The Social Cancer, by José Rizal - Home

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