The Hybrid Tsinoys: Challenges of Hybridity and Homogeneity as Sociocultural Constructs among the Chinese in the Philippines

”What does it mean to be a Christian and also a person shaped by a particular culture? And what if that culture is in fact a hybrid one, a dynamic mix of ancient but very different cultures? The first question relates to every Christian in the world--we are all ‘culture Christians’ in some sense, often without realizing it. In this carefully researched book, Juliet Lee Uytanlet examines the second question, cultural hybridity, through a study of Filipino Christians of Chinese descent. She discovered that most of the Christians she interviewed ‘see themselves as cultural hybrids rather than homogeneous purists.’ By careful analysis of her findings, Dr. Uytanlet presents insights that have wide relevance to the question of Christian identity not only in the Philippines, but worldwide."
--Howard A. Snyder, Visiting Director, Manchester Wesley Research Centre, England

“The original study of Dr. Juliet Uytanlet on hybrid ‘Tsinoys,’ (coined word from a Tagalog word meaning ‘Chinese,’ and Filipino) is one of the finest studies on the current Chinese Filipinos who reside in the Philippines, and outside of the Philippines. The ‘Tsinoys’ hold a Filipino passport, but ethnically belong to the Chinese people. Using descriptive ethnographic research as a tool to discover how they view themselves, Dr. Uytanlet was able to demonstrate their hybridity in language and mindset. The pendulum of swinging at times to Chinese mindset on the right, to swinging to the Filipino mindset on the left is quite challenging for many second-, third-, and fourth-generation Chinese Filipinos. This study points out who are the ‘Tsinoys’ today. It is really an important study on the identity of the ‘Tsinoys,’ and also the urgent issues facing them. Dr. Uytanlet illustrates her scholarly ability in analyzing and presenting difficult data so that the ‘Tsinoys’ may understand themselves, and further scholarly research can be done based on her work. Moreover, her work also presents challenges and recommendations for Churches that are willing to understand and touch their lives. The work is the best study on understanding the Chinese who are residing in the Philippines. I highly recommend to publish this important work!"
--Joseph Shao, President, Biblical Seminary of the Philippines; General Secretary, Asia Theological Association

"This monograph breaks new ground by its bold and creative application of hybridity theory to a significant subgroup within Philippine society and culture. The author’s firsthand acquaintance with Tsinoy subculture and her trilingual competence uniquely qualify her to spot the many nuances commonly undetected by cultural outsiders. This book is especially useful to researchers in Philippine studies, Chinese diasporal studies, ethnic identity development and dynamics, anthropology, religion, and missiology."
--David Cheung, President Emeritus, Asian Theological Seminary

"Uytanlet’s work is a seminal study, employing twenty-first-century anthropology to discover identity and change among Hybrid Tsinoys--the contemporary Chinese Filipinos in Manila whose cultural heritage and self-understanding is complex. . . . Applying a postmodern approach, the author links theories from the sub-fields--ethnicity, hybridity, and sociocultural construction--to devise a comprehensive research strategy and to create an interpretive tool to enable her to engage in a robust discussion of findings from the personal narratives given by 77 Tsinoy participating in an ethnographic research questionnaire. The result is a highly reliable profile showing diverse identity phenomena among Hybrid Tsinoys."
--Eunice Irwin, Asbury Theological Seminary, E. Stanley Jones School

"The book is a valuable addition to the studies on the Chinese Filipinos. The wealth of information gathered from ethnographic research should broaden our perspectives and understanding of the Tsinoy and how they evolved from the generation of sojourners to the present generation Chinese Filipinos rooted in Philippine soil, grounded in Philippine society, yet proud of their racial and cultural origins. Most importantly, it enlightens readers on the processes and social negotiations that result into a unique culture, blending the Filipino and the Chinese."
--Teresita Ang See, Executive Trustee, Kaisa Heritage Center, Intramuros, Manila