The Great Novel: Noli Me Tangere and The First Homecoming

The Novel: Noli Me Tangere

- Rizal proposed a book writing project to the Filipino members of the Circulo
Hispano Filipino; but they did not take interest with it.
- The book would deal on the social-cultural and political aspects of life in the
Philippines.
- He writes the book himself; he did not lose hope using his talent and writing
skills. He started to write his masterpiece “Noli Me Tangere”.
- He joined the Brotherhood of Masons for more mature contacts and
enlightenment to complete the book.
- He managed to finish the first half in Madrid; continued writing in Paris where
he was inspired of the immortal declaration of the rights of man, been passed and
implemented.
- He finished it in Germany 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 - charged
P300.00 for 2,000 copies.
- His friend Maximo Viola offered to pay the amount and the boo k was finally
released in March 1887.
- Rizal studied Hebrew to enable him to interpret the Bible in its original text and
be better prepared to defend any controversial religious issues that the novel
might arise - translated the passages in the Bible that he used in the novel.
- “Noli Me Tangere” is a Latin phrase that Rizal took from the Bible, meaning
“Touch me not.”
- In John 20:13-17 - the newly-risen Christ says to Mary Magdalene: “Touch me
not; I am not yet ascended to my Father, but go to my brethren, and say unto
them I ascend unto my Father and your Father, and to my God and your God.”
- Noli Me Tangere alternative English title is “The Social Cancer” by Charles
Derbyshire.
- The novel is a Spanish-language novel that is credited with the awakening of
nationalism among the Filipinos of Rizal's time.
- It was published in 1887 in Berlin; commonly referred to by its shortened name
Noli.

Summary of Noli Me Tangere

Having completed his studies in Europe, young Juan Crisostomo Ibarra
came back to the Philippines after a 7-year absence. In his honor, Captain Tiago
threw a get-together party, which was attended by friars and other prominent
figures. In an unfortunate incident, former curate Father Damaso belittled and
slandered Ibarra. But Ibarra brushed off the insult and took no offense; instead,
he politely excused himself and left the party because of an allegedly important
task. The day after the humble party, Ibarra went to see Maria Clara, his love
interest, a beautiful daughter of Captain Tiago and an affluent resident of Binon
do, Manila. Their long-standing love was clearly manifested in this meeting, and
Maria Clara cannot help but reread the letters his sweetheart had write n before
he went to Europe. Before Ibarra left for San Diego, Lieutenant Guevara, a
Guardia Civil, revealed to him the incidents preceding the death of his father, Don
Rafael Ibarra, a rich haciendero of the town.

According to the Lieutenant, Don Rafael was unjustly accused of being a

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

Revenge was not in Ibarra's plans; instead, he carried through his faher's
plan of putting up a school, since he believed that education would have pave the
way to his country's progress (all over the novel, the author refers to both Spain
and the Philippines as two different countries which from part of the same nation
or family, being Spain the mother and the Philippines the daughter). During the
inauguration of the school, Ibarra would have been killed in a sabotage had Elias -
mysterious man who had warned Ibarra earlier of a plot to assassinate him - not
saved him. Instead, the hired killer met an unfortunate incident and died. The
sequence of events proved to be too traumatic for Maria Clara who got seriously
ill but was luckily cured by the medicine Ibarra sent her. After the inauguration,
Ibarra hosted a luncheon during which Father Damaso, uninvited and gate-
crashing the luncheon, again and insulted him. Ibarra ignored the priest's
insolence, but when the latter slandered the memory of his dead father, he was
no longer able to restrain himself and lunged at Father Damaso, prepared to stab
the latter for his imprudence.

As a consequence, Father Damaso excommunicated Ibarra. Father Damaso

took this opportunity to persuade the already hesitant father of Maria Clara to
forbid his daughter from marrying Ibarra. The friar wished Maria Clara to marry a
Peninsular named Linares who just arrived from Spain. With the help of the
Captain-General. Ibarra's excommunication was nullified and the Archbishop
decided to accept him as a member of the Church once again. But, as fate would
have it, some incident of which Ibarra had known nothing about was blamed on
him, and he was wrongly arrested and imprisoned. But the accusation against him
was overruled because during the litigation that followed, nobody could testify
that he was indeed involved. Unfortunately, his letter to Maria Clara somehow
got into the hand of the jury and was manipulated such that it then became
evidence against him. Meanwhile in Captain Tiago's residence, a party was being
held to announce the upcoming wedding of Maria Clara and Linares. Ibarra, with
the help of Elias, took this opportunity and escaped from prison.

But before leaving, Ibarra talked to Maria Clara and accused her of
betraying him, thinking that she gave the letter he wrote her to the jury. Maria
Clara explained to Ibarra that she will never conspire against him but she was
forced to surrender Ibarra's letter to her in exchange for the letter written by her
mother even before she was born. The letter was from, her mother Pia Alba, to
father Damaso alluding to their unborn child; and that she, Maria Clara, was
therefore not the daughter of Captain Tiago, but of Father Damaso. Afterwards,
Ibarra and Elias boarder a boat and left the place. Elias instructed Ibarra to lie
down and the former covered the latter with grass to conceal the latter's
presence. As luck would have it, they were spotted by their enemies. Elias
thought he could outsmart them and jumped into the water. The guards rain
shots on the person in the water, all the while not knowing that they were aiming
at the wrong man. Maria Clara, thinking that Ibarra has been killed in shooting
incident, was greatly overcome with grief. Robbed of hope and severe disillusion,
she asked Father Damaso to confine her into nunnery. Father Damaso reluctantly
agreed when Maria Clara threatened to take her own life, demanding, “the
nunnery or death!” Unbeknown to her, Ibarra was still alive and able to escape. It
was Elias who had taken the shots. It was Christmas Eve when Elias woke up in
the forest gravely wounded and barely alive. It was in this forest that Elias found
Basilio and his lifeless mother, Sisa...

Characters of Noli Me Tangere

1. Crisostomo Ibarra - Known as Juan Crisostomo Ibarra y Magsalin, a Filipi-no
who studied in Europe for 7 years, the love interest of Maria Clara. He is the son
of the deceased Don Rafae l Ibarra; Crisostomo changed his surname from
Eibarramendia to Ibarra, from his ancestor's surname. He is the main and most
important character in the novel manifesting in him the Filipino who acquired
European idea through his education in Europe. In the novel, Ibarra's personality
will result in the disagreements of liberal idealism in education and conservatism
represented by the Catholic Church.

2. Elias - Ibarra's mysterious friend, a master boater, also a fugitive. He was

referred to at one point as “the pilot.” He wants to revolutionize his country. In
the past, Ibarra's grandfather condemned his grandfather of burning a
warehouse, making Elias the fugitive he is. The character that Rizal placed to
represent the Filipino masses who suffered from Spanish brutalities and abuse
due to their powerlessness in the novel and in real Philippines social situation of
that time.
3. Maria Clara - Maria Clara de los Santos, Ibarra's sweetheart; the illegitimate
daughter of Father Damaso and Pia Alba. In her, Ibarra has fallen in love, she also
mirrored the Filipina woman of religious upbringing and orientation, and through
her love to Ibarra, and she represents true fidelity and religiosity of the women in
real Filipino society.
4. Father Damaso - also known as Damaso Verdoglagas, Franciscan friar and Maria
Clara's biological father. An antagonist in character and represents the un-
Christian works of the Catholic friars who are in the church.
5. Sisa - the mother of Basilio and Crispin, who became insane after losing her
sons. She represented in the novel a sad plight of the Filipino mothers losing her
two sons, Basilio and Crispin. In the novel, Sisa loses her sanity.
6. Kaptain Tiago - also known in his full name as Don Santiago de los Santos the
Known father of Maria Clara but not the real one; lives in Binondo. An illegal
opium trader who subsequently was a landlord. He represented a different view
in religion and thus, more of a businessman who used his money to work for him
even in religious life and obligations.
7. Pilosopong Tasyo - known as Don Anastasio, portrayed in the novel as
pessimistic, cynic, and mad by his neighbors. He portrays the role of a philosopher
who was completely misunderstood in many aspects, he argues with the belief of
the Catholic Church and social changes and concerns in the novel.
8. Doña Victorina - Victorina de los Reyes de Espadaña, a woman who passes
herself off as a Peninsulares. Wife of Don Tiburcio de Espadaña, known in the
novel as a trying hard rich woman who abhors anything that is Filipino and clings
to Spanish way of life. This kind of character was manifested on some Filipino of
that time.
9. Pedro - abusive husband of Sisa who loved cockfighting. 10. Don Rafael Ibarra -
Known in the plot as a concerned citizen and property owner who was the father
of Crisostomo Ibarra. Padre Damaso who played an antagonist role called him a
heretic and rebel due to his view on relating to liberalism in society. 11. Tandang
Pablo - the leader of the rebels, whose family was destroyed because of the
Spaniards,
12. The School Master - a teacher at San Diego who's view i n the novel
represented the weak and useless education in the Philippines. He attributes the
problem from facilities and methods of learning that the friars implemented in
the country. 13. Basilio - the elder son of Sisa. 14. Crispin - the younger son of Sisa
died from the punishment of the soldiers from the false accusation of stealing an
amount of money. 15. Padre Sibyla - Hernando de la Sibyla, a Filipino friar. He is
described as short and has fair skin. 16. Padre Salvi - Bernardo Salvi, a secret
admirer of Maria Clara.
17. The Alferez - chief of the Guardia Civil; mortal enemy of the priests for power
in San Diego. 18. Don Tiburcio Spanish husband of Donya Victorina who was limp
and submissive to his wife; he also pretended to be a doctor. 19. Dona
Consolacion wife of the alferez, another woman who passed herself as a
Peninsular; best remembered for her abusive treatment to Sisa. 20. Captain-
General the most powerful official in the Philippines, a hater of secular priests and
corrupt officials, and a friend of Ibarra.

The First Homecoming

- On June 29, 1887 - Rizal wrote to his father about his homecoming; he is
expected to be in the Philippines by the 15th to 30th of August 1887. On
July 3, 1887 - Rizal boarded the steamer Djemnah and the only Filipino
among the passengers who could speak many languages, so he had a good
 time acting as interpreter for his companions and also get along well with
the other passengers by playing chess.
- Reaching Saigon, he transferred to another streamer Haiphong which was
bound for Manila on August 2, 1887. August 6, 1887, he reached Manila
and was welcomed heartily by his parents, relatives, and friends. He found
Manila the same as when he left it 5 years ago - stayed in the city short
time to visit his friends. August 8, 1887 - He returned to Calamba.
- In Calamba, Rizal built a medical clinic with his mother as first patient who
was almost blind. He could not operate his mother because her eye
contracts were not yet ripe. His coming as a doctor spread and wide; and
was called “Doctor Uliman” because he came from Germany with
reasonable fees, even “gratis” for the poor.
- He wrote to Blumentritt, “I had a pleasant voyage, I found my family
enjoying good health and happiness. It was great seeing each other again.
They shed tears of joy and I had to answer their thousands of questions at
the same time. But amidst the happy and peaceful aura of his arrival, his
family was worried for his safety. Thus, Paciano did not leave him to protect
him for any enemy assault; his father would not let him go alone.
- He opened a gymnasium for young folks to introduce European sports,
gymnastics, fencing, and shooting so as to discourage time being spent in
cockfights (sabong) and gambling.

Rizal decided to return to Calamba for such reasons:

To operate on his mother's eyes
To help his family and the Filipino people
To find out for himself how the Noli Me Tangere and his other writings were
affecting the Filipinos and Spaniard s in the Philippines
He wanted to find out why Leonora Rivera remained silent when he was in
Rome.

Trouble in Noli Me Tangere

 - After his stay in Calamba, he received a letter from the Gov. General Emilio
Terrero requesting him to come to Malacañang Palace to explain about the
subversive ideas contained in the Noli Me Tangere.
- He denied the charges and explained that he merely exposed the truth but
did not advocate subversion
- Pleased by his explanation and curious about the controversial book the
Gov. Gen. asked for a copy.
- Gov. Gen. knew that Rizal's life was in danger because the friars were
powerful, he assigned a cultured Spanish lieutenant named Don Jose
Traviel de Andrande as his bodyguard.
- Gov. Gen. read the novel and found nothing wrong.
- Nonetheless, he had it banned when reports were submitted to him by the
Commission of Censorship calling for its outright censorship.
- The banning of the Noli made it more popular; causing everybody among
the masses to read the novel at night secretly

The Attacks of Noli Me Tangere

- Salvador Fort printed copies of the Commission's report and Fr. Jose
Rodriguez printed eight pamphlets under general heading “Questions of
Supreme Interest (Custiones de Sumoditues)”.
- Many Filipinos were forced to buy but they did not believe these anti-Rizal
pamphlets.
- The Noli was also attacked in the senate of the Spanish Cortes.
- Noli was also vociferously attacked by the Spanish academician, Vicente
Barrantes, who was once a ranking official of the Philippines.

Defenders of Noli Me Tangere

- The Noli had its great defenders who bravely came out to prove the merits
of the novel and to enlighten the unkind attackers.
- They were reformers in foreign lands like MH Del Pilar, Graciano Lopez
Jaena, Mariano Ponce, Dr. Antonio, Ma. Regidor, Professor Ferdinand
Blumentritt, Dr. Miguel Morayta; and
- Don Segismundo Moret, a former Minister of the Court.
- Father Sanches of Ateneo upheld and praised the Noli in Public.
- Rev. Father Vicente Garcia, a Filipino Catholic priest-scholar, a theologian of
Manila Cathedral and a Tagalog of the famous “Imitation of Christ” by
Kempis wrote a defense of the Noli.
- Rev. Father Vicente Garcia - wrote a defense of the Noli under the
penname Justo Desiderio Magalang.
- July 18, 1888 - this was published in Singapore as an appendix to a
pamphlet.
- He blasted the attacks and arguments of Fr. Rodriguez with the following
counterargument:
Rizal cannot be an “ignorant man” as Fr. Rodriquez alleged, because he was
a graduate of Spanish universities and was a recipient of scholastic honor. 
Rizal does not attack the Church and Spain because what Rizal attack ed in the
Noli were the bad Spanish officials and not Spain, and the bad corrupt friars
and not the Church.
- Father Rodriguez said that those who read the Noli committed a mortal sin.
Since he (Fr. Rodriguez) had read the novel therefore he also committed
mortal sin.
- Rizal cried with overwhelming gratitude to Father Garcia's brilliant defense
of his Noli.
- Rizal wrote a letter to Barrantes to defend himself and to expose Barrantes'
ignorance of the Philippine affairs and mental dishonesty which is unworthy
of an academician.
- While the controversy over the Noli was raging in fury, Rizal was untouched
in Calamba because he was with bodyguard - they became friends.
- While Rizal was in Calmba, his help was sought by the folks for their
grievances against to impose certain reforms.
- After thorough study of the conditions of the Calamba hacienda which the
Dominican Order owned since 1883 he wrote down his findings which the
tenants and the three officials of the haienda signed on January 8, 1888 and
was submitted to the governor general for action.
- The hacienda of the Dominican order comprised not only the lands around
Calamba but the town of Calamba.
- The profits of the Dominican order continuously increased because of the
arbitrary increase of the rentals being paid by the tenants
- The hacienda owner never con tributed a single centavo for the celebration
of the town fiesta; for the education of the children and for the
improvement of agriculture.
- Tenants who had spent much labor clearing the lands were ejected from
their lands for flimsy reasons.
- High rates of interest were charged from the tenants for delayed payment
of rentals and when the rentals could not be paid, their carabaos, tools and
homes were confiscated.
- This reports further heightened the anger of the friars and they pressured the governor general
to deport him.
- Governor Terrero refused for there is no valid charge against Rizal in court. Gov. Gen. Terrero
advised Rizal to leave the Philippines for his own good and to escape the fury of the friars.
- His presence in Calamba is end angering the safe and happiness of his family and friends.
- He could fight better his enemies and serve his country's cause efficiently by writing in foreign
countries.
- 1888, before left Calamba, his friends from Lipa requested him to write a poem to
commemorate the town's elevation to a city (villa) by virtue of the Becerra Law of 1888.
- He wrote a poem dedicated to the industrious folks of Lipa entitled Hymn to Labor (Himno Al
trabajo). He finished it and sent it to Lipa before his departure from the Calamba.
- Himno Al Trabajo, “Hymn to Labor” (188) which was written on request in commemoration of
the above stuff.