"Filipino"- a race but a nationality?

Question

Isn't the Philippines a country full of different ethnic groups, cultures, and dialects?

Oops, I meant "NOT a race but a nationality?"

Answer 1

Before the US came to the Philippians there was a Kingdom in place with a national identity.
The US converted the government to a more diplomatic one and except for the problems with the Marcos family; their democracy is on the right track. Yes, they have several different sub-races that make up the country, but they have a true national identity and are in every way, shape and form, they are a nation.

Ancient Rome had a strong national identity and at it’s height and right up until its collapse there was never a doubt that the Roman Empire was one nation made up of a lot of individual nations and different ethnic people.

According to Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nation
“A nation is a group of humans who assume that they share a common identity, and share a common language, religion, ideology, culture, and/or history. They are usually assumed to have a common origin, in the sense of ancestry, parentage or descent.”

In the case of the Philippians the Flipano and Flipina (male and female versions) are the common identity. Tongo is the primary language, the religions differ as they do in the US, they have a common cuture and history and their ideology is as constiant as it is in the US. The people all share a common ancestry and parentage, for the area.

The definition isn’t perfect and like most nations the Philippians don’t fit the ideal, but they are as close to it as any nation in the South East Aisa region. Look at Japan and China, they have some common religions, a common ancestry and descent they also have a lot of culture in common, but they differ greatly in language, history, government, and the most important of all their identity. The Japanese and the Chinese strongly dislike each other and have been enemies for most of their history. This is what truly seperates them. The Filapinos don’t share those problems. It is true that they are a collection of islands, but unlike Quebec these islands don’t want to separate themselves from the their nation. A few fundemental religious peoples may want to do that, but they are in the minority.

The Philippians are more like a union of States similar to the US. In the US we have a lot of Hispanic speakers as well as English speakers, were have a melting pot of races ancestries, and cultures and histories. Our history is only 225 years long and when compared to most nations that is a short time. We don’t fit the European ideal of a nation, but then we pride ourselves on that. If you take in account native Alaskans, Native Americans, and Native Hawaiians then we have an even larger mix, and these were the people that arrived before any Europeans did. Now days the only true indicator of a nation is how the majority of the people feel about their nation. In the case of Iraq the civil war has brought to light that they are not really a nation. Yet the US government claims that Iraq is one nation and they are working with the Iraqi government to keep it that way.

The Philippians may be a mix of people, but they are every much a nation as the US is.

Answer 2

It sure is full of mixed everything. Filipino is not a race, no culture or ethnic group is a race. And when it comes right down to it, there is no genetic marker for race. I'm Filipino, but consider myself a Pacific Islander whenever you need to fill out the nationality part of surveys or anything like that.

Answer 3

Race: Indian Ethnicity: Fijian City: Sacramento Age:20

Answer 4

There is no common ancestry among Filipinos. Though early inhabitants came from the southern lands of what are now Indonesia and Malaysia, there are peoples who also arrived by boats from the mainland Asia. (according to the Filipino Knowledge Channel).
When the Spaniards came, there were already a simple government system called balanghays. Outside of the balanghays are the chinese residents and traders, muslims in the south, and the natives holding high up in the mountains of Sierra Madre, Mindoro, Panay, and Mindanao.
Today, we are a nation of mixed races. You see chinese streaks among us, and blacks, and whites.
do you watch Pinoy Big Brother season 2 ?

Answer 5

"Filipino" refers to a person from The Philippines; thus, it is a nationality. "Race" - a term I don't like - refers to a person's genetic heritage. Most of the world's races are included in Caucasian (white) originally from what is now Afghanistan and southern Russia; ******* (black) from sub-Saharan Africa; Mongoloid from Asia; the natives (Aborigines) of Australia; some of the peoples of the Pacific Islands (Polynesians and Micronesians); etc.

Filipinos come from a number of these "races" - most inhabitants are mixtures (as are people around the world). In the US, Filipinos would be lumped under "Asian and Pacific Islanders".

Filipinos are a nationality and not a race.

Answer 6

Yup! That's definitely true. The country Philippines has many ethnic groups, cultures and dialects.

Answer 7

Filipino is a nationality my dear, austronesian would be the proper racial classification, or even malay or asian. There are many diverse ethnic groups within the Philippines but the majority are asian / austonesian / pacific islanders.

Answer 8

Definitely a nationality and not a race. Most Filipinos would be considered Asian in terms of race.

Answer 9

You're right, it is a nationallity. Just like American, Mexican, Itallian, Puerto Rican, and all the jazz. Nattionalites, not races.

Answer 10

Filipinos don't care about culture and race anymore. What we care is to get the best education and get a good paying job, eat chicken adobo and play guitar.