Arizona republican., 1907-06-23
THE PHILIPPINES
 AND THE FILIPINO
The Impressions of a Phoenix Man Who Spent Four Years in the ls- lands.

The Philippines and their people have been interesting subjects for the consideration of the American people for nearly ten years. Much that is contradictory has been written and said of them.
 The following are the interesting views of MT. A. A Bear of the Phoe- nix indian school who spent four years in the islands as a teacher:
 So many contradictory articles have been written concerning the Philip pines and more especially the Filipinos that the average reader is somewhat nonpulsed as to what to believe. It without question. is extremely difficult to make a truthful general statement relative to the islands or their inhab- itants. for the reason that although practically all natives are of the Malay race, yet in their individual tribal characteristics. they are widely differ ent. Those who had the opportunity of visiting the worlds fair could not help but note this fact dpon making q comparison of the Igorrote with the Visayan or the Moro. One who at tempts to discuss the Filipino after having seen Manila, Cepu Tacloban and a few other seaport towns will be ss accurate as the disgruntled teacher who found that his pull didn't ex- cuse him from being compelled to meet the requirements. Both are ex- tremists. one enthusiastically, the other the reverse. in his views.
 My experience as a teacher in the islands began in 1901 and continued until 1905. During that time my work was in the Province of Leyte among the Visayans. although at different times I had opportunities to study the natives of Luzon. Mindanao. Cebu and others. For the reason that my ob- servations in the main, were made in Leyte. the conclusions drawn are largely applicable to the Visayan tribe.
 Conditions as the early teachers found them were not at all flattering to the system of education as conduct ed by their predecessors. Upon enter ing my first school. l found a single native maestro in command of one hundred and seventy-five boys. of which all but fifteen were seated on the rotten bamboo floor. To cross this floor safely. required some skilfull manuevering. and at different times it was my misfortune to lose several inches of epidermis in consequence of misplaced footsteps. The teacher in charge upon my appearance rose to hi. feet and removing his seven inch cigar from his mouth shouted com mand which brought the school to it's feet shouting, 'Buenos dies. Senor maestro. Three desks, one chair. hyloplate, some crayon and a few tat tered books completed the furniture. Such conditions were frequently met with. by the teachers who were among the first to engage in the work.
 While such conditions woula seem to indicate an extreme indifference to education. yet I am safe in saying that the universal experience of teachers is that the natives evince a wonderful eagerness to acquire an education. The motive for this eagerness. I've heard said. is that he wishes to acquire an education so that he may become af- fluent or that he may have prestige and influence either as an office holder or politician. I am of the opinion that the view is correct and that few desire an education for the sake of ennobling character or of bettering general con- ditions. After all do the Filipinos diff fer materially from the rest of maR- kind in this respect? As illustrative of this desire to learn. I found it nee essary in less than ten instances to call upon the municipal authorities to