Cross: Sufferings

Pomelo Blossoms and Laurel Leaves: Honor and Fidelity

Silhouette of a Filipina: Maria Clara
Burning Torch: Rage and Passion
Sunflowers: Enlightenment especially the youth
Bamboo stalks that were cut down but grew back: Resilience
A man in a cassock with hairy feet: Priests using religion in a dirty way
Chains: Slavery
Whip: Cruelty
Helmet of Guardia Civil: Arrogance of those in authority

Upper Triangle
This represents Rizal's past life.
Lower Triangle
This represents Rizal's currents situations.

Silhouette of a Filipina
- believed to be Maria Clara or as the "Inang Bayan" to whom Rizal dictates the novel

Cross/Crucifix
- represents the Catholic faith as it rises above Inang Bayan and Filipinos (shows
dominance)
- it also symbolizes sufferings and death

Pomelo Blossoms & Laurel Leaves

- they represent faith, honor and fidelity, which are the values Rizal aspires to be embodied
by Filipinos
- pomelos are used to scent their air commonly during prayers and cleansing rituals
- laurel leaves are used as crowns during Greek Olympics for honoring the best
Burning Torch
- refers to the Olympic torch
- pertains to the awakening of Filipino consciousness
- it also sheds light to the text of the manuscript

Sunflower
- it symbolizes a new beginning
- it is compared to the happiness of which appears to be always bowing down

Feet
- it symbolizes the power of the friars
- it is placed on the base of the triangle (foundation) because without friars, the Filipinos
cannot stand on their own

Shoes
- it represents wealth
- it is also the footprints left by friars in teaching Catholicism

Hairy Legs
- it symbolizes the Legend of the Wolf
- the wolf shape shifts just like how friars hide their true nature and character

Helmet of a Guardia Civil

- it represents the arrogance of those in authority

Whip
- it represents the abuses and cruelties done by the Spaniards and friars as depicted in the
novel

Flogs (Suplina)
- it is used for self-flagellation
- just like the whip, this also symbolizes the cruelties of the Guardia Civil
Note: self-flagellation: the action of flogging oneself, especially as a form of religious
discipline.
Flogging: a punishment in which the victim is hit repeatedly with a whip or stick.

Chain
- it symbolizes slavery and imprisonment

Rizal's Signature
- it shows that Rizal experienced and witnessed the ills and abuses that happened during
his time

Bamboo Stalks
- it represents Filipino resiliency
- despite the sufferings, Filipinos can still stand tall and firm
Note: resilience:the capacity to recover quickly from difficulties; toughness.