Original Text(~250 words)
CHAPTER XX The Meeting in the Town Hall The hall was about twelve to fifteen meters long by eight to ten wide. Its whitewashed walls were covered with drawings in charcoal, more or less ugly and obscene, with inscriptions to complete their meanings. Stacked neatly against the wall in one corner were to be seen about a dozen old flint-locks among rusty swords and talibons, the armament of the cuadrilleros. [66] At one end of the hall there hung, half hidden by soiled red curtains, a picture of his Majesty, the King of Spain. Underneath this picture, upon a wooden platform, an old chair spread out its broken arms. In front of the chair was a wooden table spotted with ink stains and whittled and carved with inscriptions and initials like the tables in the German taverns frequented by students. Benches and broken chairs completed the furniture. This is the hall of council, of judgment, and of torture, wherein are now gathered the officials of the town and its dependent villages. The faction of old men does not mix with that of the youths, for they are mutually hostile. They represent respectively the conservative and the liberal parties, save that their disputes assume in the towns an extreme character. "The conduct of the gobernadorcillo fills me with distrust," Don Filipo, the teniente-mayor and leader of the liberal faction, was saying to his friends. "It was a deep-laid scheme, this thing of putting off the discussion of expenses until the eleventh...
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Summary
The town officials gather to plan their patron saint's festival, but what looks like a democratic meeting is actually a masterclass in political maneuvering. Don Filipo, leader of the young liberals, uses reverse psychology suggested by the wise old Tasio—he deliberately proposes an absurdly expensive plan from his conservative opponents, making it sound ridiculous. When the conservatives predictably reject it, a young reformer steps forward with a reasonable alternative: local dramas instead of expensive imported entertainment, educational prizes, and using leftover funds for a much-needed school. The plan wins overwhelming support from both factions. But just when progress seems possible, the gobernadorcillo reveals the trap—the Catholic priest has already decided what he wants: traditional processions and masses, regardless of what the people prefer or can afford. The democratic process was just theater; real power lies elsewhere. The young reformers storm out, refusing to contribute to a festival they can't influence. Don Filipo realizes he's been outmaneuvered not by political opponents, but by a system where religious authority trumps civic will. The chapter exposes how colonial power structures work—giving people the illusion of choice while ensuring predetermined outcomes. It's a bitter lesson in how institutional power can render the best-laid plans and most persuasive arguments meaningless when the real decisions are made behind closed doors.
That's what happens. To understand what the author is really doing—and to discuss this chapter with confidence—keep reading.
Terms to Know
Gobernadorcillo
The local Filipino mayor under Spanish colonial rule, supposedly elected by the people but actually controlled by Spanish authorities. He had to balance what his community wanted with what his colonial masters demanded.
Modern Usage:
Like a middle manager who has to implement unpopular corporate policies while pretending they have authority to change things.
Teniente-mayor
The lieutenant mayor, second in command to the gobernadorcillo. Often represented the younger, more reform-minded faction in town politics.
Modern Usage:
The deputy who actually wants to make changes but is blocked by the system and their boss.
Cuadrilleros
Local militia or police force armed with old weapons. They represented Spanish authority at the ground level but were poorly equipped and often ineffective.
Modern Usage:
Like security guards with outdated equipment who look official but have limited real power.
Liberal vs Conservative factions
Political divisions in Philippine towns between younger reformers who wanted change and older traditionalists who resisted it. Both groups were still under colonial control.
Modern Usage:
Like progressive versus traditional wings in any organization, fighting over details while the real power stays with upper management.
Reverse psychology in politics
Don Filipo's strategy of making his opponents' expensive plan sound so ridiculous that people would reject it and accept a better alternative instead.
Modern Usage:
When you want your boss to approve your reasonable request, so you first present something outrageously expensive to make your real proposal look modest.
Democratic theater
The appearance of democratic decision-making when the real decisions have already been made by those in power. The meeting looks official but the outcome is predetermined.
Modern Usage:
Like employee feedback sessions where management pretends to listen but has already decided what they're doing.
Institutional override
When formal authority (the priest) overrules popular will or democratic process. No matter what the people decide, higher powers can veto it.
Modern Usage:
When your team makes a decision but corporate headquarters or the board of directors cancels it without explanation.
Characters in This Chapter
Don Filipo
Reform-minded leader
The teniente-mayor who leads the liberal faction and tries to use clever political strategy to get a better outcome for the town. He proposes reverse psychology but gets outmaneuvered by the system itself.
Modern Equivalent:
The idealistic department head who thinks they can outsmart the system but learns the hard way about institutional power.
The Gobernadorcillo
Conflicted authority figure
The mayor who seems to be running a democratic meeting but reveals at the end that the priest has already made all the decisions. He's caught between serving his people and serving his colonial masters.
Modern Equivalent:
The middle manager who has to deliver bad news from corporate while pretending they had a choice in the matter.
The young reformer
Voice of practical progress
Steps forward with the reasonable alternative plan featuring local dramas and educational prizes instead of expensive imports. Represents hope for change through practical solutions.
Modern Equivalent:
The junior employee with good ideas who thinks merit and logic will win the day.
The Catholic priest
Invisible puppet master
Though not physically present in the meeting, his predetermined decision for traditional religious celebrations overrides everything the townspeople discuss and decide.
Modern Equivalent:
The CEO or board chair who doesn't attend meetings but whose preferences automatically become policy.
Why This Matters
Connect literature to life
This chapter teaches how to recognize when you're being given the illusion of choice while real decisions are made elsewhere.
Practice This Today
This week, notice when you're asked for input on decisions that feel predetermined—watch for elaborate processes that end with 'but we've already decided' reveals.
You have the foundation. Now let's look closer.
Key Quotes & Analysis
"The conduct of the gobernadorcillo fills me with distrust"
Context: Don Filipo suspects the mayor is manipulating the timing of their budget discussion
This shows how even reform-minded leaders recognize when they're being played by the system. Don Filipo senses something is wrong but doesn't yet realize how completely he's been outmaneuvered.
In Today's Words:
Something's not right about how the boss is handling this whole situation.
"They represent respectively the conservative and the liberal parties, save that their disputes assume in the towns an extreme character"
Context: Describing the hostile factions gathered in the town hall
Rizal shows how political divisions become more intense at the local level, where personal relationships and immediate consequences make abstract political differences feel deeply personal.
In Today's Words:
They're basically Democrats and Republicans, but in a small town where everyone knows everyone, so it gets really nasty.
"This is the hall of council, of judgment, and of torture"
Context: Describing the shabby town hall where the meeting takes place
The physical description reveals how colonial authority operates through intimidation and shows the multiple functions of power in one space - democratic, judicial, and punitive.
In Today's Words:
This room is where they hold meetings, trials, and beatings - all the ways power keeps people in line.
Intelligence Amplifier™ Analysis
The Road of Phantom Democracy
The illusion of participatory decision-making while real power operates behind closed doors.
Thematic Threads
Power
In This Chapter
Religious authority overrules civic democracy, revealing where real control lies
Development
Escalated from individual corruption to systemic institutional control
In Your Life:
You might see this when your boss asks for input on decisions already made above their level.
Class
In This Chapter
Young educated reformers clash with traditional power structures that ignore social mobility
Development
Evolved from personal class anxiety to collective class conflict
In Your Life:
You might experience this when your education or ideas threaten established hierarchies at work.
Identity
In This Chapter
Don Filipo must choose between being a collaborative leader or principled opponent
Development
Shifted from individual identity crisis to collective identity formation
In Your Life:
You might face this when your values conflict with your role in an organization.
Social Expectations
In This Chapter
Community expects democratic process but must accept predetermined religious authority
Development
Deepened from personal expectations to institutional contradictions
In Your Life:
You might encounter this when formal policies contradict informal power structures.
Human Relationships
In This Chapter
Political alliances fracture when participants realize their powerlessness
Development
Evolved from personal relationships to political coalitions under stress
In Your Life:
You might see this when shared goals aren't enough to overcome systemic obstacles.
Modern Adaptation
When Democracy Is Just Theater
Following Crisostomo's story...
Crisostomo returns from college to his hometown factory job, full of ideas for improving workplace safety. When the union announces a special meeting to discuss the new safety protocol, he's excited—finally, a chance to implement real change. He spends weeks preparing a presentation showing how simple modifications could prevent accidents. At the meeting, he uses smart tactics to get both old-timers and younger workers on board. His proposal wins unanimous support. Then the union rep drops the bomb: corporate already decided on the safety protocol six months ago. The meeting was just to make workers feel 'heard' before implementing the predetermined plan. All that passionate debate, all those late nights preparing—it was theater. The real decision happened in boardrooms Crisostomo will never see, by executives who'll never work the floor. His fellow workers shrug and head home. They've seen this show before.
The Road
The road Don Filipo walked in 1887, Crisostomo walks today. The pattern is identical: elaborate democratic processes that mask predetermined outcomes, giving people the illusion of participation while real power operates behind closed doors.
The Map
This chapter provides a crucial navigation tool: learning to identify phantom democracy. When you can spot the difference between real decision-making and performative consultation, you stop wasting energy on theater and start finding actual power.
Amplification
Before reading this, Crisostomo might have kept perfecting his arguments, assuming better data would win the day. Now he can NAME phantom democracy, PREDICT when his input is just theater, and NAVIGATE by identifying who really decides before investing his energy.
You now have the context. Time to form your own thoughts.
Discussion Questions
- 1
What tactics did Don Filipo use to get his way in the meeting, and why did they work so well at first?
analysis • surface - 2
Why do you think the priest let the townspeople hold this elaborate meeting if he'd already decided what would happen?
analysis • medium - 3
Where have you seen this pattern of 'fake democracy' in your own life - situations where you thought you had a voice but the decision was already made?
application • medium - 4
If you were Don Filipo, how would you handle discovering that all your political maneuvering was meaningless?
application • deep - 5
What does this chapter reveal about the difference between appearing to have power and actually having it?
reflection • deep
Critical Thinking Exercise
Map the Real Decision-Maker
Think of a recent situation where you tried to influence an outcome - at work, school, in your community, or even at home. Draw a simple diagram showing who you thought was making the decision versus who actually had the final say. Then write a brief plan for how you'd approach the same situation now, knowing what you know.
Consider:
- •Sometimes the person running the meeting isn't the person with real authority
- •Look for who benefits most from the current system - they often have the real power
- •Ask yourself: if this decision went against what I want, who could I actually appeal to?
Journaling Prompt
Write about a time when you discovered that someone you thought had authority was just following orders from someone else. How did that change your approach to similar situations?
Coming Up Next...
Chapter 21: A Mother's Breaking Point
As the story unfolds, you'll explore public shame can destroy someone's sense of identity and belonging, while uncovering the way powerless people are dehumanized by those in authority. These lessons connect the classic to contemporary challenges we all face.