Social Sciences Project Abstract
CHINOY: A CASE STUDY OF THE MODERN CHINESE DIASPORA IN THE PHILIPPINES
Presenter:
Mallory L. Chua, Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy, 1500 West Sullivan Road, Aurora, IL, 60506; bookme13@imsa.edu
Advisor:
Dr. Christian Nokkentved, Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy, 1500 West Sullivan Road, History / Social Science, Aurora, IL, 60506; 630-907-5961; drnok@imsa.edu
Abstract:
For centuries, Chinese immigrants have come to the Philippines while maintaining their Chinese heritage. While American immigrant groups have been well documented, little is known about nonwestern diasporas and how they maintain their cultural interactions. Through interviews, observations, and compilations of oral history, this paper follows my Chinese-Filipino family through four successive generations as a case study, placing their lives in a larger historical context. My grandparents and their families immigrated into a traditional, tightly knit Chinese-Filipino community, but my cousins today live in a much more integrated, westernized world with French fries and department stores instead of altars and incense. However, they still follow the traditions of their forbears through food, festivals, and family values. By comparing and contrasting stories, as told by grandparents and grandchildren, we can show the gradual widening of the spectrum of social values. The drastically different viewpoints of siblings with the same upbringing are evidence of the broad range of opinions on the subject today. Intergenerational conflicts are shown through tales of marriage, schooling, and child rearing as well as statistical data and trends in popular culture. Through these stories, we can see the evolution of the Chinese diaspora and how cultural identity is maintained.