The Social Cancer, by José Rizal - Home
The Social Cancer, by José Rizal - Home
The Social Cancer, by José Rizal - Home
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CHAPTER LXIII 305<br />
"This image of the Virgin of Kaysaysay enjoys the fame of being very miraculous, so that the Indians gather<br />
from great distances to hear mass in her sanctuary every Saturday. Her discovery, over two and a half<br />
centuries ago, is notable in that she was found in the sea during some fisheries, coming up in a drag-net with<br />
the fish. It is thought that this venerable image of the Filipinos may have been in some ship which was<br />
wrecked and that the currents carried her up to the coast, where she was found in the manner related.<br />
"<strong>The</strong> Indians, naturally credulous and for the most part quite superstitious, in spite of the advancements in<br />
civilization and culture, relate that she appeared afterwards in some trees, and in memory of these<br />
manifestations an arch representing them was erected at a short distance from the place where her sanctuary is<br />
now located."--Buzeta and Bravo's Diccionario, Madrid, 1850, but copied "with proper modifications for the<br />
times and the new truths" from Zuñiga's Estadismo, which, though written in 1803 and not published until<br />
1893, was yet used <strong>by</strong> later writers, since it was preserved in manuscript in the convent of the Augustinians in<br />
Manila, Buzeta and Bravo, as well as Zuñiga, being members of that order.<br />
So great was the reverence for this Lady that the Acapulco galleons on their annual voyages were accustomed<br />
to fire salutes in her honor as they passed along the coast near her shrine.--Foreman. <strong>The</strong> Philippine Islands,<br />
quoting from the account of an eruption of Taal Volcano in 1749, <strong>by</strong> Fray Francisco Vencuchillo.<br />
This Lady's sanctuary, where she is still "enchanting" in her "eagle in half-relief," stands out prominently on<br />
the hill above the town of Taal, plainly visible from Balayan Bay.--TR.<br />
[41] A Tagalog term meaning "to tumble," or "to caper about," doubtless from the actions of the Lady's<br />
devotees. Pakil is a town in Laguna Province.--TR.<br />
[42] A work on scholastic philosophy, <strong>by</strong> a Spanish prelate of that name.--TR.<br />
[43] <strong>The</strong> nunnery and college of St. Catherine of Sienna ("Santa Catalina de la Sena") was founded <strong>by</strong> the<br />
Dominican Fathers in 1696.--TR.<br />
[44] <strong>The</strong> "Ateneo Municipal," where the author, as well as nearly every other Filipino of note in the past<br />
generation, received his early education, was founded <strong>by</strong> the Jesuits shortly after their return to the islands in<br />
1859.--TR.<br />
[45] <strong>The</strong> patron saint of Tondo, Manila's Saint-Antoine. He is invoked for aid in driving away plagues,--TR.<br />
[46] Now Plaza Cervantes.--TR.<br />
[47] Now Plaza Lawton and Bagumbayan; see note, infra.-- TR.<br />
[48] <strong>The</strong> Field of Bagumbayan, adjoining the Luneta, was the place where political prisoners were shot or<br />
garroted, and was the scene of the author's execution on December 30, 1906. It is situated just outside and east<br />
of the old Walled City (Manila proper), being the location to which the natives who had occupied the site of<br />
Manila moved their town after having been driven back <strong>by</strong> the Spaniards--hence the name, which is a Tagalog<br />
compound meaning "new town." This place is now called Wallace Field, the name Bagumbayan being applied<br />
to the driveway which was known to the Spaniards as the Paseo de las Aguadas, or de Vidal, extending from<br />
the Luneta to the Bridge of Spain, just outside the moat that, formerly encircled the Walled City.--TR.<br />
[49] Whom the gods would destroy, they first make mad.--TR.<br />
[50] We have been unable to find any town of this name, but many of these conditions.--Author's note.<br />
San Diego and Santiago are variant forms of the name of the patron saint of Spain, St. James.--TR.