The Fil-Am Ethnic Sub-Group and WW2 Identity Impact

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Filipino-Americans and the WW2 Experience

With Asian-Americans encompassing Americans whose ethnic-group, ancestry or sense of belonging can quite easily be draw by definition from those whose familial origins come from all nations or parts of Asia, I have chosen to focus on a particular 'Asian-American' subgroup and identity. Asian-Americans number to about 18.2 million and while they share a number of ethnic and cultural similarities and heritage, there is a distinct difference in the subgroups (i.e. differences between Chinese-American and Indian-American or Japanese-American are very distinct in particular, especially in relation to their ethnic-histories) so to focus on a particular historical event. I have chosen to focus on Filipino-Americans who make up 3.4 million (1.1%) of the American populace (ACS, 2010). Calling themselves Fil-Ams, they make up the second biggest Asian-American subgroup, second only to the Chinese. The biggest concentration of Fil-Ams is in California (1.4 million) while almost half a million live in Hawaii and the rest is spread across the US. Filipinos have been documented to have settled in the Americas as early as the 16th century by way of Mexico and by the 18th century, together with the Chinese supported the sailing crews of merchant marines developing across America by the 18th century, settling in port areas near or around Louisiana (Rodis, 2006). Mass migration however truly began after 1898 when via the Treaty of Paris, the archipelago nation of the Philippines was ceded to America by Spain (as Spain, prior to this year was the Philippines' colonial master). The Philippines gained Independence from the US on July 4, 1946. But, for the period of 1898 till 1946, the Philippines was officially an American Protectorate/Territory, even when it had self-autonomy under a Commonwealth government, even during WW2.

America in the Philippine Consciousness

In the Philippines, there is a belief that the 'Kano' (slang for an American) and everything in America is just better. While a good number of Filipinos argue against this, the notion of a colonial 'better' who has more power and resources is held by Filipinos in a pedestal. This is due to the fact that as an archipelago nation, its history points to a stratified society from the earliest period - stronger tribes usurped and overcame others and power is held in high regard. Over time, the Catholicism of Spain converted just about much of the country (except the stronghold of Islam in the southern islands) and from their Spanish experience much of the perception of ...