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IMSCF Syndrome is a controversial non-academic term that relates to a widely observed but scarcely formally documented phenomenon of identity crisis first observed amongst some overseas Filipino with no Spanish or Chinese ancestry; but also prevalent in their ancestral homeland of the Philippine, resulting in a unique form of institutionalized ethnic or ancestral forgery.^{[citation needed]} It is most common among some unmixed Filipinos of Austronesian Malay origin, residing in Western countries; such as Filipino-Americans in the United States, as well as Filipinos in Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, and Europe.^{[citation needed]} Image File history File links Circle-question. ... Image File history File links Information_icon. ... Image File history File links Information_icon. ... Plato is credited with the inception of academia: the body of knowledge, its development and transmission across generations. ... The Austronesian languages are a family of languages widely dispersed throughout the islands of Southeast Asia and the Pacific, with a few members spoken on continental Asia. ... Look up Malay in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... The term Western World or the West can have multiple meanings depending on its context. ... It has been suggested that List of U.S. cities with large Filipino American populations be merged into this article or section. ... World map showing Europe A satellite composite image of Europe Europe is one of the six inhabited continents of the Earth. ...

The IMSCF Syndrome specifically refers to the tendency of Austronesian Filipinos with no Spanish or Chinese ancestry, 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 condition are said to be detected when a Filipino of no Spanish and/or Chinese ancestry, claim to be a mixture of these ancestries; usually in the precise descending order of Spanish first, Chinese second and Filipino third.

Origins

The syndrome is said to stem from the view of unmixed Filipinos with no Spanish or Chinese ancestry, to elevate their perceived pedigree to conform to the standards and ideals of their adoptive countries. The origins of the syndrome, however, can be traced further back in history to the colonial mentality of the indigenous peoples of the Philippines.^{[citation needed]} Colonial mentality refers to institutionalised or systemic feelings of inferiority within some societies or peoples who have been subjected to colonialism, relative to the mores or values of the foreign powers which had previously subjugated them. ...

The topic of ancestry among Filipinos is often a controversial subject. Influenced by factors stemming from colonial mentality, the trend in the Philippines has always been to place emphasis on any foreign blood, especially European (Spanish or white American) and to exalt it, and when in the overwhelming majority of cases none was there, to invent it. To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ...

Some modern day Filipino families of non-European ancestry have a tradition of handing down oral accounts of Mestizo ancestry, including having Spanish forebearers with no evidences of ancestral Spanish descent in their genes; other than having a Spanish surname. The majority of Filipinos with Spanish or Spanish-spelled names and surnames acquired them as a result of the Catálogo alfabético de apellidos (“Alphabetical Catalog of Surnames”) decreed in 1849 which was imposed on all Filipinos by the Spanish royal courts. Only a tiny minority of Filipinos can thus claim possession of their Spanish name and surname from beyond that year.^[1] Mestizo (Portuguese, Mestiço; French, Métis: from Late Latin mixticius, from Latin mixtus, past participle of miscere, to mix) is a term of Spanish origin used to designate the people of mixed European and indigenous non-European ancestry. ... The Catálogo Alfabético de Apellidos (English: Alphabetical Catalogue of Surnames) is a book of surnames that was published in the colonial era Philippines after a decree for the systematic distribution of family names and the implementation of the Spanish naming system on the inhabitants of the Philippines. ... 1849 was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ...

The continuing prevalence of the syndrome is attributed to the negative mentalities of some peoples of the Philippines and to the lack, or invisibility, of native Filipino role models in the United States or abroad for expatriate Filipino communities.^{[citation needed]} An expatriate (in abbreviated form, expat) is a person temporarily or permanently residing in a country and culture other than that of his upbringing or legal residence. ...

Views

Because of IMSCF Syndrome, there is a not too uncommon view held of Filipinos as lacking pride in their of their ancestral origins.^[2][3]. They may sometimes be seen as being all to readily anxious in classifying themselves as anything other than Filipino, or at the very least not as a pure Filipino. Some non-hispanic Filipinos are further said to attempt to falsely identify themselves as either Hispanics or Pacific Islanders as their ethnicity to avoid aligning themselves with identifying as Asian peoples. This is most commonly practiced amongst many Filipino-Americans living in the United States and Hawai'i. Hawai'i's Filipino populations with no Spanish ancestry have attempted the literal erasure of their ethnic Filipino element from their ancestral genetic background, replacing it with native Hawaiian.^{[citation needed]}. The Hispanic world Hispanic (Spanish Hispano, from Latin Hispānus, adjective from Hispānia, Iberian Peninsula) is a term denoting a derivation from Spain, its people and culture. ... A Pacific Islander or Pacific Person (plural: Pacific People, also called Oceanic[s]), is a term used in several places, such as New Zealand and the United States, to describe the inhabitants of Oceania. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Asian people. ... State nickname: The Aloha State Other U.S. States Capital Honolulu Largest city Honolulu Governor Linda Lingle Official languages Hawaiian and English Area 28,337 km² (43rd)  - Land 16,649 km²  - Water 11,672 km² (41. ... In April of 1990, Daniel K. Akaka became the first native Hawaiian and Chinese American to serve in the United States Congress as a Senator from the State of Hawaii. ...

Who actually is “Spanish, Chinese, and Filipino”?

Main article: Spanish-Filipinos

Main article: Tornatras

According to recent Philippine government sources, and past and present census data, there are 17,000 Spanish people living in the Philippines and the combined number of all types of mestizos constitute no more than 3% of the entire Filipino population. Of that 3%, half are of Spanish origin. Spanish mestizos are estimated to be around 2% of the entire Philippine population, while Chinese and Chinese mestizo combined are estimated at around 3%, with the majority of the population (95%) being ethnic Filipinos of Austronesian origin. Spanish-Filipinos are Philippine citizens of Spanish descent, regardless of ethnolinguistic affiliation, and including, but not limited to, mestizos. ... Tornatras is a term denoting a Eurasian person of mixed Spanish and Chinese descent in the Philippines. ... According to the 2000 Census, the population of the Philippines was 76,504,077. ... Mestizo (Portuguese, Mestiço; French, Métis: from Late Latin mixticius, from Latin mixtus, past participle of miscere, to mix) is a term of Spanish origin used to designate the people of mixed European and indigenous non-European ancestry. ... Mestizo (Portuguese, Mestiço; French, Métis: from Late Latin mixticius, from Latin mixtus, past participle of miscere, to mix) is a term of Spanish origin used to designate the people of mixed European and indigenous non-European ancestry. ...

A recent genetic study by Stanford University indicates that only 3.6% of the Philippine population actually possesses European ancestry^[4], among these, the average amount of European ancestry was not specified. Stanford redirects here. ...

See also

• Self-hatred
• Passing (racial identity)
• Colonial mentality
• Catálogo alfabético de apellidos
• Philippines
• Filipino people
• Overseas Filipino
  • Filipino-Americans

It has been suggested that Self-loathing be merged into this article or section. ... The examples and perspective in this article or section may not represent a worldwide view. ... Colonial mentality refers to institutionalised or systemic feelings of inferiority within some societies or peoples who have been subjected to colonialism, relative to the mores or values of the foreign powers which had previously subjugated them. ... The Catálogo Alfabético de Apellidos (English: Alphabetical Catalogue of Surnames) is a book of surnames that was published in the colonial era Philippines after a decree for the systematic distribution of family names and the implementation of the Spanish naming system on the inhabitants of the Philippines. ... Filipinos, or the Pilipino (translated to the vernacular), pertains to the citizens and natives of any of the 7,000 islands of the Philippines, an archipelago located in the Asia-Pacific. ... Flag-carriers at the 2006 Philippine Independence Day Parade in New York City. ... In 1998, Benjamin J. Cayetano became the first Filipino American (and second Asian American after Governor George R. Ariyoshi) to be elected state Governor of the United States. ...

References

External links

• American Chronicle Article on the idealization of mestizo beauty in contemporary Philippines.
• The Sunday Times, Manila Everyone’s idol; Jasmine Trias accused of harboring IMSCF Syndrome.
• Filipino Identity An analysis of IMSCF Syndrome and the role of ethnicity on Filipino identity. By Kalani N.
• The Filipino Express Online L. Macelline Santos-Taylor column regarding Jasmine Trias syndrome.
• Voy Forums