The Inhabitants of the PhilippinesSawyer, Frederic H.
History
The Inhabitants of the Philippines
Sawyer, Frederic H.
Ethnology -- Philippines; Philippines -- Social life and customs
The priest will of course require the youthful sinners to confess
and do penance for their previousness before he will marry them.
The marriage ceremony is a very simple one, and usually takes place
after early Mass. The priest fixes the fee according to the means
of the party; it is often a substantial one. After the ceremony
comes a Catapúsan or assembly, when the relatives and friends are
entertained. There will be music, and unless the priest disapproves
of dancing, that will be indulged in. The Augustinians mostly allow
dancing, but the Dominicans often object to it as an immoral amusement.
The house will be hung with bright-coloured cloths and paper lanterns;
the table loaded with refreshments, both light and heavy.
Wedding Feasts.
Roast pig is a standing dish at these feasts, the animal being roasted
whole, on a spit over a fire made on the ground. A professional roaster
superintends the operation, and the pig is brought to a fine even
colour all over. Sometimes there are roast turkeys or roast mutton and
kid, possibly beef cooked in various ways, surely fish of different
kinds, fresh, salted, or smoked; the indispensable boiled rice or
morisqueta, and an abundance of sweets, fruits in syrup, guava jelly,
and Dutch cheese. There will be chocolate and perhaps coffee. As to
drinks, besides some native brews, there will be Norwegian or German
export beer, or Tennant's beer in stone bottles, square-face gin,
and Spanish red wine (Vino Tinto).
Unlimited Buyo, cigarettes and cigars are provided. All these things
are hospitably pressed upon all comers, especially upon any European
present. If his politeness prevents his refusing this miscellaneous
assortment, unless he is favoured with the digestion of an ostrich, he
will rue it next day, and perhaps for several days. The worthy priest
is naturally in the place of honour, and like the wise man he mostly
is, he perhaps brings, slung under his habit, or sends beforehand,
a capacious leather bottle, with a supply of generous wine direct
from some convent vineyard on the peninsula, a pure natural wine,
undefiled and unfortified by German industrial spirit. A tall and
portly Augustine monk, in his spotless and ample white robes, presents
a very imposing and apostolic appearance, and looks quite in his place
at the head of the table. The host seldom sits down with his guests,
but busies himself attending to their wants.
CHAPTER XXIV.
TAGALS AS SOLDIERS AND SAILORS.
The houses of the well-to-do natives are large and airy, and are kept
scrupulously clean under the vigilant eye of the mistress.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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