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Noli Me Tangere: Photo by José Rizal / Public Domain
Noli Me Tangere: Photo by José Rizal / Public Domain
TANGERE
CRISOSTOMO IBARRA
Son of Filipino businessman, Don Rafael
Ibarra, He studied in Europe for seven
years
CHARACTERS
MARIA CLARA
Crisostomo Ibarra’s fiancé, she is the
most beautiful and widely celebrated girl
in San Diego. She is an illegitimate
daughter of Father Damaso
CAPTAIN TIAGO
He is considered one of the
most hospitable men in the
town. He is also known as the
father of Maria Clara
CHARACTERS
ELIAS
He is the mysterious friend of
Crisostomo Ibarra. He believes that
justice can be obtained through
revolution
CHARACTERS
FRIAR DAMASO
A Franciscan friar and the
former parish curate of San
Diego. He is known as
notorious character that speaks
with harsh words and has been
a cruel priest during his stay in
the town
CHARACTERS
FRIAR SIBYLA
He is a Filipino friar, a Dominican curate
in Binondo, described as short and has
fair skin
CHARACTERS
FRIAR SALVI
He is the curate of San Diego and the
secret admirer of Maria Clara
CHARACTERS
DON ANASTACIO
He is known as Pilosopong
Tacio. He is pessimist, wise and
intelligent man
CHARACTERS
DONYA VICTORINA
She is a woman who is
ashamed of being a Filipino
CHARACTERS
THE ALFREZ
He is the Chief of Guardia Civil
CHARACTERS
DONYA
CONSOLACION
She is the wife of Alferez and
passes herself off as a
Peninsulares. She is very abusive
to Sisa
CHARACTERS
SISA
A loving mother of Basilio and Crispin
CHARACTERS
CRISPIN
The younger son of Sisa and
died because of being punished
from the soldiers. He is accused
of stealing an amount of money
in the convent where he works
with Basilio as a sacristan
CHARACTERS
BASILIO
The eldest son of Sisa
CHAPTER 1- A SOCIAL
GATHERING
On the last of October near All Soul’s Day, Captain Tiago
arranged a grand dinner in his home. Many guests came and
most of them are uninvited because everyone wants to join
since Captain Tiago is rich and known as one of the most
hospitable men in San Diego. Before the evening meal,
people talk among themselves and discuss different issues of
interest. One of the visitors is Friar Damaso who just came
back in Philippines and talks so harsh about Indios and had no
regard for the rights and feelings of others whenever he
opened his mouth. Other visitors include Lieutenant
Guevarra, Friar Sibyla, Dr. Tiburcio, and Dona Victorina
12- ALL
cross with the inscription INRI. At the foot of the cross is a pile of
bones and skulls thrown by grave-diggers. The cemetery looks
spooky and uninhabited. On the further side of the grave, two
SAINTS DAY grave diggers were digging up a recently buried corpse. One was
old and indifferent about what they were doing and the other
was dreadful. The other exposed that a fat curate had ordered
the corpse to be dug up and buried in the Chinese cemetery but
was rejected. Due to the heavy rain and the corpse was heavy,
they just decided to throw the body in the lake.
An old man then entered the cemetery and went straight to
the pile of skulls and bones at the foot of the cross. It was hard
for him to find his wife’s skull so he asked for the grave diggers
help in return for a coin but the grave digger was uninterested
and gave him a different skull.
CHAPTER 13- THE GATHERING
STORM
Crisostomo Ibarra went to the cemetery to visit his
father’s grave. The old gravedigger admitted that his
father’s remains is no longer there and the curate was
the one who ordered them to dig up the corpse of Don
Rafael and then thrown into the lake. Ibarra left and
was furious about what he knew. In his way, he met
Friar Salvi who is now the curate and attacked him with
harsh words and forcing him to kneel before him for
belittling his father’s grave. Friar Salvi talks back and
said it wasn’t him then confessed that it was Friar
Damaso who’s the curate during that time and is
responsible for that ill act.
Friar Salvi is alone with Maria Clara for the confession. She just
talked all about her mother that she never even had a chance to see
her mother since she died when it gave birth to Maria. She begins to
feel well after a few hours, and according to Dona Victorina, it was all
because of Don Tiburcio's skill and expertise. Friar Salvi, on the
other hand, says that it was because of her confession that made her
well. When the friar leaves Maria Clara's room, he appears rather
pale and is covered in perspiration knowing about Maria Clara’s
true story of her birth, and the identity of her biological father.
CHAPTER 45- THE FUGITIVES
Elias finally succeeded in locating Captain Pablo. Elias told him that
he had spent fifteen days looking for him from mountain to mountain
and nearly travelled the whole of two provinces. Before, Captain Pablo
was the one who took care of Elias out of pity when he saw him
wandering around, now it seems that their situation changed. Captain
Pablo was then a rich man who belonged in a family of fame and
fortunate but when his daughter got raped by a friar, his family fight
back but they just been arrested and suffered. He was a coward but
now he said that he’ll take revenge.
CHAPTER 46- THE COCKPIT
Sunday came and everyone is in the cockpit. Tarsilo and Bruno who are brothers,
are among the audience. They wish to place their bets and join the fun, but they
have no money with them. Lucas approaches the two boys and offers cash,
reminding them of the revenge they have to exact upon those who caused the death
of their beloved father and inviting them to join him in a rebellion he is planning to
start. At first they refused but later on they see Lucas talking to Pedro, wife of Sisa
and the father of Basilio and Crispin. Pedro received silver coins from Lucas. The
brothers then decided to join and left after each getting thirty pesos from Lucas and
will give them additional 10 of every member they can recruit, they agreed to meet
at the cemetery at eight in the evening. Lucas told them that Ibarra is the
mastermind.
CHAPTER 47- TWO LADIES
Dona Victorina keeps flashing her eccentric clothes on the streets
even it wasn’t unpaved and dust all over her gown. Many young
ladies they met don’t admire her beautiful gown. When she and Don
Tiburcio pass by the house of the Alferez, Dona Consolacion secretly
mocks and ridicules her and her crippled husband. The two women
start exchanging insults and almost get into a fight that is avoided
by the arrival of the Alferez and Padre Salvi. To defend her honor,
Dona Victorina asks Linares to challenge the Alferez to a duel.
CHAPTER 48- THE ENIGMA
The archbishop pardons to Ibarra and removes the penalty of
excommunication. Ibarra went to see Maria to tell her about it but he sees
Maria Clara with Linares and felt jealous. He proceeds to visit his schoolhouse,
which is still under construction. Nol Juan updates him on the recent progress
of the building. Ibarra then spots Elias helping out in the construction, and
requests to see the full list of workers. When Nol Juan left, he approached Elias.
Elias asks if he could speak with him later in the afternoon by the river and they
agreed. He wants to talk to Ibarra regarding Captain Pablo and the rest of the
prosecuted men. Elias walks away, and Nol Juan approaches Ibarra handing
over to him the list of workers. Elias' name is not there.
CHAPTER 49- THE VOICE OF THE PERSECUTED
News spreads about the flickering lights and the moving shadows in the
cemetery and the people believe that it was the souls in purgatory
mourning over their dead that lighted the candles in the cemetery but
there was only one light that night, from the match that Elias used to see
his companions. Philosopher Tacio, who is bedridden at that time,
converses with Don Felipo who has recently resigned from office. He
wishes the mayor to continue in his fight. They also talk about the issue
concerning the trouble with the civil guards, the friars, and Ibarra. After,
Philosopher Tacio predicts his death, which he says will come in a few days.
CHAPTER 54- DISCOVERY/ REVELATION
The angelus plays and people pause to pray but Friar Salvi continued to walk towards the
house of the alferez. They talked about that he heard about the plan for the rebellion and that
the Alferez should prepare his men and requests from him soldiers to guard the church.
Meanwhile, Elias rushes to Ibarra's house and explains that the plot had already been
discovered, and Ibarra was accused of leading the rebellion. Elias immediately tells him to run
and escape, but not before burning all the documents, letters, and any evidence that would
implicate him. In one of these letters, Elias discovers that it was Ibarra's great grandfather
who had accused his great grandfather of arson. Elias lives for only one purpose: To find
and exact vengeance on the descendants of that cruel Spaniard who accused his great
grandfather of a crime without any proof, which had then been the cause of his family's
disgrace. He now discovers that the man he was searching for was just Crisostomo Ibarra.
CHAPTER 55- THE CATASTROPHE
In Captain Tiago’s house, they are taking their dinner including Friar
Salvi and Linares. Sinang approached Maria Clara, who is seated by the
piano and had refused to eat and whispers something. Friar Salvi is
nervous pacing back and forth across the living room.
Ibarra hears shots fired near the convent and he rushes toward
Captain Tiago's house; saw Maria Clara and she asked what the matter
is. When Ibarra returns to his house, the civil guards arrest him. Elias
then enters the empty quarters and burns all the evidence that could
accuse Ibarra in the failed rebellion.
CHAPTER 56-FACT AND FANCY
The rebellion failed and they were finding the suspects
responsible for it. They suspect that the rebellion was headed
by Captain Pablo. Rumor has it that Don Felipo was arrested.
Some say that the civil guards had revolted in the barracks,
and that Friar Salvi had attacked the Alferez. Word spreads
that Ibarra had burned his entire house down and was plotting
to kill Friar Salvi. Lucas died from the rebellion, was believed
to be suicide but was killed by the head sacristan.
CHAPTER 57- WOE TO THE VANQUISHED
Tarsilo and Andong are the only two survivors caught from the rebellion.
Friar Salvi forced him to admit that Ibarra was the one behind the rebellion
but he said nothing but the reason why he joined was because he and his
brother wants to avenge their father’s death from the hands of the
soldiers. They let him suffer hoping that he’ll talk but they didn’t get
anything from him so he was whipped and later on died. Andong got
scared to what he saw so he said he’ll talk that the reason was he was
there because his in-laws treat him bad and let him eat rotten foods. Friar
Salvi was uninterested so he let him inside the quarters again.
CHAPTER 58- THE CULPRIT/ THE ACCURSED
The families of those caught during the rebellion break down in tears in
front of the headquarters. The ladies even tried to talk with the Alferez but
didn’t work. They were all devastated. When the twenty prisoners are taken
outside at two in the afternoon, all of them are tied up except for Ibarra. From
the crowd, a lady shouted that why Ibarra not tied well in fact he’s the
mastermind and they blame him for the dark fate of their loved ones in
imprisonment. Ibarra was looking for a friend but not even Nol Juan, the
schoolteacher, or Captain Basilio is in sight. From a hilltop, Philosopher Tacio
watches the prisoners leave. He couldn't go to them because of his ill health.
The next day Philosopher Taciois found dead.
CHAPTER 59- PATRIOTISM AND SELF-INTEREST
The news about the rebellion was all over the town and Manila many organizations
celebrate Friar Salvi's successful discovery of the rebellion. The people in the government
and the church hope for a big promotion of their offices because of the successful efforts
to put a stop to the uprising. The friars blame it all on the Jesuits, who they claim had
messed with the minds of the youth.
Meanwhile in Captain Tinong’s house, he and his wife were very much worried over
the turn of events. The two then kept on debating and arguing about whose fault is it in
befriending Captain Tiago and even talking to Ibarra. Don Primitivo came and advised
them to give the Captain-General a Christmas present and to burn all documents that can
use against him. Even the most innocent letter was not spared from being destroyed.
CHAPTER 60- WEDDING PLANS FOR MARIA CLARA
The suspects are all in jail but except for Captain Tiago who’s very glad because no one
noticed him and wasn’t accused. Captain Tinong is freed, but is terribly ill and does not want
to go out of the house. Not even Don Primitivo himself, with all the wisdom of the ancients,
could draw him out of his silence. The Espadana couple and Linares arrive at Captain Tiago's
house. They agree that Linares and Maria Clara wed the soonest time possible, and Captain
Tiago immediately attends to the wedding preparations the following day.
Maria Clara goes to the azotea, Ibarra climbs up and tells the maiden how he feels that
she has betrayed him but when she explained that she gave the letters in exchange of her
mother’s letters, he had already forgiven her. She swears to Ibarra that she’s only in love
with him.
CHAPTER 61- PURSUITS IN THE LAKE
Elias and Ibarra are in the lake. The civil guards chased them, Elias
jumps off the boat and mislead them He was shot and his garments are
ripped off by the bullets fired by the civil guards. He still has the nerve
to shake hands with Ibarra, who is lying flat on the boat, and to tell him
that he (Elias) will meet Ibarra's great grandfather in the grave at Noche
Buena, before leaping into the water. The civil guards thought they shot
Ibarra when they saw traces of blood in the water.
CHAPTER 62- FRIAR DAMASO EXPLAINS
News spread about the death of Ibarra when Maria knew about
it, she was sad and began weeping. Friar Damaso arrives and
surprises Maria cheerfully but he notices, however, that she is pale
and upset. Maria Clara cries on his shoulders and asks him to tell
Captain Tiago cancel the wedding. She admits to him that he met
Ibarra on the azotea before his death, but didn’t mention the part
about knowing the true story of her birth. She asks Friar Damaso
to grant her permission to enter the nunnery and he approved.
CHAPTER 63- CHRISTMAS EVE
It was Christmas Eve and Basilio returned to San Diego to look for
his mother and reunites with her. This search ends in the forest of the
Ibarra’s where he found Sisa, but the two of them didn’t even get a
chance to speak with each other. She dies shortly after identifying her
son. Minutes later, a weak and wounded Elias arrives and orders
Basilio to cremate his body and her mother’s body. He said, “I shall
die without seeing the dawn break upon my motherland. You, who
shall see it, salute it! Do not forget those who have fallen during the
night."
CHAPTER 64- EPILOGUE
Friar Damaso is assigned to another town. The following day he is found dead. It is suspected
that he suffered a heart attack.
Friar Salvi frequently delivers sermons at the convent of Sta. Clara where Maria Clara is
staying.
Captain Tiago drowns himself in gambling, cockfighting, and opium. He lost his will to attend
mass the moment Maria Clara entered the convent.
Doña Victorina is enjoying the Spanish life even more. Don Tiburcio is frequently found
without his dentures.
Linares dies of dysentery.
The Alferez returns to Spain, leaving his wife.
Maria Clara is miserable at the convent.