This article outlines the formation process of the earliest known “China Town” called Miton in the 16th century Philippines under the Spanish colonial rule, offering a picture of its residents. Miton, located in the suburb of the City of Manila, was called “
pueblo de los chinos,” a Spanish phrase which literally means “town of the Chinese”. During the Spanish colonial period,
pueblo constituted part of the basic societal structure at both civil and ecclesiastical levels. In a strict sense, a place with an established church was recognized as a
pueblo, or an administrative unit entailing civil and religious control. Chinese communities at that time shared the same fundamental structure. Through the construction of a church and monastery under the license and direction of the Spanish Governor of the Philippines, the Augustinians intentionally created the Chinese
pueblo, Miton. For the Augustinians Miton was a place to congregate the Chinese for their religious conversion and evangelization. At the same time, it was a basic unit for judiciary and administration at the civil level. Chinese inhabitants of Miton were engaged not only in commerce but also in various kinds of artisanal handicrafts. Importantly, Miton had already wealthy Chinese residents who performed leadership roles. Following Miton, several other Chinese
pueblos were created in the process of integration of the Chinese society under the Spanish rule, and such Chinese societies had self-governing organizations within, in parallel with the
pueblos of the natives.
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