The Social Cancer, by José Rizal - Home

CHAPTER XXVIII 138
CHAPTER XXVIII
Correspondence
Cada uno habla de la feria como le va en ella. [82]
As nothing of importance to our characters happened during the first two days, we should gladly pass on to
the third and last, were it not that perhaps some foreign reader may wish to know how the Filipinos celebrate
their fiestas. For this reason we shall faithfully reproduce in this chapter several letters, one of them being that
of the correspondent of a noted Manila newspaper, respected for its grave tone and deep seriousness. Our
readers will correct some natural and trifling slips of the pen. Thus the worthy correspondent of the
respectable newspaper wrote:
"TO THE EDITOR, MY DISTINGUISHED FRIEND,--Never did I witness, nor had I ever expected to see in
the provinces, a religious fiesta so solemn, so splendid, and so impressive as that now being celebrated in this
town by the Most Reverend and virtuous Franciscan Fathers.
"Great crowds are in attendance. I have here had the pleasure of greeting nearly all the Spaniards who reside
in this province, three Reverend Augustinian Fathers from the province of Batangas, and two Reverend
Dominican Fathers. One of the latter is the Very Reverend Fray Hernando Sibyla, who has come to honor this
town with his presence, a distinction which its worthy inhabitants should never forget. I have also seen a great
number of the best people of Cavite and Pampanga, many wealthy persons from Manila, and many bands of
music,--among these the very artistic one of Pagsanhan belonging to the escribano, Don Miguel
Guevara,--swarms of Chinamen and Indians, who, with the curiosity of the former and the piety of the latter,
awaited anxiously the day on which was to be celebrated the comic-mimic-lyric-lightning-change-dramatic
spectacle, for which a large and spacious theater had been erected in the middle of the plaza.
"At nine on the night of the 10th, the eve of the fiesta, after a succulent dinner set before us by the hermano
mayor, the attention of all the Spaniards and friars in the convento was attracted by strains of music from a
surging multitude which, with the noise of bombs and rockets, preceded by the leading citizens of the town,
came to the convento to escort us to the place prepared and arranged for us that we might witness the
spectacle. Such a courteous offer we had to accept, although I should have preferred to rest in the arms of
Morpheus and repose my weary limbs, which were aching, thanks to the joltings of the vehicle furnished us
by the gobernadorcillo of B----.
"Accordingly we joined them and proceeded to look for our companions, who were dining in the house,
owned here by the pious and wealthy Don Santiago de los Santos. The curate of the town, the Very Reverend
Fray Bernardo Salvi, and the Very Reverend Fray Damaso Verdolagas, who is now by the special favor of
Heaven recovered from the suffering caused him by an impious hand, in company with the Very Reverend
Fray Hernando Sibyla and the virtuous curate of Tanawan, with other Spaniards, were guests in the house of
the Filipino Croesus. There we had the good fortune of admiring not only the luxury and good taste of the
host, which are not usual among the natives, but also the beauty of the charming and wealthy heiress, who
showed herself to be a polished disciple of St. Cecelia by playing on her elegant piano, with a mastery that
recalled Galvez to me, the best German and Italian compositions. It is a matter of regret that such a charming
young lady should be so excessively modest as to hide her talents from a society which has only admiration
for her. Nor should I leave unwritten that in the house of our host there were set before us champagne and fine
liqueurs with the profusion and splendor that characterize the well-known capitalist.
"We attended the spectacle. You already know our artists, Ratia, Carvajal, and Fernandez, whose cleverness
was comprehended by us alone, since the uncultured crowd did not understand a jot of it. Chananay and
Balbino were very good, though a little hoarse; the latter made one break, but together, and as regards earnest
effort, they were admirable. The Indians were greatly pleased with the Tagalog drama, especially the