How I used a Racist Cookie to share more about my Culture
... & make new friends! Origins of Filipino cookie controversy, and why I see the question of "where I'm from" as an OPPORTUNITY to educate & elevate!
I got back from Porto, Portugal the other day, where I was staying at a cool co-living place with other “digital nomads.” The first night I go downstairs to socialize. I introduce myself, sip some Port wine, and meet new friends from all over: Belgium, Netherlands, Australia, Lebanon, Singapore and more. I feel that nervous excited rush, I've been traveling solo since 19, and reminded how at home I feel with an international community! Something about all of us coming from different countries, and open-mindedness to other cultures, something we can learn from each other…
“Oh you’re Filipino! I don’t think I’ve ever met a Filipino in Portugal”
It’s a few sips later and I see it as bait to spit back a little history fact: “Well did you know the Philippines ‘claimed for Spain’ in 1521, technically by a Portuguese explorer Magellan? And he was just trying to get back at Portugal royalty for rejecting him? I mean, the ‘Philippines’ itself was never monolithic but 7,000 islands…”
"The only thing I know about Filipinos is the “Filipinos Cookies” and they are so yummy!” (a snack that originated in Spain, see the history of its controversy below)
I laugh to myself, that seems a bit derogatory. “What?” “Yeah! They’re a sweet treat, they sell them in the markets all around!” “And they’re just called Filipinos?”
Then someone goes, "It looks like you're more connected to Portugal than you know!"
INTERESTING. The threads that “connect me” seem like such a silly contrast: a Colonizer, a Cookie.
Origins and Controversy of the “Filipinos Cookies”
I did some digging. It looks like the cookies originated from Spain. In 1999, the government of the Philippines lodged a protest against the manufacturer, arguing the name was offensive and alluded to racial stereotypes, describing the cookies as "dark outside and white inside." They demanded a name change for the products, asserting that the use of their racial identity for profit was unacceptable.
This was unsuccessful, but 20 YEARS LATER, it sparked new criticism because they tried selling them in a Manila market, and they charged it had racist undertones and trademark law violation. Despite removal from shelves, interest remains, the cookie controversy continues…
All of a sudden, the "Filipinos Cookies" held a symbolism: maybe the ways our Philippine identity has often been simplified and overlooked, not taken seriously, the reducing of our rich culture to a snack someone else made. But when my new friends mentioned them, it became a chance for me to share what they probably didn’t know about Philippine history, diaspora, the richness of my culture. More than a cookie label, I could show we're a people with a vibrant history, accomplishments and how we’re interwoven on the global thread.
“I actually don’t know much about Philippines. Tell me something about where you’re from?”
When confronted with the question of where you're from, see it as an opportunity to educate and share something beautiful about our culture, people, history❤️
In the right context, I no longer eye-roll to this question (previous me: excuse me! I am FROM from the U.S. like I said), in fact, I'm excited to answer it, because it gives me an opportunity to share something people probably don't know. About Philippines, being Filipino-American, the Diaspora.
And boy let me tell you, people still don't know a lot. And this is me surrounded by people who have generally been traveling and aware of other histories/countries more. Over the course of the next few days, I become really close with my new friend group of digital nomads, and all the opportunities arise where I got to share over a glass of Port & Pastel de Natas around things like:
why Filipina on the Rise exists, how a lot of Filipinas I work with are naturally entrepreneurial, creative, etc.
why so many of us have Spanish last names, how the Philippines became such an English-speaking country
why the handful of Filipinos they've met in their life happen to be nurses or caretakers
how our people culture is known for hospitality, empathy, being care-taking (and how this has also been taken advantage of)
I remember walking across the bridge with a friend overlooking the beautiful Porto river, explaining why our language has some Spanish words in it, how Filipinos live in so many different countries, and send money to their families in the Philippines, how there’s such a culture of taking care of your own.
My friend says“I’ve never really learned anything about Philippines or their people until now!”
The reactions? Intrigue. and a LOT of "Wow, I NEVER knew all of this." (A lot of them of people had never even had a Filipino friend before!) I’m finding that people want to learn these things, a lot of history in schools or media just don’t cover it. And the place to start is with a new friend like me, my their critical lens on history, my reflections on my identity and my optimistic outlook.
I tell them "Yeah, a lot of us, have felt disconnected from our roots, but we're on this beautiful journey of rediscovery.. together." 🥹💖
I feel proud because I can share with others something they otherwise wouldn’t know, not from school books, movies, not even from the internet, but only from a new friend. And I get to share a decolonized look and critical lens on history but also, what makes us so special and what makes ME so proud about us. It’s the same reason I love to make friends from other countries because I get to learn about their history, social issues, current events, and cultural pride from their eyes.
Years ago, I wouldn't have been able to speak from a place of pride, and education, and sharing more about myself and my people that helps people see there is so much more to us. I'm glad I’ve done my work of reflecting, reading histories, being in a supportive Filipina community, talking to women of different paths, decolonizing and also exploring the beautiful diversity of our modern-day identities.
We ended the week, a group of friends from everywhere, closer than ever, sharing laughs, politics, food, and things about each other’s histories that we would’ve never know. I encourage anyone to know about your own history and heritage, and how it’s made you YOU, why it makes you proud, and what you wish others would know, becomes the colorful thread of you, that adds the pop of color to the social tapestry being woven in new conversations, new friendships, in new countries, and somehow threads us all together.
And this is what we're here to do - even if it starts with a Cookie.
Question to readers: How have you gotten to share about your history and heritage to people who don’t know about it before? What has brought that up?
Join the Filipina Soul Sisterhood community, where you’ll meet other like-minded women who are discovering their roots and helping each other level up)
Listen to my recent podcast episode "Portugal Reflections and Sharing Philippine History".