Elias and Salome.pdf

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extracted text: Page 14 THE MANILA GUARDIAN March, 1950 /ELIAS and SALOME By Am. F. PAREDES Most of us are acqm.t1nted with Dr. Jose Rizal's classical novel Noli Me Tangere finished in Berlin on February 21, 1887. This volume is acclaimed as the "Filipino Bible of Nationalism" and the "most precious relic of the free Filipino people." 'Vhat the average reader is not so familiar with is the fact that there was an unpublished chapter from the original Noli Me Tangere manuscript entitled Elias and Salome. This chapter was written in the handwritii1g of the author. The pages of this particular part were lined with blue-pencil by Rizal without a number of the chapter to indicate it from the other chapters. \Vhile Rizal was in Berlin, he used to rewrite portions of his novel, and even deleted paragraphs and chapters to improve it. This chapter deals mainly with the love affair of Elias, one of the principal characters of the novel, and Salome, the embodiment of Filipina b§uty and modest\' like Maria Cfara as p~l b.yjlizal. It also depicts the sincerity of their love affair and the entangling circumstances that sealed their fate, leading them to poignant parting. Mr. Charles Derbyshire, an ardent Rizaliana scholar who translated Rizal's two novels, the Noh Me Tangere and El Firibusterismo, and some of his poems, explained why Elias and Salome was deleted from the original manuscript. \Vith regard to this chapter, he wrote: "Jn the original manuscript, this chapter appears immediately after Chapter XXIV, In the Woods, but it was blue-pencilled and lacks a number such as the others have in pencil evidently for the printer's guidance, the next successding chapter being so marked XXV. After a careful consideration of various sound artistic reasons for striking it out, and in deference to the author's clearly-indicated wish, for he personally super-intended the printing of the first edition published, this chapter was not included in the complete English version, The Social Cancel', the endeavor therein being to present the finished work exactly as the author himself finally issued it. In the preceding chapter, a part~· of picnickers had been roughly broken in upon a squad of ciYil guards searching for the outlaw Elias. Salome is a character not even hinted in an)' part of th"" story or the novel (Italics mine)." Here is a brief fran~lation of the chapter entitled Elial'i and Safome \\'hich Rizal wrote as a continuation of Chapter XXIV: The civil guards that disturb the picnickers are looking for the outlaw Elias everywhere. If they had gone to a picturesque hut near the lake, they would have found what they sought. On the batalan of the hut, a girl of about seventeen to twenty years is busy sewing a camisa of bright colors. She is attractive and beautiful, but her beauty is like the flowerete that grow wild not attracting attention at first glance, but rather flowerets whose beauty are revealed when we examine them carefully. Now and again, she ·would watch the lake, waiting for th~ arrival of Elias. Suddenly, she heard footsteps. She laid aside her sewing and - waited patiently beside the bamboo stairway. Elias appeared carrying a bundle of firewood and a bunch of bananas which he placed on the floor while he handed a wriggling dalag to Salome. Salome opened the conversation: "I thought you would come by water, Elias." "I couldn't, Salome," replied Elias in a repressed tone. "The falua has come and is patroliing the lake. There's a man in it who knows me." Salome noticed in his features and actions that he was sad. Deep in her heart, she knew that Elias was being sought by the authorities. She asked ·other matters to make it indifferent, something about the girls-pretty ones at the picnic. He told her they were many and among them was Maria Clara, the sweetheart of a rich young man who had just arrived from Europe. Then he arose, and spoke in a low tone: "Good-by, Salome. The sun is setting and, as you think, it won't do for the people's hereabouts to say that the night overtook me here-but you'n• been crying. Don't deny it with your smile, you'n! been crying." Salome was crying simply because she was sad at leaving this house where she was born and reared. She explained to him: "Because it's not right for me to live alone. I'll go to live with my relatives in Mindoro. Soon I'll be able. to pay the debt nw mother left me when she died. to gi\'e up this, house in which one was born and has grown up is something more than giving up a half of one's being. A typhoon will come, a freshet, and ew!rything will go into the lake." " Elias remained speechless for a moment, then held her hands and asked her: "Have you heard any one speak ill of you? No? Ha\'e I sonietimes \VOrried you? Not that either? Then you are tired of my friendship and want io drive me awa~- .. " (Continued on page .a.) . 1-7. March, 1950 THE MANILA GUARDIAN Page 17 mon feelings of humanity for a temporary advantage, and in every respect discredited the government which he represents. And yet today, Governor Lacson is still a hero to this government. If a man completely devoid of high principles, total~y without shame, ruled by his savage hunger for power and not by his sense of righteousness-if such a man can remain a hero for long to this government, what sort of government do we have anyway? Gentlemen of this Congress, we are the direct representatives of the people, and it is our sacred duty to restore the people's faith and confidence in their government. The case of Captain Junsay involves a clear and fundamental violation of the Revised Penal Code and the most cherished liberties guaranteed by the Constitution. Inasmuch as the administrative investigation of this case has only been belatedly ordered, and the participation of members of the Constabulary in the despicable beating of their fellow officer and comrade in arms creates doubts in the public mind as to the impartiality of an administrative investigation, this Congress should see to it that· a separate congressional probe be instituted. This Congress has the power to supel'vise the execution of executive functions, the duty to enact legislation to implement and protect the rights guaranteed by our Constitution, and the obligatio~ to turn the spotlight of public opinion on cunent events, for as James Madison has said, in the final analysis, the chief palladium of constitutional liberty is the people whose representatives we are, the people who are the authors of this blessing must also be its guardians, and their eyes must be ready to mark, their voice to denounce aggression on the authority of their constitution. This House cannot allow such barbaric practice as those emplo,yed in the Junsay case to continue. I therefore ask and so move that a committee of five be created, two of them to be appointed by the Speaker under nomination of the minority party and three under nomination of the majority party with full powers to investigate th~ case of Captain Junsay and his men, 8-nd the prevalence of the practice of extorting confessions by force by law enforcing agencies of the country, to determine and fix the responsibility therefor, and to report the results of its investigation to the House with recommendations concerning the measure to be adopted to implement the constitution rights of our people. Elias. . . (Continued from page 14) "No, don't talk like that. I am not tired of your friendship. God knows that I am satisfied with my lot. I only desire health that I may work. I don't envy the rich, their wealth, but ... " '.'But what?" "Nothing-I envy them nothing so long as I have· your friendship." "Salome," replied the youth with bitter sorrow. "You know my cruel past and that my misfortune is not my work. If it were not for the fatality which at times makes of the Jove of my parents with bitterness, if it were not that I don't want my children to suffer what my sister and I suffered, you would have been my wife in the eyes of God. But for the sake of this very love, for the sake of this future family, I have sworn to end with myself Lhe misfortune that we haYe been inheriting from father to son, and it is better that (Continued on page 22) Help Raise Funds For Charitable, Health and Welfare Institutions! APRIL 2a, H150 DllA'W Sales Quota P'2,500,000 }.'irsL Prize ................ Pl50,000 Second Prha' Third Prize . 75,000 37,500 6 I<'ourth Prizes at . l Charity Prize . 12,000 each 22,·1-70.75 AND THOUSANDS OF OTHER PRIZES TICKETS ARE NOW 0:-1 SALE Co.s•t per booklet of 10 tickets .......... P3 I.4!i Profit per booklet 8.55 Prizes to agents 6o/o of the pri7,es from the first down to the eighth and Charity prize if full quota. is covered. SAVE A LIFE AND WIN A PRIZE PHILIPPINE CHARITY SWEEPSTAKES 1893 Rizal Avenue, Manila General Manager ... Assistant General Manager . Secretary, Board of Dir.ectors T.els: 2-73-95 2-73-91 2-78-72 TUNE IN: Station DZPI at +:45 to 5:00 P.M. Every Sunday For PhilijJpine Charity Sweepstakes Program. Pri:.e Claimants Are Required to Present Their I I 1950 Residence Certificates in Collecting 1,,.: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ T;;;;/;;;;ie;;;;;,;;;;. ;;;;P;;;;ri_;;;;,e;;;;.<. __ ...,_...,,._.._..__~_. Page 22 THE MANILA GUARDIAN Manh, 1950 We have behind us the lesson of Hl41 an<l we can im· prove much upon that lesson in carrying 01..1t the traffic movement of our scattered reservists. We have the same postal, telephone and telegraph, and the better equipped, expanded and improved nets of wireless to direct the traffic. Our land, 'vater and air transportation are also now with better and increased equipments, and c~n be brought into the service of mobilization and continuing defense necessity. No doubt, all can be immeasurably utilized to serve the procurement and delivery end of our man-powe1 to the army, this time, schooled and more efficient. But, again, this ferret out how much thf' defense authority has move toward a direction of lining up, acquainting, and bringing these national equipment into ready availability in the interest of mobilization or al'my use. It is doubtful that there is any. We know of no significant measure taken by those in authority to reduce this orohlf!m and work it out to the highest advantage of the military. We cannot be too early about this thing, as in all others, under the international clouds. that we arc iu these days. The Receiving Disposition of the Anny, - Whim material is made available and the man-power is collected and delivered to the a1my, mobilization as a civil function ceases. From there the arnw administration takes over. But for the army to be in the position to take over, it must have, perforce, provided for the adequatC' installation of mobilization and training centers all ovcr the country for the l'eception and refresher training of the reservists. At these places the rese1·vists will be sheltered, fed, clothe•1 and equipped, and cared of health meanwhile that they undergo the change to make them ship-shape for final direction to their divisional cantonments or to battle stations. Rightly putting it, this is the phase where general mobilizations anchor ultimately. The military authority have, perhaps, mapped out and designated the sites.of these mobilization and training cent~rs. But are these centers equipped and prepared to receive reservists? Equipping and preparing of these installations is not limited to the quartering facilities of men and officers but extended as far as meanil~g ready and competent camp complements to operate and administer these centers, ready stores with adequate stocks for imme· diate and continuing issuance, and ready trains and convoy units essential to troops and suppl.y movements. Winding up.-Scarcely :i year and a half after the Philippine Gommonwealth started the program of nationvl defense, it saw fit to stage, and as a matter r·f fact it successfully staged, a practice mobilization. From then it carried it on from year to year until in 194J, beyond the expectation of even th~ most advised in the government, the Commonwealth was complemented for its efforts the past four years in the descent of the need of a real and wa1· caused mobilization. The sign of the t;me that ha,J influenced our government then to take those early steps to gear for mobilization is not more telling than as it is now. Neither is the cost of holding one, relatively with our sta~ of finance then and our finance now, less prohibitive than it is now. It is only the masterhig sense that a practice mobilization is the ultimate thesis with which to grade our reserve system of training from year to year that so inspired our military planners at that time to stage those dry runs. Yet, this is the fourth year of the Republic, and the fifth since liberation ,wd our reestablishment; it is a bit alarmingly striking that we ha\'(' not one practice mobilization to rate the cohesive soundness and efficiency of our reserve upon whicl! we can only rely in its possession of that wielded state. To wind up, this is what last we may hoJJC our military policy makers and defense planners ma:1 have in mim: to lbe g·uided by: The implication of our H:scn'c systc>tli of national defense essays a concept that the rescrvc branc~i Elias .... (Continued from page 17) it should be so, for neither you nor I would wish to hear our children lament our love, which would only bequeath them misery. You dO well to go to the house of your relatives. Forget me, forget a love so mad and futile. Perhaps you'll meet there one who is not like me." uElias !" exclaimed the girl reproachfully. "You have misunderstood me. In my· words, there is no complaint against you. Take my advice, go home to your relatives ... Here you have no one but me, and the day when I fall into the hands of my ptlrsuers, you will be left alone and alone for the rest of your life. Improve your youth and beauty to get a good husband, such as you deserve, for you don't' know what it is to live among men." "I was thinking that you might go with me." "Alas!" rejoined Elias shaking his head. 11 Impossible, and more so than ever. . . I haven't yet found what I came here to seek-it's impossible! Today I forfeited my liberty." He related the incidents of the picnic and fish· ing expedition that morning, and told her how Crisostomo Ibarra saved his life from the jaws of a caym.an (crocodile). He was so grateful, and vowed that he would repay the good deed of Ibarra, even though it would cost him his life, He said that anywhere he woul<l go, even in Mindoro, the past would still be discovered. "Well, then," Salome said to him as she Looked at him tenderly, jj At least after I am gone, live here, live in this house. It wi11 make you remember me and I will not think in that distant land that the hurricane has carried my hut into the water. When my thougths turn to these shores, that memory of you and of my house will appear to me together. Sleep where I have slept and dreamed-it will be as though I were beside you ... " "Oh!" exclaimed Elias, waving his hand in desperation. "Woman, you'll make me forget." Freeing himself from the girl's clasp, he left nastily and was soon lost amid the lengthening shadows of the trees now silent and still at twilight. Salome followed his. fleeing form with her gaze, as she stood listlesslr,.i listening to the sound of his footsteps that slowly faded away. of our armed forces does not exist for the regular branch but, rather, the regular exist mainly owing to and for the reserve. The regular can only find the reflection of its soundness and readiness to meet a war eme:-gency in the cohesive and responsive soundness of the rese,·vc for which it exist. There stands absolutely no motive at all -to maintain a regular standing force in our inability to maintain, preserve to usefulness, and provide for the <:<dequate ant1 timely transformation of the reserve from its civ·il isola tion to a muss of rollin,£\· divisions nnli t:1sl, l-',Toup.-: fo,· effective defense.
Date: 1950
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