If they had their own version of a throwback Thursday in the late 19th century, these chapters would certainly qualify for the characters of the Noli. More origin stories for people, places and relationships unravel, with just a touch of foreboding to spice things up.
Chapter 6: Capitan Tiago
Aside from already being a wealthy landlord in Binondo and planter in San Diego, Capitan Tiago also profits from the monopoly of opium, supplying zacate[1], contracting government works and the sale of appointments. He uses his wealth for his spiritual welfare, paying for masses, processions and prayers. In the same vein, he spends to ingratiate himself with the government, sending gifts to officials or gratifying their desires.
Regarding his past, it is revealed that he was the son of a miserly landowner who did not invest in his son’s education. Tiago married Doña Pia Alba. Together they bought land in San Diego and became friends with Padre Damaso and Don Rafael. Unable to bear children, Doña Pia took the advice of Padre Damaso to dance during the fiesta in Obando.[2] Doña Pia conceived but sank into melancholy, and died of puerperal fever after giving birth to Maria Clara. Aunt Isabel was entrusted with raising the child, and Damaso stood as her godfather.
In her adolescence, Maria Clara was sent to the nunnery for her education, and her childhood friend, Crisostomo Ibarra, to Europe. Don Rafael and Capitan Tiago engaged their children to be married and formed a business partnership.
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. They talk on the azotea[3] where Ibarra swears he has never forgotten her. Maria Clara professes the same, and reminisces about their childhood. Ibarra promptly produces some dried sage leaves form his pocketbook, a remembrance of Maria’s peace offering during one of their fights. Maria takes out a keepsake of her own, Ibarra’s farewell letter from which she reads a few lines, including Ibarra’s explanation that his father wanted him to leave for Europe to learn about life and later be useful to the fatherland.
Maria Clara stops reading when she notices Ibarra becoming agitated. Ibarra has recalled his duties and needs to leave immediately for town, as tomorrow is the day for commemorating the departed. Maria Clara bids him go. Later, Maria weeps. To comfort her, Tiago tells her to light candles to the saints for Ibarra’s safe journey.
Chapter 8: Recollections
Ibarra rides a carriage through the streets of Manila and the jumble of vehicles, people, colors and odors awakens his thoughts. He sees the streets still unpaved, the old useful pontoon bridge gone, and the trees of the plaza still stunted. Escolta, despite its imposing new building appears less beautiful.
Passing by the cigar factory, he is reminded of Lavapiés in Madrid and its riots of female cigar makers. Likewise, the Botanical Garden reminds him of its better tended counterparts in Europe. He sees old Manila looking as if it has seen better days. In contrast, Europe is constantly evolving and its people happy despite their calamities.
As he passes Bagumbayan, he recalls the old priest who died there.[4] The old man had awakened his intellect, inspired him to improve his knowledge in rich countries and pass it on. To these memories he responds by firmly reaffirming his commitment to the Philippines and the Spanish homeland.[5][6] The rest of the journey is unappealing to Ibarra.
Chapter 9: Local Affairs
Padre Damaso visits and privately chats 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, but also says he thinks Ibarra is wise and will not risk his wealth and happiness. The old priest comments that it would be best for their enemies to openly attack, including Ibarra if he were one, rather than praise and flatter, as flattery makes them complacent, which is what has led to their downfall in Europe.
Sibyla also relates that Laruja had withdrawn his threat to report Damaso to the Captain-General. The Captain-General however, heard from an aide of Damaso’s outburst. He laughingly washes his hands of the friars. Inwardly he thinks the native population is stupid for not trying to limit the power of the friars.
Back in Capitan Tiago’s house, Damaso warns him again about an unspecified danger and urges Tiago to trust him. Tiago runs to the oratory and extinguishes the candles lit for Ibarra’s safety.
Chapter 10: The Town
San Diego is a beautiful town, with its meadows and cultivated fields and it’s winding river. But its main attraction is its thick forest and its century-old tress and rich vegetation. According to an old tale, an old Spaniard came and purchased the forest. He was later found hanging from the branch of a balete tree.[7] A young Spanish mestizo, Don Saturnino later claimed to be the departed Spaniard’s son. He established himself in San Diego, farming the land. He married a woman from Manila and had a son, Don Rafael, Crisostomo’s father.
Don Saturnino’s agricultural methods were adopted by the locals. New settlers came and the town thrived.
Notes and References:
1. Grass for fodder or forage.
2. The Obando fertility dance continues to this day and is participated in by couples, to beseech San Pascual Baylon, Santa Clara and Our Lady of Salambao.
3. A balcony.
4. Bagumbayan, now renamed Rizal Park, used to be a venue for executions. Jose Rizal himself was executed here. Derbyshire’s translation of this chapter simply states that Ibarra’s old priest mentor died on the spot. Guerrero’s translation is more explanatory, saying the priest died on a scaffold in Bagumbayan. See here the list of translated book versions used as reference for these chapter summaries.
5. If the old priest, who was clearly important to Ibarra indeed met a terrible end in Bagumbayan at the hands of the authorities as is implied in the chapter, then that would explain Ibarra’s reaction to this memory. He had to steel himself to reaffirm his faith in the fatherland, “in spite of everything”, as Derbyshire translated.
6. Incidentally, the priests Gomez, Burgos and Zamora (Gomburza) were also executed in Bagumbayan by garrote in 1872 when Rizal was yet a young boy. It was to these three that he later dedicated his second book El Filibusterismo, the sequel to the Noli. Leon Ma. Guerrero, The First Filipino, (Manila: Guerrero Publishing, Inc., 2010), 11.
Is it just me, or is there some line of connection here between Ibarra’s old mentor and the real life executed priests?
7. A strangler fig tree which wraps itself around a host tree and may eventually kill it.
Related Reading:
Read the full English translations of each chapter of Noli Me Tangere below.
- Chapter 6: Capitan Tiago
- Chapter 7: An Idyl on an Azotea
- Chapter 8: Recollections
- Chapter 9: Local Affairs
- Chapter 10: The Town
Find book chapters and summaries for Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo below.
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