Footwear and the Church

"Houag bobonotin ang paa sa chapin, sapagca,t, isang casalaulaan. At sa iyo, Feliza, ang huli cong bilin, ay houag mong bobonotin sa simbahan at saan man ang paa sa chinelas, at pagpilitan mong matacpan nang saya, sapagca,t, ga nacamumuhi sa malinis na mata ang ipaquita." (Do not pull your foot out of your slipper because it isn't proper. And to you Feliza, I remind for the last time, do not pull your foot out of your slippers inside the church or anywhere for that matter. Also try to make sure that your slippers remain hidden under your skirt, people might find that improper as well)

"Ang lalaqui o babaye na cun lumalacad sa simbahan, ay di nagdarahan, ang tulin ay di hamac at cun nagchichinelas ay sumasagadsad, bucod sa masamang tingnan, nacalilibang sa nagdarasal na tauo, nacapagbibigay galit at di malayo macayurac sa nan~galuluhod, ay nagpapahayag na uala sa caniyang caloob ang pagpasoc sa bahay nang Dios."(men and women who doesn't walk properly when they are inside the church - walks fast and makes this scraping noise with their slippers, distracts people who are praying. Not only do people find them irritating, they also give one the impression that they don't respect the house of God)

an excerpt from "PAG SUSULATAN NG DALAWANG BINIBINI NA SI URBANA AT FELIZA NA NAGTUTURO NG MABUTING KAUGALIAN" by Presbitero D. Modesto De Castro, 1902

"For clothing a man requires yearly--four rough shirts of guinara, costing from one to two reals; three or four pairs of trousers, at one to two and a half reals; two kerchiefs for the head, at one and a half real (hats are not worn on the south and west coasts), and for the church festivals generally one pair of shoes, seven reals; one fine shirt, a dollar or more; and fine pantaloons, at four reals. A woman requires--four to six camisas of guinara, at one real; two to three sayas of guinara, at three to four reals,and one or two sayas of European printed cotton, at five meals; two head-kerchiefs at one and a half to two reals; and one or two pairs of slippers (chinelas) to go to mass in, at two reals and upwards."

taken from "The Former Philippines thru Foreign eyes" by Fedor Jagor et at, 1816-1902