Source: Blair & Robertson, The Philippine Islands, volume 40, pp. 280-283.Translation from the Spanish by James Alexander Robertson.

 

[Subjoined to the (San Agustin) letter is the following, the origin of which we cannot account for, but which indicates the wide circulation that the letter must have had.]

 

Questions of Father Pedro Murillo [Velarde] 327 of the Society of Jesus

102. What is the Indian? Reply—The lowest degree of rational animal. Question—How many and what are his peculiarities? Reply—Twenty-one, as follows:

Pride ……….

Without honor.

Friend ……….

Without loyalty.

A drunkard……….

Without satiety.

Compassionate……….

Without mercy.

Reserved……….

Without secrecy.

Long-suffering……….

Without patience.

Cowardly……….

Without fear.

Bold……….

Without resolution.

Obedient……….

Without submissiveness.

One who practices austerities……..

Without suffering.

Bashful……….

Without sense of honor.

Virtuous……….

Without mortification.

Clever……….

Without capacity.

Civilized……….

Without politeness.

Astute……….

Without sagacity.

Merciful……….

Without pity.

Modest……….

Without shame.

Revengeful……….

Without valor.

Poor ……….

Without corresponding [mode of life ].

Rich ……….

Without economy.

Lazy……….

Without negligence.

Laus Deo.

 

Résumé of the entire letter by the said Father Murillo

 

103. The Filipino Indian is the embryo of nature and the offspring of grossness. He does not feel an insult or show gratitude for a kindness. His continual habitation is the kitchen; and the smoke that harms all of us serves him as the most refreshing breeze. If the Indian has morisqueta and salt, he gives himself no concern, though it rain thunder and lightning, and the sky fall. He is much given to lying, theft, and laziness. In the confessional he is a maze [embolismo] of contradictions, now denying proofs and now affirming impossible things. Now he plays the part of a devout pilgrim over rough roads and through the deepest rivers, in order to hear mass on a workday at a shrine ten or twelve leguas away; while it is necessary to use violence to get him to hear mass on Sunday in his parish church. They are impious in their necessities with the father, but liberal and charitable to their guests, even when they do not know them; and through that they are greatly disappointed. At the same time they are humble and proud; bold and atrocious, but cowardly and pusillanimous; compassionate and cruel; slothful and lazy, and diligent; careful and negligent in their own affairs; very dull and foolish for good things, but very clever and intelligent in rogueries. He who has most to do with them knows them least. Their greatest diversion is cock-fighting, and they love their cocks more than their wives and children. They are more ready to believe any of their old people than even an apostolic preacher. They resemble mellizas, 328 in their vices and opposite virtues. In lying alone, is no contradiction found in them; for one does not know when they are not lying, whether they are telling the truth by mistake. One Indian does not resemble another Indian, or even himself. If they are given one thing, they immediately ask for another.329 They never fail to deceive, unless it crosses their own interest. In their suits, they are like flies on the food, who never quit it, however much they be brushed away. Finally, there is no fixed rule by which to construe them; a new syntax is necessary for each one; and, as they are all anomalous, the most intelligent man would be distracted 330 if he tried to define them. Farewell.

 

327 Pedro Murillo Velarde was born August 6, 1696, at Villa Laujar, Granada, and entered the Jesuit novitiate at the age of 22. Having entered the Philippine missions, he was long a professor in the university of Manila; and later was rector at Antipolo, visitor to the Mindanao missions, and procurator at Rome and Madrid. He died at the hospital of Puerto Santa Maria, November 30, 1753. Murillo Velarde is one of the more noted among Jesuit writers. His principal works are the following: Cursus juris canonici, hispani et indici (Madrid, 1743); Historia de la provincia de Philipinas de la Compañia de Jesus (Manila, 1749); and Geographica historica (Madrid, 1752), in ten volumes. In the Historia (which work we have used freely in the present series, as material for annotation) was published his noted map of the Philippine Islands, the first detailed map of the archipelago; it was made by order of the governor of the island, Valdes Tamón, in 1734.  [back to text]

328 A kind of sausage composed of lean pork, almonds, pineapple kernels, and honey. [back to text]

329 This sentence is missing in Father Navarro's copy. [back to text]

330 Literally "lose a foothold." [back to text]

 

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