MANILA, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles, Manila Bureau) – Gone are the days when Filipinos pinned their high hopes that someday, the Philippines will become the 51st state of the United States. The colonial mentality favoring Uncle Sam seems to be waning.

In an impromptu survey conducted by The Adobo Chronicles on coronation day for King Charles III, a vast majority of Filipinos say they favor a Commonwealth government under the United Kingdom.

Asked for their reasons, many said the Philippines has much more in common with the British than with Americans, foremost of which is the obsession for royalty, for Kings and Queens.

In Filipino culture, powerful and influential people are treated as kings, while women (including trans women) are looked up to as queens. Hence the Filipinos’ love affair with beauty pageants.

Even the residence of the Philippine President is called a palace.

One respondent pointed out that “we don’t even have to build those horse-driven carriages that British Royals use — we already have our own kalesas.

Another said Filipinos wouldn’t have to secure visas to travel to the U.K. and other Commonwealth countries.

Finally, many Pinoys surveyed said that they also love the British accent — very classy!