The Tsinoy (Chinese-Filipino) Experience

Join CHSA and Bahay Tsinoy (the Museum of Chinese in Philippine Life) for a conversation on the history of the Chinese in the Philippines.

Tsinoy is the contemporary Tagalog term to refer to Filipinos of Chinese ancestry, though for centuries, Chinese peoples have migrated to the Philippines and established one of the largest overseas Chinese communities in Southeast Asia. In 2013, there were reportedly 1.35 million tsinoy in the Philippines.

This Filipino American History Month, we explore the history of the Chinese in the Philippines and the transpacific connection between these two populations and the United States. In presentation with Bahay Tsinoy (the Museum of Chinese in Philippine Life) and Dr. Richard Chu, we will uncover the complexities that helped make up this dynamic populace, including:

• the early history of U.S. colonization of the Philippines
• the relatively unknown consequences of the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 to the Philippines, a colony of the U.S. until 1946
• the ways in which the Chinese circumvented this law
• Chinese exclusion laws in the Philippines

The Chinese Exclusion Act’s effects would ultimately change the demographics of the tsinoy for decades to come.

Join CHSA on Sunday, October 17th at 2pm PT to learn more about the common histories of Chinese Americans and Chinese Filipinos. The presentation also will spotlight contemporary inter-ethnic relationships in the Philippines and a live Q&A discussion with the audience.

Program Speakers

Meah Ang See

Meah is the Director of Bahay Tsinoy, Museum of Chinese in Philippine life and a past president of Chinese-Filipino organization, Kaisa Para Sa Kaunlaran (Unity for Progress). She teaches Education courses under the College of Education, De La Salle University, Philippines. She is currently taking doctoral studies at Lesley University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA. Her work in the fields of culture and education spans 20 years and includes engagement with the public-school sector and other museums around the country and abroad. Most recently, she undertook many training activities on handling online classes and preparing online content for pandemic schooling.

Dr. Richard T. Chu

Richard received his A.B. from Ateneo de Manila University, his M.A. from Stanford University, and his Ph.D. from the University of Southern California. His research and publications focus on the history of the Chinese and Chinese mestizos in the Philippines and of the different Chinese diasporic communities in the world, centering on issues of race, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, empire, and nationalism. He also teaches a course in which his students undertake an oral history project that chronicles the lives of Bhutanese, Filipino, Vietnamese, Cambodian, and Chinese individuals living in western Massachusetts.

About Bahay Tsinoy Museum

Bahay Tsinoy is a lasting repository of the historical and cultural legacy of the Chinese in all aspects of Philippine life. It highlights the unique blending of Filipino and Chinese cultures and the intertwining destinies of the two peoples throughout history.

Registration Information

• Tickets are available for free with a suggested donation of $10 to support CHSA.
• Members can register for CHSA programs for free! Check your monthly Members Newsletter for the access code. Click here to register for membership.
• Space is limited; we encourage you to get your ticket early.
• If you are purchasing tickets for multiple viewers in different locations, please register your friend or family member’s email address so that the ticket is sent to them for the program.
• Please contact CHSA if you have any difficulties registering your friend/family member before the start of the event.