Una Reunion: (A Social Gathering) Salient Points

Chapter 1: Una reunion
(A Social Gathering)
SALIENT POINTS
A wealthy Binondo resident, Don Santiago de los Santos (otherwise known as Capitan Tiago), is hosting a
dinner at his house, which is located in the town of San Diego; more specifically, in Anloage Street.
Among the many guests are the Dominican curate of Binondo, Friar Sibyla (Note that, Dominicans are
big on preaching, teaching and theological discussion); the former curate of San Diego, Fransiscan Friar
Damaso (Note that, Franciscans are big on poverty, simplicity and working with the poor); an elderly
lieutenant, Senor Laruja and a rubicund youth who has recently arrived in the country.
Damaso and Laruja impress upon the rubicund youth the quality of indolence of the native population,
but the conversation diverges as Sibyla asks Damaso about his tenure in San Diego. In response, The
Fransiscan launches into a seemingly inexplicable tirade against the Captain-General, to which the
elderly lieutenant takes offense. He reveals that Damaso’s anger stems from his having been transferred
by the Captain-General to a new town as punishment for having had the corpse of a man falsely accused
of suicide dug up.
As the mutual annoyance between the friar and lieutenant abates, two other guests join the group, the
lame Spaniard Doctor De Espedaña, and his ostentatious European styled Filipina wife, Doña Victorina.
REAL TIME HAPPENINGS DURING RIZAL’S TIME
Rizal deliberately begins the Noli Me Tangere with a narrative about a dinner party. This dinner party is
a mise-en-scene, a symbolic depiction of the Philippines under Spanish colonial rule.
In this chapter, Rizal illustrates the typical Filipino culture of inviting one's self to a party, regardless of
one's presence in said party being known or not by the host.
Racism was prevalent in the Spanish colonial era. Dark skinned Filipinos were called “indios” and also
considered as the lowest ranking in the social hierarchy, uneducated, and treated indifferently. Jose Rizal
was also a profound victim of racism; he was also heavily discriminated. This is also the reason why
Spaniards considered Filipinos as inferior because of their dark skin.
Rizal uses the unnamed foreigner as a mouthpiece for his own political belief that powerful colonial
forces project their own expectations and shortcomings onto the people they try to govern.
Doña Victorina was Doña Agustina Medel in real life, a Filipina who tries so hard to be European. She
embodied the poisonous thinking of white supremacy because she hated her face and wanted to marry a
white Spaniard to raise her social status.
ITO ANG BUOD NG UNANG KABANATA
Si Capitan Santiago de los Santos, o Capitan Tiago, ay naghanda ng hapunan sa kanyang bahay sa Calle
Anloague. Habang naghihintay na maihain ang mga pagkain, ang mga bisita ay nag-uusap sa isa't isa. Sa
mga pag-uusap na ito, ipinakilala ang ilan sa mga tauhan ng nobela, tulad nina Padre Damaso, Padre
Sibyla, Tenyente Guevara, Laruja, Doña Victorina de Espadaña, at Don Tiburcio de Espadaña.
Chapter 2: Crisóstomo Ibarra (Crisostomo Ibarra)

SALIENT POINTS
Capitan Tiago enters and introduces Juan Crisostomo Ibarra y Magsalin to the guests. (Magsalin is his
mother’s name which is a Filipina) He informs them that Crisostomo 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 never a friend of
Don Rafael Ibarra.
The first interaction between Father Dámaso and Ibarra is just like the Spain and the Philippines, quickly
establishes the harsh dynamic of their relationship.
The kindness the lieutenant shows Ibarra also aligns the young man with the government rather than
the church. In Rizal’s time, there is a support bias among the people, some people support the
government, while others support the church.
How the guests treat Ibarra, is just like in Rizal’s time, some people likely has to do with whether they
align themselves with the church or the state. They’re hesitating of whom they support.
ITO ANG BUOD NG IKALAWANG KABANATA
Pumasok si Kapitan Tiago at ipinakilala si Juan Crisostomo Ibarra y Magsalin sa mga panauhin. Ipinaalam
niya sa kanila na siya ang nag-iisang anak ng yumaong si Don Rafael Ibarra, at siya ay dumating
kamakailan mula sa kanyang pag-aaral sa Europa. Naguluhan si Crisostomo nang si Padre Damaso ay
itinanggi na siya ay kaibigan ni Don Rafael Ibarra, na inakala niyang kaibigan ng kanyang ama.
Chapter 3: La cena (The Dinner)
SALIENT POINTS
As the guests gather around Tiago’s dinner feast which is really a thanksgiving for Ibarra’s safe arrival,
Sibyla and Damaso argue over the seat at the head of the table, insincerely offering each other the place
to the liutenant. Later, Damaso’s mood is made more foul when he is served the worst parts of the
chicken from the tinola, while Ibarra is given the choicest parts.
During the dinner, Laruja asks Ibarra what he found most notable in his travels. Ibarra shares his
insights, which Damaso declares worthless, and Ibarra’s European sojourn a waste of fortune. Ibarra
restrains himself from giving a biting response and merely tells the tense guests that Damaso’s familiar
treatment of him is owing to the friar’s having frequently enjoyed his father’s table and hospitality.
Ibarra toasts Spain and the Philippines and excuses himself, deciding not to wait for Maria Clara who
Tiago says is on her way.
Father Dámaso and Father Sibyla offer the seat to the lieutenant is an example of the way the church
manipulates the government throughout the Spanish rule. In this moment, In Rizal’s time, we catch a
glimpse of what’s to come regarding how friars encourage the authority of the state only when it
benefits themselves.
If Ibarra never left the Philippines, he wouldn’t necessarily even know how to challenge Father Dámaso.
Just like Rizal, after five years of his memorable sojourn in Europe, Rizal returned to the Philippines. In
Rizal’s time, the best interest of the country’s friarocracy is to discourage Filipinos from traveling abroad
and educating themselves. This is also further proof that the colonizers project their own desires and
insecurities onto Filipinos.
By reminding his listeners that Dámaso once ate at Don Rafael’s table, Ibarra portrays the priest as
ungrateful while also insulting his old age. Rizal portrays that there are people who are ungrateful
despite of the good things you’ve done to them.
The lieutenant doesn’t repeat Ibarra’s toast, neglecting to say “Spain and the Philippines!” This suggests
that, although he works for the government, the current circumstances surrounding his argument with
Father Dámaso make him disinclined to praise colonialist rule, since the toast itself emphasizes Spain’s
supposed right to the Philippines. Rizal shows that there are also Spaniards who support and help the
Filipinos.
ITO ANG BUOD NG IKATLO NA KABANATA
Ang pag-uusap ng mga bisita ay nakasentro sa paglalakbay ni Crisostomo sa ilang bansa. Minaliit ni
Padre Damaso ang mga paglalakbay ni Ibarra, na sinasabing ang mga natutunan niya sa kanila ay
matututuhan kahit hindi umaalis ng bansa. Dahil sa kahihiyan, nagdahilan si Ibarra sa mga panauhin at
umalis, kahit na ipinaalam sa kanya ni Kapitan Tiago na darating si Maria Clara sa hapunan.

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Una Reunion: (A Social Gathering) Salient Points

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Chapter 1: Una reunion

REAL TIME HAPPENINGS DURING RIZAL’S TIME

ITO ANG BUOD NG UNANG KABANATA

Chapter 2: Crisóstomo Ibarra (Crisostomo Ibarra)

REAL TIME HAPPENINGS DURING RIZAL’S TIME

ITO ANG BUOD NG IKALAWANG KABANATA

Chapter 3: La cena (The Dinner)

REAL TIME HAPPENINGS DURING RIZAL’S TIME

ITO ANG BUOD NG IKATLO NA KABANATA

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