The Inhabitants of the Philippines

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

38081

Title

The Inhabitants of the Philippines

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

Frederic H. Sawyer offers a favorable counter-narrative to contemporary American and Spanish critiques of the Filipino people. Drawing on fourteen years of residence in Luzon and visits across the archipelago, this work defends native intelligence, industry, and humanity against accusations of savagery and ingratitude. Sawyer details diverse ethnic groups, economic conditions under Spanish rule, and argues for a pragmatic political arrangement to secure lasting peace.

Summary up to 500 words

Frederic H. Sawyer's *The Inhabitants of the Philippines* serves as a comprehensive defense of the native population against the harsh judgments of recent American writers like McKinley and Beveridge, as well as earlier Spanish chroniclers who were often overly critical or biased. The author, having mastered both Spanish and Tagalog, lived among officials, priests, mechanics, and peasants for fourteen years in Luzon while traveling extensively to Cebu, Iloilo, and Palawan. His goal is to present a fair estimate based on direct observation rather than the prejudices of those with only brief or corrupted experiences. Sawyer systematically addresses accusations of savagery, noting that Tagals treated prisoners humanely and fought fairly compared to other groups like the Boers. He contrasts the perceived corruption of the Spanish administration—which he argues actually secured land tenure for farmers, abolished slavery, and built infrastructure like telegraphs and railways—with the rising hatred and anarchy under early American rule. The book provides a detailed ethnographic survey of major tribes including the Tagals, Pampangos, Ilocanos, Pangasinanes, Zambales, and Igorrotes. It describes their customs, religions, agricultural practices, and industries, such as sugar production in Pampanga and hemp cultivation in Visayas. The text includes extensive statistical data on the archipelago's population demographics in 1890 and a detailed breakdown of Spanish-era income and expenditure for 1896-97, highlighting that military spending consumed nearly half the revenue. Sawyer also offers specific proposals for governance, suggesting the division of the islands into distinct states based on ethnic lines (e.g., Tagal, Pampango, Visayan, and Mindanao regions) with a federal district for Manila. He concludes by urging American leaders to seek a diplomatic arrangement with the natives rather than relying solely on military force, warning that without such peace, the islands will remain in a state of continuous conflict.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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data/epubs/pg38081.epub

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Categories

• Ethnology
• Philippines -- Social life and customs