Summary

The chapter opens with an excerpt from The Enlightened, with the protagonist Cristo preparing to lead a final charge against American troops. After this excerpt, Miguel reflects on his experience as a parent with Anais and their daughter. His grandparents were disappointed and disapproving, and their influence led to distance between Anais and Miguel which ultimately resulted in the end of their relationship.

In the present, Miguel goes to the club and decides to take the cocaine offered to him by his friends. An excerpt from Marcel Avellaneda’s blog provides an overview of ongoing political corruption, positing that the explosion Miguel witnessed upon his landing in Manila was perhaps a purposeful explosion ordered by the current President to spark unrest and justify increased dictatorial powers.

This blog post is followed by an excerpt from Miguel’s ongoing biography of Crispin, which describes Crispin...