It is set in February, 1945 in the Philippines during the final week of the battle for control between the Americans and the Japanese during World War II.
The story is divided into four parts, each told from a character's perspective and detailing events that occur in the moments leading up to the Japanese surrender.
Within each part are multiple short stories that contain mythological elements and important themes of unity and loyalty and the downfall of innocence.
[1] In 1521, Spanish colonizers led by Ferdinand Magellan “discovered” the Philippines while trying to circumvent the world and named it after King Philip II.
[2] However, it was not formally colonized until forty-four years later when Miguel Lopez de Legaspi began settling in Cebu.
The Spaniah Empire sent missionaries, including the Jesuits, to spread Catholicism and used the country as a strategic refueling stop for trading with Mexico and China.
Spanish colonial rule continued for nearly 300 years until the United States won possession with its victory in the Spanish–American War in 1898.
[4][5] In her introduction to When the Elephants Dance, Uriza Holthe writes that “Public schools were opened with American, Spanish, and Filipino teachers.
Japan continued to bomb the city and forced 70,000 Filipino and American troops on the Bataan Death March.
The Japanese continued bombing until MacArthur surrendered on May 6, 1942, and retreated to Australia, thus leaving the Philippine people to fend for themselves.
She ultimately agrees to assist him in returning to his guerilla camp headquarters, where she meets Domingo's mistress Nina and honorary son.
She is then taken to a hotel in Manila to serve as a comfort woman, where she runs into Feliciano, a family friend who is a Japanese sympathizer, or Makapili, who hides her in a separate room.
After the dust settles, Aling Ana tells Isabelle a story to help her find peace within herself and prevent bitterness from engulfing her.
Soon after, Japanese soldiers find the cellar, burn it down, and order the inhabitants to begin marching towards Manila, which is currently being bombed by the Americans.
Everyone is ushered into a warehouse with other Filipino prisoners, where Lorna begs Domingo to stay and not return to the guerilla fighters.
Soon after, the building begins burning down and everyone rushes to break through the locked doors until an American soldier opens it from the other side because Domingo told him civilians were inside.
Domingo also has a mistress named Nina and views Bartoy, an orphaned boy in the guerilla movement, as his true son.
We must not let them divide us against one another.” At the end of the book, Domingo tries to rally everyone to fight the soldiers in the warehouse, citing a love for their country and desire for freedom as incentive.
He rather die than give his friend.” Domingo's constant internal struggle of choosing between keeping his family safe or fighting for the good of the country exemplifies the theme of loyalty as well.