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Information About Philippines - Part Two

Info taken from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Demographics

Over 95% of the population is ethnically Malay, descendants of immigrants from the Indonesian archipelago, and the most significant ethnic minority group are the Chinese, who have played an important role in commerce since the 9th century. Mestizos, those of mixed race, form a tiny but economically and politically important minority. Small communities of expatriates and Negrito forest tribes that inhabitants the more remote areas of Mindanao constitute the remainder.

The people of the Philippines are known as Filipinos. Throughout the colonial era the term "Filipino" originally referred to the Spanish and Spanish-mestizo minority. The definition, however, was later changed to include the entire population of the Philippines regardless of ethnic origin. Philippines is the most ethnically diverse country in Asia.

Ethnic Groups

Malays, they form the bulk of the population and number around 80 million, accounting for 95% of the population. Many live in poverty but many are also in the middle class, they are the workers of the nation. They are the descendants of the early Malay and Indonesian immigrants who settled in the islands before the Spaniards came; at that time, they already had their own civilization and culture and were known to be very hospitable and friendly towards foreigners - but were also known for their fierceness in battle and sensitivity to insults (although a great number still live traditional lifestyles in the mountains and rural areas). The most numerous of these are the Tagalog, the Visayan and the Ilocano. Most speak tribal languages and/or Filipino (based on Tagalog), and the other major languages, again Visayan and Ilocano.

Chinese, most are successful and prosperous business people. They form part of both the upper and middle classes. Their primary languages are English, Chinese and Filipino. They number around 1.5 million.

Mestizos, they form a tiny but economically and politically important minority. The combined number of all types of mestizos constitute no more than 2% of the entire Filipino population. Mestizos are categorized as follows:

Spanish-mestizo, a combination of ethnic Malay with either Spanish, Basque, Mexican or other European. These Eurasians often display Caucasian traits - usually light skinned, taller than the majority Malay-stock, aquiline noses and/or light hair. They constitute the great majority of the upper class and are endogamous, rarely intermingling with those outside their group. They engage in politics or are high-ranking executives of commerce and industry as well as vast landowners, a remnant of the country's colonial past. An almost equally large number are members of the entertainment industry, which they have saturated disproportionately. The biased favouritism responsible for their overwhelming presence in film and television is deeply-rooted on established Filipino "ideals of beauty", determined on white standards stemming from Spanish and American colonial concepts [see Colonial Mentality]. Spanish-mestizos speak Filipino, though English is their primary language. Some have preserved Spanish as the spoken language of the home. They number around 1 million. (Note, there are approx 10,000 pure Spaniards who chose to remain in the Philippines after American invasion. They are usually classified together with the Mestizos as well)

Chinese-mestizo, a combination of ethnic Malay and Chinese. They are usually light skinned and quite mainland-Mongoloid in appearance, with highly epicanthic eyes. The Chinese and Chinese mestizo community, much like their brethren in Southeast Asia, control a significant portion of the country's economy (60-70% in the Philippines). Their presence in the country pre-dates the Spanish and Arab incursions, trading and intermingling with the native population. As the Chinese mestizo community grew and prospered, often in enclaves such as Binondo, Manila or sections of Vigan, Ilocos Sur, the Spanish target them for expulsion or other discriminatory practices. They were a merchant class and today predominates in the business and financial sector. Their primary languages are English, Hokkien Chinese and Filipino. They number just over 1 million.

Japanese-mestizo, a combination of ethnic Malay with Japanese or Okinawan. Many are the decendants of the Japanese Catholics who fled Japan in early 17th century. Famous Japanese Cathlics who fled Japan are Dom Justo Takayama, Juan Tokuan Naito, and Julia Naito. Japanse Mestizos lived in harmony with other fellow Filipinos until the Japanese invasion of the Philippines. Many Japanese Mestizos were killed after World War II. Because of discrimination encountered, some fled to the mountains after World War II while many others changed their names in the attempts to assimilate. Some have completely lost their Japanese identity and others yet have "returned" to the homeland of their forebears, Japan. Most speak tribal languages and Filipino. Many are members of the lower class. There are believed to be between 100,000 and 200,000 Japanese-mestizos in the country, but no accurate figure is currently available.

American-mestizo, the offspring of ethnic Malay mothers and American GI fathers. Amerasians can be found in the upper class, but many amongst the middle and lower classes. Many American fathers (Caucasian, Latino or African) abandoned their children upon completion of military service and subsequent withdrawal of US forces. A good number are offspring of prostitution that grows around American bases. Much like Spanish-mestizos, some with Caucasian ancestry have succesfully pursued careers in the entertainment industry. The combined number of American-mestizos and unmixed Americans is thought to be between 30,000 and 50,000. Most speak Filipino and English.

Caucasian, they are mostly recent immigrants from US, Canada, and other European countries who settled because of economic opportunities. Many are successful and are in the upper class. They number about 50,000.

Indonesians, Most are either illegal immigrants or refugees or students. There are approximately 35,000 Indonesians.

East Indians, they are mostly merchants and belong primarily to the middle class. There are approximately 30,000 East Indians. Most speak Filipino and Punjabi or Sindhi.

Negritos, Aeta are the negroid pre-Malay inhabitants of the Philippines, closely related to the Papuans. They are also known as the Aborigines of the Philippines. They are the poorest and most disadvantaged segment of the Filipino population. Their numbers have been decreasing rapidly. They are thought to number between 20,000 and 30,000. Most speak their tribal languages and have little or no understanding of Filipino. The government has sponsored educational programmes as well as encouraging school attendance, though many of them still enounter difficulties.

Koreans and Japanese, they are mostly recent immigrants who settled because of the economic opportunities. Many are in upper class because of their success in their business. Many Japanese have Filipino wives. They number about 30,000.

Arabs. They are mostly the decendants of the missionaries who came to the Philippines to spread Islam. They number 21,000. Most speak Filipino and Arabic. Most live in Mindanao and Manila.