Filipino Americans

Filipino Americans are people in the United States who have ancestors from the Philippines. They are an important part of America's history and culture. Filipinos first appeared in North America in the 1500s, but large numbers of Filipinos did not move to the United States until after the Spanish–American War in the late 1800s. This happened when the Philippines became a United States territory.

Today, there are almost 4.5 million Filipino Americans living in the United States. Big communities can be found in places like California, Hawaii, Texas, Nevada, Washington, Florida, Illinois, the New York metropolitan area, and Virginia. Many Filipino Americans have families that include people from more than one racial or ethnic background.

Terminology

The term Filipino American is sometimes shortened to Fil-Am or Pinoy. Another name that has been used is Philippine Americans. The word Pinoy first appeared in a 1926 issue of the Filipino Student Bulletin. Some Filipinos think that the term Pinoy was created by Filipinos who moved to the United States to set themselves apart from Filipinos still living in the Philippines. Starting in 2017, some people in the LGBT+ Filipino-American community began using the term FilipinX, but this new term has been debated among many Filipinos both in the United States and in the Philippines.

Background

Main articles: Demographics of Filipino Americans and History of Filipino Americans

See also: Filipinos in Hawaii, Filipinos in the New York metropolitan area, Filipino Americans in Hampton Roads, and Little Manila

Filipino people were among the first Asians in North America. In 1587, a ship from Mexico stopped near what is now Morro Bay, California. Some Filipinos left the ship and settled in Saint Malo, Spanish Louisiana in 1763. These early settlers helped fight in the Battle of New Orleans during the War of 1812. Later, many Filipinos worked on shrimp farms in places like "Manila Village" in Louisiana.

Big waves of Filipino immigration began in the early 1900s after the 1898 Treaty of Paris, when the Philippines became a part of the United States. Many came looking for better jobs to support their families back home. After the Philippines became independent in 1946, more Filipinos came to the United States. By 2010, there were about 3.4 million Filipino Americans, making them one of the largest Asian groups in the country. Today, many live in states like California, Florida, Texas, and Hawaii.

Demographics

See also: Demographics of Filipino Americans

Filipino Americans have many different family names. Some come from the Philippines, like Bacdayan or Macapagal. Others have names from places like Japan, India, or China because of old trade ties. Many Filipinos also have Spanish-sounding names because of Spain's long rule in the Philippines. They often celebrate special holidays called fiestas.

Even though Filipinos are from Asia, some are called "Latinos" because of history with Spain. Not everyone agrees with this, and some Filipinos feel more connected to being Asian. In surveys, most Filipino Americans say they are Asian, but a small number say they are like Latinos or even Pacific Islanders.

Language

Filipino and English are both official languages in the Philippines. Many Filipino Americans speak English well, especially those born in the United States. Tagalog, a Filipino language, is popular in places like California, Nevada, and Washington. Some schools teach Tagalog, and many public announcements in California are in Tagalog. Other Filipino languages like Ilocano and Cebuano are also spoken, but younger generations often lose touch with these languages.

Religion

Religious Makeup of Filipino-Americans (2012)

1. Catholicism (65.0%)
2. Evangelical Protestant (12.0%)
3. Mainline Protestant (9.00%)
4. Unaffiliated (8.00%)
5. Other Christian (3.00%)
6. Buddhism (1.00%)
7. Other (2.00%)

Most Filipino Americans are Catholic, a tradition that started when Spain brought Christianity to the Philippines. Other groups include different kinds of Protestants, small numbers of Buddhists, and people with no specific religion. Catholic churches in the United States have special services for Filipino communities.

Politics

Filipino Americans have different political views. In early elections, they often supported Republican leaders like George W. Bush. But by 2008, most began voting for Democratic leaders like Barack Obama. Recent surveys show mixed opinions, with many supporting Democratic ideas but some still preferring Republican views. Filipino Americans have been elected to important jobs, like governors and members of Congress, showing growing influence in American politics.

Socioeconomic demographics

Filipino Americans are mostly middle class, with about 62% of their households earning middle-income levels. However, they are less likely to be in the upper-income group compared to other Asian groups in the United States. Many Filipino Americans work in healthcare, and a large number are registered nurses. They also work in the public sector and service industries.

Filipino American families often live together in larger homes, and many have several people working to support the household. Some Filipino Americans have moved back to the Philippines because the cost of living is lower there. Others have moved from places like Hawaii and California to Nevada due to rising housing costs.

Filipino Americans have started many businesses across the United States, especially in retail and healthcare. They also send a lot of money each year to support family and friends in the Philippines.

Average hourly wages for full-time, year-round workers in 2019

Culture

The history of Spanish and American rule, along with contact with merchants and traders, created a unique mix of Eastern and Western cultures in the Philippines. Filipino-American culture is described as flexible, taking ideas from many different places. Fashion, dance, music, theater, and arts all help build Filipino-American cultural identities and communities.

Filipino Americans often create social groups to feel like a family, which is very important in Filipino culture. These groups plan events and share news. They also form neighborhoods, especially in California and Hawaii, with areas known as "Little Manilas" for Filipino-Americans. When visiting a Filipino home, you should leave your shoes at the front and greet everyone politely.

Because of history, the Philippines and the United States share cultural ties. In 2016, there was $16.5 billion worth of trade between the two countries. Many Filipino Americans travel back to the Philippines and often bring special boxes of gifts called balikbayan boxes.

Cuisine

Main articles: Filipino cuisine and Filipino-American cuisine

Filipino restaurants are not as common as other types of restaurants, even in places with many Filipino Americans. This is because running a restaurant is not a main source of income for the community. Filipino cuisine is a mix of many influences, with popular dishes like pancit having roots from Hokkien, adobo from Spain and Mexico, and sauces like bagoong and patis from Malay origins.

Some Filipino-American chefs work in fine dining restaurants, but many do not serve Filipino food. In recent years, there has been growing interest in Filipino-American cuisine, with some restaurants receiving attention for their unique dishes. However, Filipino cuisine is still not well known in the United States.

Family

Filipino Americans balance their own identities with both Filipino and American cultures. A strong sense of connection to family, known as kapwa, is important. This often leads to a feeling of needing to help family members, which can create pressure to choose careers that support the family, even if they are not what the person truly wants. Despite these challenges, family support also helps Filipino Americans stay strong and resilient.

Media

Filipino Americans have been publishing books and newspapers in the United States since the late 1800s. One of the earliest Filipino-American newspapers was the Philippine Independent in Salinas, California, starting in 1921. In 1961, the Philippine News was started by Alex Esclamado and became the largest English-language Filipino newspaper. Today, Filipino Americans can watch television programs from the Philippines through channels like GMA Pinoy TV and The Filipino Channel.

Community issues

See also: Anti-Filipino sentiment § United States, and Philippines–United States relations

Immigration

See also: Multiple citizenship

In 2003, a law allowed Filipino Americans to have citizenship in both the United States and the Philippines. By 2005, about 6,000 people had become dual citizens. This law let them buy land in the Philippines, vote in Philippine elections, retire there, and show their support for the Philippine flag.

Many Filipinos have come to the United States since 1979, with over 40,000 arriving each year. Some family members face long waits to join their relatives in the U.S. because of visa rules.

Illegal immigration

See also: Illegal immigration to the United States and Illegal immigration among Asian Americans

Some Filipinos have lived in the United States without official permission. In 2009, about 270,000 Filipinos were in this situation, and by 2017, this number grew to 310,000.

Health

Main article: Mental health of Filipino Americans

See also: Health of Filipino Americans

Filipino Americans often face health challenges like diabetes and high blood pressure. They also sometimes struggle with getting enough food, especially in Hawaii.

Identity

Main article: List of ethnic slurs § F

See also: Hyphenated American

Filipino Americans sometimes feel misunderstood by others. They may be mistaken for people from other backgrounds, which can lead to unfair treatment. Some Filipino Americans feel they don’t fully belong to either their heritage or American culture. This can make it hard for them to feel proud of who they are.

In the past, Filipinos were considered American but faced unfair treatment. Today, many Filipino Americans work hard to keep their culture alive, even in schools and communities.

Veterans

See also: Filipino Veterans Fairness Act, 1st Filipino Infantry Regiment, and 2nd Filipino Infantry Regiment

During World War II, many Filipinos served in the U.S. military. The U.S. government promised them benefits, but later took these away. For many years, these veterans fought for the benefits they were promised. In 2017, they were finally honored with a special award.

Holidays

Congress created Asian Pacific American Heritage Month in May to honor Filipino American and other Asian American cultures. Because Filipino Americans are the largest Asian American group in California, October was made Filipino American History Month. This celebrates the first time Filipinos arrived in Morro Bay, California, on October 18, 1587. Many Filipino Americans enjoy these months with special events and traditions.

Notable people

For a more comprehensive list, see List of Filipino Americans.