Part 1, Chapter 8 Summary

The social situation in the Philippines becomes graver as there are more peasant uprisings due to the absentee landlords and their demands. "Each year the landlords demanded a larger share, until it became impossible for the peasants to live." (pg. 58) Carlos' father loses his land and goes to court to try to retrieve his land, but loses. He starts to drink.

Carlos and his mother go to Tayug to work in the rice harvest. The mother brings the two sisters, Francisca and Marcela to the rice fields with them. The four-year-old looks after the baby while Carlos and his mother work. It is here that Carlos meets Felix Razon. Razon and his group are social agitators. One day Felix tells them that a revolt is about to begin. They gather the little ones and leave the field, finding the peasants and...