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 VI 43<br />
CHAPTER VI<br />
Capitan Tiago<br />
Thy will be done on earth.<br />
While our characters are deep in slumber or busy with their breakfasts, let us turn our attention to Capitan<br />
Tiago. We have never had the honor of being his guest, so it is neither our right nor our duty to pass him <strong>by</strong><br />
slightingly, even under the stress of important events.<br />
Low in stature, with a clear complexion, a corpulent figure and a full face, thanks to the liberal supply of fat<br />
which according to his admirers was the gift of Heaven and which his enemies averred was the blood of the<br />
poor, Capitan Tiago appeared to be younger than he really was; he might have been thought between thirty<br />
and thirty-five years of age. At the time of our story his countenance always wore a sanctified look; his little<br />
round head, covered with ebony-black hair cut long in front and short behind, was reputed to contain many<br />
things of weight; his eyes, small but with no Chinese slant, never varied in expression; his nose was slender<br />
and not at all inclined to flatness; and if his mouth had not been disfigured <strong>by</strong> the immoderate use of tobacco<br />
and buyo, which, when chewed and gathered in one cheek, marred the symmetry of his features, we would say<br />
that he might properly have considered himself a handsome man and have passed for such. Yet in spite of this<br />
bad habit he kept marvelously white both his natural teeth and also the two which the dentist furnished him at<br />
twelve pesos each.<br />
He was considered one of the richest landlords in Binondo and a planter of some importance <strong>by</strong> reason of his<br />
estates in Pampanga and Laguna, principally in the town of San Diego, the income from which increased with<br />
each year. San Diego, on account of its agreeable baths, its famous cockpit, and his cherished memories of the<br />
place, was his favorite town, so that he spent at least two months of the year there. His holdings of real estate<br />
in the city were large, and it is superfluous to state that the opium monopoly controlled <strong>by</strong> him and a Chinese<br />
brought in large profits. <strong>The</strong>y also had the lucrative contract of feeding the prisoners in Bilibid and furnished<br />
zacate to many of the stateliest establishments in Manila u through the medium of contracts, of course.<br />
Standing well with all the authorities, clever, cunning, and even bold in speculating upon the wants of others,<br />
he was the only formidable rival of a certain Perez in the matter of the farming-out of revenues and the sale of<br />
offices and appointments, which the Philippine government always confides to private persons. Thus, at the<br />
time of the events here narrated, Capitan Tiago was a happy man in so far as it is possible for a<br />
narrow-brained individual to be happy in such a land: he was rich, and at peace with God, the government,<br />
and men.<br />
That he was at peace with God was beyond doubt,--almost like religion itself. <strong>The</strong>re is no need to be on bad<br />
terms with the good God when one is prosperous on earth, when one has never had any direct dealings with<br />
Him and has never lent Him any money. Capitan Tiago himself had never offered any prayers to Him, even in<br />
his greatest difficulties, for he was rich and his gold prayed for him. For masses and supplications high and<br />
powerful priests had been created; for novenas and rosaries God in His infinite bounty had created the poor<br />
for the service of the rich--the poor who for a peso could be secured to recite sixteen mysteries and to read all<br />
the sacred books, even the Hebrew Bible, for a little extra. If at any time in the midst of pressing difficulties<br />
he needed celestial aid and had not at hand even a red Chinese taper, he would call upon his most adored<br />
saints, promising them many things for the purpose of putting them under obligation to him and ultimately<br />
convincing them of the righteousness of his desires.<br />
<strong>The</strong> saint to whom he promised the most, and whose promises he was the most faithful in fulfilling, was the<br />
Virgin of Antipolo, Our Lady of Peace and Prosperous Voyages. [32] With many of the lesser saints he was<br />
not very punctual or even decent; and sometimes, after having his petitions granted, he thought no more about<br />
them, though of course after such treatment he did not bother them again, when occasion arose. Capitan Tiago<br />
knew that the calendar was full of idle saints who perhaps had nothing wherewith to occupy their time up