Learning from the Filipino Gift of Cultural Assimilation

On my recent trip to Macau, I discovered two essential things. One, colonialism can be brutal, but it can also lead to a rich diversity of knowledge and cultures. It may be simplistic to admire the preservation of Portuguese heritage in the historic center and the neighboring Taipa Island, as I am not a native of the territory and cannot, therefore, attest to its actual conditions under sovereign rule. However, seeing and feeling the reminders of European influences, which have been incorporated into the cuisine, language, and city planning, gave me a sense of Macau’s adaptation to and acceptance of a multicultural presence.

This assimilation of varied tastes, customs, religions, genders, and socio-political views should serve as the premise that no country in our world today can afford to remain strictly isolated from the hybridization of cultures. The Internet has facilitated this phenomenon, and we have gladly embraced it. Digital communication links people across all corners of the globe. Intermarriages have fostered cross-racial family relations. There is no escaping the recognition of cultures other than our own. We can even say that the rise of borderless channels has made our planet feel a bit smaller.

Yet, there are those who do not welcome open societies wholeheartedly. The anti-immigration atmosphere we have recently felt in Japan effectively denies everything that this country wanted to pursue in its quest for honest globalization. For many foreigners who have lived here for more than two or three decades, the sudden air of animosity towards an “outsider” presence is utterly dismaying. A Japanese acquaintance told me that Japan “needs to preserve its ethnicity.” This view reflects the growing global voices of supremacism, nationalism, and ethnocentrism that we have been witnessing more frequently in recent years. Indeed, the sympathizers of fascism and the Edo period’s “Sakoku” policies have shown their true colors, at the cost of societal segregation.

On the other hand, the second discovery I made while in Macau was the ubiquity of Filipino workers. In almost all the restaurants I visited, I chanced upon Filipino staff. I would open the conversation by asking, “Are you Filipino?” as soon as I recognized familiar facial features. The moment they knew I was Filipino as well, the atmosphere became soft, casual, and comfortable. The smiles, the ease, and the hospitality that make Filipinos some of the friendliest people in the world all started to emerge. In the exotic Morpheus Hotel alone, I was amazed to find Filipinos as front desk clerks, concierges, bellhops, porters, doormen, guards, and sales attendants. They assisted guests with extra cordiality and distinct warmth.

In Taipa Island, about 15 minutes by car from Macau, the restaurant server was once again a Filipina. She described the common routine of many Filipinos who initially come to Macau on tour packages and end up looking for jobs in the city.

We are a nation wounded by severe colonialism, political corruption, and constant economic pitfalls, but we strive to explore opportunities to survive and grow even in places we never imagined reaching. Our historical roots have allowed us to blend seamlessly into unfamiliar environments.

I’ve heard of Filipinos based in Alaska (don’t mind the cold!), Africa, or on a typically unknown island like São Tomé and Príncipe (ever heard of it?). Several years ago, I was in Montenegro and learned that a Filipina was working on the tiny resort island of Sveti Stefan. Now, a number of Filipinos work in restaurants and hotels in such a remote country, particularly around the 6th-century Bay of Kotor. Don’t we often hear people say, “Filipinos are everywhere”?

Filipinos are not afraid to take risks and dive into perilous adventures, even when we falter. Our resilience against constant typhoons, floods, earthquakes, and the hardships we endured during the Spanish colonization has toughened our bones and thickened our blood. We stumble, but we rise, effortlessly adapting to foreign cultures as a natural way to learn something new.

We commonly attribute our quick adaptability to other countries to our ease with the English language. I believe, however, that the Filipino nature of cultural assimilation (which, indeed, comes to us without difficulty) and perceptive candor are the prime factors behind our flexibility and spontaneity in transnational relations.

Embracing this special capability for cross-cultural integration has provided us with more advantages than disadvantages in daily life. In fact, fully immersing oneself in a foreign society is the best way to accelerate language acquisition and thoroughly master the native tongue.

I cannot fully assert that Japanese people alienate themselves from the English language due to a growing indifference towards overseas cultures (or vice versa), but standing firm in a fixated belief in one’s “ethnicity” while trapped in a bubble and remaining oblivious to the outside world in this modern era is almost equivalent to “living in the Stone Age,” when the foremost priorities for survival were feeding oneself and slaughtering the enemy.

I believe Filipinos have transcended beyond that.

Captions: Photos © Alma Reyes

Sakura Jingu was founded in 1882 by Yoshimura Masamochi, the 65th descendant of the Ōnakatomi family, who established the shrine to preserve ancient Shinto traditions. It was originally erected in Kanda and later moved to its current location in Setagaya in 1919. This relocation helped the shrine escape the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923. Since then, the grounds have served as a sanctuary for prayers against misfortune.

When you’re feeling gloomy in the midst of the harsh winter, remember that there is a special place in Tokyo that can brighten your mood with charming pink sakura—even before spring arrives.

Text and photos by © Alma Reyes

January - February 2026

Winter Sojourn in Fukui

I did not venture into the Fukui Prefectural Dinosaur Museum, also by Kisho Kurokawa, but it is one of the biggest global hubs of dinosaur fossils, with over forty skeletons and animatronic installations.

Check out Fukui on your next spring holiday!

Text and photos © Alma Reyes