Why do some Filipinos claim to be Pacific Islander and not Asian?

Question

Are they ashamed of their asian heritage or do they just want to be different?

The term Pacific Islanders specifically refers to people of Polynesian descent, which Filipinos are not. I know some Samoans and they dont consider Filipinos as Pacific Islanders either. Sure, the Phillipines are islands located in the Pacific, but so are Taiwan, Japan, Malaysia, Indonesia, etc. So whats the reason?

snchim, im not asian. Most filipinos dont have Spanish blood. And what does eye size have to do with anything? I know some filipinos with chinkier eyes than chinese people. Stop the self hate!

Answer 1

Actually it doesn't just mean of polynesian descent.
definition:
A term to describe somebody of Polynesian, Micronesian or Melanesian descent. This includes, but not limited to, people of Native Hawaiian, Samoan, Tongan, Fijian and Guamanian descent.
But anyways, some filipinos are just confused.

Answer 2

I think it depends on 'who' is asking. Certain surveys or questionnaires will put Filipinos with Asians, others will put Filipinos with Pacific Islanders. Whenever you look at a map, the Philippines is right next to Asia and isn't that close to the other Pacific Islands, so I don't know why or when this differentiation started to happen. Maybe because most people see Asian as the Chinese, Japanese, or Koreans... but Filipinos tend to *look* like Pacific Islanders? (And trust me, there are very dark-skinned Filipinos with bushy and curly hair,big eyes, and tend to be large. This happens within any ethnic group, but I know you're talking about the majority.) But you're not talking about a survey or a questionnaire. You're talking about people. I've lived in Hawaii all my life, and I can be mistaken for Hawaiian, but I always correct people. I personally don't know any Filipinos that claim to be Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, but then again, I don't live in the Bay area.

Answer 3

A possible reason is that some questionaires instruct Filipinos to check themselves off as Pacific Islanders, not Asians. I know because I've seen it.

Answer 4

the Philippines comprises 7,107 islands. So, people living in these islands can be called islanders, isn't it? this group of islands is located in the pacific. thus, pacific islander. of being non asians... geographically speaking, its true that the country is part of SE Asia. Culturally, it is related with the malays, two other asian groups, and even chinese. however, the intrusion of the spanish and the americans for 400 years +/-, and the arab missioners in the south really affected phil. society and culture. thus, even other asians have difficulty in considering this country's culture and way of soing things as asian.

Answer 5

because - as you said, it's a series of islands in the Pacific.

It is NOT a part of Asia, which is a continent.

I'm Filipino, and don't care whether I'm called Asian or a Pacific Islander - I know some do, though, take offense with being called Asian (never understood that... but that's their deal).

In the end, we are somewhere in between - with more in common with Pacific Islanders. It's all semantics, anyway.

Answer 6

I don't know with other Filipinos but I always consider myself as asian

Answer 7

Because it is an Island in the Pacific Ocean and it is a pet of the United States government which is why they are not asians.

Answer 8

some of them claim they're asian when it's convenience and they claim they're pacific islander when it's convenience for them in other instants.

Answer 9

Who wants to be called an Asian. I don't want to be called a North American.

Answer 10

It's like, way cool, you know dude?

I love hot little flips.