How this Chicano Subculture came to the Philippines | Full Documentary

DISCLAIMER TURN ON CAPTIONS One Love Homies For Unity As the sun sets in Manila, I find myself in another cholo night. I see Nike Cortezes, long socks, khakis, shaved heads, and locs sunglasses. Rappers who influenced me are Lil Tweety and, of course, Lil Rob with Cortez shoes, right? Mexican i have a lot, Kid Frost, Delinquent Habits. When I was young, I idolized Cypress Hill. HiPower, Mr. Capone-E, and of course, Mr. Criminal. Being a part of this subculture for over two decades, I find myself

intrigued by the origins of the Chicano culture here in the Islands. It leaves me wondering how this culture started by Mexican-Americans in the USA found its way to the shores of the Philippines. The Philippine Islands, home to 113 million people, the melting pot of cultural influences from native traditions, Spanish colonization, American occupation, and Japanese presence during World War II. The Filipino youth have warmly embraced elements of Chicano culture, particularly the Cholo subcultur

e that originated in America. The voice of our event here is peace for everyone. Chicana is a Mexican American living in the States, while a Chola are Gang members You can say it's Cholo style when you see someone bald, of course with Locs, Plain Tees, High Socks, Cortez. I call it timeless; it means it will last through different generations. The Filipino Americans who returned to the Philippines, we adopted their culture. I'm proud to be Filipino; the Homies series 5 recognizes Filipinos. We a

re recognized as homeboys; we are also brown. I'm SouthSider, your host. Our story begins by exploring the profound connections between Filipinos and Mexicans, forged over centuries through Spanish colonization starting in the 16th century when the Philippines and Mexico were under Spanish rule. Im gonna be trying the Filipino dish you try the Latino version This is at every party I mean our version is Were going to do Champorado Also Polvorones Oh my God I just want you to know Mexicans this is

how similar we are Spain conquered the Philippines for over 350 Years! When the Spanish left the Philippines you left everything there Thats why were the same thats why we act the same We got alot of their traits we got a lot of their culture You know what Im saying we look like them look at us Were a 2 hour flight to from Japan were in the heart of Asia We dont have Asian names We have Latino last names in my family alone De La Fuentes, Santos, Gonzales We are the Mexicans of Asia, thats real

talk! Oh I can do this all day! (Talking in Spanish and Chavacano) (Filipina Girl spoke Chavacano a Filipino Dialect) For more than 300 years, the Philippines was directly governed from the Vice Royalty of New Spain, also known as Mexico. In 1578, the Castillan war started. Native Americans such as Aztecs, Mayans, and Incans were sent in by Spain from Mexico and South America to the Philippines to fight alongside Native Filipinos to control the Philippine Archipelago. The Manila-Acapulco galleon

trade, a significant maritime route directly connected the Philippines and Mexico. This trade route played a vital role in fostering commercial and cultural connections between Latin America and the Asia-Pacific region. This is Plaza Mexico in the Philippines, a monument like this can be found in the heart of Manila and this one is in Jalisco, Mexico. It commemorates the Philippines and Mexico's friendship for 400 years. This laid the foundation for cultural exchange, as traditions, language, a

nd customs intertwined leading to the ‘hispanization’ of the Philippine islands. Mexican History does not talk about the Philippines But now they find out that hey we have 250 years with the Philippines What happened? So now they are getting back to who we are what we are and they find a very rich history that is similar On June 12, 1898, The Philippines gained independence from Spain. Just a year after, the country came under American control which lasted for 48 years. Filipinos opposed the Am

erican Occupation. And during American control, World War II erupted. (USA President Speaking) Japan invaded the Philippines and was successful. The American and Filipinos suffered a terrible loss and was forced to retreat. (General Mac Arthur speaking) And the Americans did return to liberate the Filipino people and came out victorious. (General Mac Arthur speaking) On July 4, 1946, the Philippines gained independence from the US, but American bases continued to operate there due to a defense

treaty until the 1990s. (Hip-hop music playing) 1980s Philippines, American hip hop emerged in the islands influenced by the presence of US soldiers in the country and exposure to international media. The genre's powerful beats and authentic lyrics sparked a cultural revolution in the islands. And right about now for the very first time in Philippine History the very first Philppine Rap Olympics my friends A round of applause Rap came in America like in '79 The guy I met in '84 was the one who i

ntroduced RUN DMC to me ok so why do I have a foreigner friend? Bacause I can enter the US Airforce Base in Clark, Philippines Because I have friends from International School and they invite me, those the child of USAF officials Only child, like that so they said Andrew come over to my house and then by the weekend we go to the base but the artist introduced to me those days were Run DMC at that time Why? because when the casette tape was introduced to me Suddenly they all left the Philippines

and the tapes were handed over to me, so I was already influenced then it struck me that I can also write rap songs alright thank you very much thank you thank you As American hip hop took hold in the Philippines, in the 1990s, Cholo lifestyle emerged as a prominent subculture, brought to the islands by Filipino-American balikbayans originating from California. Filipino youth embraced the distinct lifestyle, associated with the Cholo culture. (Filipino Veterano speaking) You wear Dickies, jersey

s, plain white, plain sando Were Brown! We represent Pilipinas! Thanks to all the Veteranos, Much Respect! First and foremost, let's summarize and simplify the difference between a Chicano and a Cholo. Spaniard, Mexican I am a Chola, a gang member Now, let's hear the narratives of the pioneers who sparked this cultural revolution and those who continue to embody this way of life. First, we go to Parañaque and meet a Chola from the Southside. (VETERANO - PARAÑAQUE REBELS song playing) Im Marinel

Montealegre Flores Early 2009 it was introduced to me when I joined True Brown Style I adopted this lifestyle from my OG from my homies in Cavite thats how they dress up until I learned to love it because i feel comfortable with it this became our daily style wearing this kind of clothes everytime we hang out, you can see were cholo and cholas A Chola is always wearing a Cortez, Chuck Taylor Wearing dickies ben davis white tshirt proclub lowriders fb county Cholo style is a unique fusion of atti

re, distinct within the subculture, combining influences that blend workwear, prison attire, and urban fashion. It has evolved within the Cholo subculture. Cholos wear loose-fitting pants called khakis, flannel shirts, and bandanas. Discrimination will always be there because people always think when they see us, they say those are gangsters violent and always looking for trouble but maybe if you want to become the better person prove them wrong it doesnt always mean trouble when they see cholos

and cholas accept the fact that people will always be entitled to their opinion those who dont appreciate, but also there are compliments like I like your style, I want to be like you, You are so cool For Marinel, being a Chola is synonymous with boldness and authenticity; they challenge Every time she goes out wearing this style, she feels like she can conquer anything. For her, it's her armor, and her statement to the world that femininity and strength can coexist. Whenever Im wearing cortez

dickies and charlie browns I feel like I can conquer everything Maybe this is just a style that I got used to already this the only way to express yourself for me if you will be wearing Chola style you should know the history and roots of the culture because you cant just wear this style without knowing it (DIRTY SOUTH “CITY OF CRAZY” ALL STAR song playing) I am One Click from Temple Street Dirty South Manila Boy Pinoy Locos One Click owns a clothing line shop located in Mandaluyong. It is calle

d OC Brand, named after his initials; it specializes in original Cholo apparel proudly made in the Philippines. Becoming a Cholo starts with first we need you to be respectful respect for yourself, respect for other people discipline, of course loyalty for your familia because a Cholo is old school thats why I believe we must be respectful its easy to wear the clothing style you can buy it anywhere, online my biggest influence is my gang for me being a cholo and my style now Like Ive said earlie

r im from Temple Street Gang in the Philppines Based on the stories of my homies that has beed deported they kick it with cholos and Chicanos. Temple Street, located in Los Angeles, California, passes through the historic Filipino town and has a significant history tied to gang activity. TST, known as one of the oldest and most infamous gangs in the area, was founded in the 1920s by Mexicans and Filipinos. During the 1970s to 1990s, individuals were deported to their home countries after serving

prison sentences. The consequences of the deportation of Filipinos to the Philippines included the establishment of the gang's influence and formation of the subculture in their home country and resonated with the local Filipino population in the Philippines. With notable examples including Temple Street, Sarzana, Pinoy Real, and Satanas. This started when I was in serving prison time printing on detainee tshirts the yellow ones we were the one applying the paint on the silkscreen its the livel

ihood inside I was in prison for a very long time I had an idea there was my jailmate who was an artist I said draw me a handcuff and make the cuffs OC because OC stands for One Click time went by of course it wasnt easy to start a business specially after serving time there were good samaritans who helped me so I started this business my first design was that One Click's clothing style and designs were influenced by his own life experiences, reflecting personal growth and redemption. Determined

to transform his life for the better, he acknowledged the challenges he faced after serving time in prison. Through years of hard work, he established his own clothing business, committed to delivering high-quality products and inspiring the younger generation to pursue a positive path. Its good to see cholos from different neighborhoods united and now have a connection specially now we have the social media within this lifestyle we get ideas from each other old enemies become friends they will

bring you to other neighborhoods and you will get to meet other cholos without any trouble you will bring them to your neighborhood aswell like whats happening now you will see them in peace and harmony with each other and no trouble sometimes those people who got in a fight in the past are in the same table now because we have one goal now which is Peace Cholos may also display tattoos, which are an integral part of their style and it often carries personal and symbolic meanings. Now, we are h

eading to Queen Kae Tattoo Shop located in San Andres, Manila. These tattoos often showcase black ink designs with intricate details. Popular elements include Aztec symbols, gang-related visuals, as well as religious icons like the Virgin Mary or Jesus. The religious influence can be traced back to the Spanish colonization of the Philippines, which resulted in approximately 90% of Filipinos identifying as Christians to this day. Its not yet finished in this picture really but still now thats nic

e this it It took 8 hours to finish this how many sessions? One session only becuase hes going back to Canada This is Kae a female tattoo artist from San Andres Manila she specializes in cholo style tattoos (Karen preparing to apply tattoo on a client) I started tattoing with henna tattoo There is this bazaar we had a stall in Santa Ana I studied about graffiti by painting and I draw and join poster making contests in high school then I met local tattoo artist beside our stall I always watch the

m tattoo but me I only do henna that time then my husband gave me a gift which turned out to be a tattoo machine set The first person I tattooed was my uncle he was with me from day one and was selling cholo clothes in the bazaar the first subject I tattooed were La Muerte Santa Muerte its on his skin now the Foreign artist I look up to is Mr Cartoon, of course also I follow Matias Noble he specializes in mexican style aswell with our local artists its Gian Ortiz, Oman Martinez I know them and t

hey are very good with Black and Gray subjects including religious tattoos Cholo style tattoos usually when I tattoo those more on religious, like Mother Mary other subject are Mexican Lettering and Fonts Aztecs and skulls clowns and gang symbols and signs subject that represent their community smile now, cry later that is one of the first detailed tattoo i did and the la muerta santa muerta (Pinas Lowridaz Bicycle Club Charity Event) The passion for Cholo culture in the Philippines was truly re

markable, but it didn't stop there. The custom lowrider bicycles became an integral part of the subculture in the Philippines. Im here with Macoy from Olympia, Makati He is one of the customizers of Lowrider Bicycle in the Philippines I started with lowrider bikes back in 2007 early 2000s I saw the bikes in Filipino hip hop artist music videos like 7 shots of wisdom and music video of dcoy thats where i saw it I said this bike looks beautiful it seems its really part of the culture Lowriding pro

vided a platform for self-expression and cultural affirmation in a world that often misunderstood or marginalized their community. Customized rides showcased their individuality and collective pride, with vibrant colors and custom builds displaying dedication and creativity. The assembly of lowrider bikes is a form of expression its is where you express your present feelings to the bicycle example the paint job, the chrome and the twisted parts if youre building a lowrider bike if money is not a

n issue you may import parts from the United States but there are many local fabricators here in the Philippines because lowrider parts may be fabricated now here in the country For Macoy, Lowriding became more than a hobby; it became a powerful expression of his identity and unwavering pride. Lowriding embodied their rich culture, history, and aspirations, fostering a profound sense of belonging and empowerment. There are bikes called manila bike, easy rider, mountain bike then lowrider biker

came lowrider bike communities were established here aswell The effects of lowrider bikes makes a big difference here in the Philippines i had a lot of connections i made friends also it became a good example because the youth who lost their way got into lowriding and gave them aspirations and goals maybe the biggest success in lowrider was when I won a lowrider bike show because that time my father was still alive the expenses, blood, sweat and tears my father was there to support me along the

road and my father passed away he wasnt able to see my accomplishments thats why I dedicate this to him As Macoy and his homies cruised the streets, their bicycles transformed into mobile galleries, narrating stories of struggle, resilience, unity, and triumph. Through their presence, lowriders served as a vibrant reminder to the world of their unapologetic community. (Hydraulic System of Lowrider car) Rollerz Only is basically up and down California to now running 45 chapters, and that’s all t

he way in Sweden, the Philippines, and Japan. Wow I havent seen so much lowrider fans man! took me like 15 hours to just fly here but Im here now, Im so happy because we dont have this in the Philippines its only me and a few of my homeboys here we go we like this kind of cars but here (Las Vegas Supershow) Everybody loves it! Today, we have the privilege of meeting the Veteranos who introduced the lowrider car culture in the Philippines. Im Joker im the CEO founder president of Rollerz Only CC

Philippines this is Bryan he is my Vice President yes we started in 1995 we collected theres this booksale in malls where we search one by one to look for and buy lowrider magazines rap pages yo! source magazine because back in the days we have a studio bryan while were in the studio Im reading all the contents page by page every afternoon he will explain everything on how this car was built oh thats how it is? it has a story bro it was built for 3 years hes a soldier thats where we started we u

sed Emails only that time dial up internet because we only got this from the magazines back then there was no youtube no reference here only in magazines and write ups more on reading materials only back in the days there was no mtv yet also until I encouraged him that maybe we can bring the lowrider culture here to the Philippines Lowrider culture started in 1940s Los Angeles as a way for Mexican-Americans to express themselves through customized cars. They lowered suspensions, added unique pai

nt job, and hydraulic systems. Cruising the streets became popular, forming communities and celebrating cultural heritage. The culture also spread to other cities and countries like Japan and the Philippines, inspiring people worldwide. Of course we always go out to cruise of course the Philippines has many Filipino Americans re-visiting the country thats the start of our Rollerz Only we met a person His name is Jojo Reyes Rest in Peace to that OG He was with UCE CC USO a Samoan Car Club LA base

d from Carson he was a Pinoy (Filipino) He was one of the persons we were reading about in the magazines. Actually we met him in Mars A club in Manila, Pasay Road thats were it started our connection with Rollerz Only CC Joker met the cousin Julius Julius was with the Rollerz Only Jojo Reyes was there He saw goldie - Yes! He said whose car is this Theres this car locked up outside he was surprised locked up is the cars rear is raised of my car yes of the nissan he was surprised it was mine and t

hats where we first saw a plaque but UCE CC back then people talk in message boards I made a very serious letter a long one bro around 2 pages because its our dream to lowride and cruise suddenly the OG died what will happen next to the Philippines someone replied thats where we reconnected I was also about to fly to the states that time Thank God we were given a Visa to the states I went around the West Coast I started in Bay Area I got lucky I met a few people Kim and Big Mo fro the Sco They

were affiliated with lowriders in the US They brought me to the local lowrider car community but that time I came from the Philippines you will think thats it but its different when I went to Los Angeles Thats where I said, Wow this is the Mecca of Lowriders when I arrived at my uncles place he did a 3 wheel motion I messaged Bryan Bro! This is it! With Joker's return to the Philippines from the USA, he brought along a culture from California. They shared their love for lowriders, the lifestyle

that is set to make a lasting impact on the upcoming generation in the country. Also I fought for the name of the Philippines to be put on the magazine in the US actually we have a copy of the magazine that is the glory we're looking for were not aiming to be the number one we just want to be recognized Im proud to be a Filipino thats why you will see me in the video video in Las Vegas Supershow USA Im showing this tattoo of mine Also about the culture, Filipinos are Brown aswell The Homies Seri

es 5 recognizes Filipinos. We are recognized as homeboys We Filipinos are also brown. Filipino migration to the Americas dates back to the 16th century. Filipinos, known as "Luzones Indios," traveled on Galleons between the Philippines and Mexico. Some settled in Mexico, while others continued their journey to places like California, Louisiana, and the Gulf Coast. There are some stories that 4 million Filipinos migrated to Mexico around that period. Filipino migration to the Americas continues t

oday, driven by economic opportunities, education, and family reunification. that being said, Filipinos and Mexican communities in California shared a history. they worked together as agricultural laborers, fought for better working conditions, and faced discrimination. They formed alliances, served in the military, and exchanged cultural traditions. Despite challenges, they showed resilience and unity. (@todochidotv speaking) (@todochidotv speaking) - Filipinos and Mexicans are like half siblin

gs because we were both like the bastard kids of the spaniards were both like indigenous people who the colonizers came -yes - yes and took over thats why even some of our languages - sounds similar even some mexicans and filipinos look the same yes bro literally we have been there since historically the protest for migrant workers rights not only that a lot of people dont know is that one of the people who were also affected by the zoot suit riots were Filipinos they attacked Mexicans and Filip

inos we share that trauma bond Mexicans and Filipinos were basically bothers (Los Angeles, Veterano speaking) - the only interaction i would say probably kind of rub shoulders with other nationalites talking about the Japanese and Filipinos we were the same we were sort of in Alliance with them I joined a gang and I was named OG Khast back in the days I watched blood in blood out numerous times I am trying to know more deeply about the roots and history of the Cholos and Mexicans how they starte

d this culture my big brothers they were the one who guided me through them I learned about the respect for the culture this is not just because about the style of clothes I was starstrucked when I knew about Lil Rob he has this different energy his swag is on another level and the way he represents the culture I organized a lot of events including rap battles open mics this one i see alot of other neighborhoods organizing cholo night i said to myself why not try to organize one here in San Andr

es another cholo night for it to become a memorable moment that we did this successfully without trouble afterwards peacufully and we are proud to represent the culture of Chicanos sometimes the event we organize may be used for a cause so that we can help people in need financially we can help them out we show people that our culture in positive ways Focus is not about the event but about helping people For me its different when the event is a Cholo night you will see different gangs representi

ng the culture promoting unity peace for the culture our mission is to bring people together let us remove hate in ourselves we promote One Love so that there will be no more fights, wars and chaos that is why we need to do this and must be followed through for the next generation everybody will know each other and no more trouble will happen and the message of this event really is to promote peace and unity in the streets for everyone The journey of the Cholo culture from California to the sho

res of the Philippines stands as a testament to the enduring spirit of cultural exchange and the global influence of subcultures, especially in this modern time in which information travels very fast. The Cholo culture today unites people globally, regardless of their diverse backgrounds, through through similar experiences and interests It creates a strong sense of community and and camaraderie among those who value the distinct aesthetics and elements of this culture. It plays a significant ro

le in sparking dialogue, acceptance, and establishing connections, thus contributing to a more unified and inclusive society worldwide. The Cholo culture became a powerful avenue for self-expression, identity, and empowerment among Filipino youth, ultimately fostering a sense of unity. (Sarung Banggi Remix Song Playing) C/S