CEBU, Philippines - “Lineage, Life & Labors of Rizal,Philippine Patriot” by Prof. Austin Craig essays the biography of the national hero, with emphasis on his Chinese lineage that is traced to his Cua ancestry in Siongque Village, Jinjiang City, Fujian Province (where most Chinese in the Philippines come from).
Domingo Lamco, or Cua Yi Lam, was the ancestor of the “entrepreneurial Mercado clan of Laguna Province and the great-great-grandfather of Dr. Jose Protacio Rizal.” Lamco belonged to the 19th generation of the Cua line in Siongque. (The Sin Cua Chua clan is traced to Chua Siok-To, the patriarch.) To escape the prejudices and extra taxes levied on the Chinese in his time, Lamco changed his surname to Mercado (a Hispanic name but reflecting his family of merchants).
The biggest Rizal Park outside of the Philippines is now found in Siongque Village, Fujian, China. The 5-hectare park with a Rizal monument that is almost 7 meters taller than the one in Luneta, was inaugurated in 2003. A great turn-out of locals and some government dignitaries welcomed the Philippine delegation, led by Dr. Manuel Chua of the Tulay Foundation and relatives of Dr. Jose Rizal, as well as Filipino civic and political luminaries. (FREEMAN)