The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1902-08-20
THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS.
Az Iuseresting I.ester-The Filipino"
Relsxlous In ehe Exsrem~-InsuIar
Spert Of Natives is Cock Fighting.
Union Times.)
Manila, 4. l., July I, $50.

I'll u. 10
The Filipino 10 funny INC lnaivldaai, m &. give give
nv. The spanish priests realized this In the
religion which they gave these people. The
rnuroh fiesta or festival with its gilt and gilt
Ter and lights appeal to the Filipinos m moth
Before coming here was never accustom
ed To thinking OF the FiliptnOa ~ religious
people, but they arc religious In the extreme
You would not think u. ont In lew places 10
there are throughout these islands. Not one
aad two magnificent edinces, bot hundreds ol
them-sray and massive stone structures hun
dreds Of yaars old. The buildiufs are I'm
isls ndA that isnt larger than oil tho churches
| OF the town OF Union combined.
The Roman Catholic religion "a observed
over here ss very picturesque. Eseh S chnrch
Images OF the Saints and Of the Virgin Mary
One of the most gorgeous spectacles 10 De seen
In Manila ID on Easter sunday. On that dag
the church OF the Franciscans nas q reiig,ou. J.
composed OF scores OF priests OF tont oroer,
and life size images Of the Saints borne ON
floats carried on the shoulders OF the natives
Each saint 70 dressed In gorreoGs robes enc
Alies orIcal seenes from tho Bible are also
represented, such ~ Jesus bearing the Cross
Jeeus In the hands OF the Roman soldiers
The Virgin Mary 10 the most gorgeous ngurs
of all On all the :nngcrs Of her hsnde are
priceless diamond rings; q diamond tiara 70
cid(hed ID dark red embroidered iu gold bul
lion. The rooe 10 10 heavy from the gold
thread In which it 10 embroidered that it re
quires = pui'y worked BY several men 70 pu'
Il is said that soms years ago the people
we're taxed 81 100000 TO nay for the diamond'
that this 6Eure or the Virgin isadorned with
All Of the vas. wealth t 70 ksp, ~ Iecrs. ss% nn
To certain of the priesta
when this figure OF the Virgin passes be-
tween the thousands Of people that line each
aide OF tho streets through when tns Proces
bow their hsads and cross themselves
Thousands OF others follow on either aide o
the floats oIrryin lighted candlea Boys. IN
sscristan robes. 80 before eacn ngurs. aw,ng
ing censers With bnrning incense; bands o.
strsnged instrume play eacred music. and
noR rising. nov falling are many voices
chanting the Te Deum.
thousauda Of candles burning. carried by as
m sny people. II In ave-inspirinR, and carrie'
one back TO the middle ages when tho church
lot Rome was all powerful. II na Living pic
ture Of midaeval times. and one In filled with
awe for q church that through superstition
and reverence has unitrd. and controls today
millions Of people.
Aside from the pageantry, the Church ap
feast days that are observed. The Filipinos
ave not fond OF work. and the church with tii
l60 or $50 feast dsys-I have forgotten the ex
aci inumber-gives them abundant excuses fnl
idieness. Tnink what would happen II nj
most every other day In the States Was oh
served an Christmas day, and you will gel
zone idea Of the number Of ieasts these peo'
The insuiar sport of the people is cock
dghiing. About the only time tho Filipino
throws OF his stol.d. sullen indifference 10 al
q cock light. There he will wager his last
csntavo on the bird OF his choico. No othel
people n Q whole arc greater gamblers than
The Fillpinoa. Hts lighting rooster IL bis pride
strokes him all during the day. and when hs
works. u 10 that he may earn enough money
10 bet ,on his bird. Aud when the ngnt u
over, II hia rooster has lost and been killed
he takes him home. and. eats him without thu
A good old spanish priest . number o.
years ago devoted bis entire lie TO worktui
ior the Filipinos. He was pious man and
lived and laboFed for thet1. II was said by
every ono that no knew moro about the char
scter Of the Filipino than an. any other % ilvla, 10.
his knowledge in writing. He consented
when this pious priest came 70 dte, after b
bad confessed and was breAihing bis last sur
rounded by the brethren Of bis order. one o
them asked, "Fathsr. where 10 the book COD
He feebly indicated the place where tn.
book was kept. Il was brought and opened
and from beginning 70 end every page waI
aTnai is all know OF the character OF the
Filipino" he gaspod. and died with q smile
When any one tells you anything about tn.
eharso soterisiic< OF the Filipinos you ma,
know be knowpa event less than the goot
priests book disclosed. CHS.