XIII TRACING THE HISTORY OF THE FILIPINO DIASPORA IN FRANCE

XIII

TRACINg THE HISTORY OF THE FILIPINO DIASPORA IN FRANCE

FIRST WAVE In the mid-19th century, many affluent Filipinos went to Europe to study and do business. The opening of the Suez Canal in 1869, which shortened the travel time from the Philippines to Europe from two years to just over a month, made the travel to Europe very convenient. Spain was considered as the natural choice destination for these Filipinos since it was not considered a foreign country. However, geographical proximity eventually brought many of the Filipinos based in Spain to France.

The first wave of Filipinos in France was composed of intellectuals, artists and businessmen. José Rizal, Juan Luna, the family of the Pardo de Taveras are prime examples of each of these categories. Many of the Filipinos who found their way to Paris came from rich backgrounds and able to afford the high cost of living. Those less affluent would rely on their family and social networks to find suitable lodging and even to borrow money from. Rizal's experience in Paris is one testament to this.

For this generation of Filipinos, the benefits of living in France were the knowledge learnt and the principles imbibed—liberty, equality, and fraternity—that eventually influenced the Philippine Revolution.

SECOND WAVE

During the Philippine Revolution of 1896, many rich Filipino families escaped the ensuing chaos by emigrating to France. There were also those who had family members involved in the revolution and who found their way to France to escape from Spanish persecution.73

The two world wars and the ensuing peace in between also brought Filipinos to France. There were also those who served alongside their

American counterparts and would eventually stay in France. As an example, artist Macario Vitalis (see earlier article) opted to stay in France after WWII.

INTERREGNUM

Following the independence of the Philippines from the United States in 1946 until the 1970s, Filipinos visited France as part of their tour of Europe or as a stop-over enroute to the United States. They would normally stay for two to five days on average.74 A visa-free agreement signed between the two countries in May 1970 facilitated people-to-people exchanges between the Philippines and France.

During this period, Filipinos who lived in France were a handful. They were mainly students, artists, religious people, professionals in the fashion world, and those working for the Embassy, OECD,75 UNESCO76 and their families.

THIRD WAVE

The 1970s saw a shift in the labor export policy of the Philippine government which gave way to an increased number of Filipino contract workers in the Middle East who worked either as technical (for the men) or as service staff (for the women). Some of these worked for French companies who had operations in Middle East and Africa.

When war in Lebanon broke out in 1975, the Iranian Revolution of 1979 transpired, and the Iran-Iraq war of 1980 began, many of the workers working in these countries fled to France together with their employers. France was the nearest country without a visa requirement and where demand for service staff was high. Filipinos entered France as tourists under the visa-free agreement and continued to work for their employers without valid French labor permits. The number of Filipinos in France, many of whom were married women, thus started to increase.

The Philippines-France no-visa agreement was abrogated in November 1980 to prevent the entry of "false" tourists and France strictly applied this policy.77 Furthermore, the question of illegal workers took center stage in the French presidential election of 1981 amidst the rising unemployment in France. These two developments inevitably created problems for the burgeoning Filipino community in France.

In 1981, there were about 1,500 Filipinos in France who worked as service staff. A significant improvement in their status came about as a result of the Socialist victory in the presidential elections of May 1981. President François Mitterrand's government proclaimed an amnesty for all foreign workers who arrived in France not later than 31 December 1981. This enabled the illegal workers to legalize their status in the country through the new administration's labor reforms allowing migrants to obtain residence cards and work permits. About 90% of the total number of Filipino workers who qualified under the regulations secured residence cards and labor permits enabling them to remain in the country as registered foreign workers.78

FOURTH WAVE

A great number of the Filipino workers who obtained legal status managed to bring in their family members, relatives and friends. They came in as tourists in the 1980s in spite of the limited validity of their tourist visas and ignored the fact that they could no longer be eligible for integration into the migrant work force of France. This gave rise to the prevalence of Filipinos coming from the same clan, barangay, 79 town or province.

Armed with only a three-month tourist visa for France or a one-year student visa as a French language student, Filipino workers (some of them with college degrees) continued to come to France in the hope of finding employment. However, they ended up as undocumented workers employed, in most cases, by foreign residents and well-to-do French families.

This emigration flow has continued well into the first two decades of the 21st century and there seems to be no let-up. France remains attractive to Filipino economic migrants because of its socialist policies where wages are much higher than those received by Filipino overseas workers in the Middle East and the rights of migrants are protected even if they are undocumented. The charm of living in France, especially in Paris, also adds to the allure of working in France.

From a peak of about 60,000 in 2006, there are now about 25,000 Filipinos in France. The creation of the Schengen area, a borderless Europe in 1995, has facilitated the movement between European countries of Filipinos looking for work. This has made keeping an accurate number of Filipinos in France very difficult.

Currently, the Filipino community in France is very diverse. There are a growing number of students, artists, clergy and the religious, business people, and those working in the IT, fashion and haute couture, law, and accountancy sectors. However, a great majority of the community is still undocumented and mostly employed in the personal services sector (household workers, cooks, babysitters, drivers, stewards) concentrated in the cities of Paris, Nice, and Marseilles.

From one or two associations in the 1970s,80 there are now over a hundred varied Filipino organizations in France categorized into: church-related, socio-cultural, sports, provincial, and businessoriented groups. In Paris, the Comité Général des Associations Philippines en France, serves as an umbrella organization.

FILIPINO STUDENTS IN FRANCE

France is now a favored destination for a growing number of Filipino students. No longer saddled by language barriers, Filipino universities send their groups of students on exchange programs. The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) sends its teachers for masteral and doctoral studies and research. A century later, France continues to beacon the Filipino youth.

THE SECOND AND THIRD GENERATION

With almost half a century in France, the community has now produced its second and third generation. These are Filipinos born in France of either purely Filipino parentage or interspersed with other nationalities. It is this group of young people who are now making their mark. Some have become athletes, lawyers, accountants, and IT practitioners. Some are taking advantage of the excellent educational system of France and are studying for higher degrees. While their numbers are still comparatively low, it is this group that holds the key to the future of the Filipino community in France.

FILIPINOS AS PART OF THE FRENCH MIGRANT COMMUNITY

The Filipino community is just a small part of the larger French migrant population composed of communities from former French colonies in Africa and Southeast Asia. It is also a relatively "young"

community compared with the other Southeast Asian communities and thus has not yet grown to the point that it can penetrate French officialdom. However, the Filipino community can pride itself that the Filipinos are well-respected because of their good work ethics, religious affiliation, work competence, and ability. It is a matter of time when the Filipino-French community will be a great contributor to France as other Filipino communities have done in the United States, Australia, the United Kingdom, among others.

CHAPTER NOTES

1Email dated 2 September 2017 from Savin Yeatman-Eiffel, descendant of Gustave Eiffel.

2Ayala at 175.

3Lachica, Eduardo. "Ayala: The Philippines' Oldest Business House." Makati, Philippines: Filipinas Foundation Inc., 1984, page 72.

4From the collection of Savin Yeatman-Eiffel.

5Felix Roxas left the Philippines for Europe in 1840 where he spent most parts studying at the Real Academia de Nobles Artes de San Fernando in Madrid. Roxas would return to the Philippines in 1854 to practice architecture. Roxas happened to be an uncle of Zobel through marriage.

6Mundo ni Maestro Escolta quoted in http://bluprint.onemega.com/mundo-nimaestro-escolta/ Retrieved on 25 July 2018. Many attribute the San Sebastian Church as Gustave Eiffel's work. However, this has been disputed by Filipino historian Ambeth Ocampo.

7Savin Yeatman-Eiffel, op cit.

8Espasyo-Journal of Philippine Architecture and Allied Arts, page 3.

9Savin Yeatman-Eiffel, op cit.

10Including the Ayala Bridge (1890).

11Lachica, loc. cit.

12Paris hosted the World Expositions in 1855, 1867, 1878, 1889, 1900, and 1937. An exposition normally lasts for six months.

13Paris hosted the International Colonial Exposition in 1931. Marseilles, a city in the south of France, hosted the first and second International Colonial Exposition in 1906, and again in 1922.

14Some of the exhibitors given awards were: in 1867, the Bronze awards were given to Isidro de Lara from Tayabas for his Palm Oil, Guichars from Manila for unrefined sugar, José Martinez of Pampanga for raw sugar. In 1878, Regino Garcia of Manila won the Gold Prize for his exhibition of 120 classes of palay (rice).

16In 1889, Cámara de Comercio de Manila won the Gold Prize for its exhibition of cinnamon and cocoa from Zamboanga, coffee from Batangas and La Laguna, crystalline white and matte sugar, plywood from Iloilo, palay from Capiz and Pactoria, rice from Pampanga, Macan Pangansinán and Zambales.

17Also known as Ayala & Compaña (Spanish) or Ayala et Cie (French). This company is the precursor of the Ayala Corporation.

18Paz Luna, sister of Trinidad and Felix Pardo de Tavera and wife of Juan Luna, exhibited laces, net, embroidery and trimmings while Dolores (Nellie) Boustead exhibited embroidered piña cloth.

19The Catalogue général officiel de l'Exposition Universelle Internationale de 1889, page171, lists Tavera's work as bust of Sebastian Eleano and Mlle Thérésa.

20Ibid., page. 166, lists Hidalgo's work as L'Enfer du Dante.

21Entries regarding the Philippine participation to the various Paris expositions are from Ana Belén Lasheras Peña's España en París. La Imagen Nacional en las Exposiciones Universales, 1855-1900. Santander: Universidad de Cantabria, 2009.

22Other Filipino painters who exhibited at the Salon de Paris were Felipe Roxas in 1866 for the works Le Soir and Paysage; Rafael Enriquez in 1880 for a portrait of a lady in a black satin dress; and Felix Pardo de Tavera in 1930 for the works La Gemma—a bas relief made of black marble and La Sainte Face made of glass paste. In 1891 and 1892, Juan Luna exhibited at the Salon de la Société nationale des BeauxArts [Paris].

23 Salon de 1889 Catalogue illustré, Peinture & Sculpture, pages 36 and 59.

24In Juan Luna's letter to Rizal dated 8 August 1891, he said that he had "become a member of La Sociéte des Beaux-Arts, an appointment which I did not expect and which gives me the advantage of exhibiting as many as ten pictures at the Champ de Mars, without going through the jury, which is very strict in admission." Rizal's Correspondence with Fellow Reformists (1882-1896) Vol. II Book III, page 575.

25Rizal's letter to his family dated 16 May 1889 in Pakikipagsulatan Ni Rizal Sa Kanyang mga Kasambahay (1879-1896) [Rizal's Correspondences with his Family Members], Vol. II, pages 371-372. English translation used for the research by Aileen Mendiola-Rau.

26Rizal's classmate in Ateneo, Filipino revolutionary.

27Rizal's letter to Fernando Canon dated 2 May 1889 in Rizal's Correspondence with Fellow Reformists (1882-1896) Vol. II Book III, page 328.

28While Felix Pardo de Tavera is also a doctor, it is not likely that Rizal would exhibit a bust of him. Trinidad is the likely choice because he is better known of the two brothers and Felix also exhibited plaster busts at the Salon.

2930 April 1889 letter to Mariano Ponce in Rizal's Correspondence with Fellow Reformists, page 326.

30Rizal's letter to his family dated 16 May 1889, loc.cit.

32Le Petit Journal, "Le Pavillon des Iles Philippines : chef-d'œuvre d'évocation," 25 August 1931, page 5.

33Fabián de la Rosa was given a scholarship to study at the Académie Julien, a private art school for painting and sculpture in Paris. He was most likely in Paris between 1908 and 1910.

34Julian Felipe was born on 28 January 1861 in Cavite. He was a patriot who joined the Philippine Revolution in 1896 which led to his imprisonment at Fort Santiago together with the “13 Martyrs of Cavite”. The 13 Martyrs were eventually executed but Felipe was released on 2 June 1897. 35The composition was played on the piano by Julian Felipe. Aside from Aguinaldo, the others present on that day were General Mariano Trias, Baldomero Aguinaldo, and other revolutionary leaders. 36Katipunan is a society founded in 1892 to fight against the abuses of the Spaniards and to secure independence from Spain. The Magdalo is the faction of Emilio Aguinaldo while Andres Bonifacio headed the Magdiwang faction.

37Lupang Hinirang is supposedly the second national anthem. The first one was the “Marangal na Dalit ng Katagalugan” which was commissioned by Andres Bonifacio in 1897. This hymn was composed by Julio Nakpil. Because Aguinaldo’s faction in the Katipunan won over Bonifacio’s, it was Julian Felipe’s hymn that was played on 12 June 1898.

38Marcela Agoncillo, is the wife of Felipe Agoncillo who was Aguinaldo’s envoy to France during the period of the negotiations of the Treaty of Paris. Lorenza is her daughter while Josefina Herbosa de Natividad is the niece of José Rizal.

39The first movement of Julian Felipe’s composition is being attributed to the Marcha Real, the Spanish national anthem. For the second movement, influences of Giuseppe Verdi’s Triumphal March from Aida could be heard.

40The Malolos Banquet Dinner Menu Card was obtained by Museum de Oro through a donation to the late FR. Francisco R. Demetrio, S.J., the director of the Museo de Oro, by the heirs of Don Vicente Elio y Sanchez. Dr. Elio was a schoolmate of Dr. José Rizal at the Ateneo de Manila and had been invited to attend the Malolos Convention in 1898. Dr. Elio's collection included his copy of the dinner menu along with his paintings and writings.

41According to renowned culinary historian Felice Sta. Maria. http://malacanang. gov.ph/7833-cuisine-and-the-ratification-of-independence/ 42Mr. Christian Jeffroy is the incumbent Mayor of Plestin-les-Grèves and Ms. Jeanne Eliet is the President of the Municipal Cultural Office of Plestinles-Grèves.

43http://parispe.dfa.gov.ph/newsroom/embassy-updates/145-secretary-del-rosariovisits-philippine-exhibition-in-paris 44“Philippines, archipel des échanges (The Philippines, Archipelago of Exchanges)”. (n.d). Tribal Art Magazine (Special Issue #4), Belgium: Primedia sprl, p. 7. 45Musée du Quai Branly President Stéphane Martin and the then National Museum of the Philippines Director Corazon Alvina.

47http://parispe.dfa.gov.ph/newsroom/embassy-updates/145-secretary-del-rosariovisits-philippine-exhibition-in-paris

48Afable, P. O., Monbrison, C. D., & Alvina, C. S. (2013). Philippines: An archipelago of exchange. Arles: Actes sud, Preface.

49http://parispe.dfa.gov.ph/newsroom/embassy-updates/145-secretary-delrosario-visits-philippine-exhibition-in-paris

50Afable, P. O., Monbrison, C. D., & Alvina, C. S., loc. cit., Acknowledgements page.

51http://ncca.gov.ph/about-culture-and-arts/in-focus/philippine-exhibition-opensat-quai-branly-museum-in-paris/

52The Musée du Quai Branly had a number of academic and cultural events that revolved around the exhibition that ranged from an international symposium and a roundtable discussion, to musical performances, film screenings and various types of guided tours and workshops for different audiences. From Primedia sprl, Belgium; Special Issue #4 Tribal Art Magazine “Philippines, archipel des échanges (The Philippines, Archipelago of Exchanges)”, p. 53-54.

53“Philippines, archipel des échanges (The Philippines: Archipelago of Exchanges), op.cit, p. 14-15.

54http://parispe.dfa.gov.ph/newsroom/embassy-updates/183-philippinesarchipel-des-echanges

55Afable, P. O., Monbrison, C. D., & Alvina, C. S., loc. cit., Preface

56Ibid.

57“Philippines, archipel des échanges (The Philippines: Archipelago of Exchanges), loc. cit., p. 13.

58Ibid., p. 14.

59Afable, P. O., Monbrison, C. D., & Alvina, C. S., loc. cit., Acknowledgements page. 60Ibid.

61Détroit, F., Dizon, E., Falguères, C., Hameau, S., Ronquillo, W., Sémah, F., 2004. Upper Pleistocene Homo sapiens from Tabon Cave (Palawan, Philippines): description and dating of new discoveries. Comptes Rendus Palevol 3, pp. 705–712.

62Dizon, E., Détroit, F., Sémah, F., Falguères, C., Hameau, S., Ronquillo, W., Cabanis, E., 2002. Notes on the morphology and age of the Tabon Cave fossil Homo sapiens. Current Anthropology 43, pp. 660–666.

63http://hopsea.mnhn.fr/

64http://www.prehsea.eu/

Champion, G.,Cuevas, N., de Leon, A., Dizon, E., 2010. New evidence for a 67,000-year-old human presence at Callao Cave, Luzon, Philippines. Journal of Human Evolution 59, pp. 123–132.

66Ingicco, T., van den Bergh, G.D., Jago-on, C., Bahain, J.-J., Chacón, M.G., Amano, N., Forestier, H., King, C., Manalo, K., Nomade, S., Pereira, A., Reyes, M.C., Sémah, A.-M., Shao, Q., Voinchet, P., Falguères, C., Albers, P.C.H., Lising, M., Lyras, G., Yurnaldi, D., Rochette, P., Bautista, A., de Vos, J., 2018. Earliest known hominin activity in the Philippines by 709 thousand years ago. Nature 557, pp. 233–237.

67In French Centre Asie du Sud-Est and in Filipino Centro ng Timog-Silangang Asya.

68In French Institut National des Langues et Civilisations Orientales and in Filipino Pambansang Surian ng mga Wika at Kabihasnang Silanganin.

69The Austronesian languages compose the largest linguistic family. They are spoken from the Easter island to Madagascar passing through Polynesia, Melanesia and the northern coast of Papua New-Guinea, Micronesia, the archipelago of the Philippines and Indonesia.

70European Region Action Scheme for the Mobility of University Students.

71Inalco offers also specific diplomas and a non-graduating status.

72Most of the grammar teaching method and materials are based on the works of retired Pr. Teresita Ramos and Schachter & Otanes. I am currently writing a Filipino manual in French.

73 The family of Francisco L. Roxas, was one such example. Francisco Roxas was an adviser to the administration of Governor-General Ramon Blanco y Erenas. Nevertheless, he was one of the first to be arrested when the Philippine Revolution broke out in August 1896. Felix Roxas, The World of Felix Roxas Anecdotes and Reminiscences of a Manila Newspaper Columnist. Filipiniana Book Guild, 1970. Page 120.

74 Philippine Embassy Annual Report 1963.

75 From 1970 to date, there were 15 Filipinos employed at OECD in various positions. Of the 15, 12 of them were women. Email of Mr. Nadav Shental to the Philippine Embassy dated 25 July 2018.

76 From 1960 to 2018, UNESCO has employed 84 Filipino staff members. 42 of them were assigned at the headquarters and 42 in the field. Of the 42 staff members appointed at the headquarters in Paris, 28 were women and 17 of which were at the Director and International professional level. Broken down by years: from 1960-1979, there were 38 Filipinos in Unesco; 1980-1999, there were 31; 2000-July 2018, there are 15 Filipinos. Letter of Annick Grisar to the Philippine Embassy dated July 2018.

77 Philippine Embassy Annual Report for 1980, page. 17-18.

78 Philippine Embassy Annual Report for 1981.

79 A barangay is the smallest administrative region in the Philippines.

EPILOgUE