Domingo Lamco belonged to the 19th generation of the first Cua family member who settled in Siongque Village. The Sin Cua Chua clan of the world traces its origins to the patriarch Chua Siok-To, who was the fifth son of the founder of the Chou Dynasty Lamco was 35 years old when he was baptized in the Catholic Church in Manila's Parian Chinese ghetto in June 1697. He later moved to Bihan, Laguna, prospered and became a Chinese community leader. To free his heirs from the Spanish regime's anti-Chinese racist policies, Lamco gave his clan the new surname "Mercado" (meaning "market" in Spanish), perhaps to remind his heirs of their merchant roots Lamco married Inez de la Roza, daughter of another successful immigrant trader from Quanzhou (pronounced "Chuanchow") named Agustin Chinco. Their son Francisco Mercado and grandson Juan Mercado both married Chinese mestizas and both served as Mayors of Binan. Juan Mercado's branch moved to Calamba, Laguna, and his grandson was Jose Rizal. The national hero used a different surname before entering Manila's Ateneo de Manila, to avoid Spanish persecution since his elder brother Paciano Mercado was close to martyred Filipino priest Father Jose Burgos.

Dr. Jose Rizal is not just the national hero of the Philippines, not just the source of pride of the rugged Fujian province in South China where majority of the Filipino Chinese community members trace their roots, but he is a great inspiration for all of Asia. The remarkable genius, fervent commitment to freedom and life of excellence of Dr. Jose Rizal make him a true Asian hero for all ages.