Taipei, Taiwan
Overview
Taipei, capital of Taiwan (Republic of China), was home to the Chan family for 22 years from 1968 to 1990 - the longest the family lived in any single location. This transformative period saw Jesse and Betty Chan transition from factory employees to successful business owners, and all four children receive elite international education leading to US university scholarships.
Significance to Family
Arrival (1968)
The Decision:
- 1967: Eastern Textile Factory, Manila board split
- Friend invited Jesse to “join him in doing business in Taiwan”
- Moved with four young children (Rose 8, Meg 5, Louis 3, Michelle infant/born in Taiwan)
- Left jobs and established life in Manila for entrepreneurial opportunity
What They Brought:
- Family of six (or five, with Michelle born shortly after)
- Jesse’s business experience and multilingual skills
- Betty’s education background (mathematics degree)
- Capital from selling Eastern Textile shares (par value + 20%)
- Connections through friend who invited them
Business Transformation (1968-1990)
Jesse built multiple successful ventures, transforming from employee to entrepreneur:
1. Nightclub/Supper Club (Late 1960s-Early 1970s)
- Daytime: restaurant
- Nighttime: dancing, singing, shows
- Orchestra, MC, magic shows
- Open until midnight or 1 AM
- See: Jesse Chan Nightclub Taiwan
2. Real Estate Development (Primary/Longest Business)
- Cherry Hill Development Taiwan - Three-story buildings, multiple units
- Houses on the Hill Taiwan - Luxury hillside properties (rented 3 years, then sold)
- Jesse: “Real estate is really simple. You just look at the land and you like it, you just buy it. Then we build a house.”
- Rose loved visiting construction sites with Jesse
- Dog named Sugar guarded construction property
- Most successful and longest-lasting venture
3. Import/Export Business
- Details to be documented
- Betty managed
- Recommended by Uncle Henry
- Associated with someone named “Joni”
Children’s Education
- All four children attended
- **30,000/year)
- Expensive international education
- Jesse and Betty “worked very hard” to afford it
University Results:
- Rose Chan Loui → Stanford University (1978) → NYU Law School
- Meg Chan Feitelberg → Stanford University (1981), Economics
- John Louis Chan → University of Houston (1983) → Cranbrook Academy (Architecture Masters)
- Michelle Chan Ng → Whittier College (1986)
- All four received scholarships for US universities
Family Life in Taipei
Residence:
- Built house in Taiwan
- Construction sites with Rose
- Dog Sugar at construction property
Community:
- Fil-American Association
- Close friends: Oscar and Mrs. Barrios family
- Close friends: Mr. and Mrs. Uytana family
- Philippine Independence Day celebrations (folk dancing)
Household Help:
- Guning worked for family for 26 years
- Took care of children while Betty was teaching
- Betty: “I owe so much to Guning”
Departure (1990)
Timing:
- After Michelle graduated from Whittier College (1990)
- All four children already in USA for university
- Moved to Los Angeles to rejoin children
- 22-year chapter in Taiwan concluded
Historical Context
Taiwan’s Economic Miracle (1960s-1990s)
When Chan family arrived (1968):
- Taiwan experiencing rapid industrialization
- “Taiwan Miracle” economic transformation
- Manufacturing hub for Asia
- Real estate development boom
- Opportunities for entrepreneurs
Political Context:
- Republic of China government (fled mainland 1949)
- Martial law until 1987 (ended during Chan family’s residence)
- Anti-Communist stance
- Close ties with United States
- Accepting Chinese diaspora from Southeast Asia
Business Environment:
- Real estate market expanding
- Different financing model than USA
- Could “buy land on installments before building finished”
- “Put down money in installments as they build”
- Entrepreneurial opportunities in multiple sectors
International Education
Taipei American School:
- Served expatriate community
- International education for diplomatic/business families
- Expensive but high quality
- Path to US universities
- American curriculum preparing students for US colleges
Filipino-Chinese Migration
Many Chinese-Filipino families came to Taiwan in 1960s-1970s:
- Leaving political instability in Philippines
- Economic uncertainty under Marcos (martial law 1972)
- Taiwan welcoming Chinese diaspora
- Business opportunities
- Chan family part of broader migration pattern
Family Transformation
From Employee to Entrepreneur
Manila (1957-1968):
- Jesse: Purchasing Manager (employee)
- Betty: Payroll Supervisor (employee)
- Working for Eastern Textile Factory
- Living in compound/company housing
Taipei (1968-1990):
- Jesse: Business owner (nightclub, real estate, import/export)
- Betty: Business manager (bakery)
- Multiple entrepreneurial ventures
- Owned properties, built developments
Educational Investment Success
Investment:
- Worked very hard for expensive school fees
- $10,000/year for Taipei American School (1986 rate)
- All four children to elite international school
Results:
- All four children to US universities
- All four received scholarships
- Stanford (2), USC, Whittier, NYU Law
- All achieved professional success
Upward Mobility Pattern
Generation 1 (Jesse & Betty):
- Became successful entrepreneurs
- Built financial security
- Invested in next generation
Generation 2 (Rose, Meg, Louis, Michelle):
- Elite education (Taipei American School)
- US university scholarships
- Professional success
- Rose married Warren Loui (attorney, professor)
Generation 3 (Nicholas, Ryan, Samantha + cousins):
- American-born
- Benefited from grandparents’ sacrifices
- Professional careers
Chinese Diaspora Pattern
The Chan family in Taipei exemplifies Chinese diaspora trajectory:
Jesse’s Journey:
- Born Philippines → China (wartime) → Philippines → Taiwan → USA
Betty’s Journey:
- Born Philippines → Taiwan → USA
Children’s Journey:
- Born Philippines/Taiwan → educated Taiwan → universities USA
Grandchildren’s Journey:
- Born USA
Each generation more integrated into Western/American society while maintaining Chinese cultural roots.
Success Factors
Jesse’s Skills
- Multilingual (7 languages) - could communicate with different communities
- Entrepreneurial - willing to try multiple business types
- Social - built networks through nightclub, business relationships
- Risk-taking - “over brave” personality served entrepreneurship
Betty’s Contributions
- Mathematics education - handled finances, payroll experience
- Management skills - ran bakery business
- Family stability - maintained household while Jesse worked late nights
- Teaching - taught in Taipei schools
Educational Focus
- Both Jesse and Betty prioritized children’s education
- Willing to work hard for expensive school fees
- Jesse had sacrificed his own college education
- Determined to give children opportunities he didn’t have
Timing
- Arrived during Taiwan’s economic growth period
- Real estate market was expanding
- International schools were establishing
- Path to US universities becoming common
Related Places in Taipei
- Taipei American School - All four children attended
- Jesse Chan Nightclub Taiwan - Nightclub/supper club
- Cherry Hill Development Taiwan - Real estate development
- Houses on the Hill Taiwan - Luxury properties
- Jesse Chan Bakery Taiwan - Betty managed
Legacy
Taipei represents the pivotal transformation for the Chan family:
Economic:
- From employees to business owners
- From compound living to property ownership
- From salary to entrepreneurial income
- Built financial foundation for American life
Educational:
- Access to elite international school
- All four children to US universities
- All received scholarships
- Professional success for entire next generation
Cultural:
- Maintained Chinese identity
- Learned Mandarin
- Maintained Filipino connections (Fil-American Association)
- Prepared for American integration
Duration:
- 22 years - longest residence anywhere
- Entire childhood/adolescence of four children
- From young family to empty nest
- Foundation for three-generation success story
Research Questions
- Exact addresses of residences in Taipei
- When did each business open/close?
- Names of specific properties Jesse built
- How much capital did they have from Eastern Textile share sale?
- What happened to Jesse’s businesses when they left in 1990?
- Did they own or rent housing in Taipei?
- How often did they visit Manila during 22 years?
- Maintained contact with Manila family - how?
- Did children maintain Mandarin fluency in USA?
- What was Betty’s role while Jesse worked late nights at nightclub?
- Details about Guning (household help for 26 years)