Benito & Ines Lo Kuchiam Family
Members
- Parents: Benito Lo Kuchiam & Ines Chavez Uy
- Benito’s death: 1956 (after Betty’s college graduation)
- Children:
- Betty Chan (Jovita, 1935-2022)
- Brother (taken to China by paternal grandmother, name unknown)
Heritage
Benito Lo Kuchiam
- Chinese from Lo Choo village (“Lo House” in Fukien dialect), Fuchien province, China
- Businessman managing copra export to United States
- President of Chinese Chamber of Commerce in Daet
- Wore a gun (common in China due to village conflicts)
Ines Chavez Uy
- Chinese-Filipino from Tuliw, Malinao, Albay province, Philippines
- Father was Chinese, mother was Filipino
- Devout Catholic
- From the Bicol region
Residences
| Place | Period | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Daet, Camarines Norte, Philippines | early 1900s-1956 | Family home |
Family Home in Daet
Two-story house with:
- Living quarters on second floor with large open sala
- Father’s office on ground floor
- Huge warehouse for copra storage behind office
- Chinese cook who prepared meals for family and employees
Betty’s Brothers (Uncles)
Betty had several older brothers who became prominent:
- Zheng Shaojian (“Uncle George”) - Leader in Philippine finance industry
- Henry Lee (“Uncle Henry”) - Business advisor
- One brother taken to China by paternal grandmother (fate unknown)
WWII Experience
The family survived WWII and Japanese occupation:
- Fled from Japanese invasion
- Took refuge on islands and in villages
- Betty’s cousin Conching had to hide from Japanese soldiers
- Traumatic experiences documented in Betty’s memoir
Legacy
Betty Chan
- Mathematics graduate (finished college at age 16)
- WWII survivor
- Married Jesse Chan in 1957
- Mother of Rose Chan Loui (Warren’s wife)
- Known as “Lola” (grandmother) to grandchildren
Connection to Warren’s Family
Through Betty and Jesse’s daughter Rose:
- Grandchildren: Nicholas, Ryan, Samantha Loui
Family Timeline
| File | date | type | description |
|---|
Sources
Research Needed
- Benito’s birth date and immigration history
- Ines’s birth date
- Marriage date
- Complete list of children with names
- What happened to brother taken to China
- Benito’s exact death date
- Ines’s death date
- More details about copra business
- Betty’s brothers’ full names and families