The Social Cancer, by José Rizal - Home

CHAPTER LXIII 300
are constructed.
nito: A climbing fern whose glossy, wiry leaves are used for making fine hats, cigar-cases, etc.
novena: A devotion consisting of prayers recited on nine consecutive days, asking for some special favor;
also, a booklet of these prayers.
oy: An exclamation to attract attention, used toward inferiors and in familiar intercourse: probably a
contraction of the Spanish imperative, oye, "listen!"
pakó: An edible fern.
palasán: A thick, stout variety of rattan, used for walking-sticks.
pandakaki: A low tree or shrub with small, star-like flowers.
pañuelo: A starched neckerchief folded stiffly over the shoulders, fastened in front and falling in a point
behind: the most distinctive portion of the customary dress of the Filipino women.
papaya: The tropical papaw, fruit of the "melon-tree."
paracmason: Freemason, the bête noire of the Philippine friar.
peseta: A silver coin, in value one-fifth of a peso or thirty-two cuartos.
peso: A silver coin, either the Spanish peso or the Mexican dollar, about the size of an American dollar and of
approximately half its value.
piña: Fine cloth made from pineapple-leaf fibers.
proper names: The author has given a simple and sympathetic touch to his story throughout by using the
familiar names commonly employed among the Filipinos in their home-life. Some of these are nicknames or
pet names, such as Andong, Andoy, Choy, Neneng ("Baby"), Puté, Tinchang, and Yeyeng. Others are
abbreviations or corruptions of the Christian names, often with the particle ng or ay added, which is a
common practice: Andeng, Andrea; Doray, Teodora; Iday, Brigida (Bridget); Sinang, Lucinda (Lucy); Sipa,
Josefa; Sisa, Narcisa; Teo, Teodoro (Theodore); Tiago, Santiago (James); Tasio, Anastasio; Tiká, Escolastica;
Tinay, Quintina; Tinong, Saturnino.
Provincial: Head of a religious order in the Philippines.
querida: Paramour, mistress: from the Spanish, "beloved."
real: One-eighth of a peso, twenty cuartos.
sala: The principal room in the more pretentious Philippine houses.
salabat: An infusion of ginger.
salakot: Wide hat of palm or bamboo and rattan, distinctively Filipino.
sampaguita: The Arabian jasmine: a small, white, very fragrant flower, extensively cultivated, and worn in
chaplets and rosaries by the women and girls--the typical Philippine flower.