SAMPLE REFLECTION PAPER

CHAPTER I

“ON THE DECK”

A REFLECTION PAPER

In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements

In the Subject GE1804
Rizal's Life and Works

To be Submitted to

Emalyn R. Camatura

Submitted by

DIAGO, Mary Grace Elizabeth N.

QUIMADA, Eloisa

Date of Submission: 31 October 2019

 ABSTRACT

This chapter entitled On the Deck, begins with the steamship Tabo sailing on the Pasig River on its way

to Laguna. While the passengers on the upper deck discuss subjects regarding the lake and the slow pace of

ship travel, readers are gradually introduced to some characters of the novel such as the jeweler Simoun, Doña

Victorina, Ben Zayb, Don Custodio, Padre Irene, Sibyla, Camorra, and Salvi. While sailing, steamship Tabo gets

stuck in mud. The skipper tries to steer it out of the mud. Dona Victorina rants and blames the Indios (even

though she is Indio) and the group ignores her. Ben Zayb argues with Padre Camorra and Padre Salvi joins the

argument. They suggest different ways about how to straighten out the river and develop ports. Simoun says

to dig a canal from the entrance of the river (to make a new channel), and close up old Pasig. Everyone agrees

except Don Custodio, who says that it would be expensive and require tearing down villages. Simoun says they

should go ahead and do that. Don Custodio says there is no money to pay laborers, and Simoun says the

villagers can work for 3-5 months and bring their own food and tools. Simoun argues that even the Pyramids

and Coliseum were built by workers in the same way. Don Custodio says the people would rebel. Simoun says

that back then, the Egyptians and Jewish people did not rebel. But Don Custodio says Indios are different and

have rebelled before. Simoun says they won’t rebel again, since Indios who built the house and hospital of Los

Banos did so without rebelling. Simoun leaves to go below deck. The rest wonder what Simoun’s background

and race are. Don Custodio complains to Ben Zayb that Simoun suggested an expedition to the Caroline

Islands, which means they would have to build a ship (cruiser). Don Custodio suggests his project to clear the

sandbars of Laguna: inhabitants of towns near sandbars should breed ducks to eat snails, so the gathering of

snails will deepen the river. Ben Zayb agrees but Dona Victorina gets angry because more ducks would mean

there would be too many balut eggs.

ON THE DECK INTERPRETATION DURING JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL

When we were in high school our teacher introduce

One morning on December a steamboat called

Tabo was sailing across the difficult way of the Pasig what the Bapor Tabo is and what it looks like in the

River. It delivers many travelers to the province of story we also know the different legend that novel

tells. We also compare the life of student from the

Laguna. The steamboat was undoubtedly native of
novel and the life of students now and what kind of
the Fillipino people it can be called the “Daong ng
life they have been through to the friars.
Pamahalaan” because it was made under the

control of Reverendos and Ilustrisimos. The people

I learn in my high school year that Simoun
who stay below the deck was the Indios, Chinese,
was Crisostomo Ibarra in disguise who presumed
and Half-breeds while the people who stay up on
dead in Noli Me Tangere. Ibarra return as a wealthy
the deck is Europeans, Friars, and office wirkers.
jeweller Simoun. In the story of El Filibusterismo he

Dona Victorina was the only lady in the planned to avenge to the Spanish Officials who have

European group on the upper deck. She is depicted been abuses the Filipino people during that time.

as a foul-mouthed, extravagant, heavily made-up,

In Noli Me Tangere is not merely an attack
disdainful, and insufferable Indio who tries to pass
on the Spanish colonial regime. It is charter
herself off as a European through her wigs and
nationalism. It calls in the Filipino to recover his self-
clothes. She is accompanied by her niece, the
confidence, to appreciate his own worth, to return
beautiful and rich Paulita Gomez. Dona Victorina is
heritage of hid ancestors, to assert himself as the
the wife of Don Tiburcio de Espadana who left her
equal of the Spaniard. It is also a romantic novel.
many years.
While the El Filibusterismo is a political novel, book
Among the other characters introduced are Don
of thought, hatred, sorrow and violence. El Fili aims
Custodio, an official coounsellor; Ben Zayb an
to enlightening the society, and bringing the
exceedingly intelligent writer whose pseudonym is
Filipinos closer to the truth. In this novel, the society
an anagram of the surname Ybanez; Father Irene,
is urged to open its eyes to reality and rebel against
the canon; and the jeweler Simoun who sports long,
the Spanish government for its oppression and
white hair and spares black beard and who wears a
abuse.
pair of huge blue-tinted sunglasses.
PERSONAL REFLECTION changes are only possible through

a. How does El Filibusterismo impact our revolutionary means.

current society? d. Did Jose Rizal really change his thoughts

-The El Filibsterismo impact our current about his purpose for change in the

society by defend the Filipino people from Philippine society? Why or why not?

foreign accusation of foolishness and lack of -Yes. Because, Jose Rizal did his thoughts

knowledge, to show how the people in this about his purpose for change in the

current society living a peaceful and the Philippine society by giving the fact that he

cries and woes of our countrymen against will give his accuracy for the society and not

abusive officials. So, it may impact to our getting low for his purpose to make it better

society because they learn some of the and good.

good things that they have to encounter to

COMPARISON WITH NOLI ME TANGERE
the whole life in our society and also to
Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo are two
have struggled long and hard for their
marked novels of our national hero, Dr. Jose Rizal
redemption continue to suffer by the hands
which are similar and different in some ways. The
of the some abusing people.
two novels are similar primarily in their author,
b. Is the novel too radical for the national
Rizal. Another, in a way that they both talk about
hero? Why or why not?
Spaniards abused the Filipinos, the abuse of the
-Yes. Because, the national hero cared
church of their power and the discrimination on
about basic human rights and freedom for
Filipinos. Both Noli and El Fili shows strong and the
those who people who are carrying to each
anti-Clerical and even anti-Catholic color. They
other and give such a way of being a good
convey one story because the latter is published in
example for the Filipinos.
sequel or continuation.

c. Do you believe that radicalism can bring However, they are different in many cases.

change to the country? Why or why not? Firstly Noli Me Tangere, latin title meaning “touch

-Yes. Because, it may change the whole me not” that means it tried to touch the newly risen

things that our country may bring change Jesus. Meanwhile, El Filibusterismo is Spanish title

for the whole time and the beliefs that our which is known in English as “The Reign of Greed”.

society needs to be changed, and that these Noli is a love story or romantic novel, dedicated to

our motherland while the El Fili is a political novel

associated with revenge and anger and is dedicated

to GOMBURZA.

REFERENCES

Rizalville (n.d.). El Filibusterismo chapter 1.

http://rizalville.com/el-filibusterismo-

chapter-1

Penguin Random House (n.d.). El Filibusterismo

Readers Guide.

https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/book

s/302595/el-filibusterismo-by-jose-

rizal/9780143106395/readers-guide/

Gutenberg (n.d.). The Reign of Greed.

https://www.gutenberg.org/files/10676/1067

6-h/10676-h.htm

Mañebog, J. (2013).

The Noli Me Tangere. Retrieve from

https://ourhappyschool.com/literature/noli-me-

tangere

Poblete, P. (2006).

Noli Me Tangere. Retrieve from

http://www.gutenberg.org/files/20228/20228-

h/20228-h.htm#II