Coming from Hawaii, I can assure you that I was sheltered when it comes to the subject of race. Little did I know that I would receive many insensitive questions, such as those mentioned below. Not much has been mentioned about the presence of Filipino Americans in history. We are much more than what the media portrays us to be. Because of this, I would like to provide you with responses to common comments we Filipinos get, as October is Filipino American History Month.
1. "Why doesn’t your skin color match the skin color of other Asian ethnicities?"
This is a dumb question. Just because you are a specific ethnicity, it does not automatically mean you are sorted into a certain category. I am a Filipino who was born and raised in a different location than other Filipinos. Also, there are different groups of Filipinos in the Philippines. Therefore, I am not the stereotypical short and dark Asian.
2. "No, I’m sure you’re not Asian. You’re obviously a Pacific Islander."
Just because the Philippines is in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, it does not mean we are not Pacific Islanders. The Philippines is part of Asia and we are considered Asian.
3. "Filipino isn't an ethnicity. I’m pretty sure you’re just Spanish."
Yes, we were first colonized by the Spanish, but we are our own ethnicity. Please don’t tell a Filipino what he or she actually is.
4. "Too many of you [Filipinos] immigrate from the Philippines."
Filipinos were the first group of Asians to arrive in the United States in 1587. The first state which the Filipinos visited was California, which has the largest group of Filipinos in one state. That being said, the United States was founded in 1776.
5. "So, are you going to school to become a nurse?"
Sure, there are many Filipinos who become nurses, but that does not mean we all personally want to. Most people become nurses because it is a way of living which will keep you financially stable. However, more and more people are beginning to recognize that there are opportunities other than nursing.
6. "Are Filipinos even present in American popular culture?"
Yes, over a quarter of a million Filipinos have served during World War II. Also, there are many Filipino celebrities who are adored, such as Lea Salonga, Bruno Mars and Manny Pacquiao.
7. "Filipinos are not even a majority group of Asians in the United States."
Filipino-Americans have the largest Asian-American population in 11 states in the United States. This includes Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Washington, Wyoming and South Dakota.
8. "Why do you have such a huge family?"
Just like other cultures, Filipinos enjoy the presence of family. Also, back in the Philippines, most families are devout Roman Catholics. Because of this, the importance of having a large family is implied, resulting in ginormous families.
