The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1903-03-06
THE PHILIPPINES.

A recent report upon education in the Philippines
up the working possibilities of the Filipino very
clearly careful study of agricultural and mechanical
work showed that few natives in control of the lead
ing industries, and that while they doing at the
present time much of the rougher class of work. with
careful and patient instruction they capable of bet
ter things that there much latent mechanical ability
and time they could rise and take their places lead
ers, not Immediately, not in the future not in
generation, but they have the qualities in them to do the
work They slow, take life leisurely putter
their work. and lack responsibility That however, is
not strange considering the climate They doubt do
lack the energy do the work. the knowl-
edge Their thoughts and their natural ability have not
been trained to do things With knowledge to do
btOn may be aroused and the results it is hoped may
be such that in time the Filipino may become not the
heper that he is today but the leader in all industrial
enterprises that will help to put this archipelago
higher plane.
There ring of hope in the above phrases but there
is also the echo of doubt and possibility of failure
The for agricultural depression given There
arises two main causes the ravages of and the rim
derpest The ravages of have Frustrated many in
dustres that fourshed in times past Rinderpes that
dread cattle disease has done it's share ruin many
whom cattle raising of the greatest Importance On
the island OAasbate alone the number of cattle has been
reduced in the past from between 100000 and $780,
600 to about 5000 head The conditions exist also
in other parts of the archipelago.
But the passage in the report shows that
SO much these causes as it is that the Philippines
still in completely primitive state Dr. Atkinson from
the islands there is little industrial civilization except
that brought in by the foreigner Crude makeshif
of all kinds and descriptions found and methods in
vogue centuries ago are still the only ones known to them
now. In fact away from the seaport towns the Philip
pines practically still in a state of nature. .!
There is great amount of excellent rich land, which
under proper cultivation would grow almost any tropical
product but expressed it regarding the to-
baccO crop "They trust to the Almighty to only raise
it, but cure it we'll" And this remark applies all
crops There are exceptions to all rules, but generally
speaking the Filipino lives only for today and it is
not surprising In land where little clothing is
qured and where food grows without cultivation there
is not much incentive for the average person to work
With bOlO and the bamboo which grows every side
the Filipino not only build himself house. but he
furnish it as well, scant though that furnishing
be- make his head pipes for carrying water baskets
spoons, fishing traps bancas canoes and many other
things which his simple needs demand. Bamboo leaves
are also used sometimes as an article of food This with
the many fruits that grow with cultivation and the
fish that abOunt in the water satisfies the great majority
of the people.
Still DR.. Atkinson hopes that with proper guidance
and with modern tools and methods the FilpinOs could
develop artizans and agrcuturalists This
would do much to put the islands higher plane than
they at present He then shows what handiwOrk is
carried He states that many do beautiful work
and while rule it is copy of that done for genera
lions past is to and the workmanship is excel
lent The beautiful fabrics of just PIMA and sinamay
entirely made by the Filipino women and of
great revenue in certain localities Those of IOilO on
the island of Panay noted for their neness and
beauty the mats, petates of Romblon.
The finely hats of the province of Bulacan and
Pangasnan all testify to the manual deXteriy of the
Filpno as the weaving of mats bags and baskets the
spinning of the thread and the making of the beautiful
cloths testify to the manual skill of the Moro of
the SOUTH and the work in steel in making bOOs and
carving of the handles of the by the Moro In
Manila most exquisite work in wood carving
and in the making OF musical Instruments These peO
pe excel in light work where great patience is required
but for the heavier grades of work they of1litteIac
count The Chinese the ones who practically control
the labor situation. They are to be found in every
manual occupation. They faithful, work daily, Sun
days. holidays and all times, if need be- Nothing
daunt them They ingenious and grasp and apply
any idea suggestion with the greatest alacrity They
control many of the mechanical industries the Filipino
but few, except in the interior
The latter paragraph does not carry out the hope
pressed in the earlier paragraphs 1t shows the Filipino
ready to work upon articles where the element of time
is eliminated The Filipino at his present stage of de-
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