CHAPTER 39

THE PROCESSION

Another procession is held, where the town displays the images of St. John, St. Francis, San Diego,
and the Virgin. The captain walks together with the mayor, Captain Tiago, and Crisostomo Ibarra.  They
watch the procession from the captain's balcony.  Mary, who is pulled in a cart by people dressed as
ghosts. Amidst the celebrations, police officers beat back onlookers to make sure the streets remain
clear. Ibarra is disgusted by the vigor these officers apply to the task, and he asks the mayor if “they
hand out these blows as punishment for one’s sins or merely because they enjoy it.” The Captain
General overhears this and agrees with Ibarra, saying it would be “better to ban” this kind of
celebration. When the statue of the Virgin Mary passes by Tiago's house, it was greeted by heavenly
"Ave Maria" in a melody so sad that would cause one to ponder upon the cause of such miserable. Later
on, Captain General invited Ibarra to join them later in dinner to discuss the missing boys.

CHARACTERS

1. Philosopher Tacio - His remarks on the passing of Saints speaks out that the the procession is
just but another pageantry of the friars.
2. Alquazils- Just like these officers, some members of the society are using their powers in abusing
the lower class.

EVENT

The alquazils beating the people during the procession- Ibarra commented if the act of this
officers are for punishment which we can conclude as an act merely for the enjoyment of these
officers. It can be viewed as an unjustifiable act being imposed to innocent citizens.

CHAPTER 40

DONA CONSOLACION

In the house of the Alferez, all the windows are closed even with the procession passing their home. The
Alferez was ashamed of his wife and won’t let her go out and attend the mass.

Sisa, who was taken into custody for creating social disturbances, has been in the barracks for two days.
In the evening, Sisa started to sing in her sweet melancholic voice. Dona Consolation hearing Sisa
ordered the servants to bring her. When the madwoman arrives, Doña Consolación uses poor Tagalog to
order Sisa to sing. This is a habit of hers—to appear more cultured like an orofea, she pretends to not
know her own native language, Tagalog. As such, she is pleased when Sisa doesn’t understand her
demand. She asks a servant in Spanish to translate her request into actual Tagalog. Sisa starts singing a
song about vanity, though, and Doña Consolación can’t stand to hear the words, erupting in perfect
Tagalog: “No, don’t sing!”
Embarrassed by having revealed herself as fluent in Tagalog, she orders Sisa to dance. Whipping her
feet, she draws more and more blood from Sisa, taking a wicked pleasure in the deranged spectacle
until the Alferez comes in and puts his hand on the dancing woman’s shoulder, allowing her to stop. He
tells his servants to take Sisa away and to care for her wounds, for before this incident he had actually
been treating her kindly, making sure she was well-fed and warm. When Sisa leaves, the couple starts
fighting, shaking the entire house with their blows. Finally, Doña Consolación retreats into the bedroom
and locks the door. To lure her out, the Alferez pretended to hadb left. When Consolación asks the
servants if he had left, they tell her he has. Dona Consolation opened the door and with Alferez entering
the fighting continues.

ANALYSIS

1. Dona Consolacion- She is a perfect example of the kind of disempowered person. In today’ s
context, she represent authorities or rather powerful figures who are taking advantage of the
weak. It speaks out of the oppressions that can happen between brothers/sisters or families.
2. Sisa - A woman so devoted to his children, she can be a representation to the Philippines
looking

EVENT

Dona Consolacion maltreatment of Sisa- Consolacion’s abuse of Sisa stems from her own insecurities.
She recognizes that Sisa is—much like herself—a Filipina woman isolated from the community. It makes
sense, then, that she beats Sisa because she resents this recognition. In other words, rather than
showing Sisa compassion and camaraderie as a fellow estranged woman, she tries to assert herself over
the poor woman.