Challenges of Filipinos in the United States
There are many varied challenges that Philippine individuals and/or families might face in North America.
Climate Change:
Because the Philippine islands experience a tropical climate, Filipinos may also experience difficulty in dealing with the colder seasons in the United States. However, this may be considered a positive trade-off for not having to deal with the extreme heat, mosquitoes and the monsoons and typhoon conditions they routinely experience in the Philippines. (C. Tanedo, personal communication, May 27, 2011)
Language:
Many Filipinos may not seem to be hindered by a language barrier for the simple fact that English is one of the two official languages in the Philippine islands. Even so, knowing English words is a different thing than knowing all of the nuances of how they are used throughout the states. Couple that with various accents and a Filipino-American can still find the language challenging. In the video interview by World in America with a Filipino-American family, one can hear the language challenges they face in North America. (5minPeople)
Climate Change:
Because the Philippine islands experience a tropical climate, Filipinos may also experience difficulty in dealing with the colder seasons in the United States. However, this may be considered a positive trade-off for not having to deal with the extreme heat, mosquitoes and the monsoons and typhoon conditions they routinely experience in the Philippines. (C. Tanedo, personal communication, May 27, 2011)
Language:
Many Filipinos may not seem to be hindered by a language barrier for the simple fact that English is one of the two official languages in the Philippine islands. Even so, knowing English words is a different thing than knowing all of the nuances of how they are used throughout the states. Couple that with various accents and a Filipino-American can still find the language challenging. In the video interview by World in America with a Filipino-American family, one can hear the language challenges they face in North America. (5minPeople)
Acculturation:
Some Filipinos (individuals and families) may find it hard to “fit in” with American communities without losing their cultural significance. Filipinos are often confused with other Asian cultural groups. Additionally, the family unit is central to the structure of Philippine culture and can be confusing when living in a dissimilar society which fosters independence rather than dependence. Americans can be quite frank with their expressions while Filipinos value sensitivity and gratitude. Observing Philippine traditions (i.e. demonstrating respect for their elders by the “mano" or blessing of the hand custom), dressing in authentic Philippine clothes, and eating culturally specific foods (quite different from what’s considered “American” fare) like pancit, lumpia egg rolls, and rice, with nearly every meal, might impede their abilities to fully blend into the American culture (5minPeople). This is not a bad thing, but it could lead others (who do not embrace multiculturalism, or other Filipinos who are more "Americanized") to discriminate against them. Also, Filipinos’ authoritarian parenting techniques may be considered as corporal punishment by some agencies in the United States that are set up to protect the health and well-being (as deemed appropriate and legal) of children. (David, n.d.)
Homesickness:
Being so far away from their homeland and extended family members, it is easy to imagine that Filipino-Americans might become homesick while living in the United States.
Financial:
Filipino-Americans often send money back to their extended family members in the Philippines. This may or may not cause a burden on the members living within the United States. It may not mean that they must live in impoverished conditions, but it is an additional expenditure to which many Filipino-American families are committed. (C. Tanedo, personal communication, May 27, 2011)
Work Exploitation:
Filipinos may be taken unfair advantage of when seeking work in the United States by unscrupulous individuals and companies, including the U. S. government. In fact, approximately 250,000 Filipinos fought side-by-side with U. S. service members in World War II under the promise of receiving benefits similar to theirs. However, in the Rescission Act of 1946, the United States government not only failed to acknowledge the help they received from the Philippine soldiers but also neglected to compensate them for their efforts. To date, May 2011, there are roughly 70,000 Philippine veterans from WWII still living that have yet to be acknowledged or compensated, 10,000 of which are believed to be living in North America. (PBS, n.d.)
References:
David, C. (n.d.). Post 1965 Filipino Immigration. Retrieved from http://smccd.net/accounts/skylib/oralhist/David/david.htm
5minPeople. (n.d.). The Challenges of the Filipino American Community. Retrieved from http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xebltp_the-challenges-of- the- filipino-amer_people
(n.d.). The Traditions of the Filipino American People. Retrieved from http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xebls2_the-traditions-of-the-filipino- amer_people
PBS. (n.d.). The Filipino Veterans Movement. Retrieved from http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/macarthur/sfeature/bataan_filipino.html
Some Filipinos (individuals and families) may find it hard to “fit in” with American communities without losing their cultural significance. Filipinos are often confused with other Asian cultural groups. Additionally, the family unit is central to the structure of Philippine culture and can be confusing when living in a dissimilar society which fosters independence rather than dependence. Americans can be quite frank with their expressions while Filipinos value sensitivity and gratitude. Observing Philippine traditions (i.e. demonstrating respect for their elders by the “mano" or blessing of the hand custom), dressing in authentic Philippine clothes, and eating culturally specific foods (quite different from what’s considered “American” fare) like pancit, lumpia egg rolls, and rice, with nearly every meal, might impede their abilities to fully blend into the American culture (5minPeople). This is not a bad thing, but it could lead others (who do not embrace multiculturalism, or other Filipinos who are more "Americanized") to discriminate against them. Also, Filipinos’ authoritarian parenting techniques may be considered as corporal punishment by some agencies in the United States that are set up to protect the health and well-being (as deemed appropriate and legal) of children. (David, n.d.)
Homesickness:
Being so far away from their homeland and extended family members, it is easy to imagine that Filipino-Americans might become homesick while living in the United States.
Financial:
Filipino-Americans often send money back to their extended family members in the Philippines. This may or may not cause a burden on the members living within the United States. It may not mean that they must live in impoverished conditions, but it is an additional expenditure to which many Filipino-American families are committed. (C. Tanedo, personal communication, May 27, 2011)
Work Exploitation:
Filipinos may be taken unfair advantage of when seeking work in the United States by unscrupulous individuals and companies, including the U. S. government. In fact, approximately 250,000 Filipinos fought side-by-side with U. S. service members in World War II under the promise of receiving benefits similar to theirs. However, in the Rescission Act of 1946, the United States government not only failed to acknowledge the help they received from the Philippine soldiers but also neglected to compensate them for their efforts. To date, May 2011, there are roughly 70,000 Philippine veterans from WWII still living that have yet to be acknowledged or compensated, 10,000 of which are believed to be living in North America. (PBS, n.d.)
References:
David, C. (n.d.). Post 1965 Filipino Immigration. Retrieved from http://smccd.net/accounts/skylib/oralhist/David/david.htm
5minPeople. (n.d.). The Challenges of the Filipino American Community. Retrieved from http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xebltp_the-challenges-of- the- filipino-amer_people
(n.d.). The Traditions of the Filipino American People. Retrieved from http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xebls2_the-traditions-of-the-filipino- amer_people
PBS. (n.d.). The Filipino Veterans Movement. Retrieved from http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/macarthur/sfeature/bataan_filipino.html
