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THE CHANGING IDENTITY OF THE PHILIPPINE CHINESE, 1946-1984
- Hong Kong University Press, HKU
- Chapter
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THE CHANGIN G IDENTIT Y O F TH E PHILIPPINE CHINESE , 1946-198 4 Antonio S. Tan INTRODUCTION World War II brought to an abrupt conclusion one period in the history of the Chinese i n th e Philippine s an d opene d th e doo r t o anothe r o f a muc h different order . Before 1946 there was a general consensus about the identit y of the Chines e i n Southeas t Asi a o r what constitute d 'Chineseness' . I t wa s defined i n term s o f self-identification : 'al l wh o though t o f themselve s a s Chinese wer e Chinese' . Whethe r a s immigran t o r local-bor n resident , th e Chinese i n th e Philippines , i n commo n wit h th e Chines e elsewher e i n Southeast Asia , wer e consciou s o f themselve s a s Chines e wh o ha d a homeland an d wh o adhere d t o Chines e custom s an d cultura l traditions . Later, the y wer e consciou s o f their ne w found racia l an d nationa l identit y during the heyday o f modem nationalis m i n Chin a in th e 1920 s and 1930s . After 1946 , however, these sam e Chinese peopl e throughout Southeas t Asi a changed a s the y grope d fo r ne w identities . Th e interactio n o f interna l trends a t hom e i n eac h countr y i n Southeas t Asi a an d externa l developments abroa d i n thei r origina l homelan d i n Chin a playe d a crucia l role i n shapin g th e changin g Chines e identitie s eve n a s they cam e t o grip s with the nationalism o f their place of residence in Southeast Asia.1 This pape r attempt s t o describ e an d analyz e th e force s whic h hav e impinged on , an d moulde d th e Chines e i n th e Philippine s durin g th e pas t four decades. Furthermore, the paper will also show the trends and potentia l forces tha t wil l transfor m the m i n th e future . Lookin g back on e ca n full y recognize and appreciate th e changes in identity experienced by the Chines e residents. I n thos e fou r decade s on e see s thei r transitio n fro m a Chines e identity t o a Filipin o identity , eithe r throug h law , throug h cultura l commitment, o r both . Th e variet y o f way s i n whic h th e variou s Chines e generations responde d t o changin g time s an d politica l climate s an d assumed ne w identities i s the subjec t o f this paper. Pu t simply , it seek s t o answer the question: How did the Chinese come to be the way they are toda y and what might they be tomorrow? Actually, th e change s i n identit y wer e two-fold , an d i n a sens e paradoxical a s the papers of Professor Chinbe n See and t o a lesser exten t of Professor Edga r Wickber g show. 2 One aspec t o f the change , whic h i s th e focus o f my paper, wa s the decisiv e trend toward s Chines e integratio n an d assimilation int o th e mainstrea m o f Philippine society . Wit h thi s cam e a 178 ANTONIO S . TA N corresponding declin e i n th e influenc e o f th e ol d Chines e cultura l traditions i n the lives of the new Chinese generation wh o grew up and wer e nurtured i n th e Filipin o environment . Though i t is accurate to observe that the old Chinese cultural forms ha d less influence o n the new generation o f Chinese, it cannot be denied that th e older generation' s concer n fo r th e ol d Chines e institution s di d no t fal l off . While th...