Other Chambers of Commerce - Philippine Chinese General Chamber of Commerce (Krivenko Case)
Media
Part of The American Chamber of Commerce Journal
- Title
- Other Chambers of Commerce - Philippine Chinese General Chamber of Commerce (Krivenko Case)
- Language
- English
- Source
- The American Chamber of Commerce Journal Volume XXIV (Issue No.5) May 1948
- Year
- 1948
- Rights
-
- Fulltext
- 178 AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE JOURNAL May, 1948 ★ LUZON STEVEDORING COMPANY, INC. MANILA ♦ COST OF LIVING INDEX OF WAGE EARNER’S FAMILY1 IN MANILA BY MONTH, 1946-48 (1941 = 100) By the Bureau of the Census and Statistics 1946 All Items (59°5) House Rent (8.43) Cloth ing (0.62) Fuel, Light and Water (13.94) Miscel laneous (17.86) ing Power of a Peso January... 603.4 759.2 236.4 984.0 363 8 434.8 .1657 February.. 547.2 656.3 236 4 940.:3 369 5 460.5 .1827 March.. . . 525.9 631.0 236 4 940.:L 340.4 445.2 .1902 April......... 556 2 684.1 236.4 9io.:3 345.5 435 9 .1798 May....... 545.1 675.6 236.4 762.15 342 3 409.6 .1835 June.......... 538.7 666.4 236 4 737!) 343 3 404.2 .1856 July........... 552.7 704 3 236 4 598!) 341.3 364.6 .1809 August. . . 477.9 590 0 236.4 384/7 320 9 346.3 .2092 September 477.9 591.3 236.4 378/7 314.5 347.2 .2092 October... 487.4 587.2 236 4 382.:7 405.8 342.7 .2052 November. 484 8 607 8 236 4 406 J1 346 5 305.2 .2063 December. 461.9 570 8 236.4 371 !J 344.7 302 1 .2165 19472 (100.00) (63 .43) (11.96) (2.04) (7 73) (14.84) January... 426.2 468.2 453.9 381.® 326 2 282 5 .2346 February.. 418.5 454 9 453 9 356 :2 344 8 281.4 .2389 March.. . . 406 8 440.1 453 9 295 I2 334.7 279.4 .2458 April......... 387.7 413 3 453 9 269.:2 328.9 271.6 .2579 May.......... 381.0 404.4 453.9 250.!) 325 4 269.4 .2625 June.......... 386 3 414 4 453.9 236 .13 316 6 268.6 .2589 July........... 393 4 426 8 453 9 217.:7 309 3 269.9 .2542 August. . . 387 4 419 8 453 9 210.:i 292.0 269.1 .2581 September 368 9 392 1 453 9 216.4 283 3 266.8 .2711 October... 358.7 376 3 453 9 212.: 280.5 267.7 .2788 November. 358.4 376 3 453 9 215 1L .280 5 265 3 .2790 December. 371.9 395 8 453 9 219 1I 298.2 262 9 .2689 1948 January .. 391.2 428 3 453.9 224. J 304 6 249 9 .2556 February.. 368 5 392 0 453 9 223.13 301 1 254.4 .2714 March.. . . 349 4 361 0 453.9 214.( 308 1 255.9 .2862 April......... 356.1 374.1 453.9 209 4 289.7 254.8 .2808 ARE NEW LINES GOING UP? “YESEREE” And So Is The Cost of Constructing Them! Though material shortages still exist, and COSTS CONTINUE TO RISE, we are doing everything in our power to bring ELECTRIC LIVING to as many families as possible......... “LIVE ELECTRICALLY AND ENJOY THE DIFFERENCE” MANILA ELECTRIC CO. 134 San Marcelino 1 Average number of persons in a family = 4.9 members. 2 Revised in accordance with the new survey of the “Levels of Living, in Manila” by the Department of Labor and the Bureau of The Census and Statistics conducted in December, 1946. The following weights were used in computing the “over-all” index: Foodstuffs — 63.43; House rent — 11.96; Clothing — 2.04; Fuel-light-water — 7.73 and Miscellaneous — 14.84. Other Chambers of Commerce Philippine Chinese General Chamber of Commerce WHEN the Philippine Supreme Court rendered its deci sion in the celebrated Krivenko case, about 200,000 alien nationals in this country suddenly found them selves the personification of the mythical character “Wandering Jew”, with no anchor to the earth, to borrow a phrase from a local realtor’s slogan. To say that the verdict was a blow to them, is putting it only mildly, for the effect of the decision is much more catastrophic than the average Filipino supposes it to be. At the outset, it must be made clear that the bulk of the alien land holdings was acquired before there was a Philippine constitution at all, hence there was no law vio lated. The Chinese who are among the alien minorities severely hit by the verdict, acquired their holdings in good faith. That can also be said of the action of government officials throughout the Philippines when they accepted the registration of the properties. As background, I cite the latest official statistics (Bu reau of the Census and Statistics 1939) which reveal that the size and value of landholdings of aliens, by nationalities, including corporations, stood thus at that time: May, 1948 AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE JOURNAL 179 No. of Parcels Area in Hectares Assessed Value Americans.............. . . . . 12,035 185,961 P105.261.940 Spanish.................... 3,394 110,074 70,759,790 Chinese.................... 17,809 65,126 57,036,690 Japanese................. . . . . 1,033 64,524 21,256,830 English.................... 424 2,995 10,087,570 Some other foreign nationals also had landholdings in the Philippines. Most of the lots registered by Chinese are owned by individuals. Parcels owned by Chinese individuals num bered 16,592, with a total area of 57,630 hectares, and were valued at ?40,803,000. Private estimates of present-day holdings of Chinese nationals who will be affected by the Supreme Court deci sion, place the total area at 80,000 hectares, with a valueof around P20,000,000 to P40,000,000. In the light of these statistics, and under existing laws, I see no reason for the Filipinos to be alarmed, especially as regards Chinese landholdings. The lands registered by Chinese nationals hardly constitute 0.5 of 1% of the total arable lands in thp Philippines. There is no form of alien investment more reassuring than that in land, because it is immovable property and the foreigner cannot carry it with him. History has shown, too, that the aliens who own land in the Islands tend to become naturalized citizens. In fact, second-generation Chinese are virtually Filipino citizens, with no desire to go elsewhere. Prominent Filipino families whiJrh only a generation ago were Chinese are the Cojuangcos, Limjaps, Suntays, Syquias Tans, Yangcos, and Teehankees, to mention just a few. The grandparents of these families were pure Chinese immigrants! Today, they are no longer aliens, and their properties cannot be considered anymore as belonging to aliens. Ij seems an unsound foreign policy for the Republic of the Philippines to deny rights and privileges to aliens whose own countries do not prohibit Filipinos exercising them when they live there. Chinese laws do not prohibit aliens from owing lands in China. Neither do United States laws. In fact, there is one prominent Filipino family which owns lands and apartment houses in Kowloon, China. The principle of reciprocity is always a sound one. In line with this principle is the present great urge to universal brotherhood and the practical application of the One-World ideal. This can be achieved by eliminating in word and in deed all barriers to racial equality. To give equal opportunity to all to live, will mean a great stride forward in the direction of universal contentment and unity. It is the opinion of Filipino economists that if all the arable lands in the Philippines were placed under cultiva tion, this country could produce enough food for a popula tion of 57,000,000, that is, a population three times as large as at present. Aliens are contributing to the economic development of this country without causing any detriment to the national interests, and under proper encouragement, they would expand their investments for the country’s good. There is not enough available capital to absorb the present landholdings of aliens. If these holdings were pur chased or confiscated by the Government, the action would inevitably boomerang. Revenues would fall, production would lag, and capital invested in profitable industries would be withdrawn. Real-estate values would drop because only Filipinos and Americans would be allowed to invest in real estate. Capital would seek investment fields in other countries, to the detriment of the Filipinos who are trying to draw foreign capital here. Y^ang Sepeng, Executive Secretary The Best Service Costs Less at your FORD Dealers MANILA TRADING & SUPPLY CO. PORT AREA MANILA * * * Your advertisement in this JOURNAL goes straight to the desks of the country’s leading executives ¥ * ¥
- pages
- 178-179