🔥History buffs, meet the Wha Chi – a fearless group of Philippine-Chinese youths who turned the jungles of Luzon Island into their battleground in 1942. Far from home, they stood up against Japanese forces, leaving a legacy that still resonates today.🌏
Roots in Fujian & Guangdong
Back in the 1930s, young folks like 16-year-old Wang Hanjie from Jinjiang (Fujian) hopped on boats to the Philippines, chasing work and new lives. Little did they know they'd soon be swapping shop aprons for guerrilla gear!
Letters Across the Sea
With no TikTok or WhatsApp, families relied on qiaopi (overseas Chinese letters & remittances) to stay connected. These handwritten notes 📜 show how deeply overseas Chinese communities supported both home and host nations during the war.
Battles & Sacrifices
Named the "48th Squadron" to honor China's New Fourth Army and Eighth Route Army, Wha Chi grew from 50 members to a fierce force. Between 1942 and 1945, they fought over 260 battles, claimed 2,000+ enemy casualties, and paid the ultimate price – 77 heroes, like 17-year-old Zhuang Guodun, laid down their lives.🕊️
Stamps & Stone
Fast forward to 1992: the Philippine Postal Service issued stamps celebrating Wha Chi's 50th anniversary, cementing their spot in history books. Monuments and citations remind us that friendship was the strongest weapon of all.🏛️
Legacy for the Digital Age
Today, descendants share stories in WhatsApp threads, TikTok shorts, and virtual museum tours, bridging cultures from Cebu to Quanzhou. Their message? Community, courage, and standing up for what's right still matter – whether you're defending freedom or fighting for social justice online.💪
As we honor 80 years since the anti-fascist victory, the Wha Chi story inspires us to build bridges, not walls. Their fight crosses borders and generations, reminding us that true friendship and peace are a collective mission.🤝
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
