Tornatras
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Tornatras is a term denoting a Eurasian person of mixed Spanish and Chinese descent in the Philippines, as well as persons of mixed Malay, Chinese, and Spanish ancestry. The said term comes from the Spanish words torna, meaning 'turn', and atrás, meaning back. Although the term was used in the Spanish colonial period, it has since fallen into disuse. One problem seen in the use of the term Tornatra is its' specificity, especially since Tornatras have various mixtures of Spanish, Filipino, and Chinese blood.
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[edit] Present-day Distribution
Although there are no official statistics on the number of Tornatras in the Philippines, they may be distinguished from other Chinese populations due to their having mixed Spanish and Chinese features. The majority of Tornatras have intermarried back into the Chinese population. Currently, the numbers of Tornatras are dwindling following intermarriage with other ethnic groups or emigration. Tornatras may also be confused with Macanese people also living in the Philippines, the latter having mixed Chinese and Portuguese ancestry.
[edit] Language
The vast majority of Tornatras use English as their primary language, while many are also conversant in either two of the following languages: Lan-nang (Philippine variant of Min Nan), Cantonese, Spanish, or in any Philippine language, mostly Tagalog or Cebuano.
[edit] Prominent Tornatra people
- Corazon Aquino, first woman president of the Philippines.
- Jose Miguel Arroyo, first gentleman of the Philippines
- Dolphy, actor
- Eugenio Lopez, Jr., TV magnate
- Sergio Osmeña, second president of the Commonwealth of the Philippines.
- Jose Rizal, national hero of the Philippines
- Jasmine Trias, American Idol finalist
- Lalaine Vergara, U.S. actor (though also considered Spanish-mestiza)
