Why do Filipinos dislike being called Asian?

Question

About 2/4 of my school is Asian. Most of them are Filipino. Some agree that they are Asian and others for some reason want to be called "Pacific Islander." When most people think of Pacific Islanders they think of Melanesians, Micronesians, and polynesians like myself; neither of which they are. I do not see any Japanese getting angry even though technically their island is in the Pacific Ocean. Some try to say they are mixed with Spanish blood from earlier. but like many other countries this has happened to them but does not mean they are all mixed with the other race who came into their country.

Answer 1

Filipinos are asians but not east asians; they are southeast asians. those people claiming that they are pacific islanders obviously don't know how the majority of filipinos and the rest of southeast asians (thai, cambodians, indonesians, etc.) look like.



other asians like indians, pakistanis, and sri lankans are south asians and they are considered as non-oriental asians. that goes the same for saudis, yemenites, kuwaitis, and the rest of middle easterns; they are non-oriental asians as well. russians are only geographically asians but they are considered as eastern europeans.

Answer 2

Because....(some reasons I can think of) lol



• Ignorance



• A lot of people don't realize that Asian and Pacific Islander are just geographical-terms...mistake is made when people associate these terms with ethnicity and race...



• Another possible reason is because of "Asian" being synonymous to East Asians especially in America...



• Some Asians (East Asians) don't like Filipinos calling themselves Asians because they are very different to them..lol...(Heck.. Iranians, Kazakhs etc. are 'Asians" too)



• Filipinos and Pacific islanders (Micronesians, Polynesians) descended from a common ancestor (Austronesian people via Taiwan) some Filipinos may think that being related makes Filipinos Pacific Islanders too...No...Pacific Islander is just a geographical term...

→ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mYSr2k4buqU



• Philippines is technically an archipelago (Islands) in the Pacific but it is in "Southeast Asia" which makes Filipinos Southeast "Asian"...Maritime Southeast Asian to be more specific...



• You don't have to be East Asian or look like it to qualify as "Asian"...Asia is the biggest continent and consists of many ethnicities and cultures....



Listen to these Filipinos → http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qoq_3EKjJ_k

Answer 3

I agree with you but also consider that Japan is a country in Asian territory and always was and that the Phillipinnes was conquered by the Spanish many centuries ago, so you can definitely see why they often make such claims. Also because they do not like to be associated with all the Asian stereotypes (e.g. bad drivers, tiny penises etc.) and other common misconceptions in general and also because a lot of them want to believe they have this Latin vibe because they believe most of them have Spanish descent because a lot of them have Spanish names and last names.



On a personal note: I once met a Filipino at a bar whose last name was Macrohon and BTW he looked completely Asian-Filipino and he insisted that because he had a "Mac" in his last name, he had Irish descent. Go figure...

Answer 4

as with all courting, bases for liking/loving/marrying variety. I advise, act reckoning on what you choose for to attain. in case you choose for to be cherished because you're American then rub it of their faces; in any different case, cover it somewhat. On a private notice, filipinos/filipinas born interior the U. S. are not distinctive Filipinos somewhat. until eventually their mothers and fathers somewhat guided them into being Filipinos. I even have been vacationing to the States recently, assembly up with uncles and aunties who've migrated to the U. S., and that i come across it unhappy that their babies are so Americanized that i won't be able to come across a hint of Filipino-ness if no longer for the actual visual attraction. Marrying does not commonly could desire to remember on the place the guy replaced into born or what his/her citizenship is; it relies upon on thoughts--love. I--conversing for myself--have not got this "American Dream", i decide for to stay interior the Philippines. And regrettably for me, my boyfriend is a quickly-to-be American citizen Filipino which might mean i would be residing interior the States quickly. have faith it or no longer, i'm PLEADING my boyfriend to purely come abode to the PH and stay here.

Answer 5

Because those people are in denial and are insecure about themselves. They lack the backbone to stand up for the fact that those islands and lands are in the continent of Asia; therefore they are Asians, just like parts of Russia and Siberia are part of Asia and those people are called Asians or Northern Asians.

Answer 6

hello, i was born in southeast Asia in here all asians seems to have dark skin and big eye like filipino but i have Chinese blood so i look more east asian a little. and they proud to be Asian...

Answer 7

anyone who is from Asia is asian weather they are from south east north or west. not just oriental people are asian.

Answer 8

You could have just written 1/2 instead of 2/4.

Anyway, one of my friends on Yahoo! Answers is Filipino, so I've starred this question and hopefully she'll answer it :-)

Answer 9

have you seen every tongan? some do look asian



btw some filipinos dislike it because other asians can't speak english well and other reasons.......filipinos are still considered pacific islanders because the country is in the pacific island duh

Answer 10

Dude...those are the worst ones.

Answer 11

it depends, i know filo people who insist upon being called asian...

Answer 12

they're not asian i am... plus they lack the smart genes that real asians have...