Americans in the Philippines
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- This article deals with US citizens in the Philippines. For Philippine citizens of American descent, see American-Filipino.
The total number of United States citizens living in the Philippines is more than 130,000[citation needed]. Only about 22,000[citation needed], however, are permanent settlers. About 81,000[citation needed] are semi-permanent residents, among such are businessmen, missionaries, and educators. There are approximately 8,000 [citation needed] Americans serving under the Military of the United States.
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[edit] Early American Settlement
Americans came to the Philippines primarily to conduct businesses. Although not harassed by Spanish laws, the American inflow to the Philippines was very minimal until the Philippine-American War. During the Spanish period Americans owned many businesses in trade and the sugar industry.
[edit] Commencement of Major American Immigrations to the Philippines
The American colonial rule in the Philippines has seen major immigrations to the Philippines. Retiring soldiers and other militarymen were among of the first Americans to become long-term Philippine residents and settlers. The Education Act of 1901 authorized the colonial government to recruit American teachers to help establish the new educational system, and 80 former soldiers became teachers. They were soon joined by 48 teachers recruited in America who arrived in June of 1901 on the ship Sheridan, and by 523 others who arrived on August 1 1901 on the Thomas. Collectively, these teachers became known as the Thomasites.[1] Besides English, the Thomasites taught agriculture, reading, grammar, geography, mathematics, general courses, trade courses, housekeeping and household arts (sewing, crocheting and cooking), manual trading, mechanical drawing, freehand drawing and athletics (baseball, track and field, tennis, indoor baseball and basketball).[2] Many of these people settled in the Philippines and had Philippine spouses. By 1930, there were already thriving American and American Mestizo communities.[citation needed]
[edit] Americans in the Philippines during the 1940-present
The 1940s was a period of large scale influx of American residents to the Philippines. However, this was cut abruptly by the World War II. Many Americans as well as American Mestizos in the Philippines were interred and killed by the Japanese. During independence on 1946, many Americans have chose to settle in the Philippines. The Americans had a heavy presence in Angeles City and Olongapo City, two cities northeast of Manila due to the presence of large American bases there.
[edit] Current Population
Currently, the Philippines has a large American population, as well as a burgeoning Amerasian population.[citation needed] The overwhelming majority of unmixed Americans in the Philippines are White.
[edit] References
- ^ Tan, Michael L. (2001-09-03). The Thomasite experiment. Pinoy Casi (columns published in the Philippine Daily Inquirer). Retrieved on 2006-10-10.
- ^ Wikipedia page on the Thomasites -- Curriculum 1902-1935. Wikipedia, the free enclclopedia. Retrieved on 2006-10-10.
