Short, light-skinned, round of body and face thanks to an abundance of fat, which according to his admirers comes from heaven and according to his enemies from the blood of the poor, Captain Tiago appeared younger than he actually was; one would have thought he was about thirty or thirty-five years old. At the time this story unfolds, the expression on his face was usually beatific. His head was round, small, and covered with hair as black as ebony, cut long in the front and short in the back. There were many things going on inside that head, people used to say. He had small eyes– but not Chinese-shaped– whose expression never changed. His nose was thin but not flat, and if his mouth had not been disfigured by an abuse of tobacco and buyo, a plug of which stuffed into the side of a man’s mouth can alter the symmetry of his features, one would have to admit that he had done a good job in believing himself to be– and presenting himself as– handsome. Despite that abuse, he kept his own teeth white, as well as the two his dentist had loaned him, at twelve duros a tooth.
He was thought to be one of the richest property owners in Binondo, and one of the most important planters in Pampanga and in Laguna de Bay, because of the land he owned there, particularly in the village of San Diego, whose value and rents rose every year. San Diego was his favorite place because of its pleasant spas, well-known cockfighting, and the memories it held for him. He spent at least two months there every year.
– from the Penguin 2006 translation of the Noli Me Tangere, by Harold Augenbraum
khai said,
January 25, 2008 at 1:26 am
who is kapitan tiago in real life?
anthropologist said,
January 25, 2008 at 6:55 am
I don’t know. Could be a composite of different characters. You’ll have to consult a Rizalist
nancy said,
August 5, 2009 at 10:27 am
gathering information about my ancestor Kapitan Tiago Garcia. i read an information from a photocopied book given/shared by the National Historic Institute, his one of the brave ones who fights against the spaniards in Pasay City. lookin at the physical features of the garcia’s it seems to fit the description of Rizal in his novel.
knowing all this information, makes me wonder if Rizal known my ancestor or just a coincident or maybe his novel is a combination of fiction and facts.