The Syquia Family of Vigan, Ilocos Sur

The nineteenth century was a turbulent time in China, with several waves of migrations to the developing Asian countries. In 1829, Sy Qui Ah, only twelve years old, left his hometown of Am Thau in Amoy to live with relatives in the Chinese enclave of Binondo, Manila, where he lived and worked for many years as a clerk and salesman. In 1848, he found himself in the old Spanish town of Vigan, a province of Ilocos north of Manila and a major trading port. There he fell in love with Petronila Singson Encarnacion, a member of the Vigan aristocracy. In order to marry her, he was asked to embrace Christianity, so he was baptized and given the Christian name of Vicente Romero Syquia.