Dancers practising the steps of the Singkil

Singkíl (or Sayaw sa Kasingkil) is a famous dance of the Maranao people of Lake Lanao, which was popularised by the Bayanihan Philippine National Folk Dance Company.

Description[link]

The Singkíl originated from the Maranao people who inhabit the shores of Lake Lanao. It is derived from a story in the Darangen, the Maranao interpretation of the ancient Indian epic, the Ramayana. The name of the dance itself means "to entangle the feet with disturbing objects such as vines or anything in your path". It is a popular dance performed during celebrations and other festive entertainment. Originally only women, particularly royalty, danced the Singkíl, which serves as either a conscious or unconscious advertisement to potential suitors.

The lead dancer, in the role of Putri Gandingan (the Darangen name for Sita), graciously step in and out of closing bamboos poles arranged in either a parallel, rectangular, or criss-cross fashion while manipulating either apir (fans), mosala (scarves), or even just their bare hands. A kulintang and agung ensemble always accompanies the dance.

While often erroneously referred to by non-Maranaos as a "Muslim dance", the Singkíl is in fact secular in nature, performed by the Ummah communities of the Maranao and Maguindanao. Initially, the dance was performed with just one pair of bamboo poles, eventually adopting the use of two criss-crossing pairs.

Adaptations[link]

Bayanihan[link]

When the Bayanihan Dance Company began performing the Singkíl, the traditional dance was adapted to convey Western aesthetics. The Bayanihan portrayal, branded as the Princess Dance or the Royal Maranao Fan Dance, became so popular that it is often mistaken for the authentic version of the dance.

A notable variation from the original is its inclusion of male dancers, as pole clappers and in the role of the Prince, Rajah Bantugan (the Darangen adaptation of Rama). Additional sets of criss-crossing bamboo poles were also added.

Further adaptation divided the dance into 4 movements:

• First movement- Asik, where the slave with umbrella is introduced.
• Second movement- entrance of Putri Gandingan, the entourage of female fan (sometimes scarves) dancers, and the Prince.
• Third movement- Patay, which is a slow section, and is a structural dance convention often found in Western performances.
• Fourth movement- the climax in which all dancers dance to the crescendo of music.

Storytelling[link]

The Bayanihan version attempts to blatantly exposit the story as per Western conventions, and re-tells the Darangen. The dance itself narrates a scene in which Putri Gandingan escapes her abductor, the demon king Ravana, and is lost in the forests of Alangka, thereupon being found by her husband Rajah Bantugan. Of note is that while in the original Rama selects the Hindu monkey-god Hanuman to find Sita on his behalf, in the Singkíl it is Rajah Bantugan himself who finds her. This possibly suggests a modification of the original Hindu narrative in order for it to be compatible with the predominant Islamic monotheistic ideology.

Performers would therefore gracefully step in and out of bamboo poles, arranged in a criss-cross fashion while manipulating either fans or simply their bare hands.^[1]

The dance is said to have been named after either the leg bracelets or anklets of silver, nickel or brass with chiming bells of the same name^[2] or the act of voluntarily or accidentally entangling one’s feet in either vines or tall grass.^[1]

Other versions[link]

PCN (Pilipino Cultural Night) festivities held by foreign-based student groups and other theatrical dance companies have modernised interpretations of the dance, resulting in unorthodox portrayals of the 'Singkíl by even the most esteemed Philippine folk dance choreographers.

Some dance companies have even fuse the Singkíl with ballet, or make use of multiple layers of overlapping bamboos.

Films[link]

The Singkíl was performed in the film "The Debut", released in 2001. The film was directed by Filipino American film-maker Gene Cajayon and starred Dante Basco. The film captured the essence of Filipino traditions and the blending of these with modern American culture.

References[link]

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Filipino Americans are Americans of Filipino ancestry, including those who migrated from the Philippines. There are over 3.4 million people of Filipino descent residing in the United States, according to the 2010 United States Census. Filipino Americans make up about 1.1% of the country's population and making them the second largest Asian American subgroup. The Philippines is also one of the major sources of immigration into the United States.

The term Filipino American is sometimes shortened to "Fil-Ams",^[13] or "Pinoy". Some Filipinos believe that the term Pinoy was coined by the early Filipinos who came to the United States to distinguish themselves from Filipinos living in the Philippines.^[14]

Filipinos in what is now the United States were first documented in the 16th century, with small settlements beginning in the 18th century. Mass migration did not begin until the early 20th Century when the Philippines was ceded by Spain to the United States in the Treaty of Paris. The Philippines' independence recognized by the United States on July 4, 1946. Immigration was reduced significantly during the 1930s, except for those who served in the United States Navy, and increased following immigration reform in the 1960s.

Demographics[link]

As of the 2010 Census there are 3.4 million Filipino Americans, with the United States Department of State in 2011 estimating the population at 4 million. Filipino Americans are the second largest population of Asian Americans, and the largest population of Overseas Filipinos. First recorded presence of Filipinos in what is now the United States date to October 1587, with the first permanent settlement of Filipinos in what is now the United States being established in Louisiana in 1763. Since then significant populations of Filipino Americans can be found in California, Hawaii, the Greater New York area, and Illinois. There are smaller populations of Filipino Americans elsewhere.

Culture[link]

Background[link]

The background of most Filipino people is of Austronesians who originated from eastern Taiwan and settled the Philippines. The history of Spanish & American rule and contact with merchants and traders culminated in a unique blend of Eastern and Western cultures, both in the appearance and culture of the people of the Philippines.^[15][16][17]

Ethnic Groups: 91.5% Christian Malay, 4% Muslim Malay, 1.5% Chinese and 3% other.^[15][16][17] As a result of intermarriage, many Filipinos have some Japanese, Chinese, Spanish, American, Arab, or Indian ancestry.^[17]

The bayanihan or spirit of kinship and camaraderie that Filipinos are famous for, is said to be taken from Malay forefathers. The close family relations are said to have been inherited from the Chinese. The piousness comes from the Spaniards who introduced Christianity in the 16th century. Hospitality is a common denominator in the Filipino character and this is what distinguishes the Filipino. Filipino and English are constitutionally established as official languages in the country, and Filipino is designated as the national language, with English also in wide use.^{[18][19][20][21]}

Culturally, the Philippines is a country of diverse ethnicities in Asia/Pacific. Reflecting its 333 years of Spanish rule, many Filipinos were given Hispanic surnames, have numerous occasions titled 'fiestas', and the enfused practice of the Catholic religion representing close to 90% of the entire archipelago. Some Filipinos still retain native surnames, which are characterized by repeating syllables (e.g., Cayubyub) or more frequently multi-syllabic (e.g., Lingayan). The other major religion, Islam, is prevalent in the Southern Philippines (Mindanao) and represents nearly 5% of the total Philippine population. Many Filipinos speak American English due to American colonial influence in the country's education system.

In the United States[link]

In areas with sparse Filipino populations, Filipino Americans often form loosely-knit social organizations aimed at maintaining a "sense of family", which is a key feature of Filipino culture. Such organizations generally arrange social events, especially of a charitable nature, and keep members up-to-date with local events. Organizations are often organized on shared regional associations, rather than based on a national identity.^[22] The associations are a small part of Filipino American life. Filipino Americans also have formed close-knit neighborhoods of their own, notably in California and Hawaiʻi.^[23][24] A few communities have established "Little Manilas", civic and business districts tailored for the Filipino American community.^[25]

Language[link]

Tagalog language spread in the United States.

Filipino Americans speak Tagalog, Cebuano, Ilocano, Kapampangan, Pangasinan, Visayan languages, Bicolano, and other Philippine languages at home. However, an overwhelming majority of Filipino Americans are fluent in English, since it is one of the official languages in the Philippines and many Filipino American parents urge their children to enhance their English-language skills.

Tagalog is the fifth most-spoken language in the United States, with 1.262 million speakers.^[26] Many Filipino American civic organizations and Philippine consulates offer Tagalog language courses. Many of California's public announcements and correspondences are translated into Tagalog due to the large constituency of Filipino Americans in the Golden State.^[27] Tagalog is also taught in public schools as a foreign language course, as well as in higher education.^[28] Another significant Filipino language is Ilokano, which is taught in school as a foreign language course.^[29]

Fluency in Tagalog, Kapampangan, Visayan and in the other languages of the Philippines tend to be lost among second- and third-generation Filipino Americans. This has sometimes created a language barrier between older and younger generations.

Religion[link]

Following the discovery of the Philippine Islands on March 16, 1521 by the Portuguese navigator Ferdinand Magellan, the Philippines was evangelized by Spanish friars, eventually becoming a predominantly Catholic nation and "the cradle of Christianity" in East Asia. Filipino American religious beliefs and values are rooted in their Christian heritage. This is caused by the introduction, and subsequent adoption, of Catholicism and Christian values by Filipinos as a result of 333 years of Spanish colonial rule.

In New York, the first-ever Church for Filipinos, San Lorenzo Ruiz Church, is hosted by the city. It is named after the first saint from the Philippines, San Lorenzo Ruiz. This is officially designated as the Church for Filipinos in July 2005, the first in the United States, and the second in the world, after a church in Rome.^[30]

Socioeconomic[link]

Economics[link]

Much of the Filipino-American community is strongly middle class.^[31][32][33] The representation of Filipino Americans is high in service-oriented professions such as healthcare. A profile of New York City’s Filipino American population, based on an analysis of 2000 and 1990 U.S. census data reported that Filipino New Yorkers surpassed city residents as a whole in income.^[34]

Among Overseas Filipinos, Filipino Americans are the largest senders of US dollars to the Philippines. In 2005, their combined dollar remittances reached a record-high of almost $6.5 billion dollars. In 2006, Filipino Americans sent more than $8 billion, which represents 57% of the total amount received by the Philippines.^[42]

Many Filipino Americans own restaurants, while others are in the medical, dental, and optical fields. Several are in the telemarketing business. Over 125,000 businesses are Filipino-owned, according to the 2002 US Economic Census.^[43] These firms employ more than 132,000 people and generate an almost $14.2 billion in revenue. Of these businesses, 38.6% are health care and social assistance oriented and produces 39.3% of the collective Filipino-owned business revenue. California had the most number of these businesses followed by Hawaiʻi, New York, Illinois, New Jersey, Florida, and Texas.^[43]

At the point of retirement, a notable percentage of Filipino Americans return back to the Philippines.^[44] Amongst elderly Filipino Americans the poverty rate (7.7%) is lower than that of the total geriatric population (9.5%), and second lowest amongst Asian Americans.^[45]

Education[link]

Filipino Americans have some of the highest educational attainment rates in the United States with 47.9% of all Filipino Americans over the age of 25 having a Bachelor's degree, which correlates with rates observed in other Asian American subgroups.^[35]fig.11
The recent wave of Filipino professionals filling the education, healthcare, and information technology shortages in the United States also accounts for the high educational attainment rates.

Due to the strong American influence in the Philippine education system, first generation Filipino immigrants are also at advantage in gaining professional licensure in the United States. According to a study conducted by the American Medical Association, Philippine-trained physicians comprise the second largest group of foreign-trained physicians in the United States (20,861 or 8.7% of all practicing international medical graduates in the U.S.).^[47] In addition, Filipino American dentists who have received training in the Philippines comprise the second largest group of foreign-trained dentists in the United States. An article from the Journal of American Dental Association asserts that 11% of all foreign-trained dentists licensed in the U.S. are from the Philippines; India is ranked first with 25.8% of all foreign dentists.^[48] The familiar trend of Filipino Americans and Filipino immigrants entering health care jobs is well observed in other allied health professional such as nursing, physical therapy, radiologic technology and medical technology.

Similarities in quality and structure of the nursing curriculum in the Philippines and the United States had led to the migration of thousands of nurses from the Philippines to fill the shortfall of RNs in the United States. Since the 1970s and through the 1980s, the Philippines have been a source of medical professionals for U.S. medical facilities. The Vietnam War and AIDS epidemic of the 70s and 80s, signaled the need of the American health care system for more foreign trained professionals. In articles published in health/medical policy journals, Filipino nurses comprise the largest block of foreign trained nurses working and entering the United States, from 75% of all foreign nurses in the 1980s to 43% in 2000. Still, Philippine-trained nurses make up 52% of all foreigners taking the U.S. nursing licensure exam, well above the Canadian-trained nurses at 12%.

The significant drop in the percentage of Filipino nurses from the 1980s to 2000 is due to the increase in the number of countries recruiting Filipino nurses (European Union, the Middle East, Japan), as well as the increase in number of countries sending nurses to the United States.^[49] According to the United States Census Bureau, 60,000 Filipino nationals migrated to the United States every year in the 1990s to take advantage of such professional opportunities. Other Filipino nationals come to the United States for a college or university education, return to the Philippines and end up migrating to the United States to settle.

American schools have also considered the highly-calibrated Filipino teachers and instructors. More US states have been looking to the Philippines to recruit and fill in the need of their respective schools, particularly North Carolina, Kansas, and Virginia.^[50]

History[link]

Five images of the Filipino settlement at Saint Malo, Louisiana

Filipinos in what is now the United States were first documented in the 16th century,^[51][52] with small settlements beginning in the 18th century.^{[53][54][55][unreliable source?]} Mass migration didn't begin until the early 20th century, and for a period the History of the Philippines merged with that of the United States. After the independence of the Philippines from the United States, Filipino Americans continued to grow in population and have events that are associated with them.

Politics[link]

Filipino Americans have traditionally been socially conservative.^[56] In the 2004 U.S. Presidential Election Republican president George W. Bush won the Filipino American vote over John Kerry by nearly a two-to-one ratio,^[57] which followed strong support in the 2000 election.^[58] However, during the 2008 U.S. Presidential Election, Filipino Americans voted majority Democratic, with 58% of the community voting for President Barack Obama and 42% voting for Senator John McCain.^[59] The 2008 election marked the first time when a majority of Filipino Americans voted for a Democrat presidential candidate.^[60]

At the national level Filipino Americans have increased their visibility over the past few decades. Ben Cayetano, former governor of Hawaii, became the first governor of Filipino descent in the United States. The number of Congress-members of Filipino descent doubled to numbers not reached since 1937, two when the Philippine Islands were represented by non-voting Resident Commissioners, due to the 2000 Senatorial Election. In 2009 there were three Congress-members who claim to have at least one-eighth Filipino ethnicity;^[61] the largest number of Filipino Americans in Congress. Since the resignation of Senator John Ensign,^[62] the only Filipino American to have been a member of the Senate, in May 2011 there remains only two Representatives who are Filipino American; they are, in order of election to the legislative body:

• Representative Robert C. Scott of Virginia, a Democrat
• Representative Steve Austria of Ohio, a Republican

Community challenges[link]

Cuisine[link]

The number of Filipino restaurants does not coincide with the size of the population.^[63][64] Due to the colonial period American cuisine has influenced Philippine cuisine,^[65] yet it has been described by non-Filipinos in a negative light.^[66] Even on Oahu where there is a significant Filipino American population,^[67] Philippine cuisine is not as noticeable as other Asian cuisine.^[68] Within television programing, Philippine cuisine has been portrayed in a negative light, such as on Fear Factor,^[69] and positive light, such as on Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations.^[70]

In the United States there are many Filipino American chefs who cook in fine dining restaurants and other places of culinary esteem,^[71] including Cristeta Comerford who is the executive chef in the White House,^[63] though many do not serve Philippine cuisine in their restaurants.^[71] Multiple reasons are given for the lack of Philippine cuisine in the U.S., including a colonial mentality,^[64] lack of a clear identity,^[64] a preference for cooking at home,^[63] and a further preference of Filipino Americans for cuisines other than their own.^[72]

Cultural dissociation[link]

In Hawaii it has been documented that Filipino Americans have a low cultural identification with their heritage,^[73] and it has been documented that many disclaim their ethnicity.^[74][75] This may be due to the "colonial mentality", or the idea that Western ideals and physical characteristics are viewed more positively than their own.^[76] Furthermore, although categorized as Asian Americans, they have not been fully embraced as being part of this racial category due to being marginalized or victimized by more culturally manifested mainstream Asian American groups.^[77][78] This has led to a struggle within observed groups of Filipino Americans to be American and something else, possibly due to Filipino Americans lacking their own defined culture.^[79] It has been documented that within the Filipino American community itself there is a divide between culturally aware members of the community and those termed as "white-washed", which has created difficulty for those seeking to learn about the culture of the Philippines.^[80] For those who disclaim their ethnicity, it removes the positive adjustment to outcomes that are found in those who have a strong, or positive, ethnic identity.^[76][81]

Dual citizenship[link]

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As a result of the passage by the Philippine Congress of the Citizenship Retention and Re-Acquisition Act of 2003 (Republic Act No. 9225), Filipino Americans became eligible for dual citizenship in both the United States and the Philippines.^[44] Overseas suffrage was first employed in the May 2004 elections in which Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo was reelected to a second term.

By 2005, about 6,000 people became dual citizens of the Philippines and the United States.^[82] This act encourages many Filipino Americans to invest in the Philippines, buy land (only Filipino citizens and, with some limitations, former Philippine citizens are allowed to purchase land in the Philippines^[83][84]), vote in Philippine elections, retire in the Philippines, and participate in representing the Philippine flag.

Many dual citizens have been recruited to participate in international sports events such as the Olympic Games in Athens 2004, the 23rd Southeast Asian Games in Manila, the 15th Asian Games in 2006 and the Olympic Games in Beijing 2008.

In addition, the Philippine government actively encourages Filipino Americans to visit or return permanently to the Philippines via the "Balikbayan" program and to invest in the country. Philippine consulates facilitate this process in various areas of the United States. These are located in Chicago; Honolulu; Los Angeles; New York; Saipan; and San Francisco while honorary consulates are also available in Atlanta, Fort Lauderdale, Houston, Majuro, Miami and New Orleans.

Immigration[link]

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Filipinos remain one of the largest immigrant groups to date with over Forty Thousand being admitted annually since 1979.^[85] migrating per annum. About 75% consist of family sponsorship or immediate relatives of American citizens while the remainder is employment-oriented. A majority of this number prefer to live in California, followed by Hawaii, Illinois, New York, New Jersey, Texas, Washington, Florida, Louisiana, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Arkansas, Colorado, Nevada, Alaska, Maryland and Virginia.

Filipinos experience the same long-waiting periods of visa issuance experienced by immigrants of all other nationalities. The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has a preference system for issuing visas to noncitizen family members of U.S. citizens, with preference based generally on the closeness of familial relation, and some noncitizen relatives of U.S. citizens can spend long periods on immigration waiting lists.^{[86][not in citation given][87]} Petitions for immigrant visas, particularly for siblings of previously naturalized Filipinos that date all the way back to 1984, were granted in 2006.^{[88][not in citation given][89]} Many visa petitions by Filipino Americans for their relatives are on hold or backlogged and as many 1.4 million petitions are affected causing delay to the reunification of Filipino families.

Illegal immigration[link]

This section requires expansion with: examples and additional citations.

In 2009, the Department of Homeland Security estimated that there were two hundred seventy thousand (270,000) Filipinos "unauthorized immigrants"; they are the fifth largest nationality of illegal immigrants behind Mexico, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras.^[90]

"Invisible minority"[link]

Of the ten largest groups of immigrants to the United States, Filipino Americans have the highest rate of assimilation,^[91][92] with exception to the cuisine;^[93] furthermore, Filipino Americans have been described as the most "Americanized" of the Asian American ethnicities.^[94] However, even though Filipino Americans are the second largest ethnicity amongst Asian Americans, and the aforementioned assimilation, many Filipino American community activist have described the ethnicity as "invisible" as circumstances encountered by the ethnicity are virtually unknown to American public,^[95] and even within their own ethnicity.^[96]

This description has also been used as a description of the ethnicity in the political arena. In the mid 90s it was estimated that there were about one hundred Filipino Americans elected and appointed to public office. This lack of political representation contributes to the perception that Filipino Americans are an "invisible minority".^[97][98]

The concept is also used to describe how the ethnicity has blended in, as in the previously referenced assimilation, and adapted to the "White norm" and "not identify with a minorit(ized) identity";^[99] this has led to the ethnicity to be considered as "liminal people of color" thus making them "invisible" in institutions of higher education.^[100] This assimilation is eased due to several factors such as Filipino immigrants being predominantly Christian, being fluent in English, as well as many being well educated and middle class.^[101] The concept is also written as something that occurred in the past, using it to describe how there was not a continuous and stable community from the pre-1965 waves of immigration, and that post-1965 population that came due to the immigration reforms of that time.^[102]

The term has also been used to describe Asian Americans as a whole, in multiple fields of study, as well as the concept of Asian Americans being a "model minority".^{[103][104][105][106]}

World War II veteran benefits[link]

Filipino American World War II veteran in Hawaii

During World War II, over 250,000 to over 400,000 Filipinos served with the United States Military.^{[107][108][109]} They served in multiple groups, including but not limited, to the Philippine Scouts, Philippine Commonwealth Army under US Command, and recognized guerrillas during the Japanese Occupation. The U.S. government promised all of the benefits afforded to those serving in the Military of the United States.^[110] However, in 1946, the United States Congress passed the Rescission Act of 1946 which stripped Filipino veterans who served during WWII of the benefits as promised. It is estimated that monies due to these veterans for back pay and other benefits may be in excess of One Billion Dollars (1,000,000,000).^[109] Of the sixty-six countries allied with the United States during the war, the Philippines is the only country that did not receive military benefits from the United States.^[96]

Since the passage of the Rescission Act, many Filipino veterans have traveled to the United States to lobby Congress for the benefits promised to them for their service and sacrifice.^[111] In the late 1980s the first successful efforts towards reinstating benefits occurred with the incorporation of Filipino veteran naturalization in the Immigration Act of 1990.^[96] Over 30,000 of such veterans had come to live in the United States, with most being American citizens, receiving benefits relating to their service.^[112] The phrase "Second Class Veterans" has been used to describe the plight of these Filipino Americans.^{[96][113][114]}

Since 1993, numerous bills have been introduced in Congress to return the benefits taken away from these veterans, and have all died in committee. In the 110th Congress, the "full equity" bills were S. 57^[115] in the Senate, and H.R. 760^[116] in the House of Representatives. These two bills also did not pass at the end of the 110th US Congress, and have been reintroduced in the 111th US Congress. Similar language to those bills was inserted by the Senate into the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009^[117] which was signed into law, providing a one time payment of at least 9,000 USD to eligible non-US Citizens, and 15,000 USD to eligible US Citizens.^[118][119] However these payments are only provided to those recognized as being soldiers or recognized guerrilla members by the United States or their surviving spouse. Those listed as eligible by the US Government is smaller than the list of World War II veterans recognized by the Philippines.^[120] As of March 2011^[update], forty two (42) percent of all claims under this legislation has been rejected; furthermore, the claimant must waive the right to claim any future lifelong benefits.^[121]

Efforts continue to overturn the Rescission Act of 1946 in the 112th, and current, Congress as new legislation has been introduced by Representative Speier.^[122] As of March 2012^[update], the bill has ninety cosponsors,^[123] and no action has been taken since being referred to subcommittee.^[124][125] There is also a lawsuit to be filed by The Justice for Filipino-American Veterans against the Department of Veterans Affairs.^[126] As of February 2011^[update] there are ten thousand surviving Filipino American veterans of World War II in the United States, and a further forty thousand in the Philippines,^[127] with some estimates stating there are eighteen thousand or fewer surviving veterans.^[128]

Celebrations[link]

Philippine Independence Day Parade in 2006.

Congress has established the Asian Pacific American Heritage Month in May to commemorate Filipino American and Asian American culture in the United States. Upon becoming the largest Asian American group in California, Filipino American History Month was established in October. This is to acknowledge the first landing of Filipinos on October 18, 1587 in Morro Bay, California and is widely celebrated by Fil-Ams in the United States.^[129][130]

Notable Filipino Americans[link]

See also[link]

	United States portal
	Asian Americans portal
	Philippines portal
	Society portal
	Social sciences portal

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Filipino Americans

• Balikbayan box
• Filipino-American Friendship Day
• Filipinos of American descent
• Flip (slang)
• Hyphenated American
• Little Manilas
• Philippine cuisine

References[link]