Thirteen-year-old Alejandro is a resilient, streetwise boy thrust into the role of provider for his family as his father battles malaria. He maneuvers through the dangerous, bombed-out streets of Manila to barter cigarettes for sustenance. Despite his youth and the brutality surrounding him, he maintains a strict code of honor and deep loyalty to his family.

Seventeen-year-old Isabelle is an intelligent student who plans to become a doctor despite cultural expectations against female independence. She possesses a fiercely independent streak that frequently puts her at odds with her mother. As she moves through the dangerous outskirts of the city, her idealism clashes with the brutal realities of the Japanese occupation.

Domingo is the charismatic leader of the Filipino guerilla forces. Born as the illegitimate son of a wealthy Spanish barrister and a Filipino servant, he carries deep-seated anger regarding his heritage. He hides his family in the Karangalan cellar while managing his underground operations, constantly torn between his domestic duties and his revolutionary ideals.

Carlito is the patriarch of the Karangalan family, struggling with physical weakness from childhood polio and a severe bout of malaria. Unable to scavenge, he contributes to the cellar community by recounting traditional, enchanting legends that distract the refugees from the ongoing artillery fire. He acts as a voice of wisdom and stoicism.

Roderick is Alejandro's younger brother. Together, the two boys brave the dangerous, corpse-littered streets of Manila to secure provisions for the refugees hiding in their family's basement. He relies heavily on Alejandro's instincts to survive the daily patrols.

Feliciano is a neighborhood boy who grew up alongside Isabelle and harbors a long-standing crush on her. He is a Makapili, a term for Filipinos who collaborate with the occupation forces. This allegiance makes him a pariah among the cellar refugees, who view him as a traitor.

Lorna is Domingo's wife, a woman hailing from a wealthy background who endures the squalor of the cellar to protect her family. She lives in constant anxiety over her husband's dangerous activities, prioritizing the immediate physical safety of her children over the abstract ideals of a free nation.

Nina is a mestiza freedom fighter fully committed to the underground resistance. She lives in the mountain encampments alongside other guerillas, sharing Domingo's fierce dedication to liberating the islands from foreign control.

Roman is a journalist taking shelter with the Karangalan family. Raised in privilege but alienated from his wealthy father, he offers his fellow refugees an intricate fable from his youth about a magical fisherman to warn them against deceptive appearances.

Ana is a wealthy woman and Feliciano’s aunt. Because of her affluent background and connections, the other refugees secretly despise her. She contributes to the storytelling in the cellar, recounting her own bitter past to deliver a cautionary tale about forgiveness.

Tay Fredrico is a wealthy, elderly man of Spanish descent. He shares his memories of life in the colonial period, recounting his experiences as a young artist who discovered the depth of his Filipino heritage through his passion for a local peasant girl.

Taba is the six-year-old son of Domingo and Lorna Matapang. Like the other civilians, he endures the terrible conditions of the basement hideout, representing the vulnerable civilian generation caught in the crossfire of the occupying forces.

Esmeralda is an orphan raised by nuns who becomes renowned in her neighborhood for possessing supposed magical powers. She listens to the locals' heartaches and brews homeopathic potions, offering them the compassion they cannot find elsewhere.

Tirso is a proud, macho man in Carlito's legend. Despite harboring a deep passion for Esmeralda, he allows himself to be negotiated into an arranged marriage with a wealthy woman, setting off a tragic chain of events in the village.

Catalina is a wealthy and established woman in Carlito's story. She is arranged to marry Tirso and coldly proceeds with the wedding despite knowing of his intense infatuation with Esmeralda, believing the affair will naturally end.

Minno is a wizened fisherman from Roman's childhood tale. He is rumored to possess incredible magical abilities that compel fish to leap directly into his nets. He takes on the young Roman as an apprentice before his darker nature reveals itself.

Corazón is a beautiful orphan girl from Ana's childhood tale, adopted by Ana's parents after the death of Ana's twin sister. Resented by Ana, Corazón is negotiated into marrying a charming local man, sparking a bitter feud between the two sisters.

Jamie is a handsome, charming ladies' man in Ana's neighborhood. His arranged marriage to Corazón shatters Ana's heart and cements a deep, spiteful rift within their family.

Maricel is a beautiful peasant Filipina from Fredrico's youth. With her almond eyes and olive skin, she becomes the young artist's muse, helping him recognize the beauty of the indigenous culture despite his family's Spanish colonial prejudices.