This book is an interesting introduction into the customs and everyday life of Filipinos both before and during WWII. Using the Filipino language along with English in greetings, small talk and foods adds to the authenticity of their life. Explaining many of the customs also adds to the charm and educates the reader about the culture. The description of the land creates a clear picture of the Philippines and the way the people were able to hide from the Japanese. Those descriptions also remind the reader that communication between towns was non-existent. The author writes clearly of the fears and suffering of the people under occupation during the war. Their love of Americans and Gen. MacArthur shines through her words. The maps, appendix and bibliography add to the reader’s experience of the story. The story educates while it charms the reader with the love story in the background of war. –
This was posted on my other blog – Subli. There was a problem on reblog so I just repost it here. Enjoy the dance at the bottom of the blog.
Family of Negritoes – Photo Credit: Compton Encyclopedia 1931 Edition
Archeological evidence suggests that the Negritos, a broad term for indigenous people of dark complexions, reached the Philippines over 30,000 years ago by a land bridge from the Asian mainland following the migration of animals. Excavation at Palawan’s Tabon cave yielded a human skull carbon-dated to 22,000 B.C. About 10,000 years ago, the ice melted, the sea level rose and the land bridges disappeared.
Waves of Indonesians followed by sea from 3,000 BC, and Malays got a firm foothold around 200 BC, followed in later centuries by waves of Chinese settlers. Most of today’s Filipinos have grown out of intermarriages between indigenous and Malay people. Modern Filipino culture, including language and cuisine, was heavily influenced by the Malays, who also introduced arts, literature, and a system of government.
A few centuries before the Spanish reached the Philippines in the 16th century, Filipinos involved in trade had also met Arabs and Hindus from India, while the expanding Chinese population wielded considerable commerical power. Muslim clergy start to bring Islam to the Philippines from Indonesia and Malaya via Borneo in the late 14th century.
The Philippine population is a mix of tribal and ethnic groups representing 111 linguistic, cultural and racial groups. The majority is of Filipino-Malayan descent with Japanese, Chinese, European and American added to the mix. The minority is the aboriginal group called Negritos whose average height is about 58 inches, dark brown to almost black skin color, wide noses and tight curly hair. The Negritos or Little Negroes are one of the dwarf Australoid people of the ancient populations of the world. It is believed that inland forest situations with very few proteins and steep terrain contributed to their short stature. They kept to the deep forests while the Igorots kept to the mountains. They have survived because of their secluded location. The Negritoes survived by hunting and fishing and eventually had adopted a rudimentary form of farming. Local groups were composed of five to ten families living in a group of thatched lean-tos around a circular space. The leader of the band was determined by age or consensus. The group moved frequently for economic reasons or because of deaths, feeling of ill luck or quarrels. They have their own distinct language.
There are about 87 different languages and dialects spoken in the Philippines. Tagalog was made the national language in 1946. Tagalog was changed to Pilipino in 1962. Most of my generation still call it Tagalog. English is also widely used. Some young people nowadays used Taglish which is a mixture of both Tagalog and English in their conversation.
The Philippines is a conglomeration of various cultures due to the influence of different civilizations over the past 1500 years. Perhaps because of their over three centuries of Spanish rule, the Filipinos are passionate about life in a way that seems more Latin than Asian and because of their 48 years under the American administration, they can communicate easily in English and have been great imitators of American culture.
In spite of new influence from neighboring Asian countries, culture from the first settlers still remain. These include belief in the active powers of spirits and the importance of omens. Spirits once played an important part in the lives of all Filipinos, and many who have been converted to Christianity or the Muslim faith still retain a few of their ancient beliefs. The Igorots still worship their ancient gods, the highest of them is called Diwata. The Philippines is the only predominantly Christian nation in Asia.
The Philippines has been ruled by various Asian and western empires. From 200 to 1565 AD, part of the Philippines may have been ruled by Hindu-Malay empires, the Javanese Madjapahit empire and the Ming Dynasty of China. From 1440 to 1565, the northern Luzon was controlled by the Japanese and Borneo and Brunei controlled the south.
Until 3,000 years ago, contact with the outside world was minimal. Between 1500 BC and 1440 AD, the Philippines traded with Borneo, Indonesia, Japan, Persia, India and China who made the Philippines their base of operation. The earliest known trade with China occurred during the T’ang Dynasty (618 to 906 AD), although contacts did not become extensive until the Sung Dynasty (960 to 1279), Yuan Dynasty (1260 to 1368), and Ming Dynasty (14th to 16th centuries). Records show that the Chinese name the Philippines largest island “Liu sung” which became Luzon later on. Historian says that the name Visayas was derived from Swirijaya, the Indo-Malay Empire that ruled Sumatra from the 7th to 13th centuries.
Here is something from YouTube to entertain you from young Filipinos at UCLA dancing the Philippine native dance called Tinikling.
The Tinikling is a pre-Spanish folk dance inspired by the tikling (heron) bird. The steps imitate the movement of the bird as they walk between grass stems and tree branches escaping the bamboo traps set by farmers.
It is the best performance I have seen so far. Watch those feet while they dance with blindfolds. Enjoy.
Until next time. The Philippine story continues.
Rosalinda
Sources:
Philippine Guide by Jill and Rebecca Gale de Villa
Philippine Handbook by Carl Parkes
Compton’s Pictured Encyclopedia
Here is your chance to read an inspiring book of faith, hope and daring ambition at a discounted price for the next two weeks. It is based on my grandmother’s life.
I’m offering “The Iron Butterfly” at $14.95, a discount of 21% from the original price. The limited time offer ends on October 13.
The Iron Butterfly is a gripping tale about the intense devotion and ordeal of Regina Buendia, a young mother who suddenly finds herself all alone and penniless with nine young children to support after her husband died in the pre-WWII era. Facing a bleak future, she has to find a way to tackle a male chauvinistic society where men still rule the business world. Will she be able to break through the barrier? As the Great Depression affected the colonies, she is now faced with new concern – how to survive with business suffering and money being so tight.
Just as she thinks she is getting ahead, a major natural disaster happens with terrible consequence to follow. Then her problems become insignificant compared to what was about to happen – the attack on Pearl Harbor and how the war in the Pacific affects their very existence.
Honor in the Dust is an eye opener. I lived in Oyster Bay for 40 years and I never heard about the events mentioned in the book. All I heard was TR’s role with the Rough Riders in Cuba. Honor in the Dust changed the history. This is an unknown and hidden part of Philippine history and I am appalled at the atrocities of the U.S. soldiers stationed in the Philippines under Theodore Roosevelt’s presidency and the way it was ignored and covered up for fear of political fallout. After reading this book, I look at Theodore Roosevelt in a different light.
The events in Samar, the resettlement camp in Batangas, the “water cure” are things generations of Filipinos should know about and be a lesson not to be repeated. Tyranny is the worst thing a country cannot and should not endure. Filipinos are freedom loving people. I can say that wholeheartedly about the people of Batangas where I came from. They are known for their bravery but they are the friendliest and most hospitable people on earth. They will share you everything they have – their food, even their shirt if you need it.
As I was looking for some old files yesterday, I bumped into this school report about “The Philippines” that my son, Alexander R Morgan, wrote on May 24, 1989 for his World Cultures class. He was 15 yrs old at that time and in ninth Grade at St. Dominic High School in Oyster Bay, NY. Coincidentally, it was his birthday yesterday. Happy Birthday Alex.
Rosalinda R Morgan 