19/03/2026
Lao Happick- Salvador Family
JORGE LAO HAPPICK was a chinese migrant to the Philippines driven by economic opportunity who escaped political turmoil in Fujian Province, China. He was part of a surge in early 20th- century immigration of Chinese in Binondo, Manila who became central to Philippine economy working as merchants, in construction, and trading sectors. In the late 1950's, he was able to acquire a logging concession in Zambales where he assigned his eldest (adopted) son, MARCIANO "LAO" SALVADOR Sr. to handle and manage the operations. He was quite well- established in the Philippine timber trade, supplying significant sawmills and lumber firms in Manila.
But upon the declaration of martial law in 1972, Happick's logging concession ceased its operation. During that time, "the Marcos regime monopolized the logging industry granting huge concessions to senior military officials, political allies and relatives", characterized as a "power from the forest" era, where forest resources were used to secure political loyalty. Rampant corruption allowed overexploitation of our forest resources.
Eventually, Marciano Sr. decided to sell his heavy- duty logging trucks and cranes leaving just two of his six by six trucks. Marciano Sr. used these trucks for his gravel and sand hauling business in the succeeding years.
Life then was difficult and in 1977, upon the encouragement of their friends, Marciano and his wife Azucena opened up Mars restaurant at the ground floor of their rented house in Iba. With just six tables to start with and one waitress to assist the customers, they were able to establish a significant restaurant that often brought people together, serving as a gathering spot for different generations and a repository of local stories. It was also the following year that they were able to purchase the house and lot they were renting from the Dimaanos. While daily operations seemed fine through the years that followed, the family decided to sell the property to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Mormons) in 2010. Mars Restaurant became part of the local history, leaving behind a "gone but never forgotten" status within the community.
Sources:
-Early 20th Century Chinese Filipinos; Google
-Philippine Logging Industry During Martial Law; Wikipedia
-Photos and personal narratives courtesy of the Salvador family members
Article by: DenSdeCastro
