Noli Me Tángere begins at the Manila house of Captain Don Santiago (Tiago), a wealthy landowner. Among the attendees are friars of both the Dominican and Franciscan orders. Father Dámaso denigrates Native Filipinos and justifies his discrimination with his 20 years of residency. Another attendee, an old lieutenant of the civil guard, confronts Dámaso, and a heated argument ensues. Dámaso was restationed by the Governor-General because he had exhumed the body of one of San Diego’s eminent citizens, Don Rafael, and dumped it in a river.

The dinner party continues, and a new guest arrives—protagonist Don Crisóstomo Ibarra. He returned from Europe, where his father sent him to become more cultured and educated. His presence makes Father Dámaso nervous, as Ibarra’s father is Don Rafael, the man whom he had exhumed.

As dinner is served, the guests ask Ibarra about his seven-year trip in Europe. Ibarra mentions that he does not know how his father died. Father Dámaso is antagonistic toward him, which makes the guests want to change the subject as they know the details of Don Rafael’s death.