IMSCF Syndrome

[Pinay]

IMSCF Syndrome is a non-academic term that relates to a unique form of institutionalised identity crisis resulting in a phenomenon of ethnic forgery amongst overseas Filipinos. It is most common among Filipinos residing in Western countries such as Filipino Americans in the United States, as well as Filipinos in the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada and Europe.
IMSCF Syndrome specifically refers to the tendency of many Filipinos, when questioned about their ancestry and national origin, to recite the phrase "I'm Spanish, Chinese, Filipino".
The name of the syndrome itself is an acronym formed from the first letters of this recited phrase.
The symptoms of those afflicted by the syndrome are said to be detected when Filipinos of no Spanish and/or Chinese ancestry whatsoever claim to be a mixture of these ancestries; usually in the precise descending order of Spanish first, Chinese second and Filipino third.
This tendency is said to stem from the aspiration of Filipinos to better their perceived pedigree to conform to the standards and ideals of their adoptive countries.
Views on the origins and prevalence of the syndrome are attributed to the negative international image of the Philippines and to the lack, or invisibility, of Filipino role models in America and abroad for expatriate Filipino communities. As a result of this, numerous Filipino American youth are often said to downplay, deny or outright fake their ancestry. The origins of the syndrome, however, can be traced further back in history to the already existing colonial mentality phenomenon of the Philippines, and can be viewed as a manifestation of this mentality taken on a new form in their new places of residence.

I have a co-worker who is a victim of this syndrome. Claims to have quarter Portugese blood and seems to have forgotten to speak her native Pilipino language. Eh, lumaki naman sya sa Pinas!
I supposed she woke up one morning and voila! - she no longer has the aility to speak Pilipino. Did the cat get her Pilipino tongue?

[richie]

ikinahihiya ang tunay na lahi. this is one of the few things that makes my blood boil.

Medyo maiba tayo. When I was a teenager, we lived near the sea and since I see the sea everyday, I didn't appreciate it much. It seemed, nandiyan ka naman, nandito rin ako. When I came to Japan and lived in the urban area, masyadong dynamic ang buhay at parang sinasakal sa mga konkretong nakapaligid. Noon ko naramdaman na sobrang namimis ko ang dagat. How beautiful and relaxing the sea was.

The Philippines is amazing!! its an oasis para sa mga nature lovers!

[Raiden]

Hi Pinay.

Here's another article about IMSCF Syndrome from Wiki.

When someone asks where I'm from (pretty common question here in the US), my reply is always I'm from the Philippines.

And when someone approaches me and start speaking to me in Chinese, my reply is always

"No Habla Chinese."

Just kidding. I just tell them "wo zhi hui jiang yi dian zhong wen." Means, I know very little Mandarin.