Final answer:
Manolo proposed to Maria by expressing his love and his intention to marry her despite the challenges they faced.
Step-by-step explanation:
Manolo proposed to Maria by expressing his love for her and his intention to marry her. However, he believed that it would be impossible to marry her in their current country and was afraid to take her anywhere due to the risks involved. Therefore, he planned to do the best he could for her in their current situation.