Thread by @jeremyaaronkho

Why some older Chinoys are pro-Marcos. A thread.

*I'm but a humble former Binondo boy with semi-traditional parents and some googling skills. Please feel free to correct me or provide more context on some details.

My parents would always repeat the same talking points when Marcos Sr was discussed. We've all heard it before - it was peaceful back then, crime was low and folks can go about work/business. Same old. But it's slightly different for the Chinoy experience.

They would add: Marcos was good to Chinoys. Not through cronies Lucio Tan or Danding Cojuanco (tho that may have been welcomed by the Chinoy community), but because he decreed the naturalization/assimilation of post-WW2 Chinoys.

Some history. While Chinese and Chinese mestizos have been around for centuries, they were always outcast, inferior to everyone else, including Indios. "Intsik beho tulo laway" was the full insult. When Indios had to pay P1.50 in taxes, Chinese mestizos paid P3.00, Chinese P6.00

This changed due to WW2 and the countless Chinese and Chinese mestizos who fought and died against the Japanese. Pre-war immigrants were granted citizenship, but it was difficult post-war. Why? A new war had emerged, the Cold War, and China was on the opposing team.

Add to that the increase of Chinese migrants due to Maoist woes, most of whom entered into the lower merchant class, coinciding with renewed Filipino nationalist fervor in the 50s.

Pres. Ramon Magsaysay, a popular historical darling today, is not beloved among Chinoys. The original "Amboy", he was deeply pro-America and anti-China. His nationalist Retail Trade Nationalization Law outright banned retail trade among non-Filipinos, notably alien Chinoys.

Small retail was the Chinoy bread and butter. The foundation of entire families and communities - taken overnight. Some were able to naturalize to continue, but not most. This was exacerbated by Pres. CP Garcia's Filipino First Policy. Economic Nationalism or Discrimination? Yes

Marcos Sr granted many Chinoys citizenship and at last in theory were seen to be equal in the eyes of the law. There are complications that pro-Marcos Chinoys gloss over. Part of the assimilation program closed many Chinese schools & restricted Chinese language classes

I'm sure many uncles and aunties would be dismayed to hear that after they've been telling me all their lives to "Kong lan nang uwe" or "Speak Chinese"

The times were also scary for Chinoys. While a different country and context, there were numerous race riots in Malaysia and Singapore that resulted in hundreds of Chinese dead, thousands injured, and hundreds of homes/shops looted/burned.

One can see how Marcos's "law and order" appealed to Chinoys during this era. This is made worse by the increase in targeted crimes, particularly kidnappings, against Chinoys in the 90s. Many of them surely reminisced the 70s and early 80s

Today, there are echoes of the past. While it's a lot safer now and modern Chinoys don't relate with newer mainland immigrants (TDKs), there has been a rise in anti-Chinese sentiment, some directed towards Filipino-identifying Chinoys. Chinese aggression in WPS doesn't help.

BBM is notably more pro-China and is Duterte-like in this regard. (Many older Chinoys believe in the 9-dash line) He's also supposedly pro-POGO, which have business implications for some in the Chinoy community. Reminder to Chinoys that TDKs don't view us as "true Chinese"

I hope this was a decent dissection of the Chinoy psyche - at least for some of its members. It is more complex however. For instance, Magsaysay, Marcos, Aquino, etc all claim some significant level of Chinese heritage. Jesse Robredo also is Chinoy. More contradictions >>>

EDSA had strong participation from Chinoys. While Marcos paved the way, more naturalizations happened under Cory and Ramos. The conditions for Chinoy kidnappings in the 90s were in part due to the effects of Marcos's regime. Race riots abroad in the 70s decreased regardless

But just as it's important for others to understand the Chinoy context and perspective, so too must Chinoys understand the context of others. No amount of personal benefit can erase the societal consequences under Marcos.

While there was relative safety for Chinoys, thousands of others died and suffered because of who they were or what they believed in. How is that different from ethnic Chinese who died and suffered because of who they were and what they believed in?

While Chinoys were slowly being assimilated as citizens and regaining their livelihoods, the Marcoses were emptying the national coffers, sinking the ship they just invited us on, stealing from the Filipino people, which then by law include your children and grandchildren

Chinoys have always prided themselves in being good at business. And what's good for business? Competent national leadership, sound economics, transparent bureaucracy, a level playing field, an effective justice system, social reform.

Some may scoff at these. Perhaps they benefit from the status quo.

So let's put it in semi-business lingo - A stronger economy and a wealthier populace increase the size of the pie.

Here's another - A rising tide lifts all boats.

In other words - #AngatBuhayLahat

I blabbed on a lot. Thank you for listening to my TED talk.

Fun fact: it's regarded that it's because of this law that Chinoys ventured more into real estate development, banking, finance, malls, telecom, power, tourism, distribution, food processing, manufacturing, etc. Blessing in disguise, many would say.

Since this blew up more than expected, I'd point out that most of the thread explains why Chinoys are pro-Marcos Sr. BBM is a much weaker proposition, they just need to see that.

We need to speak in the language of Chinese parents - about how children are often a disappointment.

Addendum: A friend pointed out, naturalizations weren't because Marcos favored Chinoys. In 1971, the UN recognized PRC (China) over ROC (Taiwan). Most Chinoys were ROC holders, so they had to change docs. Naturalization was an opportunity to get Chinoys to renounce China