El Filibusterismo (El Fili) – Chapter 9
Chapter Title: Pilates
Setting: Sagpang (San Diego)
Characters:
- Cabesang Tales
- Teniente of the Guardia Civil
- Padre Clemente
- Sister Penchang
- Juli
- Tandang Selo
- Basilio (mentioned)
Plot:
Sister Penchang puts Juli to work, and Cabesang Tales returns.
Chapter Summary:
No one in the town feels guilty for what happened to Cabesang Tales. The teniente of the guardia civil tells himself he was just following orders to seize weapons, and that he even searched for the tulisanes and found suspects.
Padre Clemente claims he has nothing to do with Tales’ disappearance because Cabesang Tales made him feel unsafe. He thinks Tales deserved the punishment from heaven for not following the demands of the church.
Sister Penchang believes that people suffer because their relatives sin. She also thinks Juli is a sinner for not knowing how to pray. She does not allow Juli to return to the barrio to take care of her grandfather. In her mind, Juli has to work and learn how to pray. Sister Penchang hears the news that Basilio went to Manila to get his savings and redeem Juli.
Sister Penchang forces Juli to reread the booklet of Tandang Basio Macunat and tells her to go see the priest in the convent. The friars celebrate winning the lawsuit against Cabesang Tales.
Cabesang Tales returns and sees that his lands are gone, and his father is mute and his daughter is now a maid. There is also an order from the Tribunal to evacuate the house within 3 days. Cabesang Tales sits beside Tandang Selo and does not speak.
Trivia:
- In this chapter, Juli’s mistress’ name is revealed for the first time.
Quotes:
Sister Penchang: Many times God sends us these things because we are sinners or we have relatives who are sinners whom we should have taught piety, and we have not done so.
Sister Penchang: The young men who go to Manila to learn are lost, and they lead others to be lost, too.
