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Angel
Tita Ami is Jay’s aunt, the wife of Tito Maning, and the mother of Grace, Angel, and Jun. Tita Ami is pretty deferential to Tito Maning, who is a domineering presence in the family. She and Tito Maning definitely see eye-to-eye on most matters, including the drug war. Tita Ami occasionally tries to convince her husband to be kinder to Jay, but she’s cold to Jay herself. However, Tita Ami later participates in Jun’s memorial service by lighting a candle and speaking about him, something that her husband had forbidden. Tito Maning ends up being supportive of this memorial, which suggests that he and Tita Ami will finally be able to move on from Jay’s death now that they’re able to openly grieve him.
Tita Ami Quotes in Patron Saints of Nothing
The Patron Saints of Nothing quotes below are all either spoken by Tita Ami or refer to Tita Ami. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
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Bravery As if It Were My Own Quotes
She laughs at the memory and I laugh with her. “Kuya Jun had a way of making people pay attention, of making them realize that others existed outside of themselves and getting them to care. But I don't…and I failed him. I stayed quiet whenever Tatay yelled. I left the room whenever they argued. I never asked Nanay to let him live with us again. I never even protested when they told us there would be no novenas, no vigil, no lamay, no funeral.”
[…]
I'm not sure what to say. Maybe I should tell her it's not her fault, maybe that it's all okay because he's with God now? I try to channel Jun because I think he always spoke the truth as he felt it, but I don't have that ability. I offer no reassurance, no wisdom. I only hug her tighter and start to cry with her.
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Tita Ami Character Timeline in Patron Saints of Nothing
The timeline below shows where the character Tita Ami appears in Patron Saints of Nothing. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
A New Silence Arrives
Jay’s Tita Ami , Tito Maning’s wife, eventually arrives without Tito Maning. She greets Jay stiffly, and the...
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Tita Ami asks about Jay’s flight and Angel makes small talk, but for the most part conversation...
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...pedestrians weave through cars. Suddenly, a young girl approaches their car, holding out her hands. Tita Ami reassures Jay that their windows are tinted, but thinking of Jun, Jay rolls down his...
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Tita Ami says Jay shouldn’t have helped. Soon, a bunch of kids gather around the car and...
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Some Small Rebellion
...barangay (neighborhood). The houses are packed together and most have locked gates and barbed-wire walls. Tita Ami asks if Jay remembers the neighborhood, and Jay says that he barely does. He’s been...
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...is larger and more modern than the other houses in the neighborhood. When they arrive, Tita Ami says that they recently renovated. Jay wants to see Jun’s room—eight years ago, it was...
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...in any of the family photos. Jay sees a woman puttering around—it’s the maid, María. Tita Ami takes Jay on a tour, and Jay asks if he’ll see Tita Chato and Tita...
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As Tita Ami shows Jay around, Jay asks why they didn’t move houses instead of renovating, and she...
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Tita Ami brings Jay to what she calls the “guest room,” which Jay knows is Jun’s old...
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Every Single Surviving Word
...if you don’t know your “mother tongue.” Jay wants to defend his dad but doesn’t. Tita Ami warns Jay to stay out of the sun so his skin doesn’t darken, which sounds...
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...doesn’t speak Tagalog, but she’s a good cook. Jay claims his stomach is upset, and Tita Ami encourages her husband to let Jay leave. Jay asks to take his plate to the...
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Not an Answer to the Question
...missing “research” papers and asks if anyone has seen them. Angel and Grace say no. Tita Ami says that she’ll ask María to search for the papers today. Tito Maning tells Jay...
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That Last Part Aloud
...of the Philippines, which contains many sub-museums, such as ones for natural history and art. Tita Ami says that she can take Angel and Grace on errands since they’ve been here before,...
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Bravery As if It Were My Own
Jun’s legs ended up covered in leeches, which made Tita Ami call out to Tito Maning, but Tito Maning said that Jun would be fine. Jun...
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All the Darkness in the World
...is “one thing.” Jay nods at his uncle, and he thinks Tito Maning nods back. Tita Ami goes next, surprising everyone, since she’s defying Tito Maning by participating. She lets her candle...
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