Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1900-05-03
Letter From Manila.

BY the time this reaches you expect to be well
on my way to Sydney, Australia. To say we all
look forward to this promised break in the mo-
notony of Manila life, expresses but mildly the
| real pleasure we feel. Do not let this statement
mslead you, to believe that there is nothing of
interest in the Philippines it is but natural, how
ever, after eight r.onths spent in trying trop-
ical climate that the prospects of cooler country
should be hailed with delight.
shall not attempt to describe Manila with her
ancient and massive walls, her moats and dung
cons, nor the large and numerous cathedrals, for
all these have been well published in the home
papers, but shall content myself with experiences
purely personal because / feel they will interest
you the more.
A few days since my friend Lieut. Hudgins,an
myself accepted an invitation to lunch in Old
Cavite (the home Of Aguanaldo) with a Filipino.
We dreaded the lunching part because we were
not entirely unfamiliar with Filipino cooking and
chow food), yet we were anxious to visit this
purely native town, the hot-bed of the insurrec-
tlon, not only against American rule but here too
was hatched the uprising against Spanish su-
premacy The Filipinos tell, with much pride
and with some degree of truth, that in this pro-
vince the Spanish were always repulsed and
beaten, and it is only since January of this year
that we have permanent garrison in the town.
Old Cavite is about six miles by land, and about
three miles By water, from Cavite which Admiral
Dewey captured on May lst, 1898.
But this is not to be treaties on historical
subjects; started to tell you that much to our
surprise we found an excellent cooked and nicely
served lunch of about eight courses awaiting us
and stranger still, everything clean the glass
ware was polished until it shone like a mirror
dishes and plates were polished with snowy
white linen by each member of the family in sue
cession before they would allow us to use them
We were placed at table by ourselves, neither
our host nor any member of his family would sit
down with us, they preferred their chow in true
Filipino style. One large dish of rice placed in
the center of the floor (bamboo) little dish con-
tanning few small fish, the family now arrange
themselves around the dish, each one sitting on
the floor, the head of the family as a rule eats
with tablespoon, the rest prefer or possibly for
other reasons use their fingers
We happened to be in Cavite during the Fiesta
or feast day and our entertainer took us to enjoy
the one thing that is dearer to Filipino than all
else, 1t is his one sport ana only diversion; refer
to the cock fights. Fighting of cocks is more
popular here than base ball is with us and pro-
portionately better attendance because everyone,
man, woman and child CO. The fights are ex-
tremely short but very bloody. They use instead
off gaff curved blade about 3 d inches long like
surgeons curved bistoury, and is sharpened
with more care than a razor. The excitement
during the time the birds are in the ring is great
because everyone has favarite and does not hes
itate to back his opinion with money. Our latest
addition to the American family is inveterate
gambler, true sport and good looser.
have seeE Filipino men win as high as 81 400
on one fight, or loose a like amount, but their
ftf.ia
the least sign of JOY or sorrow, unless the bird
showed the white feather and ran. The fights
seem to be conducted fairly and never have seen
a disturbance at one unless created by some
drunken American.
We next visited the one fine house in Old
Cavite, Aguanaldo's palace, built of wood but
large and magnificent. The architecture is Span
ish naturally but well adopted to this hot climate
In the front room rests the family altar with the
lights always burning, notwithstanding the fact
that this house is to-day used by the officer in
command of the garrison. native woman,
servant of Aguanaldo, does nothing else but care
for this altar and see that the lights are always
burning. The Filipino is very religious and such
acts these will go longer way toward pacify-
ing and satisfying him to American rule than
thousands of Krag bullets.
In great distinction to this is the large stone
Cathedral almost battered down, more than
four years since, by Spanish cannon. The roof
is off the structure andholes are in its side large
enough to drive through with a bull cart Serv- |
ices are still held there and will continue in the
same way until that time when the Filipino is
satisfied with his lot and donates his money to |
the church instead of TO those at the head ofthe
Insurgent army ostensibly fighting for Filipino |
independence.
Taking all in all the Filipino is not a bad lot |
Naturally he is bright and intelligent and consid
ering the climate in which he lives, 1 can add |
industrious. His industry does not reach that !
high standard set by the most remarkable and !
industrious people on the face ofthe earth, re-
fer to the Chinese. This statement may seem
strange to you and even | should not have be- |
lieved or made it but few months since We in |
America look upon the Chinaman as belonging |
to a race of laundrymen entirely. Here in the |
East he is the man that does everything, and he |
does it well.
Yours truly,
w. H. ULSH.
U. S. S. Glacier,
Manila, P. l., Feb, %, 1900.