When the Americans first arrived in the Philippines in the late 19th century, many of them were surprised: as the environment was similar to that of Mexico (note that America had many military ventures into Mexico in the 19th century {Mexican American War/ Pancho Escapade etc})
Fact: Most if not all Filipinos spoke, and read Castillian Spanish by the time of the 19th century. The Lingua Franca of the day was Spanish. The way the Tagalog and the Bisaya communicated with each other was through Castillian Spanish. The language of business was Spanish. The language of the military, government, juidicial, the language of the Church was Spanish. The Philippines reached a pinnacle of Hispanization in that epoch. Most of the politicians and revolutionista leaders were themselves either half Spaniards or part Spanish.
The famous Jose P. Rizal, was a Spanish Mestizo. His mother being part Spanish and his father a Chinese-Filipino merchant.
The man by the name of Andres Bonifacio, was also another Spanish mestizo.
The great writer, Marcelo Del Pilar, a great Filipino Apologist and pro-independence writer in La Solidaridad in Spain, was also of Spanish decent.
To the amazement of the Americans, when they arrived in Spanish Philippines, was the fact that the Philippines was more 'Latin' and or 'Spanish' than it was Asian.
lol.
Half a Millenia of Spanish amalgamation and cultural imprinting can do that to you.
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