The term Filipino originally referred exclusively to Spaniards and Spanish mestizos born in the Philippines. Espanoles-Filipinos -- children of Espana and Filipinas -- was how they specifically called themselves. Later the native upper class of indios ("uncivilized heathens") and Chinese mestizos, believing that education and wealth gave them the cloak of Spanish culture, also began calling themselves Filipinos.
First Pinoy in the Sky
The first Filipino to fly as a passenger was an Igorot chief named Gagaban. He rode with American pilot Lee Hammond in a Red Devil biplane on a short flight over Luneta on February 12, 1912.