Republic of the Philippines

Laguna State Polytechnic University

San Pablo City

CHINESE MIGRATION IN THE

PHILIPPINES

Abrenica, Ailenmhae
Alcantara, Jaypee
Alimbuyog, Rashid Aaron
Almanza, Vince
Catapang, Arlyn
Fajardo, Kate Catherine
Goh, Ervin
Martin, Randel Cedrick
Panergayo, Joshua
Tiquis, Lexter Joseph
Vista, Kathleen Mae
Human Migration

 Human migration is the movement of people from one place in the world to another. (National
Geographic)
 The permanent change of residence by an individual or group; it excludes such movements
as nomadism, migrant labour, commuting, and tourism, all of which are transitory in
nature.(Encyclopaedia Britannica)

Types of Human Migration

 Internal Migration – moving within a state, country, or continent.

 External Migration- moving to a different state, country, or continent.
 Emigration- leaving one country to move to another.
 Immigration- moving into a new country.
 Return Migration- moving back to where you came from.
 Seasonal Migration- moving with each season, or in response to labor or climate conditions.

Categories of People Who Migrate

 An emigrantis a person who is leaving one country to live in another.

 An immigrant is a person who is entering a country from another to make a new home.
 A refugee is a person who has moved to a new country because of a problem in their former
home.

Chinese Migration in the Philippines

Many studies in various fields were established on the Chinese community in the Philippines:
from a historical angle with Amyot (1972a and 1972b) and Wickberg (1998a and 1998b), from a
sociological and anthropological perspective with See (1988) and Ang See (1997, 2000, 2004 and 2005).
Those productions together with general studies on the overseas Chinese communities in South East
Asia, on Philippine economy and the urban environment allow us to tackle the context of our topic.

These new migrants from Mainland China can actually be defined by comparison with the
Chinese populations that have been settled in the Philippine archipelago for a long time. Due to their
short stay, those migrants don’t have any mental, family or spatial landmarks in the Philippines. There’s
another striking difference with the previous migration waves of the 1930s: migrants no longer leave
their homeland alone but are generally accompanied with their relatives.

The close family circle is present, yet the forebears stayed behind in their home province. For
most of them, settling down for good in the archipelago is out of question, but they nonetheless try to
thrive within a short period of time. Philippine cities seem to be an Eldorado for those migrants (an
estimated 60,000 individuals). The analysis of those migrant’s profiles also takes into account that of the
local Chinese community: the mostly used statistical data estimate the Sino-Philippine community at
about 800,000 people, among whom, according to the figures extracted from the National Statistics
Office only around 60,000 speak Chinese.

From the Presidency of Joseph Estrada (1998-2001) on, new waves of Chinese migrants reached
the Philippines. The Filipinos called them TDK: taidiokka or GI: Genuine Intsik (pejorative word for
Chinese from Mainland China in hokkien or “intsik” in tagalog). From then on, they competed with local
businessmen with their “dirt cheap merchandises”. Since 2003, the flexible visa procedure to travel to
the Philippines was spread to Chinese citizens from Continental China. The Chinese passport holders
can, like any other traveller, get a three-week-tourist visa, which can be extended, for a few thousands
of pesos. The access of the Asia Region to the “Continental Chinese tourists” raises many questions,
notably for the countries concerned, as regards these eased travel facilities, but above all the residence
of those new migrants’ populations.

Why do the Chinese Migrate?

A city is a key place to observe and understand the social link structures, which permit and
continue today’s Chinese migrations towards the Philippines. Nevertheless many differences can be
noted in the professional profiles of those migrants, their being visible or not within the city, as well as
for the human or cultural impacts on the local Chinese community.

The cities are the main places for those migrants to settle down. Thus we may wonder what the
spatial integration opportunities are for those migrants and what social links emerge from the latter.
Without any doubt, the presence of a long established Chinese local community has been assisting them
in their integration process, even for a short stay of a couple of months. However some migrants have
been living in the Philippines since the early 1990s and a more diversified professional integration has
now broken the tradition of the Chinese community specialized in trade.

In the Philippines, Manila offers many kinds of commercial integration dedicated to the new
migrants for mainland china, even in the specialized street inside the Chinese district.

Street is an interesting case study due to its specialization in the gold trade. Many Chinese
Filipinos are shop keepers.

The urban expansion of cities also induces the spreading of new migrants. Chinese Filipinos take
part in the latter’s economic and spatial integration. They are more present in Binondo, the heart of the
old Chinese district, than in any other place, but can also be found in sub urban residential areas. the
Chinese district offers many opportunities, but those new migrants entail competition and adaptation
within area.
Chinese’s Dominated Cities in the Philippines

Manila:
 Malabon, Quezon City- small size companies where new migrants could work as man power.
 Tutuban Center- commercial stalls which can be rented by the migrants to open up different
sort of stores.
 Divisoria Mall- (Mall168) – 40% of shopkeepers import merchandises directly from China(2008).

Cebu:
 868 Wholesale center
 Revival of Bodega System
 Local Chinese family businesses

Davao:

 668 Plaza in Montaverde Street- migrants have been directed from Manila.
 San Pedro Street- old Downtown of the city where new migratns are also shopkeepers.
Types of Chinese Migrants

 More than 3 million Chinese nationals have been allowed to enter in the Philippines since 2016
as President Rodrigo Duterte pulls out the stops to thaw his country’s frosty ties with China.
 A total of 3.2 million Chinese citizens arrive in the Philippines from January 2016 to May 2018.
(Bureau of Immigration)
 Of that population, 2.44 million came from mainland China while the rest were from Hongkong.
Macau, and Taiwan.
 In 2017, Chinese arrivals in the Philippines surged to 1.38 million from 1.02 million in 2016.
 In the first five months of 2018 alone, the influxe of Chinese nationals already reached 717 638.
 Research indicates that Chinese were one of the least accepted ethnic groups. The common
Filipino perception of the Chinese was of rich businessmen backed by Chinese cartels who
stamped out competition from other groups. There was, however, a sizeable Chinese working
class in the Philippines and there was a sharp gap between rich and poor Chinese.

A. Chinese Business/ Company Owners

 Philex Mining Corporation

Philex Mining, the largest gold and copper mining company in the Philippines, has been continuously
operating the Sto. Tomas II gold-copper mine at Padcal in Benguet since 1958. It has already produced
around 2.048 billion pounds of copper, 374,785 pounds of gold, and 409,200 pounds of silver. The
company is 20.73% owned by First Pacific Company, Limited, a Hong Kong based investment
management company headed by Indonesian Chinese entrepreneur Anthoni Salim.

The following is a list of major Chinese mining investments in the Philippines as:

-China Metallurgical Construction Corp.

-Echeng Iron and Steel Group Co, Ltd.
-Epochina Mining Corporation
-Guo Long Mining Corporation
-Jiangxi Rare Earth & Metals Tungsten Group
-Jiangxi Rare Earth and Rare Metals Tungsten Group
-Jinchuan Nonferrous Metals
-KonkaFulim Mining & Dev Corp.
-Lian Xing Song Carving Co, Corporation
-Macao Quanta Mining Co, Ltd.
-Nicua Mining Corporation
-Oriental Synergy Mining Corp.
-Peng Cheng Metallic Resources Corp.
-Prime Rock Mining Company
  2GO,

Formally 2GO Travel, is a passenger ferry company which is based in Manila, Philippines and part of 2GO
Group, a listed company owned by the Chinese government through the China-Asean Investment
Cooperation Fund. It is the largest ferry company in the Philippines with its main hub located in Eva
Macapagal Super Terminal in Pier 15 in the Manila South Harbor

 SuperFerry

Founded as Aboitiz Shipping Company, later Aboitiz SuperFerry was one of the largest ferry companies
in the Philippines before it was purchased by Negros Navigation, which simultaneously was purchased
by the Chinese government through its private equity fund the China-Asean Investment Cooperation
Fund,

 Matsya Shipping Lines Corporation

With 35 vessels in operation, Matsya Shipping Lines Corporation is one of the largest shipping service
providers in the Philippines. It is based in Talamban, Cebu. Matsya Shipping Corporation is owned by
Chinese national Christopher O. Yu

Other shipping lines that operate in the Philippines, which are fully or partly owned by the
Chinese, include the following:

Cosco Philippines Shipping, Inc.,

China Shipping Line,
South China Manila Express,
ZIM,
SITC Line,
Philhua Shipping Agency Group, and
China Shipping Manila Agency, Inc.

 Alliance Global Group, Inc.,

Styled on its logo as AllianceGlobal and also known as Alliance Global, Inc. (AGI), is a large holding
company with business activities spanning the food and beverage industry (including both production
and restaurant operations), gambling, and real estate development.
It is one of the largest companies based in the Philippines, and is controlled by the family of its chairman
and CEO Andrew L. Tan he is a Chinese Filipino billionaire with business interests in real
estate, liquor and fast food.
 BDO Unibank

Also known as BDO and Banco De Oro, is the largest bank in the Philippines belonging to the SM
Group of Companies. It is a universal bank with subsidiaries operating in leasing and financing,
investment banking, private banking, insurance and stock brokerage. Nestor V. Tan, president and CEO
of BDO Unibank,
  Globe Telecom

Also known as Globe, is a major telecommunications services company operating one of the largest
mobile, fixed line, and broadband networks in the Philippines. Globe Telecom's CEO, Ernest Cu was
named the CEO of the year by the World Communications Awards 2017.

 Jollibee Foods corporation

Jollibee is the largest fast food chain in the Philippines, operating more than 750 stores, and
engaged into an international expansion in the USA, Vietnam, Hong Kong, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and
Brunei. Tony Tan Caktiong, the founder and chairman of Jollibee Foods Corporation

 Petron Corporation

The largest oil refining and marketing company in the Philippines, supplying about 40% of the
country’s oil requirements. It is majority-owned by the San Miguel Corporation. Ramón See
Ang (President and CEO)

 Robinsons Land

Robinsons Land Corporation is a leading real estate company involved in the development and
operation of shopping malls and hotels, mixed-use properties, office buildings, residential
condominiums and housing.Mr. James L. Go Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Robinsons Land
Corporation

 SM Investments

SM Investments Corporation, SM Investments, or SMIC, is a holding company involved in shopping

mall development and management, retail, real estate development, banking, and tourism. SM founder
Henry Sy, Sr.

 SM Prime Holdings

SM Prime Holdings, or SM Prime, is the SM Group’s comany in charge of developing, operating and
maintaining shopping malls and their related businesses in retail. Its revenues originate from rental
income, as well as entertainment businesses such as cinema ticket sales, bowling and ice-skating. SM
founder Henry Sy, Sr. (Chinese-Filipino)

 Universal Robina

Universal Robina Corporation is one of the largest food and beverage companies in the Philippines,
with an important and growing presence in other ASEAN markets. It is involved in the manufacture and
distribution of branded consumer foods, commodities and agro-industrial businesses. (Founder John
Gokongwei)
 B. Chinese Workers/Laborers

China quickly became the largest source of tourists for the Philippines, dislodging South Korea.
Last year, the Philippines welcomed a record 1.26 million Chinese visitors; nearly triple the number
in 2015. On a visit to China,Duterte secured a $24 billion investment deal from Chinese institutions,
including grants for projects that allow Chinese companies to bring in their own workers. The two
Beijing-funded bridges crossing the Pasig River in Manila are examples.

A total of 3.12 million Chinese citizens entered the Philippines from January 2016 to May 2018,
according to the Bureau of Immigration. Within these figures is a number of Chinese workers, which
is still unknown.

335,800 working visas and special work permits were issued to Chinese, representing over half
the total number of permits issued to foreigners said last year that around 400,000 Chinese workers
- including those without documents - were in the country.

The number of Chinese nationals arriving in the country has nearly tripled since Duterte came to
power in 2016. They filled hotel rooms and office towers previously intended for U.S. call centers,
snapped up condominiums and boosted retail sales. But despite the economic benefits, there has
been a mounting backlash from locals who fear chinese workers are taking jobs, evading taxes and
committing crimes.

C. Chinese Illegal Workers

"'Yung mga Chinese dito, hayaanmo 'yannaditomagtrabaho.Hayaan mo. Bakit? We have 300,000
Filipinos in China kaya hindiakomakasabi, 'Oh, umalis kayo dito. Deport kadoon,'" Duterte said. Then
posed the question: "Eh kung umalis 'yung [300,000] of them?"

At a Senate hearing in September 2018, Minority Leader Senator Franklin Drilon bared the
alleged increase in Chinese population in the country. He said the country has over 400,000 foreign
workers, 150,000 of them working at Entertainment City in Parañaque City.The DOLE, however, said
only around 25,000 of over 40,000 Alien Employment permits issued in the last two years were given to
Chinese workers who perform jobs Filipinos were unable to do.According to Senator Joel Villanueva,
there are more than 200,000 Chinese workers here now in the Philippines. He added that illegal Chinese
workers are not just in gaming. They're also in restaurants, construction, mining etc.

Specific illegal works of Chinese

 November 2018, 93 Chinese were arrested from another online gambling outfit, in Pasig city,
east of Manila.
 The Bureau of Immigration (BI) said on September 4 2018, the 34 Chinese men were "caught in
the act of working illegally at a construction site near the SM Mall of Asia complex in Pasay City"
on Tuesday.
  September 2018, De Lima said more than 50 offshore gambling companies in Manila alone have
employed "about 200,000 predominantly Chinese workers who have been arriving since late
2016"
 In May 2017, nine Chinese and an Indonesian were nabbed for operating dredging vessels and
hauling black sand without permits.
 In September 2017, 34 Chinese were arrested at an online gaming company in Pasay city, south
of Manila.
 In 2016, when 1,200 Chinese employees of a gaming firm inside the Clark special economic zone
in Pampanga province, an hour north of the capital, Manila, were rounded up.
 The President named the country's topmost drug lords, Chinese nationals Wu Tuan (also known
as Peter Co) and Peter Lim (a.k.a. Jaguar). Authorities believe both of them are part of the
Chinese triad; with Co-operating in Metro Manila and Luzon, while Jaguar in the Visayas. They
are believed to have at least 100 kilograms of illegal drugs in every transaction.

According to The Straits Times (2018):

 115,652 is the number of Alien Employment Permits (AEPs) issued by the Labour Department
from 2015-2017
 51,980 is the number of AEPs that went to workers from China
 200,000-400,000 is the estimated number of Chinese working in offshore gaming operators and
outsourcing firms
 62% is the rise in condo rentals in the Manila Bay area, home to three big casinos, in the first six
months of 2018 as Chinese companies snap up office and residential space.

Pros and Cons

Pros
 Technological advancements
 Increase in Chinese direct investment
 Job creations
 Amicable relations between China and Philippines
 Secure investment pledges
 Relax tariff barriers on Philippine exports to China
 Promote tourism in the Philippines through lifting of travel advisory for Manila-bound Chinese
tourists
Cons
 Much control on private industry in the Philippines
 Acculturation
 Economic and military threats

Chinese arrivals in the Philippines “not only steals jobs away from ordinary Filipinos but also trigger
property surge on many developed areas.” – Leila De Lima
Conclusion

Chinese Immigration have led to intermarried systems of Chinese and Filipino community and
largely been assimilated into its ever-growing population. The massive influx of Chinese nationals on the
Philippines shows how we are greatly considered as one of the most favored destinations of Chinese
which brought unbearable changes in our country. As our government widely opened our doors to
'floods of aliens', we may vary from each other's perspective about this warm welcome which some may
consider a boon or a bane.

The growing strengths of Philippines-China relations bring benefits and drawbacks in our
country. Some of the flowery simple promises of Chinese that causes win-win situations includes job
creations as they are establishing businesses and establishments in the Philippines. This may cause
poverty alleviation which is a double hit on the side of the Philippines. Due to bigger companies and
businesses, Philippines were filled with highly-categorized personalities with greater opportunities in
terms of import and export processes.

Another thing is the increase in foreign direct investments brought by China. This gave birth to a
larger arena of funds for our country for the common good of Filipino community. Another highlight of
Chinese immigration is an elevation due to technological advancements which is in fact, a great help to
our country.

On the other hand, acculturation is one of the undeniable effects of Chinese immigration. As
Chinese brought with them their language, culture, social institution, and custom, those were bit by bit
injected in the Philippines. This is a downfall on our country as patriotism is somehow swept away due
to the increasing growth of Chinese influences in our country.

It also has a negative impact on our local economy and community, and a threat on military
behavior due to undying issues in terms of natural resources. The decreasing labor opportunities causes
the so-called stealed jobs from Filipinos. Deprivation from job vacancies results to increasing growth of
Overseas Filipino Workers, serving other countries to earn a living. Chinese nationals somehow
overthrones the Philippines in terms of businesses without us knowing if they even have tourist visas or
if they are paying income taxes. The worst thing is that some are almost blind in their own country,
letting and embracing the Chinese system into their very core.

Be it a tactic or not, Chinese immigration is highly witnessed over the past decades. We may
raise issues and concerns about this aliens but the important thing is to find viable solutions or craft
proposals to address problems. We just have to critically and wisely think so that no one will be left
behind. The thing is, we better be careful so Philippines will be saved from floods of Chinese immigrants
be it considered a boon or a bane.
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