Transnationalised belonging: second-generation Filipinos in England

282 Pages·2013·2.4 MB·English

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This unpublished thesis/dissertation is copyright of the author and/or third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 . . . ........................................................................................... 113
4.2.1 . . . passengers to UK border.................................................................................. 113
4.2.2 . . . persons living in the UK .................................................................................. 115
4.3 Fixities: Filipinos as . . . ............................................................................................... 122
4.3.1 . . . permanent residents ......................................................................................... 122
4.3.2 . . . naturalised British citizens............................................................................... 124
4.3.3 . . . citizens of two countries .................................................................................. 127
4.3.4 . . . organised groups .............................................................................................. 128
Conclusion ............................................................................................................................. 129
CHAPTER 5 ‘BATTLE OF HERITAGES’: LOCATING THE SECOND-
GENERATION IN THEIR SPHERES OF BELONGING .............................................. 131
Introduction .......................................................................................................................... 131
5.1 Temporal sphere ........................................................................................................... 133
5.1.1 Children of first-generation labour-migrant parents .............................................. 133
5.1.2 Bloodlines, migration and generation .................................................................... 136
5.1.3 Negotiating belonging across a life course ............................................................ 143
5.2 Spatial sphere ................................................................................................................ 149
5.2.1 Conceptualising community .................................................................................. 149
5.2.2 The Philippines and Filipino spaces ...................................................................... 154
5.2.3 The UK and British/English spaces ....................................................................... 159
5.3 Relational sphere .......................................................................................................... 162
5.3.1 Significant others ................................................................................................... 162
5.3.2 Generalised others ................................................................................................. 167
5.4 Theorising belonging: a discussion .............................................................................. 172
5.4.1 Sense of belonging and ‘Being-at-home’ ............................................................. 173
5.4.2 Politics of belonging: ............................................................................................. 176
CHAPTER 6 VOICES OF TRANSNATIONALISED BELONGING: FOUR
ANALYTIC EXAMPLES .................................................................................................... 180
Introduction .......................................................................................................................... 180
6.1 Ellie ............................................................................................................................... 184
6.1.1 Biographical Sketch ............................................................................................... 184
6.1.2 I-poem Analysis ..................................................................................................... 185
6.1.3 We-poem Analysis ................................................................................................ 186
6.2 Jesse .............................................................................................................................. 188
6.2.1 Biographical Sketch ............................................................................................... 188
6.2.2 I-poem Analysis ..................................................................................................... 189
6.2.3 We-poem Analysis ................................................................................................ 191
6.3 Martin ........................................................................................................................... 192
6.3.1 Biographical Sketch ............................................................................................... 192
6.3.2 I-poem Analysis ..................................................................................................... 193
6.3.3 We-poem Analysis ................................................................................................ 195
6.4 Marie ............................................................................................................................. 197
6.4.1 Biographical Sketch ............................................................................................... 197
6.4.2 I-poem Analysis ..................................................................................................... 199
6.4.3 We-poem Analysis ................................................................................................ 201
6.5 Discussion ..................................................................................................................... 202
CHAPTER 7 CONCLUSION ............................................................................................ 207
7.1 Summary of Key Findings ............................................................................................ 208
7.2 Pathways to Impact ....................................................................................................... 213
7.3 Directions for Future Research ..................................................................................... 216