Chapter 1: On the Upper Deck

The steamer Tabo[1] makes its way up the Pasig river one December morning. On its upper deck is Dona
Victorina, traveling in search of her husband Don Tiburcio, who has fled from her abuse. On deck too are
Don Custodio, the writer Ben-Zayb and Padres Salvi, Sibyla, Irene and Camorra, and the steamer’s
captain. Also present is the jeweler Simoun, conspicuous for his long white hair and large blue
sunglasses. He is reputed to have advisory influence over the Captain-General.

The group fall into discussing the winding path of the river. Simoun suggests digging a new canal straight
from the mouth of the river passing Manila, and closing old Pasig. To achieve this, he further suggests
the destruction of towns, using prisoners as laborers to eliminate the cost, and increasing forced labor
among men and boys. Don Custodio and Padre Sibyla bring up the possibility of uprisings, which Simoun
sharply dismisses, as he leaves the group to head below deck.

Chapter 2: On the Lower Deck

Below deck, medical student Basilio and the young poet Isagani chat with Capitan Basilio. The younger
Basilio first updates the capitan on the lack of improvement in Capitan Tiago’s health condition and
supposed continued use of opium. Their conversation turns to the Spanish language academy the young
men are planning to start. Capitan Basilio is doubtful of their success, but the young men calm his doubts
by revealing they expect a permit soon, and that they have teachers and funds contributed by fellow
students. Their venue will be the house of a student named Makaraig. Capitan Basilio accepts their
explanation and heads off.

The young men move on to other topics including Paulita, Dona Victorina’s niece and Isagani’s love
interest; Dona Victorina’s hiring of Isagani to look for Don Tiburcio, and the fact that Don Tiburcio is
actually hiding in Isagani’s uncle’s house. Simoun joins them briefly, and Basilio introduces him to Isagani.
Also below deck on the rear is Isagani’s uncle, Padre Florentino, now retired and with a fortune left to
him by his long departed mother in exchange for his agreeing to become a priest.

Chapter 3: Legends

Padre Florentino and Simoun join the group on the upper deck, and the captain launches into the topic
of legends about the Pasig river. He talks about Malapad-na-bato,[2] believed to have been the home of
spirits but later became a bandits’ nest.

Padre Florentino next tells the story of Doña Jeronima, a woman who had grown old waiting for her
betrothed who had forgotten her and had gone on to become the Archbishop of Manila. To appease her,
he prepared a cave for her where she lived and died. Hearing this, Simoun turns to Padre Salvi and
pointedly remarks at how ungallant the Archbishop had been. He believes it would have been more
fitting if the lady were shut up in a nunnery like Santa Clara.

An uncomfortable Padre Salvi changes the topic and relates a legend of his own about an unbelieving
Chinaman who, when attacked by a cayman, invoked St. Nicholas, and the cayman turned to stone.

As the steamer enters the lake, Ben-Zayb asks the captain where a certain Ibarra had been killed. The
captain gives a quick account of the pursuit on the lake thirteen years ago and indicates where Ibarra
had been lost.
Chapter 4: Cabesang Tales

Herein is the story of Tandang Selo and his son Tales, old friends of Basilio.

Tales, experiencing some improvements in his family’s fortune, decides to clear a portion of the woods
to cultivate. During their first harvest, a religious corporation claims the land as their own and charges
Tales an annual fee. He pays dutifully, but begins to rebel when the fee becomes too high. He takes the
religious order to court, arms himself and begins patrolling his land. Tales loses the case and ends up
draining his resources. His only son, Tano, is conscripted, as he is unable to pay for a substitute.[3] Tano is
later rumored to have either gone to the Carolines[4] or become a guardia civil.[5] To make matters worse,
bandits kidnap Tales and demand a ransom.

To save her father, Juli sells her belongings except for a locket Basilio gave her, a locket Basilio received
from a leper patient who in turn obtained if from Capitan Tiago’s daughter.[6] To complete the ransom
amount, Juli borrows money from an old religious lady and agrees to work as a servant to pay for it.

Chapter 5: A Cochero’s Chirstmas Eve

Basilio’s arrival in San Diego is delayed as his cochero[7] had been detained and knocked about by
the guardia civil for forgetting his cedula.[8] They are delayed a second time as they wait for the
Christmas procession to pass. The cochero envies the time of the saints, thinking there were no civil
guards then, else Methuselah[9], would not have lived to an old age, nor a black magi allowed to be with
the others.

As they continue down the road, Basilio notes the fewer ornaments and sounds of merriment, and
thinks this is because things had gone badly with agriculture, taxes had risen and civil guards had
become more abusive.

The cochero is stopped a second time for an unlighted coach lamp, so Basilio proceeds on foot. Passing
by Capitan Basilio’s house, he glimpses Simoun making deals with his jewelry with the capitan, the curate
and the alferez. Basilio does not think well of Simoun, who he thinks is always going about something,
and who, he has been told, sells his jewels for double the price he bought them for.

Basilio reaches his guardian Capitan Tiago’s house where the old man narrates an assortment of bad
news including the kidnapping of Cabesang Tales.

Chapter 6: Basilio

Basilio steals out of the house at midnight and heads to the old wood previously owned by the Ibarras,
and now belonging to Capitan Tiago. He visits his mother’s grave by the balete[1] tree and recalls the
night thirteen yeas ago when his mother died on the spot and a stranger came and helped him bury his
mother and burn the body of another stranger.[2]

Basilio thinks back too on the events of his life since then. He had suffered hunger and poverty in his
journey to Manila in search of employment, until he was taken in as an unpaid servant at Capitan Tiago’s
house in exchange for permission to study.

Poor and badly dressed, he was shunned by his classmates and ignored by his teachers, so he was unable
to make a mark in his first three years. With continued diligence and hard work however, he eventually
distinguished himself in his studies and went on to study medicine.
In two months, Basilio is set to complete his medical studies and will cap his academic career as
commencement speaker. He plans to marry Juli.