Comparing Asian Nationalities | Asian American Poll

COMPARING ASIAN NATIONALITIES
(Updated Tuesday, Apr 1, 2008, 05:21:15 PM to reflect the 100 most recent valid responses.)

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WHAT YOU SAY

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AZN Realist,

re: your post of Friday, April 26, 2002 at 10:10:06 (PDT)

Unfortunately, we didn't just dream up this issue of other Asians not thinking Filipinos are Asian (or other Asians believing that Filipinos don't think we're Asian). My post of a few days back (as "Just Me") listed a few examples I garnered just in the last couple of weeks from this board. If I went back further I bet I would find more.

As far as certain Filipino people saying they are more African or Hispanic than Asian, I have no explanation except that maybe they are kids who hang out with blacks and Hispanics and see their friendships as an extension of their ethnic background. An adult would see a relationship like this for what it is - a cross-cultural friendship. But a kid may come to the conclusion that their ethnic/cultural backgrounds must be similar to their black/hispanic friends. Especially kids who are going through a "Wannabe" phase.

As for Filipinos claiming to be Hispanic, this may be a matter of terminology. There are Filipinos who emphasize their Spanish background (the Spanish mestizos). But this is SPANISH (i.e. from Spain), not Hispanic/Latino. There is a difference. When the term Spanish is used by Filipinos as a national or cultural reference, it refers to things originating in Spain. Hispanic/Latino in general usage refers to things originating from Mexico, Central, and South America. I have never met a Filipino that wanted to be Hispanic. But I have met some that were very proud of their Spanish blood (what very little of it they had!!!). Big difference.

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Chinatown,

I'm not sure why some Filipinos would look down upon other Asians because they possessed Spanish names. That's a little strange. But it might be that by pointing out their Spanish name, they are implying they have Spanish blood, which in colonial days was a very big deal (these people are called Spanish Mestizos in the Philippines). I read an article that stated that most of the political power and large landowners are Spanish Mestizo. The funny thing is, that although a very large percentage of Filipinos have Spanish names, only a very very small percentage have significant amounts of Spanish blood. So if you meet anyone that seems to be overly proud of their Spanish surname/blood, it is because of the much-discussed "Colonial Mentality", where Spanish Mestizos were given political/social/economic benifits that the native population were not given. Therefore, Spanish Mestizos are better than everyone else. This view (that Spanish Mestizos are better than the rest) still prevails in many of the older generation to this day. But I don't believe the younger generations subscribe to this view.

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pinay11,

Whoa, girl, calm down (about the Jose Rizal thing). I think a previous poster mentioned Jose Rizal's Chinese background so that non-Filipinos would realize that there are actually some very significant ties between the Philippines and China. Nobody is disputing that Rizal's heart is pure Filipino (he considered himself to be Filipino, not Chinese). But it is also true that his ethnic background is mixed Malay/Chinese. His ancestors arrived in the Philippines 5 generations before him from the village of Siongque (pronounced "Zhang Guo" in Mandarin) in Losan district, Jinjiang City, Fujian province, and I believe Jose Rizal himself was about 1/2 Chinese, 1/2 Malay. Here is a link to an article that explains this in detail:

http://www.seasite.niu.edu/Tagalog/Tagalog_Default_files/Philippine_national_heroes.htm

MTSO (formerly Just Me) Monday, April 29, 2002 at 00:00:15 (PDT)

Just look at The girls in Bollywood!
They are the best in ASIA. Believe me, im Chinese(Asian), i have seen Chinese girls from Mainland China HK,S'pore,M'sia & Taiwan, they are nothing compared to Bollywood babes
Lim Kwee Sze Sunday, April 28, 2002 at 23:42:15 (PDT)

"How can you compare Jose Rizal to Bruce Lee? That doesnt make any sense to me at all."

Jose Rizal was a product of the overeseas Chinese tradition, and so was Bruce Lee. There is no comparison between these 2 individuals. They are both "Chinese" to other Chinese.

I myself do not regard Jose Rizal as Chinese. But the fact that Jose had a drop of Chinese blood makes him "Chinese" to the Chinese. He spoke many languages including Chinese, and worked in China for a short time, so many Chinese would want to embrace him. However, his fame is really to the Filipinos, and will always be in the hearts of most Filipinos.

There is a book out there called Sons of the Yellow Emperor, which is about the Chinese diaspora, there is a section about famous overseas Chinese people and famous people with some Chinese ancestry, it features people like Bruce Lee, Lee Kuan Yew, and for some strange reason JOSE RIZAL. If Filipinos are upset about the fact that Jose is featured in this book as part of the Chinese tradition, they should write to the author.

"The Spaniards made the Filipinos lazy, the Chinese made the Filipinos pratice illegal trade and gambling, the Japanese made the Filipinos cruel and heartless, and the Americans made them materialistic and arrogant."

I was referring to history of the Philippines, not about the Filipinos in America.

Did you ever read books about your country? Maybe you are so white washed that you only know about the history of Europe and America which was taught in school.

I suggest you read some books about Asian history. Just like any Asian Country, the Philippines was affected by many bad events in the past, and much of it involves heartless foreigners coming to the country and ruining the natives.

I personally do not hate Filipinos, I'm a Chinese and have some Filipino friends. They're always asking me about my recipes of certain Chinese dishes. They seem to love many different types of food.

Unlike other Asians, they are easy going and friendly, unlike the Chinese or Japanese which at times, appear to be cruel and cutthroat. One thing I have learn from the Filipinos, is their patience and their lack of suspicion of others, which are not commonly found in other Asians.

Asian History is important for all Asians Sunday, April 28, 2002 at 19:44:17 (PDT)

Flip tag,
You really don't know much about the history of the Philippiine achipeligo do you?

First, Jose Rizal has some Chinese ancestry. THIS IS AN UNDISPUTABLE FACT. Rizal is not a Malay or Spanish name. It is a Filipinized Chinese name such as Cojuangco, Lacson, or Yuechengco. He also came from a rich family which owned land. In colonial times there weren't many native Malays who owned land unless they were chieftans. The majority of middle class land owners were of mixed Chinese-Malay decent. However, Rizal thought of himself as Filipino and not Chinese.

Second, you fail to understand Mexico's contribution to Philippine culture and history. Ever heard of the Manila galleons? Did you know that the avocado, corn, and camote are not native to the Philippine achipeligo? They were imported from Mexcico during colonial times. You also don't know that the Philippines was ruled from Mexico, NOT SPAIN, until Mexico won their independence. The Philippine independence movement was also inspired and aided by the Mexican revolutionaries in its early stages.

Its also important to note that the words "tiyoy" and "tiyay" are not Malay words. They were borrowed from Nahtul, which is an indigineous Mexican language.

You better do more reading.
The Teedot Sunday, April 28, 2002 at 19:05:44 (PDT)

I am Filipino-American, I came from the 7,000 or so islands of the Philippines.
From rice terraces of Banaue and the picturesque Davao City in Mindanao.
From Metropolis of Manila, the sprawling city of Cebu, the serene Palawan and the white sand beach of Boracay.

My blood is mixed with the proud Malay race, with Spanish conquistadores, with Americans GIs, British merchants, Chinese traders, Indian Sepoys, the native Aetas and Manobos, and countless other bloods. I can not say I belong to all but all belong in me. I am the melting pot.

My forefathers were skilled warriors who knew what is freedom, one named Lapu-lapu, who vanquished an explorer named Magellan, in the battle of Mactan.
They were were skilled seafarers, who up to these days roam the Celebes Sea as fishermen or as traders.They know no boundaries in the southern Philippines.
My Muslim ancestors are up to now never been conquered not even by the mighty soldiers of the U.S. Army.
My grandfathers and their fathers before them fought against and with the Americans. Against them in 1899 to 1902 in what the US history called a The Philippine Insurrection or in another words a rebellion. Filipinos fought the Spaniards and when victory was at hand, the Americans took it from them - so how can they rebel when they have not been ruled by them before. The Filipinos fought with gallantry but how can they fight a well organized and equipped army like the U.S. Cavalry - courage is not enough. The promised of independence was gone, a new colonizers came in after the other. It was estimated that millions died fighting for freedom. And with them during World War II against Japan.
Though it was not their war, they fought on the American side because they were promised independence, besides there's no Filipino who will refuse to fight a good fight.The war totally ruined the country and hundreds of thousands of Filipinos died - and yet 54 US Congressional Medals of Honor have not been awarded up to this date to deserving veterans. Where is the honor there?
I am exploited just like those before me, those who worked in the sugarcane fields and pineapple plantations in the islands of Hawaii, those who worked in fields of California in Delano, in Gilroy, in Salinas and others, those who worked in the canneries of Alaska and Washington states. I worked till my back broke
and yet I get paid less.

I am discriminated just like the other immigrants before me of other race. The
Italians in New York, the Irishmen in Boston, the Polishs in Chicago, the
Chinese in San Francisco, the Japanese in Hawaii and the Mexicans in central
California. Just like me they have dreams - the American dreams. They are no
greater or no less I paid my dues just like them.

I contributed as much to this country just like anybody else. I am the doctors
and nurses that filled up the country's shortage of medical people, I am the
programmers and the technicians in the computer industry and the engineers in the aerospace that helped put the man in the moon, I am the cooks, the stewards and seamen in the US Navy that keep this country safe. I earned my place through hard work just like everybody else.

I been here since 1700s. My forefathers jumped ship to protest Spanish injustice.
Their descendants are still living in the bayous of Louisiana up to this date.
My people have been going to colleges in the US even before other nationalities started coming to learn the American way - the records show at San Diego State University. My people have more college graduates than a lot of other minorities.

And yet I can not seem to know how some of my young generation is not proud of my history and culture. You can not shake it or lost it, you are marked for life.
You have to take what you're dealt with. Just like me, you're Filipino-American. My culture is not perfect and so is theirs, we all have good and bad ways - it's nothing to be ashamed of.
I prefer to be called Filipino American because it is truly my identity. I am not Spanish Filipino-American nor Chinese Filipino-American nor Visayan Filipino American nor Tagalog Filipino-American nor Ilocano Filipino-American nor anything.
I am the sum not the individual.
I am a Filipino American, I can not changed my heritage, it is in my blood in my genes and in my past but I will do everything I can to make a difference.
I will not let others dictate my place in this society nor prejudice deter me from my goals and destiny.
I am Filipino American, that's who am I.

filipino Sunday, April 28, 2002 at 14:32:39 (PDT)

"what are you talking about filipinos have hardly anything in common with mexicans"

True.

"us filipinos are as asian as the chinese"

Not true.

an education for flip tag Sunday, April 28, 2002 at 12:23:27 (PDT)

hola I been looking around the web, came across this site, and checked out some of the boards comparing asian nationalities. Why would I care this you might say? Well my father is filipino but not my biological father. I'm looking through all the posts and noticed many times filipinos getting insulted, bashed, ridiculed, put down, looked down upon by other asians. The main conflict seems to be that other asians claim that filipinos want to be latinos or something. I just laughed at how wrong that claim is. I have many filipinos where i am from, and they are just the coolest people to be with. I've never heard them say they wanted to be hispanic because they certainly dont act hispanic! My father is from Manila, and i've been there too, filipinos and mexicans do have alot in common, way of life, music, culture, all that stuff. I've never heard ONE filipino in my life say they wanted to be latino, hispanic, whaever you guys claim. Just because 1 in a million filipinos says that, doesnt ALL FILIPINOS SAY THAT. How could all 78 million filipinos worldwide say such a thing!? I find that ludicrous. Im just saying this in defense of all the filipinos out there who are being bashed by their fellow asians, I just want to put out my support. Yea, im mexican, often mistaken for being filipino, but i love filipinos. Racism sure sucks. If its against filipinos, koreans, chinese, indians, whatever, you guys need to stop hating on eachother. I'm doing my part, you do yours.
pabloozuna Sunday, April 28, 2002 at 11:26:24 (PDT)

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