My Birthplace

My birthplace: Iloilo City, Molo District, Iloilo City, Philippines I have many wonderful memories of spending time in a quaint area of ​​Iloilo City called Molo. From its lively celebrations to its warm and welcoming people, my hometown holds a special place in my heart. The Philippines is a multi-ethnic archipelago country. When you walk around, you will find that there are not only crystal clear waters, but also endless fields, rows of coconut trees and bright sunshine. If you look carefully, you will find that every corner and every people's living conditions are a different kind of scenery. Just like the memory of playing in the fields when I was a child..., as distant and beautiful as a dream. At that time, the fields in our hometown were our world and our paradise. Until one day, a call broke the peaceful life. The voice calling my name was my mother's last call, saying goodbye to the past and welcoming the beginning of a new life. The story of my first Philippine passport, which I applied for at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Manila in 1955 when I was young. The passport was issued by Carlos Garcia, who was the Philippine Foreign Minister and Vice President at that time. Garcia later took over as President of the Philippines in 1957 when President Magsaysay was killed in a plane accident. (See another article ). Later he was re-elected and became the President of the Philippines. He played an important role in shaping the history of the Philippines. His influence was not limited to politics but touched the lives of young aspiring travelers like me. Getting my first passport was an important moment for me and my family. It opens up endless possibilities and adventures beyond our beloved city of Iloilo. As a child, the thought of exploring different countries and experiencing diverse cultures filled me with excitement and curiosity. Iloilo City itself is a gem in the Western Visayas region of the Philippines. Known as the "City of Love", it has a rich cultural heritage and a vibrant cultural scene. The Moro district where I was born is famous for its historic churches, mansions and delicious specialties. Its well-preserved Spanish colonial architecture takes you back in time and adds a touch of charm to the area’s already charming atmosphere. It is impossible to talk about the Morro district without mentioning the Church of San Rosario, more commonly known as the Church of Morro. This iconic building is not only a religious site but also a historical landmark. Its grand appearance and intricate details never fail to live up to visitors' expectations. One can spend hours exploring the grounds of the church, delving into the stories behind every corner and appreciating the beauty that Iloilo City has to offer. Besides its cultural wonders, Iloilo City is also known for its warm-hearted people. The Ilongo, as they are affectionately called, are known for their hospitality and genuine friendliness. Growing up in the Morrow District, I experienced firsthand the warmth and kindness of the community. This is a place where neighbors are like family and strangers are treated with the utmost respect and care. Looking back on my childhood and the journey that led to my first passport, I can’t help but feel grateful for my roots. The charm of Morrow and the opportunity to travel the world shaped me into the person I am today. It gave me a sense of adventure, a deep appreciation for cultural diversity, and a deep affection for Filipino heritage. Now, as I embark on new adventures and explore different corners of the world, I always carry a part of Moro with me. It is a symbol of my humble origins and the values ​​I hold dear. My birthplace, Moro District, Iloilo City, will always hold a special place in my heart and I encourage everyone to discover the wonder and warmth it has to offer. Every people's living situation is a different kind of scenery. On that tumultuous morning, being dressed up carefully by my mother and hurriedly urged by my father, all the eyes of the family were focused on me. I felt confused and helpless. I was just a child, full of unknowns about the future, but I had to accept this challenge and had to get on the plane to Hong Kong. Standing on the plane and looking at the sea of ​​clouds outside the window, panic and contradictions surged in my heart, and joy and sorrow were intertwined. From now on, I, this lonely tiger, will start a new journey in life in a foreign country. This is so dreamlike and illusory. If you don’t experience wind and rain, how can you see a rainbow? The journey of life is like a dream, full of countless possibilities. Every step is worth cherishing and feeling. After all, I am alone in the world, and all aspects of life are just a dream. Leaving the Philippines for Hong Kong It was destiny, but I had no choice but to pack my bags and tearfully leave my parents and brothers who had been with me for seven years. The busy traffic scene in Iloilo City, the plants and trees in Molo and the group of childish and lively playmates can only leave me with lifelong memories, which really made me sigh. But when I think about it, leaving the Philippines and moving to Hong Kong to adopt my uncle really changed my life's destiny. There is no doubt that my uncle Mr. Cao Yao (see other article Mr. Cao Yao...the great banker known as "Bank Doctor") has truly made me and future generations remember this great selfless gift and the kindness he bestowed upon me. Just sigh: "Sorrows and joys are always ruthless" In mid-April 1956, my father and I took a passenger ship from Iloilo City to Manila and were going to collect the Hong Kong entry visa I had applied for a year ago at the local British Embassy. On the 24th of the same month, the visa (stamped on my passport) came quickly. I got it, but my dad didn’t seem to care about the status of entry into Hong Kong. The Hong Kong entry permit issued by the British Embassy turned out to be a Visitor Visa with a maximum period of residence in Hong Kong of 3 months (see picture). The passport was issued by Carlos Garcia, who was the Philippine Foreign Minister and Vice President at that time. Garcia later took over as President of the Philippines in 1957 when President Magsaysay was killed in a plane accident. (See another article ). Later he was re-elected and became the President of the Philippines. In fact, I went to Hong Kong to settle down. This visa must have been a serious mistake. I don’t know whether my father let it slip intentionally or unintentionally. But it should be noted that at that time, the Philippine government rarely approved nationals to settle or study abroad. Traveling was allowed. This mistake finally caused a serious problem for me 16 years later, and it also reflected the dark side of the Philippine government. Two days after the evidence was collected (April 26), I took the Philippine Airlines to Hong Kong with my father. I was 7 years old. Most of the book covers my 60 years of separation. Fei’s encounters and unforgettable stories after arriving in Hong Kong are like a novel The plot of a real movie. Not inferior to "The Thief of Time" directed by Luo Qirui. Mr. Cao Yao...the great banker known as "Bank Doctor" Mr. Cao Yao, courtesy name Guangzhai, was born in 1906 in Taishan County, Guangdong. His wife is Zheng Huilan (now living in Hong Kong), two thousand gold, the eldest daughter Cao Guo (now living in the United States) and the second daughter Cao Qian (now living in Taiwan. ) In addition to his education in China in his early years, Mr. Cao also studied at the University of the Philippines in Manila. He later returned to Guangzhou to study at Lingnan University, majoring in business economics, graduating in 1929. Mr. Cao was an ardent patriot. In 1925, the 14th year of the Republic of China, Hong Kong and Guangzhou workers, together with students from the Whampoa Military Academy and Lingnan University, responded to the sudden "May 30th Incident in Shanghai" and were dissatisfied with the British government's actions in China. They went on strike and held classes. More than 100,000 people went on strike. Guangzhou East Campus held a denunciation meeting. On June 23, Mr. Cao led a group of students from Lingnan University and other groups to march to the British Consulate in Shamien, Guangzhou for a peaceful protest. Unexpectedly, they were unreasonably attacked with gunfire and force by British soldiers stationed in the consulate. Cao Unfortunately, Mr. Zhang was grazed in the face by a bullet in the hail of bullets, and many students were also injured and killed. This incident set off a nationalist and anti-imperialist movement across the country, and became the famous "Shaki Massacre" in modern history. To commemorate this incident, the Guangzhou government, Set up a monument at the scene of the incident and name this section of road "623 Road" After graduation, Mr. Cao joined the society. He worked diligently and progressively, and soon became popular among the people. Mr. Yang Yongtai, the founder of the "New Fortune" that was very popular in the early years, arranged for him to serve in the banking industry. Soon, Mr. Cao joined China Farmers Bank** (one of the four major note-issuing banks of the National Government), once held senior positions in Shanghai, Hankou, Xiamen, Fuzhou and Yongan branches. **The Agricultural Bank of China is one of the four major banks of bureaucratic capital in old China. Founded on April 1, 1933. Formerly known as the "Farmers Bank of Henan, Hubei, Anhui and Jiangxi Provinces", the head office is located in Hankou and issues "Farmers' Circulation Vouchers", which are limited to circulation in the four provinces of Henan, Hubei, Anhui and Jiangxi. In June 1935, the head office moved to Nanjing and was renamed the Agricultural Bank of China. It issued the Agricultural Bank of China exchange notes. In 1936, it was approved to issue legal tender currency and circulated throughout the country. In July 1937, the "Silian General Office" was established with the Central Bank, Bank of China, and Bank of Communications. By handling agricultural loans and agricultural construction investments, the bank provided funds for landlords and rich farmers to make usury loans, and took advantage of inflation to engage in speculative activities. Company Name: Agricultural Bank of China Foreign name: Farmers Bank of China Date of establishment: 1935 In 1948, China was facing a crisis. Mr. Cao was the manager of the Yongan Branch of the Agricultural Bank of China in Fujian Province at the time. Mr. Cao knew that the communist government would forcefully freeze the funds of Agricultural Bank of China depositors across the country. Mr. Cao transferred the deposits to the Hong Kong Branch of the Agricultural Bank of China in advance to avoid the freeze. At the same time, Mr. Cao used delaying tactics to the government to gradually transfer most of the deposits to Hong Kong. This method of Mr. Cao was indeed adventurous and wise in protecting the property of tens of thousands of customers. After the political situation in China changed, the Nationalist Government in Taiwan They also asked Mr. Cao to hand over the list of depositors in Hong Kong and plan to move the depositors to Taiwan, but Mr. Cao refused. Although Mr. Cao's action offended the two governments, it was highly appreciated by the Hong Kong business community and customers. ( ABC Hong Kong Branch died in 1955 and was merged into Bank of China Hong Kong Branch. Since then, ABC Hong Kong has disappeared from Hong Kong). Mr. Cao and his family settled in Hong Kong in 1949. At that time, the patriotic overseas Chinese Mr. Tan Kah Kee was well aware of Mr. Cao’s talents in handling the “ABC Incident”. The “Fujian Jimei University Alumni Association Fund” he single-handedly managed was also established in Chiyu Bank was opened in Hong Kong (Note 2) Due to political changes, many Fujianese moved their business to Hong Kong from big cities in Fujian Province such as Xiamen, Fuzhou, Yongan, Fuqing and other places. With Cao's banking experience in Fujian and his relationship with Fujianese Due to his deep connections with other people, in 1950, Mr. Tsao was appointed as the general manager of Chiyu Banking Corporation, becoming the only bank serving the "Fujian Bank" in Hong Kong. Mr. Tsao also became a well-known figure in the Fujian business circles at that time. Mr. Tan Kah Kee's family controls the equity of Chiyu Bank through the Jimei Alumni Association Fund. Because of the Bank and the Alumni Association Fund (its roots are in mainland China), after the liberation of China, the Bank of China seeks to unify the system. The Bank of China should have an equity stake in Chiyu Bank. arrangement. Therefore, the Chen family and the Bank of China had a period of entanglement over the equity issue... (The Chen family finally resolved the equity issue with the Bank of China in the early 1980s) Mr. Cao's time at Chiyu Bank was only five years (1950-1955). When he was appointed as the general manager, he had expected that the Chen family's equity would change sooner or later. During the five years, he handled many customers and assisted Customer financing. In 1955, Mr. Zhang Mingtian of Xingma Hua and other Fujianese business people in Southeast Asia planned to open a financial institution with trust business in Hong Kong to serve overseas Chinese. They learned about Mr. Cao's status in the banking industry and his relationship with the Fujianese people and noticed that Chen In order to understand the whereabouts of the family's equity, Mr. Cao was invited to join the board of directors and appointed as the general manager. He planned and prepared the bank and named it "Overseas Trust Bank" (Note 3). With the slogan "Strong Funds and Stable as Mount Tai", the bank opened in May 1955. The business is located on the ground floor of Prince's Building, 5E Ice House Street, Central District, Hong Kong. In order to develop the insurance business at the same time, Mr. Cao also co-founded Asia Insurance (Note 5) with Mr. Chen Bichen, an overseas Chinese from Thailand, and his friend Mr. Huang Xibin (Note 4) The first branch of Overseas Trust Bank was opened in 1960 and was located at 524, Tun Road, Kowloon. Under the steady management of Mr. Cao, Overseas Trust Bank's business developed rapidly and opened branches one after another. Within 20 years, Overseas Trust Bank became the largest Chinese bank in Hong Kong. 1. At that time, the major Chinese banks in Hong Kong included: Guangdong Trust Bank, Hang Seng Bank, K. Wah Bank, Guangdong Bank, Liu Chong Hing Bank and Bank of East Asia'. In order to further expand business and increase management, around 1973 when the Bank of Guangdong was reorganized, Mr. Cao recruited key members of the Bank of Guangdong to join the board of directors of "Haituo" and was determined to acquire financial institutions in Hong Kong. In the banking industry, Mr. Cao is known as the "Banking Student" because of his ability to save a bank that was in crisis and his unique risk management skills that are second to none. In October 1972, "Haituo" was listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. In 1973, "High Trust" planned to acquire the Lam family's Ka Wah Bank (Note 6). Before the acquisition, Mr. Cao served as the general manager of "Jia Yin" and led the "High Trust" audit team to review the accounts. Within six months, Mr. Cao voluntarily gave up his mission, and even suggested to the board of directors of "Haituo" to shelve the acquisition, and predicted that "Jiayin" would be incurable. Subsequently, "Jiayin" was acquired by the Xingjiapo businessman Liu Cansong brothers, and a few years later, it was finally officially Not ending. In 1975, "Haito" jointly established Guolian Finance Co., Ltd. with Japan's Daiwa Bank. Later it was renamed Daiwa Overseas Finance Co., Ltd., with Mr. Cao as chairman. In 1978, "Hai Tuo" acquired the Chinese Bank of China (Note 7) owned by the Zhou Jinnian family, and Mr. Cao became the chairman. At that time, "Hai Tuo" had been handed over to the Bank of Guangdong, and Mr. Huang Changzan was appointed as the managing director. Mr. Cao was promoted to "Hai Tuo". "Trust" Vice Chairman and Supervisor. In 1981, Mr. Cao had to go to Rochester, Minnesota, USA for surgery due to his advanced age and a cardiovascular embolism. Unfortunately, the surgery failed and he passed away at Mayo Clinic on September 10th at the age of 75. The Cao family brought the ashes back to Hong Kong from the United States. The funeral was held at the funeral ceremony in Hong Kong. The first condolence message was sent by Mr. Cao’s close friend Mr. Dong Haoyun. The death of Mr. Cao Yiu was a real loss to the financial sector in Hong Kong. Within two years, the "Yip Chun-ling Foreign Currency Discount" incident and a series of accidents occurred in "Hai Trust" and it finally faced bankruptcy. It was taken over by the Hong Kong government in June 1985. Chinese Bank again Three years after Mr. Cao's death (October 1984), it was sold to the Lippo Group of Indonesian wealthy businessman Li Wenzheng. Sharkey massacre 623 Road, the scars and glory of history Lingnan University Liao Chengzhi, Liao Mengxing Whampoa Military Academy 700 people participated Cao Yao was shot in the right cheek When I stepped onto this street, a heavy sense of history hit me. The name 623 Road may be just a date to many people, but to Guangzhou and China, it represents the awakening of the nation and the courage to fight. Mr. Cao Yao and the group of young students protested loudly outside the British Consulate. Their actions ignited the nationalist sentiments of the Chinese people and also engraved a strong mark on China's modern history. It was not just a protest, it symbolized a counterattack against foreign humiliation, it was a battle to defend dignity! The tragic scene of that year can no longer be found on 623 Road; but looking up at the monument, it seems that one can hear Mr. Cao's determined cry in the smoke and feel that the red blood on his face is still burning for his ideals. A heroic nation will not change because of the passage of time