El Filibusterismo (El Fili) – Chapter 30
Chapter Title: Juli
Setting: January, San Diego
Characters:
- Juli
- Sister Penchang
- Sister Bali
- Padre Camorra
- Tandang Selo
- Juez de Paz (Justice of Peace)
- Teniente of the Guardia Civil
- Cabesang Tales (mentioned)
- Capitan Tiago (mentioned)
- Basilio (mentioned)
Plot:
Juli finds a way to free Basilio from prison.
Chapter Summary:
News reaches the town that Capitan Tiago has died and that Basilio is in prison. People speculate that Basilio will be exiled and murdered during the trip, because January is a “fatal month” (the three priests were hanged in Cavite in January).
Sister Penchang says Basilio is suffering because he would not cross himself if the holy water in the church was dirty. She believes the holy water cures disease and claims that it fixed her indigestion when she splashed some on her navel. Other men, who know that Basilio is a good person, think it’s the friars trying to get revenge on Basilio because he rescued Juli. Sister Penchang says she doesn’t regret kicking out Juli to not anger the friars, but she is angry about Juli being free because Juli made progress by praying and fasting for her.
Sister Bali goes to Juli’s house and has to tell her twice about Basilio’s imprisonment. Juli at first thinks she’s joking. When she realizes it is true, she faints. When she wakes up, she cries, thinking it is now her turn to rescue Basilio.
Juli thinks of Padre Camorra and how she has to go to him for help. The authorities have also imprisoned Tandang Selo in order to get Cabesang Tales to surrender. Padre Camorra said before that he could have Tandang Selo freed, but had asked for “sacrifices” from Juli in return. He made her kiss his hand and he often tended to pinch her. Padre Camorra had also beaten men in the barrio who were serenading girls. Everyone in the village knows that Cabesang Tales would be pardoned if Juli went to Padre Camorra.
Juli has become sad and quiet since her family’s troubles started. She once asked Sister Bali if those who committed suicide went to hell, and Sister Bali said “of course”.
The relatives tried to raise money for Basilio but only managed to gather thirty pesos. Sister Bali says to ask four the advice of a clerk, who will help if they give a real and a cigar. She mentions her neighbor Simon, who went to jail for being an unreliable witness during a robbery. The clerk saved him but he could barely walk and died anyway because “his rear rotted”.
Juli gives Sister Bali four reales and deer meat (hunted by Tandang Selo) to talk with the clerk but the clerk says he can do nothing because Basilio is in Manila. The clerk says to see the Juez de Paz (Justice of Peace). Sister Bali explains the problem to the Juez de Paz, but he says the only person who can save Basilio is Padre Camorra. The Juez de Paz advises Juli to speak with Padre Camorra in person.
Juli is afraid to go but Sister Bali says she will accompany her. Sister Bali quotes Tandang Basio’s booklet, which says that young women should go to the convent to report on what goes on in their homes. Juli says Sister Bali should go but the Juez de Paz says that a young face would be more moving.
Juli refuses to go, thinking she did not make that sacrifice to pardon her father and should not make it to save Basilio. The relatives do not know what Padre Camorra would do to Juli. They laugh at her fears, thinking he has better options for girls.
Juli wants advice but Tandang Selo is silent and staring at his spear. Juli has a nightmare of Cabesang Tales being shot and then transforming into Basilio. The next afternoon, there is talk of shootings so Juli decides to give herself up the next morning then kill herself afterward.
The next morning, she changes her mind, and after several days Juli is still waiting, and thinks there might be a miracle. There is news that some prisoners were freed due to patrons but she wonders who will be sacrificed. Juli has more nightmares about Cabesang Tales and Basilio dying.
A traveler from Manila reports that all prisoners have been freed except Basilio. He was forced to sign a petition to ask for exile to the Carolines. Juli finds Sister Bali and says she is ready. She fixes herself up and appears to be happy. She acts impatient. As they approach the convent, Juli becomes silent and loses her confidence.
Juli shakes when she sees the convent and says they should go home. Sister Bali drags her but Juli says no. Sister Bali eventually gives up and says they will go home, but Basilio will be exiled and shot on the way. That changes Juli’s mind and she enters the convent.
At night, there are reports that a woman (Juli) leaped to her death from the convent, and that another woman (Sister Bali) ran out screaming.
An old man (Tandang Selo) goes to the convent but he is not let in. He goes to the Gobernadorcillo’s house but no one is there. He is told that the Gobernadorcillo is at the convent. The Juez de Paz is also at the convento, and so is the teniente mayor and teniente of the Guardia Civil. Tandang Selo returns to his barrio, crying.
At 8:00 pm, more than seven friars from other towns go to the convent to hold a meeting. Tandang Selo disappears the next day with his spear.
Trivia:
Quotes:
In the Philippines it is a known fact that patrons are needed in everything, from the time one is baptized until one dies, to obtain justice, secure a passport or exploit whatever industry.
And meanwhile, those who were so blithely disposing of the destinies of people, he who commanded legalized murders, he who violated justice and made use of the law to maintain force, were sleeping in peace.
