El Fili 05
From I2008
Revision as of 13:33, 8 June 2006
It was evening when the Christmas Eve (noche buena) procession commenced, when Basilio arrived in San Diego. He got delayed along the way because the cochero or rig driver (the guy who drives the karitela or horse-driven carriage) forgot his cedula (Residence Certificate). Why the delay? The Guardia Civil had to beat up the cochero first.
The image of Methusalem (Methuselah, world's oldest person) was paraded during the procession, followed by the three magi (wise men). The cochero asked Basilio if Bernardo Carpio was able to free his other leg from the mountains of San Mateo (nope, not in California). Following the procession were sad-faced kids holding torches. They were followed by San Jose, and then kids holding "parol" or Christmas lanterns. And the end of the procession was the Blessed Virgin Mary.
The procession ended and the guardia civil noticed that there was no light in the cochero's carriage. The guards again beat up poor old Sinong.
Basilio decided to just walk. (Can you blame him?)
Among the houses Basilio passed, it seemed that only the house of Capitan Basilio appeared lively. Chickens were being slaughtered and Basilio espied the Capitan speaking with the parish priest, the alferes and with Simoun. Capitan Basilio agreed with Simoun that they will go to Tiani to examine Simoun's jewelry. The alferez asked for a watch chain, while the parish priest asked for a -- get this -- pair of earrings!
Basilio found Simoun unbearable because Simoun was able to do business in the Philippines unlike other people.
Basilio is well-respected in the home of Capitan Tiago, especially by the elder household help who saw Basilio perform surgery with extreme calmness. The old man tried to give Basilio some fresh news -- an old man who took care of the forest died of old age and the parish priest didn't want to give him burial as a poor man. Basilio was disheartened to learn that the someone died because of old age; he wanted to perform autopsies on those who died of sickness.
(Sicko doctor. Made me lose my appetite...)
Then the old household help told Basilio about the kidnapping of Cabezang Tales. Basilio lost his appetite.
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