Study Guide Life and Works of Rizal

*Rizal Law (RA 1425)

-An act to include in the 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, authorizing the
printing and distribution thereof, and for other purposes.

-was opposed by the Catholic Church, which continued to resent its portrayal in Rizal’s novels despite the
Filipino clergy’s early association with the nationalist movement.

-co-written by both José P. Laurel and Recto, with the only opposition coming from Francisco Soc Rodrigo,
Mariano Jesús Cuenco, and Decoroso Rosales.

-Signed: June 12, 1956

*Jose Protacio Rizal Mercado y Alonso Realonda (Jose P. Rizal or Pepe)

-born June 19, 1861, Calamba, Laguna Philippines and died December 30, 1896, Manila

-2nd son and 7th child of Francisco Rizal Mercado y Alejandro and Teodora Alonzo y Quintos

-one of 11 children named Saturnina, Paciano (only brother of Jose), Narcisa, Olympia, Lucia, Maria, Jose,
Concepcion (died at the age of 3), Josefa, Trinidad (the last of the family to die), and Soledad respectively

-a dog lover and has a dog named Braganza Usman

-his favorite food is Bistek Tagalog

-received the degree of Bachelor of Arts on March 23, 1877 from Ateneo

-A writer, poet, revolutionary, scientist, journalist, novelist, opthalmologist, and visual artist

-some of the known literary works of Rizal are To the Filipino Youth, Noli me Tangere, El Filibusterismo, To
the Young Women of Malolos, Mi Ultimo Adios which was found concealed in a burner and a love of country which
was also known as his longest essay.

-was linked to 9 women named Segunda Katigbak (his puppy love), Leonor Valenzuela, Leonor River,
Consuelo Ortiga, Josephine Bracken (Rizal’s common wife and has a stillborn son named Francisco), Suzanne
Jacoby, O-Sei San (taught Rizal the Japanese art of painting known as su-mie), Gertrude Beckette, and Nelly
Boustead

-trialed and found guilty of rebellion, sedition, and conspiracy on December 26, 1896 by the Military Court

-was exiled in Dapitan (Zamboanga del Norte) in 1892 and was later transferred to Fort Santiago on
December 29 at 7:00 in the morning.
 -was in constant contact with Blumentritt where one of his letteres that bore the iconic line “I am going to
die with a tranquil conscience" was written.

*Noli me Tangere (1887) [a Latin version of a phrase spoken by Jesus to Magdelene found at John 20:17]

-Crisostomo Ibarra y Magsalin – becomes entangled in conflicts with the church and is forced to flee San
Diego as a result of a conspiracy led by the scheming Father Salví. In contrast to his more radical friend Elías, Ibarra
generally wants to work within systems to reform the Philippines, rather than overthrow them, but he shifts
towards Elías's beliefs as the novel progresses

-Maria Clara -A woman of high social standing, she is thought to be the daughter of Capitan Tiago and
goddaughter of Father Dámaso. She is actually the biological daughter of Father Dámaso, the product of a
scandalous relationship between the old priest and Capitan Tiago’s wife. Also known as the love interest of Ibarra.
She entered a nunnery after she learned of Ibarra's death.

-Father Damaso -Father Dámaso is an old, power-hungry, and shamelessly corrupt Spanish priest who has
lived among the native Filipinos for nearly two decades. He masterminded the death of Don Rafael Ibarra, then
brazenly taunted the younger Ibarra. After he publically insults Ibarra's father, Ibarra attacks him and he
excommunicates Ibarra from the church. He is also the godfather (and, in fact, the biological father) of María Clara,
giving him influence over her relationship with Ibarra.

-Elias - A mysterious character, Elías is a man on the run from the law who resents both the Spanish
colonial government and the Catholic Church, despite his strong religious convictions.

-Father Salví -A younger, more cunning Spanish priest who assumes control over Father Damaso’s post as
friar curate of San Diego. He is in many regards more dangerous that his precursor as he is a more gifted strategist
who uses his religious role for political influence as well as personal vendettas. His most significant role in the novel
comes through his plot to ruin Ibarra, who is engaged to María Clara, who he is in love with.

-Captain Tiago (Don Santiago de los Santos) -He is a wealthy Filipino who is native-born. He keeps close
ties with high-ranking members of the Catholic Church, despite actually having no respect for religion, and
shamelessly joins in others' racist insults against his own people. His primary concern is to marry off his daughter,
María Clara, to an affluent man from an influential family.

-Crispin -A young boy studying to be a church caretaker, Crispín and his brother Basilio work ceaselessly to
send support money to their beleaguered mother, Sisa. Crispín is blamed for stealing money from the church
coffers by the head sexton and is kept a virtual prisoner until the debt is paid.

-Basilio -Is Crispín's older brother. Like his younger brother, he works as a sexton. Basilio makes a
desperate run for their home the night Crispín is dragged away and attempts to locate his younger brother the day
after, but his search efforts are fruitless. The following day, the Civil Guard comes looking for him and his brother.
Fearing for his life, he runs to the forest where he goes into hiding, living with kind family until Christmas Eve.

-Sisa -The long-suffering mother of sextons-in-training Crispin and Basilio, she goes mad upon the loss of
her sons. Impoverished and married to a violent drunkard, she is allied only with her sons. She wanders the town,
clothes tattered and hair disheveled, calling out for her sons. When she actually does meet Basilio, she cannot
recognize him.
 -Aunt Isabel -A cousin of Capitan Tiago who raised Maria Clara as her own child after her mother’s
untimely death.

-Old Tasio (Don Anastasio or pilosopo Tasyo) -An old man who previously studied philosophy and is
believed to be crazy by most of the community. He respects Ibarra and gives him valuable advice, and also helped
Ibarra's father before him.

*El Filibusterismo (Sequel of Rizal’s 1st novel, the Noli me Tangere)

Simoun -Crisóstomo Ibarra reincarnated as a wealthy jeweler, bent on starting a revolution

Basilio -Sisa's son, now an aspiring doctor

Isagani -poet and Basilio's best friend; portrayed as emotional and reactive; Paulita Gómez' boyfriend
before being dumped for fellow student Juanito Peláez

Kabesang Tales -Telesforo Juan de Dios, a former cabeza de barangay who resurfaced as the feared Luzón
bandit Matanglawin; his father, Old Man Selo, dies eventually after his own son Tano, who became a guardia civil,
unknowingly shoots his grandfather in an encounter

Don Custodio -Custodio de Salazar y Sánchez de Monteredondo, a famous journalist who was asked by
the students about his decision for the Academia de Castellano. In reality, he is quite an ordinary fellow who
married a rich woman in order to be a member of Manila's high society

Paulita Gómez -the girlfriend of Isagani and the niece of Doña Victorina, the old India who passes herself
off as a Peninsular, who is the wife of the quack doctor Tiburcio de Espadaña. In the end, she and Juanito Peláez
are wed, and she dumps Isagani, believing that she will have no future if she marries him

Father Florentino -Isagani's godfather, and a secular priest; was engaged to be married, but chose the
priesthood instead, the story hinting at the ambivalence of his decision as he chooses an assignment to a remote
place, living in solitude near the sea.