Integration and maintenance:identity of Chinese Filipino
----A field research inManila
(School of International Studies/Academy ofOverseas Chinese Studies, Jinan University)
Abstract: The ChineseFilipino as a whole has become part of the host society since 1975 when plentyof alien Chinese residing in the Philippines chose to naturalize to bePhilippine citizens. However, the cultural integration of Chinese Filipino withthe host society started to evolve further. On one hand, Chinese Filipino hasbeen integrating with local society and became more and more localized incultural traditions and behavioral habits. For example, Minnan and Tagaloglanguages are the most used languages in Chinese families with increasedfrequency use of Tagalog. Chinese Filipino are now used to celebrating localfestivals like Christmas in the Philippines and taking a more inclusiveapproach to interracial marriage. On the other hand, Chinese Filipino stillinherit Chinese culture and maintain their ethnic identity to a large extent,they still hold good impression and affinity for China. The Chinese Filipino’scontinuous endeavor to inheriting and protecting Chinese culture, the influx ofnew Chinese immigrants to the Philippines, as well as the rising of China andits influence expansion in the world have enabled the Chinese Filipino tomaintain their traditional culture and ethnic identity when integrating withlocal society.
2014-2019年期间,笔者所在的研究团队在东南亚八国(越南和新加坡除外)进行一项题为“东南亚华裔新生代的认同及对华态度与认知”的大型调研,菲律宾的调研是其中的一部分。该研究旨在从历史的视野,考察菲律宾华裔新生代的认同及对华认知。2015年7-8月,课题组在大马尼拉地区的菲律宾侨中学院(Philippines cultural college)、天主教崇德学校(SaintJude Catholic School)以及雅典耀大学的孔子学院(Ateneo De ManilaUniversity)发放问卷。问卷包括30个题目,从文化、宗教、身份认同、对华认知等角度考察菲律宾华裔新生代的认同及对华认知。
族群与认同研究传统属于定性研究的范畴,但自50年代以来,不少研究综合运用定性研究和定量研究相结合的方法,通过问卷调查和访谈来探讨菲律宾华人的族群性与认同,比如魏特曼本人在50年代末期有关菲律宾社会反华的研究。此外,有两项研究尤其引人注目,分别是杰拉尔德.麦克比斯(Gerald A. McBeath)的《菲律宾华人政治融合》(Politicalintegration of the Philippine Chinese)和罗伯特.提尔曼(Robert O. Tillman)的《中国人还是菲律宾人?----菲律宾年轻华人的族群性与政治》(Chinese or Filipino? Ethnicity and politics among Philippine-ChineseYouth), 这也是被中国学者普遍忽视的两部重要研究。