The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1907-04-16
AN INTERESTING
FILIPINO GROUP

An informal reception was held yes.
terday afternoon at the office Of the
Advertiser. The visitors were Sonora
Gordouciiio ana her little son, Senori.
tas Eamiteria, Sofa and Frocitoa Cor.
doncillo, ana senors Juan NJ. Arellam,
Raymond Costosa, Daniel Jalandoni,
Caesar Carbello and Juan NJ. Arellano.
They had just arrived by the America
Maru, coming from Iloilo via Hong
kong, Shanghai and japanese ports, and
were on their way to the jamestown
Exposition. They had been selected to
represent their country Mt jamestown
by Mr.. William Alexander Sutherland
who has charge of the exhibit from
the Philippines. Those who go back
will return in about seven months, but
four of the young men, Seniors Arellam,
Raymond, Costosa and Jalandoni, who
are members of the native orchestra,
expect to remain to go to school, Mr..
Sutherland having promised to assist
them.
The young women are skilled weavers
of pima cloth and were selected as ex-
perts from amongst the most expert
weavers in their province. The fabric
is made from the fiber of the pine
apple. The finest qualities are amongst
the costliest of fabrics, an embroider-
ed neckerchief often selling as high
as $50 or 800. 1t is of course woven
by hand, and the Senoritas Gordoncillo
are taking their native looms with them
| They receive $12 month each, and all
expenses, including their transportation
to jamestown and return. The three
young girls were remarkably hand
some trio, the Sonora, whose little boy
was smartly dressed in American
clothes, being older and less comely.
All wore the pretty native dress
and there is none more, graceful and
becoming. Their silky, jet black hair
was simply arranged and they wore no
hats. Sonora Sofia was charming in a
pink gown with the narrow skirt, point
ed train, chemisette and very short
sleeves, which has been the height of
fashion in The Philippines for some
centuries. Over the low short-sleeved
bodice was short jacket with full, flow
| ing sleeves. Sonora Sofia jacket was
cream color
"What do you call it," Senior Ar
rellam was asked.
He spoke excellent English and act
ed as interpreter, so far as one was
required, and a very Intelligent one he
was.
ooh, that" he said trying to think
of an English equivalent. ooh, we
call that-just Clothes"
Sonora Eamiteria wore gay striped
skirt, Powered pink and green, with a
shrimp pink jacket which it was finally
learned was baro. The other ladies
| WOTt plulu ShiIto WIN SiCdhi SpioiSi
baros, finely embroidered.
There were not enough chairs to go
around, so the pretty Sonora Sofia
gracefully seated herself on the re-
porter desk, swinging one small foot.
All she lacked was guitar to have
been altogether irresistible. 1t present
ly transpired that she, also, knew Eng
lish, and she watched the writing 60
ing on under her eyes not only with
interest but critically. Presently she
saw the English version of her name
going down on the paper. She, leaned
over and pointed to it with her small,
brown index finger.
"Please spell it Sofia" she re-
marked, little startingly. The good
English spoken by the younger women
and the men was altogether surpris-
ing.
"Where did you learn it," one of
them was asked.
"Oh, in school, was the reply.
"Was your teacher an Americana"
was the next question, it being appar-
ent that if he, or she, were one of the
educational missionaries sent out to he
Philippines, from the United States.
These examples of their training GER
tainly justified their labors. But there
was another surprise
"Oh, no." said Senior Gonzales. He
was a Filipino
"Did he learn English in Manila'"
there being suspicion that he might
have been commercial agent who had
learned English in his business rela-
tions with the Americans, and subse-
quently have taken to school teach
ing.
"Oh, no." said the Senior, once more
with an indulgent smile. "He learn it
in the Normal School at Iloilo. He was
trained there to teach
There are seventy-seven, altogether,
in the party and amongst them over
twenty Moros, who 60 with full com
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