Filipino heritage question?

Question

Why is it always assumed that the mother of a half filipino/ half white child (or whatever race) is a Filipina? My father is filipino and my mother is white. Many times a filipino person will be talking to me and ask, "from which part of the Philippines does your mother come from?" And they almost seemed shocked to hear my mother is a white woman from the US. Are filipino men incapable of being with a non-filipina woman? Is that such a impossiblity?

Answer 1

Thanks for pointing out that kind of thinking. I am also wondering why people assume always that an interracial marriage between an American and a person in the Philippines automatically assumes that the wife is the Filipina and the guy is the Caucasian or Black American. I think that this thinking really shows how ignorant people can be. I think that they look at Filipinas, mostly by Filipino people, only to be as mail order brides or a penpal. Actually, there's a trend now in the US, at least, where Asian prefer to marry a Caucasian rather than a fellow Asian so that might also be a source of misconception somewhat. I hope that this view gets change soon because Filipino men are as capable as marrying anyone he loves as anybody else.

Answer 2

Well, I can come up with two separate explanations depending on who's doing the assumption. The first one is due to historical precedent. Since the Philippines was once a colony of Spain, most Filipino half breeds were the result of a Spanish man either marrying a Filipino woman or raping a Filipina. The chances of a Filipino male marrying or raping a Spanish woman in those days would be very slim, though still possible. This viewpoint is carried over today towards Chinese and U.S. intermarriages. Filipinas marrying into a foreign family is readily accepted than Filipino males, since the U.S. and China are basically patriarchal societies, as long as the family name and line is continued, it is accepted. The second reason is more due to an inferiority complex brought about by the Filipino colonial mentality. For some reason, Filipinos find it hard to believe a Caucasian woman would pick a Filipino over a Caucasian male(Think Brad Pitt). But can easily accept the idea of a Caucasian male falling for a Filipina.

Answer 3

I detect some anger in your post.....but you need not be angry
Filipinas and Filipinos are both known around the world for their attractiveness..... because someone assumes your mother is Filipina is purely statistics......vastly more Filipinas marry westerners that Filipinos marry westerners....
This is a fact that is caused by a variety of circumstances none of which has to do with beauty or the ability to love.
Do not be so sensitive.....

Answer 4

My husband is Filipino and I am your typical American mutt. I would assume that people who ask that are ignorant. Also why would they assume your Filipino parent isn't an American (born in the states) just like their parents.

Answer 5

your heritage is not always the same as your citizenship. please understand that if you mix brown with any less shade (like white), brown will prevail. so in most cases, the mixed blood kids will look more pinoy. please don't be offended by it. no malice is intended. it's just that you look pinoy to us hence we ask you about the phils. you could always correct us.