User:Victorychu/sandbox

Michael Chu, Sr. (朱天健, 1922-2012)

USA Years
On the 13 March 2012, Michael Chu Sr. died peacefully in his sleep in Chicago, USA. He was 89 years old.

He is survived by his children, Michael, John, Victor, Peter, Josephine and Ann.

The thoughts of XS Class ‘66 members are with you. Our deep condolences to all of you on the passing of your father, Michael Chu Sr.

He emigrated to the USA through the sponsorship of his children under the “Family Reunion Immigration Act” nearly 2 years ago.

At times, he lived in San Jose, San Diego, and Chicago with the different members of his family.

He was born on October 14,1922 in Zhejiang Province, China. At aged 19, he enrolled into the Jesuit Novitiate in Shanghai. During 1949 in China, after the Fall of Nationalist Government to the Communist Government, the missionaries were expelled and the Jesuits were not spared. The logical choice for refuge was the Philippines because Taiwan was perceived as most unstable. It was through the Superior of the Jesuit Philippine mission, Fr. Leo A Cullum, who pulled strings and asked for favors to obtain a special permit from then President Quirino to allow the hundreds of seminarians, young Jesuits scholastics, and old missionaries to enter the Philippines as refugees.

The rest is history… Thus, the birth of an educating establishment known as Kuang Chi Chinese School with the mainland Chinese educators as the main work force. To act as pioneer in starting a Chinese Education Center, many an obstacle had to be overcome to get recognition and support from the Chinese community on top of government red tapes. Michael Chu had to fight vigorously against the Chinese Schools Association and the Chinese Embassy to get recognition and grant diplomas for the graduates of Kuang Chi High School. It was a win-win situation for the Chinese community and the Jesuits who fulfilled their main goals as educators.

We, as alumni of Xavier School (name changed), San Juan, Philippines look back to past years in reminiscing the past occasions and encounters we had with Michael Chu who headed the then Kuang Chi School (光啟中學), a Chinese school in Echague, Manila as PRINCIPAL of the school from April 1957 to Sept 1959.

He played a successful and significant role as a catalyst in the recruitment of Chinese students for Kuang Chi School. Tuition fees discounts for a bigger number of enrollments from the one family. He personally interviewed the students for assessments to be admitted to Kuang Chi. He was willing to give a chance to students who didn’t meet the Admissions Barometer. NON-Catholics weren’t barred from a Jesuit education in Kuang Chi School. Religion was one of the school subjects and the catechism was taught but attendance to church and mass and other Catholic rituals were not compulsory for non-Catholics. He was a great educator who believed in the 1950’s ‘old school’ style of disciplinary rules.

玉不琢不成器 ! TO AN EDUCATOR: A PIECE OF JADE STONE NEEDS CHIPPING (CARVING) TO BE AN objet d’art

He was caring, passionate, educating, and disciplined. As principal, he was selfless, supportive, and full of encouragements to the students who didn’t fit the mold. He, together with his staff, chipped and shaped the students to be better academically, spiritually, and as citizens in our society. He instilled the virtue of filial piety amongst the student by showing an example of it. Principal Michael Chu touched the lives of many students. There was this occasion he personally brought a student who suffered from appendicitis for medical procedures in Singian Medical Clinic. Remembering one classmate passed away (Simon Lim Hong), Michael Chu took the time to attend the wake. At age 87, he went to pay his last respect to the deceased mother of a fellow classmate.

Then again, mind you, when one crossed the line and discipline was in order, he didn’t hesitate to give a few heavy strokes of a wooden ruler to the hand as the punitive measure to the erring students. "Spare the Rod, Spoil the Brat" was the norm for disciplinary measures in those days as compared to the modern system. I was a recipient of such punishment and was brought into line. In hindsight, I certainly deserved it.

He certainly was an epochal principal of Kuang Chi School who left an unforgettable imprint to fellow students, colleagues, and staff. When he was working at Visayan Glass in Cebu, he helped his former students to remember the eternal relationship between a teacher and student. He donated all his books to a nearby school so that some others could benefit from them.

A former teacher also mentioned, “He also blessed many people's lives as he positively influenced many students and people throughout his many years of service at Xavier and in the name of God. And as we Chinese believe, he must have done a lot of good deeds in his lifetime to merit such a peaceful path to Heaven.”

Michael Chu, Sr., a remarkable person, an accomplished man in his own right, and with an abiding commitment to EDUCATION, reflecting his own professional training, as well as a tireless advocate for personal betterment in character building and academic achievements to both students and teachers alike.

Michael Chu, Sr., a great educator, a good father to the family, and a good Christian.

May He Rest In Peace!

Information found in “ Luceat Lux”.

Contributors of materials: Mrs Rufina Chong, Atty Juanito King, Dr. Reynaldo Joyson, Mr.Robert Cua, and yours truly, Tony Lo.