Synopsis

of

"Noli Me Tangere"
• The novel Noli Me
Tangere contains 63
chapters and
epilogue.

• It begins with a
reception given by
Capitan Tiago
(Santiago de los
Santos) at his house
in Calle Anloague
(now Juan Luna
Street) on the last
day of October.
• The reception or dinner is
given in honor of Crisostomo
Ibarra, a young and rich
Filipino who had just returned
after seven years of study in
Europe.

• Ibarra was the only son of

Don Rafael Ibarra, friend of
Capitan Tiago, and a fiancé
of beautiful Maria Clara,
supposed daughter of
Capitan Tiago.
• Among the guests during the
reception were Padre Damaso,
a fat Franciscan friar who had
been parish priest for 20 years
of San Diego (Calamba),
Ibarra’s native town;

• Padre Sybila, a young

Dominican parish priest of
Binondo;
• Señor Guevara, an elderly and kind lieutenant of the
Guardia Civil; Don Tiburcio de Espadaña, a bogus
Spanish physician, lame, and henpecked husband of
Doña Victorina; and several ladies.

• Ibarra, upon his arrival, produced a favorable impression

among the guests, except Padre Damaso, who was rude
to him.

• In accordance with a German custom, he introduced

himself to the ladies.

• During the dinner the conversation centered on Ibarra’s

studies and travels abroad.
• Padre Damaso was in bad mood
because he got a bony neck and a
hard wing of the chicken tinola.

• He tried to discredit Ibarra’s

remarks.

• After dinner, Ibarra left Capitan

Tiago’s house to return to his hotel.

• On the way, the kind Lieutenant

Guevara told him the sad story of
his father’s death in San Diego.
Don Rafael, his father, was a rich
and brave man.
• He defended a helpless boy
from the brutality of an illiterate
Spanish tax collector, pushing
the latter and accidentally
killing him.

• Don Rafael was thrown in

prison, where he died
unhappily.

• He was buried in consecrated

ground, but his enemies,
accusing him being a heretic,
had his body removed from the
cemetery.
• On hearing about his father’s sad story,
Ibarra thanked the kind Spanish lieutenant
and vowed to find out the truth about his
father’s death.

• The following morning, he visited Maria

Clara, his childhood sweetheart. Maria
Clara teasingly said that he had forgotten
her because the girls in Germany were
beautiful. Ibarra replied that he had never
forgotten her.

• After the romantic reunion with Maria Clara,

Ibarra went to San Diego to visit his father’s
grave. It was All Saint’s Day.
• At the cemetery, the
grave digger told
Ibarra that the corpse
of Don Rafael was
removed by order of
the parish priest, to be
buried in the Chinese
cemetery; but the
corpse was heavy and
it was a dark and rainy
night so that he (the
grave-digger) simply
threw the corpse into
the lake.
• Ibarra was
angered by the
grave-digger’s
story. He left the
cemetery.

• On the way, he
met Padre Salvi,
Franciscan parish
priest of San
Diego.
• In a flash, Ibarra pounced on
the priest, demanding redress
for desecrating his father’s
mortal remains. Padre Salvi
told him that he had nothing to
do with it, for he was not the
parish priest at the time of Don
Rafael’s death.

• It was Padre Damaso, his

predecessor, who was
responsible for it. Convinced of
Padre Salvi’s innocence, Ibarra
went away.
• In his town Ibarra
met several
interesting people,
such as the wise
old man, Tasio the
philosopher,
whose ideas were
too advanced for
his times so that
the people, who
could not
understand him,
called him “Tasio
the Lunatic;”
• the progressive school teacher, who complained to
Ibarra that the children were losing interest to their
studies because of the lack proper school house and the
discouraging attitude of the parish friar towards both the
teaching of Spanish and of the use of modern methods
of pedagogy;

• the spineless gobernadorcillo, who catered to the wishes

of the Spanish parish friars;

• Don Filipo Lino, the teniente-mayor and leader of the

cuardrilleros (town police);

• and the former gobernadorcillos who were prominent

citizens Don Basilio and Don Valentin.
• A most tragic story in
the novel is the tale of
Sisa, who was
formerly a rich girl but
became poor
because she married
a gambler, and a
wastrel at that.

• She became crazy

because she lost her
two boys, Basilio and
Crispin, the joy of her
wretched life.
• These boys were sacristanes (sextons)
in the church, working for a small wage
to support their poor mother. Crispin the
younger of the two brothers was
accused by the brutal sacristan mayor
(chief sexton) of stealing the money of
the priest.

• He was tortured in the convent and

died. Basilio, with his brother’s dying
cries ringing in his ears, escaped.

• When the two boys did not return home,

Sisa looked for them everywhere and,
in her great sorrow, she became
insane.
• Capitan Tiago, Maria Clara, and Aunt Isabel (Capitan
Tiago’s cousin who took care of Maria Clara, after her
mother’s death) arrived in San Diego. Ibarra and his
friends had a picnic at the lake.

• Among those present in this picnic, were Maria Clara

and her four girl friends the merry Siñang, the grave
Victoria, the beautiful Iday, and the thoughtful Neneng;
Aunt Isabel, chaperon of Maria Clara; Capitana Tika,
mother of Siñang; Andeng, foster sister of Maria Clara;
Albino, the ex-theological student who was in love with
Siñang; and Ibarra and his friends.

• One of the boatmen was a strong and silent peasant

youth named Elias.
• An incident of the picnic was the saving of Elias’ life by
Ibarra. Elias bravely grappled with a crocodile which was
caught in the fish corral. But the crocodile struggled
furiously so that Elias could not subdue it. Ibarra jumped
into the water and killed the crocodile, thereby saving
Elias.

• After the crocodile incident, was the rendering of a

beautiful song by Maria Clara who had a sweet voice as
they went ashore. They made merry in the cool, wooded
meadow. Padre Salvi, Capitan Basilio (former
gobernadorcillo and Siñang’s father) the alferez
(lieutenant of the Guardia Civil) and the town officials
were present. The luncheon was served, and everybody
enjoyed eating.
• The meal over, Ibarra and Capitan Basilio played chess,
while Maria Clara and her friends played the “Wheel of
Chance”, a game based on a fortune-telling book.

• As the girls were enjoying their fortune-telling game,

Padre Salvi came and tore to pieces the book, saying
that it was a sin to play such game.

• Shortly thereafter, a sargeant and four soldiers of the

Guardia Civil suddenly arrived, looking for Elias, who
was hunted for assaulting Padre Damaso and throwing
the alferez into a mud hole.
• Fortunately Elias had disappeared, and the Guardia Civil
went away empty-handed. During the picnic also, Ibarra
received a telegram from the Spanish authorities
notifying him the approval of his donation of a
schoolhouse for the children of San Diego.

• The next day Ibarra visited old Tasio to consult him on

his pet project about the schoolhouse. He saw the old
man’s writings were written in hieroglyphics.

• Tasio explained to him that he wrote in hieroglyphics

because he was writing for the future generations who
would understand them and say, “Not all were asleep in
the night of our ancestors!”
• Meanwhile San Diego was merrily preparing for its
annual fiesta, in honor of its patron saint San Diego de
Alcala, whose feast day is the 11th of November.

• On the eve of the fiesta, hundreds of visitors arrived from

the nearby towns, and there were laughter, music,
exploding bombs, feasting and moro-moro.

• The music was furnished by five brass bands (including

the famous Pagsanjan Band owned by the escribano
Miguel Guevara) and three orchestras.
• In the morning of the fiesta there was a high mass in the
church, officiated by Padre Salvi. Padre Damaso gave
the long sermon, in which he expatiated on the evils of
the times that were caused by certain men, who having
tasted some education spread pernicious ideas among
the people.

• After Padre Damaso’s sermon, the mass was continued

by Padre Salve. Elias quietly moved to Ibarra, who was
kneeling and praying by Maria Clara’s side, and warned
him to be careful during the ceremony of the laying of the
cornerstone of the schoolhouse because there was a
plot to kill him.
• Elias suspected that the yellowish man, who built the
derrick, was a paid stooge of Ibarra’s enemies.

• True to his suspicion, later in the day, when Ibarra, in the

presence of a big crowd, went down into the trench to
cement the cornerstone, the derrick collapsed.

• Elias, quick as a flash, pushed him aside, thereby

saving his life. The yellowish man was the one crushed
to death by the shattered derrick.
• At the sumptuous dinner that night under a decorated
kiosk, a sad incident occurred.

• The arrogant Padre Damaso, speaking in the presence

of many guests, insulted the memory of Ibarra’s father.

• Ibarra jumped to his seat, knocked down the fat friar

with his fist, and then seized a sharp knife.

• He would have killed the friar, were it not for the timely
intervention of Maria Clara.
• The fiesta over, Maria Clara became ill. She was treated
by the quack Spanish physician, Tiburcio de Espadaña,
whose wife, a vain and vulgar native woman, was a
frequent visitor in Capitan Tiago’s house.

• This woman had hallucinations of being a superior

Castillan, and, although a native herself, she looked
down on her own people as inferior beings.

• She added another “de” to her husband’s surname in

order for it to sound more Spanish.
• Thus she wanted to be called “Doctora Doña Victorina
de los Reyes de De Espadaña.”

• She introduced to Capitan Tiago young Spaniards, Don

Alfonso Linares de Espadaña, cousin of Don Tiburcio de
Espadaña and godson of Padre Damaso’s brother in
law. Linares was a penniless and jobless fortune hunter
who came to the Philippines in search of a rich Filipino
heiress.

• Both Doña Victorina and Padre Damaso sponsored his

wooing of Maria Clara, but the latter did not respond
because she loved Ibarra.
• The story of Elias like that of Sisa, was a tale of pathos
and tragedy. He related it to Ibarra.

• Some 60 years ago, his grandfather, who was then a

young bookkeeper in a Spanish commercial firm in
Manila, was wrongly accused of burning the firm’s
warehouse.

• He was flogged in public and was left in the street,

crippled and almost dead. His wife was pregnant,
begged for alms and became a prostitute in order to
support her sick husband and their son.

• After giving birth to her second son and the death of her
husband, she fled, with her to sons to the mountains.
• Years later the first boy became a dreaded tulisan
named Balat. He terrorized the provinces. One day he
was caught by the authorities.

• His head was cut off and was hung from a tree branch in
the forest. On seeing this gory object, the poor mother
(Elias’ grandmother) died.

• Balat’s younger brother, who was by nature kindhearted,

fled and became a trusted laborer in the house of rich
man in Tayabas. He fell in love with the master’s
daughter. The girl’s father, enraged by the romance,
investigated his past and found out the truth. The
unfortunate lover (Elias’ father) was sent to jail, while the
girl gave birth to twins, a boy (Elias) and a girl.
• Their rich grandfather took care of them, keeping secret
their scandalous origin, and reared them as rich children.
Elias was educated in the JesuitCollege in Manila, while
his sister studied in La Concordia College.

• They lived happily, until one day, owing to certain

dispute over money matters, a distant relative exposed
their shameful birth.

• They were disgraced. An old male servant, whom they

used to abuse, was forced to testify in court and the truth
came out that he was their real father.
• Elias and his sister left Tayabas to hide their shame in
another place.

• One day the sister disappeared. Elias roamed from place

to place, looking for her.

• He heard later that a girl answering to his sister’s

description, was found dead on the beach of San Diego.
Since then, Elias lived a vagabond life, wandering from
province to province – until he met Ibarra.
• Ibarra was implicated in a plot to overthrow the
government and was arrested. Elias, learning of Ibarra’s
arrest, burned all the papers that might incriminate his
friend and set Ibarra’s house on fire.

• Then he went to prison and helped Ibarra escape. He

and Ibarra jumped into a banca loaded with sacate
(grass). Ibarra stopped at the house of Capitan Tiago to
say goodbye to Maria Clara.

• In the tearful last scene between the two lovers, Ibarra

forgave Maria Clara for giving up his letter to her to the
Spanish authorities who utilized them as evidence
against him.
• On her part, Maria Clara revealed that those letters were
exchanged with a letter from her late mother, Pia Alba
which Padre Salvi gave her. From his letter, she learned
that her real father was Padre Damaso.

• After bidding Maria Clara farewell, Ibarra returned to the

banca. He and Elias paddled up the PasigRiver toward
Laguna de Bay.

• A police boat, with the Guardia Civil on board, pursued

them as their banca reached the lake. Elias told Ibarra to
hide under the zacate.
• As the police boat was overtaking the banca, Elias
jumped into the water and swam swiftly toward the
shore. In this way, he diverted the attention of the
soldiers on his person, thereby giving Ibarra a chance to
escape.

• The soldier fired at the swimming Elias, who was hit and
sank.

• The water turned red because of his blood. The soldiers,

thinking that they had killed the fleeing Ibarra returned to
Manila. Thus Ibarra was able to escape.
• Elias seriously wounded, reached the shore and
staggered into the forest.

• He met a boy, Basilio, who was weeping over his

mother’s dead body.

• He told Basilio to make a pyre on which their bodies (his

and Sisa) were to be burned to ashes. It was Christmas
eve, and the moon gleamed softly in the sky. Basilio
prepared the funeral pyre.
• As life’s breath slowly left
his body. Elias looked
toward the east and
murmured:

• “I die without seeing the

dawn brighten over my
native land.” You, who
have it to see, welcome it!
And forget not those who
have fallen during the
night.
• The novel has an epilogue which recounts what
happened to the other characters.

• Maria Clara, out of her loyalty to the memory of Ibarra,

the man she truly loved, entered the Santa Clara
nunnery. Padre Salvi left the parish of San Diego and
became a chaplain of the nunnery.

• Padre Damaso was transferred to a remote province, but

the next morning he was found dead in his bedroom.
• Capitan Tiago the former genial host and generous
patron of the church became an opium addict and a
human wreck. Doña Victorina, still henpecking poor Don
Tiburcio, had taken to wearing eye-glasses because of
weakening eyesight.

• Linares, who failed to win Maria Clara’s affection, died of

dysentery and was buried in Paco cemetery.

• The alferez, who successfully repulsed the abortive

attack on the barracks, was promoted major. He
returned to Spain, leaving behind his shabby mistress,
Doña Consolacion.
• The novel ends
with Maria Clara,
an unhappy nun in
Santa Clara
nunnery – forever
lost to the world.
 Characters
of Noli Me Tangere
• Ibarra
– A rich young man who studied in Europe, only
son of Don Rafael Ibarra. Based on Dr. Jose
Rizal.
• Elias
– He believes that justice can be obtained only
through revolution—he symbolizes the very
root of the Filipino culture before the coming
of the Spaniards, which remained strong and
unbroken by the Spaniards.
– Rizal
– Intellectuals and patriots
• Pilosopo Tasio

– ( Tasio, The Lunatic )

– Wise old man whose ideas were too
advanced for his times so that people don’t
understand him
– Paciano
– Intellectuals and patriots. Tasio however has
grown bitter and has ceased to believe that
change would be possible in an utterly corrupt
society. He has lost the fervor of his idealism
when dreams collapsed one by one.
• Maria Clara

– Beautiful lover of Ibarra, daughter of Pia Alba

and Father Damaso

– Leonor Rivera

– Innocence, submissiveness and passivity of a

Philippine society that has allowed itself to be
abused
• Father Damaso Verdolagas

– Franciscan friar who had been parish priest of

San Diego. Biological father of Maria Clara

– Arrogant, Immoral And Anti Filipino Friars

– Hypocrisy, cruelty, self-centeredness and

promiscuity
• Father Bernardo Salvi

– Parish priest who replaced Father Damaso.

He had hidden desires for Maria Clara.

– Padre Antonio Piernavieja

– Deceit, covetousness, hypocrisy and

promiscuity
• Fr. Hernando Sybila

– His conversation with an old priest reveals

that monetary gains and not the salvation of a
people were their main concern.

– Trader’s mentality; arrogance of religious

orders or institutions
• Capitan Tiago

– Friend of Don Rafael Ibarra who acted as the

father of Maria Clara.

– Captain Hilario Sunico of San Nicolas

– Social climber Filipino, who would go to a

great extent to attain power and social status
like bribery and giving lavish parties and gifts
• Donya Victorina*

– Flamboyantly dressed wife of henpecked Spanish quack doctor;

uses the title Donya Victorina de De Espadana, doubling the “de”
to stress her imagined social rank.

– Donya Agustina Medel.

– Alienated Filipina woman bent on marrying one with prestige and

high station in life; a social climber, her fanatical adulation of the
Spaniards leads her to imitate the very actions and attitude of the
Spanish women. She symbolizes the Filipino in our society who
are ashamed of their own race and nationality.
•
• Donya Consolacion

– Vulgar mistress of Alferez; inspiration of the

Alferezes and civil guards.

– Pretended as Spanish who did not know how

to speak Tagalog and holds Filipinos in
contempt; social climber
• Basilio And Crispin

– Sons of Sisa, they are sacristans in the

church of San Diego.

– Crisostomo Brothers of Hagonoy

– Children of abuse and broken dreams

• Sisa

– Formerly, a responsible rich girl, who became

poor because of marrying a gambler and
irresponsible man.

– Externalize vicious cycle of poverty. Her

shortsightedness made her give up freedom
in pursuit of temporary desires.
• Doña Pia

– is the wife of Capitan Tiago and Ma. Clara’s

mother.

– She is a symbol of unquestioning blind

obedience to authority. She died upon giving
birth to Ma. Clara, her child by Padre
Damaso.
• The contrast between right and might is
seen on Don Rafael Ibarra and Capitan
Tiago.

• The former, rich and possessed of a liberal

mind was a victim of persecution while the
latter, shrewd and opportunistic, was an
influence-peddler.
•
 Synopsis
of the
El Filibusterismo
• This novel is a sequel to the Noli. It has a
little humor, less idealism, and less
romance than the Noli Me Tangere.

• It is more revolutionary and more tragic

than the first novel.
• The hero of El Filibusterismo is a rich jeweler named
Simoun. He was Crisostomo Ibarra of the Noli, who, with
Elias’ help, escaped from the pursuing soldiers at
Laguna de Bay, dug up his buried treasure, and fled to
Cuba where he became rich and befriended many
Spanish officials.

• After many years he returned to the Philippines, where

he freely moved around. He is a powerful figure not only
because he is a rich jeweler but also because he is a
good friend and adviser of the governor general.
• Outwardly, Simoun is a friend of Spain. However deep in
his heart, he is secretly cherishing a terrible revenge
against the Spanish authorities.

• His two magnificent obsessions are to rescue Maria

Clara from the nunnery of Santa Clara and to foment a
revolution against the hated Spanish masters.
• The story of El Filibusterismo begins on board the
clumsy, roundish shaped steamer Tabo, so appropriately
named.

• This steamer is sailing upstream the Pasig from Manila

to Laguna de Bay.

• Among the passengers are Simoun, the rich jeweler;

Doña Victorina, the ridiculously pro-Spanish native
woman who is going to Laguna in search of her
henpecked husband, Tiburcio de Espadaña, who has
deserted her;
• Paulita Gomez, her beautiful niece;

• Ben-Zayb (anagram of Ibañez), a Spanish journalist who

writes silly articles about the Filipinos;

• Padre Sibyla, vice-rector of the University of Santo

Tomas;

• Padre Camorra, the parish priest of the town of Tiani;

• Don Custodio, a pro-spanish Filipino holding a position in

the government;

• Padre Salvi, thin Franciscan friar and former cura of San

Diego;
• Padre Irene, a kind friar who was a friend of the Filipino
students;

• Padre Florentino, a retired scholarly and patriotic Filipino

priest;

• Isagani, a poet-nephew of Padre Florentino and a lover

of Paulita;

• and Basilio, son of Sisa and promising medical student,

whose medical education is financed by his patron,
Capitan Tiago.
• Simoun, a man of wealth and mystery, is a very close
friend and confidante of the Spanish governor general.
Because of his great influence in Malacañang, he was
called the “Brown Cardinal” or the “Black Eminence”.

• By using his wealth and political influence, he

encourages corruption in the government, promotes the
oppression of the masses, and hastens the moral
degradation of the country so that the people may
become desperate and fight.
• He smuggles arms into the country with the help of a rich
Chinese merchant, Quiroga, who wants very much to be
Chinese consul of Manila.

• His first attempt to begin the armed uprising did not

materialize because at the last hour he hears the sad
news that Maria Clara died in the nunnery.

• In his agonizing moment of bereavement, he did not give

the signal for the outbreak of hostilities.
• After a long time of illness brought about by the bitter loss
of Maria Clara, Simoun perfects his plan to overthrow the
government.

• On the occasion of the wedding of Paulita Gomez and

Juanito Pelaez, he gives a wedding gift to them a beautiful
lamp. Only he and his confidential associates, Basilio
(Sisa’s son who joined his revolutionary cause), know that
when the wick of his lamp burns lower, the nitroglycerine
hidden in its secret compartment, will explode, destroying
the house where the wedding feast is going to be held
killing all the guests, including the governor general, the
friars, and the government officials.

• Simultaneously, all the government buildings in Manila will

be blown by Simoun’s followers.
• As the wedding feast begins, the poet Isagani, who has
been rejected by Paulita because of his liberal ideas, is
standing outside the house, watching sorrowfully the
merriment inside.

• Basilio, his friend, warns him to go away because the

lightened lamp will soon explode.

• Upon hearing the horrible secret of the lamp, Isagani

realizes that his beloved Paulita was in grave danger.

• To save her life, he rushes into the house, seizes the

lightened lamp, and hurls it into the river, where it
explodes.
• The revolutionary plot was thus discovered.

• Simoun was cornered by the soldiers, but he escaped.

Mortally wounded, and carrying his treasure chest, he
sought refuge in the home of Padre Florentino by the
sea.

• The Spanish authorities, however, learns of his presence

in the house of Padre Florentino.

• Lieutenant Perez of the Guardia Civil informs the priest

by letter that he would come at eight o’clock that night to
arrest Simoun.
• Simoun eluded arrest by taking poison.

• As he is dying, he confesses to Padre Florentino,

revealing his true identity, his dastardly plan to use his
wealth to avenge himself, and his sinister aim to destroy
his friends and enemies.

• The confession of the dying Simoun is long and painful.

• It is already night when Padre Florentino, wiping the

sweat from his wrinkled brow, rises and begins to
meditate.
• He consoles the dying man saying: “God will forgive you
Señor Simoun.

• He knows that we are fallible. He has seen that you have

suffered, and in ordaining that, the chastisement for your
faults should come as death from the very ones you
have instigated to crime, we can see His infinite mercy.

• He has frustrated your plans one by one, the best

conceived, first by the death of Maria Clara, then by a
lack of preparation, then in some mysterious way.
• Let us bow to His will and render Him thanks!” watching
Simoun die peacefully with a clear conscience and at
peace with God.

• Padre Florentino falls upon his knees and prays for the
dead jeweler.

• He takes the treasure chest and throws it into the sea; as

the waves close over the sinking chest.
El Filibusterismo Characters:
• Simoun was Ibarra in the first novel. After barely
escaping with his life, he returns as a totally different
man, both in appearance and character.

• He is often referred to as the black cardinal because of

his close relations as adviser to the governor-general.

• Outwardly, he is a friend of Spain, but deep in his heart,

he is bitter and ruthless, secretly planning a revolution
against he Spanish authorities.

• He encourages corruption to be done so as to arouse

the people’s anger against the government. If Ibarra
advocated change through peaceful means, Simoun
advocated revolution.
• Padre Florentino, a retired scholarly and patriotic
Filipino priest;

• Padre Irene, a kind friar who was a friend of the Filipino

students; Supports the students who appeal to the
government for an academy of Spanish language. He
embodies the few Spaniards who are sympathetic to the
Filipinos.

• Macaraig signifies the exception among tyrannical

Spaniards.
• Kabesang Tales, Juli’s father, personifies a typical
Filipino who is content with living a simple life.

• He later becomes the dreaded outlaw Matanglawin after

he loses his farm to the friars and civil authorities, an
explanation why Filipinos turned into rebels.

• Juli, Basilio’s sweetheart.

• Chose death over the loss of honor and dignity.

• She represents the Philippines, which would rather suffer

with pride and honor.
• Isagani, Basilio, Placido and Juanito were students
who openly criticize the educational system.

• The friars brand the students as subversives or

filibusteros.

• Isagani, lover of Paulita; he is a poet and a nephew of

Padre Florentino. He was disheartened when Paulita left
him for a wealthy man.

• He forgot ideals in favor of personal gains. He

symbolizes the youth who, despite their being very
aggressive and idealistic, cannot be relied on in times of
adversity.
• Basilio, the elder of the two sons of the late Sisa, he is a
promising medical student whose medical education is
financed by his patron, Capitan Tiago.

• At first he refuses to join Simoun’s plan of overthrowing

the Spanish government;

• He is a young man with a simple dream that his

education will improve his social and economic status in
the future.

• He is indifferent and selfish, thus his character

represents the young educated Filipinos who are
apathetic to the needs of the society.
• Doña Victorina the ridiculously pro-Spanish native
woman who is going to Laguna in search of her
henpecked husband, Tiburcio de Espadaña, who left
her.

• She remains a hypocrite and a symbol of colonial

mentality.

• Paulita Gomez The beautiful niece of Doña Victorina.

She rejected Isagani because of his liberal ideas.

• She represents the women who have no sense of

nationalism and sympathy towards others. She stands
for vanity.
• Ben Zayb a Spanish journalist who ridicules Filipinos.
He personifies a corrupt media.

• Padre Sybila, Vice Rector of the Univeristy of Santo

Tomas;

• Padre Camorra, the parish priest of Tiani town;

• Fr. Fernandez exemplifies the pedantic professor.

• Padre Salvi, a thin Franciscan priest and a former cura
of San Diego.

• Don Custodio, a pro-Spanish Filipino holding a high

government position;

• Senor Pasta, is an old Filipino lawyer who refuses to

help the Filipino students in their clamor for educational
reform.

• He represents the part of the society that is only

generous and sympathetic to the rich and powerful.
 Rizal’s Philosophies as
Revealed Through the Noli,
the Fili and Other Writings
• Rizal wrote the novels for
the noble purpose of
redeeming his people
from their miserable
conditions.

• His main purposes were

to expose the social
malady affecting the
country, and to awaken
and develop the national
consciousness of the
people.
• The Noli Me Tangere (Social Cancer) and the El
Filibusterismo boldly exposed and criticized
Philippine social life during the 19th century.

• The novels exposed the symptoms of the

cancer that were eroding Philippine society; the
abuses of the friars and the civil guards, the
corruption in the government, defective
educational system, the hypocrisy and apathy
of some Filipinos and the decadence of social
order.
❑In the Noli Rizal portrayed the substance and
character of the contemporary situation in the
Philippines.

❑He told his friend Blumentritt, “ The Filipinos

will find in Noli the history of the last 100
years”.

❑The events that I have recounted are all true

and have actually happened.
• Dr. Jose Rizal stresses the need to understand a
people’s history and culture, trace their development
and pinpoint the barriers to their growth.

• A country can be analyzed by looking into its major

institutions: the family, the school, the church and the
state.

• Rizal maintains that in order to read the destiny of a

people, it is necessary to open the book of its past.
Rizal’s Thoughts on Filipino Culture

• Socrates once said, “An unexamined life is not worth

living.” This statement calls for one to evaluate his
weaknesses and strength before attempting to
comprehend his surroundings.

• Rizal’s first novel is an expose. It is his idea to present

each social institution on the pedestal of scrutiny as a
means of evaluating the nation’s values, which
strengthen it, and its vices, which contribute to its
weaknesses.
• This discussion will attempt to examine
social institutions up-close in the light of
Dr. Rizal’s ideals and principles.
• Some Filipino values and beliefs manifested in Dr. Rizal’s novels
are:

• Non-rationalism. A philosophy in life that revolves around the idea

that man has to adopt himself to nature and to forces outside of
himself.

• It is an uncritical acceptance, reverence and protection of tradition

and rituals. Non-rationalism includes resistance to scientific
methods, unswerving loyalty to the group, and unquestioning
obedience to authority.

• Rationalism. A frame of mind, which is scientific, future-oriented

and continuously guided by experimentation. It puts premium to
self-expression and creativity over group conformity and security.
• Personalism. An attitude of taking personal
factors that guarantee intimacy, warmth,
security of kinship and friendship in getting
things done.

• Impersonalism. This is a depersonalized

standardized or institutionalized function of
position and not the person occupying it
• Particularism. An individual’s devotion to sub-
groups comprising of relatives, friends,
colleagues, associates, religious affiliates or
members of his ethnic or regional group.

• Universalism. This pertains to an advancement

of collective or national good over personal, or
regional welfare.
Points to ponder:

1. Who among the characters in the two Novels best

personify the above-mentioned beliefs?

2. What are the positive effects the above principles

could bring to society?

3. What are the downsides to these principles?

4. What harm could these beliefs bring to

development?
Rizal’s Thoughts On The Family

• The family is the foundation of society. From this

institution, a child absorbs positive and negative values
and attitude that act upon his survival, socio-economic
status and social mobility. Here are some of Dr. Rizal’s
thoughts on the family:

• The tragic accounts of Elias, Capitan Pablo, Sisa, Don

Rafael and Ma. Clara point to a common factor that can
drive an individual to commit acts that are either good
or bad. Strong family ties is a value typical of Filipinos.
• When one or more members of the family is wronged,
the next of kin cry out for revenge. Don Rafael’s
imprisonment, death, exhumation, the desecration of
his remains, the denigration of his memory impelled
Ibarra to hit Father Damaso, nearly killing him.

• Elias’ grandparents were social outcasts.

• The rise of Balat as the dreaded outlaw is attributed to

the murder of his uncle and the rape-slaying of his sister.
• Capitan Pablo was a peaceful man from a
middle-class family.

• His daughter was abused by a priest and

in avenging the injustice suffered by her,
Pablo and his sons became outlaws.

• When they were caught, both brothers

were tortured and killed. Pablo became
the leader of the tulisanes.
• Sisa’s account is the most unfortunate of all.

• Having married a drunkard and a gambler, she lost all

her fortune so she was left with no choice but to send
her children to work in the parish.

• Crispin, the younger son was accused of stealing from

the treasury, was tortured and killed. Sisa in turn
became insane.
Points to ponder:

1. What are the things Rizal was pointing to through

examples of the family he gave in his two novels?

2. Why do you think he gave these examples?

3. What role does the family play to contribute to the

betterment of society?
– Is the family of today still on track in fulfilling these
goals?
On Religion and The Church
Man in his limitations tries to
find meaning in life. He tries
to explain such things as
death, the meaning of life
and death.
• Man searches the destiny
that awaits him after his
death and he works hard in
pursuit of happiness.
• He assigns to mysteries and
miracles events beyond his
comprehension.
• Religion came from the Latin term religare which
means to bind again. For Christians, religion makes
man reconcile or be reunited with his creator.

• Rizal believes in the necessity of bringing out the best

in society but he also exposes how religion kept men
ignorant and in abject slavery. Ultimately, it is religion
that corrupts the leaders of places like San Diego.
• The classical philosophers such as Socrates, Plato and
Aristotle show how religion interlinks with politics
while modern political thinkers segregate politics from
religion and seek to uncover one’s ulterior motives
behind religion.

• Voltaire departed from the teachings of Socrates

which was highly ethical, to one which is pragmatic
and empirical. He whetted away at speculations,
imaginations and emotions.
• He recognized the effectiveness of
religion as a tool for unity of a state or
as an instrument for the easy conquest
of a nation.

• He said, “If God doesn’t exist, then we

would have invented him.”

• Karl Marx considered religion as the

opium of the masses. Bakunin went
further by saying, “If God really exists,
it would be necessary to abolish him.”
• He justified his stand by citing that religion debases
and corrupts people.

• For him, religion destroys reason (the necessary

instrument for human emancipation) and reduces
man to imbecility which is the essential condition to
slavery.

• San Diego is a showcase of conflict between the

church and the state.

• Like any community, the people are peace-loving,

simple and naïve to social and political issues.
• They are ultra-religious to the point of fanaticism.

• They also have their share of carpet-baggers, lackeys

and nonconformists with the latter branded as
filibusteros or loco.

• At the laying of the cornerstone of the school-house,

Tasio mused:

“…in those remote ages, men showed faith in some

beings who professed to be ministers of God and who
established a direct communication between the
Creator and his creation.
These men assigned to themselves the
letters M.R.P. (Muy Reverendo Padre).
They are always right. They were a
group by themselves who professed to
be able to cause God to come down to
earth by uttering some mysterious
words.

They made the rest of the people believe,

that their words were God’s and that
they enjoy a daily meal of his flesh and
blood and cause the people to do the
same occasionally.”
• How friars enriched themselves can be gleaned in the
conversation between Fr. Sibyla and his superior.

• They were discussing their sales of religious objects

and indulgences when the old priest said. “ We will
enjoy power while the people believe in us.”

• It was clear from the beginning that the friars were

playing on the people’s ignorance.
• No example is more appropriate than what happened
to Doña Pia.

• Having no child with Capitan Tiago, she was told by

Padre Damaso to make daily novenas and devotions to
different saints.

• A “miracle” happened when she gave birth to a baby

girl.

• Everyone of course knew that the child she conceived

was that of Father Damaso’s. This is a classic example
of blind allegiance.
• Although Rizal pointed to religion as the cause of the
many sufferings of his people, and he was
disappointed with the hypocrisies and corruption of
the friars she remained steadfast in his faith.

• In Noli Me Tangere, he portrays Tasio entering the

church when nobody was around, fervently prayong to
God without the aid of religious objects.

• Here are some reaffirmation of Rizal’s faith expressed

through some Noli characters:
• Through Ibarra: “… the priest I forgive, on account of
the institution he represents which I wish respected
because it elevates society.”

• Through Elias: “.. but I believe in Him… there has been

great necessity in my life to pin my faith in God since I
have lost faith in man…”

• Through Tasio as he prays amidst the thunder and

storm, “Oh God, I know that you are not cruel. I know
that you are just. I know that you are the ultimate
God.”
Points to ponder:

1. What do you think were Rizal pointing out when he

created the various religious figures in his two novels?

3. What role does the Church play to contribute to the

betterment of society?

4. Is the Church of today still on track in fulfilling these

goals?
The School and Education
• Rizal affirmed his commitment to
education through the character of
Ibarra who went abroad in search
of it. Ibarra then comes back to
among others, establish a school
for the people of San Diego.
• Ibarra said, “ I desire the country’s
welfare, therefore I will build a
schoolhouse. I seek it by means of
instruction, by progressive
advancement, without light there is
no road.”
• Rizal’s literary works and private correspondence
abound with remarkable ideas on education.

• He believes that education was a lighthouse that

guided men to enjoy freedom and prosperity.

• To raise the level of education in his country, Rizal

constantly advised his countrymen and the members
of his family to acquire more knowledge.
• In a letter to one of his sisters, he said, “it is
regrettable that there in our country, the main
ornament of women almost always consists in dresses
and luxury but not in education.”

• One of the projects Rizal wished to establish was a

college that would respect academic freedom and
develop the potential of the students.

• He stressed that education would liberate the Filipinos

from ignorance and prepare them for the reforms and
freedom they had been aspiring for.
•
• In a manifesto he wrote while confined in Fort
Santiago, he emphasized the value of education when
he said, “ I place as a prior condition the education of
the people, that by means of instruction and industry,
they may have a personality of their own and make
themselves worthy of these liberties.”
• Here are excerpts from two poems he wrote as a high
school student:

• “Wise education is a mother of virtues. Where the

youth are wisely educated, they become vigorous and
their ideas are exalted.

• They become intolerant of error, break the neck of

vice, halt crime, tame the barbarous nation, and raise
the savage nations to a sober station.”
• “Wise education lights the living flame of virtue. When
education is nourished by the principles of religion, she
may walk toward the good and spread everywhere the
fruits of virtue. The country progresses because of
those whose goodness comes from a Christian
education.”

• “Wise education is complete and true, there is no

human suffering we cannot overcome.
•
• The educated citizen spreads his blessings among his
fellowmen. His examples make others climb the height
of honor. He faces the problems of his country and
guides its destiny.

• Through wise education, arts and science are born and

enduring peace is given to the motherland.

• Wise education exalts the human mind, enlightens the

motherland, lifts her to lofty seat of glory and offers
her endless glow.”
• He further said in the Noli, “ the school is
the basis of society; the school is the book
on which is written the future of the
nation.

• Show us the schools of people and we

shall show you what people they are.”
•
Points to ponder:

1. What are the positive effects education brings to an

individual?

2. What are the effects education brings to society?

3. Knowing the positive effects of education to our

country, what personal commitments to the nation
can you make as a student and as a citizen?
Other Points to ponder:

1. What role does religion play in educating people?

2. Is the interplay between education and religion

important in changing society?

3. What has studying in a Christian institution brought

to you as a human being?
•
The Motherland

• In a conversation with Elias at the

lake, Ma. Clara asks whether
herons have nests or not. Elias’
allegorical answer was “they must
have their nests or they may be so
unfortunate.”

• The longing for a country one can

call his own finds expression in the
Song of Maria Clara:
In one’s dear land are the hours so sweet.
All things smile at them the sunbeams greet.
Soft cooling breezes waft their fragrance meet;
Even death is sweet when love in full measures heat.
By soft arms circle in blissful rest;
One’s cheeks and eyes smile and waking life is blessed.
For one’s own native land even death is sweet,
Here all things smile as them the sunbeams greet;
Dead is all beauty, away the sunbeams flit,
Without home, without land, one’s life is incomplete.
Points to ponder:

1. What effects do you think does statelessness

bring to the minds of people?

2. How important is it in a person to have his

own homeland?
The Concept of World-Brotherhood

• Through Basilio Rizal said, “Science is

more eternal, more human, more
universal!… in a few centuries when
humanity will be enlightened and
freed, when there will be no longer
tyrants nor slaves, colonies nor
metropolis, when justice will reign and
man will be a citizen of the world, only
the cult of science will remain, the
word patriotism will sound like
fanaticism and whoever will praise
patriotic virtues will be isolated no
doubt like a dangerously sick person, a
menace to social harmony.”
• Through Simoun he said, “.. yet to reach that
state, it is necessary that there are no tyrants
nor slaves.

• It is necessary that man is free wherever he

goes, that he knows how to respect the right of
any man to his own individuality, and for this, it
is necessary that the social conscience be
horrified, it will declare the individual
conscience free.”
•
• “Neither obscurantism and fanaticism nor
oppression or superstitions ever bind nor have
they ever bound peoples.

• On the other hand, liberty, rights and love

group distinct races around the same standard,
one aspiration, one destiny.” (The Rizal-
Blumentritt Correspondence).
Points to ponder:

1. According to Rizal, what are the things that

hinder men from being united?

2. What did he suggest men do for them to

become united?

3. Can you cite a relevant world situation today?

On The Role Women Play in Society:
• Rizal’s Letter to the Young Women of Malolos

On December 12, 1888, a group of 20 (Zaide p.323;

Romero, in her book, mentions 21 young women,
p.117; Capino claims 22, p. 182) young women,
daughters of well-to-do citizens (Capino, p.182) of
Malolos petitioned Gov. Gen. Valeriano Weyler
(successor of Gov. Gen. Terrero) for permission to
open a “night school” so that they might study
Spanish under Teodoro Sandiko.
• The Spanish parish priest, Fr. Felipe Garcia, objected so
that the Gov. Gen. turned down the petition. However,
the young women, in defiance to the friar’s wrath,
bravely continued their petition for putting up the
school – a thing unheard of in the Philippines during
those times.

• They finally succeeded in obtaining government

approval to their project on condition that Señorita
Guadalupe Reyes should be their teacher. This incident
caused a great stir in the Philippines and in far away
Spain.
• Del Pilar, writing in Barcelona on February 17, 1889,
requested Rizal to send a letter in Tagalog to the brave
women of Malolos, to give them a boost in their task
of promoting their country’s welfare.

• Accordingly, Rizal, although busy in London annotating

(i.e., explain, add footnotes to) Morga’s book penned
his famous letter and sent it to Del Pilar for transmittal
to Malolos.
• In a letter dated February 22, 1889, he congratulated
the young women of Malolos for their exceptionally
courageous behavior. He delineated his profound (i.e.,
deep, reflective) ideas of the Filipino women Romero,
p. 118).
• Rizal praised the gentle manners of the young
Filipino women but he lamented their meekness and
submission to the commands and caprices of those
who called themselves “fathers of souls.” This fault he
attributed to “excessive goodness, humility, or perhaps
ignorance.”
• And like other Filipinos in Europe, he was happy to
learn that at last a group of young women in his
country had emerged to seek identity and dignity.

• They had realized that goodness did not consist in

blind obedience to the whims of the friars but in pure
consciousness of good judgment that would “only
obey what is reasonable and just.” Besides giving
needed advice to the ladies, Rizal said he hopes that
they would do everything they could to follow his
advice because it was they who could open the men’s
mind. Here are some timely good pieces of advice
given by Rizal (Capino, p. 182):
• Important indeed are the duties that women must
fulfill in order to relieve the country of her sufferings,
but they are not beyond the strength and character of
the Filipino women to perform.

• If she is a young woman, let the young man love her

not only for her beauty or the sweetness of her
disposition but also for the firmness of her character,
her lofty ideas that invigorate and encourage the weak
and timorous men or arouse brilliant ideas.
• The young woman should ask the man she is going to
love for a noble and honorable name, a manly heart
that can protect her weakness, a noble mind that will
not permit him to be the father of slaves.

• She must instill in his mind activity and industry, noble

behavior, worthy sentiments and not surrender her
young womanhood to a weak and timid heart.
• When she becomes a wife, she should help her
husband in every difficulty, encourage him, share with
him all perils, console him and drive away his woes,
always bearing in mind that a heroic heart can endure
any suffering and no legacy is as bitter than the legacy
of infamy and slavery.

• The women must raise their children close to the

image of the true God.
• They must awaken and prepare the mind of every
child for very good and desirable idea—love, honor,
sincere and firm character, clear mind, clean conduct,
noble action, love of one’s fellowmen, respect for God.
Teach these to your children.

• Because life is full of sorrows and perils, they must

fortify the character of their children against any
difficulty, strengthen their hearts against any danger.
• They must teach their children to guard and love their
honor, to love their native land, and perform their
duties. They must repeatedly tell them to prefer death
with honor to a life with dishonor.

• Rizal stressed that the country should not expect

honor and prosperity as long as the education of the
child is defective, so long as the women who raise the
children are enslaved and ignorant.

• Nothing can be drunk in a turbid and bitter spring. No

sweet thing can be picked from sour seed.
•
• Thoughts on the Letter:

• That the tyranny of some is possible only through

cowardice and negligence on the part of others.

• What makes one contemptible is lack of dignity and

abject (hopeless) fear of him who holds one in
contempt.
• Ignorance is servitude, because as a man thinks, so he
is; a man who does not think for himself and allowed
himself to be guided by the thought of another is like
the beast led by a halter (i.e., bridle or strap).
• He who loves his independence must first aid his
fellowman, because he who refuses protection to
others will find himself without it; the isolated rib in
the body is easily broken, but not so the broom made
of the ribs of the palm bound together.
•
• If the Filipina will not change her mode of being, let
her rear no more children, let her merely give birth to
them. She must cease to be the mistress of the home;
otherwise, she will unconsciously betray husband,
child, native land, and all.
• All men are born equal, naked, without bonds. God
did not create man to be a slave; nor did he endow
him with intelligence to have him hoodwinked or
adorn him with reason to have him deceived by
others.

• It is not fatuous to refuse to worship one's equal, to

cultivate one's intellect, and to make use of reason in
all things. Fatuous is he who makes a god of him, who
makes brutes of others, and who strives to submit to
his whims all that is reasonable and just.
•
• Consider well what kind of religion they are teaching
you. See whether it is the will of God or according to
the teachings of Christ that the poor be succored (be
helped) and those who suffer alleviated (i.e.,
lightened).
• Consider what they preaching to you, the object of the
sermon, what is behind the masses, novenas, rosaries,
scapularies, images, miracles, candles, belts, etc. etc;
which they daily keep before your minds; ears and
eyes; jostling, shouting, and coaxing; investigate
whence they came and whiter they go and then
compare that religion with the pure religion of Christ
and see whether the pretended observance of the life
of Christ does not remind you of the fat milk cow or
the fattened pig, which is encouraged to grow fat nor
through love of the animal, but for grossly mercenary
motives.
• This letter constitutes amoral and civic code, not only
for women, but also for the men, the family, and for all
Filipinos.

Points to ponder:

• 1. What did Rizal suggest how women could help bring

about change in society?
• 2. How you now realized the importance of your role
in shaping society?
• 3. To the young women, what personal commitments
can you make?
•
• Rizal’s Idea on What A Government Should Be

• Through Isagani, Rizal said, “governments are made for

the good of the people, and in order to accomplish this
purpose properly, it has to follow the suggestions of the
citizens who are the ones who know best their needs.”

• “An immoral government corresponds to a demoralized

people, to an administration without a conscience, to
rapacious and servile citizens in the towns, bandits and
robbers in the mountains! Like master, like slaves. Like
government, like country.”
•
• Through Elias, “we should consider well to whom we
give such unlimited power and authority.

• So much power placed in human hands of ignorant

and willful men, men without moral training, without
proven honesty, is a weapon placed in the hands of a
madman let loose in an unarmed crowd.

• I admit, and I want to believe like you (Ibarra) that the

government needs this strong right arm, but it should
choose well from among the most worthy on itself
rather than receive it from the people, let it at least
show that it knows how to do so.”
• If you continue the system of banishments,
imprisonments, and sudden assaults for nothing, if you
will punish the Filipinos for your own faults, you will
make then desperate, you take away from them the
horror of revolutions and disturbances, you harden
them and excite them to fight…

• Treat the people well, teach them the sweetness of

peace so that they may adore it and maintain it.”
(Political and Historical Writings).
•
Points to ponder:

• 1. How should the government conduct itself as an

institution that plays a big role in society?

• 2. Can you cite current examples on how our

government reneged on its promised task?

• 3. As citizens, what should we do when the

government becomes unresponsive to the people’s
needs?
Rizal’s Thoughts on Revolution

• To the Marxists, revolution is a tragic necessity,

unavoidable because they believe that the ruling class
will never give up without a fight.

• As a realist, Rizal has been misconceived by his

detractors as indecisive.

• His novels sanctioned reforms even when he had

predicted and warned his readers on the inevitability
and necessity of revolution of pleas for reform went
unheeded.
• Rizal believes in the political theory of Locke and
Rousseau that revolution should be the last recourse
of an aggrieved people.

• He advocates revolution, which starts from godliness,

liberation of the people from superstitions and
freedom from ignorance through education, morality,
dignity, industry, justice and perseverance.
•
The idea of peaceful struggle

• The Noli Me Tangere expresses Rizal’s belief the

peaceful way of attaining independence. There, Elias
proposed the idea of revolution to Ibarra but Ibarra
rejected it because this would cost the lives of many.

• “If I ever see the multitude armed I would place myself

on the side of the government for in such a mob I
should not see my countrymen”
- Ibarra, Noli me Tangere
• Speaking to Ibarra Elias said,
• “ I would tell you to think well about what you are going to do.
You are going to start a war, for you have money and brains and
will easily find many helping hands; unfortunately, many are
discontented. But in this fight which you propose to start, the
defenseless and the innocent will suffer most.
• The same sentiments which a month ago led me to ask you for
reforms, lead me now to ask you to reflect further. Our country
does not think of independence from the motherland; she asks
nothing more than a small measure of liberty, of justice and of
love.
• The discontented, the criminal and the desperate will follow
you, but the people will stand apart. I would not follow you
myself; I would never resort to these extreme measures while I
could see some hope in man."
• “I do not mean to say that our liberty will be secured
at the swords point, for the sword plays but a little
part in modern affairs, but that we must secure it by
making ourselves worthy of it, by exalting the
intelligence and the dignity of the individuals, by loving
justice, right and greatness, even to the extent of dying
for them—and when a people reaches that height,
God will provide a weapon, the idols will be shattered,
tyranny will crumble like a house of cards and liberty
will shine out like the first dawn.” (El Filibusterismo).
•
• Rizal advocated a non-violent revolution. He said
through Fr. Florentino in El Filibusterismo,

• “…the glory of saving a country cannot go to him who

has contributed to its ruin. You believed that what
crime and iniquity had stained and deformed, more
crime and iniquity could cleanse and redeem This was
error. Hate never produces anything but monsters,
crime, and criminals. Only love can work wonders, only
virtue can redeem.
• If our country is someday to be free, it will not be
through vice and crime, it will not be through the
corruption of its sons, some deceived, others bribed;
redemption presupposes virtue; virtue, sacrifice; and
sacrifice, love! You fomented social decay without
sowing an idea.

• From this fermentation of vices can spring only disgust

and if something is born from night to morning, it
would be at best a fungus, because spontaneously,
only fungus can be born of trash.”
• “… why give them freedom? With or
without Spain they would be the same,
and perhaps even worse! Why
independence if the slaves of today will be
the tyrants of tomorrow?”
• The idea of Change by force

• “ You are right Elias (in advocating revolution), but

men is a creature of circumstances! Then a month ago,
I was blind annoyed—what did I say? Now I see the
horrible cancer which feeds upon this society, which
clutches its flesh and which demands a violent
uprooting out.”
- Ibarra, Noli Me Tangere
Rizal’s letter to Blumentritt:

• “ A peaceful struggle will always be a dream, for Spain

will never learn the lessons of her South American
colonies.”
• Through Fr. Florentino, “The school of suffering
tempers, the arena of combat strengthen souls. I do
not mean to say that our freedom is conquered by the
sword’s point, the sword plays only a little part now in
modern destinies, but, yes, we have to conquer it by
being worthy of it, elevating reason and the dignity of
the individual, loving what is just, good, great, even
dying for it..”
•
The idea of using force but only as a last resort

• Rizal’s letter to Blumentritt (June 19,1881)

• “But if the government drives us to them, that is to

say, when no other hope remains to us but seek
destruction in war, when the Filipinos would prefer to
die rather than injure longer their misery, then I will
become a partisan of violence.” “I have lost my hope
in Spain”
• Rizal’s letter to Marcelo H. del Pilar

“ we shall resort to force only when we have exhausted

every other means, when they drive us to the war, to
fight or die, when God gives ever man the right to
defend himself as best as he can”.

Points to ponder:
• 1. Did Rizal advocate revolution as a means to changing
society?
• 2. In Rizal’s view, what is the state of things did
Filipinos need at that time? What could bring them
contentment?
Rizal’s Thoughts on Human Dignity

• God gave each one his own mind and his conscience so
that he can distinguish between right and wrong. All
are born without chains, free and no one can be
subject to the will of another. Why would you submit
to another your noble and free thought?
• God, fountain of wisdom, does not expect man,
created in his image, to allow himself to be fooled and
blinded… Men were not created by God to be
enslaved, neither were they endowed with intelligence
in order to be misled, nor adorned with reason to be
fooled by others. (Political and Historical Writings)
• In my opinion, self-esteem is the greatest good that
God has endowed man with for his perfection and
purity saving him from many unworthy and base acts
when he forgets the precepts he had learned or had
been inculcated in him.

• Precisely for me, self-esteem is dignity when it is not

passionate and it is moderated by judgment. It is like
the sap that impels the tree to turn upward in search
of the sun, the force that launches a steamship on its
course. (Miscellaneous Correspondence).
Points to ponder:

1. In Rizal’s view, how should one man act in relation

with his dealings with other men?

2. Can you see evidences of how men today fight for or

compromises his dignity?
Rizal’s Challenge to The Youth

• Through Fr. Florentino, ”..the just and the worthy have

to suffer so that their ideas will become known and
propagated! The vases have to be shaken or broken for
their perfume to spread, the stone has to be struck for
the light to spark! There is something providential in
the persecution of tyrants…”
• Through Elias, “I die without seeing the dawn brighten
over my native land. You who have it to see, welcome
it and forget not those who have fallen during the
night.”

• “Where are the youth who will dedicate their

innocence, their idealism, their enthusiasm to the good
of the country? Where are they who will give
generously of their blood to wash away so much
shame, crime and abomination?

• Pure and immaculate must the victim be for the

sacrifice to be acceptable."
Points to ponder:

1. What challenges does Rizal pose to the youth of

today?

2. How, did he suggest, could the youth be an answer to

the country’s problems?

3. What is your response to the challenge? What

personal commitments can you make?