Tag Archives: Filipina

Filipina, Chinese, Spanish, Portuguese, Czech, Irish, Scottish, French

hapa294My parents met when my dad (Czech, Irish, Scottish, and French – born and raised in Ohio) served a Peace Corps mission in the Philippines where my mom lived with her family. He brought her back to the United States, where I was born.

When I was seven, my family moved to Salt Lake City, Utah, where most people were white and Mormon.

I remember getting teased a few times because my eyes were “like this” (as kids would pull the corners of their eyes up), but in general I got along with everyone. Continue reading →

Mexican, Filipina, German

Hi everyone! My name is Elizabeth Harvey and am from the San Francisco Bay Area.

My grandma was German and Mexican, raised in Tampico, Mexico, and she migrated to the US in the late 60′s. My father is German and Mexican, and my mother is Filipino. My grandparents on my mother’s side originated from Mindanao, Philippines.

I am very grateful for being exposed to my culture at such an early age. One of the first conversations I can remember with my parents was about how my family comes from both Mexico and the Philippines and how they are similar historically (since both countries were at once colonized by Spain), and how Tagalog (the main language of the Philippines) has a lot of Spanish influence.

I enjoyed growing up in the Bay Area, because I was able to experience different ethnic foods and go to a lot of cultural events. At home my mom and dad cooked both traditional Filipino and Mexican dishes. My dad would play traditional Spanish love songs and show me how beautiful Spanish sounds. Continue reading →

Filipina, Chinese, African American

My Mom is Chinese/Filipina and my dad is African American.

When I was little I did not really think about my race or ethnicity, I just wanted to go and play with the other kids. As I got older I noticed that whenever someone meets me with my parents they ask what I am.

I have never felt ashamed of my ethnicity because I know that it makes me different and special.
Continue reading →

Filipina, Russian, Lithuanian

My name is Ariana Rose.

My mom is Filipina and my dad is an American Jew with green eyes, red hair, and very light skin. He has a mixture of Russian and Lithuanian blood.

I used to shy away from telling people what nationality I was in preschool and elementary school, because I thought looking different made me unattractive, but once I got older I realized that it’s a very special thing to be Hapa, someone who gets to claim more than one background and have their own unique look. Continue reading →

Japanese, Irish, Filipina, American

When I was in kindergarten, some kids sang the “Chinese-Japanese Dirty Knees” song to me. It made my mom sad when I came home and asked her what it meant. That’s when I first felt like an outsider.

It’s been a long road from there to embracing my Hapa heritage.

Some of my ancestors rode to the New World in a ship called the Ark and the Dove; others were samurai knights and Buddhist priests. Continue reading →

Filipina, Chinese, Mexican, Belgian, Swedish

My name is Valerie Neiman-Yu and I was born and raised in San Diego, CA!

Living in California, it is not uncommon to see other people of mixed race. Plus, having my sister and two brothers growing up, I never really felt out of place.

My mother was born in the Philippines but moved and was raised in Monterey, CA since she was five years old. My father was born in San Luis Obispo to a Mexican mother and a white father. They met when they were both at school at UCSD in the late 70s and early 80s. A few years later, they had my brother and rest is history.

I like being mixed-race and kind of like it that I can keep people guessing abotu my ethnicity. I’m proud to be FULL HAPA!! :>

Korean, Filipina, British, Irish

My name is Elina Roberts. My mother is Korean and Filipina, while my father is British and Irish. I have two brothers, Charlie and Korey.

Growing up, there were plenty of people who were Hapa where I lived. I never felt like an outsider, more like one of the exotic additions that were a part of our community. It was a shame to see other Hapa people I knew try to cut out either culture and disown a part of them.

I love it when people can tell I’m Hapa, even though most of the time, they just think I am full Caucasian or Spanish. I love exploring different cultures and all the facets of my identity.

Scottish, British, French, Swedish, Japanese, Filipina

I was born Analina Marea Stewart to a British, French, Japanese, Filipina mother and a father of Swedish and Scottish descent.

I grew up in Buffalo, New York, where there were not that many people of mixed descent. Growing up, I had no other Hapas to identify with except for my sister, Rachael. People always mistook me for being full Caucasian or ‘something they just can’t put their finger on.’ It’s usually the blue eyes that get them.

It delights me when people are surprised to learn that I am part Asian or when they start speaking Japanese to me, a language that I hope to become fluent in. (:

Up until recently, when I moved to Southern California for school, I did not identify as a Hapa and had not even heard of the term. But now, knowing what it is, I  proudly identify as a not parts or bits of anything, but as a whole Hapa.