BUOD

Kung wala ang alamat, walang kuwenta sa kanya ang alinmang pook ayon kay

Simoun. Isinasalaysay naman ng Kapitan ang alamat ng Malapad na Bato, tungkol ito

sa mga banal sa katutubo noong una bilang tahanan ng mga espipritu, nang

panahanan ng mga tulisan, nawala ang takot sa espiritu at nasalin sa mga tulisan.

Kinuwento naman ni Padre Florentino ang Alamat na ukol kay Donya Geronima,

tungkol ito sa mag kasintahan sa Espanya pero sa huli naging Arsobispo sa Maynila ang

lalaki. Hinihiling ng babae na sundin nito ang pangako na makakasal sila. Pero iban ang

naisip ng Arsobispo, itinira niya ang babae sa isang yungib na malapit sa Ilog Pasig.

Inisalaysay din ang Alamat ni San Nicolas na nag ligtas sa isang Intsik sa

pagkamatay sa mga buwayang naging bato nang dasalan ng Intsik ang santo.

Pumunta sila sa lawa at nagtanong si Ben Zayb sa kapitan kung saang lawa

napatay ang isang Guevarra, Navarra o Ibarra. Itinuro naman ito ng kapitan, iyon daw

ang pinaka murang libing na tinatawag na Pilibustero ayon kay Ben Zayb. Si Simoun

naman ay namumutla at walang kibo.

MGA KATANUNGAN

 Anong mga alamat ang sinabi sa Kabanata 3?

- Alamat ng Malapad na Bato, Alamat ukol ky Donya Geronima at Alamat ni San
Nicolas
 Ano ang ibig sabihin ng Pilibustero?

- Ito ay ang mga tao na hindi nag babayad ng maringal na libing.

REPLEKSIYON
Penguin Books to publish Rizal’s ‘El Fili’

Another Jose Rizal classic will soon join the ranks of William Shakespeare, John

Steinbeck, and Charles Dickens.

Three days before the 150th birth anniversary of Philippine National Hero Jose

Rizal on June 19, Penguin Books will launch its English translation of “El Filibusterismo"

by Harold Augenbraum at the Philippine Center in New York City.

The paperback version of “El Filibusterismo" will be available on September 1,

2011 according to the Penguin Books website.

Five years ago, Rizal’s first novel “Noli Me Tangere" was also published under the

imprint Penguin Classics. The book deals with the themes of love and martyrdom and

features the lead character Crisostomo Ibarra, who has just finished his studies abroad

and wants to bring education reform to the small town of San Diego.

“El Filibusterismo" is the sequel to “Noli Me Tangere." Set 13 years after the

events of the first novel, the book revolves around Simoun, a rich jeweler who is bent

on starting a revolution. He also wants to rescue Maria Clara, one of the main

characters from the first novel who entered the town nunnery towards the end of “Noli

Me Tangere"

Many of the other characters and settings from the first novel make their

reappearance in “El Filibusterismo" albeit with a darker, more sinister air.

The second novel’s themes, revenge and obsession, are a stark contrast to the

focus of “Noli Me Tangere,’" according to the Penguin Books website. Both however,
are generally regarded to have helped push forward the Philippine Revolution against

Spanish colonizers toward the end of the 19th century.

High school and college students in the Philippines are required to study the life

and works of Rizal, particularly the two novels, as mandated by Republic Act 1425.

Penguin Classics, an imprint of Penguin Books, is known for publishing

inexpensive paperback versions. It is “the leading publisher of classic literature in the

English-speaking world," according to their website. The company is also known for

using sleek and modern designs in their editions of popular books.

E.V. Rieu’s translation of “The Odyssey" in 1946 was the first book published by

Penguin Classics. Authors with the most titles under the brand include William

Shakespeare, John Steinbeck, Henry James, Charles Dickens, and Graham Green.

Penguin Books’ announcement of the new El Filibusterismo publication is one of

many events leading up to Rizal’s birth anniversary.

In early May, the Philippine and German governments unveiled plans to restore

the original manuscripts of the two novels. The original manuscripts are in danger of

being permanently ruined because of poor preservation conditions in the National

Library.

Malacañang has declared June 20, the day after Rizal’s actual birth date, a

special non-working holiday.