ong these
people. He had slender feet and legs and the face of a hermit, and
was carried along on an old wooden litter. In marked contrast to the
representation of San Juan, was that of San Francisco, the founder of
the great order. The latter was drawn in a car, and, as Tasio said:
"What a car! How many lights and glass lanterns! Why, I have never
seen you surrounded by so many illuminations, Giovanni Bernardone! And
what music!"

Behind the music came a standard representing the same saint, but with
seven wings. It was carried by the brothers of the Third Order, dressed
in guingon and praying in a loud and mournful voice. The next in the
procession was Santa Maria Magdalena, a most beautiful image with
an abundant growth of hair, a handkerchief of embroidered pina cloth
between her ring-covered fingers, and wearing a dress of silk adorned
with gold-leaf. Lights and incense surrounded her. The glass tears from
her eyes reflected the colors of the colored fire which was burned here
and there, giving a fantastic aspect to the procession. Consequently,
the sinful saint appeared to be weeping now green, now red and now blue
tears. The people did not begin to burn these colored lights till San
Francisco was passing; San Juan el Baptisto did not enjoy this honor,
passing by quickly, ashamed perhaps to go dressed in skins among so
many saints covered with gold and precious jewels.

"There goes our saint!" cried the daughter of the gobernadorcillo to
her visitors. "I loaned her my rings, but I did it to get to Heaven."

Those carrying the illuminations stopped near the platform to hear
the loa. The saints did the same. They and their carriers wanted
to hear the verses. Those who carried San Juan, tired of waiting,
squatted down in the characteristic Filipino manner, and found it
convenient to leave their burden on the ground.

"You'll get into trouble," objected one.

"Jesus! In the sacristy, they leave him in a corner among
spider-webs...."

After Magdalena came the women. They differed from the men in
arrangement. Instead of the children, the old women came first and
finally the unmarried women. Behind these came the car of the Virgin,
and behind that, the curate under his canopy. Father Damaso gave the
following reason for putting the young women next to the Virgin's
car: "The Virgin likes young women, but not old ones." Of course,
this explanation caused many of the older women to make wry faces,
but that did not c