Filipino mestizo
Total population
Official numbers of population are unknown. However, according to recent genetic study by Stanford University, suggested all types of mestizos form 3.6% of the Philippine population.
Regions with significant populations
Philippines
Languages
Filipino (varities of 170 local Philippine regional dialects, English, Spanish and other languages)
Religions
Christianity (Predominantly Roman Catholic and Protestant), Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism and Atheism
Related ethnic groups
Filipino people, Mestizo and Eurasian

Demographics of the Philippines
Education Religions Languages Peoples   Filipino         Ivatan         Ilocano         Igorot         Ibanag         Pangasinan         Kapampangan         Aeta         Sambal         Tagalog         Bicolano         Mangyan         Palawan tribes         Visayan         Ati         Chavacano         Lumad         Moro         Bajau     Mestizo   Chinese   Spanish   Africans   Americans   Arabs   Europeans   Indonesians   Japanese   Jews   Koreans   South Asians   Spaniards

Filipino mestizo is a term used in the Philippines, to designate Filipinos of mixed Austronesian (indigenous) and foreign (primarily European) ancestry. The term "Mestizo", which comes from the Spanish word for mixed race, originally referred to Filipinos of part Austronesian and Spanish ancestry. However the use of the term eventually extended over time to include all native Filipinos who posses other foreign ancestries. "Filipino mestizo" refer to specific minor communities of mixed ancestry whose origins stem from the mixture of Spanish, Mexican, White American and Chinese ancestry, occurring from the Spanish colonization of the Philippines up to contemporary intermarriages. As a result, a small number of present-day Filipinos carry European, East Asian, Asian Indian, Arab, Nahuatl and African ancestry.

According to recent genetic study, 3.6% of all Filipinos possess European ancestry from either Spanish or American colonization, although the official amount of European origin among them was not specified. (It is interesting to note, however, that data gathered in the 1818 census suggests that 60% of all the inhabitants of Luzon possess foreign ancestry.^[1]) These specific Filipinos would all be mestizo, since 1) the European contribution was made in the recent human history of the archipelago 2) it was not a generalised phenomenon in the overall population, and 3) the community resulting from the admixture became recognisably independent in ethnic identity, social standing, cultural practices, and linguistic heritage.

History

During the Spanish colonial period of the Philippines, the term "Mestizo" referred only to those of mixed indigenous Filipino people with Spanish ancestry. The term soon became generic and synonymous for people of mixed ancestries.

The term has since been freely used to refer to all Filipinos of mixed ancestry, irrespective of racial combination or ratio, but typically including an Austronesian (indigenous Filipino) base stock. The combined number of all types of part-Caucasian mestizos is believed to constitute no more than 4% of the entire Filipino population. Of that 4%, probably about half are of the Spanish variety. A recent genetic study by Stanford University, indicates that 3.6% of the population have European ancestry. An early 19th century census, however, suggests that 60% of all the inhabitants of Luzon, where Manila is situated, possess either partial or full foreign ancestry.^[1] Some historians suggest that this number might have reflected on the number of offspring of both Filipino and Spanish intermarriage, as well as those who are illegitimate childrens of Spanish soldiers and priest in the Philippines during the colonization.

Modern day Filipino mestizos include Filipinos of Spanish or Mexican origin, American or British mestizos, as well as Chinese mestizos, Japanese mestizos and others. Those of a mixture of Austronesian with another East Asian ancestry may also be commonly referred to as "Chinito/a" (diminutive of Chino/a; Chinese), though this would more correctly be applied only to those mestizos of Chinese descent. Other terms denoting Chinese mestizos, include the dated Sangley and the more contemporary "Tsinoy".

Mestizo ascendancy

Upon the retreat of Spain at the end of colonial occupation, mestizos were able to position themselves at top of the social structure which the Spanish had previously established and dominated. As a result, mestizos held the greatest governing influence in the country, almost absolute control of commerce and industry. (See also Principalía.)

Spanish mestizos for the most part constitute a large number of the upper and middle classes, and rarely intermingle with those outside their socio-economic and ethnic class. Some are also found amongs the lower class.

Chinese mestizos also form part of both the upper and middle classes. Some are business people and also involved in the running of the country. Some are also in the entertainment industry.

Types of Filipino mestizos

Main articles: Ethnic groups in the Philippines and Overseas Filipino

Spanish or Mexican mestizo

Main articles: Filipinos of Spanish descent and Filipinos of Mexican descent

Spanish and Mexican mestizos (in Spanish: mestizos españoles/mejicanos Tagalog: mestisong Kastila): a combination of Austronesian with Spanish or Indigenous Mexicans. Their features are distinguished by their Southern European or Latin American appearance and physique, possessing aquiline nose structures, light to dark wavy hair, generally lighter skinned peoples with olive to light brown complexions. A small number of those with predominantly European ancestry are in fact indistinguishable from pure-blooded Spaniards.

Filipinos of Spanish or Mexican origin living in the Philippines usually speak their Filipino regional dialects including Spanish and English as their primary languages. Some, particularly those of the older generation, have preserved Spanish as the main spoken language of the home. Most are found among the upper and middle classes of Philippine society, and rarely intermingle with those outside their social and ethnic classes. Some are also found in the lower class. Some Spanish mestizos are found either in politics or working as high-ranking executives of commerce and industry. Some can also be found in sports and entertainment industry.

Chinese mestizo

Main article: Chinese Filipino

Chinese mestizos (in Tagalog, mestisong Intsik or Tsinoy): a combination of Austronesian and Chinese. They are distinguished physically by their oriental features who possess more pronounced epicanthic eye folds, higher cheekbones, light yellowish and brownish skinned colour, resembling much like East Asians (example Chinese and Vietnamese in appearance). A small number of Chinese mestizos also possess Spanish ancestries and as such resemble American mestizos (Amerasians), particularly those whose Filipino parent is part-Caucasian. Their offspring would however still be considered as Chinese mestizos. Some Chinese mestizos living in the Philippines are business people. They form part of both the upper, middle and lower classes. Some are also in the entertainment industry. Their primary languages are English, Lan-nang-oe, and Filipino. They number over 1 million and are found throughout the islands.

Chinese-Spanish mestizo

Main articles: Eurasian (mixed ancestry) and Chinese Filipino

Chinese-Spanish or Spanish-Chinese mestizos (in Tagalog, mestisong Kastila-Intsik/Intsik-Kastila): a combination of Chinese, Austronesian and Spanish ancestry. Once classified as ‘tornatrás’ during the Spanish colonial period, they now tend to identify as Filipinos of either Chinese and Spanish descent. They form part of the upper and middle classes.

Japanese mestizo

Main articles: Eurasian (mixed ancestry) and Filipinos of Japanese descent

Japanese mestizos: (in Tagalog, mestisong Hapon): a combination of Austronesian with Japanese or Okinawan. Many are descendants of Japanese Catholics that fled Japan 300 years ago and are members of the lower class. Because of discrimination encountered, some fled to the mountains after World War II while many others changed their names in the attempts to assimilate. Many were also killed (c. 10,000 Japanese mestizos and Japanese) while other were deported following World War II as an act of retaliation. Their sense of Japaneseness may take on extremes, some have completely lost their Japanese identity while others have “returned” to Japan, the land of their forebears. There is also a number of contemporary Japanese mestizos, not associated with the history of the earlier established ones, born either in the Philippines or Japan. These latter are the resultant of unions between Filipinos and recent Japanese immigrants to the Philippines or Japanese and immigrant Filipino workers in Japan. Most Japanese mestizos speak tribal languages and Tagalog. There are believed to be between 100,000 and 200,000 Japanese mestizos in the country, but no accurate figure is currently available. Significant numbers reside in Davao, Laguna, Pampanga and Baguio. They may also be known as Japinos, although this term is considered derogatory by many.

American mestizo

Main articles: Amerasian, Afro-Asian, Mulatto, Filipinos of American descent, and Filipino American

American mestizos (in Tagalog, mestisong Amerikano/Kano): a combination of Austronesian and American (regardless of race). They are also known as Amerasians. They can be found in the upper class, but also amongst the middle and lower classes as a result of the abandonment of their American fathers upon completion of military service and subsequent withdrawal of US forces. The number of American mestizos is thought to be between 20,000 and 30,000. Most speak Filipino and English. The majority are to be found in Angeles City, which has the largest proportion of Amerasians in the Philippines.^[2] The Philippines has Asia's largest population of Amerasians as well as having the largest population of Americans.^[3]

British mestizo

Main articles: Eurasian (mixed ancestry) and British Filipino

mestizos: a combination of Austronesian and British descent (regardless of race). Usually used only if one of the parent is directly from the United Kingdom, but can also be expanded to include those of part-Australian or part-Canadian descents. The official population is unknown, but their numbers are increasing. Many British, Australian, Canadian and American mestizos are overrepresented in the Philippine entertainment industry. Consequently, many actors and actresses of mixed Anglo ancestry would take on Spanish surnames or names to make them appear "more Hispanic" to movie audiences.

Asian Indian mestizo

Main article: Filipinos of Indian descent

Indian mestizos: called Bumbay (Tagalog for Indian) or "Sepoy" (along with other and more recent unmixed Desi immigrants), their ancestors arrived with the British between 1762 and 1764 during the various Anglo-Spanish wars. Though "Bumbay" would imply India, the term is generic and implies any other South Asian as well (Pakistani, Bangladeshi, etc). When the British decided to withdrawal, many of their South Asian soldiers (Sepoy) mutinied and refused to leave. Virtually all had taken Filipina brides (or soon did so). They settled in what is now Cainta, Rizal, just east of Metro Manila. The region in and around Cainta still has many Sepoy descendants.

Other types of mestizo

Other types of mestizos from unions of Filipino citizens with other nationalities may also exist, including those with , , Arabs, and , among others. Together they number less than 25,000 (less than 0.03% of the total population of the country), but are nonetheless overrepresented in the Philippine entertainment industry.

List of notable Filipino mestizos

The following is a list of notable Filipino citizens who posses mestizo ancestry.

Spanish mestizo

• Anastacio de Alba: Chef
• Paulino Alcántara: F.C Barcelona Football player
• Jon Ramon Aboitiz: Businessman
• Bianca Araneta: Model
• Jackielou Blanco: Actress and aerobic instructor
• Andrés Bonifacio: National hero of the Philippines
• José Burgos: Priest
• Dyan Castillejo-Garcia: ABS/CBN television journalist
• Pilita Corrales: Singer-songwriter and actress
• Eddie Gutíerrez: Actor
• Gregorio Honasan: Politician
• Paco Larrañaga: Convicted criminal
• Carlos Loyzaga: Basketball player
• Rafael Nepomuceno: Ten-pin bowler
• José Ozámiz: Politician
• Sarita Pérez de Tagle: Actress
• Fernando Poe, Sr.: Actor
• Isabel Preysler: Journalist
• Manuel L. Quezon: President of the Philippines
• Dante Rivero: Actor
• Gloria Romero: Actress
• Gabriela Silang: National hero of the Philippines
• Zobel de Ayala: Influential business family

Chinese mestizo

• Emilio Aguinaldo: President of the Philippines
• Corazon Aquino: President of the Philippines
• Kris Aquino: Actress
• José Mari Chan: Singer-song writer
• Ferdinand Marcos: President of the Philippines
• Jaime Cardinal Sin: Priest
• Lucio Tan: Businessman
• Kim Chiu: Actress and Singer
• Beatriz Saw: PBB Seaon 2 Housemate

Chinese-Spanish mestizo

• Imelda Marcos: First Lady
• José Rizal: National hero of the Philippines

Japanese mestizo

• Iwa Moto: Actress
• Mikki Arceo: Actress

American mestizo

• Billy Crawford: Singer
• Richard Gordon: Senator and possible presidential candidate
• Sam Milby: Actor
• Gerald Anderson: Actor
• Donita Rose Cavett: Former MTV host
• Brenda Fox: PBB Teen ex-housemate and host
• Jackie Rice: Actress
• Megan Young: Actress

American-Spanish mestizo

• Jaya: Singer
• Fernando Poe Jr.: Politician and actor

British or Australian mestizo

• Kat Alano: Model
• Bea Alonzo: Actress
• Anne Curtis: Actress
• Amanda Griffin: Model and actress

German mestizo

• Maike Evers: Model
• Sarah Meier: Filipino-Chinese-Swiss German, Model
• Piolo Pascual: Actor

Asian Indian mestizo

• Ramon Bagatsing: former mayor of Manila

Other types of mestizos

• Carlos Agassi: Filipino-Iranian, Actor
• Rachel Grant: Filipino-French, Model and actress
• Robert Jaworski: Filipino-Polish, Basketball player-turned-Senator
• Assunta de Rossi: Filipino-Italian, Actress
• Alessandra de Rossi: Filipino-Italian, Actress
• Yasmien Kurdi: Filipino-Chinese-French-Lebanese-Kurdish, Actress
• Cindy Kurleto: Filipino-Austrian, model, actrss, former MTV Asia VJ
• Rob Schneider: Filipino-Jew, Comedian, Actor, mainstay in Saturday Night Live

See also

• Eurasian (mixed ancestry)
• Mestizo
• Mulatto
• Principalía

References