Many Mexicans are often mistaken for Filipinos, and many Filipinos for Mexicans. That’s not a coincidence. The answer lies in genetics, history, and a long journey across the Pacific Ocean.💚
Mexicans and Filipinos often share features like straight dark hair, almond-shaped eyes, defined cheekbones, and similar skin tones. Why? Indigenous peoples of the Americas and those of Southeast Asia share very ancient ancestors from Asia who migrated thousands of years ago. On top of that, both regions experienced more than 300 years of Spanish influence, which added another shared layer of ancestry.
The result: different faces, yet surprisingly similar.
For over 250 years, the Manila Galleon💚 connected Acapulco and the Philippines. It wasn’t just goods that traveled people, traditions, words, and food crossed the ocean too. In fact, the Philippines was once governed from Mexico when both were part of New Spain.
That’s why we still see similarities today: Filipino adobo, rice-based dishes, rich stews, and bold flavors influenced by Mexican ingredients like chili peppers and cacao. And at the heart of both cultures is the same value, sharing food, time, and life together.
The Filipino language also preserves thousands of Spanish words: silla, vaso, plato, zapato, pantalón, cinturón, and even queso and familia. Add to that large religious celebrations, processions, patron saint festivals, families gathered together, music, and food and it all feels very familiar to any Mexican town.
💚The
Manila galleon trade was a 250-year (1565–1815) Spanish trading route connecting Manila in the Philippines with Acapulco, Mexico. It was a vital link for exchanging New World silver for Asian luxury goods like silk, spices, and porcelain, pioneering early global trade and connecting Asia, America, and Europe.So no, it’s not just about looking alike. Mexicans and Filipinos share history, roots, and ways of life two cultures separated by an ocean, yet connected by centuries.
Key Similarities Between Mexicans and Filipinos:
- Shared History & Colonial Influence: Both were under Spanish rule for centuries, leading to a blending of indigenous and Spanish cultures. The Philippines was even administered through the Viceroyalty of New Spain (Mexico).
- Cultural Similarities & Social Values:
- Family Orientation: Both cultures prioritize family, including large, close-knit, and extended family gatherings.
- Religion: Both have strong, deeply rooted Catholic traditions, including celebrating Christmas with similar fervor.
- Hospitality: Both are renowned for being friendly, welcoming, and generous, often prioritizing social interaction.
- Language & Vocabulary: Hundreds of words in Filipino/Tagalog are of Spanish or Nahuatl origin, often used similarly to Mexican Spanish.
- Examples: Tiangge (from tianguis - market), Palengke (from palenque - market), Singkamas (from jícama), Suso (from chucho).
- Food & Culinary Influence: The Manila-Acapulco trade route introduced various foods, with shared items like tamales, adobo (though different, sharing a name origin), pan de sal, and chocolate.
- Traditions & Celebrations: Similarities exist in holidays, such as the fiestaculture, and traditions like the Quincenera/Debutante ball.
- Cultural Identity: Both often take pride in being a "mixed" or mestizo culture, blending indigenous roots with foreign influences.
These shared traits are often highlighted by the phrase "the Philippines is the Mexico of Asia," emphasizing that despite geographical distance, the colonial exchange created, as described by some, a familial, "primos” (cousin) relationship.
