SEMI-FINALS COVERAGE

Chapter 7- Noli Me Tangere

Chapter 8- El Filibusterismo
Chapter 9- The Philippines: A Century Hence

CHAPTER 6 NOLI ME TANGERE

managed to finish the first half of the Noli me Tangere in Madrid. He continued writing in Paris where he was inspired
ugh the immortal declaration of the rights of man, that had been passed and being implemented. He finished it in
many where scientific research and philosophy were free from the church and state control.
Noli Me Tangere was printed in Berlin because Rizal was short of funds. He was charged P300.00 for 2000 copies. His
nd Maximo Viola offered to pay the amount and the book was finally released in March 1887.
l studied Hebrew to enable him to interpret the Bible in its original text and be better prepared to defend any
roversial religious issues that Noli Me Tangere might arise. He had translated some passage from the Bible that he
d in his book.
i Me Tangere” is a Latin phrase that Rizal took from the Bible, meaning “Touch Me Not” In John 20:13-17, the newly-
n Christ says to Mary Magdalene: “Touch me not; I am not yet ascended to my Father, but go to my brethren, and say
o them I ascend undo my Father and your Father, and to my God and your God.”
Me Tangere (The Social Cancer as the alternative English title) is a Spanish-language novel written by Dr. Jose P. Rizal
is credited with the awakening of nationalism among the Filipinos of Rizal’s time. It was published in 1887 in Berlin.
novel is commonly referred to by its shortened name Noli. The English translation of Charles Derbyshire was titled The
al Cancer, although some other translation retains the original Latin.

mmary of Noli Me Tangere

ing completed his studies in Europe, young Juan Crisostomo Ibarra came back to the Philippines after a 7-year absence.
is honor, Captain Tiago threw a get-together party, which was attended by friars and other prominent figures. In an
ortunate incident, former curate Father Damaso belittled and slandered Ibarra. But Ibarra brushed off the insult and
no offense, he instead politely excused himself and left the party because of an allegedly important task.

day after the humble party, Ibarra went to see Maria Clara, his love interest, a beautiful daughter of Captain Tiago and
affluent resident of Binondo, Manila. Their long-standing love was clearly manifested in this meeting, and Maria Clara
not help but reread the letters her sweetheart had written her before he went to Europe. Before Ibarra left for San
go, Liuetenant Guevarra, a Guardia Civil, revealed to him the incidents preceding the death of his father, Don Rafael
ra, a rich haciendero of the town.

ording to the Lieutenant, Don Rafael was unjustly accused of being a heretic. In addition to being a filibuster-an
gation brought forth by Father Damaso because of Don Rafael’s non-participation in the Sacraments, such as Confession
Mass. Father Damaso’s animosity against Ibarra’s father was aggravated by another incident when Don Rafael helped
on a fight between a tax collector and a student fighting, and the former’s death was blamed on him, although it was
deliberate. Suddenly, all of those who thought ill of him surfaced with additional complaints. He was imprisoned, and
when the matter was almost settled, he got sick and died in jail. Still not content with what he had done, Father
maso arranged for Don Rafael’s corpse to be dug up and transferred from the Catholic cemetery to the Chinese
etery, because he thought it inappropriate to allow a heretic such as Don Rafael a Catholic burial ground.
ortunately, it was raining and because of the bothersome weight of the cadaver, the men in charge of the burial
ded to throw the corpse into lake.

Revenge was not in Ibarra’s plans; instead he carried thought his father’s plan of putting up a school, since he
d that education would pave the way to his country’s progress (all over the novel the author refers to both Spain and
 ilippines as two different countries which form part of a same nation or family, being Spain the mother and the
nes the daughter). During the inauguration of the school, Ibarra would have been killed in a sabotage had Elias-a
ious man who had warned Ibarra earlier of a plot to assassinate him-not saved him. Instead the hired killer met an
unate incident and died. The sequence of events proved to be too traumatic for Maria Clara who got seriously ill but was
cured by the medicine Ibarra sent her.

After the inauguration, Ibarra hosted a luncheon during which Father Damaso, uninvited and gate-crashing the
on, again insulted him. Ibarra ignored the priest’s insolence, but when the latter slandered the memory of his dead
he was no longer able to restrain himself and lunged at Father Damaso, prepared to stab the latter for his imprudence.
onsequence, Father Damaso excommunicated Ibarra. Father Damaso took this opportunity to persuade the already-
t father of Maria Clara to forbid his daughter from marrying Ibarra. The friar wished to marry a Peninsular named
who has arrived from Spain.

With the help of Captain-General, Ibarra’s excommunication was nullified and the Archbishop decided to accept
a member of the Church once again. But, as fate would have it, some incident of which Ibarra had known nothing
nothing was blamed on him, and he was wrongly arrested and imprisoned. But the accusation against him was
ed because during the litigation that followed, nobody could testify that he was indeed involved. Unfortunately, his
o Maria Clara somehow got into the hands of the jury and was manipulated such that it then became evidence against

Meanwhile, in Captain Tiago’s residence, a party was being held to announce the upcoming wedding of Maria Clara
nares. Ibarra, with the help of Elias, took this opportunity and escaped from prison. But before leaving, Ibarra talked to
Clara and accused her for betraying him, thinking that she gave the letter to wrote her to the jury. Maria Clara explained
ra that she will never conspire against him but that she was forced to surrender Ibarra’s letter to her in exchange for
ers written by her mother even before she, Maria Clara, was born. The child and that she, Maria Clara, was therefore
daughter of Captain Tiago, but of Father Damaso.

Afterwards, Ibarra and Elias bounded a boat and left the palace. Elias instructed Ibarra to lie down and the former
d the latter with grass to conceal the latter’s presence. As luck would have it, they were spotted by their enemies. Elias
t he could outsmart them and jumped into the water. The guards rain shots on the person in the water, all the while
owing that they were aiming at the wrong man.

Maria Clara, thinking that Ibarra has been killed in the shooting incident, was greatly overcome with grief. Robbed
e and severe disillusion, she asked Father Damaso to confine her into a nunnery. Father Damaso reluctantly agreed
Maria Clara threatened to take her own life, demanding, “ the nunnery or death!” Unbeknown to her, Ibarra is still alive
le to escape. It was Elias who had taken the shots. It was Christmas Eve when Elias woke up in the forest, gravely
ed and barely alive. It was in the forest that Elias found Basilio and his lifeless mother, Sisa.

Noli Me Tangere was Rizal’s first novel. He was 26 at its publication. This book was historically significant and was
mental in establishing the Filipino’s sense of national identity. The book indirectly influenced a revolution although the
Jose Rizal, actually advocated for direct representation to the Spanish government and larger role of the Philippines
the Spanish political affairs. The novel was written in Spanish, the language of the educated at a time when Filipinos
makedly segregated by diverse native languages and regional.

novel created so much controversy that only a few days after his arrival, Governor-General Emilio Terrero summoned
to the Macanang Palace and told him of the charges saying that his Noli Me Tangere was full of subversive ideas. After
scussion, the liberal Governor General was appeased; but he mentioned that he was unable to offer resistance against
 pressure of the Chruch to act against the book. The persecution can be discerned from Rizal’s letter to Ferdinand
mentritt in Leitmeritz.

book was instrumental in creating a unified Filipino national identity and consciousness, as many Filipinos previously
tified with their respective regions to the advantage of the Spanish authorities. It lampooned, caricatured and exposed
ous elements in the colonial society.
CHARACTERS OF NOLI ME TANGERE
l included around 30 characters in the novel. Below are some of the major characters of the story that represents
ditions of the Philippines.
Crisostomo Ibarra – also known in his full name as Juan Crisostomo Ibarra y Magsalin, a Filipino who studied in
ope for 7 years, the love interest of Maria Clara. Son of the deceased Don Rafael Ibarra; Crisostomo changed his
name from Eibarramendia to Ibarra, from his ancestor’s surname. The main and most important character in the novel
ifesting in him the Filipino who acquired European idea through his education in Europe. In the novel, Ibarra’s
onality will result in the disagreements of liberal idealism in education and conservatism represented by the Catholic
rch.
Elias – Ibarra’s mysterious friend, a master boater, also a fugitive. He was referred to at one point as “the pilot”.
wants to revolutionize his country. In the past, Ibarra’s grandfather condemned his grandfather of burning a
ehouse, making Elias the fugitive he is. The character that Rizal placed to represent the Filipino masses who suffered
m Spanish brutalities and abuse due to their powerlessness in the novel and in real Philippines social situation of that
e.
Maria Clara – Maria Clara de los Santos, Ibarra’s sweetheart; the illegitimate daughter of Father Damaso and Pia
. In her, Ibarra has fallen in-love, she also mirrored the Filipino woman of religious upbringing and orientation, and
ugh her love to Ibarra, and she represents true fidelity and religiosity of the woman in real Filipino society.
Father Damaso – also known in his full name as Damaso Verdoglagas, a fiar and Maria Clara’s biological father.
antagonist in character and represents the in Christian works for the Catholic friars who are in the church.
Sisa – the mother of Basilio and Crispin who became insane after losing his sons. She represented in the novel a
plight of the Filipina mothers losing her two sons; Basilio and Crispin. In the novel, Sisa loses her sanity.
Kaptain Tiago – also known in his full name as Don Santiago de los Santos, the known father of Maria Clara but
the real one, lives in Binondo. An illegal opium leader who subsequently was a landlord. He represented a different
re in religion and thus, more of a businessman who used his money to work for him even in religious life and
gations.
Pilosopong Tasyo – also known as Don Anastacio, portrayed in the novel as pessimistic cynic, and mad by his
hbors. He portrays the role of a Philosopher who was completely misunderstood in many aspects, he argues with the
ef of the Catholic Church and social changes and concerns in the novel.
Dona Victorina – Victorina de los Reyes de De Espadana, a woman who poses herself as a Peninsulares. Wife of
Tiburcio de Espadana, known in the novel as a trying hard rich woman who abhors anything that is Filipino and clings
Spanish way of life. This kind of character was manifested on some Filipinos of that time.
Pedro – abusive husband of Sisa who loved cockfighting.
Don Rafael Ibarra – known in the plot as a concerned citizen and property owner who was a father of
stomo Ibarra. Padre Damaso who played an antagonist role called him a heretic and rebel due to his view on relating to
lism in society.
The School Master – A teacher at San Diego who’s view in the novel represented the weak and useless
ation in the Philippines. He attributes the problem from facilities and methods of learning that the friars implemented in
ountry.
. Tandang Pablo – The leader of the rebels, whose family was destroyed because of the Spaniards.
. Basilio – the elder son of Sisa.
. Crispin – the younger son of Sisa who died from the punishment of the soldiers from the false accusation of stealing
an amount of money.
. Padre Sibyla – Hernando de la Sibyla, a Filipino friar. He is described as short and has fair skin.
. Padre Salvi – also known in his full name as Bernardo Salvi, a secret admirer of Maria Clara.
. The Alferez – chief of the Guardia Civil, mortal enemy of the priests for power in San Diego.
. Don Tiburcio – Spanish husband of Donya Victorina who was limp and submissive to his wife; he also pretended to
be a doctor.
. Dona Consolacion – wife of the alferez, another woman who passed herself as a Peninsular; best remembered for
her abusive treatment of Sisa.
. Captain General (no specific name) – The most powerful official in the Philippines; a hater of secular priests and
corrupt officials; and a friend of Ibarra.

TROUBLE IN NOLI ME TANGERE

A few weeks after his stay in Calamba, he received a letter from the Governor-General Emilio Tererro requesting
to come to Malacanang Palace to explain about the subversive ideas contained in the Noli Me Tangere. Rizal went to
the Governor General. He denied the charges and explained that he merely exposed the truth but he did not advocate
version. Pleased by his explanation and curious about the controversial book, the Governor General asked for a copy.
l promised to give him one. The Governor General minded Spaniard and knew that Rizal’s life was in danger because
friars were powerful, he assigned a cultured, Spanish lieutenant named Don Jose Taviel de Anndrade as his bodyguard.
ernor General read the Noli Me Tangere and found nothing wrong with it. Nonetheless, he had it banned when the
orts were submitted to him by the Commission of Censorship calling for its outright censorship. The banning of the Noli
Tangere made it more popular; causing everybody among the masses to read the novel at night secretly.
E ATTACKS OF NOLI ME TANGERE
Salvador fort printed copies of the Commission’s report and Fr. Jose Rodriquez printed eight pamphiets under
eral heading “Questions of Supreme Interest (Custiones de Sumoditues)”. Many Filipinos were forced to buy but they
not believe these Anti-Rizal pamphiets. The Noli Me tangere was also attacked in the senate of the Spanish Cortes. It
also vociferously attacked by the Spanish academician, Vicente Barrantes, who was once a ranking official of the
ppines.
FENDERS OF NOLI ME TANGERE
The Noli Me Tangere had its great defenders who bravely came out to prove the merits of the Noli and to
ghten the unkind attackers. They were the reformers in foreign lands like Marcelo H. Del Pilar, Graciano Lopez Jaena
ano Ponce, Dr. Antonio, Ma. Regidor, Professor Ferdinand Blumentritt, Dr. Miguel Morayta, and Don Segismundo
et, a former Minister of the Court. Father Sanches of Ateneo upheld and praised the Noli in public, Rev. Father Vicente
cia, a Filipino Catholic priest-scholar, a theologian of the Manila Cathedral and a Tagalog translator of the famous
mitators of Christ”, a defense of Noli Me Tangere under the penname Justo Desiderio Magalang. This was published in
apore as an appendix to a pamphlet dated July 15, 1888. He believed the attacks and arguments of Fr. Rodriguez with
following common argument:
izal cannot be an “ignorant man” as Father Rodriguez alleged, because he was a graduate of Spanish universities and
was a recipient of scholastic honors.
izal does not attack the Church and Spain because what Rizal attacked in the Noli Me Tangere were the bad Spaniards
fficials and not Spain, and the bad corrupt friars and not the Church.
ather Rodriguez said that those who read the Noli Me Tangere committed a mortal sin. Since he (Fr. Rodriguez) had
ead the novel therefore he also committed a mortal sin.

PTER 7 EL FILBUSTERISMO
Rizal wrote his second novel which is a continuation of the Noli Me Tangere in Brussels and he finished it in Biarritz
d, inspired by the magnificent place and his romance with Nellie Boustead. On March 29, 1891 the of his departure
Biarritz to Paris, he finished the manuscript of El Filibusterismo and he completed the revision on May 30,1891, ready
rinting. He searched for a cheaper printing shop and he did find a publisher F. MEYER-VAN LOO PRESS, No. 66
deren Street that published his books in an installment basis. He pawned his jewels in order to pay the down payment
arly partial payment during the printing of the novel. He had received some funds from Basa and Rodriguez Arias
But printing was suspended because of insufficient funds and then Valentin Ventura in Paris helped him because he learne
Rizal’s predicament. He immediately sent the necessary funds for printing.
On September 18,1891, the novel came off the press in Ghent. He immediately sent copies to Basa to Sixto Lopez in Hon
to, to his friends Valentin S. Ventura in Paris and to his friends in the Philippines.
The novel was praised to the skies by Filipino patriots in foreign lands and in the Philippines. The members of the Filipin
y of Barcelona published a tribute in La Publicidad, a Barcelona newspaper, eulogizing the novel’s original style which
arable only to sublime Alexander Dumas and may well be offered as “a model, a precious jewel in the decadent literature
”.
The liberal Madrid newspaper, El Nuevo Regimen, serialized the novel in its issues of October 1891.
Rizal dedicated El Filibusterismo to the martyrs, Father Gomez, Father Burgos and Father Zamora. Their martyrdom, whic
no related to him when he was a boy in Calamba was never forgotten.

MARY OF EL FILIBUSTERISMO
n years after Jose Rizal left the Philippines, Juan Crisostomo Ibarra (the main character from Noli Me Tangere) returned
oun, a rich jeweler sporting a beard and blue-tinted glasses, and a confidant of the Governor-General of the Philippines
n-General. Abandoning his idealism, he became a cynical saboteur, the titular filibuster, seeking revenge against the
h Philippines system responsible for his misfortune by plotting a revolution. Simoun mingled himself into Manila high
and influenced every decision of the Captain-General to mismanage the country’s affairs so that a revolution will break
e cynically sided with the upper classes, encouraging them to commit abuses against the masses so that the latter
be encourage to revolt against the oppressive Spanish colonial regime. This time, he did not attempt to fight the
ties through legal means, but through violent revolution using the masses.

n had reasons for instigating a revolution. First is to rescue Maria Clara from the convent and second, to get rid of ills
ils of Philippine society. His true identity is discovered by a now grown-up Basilio while visiting the grave of his mother,
s

n was digging near the grave site for his buried treasures, Simoun spared Basilio’s life and asked him to join in his
d revolution against the government, up the tragic misfortunes of the latter’s family. Basilio declined the offers as he
pes that the country’s condition will improve.

at this point, is a graduating student of medicine at the Ateneo Municipal de Manila. After the death of his mother, Sisa
disappearance of his younger brother, Crispin, Basilio heeded the advice of the dying boatman, Elias and traveled to
o study. Basilio was adopted by Captain Tiago after Maria Clara entered the convent. With Captain Tiago’s help, Basilio
e to go Colegio de San Juan de Letran where, at first, he is frowned upon by his peers and teachers not only because of
r of his skin but also because of his shabby appearance which he also experienced at Ateneo, Captain Tiago’s confessor,
ene was making Captain Tiago’s health worse by giving him opium even as Basilio tried hard to prevent Captain Tiago
oking it. He and other students wanted to establish a Spanish Language Academy so that they can learn to speak and
anish language in the Philippines despite the opposition from the Dominican friars of the University of Santo Tomas.
e help of a reluctant Father Irene as their mediator and Don Custodio’s decision, the academy was established;
, they will only serve as a caretaker of the school not as the teachers. Dejected and defeated, they hold a mock
on at a panciteria while a spy for the friars witnesses the proceedings.
 for his part, kept in close contact with the bandit group of Kabesang Tales a former Cabeza de Barangay who suffered
nes at the hands of the friars. Once a former owning a prosperous sugarcane plantation and a cabeza de barangay
ay head), he was forced to give everything to the greedy and unscrupulous Spanish friars. His son, Tano, who became
uard was captured by bandits; his daughter Juli had to work as a maid to get enough ransom money for his freedom;
father, Tandang Selo, suffered a stroke and became mute. Before joining the bandits, Tales took Simoun’s revolver
moun was staying at his house for the night. As payment, Tales left a locket that once belonged to Maria Clara. To
strengthen the revolution, Simoun has Quiroga, a Chinese man hoping to be appointed consul to the Philippines,
d weapons into the country using Quiroga’s bazaar as a front. Simoun wished to attack during a stage play with all his
in attendance. He, however, abruptly aborted the attack when he learned from Basilio that Maria Clara had died earlier
in the convent.

ays after the mock celebration by the students, the people were agitated when disturbing posters were found displayed
he city. The authorities accused the students present at the panciteria of agitation and disturbing peace and had them
. Basilio, although not present at the mock celebration, was also arrested. Captain Tiago died after learning of the
and as stated in his will-forged by Father Irene, all his possessions were given to the Church, leaving nothing for
Basilio was left in prison as the other students were released. A high official tried to interview for the release of Basilio
Captain- General, bearing grudges against the high official, coerced him to tender his resignation. Juli, Basilio’s girlfriend
daughter of Kabesang Tales, tried to ask Father Camorra’s help upon the advice of an elder woman. Instead of helping
, father Camorra tried to rape her as he had long-hidden desires for Juli. Juli, rather than submits to the will of the
mped over the balcony to her death.

was soon released with the help of Simoun. Basilio, now a changed man, and the after hearing about Juli’s suicide,
oined Simoun’s revolution. Simoun then told Basilio his plan at the wedding of Paulita Gomez and Juanito. Basilio’s
acked classmate. His plan was to conceal an explosive inside a pomegranate-styled Kerosene lamp that Simoun will
the newlyweds as a gift during the wedding reception. The reception will take place at the former home of the late
Tiago, which was now filled with explosives planted by Simoun. According to Simoun, the lamp will stay lighted for only
tes before it flickers; if someone attempts to turn the wick, it will explode and kill everyone- important members of civil
and the Roman Catholic Church in the Philippines Church hierarchy-inside the house. Basilio had a change of heart and
s to warm the people inside, including Isagani, his friend and the former boyfriend of Paulita. Simoun left the reception
planned and left a note to behinD

ARACTERS OF EL FILIBUSTERISMO
oun - The continuation of the character of Crisóstomo Ibarra disguised as a wealthy. jeweler, bent on starting a
olution. Using his wealth, he encouraged the people who experienced abuse to join him in his rebellion against the
rch and the government.
ilio - Sisa's son and was adopted by Kapitan Tiago, boyfriend of Juli and an aspiring doctor.
agani - poet and Basilio's best friend; portrayed as emotional and reactive student leader; Paulita Gómez' boyfriend
fore being dumped for fellow student Juanito Peláez.
abesang Tales - Telesforo Juan de Dios, a former cabeza de barangay (barangay head) who resurfaced as the feared
zón bandit Matanglawin (Tagalog for "Hawkeye"); his father, Tandang Selo, died eventually after his own son Tano,
ho became a guardia civil, unknowingly shot his grandfather in an encounter.
on Custodio - Custodio de Salazar y Sánchez de Monteredondo, a famous "journalist" who was asked by the students
out his decision for the Academia de Castellano. In reality, he was quite an ordinary fellow who married a rich woman
order to be a member of Manila's high society.
 ulita Gómez - The girlfriend of Isagani and the niece of Doña Victorina, the old India who passing (racial identity)
sses herself off as a Peninsulares | Peninsular, who was the wife of the quack doctor Tiburcio de Espadaña. In the end,
e and Juanito Peláez were wed, and she dumped Isagani, believing that she will have no future if she marries him.
ther Florentino - Isagani's godfather, and a secular priest; was engaged to be married but chose to be a priest after
ing pressured by his mother, the story hinting at the ambivalence of his decision as he chose an assignment to a
mote place, living in solitude near the sea.
li - Juliana de Dios, the girlfriend of Basilio, and the youngest daughter of Kabesang Tales.
n Zayb - Abraham Ibañez is his real name. He is a journalist who thought he was the "only" one thinking in the
ilippines.
acido Penitente - a student of the University of Santo Tomas who was very intelligent and wise but did not want, if
t only by his mother's plea, to pursue his studies. He also controls his temper against his Physics teacher, Father Millon.
uiroga - a Chinese businessman who dreamt of being a consul of a "Consulate of China" in the Philippines. He kept
moun's weapons inside his house.
ndang Selo - father of Kabesang Tales. He raised the sick and young Basilio after his mother Sisa had died.
ther Fernandez - the priest-friend of Isagani. HHe promised Isagani that he and the other priests will give in to the
udents' demands.
torney Pasta - one of the great lawyers of mid-Hispanic Manila.
ptain-General (no specific name) - the powerful highest official in the Philippines.
dre Sibyla - Hernando de la Sibyla, a Filipino friar and now vice-rector of the University of Santo Tomas.

MPARISON OF NOLI ME TANGERE AND EL FILIBUSTERISMO

Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo vary in many aspects, although they are written by the same author and are
posed to be dealing with the same story and have the same characters.
Noli Me Tangere is a romantic novel. It is a “work of the heart” and “a book of feeling”. It has freshness, color, humor,
ness and wit. Whereas, El Filibusterismo is a political novel. It is a “work of heal” and a “book of the thought”. It
ains bitterness, hatred, pain, violence and sorrow.
e Rizal’s original intention was to make the El Filibusterismo longer than the Noli ere. However, el Filibusterismo is
ter than Noli. It contains 38 chapters whereas 64 chapters of Noli.
y were many opinions as to which the superior novel is- the Noli or the Fili. Rizal himself considered the Noli as the
erior to the Fili as novel. Marcelo H. del Pilar and Retana, Rizal’s first Spanish biographer, also believed that Noli is
erior. However, other including Blumentritt, Graciano Lopez Jaena and Dr. Rafael Palma against the opinion of Rizal.
y believed the Fili is the superior to the Noli. In Lopez Jaena’s letter he said that the Fili was superior because of its
uisite, delicate, literary style, its easy and correct dialogue, its phraseology, vigorous and elegant and its profound ideas
sublime thoughts. However, Jaena advised Rizal to wrote another novel because he was not satisfied with Fili as
ical novel.
The issue of which is the superior novel is purely academic. Noli and El Fili are good novels from the point of view
istory. Both depict with realistic colors the actual conditions of the Philippines and Filipinos the decadent days of
nish role. Both are instrumental in awakening the spirit of Filipino nationalism and are responsible in paving the ground
Philippine Revolution that brought about the downfall of Spain. Neither the Noli nor the Fili is superior to one another,
ano Ponce told Rizal that Fill was indeed excellent novel but it was marvelous like all the brilliant productions of his
. He also said that it was a true twin of the Noli.

THE COMPARISON OF THE TWO NOVELS OF DR. JOSE P. RIZAL

FEATURES/ASPECT NOLI ME TANGERE EL FILIBUSTERISMO

DATE & PLACE PUBLISHED March 21, 1887 September 18,1891

Berlin, Germany Ghent, Belgium
SPANISH (LANGUAGE) “Noli Me Tangere” “El Filibusterismo”

ENGLISH (LANGUAGE) “Touch Me Not” “The Reign of Greed”

Social Cancer
FILIPINO (LANGUAGE) “Huwag mo akong salingin”
GENRE Romantic Novel, a story
exposing the real situation in
the Philippines
CONCEPT To work pacifist, choosing
peaceful reforms through
education of the youth,
colonial discrimination an
idealist introducing reforms
DEDICATION Motherland
LENGTH 64 chapters
INFLUENCE & SAVED BY Influenced by the novel
entitled “Uncle Tom’s Cabin”
“Ang Paghahari ng
Kasakiman”
Political Novel, a story of
revenge and revolution.
To revenge the sufferings of
the family and countrymen
resulting from bitter and
traumatic experiences, failure
of the revolution planned by
Simoun
Fathers Gomez, Burgos, and
Zamora (GOMBURZA)
39 Chapters
Saved by Valentin Ventura

TER 9 THE PHILIPPINES: A CENTURY HENCE

ilippines A Century Hence, is a socio-political essay written in four in the magazine La Solidaridad by Jose Rizal. It is one of
st significant political works of the movement in Spain, Rizal tracing the circumstances that brought about the awakening of
pino and consequently the birth of the Filipino spirit of a nation. He underscores the need to establish a new kind of political
ship between Spain and the Philippines if the former does not wish a total break-up with the latter. 
hilippines A Century Hence
 ilippines A Century Hence contain the predictions of Jose Rizal about the Philippines 100 years before its publication. He
ed the essay on September 30, 1889 under the La Solidaridad.

Philippines a Century Hence: Summary and Analysis

This essay, published in La Solidaridad starts by analyzing the various causes of the miseries suffered by the
o people:
pain’s implementation of her military policies – because of such laws, the Philippine population decreased dramatically. 
overty became more rampant than ever, and farmlands were left to wither.  The family as a unit of society was
eglected, and overall, every aspect of the life of the Filipino was retarded.
Deterioration and disappearance of Filipino indigenous culture – when Spain came with the sword and the cross, it
egan the gradual destruction of the native Philippine culture.  Because of this, the Filipinos started losing confidence in
heir past and their heritage, became doubtful of their present lifestyle, and eventually lost hope in the future and the
reservation of their race.
assivity and submissiveness to the Spanish colonizers – one of the most powerful forces that influenced a culture of
ilence among the natives were the Spanish friars.  Because of the use of force, the Filipinos learned to submit
hemselves to the will of the foreigners.
Points of the Essay

Using the past to understand the present thus predicting the future.
Filipinos have lost confidence in their past, lost faith in the present, and lost their hope in the future.
The Filipinos will still be under Spain if they will implement the freedom of the press and the Filipinos has
sentation in the Spanish Cortez.
If the reforms are not implemented then a spirit of a nation rises and thus, a revolution is highly positive.

ndolence of the Filipino People

dolence of the Filipino People is the longest essay of Jose P. Rizal published in La Solidaridad on July 15, 1890, to
the Filipinos against the accusation of Mr. Sanciano that the Filipinos are indolent. This is due to the observation of
ano to a Filipino farmer who was having a siesta at nine o'clock in the morning because he was already done on his

Points of the Essay

dolence is not only laziness but little love for work and lack of energy.
an is not a brute nor a machine so indolence is natural.
dolence is not the cause of backwardness but backwardness is the result of indolence.
e causes of indolence are climate, Spanish colonization, and Filipinos own fault
e indolence of the Filipinos is the result of the following reasons:
anish policies like forced labor and taxation without representation.
ligion
 motivation for work
mbling
e solution to indolence is proper training and sense of nationalism.

er to the Young Women of Malolos

etter to the Young Women of Malolos was written by Dr. Jose P. Rizal as fulfillment of the request of Marcelo H. del
to commend the young women of Malolos who fought for their rights for education. On December 12, 1888, the
mittee of 20 young women of Malolos expressed their desire to acquire education. They wrote a letter of request to
rnor Valeriano Weyter and petition to establish a night school.
Points of the Essay
The problem of the Filipina
Blind obedience
Wrong understanding of religion
At fault for the continuing slavery of the Filipinos

The Filipino women should do the following:

Fight for their rights for education
Teach their children to love their country more than they love themselves like the Spartan mother
Fulfill their duty as mothers and wives

All men are created equal and had the ability to think.
The teaching of the friars about religion is not the same as God's teaching.
Saintliness is not equal to rituals.
Saintliness is doing what is right and understanding your own religion.

MMARY

“To the Women of Malolos” was originally written in Tagalog.  Rizal penned this writing when he was in London, in
nse to the request of Marcelo H. del Pilar.  The salient points contained in this letter are as follows:
The rejection of the spiritual authority of the friars – not all of the priests in the country that time
died the true spirit of Christ and His Church.  Most of them were corrupted by worldly desires and used worldly
ods to effect change and force discipline among the people.
The defense of private judgment
Qualities Filipino mothers need to possess – as evidenced by this portion of his letter, Rizal is greatly
rned of the welfare of the Filipino children and the homes they grow up in.
Duties and responsibilities of Filipino mothers to their children.
Duties and responsibilities of a wife to her husband – Filipino women are known to be submissive, tender, and loving.  
izal states in this portion of his letter how Filipino women ought to be as wives, in order to preserve the identity of the
ace.
ounsel to young women on their choice of a lifetime partner

ALITIES MOTHERS HAVE TO POSSESS

l enumerates the qualities Filipino mothers have to possess:
 e a noble wife.
ear her children in the service of the state – here Rizal gives reference to the women of Sparta who embody this
uality
et standards of behavior for men around her.

RIZAL’S ADVICE TO UNMARRIED MEN AND WOMEN

ose Rizal points out to unmarried women that they should not be easily taken by appearances and looks, because these
an be very deceiving.  Instead, they should take heed of men’s firmness of character and lofty ideas.  Rizal further adds
hat there are three things that a young woman must look for a man she intends to be her husband:
. A noble and honored name
. A manly heart
. A high spirit incapable of being satisfied with engendering slaves.
ANALYSIS
“To the Women of Malolos” centers around five salient points (Zaide &Zaide, 1999):
ilipino mothers should teach their children love of God, country and fellowmen.
ilipino mothers should be glad and honored, like Spartan mothers, to offer their sons in defense of their country.
ilipino women should know how to protect their dignity and honor.
ilipino women should educate themselves aside from retaining their good racial values.
aith is not merely reciting prayers and wearing religious pictures. It is living the real Christian way with good morals
nd manners.