‘mirror for all m i ter I seized from the rightful king, y very own son has forced from my hand. (1857-1860) Translation: Bienvenido Lumbera URBANA AND FELIZA: TWO LETTERS : from Pagsusulatan ng Dalawang Binibini na sina Urbana at Feliza Modesto de Castro ON PUBLIC OFFICE Sa Katungkulan sa Bayan Manila FELIZA: When Honesto has completed his studies, has learned how to read, write and count, and in time settles down, he is likely to be appointed an official of the town, and so I have decided to write you about how he should conduct himself if he is given such a responsibility. ‘Take good care of this letter so that it may aid in discernment when the need arises. Positions of honor in a community are like a crown which is given only to those who have the right to it and which therefore should not be sought after but rather refused, if one cannot do it credit; it is the crown of nobility and that should seek the head, and ee efore, beto! perso one must first ca on duty, and judge whether it is bearable. One must cons; own knowledge, sense and str weigh these against the press oJ and only if these are evenly matg may one agree to accept 2 POsitio responsibility. And yet this must i be wished for or forcibly obtained, i must be accepted if the community}, agreed on it and it is the will of Goq. The desire for high office 4 usually an unworthy desire, for jg, motive is not the laudable intention of benefiting people, but of Personally benefiting from position; not to bear hardships in the fulfillment of duty but to gain personal comfort; not to make other people’s lives easier but to obtain a life of ease from those over whom one has authority. Those who are greedy for position often are incapable of fulfilling their responsibilities because it is not responsibility but position itself that they lust for; they are devoid of good sense, because if they had any sense, they would recognize the weight of responsibility and rather than strive for ” position, would refuse it; which is why one sees so many who neglect theif duties to the town, looking only after their own interests, befriending the and disdaining the poor. Theref Feliza, watch over Honesto; when time comes, throw good advice so that he will not be like think of nothing else but up to in their exalted submitted to, rezi the town. ee Pee epcee must not forget that worldly honor, like the world itself, will d; that fortuna, OF man’s fate, is like a ae that turns, whoever is at the top now will later be at the bottom, whoever is looked up to now, tomorrow will be scorned; therefore one must think not only of the future but of what one will have to face when it comes. Impress upon him that duty, if he accepts it, must be fulfilled, for there will be an accounting, there is justice on earth and justice in heaven; whoever eludes justice here will not escape the justice of God. Do not be proud, for though leader and led are not of the same class, they share the same beginnings, follow the same path, and have the same end; God is the beginning of all, therefore all will pass through God's tribunal and all will also end in God. Do not be cruel in a desire to gain the respect of others, for it is not wickedness but righteousness and generosity that people esteem and love. Though of high estate, a man who is cruel is not esteemed but also treated harshly, and behind his back is betrayed by those whom he mistreats. Virtue in aman of high status is found in honorable conduct and in graciousness, in capturing people’s hearts; but pride ' and snobbery are the marks of a narrow mind, and the cause of rancor in one’s len, __ A leader must never forget his exalted one, whereas if be forsaken by those treated well. Bear in mind a or nobleman who ‘now ea his duty, is faithful to his friends, protective of the lowly, compassionate towards the poor—such a man is aj and credit to his town, and rules a hearts of all. In short, true nobility is in nobility of conduct, and in doing good, Little by little, Feliza, show Honesto the importance of honorable conduct, of righteousness and a kind heart. Make him realize that staff, throne, crown and scepter are of no value if they are not adorned with these precious jewels. Extend my courtesies to father and mother. Goodbye, Feliza, until the next letter—Urbana. AT A BANQUET Sa Piging Manila FELIZA: If you and Honesto are invited to a banquet, be even more careful, for so many mistakes can be made there. When you arrive at the house, say good evening or good day to your host, then to the others facing you; do not proceed into the living room until invited to do so; wait to be told before taking a seat, and do not choose the seat of honor for it may well be that the owner of the house will ask you fo rise from your lowly plac FBO acarefully your every move, glance and word, for it would be embarrassing if some coarseness were to be seen 19 these. At a banquet may be observed so many forms of unseemly behavior that are contrary to cleanliness, goodness and honorable conduct. see a gentleman who, You may ortant by because he is deemed imp’ others, behaves in a manner that 1s discourteous to the owner of the house. His glance shifts from one corner of the room to another, scrutinizes the food, and if he finds something not to his liking he criticizes it severely, becoming almost abusive of the banquet’s host You may also observe another who, as he climbs up the stairs to the house, still wears his hat on his head, and cannot seem to let go of his cane; he does not doff his hat to the owner of the house; when he opens his mouth to speak his voice is deafening, and he talks as if only he were learned, only he had good sense, only he were brave, rich and of noble ways; whereas nothing can ruin a banquet as he does. All these must be avoided. With all that the host prepares for the banquet, there can be no lack of interesting things to look at: if the owner of the house shows you something which he seems to be proud of, praise it a little if it has some merit, and if it has a flaw, do not mind it, do not find fault, so that your host may anon end up with hurt feelings for all his Tell Honesto that w table, he sees # child forcing jj among his elders, reaching in fo, without being invited, he should ay, Similar unseemly behavior because a disgrace to the parents, who wily said to have failed to teach their gh, good manners. He must not sit a older people unless bidden and press | to do so by them. While eating, jy should avoid coughing, and if this « not possible, he should get up from te table; the same applies when Spitting expectorating, blowing one’s nose, o sneezing, and if this cannot be avoided or if at times it comes on suddenly, it should be made as imperceptible as possible by turning away, and covering the mouth with a handkerchief. A child should avoid scratching himself and doing other foolish things when eating He must not proceed to eat before the elders do; he must not speak unless question is addressed to him, and when thus addressed he must respond briefly and quietly, but he must first wipe his mouth with a napkin if there is one of if there is none, with a handkerchief, and must not answer with lips gleaming with grease and mouth full of food. He | must avoid any display of age towards the one serving at table because this shows a lack of breeding so does eating with the mouth 7 with food, hurriedly, in quick and large spoonfuls—one spoonful follow! another before it has even °all signs of good ‘and refinement. Avoid tablecloth and table with soup, as to keep out of or watery so when holding a glass, spoon or void filling it so that none of ents will be spilled. Being jonate and cloying in Be aeuble inachild. Licking ater jess, plowing on HOt SOUP, i ping the viand with one’s hands and emerurning this to the plate from Pe, ‘twas taken; drinking from a f wine or a glass of water iplet: oe whic! plet © pee without first wiping one’s lips; all are forms of filthiness abhorrent to whoever observes them. It is improper fora child to be drinking liquor, and even more SO if he is observed to have a fondness for it. If an older person is drinking, he should pour into his goblet only as much as he can consume, consider what he can drink, because if there is any left over, it will be disgusting to others; and before drinking he should wipe his lips, as he also should afterwards. It is improper to share a single goblet or glass if there are several that can be used, because once someone has drunk from it, it will be loathsome to others. During a toast, do not force another to drink more liquor than he can hold, do not mock him, so that he may not be the source of ugly words and wrongful acts, if he loses control of himself. When asking for wine, do not speak so loudly, but rather make the request known only to the person in charge. Do not lag behind eryone else in eating, yet do not be to stand up either, but rather an : i wet. something to another, of a viand or any other ani handling it too much en article, avoig others. The invitation as Rot to disgust 2 should come from the “ begin eating banquet, not the one Seas Toe the same time, it is but cate ted; at the extending the invitation ae the one cheerful face so that those i Put on a may not shy away. Tucking sween net one’s belt or waistband. 3S sweets into kind of food into one’s ae any . » Is an cating ooo eel latter should rcee se a : a oe thank the piver. emai When picking up a glass of water, see first if your fingers are clean, to avoid soiling the glass; do not put your fingers inside it for this would be disgusting to fastidious eyes. In drinking, use both hands if possible, holding the glass or pitcher with the fingers towards the base and not resting on the rim, so as not to be abhorrent to others. Upon standing up or before leaving the dining table, give thanks to God; but the prayer should be led by the owner of the house or the holder of the banquet; and if a priest is among the diners, then the role is properly his; afterwards, thank the owner of the house as well. It would also be propet for the parent, or the teacher at school, to teach the children prayers asking for God’s blessing at table and giving thanks to God, along with the | counsel I have written t YOU, iflF others and keeping his conduct, actions and words within proper bounds when in the presence of town officials, priests, elders, gentlemen and his peers. I would consider it a debt to father, mother and you if at a banquet, he were to show not greed and foolishness, but good sense and refinement, for this would be to the credit of the parents who taught him and an honor to you too, Feliza, because you are helping to look after him. Goodbye, until the next letter. — Urbana. (1864)