Note 119 — San Agustin’s Letter on the Filipinos

53. They have another remarkable custom, which has been taught them by the infernal Machiavelian119 Satan, which is good for their bodies, but bad for their souls. This is that they observe very strictly the concealment of one another’s faults and wrong-doing. They endeavor to see that no transgression comes to the ear of the father minister, or alcalde, or any Spaniard. They observe this with peculiar secrecy, although they may be at enmity among themselves, and ready to kill as they say. Consequently, the most serious crime that can happen among them is to tell the father or alcalde what is passing in the village.120 They call that mabibig, because it is the most abominable fault and the only sin among them.121