A Visit to the Philippine Islands

Little has been done for the introduction of improved machinery for the manufacture of tissues, which are made of silk, cotton, abacá, and, above all, the exquisitely fine fabrics produced from the fibre of the pine-apple leaf, called piñas. These are worked on the simplest looms, made of bamboos, and of a thread so fine that it is necessary to protect it, by the use of a fine gauze, from even the agitation of the wind. The Bisayan provinces, and especially the neighbourhood of Iloilo, are most distinguished for the manufacture of this beautiful tissue, which is sent to the capital for embroidery, and prices which seem fabulous are paid for the more elaborate specimens – one or two ounces of gold being frequently given for a small handkerchief. In Zebu handsome cotton rugs are made, and in Panay a variety of stuffs of sundry materials.

The Indians have the art of softening and manufacturing horn. In metals they make chains of silver and gold of great fineness, for which formerly there was a great demand in Mexico, but I believe European jewellery has supplanted the Indian craftsman.

Mats are a remarkable production of the islands. Many of them are very beautiful, of various colours, and are ornamented with gold and silver patterns. As mattresses are never used for beds, everybody sleeps on a mat, which in some cases, but not generally, is provided with a sheet and a long soft pillow, which is placed between the legs and deemed a needful appliance for comfortable repose.

Fibre-wrought hats and cigar-cases of various colours, the white, however, being the most costly and beautiful, compete with similar productions of the natives of Panama.

The tools and instruments employed by the Indians in manufacture are all of the simplest and rudest character.

The alcoholic beverage called vino de nipa is largely produced in the Philippines. It was made a monopoly as early as 1712 in the provinces near the capital, and then produced 10,000 dollars of annual revenue; the farm was abolished in 1780, and in 1814 the collection was transferred to the general administration. The juice is obtained by cutting a hole in a pulpy part of the palm, introducing a bamboo cane, and binding the tree over the receiving vessel. The sale of the nipa wine is a monopoly in the hands of the Government. The monopoly is much and reasonably complained of by the Indians. Excise duties leading to domiciliary visits, and interfering with the daily concerns of life, have been always and in all countries deemed one of the most vexatious and disagreeable forms of taxation. Man, whatever be his colour, is everywhere man, and everywhere exhibits, though in different forms, the same general dislikes and sympathies. The heavy hand of extortion and oppression does not crush the Filipinos, but a redistribution of the forms of taxation would be beneficial to the fiscal interest and satisfactory to the people.

CHAPTER XIX

POPULAR PROVERBS

The following collection of proverbs will be found curious and characteristic. They will serve to throw light upon the genius of the people, and are appropriate specimens of the Tagal idiom: —

Ang mañga casalanan ang nacasisira sa calolova. – Sins are the diseases of the soul.

Valan di dungmating na dalita t’ saguit cay Job ay dili y saman nagogolorhianan ang coniyang loob. – Job had many troubles, but they did not affect the inner man.

Catotohin mo ang catatoro co. – Make thyself a friend of my friend.

Avatin mo angcoob mo sa quinauiuilihan niyang masama. – Separate thy will (purpose) from him whose love has a bad object.

Houag mong pitahin ang vala. – Desire not what is not (not attainable).

At cun ano caya ang pinagpipilitanan. – They dispute about what their dispute shall be (are determined to quarrel).

Masamang cahuy ang dinamomoñga. – Bad tree produces no fruit.

Maminsanminsan ay susulat ca at maminsanminsa y babata ca nang sulat. – Write now and then, read now and then.

Nang anoman at maca tomama sa olo ninyo. – Don’t fling up a stone, it may fall on your own head.

Paombaychan ca at napapagal ca. – Sing a lullaby at your wedding.

Houag mo acong pangalatacan at dili aco hayop. – Don’t drive me, for I am not a beast.

Ay at linologmocan mo iyang duma? – Why seat yourself in that dirty place?

Houag mo acong galavirin niyan osap na iyan. – Don’t involve me in that quarrel.

Hindi matimoan, ang balat nang Buaya, nang anomang tilos. – A knife will not enter a crocodile’s back.

Tiguis cang nag papacalouay. – What thou doest do quietly.

Tiñgalen mo ang balatic. – Lift up your eyes, and you will see the stars. (Balatic, the Astilejos of the Spaniards – Castor and Pollux.)

Magguimbal ca manguiguimbal. – The drummer should beat the drum.

Houag ninyong yñgayan ang natotolog. – Wake not what is sleeping.

Hindi nag aaya ang mañga ducha. – The poor have no nurse.

Mababao na loob. – He carries his heart in his hand.

Lumaclac ca un valan ynuman. – He would suck a horse-brush rather than not drink.

Nag babacobaco ca pala. – Listen! thou doest what thou knowest not.

Calouhalhatiang mañga gavang magagaling. – Good deeds are heavenly doings.

Nag cacaligalig tovina ang pañgiboghoin. – Disquiet is the constant companion of jealousy.

Papaslañgin mo iyang matologuin. – To make a sentinel of a sluggard (dormilon, Spanish).

Ang mahabang dila tapit gupitan. – A long tongue ought to be clipped.

Ang mañga cayamanan ay pain din nang demonio sa tavo. – Riches are the baits of the devil for man.

Ang mañga paguyac nang mañga ducha ay macadarating sa lañgit. – The cries of the wretched will reach Heaven.

Na aalinagnagan ang langsañgan nang ilao sa bahay. – A candle in a house will illumine a street.

Maguipag ani ca doon sa nag aani. – Reap thy rice with the reapers.

Si Adan ang nagtongtong mula sa atin. – There is no higher ancestry than Adam.

Caylan ca maoocan nang cahunghañgan mo? – When will you cast your fool’s skin? (When will you be wise?)

Sucat parasuhan ang mañga magnanacao. – For thieves punishment and penitence.

Papagdalitin mo iyang marunung. – Let him make a song or sing one (to a pretender).

Caylan magcaca hapahap ang inyong ylog? – When will your river produce a conger eel? (to a boaster.)

Ang caiclian nang bait mo ay gaano! – How short must be the shortness of thy understanding.

Mabuti ang simbahan cung tabiñgan. – Beautiful is the church, but it must have its curtains (mysteries).

Nang magcatulay tulay na ang balita sa maraving tavo ay siyang ypinagcabalirbor. – Truth having passed through many (lips), becomes so entangled and altered, that it no longer resembles truth.

Maylomalong tamis sapolot at lacas sahalimao? – What is sweeter than honey, or stronger than a lion?

Ungmasoc lamang aco saujo. – Tell a lie to find a truth.

Houag mong ypanotnor sa maruming camay. – Trust not the disentanglement of the threads to a man with dirty hands.

Papasaylañginmo iyang nagbabanalbanalan. – If he be so virtuous, let him go to the wilderness (become a hermit).

Ayat sa lalandos cang naparito. – You come to the work and bring no tools.

Houag mong guisiñgin ang natotolog. – Wake not the sleeping.

Mapagsacasacang tavo sicuan. – Trust not the deceiver who says, “I’ll do it by and by.”

Houag mong ayoquin ang bavas nang catouirang justicia. – Bend not the straight rod of justice.

Ivinavasuas ang aguipo, nang dimipaling ang apuy. – He fans the ashes to keep up the fire.

Angpagal at ava nang Dios ang yquinayayaman co. – Labour and God’s mercy bring riches.

Pinapananaligquita sa Dios ay nagbibiñgibiñgihanca. – I tell thee to trust in God, and thou makest thyself deaf.

Tionay mandin sa loob nang tavong mabait ang camuruhan. – An insult is a thorn that pierces the heart of an honourable man.

Sungmusubo ang polot. – Sweets have their froth (the saccharine matter of the sugar-cane).

Yaong nanacap pacsvarin mo sa palo. – For bravados, blows.

Ypinagbabalo balo mo saamin ang pagaayunar mo. – Thou wilt deceive by feigning fasting (religious hypocrisy).

Ang amo ay among dati paramtan man nang mabuti. – The monkey, however richly dressed, is but a monkey.

Aunque la mona se viste de seda, en mona se queda. (Spanish proverb.) – Though clad in silk, the monkey is a monkey still.

Houang cang mag hamalhamalan. – Do not seem to sniffle (through the nose) in the presence of a sniffler (i. e., do not expose the defects of another).

Magyñgat cayo sapusang lambong. – Beware of a wild cat.

Ang magandanglalaqui huboma y mariguit – Even though naked, gentility will show itself.

Ang tapat na capitan may pinagcacapitanan. – Let governors govern.

Valangpalay ang amalong mo. – There is no rice in thy granary (to an empty-headed person).

Ymolos ang camay ay guinagat nang alopihan. – He struck a blow with his hand, and got bitten by a centipede.

Dino dolobasa ang dimaalan – Making ignorance your interpreter.

Nagcapalu na mandin ang canilan pagtatacapan. – Answer with nonsense the nonsense of others.

Anong ypinagpaparañgalanmo? – Why so jactant? – (a phrase to check boasting).

Maalam cang magsima sa taga? – Can he make the barb to the hook? (Is he clever?)

Mabuit ay nagpapatang patañgan finguin. – Being clever, he feigns stupidity.

Dibabao ang lañgit sa macasalanan. – Heaven is far off from sinners.

Gagadolong lisa iyan. – Serious as the bite of a louse’s egg (nit).

Hindi macacagat ang valang ñgipin. – He who has no teeth cannot bite.

Malubha angpagpap aratimo samasaman gara. – Much obstinacy in an evil deed.

Iyang caratinanmo angy capapacasamamo. – Thy obstinacy will be thy perdition.

Pinag cayasalanan mo ang pañginoong Dios. – A sin against a neighbour is an offence against God.

Pinagbibiyayan an ninyo ang demonio. – To pay tribute to the devil.

Tingmitintinna ang darong magalao. – Turn lewdness to chastity.

Valan di dalita itong buhay natin. – Life is labour.

Mapaparari ang tova sa lañgit magparaling man san. – The joy of heaven will last and be perpetuated for ever and ever, and without end.

Cayañga t may tapal may sugat din. – Where the wound is, the plaister should be.

Houag cang omotang nang salapi. – Ask not for the money you lend.

Lubiranmo am navala ang pasilmo. – To play with the string when the top is lost. (A phrase used when a patron refuses a favour.)

Valan cabolohan ang logor dito sa lupa. – The pleasures of earth are not worth a hair.

Maytanim no sa mabato. – Sow not among stones.

Hungmo holangcapala aymarami panggava. – You are trifling while so much work is to be done.

Caya aco guinguinguiyacos dito. – I scratch myself because nobody will scratch me.

Napaguidaraan aco mya. – If I quarrel with myself, it shall be when I am alone.

Ano t guinagasaan mo aco? – If you scold me, why with so much noise?

Ang palagay na loob malivag magolorhanang. – Excesses are rare when the heart is at rest.

Caya co somosoyo siya y aco y tauong aba. – He must obey who is weak and poor.

Ang pagsisi anghuli ay valang guinapapacanan di baguin ang nañgag cacasaguit sa infierno. – Repentance is of little value when the penitent is in the hands of the devil (hell, or the executioner).29

Momoal moal mañgusap. – He who speaks with a full mouth will not be understood.

Hindi sosoco dito ang dimababa. – A short man will not knock his head against the roof.

Paspasin mo ang buñga at hunag mong pasapan ang cahuy. – In beating down the fruit, beat not down the tree.

Ang pagcatototo nang loob ang yguinagagaling nang lahat. – Unity of purpose brings certainty of success.

Nañgiñgisbigsiya nanggalit. – Petrified with rage (addressed to a person “borracho de colera,” as the Spaniards say).

Aglahi si cabiri baquit mayag ang diti. – Saying No! with the lips, and Yes! with the heart.

Houag mong angcahan ang di mo masasacopan. – Do not adventure much until you are certain of the issue.

Some Spanish proverbs have made their way into Tagal.

Baquit siya y namong cahi ay siyang nabalantogui. Fué por lana y bolvió trasquilado. – He went for wool, and returned shorn.

I have selected most of these proverbs, aphorisms and moral and religious maxims from Fr. de los Santos’ folio volume, and they would have some interest if they represented the thoughts and feelings of a civilized nation. That interest will hardly be less when the social code of semi-barbarians is studied in these short sentences. The influence and teachings of the priests will be found in many; others will be deemed characteristic of local usages, and some will find a recommendation in their grotesqueness and originality. I have thought these examples of the language might not be without their value to philologists.

CHAPTER XX

COMMERCE

To foreign nations – to our own especially – the particular interest felt in the state of the Philippines is naturally more of a commercial than of a political character. They must grow in trading importance; already enough has been done to make a retrograde or even a stationary policy untenable. Every step taken towards emancipation from the ancient fetters which ignorance and monopoly laid upon their progress has been so successful and so productive as to promise and almost to ensure continuance in a course now proved to be alike beneficial to the public treasury and to the common weal. The statistics which I have been able to collect are often unsatisfactory and inaccurate, but, upon the whole, may be deemed approximative to the truth, and certainly not without value as means of comparison between the results of that narrow-minded exclusive system which so long directed the councils of Spain and the administration of las Indias, and the wiser and more liberal views which make their way through the dense darkness of the past.

The caprices and mischiefs of a privileged and protected trade and the curses which monopolies bring with them to the general interests, may, indeed, be well studied in the ancient legislation of Spain as regards her colonies. One vessel only was formerly allowed to proceed from the Philippines to Mexico; she was to be commanded by officers of the royal navy, equipped as a ship of war, and was subject to a variety of absurd restrictions and regulations: the adventurers were to pay 20,000 dollars for their privilege; and no one was allowed to adventure unless he were a vocal de consulado, which required a residence of several years in the islands, and the possession of property to the extent of 8,000 dollars. The privilege often passed clandestinely, by purchase, into the hands of friars, officials, women and other speculators – and it may well be supposed at what prices the goods had to be invoiced. Such being the licensed pillage in Asia, on arriving at Acapulco, in America, to which place the cargo was necessarily consigned, 33⅓ per cent. was imposed upon the valuation of the Manila invoices. And on the return of the ship similar or even more absurd conditions were exacted: she was only allowed to bring back double the value of the cargo she conveyed; but, as the profits were often enormous, every species of fraud was practised to give fictitious values to the articles imported – in fact, from the beginning to the end of the undertaking there seems to have been a rivalry in roguery among all parties concerned.

The establishment of the Company of the Philippines, in 1785, gave to monopoly another shape, but led to some development of colonial industry.

It is scarcely needful to follow the history of the commerce of the Philippines through the many changes which have produced its present comparative prosperity – a prosperity to be measured by the amount of emancipation which has been introduced. Had the Spanish authorities the courage to utter the magic words “Laissez faire, laissez passer!” what a cornucopia of blessings would be poured upon the archipelago!

But it could hardly be expected from a government constituted like the government of Spain, that, either of its own spontaneous movement, or by licence delegated to the Captain-General, so grand a work would be accomplished as the establishment of free production, free commerce, free settlement, and free education in the Philippines; and yet a step so bold and noble would, as I fully believe, in a few years be followed by progress and prosperity far beyond any calculations that have been ventured on. The little that has been hazarded for the liberty of trade, though hurriedly and imperfectly done, cannot but encourage future efforts; and in the meantime many beneficial reforms have been pressed upon the attention of the government with such conclusive statistics and irresistible logic, that, if it depended on these alone, the Philippines might hope to enter upon the early enjoyment of their heritage of future advancement. The reform of the tariffs – the removal of petty vexatious fiscal interferences – improvements in the navigation of the rivers – the cleansing the harbours – lighthouse, buoys and other appliances for the security of shipping – are among the more obvious and immediate claims of commerce. In Manila the absence of docks for repairing and harbouring vessels is much felt; the custom-house is on the wrong side of the river – though it were better it should exist on neither side; there are no means of regular postal communication with the islands from the Peninsula; tug-steamers, life-boats, quays and piers, seamen’s houses, marine hospitals, are wanting, but their introduction has been so strongly advocated that its advent may be hoped for. In truth, it is pleasant to find in a country so remote and so long under the most discouraging and retarding influences, that inquiry, which is the pioneer and the handmaid of all improvement, is already busily at work and will not be at work in vain.

A communication was made to the Chamber of Commerce by the Governor-General in 1858, requesting that the merchants would point out to him the best possible means for developing the riches of the Philippine Islands by extending their foreign trade. The British merchants, after expressing a general wish that the islands should enjoy the benefits of that system of free trade and liberal commercial policy whose “great results” are manifest to all, point out the special grievances which demand immediate reform.

1. The present system of requiring permits for every cargo boat employed, leads to many needless charges, vexations and delays.

2. Reform of the tariffs which press very heavily on certain articles, for the protection of some small manufacturing interest in the island. This is specially the case with cotton goods intended for common use; those of the colours given by dyes produced in the island are selected for the heaviest impost, to give encouragement to native dyers. Many articles are estimated much beyond their real value, so that the percentage duty becomes excessive. Lawns, for instance, are tariffed at double their market price. Iron chains worth five dollars per cwt. are tariffed at twelve dollars. A small quantity of white, black, blue, purple and rose-coloured cotton twist being produced, there is a duty of from 40 to 50 per cent., while red, yellow, green, &c., which the natives cannot dye, are admitted duty free. These are striking exemplifications of the workings of a protective system.

Other blue goods are prohibited because the islands produce indigo; and for the protection of the native shoemakers (who, by the way, are almost invariably Chinese and mere birds of passage in the country), foreign boots and shoes pay from 40 to 50 per cent., to the great detriment of the public health, for the country-tanned leather will not keep out the rain and the mud, while the protective duty encourages the Chinese settler to become a manufacturer, who is less wanted than the agricultural labourer. In the same spirit the tailors are protected, i. e. allowed to overcharge the consumer to the extent of 40 to 50 per cent., the duty on imported clothes, which goes principally to the Chinese. Foreign fruits, preserves and liquors have to bear similar burdens, for cannot the Philippines give confectionary and sweets enough of their own? So runs the round of folly and miscalculation. One hundred dozen of Spanish beer entered the Philippines in 1857, and to protect and encourage so important an interest an excessive impost was levied on 350 pipes and nearly 100,000 bottles of beer not Spanish.

3. Then, again, the heavy differential duties in favour of Spanish ships are a well-grounded subject of discontent and highly prejudicial to the general interest. The levying tonnage duties upon ships entering and departing without cargoes is a grievance of which there are just complaints. The adjacency of so many free ports – Hong Kong, Macao and Singapore – and the more liberal system of the Australian and Polynesian regions, place the Philippine trade in a disadvantageous position. Among the documents which I collected is one from a native merchant, in which he says: – “The demonstrations of political economists, and the practical results of free-trade legislation, establish the fact that public credit and public prosperity are alike benefited by the emancipation of commerce, and narrow is the view which, looking only to the temporary defalcation of revenue from the diminution of imports, forgets the enormous increase of all the sources of revenue from lowering prices and extending demand.” In this way the great truths which have been silently and successfully revolutionizing our commercial legislation are spread on all the wings of all the winds, and will finally encircle the world in the great bonds of brotherhood, with peace and prosperity for attendants.

By a decree of the 18th June, 1857, the restrictions on the trade in rice and paddy were removed, and foreign grain was allowed to enter duty free, not, only into the ports opened to foreign trade, but into divers subordinate ports. Though the permission was then temporary, it has now become permanent, and I found that the emancipation of these important articles from all custom-house interference had been attended with the best results, by regulating and assimilating prices, without any detriment to native production. The more general the principles of free trade the more security will there be against dearth and famine on the one side, and superfluity and glut on the other.

Rice is sold by the cavan. Its price is ordinarily double that of paddy. The average fluctuations are from one to two dollars.

In 1810 the import trade of the Philippines amounted to only 5,329,000 dollars, of which more than half consisted of precious metals, sent from the Spanish colonies of America. From Europe and the United States the trade was only 175,000 dollars. The exports were 4,795,000 dollars, of which one-and-a-half million consisted of silver to China, and the whole amount of exports to Europe and the United States was 250,000 dollars. The great start took place in 1834, when the monopoly of the Philippine Company terminated, and commerce may be regarded as progressive from that time. Of the trade with the surrounding islands, that with Jolo, conducted principally by Chinese, is important. One of the leading articles of export is the edible bird’s-nests, of whose collection a Spanish writer gives the following account: – “The nests are collected twice a year; those most valued from deep and humid caverns. Early training is needful to scale the localities where the nests are found, and the task is always dangerous. To reach the caves it is necessary to descend perpendicularly many hundred feet, supported by a rope made of bamboo or junk, suspended over the sea waves as they dash against the rocks.” There is also from Jolo a considerable exportation of tortoise-shell. Trepang (sea-slug, Holothuria) and shark-fins are sent to the Chinese markets; also mother-of-pearl, wax and gold dust. The voyage from Manila to Jolo and return generally occupies seven to eight months. A trade in most respects resembling that of Jolo is carried on between Manila and the Moluccas. Spices are, however, added to the imports. There is a large trade between Singapore and Manila, and with Amoy, in China, the transactions are very important. Vessels are generally loading from and to that port. Rice, paddy, cocoa-nut oil, sugar, fine woods, table delicacies and a variety of minor articles, are exported; silks, nankins, tea, vermilion, umbrellas, earthenware and a thousand smaller matters, make up the returns.