Despite Pinays taking up a large amount of the American population, many Filipino American citizens do not speak the languages of the islands. From Tagalog to Ilocano to Visayan, many America-born Filipinos are not taught native languages. This perpetuates a sense of disconnect between Filipino Americans and their culture and continues to perpetuate attitudes of cultural erasure set in place by early forms of colonization.
"Sa America, marami ang mga Filipino, di ba? Pero, hindi ko po alam kung bakit marami tayo, tapos lugi tayo sa tao ng may alaam sa Tagalog o Ilocano o Bisayan pa. Pwede ba yan? Kung mag wala ng "culture" ng mga Pinay? Sa tingin ko lang, yung tagalog ko dito ay medyo OA, pero masmabuti yan kaysa walang tagalog talaga. Tapos, masmasaya 'ung salita ko dito kaysa English din. Bakit ganun?"