Of Encik Viejo and Peranakan
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| The photo is labeled "Menuisiers chinois," Manille, Philippines, 1890. Presented in French, it features Chinese carpenters or woodworkers in Manila during the 1890s. Similar photos of Chinese during this period often depict them as ambulant sellers, food vendors, or small merchants. However, some, like this photo, highlight them as skilled workers. |
Of Encik Viejo and Peranakan
Most Chinese in Southeast Asia, including the Philippines, trace their ancestry to the southern province of Fujian, the majority of whom speak the Hokkien dialect. The region’s proximity to the sea made migration an appealing option for its poor inhabitants, who sought better opportunities in the southern seas. Their resilience and hard work propelled many to success, with some rising to become prominent tycoons in the lands they settled. However, it was their adaptability that truly elevated them. The Chinese embraced many cultural and social norms of their adopted countries while blending these with their own traditions.
In the Malay Peninsula, they are often referred by the cultural term "Peranakan." The word primarily applies to the descendants of mainland Chinese who migrated to the great entrepôts of the Malay Peninsula over the centuries.--Or the offspring of mixed marriage between Chinese and Malay. In the Philippine context, this can be loosely compared to the terms "Sangley" or "Intsik," although some Filipinos insist both terms carry derogatory connotations. (Ewan ko sa kanila)
The Malay word "Peranakan" can be easily understood by Filipinos by isolating the root word "anak," which is shared across many Philippine languages and dialects with the same meaning: "child" or "offspring." Thus, "Peranakan" can also mean "locally born Chinese." The term also contains the suffix "-an," which, in Tagalog, is used to give emphasis or depth to a word. For example, combining "laya" (freedom) with the prefix "ka-" creates "Kalayaan" (liberty). Similarly, adding the prefix "ka-" to "anak" results in "Kaanak"—the closest Tagalog term that relates to "Peranakan."
Interestingly, "Peranakan" doesn’t solely refer to the people but also to the hybrid culture that emerged from the union of Malay traditions with influences from other races, including Chinese, Indian, and even European.
The Tagalog term "Intsik" originates from a Malay honorific term 'Encik" meaning "Mister" as noted by John Leyden (1775–1811). Leyden, known for translating the Sejarah Melayu (Malay Annals) into English, highlighted this respectful usage. Encik, in turn, is derived from Hokkien - 引叔, which means "uncle." However, the derogatory Tagalog phrase Intsik Beho likely stems from Encik Viejo ("Old Uncle"), a respectful term that may have developed a negative connotation over time. This shift could have originated from economic interactions—such as bargaining—where people referred to their suki (frequent vendor) as Encik Viejo, or their "old uncle" who sold goods at low prices.
Finally, it is important to note that Filipino Chinese or other Southeast Asian Chinese differ significantly from their counterparts in mainland China, primarily due to the unique cultural and historical circumstances of their migration and settlement in these regions.
The Enterprising Chinese of Spanish Manila
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| Chino Chachaulero by Jose Honorato Lozano from his album "Vistas de las Islas Filipinas y Trajes de sus Habitantes, 1847 - BNE-- Among the illustration that depicted 19th Century Chinese in the Philippines, this is perhaps one of the most unique. Its a good thing every illustrations in the album comes with a text explanation, beautifully hand written by the artist. As written in the accompanying text, "Chanchau" is the black "gulaman" the kind of refreshments we still enjoy in most Chinese restaurants nowadays. The illustration somehow highlights these ancestors of enterprising Filipino-Chinese were also the forerunners of the "sa malamig" business. Striking to see also that in the 19th century, they sold gulaman using a "pinga", moving around carrying their goods, a tribute to their resilience and hard work. |
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| A Chinese ambulate vendor in 19th Century Manila selling novelty or curiosity items, those knick knack things etc. We can even see "walis tambo" -- native broom. Chinese immigration was a common feature to the colonial society of South East Asia, where they were valued as cheap labor force and whose commercial activities were seen as stimulant to the native economy. In British Malaya for example, they were recruited in the tin mines. In the plantations of the Dutch East Indies (Indonesia) , a great number of Chinese collies were tapped by the VOC (Dutch East India Company) for agricultural labor. |
Long Pipes
One piece of curious import the Manila Galleon Trade brought to China was said to be the long smoke pipes fashioned in the Americas. Now some "Criollo" craftsmen and entrepreneurs would have thought then that their handmade product surely finds itself at the hands of some respected mandarins or perhaps those rich princely Orientals appointed by heavens etc. Indeed it was selling like hotcakes and Manila was the transit point. What the other end of the great commercial exchange doesn't know at the beginning was that those long smoke pipes were highly appreciated by the rich and poor Chinese for the same reason-- opium.
Cheap Indian opium flooded the Chinese market, the British encouraged it, the Spaniards supplied some paraphernalia whatsoever, a truly global endeavor.
Rizal as one chronicler, with his character Capitan Tiago, described the colorful life of an opium addict.
Great wars were fought because of vices. Empires were made out of it. Once in Hong Kong, I wonder what it would be then without those great wars.
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