Second-Generation Filipinos in England
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TRANSNATIONALISED BELONGING: SECOND-GENERATION FILIPINOS IN ENGLAND by MARK OLIVER S. LLANGCO A thesis submitted to The University of Birmingham For the degree of MASTER OF PHILOSOPHY Institute of Applied Social Studies School of Social Policy The University of Birmingham June 2013 University of Birmingham Research Archive e-theses repository This unpublished thesis/dissertation is copyright of the author and/or third parties. The intellectual property rights of the author or third parties in respect of this work are as defined by The Copyright Designs and Patents Act 1988 or as modified by any successor legislation. Any use made of information contained in this thesis/dissertation must be in accordance with that legislation and must be properly acknowledged. Further distribution or reproduction in any format is prohibited without the permission of the copyright holder. ABSTRACT Transnationalised belonging: second generation Filipinos in England This study is framed by the question: By looking at the case of second-generation Filipinos in England, how is belonging constituted in a transnational social field? The study examines external/official and internal/individual representations of belonging of young people in England with Filipino background. First, using almost five decades of settlement and citizenship statistics from both the governments of the Philippines and the UK, the study establishes an identifiable ‘second-generation’ as a sizeable component of the Filipino diaspora in the UK. Second, using 20 biographic narratives analysed through a combination of thematic and poetic approaches the study problematises a notion of ‘transnationalised belonging’. The study argues that whilst they are ‘English/British’, a 'Filipino' self also emerges in their narrated life stories particularly with regard to temporality of events and experiences across the life course, spatiality of communities of belonging, and relationships with significant and generalised others. There are significant moments and significant others that may influence whether a second-generation individual will associate or dissociate with a Filipino self. This postgraduate research was supported by the Sa iyo, Inang Bayan At sa iyong mga anak saan man sa mundo. Sa iyo, Nanay Gloria Salariosa Llangco. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS This MPhil research whilst an independent study benefitted from the generosity of spirit of friends, family and colleagues. It is my pleasure to recognise the support they have extended to see this project to completion. - The Ford Foundation through its International Fellowships Program (IFP) and in partnership with the University of Birmingham sponsored my two-year MPhil programme. My sincerest gratitude for investing more than £50,000.00 (about PhP 3.5 million) to my education and career. - The IFP-Philippines Selection Committee who believed in the members of Cohort 2008 in achieving the social justice aim of the program deserves special mention. I am honoured for the trust shown by Dr Emma Porio, Dr Virginia Miralao, Dr Manuel Diaz, Dean Cynthia Rose Banzon-Bautista and Dean Corazon Lamug (). - My colleagues from the University of the Philippines (Dr Arleen Saniano, Dr Cynthia Rose Bautista, Prof Augustus Añonuevo, Dr Marla Asis) believed in me and generously gave glowing recommendations for the scholarship and university applications. - The Philippine Social Science Council facilitated the smooth administration of the fellowship. I am particularly grateful for the ‘mothering’ of Luisa Lucas-Fernan and Criselda Doble. - The supervision team was ‘expanded’ in the course of my study: Dr Gëzim Alpion and Professor Máirtín Mac an Ghaill gave constructive comments on early chapter drafts. Dr Lisa Goodson and Dr Jenny Phillimore gladly adopted me at the Institute of Applied Social Studies. Dr Sin Yi Cheung, who was my original main supervisor, continued her mentorship even when we were already in Cardiff. - The critical comments of Dr Anastasia Christou and Dr Nicki Ward were crucial in improving the final version of this dissertation. - The Montabo family (Kuya Mhoy, Ate Lea, Ate Nor, Niña, & Angel) in London and Villanueva family (Kuya Apol, Ate Divine, Jhaic, Aaron, Alfonso, & Graezha) in Birmingham were gracious in adopting me as ‘son’ and ‘brother’ since the day I arrived in the UK. - My Birmingham friends and family (Adrian Gheorghe, Benjamin Torro, Diosa Labiste, Vima Pustriana, & Zahira Latif) made an almost solitary life of a postgrad student bearable. - My Ford fellows formed an essential social support: Juan Carlos Gonzalez and Ikin Amores of Oxford University, Grace Dacuma and Mark Molina of University of London, Davelyn Pastor of Southampton University, Jean Ibba and Shalom Allian of University of East Anglia. - Pavel Pustelnik, Ted Deocarez and Iris Acejo were tireless with their friendship. - James Bird kindly proofread a first full draft. - Cardiff University’s Seafarers International Research Centre provided an academic space for me to complete this piece. Dr Lijun Tang and Dr Nelson Turgo shared kind thoughts. - A million thanks are due to the 20 men and women who kindly shared their life stories. - My family of orientation (Mario, Gloria & Mark Russell) deserves all the joy for the love and support they never fail to provide. Maraming, maraming salamat po. TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER 1 TRANSNATIONAL BELONGING AND THE SECOND- GENERATION: AN INTRODUCTION ................................................................................ 1 Introduction .............................................................................................................................. 1 1.1 The case of second-generation Filipinos .......................................................................... 7 1.2 Research questions ......................................................................................................... 10 1.3 Outline of dissertation .................................................................................................... 13 CHAPTER 2 REVIEW OF EMPIRICAL AND THEORETICAL LITERATURE ..... 16 Introduction ............................................................................................................................ 16 2.1 ‘Second-generation Filipinos’: as a concept and research area ...................................... 17 2.1.1 Second-generation as a category of practice ........................................................... 17 2.1.2 Second-generation as category of analysis .............................................................. 20 2.1.3 Studies on the second-generation ............................................................................ 29 2.2 Transnational social field................................................................................................ 34 2.2.1 Groupism and methodological nationalism ............................................................. 35 2.2.2 Framing simultaneity ............................................................................................... 38 2.3 Identity and belonging .................................................................................................... 39 2.3.1 Theorising identity ................................................................................................... 39 2.3.2 Belonging vs identity ............................................................................................... 48 2.4 Sense and politics of transnational belonging ................................................................ 53 Summary ................................................................................................................................. 56 CHAPTER 3 ACCOUNTING WHO BELONGS: RESEARCH DESIGN ..................... 58 3.1 Phase 1: Macro/official narrative ................................................................................... 58 3.1.1 Data collection: ‘counting Filipinos’ ....................................................................... 60 3.1.2 Data analysis: ‘who counts?’ ................................................................................... 63 3.2 Phase 2: Micro/biographic narratives ............................................................................. 67 3.2.1 Story of telling / Telling of stories .......................................................................... 75 3.2.2 Data collection: Biographic-narratives .................................................................... 80 3.2.3 Narrative analysis .................................................................................................... 84 Summary and Conclusion ...................................................................................................... 93 CHAPTER 4 ‘SI PINOY SA BAYAN NI BITOY’: A STATISTICAL NARRATIVE ..... 95 Introduction ............................................................................................................................ 95 4.1 From Manila to the rest of the world ............................................................................ 100 4.1.1 Migration as a history and a culture ...................................................................... 100 4.1.2 Value of a large diaspora ....................................................................................... 101 4.1.3 Filipinos in Europe ................................................................................................ 109 4.2 Mobilities: Filipinos as . ..........................................................................................