The Indolence of the Filipino

13 Licentiate Pedro de Rojas, of the Manila Audiencia, in a letter
to Felipe II, June 30, 1586–Vol.6, pp. 265-274 says (p. 270):
“If there were no trade with China, the citizens of these islands,
would be richer; for the natives if they had not so many tostons,
would pay their tributes in the articles which they produce, and
which are current, that is, cloths, lampotes, cotton, and gold.–all
of which have great value in Nueva Espana. These they cease to
produce because of the abundance of silver; and what is worse and
entails more loss upon your Majesty, is that they do not, as formerly,
work the mines and take out gold”. The old records contains numerous
references to the decline of the native industries of the Philippines
after the arrival of the Spaniards and the increase of Chinese trade.

14. See ante, note 13.

15. The decrease of population among native people in the Philippines
after the arrival of the Spaniards compares in no degree with what
occurred in America. A most distressing picture of conditions in the
Philippines is given by Bishop Domingo de Salazar in his relation
written about 1583 (see B. & R., vol 5, pp. 210-255. See especially
p. 212.) It is well to balance Salazar’s account with those of others

(A “tributary” was generally reckoned as five persons, one “tribute”
being required for each adult male. Hence “tributaries” and “families”
may here be taken to mean about the same number,–D.)

16. The forced labor required by the Spaniards in shipbuilding formed
one of the legitimate causes of complaint among the people almost
from the beginning.

17. See ante, note 15, also note 16.

18. The early friars, although many of them fell into some of the very
faults which they condemned, inveighed boldly against the cruelty of
the Spaniards. Doubtless their attitude did encourage their converts
to withdraw from industry to a certain degree.

19. See B. & R, vol. 4, pp. 148-303.

20 See B & R., vol. 6, for early accounts of Chinese trade and Spanish
measures affecting it The hostility between Spaniards and Portuguese
enters largely into the question. The effects of the deplorably
bad economics of Spain in its trade relations are still felt in
the Peninsula.

21. See ante, note 20.

22. See ante, note 20. The arrival and departure of the annual galleon
were times of activity, but otherwise Manila was a dull town, with
little industry. The Chinese usurped all the petty trade.

23 It is to the credit, of the Sociedad Economica de Amigos del Pais de
Filipinas, founded by the energetic governor Basco y Vargas in 1781,
that it extended its many-sided interests to the destruction of the
devastating hordes of locusts that visit the Philippines so frequently.

24 The Spanish policy remained to the end one of exclusion, and
the privileges granted were almost all because of coercion, and the
penetrating force of modern ideas.

25. A loose use of the word “monk”, which is properly used of a
cloistered ecclesiastic who does not leave his convent. “Friar” would
be a more exact term. The Benedictines are monks; the Augustinians,
Dominicans, Franciscans, and Recollects, are friars.

26. This was the Filipino chemist Anacleto del Rosario, whom Rizal
rightly praises.

27. This refers doubtless to Rizal himself, who competed in an open
contest for Spaniards and Indians, of the Liceo Artistico-Literario
de Manila, and of whom such an occurrence is related. He was awarded
first prose prize for a production entitled “El Consejo de los Dioses”,
which see in the “Revista del Liceo Artistico-Literario de Manila,
No. 4, 1880, pd. 45. This production, which bears neither signature
nor sign of authorship, is dated April 13, 1880.

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