By Dennis Gorecho
Chinese New Year usually falls in mid-February, when enthusiasts in red shirts flock to the streets of Binondo to witness dragon and lion dances, enjoy traditional cuisine, buy lucky charms and prosperity fruits, and exchange boxes of “tikoy.”
Binondo is considered the world’s first and oldest Chinatown, established in 1594 as a permanent settlement for Chinese immigrants — particularly those who had converted to Catholicism and intermarried with indigenous Filipinos. It was strategically positioned near Intramuros but across the Pasig River so colonial rulers could closely monitor their migrant subjects amid fears of a possible invasion from China.
In the years that followed, Binondo became the first stop for Chinese immigrants arriving in Manila in search of a new life. It laid the foundation of the Filipino-Chinese community, which endured multiple colonial occupations.
Red, the dominant color of Chinese New Year, is emotionally intense. It symbolizes fire and blood and is often associated with war, death and danger. Behind the joyful celebrations lies a painful history marked by a series of tragic Chinese massacres in the Philippines.
The Chinese massacres in Manila refer to several large-scale killings of the Chinese population by Spanish colonial authorities in 1603, 1639 and 1662, and later during the Japanese occupation in 1945. These events, driven by fear, suspicion, tension, and war, resulted in the deaths of tens of thousands of civilians.
The 1603 massacre remains one of the bloodiest episodes in Philippine colonial history. It stemmed from a large-scale uprising of ethnic Chinese residents in Manila against Spanish colonial rule, fueled by deep-seated mutual distrust and economic friction. At the time, the Chinese outnumbered the Spanish by approximately 10 to one — around 20,000 Chinese to 2,000 Spaniards — causing colonial authorities to fear a possible coup.
Chinese residents faced heavy taxation, restricted movement (confined to Parian or Binondo), and widespread persecution under Spanish rule. In early 1603, three Chinese mandarins arrived in Manila searching for a legendary “mountain of gold.” Their visit convinced Spanish authorities that a Chinese invasion was imminent.
The rebellion broke out on October 3, 1603, and lasted for approximately three weeks. Fighting began in the Chinese settlements of Binondo, Quiapo and Tondo. The conflict later spread to Laguna de Bay, Batangas and Pampanga as rebels fled. The suppression resulted in the slaughter of an estimated 15,000 to 30,000 Chinese.
The 1639 massacre, also known as the Second Sangley Rebellion, led to the deaths of approximately 17,000 to 22,000 ethnic Chinese residents. The uprising was driven by harsh treatment, forced labor, poor working conditions, and heavy taxation imposed by Spanish authorities, particularly in Calamba, Laguna. Although the rebellion quickly spread toward Manila, the poorly armed rebels could not withstand Spanish forces equipped with superior firepower. The crackdown led to mass killings, starvation and a three-month siege of remaining holdouts.
The 1662 massacre was triggered by panic following threats from the Chinese warlord Koxinga (Zheng Chenggong), who had expelled the Dutch from Taiwan and demanded tribute from the Philippines. Fearing that the Chinese in Manila would support an invasion, the governor-general ordered the fortification of Manila and directed all non-Christian Chinese to leave or face death. Approximately 1,300 departed on a single ship, while others perished in the mountains. Though many fled, around 20,000 Chinese were reportedly massacred.
During World War II, the Chinese community was again targeted — this time by Japanese forces — because of its support for resistance movements in mainland China and its active role in local guerrilla efforts in the Philippines.
Major atrocities occurred in San Pablo, Laguna (February 24, 1945), where approximately 650 to 700 Chinese residents were killed through bayoneting and beheading; in Manila (February to March 1945), where Japanese troops conducted door-to-door executions, including in Chinese communities in districts such as Binondo during the month-long Rape of Manila; and in Calamba (February 1945), where approximately 5,000 to 6,000 civilians were killed, including many Chinese males who were rounded up at the local church before execution.
These historical tragedies are documented and depicted at the Bahay Tsinoy Museum in Intramuros, Manila. The museum features exhibits detailing the life, culture and often tumultuous history of the Chinese community in the Philippines, including the Spanish-era massacres and their eventual integration into Filipino society.
Managed by the Kaisa Para Sa Kaunlaran Foundation, the museum uses life-sized dioramas and wax figures to portray these tragic episodes as part of the broader Chinese-Filipino narrative — one marked not only by suffering, but also by resilience and enduring contribution to the nation.
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Atty. Dennis R. Gorecho is the junior partner of the Sapalo Velez Bundang Bulilan Law Offices. For comments, e-mail info@sapalovelez.com, or call 0908-8665786./WDJ