Why are Filipinos not considered Asian?

[aka Cthulhu]

A bit of background on this:
officialfan.proboards.com/thread/463911/concern-mine

Concerning the thread title, it was a question that was asked to me before. To be honest, at first I was a bit confused by the question, but as I thought about things, I felt there was some sort of validity to it. I mean, look at me. I'm writing in English, and often times I have been complimented by my grasp of the language, and in some cases assumed that I was American and not Filipino.

In the end, there is a hurtful truth to this question. A colonial mentality of sorts, seen in many Filipinos. So many of us, me included, are heavily influenced by cultures outside of the country. Whether it's the books I read or the mannerisms I employ, there is a slight flavor of the English language to it, and all sorts of foreign countries.

I try to find my connection with my culture, and I have a hard time finding a solid spot to make one. From an early age, our culture has been influenced elsewhere. We were barely a nation when Spain colonized us, bringing forth their culture to ours. And when that age came America came along and gave us theirs to strive for. Today, English is a second language to many, and more or less a requirement if you want to work abroad, whatever job it is. You could say that it is a status symbol here as well; characters in national TV here who speak English are often rich, or very educated. Something to strive for, mayhaps? I don't know.

It's hard to say or find what truly belongs to our cultural heritage, when we have 500 years of a different nation influencing us. Like I said, we were barely a nation during Spanish colonial rule, and so our cultural roots got lost in the mix one way or another. It has often been noted that the Philippines is a melting pot of cultures; and if you look at it in a different way you can say that our own culture did too much melting.

I don't know how to really feel about this whole thing. There's still far too much I have to understand, and so much more I have to contemplate. I'm skilled in English, yet sometimes there's a voice telling me that I should be more Filipino. And that makes it harder to understand when I can't find a solid answer on what being more Filipino is.

[Lila]

Same thing with Samoans and Hawaiians; majority don't consider them Asian either.

[Allie Kitsune]

I'm just as guilty, really, or not seeing them that way.

Even the Filipino students, back when I was in high school, came off more as 'Hispanic' than 'Asian' to me.

I'd wager the ones who get hit with "You don't seem Asian to me" hardest, though, are Indians.

[Deleted]

That's very interesting. The Filipinos I talk to at work (calling them from my call center to theirs) Sound American.

But if you really think about it. White people like myself, don't really have a culture. We have african music, latino religions. And Arabic education (well the foundation anyway). With heavy influence from all of them. Currently Asian culture is also heavily influencing white people as well.

What is actually my heritage? Well Celtic and Norse I guess, but who were they? We don't really know. Christianity wiped out most of those cultures and replaced them. We even use Isreali names, David, John, MIchael etc. Celtic names seem to be Versongeterix or something like that.

I find it both funny and sad that every 5 years someone new pops up and claims stonehenge was used for something or other. We have no idea what that pile of rocks was or what it was for. There were also Druid references, but god knows who they were.

So I do see what your saying there. But it seems that the world is moving towards globalization and thus more cultures are going to die out, like ours did. Speaking English gives too many advantages in that it allows you to interact with the global community, while Filipino doesnt.

[Koda, Master Crunchyroller]

Jul 11, 2013 14:04:53 GMT -5 Lila said:

Same thing with Samoans and Hawaiians; majority don't consider them Asian either.

Well yeah, they are Polynesians.

Then again when it comes to the Asian "race" it is pretty hard, imo, to count them as all one race. The people of West Asia, East Asia, Southeast Asia, and the Indian subcontinent all look pretty different to me. Honestly different enough to where they should be their own races.

I mean hell when the majority of people think "Asian", they tend to just think of the people from East Asia(the Chinese, Japanese, and Koreans), and maybe Southeast Asia, anyways......

[Koda, Master Crunchyroller]

Jul 11, 2013 14:16:42 GMT -5 @torgaddon said:

That's very interesting. The Filipinos I talk to at work (calling them from my call center to theirs) Sound American.

But if you really think about it. White people like myself, don't really have a culture. We have african music, latino religions. And Arabic education (well the foundation anyway). With heavy influence from all of them. Currently Asian culture is also heavily influencing white people as well.

What is actually my heritage? Well Celtic and Norse I guess, but who were they? We don't really know. Christianity wiped out most of those cultures and replaced them. We even use Isreali names, David, John, MIchael etc. Celtic names seem to be Versongeterix or something like that.

I find it both funny and sad that every 5 years someone new pops up and claims stonehenge was used for something or other. We have no idea what that pile of rocks was or what it was for. There were also Druid references, but god knows who they were.

So I do see what your saying there. But it seems that the world is moving towards globalization and thus more cultures are going to die out, like ours did. Speaking English gives too many advantages in that it allows you to interact with the global community, while Filipino doesnt.

Well said, mate. America also has a similar loss of true identity. But that's thanks to literally damn near every culture coming to the country and adding their own influences.

This is a country settled by the British, French, and Spanish, who even then didn't fully have their culture as they kinda borrowed some things from the native tribes of the Americas(hell potatoes and corn, two key ingredients in a lot of European dishes, came from the Americas), not to mention the Southwest was owned by Mexico long enough to where the culture still has a profound effect on the region.

[Drillbit Taylor]

Jul 11, 2013 14:24:54 GMT -5 Koda, Master Crunchyroller said:

Jul 11, 2013 14:16:42 GMT -5 @torgaddon said:

That's very interesting. The Filipinos I talk to at work (calling them from my call center to theirs) Sound American.

But if you really think about it. White people like myself, don't really have a culture. We have african music, latino religions. And Arabic education (well the foundation anyway). With heavy influence from all of them. Currently Asian culture is also heavily influencing white people as well.

What is actually my heritage? Well Celtic and Norse I guess, but who were they? We don't really know. Christianity wiped out most of those cultures and replaced them. We even use Isreali names, David, John, MIchael etc. Celtic names seem to be Versongeterix or something like that.

I find it both funny and sad that every 5 years someone new pops up and claims stonehenge was used for something or other. We have no idea what that pile of rocks was or what it was for. There were also Druid references, but god knows who they were.

So I do see what your saying there. But it seems that the world is moving towards globalization and thus more cultures are going to die out, like ours did. Speaking English gives too many advantages in that it allows you to interact with the global community, while Filipino doesnt.

Well said, mate. America also has a similar loss of true identity. But that's thanks to literally damn near every culture coming to the country and adding their own influences.

This is a country settled by the British, French, and Spanish, who even then didn't fully have their culture as they kinda borrowed some things from the native tribes of the Americas(hell potatoes and corn, two key ingredients in a lot of European dishes, came from the Americas), not to mention the Southwest was owned by Mexico long enough to where the culture still has a profound effect on the region.

Southwest was only Mexican for 36 years, 25 if you are talking Texas and its holdings. Thats not that long. Spain, yes. But Mexico, not really that long.

[Lila]

Jul 11, 2013 14:17:44 GMT -5 Koda, Master Crunchyroller said:

Jul 11, 2013 14:04:53 GMT -5 Lila said:

Same thing with Samoans and Hawaiians; majority don't consider them Asian either.

Well yeah, they are Polynesians.

Then again when it comes to the Asian "race" it is pretty hard, imo, to count them as all one race. The people of West Asia, East Asia, Southeast Asia, and the Indian subcontinent all look pretty different to me. Honestly different enough to where they should be their own races.

I mean hell when the majority of people think "Asian", they tend to just think of the people from East Asia(the Chinese, Japanese, and Koreans), and maybe Southeast Asia, anyways......

Which are a branch of the Asian race.

[Koda, Master Crunchyroller]

Jul 11, 2013 14:31:11 GMT -5 Drillbit Taylor said:

Jul 11, 2013 14:24:54 GMT -5 Koda, Master Crunchyroller said:

Well said, mate. America also has a similar loss of true identity. But that's thanks to literally damn near every culture coming to the country and adding their own influences.

This is a country settled by the British, French, and Spanish, who even then didn't fully have their culture as they kinda borrowed some things from the native tribes of the Americas(hell potatoes and corn, two key ingredients in a lot of European dishes, came from the Americas), not to mention the Southwest was owned by Mexico long enough to where the culture still has a profound effect on the region.

Southwest was only Mexican for 36 years, 25 if you are talking Texas and its holdings. Thats not that long. Spain, yes. But Mexico, not really that long.

Spain/Mexico, was there really that much of a difference back then?

[Drillbit Taylor]

Jul 11, 2013 14:40:45 GMT -5 Koda, Master Crunchyroller said:

Jul 11, 2013 14:31:11 GMT -5 Drillbit Taylor said:

Southwest was only Mexican for 36 years, 25 if you are talking Texas and its holdings. Thats not that long. Spain, yes. But Mexico, not really that long.

Spain/Mexico, was there really that much of a difference back then?

Spainish were more willing to let the Anglo settlers in than the Mexicans. Mexicans put up alot of barriers of entry and laws that went against the way that the Spainish and Americans settling had agreed upon.

[Koda, Master Crunchyroller]

Jul 11, 2013 14:46:15 GMT -5 Drillbit Taylor said:

Jul 11, 2013 14:40:45 GMT -5 Koda, Master Crunchyroller said:

Spain/Mexico, was there really that much of a difference back then?

Spainish were more willing to let the Anglo settlers in than the Mexicans. Mexicans put up alot of barriers of entry and laws that went against the way that the Spainish and Americans settling had agreed upon.

Well I meant more from a cultural stand point than a government policy standpoint.

[Deleted]

They're not? I used to date a Filipina and this is the first that I've heard of such a claim.

[Glitch]

For those in America, calling Filipinos Asians is based on semantics. On paper forms you see the people of the region broken up as either Asians or Pacific Islanders. This probably the main reason Filipino-Americans have the dilemma of whether to call themselves Asians .
The terms Far East Asians and South Pacific Asians also exist, so I use those because it makes both groups Asian.

So yeah, Filipino-Americans probably have a different view than Cthulhu's view on reason.

[Apricots And A Pear Tree]

The better question is why is Filipino spelled with a F and not a P like the country?

[Sam Punk]

People crazy.

[Cela]

What? Of course they are, since when has this been a thing? They're right next to Asia. Of course they're Asian.

[Sc]

I consider the light-skinned Filipinos to be Asian (I'm pretty sure they are of Chinese descent) and the dark-skinned Filipinos to be Pacific Islanders.

[Wolf Hawkfield no1 NZ poster]

Eh I've never heard this before.

Hell most Filipinos I know have told me what pisses them off is how they always get mistaken for being Mexicans.

["I'm Batman..."]

I thought they were Asian. I do fancy the filipinas regardless.

[Arrow]

Perhaps colonialism is the big factor here. After all, the Philippines were a Spanish colony from the 1500s (not sure exactly when, honestly) to 1898, and then an American colony until 1946 (excepting that 1942-1944/45 period where it was a Japanese puppet state). As you said, being a colony under a foreign power allows for that influence to seep through. If the Philippines were "barely a nation" when first colonized by Spain, then it would only make sense to me that there's not much of a national identity outside the cultures of those nations that ruled there.