Early Colonial Accounts of Filipino Height
The two classifications that Spaniards used to distinguish Filipinos is known as
Indios and Negritos
Race classified as the top of biological hierarchy
Europeans
Group of Filipinos who lived in Spain and were activists for their people and culture
Ilustrados
This tool of colonial control was reinforced through depictions of Filipino shortness, symbolizing racial and cultural inferiority.
Height
True or False: Filipinos engaged with colonial portrayals through art, literature, and photography
True
True or False: Early colonials descriptions of Filipinos did associate height with inferiority
False
"Facts" the Spaniards used to justify their own superiority
Scientific Racism, Scientific Race Theory
Philippine Exposition in Madrid took place in this year
1887
This American writer is documented for "inspiring fear in a Filipino youth on the basis of differences in bodily sizes."
Benjamin Ball
Researcher using their own experience as a primary data source to understand a cultural phenomenon
Auto-Ethnography
In addition to early classification, Francisco Colin categorized Filipinos into three groups which reflected a growing interest in racial classification. These are known as
Indios, Negrillos (Negritos), and Tingues (Zambals)
French writer and diplomat that helped introduce scientific race theory
Joseph Arthur de Gobineau
Reason the Ilustrados felt that the Exposition misrepresented their culture, and why it was a problem
Displayed "backwards groups", making it harder for their culture to be recognized
TRIPLE POINTS! This Spanish notion associated the perceived small stature of Filipinos with their diminished social status and child-like portrayal under colonial rule.
Infantilization
In his art, this Filipino artist depicted the contrast between "España" (Spain) and "Filipinas," symbolizing a perceived difference in height.
Juan Luna
DOUBLE POINTS! Fill in the Blank: An Italian Chronicler by the name of _____ is quoted describing the _____ as "fat and short."
Antonio Pigafetta, King of Cebu
Led to Spaniards becoming obsessed with race and evolution, and a need to be superior
Spaniards felt inferior to their Northern European counterparts
Reason the Exposition was officially held
Attract investments to the Philippines
Moya described Filipinos as having a "crushed nose and poor constitution" and Pablo Feced described Filipinos were "without beards and without physiognomy." These descriptions foreshadowed what?
American colonial narratives
This Filipino writer questioned the "scientific" homogenization of indigenous people, yet described Filipinos in terms of fixed physical characteristics.
Isabelo de los Reyes
According to the slideshow, there were 8 explorer-travelers mentioned which contributed to early account of Filipino height. Send one representative from your group to the whiteboard and list 4/8.
Antonio Pigafetta, Pedro Chirino, Antonio de Morga, Juan de Medina, Bartholomé de Letona, Francisco Colin, Juan Francisco de San Antonio, William Dampier
Spaniards who interacted with Filipinos were significantly taller due to this
Military height requirements, Europeans were likely taller in 19th century than 16th
Reason the Exposition was unofficially held
Legitimize Spanish Colonial identity
Describe the Spanish Self-Image.
Spaniards saw themselves as short but framed their identity around cultural superiority rather than physical traits
Despite challenging European racial ideas, this Filipino writer’s novels often portrayed shortness as a common feature of Filipinos, reflecting societal perceptions.
José Rizal