Filipino Genealogy: Tracing Your Filipino Roots

In a captivating Legacy Family Tree Webinar, professional genealogist Diane Henriks introduces researchers to the fascinating world of Filipino genealogy. Though not of Filipino descent herself, Henriks shares personal connections through her children and in-laws, bringing both professional expertise and lived experience to the topic. Her presentation, “Filipino Genealogy: Tracing Your Filipino Roots,” offers essential strategies for navigating the challenges of Filipino research, where fragmented records, naming traditions, and cultural nuances make discovery both complex and rewarding. By combining history, geography, and cultural context with practical guidance, Henriks provides a roadmap for genealogists eager to explore this vibrant and often underrepresented heritage.

• Understanding history and culture is key to research. Filipino genealogy requires familiarity with colonial influences, religious traditions, and naming practices such as the 1849 Claveria Decree, which assigned surnames across the islands. Recognizing these factors helps genealogists avoid false assumptions about ancestry while guiding them to the right record sets.

• Locality determines success. Because records are organized at the town, parish, and provincial levels, identifying an ancestor’s exact place of origin is essential. Without this, researchers risk endless dead ends. Church records—especially baptisms, marriages, and burials—remain the most reliable resources, often containing rich details about family connections and community.

• Modern tools complement traditional research. While the Philippines lacks centralized, digitized record collections, resources such as FamilySearch, the National Archives of the Philippines, social media platforms like Facebook, and the Filipino Genealogy Project provide valuable entry points. Collaboration with relatives, community groups, and local FamilySearch centers can bridge gaps left by privacy laws and limited online access.

This webinar is more than a technical guide—it highlights the importance of relationships, culture, and persistence in genealogical discovery. For anyone tracing Filipino ancestry, Henriks emphasizes patience and creativity, reminding researchers that building a family tree is both a historical investigation and a personal journey.

To gain deeper insights, view the full webinar and explore the accompanying syllabus. The handout contains an extensive list of repositories, websites, books, and blogs that extend far beyond what could be covered in a single session. Genealogists are encouraged to explore these resources to strengthen their research and uncover the rich stories of Filipino heritage waiting to be told.