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While few are comfortable talking about how their families were affected
by the backlash of anti-Chinese legislation in Sonora between 1929 and 1931
which forced a mass exodus of families, Juan Chong, a second generation
Chinese-Mexican born and raised in Mazatlán, is an exception. Francisco
Chong, his grandfather, came to Mazatlán in the 1920s from Hong Kong. First
he worked as a shoemaker, and then became part of the strong network of
commerce established within the Chinese community. He was good with people.
He married a Mexican woman and their lives prospered. They had a daughter,
then a son (whom Juan was named after) in 1932. However, they were caught
in the anti-Chinese campaigns and decided to take the family back to live
in the city of Kowloon, where Francisco’s family still resided. “My grandmother
remembered it was a good life in Kowloon. They lived in a big house with
the extended family. There were fancy dress parties and lots of things to
do. She learned to speak Cantonese!” says Juan. “My father and his sister
went to school there. His youngest sister was born there. They were settled
and no one wanted to come back to Mexico.” Almost twelve idyllic years passed.
Then World War II came. There were food and water shortages. School children
were being poisoned. “The Mexican government sent ships of repatriation
to China to rescue the Mexican women and their children from the war.” Juan
then adds, “But my grandfather wasn’t able to leave with them because he
wasn’t a Mexican citizen. It was a difficult decision, but it seemed the
safest one for the family. Sadly, that was the last time my father saw his
own dad.” The family boarded the last boat, laden with gifts that would
help them start a new life in Mazatlán. Among the gifts was a large, finely
carved wooden chest, lined in sandalwood, which would have held fine clothes
and linens. Disaster struck when a torpedo hit the ship while in the Pacific
Ocean. “Everything was lost when the ship sank. Gone were the gifts, all
the mementos of the only life my father knew.” However, the one thing that
saved them was the wooden chest. “My grandmother put the three kids in there.
It was so well made, it floated! They were all rescued by an American boat
that took them to San Francisco.” Somehow, the family made it back to Mazatlán.
With help from her relatives, Juan’s grandmother struggled to make ends
meet. Her children learned at an early age to work and save. With their
energies focussed on staying alive, their adaptation to their new culture
meant they had to sacrifice their Chinese heritage. The war made it impossible
to locate or correspond with their father in Kowloon. Years later, they
learned from a government official that he had died during the war. But
all was not lost. After a brief stint as a pig’s trough on a farm in the
countryside, the wooden chest was rescued by Juan who disinfected it and
kept it as a reminder of what he had lost and gained. He had inherited a
facility with people and a “can do” attitude from his Chinese father which
he used to establish two successful |
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businesses. He
has passed on that outgoing personality, one of the businesses, as well
as the wooden chest to his own son. “The smell from the wooden chest is
so sweet and uniquely Chinese, it reminds me of my other heritage. My father
taught me that even through the hardships he suffered, he could live a life
that was positive and giving.” Next Generation Of the original Chinese immigrants
in Mazatlán, Raul Chio, at over 90 years, is now the only surviving male.
While his family run his restaurants in El Centro, he still maintains a
daily presence. His daughters Alma Rosa Chio and Celia Chio were Queens
of the Floral Games in 1972 and 1974 respectively, while his granddaughter
Lai-Hing Audelo Chio was the Carnival Queen of 1999, sure signs of acceptance
by the Mazatleco community. Other significant individuals whose businesses
were community landmarks during 1950–1970 include Raphael Lem (shrimp boats),
Adolfo Pang (tailor), Francisco Ung Yen (La Fama supermarket), and José
Wong (Pekin Restaurant). The latter was also a much-respected community
elder. His daughter, Isela Wong, was the first Chinese-Mexican to be crowned
Carnival Queen in 1962. Today, the children and grandchildren of the original
immigrants are accountants, architects, businessmen, doctors, dentists,
engineers, manufacturers, teachers, and other professionals. The relationship
between Mexico and China continues to evolve. Both are developing countries
with fast growing economies. China is Mexico’s second largest trading partner.
Both countries seem eager to increase mutual ties. New immigrants have kept
coming. Marina Chen’s dad, Raimundo Chen, came in 1982 from southern China.
His grandfather’s cousin, a woman with obvious business savvy, sponsored
him. She owned four Chinese restaurants, one each in Mexico City, Guadalajara,
Culiacán and Mazatlán. He managed her Mazatlán business. After six years,
his wife and two daughters (including twelve year old Marina) came to join
him. “While my older sister took care of our baby brother, I learned to
wait tables as soon as we arrived. We all helped out,” recalls Marina. Two
years later, Raimundo started Muralla China, named after the Great Wall
of China. With the help of other kin from China, he opened two more restaurants.
The fourth and largest was opened two years ago in partnership with Marina.
While the wait staff are all local Mexicans, all the kitchen staff are from
China. This is the next wave of Chinese immigrants, still mostly from southern
China. While they adapt to their new surroundings, they also bring with
them current Chinese traditions, maintaining their own language, foods and
holidays with their children. Chinese influences are visible within the
city. In the Spanish side of the telephone book, there are 21 Chinese restaurants
versus 15 listed as Cocina Mexicana. Mazatlecos enjoy steamed rice and chop
suey at home. For health, there are two Acupuncture clinics. Herbalist shops
sell Chinese herbs as well as Kwanyin, the goddess of mercy statues and
Yin and Yang disks for balancing the body, mind and spirit. All these signs
bode well for the future of the Chinese in Mazatlán and Mexico. |
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