7. Being Indian in Post-colonial Metro Manila: Identities, Boundaries and the Media Practices

Information and communication technologies and migrant intimacies: the case of Punjabi youth in Manila

“…The city's Filipinos have the most affinity and the least reservation for those at the top of the hierarchy (such as the Westerners whom they general define as American), have a middle-ground stance for those in the middle (such as the Chinese, Japanese, and Koreans), and have the least affinity and the most reservation for those at the bottom (such as Indians, Middle Easterners, and, when remembered, Africans). So whilst Filipinos would generally have some affinity with Indians on account of their relative wealth and their relatively better looks -epitomised by their much-admired almond eyes and tall noses -these locals would also have a lot of reservation about them (see Lorenzana 2013). The most prevalent expression of this reservation is the derogatory stereotype of the Punjabi Indian as bumbay.…”

Multicultural mediations, developing world realities: Indians, Koreans and Manila’s entertainment media

“…In the focus group discussion, for instance, the participants still talked about Manila as if it were a city populated by culturally homogeneous people. It has been argued although that the said developments have contributed to the increasing appreciation that many local Filipinos have for Korean culture (see Hicap, 2010;Meinardus, 2005) and, unfortunately, to the continued indifference of the locals towards Indian culture (see Lorenzana, 2013;Salazar, 2008).…”

“…During the cityÕs colonial past, it was the seat of power for the PhilippinesÕ Spanish and American masters, as well as an important trading centre for many European and Chinese merchants (Connaughton et al, 1995;Irving, 2010;Wilson, 2004). In the cityÕs postcolonial present, it has attracted a rapidly increasing number of Indian entrepreneurs (Lorenzana, 2013;Salazar, 2008;Thapan, 2002), as well as Korean businesspeople and students (Miralao, 2007). Unlike their counterparts in the developed world then, the diasporas in Manila often do not experience economic marginalization (see Lentin and Titley, 2011;Roberts and Mahtani, 2010).…”