Alexandra Stiles

For freshman Alexandra Stiles, her Filipino culture has had the most influence on her life, despite the fact that she is also of Spanish, Chinese, and Caucasian descent.

“My mom’s family is originally from the Philippines, Spain and China but her parents were born and raised in the Philippines,” Stiles said.

With her mixed heritage, Stiles says acceptance isn’t usually a problem.

“Most people in Frisco in 2018 don’t care that I am Filipino and everyone usually treats me as an equal,” Stiles said. “But some do make assumptions, saying I look Mexican, which frustrates me because they don’t even know me.”

Along with being mistaken as Mexican, Stiles has experienced stereotyping because of her Filipino heritage.

“There are several Filipino stereotypes that I have grown up with in the Frisco area,” Stiles said. “We’re really loud, love rice, have pictures of the Last Supper hanging in our dining room, and are always late.”

Living 8,222 miles from her ancestral homeland, Stiles and her family still take part in Filipino cultural practices, including cooking traditional foods.

“Every holiday we come together to celebrate, bringing traditional foods like lumpia, cheese puto, pancit, and a lot more,” Stiles said.

While Stiles’ family celebrates and eats Filipino cuisine in the states, many members of Stiles family still live in the Philippines, with her mother Leizl’s parents being born and raised the country

“Growing up with Filipino parents gave me so many different life experiences compared to my friends while growing up,” Leizl said. “My mom often speaks Tagalog and tries to teach me.”

While Leizl’s culture differs from that of her peers, it doesn’t affect how she is treated.

“I have never been treated much differently than other people because of my race or denied any privileges or jobs,” Leizl said. “My Filipino heritage will always be a part of me and I have never regretted [practicing my culture].”

With her mother being so proud of her family’s Filipino heritage and some of her family still living in the Philippines, Stiles  finds it important to learn more about the history of her ancestral homeland.

“We do still have family living in the Philippines but I probably won’t ever visit them,” Stiles said. “Although I do think it’s important for me to learn more about the history and landscape of the country that I come from as I find it a fascinating and beautiful place.”