Patron Saints of Nothing Character Analysis

Jay Reguero

Jay Reguero is a seventeen-year-old high school senior who was born in the Philippines, moved to Michigan when he was one, and was Jun’s cousin. Jay was recently accepted into the University of Michigan… read analysis of Jay Reguero

Jun

Jun is Jay Reguero’s Filipino cousin, Tito Maning and Tita Ami’s estranged son, and Grace and Angel’s brother. He was shot and killed by a vigilante prior to the start of the… read analysis of Jun

Tito Maning

Tito Maning is Jay Reguero’s uncle, father to Grace, Angel, and Jun, and husband to Tita Ami. Tito Maning is also a police chief, strongly believes in the Philippine drug… read analysis of Tito Maning

Grace

Grace is Jay Reguero’s fifteen-year-old cousin, Tito Maning and Tita Ami’s daughter, and Angel and Jun’s sister. When Jay first arrives in the Philippines, Grace treats him with cold suspicion and seems… read analysis of Grace

Tita Chato

Tita Chato is Jay Reguero’s aunt, sister to Jay’s dad, Tito Maning, and Tito Danilo, and the partner of Tita Ines. Tita Chato is Tito Maning’s opposite in many ways… read analysis of Tita Chato

Jay’s Dad

Jay’s dad (Jay’s mom’s husband) is the brother of Tito Maning, Tita Chato, and Tito Danilo and the father of Jay, Emily, and Chris. He and his wife… read analysis of Jay’s Dad

Mia

Mia is the sister of Grace’s girlfriend Jessa and the journalism student of professor Brian Santos. Mia and Jay meet because Grace and Jessa needed someone to keep Jay occupied during their date… read analysis of Mia

Reyna

Reyna was Jun’s girlfriend prior to his death. She was also a victim of sex trafficking and was later aided by Tita Chato’s organization, which is how she and Jun met. Tita Chato’s… read analysis of Reyna

Tito Danilo

Tito Danilo is Jay’s uncle and brother to Tito Maning, Jay’s dad, and Tita Chato. He’s a Catholic priest who works in a remote parish. Tito Danilo is kind, gentle, and… read analysis of Tito Danilo

Jay’s Mom

Jay’s mom (Jay’s dad’s wife) is the mother of Jay, Emily, and Chris. She spent some time living in the Philippines with Jay’s dad, but the family moved to Michigan when… read analysis of Jay’s Mom

Angel

Angel is Jay’s twelve-year-old cousin, Grace and Jun’s sister, and the daughter of Tito Maning and Tita Ami. Angel is friendly, talkative, and deeply interested in Jay’s life in America. Although she… read analysis of Angel

Tita Ami

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… read analysis of Tita Ami

Brian Santos

Brian Santos is Mia’s journalism professor. He’s an investigative journalist and has reported on many serious topics, including child trafficking and the drug war. This puts him in a vulnerable position because the government… read analysis of Brian Santos

Seth

Seth is Jay’s best friend in Michigan. He’s a stoner and a bit of a slacker, but he’s also intelligent and wants to study computer science. Jay and Seth care about one another, but… read analysis of Seth

Em

Em (short for Emily) is the middle sister in Jay’s family. She’s a current student at Michigan State University studying graphic design, to the disappointment of Tito Maning. She and Jay have… read analysis of Em

Chris

Chris is Jay and Emily’s brother and the son of Jay’s dad and Jay’s mom. Chris is the oldest of the three siblings and ended up going to Harvard before becoming an engineer… read analysis of Chris

Tita Ines

Tita Ines is Tita Chato’s partner. She and Tita Chato agree that the Philippine drug war is harmful and have a happy, loving relationship. She also loved Jun and was saddened by his decision… read analysis of Tita Ines

María

María is a maid and works for Tito Maning’s family. She doesn’t speak English or Tagalog, which causes Tito Maning to ridicule her to Jay and treat her rudely. Her skin is much darker… read analysis of María

Lolo

Lolo is the grandfather of Jay, Jun, Grace, Angel, Emily, and Chris, the father of Jay’s dad, Tito Maning, Tito Danilo, and Tita Chato, and… read analysis of Lolo

Lola

Lola is the grandmother of Jay, Jun, Grace, Angel, Emily, and Chris, the mother of Jay’s dad, Tito Maning, Tito Danilo, and Tita Chato, and… read analysis of Lola

Minor Characters

Jessa

Jessa is Grace’s secret girlfriend and Mia’s sister. Jessa is outgoing and loves social media. Her relationship with Grace is her longest relationship so far, but the two have a falling out when Jessa learns that Grace kept Jun’s existence a secret from her.

Tomas

Tomas is a driver and works for Tito Maning’s family. He’s the only person who’s immediately kind and friendly to Jay when Jay arrives in the Philippines. Tito Maning and Tita Ami are polite to Tomas but generally dismissive of him.