The natives of these islands employ innumerable other elegancies
and courtesies, now in actions, now in words, now in names and titles,
which they apply to themselves; these are various according to the
difference of the provinces, and are too numerous to mention, for they
are ceremonial, and they value their ceremonies highly. No one will
pass in front of another, without asking permission, and in order to
pass, he doubles the whole body with the most profound bow, at the same
time lifting one foot in the air, and doubling the knee and lifting
both hands to the face. If one has to talk to any person of higher
rank, he shows all reverence and squats down [pone en cuclillas],
with raised face, and waits thus, until he is asked his reason for
coming; for to speak without being questioned would be a point of
bad breeding. They employ many courteous acts and expressions in
saluting one another when they meet; but these do not seem to me to
be so many as in Nueva Espana, where people do not cease to use them
until they lose sight of one another in the street. The Filipinos
do this here with greater dignity and respect. When they write, they
heighten their style with so many rhetorical phrases, metaphors, and
pictures, that many who think themselves poets would be glad to do
as much; and yet this is only in prose. For, when it comes to poesy,
he who would understand it must be very learned in their language,
even among his own compatriots.

423. The names which they impose now are usually high-sounding. I
know a Pius V, and a Philipe V; and, following this custom, they take
as surnames the most honorable names of Espana. This is since they
have known Castilians. But, even before, they could rival in this the
kings of Espana; for just as the latter have been called "the Wise,"
"the Prudent," "the Chaste," etc., for the special virtues which
have made them worthy of this glory, so here in the Philipinas, they
called one "the Strong," another "the Splendid," and another "the
Terrible," according to his deeds, or to those of his ancestors, or
in accordance with various incidents that happened at birth. Now they
are introducing the custom of taking the paternal name added to the
baptismal name. However, when the first-born child comes to any one,
the latter's Christian name is forgotten; for that instant they call
the father by the name of his first-born for the rest of his life. If
the name of the first-born is Rosa, the father i