18 July 1886

Calamba

Calamba, 18 July 1886

DEAR BROTHER,

With this letter go three that I have written since January. I don’t write often or by every mail because I see nothing important to communicate to you on account of the monotonous life that I’ve lead here, or perhaps of my own barrenness, both things that I cannot remedy.

The town fiesta, like everything, passed away with its music, which this year is fairly good. There were some fireworks, half of which was not fired because they became humid. There were two nights of theatrical performances in which Ratia and Fernández[1] took part. The first night, after the second act, the orchestra and the spectators, to protect themselves from the rain, hurriedly went up the platform where some were seated, some standing, some squatting, and many in Turkish style, remaining there until the performance was over. It was a pleasure to see that crowd for its varied assortment: there were friars with military caps and military men with cowls. In the performance the second night nothing happened except that it was finished at 5:00 o’clock in the morning. The procession of the first day got wet when it was half-way, having to return immediately to church. I liked very much the Mass because the theatrical sang with a well-tuned orchestra. My conscience that day told me that I attended a profane rather than a religious function. The sermon depicted to us the delights of paradise and the horrible torments of hell and judging by the silence of the audience, I deduced that sermon edified us very much, but I was greatly undeceived when we left the church. In short, there was such an unusual attendance of gamblers that made this, according to some, a second Cavite, if not the first, because they gambled at their pleasure and nobody molested them. And why should they be molested when they gambled with their own money and perhaps pawning their children or even their wives. There was no reason for disturbing them, because if they lost, they hurt only themselves and not a third party. Never were the wife and children considered a third party in relation to the father and husband. On the other hand, everyone looked after his own welfare and I knew of one who, in the opinion of everybody, enjoyed the during those days because he was the only one capable of getting the most from the fiesta – a man more smart and cunning than either Porta or Cardona. (I don’t know exactly with whom to compare him.) I don’t covet that kind of entertainment because not everybody has the same character. There you have the description of the town fiesta that, although it is written without orthography, many words, or figures of speech, it has the merit of containing the truth, which to me is the principal thing.

Talking one day with Sevio, son of Capitán Quico, he told Ine that he was waiting impatiently for you so that you might treat the tumor in his left eye, the result of the lash he administered his horse which in the rebound hit him. The tumor is of the size of a calumbibit.[2] It is so serious that in hot days his right eye can no longer see clearly and it causes him intense headaches. I told him that I did not know the date of your return and he added that I write you proposing that if it is not convenient for you to come to Calamba, whether because of the distance or any other thing, he is ready to meet you at Hong Kong, should it be convenient for you to perform the operation there. In endorsing to you his proposition, I don’t mean to convey that I approve it. I know that unfortunately there are still many among our countrymen who, having been obliged to give their fellowmen some money, already think that they have a right to demand from them the impossible. Hence, the poor physician who has not been lucky in his treatment, besides not being paid willingly, becomes the object of a thousand murmurings. Aside from this are the comments by the father on your fear, to come to the Philippines to save the family reprimands. I make all these observations for your guidance. Now, if he goes to Paris, as some have advised him, I don’t say no. But the lad is not courageous enough to undertake such a trip and he is right because, if in Madrid they made fun of a Tuvino, in Paris…

If you have finished translating any work of Schiller and you don’t need it, send it to me so that I can have it printed. Last year I amused myself translating Mary Stuart but because of the poverty of the language or my inadequate knowledge of Tagalog and Spanish, in two days of assiduous labor, I translated only a page and a half, and badly, I had to give up.

Furnish me with information of the best schools there. We have many nephews, the majority of whom are promising. It is a pity that these ones should fall into the hands of teachers who teach unwillingly and do so only for show. It is true that they inculcate in children very sane principles, such as fear and humility, the first being the beginning of wisdom and the second of apostolic and civic virtue, but it is also true that fear and humility lead to dullness.

When you return to Paris, find out the price of a comb and an electric botton and write me about it. This comb is for Sra. Neneng and the botton is for me. This is still a novelty here; Zamora is the only one who has worn it for the first time.

Carrillo and Guivelondo insistently ask me to give you their regards.

The whole family is in good health. María married Daniel F. Cruz of Biñan, son of Manuel Cruz and one Revilla, and they live sometimes in Biñan and sometimes in Sta. Cruz and from time to time they come to the house. Maneng will enroll in the law course this year. And Silvestre is thinking of returning to the telegraph office. You already know that he left the service almost a year ago as it suited him better to open a little store than to go around the Islands; but now, as this store, that is not worth two hundred pesos, must pay a tax of thirty or forty pesos, it is right to give it up. Otherwise, after four years, capital and labor will vanish like smoke.

Your brother,

PACIANO

P.S.

If you have any time left, you ought to study hydrotherapy as a specialty. The variety of our mineral springs in Calamba and Los Baños could be useful to you. Many bathers instinctively and daily go to Pansol for the treatment of their ailments. Some are cured, others remain in the same condition, but very few or no one become worse. If they knew how to use the waters properly, they might get better results.

02-163 [Blumentritt V.1]