Directory_and_Chronicle_1897 — Page 491

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THE PHILIPPINES-MANILA

The Philippine Archipelago is divided into three great groups of islands called Luzon, Visayas or Bisayas, and Mindanao. Luzon includes the provinces of Manila, Bulacan, Pampenga, Carlac, Zambales, Bataan, New Ecija, Pangasinan, North Ilocos, Abra, Union, New Viscaya, Cagayan, Laguna, Batangas, Tayabas, Albay, North and South Camarines, Sorsogon, and the districts of Principe, Lepanto, Bontoc, Benguet, Morong, and Infanta, and the adjacent islands Babuyanes and Batanes on the North, Polillo, Alhabat, Catanduanes, and Marianas on the East, Mindoro, Burias, Masbate, and Marinduque on the South, and Calamianes, Paraguay, and Balabac, on the East. The second group, the Bisayas or Visayas, is made up of Cebu, Bohol, Samar, Leyte, and the island of Negros with its districts Capiz, Romblon, Iloilo, and Conception; and of the adjacent islands Sibuyan, Banton, Tablas, Luciara, Maestro de Campo, Bantayan, Dauis, and Camote to the North and N.E., and of the island of Fuego or Siquijor to the South. The third group, or sea of Mindanao, which is the part of the archipelago least subject to the Spaniards, is divided into the districts of Zamboanga, Misamis, Suriago, New Guipuzgoa, Davao Bislig, and Basilan, with the adjacent islands Camiguin, Caburao, Duiagat Asgño, Oyarzal, and Vivero to the N.E. Siluanga and General on the East; Buentua, Tengquil, Balanguingi, and Sulu with all the islands that make up the group of that name in the S.E. Altogether there are estimated to be 1,200 islands in the Philippine Archipelago. Its wealth of timber is incalculable, yielding resins, gums, mastich-pastes, dye-products, fine-grained ornamental woods, also heavy timber suitable for building purposes. There are also mines in abundance in Mencayan and Lepanto. In Lupac and Agbas copper is found and copper and iron pyrites in Suyne. In Paracale and North Camarines there are veins of gold worked by the natives. In the rivers of Sapan, Casiguran, and New Ecija there are found gold pyrites of good quality. In Mambulao and Camarines there are some gold mines in operation. There are many hot springs of iron and sulphur waters, all of excellent medicinal properties. The famous "Holy Waters" of Tuli and Sibu are visited every year in large numbers by the islanders seeking relief from their sufferings. The endemic complaints of the country are swamp fever, diarrhea, beri-beri, and a few others. Incurable leprosy is very limited among the natives. The mortality is very low, considering the number of inhabitants.

Dr. Augustin de la Cavada, a Spanish historian, says of the natives that they are of a mild, submissive, and respectful disposition, predisposed to religious observances, extremely superstitious, and very hospitable. Those of Batangas, Cagayan, and Southern Ilocos are better workers and more industrious than those of the other Provinces. During their youth they work with energy and a certain intellectual vigour, but on reaching a more advanced age they lose a large part of their disposition for work and laspe into an indolence that is one of their greatest defects. The women are averse to idleness and have a spirit of enterprise, and they often engage in various trades with success. They are economical and sacrifice themselves with delight for the sake of those for whom they feel any affection.

The rivers and streams of the Philippines are countless and traverse the islands in all directions, the natural result of mountain peaks and ranges that extend over a large area.

The most noteworthy volcanoes are Bulieyan in Mindanao, Taal in Batangas, and Bulusan and Mayon in Albay. The last is in continual eruption and at times creates terror in the surrounding country, on account of the quantity of boiling water, ashes, and lava it throws out. In 1872 an eruption of this volcano destroyed entirely the villages of Malinao, Camalig, Guinobatan, Ligao, Polangui, and Albay.

MANILA

Manila, the capital of the Philippines, is situated in the island of Luzon, at the mouth of the river Pasig, which empties itself into the Bay of Manila. The city was founded in 1571. In 1645 it was almost entirely destroyed by an earthquake, in which upwards of three hundred lives were lost. In 1863 a great part of the city was again destroyed from the same cause, and in July, 1880, another terrible upheaval made wreck of a great portion of it. The inhabitants are naturally in constant fear of these visitations. The dwelling-houses are built with especial reference to safety under such circumstances, and, although large, possess few pretensions to architectural beauty.