The Former Philippines

Thru Foreign Eyes

Austin Craig
DARO || YNIGUEZ
 Manila in 1819
Lieut. John White, u.s.n.
(from the History of a voyage to the china sea)
Outline
A. Background of the source and importance of the text

B. Contextual Analysis

C. COntent Analysis
Background of the text
Background on The Former Philippines Thru
Foreign Eyes
A collection of essays
Includes: Jagor's Travels in the Philippines;
State of the Philippines in 1810, by Tomas de Comyn;
Manila and Sulu in 1842, by Com. Chas. Wilkes;
Manila in 1819, by Lieut. John White;
The Peopling of the Philippines, by Doctor Rudolf Virchow;
People and Prospects of the Philippines, by An English Merchant, 1778, and A
Consul, 1878,
and Filipino Merchants of the Early 1890s, by F. Karuth.
This book was first published in Manila in 1916, especially for the use of the public schools.
Background on Manila in 1819
A narrative of John White which was taken from History of a
Voyage to the China Sea (chapters 7, 8 & 9).
Franklin January 2, 1819- Lieutenant White sailed
from Salem, Massachusetts

He had an initial contact with the local

authorities upon reaching Vung-Tau and
then moved the next day to the village of
Canjeo.

He waited for permission to proceed up the

river to Saigon..

Sadly, permission never came.

Importance of the text
The different accounts collected in the document were typically didactic
records, the main purpose being to inform the readers of the current state of
affairs.
The book as a whole is an attempt to do justice to the Filipino by setting the
comments of foreigners against those of many Spaniards
Contextual Analysis
Background on Austin Craig
Born on February 22, 1872
an American historian born in Eddyton, New York
one of the first biographers of the Philippine national hero, Jose Rizal
educated at Cornell University, University of Rochester, and the Pacific University
He arrived in Manila on July 25, 1904 as a teacher under the Bureau of Education,
taking up positions in Lubang Island; Calapan, Mindoro; in Manila at the
Philippine School of Arts and Trades, The Philippine Normal School, Manila High
School, the University of the Philippines, and the University of Manila
(1922-1927).
Background on Austin Craig
In 1910, he became the first Chair of the Department of History of the University of
the Philippines.
He was the holder of the Rizal professorial chair at the University of the Philippines
in Padre Faura from 1912 to 1922. This chair was awarded him in recognition of his
books on Rizal, the first being The Story of Jose Rizal, 1909, followed Lineage, Life
and Labor of Jose Rizal, Philippine Patriot: A Study of the Growth of Free Ideas in the
Trans Pacific American Territory.
He died on February 11, 1949 in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Background on Lieut. John White, U.S.N.
Born on Marblehead, Massachusetts in 1782
In 1806, he was elected a member of the East India Marine Society of Salem,
Massachusetts
He was also a lieutenant in the US navy, whose merchant ship Franklin, anchored
off Cape St. James on June 7, 1819
His account of voyage, entitled A History of a Voyage to the China Sea, was published
in 1823
He died in Boston in 1840 after receiving the rank of a commander
Problem/s that the document wants to address
The generalized view of the filipinos which were strengthened by
other documents written by other foreign writers
Analysis
While the people and the culture were the focus of Lieut. John Whites account, he
also devoted attention to the trade that he encountered during the course of his
travel.
The following passages bespeak his wonder at some dimensions of the Philippines.
Analysis
The first passage talks about what and how he saw the group of islands and shoals as he
entered the Philippines:
Analysis
The first passage talks about what and how he saw the group of islands and shoals as he
entered the Philippines:
Analysis
Throughout his work, White manifested admiration/amusement for the archipelago, in
which he said,
Analysis
The next passage describes the people and their way of life:
Religion.
It was believed that Christianity vastly spread when the Spaniards colonized the
Philippines, but according to what White wrote which proves that not the majority of
the Filipinos were converted to Christianity.
Analysis
People.
White mentioned that the natives are generally well made, and bear strong marks
of activity and muscular vigor. He described them as having hair of the color jet
black, which was made glossy by the constant application of coconut oil (as is the
custom in all India), and their hair were drawn together and knotted on top (just
like the manner of the Malays). Also, women display great taste in the arrangement
and decorations of their hair, which they secure with silver or gold bodkins.
Analysis
Analysis
He has also mentioned the mestizos or the mixed blood. This resulted from the
intermarriages of the Spaniards with the native women. There was also a mention
of the appearance of the mestizos.
Analysis
Economic Relations.
The Philippines seems to have had good economic relations with other countries back
then. We used to trade with several countries such as Africa, China, and Macao. In
Lieutenant Whites account, he mentioned:
Analysis
Analysis
Analysis
Meanwhile...
Analysis
The next passage talks about the Galleon trade:
 Chinese silk & porcelain, and Philippine
cloth, hemp, cigars, and wood carvings. ACAPULCO

MANILA Mexican, wines, wool,official documents

Analysis
In here, we could see that White really does admire the richness of our land, and if
we use our resource it would guarantee a success, which, in return, would be able to
make a good relationship with Spain. Spain being the one to benefit from our
resources.
Analysis
The last passage presents Whites thoughts that the Philippines has an opportunity for a
republic:
Analysis
It seems like White was trying to imply that the Spaniards don't deserve to rule over
these islands. These islands already have the capability to stand as a republic and
given the chance to stand on its own, it would be able to reach its most (possible)
desirable state of affairs. Continuation of Spanish rule in these islands would only
hinder and interfere against the island's way to what we may possibly refer to as
victory and success.
Related Document/s

White, John. History of a Voyage to the China Sea. Boston: Wells

and Lilly, Court-Street, 1823. Print.
Content Analysis
Summary
The People
The natives are generally well made and bear strong marks of activity and
muscular vigor;
Their hair is of a jet black, made glossy by the constant application of coconut
oil, as is the custom in all India, and drawn together and knotted on top, in
the manner of the Malays.
The women display great taste in the arrangement and decorations of their hair,
which they secure with silver or gold bodkins, the heads of which are frequently
composed of precious stones.
MESTIZAS

bodkin
Summary
Mixed Blood
A very considerable proportion of the population of Manila is composed of the
mestizos, who are the offspring of the intermarriages of the Spaniards with the
native women
They are very cleanly in their persons, and neat in their dress
they are more industrious and cleanly than the Spaniards, possess more
intelligence and polish than the Indians and are less malicious and revengeful
than either
Summary
Galleon Trade
The inhabitants of Manila have long enjoyed the privilege of sending 2 annual
ships to Acapulco called Galleons, Navios, or Register-Ships
Summary
Barbarous Execution
The parade ground of Bagumbayan was the theatre of this tragic comedy
I had witnessed many executions in different parts of the world, but never had
such a diabolical scene as this passed before my eyes.
Inconsistencies and Shortcomings of the Document

History of a Voyage to the China Sea

In regard to style, grammatical accuracy, and mode of arrangement, he
requests his readers to bear in mind, that this is not a book written by a
professed scholar, but the production of unlettered seaman. (found in the
books advertisement page)
Inconsistencies and Shortcomings of the Document

Manila in 1819
This was only taken from some chapters of the book (History of a Voyage to the
China Sea), hence, the full context that John White was trying to say isnt
completely expressed in Craigs work.
Thank you!