Figure 1.--This cabinet card portrait shows child labor in the Pilippines at the time that the United states seized the islands from Spain as a result of the Spanish American War (1898-99). Here we see child hat makers weaving the straw and their handiwork. They are all girls who were more careful workers than the boys. The photograph was taken at a hat factory in Pullilian, Bulacan. This is a province in Central Luzon, 11 kilometres north of Manila. With the growth of Manila, it is now part of the city. If one reads an American school text book, almost always the impresion is that it was capitalism that created child labor. In reality child labor was much more common in undeveloped countries like the Philippines which did not have modern capitalist economies. It is the capitalist countries that first passed child labor laws and founded public school systems providing free educations better utilizing the talents of their people schools and providing oportunities to all children. This photograph is undated, but was probably taken about 1900 when Americans began arriving and taking photographs. The desription on the back reads, "Hat makers and factory at Pulilian [sic.]. Girls about 10-13 years old."

We have limited information Filipino boys' activities at this time. The Philippines is a huge archepeligo. Thus boys have always had many opportunities for activities like swimming and fishing. This continues to be the case today. Religion is an important activity, although not as important as it once was. The country was still very primitive when the Spanish arrived (16th century) and other than implanting Catholoism, the Spanish influence was limited. Islam persisted in the southern islands which were never fully controlled by Spain. The Spanish did very little to develop the economy. Outside the major cities, the Spanish influence was limited. One major activity for boys was was work. Most Filipino boys worked from an early age. Most Filipinos lived in rural areas and practiced subsistence agriculture. In the more remote islands, life was still largely tribal. As a result, most boys from an early age were involved in agricultural labor. The Spanish opened schools in the cities, but few Filipinp boys attended school in rural areas. It was not until the Americans arrived (1898) that the Philippines began to develop a more modern economomy. One impact of American rule was the beginning of an extensive public school system. We have pages on Filipino schools. With the arrival of the Americans, the Philippines began to develop and this meant among other cultural trends, an interet in sports. The Americans brought baseball, but since independence, an interest in football (soccer) has grown. There was a traditional interest in martial arts. The only youth group we know of are the Filipino Scouts.

Play

We do not have much information on play activities in the Philippines. Given the cultural influences (traditinl, Sopnish, and American), they are likely to be varied. One observr describes traditional games commonly played by children which use locally available materials and instruments. Until modern times, few Filipino children because most families were poor, had manufactured toys. As aresulkt children invented games without the need of anything but the players themselves. He explains that the flexibility of a real human to think and act makes such games interesting and challenging for the children. Many of the games required a spacious area. They are thus usually played outside the homes. Some games are played or held during town fiestas in the provinces. As an archiplelago many Filipino vhildren were located close to water. Thus play inevitably included ater activities. The Spanish and Ameican influences added new gmes and play activities. It is dificult to know the origins of many ganes. Greased pole climbing is clled palosebo. We notice this is a game common in Latin America. Several of the populr gmes are stples in other countries. There has been no Philippines economic miracle as we see in the Tiger economies (Hing Kong, South Korea, Singpore, and Taiwan) and China, but the economy has developed and most Filipino children now have at last some toys. .

Religion

Religion is an important activity, although not as important as it once was. The country was still very primitive when the Spanish arrived (16th century) and other than implanting Catholoism, the Spanish influence was limited. Islam persisted in the southern islands which were never fully controlled by Spain.

Schools

We have very limited information on Filipino schools at this time. We have virtualy no information on the Spanish colonial era. We do have some information on the American colonial period. The Philippines was only the second non-Western country to have a widespread public eduction system. (The first was Japan.) As a result of the American emphasis on public education, the Philippines has a substantial functioning public education system at the time of indepependemce following World War II. The Japanese after invading the Philippines found it very difficult to get parents to have their children study in Japanese. The modern Filipino educatiion system consists of elementary school (grades 1-6), secondary school or high school (4 years), and tertiary education (4 or 5 years for a BS degree). School uniforms in the modern Philippines are common in both elementary and high schools. Many elementary and most secondary schools require uniforms. Uniforms are particularly prevalent at private schools. The kind of school uniforms that are worn in the Philippines has different variety of colors and it depends on the school what color combination they use, normally they only use two colors.

Sports

With the arrival of the Americans, the Philippines began to develop and this meant among other cultural trends, an interet in sports. The Americans brought baseball, but since independence, an interest in football (soccer), more of an international sport, has grown. There was a traditional interest in martial arts.

Water Activities

The Philippines is a huge archepeligo. Thus boys have always had many opportunities for activities like swimming and fishing. This continues to be the case today.

Work

A major activity for Philippino boys was work. Most Filipino boys worked from an early age. This was especially the case for unindustrialized, developing countries like the Philippines. Most Filipinos lived in rural areas and practiced subsistence agriculture. In the more remote islands, life was still largely tribal. As a result, most boys from an early age were involved in agricultural labor. Boys in the cities had more varied work experiences. The Spanish did very little to develop the economy. Outside the major cities, the Spanish influence was limited. The Spanish opened schools in the cities, but few Filipinp boys attended school in rural areas. It was not until the Americans arrived (1898) that the Philippines began to develop a more modern economomy. This of course affected jobs, including the work in which children were involved. And it is at this time that school begins to replace work as a primary activity for most Filipino boys. With independenc (1948) the economy did not develop as hoped. Unlike the Asian Tigers, the Philippines did not promote capitalist policies and become one of the Asian Tigers.

Youth Grouos

The only youth group we know of are the Filipino Scouts.

Created: 2:10 PM 6/7/2016
Last updated: 7:52 AM 11/23/2018