rizal031

The Life and Works of Rizal

“It is a useless life that is not consecrated to a great ideal. It is like a stone wasted on the field without becoming a part of any
edifice.” – Jose Rizal
“What moral right has the white man to look down on the men who have similar thoughts, studies, and abilities as they just
because their skin is brown or their nose is flat?” – Jose Rizal

r.a. 1425 - Rizal Law

Introduction
Author Claro M. Recto
Sponsored the Bill in the Senate Jose P. Laurel
Signed into Law on June 12, 1956

 An act to include in curricula of all public and private schools, colleges, and universities’ courses on the life, works,
and writings of Jose Rizal, particularly his novels, Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo
 Composed of six (6) sections
Objectives
a) To enrich the minds of the youth about the history of the Philippines
b) To appreciate Rizal’s ideas and teachings in relation to the present conditions of our country and apply in current
social problems and issues
c) To foster the development of the Filipino youth
Highlights
1. The study of Rizal’s Life, Works, and Writings to bring about nationalism among students
2. The inclusion of works of Rizal in college curriculum, particularly the study of his novels – Noli Me Tangere and El
Filibusterismo
3. The inclusion also of other works of Rizal such as letters, paintings, and travels
4. Funding of the Law in order to give supplemental copies of the novels among public libraries.
5. The implementation of the law
Analysis
 Mandated by law: Adoption of study of Jose Rizal’s Life, Works, and Writings in Private and Public Colleges and
Universities
 Implementation of the study of Rizal’s works (especially Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo) and its translations in
both Filipino and English
 Fostering nationalism == wide range of thoughts on how Rizal and other heroes fought for freedom for the sake of
the country’s necessity to survive against evil imperialism
Brief History
A. Noli Me Tangere
Birth 1884
Purpose “I have tried to do what no man has been willing to do… I have described the state of the
society… I have unmasked the hypocrisy, which under the cloak of religion, came among
us to impoverish… I have unveiled what lay hidden behind the deceptive and brilliant
words of our government: I have told our compatriots of our culpable and shameful
complacence with miseries… the facts which I have related are all true and real; I can give
proof of them…” – Jose Rizal
Initial Reaction Order from Dominican Archbishop Pedro Payo a review of novel
Result: It is a heretical, impious, and scandalous in the religious order, and antipatriotic,
subversive of the public order, offensive to the government of Spain
Attacks a. Fr. Salvador Font – distributed pamphlets, in which he enunciated the attacks that
Rizal allegedly had made on the different aspects of the colonial setup
b. Governor Valeriano Weyler (Butcher of Cuba) – mere possession of the novel will
 be prosecuted
c. Friar Jose Rodriguez – issued series of pamphlets that discussed the dangers of
reading such impious books; put forward threatening questions such as, “Why
should I read them?”, “Beware of them?”, “What do you think of the plaque?”, and
“Confession or Damnation?”
Defense a. Marcelo del Pilar – circulated his own pamphlets, written in Tagalog, the cover
was similar to Fr. Rodriguez’s but opposite contents
b. Fr. Vicente Garcia – argued that Rizal’s novel must be viewed as a literary work,
not as a doctrine. He considered the book as neither heretical nor blasphemous.
c. Jose Rizal – for all its faults, has served its purpose… it has struck the head of
that two-faced Goliath that in the Philippines is called the friar rule and mal-
administration… my book has not yet been judged and cannot be judged (rightly)
because its effects are still being felt. When men it pillories have disappeared
from the country’s political life, when a generation arises which does not itself
participate in these present crimes…

B. El Filibusterismo
Published Late 1891, Europe,
Circulated in the Philippines
Attacks Received same fate as earlier Noli Me Tangere
Governor-General: dedicated to the three priests (Gomburza)  made Rizal to be
sentenced with deportation
Defense Rizal: “with sincerity and impartiality of which a man is capable of looking into his past…
what there was, was a clear-sighted look at the realities in my native country… but now I
see what I call a ‘novel’ come true so exactly that I can say that I am at present the
enactment of this work and taking part in it.”
 Rizal was an actor and a victim
Rizal Bill of 1956
Authored by Senator Claro M. Recto
Senate Bill No. 438
“a constant and inspiring source of patriotism with which the minds of the youth,
especially during their formative and decisive years in school, should be suffused”
DEBATE
PROPONENTS OPPONENTS
a. Catholic Action of the Philippines a. Spirit of 1896 (revolutionary veterans)
b. Congregation of the Missions b. Alagad ni Rizal
c. Knights of Columbus c. Freemasons
d. Catholic Teachers’ Guild d. Book Lovers Society
1) Bill violated religious freedom. 1) “Opponents of the Bill were in effect condemning
(“Why compel students to read these books when some Rizal’s patriotic writings to oblivion, preventing the
passages are harmful to their faith?”) Filipino youth from reading them. This was worse
2) Fr. Jesus Cavana: (after reviewing the novel) found that than what the friars had done; it was tantamount to
a 332-page edition of the Noli Me Tangere contains 120 executing Rizal a second time.”
pages of anti-Catholic statements and only 25 pages of 2) One veteran claimed that he had risked death just to
patriotic pages be able to read the novels of Rizal at the time when
3) “The Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo are books of the Philippines was not yet free
the past, by the past. While they have their place in 3) “My loyalty to my religion ends where my loyalty to
Philippine History, they certainly are inadequate Bible of my country begins.”
Philippine Nationalism today.” 4) Catholic schools threatened to close if Rizal Bill was
4) “Rizal is dead. Why should he be roused from his sleep? passed, but Recto calmly told them to go ahead
Let him rest in peace.” because then, the state could nationalize them.
Some church bigwigs threated to “punish” erring
legislators in future elections, but Recto was
undaunted. (risked losing voters because of his
 principles.
END OF DEBATE
 Senator Jose Laurel: modified bill to accommodate objection of the church
 Compulsory for all public and private schools, colleges, and universities to include in their curricula courses on the
Life, Works, and Writings of Jose Rizal, particularly the Noli Me Tangere and the El Filibusterismo, in their original
and unexpurgated versions. However, it allowed exemptions from reading such versions for reasons of religious
beliefs.

early life
Childhood
i. June 19, 1861 (Calamba, Laguna): Birth of Jose Rizal
o Seventh (7th) child of Francisco Mercado Rizal and Teodora Alonso y Quintos
ii. June 22, 1861: Baptism as Jose Rizal Mercado
o At the Catholic of Calamba
o Parish Priest: Rev. Rufino Collantes
Sponsor: Rev. Pedro Casañas
iii. September 28, 1862: Parochial Church of Calamba and Canonical Books were burned
o Including book in which Rizal’s Baptismal Records were entered
iv. 1864 (barely 3 years old): Rizal learned the alphabet from his mother (first teacher)
o Leon Monroy
 Hired by Rizal’s father
 Taught Rizal the Rudiments of Latin for 5 months until Monroy’s death
v. 1865: Rizal’s sister Conception (8th child) died at the age of 3
o Rizal remembered having shed real tears for the first time
vi. Two (2) of his mother’s cousins frequented Calamba
a) Uncle Manuel Alberto: (Rizal frail in body) Concerned himself with Rizal’s physical development; Taught him
love for the open air; Developed in him admiration for beauty of nature
b) Uncle Gregorio: (a scholar) Instilled in Rizal a love for education
o Advised Rizal: “Work hard and perform every task very carefully; Learn to be swift as well as thorough; Be
independent in thinking and make visual pictures of everything.”
vii. 1869 (8 years old): Rizal wrote his 1st poem “Sa Aking Mga Kabata”
o Written in Tagalog
o Theme: “Love of One’s Language”
Education
FIRST SCHOOL
viii. June 1869 (Sunday afternoon): Jose and his brother Paciano left Calamba for Binan
o Next Monday morning: Paciano bought Jose to the School of Maestro Justiniano Aquino Cruz
o Afternoon of 1st Day of School: Jose met the bully Pedro
 Angry at Pedro for making fun of him during his conversation with the teacher
 Jose challenged Pedro to a fight
 Learned wrestling from Uncle Manuel  defeated Pedro (bigger)
o After class: Andres Salandanan challenged Jose to an arm-wrestling match
 Jose (weaker arm) lost and nearly cracked his head on sidewalk
o Near school: House of Juancho (an old painter)
 Jose spent hours at the painter’s studio
 Juancho freely gave him lessons in drawing and painting  Jose and Jose Guevarra (his
classmate who also loved painting) became Juancho’s apprentices
ix. Academic Studies: Jose beat all Binan boys
o Surpassed them all in Spanish, Latin, and other subject
o All jealous of his intellectual superiority
x. 1870 (before Christmas season): Jose received a letter from his sister Saturnina
 o Arrival of the steamer Talim  take him to Binan to Calamba
xi. December 17, 1870 (Saturday afternoon): Left Binan
xii. February 17, 1872 (sunrise): Martyrdom of Gomburza (Gomez, Burgos, Zamora) by order of Governor General
Izquierdo
o Execution despite archbishop’s plea for clemency because of their innocence
o Mourned by Rizal Family, especially Paciano, and many other patriotic families in the Philippines
ATENEO MUNICIPAL
xiii. 1877 (16 years old): Obtained his Bachelor of Arts Degree from Ateneo Municipal de Manila
o Average: “Excellent”
xiv. 1877 (same year): Enrolled in Philosophy and Letters at University of Santo Tomas
o Simultaneously took courses leading to the Degree of Surveyor and Expert Assessor (Ateneo)
xv. March 21, 1877: Finished latter course
xvi. May 21, 1878: Passed the Surveyor’s Examination
xvii. December 30, 1881: Granted license to practice the profession (previously not allowed because of age, 17 years old)
xviii.1878: Enrolled in Medicine at the University of Santo Tomas
o Unfriendly attitude of professors to Filipino students  failed to win high scholastic honors
RIZAL’S DECISION TO STUDY ABROAD
xix. May 3, 1882: Sailed for Spain
o Continued studies at the Central Universidad de Madrid
xx. June 21, 1884 (23 years old): Conferred the Degree of Licentiate in Medicine
xxi. June 19, 1885: Finished course in Philosophy and Letters
o Grade: “Excellent”
THE SECRET MISSION
xxii. Europe: Rizal published several works with highly nationalistic and revolutionary tendencies
o Hope of securing political and social reform for country + Educating countrymen
o Extensively travelled Europe, America, Asia  mastered 22 language (Arabic, Catalan, Chinese, English,
French, German, Greek, Hebrew, Italian, Japanese, Malayan, Portuguese, Russian, Sanskrit, Spanish,
Tagalog, and other native dialects)
xxiii.March 1887: Noli Me Tangere was published in Berlin
o A satirical novel exposing the arrogance and despotism of the Spanish clergy
xxiv. 1890 (Paris): Rizal reprinted Morga’s Sucessos de las Islas Filipinas
o Annotations to prove that Filipinos had a civilization worthy to be proud of even long before the Spaniards
set foot on Philippine soil
xxv. September 18, 1891 (Ghent): El Filibusterismo was printed
o Second Novel
o Sequel to the Noli Me Tangere, but more revolutionary and tragic
xxvi. Consequence: He and those who had contacts with him were shadowed
o Authorities not only finding faults, but also fabricating charges to pin him down
xxvii. July 6, 1892 – July 15, 1892 (Fort Santiago): Rizal imprisoned
o On a charge that anti-friar pamphlets were found in the luggage of his sister Lucia (arrived with him from
Hong Kong)
Exile
xxviii. Exiled in Dapitan
o Won a lottery
 Used winnings to purchase a land  engagement in agriculture, fishing, and business
 Maintained and operated a hospital
 Conducted classes (taught English and Spanish languages, the arts)
 (1) House intended for when Rizal would stay with his sisters during their regular visits; (2) House for Rizal’s students
xxix. Constructed water dam and relief map of Mindanao (remarkable engineering feats)
o Sciences, vocational courses (including agriculture, surveying, sculpturing, and painting), self-defense; did
some research and collected specimen  entered correspondence with renowned men of letters and
sciences abroad
o With help of students
xxx. August 26, 1896: start of Philippine Revolution
o Pressed down by enemies
o Enlisted witnesses that linked Rizal with the revolt + Not allowed to be confronted by Rizal himself
Martyrdom
xxxi. November 3: Rizal came back to the Philippines via Colon Steamship + Start of Preliminary Investigation for Rizal
o Evidence presented both testimonial and documentary
o Defender: Don Luis Taviel de Andrade
 Rizal was given the right to create his own defense council
xxxii. Fort Santiago (prison cell): Rizal wrote an untitled poem
o Now known as “Mi Ultimo Adios”
o Considered a masterpiece and living document expressing not only hero’s great love of country, but also for
all Filipinos
xxxiii. After mock trial, Rizal was convicted of rebellion, sedition, and of forming illegal association
xxxiv. December 28, 1896: Governor Polavieja approved of decision of court martial and ordered at Bagumbayan (now
Luneta)
xxxv. December 30, 1896 (a cold morning, 35 years old): Rizal was shot at Bagumbayan Field

“I die just when I see the dawn break

Through the gloom of night, to herald the day;
And if color is lacking my blood thou shalt take,
Pour’d out at need for thy dear sake
To dye with its crimson the waking ray.”
- Jose Rizal, 3rd Stanza of his farewell poem, Mi Ultimo Adios
Attributes to Rizal
 Versatile genius
 Architect, artist, businessman, cartoonist, educator, economist, ethnologist, scientific farmer, historian, inventor,
journalist, linguist, musician, mythologist, nationalist, naturalist, novelist, ophthalmic surgeon, poet, propagandist,
psychologist, scientist, sculptor, sociologist, theologian

philippines in rizal’s time

Spanish Conquest
 15th Century: Philippines was invaded by Spain
1563 – 1898 (333 years): Reigned over the Philippines
 Impact on Philippine History:
1. Became Catholic
2. Got new and advanced culture from Europe and Mexico
3. Lost our freedom or independence
Period of Expedition and Exploration: Spanish Expeditions to the Philippines
I. The Magellan Expedition
 i. Ferdinand Magellan (Portuguese in the service of the Spanish crown): looking for a westward route to the
Spice Islands of Indonesia
 Morocco-thief-King Manuel I turned down Magellan-Seville, Spain Casa de Contratacion- Juan de
Andrada – King’s Council – Juan Rodriguez de Fonsica
ii. 1521 March 16: Magellan’s expedition landed on Homonhon Island in the Philippines
 First European to reach the islands
 King Charles I – 5 ships
iii. Rajah Humabon of Cebu was friendly with Magellan and embraced Christianity, but their enemy Lapu-lapu
was not
 Humabon wanted to Kill Lapu-lapu while Magellan wanted to convert Lapu-lapu to Christianity
iv. 1521 April 27: Magellan sailed to Mactan and was killed by the battle by the natives lead by Lapu-lapu
v. 1522 September 6: Victoria (last remaining ship) and 18 men returned to Seville, Spain (out of 300 men who
left for the expedition)
 Juan Sebastian de Elcano (master of Concepcion): took over the command of the expedition after
the death of Magellan and captained Victoria back to Spain
 Earned distinction of being the first to circumnavigate in one full journey
 Took 16 more months for Elcano to return to Spain
o Historic = marked the first circumnavigation of the globe and proved that the world was round
o Magellan expedition started off through the westward route and returning to Spain by going east
Magellan and Elcano’s entire voyage took almost three (3) years to complete
II. Spain sends other Expedition
i. After Spain celebrated Elcano’s return, King Charles decided that Spain should conquer the Philippines
 Five subsequent expeditions were then sent to the Islands

1) Garcia Jofre Loaisa (1525)

2) Sebastian Cabot (1526)
3) Alvaro Saavedra (1527)
4) Ruy Lopez de Villalobos (1542)
5) Miguel Lopez de Legazpi (1564)
 Only the last two (2) actually reached the Philippines;
Only Legazpi succeeded in colonizing the islands
III. Villalobos Expedition
i. 1542 November 1: Ruy Lopez de Villalobos set sail for the Philippines from Navidad, Mexico
ii. 1543 February 2: Following the route taken by Magellan, reached Mindanao
 Established a colony in Sarangani, but could not stay long because of insufficient food supply
iii. Fleet left the island and landed on Tidore in Moluccas
 Captured by the Portuguese
o Remembered for naming our country “Islas Filipinas” in honor of King Charles’ son, Prince Philip, who later
became the King of Spain
IV. Legazpi Expedition
i. Since none of the expedition after Magellan from Loaisa to Villalobos had succeeded in taking over the
Philippines, King Charles stopped sending colonizers to the islands
ii. 1556: Philip II succeeded his father to the throne
 Instructed Luis de Velasco (viceroy of Mexico) prepare a new expedition – to be headed by Miguel
Lopez de Legazpi
 Would be accompanied by Andres de Urdaneta (a priest who had survived the Loasia
mission)
iii. 1565 February 13: Legazpi’s expedition landed in Cebu
 Short struggle with the natives
  Proceeded to Leyte  Camiguin  Bohol (blood compact with chieftain Datu Sikatuna as a sign
of friendship  Able to obtain spices an gold in Bohol
iv. 1565 April 27: Legazpi returned to Cebu
 Destroyed the town of Raja Tupas
 Establish a settlement
v. On orders of King Philip II, 2100 men arrived from Mexico
 Built the port of Fuerza de San Pedro  Spanish Trading Outpost and stronghold for the region
vi. 1570 May 8: Martin de Goiti (headed expedition of 300 men after hearing of riches of Manila) arrived in
Manila
 First welcomed by natives and formed an alliance with Rajah Suliman (Muslim King)
 But locals sensed their true objectives  Battle between troops of Suliman and Spaniards
 Spaniards more heavily armed  conquered Manila, joined later by Lopez de Legazpi
 Legazpi built alliances and made peace with Rajah Suliman, Lakandula, and Matanda
vii. 1571: Legazpi ordered construction of the walled city of Intramuros
 Seat of government of the colony and the capital of the islands
viii. 1572: Legazpi died
 Buried in San Agustin Church in Intramuros
ix. 1574: Manila was bestowed the title “Insigne y Siempre Leal Ciudad de España” (Distinguished and ever
loyal city of Spain) by King Philip II of Spain
WHY WAS THE PHILIPPINES EASILY CONQUERED?
a. Barangays were scattered and were not united by an integrative political or religious system (only Mindanao and Sulu
because of religious reasons were not conquered)
b. Diversity of language  lack of communication among ethnic areas
c. Willingness to cooperate with the Spaniards (numerous blood compacts and treaties)
d. Superiority of Spanish arms and in art of warfare
OLD PICTURES

1. Fort Santiago
An elaborately designed gate in Fort Santiago,
Gate Manila
Manila, guarded by Spanish soldiers
(circa late
(Hexagram, symbol of the Star of David)
1800’s)

2. Filipino Soldiers Filipino insurgents captured a muzzle loading

near Fort San canon from Spanish forces and brought to their
Antonia de trenches near Fort San Antonio de Abad in
Abad, Malata Malate, Manila 1898 – just before American
(circa 1898) forces arrived in Manila

3. Old Pictures of Mansion was Governor General’s residence

Malacañang during the Spanish times.
Palace Building on compound has undergone many
(circa late renovations and extensions.
1800’s to early Official residence of the president of the Republic
1900’s of the Philippines since 1937.

Spanish Captain –General Basilio Augustin

became Governor of the Philippines on April 11,
4. Gen Basilio
1898.
Augustin & Staff
April 23, 1898: In less than 2 weeks, Spain
in Manila
declared war on United States
(circa 1898)
December 10, 1898: Spain signed Treaty of Paris
after losing the war,
 The promenade of choice during Spanish era.
Governor General with his entourage, the elite,
5. Picture of and the masses would come in the afternoon to
Luneta get some fresh air and watch the Spanish military
(circa 1899) band play.
Where special events were held (celebrations,
parades, executions)

Spanish Government
 1565 – 1898 (333 years): Spain reigned over the Philippines
o Spain far away = Spanish King ruled through viceroy of Mexico (another Spanish colony)
King of Spain  Viceroy  Philippines
o 1821: Mexico regained freedom, Spain ruled over Philippines through a governor general
King of Spain  Governor General  Philippines
 Established a centralized colonial government (National Government + Local Government)
 Governor-General
o King’s representative
Highest ranking official in the Philippines
o Implementation of royal decrees and laws
o Power to appoint and dismiss public officials, except those personally chosen by King
o Requirement:
a. Must be a Peninsulares
b. Or a Spaniard born in Spain
o Important Governor Generals
1. Miguel Lopez de Legazpi
2. Guido de Lavezares (replaced Legazpi)
3. Diego de los Rios
POLITICAL STRUCTURE
 Investigates abuse in power:
1) The Residencia
 Special judicial court that investigates the performance of a Governor General who was about to be
replaced
 Incoming Governor General was usually a member
 Submitted report to the King
2) The Visita
 Council of the Indies in Spain sent a government official called the Visitador General to obserVE
conditions in the colony
 Reported findings directly to the King
3) The Royal Audencia
 Served as an advisory body to the Governor General
 Power to check and report on his abuses
 Audited expenditures of colonial government
 Provincial Government
o Local Government Units (LGU) for provinces)
a) Alcaldia (Alcalde Mayor)
 Governed provinces that had fully been fully subjugated under Spanish control already
 Salary: P300/ month
 Duties:
a. Represent the Spanish King and the Governor General
b. Manage day-to-day operations of their provincial government
c. Implement laws
Supervise collection of taxes
 b) Corrigimineto (Corregidor)
o Paid small salary
Enjoyed privileges such as the Indulto de Comercio (right to participate the Galleon Trade)
 Municipal Government
o Gobernadorcillos
 Province was divided into several pueblos (towns) headed by Gobernadorcillos (Little Governors)
 Main duties: Efficient Governance + Tax Collection
 Aided by four lieutenants:
1) Teniente Mayor (Chief Lieutenant)
2) Teniente de Policia (Police Lieutenant)
3) Teniente de Sementeras Lieutenant of the Fields)
4) Teniente de Ganados (Lieutenant of the Livestock)
 Small salaries, but exempted from paying taxes
 Qualifications:
a) Any native or Chinese Mestizo
b) 25 years’ old
c) Literate in oral and written Spanish
d) Cabeza de Barangay for 4 years
 E.g., Emilio Aguinaldo
o Cabeza de Barangay (Barrio Administrator/ Barangay Captain)
 Responsible for the peace and order of the barrio
 Recruited men for public works
 Qualifications:
a) Literate in Spanish
b) Have good moral character and property
c) Served for 25 years = exempted from forced labor
 City Government
o Larger Towns  Ayuntamiento (City)
 Center of trade and industry
 Had a city council called Cabildo
1) Alcalde (Mayor)
2) Regidores (Councillors)
3) Alguacil Mayor (Police Chief)
4) Escribando (Secretary)
ECONOMIC LIFE UNDER SPAIN
 Slow development
 Economic Changes:
1. New Way of Land Ownership
2. Encomienda System
3. Tribute
4. Polo of Forced Labor
5. Abolition of Slavery
6. Galleon Trade & Annual Subsidy from Mexico
7. Introduction of New Plants and Animals
EVILS OF SPANISH COLONIAL SYSTEM:
 Main source of abuse: appointment of immoral, corrupt, unqualified, and lacking in dedication officials
1) The Encomienda System
o “Encomendar” = commend, entrust to one’s care
o Granting lands to certain individuals who had rendered great services to Spain
o Encomendero – person in charge of land
2) Tribute
o Filipinos paid tribute as a symbol of vassalage to Spain
o 8 reales (1 peso) = in kind/ money
 o 1851: increased to 12 reales
1884: cedula repleaced reales
3) Polo (Forced Labor)
o Instituted in 1580
o Imposed on Filipinos (except for chieftains and their sons)
o Required to serve 40 days in the forced labor pool/ polo
o 1884: reduced to 15 days only
4) Bandala
o Annual quota assigned to each province wherein everyone had to make a compulsory sale of their products
to the government
o 17th century: introduced by Governor General Hurtado de Corcueta
5) Divide and Rule
o Recruitment of natives in one region to support the military in putting down revolts in another region
6) Guardia Civil
o Maintain peace and order in the Philippines (but instead abused power)
7) Denial of Human Rights and Inequality Before the Law
8) Racial Discrimination
9) Frailocracy
o Granting the friars to govern the country indirectly

development of filipino nationalism

Causes of Filipino Revolts
a. Desire to regain lost freedom
b. Spanish abuses/ oppression
c. Loss of Filipino Lands
 Reasons why revolts against Spain failed:
1. Absence of Nationalism
2. Lack of National Leaders
Nationalism
 Love of country
 People of the nation become united and work together for common aims
 Devotion to one’s country for its independence
 19th Century: birth of Philippine Nationalism
o Wanted to be independent of Spain
Liberalism from Europe
 Origins of 19th Century Liberalism
 1892: first used when term was adopted by Spanish Political Party Liberales
1868 – 1870: Revolt in Spain
o Deposed Isabella II  establishing a Provisional Republic (liberalism under control)
 General Carlos Maria de la Torre (fierce liberal) brought liberalism in the Philippines + appointed to be Governor-
General
Factors contributing to the birth of Philippine Nationalism
a. Mexico
o 1821: Spain lost their precious trade jewel Mexico in the Pacific
o Revolution erupted and independence was declared
o Viceroyalty of New Spain (Mexico): first and largest provider of resources for the Spanish Empire
b. Opening of the Philippines to the World Trade (1834)
o Philippines was opened by Spain to the World Trade
c. Influx of liberal ideas from Europe
o Liberal ideas contained in books and newspaper, shipped from Europe and America
o Contained thoughts of different political philosophers
 d. Opening of Suez Canal
o Built by Ferdinand de Lesseps
o Made Philippines closer to the world trade, communications, and travel
o 103 miles long, connects the Red Sea and Mediterranean Sea
e. Secularization Movement
o Two kinds of Priests that served the Catholic Church in the Philippines:
i. Regular Priest – belongs to religious order; living according to a rule
ii. Secular Priest – does not belong to any religious order; does not live according to any rule of
religious order, society, or congregation of priests
f. Cavite Mutiny of 1872
o 1871: Governor General Rafael Izquierdo y Gutierrez replaced Governor de la Torre
o Discarded liberal measures by restoring “old order” of the Philippines
o 1872 January 20: About 200 Filipino soldiers and dock workers of Cavite, under the leadership of Sergeant
La Madrid, mutinied and killed their Spanish Officers
 Suppressed and La Madrid and 41 others were executed in Bagumbayan (present – Luneta)
g. Martyrdom of Gomburza
o Fathers Mariano Gomez, Jose Burgos, and Jacinto Zamora accused of treason to Spain and tried in an
unfair trial
o 1872 February 17: Sentenced to death by garrote in Bagumbayan (Luneta)
o Deeply resented unjust execution of the Gomburza
o Claimed to be the true martyrs of their fatherland
o Sped up development of Philippine Nationalism
The Propaganda Movement
 Demanded Reforms:
1) Equality of Filipinos and Spaniards before the law
2) Assimilation of the Philippines as a regular province in Spain
3) Restoration of the Philippine representation in the Spanish Cortes (Parliament)
4) Filipinazation of Parishes
5) Human Rights for Filipinos
Leading Propagandists
1. Jose Rizal (Dimasalang & Laong Laan)
o Jose Protacio Mercado Rizal y Alonzo Realonda
o Most outstanding among the propagandists
o December 30 1896: Shot by firing squad at Bagumbayan (Luneta)
o Greatest writer of the propaganda movement (Noli me Tangere and El Filibusterismo)
2. Marcelo del Pilar (Plaridel)
3. Mariano Ponce (Naning)
4. Antonio Luna (Tagalog)
5. Jose Maria Panganiban (Jomapa)
6. Graciano Lopez Jaena
o 1889: Established La Solidaridad in Barcelona, Spain
o Died of tuberculosis
 La Solidaridad
o Organ of the Propaganda Movement
o Established in February 15, 1889 – October 13, 1889
o December 1889: M.H. del Pilar became editor
 La Liga Filipina
o 1892: Jose Rizal returned to the Philippines and proposed establishment of organization called “La Liga
Filipina”
o 1892 July 3: Election of the following:
a. President: Ambrosio Salvador
b. Fiscal: Agustin dela Rosa
 c. Treasurer: Bonifacio Arevalo
d. Secretary: Deodato Arellano
e. Adviser: Rizal
o Aimed to:
1) Unite the whole country
2) Fight violence and injustice
3) Support education and implement reforms
o No intention of rising up in arms against the Spanish Government, but they still felt threatened
o 1892 July 6: Rizal was arrested and deported to Dapitan
 Stayed until 1896 before outbreak of revolution
 Failure of the Propaganda Movement  Filipinos gave up last hope to peaceful means
o Andres Bonifacio led the Filipinos to a new phase of the Social and Political awareness  founding of the
Katipunan

women in rizal’s life

Women who caught his heart

1. Segunda Katigbak
2. Leonor Valenzuela
3. Leonor Rivera
4. Consuelo Ortiga
5. O Sei San
6. Gertrude Beckett
7. Nellie Boustead
8. Suzanne Jacoby
9. Josephine Bracken
I. Segunda Katigbak
 Puppy love
 Was engaged to be married to a townmate Manuel Luz
 Short
“Mapupula ang kaniyang pisngi, may kahali-halinang ngiti, at para siyang ada, ang buong katauhan niya’y may di-
maipaliwanag na bighani.” – Jose Rizal
II. Leonor Valenzuela
 Tall girl from Pagsanjan
 Sent her love notes written in invisible ink (deciphered through warmth of candle/ lamp)
 Visited her on the eve of his departure to Spain and bade her a last goodbye
“Isa siyang matangkad na dalagang napakaganda ng tindig.” – Jose Rizal
III. Leonor Rivera
 His sweetheart for 11 years
 Played the greatest influence in keeping him from falling in love with other women during his travel
 Her mother disapproved of her relationship with Rizal (a known filibustero)
o His from Leonor all letters sent to her from Rizal
o Leonor believed that Rizal had already forgotten her  consented to marry Englishman Henry Kipping
(mother’s choice)
“Maganda siya, mayumi gaya ng namumukadkad na bulaklak na may mabubuting mata.” – Jose Rizal
IV.Consuelo Ortiga y Rey
 The prettier of Don Pablo Ortiga’s daughters
  Dedicated to her A la Senorita C.O. y R. (became one of his best poems)
 Ortiga’s Residence in Madrid was frequented by Rizal and his compatriots
o Probably fell in love with her and Consuelo asked him for romantic verses
 Suddenly backed out before the relationship turned to serious romance
o Wanted to remain loyal to Leonor Rivera
Did not want to destroy friendship with Eduardo de Lete (madly in love with Consuelo)
“Ang kanyang ganda ay nakakaakit.” – Jose Rizal
V. O Sei San
 A Japanese samurai’s daughter who taught Rizal Japanese art of painting sumie
 Also helped Rizal improve on the Japanese language
 Man without a patriotic mission == married O Sei San and lived a happy and stable life with her in Japan (Spanish
legation offered him a lucrative job)
“Ikaw ang kulay ng kamelya, and pagkasariwa nito, ang pagiging elegante. O Sei San – Sayonara! Sayonara!” – Jose Rizal
VI.Gertrude Beckett
 While Rizal was in London annotating the Sucesos de las Islas Filipinas, he boarded in the house of the Beckett
Family (walking distance from British Museum)
 Blue eyes, buxom girl = oldest of the three Beckett daughters = fell in love with Rizal
 Tottie helped him in his painting and sculpture
 Rizal suddenly left London for Paris to avoid Gertrude (seriously in love with him)
o Before leaving: finish the group carving of the Beckett sisters
o Gave the group carving to Gertrude as a sign of their brief relationship
“Siya ay isang dalagang may asul na mga mata, mapupulang pisngi, at buhok na kulay–kayumanggi.” – Jose Rizal
VII. Nellie Boustead
 Lost Leonor Rivera = entertained thought of courting other ladies
 Guest of the Boustead family at their residence (Resort City of Biarritz): befriended two pretty daughters of his host
Eduardo Boustead
o Rizal used to fence with the sisters at the studio of Juan Luna
o Antonio Luna (Juan’s brother, frequent visitor of the Boustead’s) courted Nellie, but she was deeply
infatuated with Rizal
 In a party held by Filipinos in Madrid: Antonio Luna uttered unsavory remarks against Nellie  Rizal challenged
Luna to a duel
o Luna apologizes to Rizal  averting tragedy for compatriots
 Love affair did not end in marriage
o Rizal refused to be converted to the Protestant faith (Nellie’s demand)
o Nellie’s mother did not like a physician without enough paying clientele to be a son-in-law
 Parted as good friends when Rizal left Europe
“Isa siyang dalagang tunay na matalino, masayahin, at matuwid.” – Jose Rizal
VIII. Suzanne Jacoby
 1890: Rizal moved to Brussels because of the high cost of living in Paris
o Lived in the boarding house of the two Jacoby sisters
 Fell deeply in love with each other
 Cried when Rizal left Brussels, wrote him when he was in Madrid
IX.Josephine Bracken
 Last days of February 1895 (Dapitan): Rizal met an 18-year-old petite Irish girl (blue eyes, brown hair, happy
disposition)
 Adopted daughter of George Taufer (from Hong Kong, came to Dapitan to seek Rizal for eye treatment)
 Physically attracted to her
o Loneliness and boredom got to him
 Rizal’s sisters suspected Josephine as an agent of the friars  considered her as a threat to his security
 Asked Josephine to marry him, but she was not ready to make decision because of her responsibility to blind Taufer
o March 1895: Taufer left for Hong Kong because his blindness was untreatable
 o Josephine stayed with Rizal’s family in Manila
 Her return to Dapitan  Rizal tried to arrange their marriage with Father Antonio Obach
o Priest wanted a retraction as precondition before marrying them
o (Advice of family and friends, Josephine’s consent): took her as his wife without Church’s blessings
 Gave birth to a prematurely stillborn baby (result of an incidence)
“Siya ay balingkinitan, may buhok na kulay kastanyas, asul na mga mata, simpleng manamit, at masayahin.” – Jose Rizal

rizal’s educational experience

The Hero’s First Teacher: Doña Teodora (his mother)
 3 years old: alphabet and prayers
 Patient, conscientious, understanding
 First discovered that Rizal had a talent for poetry  encouraged him to write
 Related many stories to lighten monotony of ABC’s and stimulate his imagination
o El Amigo De Los Ninos (Ang Mga Kaibigan ng mga Bata)
o The Moth Story
 Rizal’s parents employed private tutors to give him lessons at home:
1) First Tutor: Maestro Celestino
2) Second Tutor (Arithmetic): Maestro Lucas Padala
Leon Monroy
 Former classmate of Rizal’s father
 Lived at the Rizal home + Instructed Rizal in Spanish and Latin
 Did not live long (died five months later)
 Monroy’s death  parents decided to send him to a private school in Biñan
Rizal moves to Biñan
 June 1869 (Sunday afternoon): Rizal left Calamba Biñan
o Paciano accompanied Rizal in his trip aboard a carromata
o Lasted for 1 and a half hour; proceeded to Aunt’s house (where Rizal lodged)
 Sunday night: cousin Leandro invited him for a walk around town (familiarization), but Rizal felt homesick and
remembered mother and sisters
First Day at Village School
 Accompanied by Paciano to village school under Master Justiniano Cruz (Paciano’s teacher during elementary)
 Pedro: son of Maestro Cruz
o Laughed at Rizal because of his response to the Maestro’s question
o Afternoon: Rizal challenged Pedro to a fight
 After class: Andres Salandanan (classmate) challenged him to arm-wrestling match
 Had other fights with Biñan boys in succeeding days
o Was not quarrelsome by nature, but never ran away from a fight
Academic Studies at the Village School
 Able to demonstrate intellectual superiority (best in Spanish, Latin, and other classes)
 Object of jealousy by classmates  made to look bad in front of Maestro and was punished
 Did not enjoy schooling at village school under Justiniano Cruz
o Did not like his teacher; described as tall man with long neck and sharp nose and body bent slightly forward
 End:
o Returned to Calamba after receiving letter from Saturnina
o 1870 December 17: able to return to his hometown by boarding steamship (Talim)
Studies at Ateneo and UST
SCHOLASTIC TRIUMPHS AT ATENEO DE MANILA (1872 – 1877)
 Sent to Manila 4 months after martyrdom of Gomburza and Doña Teodora in prison
 Studied in Ateneo de Municipal (college under supervision of the Spanish Jesuits)
o Bitter rival of Dominican-owned College of San Juan de Letran
 o 1817: formerly Escuela Pia (Charity School) for poor boys in Manila
o 1859: name was changed into Ateneo de Municipal  later, Ateneo de Manila
1. 1872 June 10: accompanied by Paciano to take entrance exams on Christian Doctrine arithmetic and reading at the
College of San Juan de Letran
o Father was the one who wished him to study at Letran, but he changed his mind and sent Rizal to Ateneo
2. Father Magin Ferrando (college registrar of Ateneo Municipal) refused to admit Jose because
a. Late for registration
b. Sickly and undersized for his age (11 years old)
o Intercession of Manuel Xerxes Burgos (nephew of Father Burgos)  admitted to Ateneo
3. Adopted surname “Rizal” at Ateneo instead of Mercado because it came under suspicion of the Spanish authorities
4. Located in Intramuros (within walls of Manila), so he ooarded in a house on Caraballo Street
o 25 min walk from the college
o Owned by Titay (owed Rizal family Php 300
o Boarded there to collect part of debt
5. Jesuit System of Education
o Jesuits trained character of the student by rigid discipline, humanities, and religious instructions
o Heard mass early in the morning before the beginning of daily class
o Classes opened and closed with prayer
o Students divided into two groups:
a. Roman Empire
b. Carthaginian Empire
 Each empire had rank
 Students fought for positions
 With 3 mistakes, opponents could lose his position
1st Best Emperor
2nd Best Tribune
3rd Best Decurion
4th Best Centurion
5th Best Standard-Bearer
6. Rizal’s First Year in Ateneo (1872 0 1873)
o First professor: Fr. Jose Bech
o Placed at the bottom of the class since he was a newcomer and knows little Spanish
o Externo (Catharginians), occupying the end of the line
End of the month: became Emperor of his empire
o Brightest pupil in class, and was awarded with a religious prize
o Took private lessons in Santa Isabela College during noon recesses to improve on his Spanish language
(Php 3 for extra lessons)
7. Summer Vacation (1873)
o Didn’t enjoy his summer because his mother was in prison; Neneng (Saturnina) brought him to Tanawan
o Without telling his father, went to Santa Cruz to visit his mother
 Told her of his brilliant grades
o After summer, returned to Manila
 boarded inside Intramuros at No. 6 Magallanes Street
 Doña Pepay: landlady
8. Second Year in Ateneo (1873 – 1874)
o End: Received excellent grades in all subjects and a gold medal
o Count of Monte Cristo by Alexander Dumas
 First favorite novel, deep impression
Universal History by Cesar Cantu
 Persuaded his father to buy him this set of historical work (great aid to in his studies)
o Dr. Feodor Jagor
 German scientist-traveler who visited the Philippines (1859 – 1860)
 Wrote Travels in the Philippines
9. Third Year in Ateneo (1874 – 1875)
o Grades remained excellent in all subjects, but he only won one medal (Latin)
o End (march 1875): returned to Calamba for summer vacation
 Not impressed by his scholastic work
10. Fourth Year in Ateneo
o 1875 June 16: Became an interno in Ateneo
o Padre Francisco de Paula Sanchez
 Great educator and scholar
 One of Rizal’s professors who inspired him to study him to study harder and to write poetry
 Described as “model of uprightness, earnestness, and love for the advancement of his pupils
o Topped all his classmates in all subjects and won five medals at the end of the school term
11. Last Year in Ateneo (1876 – 1877)
o Most brilliant Atenean of his time, pride of the Jesuits
o Graduated with highest honors
o 1877 March 23 (16 years old): degree of Bachelor of Arts (with highest honor)
o Night before graduation: could not sleep
Early in the morning: prayed to the Virgin to commend his life and protect him as he enters the world
12. Extracurricular Activities in Ateneo
a. Marian Congregation
 active member, later secretary
 Accepted because of academic brilliance and devotion to Our Lady of Immaculate Concepcion
(college patroness)
b. Academy of Spanish Literature
Academy of Natural Sciences
c. Agustin Saez, painter (painting)
Romualdo de Jesus (sculpture)
d. Tio Manuel (physical traning)
13. Sculptural Works in Ateneo
a. Image of the Virgin Mary on a piece of Batikuling (Philippine hardwood) with pocketknife
b. Image of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
 Requested by Father Lleonart
 Intended to take the image with him to Spain but forgot
Ateneo boarders placed it on the door of their dormitory
Significant part in Rizal’s last hours at Fort Santiago
 Victim of Spanish Officer’s Brutality
o Dark night, 1878 summer vacation, Calamba
o Passed by a lieutenant of the Guardia Civil, but failed to recognize
Lieutenant slashed Rizal’s back with his sword
Reported to General Prime de Rivera, Spanish governor general, but no resolution was done (because of
racial discrimination)
o 1887 March 21: “I went to Captain-General but I could not obtain justice; my wound lasted two weeks.”
 “To the Filipino Youth” (1879)
o Literary contest by Artistico- Literario (Artistic-Literary Lyceum)
o 18 years old: submitted poem “A La Juventud Filipina” (To the Filipino Youth)
o First Prize: a feather-shaped gold ribbon decorated silver pen
o Beseeched Filipino to rise from lethargy, to let their geniuses fly swifter than the wind, and descend with art
science to break the chains that have long bound the spirit of the people
o Classic because
a. First great poem in Spanish written by a Filipino, whose merit was recognized by Spanish literary
authorities
b. Expressed for the first time the nationalistic concept that Filipinos, and not the foreigners, were the
“fair hope of the Fatherland”
 The Council of the Gods (1880)
 o
Another literary contest by the Artistic-Literary Lyceum to commemorate the 4th centennial death of
Cervantes (Spanish author of Don Quixote)
 Manuel de Cervantes – Spain’s glorified man of letter
o Submitted an allegorical drama, El Consejo de los Dioses (The Council of the Gods)
o Allegory based on Greek Classics
o Aided by Father Rector (Of Ateneo) in securing needed reference materials
o Participated by priest, laymen, professors of UST, newspapermen, scholars
o Won first prize: gold ring engraved with the bus of Cervantes
D.N. del Puzo – Spanish writer won 2nd price
 Champion of Filipino Students
o Frequent student brawls between Filipinos and Spaniards
o 1880: founded Companerismo (Comradeship) – secret society of Filipino UST Students
Chief of the society
Secretary: Galicano Apacible (cousin)
o Wounded on the head, brought Rizal to Casa Tomasina where Leonor Rivera took care of him
UNHAPPY DAYS AT THE UST
 Unhappy at the Dominican institution because:
a. Dominican professors were hostile to him
b. Filipino students were racially discriminated by Spaniards
c. Method of instruction was obsolete and repressive

Decision to study abroad
 Decided to study in Spain after finishing fourth year of medical course
People who approved People who did not know of his decision
Older brother Paciano Rizal’s Parents
Sisters Saturnina (Neneng) and Lucia Leonor Rivera
Uncle Antonio Rivera Spanish Authorities
Valenzuela Family
Some friends

“Without education and liberty, which are the soil and the sun of man, no reform is possible, no measure can give the result
desired.” – Jose Rizal

rizal’s ideals and philosophies

Education  Important in the development of a nation and its people
 Peaches the need of education; “Ignorance is slavery”
 Learning should be adaptable to the needs/ actual life of the people
 “Ang kabataan ang pag-asa ng bayan.”

Nationalism  Portrayed the image of Filipino women in the character of Maria Claria
 Family (smallest social group and economic unit) – associated with certain positive concepts
such as dedication and love
 In order to gain rights and freedom  Filipinos needed to adopt their own nationalistic
identity as the Spanish does

Educational  Centers on the provision of proper motivation  bolster the great social forces  make
Philosophy education success
 Create in youth innate desire to cultivate their intelligence and give them life eternal
 Elevate the country to the highest seat of glory
 Develop people’s mentality
 Country would be saved from domination through education
 Religious  Salvation was not only for Catholics
Philosophy  Salvation was not possible even if Catholics composed only small minority of world religious
groups
 Fasting is not sacrifice
 Did not believe in sale of such religious items (e.g., cross, medals, rosaries) in order to
propagate Faith and raise Church funds

Political  A conquered country like the Philippines should not be taken advantage of
Philosophy  Study and application of reforms, extension of human rights, training for self-government,
arousing of spirit of discontent over oppression, brutality, inhumanity, sensitiveness, and self-
love

Ethical Philosophy  Study of human behavior whether it is good/ bad right/ wrong
 Not only the forces of good any evil, but also tendencies towards good and evil

Social Philosophy  Body of knowledge relating to society, including the wisdom which man’s experience in
society
 Dealt with:
1. Man in society
2. Influential factors in life
3. Racial problems
4. Social constant
5. Social justice
6. Poverty and wealth
7. Social ideal
8. Reforms
9. Youth and greatness
10. History and Profess
11. Future Philippines

noli me tangere
Author and Novel’s Style
 Refers to the method and device that the author uses
Style refers to language
 Historical novel
o Mostly fictional characters but also historical people like Father Burgos (lived in actual places within colonial
system, in a then colonized land)
o Exaggeration in portrayals of friars Damaso, Salvi, Sibyla, two women preoccupied with prayers and
novenas, and Espadañas
o But follows rules of realism
 Humor worked best
o More serious presentation of the general practices of religion during that time (to now) would have given
novel darker and pessimistic tone
o Lavish Fiesta = comic antics at church; ridiculous expense for one day of festivities
Title
 Latin: “Touch Me Not”
 John 20:17 – Mary Magdalene hold on to Jesus, and he tells her not to touch him
Jesus said to her: “Stop clinging to me. For I have not yet ascended to the Father. But be on your way to my brothers
and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and to you Father and to my God and your God.”
Cover

 Shows both the best and worst of Philippine Life (a – f; g – i)

a) Woman – constancy
b) Tombstone – religious faith
c) A Laurel and the flower of a Pomelo (worn by bride and groom at a wedding) – purity
d) Secret words partly covered by title – inner dedication by Rizal to his parents
Amis P(adres.) al escribir e(sta obra he estado) pensando continuamente e(n vosotros que me) habeis infundido los
(primeros pensamientos) y las primeras ideas; a (vosotros os dedi)co este manuscrito de me (joventud com p)rueba de amor.
Berlin, (21 Febrero de) 1887
e) Mirasol flower – youth seeking the sun
f) Author’s Name (green of renewal) + Bamboo (most enduring of all Philippine trees)
g) Helmet of the Civil Guard
h) Whip and instruments of torture
i) Foot of a friar

Preface
 Promise: “to reproduce the condition (of the country) faithfully, without discrimination”
Wants to sacrifice “to truth everything”
 Dedication Page: “I will strive to reproduce thy condition faithfully, without discriminations; I will raise a part of the veil
that covers the veil…”
o Intention of giving an accurate picture of the conditions in the Philippines at the time
o Good idea what the main theme would be
Theme
 Element of fiction – idea that runs through the whole novel, repeated again, and again in various forms and ways
 Gospel of John
o When Jesus showed himself after the Resurrection, it was first to Mary Magdalene
Called her, she turned around, and saw him – but he didn’t want her to touch him
“Do not cling to me, because I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to your brother and tell them: I
am ascending to my father and your Father, my God and your God
o Need for distance
o Longing and unfulfilment
o No more tragic love than two beings unable to reach each other (such a love remains unblemished)
 Persistently unmasks contemporary Spaniards in the Philippines of every kind
 Exposes corruption and brutality of the civil guards which drive good men into crime and banditry
 Administration crawling with self-seekers, making their fortune at the expense of the Filipinos
o Few officials who are honest and sincere are unable to overcome treacherous workings of the system and
their efforts to help the country often end up in frustration/ self-ruin
  Rizal’s expose of corrupt friars who have made the Catholic religion an instrument for enriching and perpetuating
themselves in power  seeking to mire ignorant Filipinos in fanaticism and superstition
o Instead of teaching Filipinos true Catholicism, they control the government by opposing all progress +
persecuting members of the ilustrado (unless they make themselves servile flatterers)
 Problems of the Filipinos:
a. Superstitious and hypocritical fanaticism (consider themselves religious people)
b. Ignorance, corruption, and brutality of the Filipino civil guards
c. Passion for gambling unchecked by the thought of duty and responsibility
d. Servility of the wealthy Filipino towards the friars and government officials
e. Ridiculous efforts of Filipinos to disassociate themselves from their fellow men/ lord over them
 Virtues and Good Qualities of Filipinos:
a. Modesty and devotion of the Filipina (unstinting hospitality of the Filipino family)
b. Devotion of the parents to their children (and vice versa)
c. Deep sense of gratitude
d. Solid common sense of untutored peasant
 Calls on Filipino to recover their self-confidence, appreciate their own worth, return their heritage of their ancestors,
assert themselves as equal to the Spaniard
 Need of education, dedication to the country, and of absorbing aspects of foreign culture that would enhance native
traditions
Characters
MAJOR CHARACTERS
1. Ibarra (Juan Crisostomo Ibarra y Magsalin)
o Son of a Filipino businessman (Don Rafael Obarra)
o Studied in Europe for 7 years
o Maria Clara’s fiancé
o Return: requested local government of San Diego to construct a public school to promote education in town
2. Maria Clara (Maria Clara de los Santos y Alba)
o Raised by Kapitan Tiago (San Diego’s cabeza de barangay)
o Most beautiful and widely celebrated woman in San Diego
o Later revealed to be illegitimate daughter of Padre Damaso (former parish curate of town) and Doña Pia
Alba (wife of Kapitan Tiago)
o End: entered a local covenant for nuns Beaterio de Santa Clara
3. Capitan Tiago (Don Santiago de los Santos)
o A Filipino businessman, cabeza de barangay/ head of the barangay of San Diego
o Known father of Maria Clara
o Good Catholic, friend of the Spanish Government, considered Spanish by the colonialists
o Never attended school, became a domestic helper of a Dominican friar who taught him informal education
o Married Pia Alba from Santa Cruz
4. Padre Damaso (Damaso Verdolagas)
o Franciscan Friar, former parish curate of San Diego
o Notorious character who speaks harsh words, cruel priest
o Real father of Maria Clara, enemy of Crisostomo’s father (Rafael Ibarra)
o Had bitter arguments with Maria Clara whether she would marry Alfonso Linares/ go to a convent
o Reassigned to a distant town and found dead one day
5. Elias
o Ibarra’s mysterious friend and ally
o First appearance as a pilot during a picnic of Ibarra and Maria Clara and her friends
o Wants to revolutionize the country and be freed from the Spanish oppression
6. Filosofo Tasyo (Pilisopo Tasyo)
o Seeks reforms in the government; expresses ideals in paper written in cryptographic alphabet (similar to
hieroglyphs) hoping “that the future generations may be able to decipher it”
o Realized the abuse and oppression done by the conquerors
 o “Don Anastacio”
o Educated inhabitants of San Diego labelled him such Pilosopo Tasyo (Tacio the Sage)
Others: “Tacio el Loco” (Insane Tasyo) – exceptional talent for reasoning
7. Sisa, Crispin, Basilio
o A Filipino family persecuted by Spanish authorities
a. Narcisa (Sisa)
 Deranged mother of Crispin and Basilio
 Beautiful and young
 Loves her children but cannot protect them from the beatings of her husband Pedro
b. Crispin
 7 years old
 Altar boy; unjustly accused of stealing money from the church
 Failing to force him to return money (allegedly stolen)  Father Salvi and head sacristan killed him
c. Basilio
 10 years old
 Acolyte; ring the church bells for the Angelus
 Faced dread of losing his younger brother and his mother falling into insanity
8. Others:
d. Padre Hernando de la Sibyla
 Dominican friar
 Short + fair skin
 Instructed by an old priest in his order to watch Ibarra
e. Padre Bernardo Salvi
 Franciscan curate of San Diego, secretly lusting over Maria Clara
 Very thin and sickly
 “Salvi” = Salvation/ short for “Salvaje” (bad hinting to the fact that he is willing to kill an innocent
child just to get his money back of 2 onzas with inadequate evidence)
f. Alperes (El Alferez)
 Chief guard of the Guardia Civil
 Mortal enemy of the priests for power in San Diego
 Husband of Doña Consolacion
g. Doña Consolacion
 Wife of the Alferez
 “la musa de los guardias civiles” (the muse of the Civil Guards)/ la Alfereza
 Former laundrywoman who passes herself as Peninsular
 Abusive treatment to Sisa
h.
9.