The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898, Volume 36, 1649-1666: Explorations by early navigators, descriptions of the islands and their peoples, their history and records of the Catholic missions, as related in contemporaneous books and manuscripts, showing the political, economic, commercial and religious conditions of those islands from their earliest relations with European nations to the close of the nineteenth century.
History
The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898, Volume 36, 1649-1666: Explorations by early navigators, descriptions of the islands and their peoples, their history and records of the Catholic missions, as related in contemporaneous books and manuscripts, showing the political, economic, commercial and religious conditions of those islands from their earliest relations with European nations to the close of the nineteenth century.
Demarcation line of Alexander VI; Missions -- Philippines; Philippines -- Discovery and exploration; Philippines -- History -- Sources
One of the things which contributes to the increase of crime is the
prohibition in which the chiefs of the provinces find themselves
from applying corporal punishment, without the approval of the
Audiencia. For if a cause were to be made for the theft of buffaloes,
horses, etc., it would be an interminable matter. To put the Filipino
in jail is to move him to a better dwelling than his own. Then
he is given his food there, which, however little and poor it be,
will never be less than that to which he is accustomed daily. He
does not work; on the contrary he lies stretched out all day, and
that is his happiness. Besides, he finds in the same dwelling other
fellow-countrymen with whom to converse and to chew buyo. Consequently,
in the country, the idea of going to prison is very far from the
impression that it gives in España where men are always animated by
the spirit of activity and love to society. It has happened many
times and I have seen it, that prisoners escape to attend a feast
or go on a pilgrimage, and as soon as that is over they return to
present themselves. I am of the opinion that the prison ought alone
to be used as a means of detention, and that for light punishments,
the lash should be applied. The idea of beating a man is repugnant to
many philanthropic persons, for they say that such punishment is for
beasts. However, for certain people who do not know what self esteem
and honor mean, material punishments are necessary. How can one infuse
fear and aversion to crime in one who despises that powerful stimulus
for well doing? Who will tell us? This question is still disputed in
cultured Europa and the civilized English have not dared to banish
the rod from their military code. The first thing which is seen in
the hut of any Filipino is the rattan for bringing up their children,
and whoever has been in the country for some years thinks that all
the provinces would be most tranquil and free from highwaymen if less
papers were written and more beatings given.
There are over 80 advocates in Filipinas. The majority have
studied in Manila in the same manner as they did a century ago in
España. It might be said that they belong to the casuist school. The
preparation for any lawsuit is consequential and the superfluous
writs innumerable, as our system has always been to open all the
doors to the innocence of the natives; and many of the advocates
are of that same class or are Chinese mestizos. The language which
they use is often indecorous, bold, lacking in purity and idiom,
and even in grammatical construction. The Audiencia endures it as it
is the old style custom, for in times past there were few advocates
capable of explaining themselves better. The Filipinos believe that
composed and moderate writs can have no effect at court, and they
are only contented with those which are full of invective, reticence,
interrogation, and exclamation.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account