diced b Jos e S. Arc a, - non

Someone must have introduced our hero to this group of clerics. Thebishop who headed the missionary group, Monsignor Simeone Volonteri,had been in the Philippines 23 years previously, i. e., in 1868. That was thefirst big surprise, because of which their talk immediately jumped from theusual greetings to the problems that were burning the soul of the youngFilipino: the Philippines, Cavite, the friars, etc. The conversation must havebeen reduced quickly to three points which Rizal noted in his diary for the19th, a few hours after embarking: Volonteri, the Franciscans, and the authorof the Noli me tangere. The presence of these Franciscans must havedisquieted him and quickly polarized his attention towards them: "TheFranciscans have played with us a game of pastas [sic]," he noted in his diarythat evening. And after mentioning the dialogue with Volonteri about thePhilippines and its problems, the events in Cavite, the role of the friars,especially the Dominicans, as well as their influence on the government, headded: "Because the Dominicans exercise a great influence over thegovernment, [Volonteri] answered to a remark about the Franciscans.'-'" Thesun had gone down, and downcast, pensive, and in a bad humor, Rizal retiresto his cabin.They had touched, with exquisite delicacy, the most sensitive and painfulnerve in Rizal's soul, and a tornado of ideas and contradictory emotions hadsuddenly stirred his conscience. The conversation must have pierced himthrough and through, the author of the two most radical novels in Philippineliterature found himself violently borne to the world of the most questionablepersonalities created by him, and he felt an irresistible need to face himselfhonestly. But he did not record it in his diary; rather, three days later, on 22October, he wrote to his complete friend and confidant, FerdinandBlumentritt. The letter is brief and it is dedicated almost entirely to thisimportant self-revelation of Rizal:On board ship with us are many missionaries, Franciscans, Jesuits, and a bishop,Mons. Volonteri, who was in the Philippines 23 years ago. This aging holy manspoke against the friars' wealth and abuses in the Philippines. I wish you hadheard him speak. He thinks exactly like you. He describes the Philippines as aparadise, only abused and exploited. I was deeply moved and his words havestrengthened my convictions. He still remembered the names of the priestsexecuted, and spoke admiringly of them and with compassion. On speaking ofthe friars, he kept repeating: Si, troppo ricchi, ma troppo ricchi! (Yes, too rich,but extremely rich.)The Franciscans (Italians) and the Jesuits (French) respect me; they do not knowwhat I have done. I do not want to tell them, for I would not want to disturb these128