Common Questions About The Philippines Answered

IF YOU ARE A REGULAR USER OF Yahoo! Answers, (YA)

or Yahoo! Answers Philippines (YAP)

you might be aware that Filipinos have a regular hangout at that popular Q&A Forum and that would be at the Travel Philippines Section.

But of course like everyone else you could see them in most of the other sections.

Although the Travel Section is unique, as normally each travel section seems to attract their share of those who honestly love the specific place as well as those who obviously abhor it and makes for a good exchange of ideas and opinions. [But nothing (yet) like the mud-slinging and the name-calling one would normally see at the R&S and even the Boxing Section, which many Filipinos also frequent, masochists all I tell you]

Still the travel sections are unique and just a cursory look would tell you why.

However, Travel Philippines is noticeable not in the sense that it does contain lots of legitimate questions and answers regarding travel to, from and within the Philippines, including tips, guides and what to dos, but to the fact that it is home to lots and lots of non-travel related questions.

I gather that with the passing of time and the Global Filipino phenomenon, it has since become an online meeting place among Filipinos and anybody connected to the Philippines in one way or another, and it has become as good a place as any to ask any question that is directed to Filipinos or the Philippines.

And during my time of hanging around there, I could probably be regarded as among the old-timer YAPPERs, as the regulars fondly call themselves.

So much so that since three years ago, when I first stumbled upon YAP, I have considered it a second home and a legitimate way to connect with my roots and with my fellow Filipinos back home and all over the world.

So, wherever you are in the world, if you have any question that you would want to direct to Filipinos or if you are connected in any way to the Philippines or if you wish to visit any of the more than 7,100 islands of the Philippines, then I suggest that a quick stopover at YAP would do you good, especially if you are planning to go visit there for the first time.

Here are a few of the most common questions asked about the Philippines and my own answer to them.

Are Filipinos, Asians or Pacific-Islanders?

This is one of the most frequently asked questions in YAP and I have probably answered this question a handful of times. I admit that I normally am careful when I do as the answer isn’t as simple as it appears to be.

Here is my answer to one such question, asked about a year ago and was chosen as the Best Answer.

... for me, Filipinos are Asians due to the island's geographic location. They can also claim to be Pacific-Islanders because the indigenous people of the islands share a lot in common with the inhabitants of the other islands in that group. And among them shared words, shared culture, beliefs, practices, etc.

And as people in that part of the world moved about so much by boat anyway, during the early years before & even after the Spaniards first came to the Philippine Islands then it is not illogical to say that peoples from the many different islands have migrated to & from all the islands in that part of the Pacific Ocean.

Although, if you are going to ask me point blank this q, Filipinos are Filipinos. They are neither Asian or Pacific Islanders.

http://ph.answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=Ah250EVk.kayR5Cwc4F8q3uxSAx.;_ylv=3?qid=20081206151047AAg6rIk

Are Filipinos Hispanic?

Also a common query, as it does seem odd that you find us everywhere, we look Asian, most of us have brown skin, we speak in English although some speak in an odd accent, we have peculiar habits and have weird smelling food, we have Hispanic names and most go to church, who are these people?

Yes, who are we?

My answer, we aren’t Hispanic, we are Filipinos! Ask that to the millions of Hispanics who lost a lot of their money betting on their own Mexican, Puerto Rican and other Hispanic boxers who fought Filipino Superstar Manny Pacquiao all these years.

Do Filipinos Speak Spanish?

My quick answer, we used to but I’m afraid not anymore. I took up 12 units of Spanish in college and also took it in High School but that’s about it, because we do not use the language in our everyday life, aside from the casual basic Spanish words and phrases that have become part of the vernacular, Filipinos have forgotten their Spanish. And besides for a whole generation now, learning Spanish in schools aren’t compulsory anymore.

And more questions? Go visit YA Tavel Philippines right now.