The central record. (Lancaster, Ky.) 18??-current, 1917-05-03
LAWRENCE DURHAM
Writes EnIsrlainIy OF Habits And Customs
OF Filipines.
Fort William Mckinley. y I.

Will devote some of my spare time
to the loved ones of Kentucky | am
enjoying the best Of health at the pres
ent date. altho have very bad feel
ing when duty calls me out in the hot
sun that il disease We all can pro-
nounce and which most of " catch
when duty Is urgent. but have been
very enthusiastic in the past month.
while not on duty, IL getting some in
teresting points Of this Province
There are several tribes of flipinos
in the Philippine Islands and have
written before about the CUSTOM ~
principal Of the BlCOL tribe, Mt my
station in southern Luzon.
The people here are called Tagaiugs,
Of whom will explsin.
During my service at Fort Mckinney.
] have had the opportunity To observe.
in the various 'barrios. located ~ the
vicinity Of the garrison. the msnrers.
customs. and ways of the native peo-
Pile.
IL YOU travel through one Of these
"barrios" you can get su idea how
the tropic night had Just swooprd down
and from the native homes along the
one street. came the yellow gnnt of
the Cocoon oil candles and thence also
the romantic tinkle Of the mnndoIlns.
Hardly had | gone half down the
street when was addressed by m 81
derry fihpina woman. IN elegant En-.
glish. Good evening soldier. taking
walk IN the bnrfio? Have you had
your supper? Viii you not honor ~.
by coming TO my poor dwslhngI AID
many other questions such as these.
have observed in my frequent VISITS
to these little barriers that tn, rr'lgious
observanccs constitute the i,sding
features Of most Of the social gather
ings in the islands.
The church festivals are always ac-
companied by music of some sort.
orchestral. brass bands or choir. and
quite often by all Of these.
BY the FIlipinos a birth Is regarded
az an important event. and tn, wrliar.
of the mother and child are subject, OF
much solcitude on the part oi the
father and grandparents. but the
christening of the child is considered
the most important. and Is performed
with much solemnity.
This generally takes place n iew days
after its birth. The child IL carried To-
the church. som, times by the mother.
or some near relative. at the head uf
long procession. formed by the rest OF
the population. AT the church Tue
prospective god parents assemble about
the babe The holy water IS spunh.yd
upon the little one while prayers are
said for its welfare. and the pledge of
the god parents Is impressive. IL rises
above that Of mere formal Observance
and it is followed out IN after htc, tor
the children highly regard their god.
parents and are by them cherished.
After the baptism there usually Is a
feast. followed by dance thu dance
being social event IN the Philippines.
to which the volatil nature OF the pco-
pie really lends itself.
The favorite dance Is the waltz. The
girls take it w as II by nature. The
regardon is next. This dance Is Of
Castilinn origin. il is Of the type Of
the old Virginia Reel. There are IA
number OF native dances. some OF winch
are performed by single couple
There is one dance that atti acted my
attention. In this dance the "Baller-
ina" executes and chants recital of
Joy. passion. ecstacy and despair; she
sometimes kneels before the youth.
who for the occasion is assumed to be
her lover, reproaches him in IA s.nu-
mcnt of melancholy arguing. IN gen
tie monotone that grows TO u creceGdo
as her spirit changes TO denunciatlCn
but finally she falls into IA mood Of
elated passion and the lovers are united
II is amazing to see how easy III, y
dance in their "ehlnelas' IA kind Of
slipper, fiat like. IA shoe. sometimes
made oil WOOD, with Just enough upper
in front to put their toes inside Even
in the waltz. two step, or any other
dance the "chinea' seldom slips from
the girls foot, and if perchance IT '!oes.
she glides around the floor in her bare
feet, slipping it ON deftly when the
circuit is completed. without stopping
the dance.
Marriage IN the Philippines often
takes place at an early age, the bride
may be but eleven and the groom bnt
fourteen Ii is customary for the par.
ents of the young couple to supulate
the marriage contract and the parents
of the bridegroom usually make set
Element upon the bride. II the young
mans parents ale poor and have no
dowrv 10 offer il is contracted that the