RELEVANCE OF NOLI ME TANGERE TO THE YOUTH ACTIVISM

Carigma, Dionne Richie

Carreon, Juan Llean
Domingo, Gian Cris
Ferre, John Federick
Perez, Karen Paula

A Research Paper Submitted to the Mapúa University in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements

for The Life and Works of Rizal (RZL110)

April 2020

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 Table of Contents

Title Page i

Table of Contents ii

Abstract iii

Introduction 1

Review of Related Literature

Methodology

Results and Discussion

Conclusion

Appendices

References

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 ABSTRACT

Noli Me Tangere is one of the most prized novels by Jose Rizal, not only due to its

compelling storyline but also the sense of activism within the characters. The research was made

in order to discover the themes of activism set in the novel and how those particular themes

impact the Filipino youth activists of today. Based on the results gathered from the survey

questionnaire given to the Anakbayan Party Representatives of Mapua University, the data

showed how much of an impact those themes of activism were towards the youth.

Keywords: Activism, Noli Me Tangere

INTRODUCTION

Noli Me Tángere, translation from Latin "Touch me not", is a novel written by José Rizal

in 1887 while Rizal is studying medicine in Madrid. Rizal is one of the national heroes of the

Philippines during the colonization of the country by Spain (Wikipedia, 2020).

The novel is described perceived inequities of the Spanish Catholic friars and the ruling

government. It played a crucial role in the political history of the Philippines. Drawing from

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experience, the conventions of the nineteenth-century novel, and the ideals of European

liberalism, Rizal offered up a devastating critique of a society under Spanish colonial rule

(Penguin Random House, 2020).

History is showing sacrifices to achieve freedom and fight oppression (Lina, 2014). Jose

Rizal is among the examples of activism found in history to fight oppression and achieve

freedom. The fight on oppression against colonizers is mirrored today by the oppression against

the government.

Attacks on activists have been escalating dangerously in the 3 years since Duterte was

elected. Activists in the Philippines have been demonized before, however, and the strategies

being employed today are not new. There were many of the threats to activists come in the form

of “red-tagging” or “red-baiting.” It is a propaganda tactic wherein an individual, group, or

organization are considered as communists or terrorists and thus enemies of the state, without

any evidence or basis (Magalona, 2019).

This paper investigated the similarities of youth activism and to the novel “Noli Me

Tangere” written by Jose Rizal. This paper sought to answer the following questions:

1. What themes on youth activism are shown in Noli me Tangere?

2. How do these themes on youth activism impact on the present?

The scope of the study is the relevance of Noli Me Tangere to the youth activism. The

limitation of the research is the youth activism which is based only for the Noli Me Tangere.

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 REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

Activism

According to Gary L. Anderson and Kathryn G. Herr (eds.), activism is an act where there is

a reason behind that action like as stated in the article about the inequalities to women, work

conditions and other more. it is commonly conducted not accord to norms such as forming a

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rally, marching and singing protest etc. looking from history its presence played a significant role

that it brought changes to the world, in relate to this activism may be utilized to oust a group or

create a trouble between other nations. Since activism have variety, it is common for the people

to have mixed opinions about it. When it comes to telling whether it is bad or good it, the

judgement is on the people. it will be good its beneficial to them and not if it does implicate

negative effect on them.

Methods of Activism

The methods for non-violent activism are separated into three type based from Gene Sharp ,

under the first method are rallying, marching and group gathering, the methods under the second

type are cutting off communication such as with the religious organizations, not following the

policies what the authorities imposed to. Then to the third type is the intervention, where they

appear on site occupy it to show their protest like what the media did during a press conference

because of the mis treatment of the rallyist during the clash of the police and the protesters

during the Hongkong protest in the streets. For the Violent activism, it is an action with an

outcome that someone might get injured or may die. Gene Sharp emphasized, those called

freedom fighter or terrorists who retaliates on authorities during a protest. rather than activism it

is arm struggle.

Noli Me Tangere also served as a guidance or pointers for the Filipino youth. In order for

them to be educated and be informed about what is happening in our society. For instance, the

character of Crisostomo Ibarra represents and symbolizes the idealism of the privileged youth.

An outspoken and idealistic character which is related to some traits of an activist youth.

The writer of Noli Me Tangere

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 Based from the Rizal’s own story of his life, he was born at June 19, 1861 at Calamba,

Laguna. At his childhood days he saw how bad the Guardiya Civil treated a person during that

time leaving a question himself if this also happens into the other countries. He studied at

Manila, excels in studies that in a span of month he got an emperor rank and later he continues to

study in Europe. at Feb. 21, 1887 in Berlin, Jose Rizal finished the Noli Me Tangere which

context is about how evil the rule of the Spanish in the Philippines he then became part of a

propaganda movement later became the head. Wrote articles for La Solidaridad tackling issues of

Philippines under the Spain rule. Upon his return to Philippines in 1892, it followed by his arrest

in coming days he was sentenced to death with accusation being associated with the Katipunan

(Bauer, P. n.d.) this act is done in order to end his doings against the Spanish rule. Rizal was shot

in Luneta, Manila in Dec. 30, 1896 at the age of 35.

Noli Me Tangere

Published in 1887, in English translation “the Social Cancer” written by Rizal to awake his

fellow countrymen from its long sleep of silence under its abusive Colonizer. its story is mainly

about showing the cruelty and unfair treatment of the Spanish government over Filipino’s

(Bauer, P. n.d.). when it was published, it angered the Spanish Catholic Friars, and this was

followed by banning the novel to the Colony’s under the control of the Spaniards. Even when the

Rizal law was brought up to the country, the Catholic church at that time was against it as they

say that “it attacks the catholic faith” (Schumacher, J.N). hence its success in Europe, its effect in

the Philippines is limited that lead to disappointment of Rizal, thus lead Rizal to the Sequel of

Noli Me tangere (Watson, C.W)

Presence of Activism in Noli Me Tangere.

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 Noli Me Tangere has been considered a novel with its own political agenda as Rizal

highlights the abuses of the colonial power and the repression of the Filipino people, particularly

through the friars. According to Harold Augenbraum’s introductory essay to his English version

of the Noli, Rizal’s political writing in essays such as the “Indolence of the Filipino” speak to a

repressed civil society. Augenbraum claims that “his novels say otherwise, however, as his

characters react to the personal affronts they regularly suffer at the hands of the friars. Personal

effrontery becomes political estrangement and engagement”. Indeed, becoming politically

estranged causes Ibarra and other creole elites in the town of San Diego to resist the Spanish

governmental officials and friars there particularly in Chapter 20. Prior to this chapter, Ibarra has

reunited with his childhood love and also witnessed the injustice inflicted on his father who died

in jail and follows the schoolmaster and community’s need for a Castilian academy to educate

the populace.

Noli Me Tangere also served as a guidance or pointers for the Filipino youth. In order for

them to be educated and be informed about what is happening in our society. For instance, the

character of Crisostomo Ibarra represents and symbolizes the idealism of the privileged youth.

An outspoken and idealistic character which is related to some traits of an activist youth.

Philippine needs more activism, not less

According to Tonyo Cruz, youths have always been at the forefront of the fight for social

change. Armed with the knowledge they have learn out of their schools, they can see what is

happening in our world today including cynicism and corruption that cause negative effects in

our country. Moreover, the history of the Philippines today is consisting of the history of youth

fighting for freedom and democracy. Also, youths have a great impact as they contribute in the

past event in our country such as Propaganda Movement, the 1896 Revolution, the Filipino-

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American War, the anti-Japanese resistance, the fight against the Marcos dictatorship, and in the

confrontations with post-Marcos regimes. Due the problems caused by the Philippine

government, youth activists create an organization called Anakbayan. Anakbayan was a group of

youths established to fight for their rights and to spread that everyone can do something if they

care for our country.

Activism is Under Attack in the Philippines

According to Diego Magallona, Philippines is considered as a dangerous country for

activist. During the presidency of Rodridgo Duterte, many cases of environmental activist died

due to the propaganda, crackdowns, and violence caused by the Philippine government. In the

history of the Philippines, activism has been integral in shaping Philippine society and in the

development of the Filipino nation. Everything changes as Duterte enters the administration.

Activists, who are against the wrong doings in the government, are considered by the officials as

a threat to the administration, a part and parcel of democratic politics and that it is only trying to

target groups allegedly recruiting for the communist rebellion. The normal threats to the activists

are in the form of red tagging or red baiting wherein anyone was accused without any proof that

they are enemies of the state. There is need still for activists in the country to shake up their

tactics, to become more open and inclusive. There is much work to be done for activism in the

Philippines, but it will be necessary if activists are to survive Duterte’s attacks against them.

They must survive for the sake of Philippine democracy.

Youth Activism

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 Participating in community organization which aims for a social change. Persons ages 15 up

to 24 years. They have taken the lead roles in advocacy and promotion of many issues that is

happening in the society especially the youth.

ANAKBAYAN

ANAKBAYAN is one of the youth activist group in the Philippines which is the most

Comprehensive National Democratic Mass Organization of Filipino Youth. It is comprehensive

because it aims to unite all Filipino youth of different social classes, thus it seeks to arouse,

organize and mobilize young farmers, workers, students, professionals, fisherfolks, women,

minorities and church people, among others. It is national democratic because it upholds

National Democracy for the pursuit of national liberation from that of foreign domination of US

Imperialism and of its local appendages, feudalism and bureaucrat-capitalism (Anakbayan

UPLB, 2011).

METHODOLOGY

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Research Design

This study will follow a descriptive research design.

Research Site

The data gathering for this study will took place in Mapua University, Intramuros,

Manila.

Subject and Respondents

The respondents for this study will be the Anakbayan Party list Representatives of Mapua

University. The number of respondents will be ranging in 20-30 students for this study.

Research Instruments

This study was held in a quantitative approach. The researchers utilized a survey

questionnaire as the instrument for data gathering. The survey questionnaire consists of 10

questions based on the problem of the study. The researchers used Google form as a medium of

the questionnaires that is given.

Data Gathering Procedure

To maintain a systematic and ethical approach in gathering the data, the following

procedures were used:

 An online survey will be conducted due to the limited options.

 The researchers carried out the questionnaires for the 10-20 respondents to be chosen

randomly, providing links to the online survey created.

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  To ensure a proper gathering of data, the researchers explained the purpose of the study

to the respondents.

 The researchers will be gathering information from past researches, articles, and from the

novel.

Ethical Consideration

For this research, the ethical considerations the group has addressed was the consent of

the respondents and the permission of the research adviser to conduct a survey. Since that the

group decided to survey Anakbayan Party list Representatives in a Mapua University, the group

created a letter of consent for the Professor teaching at that subject period. Also, the anonymity

of the respondents was ensured as the research survey doesn’t require their personal information

including their names. The data gathered from the respondents will only be used for this research

and not for other purposes.

Mode of Analysis

The researchers used a narrative analysis to interpret and analyze the data gathered to

support this study. The researchers did not utilize software to interpret and analyze the data since

the sample size was not large.

Survey Questionnaire

The Anakbayan Party list Representatives of Mapua University will be answering the

following questions. This will assess how the themes on youth activism impact on the present

times by showing how much they agree on every statement.

1. Activism is very necessary for fighting against the issues.

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2. Are you in the current political and social issue

3. Do you relate yourself in the novel?

4. Do you think that Noli me Tangere changes the perspective of the readers?

5. Does the novel relate to the current situation of the country?

6. Has Noli Me Tangere affected you in terms socially or psychologically?

7. Do you feel a sense of nationalism having read the novel?

8. After reading Noli Me Tangere, are you also willing to fight for your country as Jose Rizal

did with this novel?

9. Did this novel spark a sense of patriotism within you?

10. Do you believe that this novel can inspire a sense of activism within the youth?

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 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

The researchers of the study performed a survey to random faculty members Anakbayan

to comprehensively know how the themes on youth activism impact on the present times. There

are 28 respondents of the survey that is conducted.

Questions Yes No
f % f %
1. Activism is very 21 75 7 25

necessary for fighting

against the issues.

2. Are you in the 20 71.43 8 28.57e

current political and

social issue
3. Do you relate 18 64.29 10 35.71

yourself in the novel?

4. Do you think that 23 82.14 5 17.86

Noli me Tangere

changes the

perspective of the

readers
5. Does the novel 23 82.14 5 17.86

relate to the current

situation of the

country?
6. Has Noli Me 16 57.14 12 42.86

Tangere affected you

in terms socially or

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 psychologically?
7. Do you feel a sense 23 81.14 5 17.85

of nationalism having

read the novel?

8. After reading Noli 21 75 7 26

Me Tangere, are you

also willing to fight for

your country as Jose

Rizal did with this

novel?
9. Did this novel spark 20 71.43 8 28.57

a sense of patriotism

within you?
10. Do you believe that 18 64.29 10 35.71

this novel can inspire a

sense of activism

within the youth?

Table 1. Frequency of distribution of the answers of the questionnaire.

Table 1 exhibits the frequency of the distribution which the population responded. The table

shows there is more than half of the population agreed every question that is given to them.

CONCLUSION

The thesis had set out to prove the relevance and impact of Jose Rizal’s Noli Me Tangere

towards the activism led by the youth. Noli Me Tangere has affected the Philippines in several

ways that has altered the lives of many Filipinos. Jose Rizal is praised for his actions and how he

upheld activism in a pacifist light, only retaliating with a pen and paper has both his sword and

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shield. In the Philippines, a certain youth organization is devoted to activism and letting the cries

of the youth be heard against the government and its laws, Anakbayan. This was chosen as the

population for this study in order to truly grasp the impact of the novel towards the youthful

activists located within the party representatives of Mapua University.

The research utilized the survey questionnaire in order to retrieve the necessary data which

was to formulate a definitive answer towards its research questions. Analyzing the data, we can

evidently see the impacts of Noli Me Tangere towards the party representative of Anakbayan in

Mapua University. The survey results proved the effects that the novel has brought upon the

youth and how it has fueled a sense of activism within them. With Jose Rizal’s prized novel in

mind, we can definitively conclude, Noli Me Tangere planted a sense of activism within the

youth. Whether they will utilize, depends solely on the person themself.

APPENDICES

Appendix A: Questionnaire from Google forms

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Appendix B: Table of Answers of Respondents.
CN 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 CN 9 10
1 Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes 1 Yes Yes
2 Yes No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes 2 Yes Yes
3 Yes No Yes Yes Yes Yes No No 3 Yes No
4 Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes 4 Yes Yes
5 Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes 5 Yes Yes
6 Yes Yes No No No Yes Yes Yes 6 No Yes
7 Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes 7 Yes Yes
8 Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes 8 Yes Yes
9 Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes 9 Yes Yes
10 Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes 10 Yes Yes
11 Yes No No Yes Yes Yes Yes No 11 Yes Yes
12 Yes No Yes Yes No No Yes No 12 Yes No
13 Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes 13 Yes Yes
14 No No No No No No No No 14 No No
15 No Yes No Yes Yes Yes No Yes 15 No Yes
16 No No No No No No No No 16 No No
17 Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes 17 Yes Yes
18 Yes Yes No Yes Yes No Yes Yes 18 Yes No
19 No Yes No Yes Yes No Yes Yes 19 No No
20 No Yes No Yes Yes No Yes No 20 No No
21 Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes 21 Yes Yes
22 No No Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes 22 Yes Yes
23 No Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes 23 No No
24 Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes 24 Yes Yes
25 Yes No No No Yes No Yes No 25 Yes No
26 Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes 26 Yes Yes
27 Yes Yes Yes No No No No Yes 27 No No
28 Yes Yes No Yes Yes No Yes Yes 28 Yes Yes
f of Yes 21 20 18 23 23 16 23 21 f of Yes 20 18
% 75 71.43 64.29 82.14 82.14 57.14 82.14 75 % 71.43 64.29
f of No 7 8 10 5 5 12 5 7 f of No 8 10

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% 25 28.57 35.71 17.86 17.86 42.86 17.86 25 % 28.58 35.71

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Craig, Austin. (1918). Rizal’s own story of his life (1918).

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