vin R. 6 Heiser and Villafranca: Albinism 497 



Disposition and character. Ability in different directions; deficiency in 

 different directions. 



Occurrence. Is the case sporadic? If not, give all possible infonnation 

 regarding similar occui-rences in the family. Are the parents related? 

 Name all the children in the family in order, marking the cases. 



What is the native v/ord for an albino? What is its literal meaning? 



What, if any, popular ideas regarding albinos? What do "the people 

 say" about them? 



Secure photograph of the subject; where possible, two views — one square 

 front, the other exact profile. [End leaflet.] 



As a result of these circulars, forty-five cases of albinos were reported 

 from seven provinces; Albay, 2; Bohol, 11; Ambos Camarines, 5; Ilocos 

 Sur, 5; Manila, 1; Pampanga, 16; Tarlac, 5. 



It is not claimed that the figures presented are correct or approximately 

 correct. It is not reasonable to suppose that on the island Province 

 of Bohol, with a population of 269,223, there are 11 albinos; while in the 

 near-by island Province of Cebu with a population of 653,729 there is not 

 a single albino, though it is probably true that albinism is more prevalent 

 in Bohol than in other provinces, as there is more "folk-lore" concerning 

 the condition. The Bohol term for albino is "bulao" from the Visayan 

 word "bulauan" which means gold. Albinos with blond hair and dark skin 

 are called "bugao" (yellow) and those who are entirely white are known 

 as "uguis" (decolorized). In this province there is a tradition of a white 

 people known as Taguibanua (cave dwellers) who once lived in the mountain 

 caves of the island, and the popular belief is that albinos are the result 

 of the mingling of these cave dwellers with the natives. 



By some of the inhabitants it is believed that a few of the Taguibanua 

 still exist, and, that whenever one is seen by a pregnant woman, an albino 

 child is the result. This latter theory is accepted in the Province of Albay 

 where there also exists a tradition of an ancient white race. 



Another theory that prevails in both of these provinces, and more or less 

 in all other provinces, is that albinism is due to some peculiar phase of 

 the moon at the moment of conception. 



In the provinces around Manila an albino is known as "anak arao," 

 "child of the sun," from the belief that the mothers of albino children 

 during pregnancy develop a "fancy" for gazing at the sun. This theory 

 is also prevalent to some extent in all parts of the Philippines. 



The accompanying table of "Albinism in the Philippine Islands" is pre- 

 sented as evidence of good faith and as a token that this office will continue 

 the investigation of this interesting subject until it can publish a reliable 

 table of albinism in the Philippine Islands. 



