discovered that any
man may become wealthy, and yet all live in wretchedness. I have been
much surprised to hear that they must be ordered by edict to sow the
fields, so that the propitious season may not pass by; and that those
who allow their houses to burn are punished. Especially have I noted
that the Chinese mestizos, who are partly of the same blood as the most
diligent Chinese immigrants, are always comfortable, and some of them
have accumulated considerable wealth. This might all be in the hands
of the Filipinos, who are the most ancient inhabitants, have enjoyed
and enjoy greater protection, and have been owners of all the estates
that are now possessed by the mestizos, which the latter have bought
by the fruits of their industry and their economy. It is to be noted
that all the Chinese who come to Filipinas are very poor, and come
from a colder country. Gentil says that the Filipinos have acquired
their laziness from the Spaniards; but if they have learned indolence
from the Spaniards, why did not the mestizos learn it also, who are on
the contrary so active and industrious? Why have they not learned to
be diligent from the mestizos, since they have a more continual and
intimate intercourse with them than with the Spaniards? I conclude
by saying that after examining and weighing everything thoroughly,
I am of the opinion that there exists in the nature of the Filipino,
quite independent of any accessory and modifying cause, an element
of quiet and inertia that is but slightly neutralized by the ambition
of acquiring consideration and wealth."

[156] Delgado (pp. 309-310) says: "This happens perhaps among the
boys who serve in the convents in Tagalos and in no other missions;
and I have also seen them awakened in another manner. And although
this seems a matter for laughter among us Spaniards, it is not so
for them. For they do it in order not to make the other impatient by
waking him suddenly, and it serves among them as a kind of prudence
and respect. The game thing happens when they call at the door of
any house. But generally they enter without the formulas of etiquette."

"This is a hard fact and has been called to my attention often. For
in any other matter whatsoever, it is well understood that ignorance
makes an unpolished man appear quite distinct from a civilized
man. But when it comes to waking one who is sleeping, I cannot
conceive that wisdom, or even a knowledge of reading, can have the
least in