Despite efforts to create Filipino ethnic enclaves – Historic Filipinotown in LA, SoMa Pilipinas in San Francisco, Filipino Village in National City, Little Manila in Toronto, etc. – a common narrative out there is that Filipinos do not have a discernible ethnic enclave. Even heavy Filipino-populated suburban cities such as Daly City, Carson, Vallejo, Jersey City, etc. are not majority Filipino and arguably do not have a markedly Filipino character, economic activity, or cultural identity like say a Chinatown, Japantown, Little India, or Koreatown.  Are they considered Filipino ethnic enclaves?

In this TFAL episode, the crew discuss Filipino ethnic enclaves in the United States.  Do enclaves – in the common American immigration context – exist?  Are they necessary? What would Filipino Americans gain or lose if a Filipino ethnic enclave existed? Are current geographies – where Filipinos are largely scattered in a metropolitan area with some concentrations in certain urban neighborhoods and suburban cities – adequate for the Filipino American community? We also talk about Joe’s early – and quite embarrassing – obsession on Filipinotowns.

Listen through the embedded player below, download directly here, or subscribe to us on iTunes here.

Here is the picture of the Joe’s drawing referenced in the episode.  Please remember that Joe was 15 when he drew this. =)

We only scratch the surface on this subject and admittedly neglect certain topics.  For a more in-depth analysis on Filipino ethnic enclaves, feel free to download Joe’s dissertation about Filipino American racial space in Los Angeles.