The Holbrook news., 1912-08-30

the guides do not fail to show you
 the Carcel de Bilibid. They do so
 with a great deal of pride. Once
 Bilibid, within almost a stones throw of your hotel, was the most hated place in existence to the na- lives; new it holds no more terrors than the best of prisons in the states. Bilibid, in fact, has been transformed from a house of torture to a model and sanitary prison wherein the con- victs are not only kept in good phys ical condition, but are required to la bor at occupations which, in their later life. often prove profitable.
 Why the original constructors of Bilibid designed it on lines which sug- gested the most sanitary conditions and yet turned 1t into the filthiest of institutions is a circumstance which made the United States authorities ponder. In the midst of the old city, lying within a circle more than mile in circumference. nineteen long low buildings converge on an open space surrounding a large circular building and from what is said to be the larg- est prison in the world. There is plenty of air space between the build ings. Besides the 19 prison quarters which radiate outward from the cir cular guardhouse in the center there are five other buildings, composing the administration offices, the commis- sary and quartermaster's storehouses, and the ice and electric plants, all within the great circular area.
 Topping in height each of these buildings there are guard towers from which can be poured any number of steel death-dealing missiles within the great inclosure and for great radius without. There Is one large tower in the center above the main guardhouse, a score or more surround the inclos- ure at equal intervals. and there is not a nook or corner in Bilibid which does not come under the eye of the watch full sentinels.
 The long, low buildings of Bilibid comprise the prisoners quarters. Since the American occupation of the islands, the great prison has been di! vided in two parts by great stone wall. One-half is set apart for the American military and civilian prison CTS, the remainder for the native Eli pino and the Spanish, Chinese, Japa- nese and other prisoners of different nationalities. The great prison has heretofore been given two names; the former the Presidio de Manila. the lat ter the Carcel de Bilibid. The whole prison is under military command, but the native section is directly super vised by native officials.
 Clean and Ventilated
 Since October, 1898, when the Amer ican officials took charge of the pris- on, Bilibid has undergone most ben eficial transformation. Those quarters known as the dormitories are not the congested cells of the old Spanish regime, but have been cleaned and ventilated until there is now a free circulation of air in each. Looking from one end of these buildings to the other you can see long rows of cots behind sections barred off with thick bamboo rods, and neatness and order prevail throughout. Twelve wide win dows Itne each side of each building, and in the roofs of each there has been built a continuous line of sue ton ventilators.
 The workshops, kitchens, lavatorieA and hospitals have been likewise i'm proved, each being equipped with the most modern sanitary appliances. Bilibid, therefore, instead of being called the House of Torture" as named under the old Spanish rule, is being looked upon with a sort of pride by the native Filipino as one of the model institutions of its kind in the world.
 It's reconstruction has, in fact, edu- cated the F1lipinos to a considerable degree, because while the discipline of the American officials Is strict, the