Name: Custodio de Salazar y Sanchez de Monteredondo
Sex: M
Race: Indio
Occupation: Chairman of the Superior Commission of Primary Instruction (as of Chapter 14), various government posts
Aliases: Don Custodio, Custodining
Affiliations: Superior Commission of Primary Instruction, Obras Pias, Sociedad Economica de Amigos del Pais, Misericordia, Banco Espanol Filipino, Board of Health of Manila, Central Vaccination Board, etc.
Background
Don Custodio is implied to have been born in the province because it is stated that he came to Manila when he was young. After getting a good job, he married a mestiza from a rich family. Due to his skill and personality, he got involved with the government through many of his contracts. Eventually, he became a councilor, then a mayor.
Don Custodio became very well-connected and well-known, to the point that he was appointed to many positions. Among them include being director of the Sociedad Economica de Amigos del Pais; counsilor to the Administration; president of the administrative board of the Obras Pias; director of the Misericordia; advisor of the Banco Espanol Filipino; vice-president of the Board of Health of Manila; member of the Central Vaccination Board; brother of confraternities and archconfraternities; ponente, member-arbitrator of the Superior Commission of Primary Instruction. At the time he took his job seriously but would sometimes make decisions just to spite people he did not like.
Later on, Don Custodio had to go to Spain for liver treatment. He became a member of the Spanish court but felt inferior to everyone there, because he was mocked by Conservatives. Because of that, he declared himself part of the Liberal Party and returned to the Philippines. Believing he learned a lot about politics in Spain, Don Custodio decided to use his knowledge to help Manila.
It is not known how many positions and which other ones Don Custodio currently holds. However, his current most famous role is being one of Capitan General’s advisors and friends.
Story
Chapter 1: Don Custodio is first introduced while on the deck of steamship Tabo together with the friars, Dona Victorina, Ben Zayb and Simoun. When the ship gets stuck in the mud, Simoun suggests that a canal should be dug to make a new channel for the river, while old Pasig will be closed. Everyone agrees with Simoun except Don Custodio, who says that it would be costly, require tearing down villages and there is no money to pay laborers. Simoun says to go ahead, but Don Custodio starts arguing that people would rebel. Simoun mentions incidents in history wherein workers in the past didn’t rebel but Don Custodio says Indios are different and have rebelled before. When Simoun points out that buildings in Los Banos were built without rebellion, Don Custodio just says what has happened before can happen again.
Later, Don Custodio complains to Ben Zayb that Simoun is suggesting an expedition to the Caroline Islands and wants to construct a cruiser. Don Custodio suggests his project to everyone about clearing the sandbars of Laguna by having villagers breed ducks, which will eat snails and cause the river to deepen. Ben Zayb agrees but Dona Victorina gets angry because many ducks means a lot of balut, which she finds disgusting.
Chapter 3: When Simoun returns to the deck, Don Custodio asks where he was, because he missed the view. Don Custodio listens as the group takes turns telling each other about legends.
Chapter 11: Don Custodio is present in Capitan General’s house in Los Banos. He is seen talking to Padre Fernandez. When Simoun says tulisanes are the only honest men in the country, Don Custodio thinks Simoun is being rude and acts that way just because he is close to Capitan General. While Capitan General makes decisions on several issues, Don Custodio asks about his project to use cockpits as schools. If there are cockfights on weekdays then classes are to be canceled. Capitan General says he would rather resign if schools are closed just because there are games. He ends the discussion.
Don Custodio is one of the people who expresses his support for the petition for the Academy for Spanish.
Chapter 14: Don Custodio is mentioned by Macaraig as he explains to his fellow students what Padre Irene claimed to witness in Los Banos. According to Padre Irene, he suggested reviving the Superior Commission of Primary Instruction and Don Custodio, a former member, was named as chairman. Don Custodio apparently promised to decide on the petition within a month.
Padre Irene suggested to the students to influence Don Custodio since he is “neutral” on the matter, so the students suggest influencing Pepay but instead choose Senor Pasta since he advises Don Custodio.
Chapter 15: Don Custodio is mentioned when Isagani visits Senor Pasta asking him to advise Don Custodio to approve the petition for the Academy for Spanish.
Chapter 16: Don Custodio is present at Chinaman Quiroga’s dinner. He is seen talking to senoras about a commission sent to India to make studies on the footwear of soldiers. Later, Mr. Leeds’ exhibit at the Quiapo Fair is mentioned and Simoun suggests going. Don Custodio doesn’t want to go at first because he doesn’t want to interact with common people, and is afraid of what others might think. But he soon agrees and goes to Quiapo Square with Padre Salvi, Padre Camorra, Padre Irene, Ben Zayb, Juanito Pelaez and Simoun.
Chapter 17: Don Custodio visits the Quiapo Fair. While at a stall selling sculptures, everyone argues about whether Indios should be discouraged from making art. Don Custodio says Indios have talent but should only carve saints.
Chapter 18: Don Custodio witnesses the sphinx at Mr. Leeds’ exhibit. When Padre Salvi faints, Don Custodio thinks it is because he was hypnotized. After the spectacle is over, Don Custodio says that it should be forbidden because it is immoral.
Chapter 19: While leaving school, Placido Penitente sees Don Custodio and Padre Sibyla in a carriage.
Chapter 20: Don Custodio is the main focus of this chapter. He has had the document for fifteen days and keeps delaying the decision on the Academy for Spanish because he doesn’t want to disappoint anyone. It was revealed he asked Senor Pasta for advice, but Senor Pasta just said contradictory things and Pepay just asked for a favor.
Don Custodio’s past is explained, showing how he became a powerful and well-respected person in Manila. He remembers how he once praised friars in Manila for using words rather than whips. They sent him gifts for it, and recently have sent him presents instead to convince him to side with them.
Don Custodio gets an idea and pulls out a project on the School of Arts and Trades, which is under the section “Project in Execution”. He feels he finally has a solution and starts writing.
Chapter 21: It is stated that Don Custodio was against showing the play because he thought there would be obscenities in French. But being against the play meant it got more publicity and made everyone in Manila want to see it. Tadeo later sees Don Custodio at the opening of the play and points him out to his townmate. He notices that Don Custodio is frowning because he is probably thinking of a project.
Chapter 22: Don Custodio watches the performance. It is explained that Pepay offered to help the students’ petition by talking to Don Custodio, and that she asked him to meet in the theater which is why he is there. As the female performers dance on stage, Don Custodio takes note of whether they are showing their knees.
Later, Juanito Pelaez coughs and Don Custodio scolds him, but pretends to write to avoid being noticed. During the intermission, Tadeo leaves the students’ box to talk to Don Custodio.
Macaraig returns and shows the other students a letter from Don Custodio to Pepay. The letter states that she was too late and that he had already decided, but that the students would be happy with his decision. It turns out that Don Custodio decided to let one of the religious orders take charge of the Academy for Spanish, while the students will help collect money and give it to a treasurer chosen by the religious order.
Chapter 25: The students are angry about the decision and decide to have a bitter celebration about the results. At the panciteria, they post a wall sign that says “Glory to Custodio for his cleverness, and pansit on earth to youths of good will!” Macaraig says they should rename the pansit lang-lang “project soup” in honor of Don Custodio.
Later, Pecson quotes a line from Don Custodio that was mentioned in Ben Zayb’s article: “If a full belly glorifies God, a hungry belly glorifies the friars.”
Chapter 28: After the poster incident, Chinaman Quiroga tries to go to Don Custodio to ask if he should arm his bazaar but Don Custodio is not available.
Chapter 34: Don Custodio is revealed to have attended Juanito Pelaez and Paulita Gomez’s wedding as a representative of Capitan General, who wasn’t there even though he was godfather.
Chapter 35: Don Custodio attends the wedding feast and sits in the dining room with Capitan General, Padre Irene, Padre Salvi and others. A paper is passed around signed with Ibarra’s name and Capitan General asks who Ibarra is. Don Custodio says it is just a bad joke, but explains that Ibarra was a filibusterillo who died a long time ago. When Padre Salvi recognizes the signature, everyone gets nervous and Don Custodio asks if the letter means they will get murdered that night. Don Custodio is present when someone (Isagani) runs into the dining room and steals the lamp, before jumping in the river.
Chapter 36: After Simoun is revealed as the mastermind of the bomb plot, Ben Zayb visits Don Custodio while armed with revolvers. Don Custodio is working on a project against American jewelers. He whispers something to Ben Zayb. Ben Zayb gets scared. Don Custodio makes a signal with his arms, of Simoun creeping up on them. Ben Zayb asks about the diamonds. Don Custodio mimes a windmill, implying sweeping away objects. Ben Zayb imitates swallowing air.
Physical Description
Don Custodio’s appearance is not stated in the book, though he is referred to as “that man with the knitted brows” (Chapter 21). He is usually seen frowning because he is thinking of a project.
Personality
“Only Don Custodio believed it his duty to criticize a program that had not come from him – that was a usurpation.” (Chapter 1)
Although Don Custodio is said to have had “natural talent, daring and much tact” (Chapter 20) when he was young, in El Filibusterismo (El Fili) he has a good reputation and is described as “belonging to the class of Manila that is well-respected by all”. However, he is lacking in intelligence, as proven by many of his terrible project ideas.
“Don Custodio’s projects were as famous as a quack doctor’s prescriptions.” (Chapter 1)
Don Custodio is always interested in improving the Philippines, but tends to focus on small issues rather than national problems such as poverty. He also tends to overthink – he takes a long time making decisions and does not consider small details. He only thinks of the country as a whole, not realizing when his project ideas affect people negatively. Therefore, most of his project ideas are impractical and have very little benefit. An example can be seen in Chapter 20, when he says that convicts should wear loincloths and work at night instead, in order to save clothing and prevent them from feeling hot under the sun. In another instance, just because he heard a wood pavement for Paris mentioned in Madrid, he had planks nailed to the streets of Manila.
Don Custodio is loyal and friendly to those he trusts, but he tends to dislike certain people for small reasons and will sometimes go out of his way to spite them using his privileges as an important government figure. It is mentioned that he opposed replacing coconut oil with kerosene lighting just because of a certain counsilor that he disliked, and also opposed a serenade for a governor’s departure only because he resented the governor (Chapter 20). He is slightly eccentric, preferring to fumigate everything, even telegrams. He is also self-conscious of his image and does not want to be seen interacting with “common people” because he is afraid of what others may think, which is why he hesitates before agreeing to go to the Quiapo Fair (Chapter 16). In general, he takes his job seriously and is proud of his tendency to not always agree with the majority.
Skills
Creativity
Don Custodio’s projects are often described as strange but they are still taken seriously, with many people going to him ideas. The probable reason for many people appointing him with various positions is because of his honesty and his willingness to learn and share new ideas, which show that his main interest is helping improve the country.
Relationships
See Relationships of Don Custodio
Beliefs
On Indios
“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.” (Chapter 20)
Don Custodio’s feelings on Indios are complicated: he thinks he is superior to all Indios but wants to help them because he sees them as mostly weak and incompetent. While at the Quiapo Fair, Don Custodio admits that Indios can be talented at art, but should only be allowed to carve saints (Chapter 17). He also believes they are good at mechanical work, but if they excel in chemistry, medicine or philosophy, then it is because they have Spanish blood (Chapter 20).
“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.” (Chapter 20)
Despite being an Indio himself and claiming to “love” Indios, Don Custodio believes Indios can only serve and not lead, and copy but not create anything original (Chapter 20). Indios are meant to be be ruled over, because that is their proper place, which is why they should never be rewarded.
“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?” (Chapter 20)
In Chapter 20, it is revealed that Don Custodio returned to Manila because he wanted to help Indios, though it is also because he could not feel superior to anyone while in Madrid. Even though he was made fun of by Spanish people and called an “Indian”, Don Custodio never realizes that the way he was looked down on by the Spanish is the same way he looks down on other Indios.
On Hispanization
In Chapter 11, Don Custodio is actually one of the few who supports the students’ petition for an Academy for Spanish, though his reason for doing so is unknown.
On Religion
Don Custodio’s feelings on religion are unclear. He claims he is a proud Catholic (Chapter 20). But it is noted that he always goes to the shortest mass and doesn’t believe in miracles. He was known to bash Catholicism in Madrid (like everyone else did) but defends it in Manila. He has a great respect for priests in the Philippines and believes they are “soft” on people, and eventually decides that a religious order should be the one in charge of creating the Academy for Spanish (Chapter 22).
Trivia
- Don Custodio’s suggested project ideas throughout El Filibusterismo (El Fili) include the following:
- Suggested clearing the sandbars of Laguna by having villagers breed ducks, which will eat snails and cause the river to deepen (Chapter 1).
- Wanted cockpits to be used as schoolhouses (Chapter 11).
- Heard Madrid mention a wood pavement for Paris and had planks nailed on the streets of Manila (Chapter 20)
- Said vehicles should have 3 wheels to reduce the number of 2-wheeled vehicle accidents (Chapter 20)
- Said convicts should wear loin clothes and work at night to prevent them from wasting clothes and feeling hot under the sun. (Chapter 20)
- Approved the petition for the Academy for Spanish on the condition that a religious order be in charge of it (Chapter 22)
- Was working on a project said to be against American jewelers (Chapter 26).
- Don Custodio’s beliefs contradict each other several times during El Filibusterismo:
- Don Custodio claims to be part of the Liberal party but his beliefs seem more conservative as he is against the sphinx exhibit for being immoral, and against the French play because he thinks it has obscenities and observes whether the actresses are showing too much skin.
- Don Custodio claims to be proud of never agreeing with the majority but he is afraid to decide on the petition for the Academy for Spanish because he doesn’t want to disappoint anyone.
- Don Custodio claims to be proud of being Catholic but he doesn’t believe in miracles and goes to the shortest mass, and bashes Catholicism in Madrid (because the Spanish do the same) and defends it in Manila, even praising the friars.
Quotes
“Y ab actu ad posse valet illatio (what happened before can happen again).” (Chapter 1)
“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.” (Chapter 20)
“We are 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.” (Chapter 20)
“Out with the consumptive!” (To Juanito Pelaez, who is coughing, Chapter 22)
