HUMOR AND CRAFTSMANSHIP
IN THE FIRST CHAPTER OF
NOLI ME TANGERE
Chapter I: A Social Gathering
Una Reunion
Ang Pagtitipon
Characters
a) Capitan Tiago—owner of the house
b) Padre Damaso—a foul-mouthed
Franciscan priest with short temper
c) Padre Sibyla—a Dominican priest;
calm and collected, the opposite of
Damaso
d) G. Laruja—a civilian
e) Tinyente Guevarra—the
representative of the governor-
general
f) Donya Victorina de Espadaña—a
pretentious indio; pretends to be
rich
g) Don Tiburcio de Espadaña—
husband of Donya Victorina who
pretends to be a doctor
h) Tiya Isabel
i) Padre Salvi
Summary
In late October, Don Santiago de los
Santos (otherwise known as Capitan
Tiago), hosted a dinner at his house on
Anloague Street. The descriptions of the
house could be likened to the status of
Philippine society under Spanish
rule. Among the characters we meet
are a Teniente Guevara, Padre Sibyla
(Dominican) and Padre Damaso
(Franciscan). Padre Damaso spent 20
years as parish priest in San Diego. The
angry conversation between Padre
Damaso and the soldier reveals that a
good man, whose son was in Europe,
died. His body was exhumed by the San
Diego parish priest and ordered buried
elsewhere.
Capitan Tiago had arranged a grand
dinner in his house in Anloague Street
in Binondo (now Juan Luna Street). A lot
of people came, from priests, civil
guards and lay people, regardless of
nationality. Before they had their
dinner, there was a heated conversation
between Padre Damaso and some of
the characters, discussing different
issues such as the indolence and
foolishness of the indios, tobacco
monopoly, firearms, and the King of
Spain.
On the last of October, Don Santiago
de los Santos (“Capitan Tiago”) gave
a dinner.
It has been a last-minute decision
and was announced only that
afternoon.
It has quickly become the talk of the
town, not only in Binondo but also in
the other districts, and even in the
Walled City of Manila.
It has aroused the interest not only
of the native Filipinos and of the
wealthier Chinese mestizos but even
of the Spaniards.
Capitan Tiago acquired the
reputation of being the wealthiest
resident and the most lavish in his
entertainment.
Everyone could invite himself; there
is no need for an invitation card.
“It was known that his house, like his
country, closed its doors to no one
except to commerce and to all new
or daring ideas.”
“The parasites, flies or hangers-on
that God in His infinite goodness has
created and that multiply so lovingly
in Manila.”
If in the past he was not considered
worthy of attention, now that he is
known to be rich, his friendship is
worth cultivating.
The Location
In his Memorias de un estudiante de
Manila, he tells us that in his three
years as a student at the Ateneo, he
had to live in boarding houses.
He transforms one of those boarding
houses into Capitan Tiago’s.
Capitan Tiago’s house is located on
Calle Anloague
(Juan Luna Street).
“We do not think its owner has torn
it down, for there this work of
tearing down buildings is taken care
of by God or Nature – a work which
they have contracted to do for the
government regarding many public
works.”
The house is situated beside “an
arm of the Pasig,” which some call
the ria de Binondo – “The Binondo
Inlet.”
“Remarkable” that such a useful and
busy stream should have no bridge
except a rickety one with rotting
wood. The carriage lurches, jolting
the passenger who has been
sleeping or “who has been thinking
philosophical thoughts about
modern progress.”
The Exterior
The house is low but elevated some
feet above the ground.
But “the lines are not very correct”
and Rizal is not sure why: Was it
because the architect did not have
good eyesight? Or is this the effect
of earthquakes and typhoons?
Rizal makes a remark about houses
as status symbols:
“We mortals are like turtles: we
are valued and classified in
accordance with our shells.”
The Caida
It used to be a regular feature of
Philippine houses.It is spacious and
is usually an inch or two from the
sala.
In Capitan Tiago’s house, the caida
serves as the dining hall for the
large number guests.In one corner
are the musicians and the center of
the room is a long dining table
elaborately laid out and decorated.
Lurid portrayals of frightening
subjects:
 Purgatory
 Hell
 The Last Judgment
 The Death of the Just
 The Death of the Sinner
Large canvas portraying:
“Our Lady of Peace and Good
Voyage, venerated in Antipolo,
disguised as a beggar woman
visiting the pious and well-
known Capitana Ines”
In the resentful debates
concerning the Noli Me Tangere, this
 was one of the passages adduced to
prove Rizal’s “impiety” since he
“made fun of a religious picture”
portraying Our Lady of Antipolo. But
Rizal was not making fun of the
Blessed Virgin Mary. He was
satirizing the picture’s bad art. As a
painter himself who had studied
under good instructions in both
Manila and Madrid, Rizal knew the
difference between good and bad
art.
Particular Groups
The Sala
It is decorated with large mirrors and
chandeliers hanging from the
ceiling.
In one corner stands the piano,
perhaps an expensive piano that is
purely decorative, not functional.
In the sala is another expensive
painting: the portrait of the owner,
Capitan Tiago.
The furniture of the sala is expensive
and uncomfortable.
In this sala, the guests are
assembled before the supper.
The Function of Humor
Rizal uses sardonic humor or
sarcasm.
To make brief and direct comments
on the social situation of the
Philippines.
To convey his judgment of people’s
character and their motives.
The Guests
Rizal first introduces the guests as a
whole then as a group, and lastly the
individuals within the group.
He mentioned on how men and
women are group separately like in
Catholic churches and synagogues.
Separation of the sexes didn’t just
happen in the Church. There was a
decree, enforce by a bishop that
prohibits men and women to appear
together in stage.
Ironically, this was the bishop who
didn’t object of international fashion
show of a more “advanced” type
since all the models were all female.
Currently, we don’t experience the
separation between men and
women and this is because of the
American influence.
The Conversation
Rizal turns his attention to a group
of young ladies huddled together in
one corner.
Women
The ladies were both Spanish and
Filipinas.
a) They rarely talked
b) Just opened their mouths
merely to yawn
c) Promptly covering them with
their fans
Rizal approached them and asked:
a) “Why is there no talking
among the ladies?
b) “Are the women in the
Philippines ‘the only
excception’ to the general rule
that women like to talk?”
c) “Or is it that they feel they
must behave like the images of
the Blessed Virgin Mary that
they see on the wall, thus
feeling obliged to keep silent
and behave with decorum?”
A ludicrous situation arises when an
elderly woman comes in with a tray
of cigars and buyo leaf (for chewing)
and offers it to the ladies. The
embarrassing situation suddenly
ends when a crash is heard from the
kitchen.The old women rushes off,
muttering “Villlains, just you wait.”
Men
Less inhibited than the ladies. In one
corner are some young men talking
with animation but in low voices,
with covert glances at the ladies and
others.
Two Europeans in white suits are
walking up and down with hands
behind their back.
The loudest noise came from a small
group seated at a small table laden
with bottles of wine and plates of
English biscuits.
It is to the conversation of this group
that Rizal now directs his attention.
There are five in the group and all
are Spaniards:
a) One is an elderly
lieutenant in military uniform
b) Two are laymen, one of
them fairly young, newly
arrived from Spain.
c) Two are friars
Fray Sibyla – young-looking
Dominican
Fray Damaso – a more robust
older Franciscan
The young Spaniard (Rizal), having
recently arrived in the Islands,
knows as yet little about the country.
Fray Damaso seizes the opportunity
to instruct the young man.
The conversation revolved around:
 Indolence
 Ingratitude of the “Indio”
— Saying that nobody showed
Fray Damaso gratitude as a
long term parish priest of San
Diego that he had to be
transferred to another town
— His transfer was actually a
promotion but resents it
— The transfer was actually
occasioned by an incident in
which he ordered the
disinterment of the corpse of a
prominent citizen in the town
At a point of disclosure, there is a
flare-up between Fray Damaso and
the Spanish lieutenant.
The friar makes a remark critical of
the governor-general, which the
general was quick to resent even
trying to stop the friar from making
remarks on the illegitimate birth of
the Spain’s king.
The mention of the incident about
the disinterment of the corpse
constitutes the climax of the chapter
but that does not end there.

The chapter ends with the entry of
that ridiculous and fantastically
stupid woman, Dona Victorina.
Importance of this Chapter
The purpose of this chapter is to
introduce to the readers the
character and to mention a past
incident.
The importance of this past incident
becomes apparent not until later in
the story
Chapter II: Supper
Crisostomo Ibarra was introduced
The supper itself is described, with
its own satirical humor and its own
climax.
Estudios coloniales — journal
“In the Philippines the person most
useless in a supper or feast is the
one who gives it. The owner of the
house can be thrown out into the
street and everything will go on as
usual.”
“In the present situation of things
we should be doing the Filipino
natives a favor if we did not allow
them to go out of the country or if
we did not teach them to read.”
Allusion to Contemporary
History
One of Rizal’s humor: he made sly
allusions to contemporary Spanish
history
Two references: (1) Allusion to
legitimacy; and (2) Reference to the
newest gate of the Walled City of
Manila
Puerta de Isabel Segunda: College of
Questions
San Juan de Letran and the priory of
Santo Domingo with the University
of Sto. Tomas
Fray Sibyla – parish house of
Binondo – “he went to his convento
situated near the Gate of Isabel II, or
of Magellan, depending in which
royal house was reigning in Madrid”
The gate – 1861 – named after
Isabel the Second
Duke of Aosta, son of Victor
Emmanuel of Piedmont, ascended
the throne of Spain as Amadeo I.
First Spanish Republic was
proclaimed.
Hillaire Belloc – “need a king for
their souls”
1st Spanish Republic – 1873 and it
lasted only for a year
Carlos VII, great grandson of Carlos
IV, claimed the throne and was
recognized by the Pope
But the army rallied to Isabel’s son
and proclaimed him as Alfonso XII
Isabel – scandalous life – profligacy
Puerta de Isabel II – Puerta de
Magallanes – Paseo de Magallanes –
Puerta de Isabel II
Noli – Madrid – 1880 – Alfonso XII
was King
Finished and printed Noli in Germany
Maria Cristina, Queen Regent
The future Alfonso XIII – May 1886
It was to these events – tumultuous,
sordid, and slightly ludicrous – in
contemporary Spanish history that
Rizal was deftly, briefly, and also
slyly alluding to when he wrote that
fine humorous sentence: “se fue al
convento de su orden, situado a la
entrada de la Puerta de Isabel II, o
de Magallanes, segun que familia
reina en Madrid.”
“aqui no se puede ser honrado sin
haber ido a la carcel”; to be
honorable was to risk imprisonment
1) What undesirable traits of
the Filipinos were mentioned
in this chapter?
Attending parties even if not
invited, extravagant parties
(because no one knew how many
people were coming), the host
does not get to eat dinner.
2) How did Rizal liken the
Philippines to Kapitan
Tiyago’s house?
The country, like the house, is
open to all (Philippine
hospitality). But Filipinos are not
interested in business or
entrepreneurship, and have a
hard time embracing new ideas
(because of conservatism). Any
new endeavor is met with doubts
from many sectors, but once
success is achieved, everyone
wants to share in the glory.
3) What is the significance of
the argument between Padre
Damaso and Teniente
Guevarra?
This exemplifies the difficulty of
uniting Church and State. Take
note of the assassination of
Capitan Heneral Bustamante.
History also tells of the bloody
struggle for the Spanish throne
between the liberal supporters of
Queen Cristina and the friar-
supported Carlist movement.
4) What was the effect of this
on the Philippines
government?
Frequent changes in the Spanish
monarchy translated to a high
turnover of Capitan Henerales in
the Philippines. Given their short
stint, these men in government
took either advantage of their
position by engaging in
corruption, or did not bother to
govern well.
5) What was Padre Damaso mad
about?
He was upset about his being
sent away from San Diego, where
he served as parish priest for 20
years. He got angry at someone
and branded him a heretic. When
the "heretic" died, he was buried
in the church (because Padre
Damaso was not around). When
Padre Damaso returned, he
ordered the body exhumed and
buried in the Chinese cemetery.
This unjust act was reported to
the Capitan Heneral by Teniente
Guevara, and Padre Damaso was
transferred out of San Diego.
Padre Damaso started to say to Padre Damaso by
something about letters being some...woman.
lost during his transfer, but he
did not finish his sentence.
Actually, these are letters written