my biggest peeve are pilipinos who call themselves "spanish, white, and asian" . what the fuck is that? can't a pilipino be just that, a pilipino? why do they have to cling to anything that would might misrepresent them as "mestizo"? i found this forum online where this pinay from hawaii states that pilipinos should be considered Hispanic and they need to be recognized as such on migente.com, a latino targeted online community. ((( making that crazed look)) WTF??? (( flailing arms))

To say Pilipinos are Hispanic is to pigeonhole a whole diasporic community. Hispanic by definition means of Spain. To say that you are just Hispanic denies the other cross cultures that makes a Pilipino, which are Malaysian, Pacific Islander, Chinese, Japanese, Arabic, and even African.

People say that we are Hispanic because of the 300 years of Spanish rule. Now think this, did you really think the Spanish came to the islands in a friendly matter? Did you really think the natives were open to change? I beg to differ and so does Lapu Lapu and his warriors who defended their land by killing Magellan and his crew.

You back your stance up with this flowery picture of the Spanish giving their influences like wrapped gifts. The truth is this. They raped our women. They enslaved our people. They killed our children if you were not converted. They took our resources and they destroyed our ancient libraries and tried to kill off our system of writing. (It is sad that not too many Pilipinos know what alibata is.)

So first things first, that is the history.

I do not deny the Spanish influences in my culture. But I do not deny the Indigenous, the Asian, and the African. I am so tired of Pilipinos feeling the need to latch on to some media friendly image. Stop saying that you are Spanish and Asian. Stop saying that you are part Caucasian when it is really your great great great great grand father who was a merchant from overseas came and decided to make a family in the PI. Stop saying that you are Hawaiian when really you are 100 per cent Ilocano that just happens to be living in Oahu -though you ain't got a drop of Polynesian blood.

It is now that we as a people must mobilize and start a movement towards self-determination. Stop picking and choosing the "better part" of your culture and diluting your blood with images of being mestizo when really you are not. Throw away your highschool text book and pick up books from Jose Rizal, NVM Gonzalez, Carlos Bulosan, Fred Cordova and see history in the eyes of a Pilipino.

I just say I am Pilipino...enough said.

deconstruct what you were taught and decolonize your minds and determine your own true definition...

MAKIBAKA, HUWAG MATAKOT!( dare to struggle, do not be afraid)

peace...