JAGOR

Freeday Sept. 26 3:21 A.M.
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Am sick... Again because of AIR-CONDITIONING inside a MASJID while joining TARAWIH prayers...
Might not be able to join JUMU'AH... My condition improves after taking rest/long sleep... WEAK LUNGS!

Am reading FEDOR JAGOR's TRAVEL IN THE PHILIPPINES published in 1965 by the FILIPINIANA BOOK GUILD, a book club founded by some of the BIGSHOTS in this country... It was published first in BERLIN in the 1870's...

In CHAPTER III, Jagor describes the houses, garb etc of the native Manilans. About the houses. Jagor has this to say & I quote,

"NEARLY ALL THE HOUSES AS WELL AS THE HUTS OF THE NATIVES ARE FURNISHED WITH AN AZOTEA, THAT IS AN UNCOVERED SPACE, ON THE SAME LEVEL AS THE DWELLING, WHICH TAKES THE PLACE OF YARD AND BALCONY. THE SPANIARDS APPEAR TO HAVE COPIED THIS USEFUL CONTRIVANCE FROM THE MOORS, BUT THE NATIVES WERE ACQUAINTED WITH THEM BEFORE THE ARRIVAL OF THE EUROPEANS, FOR MORGA MENTIONS SIMILAR BATALANES. IN THE SUBURBS NEARLY EVERY HUT STANDS IN ITS OWN GARDEN." pp. 17-18

Important words: "AZOTEA" & "BATALANES"

AZOTEA is simply a balcony normally fronting a two-story house & usually with railing of masonry or metalwork. BATALANES plural of BATALAN can no longer be seen in the houses of the natives. BUT I shall post some pictures in my http://aku-si-jamaal.blogspot.com showing such BATALANs in the houses in BATANGAS. This BATALAN is EXTREMELY INTERESTING regarding its ORIGINS & PURPOSE...

Further on JAGOR describes the natives dressing style... Women wear SAYA with TAPIS; HAT, TROUSERS & SHIRT for the POORER men... ECONOMIC CLASS could be distinguished from the style of dressing... Mentions of the MESTIZOS (HALF-BREEDS)...

TMNP