by: Jenny Mae S. Saldaña
Ang akda ni Jose Rizal na pinamagatang " El Filibusterismo" ay sumasalamin sa pagmamalabis na ginawa ng mga prayle sa mangmang at walang alam na mga Pilipino. Ginamit nila ang kanilang mga kapangyarihan upang mapasailalim at mapasunod nila ang mga Pilipino sa kanilang mga kagustuhan. At dahil sa takot na naramdaman ng mga Indiyo ay hindi sila gumawa at nag-isip ng paraan upang mapalaya sa anino ng kalupitan ng mga kastila. Ang aking saloobin tungkol sa nobela ay galit, habag at pagkamangha. Galit, para sa mga prayle na lumapastangan sa dignidad ng mga kababaihan, at tumapak sa prinsipyo ng bawat Pilipino. Habag, para sa mga taong mas pinili na mahalin ang kultura ng mga dayuhang kastila at nagtakwil sa sariling bayan. Pagkamangha, para sa mga taong nagbuwis ng buhay para sa bayan. Nabigyang buhay ng mga tauhan lalung-lao na ang mag-aalahas na si Simuon, Basilio, mag-aaral na si Placido Penitente, tulisan na si Kabesang Tales at marami pang iba ang maalab na kwento ng "Paghahari ng Kasakiman".
Magkahalo lagi ang takot at pananabik ng mga bata kapag hinihintay nila ang kanilang ama. Ang takot ay alaalang isang suntokna nagpapamaga at nagpapatulo ng dugo sa labi. Ang pananabik ay sa pagkain na paminsan-minsay iniuuwi ng kanilang ama- malaking supot ng pansit na iginisa sa itlog at gulay. Ang pansit ay para lang talaga sa kanilang ama ngunit dahil marami ito, may pinaghahatian na lang din pati ng kanyang mga anak.
Anim lahat ang mga bata. Ang 2 pinakamatanda ay lalaki (12 anyos) at babae ( 11 anyos). May kambal na pawang mga lalaki (9 anyos), maliit na babae (8 anyos) at isang paslit pa (2 anyos).
Natatandaan niula ang isa o dalawang okasyon na sinorpresa sila ng kanilang ama dahjil nagdala ito ng pansit na pinagsaluhan nilang lahat. Ngunit hindi na naulit pa ang pangyayaring iyon dahil kapag umuuwi ng lasing ang kanilang ama, pasigaw-sigaw, at padabug-dabog, ay siguradong walang pagkain at sila ay magsisiksikan dahil sa takot. Madalas na masapok ang kanilang ina at ang mga mata at pisngi nito ay mamamaga kung kaya naman nhindi ito nakakalabada sa malaking bahay.
May mga pagkakataon naman na ilalayo ng mga bata si Mui Mui dahil bukod sa ito ay sakitin, ito rinay palahalinghing na madalas kainisan ng kanilang ama. Mahaba at matinis iyon at tumatagal ng ilang oras, habang siya ay nakaupop sa bangko sa isang sulok ng bahay o namamaluktot ng paghiga sa banig kasama ang ibang mga bata, na di makatulog.
Noong gabing umuwi ang ama na masamang-masama ang timpla dahil nasisante sa trabahoat si Mui Mui ay nasa gitna ang mahabang halinghing at di mapatahan ng kanyang mga kapatid. Nang walang anu-ano ay tumama ang kamao ng ama sa nakangusong mukha ng bata na tumalsik sa kabila ng kwarti kung saan ito nanatiling walamng kagal;aw-galaw.
Pagkaraan ng 2 araw ay namatay si Mui Mui at tanging ang ina lang nito ang umiyak habang ang bangkay ay inihahandang ilibing sa sementeryo ng nayon at ang ama ay nagmumukmok na nakaupo sa buong araw. Ang balitang tungkol sa malungkot niyang kinahinatnan ay nakarating sa kanyang amo at dahilsa kagandahang loob ay pinabalik siya sa trabaho at nagbigay ng tulong na salapi.
Ngayo'y naging napakalawak ng kanyang awa sa sarili bilang isang malupit nqa inulilang ama at madalamhati siyang nagtatawag, "kaawa-awang Mui Mui, kaawa-awa kong anak."
Tinuyo ng nagdadalamhating ama ang kanyang mga luha at saka tumayo. Naisip niya na magiging mabuti siyang ama. Matibay ang pasya na lumabas siya ng bahay. Pinagmasdan siya ng mga bata at nagtataka sila kung saan siya pupunta. Nang nakita nilang papunta ito sa bayan ay nalungkot sila dahil akala nila na iinom \na naman ito ng alak.
Pagkatapos ng isang oras, ay bumalik ang kanilang ama dala ang isang malaking supot na may maliit na supot sa loob. Nagatlo ang mga bata kung ano ba talaga ang laman ng supot. Di nagtagal ay lumabas ito, nakabihis at lumabas ng bahay. Sinundan nila ito at nakita nila na pumunta ito sa libingan sa tabing-gulod. Lumakjad ito at dinukot ang mga laman ng supot na dahan-dahangf inilapag sa puntod, habangpahikbing nagsalita, "pinakamamahal kong anak, walang maiaalay sa iyo ang iyong ama kudi ang mga ito. sana'y tanggapin mo. Nagpatuloy itong nakipag-usap sa anak. Madilim na ang ang langit ng umalis ito. Sa isang iglap, ang kanina pang inip na inip na mga bata ay dumagsa sa yaman. Pinagsaluhan nila ang dala ng kanilang ama na tulad ng isang piging na alam nilang di nila mararanasang muli."
She was hot. She was terribly hot.
Memories of the past occupied Amanda’s thoughts. She remembered the days she was full of joy, hope and happiness and the days she felt unbearable pain and sorrow. Life was once pleasant until everything turns appalling.
“Get yourself ready Amanda. Anytime now the guest would soon arrive.” As soon as she heard her mother’s voice she hurriedly wore the pink dress her mother bought her. Her maid arranged her auburn hair on top of her head skillfully. Although she is still young, she is often mistaken as a lady and many suitors come from far away lands to see her beauty and ask her hand in marriage. Her father is a baron and her mother is a grand daughter of a viscount. In short, she is a noble. She is considered as one of the most charming and wealthy young lady.
She felt very giddy and anxious all at once for she is to be presented to the noble tonight and it is her first time to dance at this social event. This ball is very important to her and she promised to herself that she mustn’t make any mistake. She heard a faint knock at the door and she opened it. It was her older brother. He made a silly smile at her and made a comment on how different she was that night. He offered his hand and they went downstairs. At the hall, everything was glittering including the guests. The women were clustered at one side and the men at the other. As they went down the stairs everyone look up and smiled. She was so happy that these people like her. She was first introduced the Duke and Duchess of Cabria, then to the Count of Montefort and many more nobles. She danced almost every man in that hall and she was getting tired of smiling. She excused herself for a while and she went to the balcony. After inhaling enough air, she was about to go back when a dark figure caught her eye. It was just at the corner of the balcony, standing and looking above the sky. Slowly the figure turned around and was stunned to see her there. She took a step forward and she saw it was a man.
“I apologize, sir, if I have disturbed you with your musing.” She said as she swept aside an invisible speck on her dress. “No, it is all right. It was me who’s supposed to say sorry.” He replied. She nodded and decided to go back inside. But she was bother about the interest of the man and she asked “Did you find the ball distasteful that you decided to go here outside?” “Actually I wasn’t supposed to be in here. You see I’m--” He was cut short when Amanda heard her mother called for her and she said goodbye to the young man. She left without knowing the young man’s name.
He couldn’t believe his luck. He was talking to Amanda, the lady of this manor. He was not supposed to be in this ball. He wasn’t even one of them. All he wanted to do was ask her to dance with him but he was afraid that someone might recognize him. So he went outside to the balcony. He didn’t saw her come outside and when he turned he saw her standing there. She was so beautiful in her pink dress accented with her auburn hair. She looked like a goddess. He couldn’t believe that he could talk to her naturally but deep inside he was melting. He decided he wants to see her again.
Amanda couldn’t sleep that night. She was thinking about the man in the balcony. She saw some part of his face but what captivate her are his eyes. It was gentle and warm. She lost track of the time and when she knew it, it was almost morning.
Amanda went to the stable to do her daily routine. It was her favorite part of the day – the horseback riding. She went inside the stable and ordered the servant boy there to prepare the horse. He turned around and when she looked into his eyes it was the same eyes she saw last night. She couldn’t believe it. This man standing in front of her is the same man she met last night. She thought he was a noble because every guest was supposed to be a noble.
He eyes rounded and his mouth slack opened. He was happy that he met her again but he didn’t want to meet her again in this way. He was so embarrassed that he lost words to greet the lady. He abruptly bowed and went to fetch the horse. But he was stop at his track when a hand touched his sleeves. He looked into the eyes of the woman she adored with a questioning look.
“I’m sorry sir but why are you here in the stable doing the servant’s work?”
“My lady as you can see I-I-I’m not a lord of a vast land. I’m just a common servant here in your manor.”
“But if you are only a servant then why did you come last night?”
“I wanted to see and dance with you.” He exclaimed. At that, she blushed. Then she slowly said “Then I demand to know your name commoner.”
He looked at her and smiled. “Evan. Evan Malcolm.”
Everyday they met each other at the stable. They became good friends and gradually their feelings for each other grew. They would secretly go to the lake and have picnic in there or they would go to the ruins and tell each other secrets. But the days of laughter would soon come to an end. Amanda’s father decided that she was now old enough to get married. Her father constantly reminded her that she is arranged to marry a lord’s son. Amanda was sad and she would tell it to Evan. Since Evan loved her, he promised that he would be knight and he would marry her. That’s why on that same year, Evan went to join the crusade to become a knight. He made Amanda promised that she would wait for him. They parted with tears in their eyes.
Many years had passed but still Evan hasn’t returned yet. His last letters were dated 9 months ago and her father would keep on informing her that she must now marry but she continued to ward off suitors that come to their house everyday. She waited and waited. She never lost hope. She always told herself “He would soon come home.”
The crusade was not successful. The crusaders had lost. Many were captured. Many died. But some did survived and Evan was one of them. But he was not the Evan before. He forgot his identity. He lost his memory.
Back in England, Amanda continued to wait for Evan. She will wait for him even in the after life. Another year had passed and a letter had arrived. She hurriedly opened the letter but she was disappointed that it came from her sister in France. As usual her sister asked about the health of their parents and of her. But there was something extraordinary about the letter. Her sister wrote to her that she is going to get married. She was so happy for her. Then she opened another package and she saw that it was a portrait. It is a picture of her sister and the picture of her fiancé. Her vision suddenly got blurry and tears begun to roll down her eyes. Pain strikes her chest and her breath falter. “Tell me the reason why. How can you do this to me? You break my heart and you made me cry.” She slowly said.
She was hot. She was terribly hot.
Memories of the past occupied Amanda’s thoughts. She remembered the days she was full of joy, hope and happiness and the days she felt unbearable pain and sorrow. She would always dream about the one she loved. The days they were together and the promised they had made. She really wanted to see him again but she was so weak now. She couldn’t even sit on the bed. Her thoughts would return again to Evan. She couldn’t believe that he would break his promise. She was so worried about him that she couldn’t sleep at night. She must be grateful to God that he is still alive and well. After all she was the one who is at fault. If she only obeyed her father’s demand, he would be still here working in the manor house. Although she may marry another man at least she can still see him.
Her thoughts were interrupted when she heard a faint but vague familiar voice talking softly to her. Gently, she opened her eyes. Her vision was still unclear but the blurriness slowly gained color and definition. It was Evan sitting beside her. Is this a dream? But his hands felt so real. She wanted to touched his faced but she don’t have the strength to raise her hands instead she put up a smile. He was there sitting beside her. His eyes were red and his hands were wet.
“Amanda, forgive me. I forgot about you. I broke my promise and now I’m ashamed of myself. I’m so sorry.” He told her while he kept on caressing her face. He was weeping. She could feel the shudders inside him as he tried to conceal his tears.
“Evan, I’m so happy you’ve came back.” She touched his hand lightly. “What matters to me is you’re alive and well. I am so happy that I met you. I enjoyed the days when I was with you. Always remember that you will always be my confidant, my date, my knight and my love.”
Little by little she closed her eyes forever.
‘’When I was on the crusade all I ever think about is you. I always dream about the day we will be together. During one of the most horrible fight we have, I struck my head in a rock. From that day I lost my memory. One of my companions took me along with him back to France. I was took care there by a young woman. She became my friend. I always told her about my dream. My dream is about a woman with auburn hair and a smile that could take my breath away. I thought I was dreaming about her but all along I was dreaming about you. As I begun to know more about her, I fall in love with her. She also told me that she loved me and we decided to get married. And because I’ve lost my memory and if I ever found out that she was your sister I would have never let her send the portrait. The portrait which causes the deterioration of your health that eventually led to your death. I’m sorry. When your sister learned about your illness, we opted to visit you. When I saw the lake and the ruins that’s when my memory came back. Then I remembered you. The next thing I’ve recall was that I was sitting beside you apologizing for what I’ve done. Although I’ve regained my memory, I have lost you. I was too late but always remember that I love you and you will always have the largest portion of my heart.”
Evan looked into the sky and smiled. He knew he was forgiven and the burden he had carried was now vanished. He stood up and lay down the flower he brought beside a cold stone. Engraved on the stone was this:
“In here rest Amanda – the woman fit to be loved.”
Labels: English IV
