NOLI ME TANGERE: A

DIAGNOSIS OF FILIPINO
SOCIETY & EL
FILIBUSTERISMO: A
Sit Dolor Amet

REVOLUTION THAT
FAILED
Objectives:

• Students are able to:

• 1. Describe the suffering of Dr. Jose Rizal
while writing and publishing his two novels.
• 2. Appraise Rizal’s relationship with other
Propagandists.
 NOLI ME TANGERE: A
DIAGNOSIS OF FILIPINO
SOCIETY
Sit Dolor Amet
A PROPOSAL ON WRITING A NOVEL ABOUT THE
PHILIPPINES

• During the course of Rizal’s stay in several European cities, he noted that
Filipinos were practically unknown nation (Guerrero, 1998).
• They were mistaken for Chinese in Spain and Japanese in Paris. Thus,
during Paris Exposition of 1889, Rizal encouraged his fellow expatriates
to call themselves Indios Bravos for them to have a sense of national
identity.
• Realizing the need for the Filipinos and the country to be known in
Europe, Rizal presented a proposal on writing a novel about the
Philippines to the Circulo – Hispano Filipino on January 2, 1884.
A PROPOSAL ON WRITING A NOVEL ABOUT THE
PHILIPPINES
• The members of the association unanimously approved this proposal.
Unfortunately, however, the project did not materialize because those who were
expected to collaborate with Rizal did not write anything on the subject.
• In addition to this, many of his fellow expatriates were indifferent to the project
since they were more interested to write about women.
• The project died a natural death to the foregoing reasons.
• One year after, Pedro Paterno published his novel entitled Ninay, with its subtitle
Costumbres Filipinas (Philippine Customs).
• Rizal was very happy, considering that his purpose was partly fulfilled.
• Inasmuch as Paterno’s novel delved only on one particular aspect of Filipino
culture, Rizal became more determined to write his own novel about the
Philippines.
 IDEAS ON WRITING A NOVEL ABOUT THE
PHILIPPINES
• One of the ideas that provided Rizal the motivation to write a novel about
the Philippines was Luna’s Spoliarium.
• For Rizal, Luna’s canvass conveyed the plight of the vanquished and
pathetic suffering of the human race.
• Moreover, the Spoliarium was perceived by Rizal as a reflection of the spirit
of the social, moral, and political life of his time because it clearly showed
mankind under severe ordeal, mankind unredeemed, and reason and
aspiration in an open struggle with fanatism and injustice.
• This made Rizal write a novel depicting the country to be redeemed from
bondage and repression.
• The Noli Me Tangere can, therefore, be considered as Rizal’s Spoliarium.
 IDEAS ON WRITING A NOVEL ABOUT THE
PHILIPPINES

• Another source of idea for writing a novel about the Philippines was the
novel Uncle Tom’s Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe (Zaide & Zaide, 1999).
• This novel portrayed the brutalities committed by American slave-
owners against their Negro slaves.
• Owing to the beauty and literary style of this novel, Rizal was able to fully
comprehend the pathetic conditions of the Negro slaves.
• Just like Luna’s Spoliarium, this novel provided Rizal the springboard to
write a novel portraying vividly the miseries of the Filipinos under the
oppressive rule of the Spanish tyrants.
 IDEAS ON WRITING A NOVEL ABOUT THE
PHILIPPINES

• A third source of idea for a novel, Rizal was then conceptualizing was the
anti-clerical novel authored by Eugene Sue – The Wandering Jew (Quirino,
1940).
• This novel made a great impression on Rizal.
• According to Quirino, the literary form of the Wandering Jew could had
probably been used by Rizal as his model to arouse the feeling against the
existing Philippine situation and, at the same time, communicate to the
Filipinos the ideals he wanted them to embrace.
 THE WRITING OF THE NOLI ME TANGERE

• Rizal started writing the Noli Me Tangere in 1884, while he was studying in
Europe.
• He completed one half of the novel in Madrid. One-fourth of the novel was
written when he was at Paris, while the remaining one-fourth was
completed in Berlin, Germany on Feb. 21, 1887.
• The novel came off the press on March 21, 1887, with the financial
assistance of Maximo Viola.
• At the outset, the novel was untitled. Later on, he decided to call his first
literary masterpiece Noli Me Tangere (Capino et al, 1977).
• The title can be translated into English as “Touch Me Not.”
 THE WRITING OF THE NOLI ME TANGERE

• The aforementioned label to this novel has a biblical basis, as those

words were the ones uttered by Jesus Christ to Mary Magdalene when
the latter visited His tomb before sunrise of Easter Sunday.
• Rizal deemed it appropriate to use the said title as his novel contained
delicate things nobody wanted to talk about or touch during his time.
• He, therefore, trod where angels fear to tread by exposing the evils of
the Church and the State, which were hazardous to touch.
• It can be drawn from the foregoing primary sources that Rizal was very
certain as to why he wrote the Noli Me Tangere.
 THE WRITING OF THE NOLI ME TANGERE

• Notable among his purposes for writing this novel were the following:
• 1. to picture the past and the realities in the Philippines
• 2. to reply to insults heaped on the Filipinos and their country
• 3. to unmask the hypocrisy that have impoverished and brutalized the
Filipino people and
• 4. to stir the patriotism of the Filipino people.
 THE PLOT OF THE NOVEL
• The novels begins with the return of Juan Crisostomo Ibarra, a son of an affluent
creole in San Diego, after long years of study in the European continent.
• During the entire duration of his absence in the country, his father Don Rafael
Ibarra got the ire of Father Damaso and other influential people in their place.
• Don Rafael was jailed for the accidental death of Spanish tax collector in his
defense of a young boy being brutalized by this illiterate official.
• He was incarcerated and detained in prison for various alleged reasons till he
died.
• Father Damaso, the parish priest of San Diego, denied him Christian burial and
ordered his corpse exhumed from the cemetery where it had been buried.
• Father Damaso denied Don Rafael Ibarra a burial befitting a Christian on
account of his being a freethinker, who had not even gone to confession in the
church.
 THE PLOT OF THE NOVEL
• The governor-general then learned about what the parish-priest did and
demanded that he be punished for what he did.
• No discipline was imposed on Father Damaso. Instead, he was just
transferred to another pueblo by his superior.
• Ibarra, upon arriving in the Philippines, was totally unaware of what
happened to his father.
• A dinner was tendered for Ibarra by Don Santiago de los Santos or Capitan
Tiago, the father of Maria Clara.
• At the welcome dinner, Ibarra was praised and commended by all the
guests for his educational achievement in Europe, except by Father
Damaso.
 THE PLOT OF THE NOVEL
• In spite of Ibarra’s courtesy and refusal to counter the rude treatment
accorded him by the friar, Father Damaso continued making insulting
statements concerning the time Ibarra wasted studying abroad.
• Ibarra, instead of getting even with the friar, just ignored all those insults
through his smile.
• After the dinner, Ibarra left Capitan Tiago’s home to return to his hotel.
Accidentally, he met Lieutenant Guevarra on the way and learned from him
the sad story of his father.
• As a loyal Spaniard, the thought of avenging his father’s death did not
come to his mind. Instead, he dedicated himself in the pursuit of his father’s
ideals of educating the people of San Diego.
 THE PLOT OF THE NOVEL
• Learning of the miserable conditions of the local school with no building to
speak of, nor books for students; use, Ibarra secured permission for the
erection of a modern school building, patterned after the German model.
• The cornerstone of the school building was laid out during the celebration of
the town fiesta. Ibarra was nearly killed by the sudden collapse of the
derrick.
• Appearing quickly on the scene, he was rescued by Elias, a boat pilot who
was saved by Ibarra during an excursion in the lake.
• The plot to exterminate Ibarra was planned by Father Damaso and
Father Salvi, the friar who was madly in love with Maria Clara.
• Later during the day, a banquet held at Capitan Tiago’s residence.
 THE PLOT OF THE NOVEL
• Again, Father Damaso started throwing insulting and offensive remarks
about Ibarra.
• As usual, Ibarra ignored what he heard. Nonetheless, when Father Damaso
insulted the memories of his dead father, Ibarra stood up and knocked the
friar to ground.
• He was about to kill Father Damaso, when Maria Clara interceded. Ibarra
was excommunicated for laying his hands on the parish priest.
• Sympathizing with Father Damaso, Capitan Tiago inhibited Maria Clara
from seeing Ibarra again.
• The excommunication of Ibarra, however, was soon lifter through
intercession of the liberal-mined governor general, who visited San Diego.
 THE PLOT OF THE NOVEL
• As Father Damaso did not succeed in having Ibarra excommunicated, a plot
was brewed to destroy the young man through Father Salvi.
• Father Salvi organized a rebellion among the poor, discontented people
of San Diego and those who were victimized by the Guardia Civil.
• They were made to believe that Ibarra was its leader and financier. Later
on, Father Salvi disclosed the plan to the Guardia Civil. The rebellion was
crushed.
• An immediate aftermath of the crushed rebellion was the arrest and
imprisonment of those who offended the friar and those who espoused
liberal ideas in San Diego.
• Notable among those who were jailed was Ibarra himself.
 THE PLOT OF THE NOVEL
• Ibarra was convicted on the basis of the letter he wrote to Maria Clara
while he was in Europe. Nonetheless, Ibarra was able to escape through
the assistance extended to him by Elias.
• Meanwhile, before finally leaving San Diego, Ibarra proceeded to the house
of Capitan Tiago to bid Maria Clara goodbye.
• Ibarra discovered that the letter traded by Maria Clara to Father Salvi for the
two letters of Doña Pia, Maria Clara’s mother, which proved that her real
father was Father Damaso.
• To keep the truth secret to everyone and to save the reputation of Capitan
Tiago, Maria Clara gave Ibarra’s letter to Father Salvi without the thought
that the same shall be used against his fiancée by the authorities.
 THE PLOT OF THE NOVEL
• After bidding Maria Clara, Elias and Ibarra proceeded to the banca at
Pasig River toward Laguna de Bay. They were chased by the Guardia Civil
as their banca reached the lake.
• To distract the attention of the Guardia Civil, Elias swam for shore under
fire. Meanwhile, Ibarra hid himself under the zacate and was able to escape.
• Elias, on the other hand, was shot. Thinking that they succeeded in killing
Ibarra, the Guardia Civil then returned to Manila.
• Although seriously wounded, Elias was able to reach shore. From the
shore, he inched his way into the woods, where he saw Basilio weeping
over the dead body of his mother, Sisa.
• Elias instructed Basilio to prepare the funeral pyre for the burning of his
mother’s dead body and that of Elias. Basilio complied with the instruction.
 THE PLOT OF THE NOVEL
• The next day, newspapers reported the death of Crisostomo Ibarra. Learning of
what happened to his beloved Ibarra, Maria Clara refused to marry Linares. A
young Spaniard chosen for him by Father Damaso.
• Instead, she told Father Damaso of her intention of entering the nunnery of
Santa Clara, where Father Salvi was the chaplain.
• The novel ended with Maria Clara on the roof of the nunnery, praying for her
deliverance.
• From the novel can be noted the pivoted role, played by Elias, whose family was a
victim of numerous tragedies for more than three generations. In the novel, he was
pictured as a bandit or an outlaw.
• In the conversation that he had with Ibarra, it was Elias who appeared to be the
voice of the revolution who believed that reforms to obtain justice were not
possible.
• Ibarra convinced him to trust the government and the need of the light of
education.
 THE PLOT OF THE NOVEL
• Elias also called for the radical reforms in the clergy because they were the
oppressors of the people.
• Ibarra responded by telling Elias that the people owed the friars a debt of
gratitude for giving them the Catholic faith and for protecting them
against the tyranny of civil authorities.
• Nonetheless, when Ibarra suffered misfortunes, he changed his mind and
was ready to incite the common people to revolt.
• To carry out Rizal’s purpose in writing the novel, numerous episodes were
included in the novel (Schumaster, 1997).
• The episode in the cockpit exposed sarcastically the demeaning effects of
gambling among Filipinos then.
 THE PLOT OF THE NOVEL
• The conversation among the tertiary sisters on buying indulgences during
the All Soul’s Day, reflected Rizal’s denunciation of superstitious beliefs
and blind fanaticism.
• The homily of Father Damaso during the celebration of the town fiesta was
employed by Rizal to denounce the vulgar ignorance, hypocrisy and
religious despotism of the friars.
• The novel clearly identified the defects of the Spanish colonial system in
the Philippines. Solutions to these defects can be gleaned from the
exchange of ideas between Elias and Ibarra.
• Rizal, however, was not very clear on what to do. He was not certain of
opting for a revolution. On the other hand, he made it clear and plan the
threat of a possible outbreak of a revolution, should radical reforms not
be instituted in the colony by the Spanish government.
 THE CHARACTERS IN THE NOLI ME TANGERE
• Although the novel is a work of fiction, the novel can be considered a true
story of the Philippines during the last decades of Spanish rule.
• The characters used by Rizal in the Noli were persons who actually existed
during those times (Zaide & Zaide, 1999).
• Maria Clara was Leonor Rivera. Tasyo was his older brother Paciano.
Padre Salvi was Fr. Antonio Piernavieja of the Augustinian Order.
• Capitan Tiago was Captain Hilario Sunico of San Nicholas.
• Doña Victorina was Doña Agustina Medel.
• Basilio and Crispin were the Crisostomo brothers of Hagonoy, Bulacan.
Padre Damaso, however, was the typical abusive friar during Rizal’s time.
 THE CHARACTERS IN THE NOLI ME TANGERE

• Through the characters in the Noli, Rizal depicted the different pictures of
a Filipino society during his time (Capino et al, 1977).
• 1. Juan Crisostomo Ibarra – the main character in the novel, Ibarra
represented the affluent and liberal European- educated Filipino. Civic-
minded, liberty-minded and patriotic. He desired the education of the
people. His plan of establishing the schoolhouse at San Diego was opposed
by Father Damaso, representing conservatism in Filipino society then. This
conflict between liberalism and conservatism is reflected in many episodes
in the Noli, which culminated in Ibarra’s leaving the country and Maria Clara’
entering the nunnery.
 THE CHARACTERS IN THE NOLI ME TANGERE
• 2. Elias – represented the Filipino masses in the novel. As the symbol of the
common people, Elias did everything to vindicate them from the
injustices suffered from the Spaniards. Although Ibarra’s family had
brought misfortunes to his own family, he extended help to Crisostomo in
many occasions in the novel. This might had been due to his belief that the
redemption of the county depends on the ilustrados. Just like Ibarra, he is a
mouthpiece of Rizal’s contradictory thoughts and purposes.
• 3. Maria Clara – the object of Ibarra’s love and affection. Rizal represented
Filipino womanhood trained in a convent and immerses in education
basically religious in orientation. She symbolizes the Filipino womanhood
in their fidelity, coyness, and modesty.
 THE CHARACTERS IN THE NOLI ME TANGERE
• 4. Don Rafael Ibarra – Crisostomo’s father. He was jailed for helping a
young boy being harmed by an ignorant Spanish tax collector. Father
Damaso considered him a heretic and a filibustero owing to his liberal and
independent views. Rizal used Don Rafael in the Noli to symbolize an
affluent landlord with a social conscience.
• 5. Sisa – the mother of Basilio and Crispin in the Noli. She symbolized a lot
of things in Filipino society during Rizal’s time. In the novel, she lost her
mental balance upon learning what happened to Basilio and Crispin, her
two sons. Through her, Rizal was able to illustrate lack of concern in facing
and resolving problems confronting Filipino society. She was also used by
Rizal in the Noli to illustrate the typical characteristics of Filipino mothers
– fully cognizant of the attributes of their sons and daughters; and willing to
defend them from all forms of injustice or accusations.
 THE CHARACTERS IN THE NOLI ME TANGERE
• 6. Capitan Tiago – to the people of San Diego, he was Don Anastacio delos
Santos. Just like Don Rafael Ibarra, he was rich landlord. His wealth was
derived from his involvement in the illegal opium trade. To the common
people, he was the symbol of the cacique mentality. Professing to be
religious, never did he pray to God even in the face of difficulties. Instead, he
let his money pray for him. Moreover, Rizal employed Capitan Tiago in the
novel to represent subservient Filipino to the authorities to protect his
personal and business interest.
• 7. Doña Victorina – a social climber, she married Don Tiburcio de Espadaña
to support her claim of being a Spaniard. She despised everything Filipino
and imitated what was Spanish. Thus, Rizal used her in the novel to
symbolize colonial mentality among some Filipinos during his time.
 THE CHARACTERS IN THE NOLI ME TANGERE
• 8. Doña Patrocinio – the mistress of the Alferez, she was noted to be
imprudent, vulgar, cruel and quarrelsome. As such, she symbolized the
mentality of the Guardia Civil. Being the only competitor of Capitan Tiago
in godliness, she did everything to pretend that she was really religious
by showing off to the public what she contribute for the Church.
• 9. Pilosopo Tasyo – he represented Rizal’s epitome of a philosopher. He was
perceived to be sage by the educated and a weird or lunatic by those who
did not know him.
• 10. The School Master of San Diego – he symbolized intellectual
dissatisfaction in Filipino society during Rizal’s time. As an educated
individual, he dreamed of changing the methods of teaching to facilitate
greater learning on the part of the pupils then.
 THE FILIPINO SOCIETY AS PICTURED IN THE
NOLI
• The novel uncompromisingly exposes Spaniards in the Philippines. The government
was administered by self-seekers, motivated by the desire to enrich themselves at
the expense of the people. Honest and sincere officials were quite few.
• Corruption became so rampant, as a consequence. Banditry became a way of life
for many due to the corruption and brutality of the Guardia Civil.
• The friars, on the other hand, used the Catholic Church to amass wealth and to
perpetuate themselves into power. Instead of teaching the Filipinos true
Catholicism, they controlled the government and opposed all progress.
• While Rizal condemned the Spaniards for their abuses and insidious practices,
Filipinos were not spared in his criticism of Filipino society. He criticized his fellow
countrymen for their blind, religious fanaticism, corruption, passion for gambling,
subservience of the wealthy Filipinos towards the friars and government officials,
and their ridiculous efforts to distance themselves from the common people.
 THE FILIPINO SOCIETY AS PICTURED IN THE
NOLI

• To balance Rizal’s portrait of Filipino society, the virtues and good qualities
of the Filipino people were highlighted in the novel (Schumaster, 1997).
• Notable among the virtues and values emphasized by Rizal in the Noli were
the following: the modesty and devotion of the Filipino woman; the open-
handed hospitality of the Filipino family; the devotion of the parents to
their children and children to their parents; and deep sense of gratitude of
the Filipino peasants.
 RIZAL’S DIAGNOSIS OF FILIPINO SOCIETY

• An in-depth analysis of the Noli Me Tangere reveals Rizal’s diagnosis of

Filipino society of his time.
• From his novel, he made it plain and clear that the friars were the
enemies of reform, progress and justice in the country (Guerrero, 1998).
• One clear proof was the case of the school building project, proposed by
Ibarra. While Ibarra believed that the project was noble considering that the
school can be likened to a book where the history of nation is to be witness,
Padre Damaso opposed it.
• The latter’s opposition stemmed from his opinion that it could be a potent
fortress for rebellion.
 RIZAL’S DIAGNOSIS OF FILIPINO SOCIETY
• Rizal was basically impartial in his assessment of the situation in the
Philippines then because of the fact that the misfortunes his family had
prior to the writing and publication of the Noli were not due to the
misdoings of the friars (Guerrero, 1998).
• There were actually three reasons why Rizal considered the friars, the
enemy of reforms, progress and justice in the country.
• The agrarian problem in Calamba between the tenants and the
Dominicans, while he was in Europe, can be regarded one of the factors that
made Rizal point to the friars as the deterrents to progress and reforms in
the country.
 RIZAL’S DIAGNOSIS OF FILIPINO SOCIETY
• Another factor that could expound Rizal’s conclusion was the influence of the
Spanish anti-clericalism. A third explanation to the foregoing was Rizal’s over-all
assessment of the Philippine political situation in 1886 and in 1872. Thus, for Rizal
the need to expose the abuses of the friars through ridicule and hatred became so
urgent.
• A question in relation to what were mentioned above is, was Rizal correct in his
analysis? Seventy years after the publication of the Noli, the research undertaken by
the Catholics on Philippine political situation confirmed the veracity of Rizal’s
contention (Guerrero, 1998).
• The friars wielded so much powers, such that they were the real authority in the
different pueblos, throughout the archipelago, due to the following roles they
played then: parish priest; tax collector; school inspector; superintendent of
public works by forced labor; an intelligence officer; and president of all local
boards.
 RIZAL’S DIAGNOSIS OF FILIPINO SOCIETY
• The people, then, were subjected to ecclesiastical control more than any
other form of authority in the colony.
• Jaena’s study of the Philippine institutions as cited by Guerrero (1998),
likewise confirmed the correctness of Rizal’s evaluation of Philippine
society.
• As pointed out by Jaena, the parish priest in each town can be described
as a sword of Damocles hanging over the head of authority – the town
mayor.
• This was because local election was controlled and manipulated by the
parish priest. Only the candidates endorsed by and acceptable to the parish
priest were the ones seated into positions of leadership in the local
government.
 RIZAL’S DIAGNOSIS OF FILIPINO SOCIETY

• Owing to the friar control of practically all aspects of Filipino society, it was
impossible then to seek reform and relief within the colony.
• Rizal and other propagandists felt it wise to do it outside the Philippines.
Thus, the Propaganda Movement was undertaken not in the Philippines
but in Spain.
• Spain became the most logical venue for reform and relief due to the
liberal atmosphere in this country, as well as the protection offered by the
Spanish Constitution and Cortes.
 NOLI ME TANGERE AS A CHARTER OF FILIPINO
NATIONALISM
• The novel can be considered a charter of Filipino nationalism (Schumaster,
1977).
• It calls on the Filipino to: regain his self- confidence; appreciate his self-
worth; return to the heritage of his ancestors; assert himself as a co-
equal of the Spaniards.
• It likewise, insists on the need for education, dedication to the country;
assimilating the aspects of Western cultures that could enhance native
traditions.
• More so, the novel does not only expose the social maladies in the
Philippines during Rizal’s time.
 NOLI ME TANGERE AS A CHARTER OF FILIPINO
NATIONALISM
• It outlines the reforms needed in Filipino society then. These reforms
include the following: radical reforms in the armed forces, clergy, and
administration of justice; more respect for human dignity; greater
security for the individual; less strength in the constabulary; and less
privileges for organizations prone to abuses and corruption.
• Rizal, through Elias, mouthed solution to bring about the needed reforms.
For Elias, revolution was the key when he said, “it is never a crime to fight
for one’s country.” Ibarra, on the other hand, believed otherwise.
• Noli Me Tangere presented a problem, the need for change in the country
under Spanish tutelage. On the contrary, it did not offer any solution to
address the same (Guerrero, 1998).
 NOLI ME TANGERE AS A CHARTER OF FILIPINO
NATIONALISM

• What should be the reasons behind this? First, Rizal was not sure as to
which solution to implement. Should it be a revolution? Should it be
assimilation under the Spanish Crown? Finally, Rizal was prudent enough
not openly favor independence and revolution.
• Nonetheless, the novel was a major turning point in Rizal’s life. As mentioned
by Guerrero (1998), Rizal had become a prisoner of Noli Me Tangere’s logic.
• Moreover, through this novel, Rizal had opted to choose his enemy, the
friars in the Philippines.
 FIRST REACTION TO THE NOLI
• Prior to the publication of the Noli Me Tangere, a number of works by Filipino
writers from 1882 to 1896 were produced. Mention can be said of the
following: Paterno’s novel Ninay, published in Madrid in 1885; del Pilar’s La
Soberania Monacal and Graciano Lopez Jaena’s Discursos y Articulos Varios
published in Barcelona in 1889 and 1891; and Antonio Luna’s Impresiones,
which came out in Madrid in 1893.
• None of these publications, however, evoke such favorable and unfavorable
comments from friends and enemies as did Rizal’s Noli Me Tangere.
• One of those who congratulated Rizal for writing and publishing the novel was
Antonio Regidor, a Filipino exile for his alleged complicity in the 1872
Uprising. He said that “the book is superior” and that “if Don Quijote has
made its author immortal because he exposed to the world the sufferings
of Spain, your Noli Me Tangere will bring you equal glory (National Heroes
Commission, 1963).
 FIRST REACTION TO THE NOLI
• Ferdinand Blumentritt, who became Rizal’s friend thru correspondence,
praised Rizal by saying: “Your work, as we Germans say, has been written
with blood and heart.. Your work has exceeded my hopes and I consider
myself fortunate and happy to have been honored with your friendship.
Not only I but your country, may feel happy for having you, a patriotic
and loyal son. If you continue so, you will be to your people one of those
great men who will exercise a determinative influence over the progress of
their spiritual life (National Centennial Commission, 1961).
• When Rizal returned to the Philippines, reactions for and against the Noli
Me Tangere surfaced. Filipinos became so eager to read the book, but
only very few copies were available. Their eagerness to take hold of the
Noli can be explained by the news that it exposed a lot of things about the
country, its people and government.
 FIRST REACTION TO THE NOLI
• Nonetheless, not only Filipinos took time to find a copy of the novel and
read its contents. Archbishop Payo was able to have a copy of the Noli and
sent the same to the rector of UST for examination on August 18, 1887.
• The rector constituted a three-man committee to pass judgment on the
novel. The Committee submitted its report to the archbishop of Manila on
August 30, 1887.
• It found the book heretical, impious and scandalous in its religious
aspect; unpatriotic; subversive of public order; and offensive to the
government of Spain.
• The archbishop forwarded the report of the Committee to the Governor-
general, Emilio Terrero, who in turn summoned Rizal to Malacañang Palace.
 FIRST REACTION TO THE NOLI

• Terrero, being a liberal-minded government executive, informed Rizal of the

unfavorable reports about his novel, alleged to be libelous and subversive.
He even asked Rizal to provide him a copy of the book since he became
interested to read it. Rizal later on returned to the governor and handed him
the copy of the novel.
• With no concrete action from Governor-general Terrero. The archbishop
asked the Permanent Commission on Censorship to decide on the fate of
the novel.
• A report submitted by Father Salvador Font, an Augustinian, on December
29, 1892, recommended the prohibition of the importation, reproduction,
and circulation of the pernicious books in the Philippines (Palma, 1949).
 FIRST REACTION TO THE NOLI

• Nonetheless, the novel was not banned in the country, notwithstanding the
recommendation made by the Permanent Commission. The archbishop and
the provincials of the friar orders were then lobbying for the banning of the
book and the possible incarceration of Rizal.
• The friars, however, were not able to secure the seal of the implementation
of the recommendation of the Permanent Commission on Censorship from
the governor-general (Schumaster, 1997).
• Rizal was fortunate enough to be given the protection owing to the power
struggle then existing between the leaders of the civil government in Manila
and the bishop and friar orders.
 ATTACKS AND DEFENSES OF THE NOLI ME
TANGERE
• The attacks on Rizal’s Noli Me Tangere were not only confined in the
Philippines but were also staged in Madrid. (De Ocampo, 1961). There,
Senator Fernando Vida, Deputy Luis M. de Pando, and Prime Minister
Praxedes Mateo Sagasta were among those who unjustly lambasted and
criticized Rizal and his Noli in the two chambers of the Spanish Cortes in 1888
and 1889.
• Among these three senators, it was Fernando Vida who became very critical
of the Noli (Retana, 1907), describing Rizal as a native, with the doctor of
medicine degree from the University of Madrid, an intimate friend of
Bismarck and have obtained a professional chair in medicine in a German
University.
• The aforementioned Spanish legislators condemned the novel as Anti-
Catholic, Protestant, and Socialist in orientation and leaning.
 ATTACKS AND DEFENSES OF THE NOLI ME
TANGERE
• Another attack on the novel came from Vicente Barrantes, a Spanish
academician, who had spent many years in high posts of Philippine
Administration. As a regular contributor in the newspaper entitled La España
Moderna, he attacked Rizal in 1889 by describing Rizal as a man of
contradiction, whose criticisms of the friars and the Spanish Regime were
actually an insult to the Filipinos themselves.
• The first attack on the Noli Me Tangere in the Philippines came from an
anonymous letter, signed by a friar. In this letter, Rizal was labelled an
ungrateful man at the same time he was challenged to come out into the
open if he had a grievance against the religious establishment.
• In the Philippines, Fr. Salvador Font, who issued the official censure of the
Noli, tried to prevent the circulation of the novel by publishing a few copies
of his report (Schumaster, 1997).
 ATTACKS AND DEFENSES OF THE NOLI ME
TANGERE
• His report consisted of four parts, as follows: attacks on the religion of the State;
attacks on the administration, the government employees and the courts; attacks on
the civil guards; and attacks on the territorial integrity of the Spanish Kingdom.
• Nonetheless, Father Font attempted to refute these attacks resulting into the
highlighting of the points Rizal wanted to point out in his Noli.
• A direct attack on the Noli was launched by Father Jose Rodriquez by issuing a series
of pamphlets under the title Cuestiones de Suno Interes (Zaide & Zaide, 1999). As
pointed out by Schumaster (1997), Fr. Rodriquez judged the novel on a doctrinal
level, when he said that it should not be read by devout Christians.
• Rizal, however, replied to these attacks by Fr. Rodriquez through the satirical
pamphlet entitled, La Vision del Fray Rodriquez. In this satirical work, St. Augustine
was made by Rizal to appear to Fr. Rodriquez, while the latter was in deep slumber
and scolded him for becoming a butt of all jokes to all angels in heaven by his foolish
articles. The satire ends with Fr. Rodriquez condemned writing garbage articles for
him to forever be a laughingstock to the world.
 ATTACKS AND DEFENSES OF THE NOLI ME
TANGERE
• In response to Fr. Font’s critique of the Noli, Rizal wrote a satirical essay,
entitled Por Telefono (Schumaster. 1997). In this essay, he narrated a long-
distance telephone conversation between Salvador Font, who was
reprimanded by his Superior for accepting a hacienda for the Augustinians.
Because what Salvador did, compromised the Augustinian struggle against
the vows of wealth, pride and lust, the Superior told him to return to Spain
and instructed never to return to the Philippines.
• While Rizal’s Noli was attacked severely by the establishment, particularly
the friars, there were those who tried to prove the merits of the novel and
countered the arguments of its attackers.
• One of those who defended Noli, was Fr. Francisco de Paula Sanchez, Rizal’s
teacher in rhetoric at Ateneo.
 ATTACKS AND DEFENSES OF THE NOLI ME
TANGERE
• After reading the pamphlet written by Fr. Rodriquez, he told Rizal that it was
that pamphlet written with the feet and not the Noli Me Tangere
(Epistolario Rizalino, Vol. 5).
• In fact in Rizal’s letter to Blumentritt upon his return to the Philippines after
the publication of the novel, he appreciated how Fr. Francisco de Paula
Sanchez praised and defended the Noli publicly.
• In the conversation that Rizal had with his teacher, he was told that he could
have written an ideal book if he also gave a picture of an ideal priest to
highlight the contrast.
• Rizal, however, replied to this comment by saying that he wrote the Noli not
for the thinking readers but for the public, which does not think.
 ATTACKS AND DEFENSES OF THE NOLI ME
TANGERE
• The greatest defense of the Noli came from a Filipino priest. This priest was Fr.
Vicente Garcia, the translator into Tagalog of the famous Imitation of Christ. Writing
under the pen name Desiderio Magalang, Fr. Garcia refuted Fr. Rodriquez’s
condemnation of the Noli for its alleged blasphemy and heresy.
• According to this Filipino priest, since the book was a work of literature, it should
be judged that way and not on a doctrinal level.
• He further stressed in his defense of the novel that criticisms are made of the
religious orders for their members to mend their ways. Using his knowledge of logic,
he said “If reading the Noli is a mortal sin, then Fr. Rodriquez had also committed
a mortal sin.”
• On the issue of Rizal’s ignorance, Fr. Garcia asserted that the former was not an
ignorant man, considering that he was an alumnus of Spanish universities and a
recipient of numerous academic honors and awards.
 ATTACKS AND DEFENSES OF THE NOLI ME
TANGERE
• Another defender of Rizal’s Noli was Marcelo H. del Pilar. In answer to Fr.
Rodriquez’ pamphlet entitled Caiingat Cayo (Beware). Del Pilar wrote the
pamphlet entitle Be Slippery as an Eel.
• Rizal’s Noli was also defended by his friend, Ferdinand Blumentritt, in 1889
(Schumaster, 1997). Blumentritt’s defense stressed his Catholic orientation.
First he praised both the work of the Jesuits and the friars in the Philippines.
Nonetheless, the religious orders failed to keep up with the times. Thus, their
perception the criticisms made by European-educated Filipinos on the realities
in the Philippines as an outright treason.
• For Blumentritt, Rizal’s novel was a patriotic one. It was a truthful and heartfelt
effort to make Spain realize the need to remedy the social ills plaguing Filipino
society then. Moreover, Blumentritt stressed the point that the Spanish
nationals have to accept these criticisms.
 ATTACKS AND DEFENSES OF THE NOLI ME
TANGERE

• Apparently, the attacks on Rizal and his novel clearly showed the power and
influence of friars who considered their interest of prime importance than
that of the interest of the state. Thus, for Rizal, as the novel Noli Me Tangere
has not yet been judged and cannot be judged rightly as its effects are still
being felt. (Guerrero, 1998).
EL FILINUSTERISMO: A REVOLUTION
THAT FAILED
 EL FILIBUSTERISMO: A REVOLUTION
THAT FAILED

• Rizal completed the revision of El Filibusterismo while he was in Brussels. He

started writing this novel while he was in Calamba and continued working on
it in London in 1888.
• Some parts of the novel were written in Paris and Madrid.
• Nonetheless, the manuscript was completed on March 29, 1891, while he
was in Biarritz (Jose Rizal National Centennial Commision, 1961).
• It was the sequel of the Noli Me Tangere.
 RIZAL IN GHENT
• Rizal left Brussels for Ghent on July 5, 1891.
• His decision to move to this university city of Belgium was prompted by
two reasons (Zaide & Zaide, 1999), namely:
cheaper cost of printing in Ghent; and
the need to evade the enticing attraction of Petite Suzanne.
• It was in this city where Rizal met Jose Alejandro of Pampanga and
Edilberto Evangelista of Manila, who were then studying engineering at
the University of Ghent.
• With meager financial resources on hand, Rizal was forced to live a very
cheap boarding house where Edilberto Evangelista lived.
• With no allowance arriving from his family in Calamba, Rizal practically
had to economize on whatever little amount of money he had. Thus, he
led a life of near starvation in the city of Ghent.
THE PUBLICATION OF EL FILIBUSTERISMO
• After settling in Ghent, Rizal searched for a printing house, which could offer
him the lowest quotation for the printing of the Fili.
• Fortunately, he found the F. Meyer-Van Loo Press willing to publish his novel on
installment basis (Zaide & Zaide, 1999).
• In order to defray the initial payment for the printing of the Fili, Rizal had to
pawn his jewels.
• For the printing to continue, he needed cash. Thus, he became very desperate
thinking that the novel will not come off the press, as funds he expected from
friends did not arrive.
• He, therefore, decided to suspend its printing, until his friend Valentin Ventura
in Paris came to the rescue.
• With the financial assistance extended by Ventura, the publication of the book
was completed on September 1891.
• Rizal shipped to Hong Kong all copies of the Ghent edition, which were
smuggled into the Philippines, except those copies sent to his friends in Spain
(Schumaster, 1997).
 A COMPARISON OF THE NOLI AND FILI
• These two novels differed in many aspects.
• While Noli Me Tangere is a romantic novel, a work of the heart and a book
of feeling; El Filibusterismo is a political novel, a work of the head, and a
book of thought (Zaide & Zaide, 1999).
• Another point of difference between the two novels is in terms of their
dedication. While Rizal dedicated the Noli to his motherland, the Fili was
dedicated to the memory of Gomburza.
• In terms of length of the novel, the Noli is longer since it consists of 64
chapters. On the other hand, the Fili is shorter as it contains of 38 chapters.
• One common trend in both the novels, however, is the awakening of the
Filipinos to the idea that they belong to one nation, to make them realize
they have a motherland to love, whose welfare should be their paramount
concern (Capino et al, 1978).
• Moreover, both novels are focused towards the seeking of reforms in our
society during the Spanish Regime.
 A COMPARISON OF THE NOLI AND FILI

• Rizal advocated peaceful reforms in the Noli through Crisostomo

Ibarra. On the other hand, Rizal advocated a revolution in effecting
reforms in Filipino society in the Fili, through Simoun.
• As pointed out by Zaide & Zaide (1999) both the Fili and Noli were
good novels from the point of view of history.
• One reason was that Noli and Fili depicted the actual conditions in the
Philippines during the time of Rizal. Moreover, both novels were
instrumental in awakening the spirit of Filipino nationalism, which
paved the way for the outbreak of the Revolution of 1896 and the
disintegration of the Spanish colonial empire in the Philippines.
 Synopsis of El Filibusterismo
 Simoun  rich jeweler; hero of El
Filibusterismo
 Two magnificent obsessions of Simoun:
1. To rescue Maria Clara from the nunnery of Santa
Clara
2. To foment a revolution against the hated Spanish
masters
 Tabo  clumsy, roundish shaped steamer
 Passengers of the steamer:
1. Simoun  rich jeweler
2. Doña Victorina  ridiculously Pro-Spanish native
woman
3. Paulita Gomez  beautiful niece of Doña Victorina
4. Ben Zayb (Anagram of Ybañez)  Spanish journalist
who writes silly articles about the Filipinos
5. Padre Sibyla  Vice-Rector of the University of
Santo Tomas
6. Padre Camorra  the Parish priest of the town of
Tiani
7. Don Custodio  Pro-Spanish Filipino holding a
high position in government
8. Padre Salvi  thin, Franciscan friar and former
cura of San Diego
9. Padre Irene  a kind friar who was a friend of
Filipino students
10. Padre Florentino  a retired scholarly and
patriotic Filipino priest
11. Isagani  a poet-nephew of Padre Florentino
and lover of Paulita
12. Basilio  son of Sisa and promising medical
student whose medical education was financed by
Capitan Tiago
13. Cabesang Tales dispossessed of his land in Tiani
by the friars.
14. Juli  daughter of Cabesang Tales, sweetheart of
Basilio, kills herself rather than be dishonored
by Padre Camorra
15. Macaraig  rich student and leader of the Filipino
students in their movement to have an academy where
they could learn Spanish
16. Padre Millon  bigoted Dominican friar-professor,
teaches physics in the UST without scientific experiments
17. Placido Penitente  student of Padre Millon, discontented
with the poor method of instruction in the university
18. Senor Pasta  old Filipino laywer, refuses to help the
Filipino students in their petition to the government for
educational reforms
 19. Tandang Selo  grandfather of Juli and Cabesang Tales’ father
20. Mr American  impressario who owned the sideshow at the
feria of Quiapo exhibiting Egyptian mummy
21. Sandoval  Spanish student who supports the cause of the
Filipino students to propagate the teaching of Spanish
22. Pecson  one of the Filipino students who agitates for the
teaching of Spanish
23. Cabesana Andang  mother of Placido Penitente
24. Pepay  pretty dancer and mistress of Don Custodio
25. Padre Fernandez  good Dominican friar and friend of Isagani
26. Don Timoteo  father of Juanito Pelaez
27. Tano  son of the Cabesang Tales and brother of Juli
28. Chichay  silversmith who made the bridal earrings for
Paulita Gomez
Note:
Basilio was on the belief that redemption of the country rests not on
political revolution but through devotion in science.
 Summary of El Filibusterismo
The story begins on The passengers are Simoun, Dona Victorina,
the clumsy, Tiburcio de Espadana, Paulita Gomez, Ben-
roundish shaped S
Zayb, Padre Sibyla, Padre Camorra, Don
Custodio, Padri Salvi, Padre Irene, Padre
steamer Tabo.
Florentino, Isagani, Basilio.

On the wedding of Paulita

Gomez and Juanito Pelaez, He smuggles arms into the country
Simoun gave a beautiful but his first attempt to begin armed
lamp as a wedding gift. uprising did not materialized because
he hears a news that Maria Clara died.

The lamp will explode, destroying the house where the

wedding feast is going to be held and killing all the guest,
including Governor General, the Friars and the Government
officials.
 Isagani who has been rejected by Paulita,
is standing outside the house, watching
sorrowfully the merriment inside. Basilio,
his friend, warns him to go away because
the lighted lamp will soon explode.
Isagani rushes into the house,
seizes the lighted lamp and hurls it
into the river where it explodes

Simoun was cornered by the soldiers

Lieutenant Perez of Guardia civil informs but he escaped. He was wounded,
the priest by the letter that he would carrying his treasure chest, he sought
come at eight o’clock that night to arrest to refuge in the home of Padre
Simoun. Florentino.

Simoun eluded arrest by taking

poison. He confesses to Padre Padre
Florentino, revealing his true identity, Florentino
his plan, his aim to destroy his friends consoles the
and enemies.. dying man.
Padre Florentino watches Simoun die peacefully
with a clear conscience and at peace with God.
He falls upon his knees and prays for the dead
jeweler.

He takes the treasure chest and throws it in to

the sea.

THE END
SYMBOLIC INTERPRETATION OF THE FILI
• On the more abstract or philosophical level, following the thesis that the Fili is a
study in revolution, the more important characters can be interpreted symbolically.
• Turned cynical and revolutionary as a result of past failures and disappointments,
SIMOUN could be made to represent the portion of Filipino society which, tired of
the oppressor’s rule wanted that rule to be overthrown at all cost, but had no
systematic plan for the new society, if the old one is overthrown.
• MARIA CLARA, who after suffering from untold physical and spiritual abuse for at
least 13 years, at last dies, can still be made to symbolize in the Fili, the friar-
dominated culture, which is now ripe for revolution. That there is no eventual
union between Simoun and Maria Clara, not even meeting between the two since
they parted 13 years ago is significant. Although Simoun wanted very much to see
and possess her, he was not permitted to do so. This is indicative, symbolically
speaking, of Rizal’s refusal to recognize that the friar-dominated Filipino culture
could still be reinvigorated through the infusion of new elements into its anemic
bloodstream.
• SEÑOR PASTA. The idealist turned mercenary, could be made to represent that
portion of Filipino society who have abandoned their noble social ideals and have
become thoroughly self-seeking opportunist, serving only the interest of those who
have hired them.
SYMBOLIC INTERPRETATION OF THE FILI
• ISAGANI, a young student, who is inspired by high ideals for his country but at critical
moment apparently and unwittingly forgets those ideals for selfish reasons, could be made
to symbolize the untested and unreliable idealism of a segment of the educated Filipino
youths of the time.
• PAULITA GOMEZ, the hapless object of Isagani’s affection, a girl who is more free from the
fetters of convention than Maria Clara, can be made to represent that portion of Filipino
womanhood – still half breed like Maria Clara – which is relatively enlightened but which is
itself almost thoroughly bereft of love of country and of a desire for the social good.
• BASILIO, the medical student who, despite the extreme sufferings undergone by his family
as a result of clerical perfidy and cruelty, refuses to entertain any revolution though even
in the face of rampant social injustices, could be made to symbolize that segment of the
educated Filipino society which has been so brutalized that it has become insensible to the
social welfare.
• PLACIDO PENITENTE, is another young man who has been so disillusioned by the state of
affairs he finds himself in as a student, entertains the desire to go abroad. When shown by
Simoun some signs of a possible uprising, he becomes so frightened that he could not make
up his mind whether to join or not join. He persuasively could be made to symbolize those
elements of Philippine society, which had not yet been infused with a national sentiment or
social conscience.
SYMBOLIC INTERPRETATION OF THE FILI
• DON CUSTODIO, a typical Spanish official in the country, who occupies several
positions despite the absence of qualification, believes that any idea that does not
come from him deserves no consideration. As a character in the Fili, Rizal portrayed
him as one who finds pleasure in developing a feeling of inferiority among the
people.
• The pattern of suffering in the El Filibusterismo is depicted in the story of Cabesang
Tales, Juli and the school master (Capino et al, 1978; Schumaster, 1997).
• CABESANG TALES, a victim of land grabbing by the friars, became desperate and
joined the outlaws for personal revenge. He died of fever and found no justice in the
courts.
• JULI, innocent-looking and unaffected daughter of Cabesang Tales and sweetheart
of Basilio, took her own life because of her love for honor and chastity rather than
surrender her womanhood to the mundane desire of Fr. Camorra.
• THE SCHOOL MASTER, rusticated as a rebel for having experimented teaching the
Spanish language to young children against the wishes of the Spanish friars was
pardoned due to the influence wielded by Simoun. Later on, he became Simoun’s
gunpowder expert.
 THE MESSAGE OF THE FILI
• Rizal’s message in El Filibusterismo is very clear: that the present system of
government in the Philippines through corrupt officials, dominated by the friars
can lead to the downfall of Spain.
• Rizal was very certain that because of the nature and operation of the government,
those who are intelligent, generous, hard-working, courageous and loyal citizens
were driven into opposition, crime and subversion.
• The Spanish colonial government for Rizal was arbitrary, cruel, lacking in a sense of
justice and responsibility, without interest in the people under its tutelage.
• While Rizal described the government in a very negative way, his picture of the
friars in the Fili was harsher. In this novel, Rizal painted them as abusing their
power to satisfy their evil desires, to preserve their control of education, to rob of
their land, and to seek their own interests.
• While Rizal lambasted the friars in the Fili and the Spanish corruption, greed,
exploitation, and injustice, he did not spare his fellow Filipinos from his harsh
criticism of the regime.
• He condemned them for their greed, corruption, hypocrisy, and cowardice, which
contributed so much to the abuses of the civil officials and the friars.
 THE MESSAGE OF THE FILI

• Another message communicated by Rizal was on the

course of action Filipinos should to take should Spain not
listen to his warning. As Filipinos had desired assimilation
for a long time, Spain should grant it.
• Should Spain not accede to the clamor for assimilation,
the people may eventually prefer to die rather than
endure the miseries any longer. Violent means to effect
change would thus become inevitable to achieve their
goal.
 THE RELUCTANT REVOLUTIONARY AND HIS
CONCEPT OF INDEPENDENCE
• As already stated, the EL Filibusterismo is a novel about a revolution that failed as
orchestrated by Simoun. Thus, in the Fili, he returned to the Philippines for the
purpose of undermining the Spanish Regime by encouraging corruption in the
government using his wealth and influence and by fomenting economic distress
to prod people to take up arms against the government.
• Simoun attempted twice to carry out his sinister plan. He planned to seize control
of Manila with the help of the outlaws and disaffected Filipino regiment.
• This, nonetheless, failed as Simoun became anesthetized upon learning that Maria
Clara died at the nunnery of Sta, Clara.
• The second plan was to blow up the venue of the wedding feast of Paulita Gomez
and Juanito Pelaez. Through a lamp prepared by him as a gift by the Governor-
general to the new couple. This again did not materialize owing to the
intervention of Isagani, who seized the lamp and threw into the sea.
• Rizal, through Simoun, had come to realize that independence was the solution
to the miseries of the people under Spanish rule.
 THE RELUCTANT REVOLUTIONARY AND HIS
CONCEPT OF INDEPENDENCE
• Through Fr. Florentino, Rizal mouthed his idea on how independence
should be won. This was at the time of Simoun’s retreat at the former’s
house near the sea.
• Rizal’s message from the statement of Fr. Florentino is very lucid: if Filipinos
will not be courageous enough to protest and proclaim their rights, be
willing to sacrifice, and shed off their silence in the face of oppression and
tyranny, then they don’t deserve top be given freedom.
• The conversation that transpired between Fr. Florentino and Simoun, during
the dying moment of Simoun goes to show that Rizal was a reluctant
revolutionary (Guerrero, 1998).
• While he was on the belief that assimilation is not possible and that
independence was the remedy to alleviate the sufferings of the Filipinos
under Spanish rule, Rizal hesitates and backs down.
• To Rizal’s thinking, the Filipinos of his time were not ready for a revolution
as they were not ready for independence (Guerrero, 1998).
THE RELUCTANT REVOLUTIONARY AND HIS
CONCEPT OF INDEPENDENCE
• They were not ready for independence as they were still unworthy to
become independent. They will only be worthy of independence the
moment they had learned to prioritize social good over their personal
advantage and had become a nation. For Rizal, God would provide the
means, be it a revolution or peaceful separation from Spain.
• From the foregoing, Rizal made it plain and clear that the Filipinos
have to make themselves worthy of freedom before they can become
independent.
• Deserving freedom, however, necessitates the need for the Filipinos
to travel the following paths or roads: education; exemplary lives and
willingness to sacrifice for one’s convictions.
 RIZAL AFTER THE FILI
• After the publication of El Filibusterismo, Rizal no longer shared the
view of the reforms that reforms in the country will be granted by the
Spanish government.
• He gave up the idea of gradual and peaceful emancipation of the
country, which he clearly communicated to Blumentritt in 1887.
• As stressed by Rizal in the aforementioned correspondence “peaceful
struggle will just remain a dream, considering that Spain had not
learned the lesson of her former colonies in South America” (Guerrero,
1998).
• Believing that reforms would no longer be granted by Spain, Rizal
became a separatist. As a separatist, he was quite unique considering
that he left to God the attainment of independence.
 RIZAL AFTER THE FILI

• After the publication of the Fili, Rizal was bitterly attacked and
mocked by his fellow reformers in Madrid.
• This can be accounted for by the very radical and subversive tone of
the novel, which renounced the propaganda campaign for peaceful
reforms and assimilation.
• This made Rizal decide to severe his connection with the
propagandists in Madrid to avert possible split in their unity.
• Totally free and detached from the propagandists in Europe, Rizal
opted to return to the Philippines to share the misfortunes of his
family.