missionary, ever on the alert for his children's welfare, instructed
them in industries which, whilst occupying their time formerly spent
in abject laziness, also gave them the advantage of money making.
"As soon as the natives had become accustomed to living after
the manner of civilized beings, the friars taught them the art of
making lime, mortar and bricks and of utilizing these materials in
buildings and fortifications for the common protection against their
enemies. They instructed them in the method of tilling the virgin
and fertile soil, of utilizing the many streams of water that nature
had provided."
And yet there are those who would make us believe that the friar
missionary has done nothing to civilize the Filipinos. To whom then
do they owe the civilization they enjoy?
[75] Faith in their anting-anting; courage to maltreat and murder the
helpless and sometimes dying prisoners that fell into their hands;
and as to constancy...? The majority of the leaders eventually became
traitors to the most cherished ideas of independence. Three figures
alone stand out as really constant throughout the whole rebellion,
and these three are Aguinaldo, Mabini, and Pio del Pilar; and of these
three the most constant was Aguinaldo, a misguided man who deserves
far more honor than those who deserted him and who never thought of
raising a finger to alleviate his hard lot, a lot for which they are
morally responsible.
[76] A kind of altar on which bonfires are lighted for illumination.
[77] The name of this plant signifies that it possesses the power to
bring to life again--to resuscitate.
[78] This granting of pardon to those who should present themselves
is contained in Art. 7. of the proclamation of the Governor General
Blanco, issued on the 30th of August 1896, and which reads as follows:
"Art. 7. The rebels who present themselves to the authorities within
48 hours after the publication of this proclamation, shall be exempt
from punishment for rebellion, with the exception of the chiefs of the
seditious groups and those who relapse into those crimes. The chiefs
to whom reference is made shall be pardoned of the punishment due
them if they surrender within the fixed time suffering a punishment
immediately inferior according to grade."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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