Ang Pagtitipon painted by Leonardo Tayao Cruz
In our century, Trick or Treat activities and Halloween parties have somewhat become a norm, partly due to us being heavily influenced by American culture and commercialism.
A few years ago, the National Museum of the Philippines Fine Arts held an exhibit comprising 28 paintings by Leonardo Tayao Cruz depicting various scenes from Noli Me Tangere. Unfortunately, the paintings have since been returned to the artist's family and are no longer publicly exhibited. However, I had the chance to see them in person and chronicled them in one of my most popular blog posts.
When reading Jose Rizal's first novel, Noli Me Tangere (published in 1887), he introduces us to a party held on October 31. The host was so rich and influential that even though it was an impromptu gathering, the people of Intramuros, Binondo, and its environs were in a frenzy to be included. Some were invited, but others were planning to gatecrash, knowing that the gracious host would welcome anyone and everyone.
I am sharing a few passages from the first chapter of Noli Me Tangere, entitled in the original Spanish as "Una Reunión." I'll be using León María Guerrero's English translation, where he uses the title "A Party."
Guerrero's translation is now widely available, as this is the version Anvil Publishing currently uses.
Leon Ma. Guerrero was connected to José Rizal through marriage. Guerrero's sister, the writer and historian Carmen Guerrero Cruz Nakpil, was first married to Ismael Argüelles Cruz, a descendant of Rizal's sister, Maria Rizal Cruz.
"Don Santiago de los Santos was giving a dinner party one evening towards the end of October in the 1880's. Although, contrary to his usual practice, he had let it be known only on the afternoon of the same day, it was soon the topic of conversation in Binondo, where he lived, in other districts of Manila, and even in the Spanish walled city of Intramuros.
Don Santiago was better known as Capitan Tiago—the rank was not military but political, and indicated that he had once been the native mayor of a town. In those days he had a reputation for lavishness. It was well-known that his house, like his country, never closed its doors – except, of course, to trade and any idea that was new and daring."
"The dinner was being given in a house on Anloague Street which may still be recognized unless it has tumbled down in some earthquake."
"The dinner guests were gathered in the main reception room which had great mirrors and chandeliers. On a pinewood platform stood enthroned a magnificent grand piano, for which an exorbitant price had been paid, and which this night seemed more precious still because nobody was presumptuous enough to play on it. There was also a large portrait in oils of a good-looking main in a frock coat, stiff and straight, as well-balanced as the tasseled cane of office between his rigid ring-covered fingers, who seemed to be saying: 'See what a lot of clothes I have on, and how dignified I look!'
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