El Filibusterismo | Kabanata 1: Sa Kubyerta #elfilibusterismo

Proposed Solution for River Improvement
📌 A discussion occurred on a steamer about expediting travel on the river, suggesting straight paths to avoid bends.
🗣️ Simón proposed a radical solution: dig a canal in Manila, open a new river, and fill in the Pasig River.
💰 To avoid costs, Simón suggested using convicts and captives for labor, drawing parallels to the construction of the Egyptian pyramids and the Roman Colosseum.

Concerns and Consequences of Forced Labor
⚠️ The primary concern raised against Simón's plan was the high probability of revolt ("paghihimagsik") among the forced laborers, referencing past uprisings in Egypt.
🗣️ Padre Salvi questioned the utility of friars if a rebellion occurred, implying a failure of spiritual guidance or control.

Alternative Economical Proposal
🐟 A more economical and practical proposal was presented by someone (implied to be Don Custodio or someone addressing him) involving villages near the water raising ducks.
🦆 These ducks, by eating small snails, would naturally deepen the waterway ("Wawa"), offering a sustainable solution.

Critique of Educational Priorities
📚 A final critique was leveled against the current intellectual focus, noting that if studying Latin is being phased out, the replacement focus on the Spanish language signifies that the community is moving backward ("lumalakad ng paurong").

Key Points & Insights
➡️ Simón’s proposal favored massive, cost-free infrastructure projects using forced labor to solve waterway issues.
➡️ A significant risk associated with forced labor schemes is the inevitable popular uprising due to inhumane conditions.
➡️ A sustainable, community-based ecological solution involving duck farming was offered as an alternative to large-scale construction.
➡️ The shift in language education (away from Latin towards Spanish) was interpreted as a sign of regression rather than progress.

📸 Video summarized with SummaryTube.com on Feb 26, 2026, 11:57 UTC