Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1908-05-22
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| ODScT FdIlCCo Ooiiooio"oO
features of most of the social gath
| erings on the Philippine islands. Al
might be assumed in the case OF {
people who give expression to theil
| religious feeling by many an out
ward manifestation and symbol
three great events, birth, marriage
and death, are the three eminent
occasions of religious as wei
| as social celebrations. Church fes-
rivals are always accompanied by
music of some sort, either orches-
trail, brass band or choir, and some
times by all Of these. During the
Spanish-American war a popular
air, much sung by soldiers, was a
melody which had its inception in
San Francisco. 1t was a lively
melody of the rag-time type, "a
Hot Time in The Old Town To-
night" 1t is not an unusual thing
for this tune to be played at funer-
ais in the provinces. This is not
due to the unfeelingness of the peo-
pie, but it is the only tune they
have learned from the Americans.
In the islands, birth is regard
ed as one of the important events
Of the community, and the welfare
of mother and child becomes the
subject of much solicitude on the
part of father and grand parents
Baptism usually takes place a week
or ten days after the youngsters
birth. The babeis borne to church
by it's mother, or some near rela-
tive, at the head of a long process
sion of the men and women the
community In provincial town
of less than three thousand inhabi-
tants may be seen a procession OF
more than three city blocks in
length, the whole company walk
ing in double file and cleanly attir-
ed.
At the church, the parents and
god parents assemble about the
babe while the rite of baptism is
solemnly observed. The pledge OF
the god-parents is most impressive,
and it's significance rises above that
of mere formal observance. 1t is
followed out in after-life, and the
children are ever highly regarded
by the god-parents, and by whom
they are cherished. Many children
whose fathers are unable to afford
them schooling, are educated by
their god-parents, who are often
unrelated to them by blood.
After the baptism, there is usu-
ally a feast and generally a dance
In the Philippines, dance is a So
cial event to which the volatile ma.
| ture of the people readily lends it
self. 1t is frequent amusement
among the poorest as well as the
wealthiest, and always the waltz is
the favorite. Dancing is, by nc
means, confined to the young peo-
| pie, for the native matron will be
lhattered by your invitation, anc
on the floor she will glide easily, nc
matter what her age. There are 8
number of native dances, some Of
which are danced by young girls
alone. Sometimes there is weird
ness in these native dances, especl'
ally among the semi-savage tribes
of Negritos, where a combined
chant and dance is solemnized to
the sun.
The stranger in the province is
amazed to see the ease with which
the women participate in the
dances with their slippers, which
an American could not keep on the
feet, On rare occasions the slip
per falls off, but the girl keeps or
dancing barerfooted, around tc
where the slipper was dropped, anc
she deity catches it on her food,
and continues on inithe dance with.
out interruption.
Marriage in the Philippines some
times takes place at a very early
age. but this is unusual. General.
ly the young people do not marry
until they have reached the age Of
1s. Some marriage of II and IA
are recorded, but these are not us
ual. The Filipino youth usually
dooo not marry until he is able to