Francisco Jose - Dusk

Some have been educated in Europe, like the insurgent leaders we are now chasing. They revere a man named Jose Rizal who was also a novelist, a doctor, a poet, and God knows what else. Naturally, the Spaniards executed him in the Luneta, which I described earlier .

You want to know how the war is going. You have read my dispatch on the battle at Mount Tirad. I did not exaggerate. It was such a heroic stand by a small band against our superior Texas Rangers. We must respect courage wherever we encounter it .

There will be those of us already here who will perhaps want to remain. Opportunities are abundant. Farming, mining, and business are possibilities .

Although you have not asked, you will perhaps want to know about our future with the Philippine people. This expensive little war is almost over. Except for some guerrilla activity in the Visayan Islands and in Sontheim Luzon, I am sure that we will secure the territory very soon. General Aguinaldo’s days are numbered; sooner or later, General Funston will get him .

And after that, we will have to stay and build .

I agree with you that we have a God-given responsibility to the world. We have worked very hard to make a great and prosperous nation and we must extend our influence beyond the two oceans. Spain is corrupt and it is right that we defeated her and took over these poor islands which have long been mired in ignorance and poverty. We will teach the Philippine people the values of our institutions, prepare them for self-government, impart to them the virtues of self-reliance and freedom. Above all, we must teach them dignity, show to them those shining pillars of democracy we have built for ourselves. These are righteous causes for which American blood has been spilled .

You will, therefore, have a splendid opportunity to do what has been ordained by destiny for us. Our future in this part of the world will be enhanced by what we will do in these Islands .

I had not meant to denigrate the natives in describing them earlier in the words of our men. I have written glowingly of their heroism at Mount Tirad; I think I should also mention here their capacity for learning, or for mimicry, if we want to condescend .

I was very surprised to find in one of the dead insurgents — he was barefoot like the rest and not in uniform, so many of the guerrillas are like this — a journal which, at first, I thought were instructions entrusted to a courier. The notations were in Spanish and Latin; my knowledge of Spanish, as you know, is excellent and my Latin, though rusty, is still good. The dead man — his name was Eustaquio Samson — had a pencil on his person; it was he who wrote in that diary as he journeyed from a place called Cabugawan to this mountain pass. He writes in awe of Mabini, the insurgent leader who was captured recently. I have a good mind to see him and tell him about Samson and, perhaps, visit as well the Samson family in Rosales. So hearken now to the last notation this barefoot soldier made about his enemy — us:

“Conquest by force is not sanctioned by God. The Americans have no right to be here. We will defeat them in the end because we believe this land they usurp is ours; God created it for us. The whole history of mankind has shown how faith endures while steel rusts.”

Think it over .

Yours ,

Tom

anahau:

Short palm tree, no taller than a man. Its leaves are made into fans, rain capes, and the like.

Apo:

Respectful form of address.

Apo Init:

The sun.

azotea:

Area attached to the rear of large homes, lacking a roof (Sp.).

bakas:

Ilokano ritual to mark the end of mourning, when Ilokanos stop wearing black.

banaba:

A tree with medicinal leaves and purple flowers.

bangcag:

A plot of land not suitable for rice. It is planted with vegetables, root crops, and/or sugarcane.

basi:

Sugarcane wine.

batalan:

Same as

azotea

, but on farmhouses, where water jars and some potted plants are placed.

benting:

A 25-centavo coin (no longer used).

bodega:

Store or house (Sp.).

calesa:

Buggy (Sp.).

carabao:

Water buffalo. The animal does not perspire, which is why it needs to soak in water or mud every day to cool off.

cartilla

(literally “primer”): The alphabet (Sp.).

carzoncillo:

Shorts for men, tied with a string around the waist, usually made of cotton, often knee-length.

catón:

Primer; a reader for children (Sp.); a teacher.

catuday:

Tree with white or pink flowers that can be eaten.

cédula:

Residence certificate (Sp.).

culibambang:

Tree with leaves like green butterflies, hence its name. It grows wild, usually on hillsides.

dalipawen:

A very tall tree, like a palm, that draws fireflies.

dal-lot:

Traditional Ilokano poetry, usually chanted.

galletas:

Biscuits (Sp.).

garita:

Measure of grain; term no longer used, as grain is measured in kilos.

gobernadorcillo:

Town mayor.

herbolario:

Native healer, who usually uses herbs.

ilustrados:

The first Filipinos, usually of means, who studied in Europe (beginning in the 1880s) in order to become “enlightened”; literally, “learned” or “well-informed” (Sp.).

inang:

Ilokano equivalent of “mama.”

ipil:

Tree usually used for firewood.

kumbento:

Part of the sacristy where the priest lives.

kusing:

Smallest monetary unit, even less than a penny (no longer used).

lomboy:

Edible fruit, like purple grapes, but with a big seed.

madre de cacao:

A shrub planted as fencing, with beautiful cherrylike flowers in dry season.

mal vivir:

Spanish name for Filipinos who fled from Spanish tyranny.

Manong:

Affectionate, respectful form of address for older brother or man. Ilokanos do not call older relatives by their given names alone.

marunggay:

Its leaves and young fruit are cooked as vegetables.

médico titulado:

Officially licensed doctor (Sp.).

micol:

Five-centavo coin (no longer used).

municipio:

Town hall (Sp.).

oración:

Prayer, usually in Latin (Sp.).

pañuelo:

A scarf worn by women, usually with the national dress (Sp.).

parunapin:

Hardwood tree.

pasyon:

The Holy Week story of the crucifixion, usually sung in verse form.

patintero:

A game usually played in the moonlight.

pomelo: