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Filippa's mother then remarked: "I have seen coconut oil, placed in a coconut shell, burning along a coconut wick, as a lamp, in a house built out of coconut stems and leaves, under a coconut grove; and the Filipino family were eating coconuts, and drinking coconut 'tuba' juice, at a table made from coconut stalks."
As I was sipping it, the Padre remarked in good humor: "Did you Americans seize the Philippines merely for a cup of cocoa?" I replied laughingly: "This cup of cocoa is so good, that I certainly would try to seize the Philippines for it." Filippa's mother and father both bowed and said I was complimentary, like a diplomat.
To keep out the sun, instead of glass, opaque mussel shells are used in the many little frames of the windows. This makes a pearly, soft light, like moonshine in the house, even on the brightest, hottest day. I noticed that women stood in the streams, and pounded clothes on smooth, round rocks. "That's our way of washing, out in nature's laundry," explained Filippa's mother.
Hungry Moro remarked: "I wish that this moment I had coconut shredded over some Bebinka cakes." "What are Bebinka cakes?" I inquired. "They are pancakes made from fermented corn and rice dough, mixed. Every Filipino is fond of them," explained Filippa's mother.
"Did you know that the coconut furnishes cloth, mats, roofs, fuel, soap oil, candy, puddings, cups, dyes, lamp oil, butter, candles, axle grease, ropes, brushes, furniture, shade, food, drink, and liquor to intoxicate," asked Filippa's mother, who was as wise as Fil's father.
It is our whitest, thinnest fiber, made from pineapple leaves, just like our handkerchiefs that I told you about. You see we starch it. It hangs down the back to a point, and it is very cool and dainty," explained Filippa's mother. "What wide sleeves!" I exclaimed. "Yes, sinamei chemisettes, or waists, have very wide sleeves, but are short to the elbow.
We walked along several narrow streets, which had bamboo blinds hung between the second stories, so as to keep out the strong sun. When we came to a certain door space, which really had no hinged door, Filippa's father moved aside the dangling ropes, made of glass and bamboo beads, which hung across the entrance. This made a tinkling noise, and attracted the workman to the front.
Then blue sediment settles in Nature's wonderful chemical way, under the strong sunlight. We drain off the water, and cut the indigo cakes into cubes." "Very well told," remarked Filippa's mother. "This is a dye which will not fade. It lasts as long as the gown. Now, Moro, I would like you to tell about mangoes and guavas and durians; for you are always eating them."
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