Why do most Filipinos say they have spanish ancestry/blood??

Question

I've met filipinos who say they have spanish blood in the US , although I must admit the ones I've met most do look hispanic/even spanish and could pass for one.

Answer 1

The Philippines, officially the Republic of the Philippines (Republika ng Pilipinas; RP), is an island nation located in the Malay Archipelago in Southeast Asia, with Manila as its capital. It comprises 7,107 islands called the Philippine Archipelago, with a total land area of approximately 300,000 square kilometers or 116,000 square miles, making it the 72nd largest country by area.

Modern day Filipinos are mostly of Austronesian ancestry, although there are a number of Filipinos with Spanish, Chinese, American, and Arab ancestry.

The country was named "Las Islas Filipinas" (The Philippine Islands) by Ruy López de Villalobos after King Philip II of Spain. Spanish colonial rule began in 1565 and lasted for about three centuries until the Philippine Revolution of 1896.
The United States gained possession of the Philippines after the Spanish-American War in 1898 and the Philippine-American War in 1899. The U.S. ruled the country for about five decades. Philippine culture has many affinities with the West. Roman Catholicism is the predominant religion, and Filipino and English are the official languages.

The language is very similar to Spanish as well. Many people who are Filipino have Spanish ancestry, that is what happens when countries are occupied/ruled by other countries for long periods of time.

Answer 2

Because they have been told by their parents that their ancestors included some Spanish blood and thus feel better about themselves having some "European blood". Only a tiny percentage of Filipinos have any real trace of European blood but maybe about half of the population claim to have a Spanish ancestor in their family tree. Many Filipinos claim this falsehood and lie to themselves simply because they carry a Spanish last name but that just means that many Indigenous Filipinos were simply forced to adopt "Christian" or "Spanish" names since the native language was really hard for the Spanish colonizers to understand. So the answer is no, about 97% of Filipinos are of Asian stock and maybe 2% might have some drop of European blood.

Answer 3

Modern day Filipinos are mostly of Austronesian ancestry, although there are a number of Filipinos with Spanish, Chinese, American, and Arab ancestry.

The country was named "Las Islas Filipinas" (The Philippine Islands) by Ruy López de Villalobos after King Philip II of Spain. Spanish colonial rule began in 1565 and lasted for about three centuries until the Philippine Revolution of 1896.
The United States gained possession of the Philippines after the Spanish-American War in 1898 and the Philippine-American War in 1899. The U.S. ruled the country for about five decades. Philippine culture has many affinities with the West. Roman Catholicism is the predominant religion, and Filipino and English are the official languages.

So you see, the ones who claimed to have spanish blood are descendants from the spanish soldiers and people who went to colonize The Philippines.

Answer 4

The Philippines and Spain: AD 1521-1898


Like the other island groups of southeast Asia, the Philippines have very early human inhabitants - perhaps even as long as 60,000 years ago. In more recent history the main outside influences are Chinese, Hindu and - from the 15th century - Muslim. But no external power tries to dominate or unify the scattered islands (more than 7000 in the archipelago) until the arrival of the Spanish in the 16th century.

Magellan, sailing on behalf of Spain, is the first European to reach the Philippines (in 1521). But the first permanent Spanish settlement is established in 1564 by Miguel López de Legazpi.

Legazpi, appointed governor general, makes his capital at Manila in 1571. In the same year he names the new colony the Philippines in honour of the Spanish king, Philip II.

Until the end of the 17th century Spanish rule is often precarious, with the main threat coming from the Dutch (as a rival colonial power in the far east) and from the Muslims (whose presence in the southern islands has preceded that of the Spanish). The Muslims are known to the Spanish as Moros, linking them with Spain's historic Muslim enemies in Europe - the Moors of Morocco.

The colonizing of the Philippines for Spain is carried out as much by Roman Catholic friars as by any state administration. In addition to the Jesuits (the main missionary presence elsewhere in the east), the orders of friars active in the Philippines include the Franciscans, the Dominicans and the Augustinians.

This most distant part of the Spanish empire remains within the fold longer than the more economically important regions of Latin America. Indeed the Philippines are a Spanish province for well over three centuries, until ceded by Spain to the United States in 1898 after the Spanish-American War.

Answer 5

Some Filipinos would admit that they have Spanish ancestry as Philippines has become one of Spain's colonies since middle of the 16th century. Philippines is under Spanish rule for over 300 years, and intermarriages between Spanish soldiers and Filipino servants became so popular, thus reproducing "mestizos" and "mestizas." Some Filipinos retained or at least has evident Hispanic looks while some others didn't but still has the Spanish ancestry. For some Filipinos in the US, I think, they would still claim to have Spanish blood especially if they have Spanish-sounding last names, even they appear to look more of Malay origin, for which most Pinoys are. Some others may proudly say that they are Filipinos of Spanish ancestry due perhaps to belong themselves to the "pretty mestizas and handsome mestizos." In Asia, including Pinoys, a more Caucasian beauty is still considered as "standard," which sadly, should not be the basis at all. Reasons why some spend so much in prosthetics/surgery just to achieve a more Caucasian look. Sad but true. In the Philippines, at present, if you wanna become famous as an actor or actress, you have to at least have the "mestiza" or "mestizo" look. Nevertheless, the so-called standard of beauty has slowly evolved, thanks to a handful of Filipina, Indian and Latina Miss Universe title-holders.

Answer 6

400 years as a Spanish Colony until Spanish American war 1898
most Filipinos are of Malay ancestry the same as Indonesia and Malaysia. there are a multitude of ethnic groups within that ancestry
It is said that most Filipinos have one Chinese Ancestor -- this is especially true of the north west coast.
it is also said that most Filipinos have at least one Spanish ancestor -usually a priest
this is due to the fact that the initial priests that were sent from Spain to the Philippines were third sons of wealthy families and had little commitment to their vows of chastity
It is still common and fairly acceptable to day in the Philippines for a Priest to have a girlfriend.

Answer 7

most filipinos claim to have spanish blood because of their blood line. When Philippines was conquered by Spain for 300 years , there has been a lot of inter racial marriages, not to mention the unwed filipinos who carried children from spanish colonisers. Most of Filipino merchants then were chinese merchants and married spanish because of wealth thus the term Mestizo known to most filipinos with fair skin. You can clearly tell if a Filipino has been cross-bred for their height, color, nose, hair and size of feet.

Answer 8

The spanish conquistadors from spain got around to the philipines and ou know they did their usual raping and stealing like in the other countries they visited so thats why they have spanish blood and some also speak spanish.

Answer 9

Only 2% of Filipinos have Spanish ancestry Filipinos also have American ancestry British ancestry German ancestry and also Italian ancestry there is lots of German Filipinos and American Filipinos you always tell them if Filipinos have American ancestry and German ancestry because they are the tall Filipinos they are taller than most Filipinos.

Answer 10

Sweetie,
The Spaniards were colonial masters that had intermarried the locals. Some are exremely fair to dark skinned. depends the parentage blood through the family tree.

Well I'm not Fillipino, I am able to relate to your questions.
Some of my cousins look Pan Asian. Some look totally Caucasians. Some look typical Asian.