THE BUSINESS END OF IT

BY THE BUSINESS MANAGEMENT

There are some people who are too mean to be worth the necessary time to hang them. Of course, everybody has his own opinion as to certain persons who would fall within that privileged class. Without going deeply into the matter, we think we can, off-hand, mention one class of persons that deserve honorable mention in the class mentioned. Would you believe it if we told you that actually we know of certain civilized persons who have collected subscriptions for THE FILIPINO and who have not sent them in to this office? Does any sane person think he can do a thing like that and not be found out? If a person who has paid his subscription to an agent doesn't get the next issue of THE FILIPINO, he writes to us to inquire the reason. We look on our subscription books and see that his name has never been sent in (much less his money), and we write to that disappointed subscriber more or less to the following effect: "Nothing doing. To whom did you pay your money?" Generally by next mail we get a letter to the effect that Fulano de Tal got my dollar—and there you are. Blood and thunder and the ground torn up for a mile around.

If you have paid your money for your subscription and haven't received your magazine, drop us a postal, letting us know to whom you paid your subscription, and we'll fix it—and him, too, probably.

TO THE PENSIONADOS.-The Business Management has decided, in view of the success of the plan, to extend the period of time after June 30 within which you should send in your subscriptions to THE FILIPINO in order to get your commission. A large number of the pensionados have stated that they were going to rake in the subscriptions from all sides during the summer vacation, and to prove it they are sending in subscriptions by batches. We don't want to discourage a laudable ambition like that, so we shall extend the time indefinitely-that is, until further notice. So that, pensionados, you are each and every one hereby constituted an agent to secure subscriptions for THE FILIPINO, at the same commission as before, until we notify you in these columns, or directly by mail, that you are to get no more commissions. We have only a few more of our Students' Number, though we published a large second edition after the regular edition was exhausted, but we are trying to get out enough of this issue, our "Cram" Number, to satisfy the demand. They will be sent out, not more than ten addresses given by any pensionado who will send a two-cent stamp for each copy. You have plenty of time during the summer, so we hope you will put in a few good words and deeds for THE FILIPINO. There's another thing you can do. It is to write to the Business Manager for our advertising terms and then go tackle your book-store man, your clothing-store man, your doctor, your dentist-in fact, all of those with whom you have been spending your hard-earned "dinero" during the past months. You can find out all about terms, commission, &c., for advertisements by communicating with the Business Manager. He hasn't got much to do this summer but answer such inquiries and cash the checks you send in. Keep him busy, or he'll get too fat to work next fall.

TO THE ADVERTISER.-There are two kinds of advertisers those who already advertise in THE FILIPINO and

those who don't yet, but ought. Now, of course, we don't want to seem insistent, but really some of those advertisers in the second class just mentioned ought to pinch themselves to see if they are asleep. Just run over your books for the last school year and see how much Filipino trade you have gotten, and also the trade that has come through them. Isn't it a few? Gradually, but surely, our advertising pages are filling up, and we venture the prophecy that in justice to ourselves we shall before the end of the year have to raise our advertising rates. Our circulation is also increasing by bounds. Altogether, we are in quite a happy frame of mind. But we leave the matter with you; you know better than we what you can do, and if you can only afford a half page, far be it from us to insist that you take a full page. Only be sure you let us hear from you sometime soon, and quick.

AMERICAN EDUCATION IN THE PHILIPPINES

BY FRANCISCO BENITEZ

Three distinct races live in the islands the Malay, the Indonesian, and the Negrito, or little negros. The Negritos were the first inhabitants of the Philippines. They were gradually driven to the mountains by a more powerful race, the Malays, who came from the Malay Peninsula. Now you find the Negritos only in the mountains. They roam from place to place and live on wild plants and animals. They are rapidly disappearing.

The Moros are an Indonesian* people. They live on the island of Mindanao, in small villages. Their principal occupations are herding and fishing. They are a Mohammedan people. When we speak of the Filipino people we mean all the Christian and civilized Malays who live in towns and cities on the rich plains and valleys of the archipelago; and we do not mean these Negritos and Moros, who form but a very small percentage of the population. By the way, there are 25,000 Negritos, 275,000 Moros, and 7,000,000 Malays.

Let us go into one of the towns of the island of Luzon. The first thing we see is the large and beautiful Catholic church in the center of the town, facing the plaza, or square. The church is large enough to accommodate 1,000 people. On the other. side of the square is the Town Hall, and near the Town Hall is the Central School. From this square the streets, wide and lined with modern houses, run parallel to each other. There are the Taft, McKinley, and Rizal streets. The streets are named for Americans and Filipinos of note.

While it is true that the Christian Filipinos belong to only one race, yet on account of the natural barriers, as seas and high mountain ranges separating the provinces from one another, we do not understand each other, as nearly every province has its own dialect to-day. Right here in Macomb five different dialects are represented by the six Filipinos in school. Over fifty dialects are spoken in the islands. There is no common native language. Spanish is spoken by about 10 per cent of the people. English is now the language in the schools.

*The Moro people do not belong to what is called the Indonesian race. They belong to the Malay race. The Bilanes, Manguangas, and other people who dwell in the southern and eastern parts of Mindanao are the ones that belong to this race.-Ed.

It is interesting to note that the Spanish government attempted to have the Spanish language made an obligatory study in the public schools. A royal decree ordered that the Spanish language and instruction in Christian doctrine be taught to the Filipinos. Spain was not backward in attending to the intellectual and spiritual needs of the Filipinos. It was impossible, however, to carry out this attempt, as good teachers were not to be had either in Spain or the Philippines at that time. Besides, there was no incentive for the Filipinos to teach, as teaching was thought by the Spaniards to be a low profession, and the average salary of the primary teacher was $8 per month.

The University of St. Thomas, at Manila, has had over 300 years of existence; but it has not been a great benefit to the people, as preparation for this institution could be secured only at Manila, a city of 350,000 people and the capital of the country. Consequently the rich people were the only ones who could afford to send their sons to Manila for higher education.

In the Spanish primary schools parrot-like memorizing of the subjects was required. The text-books were written in questions and answers. Suppose the teacher assigns two pages grammar as a lesson for the next day. You go the next day to school, and while your schoolmates are studying their lessons aloud the teacher calls on you to recite. Do you know what you do? You stand and ask yourself the questions in the book and then proceed to answer yourself by giving the answers in the book, while the teacher is looking at the lesson to see if you miss anything. If you miss a single word you may be sure you are going to get a blow on your back with the rod.

The Spanish schools were good enough in their time. But when we compare them with the American schools we must admit that they were deficient in many respects.

Two months after the great naval battle between the American squadron under Admiral Dewey and the Spanish fleet 20,000 American soldiers landed at Manila. It is unpleasant for me, and probably for every one, to tell the incidents of that war between the Americans and Filipinos. I want to say, however, on behalf of the Filipinos, that they fought against a great and powerful nation because they believed they were right. The Filipinos were oppressed by Spain, and it was only natural for them to misjudge the true purpose of the American people in taking possession of the islands. The principal factor in bringing about peace, and one of the most significant signs to the Filipinos that the Americans had taken possession of the islands to protect them and prepare them for self-government, was the early establishment of the public schools. In the provinces soldiers were assigned to teach schools. Of course, we could not expect them to be successful teachers. The schools conducted by the military government might not have been the best, but they did the people much good; this is the only instance I know of soldiers fighting against and subduing and then teaching a people.

The Philippine Commission, our legislative and executive body, realized at the very beginning of the civil government in the islands the importance and necessity of bringing over to the Philippines trained teachers from America. In January, 1901, 1,000 American teachers arrived at Manila and were stationed throughout the archipelago.

For the purpose of school management the archipelago was divided into thirty-six school divisions, and a division superintendent was placed in charge of each division. The superintendents supervise the school work of their divisions, appoint Filipino teachers and fix their salaries, test efficiency of American teachers, recommend promotions, distribute supplies, account for school property, and, in short, perform a variety of important duties demanding judgment, tact, energy, courage, and a high order of executive ability.

The work of the American teachers in the Philippines may be divided into two great classes; that of teaching in the provincial high schools and that of supervising and directing the primary work in the various municipalities or townships.

It is evident, however, that the ultimate character of the public schools in the Philippines will depend upon the quality of the Filipino teachers. True, there were some 2,000 teachers in the schools at the termination of the Spanish rule in the islands, but none of these teachers had any knowledge of English. Most of them were too old to acquire a new language and new methods of teaching, and, as a whole, they were unfit to carry out a system of instruction which required not only the teaching of English, but teaching in English. It was necessary, therefore, to create a new body of student-teachers to aid the American teachers. The brightest young men and women in each school were organized into a special class and given a course of extra instruction daily, after school hours. In a few months these special students had sufficiently advanced to aid the American teachers in the teaching of the less advanced pupils. These students are now the teachers in charge of the country and central schools. English has now become the language of the primary school, and from the time the student enters the school he hears and speaks no other tongue.

The success of this educational experiment, this experiment of transplanting American ideas among the Oriental people, depends largely upon the individuality, ability, and industry of the American teachers.

Aside from organizing the schools and giving classroom instruction, the American teachers have become an influence for good in the towns where they live and are worthy representatives of the American people.

Two years ago a cholera epidemic was prevailing in some parts of the Philippines. With no command to remain, with the allurements of foreign travel during vacation, with no relatives or intimate friends to protect or encourage, and among an alien people, these noble men and women fought night and day, week after week, for the lives of an alien people, with no thought or chance of reward, with a noble heroism that is far above the bravery of a soldier fighting against a foe. You may justly be proud of the bravery of your soldiers, but remember that the peaceful army of teachers in the Philippines has shown a bravery of soul that is rarely excelled.

VOL. I

The Filipino

Organo en America del Pueblo Filipino

MAYO 1906

No. 3

THE FILIPINO se publica bimestralmente por The Filipino Company, 1032 Seventeenth Street, N. W., Washington, D. C., U. S. A.

Precio de suscricion, $1.00, oro, al ano, por adelantado; numero suelto, veinte centavos, oro. Las suscriciones se deberan remitir por giro postal; no obstante, aceptaremos billetes de banco, ya sean moneda americana o filipina, a razon esta ultima de dos pesos por ano.

Todas las comunicaciones y remesas, dirijanse a

THE FILIPINO COMPANY,

1032 Seventeenth Street, N. W.

Editor en Jefe, Interino.

Editor Espanol.

Editor Ingles...

Editor para 'Mujeres.

Editor Noticiero..

Ayudante Editor Noticiero.

Gerente General.

Ayudante Gerente General.

Washington, D. C., U. S. A. ASTERIO FAVIS, '03, Ilocos, Sur .JOAQUIN RAMOS, '03, Tarlac .ASTERIO FAVIS, '03, Ilocos Sur .OLIVIA SALAMANCA, '05, Cavite IGNACIO ROSARIO, '03, Manila EUFRONIO TOLENTINO, '04, Manila ..GREGORIO ESPINOLA, '03, Sorsogon DELFIN JARANILLA, '03, Iloilo

Editores locales se encuentran en cada sitio donde hay mas de dos

pensionados del gobierno.

Jose Maria
Cuenco

EDITORIAL

C

ON profundo sentimiento hemos de publicar la siguiente carta que es por sí misma muy explicativa:

"Washington, D. C., Mayo 21, 1906.

"The Filipino Company, Washington, D. C.

Muy Sres. mios-Por razones de salud me veo obligado á presentar mi dimisión de Editor-en-Jefe del THE FILIPINO. Mi separación no puede, en manera alguna, significar pérdida de interés en el magazine, por mi parte; por el contrario, me proporcionará sumo placer poder ayudar al THE FILIPINO siempre que me sea posible. Tened la seguridad de mi gratitud por todas las consideraciones que he recibido de Vds.

Deseando al THE FILIPINO el éxito más lisonjero, soy de Vds., muy sinceramente. JOSÉ MARÍA CUENCO.”

El Sr. Cuenco merece plácemes de gratitud del THE FILIPINO, y al manifestarlo así lo hacemos con orgullo, por sus esfuerzos en pró de esta publicación desde que se concibió la idea de publicar este periódico. Ha sido el más entusiasta mantenedor del periódico y nuestro éxito hasta ahora se debe en gran manera á sus esfuerzos. Repetimos no podemos expresar el pesar que sentimos al recibir su dimisión, tanto más cuanto que comprendemos bien las razones en que él se funda al presentar su dimisión. Mr. Cuenco aun no ha recobrado completamente sus fuerzas perdidas el año pasado en una larga enfermedad de fiebre tifoidea, y no obstante su debilidad física, ha llevado con éxito durante el pasado año escolar un curso completo