THE SKETCHER. THE CHARACTER OF THE FILIPINOS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2358, 4 May 1899, Page 55

THE SKETCHER. THE CHARACTER OF THE FILIPINOS.

TS is almost impossible to secure an accuf.vo portraiture of the native morsl charac- ! ;«r. In Manila and the open ports, where the Filipinos have come in contact with foreign trade, they are modified beings. A ! student who spent 50 years here is quoted : as? saying, " The native is an incomprehen- ; siblo phenomenon, the mainspring of whoss t thought and guiding motive of whose action • have never yet been, may never be, dis- : covered." When caught in a crime of violence, the native says his head was hot : \ if detected in a theft, he claims that his ; relatives asked him to do it. He is fond of gambling, lying, and stealing. If you ; t=ay the exact compensation for a service, nt-will say nothing, but if you commit the -. error of allowing your sympathies or good will to offer the slightest amount above that which is correct, he loudly protests for more. He is not appreciative of gifts or capable -of gratitude. He regards a \ European who gives as a fool. He will borrow, but will never pay unless compelled to. The reasoning powers of the Filipino and the foreigner differ so largely 1 that their impulses are continually clashing. Like most Orientals, he is a good imitator but possesses no inventive genius ; i has no attachment for any particular oc- j cupation ; while momentarily obedient, is averse to subjection ; will never take an insult without a cruel revenge. Ho is ' friendly, but of no lasting loj'alty ; cruel to a foe, yet kind to his children. Ho ms . intensely jealous of his wife. He steals nob J to become rich, but for the adventiu'e in- ; volved. He is superstitious, credulous, in- \ quisitive; but patient, forbearing, sober. I He abhors profanity. He plods for his present wants and seldom feels the " canker of ambitious thoughts." In person and dwelling he is cleanly. He has little thought for the morrow, so never racks his brain about events in the far future, in the political world or like spheres. Such is the combination of vices and virtues, the succession of surprises in the Filipino. j The natives have the distinct Malay fea- ■ tures — the prominent cheekbones, large, lively eyes, flat noses, dilated nostrils — ■ and are rather low of stature, very rarely bearded, and usually copper-coloured. They practise various kinds of industry : they ' weav* matting of extraoi'dinary fineness, straw hats, cigar-cases and baskets ; they manufacture cloth, and tissues of evsry sort, from cotton, silk, and abaca : frorii filaments taken from the leaves of the hemp tree they make the finest cambric, J and coarse, strong cloth for Fails, ropes. • and tables ; they tan and dress leather and skins to i>erfe*ction ; they manufacture coarse earthenware, and forge and polish arms of various kinds : they build ships of heavy tonnage, and also light and neat [ boats'; and at Manila they frame and ; - finish off beautiful carriages. They are also very clever workers an gold, silver, and copper. The people of one island do not know those of the other isles ; they have ' ( but limited means of communication ; they ' do not speak the same language ; they have different customs and habits. A consider- : able element of the population is the issue of unions between European and Chinese men and native women. The Chinese al- j most without exception many Philippine women — a fact that accounts for over two hundred thousand mestizos, or half-breeds. The Filipino in a general sense, the one J used by foreigners in common conversa- ', tion, is born of Spanish parents in the ' islands. In a true, technical sense, the ! genuine Filipino is the native Indian of •: the islands. He is referred to by the , Spanish and the Spanish-born Filipinos as Indian/ " Mestizo " means Eurasian. < There are the Spanish, Chinese, German, • American, and the English mestizos, in order of their number. An Indian woman, ' or true Filipino, married to any foreigner must call her issue mestizo, if male ; mestiza, if female. Some of the mestizos are very rich. ... } The homes of the cultivated Filipinos are attractive, commodious, and designed for the climate, but little attention has been paid to architectural beauty. Earthquakes, typhoons, and the peculiarity of Spanish proprietary laws make property tenure riskful. j The ground floor is usually uninhabited, or j else used to lodge the native servants or as j a coach-house. There is an upper 3torey which constitutes the house proper, and is . divided into a spacious hall leading from , the staircase to the dining and reception ■ rooms; on one or two sides of these apart-- j nients are the private rooms. The kitchen ' is apart from the house, and is reached by ( a covered passage. To the rear, ' in the ( yard, i* the bath. Substituted for window : glass, which is practically unknown, are j oyster shells and plates of mother-of-pearl, J ■wliich admit the light yefc obstruct the hot rays, These homes contain the most costly '

inventions of European and Asiatic luxury — precious vases from China, Japanese wares, gold, silver, rich silks, beautiful decorations and furnishings. The balls and entertainments which these pure-bred Filipinos give are celebrated throughout the islands. The quadrilles of Europe are followed by the dances of -India. The young people execute the fandango, bolero, cachucha, or the lascivious movements of the bayaderes, while the enterprising halfbreeds, indolent Spaniards, and sedate Chinese repair to the gaining room, for gaming is a passion. The wives and daughters of the Filipinos are amiable, sociable, courteous, and educated. They are becoming somewhat pretentious socially. There is a noticeable lack of training and discipline in the homes ; the children appear to be entirely without control. The Filipino has an inherent passion for music. The majority of the girls play the harp, and those who have attended European colleges the piano. There is an absence of sentiment or feeling in the execution of set music, so they do not become fine instrumentalists. They know, for the same reason, very little classical music. A native Filipino musical performance is full of soul and harmony. Native marriages are arranged by the parents. The elders of the young man's family visit those of the young lady's, and approach the subject delicately, in an oratorical style of allegory. 'jMie responses 1 are similarly mysteriously veiled, until it is evident that an agreement can be reached. The Filipino's method of kissing is peculiar : the nose is S laced to the cheek and a long breath rawn. The woman's dress is elaborate. A flowing skirt of gay colours, bright red, green, or white, is preferred. The length of the train is dependent upon the purse. A transparent chemisette descends to the waist, covering, but not concealing, a bosom that has never been imprisoned in stays. The starched neckcloth is of pineapple or hemp filament. The panuelo is square, and being folded triangularly it hangs in a point down the back, standing very high up at the back of the neck in seventeenth century style, whilst the other two points are brooched where they meet; at the top of the chemisette. To this chemisette are added immensely wide short sleeves. The hair is brushed back from the forehead without parting and coiled in a tight, flat chignon. In the hand is a fan, without which a Philippine woman would be lost. An extravagant fondness for jewellery manifests itself even in those who never wear it. Very frequently the head is covered with a kerchief of fibre like a veil. This pineapple fibre, made from the leaves, is finer and more beautiful than the most delicate French cambric. Finally, the toes of the feet are enveloped in chumalas, a kind of slipper, flat like a shoo sole with no heel, but with just enough upper in front to put two or three toes inside. At other times the women wear a short skirt of silk or satin, with gold-em-broidered chumalas. Altogether the dress is curious, and to some engaging. More than anywhere else in Asia, woman here enjoys independence, which in some localities eronomic conditions tend .to increase. The chief of these conditions is the almost exclusive employment of women in the Government cigar manufactories. — Cosmopolitan (U.S.).