Filipino-American migration stories

I was born in Manila but have now lived in the United States longer than I did in the Philippines. My family came to the U.S. under the family unification policy of the U.S. immigration system, but many Filipinos come as skilled labor migrants (American Immigration Council, 2024). As a Filipino-American occupational therapist, a trip home after 20 years gave me a new lens of discovery and deep reflection on the many Filipino migration stories I have come to know. I hope these reflections add to your strategies for working with Filipino Americans and with labor migrants in general.  

Filipino identity can bring a sense of belonging that offers community support as we navigate unfamiliar and often unyielding environments here in the U.S. The strength of this identity can depend on the person’s level of acculturation. First- and second-generation immigrants (Filipino-Americans born in the Philippines and their children born in the U.S.) may hold strongly to traditional values and practices compared with later generations. Teens and young adults may struggle with their identity when they experience a culture clash at home and in the broader community.  

The Philippines is a traditionally matriarchal society which is often reflected in Filipino-American families. Women are often the final decision makers in money matters, including housing, education, and health care decisions for the family. Elders are revered members of the family, and caregiving for older parents is often shared among siblings. Sending our parents to long-term-care facilities is typically a decision of last resort. Most Filipino-American families will respond well to careful and respectful conversations as we navigate the contrasting demands of Filipino traditional values and the demands of the American health care system.  

Due to continuing economic instability, the Philippines has a culture of labor migration which can take parents and older siblings away from their large and extended family structures. The oldest child holds an honored position as they take on the responsibility of caring for the family in the absence of parents. Family separations and later reunification create significant challenges to the traditional family unit. To meet the financial demands of families here and abroad, a labor migrant often foregoes a healthy work-life balance that most Americans strive to achieve. 

The history of migration to the U.S. has created a highly diverse Filipino-American population. We are skilled clinicians, engineers, and business owners. We are also dancers, couture designers, and filmmakers. We are essential workers as bus drivers, senior and childcare providers, postal employees, and food preparation workers. No matter the vocation, there is dignity and pride in our labor. Many Filipino Americans send remittances to ensure the health of families, build homes, pay for college education, and even build small businesses back home. However, there is violence in many Filipino migration stories including human trafficking (labor and sex trafficking) and anti-Asian hate crimes.

In 2022, it was estimated that 784,000 Filipinos are living as modern-day slaves all over the world (McGeough, 2022) In the U.S., the National Human Trafficking Hotline received more than 51,000 reports of human trafficking (of all nationalities) in 2021 (National Human Trafficking Hotline, 2021). During the COVID-19 pandemic there was an increase in hate crimes targeting elderly Asians. This was a painful betrayal, and it left an indelible mark on our collective trust and sense of belonging.  

Not all stories of migration are the same. Although there are common threads to migration experiences, each story is unique. The ideas and reflections shared here are one immigrant’s perspective and are not true for all Filipino Americans. The richness of the Filipino-American experience lies in the many stories yet to be told and celebrated.  

References 

American Immigration Council. (2024, June 24). Fact sheet: How the United States immigration system works. https://www.americanimmigrationcouncil.org/research/how-united-states-immigration-system-works 

McGeough, S. (2022). Human trafficking in the Philippines.  https://theexodusroad.com/human-trafficking-in-the-philippines/  

National Human Trafficking Hotline. (2021). National human trafficking hotline data report for 2021. https://humantraffickinghotline.org/sites/default/files/2023-01/National%20Report%20For%202021.docx%20%283%29.pdf  

Cecille Corsilles-Sy, PhD, OTR/L, is an Assistant Professor at the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, WA.