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http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=723396&publicationSubCategoryId=200
P-Noy traces roots in Fujian village
(philstar.com) Updated September 03, 2011 03:02 PM Comments (0) View comments
MANILA, Philippines - President Benigno Aquino III set foot for the first time in the hometown of his ancestors in a small village in Fujian province in the last day of his five-day visit in China.
The President, who arrived at the Gaoqi Airport on board a Philippine Airlines Commercial Flight PR 001 from Shanghai, visited Honjian village, located in the township of Jiaomel, Longhai City, Zhangzhou municipality, Fujian province.
The President's late mother, former President Corazon Cojuangco Aquino is a fourth-generation Filipino-Chinese descendant from Co Yu Hwan, a Chinese immigrant from Hongjian village who settled in the Philippines in 1861.
According to a fact sheet released by the Philippine Embassy in China, Co (the Chinese character for his surname is read as "Xu" in the national language Mandarin, while "Co" or "Kho" is the way the same character is pronounced in the southern Fujian dialect or Minnan Hua also known as Hokkien) converted to Roman Catholicism in the Philippines and was then baptized as Jose Cojuangco, the surname Cojuangco being an amalgamation of his Chinese Hokien name, Co Yu Hwan.
The fact sheed added that Jose's son Melecio Cojuangco (born in 1871) married another Filipino-Chinese named Tiakla Chico in 1894 and among their children was Jose Cojuangco, Jr., father to the late former President Corazon C. Aquino, who is the mother of now President Aquino.
Hongjian is a sleepy village and home to about 1,700 residents with the surname Xu or Co. It is less than half an hour’s drive from the bustling metropolis of the island of Xiamen.
During his visit to the village President Aquino, together with the members of the official delegation, led the lighting of incense at the ancestral temple of the Xu (Co) clan.
He also viewed the photo exhibit of his late mother's visit to Hongjian village and view the araucaria tree planted by President Cory Aquino in 1988.
It can be recalled that in 1988 when President Cory Aquino visited the Hongjian village, she planted an araucaria tree (a genus of coniferous evergreen) to commemorate her historical visit there. She also lighted incense at the altar of the Ancestral Temple of the Xu (Co) clan.
The tree has grown with two branches, which is a sign of good luck, according to the villagers.
In an interview this morning, deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said she is hoping that the good luck that the tree would bring in the small villlage would be extended to the Philippines.
President Aquino visited China with high hopes that he will be able to convince Chinese businessmen to invest in the Philippines.
Before the President leaves the Hongjian village for Manila he will also expected to plant a tree about 50 meters away from the spot where President Cory planted the araucaria tree.
After the tree planting activity, the President will deliver his message and then prepare for his flight back to Manila.
P-Noy traces roots in Fujian village
(philstar.com) Updated September 03, 2011 03:02 PM Comments (0) View comments
MANILA, Philippines - President Benigno Aquino III set foot for the first time in the hometown of his ancestors in a small village in Fujian province in the last day of his five-day visit in China.
The President, who arrived at the Gaoqi Airport on board a Philippine Airlines Commercial Flight PR 001 from Shanghai, visited Honjian village, located in the township of Jiaomel, Longhai City, Zhangzhou municipality, Fujian province.
The President's late mother, former President Corazon Cojuangco Aquino is a fourth-generation Filipino-Chinese descendant from Co Yu Hwan, a Chinese immigrant from Hongjian village who settled in the Philippines in 1861.
According to a fact sheet released by the Philippine Embassy in China, Co (the Chinese character for his surname is read as "Xu" in the national language Mandarin, while "Co" or "Kho" is the way the same character is pronounced in the southern Fujian dialect or Minnan Hua also known as Hokkien) converted to Roman Catholicism in the Philippines and was then baptized as Jose Cojuangco, the surname Cojuangco being an amalgamation of his Chinese Hokien name, Co Yu Hwan.
The fact sheed added that Jose's son Melecio Cojuangco (born in 1871) married another Filipino-Chinese named Tiakla Chico in 1894 and among their children was Jose Cojuangco, Jr., father to the late former President Corazon C. Aquino, who is the mother of now President Aquino.
Hongjian is a sleepy village and home to about 1,700 residents with the surname Xu or Co. It is less than half an hour’s drive from the bustling metropolis of the island of Xiamen.
During his visit to the village President Aquino, together with the members of the official delegation, led the lighting of incense at the ancestral temple of the Xu (Co) clan.
He also viewed the photo exhibit of his late mother's visit to Hongjian village and view the araucaria tree planted by President Cory Aquino in 1988.
It can be recalled that in 1988 when President Cory Aquino visited the Hongjian village, she planted an araucaria tree (a genus of coniferous evergreen) to commemorate her historical visit there. She also lighted incense at the altar of the Ancestral Temple of the Xu (Co) clan.
The tree has grown with two branches, which is a sign of good luck, according to the villagers.
In an interview this morning, deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said she is hoping that the good luck that the tree would bring in the small villlage would be extended to the Philippines.
President Aquino visited China with high hopes that he will be able to convince Chinese businessmen to invest in the Philippines.
Before the President leaves the Hongjian village for Manila he will also expected to plant a tree about 50 meters away from the spot where President Cory planted the araucaria tree.
After the tree planting activity, the President will deliver his message and then prepare for his flight back to Manila.
