El Fili 05
From I2008
JoseRizal.ph Summary
Gabi na’t inilalakad na ang prusisyong pang-noche buena nang dumating si Basilio sa San Diego. Naabala sila sa daan dahil nalimutan ng kutsero ang sedula nito at ito’y kinakailangang bugbugin muna ng mga guwardiya sibil.
Idinaan ang imahen ni Metusalem, ang pinaka-matandang taong nabuhay sa mundo. Kasunod na idinaan ang mga imahen ng tatlong Haring Mago. Nakapagpaalaala kay Sinang ang itim na Haring Melchor. Itinanong kay Basilio kung nakawala na ang kanang paa ni Bernardo Carpio na naipit sa kabundukan ng San Mateo. Kasunod sa prusisyon ang mga batang malulngkot sa pag-ilaw. Si San Jose naman. Kasunod naman ay mga batang may mga parol. Nasa dulo ng prusisyon ang Birhen.
Natapos ang prusisyon. Napuna ng mga sibil na walang ilaw an parol ng karitela. Pinarusahan uli ng mga sibil ang kutsroong si Sinong. Naglakad na lamang si Basilio.
Tanging bahay ni Kap. Basilio ang tila masaya sa mga nadaraanan ni Basilio. May mga manok na pinapatay. Nasilip ni Basilio na ang Kapitan ay nakikipag-usap sa kura, sa alperes, at kay Simoun.. nagkakaunawaan na tayo, G. Simuon, ani Kapitan Basilio, Tutungo tayo sa Tiani upang tingnan ang inyong mga alahas. Nagbilin ng isang kairel sa relo ang alperes. Isang pares na hikaw naman ang ipinakikibili’ ng kura. (Bakit kaya hikaw?)
Nasabi ni Basilio s sarili na si Simuon ay may kasindak-sindak na pagkatao. Ang lahat ay nakapaghahanap-buhay sa bayang ito maliban sa amin.
Sa bahay ni Kap. Tiyago ay iginagalang si Basilio, lalo na ng matandang utusan, nang makitang tumistis ng isang maysakit si Basilio na parang walang ano man.
Ibinigay ng mga utusan ang mga ulat. Mga kalabaw na namatay, mga katulong na napipiit at namatay ang matandang nagtatanod sa gubat. Nanghinayang si Basilio nang mabatid na sa katandaan namatay ang matanda.. Ibig niyang makatistis ng tao. Ang huling balita’y ukol sa pagkadukot ng mgs tulisan kay Kab. Tales. Di nakakain ng hapunan si Basilio.
Casual Summary by Some Person
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.
El Filibusterismo |