The case of the "POGO Mayor" of the Philippines, Guo Huaping, who fled the country after being accused of being a Chinese spy and a criminal leader, has sparked concerns of discrimination among the Chinese Filipino community.
Chinese Filipinos, also known as Chinoys or Tsinoys, worry that the case of former community leader Guo Huaping could fuel anti-Chinese sentiment amidst disputes between Manila and Beijing in the South China Sea.
Social media in the Philippines is filled with memes and videos criticizing her alleged connections to the Philippine online gambling industry, which is predominantly operated by Chinese or Chinese Filipinos.
Guo Huaping, believed to be a Chinese citizen, managed to flee the Philippines in August despite facing multiple investigations for alleged links to criminal groups, further angering Filipinos.
Chinese Filipino historian Meah Ang See told that some Chinese Filipinos have already experienced what she calls microaggressions from their Filipino peers, who tease them about whether they know Guo Huaping personally or have any connections to the online gambling industry.
Ms. See, who once served as the president of the Chinese Filipino Youth Association, an organization advocating for the integration of Chinese into mainstream Filipino society, and former curator of the Chinese Filipino History Museum, which showcases the contributions of Chinese Filipinos to Philippine history, added, "We are not online gambling. We live the same lives as other Filipinos. We are definitely Filipino citizens. We are legal. We are not involved in crime."
Some netizens mocked Guo Huaping's accent and appearance, and ridiculed her evasive responses during her first Senate appearance in May.
A Facebook user wrote, "She sounds like she works at a sorting center in Shenzhen," referring to a Chinese distribution center where orders from Chinese e-commerce stores are often packaged before being shipped to the Philippines.
For Chinese Filipino writer and podcaster Cedric Cheng, such comments indicate that some Filipinos still cannot distinguish between Chinese Filipinos and Chinese nationals living or working in the Philippines.
In an episode of the podcast "Now Trending: Conversations About Chinese Filipinos" on August 5, he stated that the Guo Huaping case has triggered a "new wave of Sinophobia" online, which could lead to "hostile interactions" offline against Chinese Filipinos.
Ms. See noted that there are about 1.2 million Chinese Filipinos, making up about 1% of the Philippine population. This figure does not include Chinese nationals working in the Philippines, whose numbers are currently unclear.
Since the first group of Chinese immigrants moved from Fujian Province to Manila in the early 16th century, the Chinese Filipino community has made significant contributions to Philippine history.
Since then, Chinese influence has permeated Filipino cuisine, culture, and traditions. The world's oldest Chinatown, established in 1594 in the heart of Manila, attracts millions of visitors each year to experience Chinese-Filipino cuisine and Lunar New Year celebrations.
Despite close ties, anti-Chinese sentiment among Filipinos has been rising in recent years, especially as Beijing intensifies its aggressive actions against Philippine vessels in the disputed South China Sea.
These sentiments, coupled with anger over the Guo Huaping case, have spread to some Chinese Filipinos. Some have been asked which side they would support if a war broke out between the Philippines and China over disputed waters.
In the same podcast episode, Chinese Filipino podcaster Kimberly Mas shared that a Filipino man approached her relatives at a shopping mall recently and said, "The South China Sea is ours," before running away.
She said, "My relatives didn't respond. But if I were them, I would tell that person: 'Yes, it is ours.'"
Ms. See stated that given the recent tensions between the Philippines and China, this situation is all too familiar for Chinese Filipinos.
She added, "We are Filipinos. Why should our loyalty be questioned? It should be automatic. So, Chinese Filipinos are now rethinking our place in Filipino society. Are we really accepted?"
As the hunt for Guo Huaping continues, along with crackdowns on online gambling companies and geopolitical tensions with Beijing, emotions remain high, and Chinese Filipinos can only hope their compatriots focus more on facts when discussing these issues.
Ms. See stated that the Chinese traditions of Chinese Filipinos should not be included in the discussion.
She added, "When you say anything Chinese is now illegal, what about us, the Chinese-Filipino mixed-race people? What about those Chinese nationals who abide by our laws? It's like lumping everyone together."
"This is exactly what we hope to differentiate."
