Dogeaters

Delores Gonzaga shares with Rio the story of her birth, describing a solitary and challenging labor in a dilapidated Catholic hospital. During the ordeal, Delores envisioned a hairy ape at the foot of her bed, a figure that had appeared to her since the birth of her son Raul. Uncertain whether it’s an angel or a demon and noting its resemblance to Agustin, Delores nonetheless regards it as her guardian angel, her only comfort during that difficult time.

The story then moves to a present-day scene in Delores’s dressing room. While Rio and Delores enjoy the company of Salvador and Uncle Panchito, Freddie disapproves of them, criticizing the absence of a “real” female dressmaker. Panchito enjoys donning women’s clothing and is known for winning beauty contests. He attends these events alongside Delores, who gifts him high heels and cosmetics.

Delores meticulously avoids the sun and uses numerous products to maintain her youthful appearance. As Rio’s birthday approaches, she reluctantly tries on dresses, leading to a conflict that results in Delores sending Rio to her room. This incident sparks a fierce argument between Delores and Freddie about Rio’s behavior. While Delores is aware of Freddie’s affair, he seems oblivious to her relationship with Jaime Oliveira, the Brazilian ambassador. At her mother’s parties, Rio observes Delores and Jaime; they rarely talk, but Delores laughs more in his presence.

Panchito expresses concern for Delores, who spends much of her time secluded in her mauve dressing room, shielded from sunlight to prevent wrinkles. Rio, meanwhile, is captivated by her mother’s array of beauty products, perfumes, and lavish trinkets.

The Gonzaga family hosts a grand welcome party for Rio’s paternal grandmother, Abuelita Socorro, who has arrived from Spain. She is accompanied by Freddie’s brother, Cristobal. The visit is a significant event, with the family lavishing a great deal of attention and care on Abuelita, which overwhelms Rio. Uncle Cristobal harbors expectations of inheriting the majority of Abuelita’s estate upon her passing, whereas Delores suspects that Abuelita might leave it to the church.

To cater to Abuelita’s preferences, the family cook prepares a lavish spread of her favorite dishes. Rio, however, chooses to wait until the feast concludes and the guests have dispersed before she joins Lola to eat privately. Throughout the party, Rio observes her mother, admiring Delores’s prowess as a hostess.

Despite her strong Spanish persona, Abuelita Socorro shares as much Filipino heritage as Lola. Her late husband, Abuelito, having called Spain home, ultimately returned to Manila in his final days.

General Ledesma, in a show of dominance, forcefully pulls Lolita Luna’s hair, causing her pain. During their meeting, he eats balut, which repulses Lolita; she requests him not to bring it, but Ledesma bluntly reminds her that he is the one paying the rent. Ledesma, drinking, expresses a desire for Lolita to sit on his lap. Instead, Lolita puts on some music and retreats to the bathroom.

Frustrated by Lolita’s absence, the General threatens to shoot down the bathroom door. Lolita eventually comes out, under the influence and undressed. She confronts him about the tortures at his camps, a question that clearly disturbs him, causing him to dismiss the subject as “morbid.” He warns her against accepting any more gifts from Severo Alacran.

Pushing boundaries further, Lolita asks about Ledesma’s wife, a topic he considers off-limits. His response is aggressive; he lunges at her, accusing her of drug use, then overpowers her and confesses his love.

A newspaper article details the arrest of Senator Domingo Avila and several human rights protesters. The group, including Senator Avila and members of his family, was apprehended for orchestrating a mock trial outside the American Embassy. The trial, organized by human rights activists, aimed to draw attention to the alleged human rights violations committed by several high-ranking officials of the Special Squadron, including Lieutenant Colonel Oswaldo Carreon.

Among those arrested were not only Senator Avila but also his sister, his wife, his niece, and others involved in the protest. The seriousness of their situation is underscored by the mention that, if convicted, they could face up to 10 years in prison.

Daisy Avila’s father, Senator Domingo Avila, is a prominent leftist politician known for his vocal opposition to the government’s authoritarian practices. Despite circulating rumors about a potential assassination plot against him, the President dismisses these speculations, arguing that the very fact of Senator Avila’s survival disproves his criticisms of the government.

Daisy decides to participate in a state-run beauty pageant, finding herself competing against the daughters of her father’s political adversaries. While her father supports her decision to enter the pageant, her mother Maria Luisa, a professor, disapproves of such events and chooses not to attend. Contrary to expectations, Daisy emerges as the winner of the pageant.

In a separate narrative thread, the fortune teller La Sultana delivers a grim prophecy to Santos Tirador, foretelling his death.

Rio’s mother, Delores, expresses her confusion about the ongoing conflicts among the wealthy and powerful families in the Philippines. She wonders why, considering many of these politicians and upper-class men are related to each other, they can’t simply resolve their differences and get along. This situation has led several of her family members, including Cristobal, to choose to live in Spain instead.

Following her coronation, Daisy Avila sinks into a severe depression, struggling with sleeplessness and constant crying. 

Daisy’s role as a beauty queen brings with it a slew of responsibilities, including interacting with fans, attending public events, and being in the limelight. Her depression, however, severely hampers her ability to meet these expectations, and her struggles begin to cast a negative light on both her and her family. Her sister, Aurora, is perplexed by Daisy’s sadness, her father is overwhelmed and tries to change his phone number, and her mother angrily confronts those who call their home.

The pageant sponsors express their displeasure with Daisy’s inability to fulfill her duties and the First Lady of the Philippines publicly criticizes Daisy on television, accusing her of disgracing the country. This rebuke further amplifies the pressure Daisy faces.

Journalists swarm around Daisy’s home, fueling the rumor mill. Speculations range from Daisy being pregnant to being having a drug addiction. Amidst this turmoil, Daisy yearns for the relief of sleep, lying in bed in a state of restlessness, her sadness evolving into a deep sense of unease.

Daisy Avila takes a bold step by criticizing the beauty pageant and the First Lady on a live TV interview, calling it a setback for women. This move wins her some supporters, but also lands a band, who wrote a song about her, in trouble—their song gets banned and they end up in jail.

During this time, Daisy meets Malcolm Webb, a foreign banker, and they get married. The marriage is short-lived, Malcolm ultimately leaves her and returns to Europe. This leads to Daisy becoming the subject of more negative media attention.

Daisy decides to visit her cousin Clarita, who is known for being a radical artist. Clarita’s artwork is notable for its bold themes that intertwine sexuality and political statements. Daisy holds a deep admiration for her cousin’s artistry, feeling somewhat naive in comparison. 

Clarita’s choice of subject matter in her art, has led to disapproval from her parents. However, despite the familial discord, Domingo, Daisy’s father, stands in support of his niece. He appreciates Clarita’s artistic endeavors and encourages her pursuits.

It is through Clarita that Daisy is introduced to Santos Tirador, marking the beginning of a new chapter in her life.

Clarita writes a letter to Daisy about Santos. Clarita calls Santos a good guy and suspects that he has a crush on Daisy, cautioning her of how dangerous being with him could be. Clarita also suggests that Daisy should consider running away with him, but warns her it will cause suffering.

This chapter is a brief quotation from Jean Mallat’s The Philippines, which describes the significance of seemingly minor events in Filipino culture. He mentions examples like the song of the tic-tic bird or a snake appearing in the house as having a profound impact on the emotional state of Filipinos, implying that they are superstitious.