Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1901-10-14
SOME FILIPINO CUSTOMS
IMPRESSIVE CEREMONY DAILY IN
THE HOMES AFTER NlCHTFAlL.

The most impressive ceremony OF
the Fillpinos is daily enacted at night
fall, says the Washington Star. l no
ticed it first in the ancient, dirty town
of Cavite. The bell tolls in the ancient
cathedral, warning the inhabitants
that the night is on. Pedestrians gen.
orally halt, remove their hats and say
their prayers aloud. From every open
door the mumbling is heard. This Is
kept up until the bell ceases.
The writer was n frequent visitor to
a Filipino family Of the better class in
Cavite. The family consisted of a
mother and her three daughters. l
was present on several occasions when
the above ceremony was In progress.
After the bell stops tolling they would
all stop praying and Immediately pro-
ceed to their mother, the eldest first,
and each in turn, saluting her, "Bue-
nos noche" good night, kissing her
hand, which each would carry to the
forehead. They then kissed their
mothers cheeks, then turn to their
American visitors with the salute, but
emitting the kiss. The Filipinos in
general have violent tempers.
The Filipinos. like the Chinese, are
rice eaters, and it forms the principal
dish at all meals. They eat with their
fingers, which is not very pleasing to
witness. They all have knives and
forks in the house, which they pro-
lduce when visitors are present. Like
the Chinese, they are also fond of
fatty foods. l have on number of
occasions witnessed young ladies eat
ing large pieces of fat that caused NE
to have fears for my own stomach,
and I would be compelled to turn my
head away.
am of the belief that the longer
an American studies the Filipino char
acter the more complex it becomes.
For thirteen months I studied them
under many conditions, and when l
left the islands 1 was under the i'm
preston that knew but very little of
IT, Filipino and his ways when not
under observation. They do not I'M
derstand themselves and do not care
to, apparently. In the city Of Manila
Imany native jargons are spoken, and
they cannot understand each other.
Every province has its jargon, and
were it not for their limited knowledge
Iof Spanish they would be unable to
carry on q conversation.
They resemble very much our West
ern Indian tribes, which have their
tribal language or jargon, and We're 1t
not for the Chinook language, origin
ated and introduced by the old Hud
son Bay Company. our noble red men
would be at a loss for conversation
when members Of different tribes
meet here in Washington.
Nine out of ten children have revolt
ing sores on their bodies, generally on
their legs, which leads one to believe
that leprosy and other blood diseases
are common among the natives. I'M
derstand the authorities have set aside
an island for lepers, similar to the one
in the Hawaiian group. The main
trouble will be in apprchending the
1epers, as there must be several thous-
and in the vicinity OF Manila. Under
Spanish rule there was large leper
Ill lldullil, NutIc d
thousand of these unfortunate3 were
confined. The day the Americans cap
tured the city the officials of this asy-
lum became demoralizCd and aban-
doned the institution. BY the time
the matter was brought to the notice
of the American authorities the place
was deserted, the lepers having scat
oil 4l,a nj nF
were found begging in the streets. A
large number of them were never cap
tured.
The most interesting sights of Ma
Mia found to be the native markets.
l would rise about > in the morning,
and after a cold shower bath would
. start for brisk walk through the ma
tive section Of BiEondo, which includes
the largest market in the city. Dur
ing my sojourn in the city took prob
ably a hundred Of these rambles alone
ard never met an American, with the
exception OF soldier, occasionally, on
guard.
This market was destroyed by the
great fires started by the insurgents
in February, 1899. Just as soon as
the heat permitted the dealers opened
up for business among the ruins, max
ing startling picture. The products
of the markets arc not tempting to
Americans, who do not patronize them
except for fruits, eggs, chickens and
one or two vegetables common to
3 America. They have their Csh alive
in tubs, but would not advise any
J Iody to buy them, as their flesh has
sickening taste. This is due to the
water being always warm.
In these markets the Cinnamon con-
duct dry goods stalls. l wondered
why there was always half dozen
Chinese to each Of these, and upon in
quiry they told ne they were COM
peeled to band together to prevent rob-
berry by the natives.
An incident came to my notice one
morning at the market which assured
me that the Chinese precautions were
necessary. Several young toughs had
toIxen somn nlonoons out of n China