After all that suffering across two books, you’d have hoped the oppressors would have dined on thorny karma by now. But alas, it is only the oppressed that suffer some more. Basilio, Pecson, Isagani, I’m glad you only exist in fiction, or my heart would’ve been doubly shredded by now.
Chapter 31: The High Official
The girl’s death[1] and even her identity are largely left unremarked by both the newspapers and the locals, even as Padre Camorra leaves town for another.
Meanwhile, through the intervention of their relatives, the detained students are released, except for Basilio who is further accused of possessing prohibited books. The Captain-General keeps him detained to maintain the appearance of authority.
One high official advocates for Basilio, believing he is innocent, and argues with the Captain-General. The official tells the Captain-General to treat the Filipinos better to give them no reason to hate Spain. The official ends up resigning shortly after the argument and heads back to Spain.
Chapter 32: Effect of the Pasquinades[2]
As a result of the events involving the students, Pecson, Tadeo and Pelaez are suspended from their courses, and Makaraig leaves for Europe. Isagani passes only Padre Fernandez’s course but is suspended from the others. Only Sandoval is able to sway the examiners in his favor. Basilio remains in jail, where someone brings him the news of Juli’s passing.
Simoun recovers from his illness and is rumored to be leaving soon with the Captain-General at the end of his term. In the interval, he is purported to have become the business partner of Don Timoteo, Juanito’s father.
Paulita ditches Isagani and decides to marry Juanito Pelaez. It is rumored that Simoun is responsible for arranging all the particulars of the couple’s celebratory party, where the Captain-General will be present as the couple’s wedding patron.
Chapter 33: La Ultima Razon[3]
Basilio, having been released from prison through Simoun’s intervention, visits the jeweler. Basilio scolds himself for forgetting his mother and brother’s misfortunes[4] and pledges to support Simoun’s plans for a violent revolution.
Simoun welcomes his support. He reveals that he plans to ignite dynamite hidden in a decorative lamp at nine in the evening during Juanito and Paulita’s wedding party, at the venue of which, sacks of gunpowder are hidden. Simoun intends to take the city after the explosion with the help of Cabesang Tales and his group. He instructs Basilio to take charge at the appointed hour of arming anyone willing to fight from the store of rifles in Quiroga’s warehouse, and to put to death those unwilling to join.
Chapter 34: The Wedding
While waiting for the agreed time for the uprising, Basilio whiles away the time. His thoughts swing between feeling sorry for the Paulita’s rejected former sweetheart, Isagani, and anger over Juli’s death and his own broken dreams. He heads off to Capitan Tiago’s old house, now owned by Don Timoteo, where he witnesses the lavish preparations for the evening wedding party.
It is revealed that the Captain-General will be bearing a lamp, confidentially procured by Simoun, as a wedding gift at the dinner party.
Chapter 35: The Fiesta[5]
Important people arrive at the party, and Basilio hesitates when he observes the number of innocent individuals. His determination strengthens when he sees Padre Irene and Padre Salvi, but his good heart gets the better of him. He attempts to warn the guests of the impending danger, but is stopped by the doorman.
Basilio sees Simoun leave the house and knows the lamp has been lit. He flees and meets Isagani, who is in the street hoping to get a glimpse of Paulita. In the hopes of saving his friend, Basilio reveals the planned explosion. Isagani rushes toward the house.
Inside, a note with the words: Mane Thecel Phares[6] Juan Crisostomo Ibarra, is circulating among the guests. Padre Salvi recognizes Ibarra’s handwriting and is struck with terror, along with those who knew of Ibarra’s story.[7]
As the lamp is about to go out, a figure rushes in and throws it into the river.
Notes and References:
1. See El Filibusterismo Chapter 30 summary.
2. In Guerrero’s translation, pasquinades is written as as “subversive posters”. Jose Rizal, El Filibusterismo, Translated by Leon Ma. Guerrero, (Makati City: Guerrero Publishing, Inc., 2012), 227. Pasquinades is also defined as a lampoon, a satiric public criticism of something.
3. According to Google Translate, this means, “The Last Reason”. Lacson-Locsin translates this chapter title as, “The Final Argument”. Jose Rizal, El Filibusterismo, Translated by Ma. Soledad Lacson-Locsin, (Makati City: Bookmark, Inc., 1997), 352.
4. See Noli Me Tangere chapters 15, 16, 17 and 18.
5. Nowadays, a fiesta is usually understood to be a big celebration by a city or municipality to commemorate the feast day of their patron saint. In this chapter’s context however, it simply refers to the huge wedding party attended by all the important people in government and society.
6. In Daniel 5:1-28 of the Bible, as King Belshazzar is feasting using the sacred cups from the Temple of Jerusalem, the fingers of a man appear and write on the wall, “Mene, Mene, Tekel, Parsin”. When called to the king’s presence, Daniel interprets this as, and I paraphrase: God has numbered your days and they are ended. You have been weighed and found wanting. Your kingdom will be divided.
7. Crisostomo Ibarra’s story is of course told in Noli Me Tangere.
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