinese died in heroism in the Philippines during that time line.

Today, Ethnic Chinese play an important role in the economy of the Philippines particularly in the field of business and politics. Filipino Chinese have been playing a significant role in the Philippine economy that focuses on real estate, banking, construction, textiles, electronics, food and a lot more. Filipino Chinese are well represented in all levels of the Philippine society nevertheless well integrated politically and economically.