The Chinese in the Philippines: Facts and Fancies
Author(s):
Publisher:
Type:
Year Published:
Bernard C. Go
Philippine Sociological Review
Journal Article
1972
Volume:
20
Issue:
4
Pages:
385-397
Keywords:
Chinese, Philippines, Filipino Chinese, Pinsinos
Abstract
Two questions are discussed, namely, what the Chinese in the Philippines are, and who they are. The first is answered by a brief review of the history of the Chinese here, and • by an examination of eight popular misconceptions about them. The second question is answered by a substantive description of the Chinese, particularly the Filipino Chinese, or Pinsino, who was born and raised in the Philippines and currently accounts for at least 80 percent of the so-called Chinese population. By the diverse criteria of two antro-pologists, Amyot and Geertz, Pinsinos are shown to be distinct from the old Chinatown Chinese and well on the way to complete integration into Philippine society. Citizenship is for many of them the only remaining step.