Binondo, Manila

Overview

Binondo is the historic Chinese district (Chinatown) of Manila, Philippines, and is recognized as the oldest Chinatown in the world, established in 1594. For the Chan family, Binondo was where Betty Chan (age 7-10) lived during the Japanese occupation of the Philippines (1942-1945), witnessing both the brutality of occupation and the joy of MacArthur’s liberation.

Significance to Family

Betty’s Family Wartime Residence (1942-1945)

The Move to Manila:

• Betty’s father (Benito-Lo-Kuchiam) decided to move to Manila for better opportunities
• Long train ride from Bicol region to Manila
• Calculation that city might be safer or offer more resources during occupation

Three-Story House:

• Rented three-story house beside river near Juan Luna bridge
• Japanese garrison directly across the river
• Living in sight of enemy forces
• Aunt (Jimmy’s mother - Tang Yunyu) and her husband lived with them

Dangerous Location:

• Japanese military presence immediately across water
• Constant surveillance and danger
• Could see occupying forces daily

Spanish Neighbors - “Very Dear Friends”

The Dentist Family:

• Neighbor was dentist father with family
• Four children were dentists, one son was violinist
• Family became “very dear friends”

Their Heroism:

• These neighbors would later save Betty’s family
• Offered their house in Sulu (end of Avenida Rizal) when Japanese threatened to burn Binondo
• Extraordinary act of courage and friendship
• Risked Japanese reprisal for helping Chinese family

Betty’s Daily Life in Binondo

Education During War:

• Lived with Uncle Linda’s family on weekdays
• Attended St. Scholastica’s College Manila for first and second grade
• Took piano lessons
• Was taught Japanese by a nun (occupation requirement)
• Prepared for First Communion at Binondo Church (old Spanish missionary church)

Binondo Church:

• Old Spanish missionary church
• Betty prepared for First Communion there
• Historic religious landmark
• Symbol of Spanish colonial period and Catholic faith

Father’s Income:

• Father set up mahjong tables to earn income
• Betty described it as “amateur version of a casino”
• Desperate measure to feed family during war
• Loss of copra export business forced improvisation

Threat to Burn Binondo (1945)

Japanese Scorched Earth Policy: When Americans were about to retake Philippines:

• Japanese threatened to burn Binondo (Chinese district)
• All Chinese families in extreme danger
• Targeting Chinese community specifically (Japan-China war ongoing)

Narrow Escape:

• Spanish neighbor family offered house in Sulu (end of Avenida Rizal)
• Betty’s family moved just in time
• Avoided potential massacre or burning

Cousin Tony’s Brothers:

• Shot in crossfire during this chaotic period
• Betty’s family nearly caught in same violence
• Death all around during final battles for Manila

Liberation Day

The Most Vivid Memory:

Mother was cooking Palitaw dessert (Filipino sweet) when:

1. Japanese soldiers entered asking for food
2. Mother gave them the dessert
3. About an hour later, American soldiers arrived in weapons carriers/tanks
4. Americans threw chewing gum and chocolate to people
5. MacArthur’s promise fulfilled: “I Shall Return”

From Betty’s account:

“MacArthur’s promise fulfilled: ‘I Shall Return’”

Liberation Emotions:

• Joy at American arrival
• End of three years of occupation
• Freedom from Japanese control
• Betty was 10 years old

Historical Context

Binondo as Oldest Chinatown

Establishment:

• Founded 1594 by Spanish Governor General Luis Pérez Dasmariñas
• Oldest Chinatown in the world
• Created for Chinese Catholic converts
• Strategic location near Pasig River and Manila Bay

Chinese-Filipino Community:

• Center of Chinese business in Manila
• Established merchant community
• Traditional businesses: textiles, trading, banking
• Mixed Chinese-Filipino population (like Betty’s mother)
• Strong Catholic presence despite Chinese heritage

Japanese Occupation of Philippines (1942-1945)

Manila Under Occupation:

• Japanese invaded December 1941 (after Pearl Harbor)
• Occupied 1942-1945
• Brutal occupation with civilian suffering
• Chinese community particularly targeted (Japan-China war ongoing)
• Mass starvation and violence
• Binondo as Chinese district especially vulnerable

Why Target Binondo:

• Japanese-Chinese war had been ongoing since 1937
• Chinese in Philippines seen as enemy population
• Binondo’s wealth and Chinese identity made it target
• Threat to burn was part of scorched earth policy during American liberation

Battle of Manila (1945)

Most Destructive Battle:

• Battle of Manila (February-March 1945) was one of WWII’s most destructive urban battles
• 100,000+ Filipino civilians died
• Manila was second most devastated Allied city after Warsaw
• Japanese fought house-to-house
• Binondo heavily damaged in fighting

Betty’s Timing:

• Family had moved to Spanish neighbors’ house in Sulu
• Avoided worst of Battle of Manila
• Witnessed liberation rather than destruction

MacArthur’s “I Shall Return”

The Promise:

• General Douglas MacArthur fled Philippines in 1942: “I Shall Return”
• Deeply emotional promise to Filipino people
• Returned October 1944
• Liberation completed 1945
• Betty witnessed this historic moment at age 10

Life in Binondo During Occupation

Daily Challenges

Food Scarcity:

• Father ran mahjong tables to earn money
• Constant hunger and rationing
• Japanese soldiers could demand food (like Palitaw dessert incident)

Education Disrupted:

• Betty still attended St. Scholastica’s but lived with uncle during week
• Taught Japanese language (forced cultural assimilation)
• Nuns maintained school despite occupation

Constant Danger:

• Japanese garrison across river
• Could be searched or arrested anytime
• Young women like Cousin Conching especially vulnerable
• Random violence and cruelty

Faith Maintained:

• Binondo Church services continued
• Betty prepared for First Communion
• Mother’s Catholic faith sustained family
• “By the Grace of God” - Betty’s constant refrain

Community Support

Uncle Linda’s Family:

• Betty lived with them on weekdays
• Support network during dangerous times
• Extended family sharing resources

Spanish Neighbors:

• Cross-cultural solidarity
• Filipinos helping Chinese-Filipinos
• Life-saving generosity

Post-War Binondo

After liberation:

• Rebuilding Binondo from battle damage
• Chinese-Filipino community reconstituting
• Betty’s family returned to normal life
• Father’s business recovery (or not - details needed)

Comparison to Other Wartime Refuges

Betty’s family used multiple strategies:

• Daet, Camarines Norte, Philippines → fled when Japanese commander demanded collaboration
• Island refuge → hid in cave when soldiers came
• Mother’s village → rural hiding
• Binondo → returned to urban life despite danger
• Sulu → final refuge in Spanish neighbors’ house

Each move balanced risk (cities had Japanese) with opportunity (cities had resources).

Betty’s Formation

Ages 7-10 in Binondo shaped Betty:

Faith:

• First Communion at Binondo Church
• Mother’s prayer during crisis
• “By the Grace of God” refrain developed

Education:

• Continued schooling despite war (remarkable)
• St. Scholastica’s during occupation
• Piano lessons
• Learned Japanese (practical necessity)

Resilience:

• Witnessed occupation daily (garrison across river)
• Saw violence (Cousin Tony’s brothers shot)
• Experienced hunger and scarcity
• Survived threat of burning

Gratitude:

• Never forgot Spanish neighbors who saved family
• “Very dear friends” - lifelong appreciation
• Remembered MacArthur’s liberation as joyful moment

Connection to Later Life

Binondo experience influenced Betty:

Career Choice:

• Mathematics degree (practical, career-oriented)
• Payroll Supervisor at Eastern Textile Factory
• Numbers as security

Parenting:

• Emphasis on education (continued schooling even during war)
• Catholic upbringing for children
• Gratitude and faith values
• Work ethic

Character:

• “By the Grace of God” philosophy
• Appreciation for peace and stability
• Value of friendship (Spanish neighbors’ lesson)
• Resilience through hardship

Legacy

Binondo represents:

• Survival - Betty lived through occupation in dangerous location
• Faith - First Communion, mother’s prayer, Catholic foundation
• Community - Spanish neighbors’ heroism, Uncle Linda’s support
• Historic witness - saw MacArthur’s liberation, end of WWII in Philippines
• Formative trauma - ages 7-10 defined by war

The Binondo years made Betty both grateful for survival (“By the Grace of God”) and determined to give her children the stability she lacked.

Research Questions

• Exact address in Binondo near Juan Luna bridge
• Names of Spanish neighbor family (dentists and violinist)
• Which Binondo church for First Communion?
• Uncle Linda’s full name and relationship
• Aunt Jimmy’s mother (Tang Yunyu) - lived with them entire time?
• Did house survive the Battle of Manila?
• When did family leave Binondo after liberation?
• Did Betty return to Binondo as adult?
• Address in Sulu where Spanish neighbors saved them
• What happened to father’s mahjong business after war?
• Details about Cousin Tony’s brothers who were shot
• Did family own or rent the three-story house?