Evening star., 1926-12-12
PHILIPPINE NATIVES
ACTIVE IN CAPITAL
Students and U. S. Employees
and Others Here Form
Various Groups.
By MARGARET b. DOWNING.

More than 400 natives of the Philip
pine Islands live in Washington. and
they make one of the most compact,
active and versatile groups of those
who have formed clubs after the man
ner of the State societies. Many OF
these Filipinos are students attending
the various colleges and sclentlnc
schools. Others have completed their
courses and are temporarily employed
by the Government in preparation or
their return to take up work under
the authorities of the islands, and a
surprisingly large number is engaged
In practicing law. All of these meet
on occasion and have banquets and
music and dancing, card parties being
a diversion which the FilipinoS have
not adopted. Naturally so large
body has broken into groups of sew
eral societies, the student bodies tax
ing over the name of the university or
school they are attending. and have
officers elected by their classes.
There is a Philivarsiter Club. COM
posed of those studying at the Ameri-
can University; the Philippine Colum-
bians at the National University, the
Philippine Georgetownites. Hilltop
students and Philippinensians students
at George Washington University, ana
all the members unite several times
year to give dances and dinners ana
get together generally after the accus-
toned ways at home. This organiza-
lions, one Of the largest and most ac-
tive in the several maintained by the
natives Of this insular possession. is
called "The Unified Filipino College
Club" and it's frolic last Halloween
and a luncheon given last week We're
highly SllcceSSful affairs.
Filipino Club Active.
The Filipino Club is another branch,
and it's president, DIR. Eugenio Fom-
bueno, who is connected with the
Philippine Educational Mission In the
Insular Bureau of the War Depart
lnent, has been jealous in gathering
into it's membership not only all resi-
dent students. but maturer men and
women wo are in Washington in pro-
tessional capacities or in the Govern
ment service. All of these appreciate
an opportunity to meet one another
and talk home affairs, hear the latest
news from home discussed and to hear
familiar music and eat the good things
which were their daily diet in the
sunny land of the South Seas, but are
now rare delicacies.
With the we'll known courtesy for
are guests, American dainties are pro-
vided, but when only Filipinos are
present then q menu of such food as
can be obtained here and cooked in
the native way is served. And there
is splendid music, every province hav-
Ing its own particular favorite airs,
and all rendered with inspiring charm.
This club meets at call, the Y. NJ. c.
A. being a popular headquarters for
Ia <,f<r
mitteeS on arrangements, and the
Colonial Hotel for dinners and dances.
But the Philippine Judiciary Society
is the most important of all those
formed by the natives of those islands,
and 1t is the youngest in the group,
having been organized on November
81 of this year, and holding it's first
large assembly In the Colonial Hotel
on Thanksgiving day. 1t has. how
ever. been some time in process of
formation, and its sponsors. Alfonso
p. Donesa and Jesus Perez, have been
carefully considering the purposes for
which this legal body is organized.
The principal one argues well for
the progress of the islands and for a
peaceful solution of any problems con-
fronting the native lawmakers and
those of this country, for 1t Is to stim-
ulate the study Of the laws of both
laIids and to create a better under
standing of them. To accomplish
this closer contact is urged between
bench and bar, and these Filipino law
yers, all of whom have taken degrees
in American schools, and some in
their own law schools in the islands.
intend to bring about a personal meet
ing of members of the bar and the
judges with their body and with those
who have the task of making laws for
their country, like the members of the
committee on insular affairs in Sen
ate and House, and those officials of
the War and Navy Departments
charged with responsibility in the
South Pacific, and with their own peo-
pie established in Washington or Wis
iting the Capital from time to time.
Promotes Professions.
Another major tenet Of this judicial
body's charter is to promote profess
sional ambition. especially when stu
dents, who, after a brilliant career in
colleges here, return to their own
country. Ultimately this new organi-
Zation aims to have in the islands law
yers who have learned wisdom at the
fountain head and who know famil-
fairly not only the fundamental law of
the land, but also the many regula-
tons and the legal constructions
placed on various provisions. When
this has been accomplished the same
sort of understanding will exist be-
tween this country and its present
wards so far away as Great Britain
maintains in her distant provinces
and all differences will be compoSeC
without those irritating juntas and rev
N~ON<NNcNoH