Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-08-17

IS9>>@A games is to class
ones self as not up-to-date.
In brief American athletics haNe
the sport-loving native OF the Pninppiie
islands by storm with the result 'hal nc
ia rapidly becoming AmerlcamZeu.
; In consequence OF TINS rdliohaA ou'
door training the Filipino character mas
undergone a radical change in the ias'
FIVE or six years
rbe health OF both the boys and the
girls has improved.
Their idea of ethics is no longer that
of their ancestors. who thought that
game won through sharp practice was
game well won.
: Fair play. honesty and good manners
have become things to be assidlousiy
cultivated.
For centuries cock fighting was the
national sport of the Philippine lslanos-
IL was the national sport when the
American fleet under Admiral Dewey on
that memorable LIST OF May sailed lhto
Manila harbor and sank the greater por-
ton OF the Spanish fleet. 1t remained
the national sport until American edu-
eational system began to revolutioniZe
methods in the islands and at the same
time bring about a change in character
building.
Some one has pithily said: You cannot
put an occidental brain in an oriental
head" To large extent that seems 10
he true. Yet sport is sport. be II west or
east. The love of outdoors is just as
strong there as 1t is here. That this Is
so has been proven by the rapidly with
which base ball has supplanted cock
fighting among the Filipinos-
For the last five years the Filipino boys
have been playing base ball and the Fill
pino girls have learned the attractions OF
basket ball. Lawn tennis has taken a
fast hold on the natives. and track meets
and similar tests of skill in occidental
outdoors are frequent. Why. early this
year an oriental Olympaid the first was
held with the Filipino team the largest
point winner. The other teams represent
ed Japan and China
American teachers after years of serv-
ice In the islands following the American
occupation. declare that the greatest Diff
. culties were encountered in the early his
Tory OF Americanized Philippine schools
or course it was not until after the COM
nlete pacification Of the islands that edu,
cational changes. except In limited way.
We're undertaken.
For centuries the old Spanish civiliza-
zion was all the natives had to look for
ward to. Too much education was deemed
oh~i dh0 consequently the CnllOTon OF
the upper. or ruling classes. received only
enough education to make them think
they had been educated.
Innovations in methods Of imparting in
were frowned upon This prejudice
against progress hampered the introduce
ton OF American ideas and for years
progress was discouraging. Enlishten-
severest test that could be imposed. II
was realized BY the Spanish and high
class Filipinos that the American meth
DDS were superior.
since then progress in educational meth
DDS IN the islands has been rapid. And
SIDE by side with the Improvement Of the
mind has come the improvement NJ the
physical well-being Of the pupil. Natural
win the coming Of the American
teacher came American sports. The man
teachers PLAYED base ball during their
recreation. The woman teachers turned
TO basket ball.
With such an example it was but not
urai that the younger generation should
take up and learn to love the games TINT
bring out the best that is in one. Snort
for sports sake took the place OF win
ming no matter how. The highest ideals
az true sportsmanship took firm hold
They now furnish the basis Of all CONNIE
titions for athletic supremacy in inter
scholastic and interprovincial contests.
In spite Of all the bureau OF education
OF the Philippine government has accom-
plished in the direction OF introducing
athletics into the various provinces only
half the distance seems to have been
travelled. 1t Is only In those provinces
where the American influence Is greatest
that athletics along American lines are
on n Arm basis.
This result was not obtained without
ha nfnSH Il
tory of American athletics in the islands
shows that the natives were very in
different. They had to be made to real
lze that playing the game for the games
sake was the chief end In view. For a
long time they failed TO grasp this. They
could not understand the object Of siren
3ous sports.
The history OF American athletics in
the far east began with the arrival of the
American soldier in the army of occu-
patton. The soldier played base bal! and
in Z st cases played 1t we'll. The ma
tive frequently watched the games. but
not until long afterward did he begin
TO understand It, He did not take any
interest in the sport.
When the American teacher came !,
take the place Of the soldier base ball
Continued TO be the recognized form or
recreation. With him there also arrived
tennis basket ball and the various forms
OF track and field sports. Then the ma
tive first began TO take an active inter-
est in all outdoor sport.
Naturally to the teacher belongs the
credit for arousing the interest of the
native. He began to teach athletics in
the schools where he taught the mind TO
develop. He taught base bal! first be-
cause the native early showed an apti-
tude for the game: its theatrical quail
ittes appealed to him. One OF the earli-
est native teams was composed wholly
o. Igorotes, who played In their native
costume. which was none at all.
The first team was followed by the
organization Of other native teams. Soon
there were many such mines and they
played good ball, though II must De con-
fessed they knew nothing of the so-called
so much in the sporting columns OF
American newspapers.
After the organization Of teams in
towns and provinces had taken place
real love OF the sport developed. Com
;istition and the desire to have the win
ming nine quickly aroused the latent in
ts-es: Of the nativc-ae who played and
:aat there 10 now 10 moro ardent fan"
"a all the orient.
The value Of atniet.cG In the American
txat!on of the Filipino was thoroughly
understood by the teachers who wen.
from the United 5tates to the islands.
When the bureau of education WAS or
ganized as q department of the Philippine
government athletics was made q part
~ the educational sygtsn.
As new schoolhouses were built In the
stveral provinces each one was given its
athletic field and gymnasium. Each ore