Do you know your Philippine History? “SINGGALOT” Exhibit says, chances are, you don’t…

How many of you would you agree with this statement?

Though there are more than 2.5 million Pilipino Americans in the United States, many including Pilipinos themselves, do not know the details of their history in America.

If you’re like me, you might have immediately disagreed with that sentence. Of course we know our history – it’s in our blood. It is apparent in each branch of our family trees. It is in the Pilipino language, it is in our food, and in our cultural dances, to say the least. For a lot of us, our history could not be any more obvious than in our last names, which may reflect our Spanish or possibly Chinese ancestral ties.

But there it was, printed on one of the first of 30 panels at the “Singgalot” exhibit of Philippine history held in Schaumburg, Illinois. On its opening day on May 15, 2010, I headed to this exhibit, developed by the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Program. The Filipino American Historical Society of Chicago helped to make it possible. I didn’t quite know what to expect from “Singgalot,” and that statement took me aback at first.

But it only challenged me to find the truth in that. And as it turns out, I was wrong. I definitely do not know as much as I should about my Philippine history. But I know I can’t be alone. If researchers, educators and Philippine historians can stand by that statement, I’d say we all may need to accept it as fact. (And if you still disagree, test yourself with the quiz at the end of this post.)

So maybe we do not know everything about our history. But  here’s the biggest truth no one can deny: We are all proud to be Pilipino. And with pride comes determination, and a thirst to know more, give more, and achieve more. This feeling of immense pride is what I took away from the “Singgalot” exhibit. And hopefully over the next few months, you’ll be able to experience “Singgalot,” for yourself.

“Singgalot,” which loosely translates to “The Ties That Bind,” is a traveling exhibit that started in Los Angeles. It is in the Chicagoland area at Trickster Art Gallery, for free, until July 25 and events are planned every weekend as well. It will be shipped to San Francisco next.

Our history and assimilation into America has undoubtedly been rough, which was made clear in the sub-title to the exhibit, “From Colonial Subjects to Citizens.” There were the disturbing images I had seen before, like the like the 1,100 Pilipinos who became the largest “attraction” at the 1904 World’s Fair in St. Louis, MO. It was America’s first major chance to show “progress” under American rule.

The iconic “Positively No Filipinos Allowed” sign from a Stockton, CA hotel was also featured.  Signs like this were posted outside restaurants, bathrooms and businesses in California in the early 1900s as whites grew hate for Pilipinos. They accused Pilipino men for taking their jobs and their women.

Non-Pilipinos at the “Singgalot” exhibit seemed equally shocked about the many wrinkles in America’s history. Time after time, there were images of Uncle Sam conquering the people of the Philippines, as well as Puerto Rico and Cuba. Colonization had its friends and foes. Those against Imperialism, and who stood up for Pilipinos, included Andrew Carnegie, Mark Twain and President Grover Cleveland.

But from those complex beginnings, we have so much in which to be proud.

“Singgalot” honorably does its duty by showcasing Pilipino American pioneers, from the late 1800's to the 2000's. To be honest, this exhibit is a heavy one, but it is something I continue to talk about and reflect upon, and one that I recommend to you should you have the chance.

There’s so much more I could share, but I’d rather you test that opening statement out for yourself. Do you believe it? Do you disagree? And what can we do about it? Personally, I feel more Pilipino Studies are in order at college campuses across the country. The Smithsonian, for example, has received funding for an online middle school curriculum on Philippine history available to any school.

But while we’re on the topic of history, I created this quiz below.  All information was obtained from the “Singgalot” exhibit. When you’re fiished, tell us on the comment board below how you did. Answers are at the end of the quiz, but no cheating!

Good luck! Mabuhay Pilipinas! Mabuhay and Pilipino! (Long Live the Philippines!, Long Live the Pilipino!)

QUIZ:

Do YOU know your Philippine history?

1): The very first Filipinos in America arrived in what city?     

a) Stockton, CA
b) Baton Rouge, LA
c) Morro Bay, CA
d) St. Louis, MO

2) At the end of the Spanish American War in 1898, Spain ceded Guam, Puerto Rico and the Philippine Islands to the United States. How much did the U.S. pay Spain for the Philippine Islands?

a) $10 million
b) $20 million
c) $200 million
d) $500 million

3) From 1899 to 1902, more than 126,000 Americans were sent to the Philippines to end Pilipino resistance to colonization to the U.S. This became known as the Philippine-American War, and continued in spats until 1913. How many Pilipinos and U.S. soldiers were killed at war?

a) 2,000 Pilipinos, 400 U.S. soldiers
b) 20,000 Pilipinos, 1,200 U.S. soldiers
c) 100,000 Pilipinos, 4,000 U.S. soldiers
d) 250,000 Pilipinos, 4,200 U.S. soldiers

4) Who is Jessica Hagedorn?

a) a critically acclaimed author
b) a powerful politician
c) a CEO of a Fortune 500
d) a Pilipina American figure skater

5) Who is Eleanor “Connie” Mariano?

a) a civil rights activist
b) a scientist
c) a member of the Obama Administration
d) a physician of the U.S. Navy

6) Ok, this one’s about you. Name some Pilipino American pioneers in your own life and share it with us below here on BakitWhy.com. We should definitely acknowledge our history and our fearless leaders, but we should equally be highlighting the marks new leaders are making to empower our community.

ANSWERS:

1)  c: The first Pilipinos arrived in 1565 in Morro Bay, CA on board the Manila Galleon Nuestra Senora de Esperanza.

2) b: $20 million. On June 12, 1898, the Philippines became the first independent republic in Asia. But by 1899, Pilipinos had revolted U.S. rule and many anti-imperialists of the United States opposed the acquisition, too. That year, the Philippine-American war began.

3) d: 250,000 Pilipinos, mostly civilians, were killed and 4,200 U.S. soldiers had fallen during the Philippine-American War. While this war is not as well known or written into history books, there were more than 10 times the number of U.S. fatalities than the Spanish-American War. The U.S. spent $600 million to subjugate the Pilipinos, 30 times more than the cost to overtake the country.

4) a: Hagedorn is the author of many books, including her fiction novel “Dogeaters” set in Manila in the 1950s.

5) d: Mariano was the Chief Physician of the White House during the Admiral MarianoGeorge H. Bush and Bill Clinton years. Pres. Clinton promoted her to Rear Admiral, the highest military position occupied by a Pilipino-American. She said, “I am pleased to stand before you as proof that Pilipino Americans in the Navy no longer have to go through the kitchen, the back door or the garage … I came to the White House by way of the kitchen. I come from a family of Navy stewards.”