1. Philippine fiction (English) – Translation from Filipino The main characters of the novel are Berta and Lucia. Berta is the stereotypic young woman from the barrio, while Lucia was the stereotypic lass from Manila. Being a barrio resident, Berta is presented by the author as shy and modest, while Lucia – being a city girl – was portrayed as impatient, devious, and disloyal. Berta is a vendor of local delicacies, the other characters in the story are Luciano, Tintoy, and Mang Pedro (literally "Mr. Pedro"). Luciano is a painter and an affluent customer of Berta. Tintoy is the husband of Lucia. Mang Pedro, as revealed at the end of the novel, turns out to be the wealthy father of Berta and the owner of the house in Manila where Luciano resides.