The story is told through 3 narrators Alejandro Karangalan, Isabelle Karangalan, and Domingo Matapang. All three represent the a country trying to gain independence. The story opens with 13-year-old Alejandro Karangalan and his brother Roderick. They are walking in Manila heading for home after a long day of trying to sell cigarettes for food. Wanting to get home as soon as possible they cut through the city of Manila, which turns out to be a bad …showed first 75 words of 651 total…

…showed last 75 words of 651 total…left there while the Japanese continue to fight. It comes to a point where everyone does not know what to do until Aling Anna gestures to them to leave for the Japanese are retreating. They go to Aling Anna’s home and have a feast. They thank God for sparing their lives and Domingo decided to leave for he cannot stay with Aling Anna because it reminds him too much of Lorna and his children