Americans in the Philippines
Encyclopedia
American settlement in the Philippines began during the Spanish period, when Americans came to the islands primarily to conduct business. They owned many businesses in trade
and in the sugar
industry. Although not harassed by Spanish laws, the American inflow to the Philippines was minimal until the Philippine-American War
.
Following the colonization of the islands by the United States of America, thousands of Americans have settled, either temporarily or permanently. Most are either members of the U.S. Army
, or missionaries sent by North American mission groups.
After independence in 1946, many Americans chose to remain in the Philippines while maintaining relations with relatives in the United States. During the post-independence period, most Americans who settled in the Philippines were largely professionals, although missionaries still continue to settle in the country.
Today, the Philippines has the largest American population in Asia, and is the seventh-largest American community in the world.
In 2007, the U.S. State Department estimated that there were over 250,000 U.S. citizens living in the Philippines. Many of the American citizens in the Philippines were born in the Philippines, immigrated to the U.S. to work, and returned upon retirement.
saw an increase in immigration to the Philippines. Retiring soldiers and other military-men
were among the first Americans to become long-term Philippine residents and settlers. The Education Act of 1901 authorized the colonial government to recruit American teachers to help establish the new educational system, and 80 former soldiers became teachers. They were soon joined by 48 teachers recruited in America who arrived in June 1901 on the ship Sheridan, and by 523 others who arrived on August 1, 1901 on the Thomas. Collectively, these teachers became known as the Thomasites
. Besides English
, the Thomasites taught agriculture
, reading, grammar, geography
, mathematics
, general courses, trade courses, housekeeping and household arts (sewing, crocheting and cooking), manual trading, mechanical drawing, freehand drawing and athletics (baseball
, track and field
, tennis
, indoor baseball and basketball
). Many of these people settled in the Philippines and had Philippine spouses. By 1930, there were already thriving American and American mestizo
communities.
. Many Americans, as well as American mestizos in the Philippines, were interred and killed by the Japanese
. After the Philippines gained independence from the United States in 1946, many Americans chose to permanently settle in the Philippines. The Americans, until the mid-1990s, had a heavy presence in the cities of Angeles
and Olongapo
, northeast of Manila, due to the presence of large US military bases there. During the American colonial period (1898–1946), a recorded number of more than 800,000 Americans were born in the Philippines. Large concentrations of Filipinos with American ancestry aside from Metro Manila
are located in the areas of the former US bases such as the Subic Bay
area in Zambales
and Clark Field
in Angeles
.
Currently, American citizens living in the Philippine can be broken up into four groups:
, the offspring of a Filipino and an American is termed an Amerasian.
The physical appearance of American Filipino mestizos are like those of Spanish mestizos, with more Nordic features. There can be European American mestizos having mixed Spanish and Euro-American descent. In addition, there are a number of Euro-American mestizos with Spanish birth surnames born to Filipino fathers and Euro-American mothers or out of wedlock to Euro-American fathers and Filipino mothers or with at least 1 Euro-American grandparent, and these may be mistaken as Spanish mestizos. These Euro-American mestizos may have blond
, red
, auburn, or chestnut hair
, and blue, green, or gray eyes.
Aside from Spanish and Mexican Filipino mestizos who are direct descendants of Spanish settlers (from Spain
and Mexicans
), there are also many Spanish and Mexican Filipino mestizos who are descendants of Hispanic Americans
. There may even Spanish mestizos who have Spanish blood from Puerto Rican
, Cuban American
, and other Hispanic parentage.
The number of American mestizos is thought to be between 20,000 and 30,000. Most speak Tagalog and English. The majority are to be found in Angeles City, which has the largest proportion of Amerasians in the Philippines.
The majority of black people in the Philippines who are sometimes classified as African-Filipinos or Afro-Filipino as an umbrella term are of part-African American
descent, mostly descending from United States army servicemen. (Unlike in the United States, there are no official race classifications in the Philippines.)
The Philippine Children's Fund of America
, based in Angeles City, was created by the US and Philippine governments in 1991 to assist impoverished Filipino children of American ancestry, also known as Amerasian
s, by providing educational scholarships, employment and working visas to the United States. Around 56,000 children under the age of 16 benefit from the fund today.
has a large population of Americans and people with American roots, as well as a burgeoning Amerasian
population.
The total number of US citizens
living in the Philippines
is more than 250,000., although rough estimates state that at least 1% of the entire Philippine population are of American descent.
Trade
Trade is the transfer of ownership of goods and services from one person or entity to another. Trade is sometimes loosely called commerce or financial transaction or barter. A network that allows trade is called a market. The original form of trade was barter, the direct exchange of goods and...
and in the sugar
Sugar
Sugar is a class of edible crystalline carbohydrates, mainly sucrose, lactose, and fructose, characterized by a sweet flavor.Sucrose in its refined form primarily comes from sugar cane and sugar beet...
industry. Although not harassed by Spanish laws, the American inflow to the Philippines was minimal until the Philippine-American War
Philippine-American War
The Philippine–American War, also known as the Philippine War of Independence or the Philippine Insurrection , was an armed conflict between a group of Filipino revolutionaries and the United States which arose from the struggle of the First Philippine Republic to gain independence following...
.
Following the colonization of the islands by the United States of America, thousands of Americans have settled, either temporarily or permanently. Most are either members of the U.S. Army
Military of the United States
The United States Armed Forces are the military forces of the United States. They consist of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Coast Guard.The United States has a strong tradition of civilian control of the military...
, or missionaries sent by North American mission groups.
After independence in 1946, many Americans chose to remain in the Philippines while maintaining relations with relatives in the United States. During the post-independence period, most Americans who settled in the Philippines were largely professionals, although missionaries still continue to settle in the country.
Today, the Philippines has the largest American population in Asia, and is the seventh-largest American community in the world.
In 2007, the U.S. State Department estimated that there were over 250,000 U.S. citizens living in the Philippines. Many of the American citizens in the Philippines were born in the Philippines, immigrated to the U.S. to work, and returned upon retirement.
Commencement of major American immigration to the Philippines
American colonial rule in the PhilippinesHistory of the Philippines (1898-1946)
This article covers the history of the Philippines from 1898 to 1946. It spans the Spanish-American War which resulted in the United States acquiring sovereignty over the Philippines from Spain via the Treaty of Paris which ended that war, the Philippines as a U.S. territory and later as a U.S...
saw an increase in immigration to the Philippines. Retiring soldiers and other military-men
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
were among the first Americans to become long-term Philippine residents and settlers. The Education Act of 1901 authorized the colonial government to recruit American teachers to help establish the new educational system, and 80 former soldiers became teachers. They were soon joined by 48 teachers recruited in America who arrived in June 1901 on the ship Sheridan, and by 523 others who arrived on August 1, 1901 on the Thomas. Collectively, these teachers became known as the Thomasites
Thomasites
The Thomasites is a group of about five hundred pioneer American teachers sent by the U.S. government to the Philippines in August 1901.-Foundation, purpose and etymology:...
. Besides English
American English
American English is a set of dialects of the English language used mostly in the United States. Approximately two-thirds of the world's native speakers of English live in the United States....
, the Thomasites taught agriculture
Agriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
, reading, grammar, geography
Geography
Geography is the science that studies the lands, features, inhabitants, and phenomena of Earth. A literal translation would be "to describe or write about the Earth". The first person to use the word "geography" was Eratosthenes...
, mathematics
Mathematics
Mathematics is the study of quantity, space, structure, and change. Mathematicians seek out patterns and formulate new conjectures. Mathematicians resolve the truth or falsity of conjectures by mathematical proofs, which are arguments sufficient to convince other mathematicians of their validity...
, general courses, trade courses, housekeeping and household arts (sewing, crocheting and cooking), manual trading, mechanical drawing, freehand drawing and athletics (baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
, track and field
Track and field
Track and field is a sport comprising various competitive athletic contests based around the activities of running, jumping and throwing. The name of the sport derives from the venue for the competitions: a stadium which features an oval running track surrounding a grassy area...
, tennis
Tennis
Tennis is a sport usually played between two players or between two teams of two players each . Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all...
, indoor baseball and basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
). Many of these people settled in the Philippines and had Philippine spouses. By 1930, there were already thriving American and American mestizo
Filipino mestizo
Filipino mestizo is a term used in the Philippines to describe people of mixed Filipino and foreign ancestry. The word mestizo is of Spanish origin, and was originally used in the Americas to only describe people of mixed European and Native American ancestry.- History :Spanish periodThe Spanish...
communities.
American settlement following Independence
The 1940s was a period of large-scale American immigration to the Philippines. However, this ended was abruptly by the World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. Many Americans, as well as American mestizos in the Philippines, were interred and killed by the Japanese
Japanese people
The are an ethnic group originating in the Japanese archipelago and are the predominant ethnic group of Japan. Worldwide, approximately 130 million people are of Japanese descent; of these, approximately 127 million are residents of Japan. People of Japanese ancestry who live in other countries...
. After the Philippines gained independence from the United States in 1946, many Americans chose to permanently settle in the Philippines. The Americans, until the mid-1990s, had a heavy presence in the cities of Angeles
Angeles City
The City of Angeles , located within the province of Pampanga in the Philippines, is locally classified as a first-class, highly-urbanized city. Its name is derived from El Pueblo de los Ángeles in honor of its patron saints, Los Santos Ángeles de los Custodios , and the name of its founder, Don...
and Olongapo
Olongapo City
The City of Olongapo is a highly urbanized city located in the province of Zambales, Philippines. According to the latest census, it has a population of 227,270 people in 50,300 households.-History:...
, northeast of Manila, due to the presence of large US military bases there. During the American colonial period (1898–1946), a recorded number of more than 800,000 Americans were born in the Philippines. Large concentrations of Filipinos with American ancestry aside from Metro Manila
Metro Manila
Metropolitan Manila , the National Capital Region , or simply Metro Manila, is the metropolitan region encompassing the City of Manila and its surrounding areas in the Philippines...
are located in the areas of the former US bases such as the Subic Bay
U.S. Naval Base Subic Bay
U.S. Naval Base Subic Bay was a major ship-repair, supply, and rest and recreation facility of the United States Navy located in Zambales, Philippines. It was the largest U.S...
area in Zambales
Zambales
Zambales is a province of the Philippines located in the Central Luzon region. Its capital is Iba. Zambales borders Pangasinan to the north, Tarlac and Pampanga to the east, and Bataan to the south. The province lies between the South China Sea and the Zambales Mountains. With a land area of...
and Clark Field
Clark Air Base
Clark Air Base is a former United States Air Force base on Luzon Island in the Philippines, located 3 miles west of Angeles City, about 40 miles northwest of Metro Manila. Clark Air Base was an American military facility from 1903 to 1991...
in Angeles
Angeles City
The City of Angeles , located within the province of Pampanga in the Philippines, is locally classified as a first-class, highly-urbanized city. Its name is derived from El Pueblo de los Ángeles in honor of its patron saints, Los Santos Ángeles de los Custodios , and the name of its founder, Don...
.
Currently, American citizens living in the Philippine can be broken up into four groups:
- Citizens born in the Philippines who have lived all their lives in the Philippines
- People born in the Philippines who immigrated to the U.S., gained citizenship and have returned to the Philippines, often to retire (known as Filipino-Americans or Fil-Ams)
- Citizens temporarily living in the Philippines often due to their or their spouse's work
- Non-Filipino-Americans who retire to the Philippines who are often married to Filipinos or Filipino-Americans
Amerasians
As the Philippines lies in Southeast AsiaSoutheast Asia
Southeast Asia, South-East Asia, South East Asia or Southeastern Asia is a subregion of Asia, consisting of the countries that are geographically south of China, east of India, west of New Guinea and north of Australia. The region lies on the intersection of geological plates, with heavy seismic...
, the offspring of a Filipino and an American is termed an Amerasian.
The physical appearance of American Filipino mestizos are like those of Spanish mestizos, with more Nordic features. There can be European American mestizos having mixed Spanish and Euro-American descent. In addition, there are a number of Euro-American mestizos with Spanish birth surnames born to Filipino fathers and Euro-American mothers or out of wedlock to Euro-American fathers and Filipino mothers or with at least 1 Euro-American grandparent, and these may be mistaken as Spanish mestizos. These Euro-American mestizos may have blond
Blond
Blond or blonde or fair-hair is a hair color characterized by low levels of the dark pigment eumelanin. The resultant visible hue depends on various factors, but always has some sort of yellowish color...
, red
Red hair
Red hair occurs on approximately 1–2% of the human population. It occurs more frequently in people of northern or western European ancestry, and less frequently in other populations...
, auburn, or chestnut hair
Chestnut hair
Chestnut hair is a hair color which is a reddish shade of brown hair. In contrast to auburn hair, the reddish shade of chestnut is darker. The chemical pigments that cause the coloration of chestnut hair are frequently brown eumelanin with stronger levels of pheomelanin....
, and blue, green, or gray eyes.
Aside from Spanish and Mexican Filipino mestizos who are direct descendants of Spanish settlers (from Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
and Mexicans
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
), there are also many Spanish and Mexican Filipino mestizos who are descendants of Hispanic Americans
Hispanic and Latino Americans
Hispanic or Latino Americans are Americans with origins in the Hispanic countries of Latin America or in Spain, and in general all persons in the United States who self-identify as Hispanic or Latino.1990 Census of Population and Housing: A self-designated classification for people whose origins...
. There may even Spanish mestizos who have Spanish blood from Puerto Rican
Puerto Rican people
A Puerto Rican is a person who was born in Puerto Rico.Puerto Ricans born and raised in the continental United States are also sometimes referred to as Puerto Ricans, although they were not born in Puerto Rico...
, Cuban American
Cuban American
A Cuban American is a United States citizen who traces his or her "national origin" to Cuba. Cuban Americans are also considered native born Americans with Cuban parents or Cuban-born persons who were raised and educated in US...
, and other Hispanic parentage.
The number of American mestizos is thought to be between 20,000 and 30,000. Most speak Tagalog and English. The majority are to be found in Angeles City, which has the largest proportion of Amerasians in the Philippines.
The majority of black people in the Philippines who are sometimes classified as African-Filipinos or Afro-Filipino as an umbrella term are of part-African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
descent, mostly descending from United States army servicemen. (Unlike in the United States, there are no official race classifications in the Philippines.)
The Philippine Children's Fund of America
Philippine Children's Fund of America
The Philippine Children's Fund of America is a non-profit organization registered under the state of California and is duly recognized by the United States Federal Government....
, based in Angeles City, was created by the US and Philippine governments in 1991 to assist impoverished Filipino children of American ancestry, also known as Amerasian
Amerasian
In its original meaning, an Amerasian is a person born in Asia, to a U.S. military father and an Asian mother. The term has sometimes been used to describe a person in the United States of mixed Asian and non-Asian ancestry, regardless of the circumstances....
s, by providing educational scholarships, employment and working visas to the United States. Around 56,000 children under the age of 16 benefit from the fund today.
Population
Today, the PhilippinesPhilippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
has a large population of Americans and people with American roots, as well as a burgeoning Amerasian
Amerasian
In its original meaning, an Amerasian is a person born in Asia, to a U.S. military father and an Asian mother. The term has sometimes been used to describe a person in the United States of mixed Asian and non-Asian ancestry, regardless of the circumstances....
population.
The total number of US citizens
United States nationality law
Article I, section 8, clause 4 of the United States Constitution expressly gives the United States Congress the power to establish a uniform rule of naturalization. The Immigration and Naturalization Act sets forth the legal requirements for the acquisition of, and divestiture from, citizenship of...
living in the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
is more than 250,000., although rough estimates state that at least 1% of the entire Philippine population are of American descent.
Prominent descendants of American settlers
For a list of prominent or noteworthy descendants of American settlers, see :Category:Filipino people of American descent.See also
- Philippine nationality lawPhilippine nationality lawPhilippine Nationality Law is currently based upon the principles of jus sanguinis and therefore descent from a parent who is a citizen/national of the Republic of the Philippines is the primary method of acquiring Philippine citizenship...
- Filipino mestizoFilipino mestizoFilipino mestizo is a term used in the Philippines to describe people of mixed Filipino and foreign ancestry. The word mestizo is of Spanish origin, and was originally used in the Americas to only describe people of mixed European and Native American ancestry.- History :Spanish periodThe Spanish...
- AmerasianAmerasianIn its original meaning, an Amerasian is a person born in Asia, to a U.S. military father and an Asian mother. The term has sometimes been used to describe a person in the United States of mixed Asian and non-Asian ancestry, regardless of the circumstances....
- EurasiansEurasian (mixed ancestry)The word Eurasian refers to people of mixed Asian and European ancestry. It was originally coined in 19th-century British India to refer to Anglo-Indians of mixed British and Indian descent....
- Afro-Asian