El Filibusterismo (El Fili) – Chapter 14
Chapter Title: A Students’ Lodging House
Setting: Macaraig’s House
Characters:
- Macaraig
- Isagani
- Sandoval
- Pecson
- Juanito Pelaez
- Capitan General (mentioned)
- Padre Irene (mentioned)
- Padre Sibyla (mentioned)
- Padre Fernandez (mentioned)
- Padre Salvi (mentioned)
- Simoun (mentioned)
- Chinaman Quiroga (mentioned)
- Don Custodio (mentioned)
- Pepay (mentioned)
- Senor Pasta (mentioned)
- Padre Florentino (mentioned)
Plot:
The students discuss ideas on how to get their petition for an Academy of Spanish approved by the Capitan General.
Chapter Summary:
Macaraig’s house is large and known as a gathering place for students, so it is always filled with people.
Things going on: people playing sipa, doing gymnastics, fencing matches, Chinese peddler selling victuals and pastries (hopia and salted melon seeds) as boys mock him and pull his pigtail and hit him with clubs. Ateneo students studying at a table, students writing to sweethearts, people playing instruments and having music lessons, people playing revisino, people fighting
Macaraig, Isagani, Sandoval and Pecson are talking about the petition to open an Academy for Spanish.
Sandoval tells everyone that Capitan General won’t allow himself to be influenced by friars.
Sandoval asks Pecson to state facts. Pecson mentions a time wherein the Provincial of the Litigating Order was chosen by Capitan General to settle a dispute between friars and people.
Sandoval asks why they would not allow something that is useful and necessary. Pecson says it threatens the integrity of the nation. He explains that since class hours for the Academy for Spanish will be at night, the friars might say that it is immoral like the school of Malolos. In Malolos, some women wanted to open a school wherein Spanish would be taught at night, and it was stopped “for reasons of morality”. Sandoval argues that classes of the Academy of Design and novenas and processions also take place at night.
Pecson says the petition attacks the University’s dignity. Sandoval says that the Spanish government has given them everything and not denied them anything. He explains that Spain and the Philippines are run in the same way so “we weep when you weep, we suffer when you suffer”. Sandoval tries to cheer everyone up by saying that times are changing and that they should trust the government. Everyone claps.
Pecson asks what happens if Capitan General denies the authorization. Sandoval says that even if that happens, their efforts will not have been in vain because they will become enlightened. No matter what happens, they achieved a lot by “pulling off the mask and having the gauntlet thrown at you.” This means that they exposed something (pulling off the mask), which is an achievement, even if they have to be hurt in the process (hit by a gauntlet).
Pecson asks what happens after that. Sandoval says that if no Filipinos respond to the challenge, he will do it and will fight for the Filipinos. The crowd cheers. Pecson points out that Sandoval can say that and not be seen as a subversive because he is Spanish.
Macaraig tells everyone about his conversation with Padre Irene. According to Padre Irene, the following people were against the petition:
- Padre Sybila
- Padre Fernandez
- Padre Salvi
- Capitan General
- Second top official
- Simoun
- High officials
- Administrative director
- Civil governor
- Chinaman Quiroga
Padre Irene proposed to them that the petition be passed to the Superior Commission of Primary Instruction since it has to do with teaching Spanish.
Pecson says the Commission is defunct. Macaraig explains that Padre Irene convinced them to revive it, so Don Custodio (a former member) was named as the Superior Commission of Primary Instruction’s chairman. Don Custodio promised to act on the petition within the month.
Pecson asks what happens if Don Custodio rules against. Macaraig says Padre Irene suggested that they just have to influence Don Custodio since the Capitan General is “neutral”.
They want to influence Chinaman Quiroga but that would be difficult. They suggest talking to Pepay instead because she is close to Don Custodio. Juanito Pelaez is Pepay’s friend and volunteers to arrange with her but Isagani says they are already using Padre Irene to influence people.
They decide to influence Senor Pasta because Don Custodio always takes his advice. Isagani says he will go because Senor Pasta was Padre Florentino’s classmate, but first he will try ‘honest means’ and go to Senor Pasta’s house to convince him. They agree that it will be done that day and that Isagani will share his news at the University.
Trivia:
Quotes:
Pecson: Perhaps it is feared that we might understand the laws and obey them… What would happen to the Philippines on the day when we can understand one another?
Sandoval: The University has to dedicate itself to the needs of the students. And if this be true, what then is a University?
