Noli Me Tangere Chapter 26 Summary, Characters, Lessons, etc.

This post contains a short summary of Noli Me Tangere Chapter 26 – The Eve of the Fiesta. In addition, you will also learn about the characters mentioned in this chapter, the setting, key events, as well as the lessons and important insights you can gain from it.

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Summary of Noli Me Tangere Chapter 26 – The Eve of the Fiesta

Every 10th of November is the eve of the fiesta in San Diego. On this day, the whole town is busy preparing. Houses are decorated with lavish decorations, curtains, and antique items. The dining tables of the wealthy are filled with various delicious dishes, rice cakes, desserts, and expensive wines from Europe. The fiesta is not only for the people of San Diego but also for visitors from other towns.

The whole town is filled with the noise of fireworks, church bells, and music from the band. The plaza of San Diego and the front of the church are decorated with bamboo arches and covered with tents for the procession. A stage is set up for the comedy show and other performances. Captain Tiago, Captain Joaquin, the Chinese man Carlos, and other wealthy townspeople are actively participating in the festivities. Padre Damaso will hold mass in the morning.

While the town is busy preparing, Ibarra is also busy finishing the schoolhouse he is building near his home, under the supervision of Nol Juan. Ibarra is covering all the expenses for the construction of the school, and he politely declined offers of help from the wealthy and the priests. The school is similar to those in Europe, with separate areas for boys and girls, and facilities for planting trees, vegetables, a storage room, and a disciplinary room.

Many admired Ibarra for his project, but despite this, he also gained many secret enemies.

See also: Noli Me Tangere Summary of Each Chapter (1-64) »

Important Events in Noli Me Tangere Chapter 26

1. The people of San Diego enthusiastically prepared for the fiesta eve, shown through lavish decorations and delicious food.
2. The whole town was filled with the noise of fireworks, church bells, and music from the band, creating a lively atmosphere for the fiesta.
3. Ibarra continued the construction of the schoolhouse near his home, which has a modern design and facilities.
4. Ibarra politely declined offers of help from the wealthy and the priests for the construction of the school.
5. Many admired Ibarra’s project, but he also gained many secret enemies due to his successes.

Characters in Noli Me Tangere Chapter 26

These are the characters mentioned in the chapter 26 of Noli Me Tangere:

Crisostomo Ibarra

The main character building a school. He is covering all the expenses for the project and refuses help from the wealthy and the priests.

Nol Juan

The supervisor of the schoolhouse construction commissioned by Ibarra. He is the project manager.

Pilosopo Tasio

An old and wise man in San Diego who advised Ibarra to be cautious of secret enemies targeting him.

Captain Tiago

One of the wealthy people in San Diego who is actively participating in the preparations for the town fiesta.

Captain Joaquin

Another wealthy man in San Diego who is also involved in the fiesta preparations.

Padre Damaso

A priest scheduled to hold mass on the morning of the fiesta.

Farmers and the Poor

They offered their best harvests as part of the fiesta celebration.

Read more: Noli Me Tangere Characters and Their Roles »

Setting in Noli Me Tangere Chapter 26

The story took place in the town of San Diego, particularly in the homes of the townspeople, the plaza, the church, and the area near Ibarra’s home where the schoolhouse was being built.

Lessons in Noli Me Tangere Chapter 26

1. The unity shown by the townspeople in celebrating the fiesta highlights the importance of community and cooperation. Despite differences in social status, the fiesta is an opportunity for everyone to come together and celebrate.
2. Ibarra’s humility in refusing help from others shows his determination to succeed on his own. It reflects his desire to be independent and not rely on others to achieve his goals.
3. Ibarra’s project of building a modern school reflects his care for education and the future of the youth. His dream is not just for himself but for the entire town.
4. Ibarra’s secret enemies show that not everyone will be happy with your success. Envy and competition are part of reality, and one must be ready to face such challenges.
5. This chapter emphasizes the importance of thinking beyond the present. Ibarra is not only thinking about the now but also about the future of his town. His plans symbolize hope and change that San Diego needs.

See also: Noli Me Tangere Historical Background »

And that concludes the summary, characters, setting, and lessons of Noli Me Tangere Chapter 26. If you found this lesson helpful, please share it with others so they can learn as well.

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Read next: Noli Me Tangere Chapter 27 Summary, Characters, Lessons, etc. »