diced b Jos e S. Arc a, - non

his country," and intent on writing a novel distinct from Noli me tangere andEl Filibusterismo, their sequels—in this mental and emotional state heboarded the "Melbourne."The boat is full. Starting with a description of the passengers, he beginshis diary of the trip, just as he did for the first time when he had secretly sailedaway from the Philippines, unknown to his parents, as well as during his finaltrip from Manila and back the year he was executed."On the opening page he writes:Around 12 missionaries — Italian and French — are going to Tonkin [Vietnam].With them is a bishop called Volonteri. He is short, dry, has a beard andmoustache like a Chinese."RIZAL AND THE MISSIONARIESThese men, their world, their problems, their conversation especially thatof the bishop (described above in Rizal's affectionate way) strongly attractedhis attention and will be the main theme of this essay. The day following theirdeparture, already on the high sea, Rizal wrote:I was introduced at night to Bishop Volonteri, the old man with the Chinese face.He surprised me very much as he talked of the Philippines. He had been there 23years ago, had visited Laguna, an estate of the DoMinicans, Iloilo, Cebu, Negros,,Bohol. He had frequently been in contact with many Dominicans, among themFrs. Rivas, Fonseca, and Treserra. He described the last as a man of deep piety.He also knew Fr. Agustin Mendoza, considered an unusual man, Fr. MarianoGomez, etc. He was acquainted with their tragedy and regretted them. He was notignorant of the wealth of the religious houses and bewailed so much gold shouldbe misused. He had also known Fr. Payo, and, talking about archbishops, askedme if the present one is also a Dominican.Because the Dominicans have too much influence on the government, one of theFranciscans replied to a remark.He then drew a very beautiful picture of the Philippines which he kept calling theearthly paradise. He spoke about its riches and abundance eloquently and withsuch enthusiasm that fascinated me listening to his sonorous Italian phrases. Hekept regretting the bad government, etc. that I remained very pensive and in a badmood.i4From this lengthy quotation we can identify three general ideas which atthe moment concerned Rizal and filled his mind and his heart: first, the2