Birth of Rose Loui (1960)

Overview

Rose Chan (later Rose Loui) was born in 1960 at the Santa Mesa Compound in Manila, Philippines. She was the first child of Jesse and Betty Chan, born into a remarkable household of 60 people spanning four generations living together in traditional Chinese-Filipino compound arrangement.

Birth Context

Santa Mesa Compound

Where Rose was born:

• Location: Santa Mesa, Manila, Philippines
• Population: 60 people living together
• Generations: Four - great-grandma, grandma, parents, children
• Structure: Multiple buildings/apartment units in compound
• Culture: Traditional Chinese extended family living
• Community: Multiple family branches living together

Parents at Rose’s Birth

Jesse Chan (~age 30):

• Purchasing Manager at Eastern Textile Factory
• Board Member at Eastern Textile
• Established in Manila business community
• Living in compound with extended family

Betty Chan (age 25):

• Payroll Supervisor at Eastern Textile Factory
• Married 3 years (since 1957)
• College graduate (St. Scholastica’s, Mathematics, 1956)
• Now becoming mother for first time

Significance

First Child

Rose’s birth marked:

• Beginning of Jesse and Betty’s family (first of four)
• New generation in compound (great-great-grandchild to eldest)
• Continuation of Zheng/Chan family line
• First American-facing generation (Rose would later immigrate to US)

Cultural Bridge Generation

Rose would become:

• Born: Philippines (Chinese-Filipino culture)
• Childhood: Manila (ages 0-8, 1960-1968)
• Education: Taiwan (ages 8-22, 1968-1982, Taipei American School, then Stanford)
• Adult life: United States (1978+, Stanford, then California)
• Cultural bridge: Chinese-Filipino-Taiwanese-American identity

Early Childhood (1960-1968)

First Eight Years in Manila

Rose’s early years at Santa Mesa:

• Grew up in compound with 60 relatives
• Parents both worked at Eastern Textile Factory
• Extended family provided childcare and community
• Traditional Chinese-Filipino upbringing
• Witnessed factory life and business community

Siblings Arrive

Rose became big sister:

• 1963: Meg Chan born (Rose age 3)
• 1965: John Louis-Chan born (Rose age 5)
• Family of five by time of relocation to Taiwan

The Relocation (1968)

Age 8: Moving to Taiwan

When Rose was 8 years old:

• 1968: Eastern Textile board split
• Parents decided to move to Taiwan for business
• Rose left Santa Mesa compound and Manila
• New life in Taiwan began
• Fourth child Michelle born in Taiwan (1968)

Impact on Rose

• Left only home she’d known (compound life)
• Moved to foreign country (Taiwan)
• Started new school system (eventually Taipei American School)
• Learned new languages and cultures
• Began American-oriented education

Family Formation Pattern

Four Children Spacing

• 1960: Rose born (Manila)
• 1963: Meg born (Manila) - 3 years after Rose
• 1965: John Louis born (Manila) - 2 years after Meg
• 1968: Michelle born (Taiwan/Manila transition) - 3 years after Louis

Close spacing suggests:

• Jesse and Betty building family quickly
• Traditional Chinese value of multiple children
• Two children born at Santa Mesa, two after

Connection to Warren Loui

Future Meeting (1978)

When Rose was 18:

• Stanford University - Rose attended (1978-1982 approximately)
• Warren Loui doing MBA and JD at Stanford
• Met at Stanford - both high-achieving students
• Rose from Taiwan, Warren from California
• Both Chinese-American but different backgrounds

Marriage and Family

Rose and Warren married (1980s):

• Three children: Nicholas, Ryan, Samantha Loui
• Rose’s parents became maternal grandparents (Lolo and Lola)
• Warren’s parents (Wallace and Florence) paternal grandparents
• Nicholas, Ryan, Samantha carry forward both family lines

Historical Context

1960 Philippines

Rose born into:

• Post-WWII recovery Philippines (15 years after liberation)
• Established Chinese-Filipino business community
• Economic growth period (1950s-1960s)
• Traditional family structures (compound living)
• Before Marcos martial law (declared 1972)

Chinese Diaspora Generation

Rose represents generation:

• Grandparents fled China due to Japanese occupation and civil war
• Parents built lives in Philippines
• Rose’s generation would move to Taiwan, then US
• Children (Nicholas, Ryan, Samantha) American-born

Santa Mesa Compound Life

What Rose Experienced

Growing up with 60 people meant:

• Never alone - constant family presence
• Multiple caregivers - grandmothers, aunts, cousins
• Communal meals and activities
• Traditional values transmitted by elders
• Chinese language and customs maintained
• Business awareness (parents’ factory work)

Four Generations Present

Rose could have known:

• Great-grandmother (eldest generation at compound)
• Grandmother (Jesse’s generation’s parents)
• Parents (Jesse and Betty)
• Herself and siblings (fourth generation)

Rare opportunity to know great-grandmother.

The Eldest Daughter

Rose’s Position

As first child:

• Trailblazer for siblings
• Higher expectations (Chinese family tradition)
• Helper with younger siblings (Meg, Louis, Michelle)
• Observed parents navigate business and family
• Bridge between generations

Educational Achievement

Rose would excel:

• Taipei American School (expensive, $10k/year by 1986)
• Stanford University (1978-1982)
• NYU Law School (became attorney)
• Pattern of educational excellence began with Rose

Family Investment

Jesse and Betty’s Approach

With Rose’s birth, Jesse and Betty began:

• Educational investment pattern (all four children to elite universities)
• Work ethic to afford expensive schooling
• Geographic mobility for opportunities (Manila → Taiwan → US education)
• Cultural preservation while pursuing Western education
• High expectations for all children

The Pattern

Rose’s education path became template:

• Meg: Stanford Economics (1981)
• Louis: University of Houston, Cranbrook Architecture
• Michelle: Whittier College (1986)
• All received scholarships for US universities

Looking Forward

Rose’s Life Arc (from birth)

• 1960: Born Manila, Santa Mesa Compound
• 1960-1968: Childhood in Philippines (age 0-8)
• 1968: Moved to Taiwan (age 8)
• 1968-1978: Taiwan childhood/teen years (age 8-18)
• 1978: Stanford University, met Warren
• 1982: Graduated Stanford (approximate)
• 1980s: NYU Law School, became attorney
• 1980s: Married Warren Loui
• 1990s-2000s: Three children (Nicholas, Ryan, Samantha)
• Career: Attorney
• Present: Mother, professional, cultural bridge

Generational Significance

Rose as Bridge

Connecting four generations:

1. Jesse’s parents (fled China, Philippines business)
2. Jesse and Betty (WWII survivors, Manila→Taiwan→LA)
3. Rose (Manila→Taiwan→Stanford→California)
4. Nicholas, Ryan, Samantha (American-born, multicultural)

Cultural Transmission

Rose carried forward:

• Chinese values from compound and Taiwan years
• Filipino culture from Manila childhood
• American education from Taipei American School and Stanford
• Professional achievement (law degree, career)
• Family stories (interviewed father Jesse, preserved history)

Interview with Jesse (Later)

Rose as Family Historian

Rose conducted interview with father Jesse:

• Preserved family WWII survival stories
• Asked questions about compound life
• Documented Jesse’s businesses and bravery
• Connected her children to grandparents’ history
• Cultural preservation for next generation

This suggests Rose values:

• Family history and stories
• Cultural heritage transmission
• Documenting remarkable lives
• Connecting generations

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Rose Loui’s birth in 1960 at the Santa Mesa Compound marked the beginning of a new generation—born into traditional Chinese-Filipino compound life with 60 people, she would grow up to bridge four cultures (Chinese, Filipino, Taiwanese, American) and raise the next generation of Loui family members who carry forward the resilience and achievement values of their WWII-survivor grandparents.