Chapter 9

NOLI ME
TANGERE
TOUCH ME NOT
 OBJECTIVES
• Assess the important characters in the novel and
what they represent.
• Examine the present Philippine situation through the
examples mentioned in the novel, Noli Me Tangere.
Proposal on writing a novel about the
Philippines
• Rizal proposed a book writing project to the Filipino members of
the Circulo Hispano-Filipino. The book would deal on the socio-
cultural and political aspects of life in the Philippines.
• This proposal did not materialize. Most of the members wanted to
write about the characters and activities of the Filipino women.
Most of them were not interested in Rizal's proposed project.
• Managed to finish the first half of the novel in Madrid, he
continued writing in Paris , and finished it in Germany.
Inspiration of Rizal in writing the novel
● Noli me Tangere was printed in Berlin.

● Berliner charged the lowest rate. P300 for 2,000 copies.

● Maximo Viola received the original handwritten

manuscript with the pen used by Rizal itself in writing
the novel.

● Ferdinand Blumentritt, Antonio Ma. Regidor, Graciano

Lopez-Jaena, Mariano Ponce and Felix Resurrection-
Hidalgo were the one who received the first copies of
the novel.
 Title of the Novel
• The novel was untitled but later on decided to call his first literary
masterpiece Noli me Tangere.
• Noli me Tangere is a latin phrase that Rizal took from the Bible,
meaning “touch me not” in John 20:17.
• Rizal studied Hebrew to enable him interpret the Bible in its
original text and also prepared his self to defend his novel about
any controversial religious issues that may arise.
• Charles Derbyshire translated the title as The Social Cancer.
COVER OF
NOLI ME
TANGERE
 Characters of Noli Me Tangere
Crisostomo Ibarra - also known in his full name as Juan Crisostomo Ibarra y
Magsalin, a Filipino who studied in Europe for 7 years, the love interest of
Maria Clara. Son of Don Rafael Ibarra.

Elias - Ibarra's mysterious friend, a master boater, also a fugitive.

Maria Clara - Maria Clara de los Santos, Ibarra's sweetheart; the legitimate
daughter of Father Damaso and Pia Alba. She also mirrored the Filipino
woman of religious upbringing and orientation.

Father Damaso - also known in his full name as Damaso Verdolagas, a friar and
Maria Clara's biological father. An antagonist in character.
• Sisa - the mother of Basilio and Crispin who became insane after losing his sons.
She represented in the novel unfortunate Filipina mothers losing her two sons;
Basilio and Crispin. In the novel, Sisa loges her sanity.

• Captain Tiago - also known in his full name as Don Santiago de los Santos, the
known father of Maria Clara but not the real one, lives in Binondo. An illegal
opium leader who subsequently was a landlord.

• Pilosopong Tasyo - also known as Don Anastacio, portrayed in the novel as

pessimistic, and mad by his neighbors.
Dona Victorina - Victorina de los Reyes de Espadaña, a woman who poses herself as a
Peninsulares. Wife of Don Tiburcio de Espadana.

Pedro - abusive husband of Sisa who loved cockfighting.

Don Rafael Ibarra - known in the plot as a concerned citizen and property owner who was
a father of Crisostomo Ibarra. Padre Damaso who played an antagonist role called him a
heretic and filibustero due to his view on relating to liberalism in society.

The School Master - A teacher at San Diego who's view in the novel represented the weak
and useless education in the Philippines. He attributes the problem from facilities and
methods of learning that the friars implemented in the country.

Tandang Pablo - The leader of the rebels, whose family was destroyed because of the
Spaniards.
 Supporting characters in Noli me tangere
• Tandang Pablo - The leader of the rebels, whose family was destroyed because of the
Spaniards.
• Basilio - the elder son of Sisa.
• Crispin - the younger son of Sisa who died from the punishment of the soldiers
from the false accusation of stealing an amount of money.
• Padre Sibyla - Hernando de la Sibyla, a Filipino friar. He is described as short and
has fair skin.
• Padre Salvi - also known in his full name as Bernardo Salvi, a secret admirer of
Maria Clara.
• The Alferez - chief of the Guardia Civil, mortal enemy of the priests for power in
San Diego.
• Don Tiburcio - Spanish husband of Doña Victorina who was limp and submissive
to his wife; he also pretended to be a doctor.
• Doña Consolacion - wife of the Alferez, another woman who passed
herself as a Peninsular; best remembered for her abusive treatment of Sisa.

• Captain General (no specific name) - The most powerful official in the
Philippines; a hater of secular priests and corrupt officials; and a friend of
Ibarra.
 Chapter 1: A Social Gathering
(Isang Pagtitipon)

Wealthy Binondo resident, Don Santiago de los Santos (Capitan

Tiago), throws a large dinner party.

Authoritatively speaking over the others, Fray Dámaso lectures

this newcomer about the nature of “indios,” or native Filipinos.
 Chapter 2: Crisostomo Ibarra

• Capitan tiago introduces Crisostomo Ibarra, the son of his departed friend,
Don Rafael Ibarra.

• Ibarra moves to greet Damaso with joy as the priest of his town and his
father’s friend.

• The lieutenant, on the other hand, greets Ibarra warmly and declares the elder
Ibarra an honorable man.
 Chapter 3: Dinner
• As the guests gather around Tiago’s dinner feast which is really a thanksgiving
for Ibarra’s safe arrival, Sibyla and Damaso argue over the seat at the head of
the table, insincerely offering each other the place of honor.

• The guest turn their attention to ibarra, asking about his studies in europe

• During the dinner, Laruja asks Ibarra what he found most notable in his travels.
Ibarra shares his insights, which Damaso declares worthless, and Ibarra’s
European sojourn a waste of fortune.
 Chapter 4: Heretic and Filibuster
• As ibarra walks home that night , Senor Guevarra explains the circumstances of Don
rafaels death.

• Guevarra reveals that Don Rafael died in prison after having been arrested for the death
of a Spanish collector whom he confronted for beating a schoolboy.

• Don Rafael’s enemies, jealous of his wealth, falsely accused him of other crimes
including being a heretic and filibuster, thereby prolonging his case and time in detention.
 Chapter 5: A Star in the Dark Night

• Ibarra sits in a room where he was staying fronting the river, across which is
visible Capitan Tiago’s house still brightly illuminated.

• Ibarra instead imagines his father in a filthy cell, in the final throes of death as he
calls his son’s name. Ibarra sees himself far away, enjoying wine, a feast, and the
company of merry companions.
 Chapter 6: Capitan Tiago
• Capitan Tiago is one of the richest landowners in Binondo, Pampanga and Laguna.
Aside from owning large tracts of lands, he also provides zacate, monopolizes the
opium business, and holds a contract for feeding the prisoners in the Bilibid
prison.

• Since he has had no child with his wife, Doña Pia, Padre Damaso advises the
Doña to attend the mass at Obando.
 Chapter 7: An Idyl on an Azotea

• Don Crisostomo arrives for a visit, and it becomes apparent that Maria Clara’s nervous
impatience earlier in the day was owing to her expectation of his visit.

• Ibarra promptly produces some dried sage leaves form his pocketbook, a remembrance of
Maria’s peace offering during one of their fights.
 Chapter 8: Recollections

• Ibarra’s carriage passes through the busiest district of Manila, and what he sees
disturbs him.
• He sees that the roads have not been paved and that the Puente de Barcas has
been destroyed by neglect.
• Afterwards, seeing the Arroceros Cigar factory, the Botanical Garden, and the
Bagumbayan bring back fond memories.
 Chapter 9: Local Affairs
• Padre Damaso visits and privately confers with Capitan
Tiago.

• Meanwhile, Padre Sibyla reports to an elderly member of his

order. He tells the old priest about the encounter between
Damaso and Ibarra at Tiago’s party,
 Chapter 10: The Town

• The town of San Diego is surrounded by vast fields near a

lake and a river.
• San Diego has forest with some history. Along time ago, an
old spaniard was interested in an area near sa forest
 Chapter 11: Rulers
• Don Rafael, the father of Crisostomo ibarra, is the richest of the town but not the
most powerful.Even Captain is not classified under the rulers.
• The true ruler is Friar Salvi who took after Friar Damaso, and the head of
Guardia Civil the Alferez. The two are recognized in town as “casique”.

• When face to face, Salvi and the alferez are openly pleasant to each other. Behind
each other’s backs, they devise ways to get on each other’s nerves.
 Chapter 12: All Saints

• At the cemetery in San Diego, two men

dig an old grave to prepare for a new
internment. The more squeamish of the
two complains.
 Chapter 13: Signs of Storm

• Ibarra and his servant alight at the cemetery but are

unable to locate Don Rafael’s grave.

• Ibarra leaves the cemetery in anger, sees Padre Salvi and

aggressively confronts him.
 Chapter 14: Lunatic or Sage

• Tasio the sage wanders about the street aimlessly.

• He sees two boys aged ten and seven and tells them
that their mother has prepared a meal for them to be
taken when they get home.
 Chapter 15: The Sacristans
• As the rain rages outside, seven-year-old Crispin and
his brother, ten-year-old Basilio ring the church
bells.
• Crispin having been unjustly accused of stealing two
gold coins from the church.
 Chapter 16: Sisa
• Earlier in the day, Sisa, Basilio and Crispin’s mother, took
pains to gather food, even begging Tasio for some meat, in
happy anticipation of her sons’ arrival. Unfortunately, her
cruel gamester husband shows up first and eats most of the
food. Sisa prepares the little remaining for her sons.

• Time passes and her sons still have not arrived. She starts
to worry and prays, but she starts to think of her sons
instead.
 Chapter 17: Basilio

• Basilio arrives home, wounded from a gunshot fired at him

by the Guardia Civil. Basilio tells his mother that Crispin
has stayed behind in the convent because the curate accused
him of stealing two gold pieces. In his dream, Basilio sees
Crispin being beaten up and killed by the Curate and the
Sacristan Mayor.
 Chapter 18: Souls in Torment
• At church and later at the rectory, the pious women of the parish notice
Padre Salvi’s ill looks, and a difference in his movements and habits.
Their discussions segue into swapping tips on how to acquire more
plenary indulgences and how to use them better.Sisa arrives bearing gifts
of vegetables to appease the curate

• Inside, she is treated coldly by the servants and sacristans. She is told the
curate is ill and cannot see her, and that Crispin ran away after stealing
many things. Sisa is in shock, begins to weep and is chased out into the
street.
 Chapter 19: A Schoolmaster’s
Difficulties
• Ibarra converses with a schoolmaster who was helped by his father.
The schoolmaster narrates the obstacles that he encountered in
teaching the children. He informs Ibarra that the town lacks
facilities such as a school building and necessary equipment. His
work is also hindered by the stubbornness of the former town
Curate, Padre Damaso.
 Chapter 20: The Meeting in the Town
Hall
• The town officials meet in the town hall to discuss the fiesta
celebration. The council approves the proposal of Don Filipo, but the
Gobernadorcillo tells them that the curate’s alternate proposal must
be followed instead. Although the council objects to the Curate’s
proposal, they are powerless to stop implementation of the plan. Don
Filipo and Tasio the sage go home dejected.
 Chapter 21: The Story of a Mother
• Sisa rushes home wondering about Crispin’s whereabouts and fearing Basilio’s
arrest. She runs into two civil guards who inform her that Basilio had escaped them.
They arrest her instead, thinking Sisa’s sons would eventually give themselves up
with the stolen money. Sisa is overwhelmed with shame as people see her
accompanied to town by civil guards. At the barracks, Sisa grows even more
ashamed as she is mixed in with the soldiers, and their mistresses.
The alferez arrives, dismisses the curate’s accusations and releases Sisa.

• Sisa hurries home and walks in and out of her hut, and all around the surrounding
area while repeatedly calling to her children. By morning, it becomes clear that the
wandering Sisa has lost her mind.
 Chapter 22: lights and shadow
• The residents of San Diego continue to prepare for the fiesta. There is some chatter about
the arrival of Maria Clara who is loved by all, and about Padre Salvi whom people notice
has become thinner and inattentive.

• Ibarra soon visits Maria Clara and she begs him not to invite the curate to the picnic
planned for the following day. She reveals her discomfort over being watched and
spoken to in odd ways by the curate. Ibarra reminds her that it is customary to invite the
curate. On cue, Padre Salvi appears. Maria Clara slips away on some pretext, while Ibarra
and the curate engage in small talk. Padre Salvi accepts Ibarra’s invitation to the picnic to
prove he holds no ill will.

• As Ibarra leaves, a man approaches and begs for pity. He tells Ibarra of the loss of his
sons and the insanity of his wife. Ibarra invites him to tell his story.
 Chapter 23: FISHING
• Early in the morning, Maria Clara, Ibarra and their friends ride boats to Capitan Tiago’s fish
corrals. The mood is lighthearted with a great deal of laughter and good-natured horseplay.
Everyone is merry except for the reserved pilot [1] of Ibarra’s boat.

• At the first fish corral, they prepare to cook sinigang,[2] but the fishing net comes up empty.
They discover that this is because there is a crocodile at the bottom of the corral. The pilot
takes a rope and leaps. After a struggle, the pilot surfaces, pulling at the partially tied
crocodile. Unexpectedly, the crocodile lurches forward and drags the pilot back into the
water with it. Ibarra dives after them with a knife. The two men reappear after an anxious
moment with the dead crocodile.

• Everyone is relieved and the merriment resumes. They catch fish at the second corral, then
they make their way to the forest belonging to Ibarra where they eat their breakfast under
the shade.
 Chapter 24:IN THE WOOD
• The still ill-looking Padre Salvi discharges his duties early and makes his way to
Ibarra’s picnic. Along the way, he hears Maria Clara and her friends’ voices and hides
behind a tree to watch them bathe and to eavesdrop. Despite wanting to see more, he
pries himself away to look for the rest of the group. He finds Ibarra joined by other
important townspeople.

• At lunch, Padre Salvi embarrasses the alferez by asking if his civil guards had found
Elias, the man accused of both manhandling Padre Damaso and throwing
the alferez into a mudhole. Their talk is interrupted by the approach of Sisa, who runs
away after seeing the alferez. The conversation turns to Sisa’s story in which
the alferez finds the chance to shame the curate in return, laughing in sarcasm at the
disappearance of Sisa’s sons over the loss of the curate’s coins. Ibarra interrupts and
declares his intention of helping Sisa and searching for her sons.
• After the meal, Ibarra receives a telegram with the
good news that his project for a town school had been
approved. This bit of good news is followed by a
disruptive one, as civil guards arrive looking for the
wanted Elias, who turns out to be the pilot of Ibarra’s
boat, but Elias had already disappeared unnoticed.
 Chapter X / 25: ELIAS AND SALOME
• At the porch of a lakeshore hut sits Salome, sewing. She drops her work as soon as she
hears Elias approaching, bearing firewood, bananas and a fish. She asks him about the
picnic he had been to, to which Elias gives succinct responses.

• At some point Elias stands to go, but notices Salome crying. She explains that, being now
an orphan, she will have to leave her home to live with relatives, and the thought makes
her sad. She confesses too that the most beautiful time of each day is the hour of his visit.
Elias reminds her of his misfortunes which his future children may suffer, making it
impossible for him to marry her. He tells her to forget him.

• Salome resigns herself to their parting, but bids him live in her house so they may each
remember each other as if they were together. Elias is in despair and tears himself away
from Salome.
 Chapter 25: IN THE HOUSE OF THE
SAGE
• Ibarra visits Tasio to consult him about his plan for a town school. The old man
tells him to consult with all the religious and lay people in authority. He tells
Ibarra to pretend to take their stupid advice.

• Ibarra disagrees, wanting to be forthright and believing in the good sense of

people and government. Tasio counters by saying that the government is under
the sway of the curate and that a displeased friar can easily upset Ibarra’s plans.
Tasio believes too that even if Spain were to issue reforms to remedy how
matters are run in the Philippines, they would be useless when people are
ignorant and when there is no zealous authority to implement the reforms.
• Ibarra asks if it was possible that if he were to bow
to authority, the religious powers would only pretend
to befriend him but secretly undermine him. Tasio
answers that if that were to happen, Ibarra would at
least have the comfort of having taken the first step,
which may encourage others to later follow. Ibarra
decides to take Tasio’s advice.
 Chapter 26: THE EVE OF THE
FIESTA
• It is the eve of the fiesta, and the town is filled with music, gaiety and bright
ornaments. Dining rooms spill over with rich and fancy dishes.
• The busiest spot is a lot close to Ibarra’s house, where Ñor Juan, the foreman
of Ibarra’s schoolhouse, is intent on giving orders for the work at hand. A little
farther from the work site are the schoolmaster and his pupils, preparing
banners and decorations. Some of the boys declare incoming contributions
from their families.
• Earlier, the curate and coadjutor expressed support too. Ibarra’s project seems
to be going so well, that he begins to think Tasio worried for nothing. Tasio
however, is not as convinced that all is well
 Chapter 27: IN THE TWILIGHT
• Wishing Ibarra to get along with Padre Damaso, Capitan Tiago invites him to dine
at his house, where the friar will also be dining. Ibarra politely declines.

• Ibarra, Maria Clara and her friends go out for a walk. At the plaza, they see a
blind leper. Moved at the sight, Maria Clara drops her bejeweled locket into the
man’s basket. The leper kisses it and buries his head where Maria Clara had
trodden.

• Meanwhile, to the horror of everyone, Sisa shows up and touches the leper. She
blurts out a confused account of her sons, the curate’s gold and her garden. Maria
Clara asks Ibarra what he had done for Sisa, to which Ibarra admits he had been
unable to do anything, but that the curate had promised to later help him help her.
A soldier drags Sisa away for disturbing the peace.
 Chapter 28: CORRESPONDENCE
• A correspondent writes to the editor of a Manila newspaper, and describes in
glowing terms the fiesta in San Diego. He writes of the piety of the faithful, and of
the virtuous execution of duties of the very reverend friars. He describes with
admiration too, the opulence of Capitan Tiago’s home and table, and the moving
religious procession. He notes the absence of the distinguished Ibarra who is
reportedly ill.

• Capitan Martin writes of more mundane things to his friend. He narrates how
Capitan Tiago’s winnings at cards drives Capitan Joaquin nearly broke, and how
Padre Damaso frustrated by his losses, smashed a lamp. He shares that the consul
has lost in cockfighting and that Carlos the Chinaman is making a fortune
with liam-po.

• Maria Clara sends out a letter of her own to Ibarra in which she asks how he is.
 Chapter 29: THE MORNING
• It is the third and last day of the fiesta. The people of San Diego put on their best
clothes, and proceed to the church. All the while, bright banners, the sound of
firecrackers and lively band music fill the surroundings.

• Padre Damaso contracts a cold as a result of the previous night’s festivities, but the
other priests urge him to deliver the sermon. He goes into some last minute
preparations, submitting to an application of liniment, drinking lemonade and raw
eggs with wine, and abstaining from talking and eating a full breakfast.

• The procession begins, but later momentarily halts, and a child in a woman’s arms
stretches its arms towards Padre Salvi and cries, “pa-pa”, causing the curate some
embarrassment. Despite the knowing glances among those who had heard, Padre
Salvi in fact did not know the infant and the woman.
 Chapter 30: IN THE CHURCH
• A great crowd of the faithful fill the church and jostle for air and space. Those
who have already found a spot either endure the heat or begin to doze off.
The authorities and important townspeople occupy reserved benches. Maria
Clara, by order of the curate is given her own space near the altar.

• Padre Salvi officiates the mass, but people are surprised at his trembling
voice, sometimes going out of tune. Nonetheless, he is the picture of gravity
and elegance. At the appointed time, Padre Damaso mounts the pulpit to
deliver his sermon.
 Chapter 31: THE SERMON
• Padre Damaso delivers the first half of his sermon in Spanish, extolling the virtues of Saint
Diego in such high-sounding words, and in such a bombastic and circuitous manner, that
the indios are doubly unable to understand anything. They mistake his pronouncements as
pertaining to their earthly affairs.

• Damaso then improvises the second part of his sermon in Tagalog, and castigates his
listeners in general terms, raging against the people’s lack of reverence for religion and
priests. He takes an indirect swipe at Ibarra by talking of unconfessed sinners dying in
prison, an unnamed reference to Ibarra’s father, and puffed up half-breeds, an allusion to
Ibarra.

• The friar goes on preaching for such a long time, his listeners begin to doze off or
daydream. When Damaso’s sermon finally ends and the mass continues, Ibarra hears Elias
whisper in his ear, warning him not to go down the trench at the laying of his school’s
cornerstone.
 Chapter 32: THE DERRICK
• Ñor Juan looks with admiration at the complicated derrick an unnamed individual he had
commissioned for it had set up. The hired man says it was his father who taught him
mechanics, who in turn was taught by Don Saturnino, Crisostomo’s grandfather. The man
relates in his story that Don Saturnino was cruel to his workers.

• Important personages soon gather to witness the lowering of the school’s cornerstone.
Guests include the alcalde, municipal officials and the friars. Elias, masked by
his salakot and rough clothes, is there too.

• The ceremony commences with Padre Salvi blessing the site. Each important guest then
goes down the trench to ceremoniously lay a bit of mortar. As Ibarra takes his turn, the
entire contraption collapses, and though shaken, he escapes unscathed. Found in the trench
however, is the dead body of the man who had built the derrick.
 Chapter 33: FREE THOUGHT
• Ibarra rushes home to change his clothes where he is followed by Elias,
who warns him of enemies, both from the very poor and from the rich and
powerful. Among these is the man who had built the derrick, who, as it
turns out, had died as a result of Elias putting him in harm’s way as the
derrick collapsed.

• The conversation between the two men reveal a little more about Elias’
character. He has had to believe in a deliberate God because he has lost
faith in man, and rejects the kind of justice corrupted by man.
 Chapter 34: THE DINNER
• Despite the recent death at the site, the celebratory meal proceeds as planned. Capitan
Tiago leaves early as he receives a telegram informing him that the Captain-General will be
arriving at his house. The friars feel slighted that the official will not be staying at
the convento.
• Padre Damaso arrives late at the table and proceeds to insult Ibarra by declaring the
stupidity of hiring experts when all that is necessary in building a schoolhouse is common
sense and cheap labor. He also disparages self-important young indios, over whom God’s
justice is meted out, as their fathers are punished by dying in jail. Angered by this indirect
reference to his father, Ibarra hits Damaso and brandishes a knife over him.
• Ibarra launches into an impassioned speech, declaring how his father had been a good man,
and how Damaso had repaid his friendship with persecution. Ibarra asks the onlookers to
recall how he had held his peace even as he himself became the object of Damaso’s
persecution.
• As Ibarra raises the knife, Maria Clara puts herself between him and Damaso. Ibarra drops
the knife and flees.
 Chapter 35: COMMENTS
• News of what occurred between Ibarra and Damaso spreads across town and
people offer varying and divided opinions. The gobernadorcillo wishes
Ibarra had been more prudent. Don Filipo argues that between the two, it
was Ibarra who had been the more mature. Capitan Martin thinks Ibarra will
never be forgiven. Among the women, Capitana Maria lauds Ibarra for
defending his father’s memory and honor, while Sister Rufa maintains that it
is a sin to raise one’s hand against a priest.

• The most disheartening observation comes from a parent of one of the

school’s would-be pupils. He is certain that there would no longer be a
school, for the priests had called Ibarra a filibustero whose fate is death.
 Chapter 36: THE FIRST CLOUD
• Maria Clara weeps inconsolably, having been forbidden by her father from
speaking with the excommunicated Ibarra. Capita Tiago, threatened by Padre
Damaso with damnation in life and in the next, announces he must break
Ibarra and Maria Clara’s engagement. He tells Maria Clara she is to marry a
relative of Padre Damaso from Spain.

• The noise outside suggests the arrival of the Captain-General and Maria
Clara flees to her room, seeking succor from the image of Mary. Aunt Isabel
intrudes upon her sorrow and asks her to prepare herself to meet the Captain-
General.
 Chapter 37: HIS EXCELLENCY
• At Capitan Tiago’s house, the Captain-General receives the friars coldly and does not speak
well of Padre Damaso. The friars are displeased. He also meets with Maria Clara, thanks her
for her noble action at the gathering and assures her that justice is not blind.
• In his separate meeting with Ibarra, he expresses approval over the young man’s
philanthropy and love for his father. He is further pleased when he discovers that Ibarra is not
a sycophant. He promises to speak with the Archbishop on Ibarra’s behalf, but advises him to
be more prudent next time.
• During their talk, the Captain-General reveals the burdens of his office. Despite the
difficulties and imperfections of the government, he wishes to know how he can help Ibarra.
The young man replies that what he desires can only be given by the government after years
of toil and the introduction of reforms.
• The Captain-General realizes that Ibarra’s way of thinking is different and invites him to
accompany him to Europe where Ibarra will fit better, but Ibarra declines, wishing to stay in
the Philippines. The Captain-General entrusts him to the alcalde’s care.
 Chapter 38: THE PROCESSION
• The Captain-General, accompanied by Capitan Tiago, the alcalde,
the alferez and Ibarra, sets out on foot to the gobernadorcillo’s house nearby to
watch the procession and listen to the loa.
• The procession commences with the school children bearing their handmade
lanterns, followed by the poorly dressed statue of St. John the Baptist on an old
wooden platform. He is followed by the figures of the saints with more
devotees, and therefore more grandly adorned: St. Francis, Mary Magdalene,
San Diego and the Virgin.
• As the Virgin’s carro passes by Capitan Tiago’s house, a pleadingly prayerful
song is heard. Ibarra is terrified and saddened by what he hears and wonders if
he is the cause of the singer’s sorrow.
 Chapter 39: DONYA CONSOLACION
• Ashamed of his wife’s untidy and unsightly appearance, the alferez had
forbidden his wife from attending mass or joining the festivities. Believing
herself to be actually beautiful, Doña Consolacion takes this restriction bitterly,
and shuts their house up, now the only gloomy residence in town.

• The Doña hears Sisa singing nearby and has her brought up. She orders the
madwoman to sing to her and to dance. Sisa is unable to understand the second
order, so Doña Consolacion whips her until she begins to dance.
The alferez catches the scene and has Sisa taken away and cared for, while
the alferez and his wife come to violent blows over the incident.
 Chapter 40: RIGHT AND MIGHT
• The townspeople gather at the plaza theater for its last show. Ibarra arrives late and sits
beside Maria Clara’s friends. Padre Salvi, unable to get Don Filipo, the teniente-mayor to
eject Ibarra, walks out.
• Meanwhile, some civil guards arrive and create a ruckus to stop the show, as the alferez and
his wife are unable to sleep.
• At the convent, Padre Salvi hears the uproar, imagines Maria Clara being taken advantage of
by Ibarra in the midst of the tumult, and rushes back to the plaza, but the maiden is no
longer there.
 Chapter 41: TWO VISITS
• Elias visits Ibarra the day after the commotion at the
plaza.
• Downstairs, Lucas, the brother of the man killed at the
school site awaits Ibarra and asks him for
compensation for his brother’s death. Disgusted,
Ibarra tells him to return later.
 Chapter 42: THE ESPADANAS
• Doctor Don Tiburcio de Espadaña and Doctora Doña Victorina de los Reyes de De
Espadaña come to check the ailing Maria Clara. With them is Don Alfonso Linares de
Espedaña, their cousin, and the godson of a relative of Padre Damaso. Later, Padre Salvi
and a melancholy Padre Damaso also drop by to see Maria Clara.
• While there, we are regaled with the history of the Espadañas. Doña Victorina, now 42,
is an ageing shell of her former beauty.
• Having married a Spaniard, Doña Victorina began putting on airs, wearing European
clothes and frizzes.
 Chapter 43: Plans
• In a rare show of tenderness, Padre Damaso weeps despairingly over the sick
Maria Clara.

• Nearby, Padre Salvi is accosted by Lucas who narrates how he had been
brushed off by Ibarra and given just 500 pesos.

Facundo, Miranda Lalaine

 Chapter 44: AN EXAMINATION OF
CONSCIENCE
• Maria Clara suffers a relapse after confessing, but her fever eventually abates
some days later.

• Padre Salvi tells Capitan Tiago that Maria Clara must take communion the
next day to complete her recovery.
 Chapter 45: THE HUNTED
• Elias finds his way into a cave in the forest to meet Pablo, a man who had
previously sheltered Elias in his time of need. Pablo is holed up with a
number of armed men and vows to soon descend upon the lowlands to exact
his revenge for the injustices done to his family.

• Elias, fearing reprisals against innocent people for Pablo’s actions, convinces
him to delay his plans.
 Chapter 46: THE COCKPIT
• At the cockpit, the brothers Tarsilo and Bruno lose everything on a bad bet.
Lucas, who had previously presented himself to them as one of Ibarra’s
followers, tempts them with money if they agree to recruit men to join a
plot, supposedly orchestrated by Ibarra, to attack the barracks.

• The brothers finally agree to Lucas’ offer so they can bet on Capitan
Tiago’s lasak against Capitan Basilio’s bulik in the next fight.
 Chapter 47: THE TWO SEÑORAS
Doña Victorina walks around town in her absurd European clothes and adornments and
proceeds to criticize the indios and their way of living.

They pass by the alferez’s house where his wife Doña Consolacion, who is at the window,
spits with contempt upon seeing the couple. This enrages Doña Victorina and begins insulting
Doña Consolacion, exposing her past as a washerwoman. Doña Consolacion insults her back,
taunting her for her lame husband and for being a left over bride.

Doña Victorina and Don Tiburcio rush back to Capitan Tiago’s house where the doña
lambastes her lame husband for his inability to defend her honor. She asks Linares instead to
challenge the alferez.
 Chapter 48: THE ENIGMA
• The Archbishop reverses Ibarra’s excommunication, and he rushes back to
see Maria Clara. His eagerness is dampened when, upon arriving at
Capitan Tiago’s house, he sees Linares with Maria Clara at the balcony.

• Distracted, he inadvertently walks toward the school site where he spots

Elias working.
 Chapter 49: THE VOICE OF THE
HUNTED
• In a banca on the lake, Elias, in the hopes of soliciting Ibarra’s help, tells Ibarra that the
oppressed yearn for radical reforms in the armed forces, the priesthood and in the
administration of justice, particularly the reduction of privileges of the abusive civil guards.
The two debate over these points.
• Regarding the civil guards, Ibarra acknowledges its imperfections but maintains that it is
necessary especially for the security of towns and the deterrence of crime.
• Regarding the religious orders, Elias believes them to be oppressors, but Ibarra maintains
that the Philippines owes these orders for bringing the true faith.
 Chapter 50: ELIAS’ STORY

• Elias narrates that his grandfather was falsely accused of arson for which he was whipped.
To fend for the family, his wife became a prostitute.
• The elder son became an outlaw and was killed, and the shock of seeing her son’s
decapitated head killed Elias’ grandmother. The younger son fled to another province
where he fell in love with a rich man’s daughter. His past was eventually unearthed for
which he was thrown into prison despite his sweetheart already being pregnant with twins,
Elias and his sister. The twins were raised by their grandfather.
 Chapter 51: EXCHANGES
• At Capitan Tiago’s house, Linares receives a letter from Doña Victorina in
which she threatens to expose the lie behind his outstanding credentials if
he fails to challenge the alferez.

• Padre Salvi drops by to confirm the news that Ibarra’s excommunication

had been lifted.
 Chapter 52: THE CARDS OF THE
DEAD AND THE SHADOWS
• A small group of men meet at the gateway to the cemetery. They talk briefly about
tomorrow’s attack on the convent and the barracks, at the onset of which Lucas
instructs them not to forget to shout ‘Viva Don Crisostomo’.

• Two civil guards pass by talking about the still wanted Elias. They catch Lucas, but
lets him go.
 Chapter 53: BUON DI SI CONOSCE
DA MATTINA
• Don Filipo visits a sick Tasio. The old sage is a little disappointed that the young man has
resigned as teniente-mayor, a step Don Filipo took because the gobernadorcillo liberated
the unruly civil guards he had arrested.

• Tasio thinks the support would’ve come because the country is changing, and the youth
have been influenced by new ideas from Europe. If, in times of old, they studied
metaphysics, the youth now have a broader horizon, studying science and humanities, and
are now more aware of the physical world and of themselves as individuals.
 Chapter 54: REVELATIONS
• An agitated Padre Salvi rushes to the alferez’s house to inform him of the plot to
attack the barracks and convent, which he had learned from a woman at the
confessional. The alferez prepares to catch the plotters.

• Elias, also in a rush, dashes into Ibarra’s house, and informs Ibarra of the same
plot, and that it is to be attributed to him. Elias encourages Ibarra to flee and
begins to help him sort through his papers to destroy anything that may be
incriminating. While doing so, he finds a piece of paper with the name Don
Pedro Eibarramendia.
 Chapter 55: CATASTROPHE
• Ibarra makes his way to Capitan Tiago’s house but barely has time to make
an appearance before a volley of shots rings through the night.

• Meanwhile, a crazed Elias runs to the woods seemingly pursued by the

ghosts of his dead, persecuted relatives.
 Chapter 56: RUMORS AND BELIEFS
• Townspeople swap conjectures surrounding the disturbance of the previous
night. One theory suggests it was the doing of old Pablo and his gang, another
points to the Chinese rebelling, and yet another presents the possibility that the
local police fought with the civil guards.
• Meanwhile, a maidservant discovers Lucas’ body hanging from a tree and the
townspeople gather around him. A disguised Elias inspects the body, and he
notices amores secos on Lucas’ clothes.
 Chapter 57: WOE TO THE
VANQUISHED
• The alferez questions the captured Tarsilo about Ibarra’s involvement in the
attack on the barracks.

• The alferez orders his men to whip, flog, and then lower Tarsilo upside down
into a dirty well in an attempt to extract a confession, but Tarsilo says nothing
more and dies.
 Chapter 58: THE ACCURSED
• The families of the men arrested for the attack on the barracks run about
in despair, lamenting the fate of their loved ones. Their anguish intensifies
as the prisoners are led out for transport to the capital, but their sorrows
quickly transforms into anger at the sight of Ibarra, whom they blame for
their misfortune.

• From afar, the sick Tasio looks on, lost in thought.

 Chapter 59: COUNTRY AND PRIVATE
INTERESTS
• News of the incident in San Diego reaches Manila, and an undercurrent of disquiet runs
through some private homes and in convents. In one convent, the friars give thanks for
the demonstration of the usefulness of religious orders, as the prompt action of Padre
Salvi thwarted the attack.
• At Capitan Tinong’s house, he and his wife, Capitana Tinchang argue over whose fault it
is that he befriended Capitan Tiago and invited Ibarra to dine, thereby increasing his
chances of being implicated.
• Later, over at the Intramuros, some people surmise that Capitana Tinchang’s gift is a sign
of guilt.
 Chapter 60: MARIA CLARA WEDS
• Capitan Tiago congratulates himself for having escaped investigation by
denying all his Filipino friends suspected by the government.

• The following evening, Capitan Tiago throws a party to celebrate the betrothal.
Maria Clara overhears Lieutenant Guevara say that Ibarra would have been
acquitted if not for a letter he had written to a woman produced in court.
• Later in the night, a sorrowful Maria goes to the azotea where
she encounters Ibarra who had been rescued from prison by
Elias. Ibarra forgives Maria for her treachery and bids her
farewell, but she detains him to explain her actions. She had
been compelled to exchange his letter for letters her mother
had written to her real father.
 Chapter 61: THE CHASE ON THE
LAKE
• Elias tries to convince Ibarra to leave the country as the two men make their way up the
Pasig river in a small boat.
• Ibarra invites Elias to escape with him, but Elias declines, preferring to suffer with this
countrymen. Ibarra is offended that Elias does not think him capable of staying behind,
and vows to be a true dissident to fight for the country with other unfortunates.

• As they reach the lake, police boats appear. Elias jumps into the water to draw
the pursuers away.
 Chapter 62: PADRE DAMASO
EXPLAINS
• Maria Clara had planned to struggle through life with the consoling knowledge
that Ibarra was alive elsewhere, but as the newspapers now report Ibarra’s
supposed drowning in the lake,
• Padre Damaso begs her for forgiveness for causing her unhappiness, and
explains that he had only opposed her marriage to Ibarra because, as a native.
• Padre Damaso asks Maria Clara to reconsider her decision, but she is adamant.
 Chapter 63: CHRISTMAS EVE
• Basilio, having been found wounded, and rescued by a poor family in the
mountains, decides to head back to town to look for his mother and brother.

• A wounded stranger arrives and interrupts Basilio’s mourning. The man

declares he does not have long to live and instructs the boy to gather firewood
to burn his body and Sisa’s.
 EPILOGUE

• After Maria Clara enters the nunnery, Padre Salvi and Padre Damaso leave
town for Manila, where months later, Padre Damaso dies.
• Don Tiburcio is never called upon again to attend to any patients which
displeases Doña Victorina. Linares dies of dysentery.
• As to Maria Clara, two patrolmen report seeing a white figure moaning on the
roof of the nunnery one stormy night.
THANK YOU.!!!
Group 9
JUANTA, KATE GRETHEL
MANABAT, MELVI M.
MARIANO, MIKE