For me, that is the house that I remember. The house that contains many of my childhood dreams, fears and tears. I stayed in that house until I left the country in 1989 at the age of 28.
The house is located west of University of Santo Tomas, a well known and oldest Catholic university in the Philippines. The street was originally called Requisin, later changed to the present name of Eriberto Remigio Street.
It is a three story building. Facing the building, on the far left is the stairway leading to the third floor where the owners live. Interestingly, in all those years, I never seen them. Ours is the middle unit. In the photo, green store front with the blue metal frame in the second floor. To the left was a pharmacy and to the right was a printing press.
The area is mostly populated by Filipinos. I remember there was only two other Chinese families around us. There was Mr. Ong who married a Filipina and opened a store at the corner. I believe I see him from time to time but did not get to talk to him. There was a Chinese couple behind our house who adopted two boys. I already forgot their names. We had some interactions but still I do not know them other than the husband has a Mercedes Benz.
I did not really have many playmates in the neighborhood. Most of my friends are from the Chinese school that I attended. I do remember one incident when I was standing in the sidewalk, a couple of Filipino kids were making fun of me, calling me "Intsik", then proceed to say, "A chi nga cho nga..." A very bad imitation of the Chinese language. I do remember that I was clenching my fist very tightly.
My father was in the trading business. Our business is called Benjamin Chan Trading. I remember that father would show me the invoice and say, "The name is Benjamin Chan Trading, but it is not yours." Then he would point at the next line and say, "See, it says Francisco Chan, Proprietor!"
Because of his business, the first floor of our apartment became his warehouse. After you walk through the door, there is an aisle with boxes on both sides. Then on the right, a small wooden rectangular table with the old black rotary phone. Above it is the altar with the statue of Santo Nino and the Chinese Guardian of the soil.
On the left, there is the round dining table. Above it was the picture of my grandfather. We call him "Angkong". When it is the first and the fifteen in the lunar calendar, there will be offerings given to him. Chinese believe that after death, we still need to offer food and paper money to our ancestors. I remember folding those paper money and burning them in a big tin can by the door.
The area is mostly populated by Filipinos. I remember there was only two other Chinese families around us. There was Mr. Ong who married a Filipina and opened a store at the corner. I believe I see him from time to time but did not get to talk to him. There was a Chinese couple behind our house who adopted two boys. I already forgot their names. We had some interactions but still I do not know them other than the husband has a Mercedes Benz.
I did not really have many playmates in the neighborhood. Most of my friends are from the Chinese school that I attended. I do remember one incident when I was standing in the sidewalk, a couple of Filipino kids were making fun of me, calling me "Intsik", then proceed to say, "A chi nga cho nga..." A very bad imitation of the Chinese language. I do remember that I was clenching my fist very tightly.
My father was in the trading business. Our business is called Benjamin Chan Trading. I remember that father would show me the invoice and say, "The name is Benjamin Chan Trading, but it is not yours." Then he would point at the next line and say, "See, it says Francisco Chan, Proprietor!"
Because of his business, the first floor of our apartment became his warehouse. After you walk through the door, there is an aisle with boxes on both sides. Then on the right, a small wooden rectangular table with the old black rotary phone. Above it is the altar with the statue of Santo Nino and the Chinese Guardian of the soil.
On the left, there is the round dining table. Above it was the picture of my grandfather. We call him "Angkong". When it is the first and the fifteen in the lunar calendar, there will be offerings given to him. Chinese believe that after death, we still need to offer food and paper money to our ancestors. I remember folding those paper money and burning them in a big tin can by the door.
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