KMT

Kou Min Tang is a political party established in 1894. In 1994, it celebrated its 100th year anniversary. My father was given this certificate during the celebration. It said that he was a member for 40 years. That means that he joined the party in 1954.

I heard that my grandfather was also a member of that party. I am still working on that part of his life. All I know for know is that he was very active during the Japanese occupation of the Philippines. I already asked for some help from party member and hope to get more information.

For me, I went to school at Chiang Kai Shek College. Our school foundation day is the birthday of Chiang Kai Shek which is October 31st. Before the Filipinization of the Chinese schools, we would sing the Filipino and Chinese National Anthem. We would also raise two flags. Our Chinese books were from Taiwan. Our teachers were trained in Taiwan. We learned to read Chinese by using zhouyin and not pinyou. We learned to write the traditional Chinese characters and not the simplified version.

After I left the Philippines, I have more chances to read about Republic of China and People's Republic of China. I get to read more about Chiang Kai Shek and Mao Tze Tong. After Sun Yat Sen overthrew the Qing Dynasty and established the Republic, the citizens of China did not really enjoy much of peace and prosperity. The country was torn again into war and chaos. Whenever I read this part of the Chinese history, my heart aches.

Across the Pacific

My grandfather left China when he was ten years old. As of now, I do not know why he left. At that age, I would imagine that his parents made that decision for him.

For me, I left Manila in May of 1989. I just completed my internship at Metropolitan Hospital in Manila. I got married in October of the same year. It was October tenth, the Independence day of Republic of China. For the next two years, I worked as a resident at Country Hospital in Taipei. During those two years, I took the licensure examination to acquire a medical license but did not make it.

My wife Shunchun was the general manager of Slimmer's Diet Center. She obtained her degree in nutrition from Fu-Ren University. One day, she told me that she wanted to go to America to get a Masters degree in Nutrition. She applied and got accepted in Oklahoma State University. I had to make a decision whether to go with her or stay in Taiwan. I applied for US visa thrice and was rejected all three times. Finally, on the last try, the gentleman from Hong Kong gave me a tourist visa.

We left Taipei on May 25,1991. We took Delta Airlines, made a stop over at Korea's Kimpo Airport and then landed in Portland, Oregon. I still remember the lush green surrounding the Columbia River as we were approaching the airport. As we waited for our flight to Dallas, Texas, someone asked me where I was going. When I said Dallas, he said, " Do you know that that place is so hot that you can fried an egg on the side walk?"

Dallas was still bright when we landed at 9 pm. It was one of those first impressions that stayed with me. Security was totally different at that time. Our friend was at the gate when we walked out of the plane.

That was the beginning of my adventure in this new world. I was thirty years old at that time, much older than my grandfather. Life, I would say, was challenging at times. I had to work at St John's Catholic Church in the campus of Oklahoma State University as a janitor. I later worked at Peking Palace, a local Chinese Restaurant. Looking back, two qualities of overseas Chinese might be flexibility and resilience. Even with a medical degree, I did not mind moping the floor of the church and chopping vegetables in a restaurant. I would imagine that my grandfather did the same.

From then on, it was series of visa change until finally in September of 2005, I became a US citizen and call this home.

Ang Bahay ni Angkong

 

TI BALAY NI ANGKONG

 

Rebbeng koma

nga iti Ilokano ti panagiirgotayo

Rebbeng koma

nga sinansanko ti nagbisita

Rebbeng koma

nga idi sarsaritaen ni tatang

dagiti saritam

dimngegak

 

Ita

nagkupasen dagiti maris iti diding

Ita

narban dagiti balkon

Ita

dagiti laeng ladawanen ti maiggamak

 

Ngem

addaka pay dita

nakatakder

tapno makitak

tapno mangngegko

ti sarita ni Angkong

 

iti sumaruno a panagbisitak

agawitak ti sampagita

ikabilko iti ridaw

para kadakayo

para kenni Angkong

tapno agsubli ni Angkong

gapu iti banglo ti sabong

ket

agiirgotayo amin

 

<Ang Bahay ni Angkong>

Dapat

Ilokano ang usapan natin

Dapat

madalas ako bumisita

Dapat

noong ikinukwenta ni itay 

ang istorya mo

nakikinig ako

Ngayon

kupas na ang kulay ng dingding

Ngayon

nasira na ang mga balkon

Ngayon

ang mahahawakan ko lang ay litrato

Subalit

nandiyan ka pa

nakatayo

para makita ko

para marinig ko

ang kwento ni Angkong

sa susunod na bisita ko

magdadala ako ng sampaguita

ilalagay ko sa pinto

para sa inyo

para kay Angkong

para bumalik si Angkong

sa bango ng bulaklak

at

mag-usap po tayong lahat

《阿公的舊宅》

               ---菲律賓呂宋島美岸

或許

我們應該用當地話交談

或許

我應該多去找您

或許

我應該在父親細說您的故事時

多注意聽

現在

您牆壁的漆已經掉了

現在

您的洋台只剩下一個

現在

我只能看著您的照片

回想當初

還好

您還是站在那兒

讓我看看

讓我聽聽

阿公的故事

下次回家

我會帶一串茉莉花

掛在門上

給您

給阿公

希望阿公聞香而來

那

我們可以一起坐下

好好聊一聊

Angkong's Old House

Maybe

We should talk in Ilokano

Maybe

I should have visited more often

Maybe

When my father was telling me your story

I should have listened more

Now

Your walls have faded color

Now

Your balcony has only one left

Now

All I can hold on to is just a photograph 

But

There you are

Standing

For me to see

For me to hear

The story of Angkong 

When I visit you next time

I shall bring some sampaguita 

I shall hang it on your door

For you

For Angkong 

So that Angkong can smell the fragrance

Of the flower and return

And

We all can have a visit

Vigan: More Questions Than Answers

 

 

Today I received a copy of my father's birth certificate. He was born in Vigan, Ilocos Sur. At that time, the name of the city was Fernandina.

 

With that document, I was also able to find my grandfather's name. It is Chan Teh.

 

I feel that tracing the family root and writing a book is no different than fishing. It is a test of patience. You might sit for days without catching any, then suddenly there is a gush of information!

 

I have been to Vigan as a child. Honestly, I do not have any memory of it. For me, it was just another place. It is true that I have a godfather there. I do not know him. It is just a name that my father mentioned from time to time. It is also an information that I use when people say they are Ilokano, meaning people from the Ilocos province. I would say, "My dad is Ilokano too!"

 

People asked, " What do you want to know about Vigan?" 

 

For me, it is the pivotal city in our family history. It is the city which attracted my grandfather to leave China. Without that move, there will be no Francisco Chan and Benjamin Chan. It is also a city that I need to give thanks to. It allowed my grandfather to survive outside of China. It provided a place for my father to be born.

 

The biggest question is, what is it like in those days?

 

 

Oral History Session

I shall call this ORS, oral history session. I spent two hours with my cousin Jennifer and Eric in Las Vegas, Nevada. I listen to what they remembered about the family. Jennifer confirmed what I learned about the family. I also learned something new. She said that angkong was actually very rich before the Japanese occupation of the Phillppines in 1941. The war changed his financial status. He became poor.

Above is a picture of their maternal grandfather. Jennifer mentioned how he has many European features. I never met him. Jennifer also does not have the body of a Chinese woman. Her body is more European. She also can dance very well. As I post this information in our Binomdo Heritage Group, someone suggested that it is very possible. Even though their grandfather is from Fujian, China, Quanzhou, Fujian, China was the beginning of the so called Silk Road of the sea where merchants from Quanzhou, Fujian, China would travel west, past Malaysia and India to the Middle East. Their grandfather's ancestor could be from Middle East!

My Father's Reunions

When I was much younger, I do not understand why my father will get so excited about their reunions. They even have a name for the class organization. It is called 長風級友會 zhang feng Ji you hui. Zhang Feng means long wind. I remember that their logo has a ship with wind blowing. Whoever came up with that name should get an applause! For me, it stands for the wish for a long trip together!

I do not know most of them, but I can tell you many names, some of them are even very famous in the Chinoy community. They would have different reasons and occasions to get together. They even have elections and officers. If I have a chance to go home and dig up my father's collections, I am sure there are many more to talk about!

Now that I am passed 50 years old and over the hill, I truly appreciate and understand my father's passion for reunions. In the past few years, I have been to a few reunions of my own. I saw some classmates whom I have not seen in thirty years. The truth is, we might have change externally, but the core spirit is the same. It felt like yesterday. It felt like we were still in that school yard playing games. It felt like time froze!

家書 A Letter to My Father

親愛的父親大人：

距上次見面已有三個多月，近來可好？

我最近決定寫一本書。書名是中國心，China Luck。我想敘述祖父少時離家出南洋的故事。父親有空的話，希望可以幫我寫下一些資料，例如，他是那一年生的，為何離家，剛到呂宋的情形…

至於我回菲的日子，那將是明年六月底。

最近有聽說父親常生氣，駡人，打人。我聽了很難過。身為長子，我沒有盡到責任。中國人説，養兒防老，父親日子過得不高興，我有責任。我知道文聰很用心的安排事情，我很感謝他！

父親，人在晚年，我想該是享受清福的時候。如果我有什麼可以做到的地方，讓您生活可以過得好一點，請跟我講。

最後，

祝

康安！

兒

文明 敬上