New-York tribune., 1902-06-25
WOnEN OF HER COUNTRY.
THEIR OCCUPATIONS AND PROGRESS AS
DESCRIBED BY sENORITA LOPEZ


seforfta CIemencia Lopez, in address delivered
the other day before the New-England Woman
Suffrage Association. gave Interesting account
of social conditions in the Philippine Islands. She
said that mentally socially and in almost all the
relations of life. women regarded as equal TO
men.
This equality of women is not new thing. nor
was it introduced from Europe" said Miss Lopez.
1t was innate, and the natural expression of the
love and respect that feel for their moth
ers. wives and daughters
Long prior the Spanish occupation the people
We're already civilized and this respect for and
equality Of women existed. DR.. Antonio de Morga.
the first Spanish Governor General, in his history,
published 1903 gives an interesting account of
Philippine life before the Spanish invasion.
The grand ladies' he says. crimson. and
some have silk and other stufs woven with gold
ana edged with fringes and other ornaments
Many wear chains of gold around the neck
bracelets on the wrists earrings. and rings on
the fingers of gold and precious stones .
They are also daintily shod, with shoes of velvet
an" embroidered with gold. and white robes
IKE Iettcoats. They also silk parasols, which
theN carry as protection against and rain.
They take great care of their hair-rejoicing
in its being very black-which they tie gracefully
IN a knot at the back of the head They take much
care also of their teeth
Or de Morga also gives brief description of
women were then held. which corresponds with the
conditions found in this country
' The women. ne says have their employ
ment and occupation needlework q. e. fancy work.
N which they excel very much. : in all kinds of
sewing In their visits and in going about
the %.eets anc to the temples. both men and
Homsn are careful in their department The
""-":-nos: fathers and brothers,
three rnd lS ,ta9uS4 @ RE Tea6ina to period between en-
striking contrast with the condition in
same freedom @ is found i at at She Present time
and wives take an active interest in public and
/ : a is l'l fp
III the management of the business. acting
s Is @ TO sy 6n the '9 ba5ne9 9 @ af
The lighter agricultural work, assisting to harvest
me nc corn and other grains But, whatever her
husband. even in danger and misfortune. and even
JFoGEh her narriase be not happy one she never
many t"IliSs ivng f5owed heir hu~bands "a
The hela traversn25 mountains ana forests and
facing very danger that they might not be sep
their food and for them if Ill wounded. An
example Of mis- $ the fac that tht wives Of Gen
eftI AGulna!do. of LUChan and Of Malvar were in
the field. as We're the wives of many other officers.
parents. and ready to sacrifice themselves, 1t is
very unusia. for women to marry contrary 10
usually marry at twenty or twenty-five Years OF
age bat the women OF the poorer classes marry
younger often al hfteen. have several friends
marriages but because their father or mother op-
posed they have sacrificed their love FOR their
We have been Interested to observe that the
and different customs They for instance can
90 alone thN streets. they make visits.
they tTa-o' alone to other places ! have
done. but I the first Philippine leave
my home and travel far alone.
You may also like know what the occu-
pations Of the women OF my country. Almost all
busy themselves with domestic cares: those OF
good position do much fancy work such
broidery silk and in linen: those Of the middle
cia clorn OF silk. pima and linen. In
towns many of the well to do families
he cloth for the household in their homes as
for Example. in home, where
especial servants for this purpose.
D a lgn ~ M
music hut the majority prefer sad and melancholy
airs. Many play the piano and the harp. and
tho violin and the guitar. But very few
devote themselves much TO reading, and
compare in education and general progress
with tn. women of America have yet
had any with the title Of doctor lawyer.
who has entered any profession, except. in
deed that of teaching, to which many devote
themselves. It is. however that here s
university In Manila open but there
six good schools for women. some Of which have
many three hundred pupils. and the instruC-
ton given compares favorably with that of the
best schools in Spain