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I’m a filipino who moved in California this year after living in the Philippines for more than 2 decades. I just wanna know how do you americans see us in general? So that I would know what to expect in public and not be that surprised. Good or bad point of views, i wanna hear it. Thank you.
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Lots of Filipino Americans here. One of the larger immigrant groups. Which makes sense considering how close our history has been for the last hundred or so years. California in particular has a large Filipino population. I can't think of any stereotypes at all aside from how many Filipina nurses there are. You really shouldn't have any issues.
Grew up around them Filipino culture and food feels like home and it’s one of the things I miss whenever I leave California
Literally family.
Lots of Filipinos where I grew up in So Cal. Most of them had something to do with the military. Seemed fine for the most part, a little cliquish (only really hanging around other Filipinos).
I’m from California so I grew up around Filipinos. My dad’s first wife before my mom was actually Filipino, from San Francisco. She taught him a chicken adobo recipe that he cooks all the time, I cut my teeth on that. I grew up near Daly City which is known as one of the most Pinoy cities in America. Had Filipino friends and classmates growing up. You see Philippines flags around the Bay Area. In high school my mom broke both her legs and had to get a live in caregiver. For whatever reason, Filipinos are very prevalent in the healthcare industry (and many Filipinos also work at the SF airport for some reason). Naturally, the woman we hired to help out with my mom’s injury was Filipino. For two months I ate pansit everyday, and loved it but kind of got tired of it after a while haha. The house always smelled like Filipino food which was good though. She also made lumpia and her version of chicken adobo.
My dad’s side of the family has been living on the Hawaiian island of Molokai for about 120 years, in the agricultural industry. Many of the laborers who went to Molokai in the early 1900’s to work I the pineapple fields were Filipino. There has been a fairly consistent stream of Filipinos coming to Molokai since, and you will also see lots of Filipino flags and bumper stickers there. Differently from Daly City however, where you will hear people speaking Tagalog, on Molokai they are speaking a different language, but I’m not sure which one. I believe a lot of the people there are from a southern Filipino island, where it seems like in California has many people from Luzon. Also I should add that theres a Filipino restaurant there where I’ve eaten pig intestine. It was really good at first until it started cooling off. Then the bloody taste got to be a little much for me.
So that’s my anecdotal relationship with Filipinos, but what do I think of you guys? I think you guys are awesome! I love the culture and the food and the Filipino sense of humor. The more I learn about the Philippines the more fascinated I am. How there are so many islands and so many different languages there. The variety in cultures across the chain of islands is probably really amazing and I’m always looking to learn more. Peace!
Hawaii is like 90% ilocano, not southern but spoken in northern luzon,
That’s it! I was thinking Ilocano but I wasn’t sure if that was right and didn’t know where in the Philippines it was spoken
Human person from not America comes to America. I have no opinion, as the vast majority will. Don't worry or stress about it. If someone has an opinion on this, they're an asshole. You do you and I hope you like it here.
As a korean american, I never had issues with filipinos/Filipino american. Ones I met were pretty nice and chill.
I don't know what stereotypes exist. In grad school I dated a filipina woman for about six months and she was no different from anybody (we're all unique in some ways). During that time I learned a few words in Tagalog (which I've since forgotten). No issues that I'm aware of.
We don’t
We don't really have many Filipino immigrants in CO, but I love all immigrants who improve this country.
Some of my cousins are Filipino and same with some of my friends. Never had a problem with any Filipino person but if I did, I'd look well past it for some Lumpia.
“Welcome to the U.S.A. fellow American.” :)
Why do we spell the country name with a PH and then change it to F when we want to refer to the people living there? It just doesn’t make any sense to suddenly change the spelling in my opinion. That’s about all the problems I have with the country and people of the Philippines.
English speakers have no business criticizing anyone's spelling eccentricities LOL.
No issues with your people, but from what I understand, your president / King / ruler is batshit crazy
We're confused as to whether they are Asians or Latinos :D
There's quite a few Filipinos around, especially on the West Coast. I used to go to a great lumpia place in the south end, and I know a number of Filipinos, as well as Marshallese and what not.
It depends on the region. You will definitely run into racism more in Southern states. Cali is the most liberal state we have. I am not filipino but I know people that are and they're super nice.
Did you have to throw entire states under the bus?
As far as hatful racism goes… You’re probably more likely to get that from someone thinking you’re from another country entirely. It’s not likely to be an everyday issue, especially in SoCal - unless you get really unlucky with your neighbors. But don’t be too surprised when one day someone dumbfuck thinks you’re from China or Mexico or “The Middle East” and is rude about it. The racists tend to lump all brown people in as whoever they are most mad at currently.
Among people who actually know something about your actual home country, you may encounter people with a poor opinion of Duterte. Also some assumptions that you are strongly Catholic and superstitious. But also that you are very friendly and eager to help. I know my personal impression of people I have met from your country is very are extra nice that way, maybe to a fault and get taken advantage of. Don’t be afraid to put up boundaries if you ever feel people are asking too much.
Also if you’re a woman that you’re going to be what some might consider overly maternal - like being “nice” but in a “pushy” way. What’s considered normal “advice” or “observations” in SE Asian cultures can be taken as overbearing or even bullying here. If you’re a guy, they might have concerns that you don’t respect women as your equal as much as we do here. Or that you are lazy and will expect women to do everything for you.
In dating there could be concerns that you are mostly after that US citizenship. Or their money to send to your family back in PI.
In general our cultures have been mixing peacefully for many decades. Welcome and I hope you enjoy it here! Culture shock is tough no matter what. Remember to practice self care. Also lumpia is the way to our hearts. :)