During the Second World War there were many Chinese and Filipino Chinese in Cebu, the Visayas, and Mindanao who fought the Japanese invaders by being members or supporters of the guerilla movement. Unfortunately, only few of them were recognized. One of them was Tio Tiam. A street is named after him. That street is called "Lim Tian Teng Street."
One of the many Chinese who valiantly fought the Japanese was TIO TIAM known by his Filipino name as Teotimo Rodriguez. He was born in Cebu City of Chinese parents on January 12, 1904.
When the Japanese invaded Cebu in 1942, Tio Tam joined the Cebu Guerilla Command with the rank of Second Lieutenant under General Macario Peralta Jr. He earned the rank of an officer considering that he finished first year high school and had managerial skills needed to lead men during the war.
Gen. Macario Peralta Jr. although born in Manila was no stranger to Cebu. Peralta, a graduate of the University of the Philippines in 1936 and placed second in the Bar Examinations joined the Philippine Commonwealth Army. His first assignment was in Cebu as Commandant of the Visayan Institute (now University of the Visayas) ROTC cadets, serving for two years. When war erupted in 1942, he came back to the Visayas as chief of operations of the 61st Division of the Philippine Army. When the USAFFE surrendered to the Japanese, Atty. Peralta, who was a colonel then, organized and led the guerillas in the Visayas with its home base in Panay.
Peralta for his gallantry during the Second World War he earned many awards such as the Distinguished Service Star and Silver Star. In 1946, Peralta resigned from the Philippine Army and was appointed by President Manuel Acuna Roxas as chairman of the Philippine Veterans Board. In 1949 Peralta ran for the senate under the Liberal Party and won a seat. Peralta married Natividad Kasilag with whom they had three children, Macario III, Cecilia, and Engelbert. He died on January 7, 1975 and is buried at the Balantang Memorial Cemetery National Shrine in Jaro, Iloilo City. The 3rd Infantry Division of the Philippine Army in Jamindan, Capiz is named after him and is officially called the Camp Gen. Macario Peralta Jr.
After the war, Tio Tiam filed a petition to be admitted as a naturalized Filipino. Upon his filing of the petition, all his children were enrolled in schools recognized by the Philippine government.
Tio Tiam, married a fellow Chinese (Lim In Ong) and they had eleven children. He acted as a Filipino citizen by exercising his right of suffrage, voting in the 1949, 1951 and 1953 elections. On October 25, 1945, while he was 41 years old, Tio Tam took the oath of allegiance before the Court of First Instance of Cebu.
The Court of First Instance of Cebu was convinced of the plea of Tio Tiam for naturalization and was granted Filipino citizenship. At that time, Tio Tiam was registered owner of several real estate properties in Cebu City and was engaged in business and was earning an average yearly income of P20,000.
The decision was challenged by the government. One of the grounds is the allegation that Tio Tiam had an illicit affair with another woman. This was presented by Mauro Magsaysay, the chief of the National Bureau of Investigation, Cebu Office. The evidence was based on an alleged case report conducted by an NBI Agent.