Father Dámaso
The novel, according to the author, represented the state of Philippine society under Spanish colonial rule.While the natives (indios) were trained to become secular clergy, Spanish priests in the powerful religious orders were given preferential treatment in the assignment to parishes.Dámaso Verdolagas, a Franciscan Spanish priest, was the former curate of the town of San Diego.After Don Rafael's death in jail, Padre Dámaso ordered his corpse exhumed and transferred to the Chinese cemetery, which he considered was for heathens.Near the end of the novel, he and María Clara had a dispute about her not marrying Alfonso Linares, and her going to the convent or dying.