When it comes to representation in the west, it’s the Filipino-Americans who are often credited for it, even when many of the Filipino celebrities we know and love like Shay Mitchell and Manny Jacinto are actually Canadian. But representation for our people isn’t only limited to media and entertainment because Filipinos are also at the forefront of business and healthcare, especially in Canada. The Filipino population residing in Canada is higher than in the U.S., making them the third largest immigrant group in the country. This adds on to the importance of recognizing the nearly 1.5 Million Filipino residents responsible for the successful multiculturalism of Canada.
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The Philippines made history in this year’s Tokyo Olympics with a presence so impactful it made the country’s flag the #1 most used emoji on Facebook! But that’s not the only impressive reason because for the first time ever, the country earned a gold medal thanks to its representative weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz. This was the event that proved Filipinos were no longer just the underdogs of the competition based on performances that catapulted professional skater Margielyn Didal to the finals and three of our boxers winning silvers and a bronze. The Philippines was able to put on a thrilling show for all and it is merely the beginning for our athletes as they break records and international barriers.
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And the award goes to… Not a Filipino! It is truly baffling to know that Filipinos often snag accomplishments at international film festivals yet movies, directors, writers and actors from our community rarely win at major award shows in the west. It’s been recorded that since 1953, the Philippines have submitted 32 films for consideration to the Academy Awards under the “Foreign Film” category. And while the entertainment industry is slowly shifting from it’s racist past and attempting to be more inclusive for minority groups, Filipinos for some reason are still undermined or given little to no recognition at all.
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Do Mixed-Filipinos have a better chance in Hollywood than pure-blooded Filipinos? The entertainment industry in America has a long racist past and honestly they still struggle to shake this off. This is proven by the fact that today’s executives often cast a Filipino only if they can pass as something else (more about this here!). From our crowned Miss Universes to the Filipino-American celebrities we know, a majority of them are actually either multiracial or ethnically ambiguous. Just take Bruno Mars, Hailee Steinfeld, Oliva Rodrigo and Jo Koy as testimonies. Mixed-Filipinos are most often given the chance to represent us before any others. And while we are proud of them, is this the kind of representation we are asking for? Or can we evolve more from here?
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“Maganda ka sana, kung maputi ka’- many Filipinos grew up hearing this and other criticism about their dark skin from their households to their schools or workplaces. Due to our colonization histories, Filipinos have grown to associate beauty and even social status with fairness which lead the Philippines to become an active manufacturer of whitening products. For most of the Filipino immigrants in the U.S, they too are constantly facing discrimination for their physical attributes. But now, more than ever, the topic of colorism within the community needs to be addressed in order to prevent the next generations from experiencing this toxic mindset.
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Are criticizations about our physical attributes a form of concern or body shaming? If you’re Filipino, you’ve probably heard phrases like “tumaba ka” (you’ve gotten fat) one too many times. While it’s nice to know our relatives pay close attention to us, most of the time it gets too hurtful to even know how to respond. And how exactly do we respond when our culture has normalized these attacks on our looks as just “casual greetings”? Sadly, this is nothing new for us as Filipinos have long internalized discrimination against brown skin, flat noses and of course, plump tummies. Can something normalized be deemed toxic? And if it is, how do we get rid of it for the next generations?
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