Are There any Filipinos Out There?

[scirocco22]

Originally Posted by pwright1

I believe Filipinos make the largest or the 2nd largest asian population in the Seattle area.

I think it's third. The 2006 U.S. Census Bureau has the top three Asian population groups in Seattle as:

1. Chinese
2. Vietnamese
3. Philipino

[aussiegal]

I know that there are Filipino folks around the Marysville area - and yes, I had met some of them who worked at the Naval Station in Everett but I didn't know they settled in Eastern Washington and Central Washington for that matter too. Interesting stuff. I can see that the weather of Eastern Washington would be more agreeable to folks used to the heat of the Philippines.

[Redline]

Originally Posted by scirocco22

I think it's third. The 2006 U.S. Census Bureau has the top three Asian population groups in Seattle as:

1. Chinese
2. Vietnamese
3. Philipino

FWIW, I see a LOT of Koreans here on the Eastside. Big Russian/Ukranian presence too (especially in Everett). I still haven't seen many flips since my last post either except maybe in church.

[mustang34]

Washington state has the 3rd highest Filipino poulation in the USA behind California and Hawaii. Filipinos make up the 2nd largest Asian group in the USA behind Chinese.

[JarheadPinoy]

Originally Posted by Redline

Wow, coulda fooled me. I don't see many in the Eastside or Seattle. I do see more of them further south (e.g. Auburn) or further north (e.g. Marysville) and also a lot are affiliated with the Navy.

Filipino-Americans live everywhere in Seattle. Many are independent, not relying on traditional community support you see from other asian cultural groups. That is why you don't see them galivanting around the city supporting Filipino businesses. We support any business that has good value.
I travel plenty around the area and what I see is MORE Filipinos living on the east side than Auburn! There are other places too: Beacon Hill, Rainier Valley, Bremerton/Silverdale, parts of Tacoma, Suquamish Reservation, and Bainbridge Island.
Shoot man, there's a dag-gone bridge linking downtown with Beacon Hill named after Dr. Jose Rizal! And a cool park overlooking downtown adjacent to it! That's the one in front of the Amazon.com/PacMed building.
There is no big concentration of Filipinos like a "chinatown" and there really are no stereotypes that are prevalent. We have been so a part of Seattle's famed history that being Filipino up here means first and foremost you consider yourself a standing member of that community first. Is that not what it should be, here in America? How is it in Canada?

[JarheadPinoy]

Originally Posted by aussiegal

Our family lived in the Philippines for 8 years from 1984 to 1992 and I'm wondering if there are any Filipinos who are members or visitors to this forum and wonder what do you think about living in Washington state after the heat of the Philippines? It's definitely not cold, and wet and sometimes snowy there. Well, except in Baguio. How do you cope? And do you ever get to return home - balikbayans? What kinds of pasalubongs do you take? Are you able to find Filipino food here in Washington? If you have older family members with you, have they been able to assimilate? Are there many Filipinos in your area and do you find Filipinos from other parts of Washington to meet and get to know? Has anyone ever returned home because Washington was too cold, too wet, too (something)......?

The humidity is plenty here in Seattle. The colder climate, to me, is a God send. I like how there are almost always four distinct seasons instead of two.

Going to visit the PI- It's relatively easy to purchase a ticket for balikbayan purposes. The pasulobongs you MUST bring back should come from Pike Place Market. You probably can't send fresh flowers back but one of the few florists that have stalls in there is Filipino operated. My girl goes there for the nice quick arrangements they do. Bring back some Nordstrom shoes. They don't have Nordstrom's in the PI yet and if your friends and family are from the big city of Manila, assume that they have big city tastes and want to show off material goods like most Manila peeps would.

Food- the normal turo-turo joints are everywhere. If you MUST support a turo-turo joint for your foodie fix, go to Kusina Filipina on Beacon Ave. It is hard not to grab one of the many Phil-themed books off the shelf and read while chowing down.

Relatives that are older- bring them to Pista' Sa Nayon festival during SeaFair. Pagdiriwang is another annual Festival located in the Seattle Center/Space Needle area. Another place for older Phils to get accustomed to Seattle culture are the many events that the local Filipino community groups host all around the city. I can't name them all but there are three I know of: United Ilocanos of Puget Sound, the Pacific Northwest Ilocandia Association, and the Filipino Community Center.

Different areas, a different Fil-Am culture: In the Seattle/Eastside corridor, you will find Filipino culture in almost every aspect of society. Many are of the yuppie crowd who engage in city life with a great passion for enjoying all that the material world has to offer. They are only tethered to reality by their contemporaries that are actually contributing TO Seattle pop culture. You want a good pasulobong, get the BAYANI CD from the local hip hop group "Blue Scholars". MC Geologic of said group speaks on topics that are important for our generation. Check out Circle of Fire and the Massive Monkees for your breakdance fix. They have achieved world champion status. Also, it is important to note that MANY movers and shakers in the Seattle nightlife scene are Fil-Am, too.
If you want a more disciplined type of Fil-Am with a more conservative outlook, go to Bremerton/Silverdale, Tacoma, or Everett. This type of Fil-Am culture is less flashy until it comes to constitutional rights.

Returned to sender------many Filipinos move up here to Seattle to get away from the California Fil-Am culture and realize that they cannot assimilate easily so they move back to sunny california. We see them around, we hear their complaints, and they hate the fact we don't see California as the center of the earth. They wonder how Filipinos can live up here in misery but I don't see it that way. This climate tempers the soul and reminds us PNWer's that life can't always be bright. That is why you will see Filipinos here more practical in their expense of emotional cache than California will ever be. Call us a-holes, I don't care. We love it here and glad we are not Californicated.
I have many friends and family who came to WA, bought a home, then promptly moved out once the wet and cold weather hit later that year.

Hope that helped, Aussiegal. If you want more info, feel free to find me on this site. Semper Fidelis.