Philippine Quarterly

Media

Part of Philippine Quarterly

Title
Philippine Quarterly
Issue Date
October-December 1961
Year
1961
Language
English
Rights
In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted
extracted text
MISSING PAGE/PAGES PHILIPPINE QUARTERLY OCTOBER-DECEMBER 1961 ~~;~_,', ~- ~-- : _ .. ·~hlPhilippine !If{ .. -- .- .... ~ '· \ \~~'. .... AS '""·'.~ ~i : ,~ . \. ~~·· ....... ~, ~f.- ,. ·~~@' .. / "~" _Y"' - _/ Resplend~nt ~. lant~~ ,..,,_ _.... exhciusting de°5ignen' ingenuity and artiSfl'yare proudly displayed O'tet windows and doorways during the season. Huge belen or crioche put up by co mmerciol finn toweu over specrarors. By Alfredo R. Roces WHEN ~egozpi a~d his soldiers celebrated their first Chrislmas 1n the Philippines in 1665, they introduced the best loved tradition among Filipinos today. Christmas is one of the two widely popular and notionally loved rites given by Christianity to this country: the olher being the town fiesta celebrating the locality's patron saint. The appeal of these two traditions is such that town fiestas, generally intended to be oneday affairs, ore often e:dended lo three or more doys, a nd, os for Christmas, perhaps it is safe to say that the Philippines holds the record for the longest Christmas celebration in the world - 22 days. Lei us start by identifying w·hat has come to be a no· tionally recognized symbol of the Philippine Christmas - the Christmas lantern, which recalls the bright star of Bethlehem, Whic!i g'uided the Three Kings and the shepherds to the newborn child. In almost every home throughout the countfy·, from nipo hut to proud mansion, these star lanterns gleam from window, doorway or porch. Fashioned from delicate papel-iopon (Japa nese paper) on light bamboo frames, the lanterns lend themselves to various designs, but the most common by far is the star- a white, five·pointed one e nclosed by a circle of white paper frills. An electric bulb is placed inside to make it glow in the night. There are other designs - hex· og~nol, with tlowing, lacey paper tails; boats, fish and pin· wheels of colored paper, cellophane, wire and foil. Today, the ultimate in Christmas lanterns are those mode in San Fer- ·. nando, Pamponga, which ore displayed ot the town·s annual parade of lanterns. These lanterns, often more than fifteen feet in diameter, flash a kaleidoscope of intricate designs through a complicated electronic system. The Christmas traditions of the Filipinos are deeply rooted in their social and religious life. Among the best known customs practised throughout the Phi lippines, porticula~ly in Luzon and the Visaycs, are the misc de go/lo, the noche b~o, and the _visit to the ninong_ or ninong {godparents). A typical Filipino family begms its observance of Christmas, first, by hanging up lanterns at windows or over door· ways, and, where there ore be/ens and Christmas trees, de· coroting the tree and laying out the creche or be/en. Then, on December 16, they start the nine·doy novene of the misos de go/lo ("cockcrow masses .. ) which ends on the Eve of Christmas. Well before cockcrow everyday during the no· veno, a brass band goes through the to wn playing a t full volume to wake up the townsfolk for the four o'clock Alfredo R. Roces pcjnrs. Itochu ort opprt,,;iotion ct lhe For fo~tern University, where he is also Press RefotiQllJ O tlictr Because Christmastime in the Philippines coincides with horvesMime, the practice of going to this early mass used to have a practical reason. From the four o'clock mass the workers would go straight to the fields. Today, this custom prevails even in the cities, evidence that traditions hold fast, even when the practical reasons for them ore gone. The misc de go/lo is often confused with 'the miso de aguinoldo, which is the single ·midnight moss oii' Christmas Eve. After the morning moss our typical Filipino fami ly, on the way home, will likely os not stop by at one of the little stands which serve hot salobot (ginger lea) and puto bumbong, the hot cools glowing cheerfully in the early morning light. Puto bumbong is a local delicacy made from o · · special variety of violet-colored glutinous rice, ground and steam-cooked in cylindrical bamboo moulds. It is eaten with fresh grated Coconut and brown sugar. Bibingko, a native rice coke, is also a favourite afler-moss snack. Throughout this period of down mosses or mises de go/lo, our Filipino family is astir with excitement over the preparations for Christmas. First of all, there is the Christmas shopping to do, for gift-giving is an essential part of the Filipino Chr.istmas. In the cities, the shops fairly blaze with Christmas decorations mode of tinsel, crepe paper, simulated branches of holly-and-cherries, fake snowflakes and big blown-up pictures of Santa Claus. Christmm carols fill the air, blaring out from stores or given out by street minstrels. Many of the gifts, especially in provinces, are home-made, such as packages of sweets like postil/os and turron. Then there is the house to clean and decorate with a Christmas tree or belen, a tiny replica of the Nativity scene. A pig ha s been fattened for the inevitable lechon - or roast pig. And many other delecklble dishes are prepared for the noche buena. On the Eve of Christmas, the family goes to midnight moss - the misc de oguina/do. As the mass ends a midst the ringing of bells and the strains of "Joy to the World" from the choir, everyone greets his friends a nd relatives with a "Moligoyang Pasko." Neche buena (midnight supper) which takes place ofter moss, is o happy occasion for the family gathering. Aside from lechon, there are ham, The festive spirit of Chrit.tmas is e•emplified by the numeroU5 food stalls that spring up during the season, vending delicocies such as puto bumbong, leaf-wrapped sumon, rice cakes called bibingkos and fruits in Childten welcome the season in e• uberont fashion by ftring away on home-mode bamboo cannont. charged with carbide. tome/es, cheese, empanodo, sumon end hot chocolate. There ore sweets like leche flon, ube, mokopuno and posti//os. The table is brimming over with fruits of the seoson ond imported fruits such os gropes, apples, and oranges. Christmas Doy begins with o moss for those who were too sleepy to attend the midnight mass the previous eve. Everyone is dressed in his best. This is a doy for the family. Children, ofter recei ving gifts from their parents, visit their - grandparents, uncles, aunts and other relatives to wish them a merry Christmas. Even distant relatives are remembered on ·this one season, portly in hopes of receiving on aguinoldo (Christmas gift). Ninongs (godparents), who may not have been heard from the enhre year, ore of course remembered on· this day. When visiting their godparents and ninongs, children go through the traditional ritual of kissing the elders" hand, or touching it to their foreheads, the while murmuring, "Mano po, ninong" or "Mano po, Iola (or Iola)" as the case may be. This means, "May I kiss your respected hand, ninong (or Iola)" The elder greeted is then expected to dig Into his pocket or produce o wrapped-up gift, as his awaited oguinoldo. The children thus make the rounds of elder relatives and receive presents a nd coins. Christmas Day is often an occo··sion for a gathering o f the clon, held usually at the house of the eldest where on elabora te repost awaits the visitors There are some interesting Christmas traditions practised in various regions of the Phi1ippines. One of them is the panunuluyon of Cavite, Bulacan and other Tagalog provinces. For the nine evenings before Christmas Doy, a popular drama is staged in the open. At_ 10 o 'clock 1n the evening, people gather in front of the church and follow a young man a nd o Chridmas in the Philippinu is a Y ason c:harged with o holiday mood, a fesllve round of party-giving ond porty-9oin9. young woman dressed as Joseph and Mary who go from house to house seeking shelter. As in the Biblical story, they are turned away from this house and that. The young couple sing to the owner of each house begging for room, and, in each, the owner replies in song that there is none. Thus they move on, until they arrive back in church where the midnight moss is to be celebrated. In some remote towns in the Philippines, Christmas is celebrated on the 26th instead of the 25th. This is said to be due to a lock of priests able lo officiate at moss on Christmas day. In many towns, olso, for a. more dramatic effect, o giant star lantern inside the choir loft is made to move slowly down to the oltor during Christmas moss. - Christmas today is noisy with firecrakers and cumbancheros {tittle urchins who ploy Christmas carols on crude homemade instruments). Along many streets, too, young boys moy be seen setting off homemade bamboo cannons charged with carbide which go off with o loud whoosh and boom, to the delight of the youngsters. Christmas in the Philippines has also become the longest Yuletide celebration in the world - starting December 16th and ending on Three Kings· Doy, January 6th. However, the seasbn actually starts as early as the first week of November, when the radio stations begin playing Christmas carols, and shops begin decorating their display windows and making brisk business. There are the inevitable fairs or cornabo/s - two-month amuse ment parks offering shows and rides. Wishing people a merry Christmas personally hos slowly given .way to sending greetings via the Christmas cords, the tele phorie, or telegram. Other customs such as the singing of villancicos have been replaced by foreign. carols such as "'Jing le Be lls" and " Holy Night." In many insta nces, f.unds collected from caroling ore donated to the parish church. Another foreign contribution ·to local customs is the image of Santa Claus, which one sees everywhere especially in the cities. Gift-giving, which used to be associated with the Three Kings is now associated with Santa Claus. The Christmas tree has also slowly token root in our traditions, replacing the be/en. The Philippine Christmas is, therefore, made up of the: Spanish influence, some of which a re disappearing today, oner the American, which has been adopted by the ne w generation; eve n to the ridiculous point of "dreaming of a white Christmas" in torrid Philippines. In the blending of these two cultural influences, the Filipino hos added a touch of his own here and there and hos moulded Christmas traditions nearer to his heart's desire. Thus, a lthough Christmas is basically a foreign tradition, the Filipino hos mode it his o~. and Christmas in the Philippines is in many ways uniqu"i:ly Filipino. 5 ~THE basic units or building blocks of Philippine social "( organization ore the eleme'lLac.y family which includes the father, mother, and children, and the bilgterol extended family which embraces al1 reloti ... es of the father and mother. O f special importance is the siblir:ig group, the unit formed of brothers and sisters. There ore O o clans or similar uriiloterol kinship groups in the Philippines; the elementary fa.mily a nd the sibling group form the primary basis of corporate a ction. Philippjne social orgonizohon may be characterized as familial, for the influence of kinship, which centers on the fam_ily, is far-reaching. The pervasive influence of the family upon a ll seg ments of Philippine social organization con be illustrated in many ways. Religious .responsibility, for ex-J a mple, is a familial rather than an indivi.dual affair. Moreover, religio n is family-cente red rather tha n church-centered (Hunt et ol 1954: 75). Each home hos o fom ily shrine. The lorge images ca rried in the co mmunity processions during Holy Week ore owned a nd kept by individ ua l families, usually the wea lthier ones. In short, the Filipino type of fami ly hos hod o considerable influence on the forms of religious beliefs a nd oc.tivities introduced by o rganized religio ns. The influence of the family upon economic and entrepreneuriOI activities is a lso great. The elementary fami ly is the J Robert 8. Fox, Chief of !hi! Diviiion ol Anthropology. National M uJeum. rOo~ hi1 Ph.D. in Anthropology o t 1he Univl!r1ity of Chicago He hos done considerable 1eseorch in Philippine cul1ure ond 1odety ond Philippine cu/lure history. A Europ• an artist's ifta of a Filipino paterfamilia!> and brood (19th century). Filipino Family and Kinship By Robert B. Fox basic production unit in agricultural activities, cottage indus-. . tries, and local and subsistence 'fishing. Even among paid agricultural workers two or mo re members of a family wi~nly be fo_und working together. The so-coll~· ~s .. found 1n the urban a reas are generally .fwni.1¥ ~s. Distributio!' of corporate stock beyond the kin g roup hos not been successful in most coses. The extensive development of n~ism in the P~itippines is thoroughly.un~ derstondoble when the economic solidarity charoctenstic of fami ly life is considered. ~e fragmented cha racter of the larger Philippine society is a resullin port, of the Filipino type of family a nd kinship structure. The prevailing family structure emphasizes loyalty a nd supp rt of the family, nol of an)' higher level of social organization. In the barrio, politicOl. organization is weakty developed. G roup activities ore organized in terms of kinship and by common economic ond ritual interests. Q ne o r more fami lies form the core of these group a ctivities, the .leadership usually being provided by a dominant family (or fami lies). W ealth and the size of o man·s fd~ily and kinship group a re the prima ry determitfonts of.Jeodership. The-resulting familia l orientc:ition is centripetal, mokin9 for highly segmented commu ies and on a lmost comPle te lock of legal self-gover•1 - m t. It is understanda ble, therefore, Why govern~ent one> unicipal programs have found so little real support i~ the typical barrio. The ro te of the family in the Philippines, os a ctua lly per· ceived by Filipinos, is explicitly stated in the new Civil Code Boptilml, birthdoyl, Chrislmol ond Eod• r t,olid111y1 o,. O((C11ien1 fer a "gDthirring of th• c:lon." Th• birthday of tM 9r9"Cff......,., who holdl a dignifi•d ond venerated pcnition in the Filipino hou1•hold, i1 e1pe(i111lly 1u(h on occasion. Typical is the toking of o snapshot or photo os "recuerdo" or "mer.ento" , Ol pholo (right) which showl grondfother in center surrounded on his birthd111y by children, grandchildren ond greot-grondchildren, ntany of whom come from the province for this ev•nl. sent the husband cannot do so. Although the father is the acknowledged head of the Filipino household, the influence of the mother mus.I not be minimized, for the authority is not based simply on sex, but on age. Philippine society is characterized by · a marked de11elopment of generational respect which ·1n11ol11es deference to the opinio ns o t all indt11iduols, regardless -of se x, older than one's self. & Thus, a uthority is invested not simply in the fathe r but in parents and in grandpa rents as well. It is specifically slated in the New Ci11il Code that "gr_a ndparents should be consulted by all members of the family on important .family questions (Title XI, Article 312)." The oldest brother or sister in the family also has authority 011er younger siblings, including the righl to punish them. When t~ parents die, the eldest sibling assumes-the responsibility for the sibling gro up. /rhe '.pattern bf generational respect ~ fou nd in the terminillog y of address, children .• speaking to their parents a nd older pe rsons in the plural fo rm of the second person, that is, by saying kayo (plural) not ikaw 2 . lar) for "you." Generally speaking, family life centers on the children., lementory family is formalized and becomes o structural~ unit when a child is born to a couple, far unlike his or her parents, the child is re/Oted. equally to the maternal and paternal kin. -The birth of a child forms the link between. the families. Land and other pro perties are thought of os being held in trusteesh.ip by parents for the children. Family funds ore ra rely, if e11er, spent by the pa rents for the ir o wn wants. On the contrary, the fam ily will plunge into debt for children . .. for their education, in caseyof illness, or for a daughter who hos been chosen queen for the barrio fiesta . Family ca pita l and so11ings are the inherita nce of children, to be divided equally among them. A common excuse for denying loons, even to re la ti11ts, is tha t the prop~rties and money be-· lo ng to the children. Because of this concern for children, it is nb t unusual to fi d indulged children in Filipino fam11;e-~1 usually the youngest, despite the reloti11ely firm pattern of authority. The relationship between a lternating generations, g ra ndparents and g rondchildre n, is often 11ery close o nd offfectionote. Although the g rondporents ore in on outhoritoti11e position, they rarely discipline children. "'t. spGiled child is described as "one who has been raised by grandparents:· ·- The size and range of the bila teral extended family is of considerable importance. Re la tio nship is ex1ended to dista nt cousins, Who are gi11en he lp a s needed. The usual residentia l ? Oltern is based on kinship which reinforces the unity of "txfended fami lies. If large os well as localized, they con be :powerful and influential. Politics in local areas is ofte n con1lr0H ed by large, wealthy fa milies, the selection of barrio lieutenant;,_ for example, being mode o n the basis of his representing o d!)minont kin g ro up. "The Filipino kinship system can be de.scribed as relati11ely ..shallow", for concern is with the lateral expansion and size of the family and kin group rather than with th~ lineal depth of relationship. The size and solidarity of the eXtended bila-. feral family greatly influences indi11idual interpersonal relationships. Except for the unique pattern of friendship found.·· among_ Filipino teenagers: .irlte~ersonol rela tionships ore g~4 erally intra-~jn rela tio nships. On the adult le11el, friendship is. broug ht ~iihin the framework of kinship by mea ns of co~po­ d rozgo or ritual co-parenthoo!d. Thus, interpersonal rela tion_ships are founded fundomentol!y ~kinship ties.whichj~~oJ11~".f1:rmmtfedf)~ie~ otid dbli.gotions.. Formal relationships are further extended by "ritual kinship." In contrast to kinship bonds, there is an uncomfortable social gap in the tenuous ties of friendship. The typical oppearonce of affectionate friend~hip between teenog~rs of the some . sex ho~ . Ot le~s! two explonotion~rst;" by interacting with non-kinsmeu the' teena gers ore projected into on" en11ironment havin9 Potentia l spouses. ( It is said, for example, thot .t.eenage frie11ds frequently marry the siblings of the ir friend(!,Secondly, the display ?f a ffectio n between members of the opposite sex is forbidden in public and appears to be " minimal e.ven in the....privocy of the h6 usehold. The cbannel which provides for the release of• n ' i intero · · son of the same-sex. ,A display for affection between a boy and girl.in pu 1c, on the contrary, would compromise the girl (not the boy because of the pre11oiling "~ouble ~tandord.") Thus, the/Jottern of frie ndship is betwee~' boY$~nd boy5, girls and girl . Teenage boys are commonl~ seen walkin.g together with their arms aro und each other or holding hands; a beha11ior not understood and .often miSinterpreted by Americans and Europeans. In fact, this Oehovior become o point of friction between the American·G r s a nd Filipino teenagers. / Following marriage, which in a sense defines "adult/ hood," one's !ies, ~uties a nd o bligations ore predominantly to the family and kin group, bo th consanguineal and offinol. The re is relatively little time for " friendshiP'Qnd ·when ifdoes de11elop, the mechanisms of rifual kinship ore employed to· forma lize the relationship. Relationships within the bounds of kinship a re reloti11ely secure ond predictable. Conversely, o marked sociOI disiance generally sepprates members of o kin group from a ll non-kinsmen. Among the Bikol, for exampl&, the term tug~:mg means .. friend" a nd "relati11e", implying that_ a friend. should become a reloti11e. i Thus we see .that the basic belief and 11olues on4 the basic instifutionol orgo.nizotion's and inter-personol rela~ tionships of the conte mporary Filipino", crysta llized in the pre· Spanish setting, hove persisted to this doy. These continue to ..fo rm permissi11e or inhibiti11e factors to economic a nd sociocultural change. 9 Philippine Transition to Large-Scale Industrialization By Manuel Lim THE present epoch marks the tronsition from the purely ogriculturol stoge of our economy to the stoge of lorge· scale industrialization. W e expect the pendulum o f our notiona l endeavors to swing more and more sharply in the direction of manufacturing induslries. Our postwar years of political emancipation have je lled us from our economic lethargy and opened our eyes to the tragedy of continuing a life of economic dependence imposed upon us by more than 400 years of colonial bondage . Need of foreign Capital We cannot go on relying upon foreign markets for the thousand and one things that w e need and desire. W e know, Aerial view shows Gla55 Factory of San Miguel Brewery in Son Nicolos Dis~rid, Monilo. In bockground, South Horbor. 10 too, that we have to exploit to the mox1murT] through rnodern scientific methods and processes our rich natural resources lying idle in our own land and intensify our efforts at quantitative and qualitative production not only for domestic con· sumption but also for exportation. But at this juncture we must admit that the assistance of foreign capitol and technological know-how is badly needed to lend force and momentum to the country's program of industrialization. On the other side of the coin, however, is the no less demanding need to recapture the mo1or and dominant share in the notional economy - a need that hos inspired the formulation of the Filipino-First policy by the pre· sent Administration. Our policy encouraging foreign investment and our Filipino-First policy, though at first seemingly contrary to each other, ore in reality not incompatible so long as both policies ore judiciously implemented. Our Foreign Trade Potential But industry, as a factor for national economic develop· ment, must go hand in hand with commerce. In this modern era, where not only individual but also notions trade with one another and where the material strength of o notion is measured by its amount of income from its exports, our people con ill afford to overlook our foreign-trade potential of expansion. In this consideration, we are confronted with certain major threats to the stability of our economy, namely, (1) the termination of our preferential trade position in the American market 14 years from now, or by 1974, under the terms of the Laurel-Longley Agreement, (2) the presence of o transit trade outside of our own borders, and (3) the operation of the European Common Market arid of the so-called "Outer Seven," two economic blocs in Europe that are likely to affect adversely in the near future the economies of some countries outside their orbit. There are other problems that we hove in relation to our foreign trade, such as those that hove to do with import and exchange controls, currency, shipping, freight rotes, economic policies, and the implementation of the rules and regulations affecting the multiple and complex ramifications of our foreign-trade operations, but these ore problems that are of our own making. In the face of those diverse internal and external economic problems, our greatest concern is how to bring about their best possible solutions so that we can increase our productive wealth and stabilize the notional economy, multiply our employment opportunities, and raise the standard of living of our people. Production for Export As we analyze all our internal problems, we cannot escape the conciusLon that much of our present economic predicament originates from three paramount factors-first, the undeveloped state of our productive potential; second, the lack of a vigorous and aggressive foreign trade policy; and third, the dominant control of aliens over our country s economy. It is a pity that in a land that is blessed with natural resources, which ore capable of supporting, according to our economists, 80 million people if they could be properly Mc:i,.uel Lim is the Secretory ol the Department ol Commerce ond Industry ond Boord Cho.rmon of the Board of Trovel ond Tovml Industry developed, we hove not even succeeded in producing our basic needs. Much of our importation of foodstuffs and essential commodities could be eliminated by the extension and integration of local production. But for the sake of a sound economy, it is not only enough that we attain self-sufficiency in our foodstuffs and other essential commodities. We have to produce and manufacture for export. Let it be known that almost 40% of our people ore dependent on our major export crops for a living and that nearly 11 % of our national income represents our exports. It may be surprising to some people that while some of our products still need some promotion to be sold on a large scale, in the case of our coconut oil, sugar, lumber, obaco, and rattan, our problem is how to produce enough quantities to meet the world's demand for them. Frankly speaking, I was approached by the end-users of thQse goods in the United States and Europe, voicing their misgivings about their sufficiency of supply, especially in the years to come. New Measures to Help Industry and Trade Of late, we initiated measures in our Department that are designed to help industry and trade. We hove encouraged the various business, trade, and industrial groups in the country to meet us in conferences. We hove given them suggestions by which they con improve their business. We have alerted our commercial attaches abroad to the rapid s~rvicing of local trade and industry groups through dissemination of vital information to them and through prompt survey of overseas markets for Philippine products. We have -also underscored the importance of Philippine participation in international trade fairs as well as the necessity of holding local fairs and expositions. Our Deportment hopes, with the creation of the Bureau of Industrial Promotion, to intensify its coordination work of promoting and assisting industries, especially cottage industries. A recent development which may be expected to accelerate our industrialization program is the inflo_w of consumer, producer, and capital goods from Filipino residents in the United States. These goods are to be processed by our Deportment and will hereafter be released ofter being approved by the Cabinet, their proceeds to be invested in this country. Trade Diversification and Price Manipulation Inextricably linked with our industrialization program is our foreign trade. As I have pointed out, there is much room for improvement in this phase of our economic develOpment. The time hos come to diversify our overseas trade in anticipation of the cessation of our special trade preferences in the American market under the provisions of the LourelLongley Agreement by 1974. While we should continue to enjoy whatever commercial advantages we can derive from our trade relations with the United States, we must look for other world markets, such as Asia, Europe, Australia, South America, and other continents, where we con sell more profitably and buy more cheaply. We should also find ways and means by which our exports can earn their rightful profits unde; the normal operation of the low of supply and demand, instead of their being subiected to the dictation of alien cartels. In this connection, it may be mentioned that although the price of our copra hos risen, yet the bulk of the profit from its purchase does not go to the producers but to a handful of importers and middlemen in Son Francisco, New York,. Amsterdam, Rotterdam, and London. 11 Promotion of Foreign Trad• But the most important feature of our foreign trade policy which should receive our continuing attention is our overseas trade promotion campaign We may have the products to sell abroad but without an effective promotional drive we cannot capture o big slice of the international market potential. Every prosperous notion that we find today fully realizes this, hence it sets aside huge appropriations for this purpose. It is sod to state that we ore very much behind in this ur.dertaking. With the forthcoming reorganization of the Bureau of Foreign Trade under our Department of Commerce and Industry, we are looking forward to the intensification of this work within the limit of the meager funds and ·facilities within our command. To do this we have established a provisional Division on Foreign Trade Matters. Also assisting in this promotions iob is the newly-created Foreign Trade Service Board whose main duties ore to advise the Secretory and Under-secretory on promotional activities and lo give qualifying examinations to applicants for commercial attaches. Side by side with our foreign trade promotion work, we mus"t enter as soon as possible into treaties, commerce, friendship, and navigation with other covntries, os these will help bring about a more fovOroble climate for our exports. In due time, our Department and the Department of Foreign Affairs will coordinate their efforts in initiating the conclusion of those treaties. Right now, negotiations are going on in Japan for this purpose. A similar pact will soon be concluded with Germany and other countries. Promoting the Cottage Industry Such promotional campaign will give every opportunity to develop to the maximum the foreign-trade possibilities of our cottage industry, which should prove to all and sundry that they are comparable in quality to, if not better than, their alien counterparts. The more the soles of such and other local products, the less will be their cost per unit, for which reason they will hove greater chance to compete in the world market. In this conneclion, it is also a "must" that we ban from exportation those raw materials which are in ~real demand for the manufacture of locally mode goods and which ore liable to run short of supply after their being exported, for example all kinds of .shells for pearl or shell buttons. Bright Prospects of PhiHppine Tourism All those projects can olso effectively help promote the Philippine tourist industry, on industry which holds out bright prospects as a multi-million dollar-eOrning industry, especially with the dynamic promotion and development work being done by the Philippine Tourist ond Travel Association, headed until recently by Commissioner Farolon, and the teamwork and technical assistance being provided to that entity by the Soard of Travel and Tourist Industry ond the Notional Advisory Council on Tourism. It IS high time that we should awoken t9 this golden opportunity of OP.ening to foreign tourists in this jet age the gates of the Philippine natural and historical wonderland. Let us not lose sight of the fact that our best _share _ of the world"s tourist expenditures was reportedly six Aarial photo of industriol oreos off Highway 54, Makatl, Rizal. 12 million dollars, in 1956, compared with the lion's share of Europe and South America amounting to one billion and $900 million, Hawaii's portion of $60 million, and Japan's slice of $30 million, out of U.S. annual expenditure of two billion dollars. In 1958, United States travelers spent a total of $560 million in Europe and the Mediterranean alone. Standardization of Exports But as no exports can have a steady and stable foreign market if their high quality is not established and regularly maintained, so we need to have an effective standardization of our exports. If ever our copra and abaca have continuously commanded a ready market abroad, it is because of their Prestige and good will established by standardization. Just the other day, I signed a proposed Commerce Order for the approval of the President, on the inspection and standardization of place mats, which constitute an important cottage industry in many a rural area in northern llocos region and the central and southern provinces of Luzon. This standardization work is now being handled by the Division of Standards. As we make more and more new products, the need for standardization will proportionately increase. Hand in hond with.standardization, we have to apply the modern scientific methods in research, industrial operations, and management so that production of goods, whether for consumption or exportation, will be effected at minimum costs and with maximum efficiency on the basis of quantity and quality. Unless we adopt those methods, we cannot hope to reach such level of cost, quantitative and qualitative efficiency as will enable us to compete successfully with foreign manufacturers. Monetary Policy and Allocation of Dollar Purchases Other matters which deserve our serious consideration in the formulation of an effective foreign-trade program are a sensible monetary policy, judicious allocation of our dollar purchases, development of our overseas maritime fleet, and an efficacious tariff law. It is a fact that a virile foreign trade thrives on a resistent monetary policy. At present, the bulk of our export re· ceipts is in terms of dollars, but we see in our favor rosy possibilities of intensified trade with some non-dollar countries, like West Germany, England, and Switzerland, for they can sell us some goods that we direly need, like machinery, at comparatively low cost. We have adopted recently a partial multiple currency policy. Nevertheless, we are limited by a Central Bank rule to the effect that one single local bank can have· a maximum credit of $100,000 in any single or aggregate of such currencies, for instance, as the German deutschmork, the English pound, and the Swiss franc. We realize that such foreign-exchange ·restriction is a sort of a handicap, but as our foreign trade expands and our reserves are stabilized, we hold high hopes of making our currency freely convertible. We hove to make wise use, too, of our dollar purchases. Although a country's prosperous foreign trade is not perforce based on reciprocity, yet allocation for such purchases can be emptoyed as a weapon of bargaining for her economic advantage. Shipping and Tariff No less significant in this subject of inquiry is the development of our overseas maritime shipping. Right now, hardly three per cent of our products are carried aboard Philippine flag vessels. The freight rates levied on our exports are sometimes so exorbitant that they ore hardly profitable. To escape the greedy freight-rote manipulation of the conferences, we hove to put up as many maritime vessels as we Our Government is determined to reinforce our maritime fleet. Recently, our Government perfected the contract for the purchase from Japan at $3,600,000 per vessel of 12 oceangoing ships. These ships will be sold by the National Development Corporation to private Filipino shipping operators, payable in 20 years. These will hike the carrying capacity of Philippine flag vessels from 3% to 7% of our foreign trade and are expected to save about $20 m,illion which used to be paid to foreign shipping lines. Our shipping industry may receive the needed ··shot in the arm·· if the offer to establish the first integrated· steel mill recently made by the German Mission through its capital and technical know-how will materialize. Incidentally, I may also mention that not only our overseas but even our coastwise shipping should be strengthened, considering that we ore a country of 7,000 islands, for it is lamentable to state that local shipping freight rates are sometimes even higher than overseas freight charges. lt is preiudiciol to our economy if the steamer service from the places of production to the marketing centers becomes too expensive, for that factor will necessarily add up to the total production coSt. Finally, as an additional pillar of our foreign trade policy, we have to make our tariffs more flexible so as to protect·our products from the competition of similar imported The Filipino-First Policy I hove already discussed at some length two of the three factors responsible for our present economic plight, namely, the undeveloped state of our productive potential and the lack of a vigorous and aggressive foreign trade policy, the third being the dominant control of aliens over our country's economy. It is the keen awareness of our national leaders and our people in general of such situation which gave rise to the Filipino-First policy, which underlies the ever-ringing agitation for our economic independence. Despite the varying interpretations of this policy by different individuals and groups, it appears crystal-clear that, without ighoring our legal, ethical, and ideological relations with other notions, it implies that the Fili_pinos by natural heritage have a right to a preferential and pre-pon.derant control over their national patrimony. But all things considered, this policy is never intended t~ be an exclusivistic or chauvinistic instrument of hate or discrimination against aliens. Neither does it suggest economic abundance on a silver platter nor a parliamentary edict through which our country can be legislated into economic progress and prosperity. In other words, the nationalistic path to glory is not strewn with roses and raptures, but with thistles and thorns, demanding from our people self-discipline and self-sacrifice, and, above all, love of country and national dignity that are practiced in deeds not in words. Let us also stand guard against tho5-e evil spirits who would employ the Filipino-First policy as o Trojan horse by which they could achieve their goal of greed to the destruction of our democratic and Christian way of life. History reminds us that all forms of to~alitarianism, including Communism, Nazism, and Fascism cheated their way to victory through the deceiving mask of nationalism. 13 By Dr. Benigno A/dona Education in the Philippines THE Philippine publ.ic educotionol system today embraces 30,000 schools with a n enrolment of 4,000,000 children a nd a teaching force of 120,000 teachers. It is a four-level system - kindergarten, elementary, secondary, and higher education. Among the various forms of government services, education gets the biggest shore of the national budget, an a verage of 30% of the notional a ppropriations (Pl billion) every year. During the Pre-Spanish Period The first Spania rds found that the va rious native groups hod systems of writing a nd reading matter written on banana trunks a nd leaves, bamboo strips, and free barks. One of the early Spanish missionaries, Father Chirino, wrote that mast of the people, both men and women, in every village could read a nd write The writings of the pre-Spanish Fili pinos were burned by the Spa nish friars for fear the a ncient manuscripts might neutra lize their efforts to spread the Christion doctrine among the na tives. The pre-Spa nish Filipinos were engaged in so me industries end occupations like shipbuilding and trade that needed computational skills. The Phi lippine langus:iges carry words that bear meanings equivalent to such foreign words as school, teacher, learner, , read, write - words uninfluenced, however, by either their Spanish or English counterparts. During the Spanish Regime Spain effected the conquest of the Philippines to propagate the Christian religion a nd to satisfy her desire for self-aggrandizement as a colonial power. Education during 14 Arrival5 an the Tran5port Thoma5, 1901. the Spanish era was linked closely with the first objective. The missionaries gathered people of a ll ages in visifas, temporary thatched sheds, in the villages for instruction primarily in Christion catechism. Other things fought were arithmetic, reading, writing, a nd singing of sacred songs W1th the organization of perishes these visitos soon became parochial schools with religio us instruction continuing to be their basic offering. The establishment, maintenance, and operation of these schools remained for a long time a church activity. In the begi nning, the missionaries tried to use Spanish os the language of instruction, but they found this diff icult, so they adopted the dia lect of lhe village and used the Romon a lphabet in writing a nd in preporing reading materials in the vernacular. The support of these parochial schools was urged upon the encomenderos. W hen the encomiendas were organized into provinces, support of these schools from tribute collections was required of the olcaldes mayores. The schools were ungraded. Children learned to soy the prayers needed for certa in church rituals and to commit the Doctrine Christiano to memory. Toward the end of each school day, e<:Jch child was made to recite from memory to the priest the lesson a ssigned for the day. A per· feel recitation meant advancement to a new lesson; fai lure brought punishment in the form of whipping. Schools of the type organized for definite educational purposes in the Phil ippines were for the objective of "rearDr. Benigno Aldano iJ the Oi1ec10, of l'ublic Educoroon, Deporl motnt o f Educotion ing in virtue and letters of some Spanish youth," ond began to be established soon ofter the Spanish conquest. They started os institutions of higher education ot the collegiate level. The first school, established in 1601, was the Colegio Real de San Jose under the Jesuits which offered courses in philosophy and theology and prepared novitiates for the Jesuit order. After the expulsion of the Jesuits at a later time the college came under the jurisd1cr1on of the University of Ste. Tomas. The Colegio de Ste. Tomas opened in 1611 was the ~econd to be organized. It became a university by a Papal Bull in 1645. As a university it offered courses in theology, ca non low, Ro man low, philosophy, log ic, ethics, metaphysics, physics, Latin and Greek. It svbsequently opened courses in civil law, and some years later in pharmacy, notarial low, dentistry, and medicine. The organization of secondary schools followed. Among these were the Coleglo de Sa n Jua n de Letran, the Ateneo Municipal de Manila, and theological seminaries in Vigen a nd Cebu. All these schools and colleges a imed at producing an aristocratic class called gente ilvstrodo Inclusion in this class was· much coveted. A titulo or o degree was o prized badge of social distinction. Ma nua l labor wos held in contempt. To people with this kind of education manual work was unthinkable. Schools for girls were organized both in Ma nila and in the provinces - the colegios and beaferios which were either orphanages or special schools open only to girls who wanted absolute seclusion Among the beoterios established were Sta. Potenciana, Sta. Isobel, Sta . Cla ro Monastery, Sta. Catalino, and Beoterio de lo Compania de Jesus. Some of these beoterios were later converted to colegios. These girls' schools included in their curriculum reading, writing, a rithmetic, music, religion ond deportment. Singing in the choir to on argon accompani ment was port of their tra ining . It was not until 1863 tha t the Spanish government made provisions for the education of the masses by the establishment of primary schools. This slep had for its authority the Royal Decree of 1863, which provided a system of education embracing three levels - elementary, secondary, and collegiate It also sought to establish a pattern of supervision and control of the schools and provided for the organization of normal schools for the training of teachers. As for as elementa ry education wos coricerned, the decree a uthorized the establishment of a t least two schools - one for girls ond another for boys, at the ratio of one ma le a nd one fe male teacher for every 5,000 inha bita nts. The decree prescribed the following subjects in the primary curriculum: Christian doctrine, principles of morality a nd ·sacred history; read ing, writing, practica l instruction in the Spanish langua ge, principles of Spanish gramma r, and o rthography, arithmetic, general geography and history of Spain, rules of deportment, vocal music, and practical agriculture. For girls these sub1ects were offered with the exception that instead of Spanish geography, history, and practical agriculture, "employments suitable to their sex" were given. Compulsory attenda nce in lhese schools was reqvired by the decree. No fees were to be charged, and textbooks and school supplies such as paper, pen, ink and copybooks were to be sUpplied free ·to the children. The decree provided that secondary education was to be furnished by the a lready existing colleges on the secondary level such as the Ateneo Municipal de Manila, the Sa n Juan de Letran and the seminaries located in Cebu, Jore, Nuevo Caceres, and Vigen. The decree also authorized the establishment of vocational schools in Manila a nd lloilo ond a nautical school in Manila . Higher education was to be offered in the University of Sto. Tomas, which was authorized to open courses in civil law, jurisprudence, notary public, medicine, pharmacy, philosophy and letters, physics and canon law. The decree also provided for the establishment of normal schools for the training of elementary school teachers. Accordingly, two such schools w'ere established in Manila - o ne for boys and another for girls. Similar schools were later opened in Nuevo Caceres. The curriculum prescribed principles of teaching, practice and theory of good citizenship, elements of pedagogy, sacred history and religion, arithmetic, Spanish language, practical agriculture, vocal and organ music, ond theory and practices of writing. The normal schools admitted two· kinds of students - the regular and supernumerary. The former were admitted free and were given support and equipment subject to the require· men! that they were to teach for ten years following completion-of the course The supernumeraries were required to poy o monthly fee of eight pesos for their board, but unlike the regulars they were not obliged lo teach ofter graduation. Completion of the prescribed courses entitled the students to certificates of graduation. The grades a graduate received determined his assignment - excellent grades meant assignment in the school of oscenso (advanced), good or fair grades, in the school of entrodos or beginners; "approved ", to assistant teachership. The system of public instruction provided by the Royal decree of 1863 was never put into full operation. Relatively spea king, attendance was small ond teachers with the proper ·qualifications were few. During the Philippine Revolution During the revolution a ga inst Spain and subsequently during the war with the United States, many schools were closed. However, in spite of the lroubled conditions, there were 2, 167 public schoo ls in opera tion. The fi rst Philippine Republic drew up a program of education. Among other things, the Mololos Congress bluePrinted and tried to implement a comprehensive public school system, a military school, and a university. There was to be a director of public schools to serve as educational adviser to the President of the Republic and to direct and ad1 .• 11:. I t ':-; l ht' Amerir-an .lad~ l«"at·hr r. 15 minister the school system. Congress adop.ted compulsory primary instruction as a national policy. However, because of a raging war, there was no extensive opportunity to implement the program. During the Military Regime Soon after the occupation of Manila by the American forces, seven schools were reopened and placed under the charge first of Father McKinnon, a U.S. Army chaplain, and later of Lt. George F. Anderson, who loter became city superintendent by detail. With the restoration of peace and order in the surrounding provinces, more schools were organized. In all these schools, the Spanish system of instruction was continued, with the teaching of English added to the schedule of subjects. Soldiers and officers mustered out of the army received appointments as teachers. During the American military occupation of the Philippines, the authorities managed the municipal schools in which the teaching of Spanish was chiefly under Filipino teachers. In addition they made provisions for the housing of classes, supplying of furnitures, books and supplies, hiring of teachers, and other things that promoted public school 'interests. During the Civil Regime Under the civil government established on July 4, 1901 supplanting the military regime, a public educational system became an official structure of governmental service upon the approval by the Philippine Commission of Act No. 74, known as the Educational Act of 1901. The Law created a Department of Instruction to insure to the people of the Philippine Islands a system of free public schools. The system thus established was influenced very much by President McKinley's Instructions to the Philippine Commission dated April 7, 1900, as follows: "It will be the duty of the Commission to promote and extend, and, as they find occasion, to improve, the system of education already inaugurated by the military authorities. In doing this they should regard as of first importance the extension of a system of primary education which shall be free to a/I, and which shall tend to fit the people for the duties of citizenship and for the ordinary avocations of a civilized community. This instruction should be given, in the first instance, in every part of the Islands, in the language of the people. In view of the great number of languages spoken by the different tribes, it is especially important to the prosperity of the Islands that a common medium of communication may be established, and it is obviously desirable that this medium should be the English Language." By and large the system followed American patterns. After the organization of the Department, the Philippine ComrTlissiQn passed an act authorizing the appointment of 1,000 American teachers in order to put the educational system in operation on a much broader scale. Shortly thereafter, the first group composed of about 600 teachers came on board the army transport "Thomas" and so they became known as Thomasites. They were sent out to various parts of the Philippine archipelago, risking their lives in the face of epidemics and troubled conditions in certain places but doing fully their part as pioneers in a new venture, answering wonderfully the challenges of their mission. The educational system under the American regime went through three periods. The first was the period of orgoniza16 tion when the centralizecl..P.attern of administrative organization was laid out and the courses of instruction were formulated to include, finally, four grades in the primary, three grades in the intermediate, and~ four grades in the high school. The second was the period of adjustment during which courses of instruction were revised consistent with social needs, laying emphasis on industrial instruction in the intermediate grades. The third period featured an extensive survey of the public educational system by a team of American educators headed by Dr. Paul Monroe. Survey findings gave new directions pointing to the improvement of teaching techniques, a program of child accounting and measurement of the results of instruction, and curriculum revision to include health education and other· things. The system grew steadily in number of schools, enrolment and teachers. It carried out successfully its mission to help develop a representative democracy in this country and unify the people of the different regions into a single body politic by a common language as vehicle of communication among linguistic groups. The need of the government service for people to serve in its offices in the various services and functions was much evident during the first decade of the American regime. This need the public school system filled through its academic curriculum in the high school. D&Jring the Commonwealth The educational system during the Commonwealth had to reorient itself to the educational provision of the new Constitution, namely "to develop moral character, personal discipline, civic conscience, and vocational efficiency, and to teach the duties of citizenship". Accordingly, certain steps were taken to implement these objectives. The curriculum in the elementary school was revised and enriched to embody those objectives. The National Language based on Tagalog became a subiect to be taught not only in the elementary grades but also in high school. To extend elementary education to more children than could be accommodated under th~ then existing set-up, the elementary course was reduced to six years. The period saw also the establishment of more regional normal, trade and agricultural schools and the in corporation of preparatory military training in the elementary and secondary curriculum to implement certain provisions of the National Defense Law. World War II left the Philippines prostrate. Most of the school buildings, school equipment, textbooks, library books, and other school property were destroyed: The problems generated by this tremendous destruction were appOlling. Nevertheless, the public school system resumed operation 1mmediately after the restoration of the Commonwealth Government. During the Republic The public educational system under the Commonwealth Government was carried over to the Republic inaugurated on July 4, 1946. Immediately, serious attempts were mode to fit the system to the new social and Political order. One of the first steps was the organization of the Board of National Education, a policy-making body composed of the Secretary of Education, as Chairman, and sixteen other members from various elements of society. The Board, after eXtensive deliberations, worked out the Revised Philippine Educational Program which governs the organization and the curriculums of the elementary and the general high schools. The elementary school curriculum includes Social Studies, Work Education, Health and Science, longuoge Arts, Arithmetic, Arts & Physical Education, and Characier Education & Good Manners. The general secondory curriculum hos Eng· lish & Character Education, Pilipino Notional language, Social Science, Mathematics, Science, Health, Physical Education & Philippine Military Training, Procticol Arts/ Vocational Education, and Electives. Kindergarten schools, attached to the laboratory schools of public normal schools and colleges, have two divisions - the junior kindergarten for the five-year-olds, and the senior kindergarten for the six-year olds. Elementary education is for six years A low i:>ossed in 1953 to restore Grade VII hos not vet been implemented for lack of funds. The some act also provides for compulsory eOucotion, with certain exceptions, for all children until they finish the elementary course but this also hos not been fully implemented. Secondary education, offered in the general high school and three types of vocational schools, is o four-year course. The curriculum in the gerierol secondary school, known as the 2-2 pion, calls for o common curriculum in the first two years for all students and two kinds of curriculum in the lost two years, one preparatory for those expecting to continue their studies in higher institutions ofter graduation, and the other vocational for those intending to work after high school. The other secondary schools would prepare the students for specialized occupations. Higher education is ovc;iloble in public colleges and the stole university. The state university maintains o liberal arts college and professional colleges. Each state college hos o specific field of course concentration: teacher-training, commercial, technological, agricultural. Vocational schools above Typical public 1Jchoolhou1• i11 the Philippines. secondary level under the Bureau of Public Schools also have their specific course specializations suggested by their names. - arts and trodes or agricvlturol. Since resumption of operation ofter World War II, the public schools have adopted the community school program. This gears learning to the imp_rovement of community living. It is carried out through two approaches: namely, the indirect approach which utilizes the curriculum to effect learning that would translate itself into improved community living; and the direct approach which orga nizes community activities to be carried out by both the school children and the lay people, for the improvement of certain aspects of the community. These activities become exercises for the development of fur· lher learning in the classroom. The community school program involves the Joy people in the community. The unit organization is the "Purpk" com· posed of the families ir a small compact area. The '"purok'" organization formulates and i:""'plements its program of activities toward improvement of the areu T eoc.hers furo,,sh the initial leadership and as the activities progress, the !P.adership is transferred to the lay members of the community. The public school system has tremendous problems to foce, the principal ones being those concerned with the stabilization of its financing, provision for adequate housing. and equipment, ond a cquisition of textbooks and other. instructional materials and aids. • As the reader may hove gath~red, Philippine education hos passed through various· stages of development in the various epochs of the country's checkered history and hos been enriched by the different foreign cultures wafted, as it were, uPon Our shores. Our education represents as much the worthiest in foreign, as the best in native, culture. Our goal is to see that such education becomes increosin91y rooted in the cultural heritage of our people - in their mores, usages, beliefs, traditions, ideals, virtues; in their folklore, dances, music, history, lite rature, governme nt; a nd in the lives of Filipino heroes, polriots, slolesmen, scientists, and other benefactors of the race. Th• f•m•d image of Sto. Nilio of C•bu, 'aid to h•ve be•n preHnted by Mogellon to Humabon'' Queen, i' considered the olded Chr~ tian 'tatuary in tM country. THE City of Cebu on the island-province of Cebu in the Visa ya s supports a quarter of a mill'1·;"1n population in on area of 332 sq. km. It is a bustling commercial city, one of the top revenue-earners in the Islands, and a vital nerve center in the country's economic setup, ranking second in importance only to Manila. · Its favors are much sought ofter in national electoral campaigns; it is a pampered darling with a mercurial temper and is often pridefully referred to as the "Queen City of the South." It was perhaps a trick of fate that Magellan, hoping to find the gold and spices of the East in lush, verdant, evergreen islands, should come upon barren, drought-ridden, almost treeless' Cebu. Cinnamon and mace grew in the moist rain forests in Mindanao; Negros Island in the west and nearby Leyte and Bohol hod luxuriant palmy shores; but Cebu -19 Cebu is thin ond porous - a wisp of land skimmed from skeletal remoins of floating dead coral. It is o slender island consisting for the most part of crumbly chalky limestone. Low, 1agged mountains extend through its length, humped like the gigantic spine of some primordial monster - beautiful sights, to be sure, especially when seen from a distance on a clear day: their bare coralline peaks are strewn across the horizon like fragments of fine crystals. But fertile soil is long since gone, washed down to the narrow coastal plains in the north. They ore little more than hills, in fact, too locking in height to catch the rain clouds which float post over its peaks to spew themselves on other more favored islands. Hence, Cebu is one of the driest spots in the country. Next to Zamboanga, it hos, according. to records, the lightest rainfall. Hard put to grow anything but the hardiest of crops, or grow enough to sustain its islanders, it is hard to imagine how the island could ever nourish a city. Yet today the island of Cebu has four cities, more congressional districts than any province, and is probably the most densely populated region in the country. Cebu and the Early Conquistadores Cebu started as o barter center of small trade crofts coming fro m neighboring islands of the Visoyan group for it had, as it does today, on ideal natural harbor protected from the northeasternly winds and typboons by the offshore islet of Mactan. Centrally located in the Philippine chain of islands, it served as the focus of interisland commerce and thrived, as a lively port town bartering products of neighbor islands as well as products brought in by foreign vessels And because of its proximity to Son Bernardino Strait, it was a favored terminal point of trade junks thot plied the Pacific. As early a s 9 A. D., galleons from Chino, Japa n, Indonesia, Moluccas, and Arabia visited its shores. Magella n - or, to use his full name, Fernao de Mogalhaes, veteran of many Portuguese galleons and of the expeditions to the Moluccas under Albuquerque - landed in Cebu OA April 7, 1521, had a high moss said in thanksgiving for his landfall, and, claiming territory for the Spanish crown, planted a cross of heavy wood on the seashore. A week later, Humobon, king of Cebu, his queen, and 800 of their retinue agreed to be baptized into Christianity - thus be· coming the first known Filipino Christians. There was great feasting ond the chiefs of neighboring islands come to pay their respects to the Europeans. One such chieftain, Zula, long time enemy of the king of Macton, come with a gift of two goats, and a request that M~gellon overthrow the proud ruler, lopulapu. Seeing in this on opportunity to display the power of European weapons, Magellan prepared a puni~ive expedition against Maclan; in the ensuing bottle on l'ile down of April 27, 1521, despite Costilion musketry, th~ Europeans were overwhelmed, and Magellan was killed by the island chief, Lopulopv. Soon ofter, the ponicked-'~urvivors left Cebu, arriving in Spain to report their discovery and their loss. It was not Uf' lil fifty years later that a nother expedition was sent to color:ize the Philippines. , Huma bon a nd his people had meanwhile gone bock to their old gods, and o new The Cron of Magellan, in Cobu. Outer crou 1tnco$H $moller cross brought by Magellan in 1521. It is wolled in by kioik·llke itone 111nd tile $huchir&. king - Tupos - ruled Cebu. Exactly 44 years ofter the doy Mogellon was killed, on April 27, 1565, Miguel L6pez de le· gozpi returned ond took the island by force. He was o Spo. nish nobleman who hod retired to Mexico and hod once served as its mayor. Along with Fr. Andres de Urdoneto, astute navigator and spiritual mentor of the expedition, he was commissioned by the crown to establish o colonial out· post in the territory discovered by Magellan. The islanders, still recoiling Magellon"s visit and the subsequent clash, fled to the hills, but were lured back by Legazpi's policy of attraction with Tupas signing o virtual treaty of alliance with the European leaders. Legozpi sow in Cebu wonderful opportunities for intercontinental trading, and among the first things he did while plotting the '"Christian empire·· of Spain in the East, was to arrange for a trade galleon from Acapulco. The first galleon left Cebu in 1565, returned to this city in 1567, laden with the trade products of North America, o precious cargo of Mexican silver, and the dashing grandson of legazpi: Juan de Salcedo, the conquistador who was to bring Luzon under the heel of Spain. The famous Manila galleon trade (the terminal point was later transferred to Monilo) between the Philippines and Mexico was to lost two and o half centuries, affecting the commerce of three continents. legazpi found in Cebu a thriving port town: silks, porcelains, carved ivory, and spices were stored in its rich warehouses. Cebuanos were weighing gold, counting pearls, measuring silks, and bartering spices - those very treasures that overwhelmed Marco Polo and inflamed the imagination of all Europe. It was even then o bustling kingdom where ··there were fine weights and measures ... and women wore exquisite ornaments.·· Legozpi laid out the first capitol of the colony in o settlement which he named ofter his ootron saint Son Miguel, and to secure the new settlement from marauders he hod it enclosed with a stone fortification. (Loter, the settlement was renamed "lo Ciudod del Santissimo Nombre de Jesus" ofter the image of the Sto. Niiio was discovered in the rubble). Urdoneta, the spiritual leader of the colony, started the construction of Son Agustin church, a few steps from where Mogellc'l had planted his cross. Not for away, the first cobbles of (!"'lie Colon were laid out, running from eost to west across the isl..m~fs girth. While Portuguese and Moro pirates were in the seos without, Legozpi, within the snug walls of the new fortress, plotted the conquest of other islands. For six years Cebu re-·-,oined a colonial capitol until Legazpi transferred to Manila : :une, 1571 . Its Politics Although age and history cor bine to give it an air of mystery, there is nothing obscure or'· ideterminote about the Cebu of today. It is on outgoing city completely devoid of complexes, open-spirited. It hos a temPer thot rises ond falls like quicksilver. a foct which politicians do well to be aware of. Although the phenomenon of t~e '"dork horse·· is relatively rare in Cebu, this fact does not ma ke Cebu politics less unpredictable. How it behaves in a notional campaign actua lly, depends on. the soy of a few influential fami lies who have traditionally taken the lead in politiq il affairs. The rivalry between the Cuencos and the Osmerlos, for instance, hos until the recent coalition between Mari°'no Cuenca and S. Osmeiio, Jr. divided Cebu into two comp~. Even more significant are the power struggles within the clan itself. Cebu is full of stories of celebrated feuds betwten father and son; brother and brother, and so on. Oftentimes the outcome of political maneuvers or issues ore determined as much by such intro-fomilio imbroglios os by the political shrewdness with which Cebu politicos hove been credited. This is a city where a child is exposed from birth to the political climate of his immediate milieu, and as early as the day he is allowed to sit at the dinner table and follow the trend of conversation, he imbibes the preiudices of his parents for or against certain personalities, issues, campaigns. In the thick of a political battle party tickets moy switch, or warring factions combine - to the seasoned Cebuano, this is all port of the political game. Cebu and the Cebuanos At first sight, the city does i;of seek to please the eye. Seen from a distance, the piers(with their ropes, pipes and cables, and open cargoes stick out like the exposed vitals of some heaving creature. In a manner of speaking, the piers one stands on are the vitals of the. heaving creature that is Cebu. The ropes flung out and caught by its stevedores ore precious to its piers, the gangplanks are the arteries through which flows its lifeblood, the ululation of the ship"s holds, its pulse. Cebu is primarily still the port town that it was centuries ago deriving its livelihood from its waterfront. Cebu goes about its chores with stubborn matter-off9ctness. Yet, the Cebuano hos. a keen appreciation of the beautiful ond is, not rarely, given to a poetic outlook on life. A thousand years of exposure to diverse cultures and peoples Kiosk-like strudure containing Ma9ellon'5 Cron, said to be the orietnol one planted by the Portug1Htse explorer in 1521. Manila Times photo. 21 hove sharpened his artistic sense. The balitoo, the languid, relaxed, sentimental impromptu exchange of love songs native Cebuanos o re extremely fond of, best expresses the Visayan personality - candid, full of spontaneous charm and grace. Locol Crafts There ore three products of local craft for which Cebu is famous: Osmeflo "'pearls," nacre filled with tinted wax and fashioned into pretty jewel accessories; the basket choirs of Mondowe, woven from palm fronds which hove found their woy into modern ho mes; and the Cebuano sisto, or guitar. The lost is expressive of the Cebuano's love for music and Poetry. On many a night, the Cebu guitar has proven itself on ideal instrument for accompanying the lonquid lyrics of the baliloa. Tours and Sights Unless previous arrangements hove been made, there will be no organized tours awaiting visito rs at the piers or the airport. One feels at a loss, until he discovers that every taxi-driver, or rig-driver of those familiar Cebu tortoni/las is only too willing to toke him around. Invariably, he will be guided through the historic center: to Cotta del San Pedro, where in the revolution of 1898, a handful of colonia ls were besieged by an a ngry mob of 5,000; a cross Plaza lndependencia to linger awhile under its old-world walls and watch sidewalk barbers ply their trade alfresco; to the city hall and across a maze of banks and commercial houses until he reaches the stone-and-tile kiosk that houses the original cross of Magellan. It stands a little wa ys from the shore now, separated long since from the seo by on expense of reclaimed land. Son Agustin Church is only a few steps owoy. You en· fer the storied vestibules of San Agustin and marvel a t the intricately carved choir, stalls. at the ornate parquetry, at the a ltars and at the smiling ebony face of the oldest and most celebrated of Christian statuaries in the Philippines: el Senor Sto. Nino de Cebu. Here you'll be told that the Senor has hundreds of rich gold-encrusted vestments, that his crown and scepter and curly locks, his tiny gloved hands and booted feel ore all of solid gold; and that the gold medallion ot its feet encases the tiny bone relics of eight martyrs. O n his ·feast day in Janvary, devotees from all the Visoyos dance before the image of the Sta . Nino in a ritua listic jig-and-sway punctuated by shovts of "Pit Senyor!'" - to the rhythm of castanets and ta mbourines. At night thousands join the procession that carries the image around town in a resplendent gold-and-silver carroza. Hundreds of stories have been told about the Sto. Niiio, some apocryphal, no doubt - how the "Seflor" \Yas lost and found in the net of a fisherman; how it was Magellan's gift to Humobon·s queen; how the Pope in Rome hod asked to see it a nd how it hod miraculously dis22 Fuente Osmeiia, directly atro5s from the provincial capitol, ha5 replaced the old Plaza lndapende ncio os the city's central pork. 1. Mon1,nnent to Lapulopu, chief who re pulsed Ma· gellon in 1521, overlooh city named in his honor. 2. Monument to Magellan, on Moctan Island, Cebu. 3. The fine guitau of Cebu are well known throughout the country. 4. The Ch11rch of San A u . Fr. Andres de U d g shn, built in 1 S6S b Nii'io and other ;el~;:~;i·e~uses the image of st!. 5. Heavy church d a relic of the old ::pi~=t~: of bar~que design is 'I· Manila Times photo. 2 3 Aerial view af part of Cebu city 1howJ fin• homes, pier, oil refinery. appeared on the way and had mysteriously reappeared in its usual place on the altar; and how during the conflagration it hod withstood the flames unscathed. The ancient streets that once served the old capital seem to hove lost their bearings in the new scheme, and, today, literally go in circles, folding over upon themselves ofter a short start. Others meander off, only to be stopped dead by a blank wall; one or two trickle off to a patch of grass. As for Colon, the oldest street in the a rchipelago - it counts only with one or rwo warehouses, the pre-war buildings having long since gone. Calle Colon distinguishes itself today for having most of the moviehouses of the city - a perhaps sorry distinction for such a venerable street. Liveliest street today is Magallanes. Starting from Magellan·s Cross it opens into the city's main shopping district, lined on both sides with deportment stores, textile shops and shoe emporiums. It is o street rife with the robust sounds of mid-city: the excited panegyrics of bargain-sole barkers; the brisk chatter of sidewalk-peddlers of pins and thimbles and sweepstake tickets; the clio-dops of tortoni/las, the beeps of 1 eepneys; and the animated drone of Carbon Market nearby. Osmefia Avenue, which until recently was Jones Avenue, starts rather vaguely somewhere at the Sonciangco intersection and extends in o neat straight line all the way down !c Fuente Osmefla at-the north end. Before reaching the school a rea, one finds Paul's Little Book Store which fed literoturehungry Cebu during the years right ofter the war. Povl"s then was no more than a hole-in-the-wall that sold old books and some rather late issues of popular magazines and comics. How it has survived a nd turned into the going commercial enterprise that it is today may be explained by the maxim: "In Cebu, th~ inevitable does not a lways happen.·· Also on this avenue are the Abellono High School, the Cebu Normal School, YMCA, and the Archbishop's Palace. Just before Southern Islands Hospital is a celebrated landmark: the Osmefio home, on impressive white mansion set in the midst of on extensive formal garden. 24 You round Fuente Osmerlo, and come face to face with a startlingly mausoleum-like slrvcture - the Cebu Provincial ~apito!. It stands on a hill like some improbable relic of ancient Rome. Fronting it is a modern, spanking new residential subdivision in a gridiron of neat roods. Similar projects will probably burgeon in Cebu in the next few years, along with expansions of suburbia and exurbia, with bungalows and split-levels, with steel-and-gloss picture windows, and other shibboleths of the House Beautiful. Then one unaccountCbly goes back to the tile-roofed ontillions of on earlier era - to the coot-of-arms proudly ensconced on heavy doors, to ornate gates, to indoor patios and shell windows. Some venturesome pioneers hove already scaled the sheer walls of the craggy hills behind the Capitol. The Eggeling estate, on the slopes of Busoy, with o superb view of rocky terrain, breeds thousands of monkeys for exportcition to many ports of the world. It is one of the city's curiosities, end hos attracted many visitors. As the city fi lls the flat land to the rim of the creek that flows from the orchard hills of Guadalupe, a s it pauses before the winding trai ls to the uphills, it gives the impression that it might yet, like some of its ancient streets, turn back full circle and start again where it began. From the old San Miguel area it could go along the tidewater flats of Mortires Street, go post the courtyard to Mabolo and Mandawe; or cross over to new territories in Mocton, to the new city that the famed native chief lopulopu hos inspired. Here, on o steep rise - overlooking the qvois, the ferry boots, the drydocks and the petrol refinery, is the ancient chapel of Lo Virgin de lo Reg lo. Here on this place .on international airport will be operating next year, along with textile and paper mills. From Martires, it is equally possible that the city will sweep across to Lohug, to the edge of the airport, down to the pasture lands behind the Cebu Junior College and oo again to the hills. Perhaps it is in the idyllic surrounding of hills - far above the harbors and away from the jangling commercialism of the merchant town below that Cebu will finally settle itself. P"n"ontho•pogeondpoge28 wuetolenfiomHISTOIRE, Gf:OGUPHIE, MOEURS, AGRICULTUU ET COMMERCE DES COLONIES ESPAGNOLES DANS L OCEANIE by J Molla•. publ,.hed '" Poro" 18'6 b~ •he L•bto"•• de lo Socoft6 de G~ogrol)h1•, Arthu• Bertrond, ed"Of Cou<l<11y lop•• MuHum Metis EspagnoJ5 en Co$tvme de Promenade Mural by Carlos V. Francisco at the Manila Hotel depicts Muslim dances of the Moro people from southern Philippines. _ , De port de Chosseur$ Tog(lls Douone de Monille '•. Dances of the Philippines "ltik-ltik" is a dance imitating movements of ducks. Headgears sill'lulata duck bills. By Mrs. Francisco R. Aquino & Mrs. Lucrecia R. Urtulo Pretty girls roll on the floor while bal· oncing filled glasset il'I Iha " Binosuon." "Pandanggo so liaw" calls for skillful jugglint1 of lighted tumbl.R. ALL Spanish chroniclers who recorded the early culture of the Filipinos attest to the fact that the early Filipinos were great lovers of music and very fond of dancing. From Father Gaspar de San Agustin we come to know that the early Filipinos were music lovers and composed their poems in sucli o way that they could easily be chanted into songs a nd the people readily danced to the rhythm of their songs. The early Filipinos, and even present-day Filipinos, sang songs at home (owit), lullabies (hinli), songs on the rood (do/it), marriages songs (diono), war sor1gs (kumjnfong), love songs (kundimanJ, songs of sorrow (/umbay), songs of triumph (tagumpoy) and myriads of songs and dances while they worked in their homes and in the fields, rowed their bongkos or boats in the rivers or sailed their poroos on the high seas. DIFFERENT ETHNIC GROUPS ANO THEIR DANCES l Three dominant strains ore still in evidence in ovr folk dances - primitive tribal, Arabic-Malayan Muslim and the Spanish-European. ) Franci1ca R. Aquino, pioneer folk dance in$tructor, Universily o' the Philippines, is of present Superintendent of Physical EducOtion, Bureau o' Public Schools. Lucrecia It. Urlula is the choreographer and dance instructor o' the 8ayanihon Dance Co., Philippine Women·s University. 29 Primitive Tribal Dances - The Negritos, the aborigines of the Phil ippines, mostly found in the mountains of Botoon, Zomboles and Torloc, ore fond of music and dancing. They possess crude musical instrument: Jews-harp of bamboo; a four·holed flute called bansik mode of mountain cane and o bamboo violin with three abaca strings of different sizes, played with a bow with obaca fibers. Among the most interesting primitive dances of the Negritos are the Potato Dance or "Juno Camote" performed by a man going through the motion of stealing some camotes in the field. The Bee Dance or '"Pino Po-ni·lan· · is also performed by o man, this time going through the motion of gathering honey from a tree. The Devil Dance is represented by two men or warriors engaged in an imaginary fight and armed with bows, arrows and boloes. The lovers Dance is usually executed by a man making various gestures while dancing around a woman, who keeps her feet moving in time with the music1 while remaining in one place. According to J. Mallat, a Frenchman who visited the islands in nineteenth century, the Negritos utter horrible cries while dancing. They make frightful contortions and leaps and the similarity of the movements to those made by sea crabs led a visitor to give it the name of Camarones. They end by shooting their arrows into the air, and their eyesight is so quick that they sometimes succeed in killing a bird an the wing in the course of the dance.1 In the high mountain valleys of north central Luzon live the pagan Malays often referred to as lgorots, of whom the better known tribes ore the Benguets, the Kalingas, the Bontocs, the Apayoos, and the lfugoos. For a lmost two thousand years these pagan folk have preserved their tribal identity, customs and lore, have lived in isolation and successfully resisted the imposition of fore ign rule. Among these people may be found some of the most authentic of Philippine tribal dances. Their dances celebrate tribal victories; village festivals (called kaiiaos or peshets); thanksgiving and religious rituals, among them animal sacrifices to their gods and ancestors who ore believed to possess magical powers. Despite a close racial relationship a~~ng the tribes, they differ from each other in language, trad1t1on, culture, and particularly in their dances. The Benguets, who live nearest to the plains, celebr~te their peshets or kafioos on a lavish scale, often lasting one month. Many times they hold kanaos as an offering to their gods (Afoshios or Kobunon), for someone who is sick, or as thanksgiving for a bountiful harvest or o fruitful marriage. At such feasts, the Benguet Festival Dance is always performed. The g;11 is wrCpped in a blanket with her two palms facing out, and with her elbows bent close to her body. She dances with both· feet flat on the floor, alternately hop· ping around, w.hile the man, with a pipe in his mouth and with one blanket on each shoulder, hops and dances not unlike a bird swooping down on its prey. The Kalingas, on the other hand, perform the Bud6ng or peace pact, an old ceremonial dance which is started off by the ploying of the Dongodong, a native instrument composed of different sizes of bamboos. As the poet hold~rs discuss.problems and make decisions, music is played. Native songs like the Solid.om-ay, the U/o/im and Alingoon ore sung. The pact holders meanwhile go on drinking fapuy rice 1 Bonas, Early Filipino inslrumenh 1 Blair ond Robertson, The Philippine Islands (C!evelond) 1903 30 The "Dugso" of the lukidnons is ci ritual performed os a thonksgiving. It Is o dance similar to those of the Aztecs of Mexico. Borongay Folk Dance Troupe, Philippine Normal College. wine, indulging now and then in the bolagtoson {debate in the vernacular) to express their reasons for or against a certain m~tter. Once the matter is settle"d, a colorful dance ritual is performed. The todoc, which literally means dance, is started ·with the potong which is the playing of as many gongsos os ore available, to be later followed by the tupaya, ployed with five or six gongs using bore hands instead of sticks. Colorful wedding rituals are many times held to the accom· poniment of this music by o Kolinga warrior ond his bride. More intricate footwork is done by the Kalingas. Birdlike steps, common to most lgorot dances, are used by the bride and groom who alternately hop and execute beaut,iful shuffling movements in circular patterns. The dance is highlighted by the exchange of symbolic tokens. The Bontocs who have a sacred tree and sacred place in every village, are said to be a very religious people. Sacrifices and ceremonies that include truly fine dancing, accompany all their activities. Bontoc tribesmen perform a weird, fantastic dance characterized by highly animated movements to express heroic exploits, land disputes, rivalries and revenge. The lfugoos, bui Ide rs of the celebrated rice terraces are olso famed for their "Bumayah;·· o festival dance which opens with a chant or /iwliwo. It is remarkable for its complex footwork and hand movements. Primitive lfugao gongs, gangha, tubob and habat provide the music for the dance. The "Taggum di Malohin" is a wedding donce featuring vigorous eagle movements by the groom interwoven with the more graceful and sinuous movements of the bride. _The ··Himog" or death dance is on all.male ritual dance invoking war deities to grant successful revenge on the killer of a slain warrior. It is performed to the intricate· rhythms of wooden clappers called bongibong. Arabic-Malayan Muslim Dances - Jn the southern part of the Philippines, on the la rge island of Mindanao a nd the adjacent Sulu Archipelago live our Filipino Muslims, a proud and independent people differing markedly in religion, customs and culture f_rom the great mass of Philippine population. In 1380, occordmg to the Torsilos, the Muslim chronicles, the Arab missionary scholar Muf'"' kum landed in Sulu and the1e founded '~oham.medCrn's1tr·fn the Philippines. Te~ re~f~:later, Rojoh Boglrido of Me~ang­ kabow, Sumatra, irr~(f S'ulu and succeeded in establishing a sultanate there. Almost at the some time, Sharif Kabungsuwan, Muslim leader of Johore, landed at Cotoboto and converted its inhabitants to Islam. Since then, as early os the fourteenth century these islands hove been the main stronghold of our Muslim brothers who embraced the Islamic religion and hove successfully resisted attempts ot conversion to Christianity. Frequently brave and defiant, they are nevertheless outstanding lovers of beauty with an enviable heritage of rich and abundant art and literature. Their dance and music amidst colorful oriental pageantry ore varied, exotic, mysterious and reflect unmistakable Arabic and Inda-Malayan culture. Eminently oriental due to close contact with countries such as China, Inda-China, Japan, Siam, Borneo, Sumatra, Java, Moluccas, Arabia and Persia, they have assimilated different cultures, nevertheless hove retained their colorful native traits. Their dancing is characterized by the predominance of the bended knee, used by the Burmese dancers, and serious mien found among the dancers of Java. There ore countless movements of the feet, in combination with the upper body, angular movements, arm-flipping and the proud stamping of the feet. Long golden or silver nails fixed on their finger tips, very similar to the ones used by the temple dancers of Bali when performing the .. Redjang," are used by dancers of Lanae when performing the ··Kaprangkamanis," a dance of beauty, with catlike movements made with bent knees while the hands weave graceful patterns. It is likewise used in the ~nq:'.' of Jolo where the body moves in a gliding wave-like manner with the bent-back fingers in a perfect curve, almost touching the cheeks ond the hips, making small circular motions. In the " Pongoloy" of the Tousogs of Jolo, the "broken·· .ofm a nd the use of the hyperextended fingers is similar to the ones used by the Thai dancers in many of their dances. This - '.type of r.10vement is a lso used by the Bodjaos or the sea gypsies of Zamboanga. The "kuntao .. of Jolo, which is similar to the Karate or Judo of Japan and the ··Pentjok" (the art of self defense of the Indonesians), is o dance from Towi·tawi that bears strong Thai and Indonesian influence. It depicts in remarkable dance movements a young muslim warriors training for manhood. Very Arabic in movements is the "Asik" of Cotaboto, which is a dance of the lady-in-waiting to the Sulton. This was brought to Mindanao from Mecca. Noteworthy of mention is the "Singkil", a dance in Lanae which every woman of royal blood is expected to learn. This dance takes its name from the heavy bracelets (called singki/) worn by the dancers around their ankles ro keep time as they weave in ond out of the bamboos clapped together in unique syncopated rhythm. Bomb,oos are arranged in crisscross fashion or stor formation or square - on arrangement more complicated than in the better known .. Tinikling" which requires only two bamboos. In some versions, the dancers sing the ··eayok" at the some time manipulating the fans, which circle inward ·or outward from the •Mists accompanied by on occasional proud stamping of the feet. In any Muslim festival or "Kalilagon Amela", the "Kzodoroton" or ··sadurotan·· is performed, which is simply a way of walking, underto~en by the Princess and her ladiesin-woiting to impress upon others her dignity and her rank, hence, the dance movements ate impressive and stately. They •use gliding movements, body in perpetual undulation, eyes never lifted from the ground, every limb in harmonious motion, the whole attitude showing extraordinary dignity and grac;e. Besides the Muslims and Christian population in Mindanao, there are other aboriginal tribes whose ancestry can be traced to the Indonesians Among them, ore the Bukidnons, the Monobos, the Bogobos, the Mondoyons, the Tirurays and the Biloons. The "Ougso ·· of the Bukidnons is a ritual performed as a thanksgiving for favors granted such as good harvest or the birth of a mole child. There 1 s no musical accompaniment. Bare feet with leg bells beating a syncopated · rhythm are the only sounds heard in Dugso. These dances ore similar to those of the Aztecs of Mexico. A Philippin• falk danu of Sponilh d.,ivotian i1. the " Polk er Bal." It i1. a tHhain•d and l•n fi"Y venian of it1. Sporti1h original. In photo, Ba· rangay Folk Dcincir Troupe, Philippine Normed College. 31 The gifted Bontoc tribes of the Mouftfain Province, Northem Lu:r:on, hove mofty ritualistk clances. Here, o group of young rnoufttoift people clo the 8antoc Love Donce. When full moon appears, the Manobos who live in the vast river of Agusan perform the " Binanog," a hawk dance Movements of the dance imitate o hawk swooping down upon its prey. The "Binaylan," also found in Agusan, is a formation dance performed by girls weaving in and out as in a trance and waving colored doth. They use bells to mark the rhythm. The Mondoyons who had penetrated upper Agusan from Surigoo and Davao ore said to be descendants of the Doyaks and Boyaks of southern and northern Borneo. They ore very fond of dancing as evidenced by the various festivals they hold, the most prominent of which is the .. lnomey umey" or harvest festival of the Debobowon tribe. This festival is given as a thanksgiving to their Diwatas, or deities. Similar to the "igel-igel bodjog" or monkey dance of Bali is the "lnomo-omo" of the Mondoyons, imitating the monkey as he hops and frolics around. "Sayew tu Baud" or pigeon dance is done to imitate the pigeon when they try to fly away from the hunters during the hunting season for pigeons. "Tohing Baile" is a ceremonial dance of the Yokons of Basilon, Zomboongo, for o _good fish hunt. Hand move· ments suggest flickering fins,Os the fish turns; there is o great deal of arm twisting, writhing and winding in snake-like Spanish-European Dances - The cominQ of the Spaniards in the sixteenth century marked the conversion of the Filipinos to the Roman Catholic faith, and the in.troduction of western cultural influences in Philippine life. Dances of Spain and other European countries were introduced and the Filipinos adopted and blended these into their native culture, notably the jofos, the pondongos, the mologuefJos, the lioboneros, the rigodon. the lonceros and the more popular dances like the waltz, polka, mazurka and peso dob/e. Acc~rding to the Frenchman J. Mallat, .. the Filipinos ore natura lly given to music and ore born musicians. Scarcely hod the Spaniards conquered that archipelago than its inhabitants tried to imitate the musical instruments of Europe -- and they manufactured it to a remarkable perfection. Numerous orchestras are summoned at any hour of the day to the houses in Manila in order to perform music for all sorts of on32 cient and modern dances: the old rigodons (a dance allied to the quadrille), but with different and more graceful figures: quodrilles; the English controdances, waltzes, gallops. Without doubt the polka will not be long in penetrating these also. And he further said, .. the pondango, the copoteodo, the c-ochuco, and other Spanish dances hove been adopted by them, and they do not lack grace when they dance them to the accompaniment of castanets with a remarkable precision. They also execute some dances of Nueva Espal'io, such as the jorobes, where they show all the Spanish vivacity with movements such that the eye con scarcely follow them."3 The Filipinos, with characteristic adaptability, blended steps and movements, resulting in softer, gayer, freer and more fl!Jid dance movements. The elegance in the carriage of the body and arms of the Sponish dancer is still present but a more tender warmth hos replaced the fire and high spirits. The polkobal acquired its name from two well-known steps, fhe polka and the valse (waltz), later corrupted into one word, "polkobol." The Lo Joto dances were favorites during social gatherings a mong Sponish "senoritas" and "caballeros" and our old people from the town of Moncada in T orlac province adopted the jota, resulting in the "Joto Moncodefio, .. a combination of Spanish and llocono dance steps. The traditional castanets were replaced by two bamboo pieces which were held in each palm by the dancers and were skillfully clicked together 6 tempo. They were hollower in timbre ond distinctly a Filipino innovation. The lively dance "Malo· gueiio.. introduced by the Spaniards from the province of Malaga, Spain, hence its name, was a favorite dance of the old people of the barrios of Sontissimo and Santo Moria in Son Pablo, Laguna. The .. Moturko" was on~ of the ballroom dances introduced in the Philippines by our early European settlers and by Filipino5 who returned from abroad. Loter, borrowings from England resulted in the Ba·lngles o r Baile-Ingles of llocos Sur. In l eyte's A/camphor, ports of the dances hove the slow and dignified movements of the French minuet. The French ballroom quadrille which become known as the "Posokof' or "peso de cuatro .. {pas de quotre in French), ) Bloir ond ~oberrson, The Philippine IJJond~ j( levelond)1903 always danced by four, e ight or twelve pairs was introduced in the Philippines by the Spaniards and Filipinos who returned from the ir travels a broad. Only people of high social standing could dance this very stately and elegant dance. The .. Gorombol", danced by two girls and a boy come from the Gran Valse or Grand Woltz, and the "Purpurri.,, from potpourri, meaning medley or mixture. The "Redoba .. is of German origin, while the "Lanceros" of Pagsanjon, Laguna, must hove been brought here by the Americans for it is known to be o square dance as some of its figures, movements end music rese mble the American square dance called .,lancers". On the other hand, .. Chotis", a ballroom dance, could very well hove been the Schottische. The stately .. Rigodon", today danced at formal bolls, was the Rigaudon, which was introduced in the court of Louis XIII of France by o dance master from Marseilles named Rigaud. In keeping with these dances, the costumes, although Filipinized, reflected the fashion trends currently in vogue in Europe at that time. All the dances adopted were suitable for big solos or drawing rooms and were accompanied by a string bond or o rchestra. Regional Variations - l Variations due to regional differences have added to the richness and vitality of Philippine dances} O ur dances today refl ect the many-faceted character of a notion composed of 7,100 islands and divergent cultures. Diffe rent versions of the fandangos and the kurochos for example, are performed in various parts of·the country. Recurrent dance motifs, such as bird imitations, ore likewise given varying interpretations. The ··iinikling" is a dance imitating the tikling, a bird with long legs a nd lo ng neck, danced between and alongside two bamboo poles. The folk-improvised movements in "itik-itik .. imitate the short, choppy steps of the ducks, while the llocanos in " kalopoti " imitate the characteristic movements of doves -as they court. ( The climate, economic conditions and social environment hove affected the ways we transla te our movements into dance.) Ma ny dances up in the highlands of northern Luzon, due to cold climate, ore lively and vigorous, while the dances in the lowlands where the climate is warmer is rather slow in tempo and longourous. Exceptio ns, tho ugh, ore our "Calpali" i1 an ancient folk dance popular in the llocOI Region, in northern Lu:r.on. Here, old folks go through the poc~J of the lively done• . .. Tinikling" of Leyte and the sprightly " Moglolotik" of Logt.ma, o n a ll male da nce in which the da ncers strike coconut she lls stropped to the waist, knees, breast and bock, prod..,cing crackling staccato rhythm.· This dance resembles the Austrian schulplatter which is notable for the extraordinary way in which the man snaps his fingers, his thighs, buttocks, heels, knees and cheeks and slops his hand to achieve an extremely syncopated rhythm of sounds. Economic conditions in the hard-bitten land of the ll9conos ore reflected in the slower movements of many of their dances, while the Visayans, because of abundance due to richness in soil, hove gayer dances. Even the thriftiness of the lloconos is portrayed in the closed fist of the kumintong, a dance in which the hand moves from the wrist in either clockwise or counter-clockwise direction. Our courtship dances hove love as their themes a s shown in "Moromion", so called because the girls scent themselves with the fragrance of flowers to attract the menfolk. The story of unhappy love is told in "Rogelio" where a girl can not accept the man's love because she does not wish to diso bey her parents. The Filipino, accusto me d to the belief that his life depends upon the whi ms of the gods and favors granted him by the Saints in heaven, always finds on occasion to celebrate. He performs ceremonial dances during to wn fiestas. During re ligious events he performs the " Bati" to greet the newly arisen Lo rd on Easter morning. At weddings, he dances the "Pantomina ", found in Bicol, or the " Anuncio'· of Mindoro and Marinduq ue. During Moytime, he dances the "Subli-sublion .. before the Santo Niiio. At social gatherings he dances the "Binasuon" of Pangosinon, which shows his skill in balancing three wine glasses on the heed and an the bock of each hand, or the .. Pinondongo" of Botongos where the dancers skillfully perform tricky stunts with glosses. Not to be forgotten o re the ma~y dances of the Philippine countryside which express the people's joy in work. The various steps in rice planting, harvesting and threshing ore often done to the accompaniment of guitar and song, becoming for the community both work and play. The dance is on expression of their natural love for music and of spontaneous gaiety, of their delight in simple things - because in o country so abundantly blessed by nature, there is much to celebrate in dance and song. 33 Ccirlo5 V. Francisco, shown here working on one of his comminioned murals, livH cimong the humbl• fj5herfolk of Angono, Rizal, is on• of the country's foremost ortists. AAP Photo. Our Artists' Dilemma THE Filipino artist - painter, sculptor, and graphic artist - .1 who hos endured a long and painful process of growth, can now look forward to palmier times. For never has he been so well treated as he is today. The successful painter or sculptor of today owns a house, a car, and pays income tox on his earnings alone os on artist. He is recognized as among the cultural leaders of the country. Parties ore given in his honor, patrons seek him, booh ore published on his works. His paintings ore sent abroad for exhibition and sole. A museum is being built for him at the Rizo! Cultural Shrine on the Luneta; and an art center, o gift of the American people,will soon rise in Quezon City to help fu rther his artistic development. By Purito Ka/aw-Ledesma " Gold Soeta" by Fernando Zobel. 34 What is the artist doing to deserve a ll the advantages now pouring on him? The Artist As He is Today Our contemporary artists foll into two groups: those ·trained before the war, and those ofler. One would expect the first group to lead in their field, but, with o few excep· lions, ~uch is not the case. EducotiOn before the war set a mere seventh grade as the requirement for entrance to art school, and completion of second year high school as the requirement for graduation. Courses in painting and sculpture ,uritci K. i edesmo, who i~ ocfivn in civic ond cultural ci1c/c•, ;, lhi1 yeor'1 preio denl of the Art Anociofion ol lhe f'ho/,ppone5. She os a lso o member of the Boord of the Philippine·A~ricon Cultural 1-oundo· Membus of jury s•le cting w inners ot the 11th Notional Stude nts' An Competition 1ponso1ed by Shell Company of the Philippines. Shell Photo. " My White Roo•ter", woter colOf, by Vice nte Monansalci. wi:re placed on a vocational level Dnd failed to give the artist fhe rounded cultural background which university training would have provided. On the other hand, artists who received their training during 0the post-war years have had the advantage of a more liberal education. Fine Arts education was raised to universi_ty level, and li beral arts sub1 ects we re included in the curriculum. By this time, too, there was greater public interest in the arts. Various awards, cash prizes, scholarships were . offered. The press, the business sector of the country, and the community as o whole were generous in their support of the arts. However, although it is true that the educational system has tried to develop tile individuality of the student, this effort hos in many cases been nullified by the improper implementatio n of school methods, parliculady in art classes, and the suppression of personality in the home. Despite liberalizatio n, academic methods persisted, particularly in art classes, a situa tion damaging to the development of genuine indivi· dua l style. Originality, creativity and the growth of the imoginot1on were effectively suppressed. As o result, the art student found hiinself bound and hindered by a ntiqua ted conventions. Those who . - the modernists figure prominently in this group - through readings, group discussions or studies abroad were able to throw off the stultifying influences of ocademism, hove gone further tha n the others. Others, refusing to grow, continued to point in the style of their school days One must perforce note, howe.ver, in reviewing the works of ovr artists in general, that they hove not os yet evolved or given rise to any significa nt body of philosophy. We have no metaphysical painters or · sculptors. No one is deeply concerned with proble ms of life and death, e r the conflict between good and evil. Our artists today seem to be concerned only with the surface value of things. Many ore too preoccupied with technique. Too often we f.ind our artists unthinkingly lifting Western concepts and styles such as cvbism or expressionism without clearly understanding the idea s behind these movements. However, this superfici(llity is found not only in pointing but in other aspects of our 35 "Flight", done in olHlract, by Ct..tto Bitanga. notional life, such as language, film art and even in fiesta cele brations. We hope, however, that this state of things will not lost too long. The artists themselves ore realizing their shortcomings. The artists, both the older ones and the recent ones, ore trying to evolve a distinct philosophy, but they will first have to solve the problems of individual style, living a full life and maturing with the years. To help the artist in his professional growth, several art organizations hove been formed within the lost fifteen years~ the Art Association of the Philippines, the Philippine Art Gallery, the Philippine Co'ntemporory Artists' Club, the Association of Filipino Artists, For Eastern University Pointers' Group, and the Primitives. A number of noteworthy art galleries hove opened which are succeeding in getting the artist sold - fourteen in Manila and two in Quezon City. These organizations provide the artist with opportunities to meet patrons, win awards, acquire scholarships, meet other artists, discuss common problems, and they answer a need for fellowship and understanding so vital to the life and growth of the artist. However, important as these organizations are to his growth, the artist must still contend with two other entities which guide his development - his critics and his audience. The Critics Art criticism in this country is a new field open to all who hove artistic discetnment and o gift for writing. There is a need for a competent body of critics who can guide the growth of the Filipino artist and interpret his works to his audience. At present, only o few seem qualified. Incidentally, the Art Association of the Philippines. through its yearly awards for the best art criticism of the year, does much to encourage ta lent in this field. The Audience In a survey made by Pablo J. Victoria, head of the Phil· ippine Normal College Art De partment, of the teaching of art in the elementary schools of Manila, he found that: (1) the teachers have insufficient training in art to qualify them to teach the subject; (2) there is o great lock of art materials 36 for effective teaching; (3) the leochers have inadequate knowledge of the methods a nd technique of art education. • The result of all this is apathy or indifference to art, and on undiscerning public. This public looks for literary meanings in painting and sculpture, like pieces which "tell a story··, buys and encourages illustrations. Fortunately, however, the press hos been very helpful by reproducing art prize-winners, publicizing gallery exhibits and featuring ort criticisms The public is thus mode constantly owore of developments on the local ort front. The publicity hos been most beneficial for the morale of the artist, and hos kept olive the interest of the public in works of art. Also most helpful is the support of private firms such as San Miguel Brewery, Insular Life, FGU and others, and of pn'vote individuals who hove underwritten cash awards for competitions. Other firms like Shell Company of the Philippines and the Philippine Drug Company have annually sponsored contests on special themes. Such activities have helped raise the quality of the artisfs work. Art Collectors A small and specialized section of the ar'tisfs audience is composed by the collectors. This is a steadily increasing group of intellige nt buye rs who have started private collections of their own. They ore constantly seen at exhibits and gallery openings, picking best-in-show pieces for their collections. Even the not-so-knowledgeable among the public hove storied art collections for their homes with the aid of architects and interior decorators who advise them on what pieces to acquire, mostly of the decorative sort. We must soy, however, that this irlterest in art is confined largely to Manila and immediate vicinity. Just a few miles away, in Bulacan, for example, very little artistic activity, if any, filters through. Many people in the provinces would certainly enrich the ir lives if more cultural activities passed their way. We must make exception here, however, of a very active group in the Visayas, the Bocolod Artists' Group, which hos held a number of group and one-man shows and in many other ways encouraged its members. "fi5hermen," ab5lract in oil, by CHor Le9a5pi. "N.de in Grey Purple", oil, by Romeo Tabuena. Toward a National Styl• Because of the awakened interest in art, many have started to speculate on the future of pointing in this country. It hos been seen that-within a very short period, the Filipino has made remarkable progress. However, before the Philippines con arrive at artistic maturity, she will hove to divest herself of much that is foreign in influence and evolve a distinctive style of her own. But a national style is never born full-grown. It }terns from o sound educational system, o qualified art f6culty, so_ und parental attitude toward gifted children, competent art criticism, and encouragement from the public. The influences discernible in the works of our artists of both the so-called " modern .. and the so-called .. conservative" schools are still largely and discontertingly foreign. The basis of our artists' judgment on the merits of any work of art still is - how closely it resembles Western ideals of art. Our artist's ignorance of and indifference lo what is going on among his Asian neighbors hove given him a mistaken notion of superiority over the artists of Indio, Indonesia, Vietnam. How much more advanced, it appears, is the Indian artist, for e><omple, who e><presses himself artistically in his native idiom - viewed in comparison with this, our Filipino artist falls all too short. Port of the trouble lies, no doubt, in lock of communication. While we ore flooded with news and re· productions of Western art, we ore shy on materia ls pertaining to our Asian neighbors. Occasionally, the look o n a face or design of a locally painted scene may suddenly recall on Indian face or Indonesian ritual - a reminder of the Eastern sources of our art, in a dimly-remembered past. Our folk art shows native ingenuity. Here, where he is at home and nothing important is e><pected of him, the Filipino relaxes and lets his fancy go free - putting loving embellish· ments on his jeepneys and charming designs on his flour· do ugh toys, gaudy lanterns ond fies.to arches. In his un· guarded moments, he most reveals himself. To understand himself ond the meaning of his art, our a rtist should look into our customs, mores, fami ly relationships, traditions. He should familiarize himself with the look of our landscape, steep himself in the sights and sounds that make up this land - its flowers, trees, the rhythms of its seasons, the cadences of its languages. He should try to under· stand the passions and joys that move j,g~ople. Only then may he be able to express himself and his milieu in his art. 37 "Luksong Tinik," left, and "Vendor," right, by Jose T. Joyo ore both woodcuts. Philippine Prints By Marie 0. Henson AN effective a nd inexpen_sive way to introduce Philippine art and culture abroad 1s through the fine art of prints. Comparat1ve!Y lower-priced, easier and cheaper to transport than paintings or sculpture, the print con reach more people and thus disseminate Filipino culture more widely than either of these two a rt media. Being less fragile a nd less bulky, the print con be easily packed and mailed out of the country. The tourists, too, seeking to obtain authentic - but inexpensive - cultural items of the countries they visit, will fincj graphic prints just the thing for them. This cultural a venue, however, hos not been properly a nd fully explored. The Filipinos themselves hove only recently mode the acquaintance of this art form which is, in this country, relatively unknown and misunderstood. Much of this obscurity and confusion stems from on almost total lock of information a s well as gross misconceptions about this graphic art, o special field of fine art printing. 38 La tely, this informational lock hos been ameliorated con· siderably with a series of print exhibits of etchings, lithographs, wood engravings a nd serigraphs by several galleries in town, notably the Luz Gallery, the Contemporary Arts Gallery and the Philippine Art Gallery ("PAG '"), all located in Ermita, Manila. This hos resulted in a marked growth of Oppreciotion for fine prints and on increased recognition of print-making as an authentic, major art form. Print Exhibitions As for back as 1956, the Philippine Art Gallery put on o one-man exhibit of Joyo prints, followed by a one-man prints show of Juvenal Sanso etchings in 1957. This year the PAG held a one-man show of Florencio B. Concepcion prints. Lost December, 1960, the newly-opened Luz Gallery on Dakota St., Ermita, held a ten-year retrospective prints show of ~orks of some of the best known artists in the Philippines, among them Joyo, Luz, Zobel, Mononsolo, Magsaysay-Ho, ond J. ElizaldeNovorro. This year hos seen on increased interest in prints, judging from the number of prints shows that hove come close upon one another. Mr. Enrique Vela sco, on enterprising young prints collector, hos been responsible for o sudden spurt in prints sales and public interest in ~ecent months, through his exhibitions of local and foreign prints al the Luz Gallery a nd a t the Contemporary Aris Gallery. Among these exhibitions were the Associated American Artists of New York Exhibit which included Peter Tokal, Mervin Jules and Harold Altman; Marie 0. Henson works os ossislonl informofion officer ol lhe U.S Embony. She is o/Jo o free lonce wrife1 who hos frequently con· lribu1 ed or1icles on or/ to cosmopolilon popers. "Barrio Lasses," serigraph by R. Solonga. "Church," Hrigroph by Willie S. Villano. JOSE T. JOYA, well-known Filipino pGinter, works on Cl lithogrGphic print, " Composition." He draw5 the design with Cl greaH crayon on 8ovariC1n 5tone. AfterwaAll he treats it with acid which -ts C1WC1Y the portion5 witholll design, leavinllJ greaHd porttons unlo1Khecl. The 5lab i5 then inked ond impreHion5 ore pulle~ off. lhe roi5ed greo5ed oreas ore the one5 that regi5ter on the print paper when it i5 pressed over the 5tone u11foce. 39 the one·mon R:ouolt show; the lnternotionol Prints Show, including one hundred prints by world-renowned artists, among them Picasso, Cezanne, Chagall, Toulouse·loutrec, Matisse, Renoir, Miro, Utrillo, Whistler, Clave, Morini, Dali and others; the School of Paris Exhibit featuring contemporary abstract artists such as Gino Severini, Fiorini, Calder, Clave, Lurcat and Zoo Wou-ki; the Nippon Kai and Sosoku Honga, the largest exhibition of Japanese art locally, which included over 140 woodcuts, serigraphs, etchings and lithographs. Not content with bringing foreign culture - through prints - into the country, Velasco is now trying to sell Philippine culture through the some media, abroad. He hos already mode arrangements with on artists' group in London to include Philippine prints in o touring exhibit in June 1962. This will include works of Philippine artists Joyo, Manansala, Zobel and Concepcion. Arrangements have also been mode to hold a Philippine Print Show in Ottawa, Canada toward the end of this year. Other cities bidding for a Philippine print show are Philadelphia, Baltimore and New York. Various methods employed by local artists in print· making ore: the relief technique, the incised or intaglio pro· cess, the lithographic method and stencil printing. A wide "Sidewalk Vendor," 1eri9reph, by Laura Teodoro. range of subjects ore handled - landscape, portrait, still life, abstract. Techniques of Print-Making The relief technique involves cutting away part of the sur· face of a flat wood block so that the desired stands up, providing the printing surface. Woodcut printing and wood en· graving are much used by local printers, but other materials may be used to produce the incised or raised patterns, such as linoleum, lucite, cardboard, chipboard, plaster, composition board ond cut paper. In the lost two coses, the pattern areas ore built up to provide the printing surfaces. The basic principle of the incised or intaglio process is exactly opposite thot of relief printing: printing areas ore inked grooves or indentations c:ut into plate lower than the surface. The raised area is wiped clean and so does not print. Printing paper is pressed down on block, picking up ink from etched ports which constitute design. The resulting impression is the print. Usual intaglio materials are metal plates, often copper and sometimes lucite, zinc or aluminum sheets. Tlie lithographic method is based on the natural antipathy of oil to woter. The print motiff is drown over o groined stone with greasy crayon. Water is spread over the stone. The gfe'Clsy lines repel the water, but remains where there is no crayon design. When ink is rolled over the stone, it adheres to the greased portions, but is repelled by the water surface. Print paper is placed over the inked stone and, with a heavy hondpress, lithographs are run through. Stencil printing is the application of color or inks to perforated or cut out sections of especially-treated paper or 1hin but sturdy material, so the desired pattern comes out through stencil to the surface to be printed. Prints mode with the sten. cil process are called serigraphs. History of Art Printing Prints were first mode in Europe in the late Middle Ages. The chief function of print-making then, as contrasted with p'ainting, was mainly reproductive. Originality was of no coo· sequence and works were copied and recopied without compunction. Traditional themes and modes of depicting were in this way transmitted from one generation to another. The artist's personality did not come into play but was submerged in his work, hence there was no need to sign his work. When he did sign them, the monograms he placed were only guarantee of honest and fine workmanship. Eventually these marks came to signify that artist's own trademark. The advent of the Renaissance brought about the exploitation of the artist's na me and fome and, with it, fraudulent copying and forgery. Although artists, beginning with the seventeenth century, enjoyed some sort of protection granted by ruling monarchs against plagiarism, the British Parliament passed the first copyright low only in 1735, finally securing the artist's rights to his own design. With the invention of photography in the early nineteenth century, the reproductive function of prints became invalid Hence the print maker hOd to justify his existence. He now makes prints as a creative artist working directly in a graphic medium, leaving on his work the indelible mark of his personality and character. Thus emerged the concept of original prints. In impact and validity, prints equal paintings, but painlings enjoy exclusiveness, because there con be only ooe original. However, prints which ore multi-originals, ar'e no less works of art. Philippine Literature By Leopoldo Y. Yabes A General View of Various Periods in the History of Philippine Literature IN this short and necessarily .superficial study of Filipino writing in the vernaculars, m Spanish, and in English, we shell try to point out the varying pattern in the national or racial experience as reflected in literature. The more important works are, happily e nough, also significant social documents reflecting the great culturnl changes that have taken place in the life of the ethic group or groups so portrayed. It is necessary to remember that the Filipinos, although now predominantly monotheistic, are, like most of the peoples of Southeast Asia still basically animistic, even as they were, originally, before their contact with Christianity and Islam. The monotheistic religions obviously hove taken root only in the centers of population. In the countryside, animistic beliefs and practices ore still port of the lives of the inhabitants, whether Christion or Moslem. The racial unconscious, definitely, is something that cannot be ignored in interpreting cultural changes reflected in such a consciously produced art-work as literature. For a dearer and more comprehensive picture of these cultural changes, the entire period covered in this study hos been divided into segmenls, namely: (1 J Pagan, Moslem Colonial, Early Spanish Colonial; (2) Middle Spanish Colonial; (3) Late Spanish Colonial, Revolutionary, Early American Colonial; (4) American Colonial; (5) Late American Colonial and Commonwealth; and {6) Notional and Contemporary. Pagan; Moslem Colonial; Early Spanish Colonial Although Marogtos is claimed to be more a historical account than a work of the imagination, yet it contains a love story illustrative of the life of a section of the native population two or three centuries before the Spanish conquest and most likely even before the Moslem invotion. I om refer· ring to the affair between Kopinangan, wife of Datu Sumakwel, leader of the Borneon expedition to Panoy, and Gurunggurung, another member of the expedition; its disastrous consequence for the lo\er; and its melodramatic end for the unfaithful but repentant wife. As the story goes, the wife,. to cover up her infidelity, cuts up the corpse of her lover, who hos been killed by the husband and carries the limbs and tor50 to the forest where she throws them into Leopoldo Ylll'bH is Aeling Director, lnditute of As1on Sludies, University o( the Philippinrn. He i1 Profeuor of Engfoh, Humonilies ond Philippine lnstifulioni ol the some university. lope K. Santof, author of Bonoog 01 Sikot, at ho appeared in the fir.t edition of the neuel in 1906, 'i)octrina Lbziflfonn.en lcn!J1rn ci]lQriol~ yt39aluoz re-gioa po: L os llldigioso~ de las oia:nc,,;.] mp:dfo con llc<'ncrli.c:n , S: !fl b1i'cl:relll 01dc.mx.s. i0'.>nf1so 611.Pll':>aniia. 1 ~9l· ~ Title page of the first print•d litet'otlH'e in th• Philippines - Doctri110 Christiano. 41 the river. The husband, nevertheless, knowing all eking what has happened, sentences his wife to death by drowning in the high seas. This, however, is not carried out by his own men, who take pity on the hapless woman and leave her on an isolated island where she is accepted as a goddess by the natives. Husband and wife, some time after, meet again on the same island and fall in love with each other, the man not recognizing the woman as the wife he hos sentenced to death, the woman knowing all along that the new lover is her husband. The culture portrayed in this story is almost purely pagan. Although monogamy seems to be the practice, with marital infidelity subject to severe penalty, there is indication not .of monotheism but of worship of tribal gods. On the other hand, the cultural picture given in such Mindanao narrative poems as lndorapotra and Sulaymon and Bontugan is somewhat different. The poems reflect animistic beliefs and practices as well cs traces of Hindu and Moslem influences. The name lndarapatro appears to be of Hindu origin and the name Suloyman seems to be the Arab term for Solomon. The hero of Bontugon, the more i mportont of the narratives, is a promiscuous lover of many maidens scattered over many kingdoms. There is a description of heaven under one god. A good picture of life in the llocos of pre-Spanish and early Spanish colonial times is that given in Lam-ong, an llocono popular narrative. In its present form it is a composite picture of pagan superstition and Christian Catholic rites, a richer sociological document than most poetic narratives belonging to the same era of our history. - 'Domestic life is described in great detail, social life is depicted in bold strokes; there is a clear hint of commercial contact between the llocos and Cagoyan and Pangosinon and between the llocos and Chino. And of course there is the charming love story between the brave lom-ang and the beautiful and industrious Kannoyan, who, having undoubtedly heard of the heroic exploits of lam-ong, falls in love with him at first sight and owns it publicly. About the Visayas, there is a ploy, Salilang, written by the Cebuano play-wright Buenaventura Rodriguez, which deals with the early days of the Spanish conquest. Purportedly a historical play, it portrays the heroic Cebuanos resistmg the Spanish invaders and their native collaborators. As usual, there is also the love story between a Cebuano girl, Solilong by name, and a Spanish soldier named Salcedo. The girl prefers "him to Balintong, a local suitor, who fights the invaders. It con be said of the people of the pre-Spanish and early Spanish colonial times that they were brave, virile, and industrious. The heroes were of great courage and strength - lom-ang, Bontugan, Sumokwel, Suloymon; as were the lesser mole characters. The women, too, were courageous 'and frank. Konnoyan loved lom-ang and she told him so. Of course there is deceit in -the conduct of Kopinangon; but what human society has no coses of unfaithful wives? It takes great courage to do as Kapinangon did - dismember the body of the man she loved, then repent of her crime and take the initiative in getting reconciled with the man she had wronged. Middl~ Spanish Colonial There was a .dearth of significant writing during the greater port of the Spanish colonial regime, notably during the first two centuries. While there is evidence of literary activity of a rather primitive type before the Spanish conquest, there is very little evidence of such activity after the Spanish conquest. 42 It hos been held that the medieval Spanish colonial system, along with the Holy Inquisition, as superimposed over Philippine society, could not generate creative intellettuol activity; rather, it discouraged any activity conducive to intellectual freedom. The rulers believed, up to the end of their regime, that the Filipinos were only a little more than children, without any sense of responsibility, let alone any capacity for mature judgment. Within less than a century, the Filipino had been reduced to intellectual and physical servitude, incapable of independent action even on the most intimate problems of his life. He had become a docile member of the society in which he lived - without interest in his own material welfare and in that of his society because of the promise of rich heavenly rewords for assigning his material possessions to the church. The only distinctive works of the middle period of the Spanish colonial regime were two codes prescribing rules of conduct and the vernacular versions of the story of the life and passion of Christ. The rest of the printed output consists of indifferent and undistinguished liiiguistic studies like grammars and vocabularies, religious works like catechisms and prayerbooks including novenas, and outlandish metrical romances brought in from medieval Europe. (There is an outstanding metrical romance - Florante at Laura - which does not belong properly to this section of the study because of its revolutionary implications). The two codes are the Visoyan Lagda (1734) and the Tagalog Urbana at Feliza, (1856): both claimed to have been written respectively in Visoyan and T ogolog prose of the highest quality. There is little originality in both works; in fact the Lagdd is reminiscent of the Urbanidad, of Spanish provenance, with which our fathers were familiar during the Spanish colonial regime. These works and the versified ver5on of the life and passion of Christ reveal the bleak, insipid, and in most coses benighted life led by the people. Poul de Giron1ere's Vingt Annees aux Philippines, written in the first half of the nineteenth century, tends to reinforce the picture drawn in the vernacular works. late Spanish Colonial; Revolutionary; Early American Colonial The literature of this transition era from one colonial regime to another may be classified into two categories, namely, the revolutionary and non-revolutionary. The more capable and significant writers took the revolutionary path. Among the better known revolutionary works are Florante at Laura (1838), Noli Me Tongere, (l 887j, El FilibusJerismo, (1891), Severino Reyes' Walang Sugat (N'o Wounds) (1902), Pedro A. Poterno's Mogdapio; Marcelino Crisologo's Mining (1914), L. K. Santos' Banaag at Sikat (1906), and Maximo Kolow's The Filipino Rebel (1930). Among the non-revolutionary works are Paterno's Ninoy (1885), Magdalena Jalondoni's Ang Bantay song Potyo (The Guard of the Cemetery) 1925, Romon Reyes' Buloklak ng Kalumpang (Flower of Kalumpang) (1907), Crissot's Along Dias! (There's No God!) (1902). During this transitional era, Spanish and English were added to the vernaculars as literqry vehicles. Despite the centuries that hod paSsed, Spanish by the middle of nineteenth century, had not yet become a literary language of the Philippines. The propagation of Spanish had been authorized early by royal decree, but the friars had prevented its implementation. It was not until the end of the- Spanish colonial regime, and mainly in the face of the hostility of the friars, that literary works had come to be written in Spanish by Filipinos. They hod to write in Spanish so that their clomor for reforms could get the attention of the Sp9niords not only in the colony but in the Peninsula. Trie case of English wos quite different. The moss education policy of the American colonizers required the popular use of English, and, in the absence of strong opposition, English from the beginning hod been adopted as the medium of instruction in public schools. In less than two decodes, young Filipino writers had learned to use English as o literary medium with some competence. Toward the end of the American colonial regime it hod become the principal literary medium of the country, surpassing Spanish and Tagalog, its most important rivals, in influence. Balagtas' Floronte at Louro is usually referred to as the first distinguished work in our lite rature of protest. Although it speaks of a far country like Albania and of peoples like Albanians and Greeks and Persians, it really is about the hapless Philippines and the oppressed Filipinos of Balagtas· day. As a metrical romance in Tagalog it camouflaged the poet's intentions and the work passed the censors as did many other metrical romances constituting the main reading fare of the Filipinos. So Balagtas lived to the ripe old age of 74 years, while Rizal, ·his great literary successor, in following his career as a revolutionary writer found immolation at 35. Jose Rizors Noli Me Tongere and El Filibusterismo picture Philippine society towards the end of Spanish rule. It was on ignorant, superstitious, bigoted, and corrupt society ruled by monastics and their hirelings. Rizal called it a cancerous society, concluding that the society could not be cured unless .the monastics themselves were removed. The whole social setup was feudal, requiring drastic change if the Philippines was to move towards freedom and enlightenment. He did not exempt his countrymen from responsibility, least of all himself; he telt it his duty to ··expose the sick on the steps of the temple .. - to raise "a port of the veil that covers the evil, sacrificing to truth everything," - to use his own words. Severino Reyes' Wolong Sugot, a zarzuela or musical ploy, is no less revolutionary. He took up on episode in Cervantes" Don Quixote ond adopted it to the Philippine scene with the revolution against Spain for background. In Mogdopio, Paterno, inspired by local folklore, brought out so obviously revolutionary o theme - this time against the American colonial regime - that its authorities banned its performance. Crisologo 's Mining hod for background the Philippine Revolution, and Kolow"s nove~. The Filipino R ebel, the Philippine-American war at the turn of the century. Banaag at Sikat, by L. K. Santos, is one of the very few socialistic novels written by Filipinos. It combines stork realism and cloying sentimentalism in the pictures of squalid poverty of the underprivileged on the one hand and romantic love among the leisure class on the other. Ninay, by Paterno, is a novel of manners depicting Tagalog life of the same era as that pictured by Rizal. Buloklak ng Kolumpong, pictures Tagalog ond Pampon9on society during the some era - mostly on the bucolic side. Ang Santoy song Patyo is a lso a non-political novel about life in Pona y and the Bicol region during the late Spanish ond early America n coloniaJ times. Along Dias, Pompongan musical drama is, like Mining and Bulaklak ng KolvmpanQ, a melodramatic mix-vp in which two men not" knowing they are half-brothers fall i~ love with the same woman. In Mining and Buloklak ng An illu,trotion of Bonoog ot Sikat, depictin9 a heoted political argument betwee1t two characters, members of an excursion party at Hinutugane Tolttak, in Antipolo. 43 Kalumpong, tke mix.up is not between tke suitors but between lovers ond sweetkeorts, who eventually d;scover they ore long·lost brothers oni!I sisters. In Mining· the sister does not want to give up the brother-lover even after the disclosure of his identity by a third person but refuses to marry him. Driven to desperation by this intransigence the brother commits suicide, which event also drives her to death. American Colonial A number of interesting works depict Filipino society in transition from the late Spanish colonial to the early and middle American colonial regime. Among them ore Claro Recto's Solo Entre las Sombras, Nick Joaquin's lo Vidal, ·Poz Marquez"s Dead Stars, Wilfredo Guerrero's The Old Teacher, and Kalaw"s The Filipino Rebel. Obviously, the authors looked with distaste upon the existing social situation. lo Vidal is the story of the degeneration of a well.born, con· vent-bred woman. She first marries a poet of the Revolution and ends up marrying an unscrupulous physician, a product of the American regime, who hos practised abortion on her fof. lowing on affair with a man after the death of her first husband. Solo Entre las Sombros is the story of two sisters, the older one belonging to the Sponi9h·educoted generation. They find themselves in lo ve with the same man, who marries the older sister. The more aggressive of the two, the younger sis. ter bears a child by her brother·in·law. The discovery is too much for the older girl and she dies from shock, leaving her Fae1imil• of o peig:• of Dodrina Ctiriltiono with text in Spani.h ancl Tagalog. 44 el" '-'frrrcn ym·.1 dee" de \Bfosrne fi:1 po~ nose-hos pccrnc101cs.11 o~'l1 ycnb om clcnwdl::i:ri muc~·te:~· ; m c1-i.]'dus. ~4•#•4•X .; \El ng-.1lr.1gulnoo 11~·~ .. r.<·1!·~~1: '<£,.~ n-\.11.1100Jfll)ai:1·a ma n:\;-; " - .:c.·.":r'Gl tou11 crin~, n,1JJ0pono c" mmrr ::r1.·11crt'\1. -;mg pm1!Ji11oon d; 05, ct:.11;i;;11y)lo--8uco~ c1111gpi1Mg pO!tl :;<i b'1 Gnyi'ng l.'ily-a Ul\·n~g­ J>o1 l;i n~rn>in a11g-yyo11g-~m1csi'. ]c.su'<>. s1111m l1lm:f;'!!'l11l nan~ dios;yp:1.m1hngi'n rnocnmfma 1;$1 fal'lln'im nS-.'lioll iit c:un mnma husband ond her sister to suffer the consequences of their crime, which wos considered very grievo us. Dead Stars shows the quiet but relentless change in the cultural milieu taking place in the early third decode of the century. The Old T eocher is the story of on old science teacher in o sectarian university, who uses both Spanish and English as languages of instruction. Educated in Spanish, he is not quite at home in English but uses it once in a while because the young generation hos been brought up in it. The Filipino Rebel, a longer work, gives o more detailed picture of the conflict between the old and the new generation. That the American democratic tradition was slowly permeating Philippine society is to be seen in the writings of the younger artists during the third decad e. The tradition-bound society at the turn of the ce~tury hos been transformed into the freer society found in many of the stories of Casiano T. Calalang, Arturo B. Rotor, A. E. litiatco, Fernando leario, Loreto Paras, Paz lotoreno .. ona Jose Garcia Villa, in the essays of Salvador P. Lopez, and in the plays by Carlos P. Romulo, Jorge Bocobo, Bueilovenfura Rodriguez, and Vidal A. Ton. This note of freedom became more evident during the later years of the American colonial regime and during the early years of the Commonwealth. The impact of American democracy and technology was fe lt in all segments of society but particularly in those raised under the American· designed Philippine educational system. As might be expected, most of the inspiration to liberal leadership came from the University of the Philippines, ihe capstone of that system. . Late ~merican Colonial and the Commonwealth The last years of the American colonial regime, the establishment of the Commonwealth, and the outbreak of the war, constitute a period thal sow o resurgence of nationalism. This was on era that began with hopes for the young notionl that wa s o·building, and wountf up in the mae lstrom of World, War !I. It was a great era for the Filipinos both a s individual members of the notional community a nd as the notional community itself. Two representative works in the earlier period were Sal· vodor P. Lopez's literature and Society (1940) and R. Zulueto do Costa's Like the Mo/ave (1940). Although critical of the faults and shortcomings of their own p~ple, both young men expressed faith in their people's ability fo build o strong independent notion. One of them dreamed of "gods walking on brown legs." The other did not believe merely in aestheticism but in full.blooded proletarian literature. Both of these wo rks won major priz~:·in the C~mmon· wealth literary contests established in 1939 by President Manuel l. Quezon upon the recommendation of the Philippine Writers" l eague, to promote !he developme_nt of lite rature in English, Tagalog, and Spanish, which deriv4's its importance from its treatment of socially significant problems. There was heated controversy over this a vowed objective of the Writers' league. This debate raged for more than two years, and come to o stop only ofter the awarding of the prizes in the second year of the contests, when the Japanese a ttacked the Philippines in December 1941. 'rhot attack was the most cogent argument for the sta nd of the l eag ue. Carlos Bulosan's The laughter of My Father (1944) is o burlesque on Philippine small-town and country life during the early years of the period. His America is in t~e Heart (1946) begins a s an autobiographic account of poverty and social degradation in the Philippines and the American west coast and concludes with a note of faith in American democracy far the heroic collaboration of the Filipino and American soldiers in the Bottle of Botoon. Juan C. laya"s His Native Soil (1941) is the story of o Filipino repatriate from America who, finding his further stay there no longer welcome, seeks readjustment in the old hometown without succesS. It is not an inspiring picture of pre-war Philippine society in o small provincial town. His next novel This Barangoy (1950) about life in wartime Philippines reaffairms his faith in o better future for the country. Three other novels about the war strike the same note. Jovellana's Without Seeing the Dawn (1947) shows various elements of the population contributing their bit for the liberation of the country from the invaders, including the prostitute who serves the Japanese soldiers in the hope of tq:imferring her disease to the enemy. E. K. Tlempo"s Watch in the Night ( 1953) and More Than Conquerors ( 1959), especially the latter, follow a similar theme. The spirit shown by the conquered in the lotter novel is more i ndomitoble than that of the conquerors. The leading woman in the story, the mistress of a Japanese officer, wins the freedom of a Filipino prisoner condemned to death, at the cost of her own life. Although not written in the same vein, Nick Joaquin's Portrait of the Artist as Filipino (1952) glorifies Old Manila and its spiritual values, as represented by o Catholic family and its head, the artist, who refuses to compro mise his own integrity as Filipino and as artist for greater affluence. National and Contemporary The notional scene Since 1946 hos not been very dear; in certain areas it is quite confused. The development of the Filipino nation-state since its establishment hos not been very deady; and this is reflected in much of the literature produced. A few of the representative worh of this period may be men· tio ned here. Rigodon (1958), o fvll-length ploy by A. 0 . Bayot, deals with the rich land-owning and globe-trotting class. The main character, a woman, however, hos o social conscience and rebels against her own class. Dealing with an a spect of Philippine-American rela tions during the war years and a little after, You lovely People (1955), by B. N. Santos, will hold increasing significance in the light of continuing irritants in those relations. In lo Via; A Spiritual Journey (195BL Ricaredo Demetillo points out the way to spiritual fulfillment from the spiritual morass of the present, not through asceticism o r mortification of the flesh but through the proper exercise of the psychosomatic functions of the body. Fairy Tole for o City by Estrella Alfon seems to have a theme similar to thOt of la Via, but the voyager fails to attain bliss at the end of lhe voyage and discovers, lo his dismay, spiritual hypocrisy instead The Woman Who Hod Two Novels (1 951), another of Nick Joaquin's pieces indicting Filipino society of the present, describes the sub-re.so activities romantic and commercial of two Filipino society women commuting between Manila and Ho ngkong in the post-war years, a sordid life in a veritable wa ste land. N. V. M. Gonzolez"s latest novel, The Bamboo Dancers (1959), involves America, Japan, and the Philippines, and the characters include Filipinos, Japanese and Americans. The novel deals with opPortunism in present-day Philippine society a s.symbo lized ,by the skillful bamboo dancers. It exposes the philosophy of gelling on without getting caught. The Past Few Years Notwithstanding the lock of a sense of direction, there has been much productive activity in recent years. That is important. Sooner or later the writers will find their own bearings. A self-respecting independent people will rediscover their own integrity and this discovery will inspire a more vigorous literature faithfully expressive of o reinvigorated notional soul. The re is o perceptible trend in that direction. The Republic Cultural Heritage Awards could be a prod to such a reawakening to the possibilities of the future on the basis of the notional, heritage. Some Observations The culture of the Philippines today represents a unique blending of basic Oriental traits and assimilated Western elements. Altho.ugh still retaining many of the characteristics of the Oriental ··status·· society, the Filipino people ore slowly emerging into the essentially .. contractuar· society of "the modern Occident. The society described in Bontugon and Moragtos is different from the society piC:tured in Noli Me Tongere and Urbano at Feliza, while the society reflected in the letter works is quite different from the society that constitutes the matrix of Without Seeing the Dawn and Rigodon. There is definite ly more freedom in the earlier Philippine ·socie· ties, even if the basic factors ere not changed. With the influences now ot work, a new and vigorous culture is bo und to evolve and embody in itself the choicest elements of both the Western o nd Eastern traditions. 45 46 The Big Lantern Parade in San Fernando QN Christmas Eve every yeor, the town of San Fernando, in the province of Pampanga, north of Manila , bursts into a veritable kaleidoscope of huge, brilliantly-co lored, dazzling Christmas la nterns. This is the annual la ntern contest a nd parade, which takes place in the evening of December 24th. Some of the lanterns ore a s big as the nipa huts one sees along the countryside, and of intricate and myriad design. In many coses, a brass bond follows the lantern, and on elaborote system of lighting causes the multi-colored bulbs illuminating each entry to flash on and off, according to o set pattern and the rhythm of the accompanying music. The power is supplied by a generator mounted on a motorized vehicle behind each la ntern. lost year (the event might be staged again this year), the Boord of Travel and Tourist Industry and the Philippine Tourist and Travel Association sponsored a repeat performance of the entire parade in front of the luneta Grandstand in ManilO, about a week from the original event, just in time to usher in the New Year in o fitting outburst of color, blaze of lights and music. Facade of the ne w tennlnal. Going inside through th9 lobby, one gek to the diffe,.nt aifline covnten. View of lobby, showing row of airline and office count•~. The New Manila International Airport Mural at terminal lobby, e xeclrle d by artid Vicente Manansala, d. picts progress of Philippine a viotion on left side of panel, clcrl.sical mythological figures on right, advance of modern aircraft technology in center.· A HANDSOME new Manila Interna tional Airport terminal building, better designed than the old terminal ot Balog· bog to serve the needs of the present iet age, was inaugurated last September 22, and opened ta international traffic on November l. The MIA facilities geared for long·range and hea vy jet operations are classified under the following work stages: l) TERMINAL BU!LDING AND SURROUNDING AREAS - The proposed four·sfory air·conditioned terminal building with 221,539 square feet of floor space was designed to hon· die the smooth and uninterrupted fl ow of interna tional and domestic passenge rs ond their baggage during peak hours. Adequate space is provided for customs, qua rantine, immigra· lion, cargo a nd baggage, ticket counters, dining, kitchen, con· cessionaire, administration, operations, communications, air traffic control requirements and lax free market. 2) TERMINAL APRO N - A 7 -hectare concrete apron with five parking positions for jet aircraft will be equipped for underground refueling, with electrical, compressed air, waler and telephone services for each airplane parking position. 3) RUNWAY EXTENSIONS AND IMPROVEMENTS - The ma in stage of this proiect consists of the aspholt seal· coating of a ll aircraft movement a reas, extension of the run· wa y and ta xiway from 7,500 to 11,000 feet including ovenvns, construction of holding a prons on both ends, loying of 60 feel w,ide aspha lt side margins a nd i.nstalla tion of high intensity runway, taxiway and approach lights. 4) AIR NAVIGATION FACILIT!ES - To meet the demands of high speed and high altitude operations of jet aircraft, im· ·proved electr..:mic air navigation equipment will be installed such as instrument landing system, precision approach radars, very high frequency <;>mni·ronge distance measuring, radio teletype center-to-cente r voice circuit, microwave units. Pla ns for the construction of the new international airport:. were started during the term of President Ra mon Magsaysa y In September 1954, President Magsaysay instructed the De partment of Public Works and Communica tions fo execute t~e designs and specifica tions for the proposed ML<\ terminal buliding. Construction work was started in September 1956, picked up and went smoothly during the term of President Garcia. The MIA terminal building stands on a magnificently wide, rolling terrain of which 25 hectares is for the MIA ter· minol building and its subsidiaries within the Nichols field compound. The finished portion is only 40% of the whole structure. When completed, it will hove a total floor area of 90,454 square mete rs. ~: 1!)olibap jfare A VADE MECUM FOR THE CHRISTMAS SEASON (;'I' slight but perceptible nip in the air, the sound of Christmas carols starting to drift in over the air, the sight of market A::t.. stalls well-high bursting at the seams (already) with foreign and local-made toys - these are pleasant, reassuring reminders that Wl' may now look forward again to splendid holiday eating. Vague but agreeable thoughts of brief sojourns in Hongkong, or days in the incomparably clean, crisp chill ol Baguio start to rise to the mind unbidden. In the city, the thoughtful housewife begins to set out ingredients for fruit ca)l.e, which she will undoubtedly make by the dozen to send to friends as Yuletide girts, or for those spicy, wine-filled l't>Okies one makes only at Christmastime, early enOugh to allow for proper aging and mellowing. Out in the province, the coo/ amihan blows over fields, presaging the rice-harvesting season, the far-sighted housekeeper starts, with long-handled brooms of coconut midribs, to sweep the old mansion clean of cobwebs and long-gathered dust, and - best of all - delectable fumes are rising from fire-wooded earthen stoves where t:auldrom; (of copper or iron) containing mysterious messes of yam, sugar and milk, or fresh carabao's milk and sugar, or of shiny glutinous rke ancl coconut milk, arl:' bubbling away, presided over. armed with wooden stirring paddles, by elder relatives who alone kn1)w the :;ecrets for these preparations which have ~n handed down to them by a long line of forebears. These violet, milk-white or ~lutinous stuff will soon be spread out on oiled slabs and, directly they are cool, will be cut into squares or "fingers" and wrapped in gay-colored fringed paper to be stored away, then given out as largesse to streams of visitors expected on Christmas Day and the days t hat foUow up to Three Kings' Day. These delectable goodil'S, without which no Christma-.; season is complete in the provinces, are known by old, familiar names long associated with fiestas and feast-giving: pastillas de leche, de ube, and de nangka; ledte flan; suman; pulo seco; halamay; bibingka; and pulo bumbong. Recipes for these as well as for the more substantial courses of a typical holiday spread are given below. One will undoubtedly notice the rather cosmopolitan na tl.ire of our banquet table, dishes of frankly (witness the namesl Spanish, American, Chinese, Indian and Malayan derivation jostling each other for prominence on the festive board. One peculiarity of our tables is that, far from adhering to the American or European pattern of one or t wo chief courses around which the rest of the menu r'evolvei;. in a subsidiary capacity like satellites, our menus are apt to be long lists of chief courses oftentimes as many as seven or eight - 0 1· even a dozen - followed by an almost equally lonx list of desserts of varying richness. A predilection inherited from the Chinese. no doubt, whose lauriats of twenty or thirty courses at(' nothing out of the ordinary. In the provinces, the rigours of the dulong (long table) are often assuaged by relieving quaffs of such potent native beverages as basi, tuba or lamba1;,og. Among more sedate city folk, soft drinks, or, among the cognoscenti, wine, of the local or imported varieties, hold the course. Another peculiarity of our fiest a tables is that most, if not all, of the dishes are definitely on the heavy side. Calories galore, in other words. However, as someone most acutely observed, "Christmas comes but once a year." To which the weight- or purse-conscious would fervently add, "Thank goodnt>SS!" - R. L. L. LE C HON Pass bamboo pole through thoroughly cleansed pij!. Stuff tamarind or banana leaves inside cavity (used only for flavoring, leaves ar~ lattol' dii;carded). Place over live charcoal and keep turning, hasting: frequently with a mixturto of lard and water, until skin is shining red and crisp. Serve with sauce made of pig's liver roasted and ground fine, bread crumbs, onions, vinegar, garlic, salt, a little sugar and fresh-ground black pepper; cook, stirring, until sufficiently thit-k. · LUMPIA (FRI ED ) !4 kilo shrimps, chopped; % kilo pork, chopped: 5 pieces apulid (water chestnuts), chop~d; J la.rge onion, clwpped; 1 .4 cup soy sauce; 2 tbsps. flour; !4 kilo Chinese ham. chopped; lumpio wrappers. Mix ingredients thoroughly. Wrap in lur.1pia wrapper and cut. 2 inches Jong. Deep-fry and serve with Sweet-Sour Sauce, a medium thick sauce made of soy saucl!, vinegar, sugar, salt, watn, a little cornstarch. Lt:MPIA tFHESH) J cup gree1; beans cut into j"i11e strips; 1 '.! small m"11uJ!<', .~hreddnl; tt sn.all t·1icrmut uhod 1··1iearl o{pu/m'°J, cut inlo fill<' strips; 1 ('UJJ boiled parfianzos; 1J kilo lt'tm purk; J chicken breu.~t; I lm"Jte onion; 1 carrot cut into /i1w strips; ,,, cup dwppedkinchay r11ut/1'(• parsley1; '·" cup cubed toku11 fsoy ht•<fll cal11n lighlly fried; 1 cup 1<llrimps, lmiled, :,;ffred; I ,·up 1111111, cut i11tn /i'11e .~trip.~; 11 i rnp slwrteninp; 2 d oves garih·, crusltecl; .~alt and p1:p1wr to tasi<~; munosudi11m glutamate; lumpia u·rappers /thin, wnfery wrappers n.ade ul rit·1: flour cmd u·ater, baked 011 lwl griddfo;. SA lJCE: 2 tbsps. cornstarch; 1 .f; cup bn>1n1 su1:ar; !., cup soy.wwce; ·ti cup wciti:r. Boil chicken and pork until lender. Separate meat from bon~ and cut into fine strips. Saute garlic a nd onions. Add chicken, pork, shrimps and ham. St'a!loll with salt, pepper, monosodium glutamate. Add ve~etables; add meat stock; cover and simml'I' until vegetables are done. Do not overcook, vegetables should bl' just slightly cl'isp. Add chopped kinchay greens. Cool before wrapping. SAUCE: Mix ingredients smoot h. Cook ovt>r low heat, stir· ring, until medium thick. Lay out wrappers which have hl't>n steam-softened. Spread edge with bit of sauce. Sprend n few tablespoons filling. Roll into long cylinders. Servl' with more sauce a nd finely-chopped fresh garlic. C HICKEN RELLE NO J big chicken; 2 cups ground pork; 3 cups pround coohed chicken meat; 2 pieces CJwrizo de Bilbao. chopped fine; i,_, cup cooked ham, chopped /i'nc; '-'1 cup celery. dwppi:d litw; 1:1 mp gmtcd cheese; 2 pieces dill pickle, chopped line; 3 tbsps. soy sauce; :I tbsps. calamansi or lemon j uh·e; 2 qunrtcred hard-cooked eggs; 4 raw eggs; 2 tbsps. butter; .~alt a11d peppa to ta.,.te. GAR:v·tsH. ING: 2 spri1:s pnrsle_v; 6 :;mall pieces ,·arror.v. Dress, clean and hone chicken, leaving skin, wini.:s. and legs in· tact. Soak in ca\amansi and soy sauce for 30 minutes. Mix purk, chicken, ha m, raw eggs. chorizos. celery, cheese, pickles, salt and pepper, in a large mixing bowl. Stuff chickl'n with meat mixture, placing quartered eggs in center of mixture. Close up opening wil h needle and threa'd. Wrap chicken with gauze and tie ends with piece of string. Place in roasting pan with so~'·and·cala· man!>i sauce to which hot watl'r has heen added to make 2 cups. Bake at 350 F. for 1-1 '1 to 2 hours. When cooked, remove gauze· and brown chicken in deep hot fat. Drain on paper towel. Place on platter and slice. Garnish with parsley and carrots. MACARONI S ALAD 1 bvx macaroni, brolren in pieces; Vi cup grnted Dutch cheese or ~cup diced Cheddar cheo('; b cup relish; J cup diced COQked chicken meat or shrimps; 3 hard CQoked rtggs, chopped; J cup pineapple cubes; mayonnaise dre:;sin1:. Mix ingredients together. Add mayonnaise. Chill and serve, garnished with asparagus tips a nd pimiento slices. P AELLA 1 spring chicken; !6 kilo lean pork; ~ kilo shrimps; 2 Clwrizos de Bilbao; 2 strip.~ of Chinese han.; J small bottle olive oil; 1 can tom.ato paste; 2 oniohs, sliced; 3 cloves garlic, crushed; Vi cup malagkit (glutinous rice;; ~h cup regular rice; J cup clams; I cup shrimp juice !extracted from pounded shrimp sht'lls and heads, diluted with water1; .1 mediun.·siud tomatoe.~; 3 cups broth or water; 3~:t tsps. soy .'1auce; da.~h pepper; hard·buikd eggs; pimientos mornmes. Heat oil in skillet; fry sliced chorizu until slightly brown; set aside to one side of pan. Fry next the peeled shrimps slightly; set aside. , Fry garlic, ~dd onions a nd continue cooking until tender. Mix together chorizo, shrimps, onions and garlic. Add sliced ham, pork and chicken. Simmer. Add salt to tastl'. Add shrimp juice, stirring continuously. Cover and bring to a hoil. Add tomato paste. Simmer. Add broth and i:over. Cook until pork and chicken are almost tender. Add rice, mix well. Distributt> clams evenly around pan, on top of rice, cover. Cook until rice is tender. Serve on plattl'r garnished with hard· boiled egg slices and pimientos morrones A C H A R A (Relish) J n.edium.sized green papaya, grated fim'; 1 green pepper, sliced i11 strips; J .~weet red pt•ppt•r, sliced in strips; 1 small £'arrot, grated; 1 smaff cauliflou:ff, cul in pieces; 1 small ampalaya rbiUer melon;, sliced; 1 small ginger, cut in strip.~; 1 hunch natit•e 1 • .111/ons, peeled; :J mp.~ vinegar; n'l cups u11ite sugar; .'l tbsps. salt: coar:,;e salt for soahing. Knea<l all vegetables in salt; let stand one houl', then drain. Blanch cauliflower, duin, set aside. Place all drained vegetahles in a bowl or sterilized jar. Meanwhile, combine vinegar, salt and sugar and cuok o' ·er a hot flame until boiling. Remove foam, (·ontinue boiling for an(1ther two minutes and then pour imo eon· taint!r with vegetables. Ir achara is to be stal'ed, ioieal container immt>diatl'ly. LE C HE FLAN Place Begg yolks in bowl. Stir with fork or spoon until just mixed; do not beat. Add, stirring, contents of 1 can condensed milk and \;/ cup water, grated rind of l lime ldayapJ or lemon. Mix thoroughly, poul' into mold lined with caramelized sugar. Steam in hot water until done, or until silver knife inserted in center comes out dean. Tu caramelize sugar: Place from 11~ to \!2 cup granulated sugar, a little water in irnn skillet over medium heat. Wht>n sugar sta1·ts to melt, stir with a fork. and kl'ep stirring until all sugar is melted and becomes golden brown. Pour at once into mold. tilting mold to line sides. F I S H WITH MAYO N NAIS E Lay steam-cooked fish tuse lapu·iapu, a grouper) on platter Decorate in diagonal strips with the following: sweet chopped pickles; chopped cooked carrots; chopped egg whites; mashed egg yolks. Serve on lettuce with mayonnaise. PASTILLAS DE LE C H E Place around 15 cups fresh carabao's milk in large pan over charcoal heat. Stir over low heat, until milk is one.fourth iL <> original volume. Add l ~ cups sugar and rind of one lemon and cook over low heat, stirring constant ly until mixture forms a soft ball. Pour onto sugarl'd board, t:ut into desired piece~. roll in sugar and wrap in fringed paper. PAST!LLAS D E UBE Mix together 4 cups finely mashed boiled ube (yam), 3 cups suga r, I large can evapora ted milk. Cook in copper vat ovel' moderate fire, stirring constantly. When thick and no longl'r sticking to the vat, remove from lire and pour on sugared board. Roll to J;.j inch thick. Cut into <lesired pieces. Arrange on metal sheet and dry in slow oven for about 20 minutes. Roll in sugar and wrap in paper. yUTO BUMBONG Mix together I cup malagkit (glutinous rice) and 3 tbsµs pirurutong (purple-colored rice). Soak i11 2 cup!J. water. Grind fine. Place in small flour bag or cheese cloth. Put weigh1, usually the top of stone grinder, to drain off excess fluid and hasten drying. When mixture is dry, pass throu~h a sieve Fill bumbong tubes lightly % full: place in stl'ame1 · and steam 15 minutes. Turn tube upsi<le·down and shake to loosen oil puto. Se1·ve hot with fresh grated coconut and brown sugar. P•111ulinawe n Choral Group performing at St. Williom's Colle ge, looag, llocos Norte. Philippine Aviation Week. The deod reme111bered - All Saints' Doy, Nov. 1. Calendar of Events OCTOBER Rizal end International Rela tions Emphasis on activities to promote inlernotiotlol friendship and understanding and the role played by the PhilippineJ aJ membt!'f of the fomily of notionJ IN SE.ASO N - Flowen: zinnia, violeto. codenO de amor, orrabidoeo, cattleyo orchid. Fruib: Jvly ta December - norongito, guyabono, chico, suha, dution, Ion.zones (September to lole November). Year round - bononos, papayas. Huntin9: snipe, partridge, pigeon, pointed and button quail, turnstone, pholorope, jocono, lopwings. Wild boor, yea r round. OCTOBER 1. Chorol Concert of mi•ed voices F eaturing preludes and chorc:il fugues by Professor Hilarion F. Rubio, sponsored by the Music PromotiCJO Faul'ldotion of the Philippines. Mani&a. OCTOBER, NOVEMBER, DECEMBER. "Pops Concert Series" sponsored by lhe Music Promotion Foundation of lhe Philippines OCTOBER 4. "World Animal Day" c.elebrotion in honor of the Pc:itron and l ovef of onimc:ils, St. Francis of Assisi. Pel shows, e~hibits of prized breeds or1d o ther onimol shows sponsored by lhe Society for the Preventior1 of Cruelty to Ar1imols. Ma nila. OCTOBER 8. 2nd Sunday. Fe•st of La Naval de Manila held in thanks· giving to the Virgin of the Most Holy Rosory for delivering the Philippines from lhe hond$ of the Dutch, 308 years 0 90. The grand religious procession in the evening is c:ittended by thousands of devotees who come from oil over the country. Activiries ore centered in lhe shrine of the Virgin of the Most Holy R osc:iry c:il St. Domingo Church, QuezCJO City OCTOBER 9-15. Letter-Writing Week - celebrated in.line with o general compo;gn to promote internotionol friendship and understonding. OCTOBER 18-24. United NatioM Week celebrations. Seminars, con· ferences, programs, ed1ibits ond other octivities ploying up the importance of the United Notions. NOVEMBER Rizal and Science Confereocu, seminars, reading of $Cienlific pope:rl, exhibits ond the formoti011 of on Academy o( Science will be the moin inlereJfJ of the month. IN SEASO N - Flow ers: bc:igowok, dohlio, violeto, African doisy. Fruib: July to December - chico, guyabano, durion, norc:ingilc:i, whc:i, granoda, lonzones (September lo lole November). Hunting: wild ducb , snipes, turnstone, lapwings, slinb, pholo· ropes, 1 ocono, pigeon, partridge, pointed and button quail, cool, gollinule and roil. NOVEMBER, DECEMBER. "Pops Cont ert Series" sponsored by the Music Promotion Founda tion of the Philippines. Monilo. NOVEMHR I , All Sainh' Doy. Cemeieries oll over the country ore Jra ris. 49 forr'l'led into flower gOrdens oglow with condles ond electric lights. Ancient folk proctices include serenodin9 up lo the wee hours of •he. r'l'lorning. NOVEMBER 10. FiHfci in Ccivit• City, .... i1h o nocturnol procession from Monilo Boy to Cobuco Beoch, 34 kilometers from Monilo. NOVEMBER 11. Second of two onnuol fluvial proceuions in locciue, Bulacan, this time honoring the lown"s polron saint, St. Mortin of Tours NOVEMBER 15. Commonwealth Day marked by simple civic celebrations ond octivities. NOVEMBER 30. Bcinifacio Dciy, o notional holiday. Marks the birthday ol one of the foremost leoders of the Philippine Revolution, Andres Bonifocio_ Floral offe-rings and literary musical ptogroms al notional shrines. 4TH WEEK IN NOVEMBER. Annual Philippine Aviation Week. Impressive air ~wl by oir units from Southeost Asio, the Americas, Europe and A•ntrolio. Crock aerobotic teams, gigantic air exhibits, aerial city tours ond other 0<:tiYilies throvghout the week. Nichols Air Field. Porofioque, Riza l DECEMBER Rizal in Today's World Activilies focvssed on on lnternolionol Congress of Rizolists and filipinologisls ritYiewing the ideas of R'izol. The mosl cofodvl lantern parades ever staged;,, /he iilonds will be among the highlighis. Unique tradition"/ Christmas celebro. lions lound only in the Philippinu IN SEASON - Flowers: poin$enia. begOf'lio semperllores, woling·woling on:;hid, Y ondo Miss Jochim, santan. Africa n daisy. Fruits: December lo February - caimito; July to December - lonzones, chico, guyobono, durian, norongito, gronodo, suho Hunting: snipe, turnstone, lapwings, stints, pholorope, iocana, wild duck, pigeon, partridge, pointed ond button quail. Wild pig - year 1ound. DECEMBER. "Pops Concert Series" sponsored by the Music Promotion Foundation of the Philippines. Manila. DECEMBER 4-8. International Congress of Ri:r.olists ond Filipinologi1ts. Monilo. D£CEM8U 8-9. Town fie1to, Tool, Botongos. A flu ... iol porode down the Ponsipit River on the 8rh of December. DECEMBER 12. Town fiestci, Popcinjon, Laguna. Beautiful orches ore $el 50 up Ol'I main streets to welcome lhou~nds of visitors. Sire of !lie fomov$ Pogsonjon Foils. DECEMBER 16 TO JANUARY 6. 22-day Chri1tmas celebration. Througt.. out the islonds down Mosses (Miscis de Gollo) mork the od..,ent of the Yuletide ~own, the longest in the world. Stor lonlerns decorate the streets, young men serenade townsfolk, boys and glrb ploy improvisations of traditional carols Oil guitors, maracos, sticks ond tom·loms. DECEMBER 23. Malcicaiiang Christmas Festival, Monilo. Thousonds of underprivileged children troop ro Molocoiiong Poloce, home of Philippine ptes· idents, to receive gifts from the first lody of the lond omidsl symbolic condlelighting ceremonies. D£CEMBER 24. Christmas lantern fellivol, Son Ferncindo, Pcimpanga, 66 kilometers from Manila. Highlight is o regionwide lantern contest. Prizes ore offered F or the most colorful, m0$t ortisti,, and most elaborate lanterns. Entries Y Ory in sizes, some two meten wide ond fi..,e meteri high, mounted on la rge trucks and powered by mobile generators. DECEMBER 24. Chrilfmcis Eve. In oll homes all OYer' the country this is the lime for family revoions. Refolives comiog from far and near make it a point to attend midnight church services logelher. The traditional "Noche Buenci" or ""Holy Night"" celebration found in every Filipino home consists of portokiog of sumptuous repost ofter the Midnighl Mots. In mony Tagalog towns Christmas Eve feotures o ceremony called t~ "panunuluyan", a pogeont in which choroclers dressed os the Virgin Mary and St. Joseph walk through the town, knocking on doon in their attempt lo suk shelter. Townspeople follow ond sing corals. A few minutes ~fore midnight, oil a rrive ot rhe town church where "shelter" is fovnd and Moss begin~ DECEMBER 25. Chriltmas Dciy. Comme morote5 the birth of the Menioh ond it is an occosion for lhanksgi..,log fa< the bounties recei..,ed during the yl'Or 1n some ports of the islands pagoo riluols ore still obserY ed in the celebrotioo of lhis FestiYal of Festiyals. 'DECEMBER 28. Holy Innocents' Doy.· Jn Morinduque on islond south of Luzon, quaint, colorful octiYilies may be seen by the visitor. One of the ottroc· lions is the parade of gionts and dwa rfs their masks mode from popier-moche. D£CE~BER 30. Rizal Doy. Marh the dote of the execution of Dr. Jose Protocio Riwl in 1896, Philippine Nolionol hero. Elaborate preparations hove been plonned for a fitting climax to the celebration of the Centennial Veor in his honor. DECEMBER 30. Presentcition of tM Toealot opera "Noli Me TangeN" composed by Professor Felipe de Leon baled on the celebroted nayel of Or Jose Rilol. Sponsored by the Mus>c Promotion Foundotion of the Philippines. Friends From All Over , \ f, Former U.S. Assistant Secreta ry of Commerce Henry Keorns arrived by Northwest Orient Airlines from Japan recently for a few days' visit in the Philippines. While in Manila, he was house guest of Mr. and Mn. Joseph Rand, commercial attache of the U.S. Embassy in Manila. A charming visitor to Manila some weeks ago was Princess Ha lima Han an of Afghanistan, who does public rekiijom work for the United Arab Lines in Rome. She is cousin to the present rulet of Afghanistan, Mohammed Zahir Shah. George Chaploin, ma naging e ditor of the Honolulu Advertiser, and his wife Esto a rrived from Hawaii by PANAM jet f~r conferences with local travel officials. Mr. Chaplain is on on Asian tour for his paper. Robe..t J. Wright, Northwest Orient AN-line s vice prHident, was in to wn with his wife i~ the courH of a far East fact-finding tour. In 11 local Tl/ app• oronc•, Mr. Wright stated that tourists wont to s•e how other people live in other countries, but at th• u11n• tim• u pect physicol occommodotillH'IS to which they hove been accustomed, '-"led initiation of o pletnn•d leturist program if the Philippines is to shore in the coming jet trovel boom. P'. S. Kouznihov, member of a three-man Soviet delegation, arrived in Manila s.om. w••k5 a90 to atte nd t he S• cond Traffic Study WH k Conf• r•nce, held in this city. He is shown in photo with L. I. Koltrtikov, Tagalog interpreter and professor at Mosco w University; L. 5. Kouznitsov, d ef"(ty chief of automobile inspection of Runion federations; a nd N. A. Yon hifov, chief of the deportme nt of traffic reg ulati°"'P'eople's Militia. Donald Nyrop, president of Nonhwest Airlines, arrive d re cenUy from Japan to look into th. OpelOtions of N. W .A. in Manila and ~ fer with district officials of th• o if-.. line. 51 Friends From All Over (Continued) A five-man trade miuion from long Baach, California, headed by City Mayor Edwin W. Wade (obove ) curived lcut Odober 24th by NorthwHt Airlines from Tokyo for a w•ek-long tour of Mi:.nilo. A 33-rnembu group of the National EcHtorial Au~iation, on organization of over ,,Qoo weekly and doily newspape" in the United States, arrived in Manila frolft Vietnom recently. N.E.A. eucutive vice president fh90dore Serrill of WOJhington, D.C. headed t~ visiting ne wspopermen. Among pron'linent arrivals from llongkok via Scandinavian Airlines Syt._rn last Odobu were three e•ecutivH of Union Oil Co. of California who we,.. here for businHs consultations with Theo H. Davies und Co., f or Ea st, ltd. From left to right: Jcimes H. McGee, managing director, Unimor Ud. Petroleum; F. Remmis Cadwell, vice president; Reese Taylor, chairman of the board; Mu. Reese Taylor. Olhers in photo ore Miss Chono Trinidad, PTTA Travel Manager and Miss Mila Trinidod. Mr. and Mrs. D. J. lrozlll Smith were omong the poue ns-n on the M/ V K110!0 l11mpur "Holiday Tour" recently. The Kl/Olo L11mp11r is o British cruise ship. Photo shows MiH Caridad DiOJ:, of PTTA, pinning corsage on Mrs. Smith. Delighte d visitors try out foU.:danc• steps, brinving ta o dine the weekly f'l'•Sontation of Philippine regional dances by the Boyoniho n Troupe of the Philippine Women's University, Toft Avenue, Manila. O ther grOups in Manila that stage folk dance shows "" reque10t ore: the Barangay Donce Troupe, Philippine N0t-mol College; the University of the East folk dance association; Ricardo Roye t and his tro1.1p.