THE THIRD NOVEL OF Dr. Jose P. Rizal Ang Makamisa ay tinaguriang ikatlo sa mga nobelang isinulat ni Jose Rizal. Ito ay tinangkang isulat at tapusin ni Rizal sa wikang Tagalog. Tagalog. Ang nobela ay umiinog sa bayan ng Tulig, at nagsimula sa isang eksena ng misa na ibinigay ni Pare Agaton sa mga mamamayang sakop niya. Kabilang sa mga pangunahing tauhan ay sina Capitan u!as, Mar!ela, Capitan Tibo, "on #egun$o, Teniente Tato, at Aleng An$ay. "alawang manuskrito ang natagpuan, una ay nasa wikang Tagalog, at ang ikalawa naman ay nasa wikang %spanyol. Ang nasa wikang %spanyol na bersyon ay napagkamalang manuskrito ng unang nobela ni Rizal na &oli me Tangere Tangere kaya't tinaguriang (orra$or $e &oli Me Tangere Tangere )(alangkas ng &oli Me Tangere* Tangere* ng Pambansang Aklatan Aklatan ng Pilipinas. Taong Taong +- nang matuklasan ni Ambeth /!ampo, na noo'y konsultant ng Pambansang Aklatan, na ang $alawang manuskrito ay may iisang kuwento at walang kinalaman sa nobelang &oli Me Tangere. Taliwas sa &oli Me Tangere Tangere at %l 0ilibusterismo, 0ilibusterismo, ang Makamisa ay isinulat sa higit na nakakaaliw na paraan. Tumigil ang tugtugan at natapos ang misa ni Pare Agaton. 1umugong ang simbahan sa bulong2bulungan at saga$2saran ng mga !hinelas ng nangagsisilabas. #agilsilan #agilsilan at pawisan sa init init at antok, ang ang iba'y kukurap2kurap, ang iba'y naghihikab naghihikab at ga kumukurus pa, ay nagtutulakan nagtutulakan sa pag$ukuang ng ben$itang ben$itang nakalagay sa $alawang $alawang mangkok na pingas, malapit sa pintuan. #a pag$a$agil$ilan ay may batang umaatungal, matan$ang nagmumur3 at nagbubul4 ang labi, may $alagang naninik5, kunot ang noo't pairap sa kalapit kalapit na binata, na tila bag3 mauubusan mauubusan ng tubig na maruming tila tila na putikang tirahan tirahan ng kiti2kiti. kiti2kiti. 6ayon ang pag2aagawang maisawsaw ang $aliri, m3lahi$ man lamang maikurus sa noo, batok, puson at iba't iba pang sangkap ng katawan. Ta3s Ta3s ng mga lalaki ang hawak na salakot o sambalilo kaya, sa takot na ma$urog7 pigil na magaling ng mga babai ang panyo sa ulo at baka mahulog7 may nakukusamot na $amit, may napupunit na manipis na kayo, may nahuhulugan ng !hinelas at nagpupumilit magbalik at nang makuha, nguni't na$a$al3 ng karamihang tulak ng mga punong bayang lumalabas na ta3s ang yantok, tan$a ng kanilang kapangyarihan. Ano Ano pa't sa isang hin$i nakababati$ ng ugali sa katagalugan, ang $agil$ilang ito't pag2aagawan sa tubig a y makakatakut at maiisip na
nasusunog ang simbahan, kun$angan lamang at may ilang nagpatirang babaeng may loob sa "iyos, na hin$i lumalabas kun$i nag$arasal ng pasigaw at naghihiyawan na tila baga ibig sabihin8 9Ay, 9Ay, tingnan ninyo ninyo at kami'y mga banal. banal. 1in$i pa kami kami busog sa haba haba ng misa. Tila baga kung tatanungin ang karamihan kung bakit sila pangagaw sa tubig na yaon at an5 ang kagalingan ay marami na man$ing makasagot ang lim3 sa isang $aan. Ang siy3mnapu at lima'y $uma$aw$aw sapagka't ugali. #al:a;e ang lumabas na hin$i nagkurus muna8 mag2alkabalero ka na ay huwag ka lamang magkulang sa kaugalian. &gunit't kung sasalugsugin sasalugsugin ang loob ng lahat ng araw araw ng linggong yaong, yaong, linggo $e Pasi5n, Pasi5n, at itatanong itatanong sa marami kung an5 kaya bag3 ang ipinag$u$umali, kung ang takot na main
9 ang tanong na hin$i napigil ng isang isang matan$ang manang manang na ungab at hupyak hupyak ang pisngi, sa isang katabing kapuwa manang. At nang matakpan ang kanyang pag2uusisa sa loob pa ng simbahan, ang matan$ang manang ay ga kumurus2kurus na at nagsusmaryosep? 9 1in$i man man kam< sinubuan ng pakinabang. . . &apaano po kaya> kaya> 9 &apaano nga po kaya> &agmisa &agmisa nga po nang pa$abog, pa$abog, a? 9ang sagot sagot naman ng tinanong tinanong na isang manang manang na mataba na kumurus2kurus $in naman, bumiling pa, humarap pa sa altar at ga yumuko$ pa ng kaunti. 9 Kulang na po lamang ipaghagisan ipaghagisan ang mga kan$ila, kan$ila, a? #usmariosep? #usmariosep? 9 #iguro po'y gutom na? 9 ang sabat naman ng isang napalapit na babaing mahusay mahusay ang bihis. 9 Tingnan Tingnan nga po ninyo't hin$i man lamang binen$i!ionan ang anak ng aking alila. . . aba? 6anoon pong naibaya$ na sa kan$ila at sa ben$i!i5n, aba? "i "i sa linggo linggo pong $arating ay iuutang iuutang na naman sa akin ng ibabaya$? ibabaya$? Ikako'y hari na ngang ngang maalsan ng empa!to. Aba? %mpa!ta$o %mpa!ta$o po? Marami na pong nababasag? Ako nga'y ma$ali7 ayoko nga po ng hin$i bineben$i!ionang lahat? lahat? 6anito ang salitaan hanggang makalabas sila sa pintuan. "oon naman nagkakatipon ang mga lalaki sa pag2aabang ng mga $alagang nagsisilabas. "oon ang pulong2pulungan, $oon nagmamasi$ at napamamasi$, ang aglahian, tuksuhan at salitaan bagay sa mga nangyayari. "atapua't nang araw na iyon, ang hantungan ng salita'y hin$i ang magagan$ang $alaga, hin$i ang panahon at ang init kun$i ang pagmama$ali ng !ura habang nagmimisa. (ahagya (ahagya nang n3puna ang paglab3s ni Mar!ela, $alagang pangulo sa bayan, anak ng Capitang u!as, na nagbabaras ng mga araw na yaon. Ang Mar!elang ito'y bagong kagagaling sa Maynila, sapagka't namatay ang aling nagpalaki, kapati$ ng kanyang am3. Kaya nga't luksa ang kanyang $amit sapol sa panyong talukbong sa ulo hanggang sa me$ias na balot nang maliit maliit na paang nakikita nakikita sa mabini niyang paghakbang. paghakbang. #a tuwi$ ng katawan, sa taas taas ng ulo at sa kilos kilos at laka$ ay napaghahalata ang buko$ na kapintasan, ang malaki niyang kapalaluan. (agama't marami ang nalibang sa san$aling sumuno$ sa kanya ng tingin, bagama't natigil na suman$ali ang salitaan, nguni't hin$i rin makalimutan ang tanungan bagay sa !ura. 9&apaano kaya kaya si Agaton Agaton natin>9 ang ang tanungan ng lahat. lahat. #i Agaton Agaton natin ang tawag tawag na palayaw palayaw sa balitang pari. pari. 91in$i man maantay matapos matapos ang !antores a?
nasusunog ang simbahan, kun$angan lamang at may ilang nagpatirang babaeng may loob sa "iyos, na hin$i lumalabas kun$i nag$arasal ng pasigaw at naghihiyawan na tila baga ibig sabihin8 9Ay, 9Ay, tingnan ninyo ninyo at kami'y mga banal. banal. 1in$i pa kami kami busog sa haba haba ng misa. Tila baga kung tatanungin ang karamihan kung bakit sila pangagaw sa tubig na yaon at an5 ang kagalingan ay marami na man$ing makasagot ang lim3 sa isang $aan. Ang siy3mnapu at lima'y $uma$aw$aw sapagka't ugali. #al:a;e ang lumabas na hin$i nagkurus muna8 mag2alkabalero ka na ay huwag ka lamang magkulang sa kaugalian. &gunit't kung sasalugsugin sasalugsugin ang loob ng lahat ng araw araw ng linggong yaong, yaong, linggo $e Pasi5n, Pasi5n, at itatanong itatanong sa marami kung an5 kaya bag3 ang ipinag$u$umali, kung ang takot na main 9 ang tanong na hin$i napigil ng isang isang matan$ang manang manang na ungab at hupyak hupyak ang pisngi, sa isang katabing kapuwa manang. At nang matakpan ang kanyang pag2uusisa sa loob pa ng simbahan, ang matan$ang manang ay ga kumurus2kurus na at nagsusmaryosep? 9 1in$i man man kam< sinubuan ng pakinabang. . . &apaano po kaya> kaya> 9 &apaano nga po kaya> &agmisa &agmisa nga po nang pa$abog, pa$abog, a? 9ang sagot sagot naman ng tinanong tinanong na isang manang manang na mataba na kumurus2kurus $in naman, bumiling pa, humarap pa sa altar at ga yumuko$ pa ng kaunti. 9 Kulang na po lamang ipaghagisan ipaghagisan ang mga kan$ila, kan$ila, a? #usmariosep? #usmariosep? 9 #iguro po'y gutom na? 9 ang sabat naman ng isang napalapit na babaing mahusay mahusay ang bihis. 9 Tingnan Tingnan nga po ninyo't hin$i man lamang binen$i!ionan ang anak ng aking alila. . . aba? 6anoon pong naibaya$ na sa kan$ila at sa ben$i!i5n, aba? "i "i sa linggo linggo pong $arating ay iuutang iuutang na naman sa akin ng ibabaya$? ibabaya$? Ikako'y hari na ngang ngang maalsan ng empa!to. Aba? %mpa!ta$o %mpa!ta$o po? Marami na pong nababasag? Ako nga'y ma$ali7 ayoko nga po ng hin$i bineben$i!ionang lahat? lahat? 6anito ang salitaan hanggang makalabas sila sa pintuan. "oon naman nagkakatipon ang mga lalaki sa pag2aabang ng mga $alagang nagsisilabas. "oon ang pulong2pulungan, $oon nagmamasi$ at napamamasi$, ang aglahian, tuksuhan at salitaan bagay sa mga nangyayari. "atapua't nang araw na iyon, ang hantungan ng salita'y hin$i ang magagan$ang $alaga, hin$i ang panahon at ang init kun$i ang pagmama$ali ng !ura habang nagmimisa. (ahagya (ahagya nang n3puna ang paglab3s ni Mar!ela, $alagang pangulo sa bayan, anak ng Capitang u!as, na nagbabaras ng mga araw na yaon. Ang Mar!elang ito'y bagong kagagaling sa Maynila, sapagka't namatay ang aling nagpalaki, kapati$ ng kanyang am3. Kaya nga't luksa ang kanyang $amit sapol sa panyong talukbong sa ulo hanggang sa me$ias na balot nang maliit maliit na paang nakikita nakikita sa mabini niyang paghakbang. paghakbang. #a tuwi$ ng katawan, sa taas taas ng ulo at sa kilos kilos at laka$ ay napaghahalata ang buko$ na kapintasan, ang malaki niyang kapalaluan. (agama't marami ang nalibang sa san$aling sumuno$ sa kanya ng tingin, bagama't natigil na suman$ali ang salitaan, nguni't hin$i rin makalimutan ang tanungan bagay sa !ura. 9&apaano kaya kaya si Agaton Agaton natin>9 ang ang tanungan ng lahat. lahat. #i Agaton Agaton natin ang tawag tawag na palayaw palayaw sa balitang pari. pari. 91in$i man maantay matapos matapos ang !antores a?
9Kung ipagtulakan ipagtulakan ang misal . . . 9Pa$agis na ang $ominus pabis!um pabis!um . . . 9Totoong 9Totoong lintik na naman naman ang ating si Aton7 totoong totoong ginagawa na ang ang asal? 9Ilang pang araw araw ay tayo'y tutuwaran tutuwaran na lamang . . . 9(aka kaya kaya nagpupurga? 1in$i ko na sasalaysayin ang lahat ng mga kuro2kuro ng mga lalaki at mga aglah Ano't hinaros2haros ang misa at umungol2ungol lamang gayong kung tura'y $atihang magaling aawit at magpapakatal ng :o!es kung nag ooremus> @inalang bahala ang lahat8 misa, !antores, pakinabang, oremus at iba pang palabas at nag$umaling tila $i inuupahan. &agsisimba pa naman ang bunying si Mar!ela, ang $alagang sapol ng $umating ay $ina$alaw gabigabi ng Cura. &apaan5 nga kaya si P. Agaton at $i sinubuan ang tanang gutom sa laman ng "ios, gayong kung tura'y totoo siang masiyasat sa pakumpisal at pakinabang> #amantalang ito ang usapan ng nagagtay sa pintuan, ang mga kaginoohan nama'y nagtitipon $ahil sa pag2akyat sa !on:ento at paghalik sa kamay ng !ura alinsuno$ sa kaugalian. Kung gulo ang isip ng taong bayan sa balang kilos ng !ura at wal3ng pinagtatalunan kun$i ang ka$ahilanan, gul5 $in naman ang loob ng mga maginoo, at napapagkilalang tunay sapagka't bahagya nang mangakakibo, lalong lalo na ang Capitan, ang bunying si Cpn. u!as na totoong natitigilan. Kaiba man$in sa lahat ang umagang yaon. Ang masalita at matapang na Cpn. u!as a y hin$i makaimik. Titikhim2tikhim, Titikhim2tikhim, patingin2tingin, patingin2tingin, at tila man$in $i makapangahas lumaka$ at magpaunang para ng $ati. Ang sapantaha ng nakapupuna ay takot siya ngayon at baka may ginawang kasalanan. (alita nga sa tapang at balitang lalaki si Cpn. u!as lalonglalo na kung ang kausap ay nasasaklawan at $aig, nguni't kapag ang kaharap ay pare, kastila o alin mang may katunkulan, ay bali na ang matigas na leeg, tungo ang malisik na tingin at bulong2bulong lamang ang masigawing :o!es. 1in$i nga makapangahas si Cpn. u!as umakyat sa !on:ento at baka mabulalas ni P. Agaton. Tunay nga't magaling ang kaniyang panunuyo, walang kilos, walang ngiti, walang tingin ang pare na hin$i niya nalilining $al3 nang pagkaibig maglingko$ maglingko$ at ng makapagkapitang makapagkapitang muli. 1abang nagmimisa'y nagmimisa'y inusig ni Cpn. Cpn. u!as ang sariling sariling isip7 sagana siya sa pamisa, magagaling ang libing, halik siang palagi sa kamay ng among, kahapon lamang ay kinatuwaan pa siyang kinutusan ng pare at hinaplos sa batok $ahil sa kaniyang alay na $alawang !apong samsam sa isang tagabuki$. #umaloob sa kaniya na baka kaya nakararating sa tainga ng pare ang balitang siya'y nakabasa ng librong bawal, $iario at iba't iba pang may pangahas na isipan, at pinasukan ng takot. &guni't =bakit $oon magpapahalata ng galit sa misa> (aka kaya nakapagsumbong ang kanyang $atihang katalo, ang mayamang si Cpn. Tibong Tibong kapangagaw niya sa pagbabaras> @alang @alang iba kun$i ito, kaya nga ng kaniyang suliapan ay masaya ang mukha ni Cpn. Tibo at tila uumis2umis pa. Pinangilangan Pinangilangan nga, humiging sa kanyang tainga ang bulas na mabagsik, ang sigaw at mura. &akinikinit3 niyang Kapitan na si Cpn. Tibo Tibo at siya'y siya'y wala nang katungkulan7 katungkulan7 pinagpawisan ng malamig at tumingin ng mahinuho$ sa upuan ng kaniyang kaaway. kaaway. Malungkot ngang lubha ng matapos ang misa at lumabas siyang parang nananaginip. &anulak sa pagsasagilsilan, sumawsaw ng ben$ita at nagkurus ng wala sa loob, palibhasa'y malayo ang kaniang isipan. &akarag$ag pa ng kaniang takot ang mga usapan ng tao at ang mga kuro2kuro at akala sa ikinagagalit ng !ura. Para ng isang na$a$al3 ng baha na walang makapitan si Cpn. u!as ay lumingap2lingap lumingap2lingap at humahanap ng abuloy.
Kintal sa mukha ng lahat ang may libak na taw4, ang ngising masakit sapagka't poot sa kaniya ang lahat niyang sakop at sawang2sawa na sa kaniya ang bayan. #amukha lamang ng isang tagasulat tila niya nasiglawan ang awa, sa mukha ni Isagani, nguni't awang walang kibo, awang walang kabuluhan, paris ng awang nakaguhit sa mukha ng isang larawan. Bpang mailihim ang pangamba at takot, ay nagtapang2tapangan at naggalitgalitan. &agmasi$ sa paligi$ at naalala ang utos ng !ura tungkol sa susuno$ na linggo $e Ramos. Pinagwikaan nga ang mga !abisa at inusig sa kanil3 ang kawayan at haliging gamit sa M3ligay. Tinamaan silang lahat ng lintik at ang ibig nila'y makagalitan ng !ura. Palibhasa'y hin$i sila ang mananagot. Ano ang ginagawa ng mga kinulugan at hin$i nagpahakot ng kawayan> Itatali ba nila sa langit ang tol$a> Ipahahampas niya silang lahat ng tig2iisang !aban kapag siya'y nakagalitan ng !ura sa kagagawan nila. . . Iba't iba pa ang sinabi at sa paggagalit2galita'y nang matapos ay tunay na ngang galit. Ang sagot ng mga kabisa'y may panahon pang labis, sapagka't kung ipaputol aga$ ang kawayan at haligi'y matatalaksan lamang, siyang ikagagalit ng among at baka sila'y hagarin ng palo, paris na nga ng Can$elariang nag$aan. #a ngalan ng !ura, hin$i na nakaimik si Cpn. u!as, lalong lalo na nang mabanggit ang paghahanga$ ng palo. &akinikinita niya na baka naman siya hagarin, at tila man$in naram$aman rin niya sa liko$ ang kalabog ng garroteng pamalo. &anglambot at nag2akalang umuwi't mag$ahilang maysakit, nguni't sumili$ sa loob niyang baka lalong magalit ang pari $ahil sa $i niya paghalik sa kamay. Maurong masulong ang kaniyang kalooban, kunot ang noo, ang $alawang $aling noong kaloob sa kaniya ng "iyos? nagtatalo ang loob niya sa $alawang takot, sa bulas ng !ura na kaharap ang lahat, at sa galit ng !urang hin$i siya papagkapitaning muli. #iya ngang pag$ating ng isang alila ng pareng nag$u$umali. 9"ali na po kayo9 ang sabi sa Capitan9at kayo po ay inaantay. Totoo pong mainit ang ulo ngayon? 91a, inaantay ba kami9ang sagot na baliw ni Cpn. u!as, na matulig2tulig9/y? "ali na kayo9 ang sabi sa mga kabisa9narinig na ninyo8 tayo raw ang inaantay. . . 9Aba, kayo po ang inaantayan namin, ang sagot ng mga kabisa9kanina pa po kaming. . . 9Kayo ang hin$i kukulangin ng sagot. . . "ali2$aling lumaka$ sila, tahak ang patio tungo sa !on:ento. Ang kaugalian ng $ati'y pagkamisa, ang mga kaginoohan ay umaakyat sa !on:entong ang $aan ay sa sa!ristia. &guni't binago ni P. Agaton ang ugaling ito. #a kaibig3n niyang matanghalan ng lahat ang paggalang sa kaniya ng bayan, ipinagutos na lalabas muna ng simbahan at $oon mag$araan sa patio, hanay na mahinusay ang mga kaginoohan. umaka$ na nga ang mga puno, nangunguna ang Kapitan, sa kaliwa ang teniente mayor, Tenienteng Tato, sa kanan ang Juez $e Paz na si "on #egun$o. Magalang na nagsisitabi ang mga taong2bayan, pugay ang takip sa ulo ng mga tagabuki$ na napapatingin, puno ng takot at kababaan sa gayong mga karangalan. Tinunton nila ang malinis ng lansangang tuloy sa pintuan ng !on:ento. Tanim sa magkabilang tabi ang sari2saring halamang pangaliw sa mata at pagamoy ng balang nag$araan. Ang mapupulang bulaklak ng gumamelang pinatitinka$ ng ma$ilim na murang $ahon, salitan ng maliliit na sampagang naggapang sa lupa, nagkikislapan sa masayang sikat ng araw. Katabi ng walang kilos na kala!hu!heng huba$ sa $ahon at masagana sa bulaklak ay wawagawagayway ang a$elang taglay ang masamyong amoy7 ang $ilaw na haluan ng #. 0ran!is!o, at ang $ahon mapula ng $epas!ua'y kalugu$ lugo$ kung malasin sa. . .
&guni't ang lahat ng ito'y hin$i napupuna ng mga maginoo, sa pagtingin nila sa bintana ng !on:entong paparoonan. (ukas na lahat ang mga $ungawan, at tanaw sa $aan ang loob na maaliwalas. #apagka't sa kaibig3n ni P. Agatong ipatanghal ang pagpapahalik niya ng kamay ay pinabubuksan kung araw ng linggo ang lahat ng bintanang lapat na palagi kung alangang araw. Kaya nga't malimit pang lumapit siya sa bintana at $oon umupo habang nagpapahalik, samantalang kunwari'y nagmamasi$masi$ sa mga $alagang lumalabas sa simbahan. &atanawan nila sa malayo ang mahagway na tin$ig ng pare na palaka$laka$ ng matulin, taliko$ kamay at tila baga may malaking ikinagagalit. Pabalikbalik sa loob ng salas at minsanminsang tumitingin sa $aan, at nasisiglawan ang kintab ng taglay na salamin. &ang makita man$in ang pag$ating ng mga maginoo'y tila natigilan, napahinto sa pagpapasiyal at lumapit at $umangaw. 6a tumango ng tangong inip, at saka itinuon ang $alawang kamay sa babahan. &agpugay aga$ si Cpn. u!as. &agma$ali ngang tinulinan ang laka$. #umik$osik$o ang loob at $umalangin sa lahat ng santong pintakasi at nangako pang magpapamisa, huag lamang siyang makagalitan. &ang makaakyat sa hag$anan ay sinalubong sila ng isang alilang nagsabi ng marahan. 9Kayo po raw ay magsiuwi na, ang wika ng among. 9At bakit>9ang tanong sa mangha ni Cpn. u!as. 96alit pong galit. . . Kanina pa po kayo inaantay. #abihin ko raw sa inyong siya'y hin$i bihasang mag2antay sa kanino man. &amutla si Cpn. u!as at kaunti nang himatayin ng ito'y marinig. &autal at hin$i nakasagot kapagkaraka, nagpahi$ ng noo, at sumalig sa bunsuran. 96alit ba. . . ano ba ang ikinagagalit> 9%wan po?9 ang bulong ng alila.9wala pong makalapit. Inihagis po sa !o!inero ang tasa ng !hoolate. &agpahi$ na muli ng noo si Cpn. u!as, at hin$i nakaimik. 9#i aleng An$ay. . . narian ba> 9ang naitanong na marahan. 9&arito po, nguni't nakagalitan pati9 ang sagot ng alila. At i$inugtong na marahangmarahan8 9#inampal po? &apanganga si Cpn. u!as at nawalan ng ulirat. #inampal si aleng An$ay? Pinutukan man siya sa tabi ng lintik ay hin$i man totoong nagulat paris ng marinig ang gayong balita. #inampal si aleng An$ay, gayong si aleng An$ay lamang ang sinusukuan ng !ura. May tumikhim sa loob. 9Kayo'y umuwi na at baka kayo marinig ng pare ay kayo'y hagarin?9ang i$inugtong ng alila. 1in$i na ipinaulit ni Cpn. u!as ang hatol ng alila7 nanaog na $ali$aling kasuno$ ang lahat na maginoo sa takot na baka siya labasin ni P. Agaton na $ala ang garrote.
&ang makalabas na ay nagisipisip upan$ing pagsaulan ng loob. &agpahi$ uli ng mukha at nang may masabi sa kanyang mga kasama'y nagwika8 9&apaano kaya si P. Agaton> 9&apaano kaya>9ang sagot ng tenyente mayor. 9#iya nga, napaano kaya?9ang tanong ng Juez $e Paz. At nagtuloy silang lahat sa Tribunal. Tunay nga't hin$i biro2biro lamang ang galit ni P. Agaton. &ang makamisa at matapus magalbot ang lahat na isinoot, nakyat sa !on:entong $ali$ali, umupo at mag2aalmosal, at nang mapaso ng !ho!olate ay inihagis sa !o!inero ang tasa. #i aleng An$ay, na bagong kagagaling sa misa, at soot ang naipagbiling !an$ila, at kaya nga binigyan pa nang kaunti nang nagkahuloghulog. Kaya nga't $ali$aling nanaog at umuwi sa bahay. @alang makaalam sa buong !on:ento ng $ahilang sukat ikagalit ng !ura. Malamig pa ang ulo niaong bago magmisa, umumis pa sa sabing marami ang naipagbiling kan$ila, at kaya nga binigyan pa ng isang salapi ang sa!ristan mayor. Ano ang namalas habang nagmimisa na hin$i niya minagaling> Puno ang simbahan ng tao7 ang lalong magagan$ang $alaga'y nangagluho$ na malapit sa altar at si Mar!ela'y baga't malayo man ay tanaw $ing tanaw sa malayo, katabi ni aleng An$ay sa luhuran. Ang sakristyan mayor ay walang sukat masabi. 1in$i man ugali ni P. Agaton ang $aanan ng sumpong na para ng ibang pare. Karaniwa'y mahusay, masaya at matuwain, lalo na kung marami ang pamisa, magagaling ang libing at nasusuno$ ang lahat niyang utos. May sampong taon nang !ura sa bayan ng Tulig7 $umating na bata pa, $alawampu't walo lamang ang tan$a, at sa panahong ito'y nakasun$o niyang totoo ang bayan. Tunay at mainit nang kaunti ang ulo, magaling mamalo kapag nagagalit at may ilang mahirap na ipinatapon sa malayo at ipinabilanggo nang taunan7 nguni't ang lahat nang ito'y maliliit na bahi$ kung matatabi sa mabubuti niyang kaugalian. #iya ang takbuhan ng tao sa bayan sa anumang kailangan sa !abe!era7 siya ang sinusuyo ng sinumang ibig magbaras o may usapin kayang ibig na ipanalo. #iya ang puno, siya ang tanggulan, siya halos ang kalasag nang bayan sa anomang marahas na pita ng ibang pinuno. Tunay nga't may kalikutan ng kaunti sa babae, lalong lalo na yaong kabataang bagong ka$arating, nguni't wala naman sukat na masabi sa kaniya ang bayan7 naipakasal na mahinusay, pinabahayan at binigyan ng puhunan ang lahat niyang ginalaw, alin na kaya sa ibang binata na nakasira't hin$i nakabuo, at saka ang isa pa'y tumahimik nang lubos sapul ng makakilala si aleng An$ay, ngayon na nga lamang na umuwi ang Mar!ela na galing sa Maynila, ngayon na nga lamang tila nagugulong panibago, malimit ang pag$alaw sa bahay, ugali't magan$a ang $alaga, kaibigan ang ama at wala pa namang sukat na masabing higit sa karaniwan. Tunay nga $uma$aing ang ibang mahirap at tumatangis sa kamahalan ng libing, binyag at iba pang upa sa simbahan $atapua't talastas ng marami na kailan ma'y ma$a$aingin ang mahirap at sa katunayan nga'y ang mayayama'y busog sa kanilang !ura at tila pa man$in nagpapalaluan ng pagbaya$ ng mahal sa kanilang pare. Mutya nga halos ng bayan ang bunying !ura kaya nga't walang alaala ang tanan kun$i pagaralan ang lahat niyang nasa at pangunahang tuparin ang lahat niyang utos. Agawan ang lahat ng paglilingko$ sa kanya, palaluan ng alay at sa katunayan ay saganang palagi ang !usina't $espensa sa !on:ento7 sa !ura ang maputi at bagong bigas, sa !ura ang
matatabang manok, ang malalamang baka, ang baboy at usang nahuli sa bating, ang ibong nabaril, ang malaking is$ang nahuli sa $agatan, ang matabang ulang at ang mga masasarap at mabubuting bunga ng kahoy. (uko$ pa sa mga han$og na ito ng mayayaman, na ikinabubuhay ng pare na walang gasta at ng kaniyang mga alila ay suno$suno$ pang $umarating ang mga panyong habi, ang mga talaksang kahoy ng tagabuki$ na walang sukat maialay, ang lahat na panunuyo nang nagkakailangan, sa napabilanggong ama, sa hinuling kapati$, sa sinamsam na hayop ng 6uar$ia Ci:il, sa ipalalaka$ na kamaganak sa Cabe!era na hin$i maalaman ang $ahil. #a lahat nang ito'y isang sulat lamang, isang pasabi o isang salita kaya ng !ura'y nakaliligtas ang napiit, nakauwi ang hinuli, nasasauli ang hayop at napapanatag ang natitigatig na bahay. @ala namang sukat masabi ang tao sa kay aleng An$ay, subali'y puri pa at galang ang kinakamtan niya. #apagka't sa totoong mahihigpit na bagay, sa mga nakawan o harangan kaya, si aleng An$ay ang takbuhan ng mga mahihirap at sa pamamagitan niyang mabisa'y walang napapahamak, walang natitimba, walang na$u$uruhagi. Kaya nga't kung ang tingin sa !ura'y parang isang "ios na ahit ang ulo, ang tingin kay aleng An$ay ay parang isang may puso na Dirhen, maawain at mura2mura pa sa ibang Dirheng kahoy na sinasampalatayahan. "i sukat nga pagtakhan kung magulo ang Tulig sa naram$amang galit ng !ura. Kung biglang magitim ang masanting na araw, matuyo kaya ang masaganang batis at maglaginitan ang mga kabun$ukan, sino ang $i mababalisa at papasukan ng takot> #i P. Agaton ay sa mga taga Tulig ay mistulang araw na masilang, matamis na batis, masamyong amihan, masaganang kabun$ukan at buko$ sa rito'y ama pa ng kaluluwa. 1in$i man lamang sumagimsim sa loob ng sinumang baka si P. Agaton ay nauulul2ul. Masisira muna ang ulo ng lahat bago ang isipan ni P. Agaton7 susumpungin ang lahat. Kaya nga't sa tribunal, makatapos ang misa'y walang ibang pinagusapan at pinagpulungan ang mga kaginoohan kun$i ang $ahilang ikinagalit ng !ura. Magtatalo man at maghimutukan ay wala silang sukat na matuklasang $ahilan, walang sukat masabi kun$i ang ating kura ay galit. #apagka't nabalitaang nasampal si aleng An$ay ay wala man$in silang. . . (B/"8 Ang Makamisa ay isang nobelang tinangkang isulat at tapusin sa wikang Tagalog ni "r. Jose Rizal. Ang kuwento ay umiinog sa bayan ng Tulig, at nagsimula sa isang eksena ng misa na ibinigay ni Pare Agaton sa mga mamamayang sakop niya. Kabilang sa mga tauhan ng nobela sina Capitan u!as, Mar!ela, Capitan Tibo, "on #egun$o, Teniente Tato, at Aleng An$ay. Taliwas sa &oli Me Tangere at %l 0ilibusterismo, ang Makamisa ay isinulat sa higit na nakakaaliw na paraan.
Makamisa: Rizal's Third Novel [Full Text] Makamisa During the Sanctus Veus, Sanctus Fortis, Capitana Barang nudged the f at woman next to her, the one lying on the floor, leading the prayers. "Mana Seia! Mana Seia" Capitana Barang exclaimed, interrupting Seia#s prayers. "Santus talis..." murmured Mana Seia "!serere nois" ruing her eyes and ma$ing the sign of the cross across her chest. "Mana Seia... Mana Seia did you see it%" Capitana Barang as$ed with alarm. "See what%" Mona Seia replied, half&awa$e. "'ur parish priest, (adre )gaton )y he pushed the missal." "*oo$" Mana Seia yawned, her mouth wide open, re+ealing teeth lac$ened y uyo. She raised her head and got up, olting herself awa$e. -ow wide awa$e, Mana Seia $nelt to see the proceedings etter. She saw nothing. Being short, she could not see anything, except the flic$ering candles set on two ciriales in front of the -uestra Seora / serious, morena and symmetrical in her gilded sil+er +estments in the center niche of the retalo. 0here must ha+e een something u nusual happening that day, ecause all the women cast $nowing glances at each other and made small hand gestures, as$ing silent yet expressi+e 1uestions. "2ue paso, Capitano Barang%" Mana Seia as$ed, staring lan$ly into the Capitana#s face. "3hat#s happening%" she repeated, again trying to glean an answer from Barang#s face. ")y 4t. seems..." ) few measures of music still remained to e sung y the choir when the swinging censer, together with the pealing of the tiny ells from the sacristy, ga+e e+eryone a +igorous signal indicating the end of the Mass, 0he Mass was o+er, and e+eryone could now go home. 0hose who had fallen asleep ecause of the interminale and uncomfortale heat egan to rise5 stretching their lims to awa$en their still&sleepy odies. 0he hea+y suffocating atmosphere was aggra+ated y a tempest of sounds, 0he air seemed filled with a mixture of e+aporated sweat, exhaled air, candle smo$e, human stench, and the scent of incense. 3 ith each whiff of incense, Mana Seia ga6ed at the curtains closing on the altar. "3hat happened% 3hat#s the matter%" she as$ed, stri$ing her chest each time the ell sounded. But then Capitana Barang did not reply. She simply made a couple of signs of the cross, each time stri$ing her chest so hard she was unale to hear herself. 0he strings of the ass fiddle, the sound of the wind 4nstruments and the pistons of the rass instruments resounded li$e war trumpets. 0he clarinets lared, the flutes whistled, and the saxophone sounded li$e the hoarse +oice pf a drun$en person. 0he whole floc$ was in a fren6y in the midst of these sounds, with
small ells tin$ling furiously at the end of the Mass producing a commotion a$in to that of hells around mules on the loose. 0he ells in the tower egan to chimed. 0he small ells shrie$ed li$e giddy college girls away from their studies and on a field trip, while in the center of the tower the huge ell called Sta. Cecilia tolled solemnly, her sound maestic li$e an old Mother Superior trying to contain the uproar. 7er +oice seemed to follow the pealing of the small ells, seemingly saying8 "Calm down... calm... calm..." (adre )gaton, howe+er, did not wait for the curtains to drop and co+er the altar completely when he handed the censer to the sacristan and left in a huff, disappearing into the sacristy, preceded y the huge candlestic$s held y earers, followed y magnificently dressed acolytes. 0he Mass had ended. 0he chiming of the church ells ecame wea$er and then slowed,, down, as if trying to impose silence on the furious sounds which had followed the end of the Mass. 3ay up in the elfry, the ells were +igorously pealing, one after the others while the huge ell called St. Cecilia carried a way y rapture $ept ringing as if it were animating the small ells instead of calming them. "Sing, sing, sing," its metal tongue repeatedly intoned. 0he people who filled the church to the rafters egan to mo+e out as soon a s they had made the sign of the Cross. Suddenly there was a great commotion among the people inside the church. 0he men stood up and shoo$ off the dust and grime from their $nees with their hand$erchiefs, producing a tumultuous noise, while the women gathered up the hems of their sayas and tapis, then shoo$ the dust off their clothes y slapping the undersides with their palms. 0hen, turning aout as if they were dancing to the tune of the music, the children started crying loudly while the tapestries, draperies, and curtains agitated y so much commotion $ept swaying5 the tiny flames seemed to e dancing o+er the candlestic$s ecause of the whirling wind. 9+eryone inside the church seemed to e in a desperate mood8 0he sacristans mo+ed to and fro5 the e+angelists on the altar with unelted waists and one foot ad+ancing seemed disposed to follow the crowd y imitating the poses of the images of the saints on the side altars. San Seastian had the air of a dancer with castanets in his hands5 San Miguel the )rchangel executed a difficult pass o+er the head of the de+il. 'nly the image of the :esus -a6areno had a serious mien, as it $nelt on its ugly, unadorned carriage. 0he -a6arene seemed to e ga6ing strangely toward the choir, scandali6ed y such profanity. 4n this surprised posture he seemed to e unmindful of the hea+y Cross he ore, which had een donated y Mana Seia, and recently +arnished and gilded. 0he Mater Doloroso, our *ords faithful companion in 7is *enten sufferings, could e seen eside him with her head slightly owed, shedding crystal tears. Beneath her hands, f olded de+outly to express her sorrows, was her heart. 4t was engra+ed in her osom and shaped li$e a $asuy. 7er statue was co+ered with a lac$ mourning +eil through out (assion Sunday. ) loud drumeat signalled the end of the religious affair, and the people responded with great reoicing. 0hey hastily got up, pushed the doors open then rushed out, ostling one another toward the exit. 0he women murmured, shrie$ed, and ecame irritated when their feet were trampled upon and their a rms pinched y unseen hands in the crowd. )ll of a sudden, a man would leap, pinched y an old woman whose long s$irt he had inad+ertently stepped on, while in another corner one could hear the sound of a loud slap on the face of someone followed y curses. )a Sal+ae was the angry shout directed to a waggish old man. Some women alleged that there were really men who ta$e ad+antage of such a tight and pac$ed situation in order to ause them. 7ere and there one could hear the nasal mumling of an old woman praying her no+ena together with a lay rother leading an association of eatas, while o+er there you could see a young maiden rushing. 0he children $ept crying loudly. ) confused muttering multitude momentarily stayed inside the church.
Meanwhile Capitan (anchong a mar of medium uild, stout and around ;< to => years old came y, pushing, trampling upon e+eryone else#s feet, clearing the crowd with his cane, while his followers, their shirts soa$ed in perspiration, elowed each other in a race to the door, raising their hats and sala$ot ao+e their heads to $eep them from eing crushed and to defend themsel+es from eing moed y the crowd. 0hen Capitan (anchong. as if to stop a tempest, stepped toward the holy&water font, dipped in his finger, made the sign of the Cross, genuflected, and later disappeared. 'nce more the crowd resumed their struggle for the exit. Capitana Barang and Mana Seia oth got up, anxious to exchange impressions and o ser+ations aout the rites. Mana Seia, ao+e a ll, could not satisfy her curiosity8 "Bendito y alaado sea... 3hat happened to our parish priest%" "0o our curate% )+e Maria (urisima" "Sin pecado conceida ", she answered loo$ing intently at Menang. ")+e Maria purisima" "7e pushed the Missal, Mana Seia" "7e pushed it% )+e Maria" "7e refused to less )nday#s daughter. )a )nd thin$ of it, Mana Seia, the stipend for the candles and lessing had een paid in ad+ance, ut then the money has not een returned to them. ) peso and half a real, Mana Seia" ") peso and half a real, Capitana Barang" "?es, a peso and half a real. ) peso for the lessing and half a candles. 4 $now ecause 4 lent her the money." "So you were the one, Barang% )nd you said that )nday owed such an amount%" ")y se+enty&three pesos plus another peso and a half this morning. But how could she use it for such holy things%" "7ow can you as$ him to less the ay when she was crying while her mother was praying the rosary% ?ou $now, 4 thin$ that girl has een possessed y the de+il since the age of one. )y she will ecome wic$ed li$e her mother." "But why is the mother wic$ed%" ")a, Mana Seia She did not want her child to e lessed y the priest ecause she owed me much money, so 4 threatened to throw her out of our house at once ecause, Mana Seia, 4 don#t li$e wic$ed people staying with me. 0hey eget misfortune." ")h, so that#s the reason why she presented herself at our home and egged me to hire her as our maid. :esus 3ho would want to employ a maid with a child% Ser+ants should not ha+e children." "0hey are all rotten )+e Maria purisima" "Sin pecado conceida," answered Mana Seia. )t that moment, the people rushed toward the holy&water font. 0hey dipped their forefingers into the font, and with a grimace made the sign of the Cross on their foreheads, faces, and chests, mumling prayers and then left the church.
'utside, in the patio, all the men were noisily discussing and commenting on what had happened during the Mass. Fura, a arrio fixture, was relating to his neighor a story aout Clodio, a rustic old man, a heathen, a notorious heretic, who used to eat the images of the saints when he was in a foul mood. 'ld Clodio attended church ut once a year and that only out of curiosity. 7e always left the church immediately efore the final lessing5 thus, it was widely elie+ed that he contracted s$in disease and lost the powers of his anting&anting due to his profane and unelie+ing eha+ior. Fura related and e+en imitated with gestures how the parish priest pushed the missal away, as well as the manner in which (adre )gaton er$ed the censer. "Clodio," Fura said, "e now con+inced that you ha+e missed a great thing in life ?ou may ne+er see anything li$e it again." Clodio laughed moc$ingly. "7ey," he answered, "4 ha+e said it, f or me5 4 really don#t care to wait for the final lessing." Fura replied, "Do you $now why you ha+e scaies% Because you refuse to e lessed y the parish priest." 0hey could see the groups of curious people loitering around the main entrance of the church all commenting on the same topic, well as the line of women passing, who were also tal$ing aout the same suect. 0hey added details, some exaggerated in. retelling things, while others in+ented conectures. For the people of (ili nothing was more important than the mo+ements of their parish priest. 0he whole of 9urope could e at war, science could come with the most useful disco+eries, the most humanitarian principles in matters of law and sociology could e enunciated / all this to the people of (ili was mere rice chaff as long as Fray )gaton continued to e Fr. )gaton, and his handsome forehead did not dar$en with his terrile frown, 0he people of (ili had good reason to thin$ this way. 3ars did not directly affect Fr. )gaton#s life. 7e considered modern principles a dismal disturance for the great maority of people, li$e light for dull and dormant minds. More than the existe of @od, more than the sun, science or e+en their destiny / nothing was more important for the people of (ili than Fr. )gaton their famous parish priest, feared y the whole pro+ince / from the miserale rural f ol$ to their presumptuous go+ernor. Fray )gaton despite his age still loo$ed young. 7e maintained fame for eing extraordinarily ra+e and energetic. 9+er since he had arri+ed in town, he tried to dominate the people completely y re1uiring total oedience from them. 4n the se+enteen years that he had exercised his ministry, Fr. )gaton#s fame was not only confirmed, it also increased tremendously. 7e was apparently a good young achelor with an arrogant earing and a manly physiognomy. 7is head was always erect, as 4f puffed up with pride, which perhaps could not inspire respect, except for some $ind of consideration ecause of his ministry, 7e was endowed with a taurine force and an unlimited audacity, and was confident in the support of the religious order to which he elonged. 7e dared to challenge all his enemies and ta$e their lands. 7e relied mostly on the strength of his fists, the garrote, the law, the decisions of the triunals and udges in whom he inspired mysterious terror. )ll the alcaldes and go+ernment employees who crossed him were dismissed from the ser+ice. 0he lieutenants and e+en commandants of the @uardia Ci+il who dared disoey him openly were either relie+ed of or reshuffled in their positions. Some of the residents were exiled. 4ndeed, no p roect or acti+ity in the pro+ince could e done without consulting the parish priest, for nothing could e accomplished without his appro+al. 'n the other hand, he who was fortunate enough to fall into his good graces could li+e peacefully and securely, as if all the saints in the celestial court had come down to protect him,
Furthermore, Fr. )gaton was a model parish priest. 7e was always clean, neat, elegant in his, manners5 refined, dignified in front of high authorities5 imposing and maestic to his peers. 7e maintained his prestige in the religious order to which he elonged and upheld all principles that would $eep the priesthood in the people#s high esteem. 0he town of (ili is located near the crater of an inacti+e +olcano. 4t has hot springs and waterfalls fre1uently +isited y many people. )ll tra+elers and foreigners who +isited (ili mentioned (adre )gaton in their writings. 0his priest was always cited as a pa ragon of +irtues, gentlemanliness and courtesy. )s a to$en of his singular +irtues, his enthusiastic rothers had exalted him further y recommending him to a ishopric se+eral times, ut he declined. For this act of seeming self&anegation his order praised him to the stars. 3hy refuse a mitre during those times when e+eryody seemed to e dancing and prancing for such a nole and lofty position% 7is close supporters nodded their heads in admiration, while his ri+als, as well as some ishops, it their lips and smiled wanly "Modesty, it#s true modesty" a newly&consecrated ishop exclaimed ) ishop commented further that "as a simple priest it is easier to administer and shine spiritually in a town, rather than go+ern with decorum as a prelate in a place where force is needed in order to e successful. Bear in mind that only a screen hides apparent modesty from pride." 9+en the de+il, not wanting him made a ishop, wished that this $ind of reaction from the people would e $nown to Fr. )gaton, so he himself could appraise them and gi+e the corresponding response. 4t would e foolish pride for him to aspire to ecome a ishop. "4t#s really pride 7e is right then." (eople thought8 "7e can#t degrade himself too much." Fr. )gaton used to say Mass with much grace and dexterity. 7e had a eautiful aritone +oice and according to his protAgAs and admirers, his studied manners, gestures and mo+ements seemed rehearsed in front of a mirror. )s a parish priest, he noly performed his a+owed duties, that is, he would ne+er degrade his profession with tri+ial matters. 7e confided delicate things only to persons of unlemished reputation select and trustworthy clients and those of high social standing, who would surely not commit ignole and mean actions. 7is delicate sense of hearing seemed to choose only elegant and delightful sins. ?ou would ne+er see him officiating at the funerals poor people anymore, of those unworthy of his dignified position. But for the wealthy there would e a solemn and pompous ceremony for the dead, with all the ells tolling funeral dirges, a tom or catafal1ue co+ered with lac$ cloth, and&the air en+eloped in the fragrance of incense. 0here, you could see him maestic and imposing etween two assistant indio priests or co&adutors, singing the psalms and lamentations soulfully in his eautiful aritone, sprin$ling the cada+er with some drops of holy water. 4t was enough to see Fr. )gaton officiate at solemn rites to e con+inced that @od could not condemn e+en the most hardened sinner. 7e would not preach for less than ;>> pesos, nor administer the sa+ing sacrament of aptism for less than twel+e pesos. 7e used to perform ordinary aptisms for this amount. 0wel+e pesos was re1uired to hire the musicians, for the display of firewor$s, for the ringing of the ells, and to get Fr. )gaton to personally administer the sacrament of aptism. 0he indios could die without confession if that was their wish ut Fr. )gaton would not aolish such a salutary institution. 7i re1uested that he e ta$en e+en to the miserale caaas with cogon roofs in the distant arrios. 7is primary concern was the prestigious position of the priesthood and the eternal care of souls, without which religion would e easily ta$en away from the people y mere malicious ad+ice or information from others. 7ence, this priest, Fr. )gaton, was honored and respected y e+eryone and his fame as a refined and gentle friar ecame 1uite pro+erial. 0he town fiesta which was not attended y Fr. )gaton was loo$ed upon with a grimace of scorn or disdain, li$e the reunion which was not sanctified y his presence. )ll
$inds of sacrifices were made5 the last peso $ept in their chests was ta$en out in order to e apti6ed, to e married or to e uried y the parish priest. 0hese rituals were considered a luxury y the rich, and ecame the suects of con+ersation, tal$ed aout and rememered for wee$s and wee$s. 4t was considered an honor to $iss the friar#s hand or greet him, (erhaps e+en his $ic$s, li$e those deli+ered to his sacristan mayor, could e considered a la6on of noility. 4t was not strange therefore, that his somewhat anormal actions would cause such. a sensation. 9+en the ignorant and oscure townspeople, more so those who were anticlerical, were +ery much preoccupied with the missal that had een pushed and the censer that had een rus1uely thrown away. Most prominent among these anticlerical townspeople was Dr. *ope6, a physician who had li+ed in 9urope and had ecome a free&thin$er and anti&friar. )lthough he always claimed to desire the progress and prosperity of the town, in reality his ulterior moti+e was to immediately land a o in the go+ernment and gain some more fur for his moustache. Dr. *ope6 was discoursing in a loud +oice, u ndoutedly to call the attention of the people. 7e made many gestures at )ttorney Don (a1uito, the current :ustice of the (eace, who was more concerned aout the causes of the parish priest#s ill&humor. Dr. *ope6 lamed all this on the wine offered during Mass. 7e oser+ed that Fr. )gaton used to drin$ too much lood of Christ. 4t was a ad hait the priest had ac1uired, and it was ecoming worse. ) Catholic, Don (a1uito shortened his tal$, ut with the same numer of gestures and mimic$ing, saying, he could not afford to ac1uire a ad reputation, which usually happened once he entered into a discussion. 0o each his own, unmindful of the +alid reasons of the other. 7e always insisted on his own reasoning and tried to ha+e the final word. Suddenly oth disputants $ept 1uiet and each one assumed a relaxed posture. )t that uncture, Cecilia passed y, mute, silent, respectale and admirale. Cecilia, the daughter of Capitan (anchong, was fondly called the Star, the (earl of (ili. 0he young girl gracefully wal$ed erect along the line of curious people who were hurrying to greet her and lead her on the way, She was dressed in lac$, with a tulle +eil co+ering her head, her face partly hidden. She seldom wore ewelry, except for some et&lac$ and rilliant ornaments, li$e the rosary which was coiled around her hands, "4 don#t $now how the parish priest could e in a ad mood" She o+erheard the loud +oice of Don Fermin, the warehouse $eeper of the town, who was win$ing at the others with a certain malice. But the young girl passed y without any sign that she had understood the words uttered y Don Fermin5 not a muscle of her face contracted and she continued wal$ing maestically li$e a goddess, the cola or train of her s$irt held in one hand until she disappeared ehind the impro+ised amoo altar6uelo partly hidden etween gumamela shrus and plants from the Moluccas coles de MolucasE. "'h, what a fragrance" exclaimed Don Fermin, inhaling the air sensuously. Four or fi+e young girls all admired y the warehouseman also passed y noisily, and he repeatedly exclaimed8 "'h, how fragrant, yes, what fragrance" 0he warehouseman, encouraged y the cheers and applause, permitted himself to tease one of the young ystanders who stood speechless a t the sight of such eautiful creatures. "Seor ?sagani, are you dum%" Don Fermin as$ed "?ou are good for nothing. eh" "3hat is it%" ?sagani replied coldly. "3hat% 7omre" he exclaimed in surprise. "Don#t play dum 3e $now e+erything. Someody should really pic$ the first fruit easily, Sr. ?sagani5 someody should taste the first fruit at once." )nd Don Fermin murmured some words audile enough to e heard y the young girl. 7e smiled maliciously afterward. ?sagani it his lips and his face reddened momentarily. "?es, that is true, Don Fermin, you ought to $eep 1uiet ...with more reason" replied ?sagani.
"0here#s nothing wrong with it," said the warehouseman, somewhat irritated. "?ou ought to e grateful to me for this inside information. ?ou should relay that tip to your father yourself." "?es, 4 $now how to ta$e care of things that pertain to me," ?sagani answered. Don Fermin threw a glance at the young girl, ut upon seeing her earing and her f igure, he repressed his ire, telling her that ?sagani, the nephew of a mere assistant priest, was so pretentious. )nd he directed his comments to another group/that of principales. Capitan (anchong was in the center of this group of prominent people, aout to lea+e, with a tasseled cane held up high in the air. 7e was a small ut oese fellow dressed in a swallow&tailed coat, the osom of his white shirt soa$ed with his pe rspiration. Capitan (anchong was painsta$ingly wiping his forehead with the hand that held the cane, which loo$ed odd, since his other hand held an ex1uisitely emroidered sil$en hand$erchief. 9+ery Sunday, the faithful townspeople assemled after Mass to $iss the friar#s hand5 the esamanos was a custom whlch was oser+ed in (ili with much pomp and solemnity. 0his ritual was accompanied y the and, which mo+ed around the patio and proceeded to the con+ent in an orderly line, headed y the current goernadorcillo. 3hen they reached the con+ento, the parish priest would e waiting to extend his clean, well&perfumed hand for the +eneration of the faithful. 'f course this was also ostentatious act of displaying his well&polished fingernails, which had een prepared for this ritual. 4n other towns, cogni6ant of the po+erty and wea$ness of his parishioners, the esamanos was done in a more diplomatic way. Fray )gaton extended his perfumed hand near the window of the con+ento while a multitude of curiosity&see$ers would lie in wait in the patio to watch the ceremony and comment on each and e+ery mo+ement. By extending his hand to certain people, he glorified the most fa+ored persons in town, who could then oast efore the multitude. 'n that day, all the windows of the con+ent were opened and as usual a huge crowd of curious people gathered in the patio to witness the ceremonies, all of them ma$ing side comments on his mo+ements. 0he friar would extend his hand and would add some slight lows golpecitosE or tender pats cogota6osE on the ac$s of their heads, saying8 "Muy ien, well done" )fter such an act the fa+ored ones could e+en insult the gods, li$e the impudent )ax. 4f on the contrary, the friar distractedly extended his hand lan$ly, as if he were staring f ar into the distance, this was a ad sign. *ater, he would extend his hand upward / ad, a +ery ad gesture, since it was an omen of great misfortune. But when the parish priest refused to gi+e his hand / )h this was a different story altogether. But then this had only happened once, when he unexpectedly found out that the son of an unfortunate parishioner who had ust arri+ed from 9urope had deli+ered a speech aout the present conditions in the country. 0hat e+ent made e+eryone tremle each time they were reminded of it. 0he unfortunate persons who were thus castigated went home wea$ and stupefied. Many got sic$, and they only got well when the priest said Mass with greater solemnity, prolonged tolling of the ells and numerous lighted +oti+e candles. 4n this context we can understand that Capitan (anchong had sufficient reason to wipe the perspiration off his row with his cane instead of his hand$erchief. 7e was made asent&minded y his preoccupation with the priest#s ad mood. 0housands of dreadful suppositions welled in his mind, thousands of conectures. 'n this day the cura, a figure terrile eyond words, did not recei+e any of the principalia. 0here was no esamanos that Sunday. 9+eryone had to return home full of anxiety, uneasiness, and consternation. -e+er efore had there een any e+ent li$e it in (ili. Most friars were really wont to ha+e the esamanos e+en if they were already lying on their death eds. 0he in1uietude of the townspeople worsened when the curate#s ser+ant secretly told (anchong that the )mong had shouted at Menang and splashed his chocolate at the coo$ when he found it too hot. 3ith this news, (anchong and all the principalia were seen running from the con+ent, a s if fleeing from a garrota6o. 9+eryone loo$ed crestfallen and melancholy as they proceeded to the triunal to delierate on the e+ent,
a process a$in to that done in ome in times of pulic calamity. 0he musicians went home and were aout to play a funeral march at the slightest pro+ocation. Despite his great discomfort, (anchong proceeded to the triunal instead of going home, in order to preside o+er a meeting. 7e had to ta$e up se+eral matters at this meeting concerning 7oly 3 ee$. But nothing was discussed in the triuna* 0he 1uestion of Maligay and plans for the 7oly 3ee$ acti+ities were entirely set aside. Someone who had een detained for two days complained of hunger. -oody $new why he had een imprisoned. 0he teniente mayor said the teniente del arrio was responsile, while the latter laid the responsiility on the :ustice of the (eace or the goernadorcillo. 0his detainee, not $nowing why and y whose order he had een ailed, complained of hunger. But he shut his mouth suddenly upon hearing that another fellow had een threatened with flogging the pre+ious night / twel+e lashes for claiming he had een forcefully aducted y thie+es in uniforms +ery much li$e those of the @uardia Ci+il. ) teniente mayor who complained that his cattle had died ecause of the raging pestilence in his arrio was itterly lamed y e+eryone for his gross negligence. 7e had failed to ha+e his animals lessed y the parish priest 0he herd died y the do6en and there were no people to u ry them. *icentiate *ope6 suggested that they should e urned, ut (anchong left, $nowing the curate was indignant ecause he had not een as$ed to less the animals. 0his led to the pestilence. But someody noted that the dead animals the +ery ones which had een lessed y the priest, who charged fi+e pesos per head. 0he teniente oser+ed that the dead people had all een lessed. (anchong, who was in a ad humor, replied8 "0he dead are already dead, so. no one can e +er re+i+e them. 3hat is important now is to $now how to pacify the curate with gifts." "Sir, the ridge in our arrio is already destroyed," reported a teniente del arrio and its residents. (anchong ecame furious. "Stupid fools Don#t you we are concerned here with more urgent and important matters% ?ou come to tal$ aout ridges% 4f your ridge is destroyed, let it e destroyed5 and if you don#t $now how to swim, then let all of you drown )nyway, there is already an excess of people in your town." (anchong did not other with any other matter, except the nagging 1uestion8 3hy was the curate so angry% 3hat was urgent now (anchong stressed repeatedly was to find out the real cause of the parish priest#s wrath, so that they could at p acify him. -oody dared gi+e his opinion. 7owe+er, a teniente del arrio tried to recall reasons for the curate#s actions, suggesting that it might e ecause of the undles of firewood which had not een deli+ered to the con+ent, since the ridge connecting their arrio to the town h ad collapsed. "4 used to cross the ri+er," replied the poor teniente. "-ow 4 get wet up to the armpits, ut since you tal$ of gifts, the firewood for the parish priest would get wet." "Very well, carry them o+er your heads" (anchong retorted. 4t did not matter if all the ridges in the world collapsed /pro+ided his election would not e endangered. 3ould he e ale to get the support of the peasants if they got wet% 3ould they +ote for him% ?es, all of them were wic$ed. 0he cae6as de arangay would surely +ote for Capitan 0anu$ang who had promised to pay them G>> pesos each. 4f his opponent won, the peasants# would stop pulic office again. 4f the curate got angry, surely that would endanger his reelection. 0hat was his prolem now5 7e might not e reelected, Don 0anu$ang would surely win, and then would call him Hiao Hiao in front of e+eryone. 0his idea would surely dri+e him cra6y. 0he meeting adourned without any agreement, and (anchong went home restless. Capitan (anchong had sufficient reason to e restless. 7e was stupefied thin$ing of the ad humor of the curate, so much so that he wiped his forehead with his cane instead of his hand$erchief. 3hat orders, or what dispositions of the curate, had not een complied with% 0here had een a pulic proclamation ordering the people to ha+e their cattle, poultry and fishponds lessed y the priest to protect them from
an epidemic of influen6a. 3hat was the sin committed, if not all would comply with the order% During that wee$, there were two solemn urials and the heirs of the deceased certainly had to sell part of their land to defray the expenses. 4n fact, another rich and powerful person had died, ut the heirs did not ha+e a pompous funeral although they could afford it. (adre )gaton#s parishioners were all egoists who simply uried their dead as they wished, unmindful of the exigencies which they ought to follow as apti6ed persons. )fter a pompous and solemn funeral, many persons certainly as$ed what happened to the fattened capons gi+en as gifts to the curate. 0hese capons had een for sale, ut they were confiscated from a certain arrio resident who, unfortunately, had failed to produce his cedula. 'h 0herefore, if that was the reason for the priest#s foul mood, Capitan (anchong thought, then poor arrio fol$ should e paid at least GI pesos and taught later how to raise etter capons (erhaps it was mere intrigue from the wic$ed Don 0anu$ang, who had +owed to disoey his orders in the coming elections% Capitan 0anu$ang was capale of anything5 he was a +ery wic$ed person. 7e did not yet understand the conse1uences of the priest#s actions, since he had ne+er een exiled. Capitan (anchong continued to reflect on his political ri+al#s tric$s. 0wo hundred pesos had een promised to each +oter if he won the elections for goernadorcilo. )ll this money not counting Capitan 0anu$ang#s continuous gifts to the curate 0wo hundred pesos 0hat was immoral5 Capitan (anchong had only gi+en I> pesos to each +oter. 3here did Capitan 0anu$ang get such a large amount of money% 3 hy, 0anu$ang had e+en offered him wor$ one day in the street and e+en called Capitan (anchong out in front of e+eryone. 'h, Capitan (anchong had sound principles in him, not all could call him well...really now, there must e ungrateful people in this world -ow, since Capitan 0anu$ang offered G>> pesos, all +oters would naturally +ote for him. 'h well, the parish priest had not yet gotten angry. 7e might ha+e fixed his attention on the sil$en cloth Capitana Barang had ought for him to decorate the altars, Capitan (anchong had already said that it was ordinary, ut his wife was a +ery mean woman. 4n this life noody, not e+en his own wife, could thin$ of the compromisos which might eset him. Meditating further on the reasons ehind the priest#s unusual eha+ior, Capitan (anchong thought, it might e ecause his daughter, Cecilia, did not appreciate the carpet which the curate had ordered for her. )nother stupid girl 7ow scrupulous could she e 7ow egoistic 0he parish priest was simply eing a fine and gallant gentleman. 3hat more could it mean% -oody would definitely thin$ any e+il aout that. 'h, Capitan 0anu$ang would e appointed and he would e called... Capitan (anchong#s thoughts trailed off as he wiped his forehead again with the tassled cane and loo$ed around him. 0he principalia were glad aout those afflictions and showed their contentment to each other y meaningful glances. 0imes were not really propitious, ut they would willingly gi+e a peso each, pro+ided they could pro+o$e the curate to 1uarrel with Capitan (anchong. 7e had an insufferale character, and he had een elected only y his own will. Certainly, not as ordered y the parish priest. ?es, (anchong would gi+e at least a peso and a half pro+ided the curate would not 1uarrel with him, and therey get him reelected. Capitan (anchong was roused from his stupor y the arri+al of the sacristan informing him that the parish priest was really getting impatient. "0ell him that it is not my fault, it is the fault of the others," he said. "3here are the others%" he as$ed anxiously "Don#t you see that the parish priest is waiting for us%" "4t#s already a most opportune time, a pretty good time. 0his is what we ha+e een expecting from you," responded an elderly man. "4t#s already a pretty good time," murmured Capitan (anchong.. "3 hat aout the music%"
"0hey are waiting for your orders, sir." 0hen ten or twel+e musicians lifted their instruments and started to ma$e short, rief sounds. "But all that 4 ha+e to do, all that 4 ha+e to display," Capitan (anchong exclaimed furiously. "?ou ha+e already seen 4t, Selmo" he said, facing the sacristan. "3hen the )mong gets angry, you tell him e+erything you ha+e seen. 7e expects you to enumerate them all.# "*et us go to the con+ent" Capitan (anchong said with a commanding +oice, and egan to wal$ away with a gait that etrayed an affected grace and solemnity. 0hey proceeded to the con+ent accompanied y the tune of a eautiful walt6. 0he sun was shining rightly and its rilliant rays were li$e golden thread. 0he air was saturated with perfume, and the patio was co+ered profusely with flowers and eautiful ornamental plants. e+erything in the warm emrace of the sun. 0he almond trees were swaying. 0he palm trees were sha$ing their green fronds5 the amoo murmured mysterious songs li$e repressed laughter, and down elow, the ground was co+ered with a +erdant green carpet. )t the ramp, one could gather white flowers to e scattered into the air li$e a di+ine perfume. 4t was springtime in the country of an eternal spring Capitana Barang heaped on poor )nday all the lame for Fr. )gaton#s ad mood, which egan when the curate had refused to less her daughter. )ccording to Capitana Barang, )nday should ha+e $nelt near the altar efore the priest read the last gospel, then he would surely ha+e lessed her daughter e+en if he was in a ad mood. "Do you thin$ the curate would wait ust for you% )y ?ou% ) miserale maid% 4f we your masters ha+e to e on the alert much more so should you" )nday was a young girl of J< or JK years, yet her eauty seemed to ha+e faded5 she was pale and wea$. She humly replied to Capitana Barang that she could not do as she was told since the sacristans would not e+en allow her to get near the altar5 they li$ewise refused to gi+e her a candle on the pretext that the curate was really furious. But Capitana Barang did not listen to )nday#s explanations, and continued reprimanding her8 "4f we who ha+e already paid the cedula were not ale to recei+e 7oly Communion. )y" Capitana Barang exclaimed, "much less this maid, who had only paid a media real Surely, 4 ha+e to confess once more. 'h, :esus 4 am surrounded y many temptations. 4f you were only ale to ha+e your daughter lessed y the priest, you would ha+e less occasions for sin. 0hat#s why 4 lent you a peso and a half in spite of my tight finances right now. 4 hoped that some drops of holy water would fall upon you, so that e+eryone would at least ha+e gained something from @od." )nday owed her head and continued to wor$. She folded clothes, washed dishes, rushed and arranged the clothes of oth mother and daughter. 4t was indeed +ery humiliating to e accused of eing a temptress and seductress in front of many people, ut what could she do% Maye her master had other moti+es for scolding her% Maye there was a reason for doing so, for accusing her itterly% She had orne that daughter out of wedloc$ y the son of her former master, which was why she was dismissed. -ow her new master was Capitan (anchong, who demanded all $ind of ser+ices && domestic and otherwise. )nday could not complain5 she either performed all these chores or Capitan (anchong would surely maltreat her for many days. Being an unwed mother, she was considered despicale. ?es, she really was a sinner, ut what could she do% She owed her masters much money ecause she lo+ed her daughter. She had to support the little girl. She could still rememer her first experience with her former master or rather lo+er, ut what else could she ha+e done% She willingly accepted all accusations and +ituperations against her. But if these were against her daughter% Santo Dios, oh no 7er daughter was young, ust a year and a ha lf, charming, gentle and innocent. 0he girl still cried when dar$ness fell during her prayers.
Capitana Barang continued scolding )riday. "0hese are the itter conse1uences of eing hardheaded, hence it is li$e condemning your own daughter )y 0here are children lessed y their parents for Satan. ?ou will ring your daughter to 7ell yourself." "-a$u seora," )nday answered +ery much alarmed. "@od $nows that 4 would offer my own lood for the sa$e of my daughter" "Shut up Don#t you dare answer ac$ ecause it was your fault, ?ou did not insist that your daughter e lessed y the priest. ?ou always li$e doing things your way. ?ou are really stuorn and hardheaded" "Seora, if the sacristans would not permit me to..." "0he sacristans, the sacristans, always the sacristans -ot, another word ?ou are such a nagger. ?ou can#t ear to e scolded you always answer ac$. )y anyone who can#t suffer scoffs and reprimands should stay at home and ne+er orrow money." "4 don#t want to wor$ as a maid, ut there was no choice. 3 ho $nows% 4 could ha+e een a la6y flirt." Capitana Barang#s suspicions were right, "7ow could she e ser+ing day and night while committing sin at the same time, thus causing scandal to e+eryone%" )nday merely owed her heed and tears welled in her eyes. Capitana Barang could still recall the causes of the girlLs misfortune. 7er father was once a cae6a de arangay who eme66led money and e+entually ecame an$rupt. 7e lost his fortune in the coc$pit. 7e had to ma$e trips to the capital se+eral times, and was later sent to prison. 0hus, his family had to sell e+erything and orrow money at an exoritant interest. Conse1uently, )nday had to ser+e as a domestic with a family who had a son studying for the priesthood. 0his son was handsome and amiale, so )nday, the maid, fell in lo+e with him and finally allowed herself to e seduced y him. 0his happened when she was arely sixteen years old. 3hen the oy#s parents disco+ered this, they immediately sent their son to Manila and dismissed )nday after eating her up. 0he father of the oy threatened her, saying she would e pardoned pro+ided she would forget the young man and deny that this future priest had seduced her. She acceded to e+erything as long as she was not dismissed. But later she admitted that she had een seduced y 0itoy and suffered much, ut later ecame resigned to her fate. She sought refuge and was cared for y an old woman who ga+e her food, treated her well and made her pray so much. 0here, she ga+e irth to a ay girl called Felicidad, ut the old, woman died a few months later, forcing )nday to see$ new employment. She went to the house of Capitan (anchong, who treated her adly, suected her to hard wor$ and oftentimes whipped and tormented her little daughter. 7is wife Capitana Barang also used to pinch and scold her daughter. )nday could ha+e changed masters, ut it was not so easy to do so. She could not lea+e ecause she could not find another employer, and she owed her masters much money. She owed them > pesos, yet she recei+ed not more than four pesos a year. She calculated that she had to wor$ for J< years efore she could fully pay h er dets. 0hat meant ha+ing to endure more years of suffering in the future. )ll of )nday#s computations excluded money re1uired for annual triute, as well as clothing expenses, and payment for all the plates and utensils she might rea$. She also needed money for her daughter#s medicine when she fell ill. Capitana Barang, as an act of charity, used to gi+e )nday se+en&and&a&half pesos since her father, the discredited goernadorcillo, had once sa+ed the life of Capitana Barang#s husand. )nday had already ser+ed as their maid for eight years y then, so she had to endure some ten more years of suffering. During her first year in the house, )nday experienced all $inds of hardships from Capitan (anchong in order to remain faithful to her first lo+e. She endured all these partly for chastity and partly for fear that
Capitana Barang would send her away. 7owe+er, ecause of her initial resistance to his ad+ances, Capitan (anchong threatened to send her away ecause of her faults as well as her daughter. Fearing dismissal, the maid first pleaded, cried and implored her master#s mercy. 3hat else could she do% 4s @od really ust%. 0he young man who had seduced her had not yet returned to town and it was said that, sooner or later, he would e ordained a priest. She then confided e+erything to Capitana Barang, and was resigned to her fate. She said that she really deser+ed all $inds of insults from her master for she had, truly, committed some faults. She had decei+ed them efore, ut all her hidden faults were e+entually re+ealed. 0he young girl was tremling with fear ecause she was +ery much afraid that Capitana Barang, e+en y chance, would disco+er her relationship with Capitan (anchong. Capitana Barang#s sermons were endless. 0he good lady elie+ed it was a +irtue to preach to that unfortunate eing and sa+e oth mother and daughter from the fires of hell. 4t was e+ident that they were indeed possessed y the de+il, ecause Felicidad, the little girl, cried itterly precisely when her mother was praying. Surely, the de+il too$ ad+antage of that occasion to distract her from her prayers and condemn oth of them to hell 0he de+il#s wiles and deceit could e understood easily. 0he de+il had +owed to impede the young man#s +ocation5 therefore, the little girl was the de+il#s daughter. 0his fact was undoutedly true Similar examples were reflected in the no+enas and other religious oo$s which could e read e+ery day. ) teardrop fell, on Capitana Barang#s s$irt, which she hastily shoo$ off. 0hat s$irt had cost her more than six pesos "But loo$ at. this maldita" she exclaimed indignantly, pausing from her sermon. "Don#t you see what you#+e done% ?ou ha+e tarnished my&ten&peso saya. 3hat would you do if 4 told you that 4 will add this to your dets% 3here would you get money to pay me%" )nday momentarily forgot all her sufferings and sorrows ecause of these threats. )s she stood motionless Capitana Barang pinched her hard and slapped her on the nape. "0he s$irt was not tarnished, seora. -o, it was not stained either," replied the maid pointing to the s$irt with a reproachful loo$ in her eyes. "?es, it is not soiled, it is not e+en stained," retorted Capitana Barang. "?ou are really cle+er ?our apparent sorrow meant nothing. 4 don#t $now what more 4 can say to you. ?ou would ha+e done the same thing to my mother. )ll 4 can say for the moment is that 4 will pardon you now." )nday did not reply5 she ust remained patient ut $ept crying and sighing. She tried to e cheerful ust to please her master. She raised her head and was aout to fold her dress when Capitana Barang came in and tried to stop her little daughter from crying. "?ou see% Don#t you see%" Capitana Barang shouted, pointing at the little girl. "*oo$, she seemed to e +ery intelligent or shall 4 say the de+il#s ...oh, let her play alone. Don#t waste your time ust to ma$e, her shut up. 4 ha+e not e+en whipped you," she added furiously. )nday, trying to pacify her daughter, also wept, hard put to show the girl that nothing whatsoe+er had happened to her. "Do you thin$ 4 would pay you se+en&and&a&half pesos if you ust wasted your time playing with your daughter% )y when 4 was young 4 would ne+er spend my time occupied with my children nor tell them to $eep 1uiet. 4f they cried 4 would ust hit them and they would hush up y themsel+es. 0hus, the de+il could ne+er enter their odies. But you% ?ou willfully tolerate your daughter#s playing and shouting )nday left her daughter alone with a heel of a shoe to play with. But the girl stuc$ her "toy" into her mouth. "4f you continue to eha+e li$e that, or refuse to e corrected," Capitana Barang said, "it would e much etter for you to loo$ for another master. 4 don#t want to e responsile efore @od for anyone. 4 don#t want to e accused of neglecting and aandoning oth you and your daughter in order to e condemned to 7ell."
"Seora. my little daughter is +ery good y nature. ?ou don#t $now her well enough5 she is good and oedient. 4f my daughter eha+es contrary to this, as you claim she does, 4 assure you 4 will follow whate+er you want." )nday could not contain her grief and anxiety any longer, so she urst into tears again.
Capitana (arang was about to s!ol$ her again, but she saw her husban$ !oming. together with two !abezas $e barangay. The little girl starte$ to make noise again. Capitan P an!hong was :ery irritate$. 1e hea:e$ a $eep sigh an$ !alle$ out E(arang... (arang?..E Panchitongs !"re (anchitong had ust arri+ed home from the 0riunal and he was in a miserale state. 7is coat was slo+enly, his pants were crumpled and his lue nec$tie was misplaced atop the collar of his shirt, li$e a girdle worn y some sultan. 7e came in da6ed, howling and moaning, "Barang Barang" (ale and tremling ecause of the cold, (anchong closed the windows 1uic$ly. Cecilia came, Capitana Barang forgot her usual sermons to )nday and amidst 1uestions, shouts and lamentations he remo+ed his frac and lay in ed. 9+eryone remar$ed that he might ha+e een exposed to some $ind of ad wind, thus Capitana Barang tried all means to re+i+e his spirits. She stretched certain parts of his ody, pinched him, applied se+eral $inds of spices li$e garlic, onion, mustard, etc.5 on his ody, as if she would coo$ the poor (anchong li$e adoo. Barang was panic&stric$en yet she refused to send for a doctor, and attempted thrice to $eep ac$ their ser+ant from doing so. )ll the neighors came to his aid5 Cecilia wanted to call the doctor ut Capitana Barang repeatedly stopped her from doing so. 0here were many +isitors, as if (anchitong would only li+e till nightfall. 3ell, the doctor could still +isit, Cecilia suggested again. (anchitong $ept complaining aout his ailments and the good neighors tried ail imaginale remedies. Mana Seia suggested an infallile cure for scaies and rheumatism / strong faith through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin )nother remedy suggested was the relic of a certain saint for the pain of his pot elly. 0hen Capitana Barang rememered a ottle of holy water which she had carefully $ept following the ad+ice of the cura. 0his miraculous water, according to the parish priest and Mana Seia, could cure all $inds of ailments. Since he was apparently in danger of death, they forced (anchitong to drin$ all the holy water 0he unfortunate patient dran$ all its contents, although he ahorred its taste, and after a few minutes egan to throw up the rest of his rea$fast consisting of puto, tapa and fried rice. 4t was an unusual meal, which made one elie+e that his illness was gra+e. )t ele+en o#cloc$ he as$ed for confession. Meanwhile, Mana Seia went to the con+ent to summon their parish priest. Cecilia was left eside the ed, silent and in a pensi+e mood, with her arms folded o+er her osom5 she was motionless and seemed to contemplate his eternal damnation5 she a lso tried to di+ine the causes of his illness. *oo$ing out from their alcony, Cecilia saw the figure of ?sagani, the nephew of the new assistant parish priest. 0he young man was passing yfixing his ga6e on the window. 0heir eyes met and she managed a gracious smile at him and the young man too$ off his hat and greeted her. 0he modest ?sagani ser+ed as a cler$ at the triunal. She had met him when her father as$ed her to get a copy of some documents pertaining to her aunt Doa 'rang. 'ne of these happened to e the will she had left after her death. 9+en at this time, she was attracted at once to ?sagani#s serious taciturn and li$eale appearance. 'nce they had exchanged meaningful glances.
Cecilia felt a sudden flush in her chee$s. She wanted to withdraw, ut her feet didn#t want to mo+e. She tried to turn ac$ ut it would e impossile. 'n the surface she seemed serious, apparently indifferent, ut in reality she directed her eyes to the garden in order to see etter. She $ept loo$ing as the young man drew away from her ga6e. Cecilia felt a $ind of childli$e reproach for that strange feeling. 3hat% 3as she in lo+e with the nephew of the new coadutor who used to critici6e his new friends haughtily% Cecilia was the daughter of Capitan (anchong and Cepitana Barang who could not support her education as she had an elder rother who was still at school. So Cecilia had een reared in her aunt#s home in Manila. She spent her childhood with Doa 'rang till her adolescent years, returning to (ili for two or three days a year during the town fiesta. Capitana Barang had sacrificed her maternal lo+e for Cecilia to her lo+e of money, and little y little was ale to assuage and pacify the lo+ing tenderness she had nurtured in her heart $nowing full well the 1uality of life her daughter would enoy with her rich aunt. 0he young girl was +ery much interested in this man, ?sagani. She had already heard aout him e+en while she was in Manila li+ing with her aunt, sister of her mother, the noted lawyer Doa 'rang who had financed her education and upon her death left ehind an immense fortune / huge B)-H D9('S40S and +ast landed estates. Cecilia would soon e the sole heir, upon reaching legal age. 0his extraordinary woman, Doa 'rang, used to re+ol+e in high society. 4t was she who had molded Cecilia#s imagination and character from adolescence, de+eloping her into a strong and wholesome woman adorned with sterling +irtues. Doa 'rang had nurtured in her mind the type of man she would lo+e / an ideal which her young mind had concei+ed e+en in her fantasies. Cecilia could +isuali6e this type of man y following the ideals instilled in her y her deceased aunt, who used to tell her that if a woman would eha+e well she would e admired not only for her eauty ut also for her strength of character, firm decision, noility, intelligence and courage. -ow she could feel that this ideal eing really existed, or at least ought to exist, such that sooner or later she would meet and fall in lo+e with him. 0hey would surely complement each other and then e happy. 0his would explain her apparent a+ersion toward all those who had courted her. 0he young man in 1uestion was well o ff, he was the son of a +ery affluent family. 7e was irresistile to her eyes. Most outstanding of all were his rarest 1ualities8 +alor, youth, generosity, heroism and disinterest, which were his natural attriutes. 7ence upon wa$ing up from the reality of her gilded dreams, upon hearing his pastoral words, upon seeing him ma$e a crude gesture, she closed her eyes, and smiled sadly. She closed her eyes again, as if she would want to go to sleep and recall those nocturnal dreams of an ideal man, dreams improper to a young maiden li$e her. 0hat young man coming from an affluent family was the real man she desired, the man to whom she could confide her future and to whom she could unurden all $inds of self&deceptions. 4n her imagination she watched him dragging his feet gong a huge mountain amidst gloomy shadows, then dancing and smiling ut still full of apprehension, with a +ery p owerful impulse. *ater she stopped ga6ing at this disagreeale scene to encounter the taciturn figure of ?sagani, enigmatic, silent and incomprehensile. 3ith her eyes she saw much more. 0here on the summit seated li$e a so+ereign was the imposing figure of the cura $ic$ing e+eryone crawling on the floor efore him. 7e loo$ed disdainful and arrogant li$e a +ictorious lord. "7ere is a real man" an interior +oice murmured. Cecilia closed her eyes. "3hat eautiful flowers you ha+e, did you ma$e these%# 3ith those words Cecilia was roused from this dream. 0he curate was approaching her together with her mother. Cecilia retreated, to no a+ail since the cura had access not only to all houses ut also the pri+ate rooms of these houses in (ili. 0he cura rought with him a ottle full of water which he claimed was water ta$en from the ri+er :ordan. 7e had een informed that Capitan (anchong was sic$, so he had come ringing with him an infallile cure for his ailment. 7e had himself een cured y this water.
"4 was informed that your f ather is sic$," Fr. )gaton lurted out while he was approaching Cecilia. 7e paused for a while to sur+ey the flowers in the garden. "4 myself ha+e rought this ottle of water from the :ordan which is a sure cure against any $ind of ailment." Fr. )gaton stayed for a while in the house. 7e told Capitana Barang that the water had also cured him instantly that morning. ")h" exclaimed Cecilia, rea$ing the silence, sensing that the friar was staring at her intently. "3hat eautiful flowers you ha+e," he said as he mo+ed e+en closer to her, at the same time loo$ing around him. "7ow aundant are those roses5 those dahlias and a6ucenas are eautiful 4s that one a camelia% 7ow were you ale to ma$e them grow and loom in such a luxuriant way%" "4 ta$e care of them as est 4 can," Cecilia replied, to regain her composure. "3ere you the one who made them loom% 3 hy, e+en the thorns in your hands would produce roses" Fr. )gaton ga6ed at her lo+ingly, as he drew closer and closer toward her, eaming the smile of a con1ueror. )t that moment, +oices and exclamations were heard. 0he door urst open and (anchong came out, smiling and crying. 7e genuflected, and extended his hand to grasp and $iss the friar#s hand in gratitude. Behind him followed Capitana Barang together with se+eral eatas and curiosity&see$ers in tow. "@racias, )mong. Muchas gracias )mong" (anchong greeted him. "4 am well." "9h, what shall 4 say," retorted the friar, turning solemnly with a +ictorious air. "3ell, all this results from the water from the :ordan." "3ell then among, it is really due to the water from the :ordan. 7oly water is undoutedly good, ut water from the :ordan... too ad 4 recei+ed not more than a few ottles." )ll the eatas insisted on eing gi+en e+en a few drops of the :ordan water. Fr. )gaton said, ") small ottle cost me ten pesos." But the de+otees, undaunted, replied that it did not matter e+en if it cost twenty pesos per ottle ecause with this water, they could economi6e on medicine and doctor#s consultations. 4n spite of all this commotion, Cecilia did not utter a word. 7er eyes merely mo+ed alternately etween her father and the curate. (anchong was really well. "4 ha+e also come precisely to settle a prolem." the cura added. "Cecilia said that she could not ma$e the decorated palm fronds for the Domingo de amos procession ecause she doesn#t $now how to fashion artificial flowers. 3ell, the garden is full of f lowers, so 4 will pay you thirty pesos for the decorated palaspas you will prepare for me plus an additional fi+e pesos for those you will ma$e for my two assistant priests. 3ell% 4s this all right with you%" )ll the women in the room were astounded at the curate#s generosity and ene+olence. Capitana Barang accepted the offer on ehalf of her daughter. She had ne+er heard such a generous offer in her life. )s Cecilia was contemplating this matter deeply, she was ale to di+ine the cause of her father#s illness. She ecame restless and pensi+e, and loo$ed out of the alcony of her room to distract herself. She could surmise the real cause of the cura#s ad humor that morning ut she did not dare to confess it to him, for fear he would e offended and emarrassed.
#he pro!ee$e$ to the bal!ony a!ing a miniature gar$en ull o lowering plants on huge antiFue earthen pots o $ierent sizes an$ shapes. #he trie$ to erase the !uraGs obsession about her preparing the $e!orate$ palaspas rom her min$.
Domingo #e Ramos During the (alm Sunday procession each year, the young people who had not yet paid their cedula personal ne+ertheless had to gi+e ten cuortos for the cedula de confesion, a slip of paper they would then present to the parish priest efore confession. 3ith the money from this cedula de confesion they susidi6ed the decorated palm fronds for the cura, who used to collect around fifty pesos annually. But this year the cura had entrusted the confection of this to Cecilia, who had ust arri+ed from Manila. Cecilia felt a certain repugnance for the chore, and wanted to excuse herself, claiming she did not $now how to fashion artificial flowers from cloth. But Fr. )gaton suggested that if this was incon+enient then he preferred natural flowers which loomed aundantly in Cecilia#s garden. 0he town pla6a offered much animation that afternoon. 0he young men and other pious persons who oined the prayers during the Stations of the Cross were all tal$ing aout the miracle as they gathered around the stalls selling food and drin$s. 0he curate and (anchong had een miraculously cured, the former from an extreme headache and the latter from his recurrent gas pains, which could not e cured y any medicine or doctor. ) certain +endor had testified that the cura really loo$ed gra+ely ill that morning after mass, and this explained why he did not recei+e his prominent +isitors for the esamanos that d ay. )nother, an empanada +endor, confirmed that she had seen Capitan (anchong almost dying, staring lan$ly while Capitana Barang stretched all parts of his ody in order to re+i+e him. Fortunately, he suddenly was cured at aout JJ8;> in the morning, simply y drin$ing some drops of water from the :ordan mixed with ordinary water and praying one 'ur Father and one 7all Mary (anchong was on his feet again. "'w%" one of them as$ed doutfully. "?es, he#s ac$ to normal. )s a matter of fact the est p roof is that he has whipped )nday#s daughter with his slippers twice since. 4 was there when it all happened, the little girl is still there crying." "3hat $ind of water was it%" as$ed a pancit +endor. ")a 4t is the water f rom the ri+er :ordan." "4t is ust li$e ordinary water, any $ind of water which you use for washing your plates," answered the empanada +endor, "ut it was really water from the :ordan ri+er. Do you $now its healing effects%" ")h, ifs indeed water ta$en from the :ordan ri+er," a young man as he loo$ed at the two women, nodding his head with compassion, "?es, it is the miraculous water from the :ordan. 9+eryone can e cured instantly y applying it li$e alsamo do Fieraras, the healing alm for wounds, or simply y drin$ing it." "7ow strange." "?ou see, that#s why it was so costly" "7ow much%" ")a four pesos for a small ottle li$e this de grande chi1uita )y one could hardly uy a ottle of this water due to the miracles it is supposed to perform." "'h, how fortunate 4 would e if 4 could li+e along the an$s of the :ordan ri+er" said the pancit +endor calculating the amount the cura could expect to earn at four pesos per ottle "*isten," the young man as$ed pensi+ely, "is the :ordan ri+er the same place where :ohn the Baptist apti6ed :esus Christ%" "0hat#s right 0hat#s why one can get much profit from it." "But that place is +ery far away"
":ust imagine, it is a +ery distant place and the aptism of Christ happened a long, long time ago." "Didn#t they say that the water came from neary mount San Cristoal%" "0hat#s true 4 heard that the head of the 7ermanos de San Francisco would tra+el to :ordan e+ery year. 0hey would lea+e here on @ood Friday after the procession, reach there on (alm Sunday and return home efore 9aster" "Departing +iernes santo and reaching there y domingo de ramos%" the gullile pancit +endor as$ed. ")h, 4 also heard that said aout many hermanos5 how curious eh%" "4sn#t that strange%" repeated the pancit +endor. Church ells egan ringing interrupting this amusing con+ersation, and calling the faithful to ta$e part in the Stations of the Cross. 0he church patio was soon filled with children, some running around, playing and esting while the others preferred to stay tran1uil and were content to +isit the amoo altarcitos in the patio or those situated in the corners of the pla6a. 9ach altarcito contained a frame with a scene from the (assion of Christ etween two flower +ases, all resting on a tale co+ered with a mantle. 4n this manner, *ent, li$e the other years efore it, had amoo altarcitos co+ered with sawa4i uilt purposely to mar$ the path of the *ord on the Via Crucis. 4n olden times this used to e held inside the church in front of the twel+e chromolithographs depicting the (assion from (ilate#s :udgement up to Christ#s urial. 0hat was until Ceciliahad arri+ed in town. Since then the cura ordered the goernadorcillo to construct small altars for the Stations of the Cross around the church patio. 0his design had the added ad+antage of eing conduci+e to prayer ecause 4t was less hot and humid than it was inside church. Besides, the parish priest could see e+eryone from his con+ent window, watch o+er them and guide them in the right direction / meaning, to any place con+enient for him 0he procession started with great solemnity, headed y the Cofradia president, who was de+outly following the carriage of the -a6areno, whose stereotyped face was eaming with surptlse. 4t seemed as if the Di+ine 4mage could not comprehend how on earth these people could ause his infinite patience. Below the carriage were four miserale&loo$ing persons wearing gaudy +estments5 two of them were sacristans and the other two loo$ed as if they wee criminals condemned to e hanged. 0hese de+otees were commonly called the reputados. 0he image of the Virgen Dolorosa followed that of the -a6areno. She was weeping as usual, and loo$ed as 4f she were admonishing the people to repent for their sins, ut no one paid any attention to her sorrowful ga6e, specially those who were ored and irritated with this *enten oligation. 0hen a crowd followed, composed of the different memers of the +arious groups8 cofradias, eatas, hermanos, and young people && happy and smiling / who oined the procession ust for fun and out of curiosity. 0he children merely simulated the elders, $neelinh and $issing the ground5 they stood up each time the cofradia leader rose alternately with the music from the choir noted for their laud cheating, particularly the hymns accompanied y the shrie$ing of a clarinet. 4t was 7oly 3ee$5 they were going to crucify the Son of @od who ecame man. 7e who had een suffering since the eginning of *ent in order to ma$e e+en the stones cry, as Fr. )gaton used to say to his faithful parishioners. 'nly @od $nows if oth Mother and Son had really suffered. Since the first Sunday of *ent, the de+otees had to endure the ordeal and discomfort at each of the twel+e stations, hearing the snuffling +oice of the mischie+ous person who was leading the prayers during the procession. Step y step they followed the Stations of the Cross li$e miserale mendicants who u sed to eg for alms in the midst of +ast throngs of people8 trouadours, +arious memers of religious fraternities and associations, people oth old and idle twistitig their odies, li$e their souls and consciences. 0hey went to church ust to e+ade oredom at home, or maye the men did not ha+e money to et in the coc$fights%
Finally, the little ell was rung at the end of each station. 'n one side of the town pla6a one could see numerous groups of men seated in front of the tiendas and food stalls run y the women, in heated discussion on the issues of the day. 'n the other sida the young men carried chic$en eggs and usied themsel+es with their fa+orite pastime called tu$tu$an, played only during *ent, while their fathers and elders were in the coc$pit playing with their fortunes. Boys usually played tu$tu$an until they ecome adults. 0he only difference etween this game and coc$fighting was money. 4n coc$fighting, one lost large sums ut in tu$tu$an, the winner ust too$ the crac$ed egg. Before playing tu$tu$an, they first carefully examined the eggs to determine whether one was more resistant than the other y testing them slightly against each other. Firmly holding the eggs, they ga+e each a slight stro$e on the elongated portion of the egg. 0his slight low on the lower part of the egg usually produced a tiny crac$ while the top remained intact. 4n the pla6a, one could see Sil+ino, son of 0anu$ang, among the group of youngsters. 7e was well& dressed, and carried a small pouch with half a do6en eggs that he had pre+iously won, wrapped in a sil$ hand$erchief. 7e was thus challenging e+eryone to the eggshell&crac$ing contest. "0u$tu$an" he shouted triumphantly. "Come on, are you afraid% Come on 4 ha+e already recei+ed se+eral lows." 0he other young men, upon seeing his as$et full of eggs, shied away and refused to oin the contest. Sil+ino was notorious among the oys for eing cle+er, arrogant and +ery demanding ecause his father was in power. Besides all this, e+eryone murmured that Sil+ino was a cheat, who filled his eggs with +ery fine ric$ or metal pellets. "0u$tu$an" he shouted more arrogantly each time, and many responded y sha$ing their heads and $eeping silent. Seeing that noody would dare challenge him, he approached the son of Copitan (anchong, who was also in the crowd, and pro+o$ed him. "*et#s go, the two of us." he said with a pro+ocati+e air. Cecilio, the son of Capitan (anchong. who was timid and ashful responded8 "4 don#t want to play with you. 4#m not feeling well." "'h )re, you afraid%" Sil+ino sneered. "3hat% Me% )fraid of what%" Cecilio replied, somewhat ir$ed. "*et us examine the eggs first. 'h, 4 guess you don#t want to show your egg ecause it is filled with tiny ric$ pellets." Sil+ino was irritated y these comments. "3hat ric$ pellets are you tal$ing aout% ?ou#re a coward 0he truth is you#re ust afraid of your father, that#s why you don#t want to play" "Say that again%" the once timid Cecilio answered. "3hen was 4 e+er afraid of my father%" "0u$tu$an4" Sil+ino shouted triumphantly and maliciously. "0u$tu$an 3ho would dare challenge me%" he repeatedly cried aloud. Still e+eryone refused to ta$e the challenge, especially when someody whispered that Sil+ino#s winning egg might e a fa$e. 4n fact, young oys could de+ise many ways of fa$ing an egg. Some would meticulously pric$ a small hole info the eggshell, then fill it up with tiny ric$ or metal pellets to reinforce the elongated part of the egg. "Very well, then, tu$tu$anl 4 accept your challenge," Cecilio retorted he lplessly, yet loo$ing 1uite impassioned. "3ho will hold the egg elow my hand%" "?ou will," replied Sil+ino. "-o, you will e the one ao+e," he said while trying to test the strength of his eggshell y gently h itting it against his front teeth to assure himself of its resistance. 7e li$ewise made slight and delicate lows or golpecitos on the elongated portion of the egg.
"3ell, your suggestion is well ta$en," replied Sil+ino 1uite generously. "4#ll hold my egg elow your fist." 7e grasped the elongated part of the egg firmly in the palm of his hand, lea+ing only a +ery tiny portion of it exposed etween his thum a nd forefinger. 0hese oys $new y experience that etween two eggs of e1ual resistance the egg placed elow the hand usually loses strength since it recei+es the hardest low. But the young oy suggested that they follow the rules of the game strictly, and first examine the eggs to e used. 0he young oy was glad, so that he could first test the strength of the e ggshell y pounding it slightly against his teeth. Sil+ino also rought out his winning egg and tested it against his teeth. 7e opened his eyes wide to attract more attention from the onloo$ers. Npon testing, the egg ga+e a sharp and resistant sound5 he was exceedingly glad that it was really an extraordinary egg for the contest. "3ell, now my friend, allow me to examine your winning egg," Cecilio said, as he extended his hand to Sil+ino. ?ou ha+e already examined mine" "4#m gi+ing you your option, whether 4 am to e elow yours." replied the young oy. "4 can e+en get someody to confirm that my egg is u nrea$ale, 4#ll pay him a real for it. 4f you wish, 4#ll stri$e it again against my teeth. * isten carefully and you can hear its sharp tin$ling sound," Sil+ino struc$ the egg once more against his teeth and it really produced a strong tin$ling sound. 0he young oy, who had not had so much tu$tu$an experience was readily con+inced and nodded his appro+al for the contest to egin. Sil+ino firmly grasped his winning egg in the right position and then smiled maliciously. Cecilio grasped the elongated portion of his egg with his right hand, when suddenly Sil+ino struc$ a strong low against his opponent#s egg, producing a crac$ing sound. Cecilio suddenly turned pale, while Sil+ino laughed sarcastically. "@i+e me that egg" Sil+ino said as he suddenly sei6ed it from Cecilio, who ga+e it to his opponent willingly without uttering a word. 0ears welled in his eyes. Meanwhile, Sil+ino +ictoriously $ept on shooting loudly8 "0u$tu$an, tu$tu$an who wants to challenge me%" )nother fellow who was supposed to contest his winning egg snea$ed out while the ystanders stood ama6ed at Sil+ino#s tric$s. "0his is ust etween us, Cecilio," Sil+ino told the loser, who merely smiled wryly. Cecilio then replied arrogantly8 "4 don#t li$e to challenge anyone in tu$tu$an without etting a ig amount." ")ll right then, let us play the game this time with ig ets," Sil+ino lurted out. "7ow much do you want to et%" "'ne peso and the crac$ed egg to the winner." "0wo pesos" "3ell then, 4 agree." 7earing of the stipulated amount, the other oys gathered round the comatants, encircling them in a tight cordon. 0hese two oys were considered the est in town, the uneatale champions of tu$tu$an. "First, we will entrust the money agreed upon to this fellow here," Cecilio said, pointing to another oy neary.
"-a$u the parish priest and your father might see us. 3atch out" Sil+ino shouted. Sensing that he would surely emerge the winner, he too$ two pesos from his poc$et and too$ the winning egg from inside his hand$erchief. Cecilio did the same thing. Silence reigned momentarily e+en if all seemed to e at the height of their excitement. Sil+ino it his lips and ga6ed intently at the four pesos he was aout to win, ut Cecilio stood silent and motionless. "Shall we test the eggs again%" he as$ed. "3hat for%" Sil+ino replied and tried to di+ert attention y as$ing "-ow what do you want% 3ho will hold the egg elow and who will hold it ao+e%" "?ou should." "-o, you should e the one" "Cara o Cru6 *et us toss a coin," suggested a third party. "?ou#re right." the comatants agreed. "Cara, o Cru6%" as$ed Sil+irio. 0hey tossed a coin and settled it this way. Cecilio held his egg elow his opponent#s hand thus li$e the first try it would recei+e the hardest low. ) diaolical smile rightened Sil+ino#s face as Cecilio protected his egg, holding it carefully with oth hands and showing only a +ery tiny portion of the elongated part of the egg such that Sil+ino could hardly touch the tip. Sil+ino ecame angry, since he could not e+en hear the slightest tic$ing sound of his low. "Both eggs are winners," he decided 1uite hastily. "Both%" Cecilio as$ed, 1uite surprised.. 0here was a momentary silence, then Sil+ino tried to test his egg y stri$ing it against his teeth once more. 7e stood up and made hea+y lows on his opponent#s egg repeatedly. -either of the eggs crac$ed. 7owe+er, they heard a faint crac$ing sound with the last low. "4t#s already ro$en," Sil+ino shouted triumphantly while loo$ing at Cecilio#s crac$ed egg with disdain "?es, it#s already ro$en. ?ou ha+e lost ?our eggshell was already crac$ed." Sil+ino glanced once more at the egg in his hand and noticed that the tip of the egg had indeed crac$ed. "*inti$" he exclaimed angrily. 7e suddenly turned pale and loo$ed at his opponent scornfully. "-ow gi+e me those eggs," Cecilio said, as he was trying to retrie+e the little as$et for them. Sil+ino allowed him to ta$e the eggs, staring at him with $nitted eyerows. 7e did not $now who was to e lamed, so when Cecilio insisted on getting Sil+ino#s crac$ed egg he flatly refused. "-o, don#t get ta$e this egg. -o. no" "?es, that egg," replied Cecilio "0his was o ur prior agreement, rememer%" "*et me see your egg first" "-o, 4 don#t want to, ecause you won t show me yours either." 0hen a sudden flash, li$e lightning, struc$ Sil+ino#s eyes. ")h perhaps your egg, is made of stone. Maye this is why you dare not show it to me. Maye your egg is filled with tiny ric$ pellets /that#s why you won#t show it to me." 0he two oys exchanged insults and exhausting this, later came to lows. 0he eggs in the as$et were thrown away. Sil+ino recei+ed a strong low, this time not on h is egg ut on his face, causing a lac$ eye. Cecilio li$ewise had the same on his eye. 0hey stopped for a while, perhaps to rest, and resumed the hea+ing oxing "Filipino style". )ll food +endors neary shouted so much that those attending the procession stopped their prayers ecause of the uproar. 3hen 0anu$ang saw his son, he hurriedly rushed toward the scene, followed the
rest of the faithful in the procession. Capitan (anchong. father of Cecilio, got there first and tried all means to pacify the oys. 7is efforts were in +ain, and seeing 0anu$ang hit Cecilio, his paternal lo+e was offended and he rushed li$e a wild ull to defend his son. 9+en the women rushed to the scene and there was so much panic and commotion that e+en the plates filled with pancit were thrown aout in e+ery direction. )ll you could hear were shouts, +ituperations, interections and maledictions. while the women shrie$ed at the top of their +oices, later following this with deep sighs. 0he choir, psalmists, and e+en the men carrying the images of the -a6areno and the Virgen Dolorosa dropped the carro6as and oined the riot. 0he -a6areno seemed oth shoc$ed and ama6ed at the mo, staring at them in utter disgust, while the Dolorosa ehind him seemed startled, her wounded heart radiating with se+en sil+er daggers piercing it and shaped in the form of a fan. @ra+e conse1uences for oth parties undoutedly followed this rumle. 0he cord strung around 0anu$ang#s waist was untied during the scuffle of the fathers. Capitan (anchong#s elt loosened and his pants slipped down Npon seeing this Capitana Barang suddenly rushed to his aid co+ering the exposed part of her husand#s ody with her tapis and pauelo. 0his riot reflected oth ararism as well as sacrilege, which led to great dishonor for e+eryone. "*et us go to the triunal" 0anu$ang shouted, panting while trying to fix his underwear. "*et us go to the triunal," he $ept shouting. "But loo$ at yourself#." Capitan (anchong replied scornfully "?ou should go home first and get properly dressed. (ut on your est shirt and pants." "4 don#t $now why you had to meddle in the affairs of these young scoundrels," Capitana Barang shouted at her husand while crying angrily. Capitan (anchong was erating his son8 "4 ha+e already you that you are too small, Cecilio. 4 ha+e foridden you se+eral times not to mix with these rale rousers." 9+eryone was tal$ing, fi+e or six people all tal$ing at the same time, when 0anu$ang shouted at the top of his +oice, calling for the cuadrilleros and other local officials to inter+ene, ut each word he uttered was ignored. Capitana Barang with dishe+eled hair, raised her large arms and gesticulated5 howe+er, Sil+ino and Cecilio continued their rawl, insulting, threatening, and lunging at each other. )t this moment, the parish priest loo$ed out of the con+ent window and saw the head of a lady from a neary house who also watched the incident anxiously, trying to guess what was really happening. "3e will see," 0anu$ang shouted. "?es, +omos a +er," Capitan (anchong added moc$ingly as he thought to himself. So what if 0anu$ang might e a goernadorcillo,well, he wor$ed in his cal6oncillos, in his underwear Besides, e+eryone called him $iti&$iti. 0anu$ang resumed the s1uale. ut Capitan (anchong withdrew and left the scene with his son. )t this point, one could notice that the -a6areno seemed to stare in shoc$ at the crowd, while the Dolorosa simply stood, ehind his carro6a, in sorrow / her eyes filled with crystal tears. The $%termath o% the Fight 0hat night the cura +isited Capitan (anchong#s house and after the prayers the doctor, the lawyer and telegrapher li$ewise gathered there. 0his time they arri+ed earlier to air their protests against 0anu$ang. 0he warehouseman who saw them enter (anchong#s house closed shop at once and followed them, for fear that anyone in that group would complain first.
)s expected, they commented on the current issues of that afternoon. 0hey condemned their enemies, Cecilio was really sure that Sil+ino#s egg was made of wood. )lthough in the shape of an egg, it was a fa$e. Since e+eryone had agreed against Sil+ino the lawyer said8 "0u$tu$an is a $ind of pastime, a game, and so nothing can e said against it. -ow, as to the egg5 whether fresh, empty, coo$ed, refilled, or any way you want it, it is enough pro+ided that it is an egg. )s the contest is only centered on the eggshell, if it has a shell, it fulfills the re1uirement for the contest. )n egg made of wood, despite its shape and general appearance does not ha+e a shell and cannot e considered in the contest." 0he doctor, on the other hand, had to examine Cecilio +ery carefully as he might ha+e sustained internal inuries which could later pro+e fatal. 4t would therefore e con+enient to ma$e it $nown. 3 ho $nows% Sil+ino was a ararian. "4f 4 had not inter+ened," interrupted the goernadorcillo, "a catastrophe might ha+e efallen us." "0his is a 1uestion of honor and defamation," the telegrapher said. "4f you wish me to do so, 4#ll send a +exing, mischie+ous note to the go+ernor right now" "But e+eryone $nows that 0anu$ang is in the good graces of the parish priest." 0his thought occurred to (anchong at once, ecause o f his recent fears and anxieties aout Fr. )gaton#s displeasure at mass and the esamanos earlier on. "0hen this means we can do nothing at all / out of respect to the cura. 4#m sure the cura will support and protect 0anu$ang." "?es, he will protect him," added Capitana Barang. ":ust this morning 4 saw him going out of the con+ent. 7e had surely reported the incident to the cura as you will see later." "7e is a suser+ient yet +ery mean fellow. 7e would do e+erything pro+ided he could ecome gaernadorcillo to replace me." "4 ha+e not seen anyone with such a passionate hunger for power, utt." "3e will see" Criticism flowed freely and the people in the house $ept tal$ing aout the gifts 0anu$ang used to ta$e to the con+ent, not to mention, of course, the day he had gi+en se+eral $inds of f ruit and sweets. Cecilia did not utter a word nor ta$e part in their con+ersation. She ust smiled affaly at the people around her and in turn, they nodded their heads toward her. Capitana Barang egan to tal$ aout mutual understanding etween Capitan (anchong and his peers. 0hey would proaly ha+e to settle their dispute simply, y offering some gifts to the authority concerned / Fr. )gaton. )t this point, the sound of footsteps on the porch alarmed them. 0hey pretended to tal$ indirectly aout the matters at hand, so that the parties concerned would not suspect their rather sha$y relationship with the parish priest. "?es, on the contrary," the doctor said, de+iating from the topic of their con+ersation. "4 thin$ the parish priest should e married, ecause in the first place it is a call of nature. 4t is a natural necessity of e+ery man. 0o e celiate is against nature5 hence he might e incapale of properly administrating the parish assigned him. 4f the cura is always irritale ecause of his celiacy, there would e no peace in our town. 0hat would e dissatrous for all o f us." 0hen the doctor loo$ed at Cecilia meaningfully and continued8 "0his is, indeed, a natural need of our cura. 3hen the parish priest hears confession from a woman, the latter confides e+erything. to him, e+en her innermost secrets. 0herefore, it is much etter to confide such matters at home rather than in the confessional."
