Travels in the Philippines on Maharlikanism

Commercial Relations

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Magellan discovered the Philippines in his memorable first circumnavigation of the globe. He followed the sun in its apparent daily path around the world. Every successive degree he compassed on his eastern course added 4 minutes to the length of his day.

Communication Between Hongkong and Spain

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Manila lies 650 nautical miles south-east of Hongkong. A mail steamer can travel it in 3 to 4 days. This allows of a fortnightly postal communication between the Philippines and the rest of the world.

Earthquakes

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Manila is situated on both sides of the river Pasig. The town itself, surrounded with walls and ramparts, with its low tiled roofs and scattered towers. It appeared like some ancient European fortress.

The Galleon Trade

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The Manila custom-house requires many formalities which the native minor officials exercised without discretion. This is:

different from the easy routine of the English free ports in Asia which I had just came from
wearisome to me.

A respectable merchant obtained for me a guarantee, as a particular favour, to have permission to disembark after a detention of 16 hours.

Restrictions On Trade

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The Manila merchants were used to a lucrative trade with Acapulco.

The Crown purchased the Indian and Chinese merchandise for its return freights from Manila at double their original value.

Manila: Life In Town And Suburb

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Manila is inhabited by Spaniards, Creoles, the natives directly connected with them, and Chinese.

It is surrounded by walls and wide ditches on the left or southern bank of the Pasig looking towards the sea.*

Public Promenades

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How many of the prettiest natives are of perfectly unmixed blood is difficult to decide.

Many of them are very fair and of quite an European type. They are easily distinguished from their sisters in the outlying provinces.

The Europeans

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A SCOTCH merchant invited me with such cordiality to come and stay with him.

The Impact of Catholicism

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The lack of originality among the half-castes appears to arise from their equivocal position. It is also found among the natives.

Distinctly marked national customs, which one would naturally expect to find in such an isolated part of the world, are sought for in vain.

Colonial Taxation Policy

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It was fortunate that the Philippines had no precious stones or costly spices. In the earlier days of maritime traffic, it was difficult to export the many Philippine agricultural products.

Bamboo

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Bamboos with luxuriant leafy tops grow plentifully by the huts in the rice-fields which fringe the banks of the river.

The bamboo possesses, in proportion to its lightness, an extraordinary strength ;

Geography of The Philippines

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

If the Bashee or Batanes Islands be included, the area of the Philippinian Archipelago extends to the 21st parallel of north latitude.

Fires in Bulacan

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The province of Bulacan is on the northern shore of Manila Bay.

A couple of hours brought the steamer to the bar of Binuánga (not Bincanga as it is called in Coello’s map), and a third to Bulacan, the capital of the province, situated on the flat banks of an influent of the Pampanga delta.

The Houses of the People

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

I visited several families and received a friendly reception from all of them.

The houses were built of planks, and were placed upon piles elevated 5 feet above the ground. They consisted of a spacious dwelling apartment which opened on one side into the kitchen, and on the other on to an open space, the azotea ;

Laguna

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My second trip was to Laguna. I left Manila at night in a banca.

Lucban

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Lucban

I reached Lucban district in 3 hours. It is a prosperous place of 13,000 inhabitants, to the north-east of Majaijai.

A year before my visit, it had been burnt to the ground.

The San Bernardino Straits

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Towards the end of August I started from Manila for Albáy in a schooner which had brought a cargo of hemp and was returning in ballast.

Legaspi in Albay

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Legaspi

Legaspi is the principal port of Albáy province.

Its roadstead, however, is very unsafe, and, being exposed to the northeasterly storms, is perfectly useless during the winter.

The northnorth-east wind is the prevailing one on this coast; the south-west breeze only blows in June and July. The heaviest storms occur between October and January.

Mayon Volcano

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

My Spanish friends enabled me to rent a house in Darága,* a well-to-do town of 20,000 inhabitants at the foot of the Mayon volcano, 1.5 leagues from Legaspi.

Philippine Cacao

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I SPRAINED my foot so badly in ascending Mayon volcano that I had to stay in the house for a month.

Under the circumstances, I was not sorry to find myself settled in a roomy and comfortable dwelling.

Philippine Coffee

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

The history of coffee in the Philippines is very similar to that of cacao.

The plant thrives wonderfully, and its berry has so strongly marked a flavour that the worst Manila coffee commands as high a price as the best Java.

Philippine Theater

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When my ankle began to get better, my first excursion was to Legaspi, where some natives were giving a theatrical performance.

A Spanish political refugee directed the entertainment.

On each side of the stage, roofed in with palm leaves, ran covered galleries for the dignitaries of the place. The uncovered space between which was set apart for the common people. The performers had chosen a play taken from Persian history.

Excursions To Bulusán And Sorsogón

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During the whole time I was confined to the house at Darága, the weather was remarkably fine ; but unfortunately the bright days had come to an end by the time I was ready to make a start, for the north-east monsoon, the sure forerunner of rain in this part of the Archipelago, sets in in October.

The Spanish Priests

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

The 2 provinces of Camarines form a long continent. Its principal frontage of shore facing to the north-east and to the south-west ; which is about 10 leagues broad in its middle. Its shores are indented by many deep bays.

The Spanish Governors

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

The difference in the position of the priests to that of the Government officials is seen in their respective dwellings.

The casas reules of the priests are generally small, ugly, and frequently half-ruined habitations, are not suited to the dignity of the chief authority of the province.

Native Priests

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In an hour and a half after leaving Polángui we reached Bátu, a village on the north-western shore of the lake of the same name.

Tribal People

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I rode from Bátu to Nábua over a good road in half an hour. The country was flat, with rice-fields on both sides of the road.

In Bátu the rice was only just planted. In Nábua, it already was almost ripe.

Stalactite Springs

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

At the end of November, I left the beautiful lake of Buhi, and proceeded from its eastern angle for a short distance up the little river Sapa,* the alluvial deposits of which form a considerable feature in the configuration of the lake.

Manners And Customs Of The Bícol Natives

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On my second journey in Camarines, which I undertook in February, I went by water from Polangui, past Bátu, as far as Nága.

Rice Cultivation In Bicol

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The rice harvest is effected in a peculiar manner.

The rice which is soonest ripe is cut for 10%. The labourer receives for his toil the tenth bundle for himself.

The Domestic Philippine Economy

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The details of domestic economy may be narrated as follows.

An earthen pot is used for cooking. It costs between 3 and 10 cuartos. When cooking rice, is closed firmly with a banana-leaf, so that the steam of a very small quantity of water is sufficient.

Amok, Bangungot, and Nasal Acuteness

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Under certain conditions, the natives cannot support either hunger or thirst. I have witnessed this on many occasions.

The physicians could not define this condition more precisely.

When a native is forced into a situation as to suffer from unappeased wants, they become critically ill and often die.

Japanese and Their Earthen Jars

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From Nága I visited the cura of Libmánan (Ligmanan) who:

The Tea-societies

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The following certificate translated by the interpreter of the German Consulate shows how highly ancient pots, even of native origin, are esteemed in Japan up to the present:

This earthen vessel was found in the porcelain factory of Tschisuka in the province of Odori, in South Idzumi. It belongs to the thousand graves.. It was made by Giogiboosat (a celebrated Buddhist priest). He buried it after consecrating it to heaven.

Paracáli and Mambuláo

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GOLD-WASHING

Paracáli and Mambuláo are two localities well known to all mineralogists, from the red lead ore occurring there.

On the following morning I returned to Longos which only had a few miserable huts inhabited by gold-washers. They go about almost naked, probably because they work most of the day in the water and are also very poor.

Early Copper-smiths and Igorot Native Science

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

The locality of these rich quarries was still unknown to the Governor, even if the copper implements brought from there had been in use in Manila over 2 centuries, according to an official statement of his in 1833.

Journey Along The Coast Of Camarines

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I sent my baggage from Daét to Cabusáo in a schooner. I then proceeded on foot by the road to the coast on the west side of the Bay of San Miguél.

The Oppression Of The Igorots

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The Ysaróg (pronounced Issaró) rises up in the middle of Camarínes, between the bays of San Miguel and Lagonóy.

While its eastern slope almost reaches the sea, it is separated on its western side by a broad strip of inundated land from the Bay of San Miguél. In circumference it is at least twelve leagues; and its height 1,966 metres.* Very flat at its base, it swells gradually to 16°, and higher up to 21° of inclination, and extends itself, in its western aspect, into a flat dome-shaped summit. But, if viewed from the eastern side, it has the appearance of a circular chain of mountains rent asunder by a great ravine. On Coello’s map this ravine is erroneously laid down as extending from south to north ; its bearing really is west to east.

Degree Of Civilisation

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The few products of a more advanced civilisation which they require, they obtain by the sale of the spontaneous productions of their forests, chiefly:

wax and resin (pili),*
apnik
dagiangan (a kind of copal)
some abaca.

Wax is in demand for church solemnities.

Mazarága

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From the Ysaróg I returned through Nága and Nabua to Yriga.

Piracy

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Early in the morning I rode on the pastor’s horse to Legaspi, and in the evening through deep mud to the alcalde at Albáy.

It was June in the middle of the so-called dry season. But it rained almost every day. The road between Albáy and Legaspi was worse than ever.

Travels in Samar

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TRAVELS IN SÁMAR.- WEATHER.-ELECTION OF OFFICIALS.-NORTH COAST.-CÁTBA LOGAN.–THE FLYING LEMUR.–SERPENT TAMERS.-TERTIARY PETRIFACTIONE. — THE RAPIDS OF THE LOQUILÓcun.-THE MAGO.

At the present time, each island has its separate governor.

Samar Animals

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

In Sámar, the flying monkey or lemur (the káguang of the Bisayans—galeopithecus) is not rare.

These animals are as big as a domestic cat. They belong to the quadrumana.

But, like the flying squirrels, they are provided with a volucral membrane. It starts at the neck and passes over the fore and hinder limbs then reaches to the tail.

Burial Caverns And Funeral Customs Of The Ancient Bisayans

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

In Guiuan, I was visited by some Micronesians. For the last 14 days, they had been in Sulangan on the small neck of land south-east from Guíuan, diving for pearl mussels (mother-of-pearl).

Superstition Invaded

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

In the caverns of these rocks, the ancient Pintados interred the corpses of their heroes and ancestors in well-locked coffins.

These were surrounded by those objects which had been held in the highest regard by them during life.

Idolatry Of The Dead

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Their chief idolatry consisted in the worship of those of their ancestors who had most distinguished themselves by courage and genius, whom they regarded as deities.

They called them humalagar, which is the same as manes in the Latin.

The Ignatius Bean

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

In the environs of Basey, the Ignatius bean grows in remarkable abundance, as it also does in the south of Sámar and in some other of the Bisayan islands. It is not present in Luzon. But it is very likely that I have introduced it there unwittingly.

Manufacture Of Coconut Oil

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

On the southern half of the eastern border, on the shore from Borongan by Láuang as far as Guíuan, there are considerable plantations of coconuts, which are most imperfectly applied to oil production.

Sulphur Smelting

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CROCODILES

The island of Leyté is over 25 miles long and almost 12 miles wide. It is 170 square miles.

Rice Cultivation

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The inhabitants of Sámar and Leyté (I have not become closely acquainted with any others) belong to one race.*

They are, physically and intellectually, in character, dress, manners and customs, so similar that my notes, which were originally made at different points of the two islands, have, after removal of the numerous repetitions, fused into one, which affords a more complete picture. It also shows their small differences.

The Family Economy and Debt Slavery

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A family consisting of father, mother, and five children requires daily nearly 24 chupas of palay (rice in the husk), which, after winnowing, comes to about 12 chupas.

This at the average price of 4 reals per caban costs about half a real. The price, however, varies.

Native Superstition

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Superstition is rife.

Amulets

Every female native wears by a string round the neck with the image of the Virgin Mary. Many also have heathen amulets.

Philippine Ports

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In 1830, 7 new ports were opened as an experiment. But due to great frauds in the tolls, they were soon closed again.

Sugar and the Benefits of Free Trade

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Sugar cultivation increased in Iloilo, Antique, Panay, and Negros because of:

the higher prices of directly-exported sugar
the facility and security of the trade as contrasted with the late monopoly enjoyed by Manila

This led to the development of manufacturing.

Abacá or Manila Hemp

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

One of the most interesting products of the Philippines is Manila hemp, so called by the French.

But it has few uses. Because of its silky appearance, the natives call it the bandála seed.

Sesal or Sesal-hemp

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Sesal, or sesal-hemp is known as Mexican grass.

It is named after the export harbour of Sisal in the northwest of the peninsula. For some years past, it been used increasingly as a substitute for abaca.

The Tobacco Monopoly

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

In terms of government revenue, tobacco is the most important product of the Philippines.

The Government has strictly monopolized its:

cultivation
manipulation
sale

The Government derive a very large portion of their revenue from tobacco. Below are the estimates of its receipts:

The System Of Control

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

At the time of my visit, the royal factories could not turn out a supply of cigars commensurate with the requirements of commerce.

This brought about a peculiar condition of things; the wholesale dealer, who purchased cigars in very considerable quantities at the Government auctions, paying higher than the retail rates at which he could buy them singly in the estancia.

Chinese Emigration

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Invigorated by the severe struggle for existence which they have experienced in their own overpopulated country, the Chinese preserved their capacity for labour perfectly unimpaired by any climate.

No nation can equal them in contentedness, industry, perseverance, cunning, skill, and adroitness in trades and mercantile matters.

Letter Of The Commissary-general Of Chincheo To Don Pedro De Acuña, Governor Of The Philippines

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Letter Of The Commissary-general Of China To Don Pedro De Acuña

To the powerful Captain-General of Luson.

The Chinese who moved to the kingdom of Luzon to trade were murdered by the Spaniards. I have investigated the motives for these massacres and begged the King to exercise justice on the murderers with a view to security in the future.

Epitome-concluding Observations of the Philippines

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

The Philippines was discovered by Magellan on March 16, 1521 on St. Lazarus’s day.* But it was not until 1564, after many previous efforts had miscarried, was it put under Spain.

Spanish Colonial Government and Cavite Mutiny

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Apart from the priests, the first-comers consisted only of officials, soldiers and sailors. To them, naturally, fell all the high profits of the China trade.

Manila was their chief market. It also attracted a great portion of the external Indian trade, which the Portuguese had frightened away from Malacca by their excessive cruelty.

Juan de Salcédo

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Juan de Salcédo was the most illustrious of all the conquerors.

Supported by his grandfather, Legaspi, with 45 Spanish soldiers, he fitted out an expedition at his own expense, embarked at Manila in May 1572, examined all parts of the west coast of the island, landed in all the bays which were accessible to his light-draught ships, and was well received by the natives at most of the places.

Spain Versus Britain Versus America

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Spain should be given credit for having bettered the condition of a people who were comparatively highly civilised, but were continually distracted by petty wars which led them into a disordered and uncultivated state.

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ELECTION OF OFFICIALS

From the convent, a view is had of part of the island of Sámar, the mountain forms of which appear to be a continuation of the horizontal strata. In the centre of the district, at the distance of some miles, a table mountain, famous in the history of the country, towers aloft.

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Bad weather and the flight of my servant, who had gambled away some money with which he had been entrusted at a cockfight, having detained me some days in the chief town, I proceeded up the bay, which extends southwards from Catbalogan and from west to east as far as Paránas. Its northern shore consists of ridges of earth, regular and of equal height, extending from north to south, with gentle slopes towards the west, but steep declivities on the east, and terminating abruptly towards the sea. Nine little villages are situated on this coast between Catbalogan and Paránas.

The Chinese

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

The Chinese are an important portion of the population because of their contribution to the development of the land-cultivation.

This is demanded by the increasing trade and commercial intercourse which can be effected only by Chinese industry and perseverance.

Manila has always been a favourite place for Chinese immigrants. The following have not prevented their coming: