Original Text(~250 words)
CHAPTER XXVIII Correspondence Cada uno habla de la feria como le va en ella. [82] As nothing of importance to our characters happened during the first two days, we should gladly pass on to the third and last, were it not that perhaps some foreign reader may wish to know how the Filipinos celebrate their fiestas. For this reason we shall faithfully reproduce in this chapter several letters, one of them being that of the correspondent of a noted Manila newspaper, respected for its grave tone and deep seriousness. Our readers will correct some natural and trifling slips of the pen. Thus the worthy correspondent of the respectable newspaper wrote: "TO THE EDITOR, MY DISTINGUISHED FRIEND,--Never did I witness, nor had I ever expected to see in the provinces, a religious fiesta so solemn, so splendid, and so impressive as that now being celebrated in this town by the Most Reverend and virtuous Franciscan Fathers. "Great crowds are in attendance. I have here had the pleasure of greeting nearly all the Spaniards who reside in this province, three Reverend Augustinian Fathers from the province of Batangas, and two Reverend Dominican Fathers. One of the latter is the Very Reverend Fray Hernando Sibyla, who has come to honor this town with his presence, a distinction which its worthy inhabitants should never forget. I have also seen a great number of the best people of Cavite and Pampanga, many wealthy persons from Manila, and many bands of music,--among these the very artistic...
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Summary
Rizal presents the same fiesta through three very different letters, revealing how power shapes perspective. The newspaper correspondent writes flowery propaganda, praising Spanish colonial officials and emphasizing religious devotion while completely ignoring the gambling and corruption happening behind the scenes. His letter reads like a tourism brochure, full of fancy language designed to make colonialism look noble and civilized. Meanwhile, Capitan Martin's letter to his gambling buddy reveals the real action: high-stakes card games where colonial officials are losing fortunes, suspicious cheating at the gambling tables, and the kind of wheeling and dealing that actually drives colonial society. His tone is casual, insider knowledge shared between friends who understand how things really work. Most personally, Maria Clara's note to Ibarra shows how even intimate relationships become political tools. Her innocent-seeming letter reveals that Padre Damaso is deliberately keeping her entertained and isolated while Ibarra remains mysteriously absent from the festivities. The chapter demonstrates how the same events can be completely different depending on who's telling the story and what they want you to believe. It's a masterclass in understanding that official versions of events rarely tell the whole truth, and that real power often operates through personal connections and behind-the-scenes deals rather than grand public ceremonies. The contrast between public performance and private reality exposes the gap between colonial propaganda and actual colonial life.
That's what happens. To understand what the author is really doing—and to discuss this chapter with confidence—keep reading.
Terms to Know
Colonial propaganda
Official stories that make an oppressive system look good and noble. The newspaper correspondent's flowery letter praising Spanish officials while ignoring corruption is classic propaganda - it's designed to make colonialism seem civilized and beneficial.
Modern Usage:
We see this in corporate PR that makes exploitative companies look caring, or political spin that makes harmful policies sound beneficial.
Perspective bias
How the same event looks completely different depending on who's telling the story and what they want from you. The three letters show the exact same fiesta through totally different lenses based on each writer's agenda.
Modern Usage:
Think about how the same workplace incident gets described differently by HR, your coworker, and your boss - everyone has an angle.
Behind-the-scenes power
Real influence happens through personal connections and private deals, not public ceremonies. While everyone watches the religious parade, the actual power moves happen at the gambling tables where officials make and lose fortunes.
Modern Usage:
Like how the real decisions at your job happen in private conversations between managers, not in official meetings.
Performance vs reality
The gap between what people present publicly and what actually happens privately. The fiesta looks like a holy celebration on the surface, but underneath it's about gambling, corruption, and political maneuvering.
Modern Usage:
Social media posts showing perfect families while real relationships are falling apart, or companies talking about values while treating workers badly.
Gatekeeping information
Controlling what someone knows to control what they can do. Padre Damaso keeps Maria Clara entertained and distracted while Ibarra is mysteriously absent, limiting her access to information that might help her make her own choices.
Modern Usage:
Like when your manager only tells you part of the story about company changes, or when family members hide important information 'for your own good.'
Insider knowledge
Information that only people on the inside know, which gives them power over outsiders. Capitan Martin's casual letter about gambling and cheating reveals what really matters to those who actually run things.
Modern Usage:
Office gossip about who's really getting promoted, or knowing which customers actually pay their bills on time - information that changes how you navigate situations.
Characters in This Chapter
The newspaper correspondent
Propaganda writer
Writes a flowery, fake letter praising Spanish officials and making the fiesta sound like a holy, civilized event. His letter completely ignores the gambling and corruption, showing how official media serves power.
Modern Equivalent:
The corporate communications manager who writes glowing press releases while the company is laying people off
Capitan Martin
Insider informant
Writes a casual letter to his gambling buddy revealing what's really happening - high-stakes card games, suspicious cheating, and colonial officials losing fortunes. His tone shows he's part of the real power network.
Modern Equivalent:
The shift supervisor who texts you the real story about what happened at the management meeting
Maria Clara
Controlled messenger
Sends what seems like an innocent note to Ibarra, but it reveals she's being kept entertained and isolated while he's mysteriously absent from events that should include him. Even her personal communication becomes political.
Modern Equivalent:
The girlfriend whose family keeps her busy during important conversations about her relationship
Fray Hernando Sibyla
Visiting authority
A high-ranking Dominican priest whose presence at the fiesta is treated as a great honor. He represents the religious power structure that the correspondent fawns over in his propaganda letter.
Modern Equivalent:
The regional manager whose visit makes everyone act fake and put on their best behavior
Padre Damaso
Manipulative controller
Though not directly present in the letters, his influence appears through Maria Clara's note - he's the one keeping her entertained and away from Ibarra, controlling her access to information and relationships.
Modern Equivalent:
The controlling family member who always has plans for you when something important is happening
Why This Matters
Connect literature to life
This chapter teaches how to recognize that every situation has official, insider, and personal versions that reveal different power dynamics.
Practice This Today
This week, notice when official announcements at work don't match what people are saying in private conversations, then look for the personal stakes driving each version.
You have the foundation. Now let's look closer.
Key Quotes & Analysis
"Never did I witness, nor had I ever expected to see in the provinces, a religious fiesta so solemn, so splendid, and so impressive"
Context: Opening his propaganda letter to make the colonial fiesta sound amazing
This over-the-top praise is designed to make readers think Spanish colonial rule brings civilization and culture to the Philippines. The flowery language hides the real corruption happening behind the scenes.
In Today's Words:
This is the most incredible company retreat I've ever seen - so professional and inspiring!
"Cada uno habla de la feria como le va en ella"
Context: The chapter's opening epigraph, meaning 'Everyone speaks of the fair according to how it goes for them'
This sets up the entire chapter's theme - that people's version of events depends on their position and what they're getting out of it. It warns readers to question whose perspective they're hearing.
In Today's Words:
Everyone tells the story based on how it worked out for them
"Great crowds are in attendance. I have here had the pleasure of greeting nearly all the Spaniards who reside in this province"
Context: Describing the fiesta attendance in his propaganda letter
He focuses on Spanish attendance and important officials, making it sound like a gathering of civilized society. This completely ignores the Filipino majority and what they're actually experiencing.
In Today's Words:
Amazing turnout! I got to meet all the important people and VIPs who showed up
Intelligence Amplifier™ Analysis
The Road of Three Truths - How Power Controls the Story
Every significant event generates three versions: official propaganda, insider reality, and personal manipulation.
Thematic Threads
Power
In This Chapter
Colonial officials control public narrative while operating corrupt gambling rings privately
Development
Evolved from earlier displays of authority to sophisticated information control
In Your Life:
You might see this when management announces policy changes while privately planning layoffs
Deception
In This Chapter
Three letters reveal deliberate misdirection through selective truth-telling
Development
Advanced from simple lies to complex narrative manipulation
In Your Life:
You encounter this when people share different versions of the same story depending on their audience
Class
In This Chapter
Information access determines social position - insiders vs outsiders vs manipulated
Development
Deepened from economic divisions to information hierarchies
In Your Life:
You experience this when workplace gossip reveals who's really in the inner circle
Identity
In This Chapter
Each letter writer performs a different version of themselves for different audiences
Development
Progressed from personal struggle to strategic self-presentation
In Your Life:
You navigate this when deciding how much truth to share with different people in your life
Modern Adaptation
Three Versions of the Same Story
Following Crisostomo's story...
Crisostomo's community center renovation project gets featured in three different places. The local newspaper runs a feel-good story about 'inspiring young entrepreneur brings hope to struggling neighborhood,' complete with photos of smiling kids and quotes about community spirit. Meanwhile, his contractor buddy texts him the real deal: the city inspector who approved everything is the mayor's brother-in-law, half the 'donated' materials were actually paid for by a developer who wants to gentrify the block, and the community board meeting where residents supposedly 'unanimously supported' the project? Only three people showed up, and two of them were city employees. Most telling is the note from Maria, the community organizer he's been dating. Her sweet message about being 'so proud of your success' includes a subtle warning that Councilman Damaso has been asking lots of questions about Crisostomo's funding sources and suggesting she might want to 'focus on more realistic local partners.' Same project, three completely different stories depending on who's talking and what they need you to believe.
The Road
The road Rizal's characters walked in 1887 colonial Philippines, Crisostomo walks today in post-industrial America. The pattern is identical: power controls narrative by determining which version of events gets told publicly, privately, and personally.
The Map
This chapter provides the skill of triangulating truth by collecting multiple perspectives on the same event. When official stories, insider information, and personal communications don't align, you've found where real power operates.
Amplification
Before reading this, Crisostomo might have taken the newspaper coverage at face value and wondered why his project felt hollow despite the positive press. Now he can NAME the narrative manipulation, PREDICT how different stakeholders will spin the same events, and NAVIGATE by seeking out all three versions before making decisions.
You now have the context. Time to form your own thoughts.
Discussion Questions
- 1
What three different versions of the same fiesta do we see in this chapter, and how does each one tell a completely different story?
analysis • surface - 2
Why does the newspaper correspondent ignore the gambling and corruption while focusing on religious ceremony and Spanish officials?
analysis • medium - 3
Where do you see this pattern of official story versus insider story versus personal story playing out in your workplace, community, or social media?
application • medium - 4
When you suspect someone is giving you the 'official version' of events, what strategies would you use to find out what's really happening?
application • deep - 5
What does this chapter reveal about how power operates through controlling information rather than just through force or authority?
reflection • deep
Critical Thinking Exercise
Decode the Three Stories
Think of a recent situation in your life where you heard an official version of events - maybe at work, in your community, or in the news. Write down three versions: the official story you were told, what insiders might really know, and how it personally affects someone involved. Notice how the same facts can create completely different narratives depending on the storyteller's agenda and audience.
Consider:
- •Who benefits from each version of the story being believed?
- •What information is emphasized, downplayed, or completely omitted in each version?
- •How might your own position influence which version you're likely to hear first?
Journaling Prompt
Write about a time when you discovered the real story behind an official announcement. How did it change your understanding of the situation, and what did you learn about reading between the lines?
Coming Up Next...
Chapter 29: The Last Day of the Fiesta
Moving forward, we'll examine public celebrations can mask deeper social tensions and inequalities, and understand the way religious authority figures maintain power through performance and spectacle. These insights bridge the gap between classic literature and modern experience.