--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I first visited the Philippines when I…" description: "\"I first visited the Philippines when I was 29. I thought I would feel at home there, but I felt more out of place than I did in the U.S. I discovered I..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3aa/alex-tizon-21818_american_i-first-visited-the-philippines-when-i-w_404972.jpg" --- # I first visited the Philippines when I was 29. I thought I… ![“I first visited the Philippines when I was 29. I thought I would feel at home there, but I felt more out of place than I did in the U.S. I discovered I was more American than Filipino. It was shattering because I never felt quite at home in the U.S., either.” quote by Alex Tizon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3aa/alex-tizon-21818_american_i-first-visited-the-philippines-when-i-w_404972.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3aa/alex-tizon-21818_american_i-first-visited-the-philippines-when-i-w_404972.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3aa/alex-tizon-21818_american_i-first-visited-the-philippines-when-i-w_404972.jpg) > “I first visited the Philippines when I was 29. I thought I would feel at home there, but I felt more out of place than I did in the U.S. I discovered I was more American than Filipino. It was shattering because I never felt quite at home in the U.S., either.” [Alex Tizon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-tizon/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The narrator expected belonging in the Philippines but felt alienated, realizing his identity is rooted in America, highlighting diaspora dislocation. **In simple terms:** He felt out of place abroad and at home. Key Takeaway Recognize that identity can be fluid and complex. Themes identity belonging diaspora culture shock self‑discovery Mood reflective melancholy thoughtful Type personal narrative cultural commentary When to use this quote - travel - immigration - family gatherings - career moves - community events Key Concepts national identity cultural hybridity exile Questions to Reflect On - How does your environment shape your sense of home? - What aspects of your heritage feel most authentic? A Different Perspective The feeling may stem from limited exposure to Filipino culture before the visit. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [American](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american/) [American Filipino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-filipino-3622250/) [Asian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/asian/) [Feel Home](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feel-home-255031/) [Filipino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/filipino/) [Home](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/home/) [More](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/more/) [Never](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/never/) [Philippines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philippines/) [Place](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/place/) [Visited Philippines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/visited-philippines-3622249/) ## Related quotes > [A strengthened national spirit can provide the motive power to rise our people from the depths and... pour new life and vigor in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-p-romulo/a-strengthened-national-spirit-can-provide-the-motive-power-to-rise/) [Carlos P. Romulo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-p-romulo/) > [The Church in the Philippines is called to acknowledge and combat the causes of the deeply rooted inequality and injustice which mar the face…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/the-church-in-the-philippines-is-called-to-acknowledge-and-combat-the/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [Tourism is a crucial industry that could employ millions of Filipinos, skilled and unskilled alike, cross those 7,107 islands of the Philippines. From the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benigno-aquino-iii/tourism-is-a-crucial-industry-that-could-employ-millions-of-filipinos/) [Benigno Aquino III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benigno-aquino-iii/) > [It is ironic that many Filipinos learn to love the Philippines while abroad, not at home.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-is-ironic-that-many-filipinos-learn-to-love-the-philippines-while/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm fascinated by the Philippines because I'm from here. I was born here. I'm a Filipino.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/apl-de-ap/i-m-fascinated-by-the-philippines-because-i-m-from-here-i-was-born/) [apl.de.ap](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/apl-de-ap/) > [Filipino pride. I'm so excited, I'm just sending love to the Philippines. I know they've had a tough year and I just send out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-lopez/filipino-pride-i-m-so-excited-i-m-just-sending-love-to-the/) [Robert Lopez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-lopez/) > [The divine flame of thought is inextinguishable in the Filipino people, and somehow or other it will shine forth and compel recognition. It is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-rizal/the-divine-flame-of-thought-is-inextinguishable-in-the-filipino/) [Jose Rizal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-rizal/) > [I've worked with Filipino technicians, and they are, I think, among the best. I'm looking forward to visiting the Philippines, maybe for a vacation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-hutton/i-ve-worked-with-filipino-technicians-and-they-are-i-think-among-the/) [Timothy Hutton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-hutton/) > [Hundreds of barefoot Filipinos marched on the roads through the Philippines carrying heavy wooden crosses and whipping their backs until they bled to prepare…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/hundreds-of-barefoot-filipinos-marched-on-the-roads-through-the/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [And, of course, in the Philippines there were so many thousands of Americans that were captured by the Japanese and held and who were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-rohrabacher/and-of-course-in-the-philippines-there-were-so-many-thousands-of/) [Dana Rohrabacher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-rohrabacher/) > [I went down on my knees and prayed to Almighty God for light and guidance and one night late it came to me this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-mckinley/i-went-down-on-my-knees-and-prayed-to-almighty-god-for-light-and/) [William McKinley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-mckinley/) > [The Philippines consists of different beautiful islands, so my Filipino fans are as beautiful and passionate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-min-ho/the-philippines-consists-of-different-beautiful-islands-so-my/) [Lee Min-ho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-min-ho/) > [I am very happy that Floyd Mayweather and I can give the fans the fight they have wanted for so many years. They have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manny-pacquiao/i-am-very-happy-that-floyd-mayweather-and-i-can-give-the-fans-the/) [Manny Pacquiao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manny-pacquiao/) > [I came from the Philippines and Filipinos are incredibly musical. I mean the best cover bands in the world come from Manila!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/june-millington/i-came-from-the-philippines-and-filipinos-are-incredibly-musical-i/) [June Millington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/june-millington/) > [I am very happy that Floyd Mayweather and I can give the fans the fight they have wanted for so many years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manny-pacquiao/i-am-very-happy-that-floyd-mayweather-and-i-can-give-the-fans-the-2/) [Manny Pacquiao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manny-pacquiao/) ## More by Alex Tizon > [It wasn't a conscious decision to search for my Asian self; it was an urgency born out of an emptiness I was trying to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-tizon/it-wasn-t-a-conscious-decision-to-search-for-my-asian-self-it-was-an/) [Alex Tizon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-tizon/) > [I think there has been a long-running notion in the West that Asia was a continent of people that were really conquerable. That people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-tizon/i-think-there-has-been-a-long-running-notion-in-the-west-that-asia/) [Alex Tizon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-tizon/) > [When I was 15, Dad left the family for good. I didn't want to believe it at the time, but the fact was that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-tizon/when-i-was-15-dad-left-the-family-for-good-i-didn-t-want-to-believe/) [Alex Tizon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-tizon/) > [Shame is hard to confront. Even if you know it's baseless, it's still hard to come face-to-face with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-tizon/shame-is-hard-to-confront-even-if-you-know-it-s-baseless-it-s-still/) [Alex Tizon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-tizon/) > [I do remember instances where girls would just fawn over me because they liked that I was different - exotic - to them. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-tizon/i-do-remember-instances-where-girls-would-just-fawn-over-me-because/) [Alex Tizon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-tizon/) > [I didn't go into journalism thinking it would solidify my identity. I did it because I needed to make a living, and I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-tizon/i-didn-t-go-into-journalism-thinking-it-would-solidify-my-identity-i/) [Alex Tizon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-tizon/) > [“First was the abandonment of our native language and our unquestioned embrace of English, even though for my parents that abandonment meant cutting themselves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-tizon/first-was-the-abandonment-of-our-native-language-and-our-unquestioned/) [Alex Tizon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-tizon/) > [We all, to some degree, absorb the mythologies around us, our vision refracted by the prisms of our particular time and place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-tizon/we-all-to-some-degree-absorb-the-mythologies-around-us-our-vision/) [Alex Tizon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-tizon/) > [To our American neighbors, we were model immigrants, a poster family. They told us so. My father had a law degree, my mother was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-tizon/to-our-american-neighbors-we-were-model-immigrants-a-poster-family/) [Alex Tizon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-tizon/) > [My brother Arthur was born in 1951. I came next, followed by three more siblings in rapid succession.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-tizon/my-brother-arthur-was-born-in-1951-i-came-next-followed-by-three-more/) [Alex Tizon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-tizon/) > [I guess you could say I've written a lot about one thing as a journalist. But I hardly ever saw it as exclusively about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-tizon/i-guess-you-could-say-i-ve-written-a-lot-about-one-thing-as-a/) [Alex Tizon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-tizon/) > [“We could debate whether movies reflect or create the reality. It's clear to me they do both.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-tizon/we-could-debate-whether-movies-reflect-or-create-the-reality-it-s/) [alex tizon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-tizon/) > [The stories I work on, especially for any length of time, do tend to become personal to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-tizon/the-stories-i-work-on-especially-for-any-length-of-time-do-tend-to/) [Alex Tizon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-tizon/) > [Admitting the truth would have meant exposing us all. We spent our first decade in the country learning the ways of the new land…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-tizon/admitting-the-truth-would-have-meant-exposing-us-all-we-spent-our/) [Alex Tizon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-tizon/) > [Television and movies were our biggest teachers. When we came to the United States, the Vietnam War was just ratcheting up. And so the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-tizon/television-and-movies-were-our-biggest-teachers-when-we-came-to-the/) [Alex Tizon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-tizon/) [Explore all 28 Alex Tizon quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-tizon/) ## More American quotes > [I wasn't attracted to American cinema, but I fell in love with Los Angeles the minute I arrived.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnes-varda/i-wasn-t-attracted-to-american-cinema-but-i-fell-in-love-with-los/) [Agnes Varda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnes-varda/) > [William Maxwell's my favorite North American writer, I think. And an Irish writer who used to write for 'The New Yorker' called Maeve Brennan,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-munro/william-maxwell-s-my-favorite-north-american-writer-i-think-and-an/) [Alice Munro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-munro/) > [I have fallen in love with American names, the sharp names that never get fat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-vincent-benet/i-have-fallen-in-love-with-american-names-the-sharp-names-that-never/) [Stephen Vincent Benet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-vincent-benet/) > [I really like a lot of American country stuff, so my music has that influence, but I don't like to be set within a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jade-bird/i-really-like-a-lot-of-american-country-stuff-so-my-music-has-that/) [Jade Bird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jade-bird/) > [I certainly don't think that the heirs of the American Revolution were a particularly noble class.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-w-brands/i-certainly-don-t-think-that-the-heirs-of-the-american-revolution/) [H. W. Brands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-w-brands/) > [Congress passed the American Rescue Plan Act in a tremendous investment to support millions of workers without a paycheck and behind on bills.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jake-auchincloss/congress-passed-the-american-rescue-plan-act-in-a-tremendous/) [Jake Auchincloss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jake-auchincloss/) > [Small businesses are the backbone of the American economy and employ almost half of the working population. Yet because of their size, they rarely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-lipinski/small-businesses-are-the-backbone-of-the-american-economy-and-employ/) [Dan Lipinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-lipinski/) > [Although I write in English, and despite the fact that I'm from America, I consider myself an Armenian writer. The words I use are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-saroyan/although-i-write-in-english-and-despite-the-fact-that-i-m-from/) [William Saroyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-saroyan/) > [When we first sold the Wallace and Gromit shorts to America, people suggested we get rid of the strange British accents and put clear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-park/when-we-first-sold-the-wallace-and-gromit-shorts-to-america-people/) [Nick Park](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-park/) > [Firefighters and rescue workers are American superheroes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerry-kennedy/firefighters-and-rescue-workers-are-american-superheroes/) [Kerry Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerry-kennedy/) > [France has not only built a bureaucratic barrier against American culture, it has constructed a notorious intellectual case against it as well. The French…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyler-cowen/france-has-not-only-built-a-bureaucratic-barrier-against-american/) [Tyler Cowen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyler-cowen/) > [New York and San Francisco are distinctly different. San Francisco is driving the American media, not New York. You have young, microwaved millionaires and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-whitlock/new-york-and-san-francisco-are-distinctly-different-san-francisco-is/) [Jason Whitlock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-whitlock/) > [Well look, CIA is an agency that has to collect intelligence, do operations. 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But it's just as important for the U.S. never to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-bauer/it-s-important-for-american-soldiers-to-be-culturally-sensitive-when/) [Gary Bauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-bauer/) [Browse all 7,717 American quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I first visited the Philippines when I was 29. I thought I would feel at home there, but I felt more out of place than I did in the U.S. I discovered I was more American than Filipino. 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