RIZAL’s NOVELS

relevance and significance

ESTELITO ROSA SALUT, JR.

Invited Lecturer for Palompon Institute of Technology
 OUTLINE OF DISCUSSION

• INTRODUCTION
• Part 1: Background of the Novels
• Part 2: Significant Characters
• Part 3: Relevance to the Youth and Society
• CONCLUSION / KEY TAKE AWAYS
introduction
Part 1
Idea of writing a novel in the Philippines

• Reading of Harriet Beecher

Stowe’s “Uncle Tom’s
Cabin”, which portrays the
brutalities of American
slave-owners and the
pathetic conditions of the
unfortunate negro slave
inspired Rizal to prepare a
novel on the Philippines.
Idea of writing a novel in the Philippines:

• Rizal proposed the

writing of a novel
about the Philippines
during the reunion of
Filipinos in the house
of the Paternos in
Madrid on January 2,
1884.

Pedro Paterno
Known for the other Titles as:

“An Eagle Flight” (1900)

and
“The Social Cancer” (1912)
• A Latin word; meaning: “Touch Me Not”
or “Do not Touch Me” or in Filipino:
“Huwag Mo Akong Salingin”

• 63 chapters

• Dedicated to his country

• Taken from the Bible (John 20: 13-17)

• There is a missing chapter “Elias and

Salome”, it should be after chapter 24
• (for economic reason, since he has no
money to pay for an extra pages)
NOVEL’S JOURNEY
Finish in
Germany on
Start writing February 21,
in Madrid, 1887
Spain in
1884 (first ½
of Noli)

Paris, Made other

revision and
France ½ printing in
Berlin,
of ½ Germany
on March 21,
1887

9
• Chief aims of Rizal writing the
novel:

• Rizal believed that if the

educated Spaniards in
Europe should read about
the misdeeds of their
countrymen, they would
correct them

• Rizal also wanted to show

his own countrymen that
they themselves had many
faults which they must
correct if they want to
become a great people
Purpose of writing:
• To awaken the mind of the Filipino
people of the injustices
• To seek best treatment for the
“disease”
• To warm the Spaniards on the
consequences may happen

Sent to his closest friends:

• Blumentritt
• Dr. Antonio Ma. Regidor
• Graciano Lopez Jaena
• Mariano Ponce
• Felix Hidalgo
• Maximo Viola (first to read, the
savior of Noli)
•This is all about:
•Maltreatment
•Injustices
• made by Spanish
Authorities and Priests
to the Filipinos
• “Noli Me Tangere” is
the first part of the
two novels

• the sequel is “El

Filibusterismo”
 Published in Germany by
Berliner Buchdruckerei-
Aktiengesellschaft
 Printed in Germany
Printed 2,000 copies for
300.00 in Philippine Peso
value (at that time)
MAXIMO VIOLA
• Lend the money for the printing
• Considered to be the savior of NOLI
Part 1
NOVEL’S JOURNEY

Finish in
Start writing March 29, 1891
in Calamba, in Biarritz, France
October of
1887 (while
practicing
medicine)
Published in
In 1888, made Ghent, Belgium
changes in the and came to
plot and press on
correction September 18,
1891
while in
London

Added more
chapters
while in
Paris and
Madrid
SOME FACTS
✘ Composed of 38 chapters
✘ Dedicated to GOMBURZA – executed
by garrote in February 17, 1872
○ Mariano Gomez, 85 years old
○ Jose Burgos, 30 years old
○ Jacinto Zamora, 35 years old
✘ Jose Rizal pawned his jewels to pay the
down payment for the printing
 SOME FACTS
✘ Gave copies to:
○ Jose Maria Basa
○ Sixto Lopez
○ Blumentritt
○ Mariano Ponce
○ Graciano Lopez Jaena
○ Pardo de Tavera
○ Antonio Luna
○ Juan Luna
○ Valentin Ventura Valentin Ventura
✘ Savior of Fili
✘ Received the original
manuscript
✘ The original manuscript was bought by
the Philippine Government from V.
Ventura for 10,000.00 (Php), it consist of
279 pages of long sheets of paper

✘ Features from the original that does not

appear in the printed book

○ Foreword
○ Warning

■ Reason: to save printing costs

 Part 2

DOÑA VICTORINA SISA (NARCISA) MARIA CLARA

 Part 2

Juan PILOSOPO TASIO ELIAS

CRISOSTOMO (DON ANASTACIO)
IBARRA
y Magsalin
 Part 2

PAULITA GOMEZ JULI HERMANA BALI

 Part 2

SIMOUN ISAGANI GINOONG PASTA

Part 3
 Part 3
• colonial mentality
• self-sacrifice: hurting herself
• valuing education
• valuing wisdom
• thinking for people’s welfare
• practical
• pure love
• happiness of the failure of others
• revenge
• honor for the family
• self-centered
 conclusion
Noli Me and El Fili: Its Significance to the Youth in the Development and Future of Society

the story of NOLI and FILI, is the story of our…

• of the condition of the country and the

Filipinos during the colonization of Spain
• culture (the collective “us”)
• the hint of our future
conclusion