[img_assist|nid=2207|desc=Professor Camilla Fojas|link=popup|align=left|width=150|height=104]

Almost all of us have gone through this experience: filling out a school/job application or information for a website you're signing up for, and you come to the race question.

For some Pilipinos, it's as easy as: "I'm Asian. Duh. Check."

For others, it goes more like this: "Hmm, Pacific Islander seems just about right, I'm not Asian. Che -- hmm. Pilipino isn't under Pacific Islander. Guess I'll have to go with Asian then."

It all boils down to the question: are Pilipinos Asian or Pacific Islander?
[img_assist|nid=2206|desc=Pilipinos just don't look "Asian"|link=popup|align=right|width=150|height=86]
Numerous debates and forums with seemingly endless discussions have occurred on this topic, and there seems to be three prevalent schools of thought.

School of thought #1:

Pilipinos ARE Pacific Islanders

• we have similar political relationships to the U.S. as the Pacific Island cultures
• some Pacific Island history originated in the Philippines
• Pilipinos evolved differently from other Asian countries (just look at how many flags the Philippines has gone through!)
• and some think we just don't look "Asian" enough 

School of thought #2:

Pilipinos AREN'T Pacific Islanders 

• we're closer in proximity to Asia
• the U.S. Census (and Wikipedia) definitions of Pacific Islander clearly state only people from Oceania are Pacific Islanders
• the Pilipino culture originated from a Muslim, Indonesian, and Malaysian culture, all of which can be found within the Asian continent.

School of thought #3:

Pilipinos are Pilipinos because we just can't fit in either category.

To answer this question, I started off by asking college-aged Pilipinos what they thought Pilipinos are. Then, to get an expert's opinion, I talked to Professor Camilla Fojas of DePaul University in Chicago, who is a mestiza Pilipina born in Hawaii.

Check out the interviews:

^{Song credit: "Ako Ay Pilipino" by Kuh Ledesma.}