1

kapitan Santiago de los Santos, or Capitan Tiago, hosts a dinner in his house at Calle Anloague.
While waiting for the meals to be served, the guests converse with one another.  In these
conversations, the readers are introduced to some of the novel’s characters, such as Padre
Damaso, Padre Sibyla, Lieutenant Guevara, Laruja, Doña Victorina de Espadaña, and Don
Tiburcio de Espadaña.

kapitan Tiago enters the sala and introduces Juan Crisostomo Ibarra y Magsalin to the guests.
Crisostomo, he informs them, is the only son of the late Don Rafael Ibarra, and he has recently
arrived from his studies in Europe.  Crisostomo is puzzled when Padre Damaso, whom he
thought was a friend of his father, arrogantly denies that he was ever a friend of
Don Rafael Ibarra.

at dinner over Tinola , the conversation of the guests centers on Crisostomo’s travels to several
countries.  Padre Damaso belittles Ibarra’s trips, saying that what he has learned from them
can be learned even without leaving the country.  Embarrassed, Ibarra excuses himself from
the guests and leaves, even after Capitan Tiago informs him that Maria Clara is coming to
dinner.

while walking towards Plaza Binondo, Crisostomo is approached by Lieutenant Guevara, to

whom Ibarra expresses lament that he himself does not know how his father died.  The
Lieutenant narrates the event to him, saying that Don Rafael Ibarra was imprisoned for killing a
Spanish tax collector, for not going to confession, and for subscribing to the newspaper
El Correo Ultramar.  He also mentions that Don Rafael was branded as a heretic, a filibuster,
and a subversive.  Because of these accusations, he dies while in prison.

Ibarra goes to the Fonde de Lala hotel.  He is troubled by the visions of his father being
unjustly imprisoned and dying without seeing him.  He imagines the anguish and grief suffered
by his father while he is studying and traveling in Europe.  In the house of Capitan Tiago,
meanwhile, Maria Clara arrives, and is admired by all guests, especially Padre Damaso.

kapitan 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.  She
eventually conceives a child, whom they name Maria Clara, in honor of the Virgin of Salambao
and Sta. Clara. Capitan Tiago and the late Don Rafael later agree to arrange the marriage of
their children.

Crisostomo Ibarra visits Maria Clara at Calle Anloague.  They speak privately at the azotea,
about the years that they have not seen each other.  Ibarra strives to prove his love for Maria
Clara by showing her the old leaves that had been given by the girl seven years earlier, while
they had gone swimming with his mother.  Maria Clara, in return, reads an old letter written by
Ibarra before leaving for abroad.

Ibarra’s carriage passes through the busiest district of Manila, and what he sees disturbs him.
He observes that the country’s condition remains unchanged from when he left it seven years
ago.  He finds no progress achieved and reforms implemented by the government.  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.

this chapter features the three conversations between Padre Damaso and Capitan Tiago,
between Padre Sibyla and an unmanned priest, and between the the Governor-General and his
men.  Angry at not being informed of the arranged marriage between Crisostomo and Maria
Clara, Padre Damaso now wants to stop the marriage planned for the lovers.  Capitan Tiago
obeys the priest, and extinguishes the candles that were lit for Ibarra’s journey to San Diego.
Padre Sibyla and an unnamed priest discuss the dangerous implication to the country of
Crisostomo Ibarra’s foreign education.  The Governor-General reveals to his men that he is
unhappy with the situation in the Philippines but that he is helpless in changing the conditions
of the country.

10

San Diego, a town along the Laguna Lake, produces sugar, rice, coffee, and fruit, which are
sold to Chinese merchants.  Aside from its meadows and paddy fields, the town has a forest
with old trees and tropical vegetation that had been purchased by a Spaniard who was the
great grandfather of Juan Crisostomo Ibarra.

11

Two persons virtually rule the town of San Diego: Padre Bernardo Salvi and the Alferez of the
Guardia Civil, Padre Salvi is described as a thin, sickly, and silent friar and,unlike Padre Damaso,
he is more inclined to impose fines on his subordinates.  The Alferez has a wife named Doña
Consolacion.  Because of his bad marriage to the doña, he is frequently drunk and compels his
soldiers to drill under the hot sun.

12

two gravediggers converse in the San Diego cemetery.  One of them mentions that he was
ordered by a fat curate to dig up the body of a person buried in the cemetery, and to rebury it
in the Chinese cemetery.  But since it was raining, he just dumped the body into the river.
Tasio the sage arrives at the cemetery, unsuccessfully searching for the skull of his dead wife.

13

Crisostomo Ibarra and a servant arrive at the San Diego cemetery to look for the grave of his
father, Don Rafael Ibarra.  After failing to locate the grave, his servant asks the gravedigger for
help.  The gravedigger replies that he had dug up the body of the don and planned to bury it in
the Chinese cemetery, as instructed by Padre Damaso.  Since it was raining, however, he says,
he threw the body into the river.  Angered upon hearing the account, Crisostomo leaves.  At
the cemetery gate, he meets Padre Salvi and attacks the Curate, whom he mistakes for Father
Damaso.

14

After leaving the cemetery, 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.  Don Filipo invites Tasio to his house, and a discussion on
the existence of purgatory follows.  Tasio thinks that the place called purgatory does not exist
since neither the bible nor Jesus Christ mentions it.

15
Crispin and Basilio are sacristans of the church at San Diego.  The two are worried since the
Sacristan Mayor and the Curate has accused Crispin of stealing two gold pieces and he was to
remain in the church until the money is returned.  Crispin also complains about
the frequent beating and whipping that he receives.  After ringing the church bells, the
Sacristan Mayor beats Crispin to make him confess his crime.

16

Sisa waits for her two sons, Crispin and Basilio.  Knowing that they are hungry, she prepares
a meal consisting of duck leg, wild boar’s meat, tomatoes and five pieces of fish.  Her husband
arrives, and eats all the food, leaving only three pieces of fish.  She patiently waits for Crispin
and Basilio and is surprised when, during the night, only Basilio arrives.

17

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.

18

In the convent, some women converse about purgatory and the number of plenary indulgences

that they have acquired.  Sisa arrives, bringing with her vegetables to appease the Curate into
forgiving her son Crispin.  A sacristan tells her that Crispin is not in the church, and that the
Guardia Civil are now searching for her two sons, after the Curate reported them to the
authorities for stealing.

19

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.

20

he 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.

21

Sisa arrives at her house and finds the Guardia Civil looking for her sons.  After vainly searching
for Crispin and Basilio, the Guardia Civil decide to arrest Sisa in order to compel her sons to
surrender and return the money they have stolen.  Due to the anguish and
public humiliation Sisa suffers, she becomes insane.

22

Maria Clara converses with Ibarra near a window overlooking the lake.  Ibarra invites Maria
Clara, her friends, and Padre Salvi to a picnic in the woods.  Maria Clara is delighted, and Padre
Salvi accepts the invitation to prove that he has no ill feelings towards Ibarra.

23

Ibarra and Maria Clara, together with their friends go fishing at the lake.  To entertain them,
Andeng plays the harp, while Maria Clara sings a sad love song.  In one of the fish cages, the
men discover that the fishing nets have entangled a crocodile.  Elias, followed by Ibarra, jumps
into the lake, successfully killing the crocodile.

24

Padre Salvi passes near a stream, while going to the picnic organized by Ibarra.  He hears some
voices, hides behind a tree, and spies on Maria Clara and her friends while they bathe.  After
the Alferez leaves the picnic, the guardia civil arrives at the picnic, looking for Elias, the
boatman who had thrown the Alferez into a mudhole and who had assaulted Padre Damaso.

25

Ibarra consults Tasio the sage about the school building that he plans to build.
The sage advises Ibarra not to pursue his project, else he incur the ire of the friars
and other government officials, who would do everything in their power to ruin
him.

26

It is the eve of the fiesta, and people are busy preparing food, while Ñor Juan supervises the
workmen laying the cornerstone and building the foundation of the proposed school building.
Some individuals volunteer to contribute toward the construction of the school, some promise
to pay the teacher, while others offer their services for free.  Ibarra remains optimistic that his
endeavor will succeed, while Tasio advises him to be cautious.

27

Maria Clara and Ibarra, together with their friends, go for a walk.  They meet a leper.  In an act
of compassion, Maria Clara gives her locket to the sick man.

28

This chapter features the three letters between a correspondent and his friend, between
Capitan Martin and Luis Chiquito, and between Ibarra and Maria Clara.  The correspondent
vividly describes to his friend the fiesta and the many events that have taken place in San
Diego.  Capitan Martin narrates to Luis Chiquito the good fortune of Capitan Tiago in winning a
game of cards.  Maria Clara reveals that she is worried that Ibarra is sick, and sends Andeng to
make some tea for her sweetheart.

29

A procession is held during the last day of the fiesta, where the people parade the images of
San Diego de Alcala, St. Francis, and the Virgin.  The people in the procession are greeted by
the sound of firecrackers, songs, and religious prayers.

30

The noisy and disorderly parishioners try to push one another while dipping their hands in
the holy water.  The people are waiting for the sermon of Padre Damaso, when they notice that
the Alcalde’s uniform looks similar to the costume worn by one of the actors in a play.

31

In his sermon, Padre Damaso reprimands some natives who, after receiving education in Manila
and in Europe, are now contented in not kissing the hands of a friar and not offering him the
honor due his rank.  Padre Damaso declares that these individuals would get what they deserve
and that God would punish them for their wicked acts.  At the end of the
sermon, Elias approaches Ibarra, and warns him that his life is in danger.

32

Ibarra, the Alcalde, and other individuals, go to the site of the proposed school to lay the
cornerstone of the building.  The Alcalde throws some mortar on the stone, followed by the
curate and Alferez.  When it is Ibarra’s turn, the derrick suddenly falls apart, dropping the
heavy block of stone.  Fortunately Ibarra is unhurt, the only casualty being the yellowish man
who operates the machine.