Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1912-07-19

ME- YOU go sightseeing IN Maniia
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 ma
tives; now 1t holds no more terrors
than the best of prisons in the states.
Bilibid. in fact, has been transformed
from a house of torture to model
and sanitary prison wherein the con-
victs are not only kept in good phys
zeal condition. but are required to la
Dor at occupations which, in their later
life. often prove profitable.
Why the original constructors of
Bilibid designed 1t on lines which sug-
gested the most sanitary conditions
and yet turned It into the flthiest OF
institutions is circumstance which
made the United States authorities
ponder. In the midst of the old city.
living within circle more than a 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
fngs. Besides the 10 prison quarters
which radiate outward from the cir
cular guardhouse in the center there
are i've other BIZ 'ngs. composing
the administration offices. the commits
sary and quartermaster's storehouses,
and the fee 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 Enclosure and for a 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 a great stone
wall One-half is set apart for the
American military and civilian prison
ers, the remainder for the native Fill
Pine 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 CarceI de Bilibid. The whole
prison is under military command. bu
the native section is directly super
vised by native officials.
Clean and Ventilated.
Since October, 1898, when the Amer
lean officials took charge of the pris
on, Bilibid has undergone a most ben
eficial transformation. Those quarters
known as the dormitories are not tn,
congested cells of the old Spanish
regime. but have been cleaned and
ventilated until there is now a fire,
circulation OF air in each. Lookint
from one end IF these buildings to the
other you can see long rows of cot.
behind sections barred on with thicl
bamboo rods. and neatness and ordel
prevail throughout. Twelve wide win
dows 3ne each side of each building
and In the roofs of each there hai
been built a continuous line of sue
ton ventilators
The workshops, kitchens, lavatorie
and hospitals have been likewise I'm
proved. each being equipped with tn
most modern sanitary appliances
Bilibid, therefore. instead OF beini
called the House of Torture" a
named under the old Spanish rule, 1
being looked upon with a sort O
pride by the native Filipino as one o
the model Institutions of its kind ii
the world.
Its reconstruction has, in fact, edu
Gated the Filipinos to a considerably
degree. because while the disciplin
of the American officials is strict. tn
method of treating and caring for tn
prisoners within its confines has don
more to demonstrate that the Amer
can people are a humane race thal
all other means.
Bilibid has daily routine much lik
other prisons. The prisoners ar
reused in the morning by the call Q
the bugle at 5:45. Breakfast follows
certain amount Of exercise. and afte
that the prisoners 60 to the workshop
until the noon hour Then comes
light lunch. q siesta for an hour NOR
work until $3.50 p. m. then dinner
and they are locked up for tho night
Twice q week the inmates are CON