The Social Cancer, by José Rizal - Home

CHAPTER XX 99
sensibly." "He's modest." "He reasons admirably."
"What a pity that he doesn't know very well how to gesticulate," observed Capitan Basilio. "But there's time
yet! He hasn't studied Cicero and he's still a young man!"
"If I present to you, gentlemen, any program or plan," the young man continued, "I don't do so with the
thought that you will find it perfect or that you will accept it, but at the same time that I once more bow to the
judgment of all of you, I wish to prove to our elders that our thoughts are always like theirs, since we take as
our own those ideas so eloquently expressed by Capitan Basilio."
"Well spoken! Well spoken!" cried the flattered conservatives. Capitan Basilio made signs to the speaker
showing him how he should stand and how he ought to move his arm. The only one remaining impassive was
the gobernadorcillo, who was either bewildered or preoccupied; as a matter of fact, he seemed to be both. The
young man went on with more warmth:
"My plan, gentlemen, reduces itself to this: invent new shows that are not common and ordinary, such as we
see every day, and endeavor that the money collected may not leave the town, and that it be not wasted in
smoke, but that it be used in some manner beneficial to all."
"That's right!" assented the youths. "That's what we want."
"Excellent!" added the elders.
"What should we get from a week of comedies, as the teniente-mayor proposes? What can we learn from the
kings of Bohemia and Granada, who commanded that their daughters' heads be cut off, or that they should be
blown from a cannon, which later is converted into a throne? We are not kings, neither are we barbarians; we
have no cannon, and if we should imitate those people, they would hang us on Bagumbayan. What are those
princesses who mingle in the battles, scattering thrusts and blows about in combat with princes, or who
wander alone over mountains and through valleys as though seduced by the tikbálang? Our nature is to love
sweetness and tenderness in woman, and we would shudder at the thought of taking the blood-stained hand of
a maiden, even when the blood was that of a Moro or a giant, so abhorred by us. We consider vile the man
who raises his hand against a woman, be he prince or alferez or rude countryman. Would it not be a thousand
times better to give a representation of our own customs in order to correct our defects and vices and to
encourage our better qualities?"
"That's right! That's right!" exclaimed some of his faction.
"He's right," muttered several old men thoughtfully.
"I should never have thought of that," murmured Capitan Basilio.
"But how are you going to do it?" asked the irreconcilable.
"Very easily," answered the youth. "I have brought here two dramas which I feel sure the good taste and
recognized judgment of the respected elders here assembled will find very agreeable and entertaining. One is
entitled 'The Election of the Gobernadorcillo,' being a comedy in prose in five acts, written by one who is here
present. The other is in nine acts for two nights and is a fantastical drama of a satirical nature, entitled
'Mariang Makiling,' [69] written by one of the best poets of the province. Seeing that the discussion of
preparations for the fiesta has been postponed and fearing that there would not be time enough left, we have
secretly secured the actors and had them learn their parts. We hope that with a week of rehearsal they will
have plenty of time to know their parts thoroughly. This, gentlemen, besides being new, useful, and
reasonable, has the great advantage of being economical; we shall not need costumes, as those of our daily life