The Philippines "LATINA of ASEAN"

The Philippines is often nicknamed the "Latina of ASEAN" due to its unique cultural blend of indigenous, Asian, and Spanish influences. The country was colonized by Spain for over 300 years, leading to the integration of Spanish language, customs, religion (predominantly Roman Catholicism), and surnames into Filipino culture. This Spanish heritage, combined with its Southeast Asian roots, gives the Philippines a cultural identity that closely resembles Latin American countries, hence the nickname "Latina of ASEAN."