Zheng Shaojian (郑少坚) - “Uncle George”
Vital Information
- Name: Zheng Shaojian (郑少坚)
- Known as: “Uncle George”
- Born: Jiaji Village, Yongchun County, Fujian Province
- Siblings: Uncle Henry (Betty Chan’s brother), others to be documented
- Occupation: Finance industry leader in Philippines
- Title: “龙头” (dragon head/leader) in Philippine finance
Family Relationships
Brother of Betty Chan
Uncle George (Zheng Shaojian) is Betty Chan’s older brother, making him:
- Brother-in-law to Jesse Chan
- Uncle to Rose Loui, Meg Chan, John Louis Chan, Michelle Chan
- Great-uncle to Nicholas, Ryan, and Samantha Loui
Betty Chan’s Family Name
The connection reveals that Betty Chan’s maiden name variations (Lo Kuchiam, Uy, Cheng, Zheng) all connect to the Zheng family (郑) of Jiaji Village:
- 郑 (Zheng) - Mandarin pronunciation
- Cheng - Cantonese pronunciation
- Tee - Hokkien/Minnan pronunciation (as mentioned by Rose)
- Various romanizations: Chan, Cheng, Zheng, Tee
Happy Dreamers Social Club
Uncle George was member of the “Happy Dreamers” social club in Manila along with:
- Jesse Chan (his friend, later his brother-in-law)
- Uncle Henry (his brother, also Betty’s brother)
- Patrick (Jesse’s cousin’s son, but older than Jesse)
This social club was where Jesse first connected with Betty’s family. Jesse and George would visit Betty’s house together, though Betty would “just stay upstairs and study” and never talked to them initially.
Career and Achievement
Philippine Finance Leader
The Taihai Magazine article describes Zheng Shaojian as:
“菲律宾金融界的龙头” (Philippine finance industry’s dragon head/leader)
This title suggests:
- Leadership position in Philippine banking or finance
- Prominence in Filipino-Chinese business community
- Significant influence in financial sector
- Part of successful overseas Chinese from Jiaji Village
Jiaji Village Notable Figures
Listed among the four most distinguished people from Jiaji Village:
- Zheng Yushu (郑玉书) - Qing scholar, Philippine overseas Chinese leader
- Tang Yunyu (唐蕴玉) - Republican-era painter
- Zheng Cangman (郑仓满) - Southeast Asian Flour King
- Zheng Shaojian (郑少坚) - Philippine finance leader
Personality and Relationships
Long-Time Friend Who “Always Fought”
From Jesse Chan’s interview, describing Uncle George:
Jesse: “Something I don’t like him. Then I reply.” Betty: Uncle George was Jesse’s good friend from Manila Interview note: Jesse and Uncle George “always fight”
This dynamic shows:
- Deep friendship spanning decades (Manila, Taiwan, Los Angeles)
- Strong personalities - both willing to argue
- Continued connection - despite fights, remained friends
- Family bonds - George visited Jesse’s nightclub in Taiwan
Visited Taiwan Nightclub
From the interview:
George always wanted to see the nightclub shows when visiting
This indicates:
- George visited Jesse and Betty in Taiwan (1968-1990)
- Maintained relationship despite geographic distance
- Interest in Jesse’s business ventures
- Continued family gatherings across countries
Historical Context
Jiaji Village to Philippines Migration
Zheng Shaojian exemplifies the Jiaji Village tradition: “Jiaji people who go overseas become dragons” (夹际人出海成龙)
Migration pattern:
- Born in Jiaji Village, Fujian Province
- Migrated to Philippines (likely early 20th century or childhood)
- Achieved success in finance industry
- Became leader (“dragon head”) in Philippine finance
- Maintained connections - both to village and to family network
Filipino-Chinese Finance Community
Uncle George’s career occurred during:
- Post-WWII Philippines - rebuilding economy after Japanese occupation
- Chinese business networks - strong in Philippine finance/banking
- Manila as hub - center of Philippine finance
- Overseas Chinese success - prominent in business sectors
Connection to Betty Chan’s Story
Betty’s House as “Party House”
From Betty’s autobiography, her house was the gathering place for the Happy Dreamers:
- Betty’s house was the “party house” where group would gather
- Uncle George and Uncle Henry (Betty’s brothers) hosted friends
- Jesse would visit to see George and Henry
- Betty wasn’t allowed to mingle with the boys - too young
Dating Chaperones
When Betty finally turned 21 and could date Jesse:
- She could only go with her two brothers as chaperones
- Betty was “not allowed to go out with him alone”
- George and Henry protected their younger sister
This shows Uncle George as:
- Protective older brother
- Traditional Chinese values (sister’s chastity/reputation)
- Social connector - introduced Jesse to family
- Gatekeeper - controlled access to Betty
Research Needed
High Priority
- Full name in Chinese - confirm 郑少坚 is correct
- Exact relationship to Betty - brother? Which position in sibling order?
- Finance career details - which bank/institution?
- Dates of birth and death
- When migrated from Jiaji to Philippines
Medium Priority
- Marriage and children information
- Other siblings (besides Uncle Henry)
- Connection to Jiaji Village in adulthood
- When moved from Philippines (if applicable)
- Current status of family/descendants
Family History
- How is he connected to Jesse’s father’s family?
- Why is Betty’s maiden name listed as “Lo Kuchiam” if she’s Zheng family?
- Did George return to Jiaji Village later in life?
- What happened during WWII? (Jesse’s story documented, but not George’s)
Relationship to Jesse Chan
Before Marriage (1950s)
Friends first:
- Member of Happy Dreamers social club together
- Would visit Betty’s house together
- Jesse knew George before meeting Betty
Social activities:
- Parties at Betty’s house
- Dancing (Jesse was excellent dancer)
- Eating out at restaurants
- Spanish music venues
After Marriage (1957+)
Brothers-in-law:
- Jesse married Betty in 1957
- Continued friendship through decades
- “Always fought” but remained close
- George visited Taiwan to see nightclub
Character dynamics:
- Both strong-willed men
- Jesse would “reply” when he didn’t like something George said
- But maintained relationship despite conflicts
- Both part of Filipino-Chinese business community
Timeline
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Sources
Notes
Significance for Family History
Uncle George (Zheng Shaojian) represents:
- Bridge between Jesse and Betty - friend who became brother-in-law
- Jiaji Village success - “dragon” who succeeded overseas
- Filipino-Chinese finance - leader in community
- Family connection - Betty’s maiden family line
- Great-uncle to Nicholas, Ryan, Samantha Loui
Zheng Family Name Variations
The discovery that Uncle George is Zheng Shaojian (郑少坚) clarifies:
- Betty Chan’s maiden name is Zheng (郑)
- Romanized as: Cheng, Chan, Tee (different dialects)
- “Lo Kuchiam” may be village name or different branch
- All Betty’s brothers share Zheng surname
- Jesse Chan is also Zheng family from Jiaji Village
Notable Figures from Jiaji Village
Uncle George is listed as one of four most distinguished people from village:
- Shows his prominence in Philippine finance
- Places him alongside painter, scholar, industrialist
- Represents Jiaji Village’s financial success tradition
- Continues village’s overseas achievement pattern
Happy Dreamers Social Club
This social club was crucial to family formation:
- Jesse met Betty’s brothers first (George and Henry)
- Friendship preceded romance
- Social network of young Filipino-Chinese
- Manila 1950s - post-war Chinese community
Protective Brother Role
Uncle George as Betty’s older brother:
- Gatekeeper - Jesse had to befriend brothers first
- Chaperone - accompanied Betty and Jesse on dates
- Traditional values - protected sister’s reputation
- Family approval - Jesse gained through friendship
Zheng Shaojian (Uncle George) represents the Jiaji Village tradition of overseas success, becoming a leader in Philippine finance while maintaining deep family bonds. His friendship with Jesse Chan led to Jesse’s marriage to Betty, connecting two lines of the Zheng family and ultimately leading to the Loui family lineage.