El Filibusterismo (El Fili) – Chapter 20
Chapter Title: The Ponente
Setting: Don Custodio’s office
Characters:
- Don Custodio
- Ben Zayb (mentioned)
- Senor Pasta (mentioned)
- Pepay (mentioned)
Plot:
Don Custodio struggles to decide on whether he should approve the petition of the Academy for Spanish.
Chapter Summary:
Don Custodio keeps postponing the petition of the Academy for Spanish, not wanting to make a decision because he doesn’t want to disappoint anyone. He asked Senor Pasta who just said contradictory things. Pepay had no advice but asked for 25 pesos to bury an aunt and appoint a cousin as assistant in the ministry of public works.
The chapter explains how Don Custodio became a well-respected person in Manila. He came to Manila young and had a good job, then he married a mestiza from a rich family. Because he was talented and daring, he made contracts with the government, and became councilor then eventually mayor.
Don Custodio was appointed several titles in different offices, and took his job seriously. He was well-known for not picking sides based on who was more popular. But because he took a long time to decide, he tended to overthink and tended to make bad decisions.
Once, Don Custodio opposed replacing coconut oil with kerosene lighting because of the interests of a certain counselor that he disliked, and opposed a serenade for a governor’s departure just because he resented the governor
Eventually, Don Custodio had to go to Spain for liver treatment but felt insignificant in Spanish court. He couldn’t feel superior to anyone in Madrid so he preferred Manila. He was mocked as an Indian and rejected by the Spaniards, so he became disgusted with Conservatives and declared himself part of the Liberal Party and returned to the Philippines
Don Custodio learned much about politics in Spain and wanted to use his knowledge to help Manila but he had bad ideas:
- Heard Madrid mention a wood pavement for Paris and had planks nailed on the streets of Manila
- Said vehicles should have 3 wheels to reduce the number of 2-wheeled vehicle accidents
- Fumigated everything (even telegrams)
- Said convicts should wear loin clothes and work at night to prevent them from wasting clothes and feeling hot under the sun.
When asked what Custodio thought of the Indios, he said they are good for mechanical work and ‘imitative arts’ only. Whenever he heard about an Indio excelling in chemistry/medicine/philosophy, he believed they had Spanish blood.
Don Custodio says he loves Indios, but believes they are naturally inferior and supposed to be submissive. He also prides himself on being Catholic but doesn’t believe in miracles and goes to the shortest mass. In Madrid, he bashed Catholicism because that was the trend; but in Manila, he defends it. He said that friars in Manila are influential and don’t need to use whips to control Indios. The friars sent him gifts, but he returned them.
The convents have sent Don Custodio gifts again, trying to get Don Custodio on their side. He has had the petition for 15 days.
Don Custodio looks at his folders titled “PROJECTS” and finds one called “Projects in Execution”. He removes a sheet of paper and sees the project of the School of Arts and Trades. He is confused as the Augustinians were in charge of that.
Don Custodio thinks of a solution and is happy, so he starts writing.
Trivia:
Quotes:
Don Custodio: Nothing could be original with the Indios, you understand? I like them a lot, but they must not be praised for anything, because they would become intoxicated and disgrace themselves.
Don Custodio: I love the Indios passionately. I have made myself their father and defender, but it is necessary for things to be in their place. Some are born to command, others, to serve.
Don Custodio: When you wish to subjugate a people convince them that they are subjugated – the first day they will laugh; the second, they will protest; the third, they will doubt; and on the fourth they will be convinced.
Don Custodio: To keep the Filipino docile, it must be repeated to him day after day what he is, to convince him that he is incompetent. What good would it do, besides, to have him believe in something else that would make him wretched?
Don Custodio: We can speak out loud! We are not like the English and the Dutch who, to maintain peoples in submission, make use of the lash… We use other means, much milder and surer. The salutary influence of the friars is superior to the English whip.
