El Filibusterismo – Chapter 1 Summary

El Filibusterismo (El Fili) – Chapter 1

Chapter Title: On Deck

Setting: December morning, Steamship Tabo (Pasig)

Characters:

 Skipper
 Dona Victorina
 Don Custodio
 Ben Zayb
 Padre Camorra
 Padre Irene
 Simoun
 Padre Salvi
 Padre Sibyla
 Paulita Gomez (mentioned)
 Don Tiburcio (mentioned)
 Capitan General (mentioned)

Chapter Summary:

The book starts with the quote:

“Sic itur ad astra.”

(This way to the stars.)

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.