El Filibusterismo (El Fili) – Chapter 32
Chapter Title: Consequences of the Posters
Setting: Summer, Manila
Characters:
- Pecson
- Tadeo
- Juanito Pelaez
- Macaraig
- Isagani
- Sandoval
- Basilio
- Cochero / Sinong
- Ben Zayb
- Capitan General
- Simoun
- Don Timoteo Pelaez
- Paulita Gomez
- Padre Fernandez (mentioned)
- Juli (mentioned)
- Tandang Selo (mentioned)
Plot:
The students are suspended. Paulita Gomez decides to marry Juanito Pelaez.
Chapter Summary:
Due to the events at school, mothers tell sons to quit studying and come back to the province to become farmers. and become. The arrested students are suspended during exams so only few of them are able to pass.
Pecson, Tadeo and Juanito Pelaez are suspended. Pecson laughs and says he will become a clerk in court. Tadeo burns his books. Juanito Pelaez is sad about being suspended, and ends up running his father’s store. But later on he is seen smiling again. Macaraig was able to get a passport due to his wealth, so he ends up sailing to Europe. Isagani passes Padre Fernandez’s course but is suspended by the others. Sandoval’s skills at public speaking allow him to pass the exams.
Basilio is left in Bilibid prison and is interrogated every three days. The cochero, Sinong, has been updating Basilio of news in Tiani. He has told Basilio about Juli’s death and Tandang Selo disappearing.
The newspapers (and Ben Zayb) announce that Simoun has recovered, and Ben Zayb hears a rumor that Simoun will hold a fiesta to celebrate his recovery. It is also to celebrate his leaving since he will leave with Capitan General (whose term expires in May). According to rumors, Simoun tried to encourage Capitan General to ask for an extension but Capitan General refused.
Ben Zayb suggests that Simoun should have bought Capitan Tiago’s house, which Don Timoteo Pelaez had bought for a low price. Simoun stars hanging out in Don Timoteo Pelaez’s store.
Weeks later, in April there is a rumor that Juanito Pelaez will marry Paulita Gomez. Paulita Gomez has fallen out of love with Isagani because of his involvement with the posters, and how he gave himself up to the police instead of hiding, which to her means he is not sensible. Instead, Paulita Gomez admires Juanito Pelaez because he is smart, rich and mestizo (since people think Don Timoteo Pelaez is a full-blooded Spaniard). Paulita Gomez now looks down on Isagani for being provincial, not having a respectable family, and not caring about money. Paulita Gomez has complied with “Darwin’s law” by choosing the “fitter male” who adapts to the environment.
During Holy Week, there is a mutiny by artillerymen but the reason is unknown. Houses that were made of light materials are demolished by cavalrymen and the owners are sad, so Simoun goes to see them.
Don Timoteo Pelaez plans to throw a fiesta at the end of April, to celebrate the wedding of Juanito Pelaez. Capitan General is to be the godfather/sponsor, which was arranged by Simoun. The fiesta will be scheduled two days before Capitan General leaves the Philippines.
There are rumors that Simoun will throw jewelry as part of his farewell party. Everyone wants to attend the fiesta and many buy iron and zinc sheets from Don Timoteo Pelaez to try to get invited.
Trivia:
- To get a passport, Capitan General made a rule that only those who can ‘spend and live with ease’ in European cities can leave the country.
- It is implied in the chapter that Simoun does not currently have his own house. It is possible he sold his house or was renting it from someone the entire time.
Quotes:
Her [Paulita Gomez] love for Isagani had vanished like all first loves anchored in poetry and on sentiment.
To be able to live in Manila there was no one like Pelaez, who since childhood had had at his fingertips the grammar of survival.
