The Filipino; His Customs and Character

Author(s): John A. Metzger

Source: Proceedings of the American Philosophical Society , Jan. - Apr., 1905, Vol. 44,
No. 179 (Jan. - Apr., 1905), pp. 6-31
Published by: American Philosophical Society

Stable URL: https://www.jstor.org/stable/983599

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6 METZGER-THE FILIPINO. [March I7,

THE FILIPINO; HIS CUSTOMS AND CHARACTER.

BY JOHN A. ME'TZGER, M.D.

(Read March zr7, 1905.)

The early history of the people of the Philippines can, unfortu-

nately, be none other than that of imperfect conjecture. We
do know, however, that the present-day Filipino is not the direct,
unalloyed descendent of the aboriginal inhabitants of these islands
but have lineage from some nomadic people who, through affiliation
with the aborigines, have given to the ethnologist this almost in-
comprehensible human being. The progenitorial element is un-
questionably Malayan but the source is a much debated question.
Some authorities contend that the ancestors of this great semi-
civilized people came from Chili, drifted thither by. the currents
and prevailing winds, while others with as equitable reasoning
believe them to have migrated from the shores of Madagascar and
Patagonia. Neither the paleontologist nor the paleographer has thus
far been able to throw any definite light on the source or character
of the original inhabitants of th s dependency. However, the
generally accepted theory points to a mountain tribe called the
Negrito or AEtas, which is universally regarded as the surviving
remnant of this once powerful people who first populated the
archipelago.
From a paleontological and structural point of view we are wont
to believe that during the later Miocene or the very early Pliocene,
there was that progressive uplifting of the land which subsequently
became separated from Borneo and the Asiatic continent (through
Formosa) by the present China sea. The evidence which warrants
this deduction must be admitted is very fragmentary, however, the
distribution of living forms is certainly calculated to throw some
light on the more recent history of these islands and should be
made to contribute all it can, but at the same time it must not be
forgotten that the obstacles which seem geologically of small
moment may limit the extension of species. The island of Cebui
affords a striking example of this fact regarding the bird fauna and
mammalia which are regarded as the descendant forms of Borneo
and Continental Asia. This theory is corroborated by Mr. Waller,

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 1905.] METZGER-THE FILIPINO. 7

who has given this considerable study, when he says: " Absence
of a large number of Malayan groups would indicate that the actual
connection with Borneo, which seems necessary for the introduction
of the Malayan types of mammalia, with the large proportion of
wide-spread continental genera of birds would seem to imply that
greater facilities had once existed for the migration from Southern
China, at which time the ancestors of that peculiar deer seen in
Samar and Cebui entered the islands." It, therefore, seems impos-
sible to understand this existing fauna unless it can be assumed that
island connection must have existed. Accepting this theory, why
then should not primitive man have made his ingress from Borneo
or Continental Asia? This question of the aboriginese is indeed a
field for research and is one for the ethnologist and not the province
of a mind inexperienced in this line of study.
Conceding for the present the Negrito to have been the aborig-
inal inhabitants, we have as yet to discover any signs or writings
of an early day which might lead us to a solution of the origin of
this strange tribe. We have, however, characters, many of which
are hieroglyphical, of the ancient Tagalog, Visayan, Yliocano,
Pampafigo, Pafigasinan and Tagbafiua. These characters were ex-
pressed or inscribed on tubes of bamboo, with some pointed in-
strument the nature of which is as yet unknown, and like the
present-day dialects of the several tribes there seems to have been
a great preponderance of consonants and a very limited vocabulary.
A comma above a letter, should it be a consonant, gave it the sound
of having been written with an E or I, and if below as 0 or U.
Upon the conquest of the archipelago by the Spaniard their
alphabets were abandoned by many and the Spanish or the original
of the present mongrel dialects were adopted and after a period of
three hundred years there is scarcely a person to be found who can
either read or write in the original characters. This, however, is the
field of the paleographer but, I believe, is worthy of mention in this
connection. The adoption of the Spanish language by some of the
tribes was the first step in the domestication of these people, in
that it permitted the placing of the Doctrina in their hands with
the consequent closer affiliation. (For those wishing to further in-
vestigate these early languages of the Filipino, I would refer them
to the writings of the Agustinian father Marcilla, and especially
his " Estudio de los antigues alfabetos Filipinos.")

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8 METZGER-THE FILIPINO. [March 17,

Of the fifty odd different tribes t

dialects, however, with few excepti
which permits of mutual comprehe
words in common peculiar to the n
have been adopted into most of the dialects. The Tagalog and

Fig. I. Negritos.

Yliocano are probably the most general in the northern country,

while the Visayan and the Mahratte dialect of the mother Sanskrit
predominate in the middle and south lands.
The Tagalog, Yliocano and Viscayan are gutteral languages ot
great preponderance of consonants and limited vocabularies.
The remnant of the tribe of Negritos, the supposed descendants

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 I905] METZGER-THE FILIPINO. 9

of the aboriginese, scarcely num

time and are scattered widely o
in the most remote and dense p
pygmean in stature, barely reac
and resembling closely the Alfoor Papuan of New Guinea. Al-
though small in frame they are powerful andfleet of foot. Unlike
any of the other tribes of this archipelago they are the possessors
of a closely matted kinked head of hair. The Negrito is of very
low intellect and appreciates no conception of social order. He
is cowardly and indolent, but exhibits a marked respect for the
aged and dead such as is not seen among any of the other tribes.
Frequent attempts have been made to civilize these little people
but without success, for they will neither endure social or military
restraint but prefer to return to the mountain fastnesses and their
nomadic state. Model villages of bamboo and nepa were built in
Upper Pampainga by the Spaniards with the object of domesticat-
ing these strange people. They were supplied with food, clothing
and all the necessaries of life for a period of one year or until suich
a time as they could till the soil and provide for their future but the
experiment was an utter failure and in a short time the subsidy was
discontinued. They have never been either individually or collec-
tively brought under the influence of the Church but to this day con-
tinue to worship the sun and elements as did their forefathers.
The Negrito subsists wholly upon reptiles, fish, herbs and wild moun-
tain rice. They wear no clothing except the breech-clout and
their customs and habits are those of the savage. Ablution of bodv
is something almost unknown to them. These little people have
no permanent abode but wander about in little bands of five to
twenty living in trees as a matter of safety. They are more or less
peacefully inclined but do occasionally make incursions into the
territory of some neighboring tribe for the purpose of carrying oft
cattle. Their means of defense is a bow made from the palma-
brava and poisoned arrows, and with these they are indeed expert
marksmen. There is no doubt but that at an early period in the
history of these islands these dwarfish-people were in great numbers
and as rulers levied heavy tribute upon the accessors of some of the
present day tribes, but as emigration increased they were gradually
forced into the background and subsequently, upon the advent of
the white-man, were forced, through terror, to take definitely to
the mountain fastness.

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10 METZGER-THE FILIPINO. [March I7,

The exact number of tribes in existence on the several islands at

the present time is not definitely known, however, the following
are a few of those which we as a foster nation must deal with:
Tagalog, Viscayan, Macabebe, Yliocano, Musulman, Igorrote,
Malaneg, Pampafigan, Panigasinan, Itanes, Goddan, Tifiguian,
Dodayan, Idayan, Apayao, Negrito, Itugoao, Ibiloa, Zambal,
Vrigrito, Cebiano, Panayano, Munabo, Coyuro, Calamino, Agu-
tamo, and that great hybrid class, the Maestizo. Other of the
fifty-two tribes, which have thus far been determined, might be
mentioned, but I believe it to be superfluous here, as their customs
are in the main those of the aforementioned. In this ethnical
analysis I have dealt solely with generic denominations, for whilst
these tribes are subdivided, the clans show no material moral or
physical difference and the local names are apt to be confusing.
Lie,siwe, in order to avoid prejudice, it becomes necessary to
divide this great congeries of humanity into two great classes, the
domesticated Filipino and the properly termed savage. Conserva-
tive estimation elicits the fact that three hundred thousand of the
population of this archipelago are human beings in whom exotic
notions do not pertain and in whom are the instincts of the wild
animal, and of this number one fifth are to be found on the island
of Luzon, the largest and at the same time the most enlightened
from ecclesiastic and worldly standpoints.
As all uncivilized human beings have characteristics in common
and at the same time many distinctive traits characterize a people
surrounded by the same natural environments, to recount these as
they pertain to the several tribes is wholly unnecessary. It is suf-
ficient to point out a few of the characteristic features of the more
powerful of this class of untamed nomads as they pertain to the
Philippines.
Probably the most unrestrained and barbarous Filipinos are the
Gaddanes. A race occupying the extreme northwestern end of the
archipelago and entirely out of the pale of civilization. They are
the only real, war-like people of the North. They know no moral
restraint and glory in the shedding of blood. At a certain time of
the year, when the so-called fire-tree is in bloom, the young men,
as is their custom, go forth on a head hunting expedition and vie
with each other in presenting to the sachem of their tribe all the
grewsome trophies they are able to take from their enemies, as a

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19051 METZGER-THE EILIPINO. 11

proof of their manliness and courage. The arms used by these

people are wicked looking lances with trident tips and arrows car-
rying at the point a mesh of bats' claws which have previously been
dipped in the venom of snakes.

Fig. 2. Gaddanes.

The men are magnificient specimens of physical strength, and

with a wealth of long, straight, jet-black hair reaching to the
shoulders and with a color of skin of almost equal hue, they make a
very striking picture of primitive man. Like the Negrito they
subsist on roots, game and such other food stuffs as falls in their
path. They are pagans and at no time has any attempt been made
to persuade them to embrace the western system of civilization.

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12 METZGER-THE F[LIPINO. [March 17,

Next to the Gaddanes in war-like propensity are the Itaves, a

tribe inhabiting the territory just to the south and adjoining that
of the head-hunters. Their manners of living and religion are
similar to those of the Gaddanes, but they are not so fierce and are
more indolent. They are also lighter in color and wear their hair
shorter than their neighbors of the north. This tribe is one of the
few, if not the only one, which uses the war-club and executes a
war-dance preliminary to going into battle.

Fig. 3 Igorrote.

To the American, unquestionably the most interesting people of

this class of Filipinos, is the Igorrote, for the reason that they more
closely resemble the American Indian in color, configuration and
habits than any other tribe of the archipelago. These people domi-
nate the middle north country, where they live in idleness, oblivious
of time or conditions. Of all the tribes of the islands they are the
acme of physical development. Their chief ethnical characteristics
are the high cheek bones, aquiline nose, copper colored skin, long
straight black hair cut into a fringe over the forehead, naked save
for a breech-clout, and gaudily bedecked with paini, feathers and
rings. Unlike the American Indian their lips are thick and large,

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9g05o] METZGER-THE FILIPINO. 13

and their gait is sluggish and toddling. They, like their brothers
of the North subsist upon that which nature is kind enough
to cast in their way, however, they do make occasional futile at-
tempts at cultivating a little sugar cane or rice. These people can-
not justly be termed a war-like people, yet revenge is one of their
strongest traits. Distrust of the white-man is a preeminent feature
of this tribe. This fixed dislike is the result of one of the many of
Spain's blunders in her sovereignty of these islands, for it was her
attempt to force western civilization on these people, who did not
wish to exchange the comforts, usages and independence of their
primitive state, for what the crown of Spain deemed a proper con-
stituent principle of good colonists. To roam at large in their
forest home, free as the wind, was to them more to be desired than
to have to wear clothes, pay taxes and incarcerate themselves in the
conventional domestic habits of the European. Foreman aptly ex-
presses it when he says " as to Christianity, it would be as hard a
task to convince them of what Roman Catholicism deems indispen-
sable for the salvation of the soul as it would be to convert all Eng-
land to the teachings of Buddha, although Buddhism is as logical a
religion as Christianity." The distrust incident to this forcible
attempt to civilize and domesticate this people will remain, I be-
lieve, one of their prime distinctive characteristics for centuries to
come.
There is a hybrid class of Igorrotes, known as the Chino-igorrote.
A people differing little from the unmixed blood except that asso-
ciated with the brutal instincts there is the cunning and astuteness
of the Mongol. This mongrel race are supposed to be the descen-
dants of an issue, the result of the affiliation of the dispersed fol-
lowers of the Corsair Li-ma-hong who attacked the city of Manila
and was routed and fled to the region of the Igorrotes. They, like
their half brothers, are confirmed infidels.
Of the uncivilized tribes of the north, there are a few who, owing
to their distinctive characteristics, are worthy of mention, the
principal of which tribes are the Ti-nguians, Dayapes, and a
peculiar class of tropical inhabitants known as Albinos.
The Tifiguians inhabit principally the district of Al Abra and in
appearance closely resemble the Igorrote, and appear to be as
intelligent as the ordinary subdued native. They are pagans but
have Ino temples. Their gods are hidden in the cavities of the

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 14 METZGER-THE FILIPINO. [March 17,

mountain fastnesses. These idols are called Anitos and are ex-
horted when any dire calamity befalls them, and are always
appealed to when a child is to be named. In this latter ceremony
the priest to the Anito holding the new born in one hand raises a
large knife or bolo over its head and upon lowering the blade
strikes it into a nearby tree, if the tree emits sap the first name
uttered is the one the child will henceforth bear. The oozing of
the sap signifies to them the will of the deity. The Tinguians are
monogamists and generally are forced by the parent to take a mate
before the age of puberty. These people, like the Negritos, live
mostly in a baji built in trees, sometimes sixty or seventy feet from
the ground. They have a few characteristics akin to the Japanese,
principally in the manner of wearing the hair, tuft on the crown
of the head, and the custom of blackening the teeth. Their com-
mon weapon is the spear, this they use as a matter of defense as
well as a means of slaying animals for food.
The Davanese are unquestionably Hindoos and are supposed to
be the descendants of the Indian Sepoys, who deserted the British
Army when the latter occupied the city of Manila in I763. They
are few in number and occupy principally the district lying about
the pueblo of Cainta. These people are semi-civilized, peaceful
and to an extent industrious.
There are to be seen among the natives of the north a few of the
class of people known as Albinos. These abnormalities of nature
present a marble white skin, pink white hair, and pink eyes. They
are not associated in tribes or clans but may be found scattered
about in most any of the provinces of the north.
Before taking up the analysis of the various domesticated tribes,
which go to make up two thirds of the seven million of people who
are styled Filipinos, a brief epitome of their early political history
is, I believe, essential, as it no doubt has indelibly modified and
ultimately formulated the character and customs of these people.
We are wont to believe that long before the advent of the Spaniards
in this Colony, these islands were visited by the Molaccans, for it
was from them that Hernando de Maghallanes, then a Portuguese
subject and in the service of his majesty, learned of the existence
of these supposed rich possessions in the Pacific, and had it not been
for petty jealousies and a weak and arrogant monarch, these same
Philippine Islands might have become the possession of Portugal

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1905.] METZGER-THE FILIPINO. 15

and not of Spain, as they subsequently became through the public

renunciation of Maghallanes to his rights as a Portuguese citizen,
and his assumption of the fosterage of Spain, with the result of his
entering into a contract with the King of Spain to seek and discover
these islands of which he (Maghallanes) had heard. Sufficient to
say, that Maghallanes, knighted and invested with the habit of St.
James, set sail from the harbor of San Lucor de Boramida, August,
1519, in command of a fleet of five small vessels, which was to figure
in history as not only the first to formally discover the Philippine
Islands but the first to circumnavigate the globe, thus proving the
theory of Aristotle and Ptolemy.
After twenty-one months of privation, scurvy, mutiny and deser-
tion Maghallanes entered the Butan River on the Island of Min-
hanao, and effecting a landing without any opposition from the
natives, took possession in the name of King Charles of Spain,
thereby realizing his one ambition to discover those islands which
had been his constant dream for years. Thus in part he was
recompensed for the bitterness of the past, but he was not decreed
by fate to enjoy the fruits of his discovery, as he fell mortally
wounded by a poisoned arrow soon after in a conflict with the
natives on the island of Magtan. The command of this expedition
fell to Duorte de Borbosa, who also met his death soon after at the
hands of the natives of the island of Cebui. Juan Corobola, next
in command, finding his ships in a leaky condition and crews
insufficient in number abandoned all the ships except the Victoria,
and returned to Spain, first touching at Borneo and the Molaccas,
arriving in the harbor of San Lucor, September 6, I522. Again
in I542 a second expedition from Spain under Villalobos touched
on the island of Luzon. Here, like his predecessors, he met his
death. From 1542 to 1564 no more expeditions were sent out by
Spain. Finally, on account of the bitter jealousy existing between
Spain and Portugal over new acquisitions of territory, another
expedition was dispatched by King Philip, under Maguil Lopez de
Legaspi, in November, 1564. This expedition encountered even
more opposition from the natives than the former ones, and for a
period of five years Legaspi was busily engaged forcibly colonizing
these people. On the twenty-fourth of June, 157I, the city of
Manila was incorporated as the capital city of the archipelago, after
a treaty had been consummated with the native Rajahs, Dolumal
and Lacaubola.

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 16 METZGER-THE FILIPINO. [M\larch I7,

Soon after this formal acquisition of the isl

tion of its capital, Legaspi returned to Spain where he died,
destined like his predecessors to enjoy but little of the honor of
having been the first to establish real sovereignty for Spain in this
colony.
Spanish suzerainty of the Phillippines was not one long glorious
regime, neither were the islands the El Dorado they had fancied,
but instead her three hundred years of reign was but a period of
almost constant strife. Other nations strove to seize them and
rebellion followed rebellion in an effort to expel a sovereign power
whose reign was considered unjust, oppressive and tyrannical. In
truth, Spanish sovereignty was never conmplete except in name
only, and full domination only extended over the sea-coast towns
and a few miles into the interior. Tribal customs governed as
many, if not more, of the inhabitants as Spanish laws and Spanish
monastics.
The Spanish friar was next installed and, with the aid of the
military, set about civilizing and converting to Christianity those
tribes lying outside the Capital city.
About this time the island of ILuzon was invaded by the Chinese
under the notorious pirate Li-ma-hong and the Japanese Sioco.
Early on the morning of the thirtieth of November, I574, they
appeared in the bay of Manila and instituted a vigorous attack.
After a bloody hand-to-hand conflict the Chinese were completely
routed and, not being able to regain their fleet, fled up the coast
as far as the Province of Pafngasinan, and it is through the affilia-
tion of these survivors with the natives that we accredit the mani-
fest traces of Chinese blood among some of the hill-tribes to-day.
Following the attempt of the Chinese to seize this Colony the
Emperor of Japan, learning of the European colonization, sent
one of his suite, Ferranda Kiemon, with a message to the Gover-
nor of the islands, demanding prompt surrender and threatening
invasion if refused. This, Gomez Perez Dasmarinas, the Gover-
nor, refused to do but solicited a treaty of commerce, and ex-
pressed a desire to conclude an offensive alliance for mutual pro-
tection. The Mikado consented to this proposition and thus for a
time amicable relations were assured with the Japanese.
As a result of the war with the Flanders, which terminated with
the Treaty of Antwerp in I6I9, the Dutch were obliged to seek in

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1905.] METZGER-THE FILIPINO. 17

the far east such commodities as they were previously accustomed

to obtain on the peninsula, consequently they established trading
headquarters in the Molacca islands, and from there preyed upon
the Spanish galleons carrying provisions and silver from New Spain
to the Philippines. This state of piracy continued until I645,
when the Dutch navy under Admiral Whitier, attacked the city of
Manila with twelve men-of-war and was defeated by General
Lorenzo Ugarte with great loss, including that of the commander
of the fleet.
The period from I645 to I719 was one of contention between
Church and State, as to prestige in the civil affairs of the colony.
This dissention became more marked and the bitter feeling thus
engendered finally culminated in one of the most revolting scenes
in Philippine history. Little is to be said of this most disgraceful
affair other than that a riotous mob led by the priests of the Sacred
Orders of San Fancis, San Dominic and Saint Augustine attacked
the palace, stabbed and dragged the Governor, Fernando Busta-
mente Bustillo y Riueda, through the streets of Manila, and at the
same time killed his son. The mob during their delirium, tore
down the Royal Standards and maltreated all those who in any way
offended them. A mock investigation was made in due official
form but little or no punishment was inflicted on any of the
offenders.
Early in I56i England became involved in a war with Spain
through the so-called Family Compact - an alliance formed by the
three branches of the House of Bourbon -and this resulted in the
city of Havana and many other of the West India ports falling into
the hands of the British, and at the same time the sending of a fleet
of thirteen ships, under Admiral Carnish, to the Philippine waters.
A siege was begun on the twenty-fourth of September with heavy
cannonading from the ships and was replied to by the batteries of
Fort Santiago and San Andres. At the same time troops, to the
number of five thousand, were landed to the south of the city and
at once engaged the Spanish allies (about five hundred native
Pafigasenans) driving them back in great disorder to the fortified
city. This state of siege lasted for fifteen days, during which time
General Draper communicated freely with the Acting Governor
relative to surrender. The capitulation was finally accomplished
on the sixth day of October after great loss of life, and the British
flag soon waved over the walls of Fort Santiago.

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 18 METZGER-THE FILIPINO. [March I7,

By the terms of the Pacto de Paris, w

twenty-seventh of August, 1763, the B
but peace and quiet did not follow. Hardly had the Spanish colors
been unfurled ere the natives of Cagayan, Ylocos and Pafigasanan
provinces broke out in open rebellion under a religious fanatic
Diego de Silan, a half-caste Indian, who declaring the Spanish
sovereign a usurper, directed that no more tribute be paid to the
Spanish Treasury. This insurrection assumed considerable propor-
tions and not until many lives had been sacrificed and noteworthy
concessions made by Spain was peace established.
During this revolt in the north country, the Mussulmans under
Datto Teng-teng, attacked the Spanish garrisons on the island of
Mindanao, butchering their prisoners and destroying much of the
public property. This outbreak was, however, but one of the
many reprisals of the Mussulmans as the result of the enforcement
of a sovereignty and a religion which was to them nauseous and
antagonistic to the Mohammedan faith.
In I872 occurred what is known as the Cavite insurrection. The
real cause of this rebellion was the native opposition to the Spanish
friars holding parochial incumbencies contrary to the decision of
the Council of Trent. However, the friars claimed to have such
authority, by virtue of papal bulls issued by Pius V, wherein they
were authorized to act as parish priests where the native clergy
were insufficient in numbers. This authority, unfortunately, was
abused, doubtless on account of the friars recognizing that fuill and
strict compliance meant monastic impotence politically. This
uprising of the natives was promptly suppressed and their leader,
Jose Burgos and his confederates, were duly executed, upon the
instigation of the friars, on the Luneta (Manila's famous drive) in
accordance with Spanish customi. The moral effect of these execu-
tions, however, was but temporary and only served to engender a
more bitter feeling against the friars, and at the same time, this
one act of Spain's, was the prime factor in the formation of one of
the most powerful freemasonries in the world, the Katipunan.
This was the beginning of the end of Spanish rule in the Philip-
pine islands, for it meant the coalescence of all of the tribes. with
the common object of expelling a power (the friars) which was
not only odious and tyrannical, but dictatorial and to which the
Spanish government of the islands was subservient. The cry of

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I905.] METZGER-THE FILIPINO. 19

the native was not against Spain as a potentate but against the
dominant power of the friars. Spain's avaricious propensity seemed
to have subverted her better judgment, and this nation, that at one
time was a power potent, was soon to experience the worst insur-
rection in the history of her Philippine dependency.
She had, by virtue of the Cortes de Cadiz, convened on the
twelfth of September, I809, passed the first Suffrage Bill, which
permitted of the assembling of deputies from the various depen-
dencies. For twenty years the people of this colony enjoyed politi-
cal equality, but finally in I837, their exclusion was voted as was
also the government of the islands by special laws. Spain's mis-
take was irremediable, the native had tasted of equality and suffrage
and he was apprehensive of the motive force back of this repeal and
it was this innate contempt for the timorous, so characteristic of
this people, and the hatred engendered through the treatment
accorded Jose Burgos that finally culminated in the insurrection of
I896 and '97, the result of which was the sacrifice of many lives,
especially that of Jose Rizal (a story in itself), one of Polaviejo's
most shameful acts, the imprisonment of thousands of suspects in
the dungeons of Fort Santiago, who were drowned like rats upon
the rising of the tide, the breaking of the treaty of Biac-na-bato
and finally the indelible stamp of distrust of the white-man by the
native.
With the American occupation and subsequent history, we are
all familiar and does not permit of repetition here. From this
brief summary of the political history of this colony you will have
observed the potent agencies and modifying forces the native has
been subjected to for a period of three hundred years and now we
can take up the analysis of these people who have been subjected
to this environment.
For practical purposes, we will divide the various domesticated
tribes into three great classes and endeavor to point out the char-
acteristics of the tribes which dominate the several territorial
divisions.
The Tagalog dominates the northern islands, the Visayan, the
central group and the Mussulmans, or so-called Moros, the south-
ern islands of the archipelago. There exists no mutual feeling or
harmony between these tribes, yet they may unite against a common
enemy as in the recent insurrection. The Tagalog and the Visayan

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20 METZGER-THE FILIPINO. [March 17,

listen to the teachings of the Roman Catholic church, while the

Mussulmans are the followers of Mohammed and never during the
three hundred years of Spanish sovereignty were they brought
under either her religious or political control.

Fig. 4. Tagalog Girl.

The Tagalog as a tribe, numbering about seven hundred thousand,

are the most civilized of the three great divisions of the domesti-
cated Filipinos. This is probably due to the fact that ever since
the conquest of the islands by the Spaniards, they have been
brought in direct contact with Europeans and have felt to an
extent the influence of domesticity and social order. The Tagalog
and the Visayan differ very little in physique and configuration of

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1905.J METZGER-THE FILIPINO. 21

countenance, but their attitude towards strangers (Europeans) is

most distinctive. The Tagalog feigns great friendship, while the
Visayan is haughty and arrogant. From a physical point of view
they both are magnificent specimens of humanity but mentally an
anomaly which is most unfathomable. They are about five and
one half feet in height, ginger-bread in color, with high cheek
bones, flat nose and a wealth of coarse, straight, black hair pre-
senting at all times a lavish amount of cocoanut oil and surmount-
ing a placid countenance.
The innate spontaneity of moral character of these so-called civi-
lized Filipinos is that of half child and half devil. In him we see
that puerile lack of objective and simplicity, while beneath that
placid countenance and solemn gravity of feature lies deeply rooted
all the cruelty, deceit and fiendishness of a demon. He is a profli-
gate and is passionately fond of gambling. This latter foible is
gratified in the national sport of cock-fighting and the Spanish
game of monte. However, where facilities offer he is a willing
tyro to the many and varied gambling devices imported in recent
years by the Europeans. He has no sense of appreciation, neither
can he comprehend a spontaneous gift, but rather looks upon any
form of kindness as an expression of fear or weakness. Honor, in
the sense of self respect, dignity, fidelity, virtue or a just discern-
ment of right in strict conformity with duty, is to this most incom-
prehensible being virtually nil. Magnanimity and chivalry are
likewise unknown quantities in the Filipino's composition. He is
quick to borrow but slow to return, superstitious to the utmost
degree, a natural coward, a brute, and if angered does not readily
reveal it in his expression but is most unrelenting, and, will await
his opportunity for revenge. Unlike the Japanese or Chinese, he
is a poor imitator and no originator. Few have any regular voca-
tion, and those few who are endowed with a spirit of self-improve-
ment are only to be found in the large cities. These, moreover,
are mostly of the hybrid class, known as maestizos, and their train-
ing is in the arts. The average full-blooded Filipino is well satis-
fied to trust to the morrow and the munificence of a bountiful nature.
He may, out of necessity, cultivate a little patch of rice or sugar-
cane, but his preference is to sit and dream in the shade of the
mango-tree.
Polity and discipline are vague institutions, and Filipino veracity,

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22 METZGER-THE FILIPINO. [March I7,

excepting the Moro, is but a myth. To lie is but the manifestation

of a second nature and to prevaricate with a nicety is an accom-
plishment with him. The native of this class is so contumacious
to all bidding and so averse to social order that, I am inclined to
believe, he understands and appreciates no law except force. Sen-
timent and honor are lost virtues, and there is nothing in which the
average male delights more than to pillage and torture. Intuitive
modesty is as foreign to the average Filipino as it is to the dumb
brutes of the jungle, while the domestic habits of many are very
little above their animal surroundings.
Early in the sixteenth century the marriage custom was estab-
lished among certain tribes through the good offices of the church,
and as a result of which nuptial vows are held very sacred, and the
husband is extremely jealous of his wife after wedlock, notwith-
standing his indifference as to any indiscretion she may have been
guilty of before entering the nuptial state. This, I believe, is but
a selfish vigilance and not a virtuous sense of chastity, for it is the
universal practice with this class of islanders, or at least a large per-
centage of them and more especially the touis, to barter their daugh-
ters. These poor creatures are virtually sold or given in exchange
for a loan to pass their youth as queridas (kept-mistresses). As
this transfer of human chattel is, in many cases, for the payment of
a gambling debt or to secure a loan for some equal moral turpitude,
the poor victim not infrequently becomes the permanent vassal of
the money-monger.
The cheapest thing in the Philippine archipelago is human life
and the dearest object to this oriental's heart is his pet game-cock.
He will risk his life many times over to save this idol of the race,
while he would tranquilly stand by and see his family in peril
rather than expose himself to possible harm in effecting a rescue.
Notwithstanding the Filipino has so many undesirable character-
istics, he is not totally devoid of good qualities. Of these I would
mention his temperance in the use of alcoholics. During my three
years of service on the islands I saw but one native inebriate, yet
these same people have liquors more powerful than the worst of
moonshine whiskey. Then again there is a certain hospitality ex-
isting among themselves which is evinced in the fact that even as
an utter stranger they are always welcomed to such food and
shelter as may be at hand and no remuneration is expected.

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 1905.] METZGER-THE FILIPINO. 23

As a people they are musical, although not composers, they are,

however, in this latter respect excellent mimics. This inherent
musical talent is truly most remarkable, for not only will one find
the average native skilled in the playing of one instrument, but it
is not uncommon to see orchestral players exchange instruments
two and three times during an evening and apparently play the
various instruments with equal skill. Go where you will among
this great class of Filipinos and every community worthy the name
of town, you will find a band of musicians varying from half a
dozen to thirty pieces, and even in the isolated mountain districts,
where conventional instruments are not obtainable, musicians are
to be found playing upon rudely constructed implements made of
bamboo of various lengths and calibre. Unlike most Oriental
music their melody is pleasing to the European ear.
Among the Tagalogs and Visayans there exists a great mrestiza
genera, in consequence of which there is manifested a class of dis-
affected, arrogant and indolent people, who through appreciation
of the superiority of the Caucasian (as a race) have assumed many
of his customs, manners and dress, likewise many of his vices but
few of his virtues. This mixture of the blood has instilled an
increase of energy in some, but it has not obliterated any of the
other Malay characteristics in any.
Sunday throughout the archipelago, is the one day of the seven
in which the native throws off his state of lethargy and makes ready
to enjoy himself. True to his faith, he wends his way to the
church at the break of day, this obligation over (for it is niore of
an inherent duty and superstitious fear with him than a true sense
of religious reverence), he straightway directs his steps to the
public market place to spend the day in the national sport of cock-
fighting. It is here that one gets an exemplification of a Filipino
characteristic which but goes to prove the incomprehensible anom-
alism of these people. By nature they are apprehensive of honesty,
yet according to the custom of making a stake on the combatants,
the universal practice in vogue, permits any one or any number of
persons, even though they be unknown to the keeper of the pit, to
throw their money into the arena and keep their own council as to
their choice, and should they be successful, can demand their gain
and it will be forthcoming without question. No system seems to
be practiced to prevent knavishness, and if asked as to this apparent

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24 METZGER-THE FILIPINO. [March 17

laxity they simply shrug their shoulders. The Filipino fights his
cc)ks with monte sandwiched between pittings, until mid-day,
when he betakes himself to his house for his siesta, and when the
sun begins to dip well into the western heavens, he agains seeks
the plaza de gallos, where he remains reveling in this brutal sport
until the last cock has crowed over its fallen adversary. I am
wont to believe that the cock-pit is the native's club, his school
and not infrequently his only source of revenue.
Probably one of the most uninviting sights in the Colony is the
market of the so-called domesticated natives. . From the amount of
filth and the myriads of flies one wonders little at the various
epidemics that so frequently scourge this archipelago. The average
Filipino market, of this class, is a conmbination of hasty lunch,
general merchandise and reservoir for all the bacteria known to
science. Here doubled up like a jack-knife squats the tribesman
with his wares spread out before him on the ground. The barter,
even in the city of Manila, is more an exchange of one commodity
for another than a purchase through the medium of currency.
Fabrics are exchanged for cocoa-nuts, fish for buyo, eggs for
tobacco and one of those mysterious native dulcies for personal
,ornaments. The native is a true Shylock, and it is not uncommon
to see two of these tribesmen spend an hour chaffering over some
article whose value scarcely exceeds five centavos (two and one
half cents).
The buyo and betel-nut are probably the two commodities almost
indispensable to the Filipino of the lower class, as well as to many
of the elite. He can go a goodly time without food if he but has
his buyo. Properly speaking, this is the areca-nut, and which,
when cut into small pieces, dusted with the lime produced from the
oyster shell, and wrapped in the stripped leaf of the betel tree, is
marketed as an individual quid. The buyo is to this Oriental
what tobacco is to the European; however, it is by far the more
offensive to the aesthetic, in that it stains the teeth and lips a
blood-red, exhibiting a condition most repugnant to the eye. The
effect of this, when the habit is once acquired, is most disastrous,
and in this respect closely allies itself to the results of the use of
opium.
Even though buyo plays such a prominent part in the life of
these people, everyone is a devotee to tobacco, men, wonmen and

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I905 ] METZGER-THE FILIPINO. 25

children, the high and the low, the poor and the rich, priest and
layman. The men take to the cigarette, while the women and
children prefer the cigar. It is not an uncommon sight to see a
child of some three or four years whose only adornment is a long
cigar. The cigar is to the Filipino pickaninny apparently what the
bottle is to the American youngster, a pacifier.
One may see in their marriage customs another phase of Filipino
life which characterizes this class of natives. A sort of purgatorial
preliminary exists among these people, in which the vicissitudes of
the average native swain are anything but enviable. If poor, and
this seems to be the universal state, the prospective groom must
serve the, girl's parent as a catiped or house servant for a more or
less indefinite period, according to their whim, and it is not infre-
quently the case that after many months, or perchance years, of this
bolndage, he is turned out and another suitor installed. Again, the
marriages are arranged by the parents without consulting the wishes
of the child, and quite frequently they are wholly obnoxious to one
or both of the contracting persons, and as a result it is not uncom-
mon for the child to force the hand of dictatorial parents by com-
pelling them to countenance his or her legitimate aspirations.
Before a marriage is consummated, a dowry is made by the girl's
parents in favor of the bride, with the understanding that it is not
transferable to the husband upon the death of the wife, but must
revert to the parents in the event of there being no offspring (which,
however, is rarely the case). In consequence of this it is not un-
common to see the children well provided while the father is a
beggar. The day of the wedding is always fixed by the ever vigi-
lant padre and the fee, which is always exhorbitant, is paid in
advance, either in currency or collateral. The marriage ceremony
of these people is one grand display of barbaric ritualism. Among
the very poor class of these so-called domesticated natives, where
the enormous fees demanded by the church are beyond their means,
the two sexes were accustomed to live together under mutual vows,
but since the American occupation marriages by the ecclesiastics is
not compulsory, and this practice of mutual assent is fast dying out.
Among some of the pagan tribes, especially the Igorrotes, the
marriage ceremony is a sort of a catch if you can affair, in which
the prospective groom is led a chase about the village by the bride-
to-be, and for a time feigns to catch her, finally he secures his prize

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 26 METZGER-THE FILIPINO. [March 17,
and upon bringing her before her parents, in very much the man-
ner one might lead a reluctant dog at the end of a chain, they bow
down and bring their heads together sniff in the air violently (the
native substitute for osculation) and receive, at the same time, the
parent's sanction which is demonstrated by the pouring of cocoanut
oil over their heads. No feast follows as among the Christian tribes
but the bridal pair flee to the mountain fastnesses, where they re-
main for a fortnight subsisting on wild berries and fruits and then
return to their native village or clan to take up their abode.
A curious custom which prevails among the more ignorant of the
domesticated class of natives, a relic of barbarism, is the practice
of closing all the windows and doors of the house and filling every
available inch of floor space with the presence of neighbors, during
the birth of a child, while the male members of the family thrash
about the room, flourishing large knives or bolos, like so many
mad-men, in their attempt to drive out the evil spirit, as they are
wont to believe influences the destiny of the mother. This bar-
barous practice is carried still farther in some cases by making long
gashes through the skin of the encienfe in the hope that the devil
may have an easier exit.
The Filipino funeral is yet another exemplification of the pecu-
liar customs of this type of Oriental. It is a display of fantastic
barbarism and blase sensualism. There is the ghastly bier with its
harsh and crude ornaments of wood and metal, a relic of his un-
tutored and savage ancestry. A native band precedes the funeral
cortege to the grave, playing some wierd uncanny air followed by
a group of professional mourners and the members of the deceased
family, exhibiting no signs of grief or regret but an air of stoical
indifference, in fact it is not uncommon to see them follow along
chatting and smoking as if they were but repairing to some place of
jollification. In the large cities, this burial custom is somewhat
modified by the introduction of a tawdry bier on wheels and drawn
by four or more horses, with footmen and runners dressed in the
garb of the sixteenth century courtier, the whole rendering this
solemn procession ludicrous and insensate. Upon reaching the
burial ground the corpse is stripped and wrapped in a piece of
sdula or matting, and without further ceremony deposited in a vault
or grave until such time as the rental expires, when, if not renewed,
it is resurrected and thrown to bleach under a tropical sun, with

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I905.] METZGER-THE FILIPINO. 27

hundreds of others, unclaimed and forgotten, upon the so-called

bone-pile. Every necropolis has its bone-pile. It is an institution
of the church and like the potters-field is the final resting place for
many a departed being destitute of friends or kin.
Sunday in the Philippines, as in all Spanish countries, is the
great theater day and all the large towns of the islands have their
various play-houses. The dramatic composition is always in the
native dialect and usually melo-dramatic in character. To the
European the plays are highly ludicrous and extremely tiresome, as
the several parts are not memorized by the actors but are repeated
after a prompter, who is seated in front of the stage and not infre-
quently in full view of the audience. The plot is always some sup-
posed conflict of times past between the Mohammedans of the south
and the early Christians. There* is much palavering with painful
-attempts at oratory and brandishing of knives. Then comes the
bloody conflict, the wild beast of the forest puts in its appearance,
the ghost walks and the curtain is finally drawn amidst the loud
applause of the audience. These plays, like those of the Chinese,
not infrequently run for days before the climax is reached and the
plot unraveled.
The matter of bathing practiced by this beople is worthy of men-
tion. Notwithstanding the filth of the average native's house and
the unsanitary surroundings these sarne people may be seen each
morning bathing in the waters of a nearby stream. If this is not
accessible they will find a pool in which to bathe, even should this
pool be nothing more or less than a composite of all manner of
filth. He must take his daily bath no matter in what or with what
and not infrequently this latter resolves itself into nothing more
than a bowl of water and a gourd for a dipper. His bath like his
siesta is, I believe, more a habit than a sanitary necessity in the
eyes of this people. Men and women bathe together and with little
or no respect for modesty.
The Filipino, as a people, wash their linen as do the East
Indians by beating them with a pamalo upon the rocks. Needless
to say the clothing suffers no little in consequence of this treat-
ment.
Being naturally prone to superstitious beliefs the early native
accepted all the fantastic tales of the early missionaries, and the
modified heathen rites adopted by the Church were received will-

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28 METZGER-THE FILIPINO. [March I7,

ingly by them. He loved the pompous ritual, the gaudy and

elaborate robes, the glitter of gold and silver and the images of
saints. All these appealed to his savage nature and his ancient
tribal legends, and this ocular demonstration seems to have im-
pressed him with the sanctity of the system and the infallibility of
its believers. The result is, that to-day, shrines are to be found in
almost every semblance of a town throughout the islands where the
faithful Filipino comes at least once a year to worship.
There seems to be no limit to the number of saints, there is the
patron saint of the islands, Santa Rosario, and the innumerable
local saints whose images are revered and worshipped for some
wonderful mystic power of healing the sick and halt or some
marvelous act they are supposed to have performed in the dim past.
The victory over the Chinese, during the invasion of Li-ma-hong,
is accredited by the natives to the appearance of Saint Francis on
the walls of the city. The legend of the celestial protector of
Manila is not less interesting. It is related that in Dilo, near
Manila, a wooden image of St. Francis de Assisi was seen to weep
so copiously that many cloths were moistened by its tears, and
again this same image with its hands uplifted and opened during
three hours asked God's blessing on the city of Manila, then
closing its hands it grasped a cross and skull so firmly that these
appeared to be one and the same thing. Vows were made to this
saint, who was then declared protector of the capital. Others of
equal significance might be mentioned but this will suffice to show
the innate mysticism of these people. Many of these images are
most tawdry and elaborately ornamented. I believe the most
elaborate I have seen, outside of the metropolis, was in the town
of Quingua, province of Bulican. The image was that of a man
astride a horse and attired in a gorgeous robe. In his uplifted
hand he held a dangerous looking knife and under his pranc-
ing steed lay the prostrated form of a Mussulman, bleeding and
wounded unto death. This was mounted on an elevated carriage,
and strung about the platform were the heads made of carved wood,
mutilated in appearance, representing the many victims of this
venerated saint. The whole was a barbarous display of cruelty and
superstition.
The roguery of the Filipino is not infrequently manifested
through the agency of these saintly images, and it was only within

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 905.] METZGER-THE FILIPINO. 29

the past few years this was brought to the American public's notice
through an unjust attack upon the army in permitting the supposed
looting of one of the churches of the Colony and bringing into the
states one of these sacred images. Upon investigation this "Black
Christ," over which the stir was raised, proved to be a private in-
stitution of some scheming natives working upon the superstition
of their people to extort money for personal gain. The image was
an exquisitely carved piece of wood, waxed and stained to a deep
brown, while the eyes were of glass and framed with eyelids most
human, and the whole enveloped in rich drapery. With the aid of
a ventriloquist (Jose Zaide) the natives were led to believe that
this "Black Christ " was the new Messiah through whom their
sole redemption from the torments of hell could only be obtained
by the making of large donations of money.
Other superstitious beliefs might be mentioned, such as the dia-
bolical influence supposed to be possessed by certain persons which
preserves them from all harm even refractory to the effect of bullets,
called the anting-anting. Then again the belief held by many,
that a crime escapes punishment if committed in Easte week, be-
cause the thief on the cross was pardoned of his sins, and many
more might be enumerated if but time permitted.
Before taking up the third great classification of these domesti-
cated natives, I wish to make mere mention of the sport of hunt-
ing the wild-buffalo and boar much engaged in by these people
and the bull fights, which until I885 obtained throughout the
principal cities of this dependency. Likewise a brief description
of this freemasonry that exists on the islands, the so-called Kati-
punan. This is a Tagalog word the meaning of which is league.
The organization was originally perfected with the object of retri
bution and was the result of the confederation of the various dis-
satisfied islanders under the leadership of one Andres Bonifacio, a
native half caste, who drew up its constitution and devised its
mystic rites, which were of a dread and impressive character,
breathing vengeance upon Spain and more especially the monas-
tics. Since the end of Spanish rule in the archipelago the Kati-
punan has been felt not a little by the American forces operating
in the islands, and it must be admitted that it is a powerful agent
in the political prosperity of this Colony. In I896 there was
known to have been at least fifty thousand leaguers and by I900
this number was trebled.

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30 METZGER-THE FILIPINO. [March 17,

As regards this third division of the domesticated Filipino, the

so-called Moros, I can say but little and that principally from the
observation of others, as it has never been my lot to have been
thrown in conitact with these people as a collective body. These
people occupy the islands of Mindanao, Palawan and the Sulu

Fig. 5. Mussulman Girl, "so-called Moro."

sultanate. Their early history 's vague and dissipated. It is

generally conceded, however, that these people are the descen-
dants of the Mussulman Dyaks of Borneo, their ancestors having
been a great chief and his retinue, who early in the sixteenth
century fled his native land and settled on these islands, bringing
with them the Mohammedan faith. This strange people never
yielded to either Spanish arms or Spanish monastics, but continued

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1905.] METZGER-THE FILIPINO. 31

throughout Spain's regime to rule by tribal custom under the direc-

tion of a Datto or chief and recognizing only the spiritual supremacy
of the Sultan, whose position is hereditary under the Salic law and
who annually makes his trip to Mecca.
The Mussulmans are a valiant and merciless people and for cen-
turies they controlled the high seas in that part of the world, ravish-
ing the coasts in their piratical workings. It was not until the
introduction of steam vessels that Spain was able to cope with these
robbers of the seas. The Moro is very much averse to work, con-
sequently he is not an agriculturist. His whole ambition in life
seemingly is to strut about in gaudy attire, and encased in a veri-
table arsenal of knives, etc.
Slavery exists in an occult sense among these people. There
are slaves by birth and slaves by conquest, such as insolvent debtors
and prisoners of war. Unlike the other tribes of the islands the
veracity of these people is not to be questioned, for to lie with
them is a heinous crime and deserving of severe punishment, the
penalty of which is usually the severing of the tongue or splitting
the mouth.
Until 1902 these people gave the United States authorities no
trouble but the moment their ancient rights, customs and religion
were supposed to have been interfered with, it was the stirring up
of a hornet's nest.
Many other characteristics might be enumerated if but time per-
mitted, however, this will suffice to show the character of these
people as we see them to-day.

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