The Filipino Immigrant Experience |
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Of the 3 million Filipinos living in the U.S., some 1.6 million are immigrants, of which more than a quarter have arrived in just the last 10 years. In this issue, we continue our New Immigrant Survival Guide, a series of articles intended to help new Filipino immigrants adjust to life in the U.S. The first article in the series covered the While many of the previous articles focused more on what Filipino immigrants have in common, this month’s article discusses factors that may cause one Filipino immigrant to have a very different experience from another. Our hope is that this series of articles will be helpful to both recent immigrants and to those interested in helping loved ones make the adjustment to life in the U.S. |
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New Immigrant Survival Guide: The Filipino Immigrant Experience
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Factors Influencing the |
Discussion |
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Where you live |
Over two-thirds of Philippine immigrants live in just five states (California, Hawaii, New York, New Jersey, and Illinois), so if you live in one of these states, you may have ongoing contact with other Filipinos and access to Philippine restaurants and cultural activities. In other parts of the U.S., there may be very few Filipinos in your area, which might necessitate a more rapid assimilation to American culture. |
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Where you work |
Where you work can have a significant influence on your immigrant experience because so much of our time is spent at work. Factors include the size of the organization, the company culture and values, the diversity of the workplace (e.g., are the majority of your co-workers Filipinos, are there no other Filipinos, or is there significant diversity), whether English or Tagalog is spoken at work, and the nature of your work relationships. |
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Where your family is |
If your family is here in the U.S., your immigrant experience will be much different than if you are here on your own and your family is in the Philippines. For those of you here on your own, you are more likely to face the challenge of getting established in your new country and establishing a support group. |
These factors may create a different immigrant experience for each individual. There are pros and cons, and much depends on the individual. For many, the transition to a new country is likely to be easier if they live in an area with a high concentration of Filipinos, work in a job with other Filipinos, and/or live here with their family. These new immigrants may benefit from the guidance of friends and family who have already learned how to navigate in their new country. The familiarity of language and culture can also be reassuring, so new immigrants may be less likely to be as homesick. If they live in a predominantly Filipino neighborhood, they may, however, miss out on some of the diversity of American culture.
Those who come to the U.S. on their own and have little contact with other Filipinos in their communities and jobs, often have a more difficult transition to their new country. These pioneering individuals must learn to be resourceful. By necessity, these immigrants quickly become acclimated to the American way of life.
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