Dennis Jay A.

Paras
Bachelor of Laws-1
Constitutional Law 1
Block D

Noli Me Tangere (Review)

Noli Me Tangere is a latin phrase for “do not touch me”. It was also an affliction, likened to
that of skin cancer, which makes a simple touch to cause extreme pain to those who are
stricken by it. Rizal chose this title because he viewed the Philippines as a sick man who is
suffering from the said disease. He made the fictional town of San Diego to serve as a
microcosm of the Philippine society during the Spanish occupation. The book is laden with
intricately placed symbolisms and hidden meanings that are too important to be missed. It
encourages its readers to take a stand against various social cancers that are present in the
society. This is the reason why this book earned a sense of notoriety from the Spanish
Government. This book can be compared to George Orwell’s Animal Farm, with its satirical
undertones and various characters from different walks of life.

In the first part, Rizal wrote about a satirical commentary on the nature of the typical frayle,
in the persons of Padre Damaso and Padre Salvi. After being served with only a bowl of
tinolang manok with nothing but chicken wings and some papaya, Padre Damaso felt deeply
insulted and was fuming from anger. As someone who has a high rank in the church, he felt
that he is entitled to a bigger portion of the chicken. From that satirical portrayal, one can say
that most, if not all of the Spanish frayles at that time were greedy and self-centered like
Padre Damaso.

Also, it showed the acts of corruption that are not only evident in the government, but in the
church as well. During those times, the concept of real politic (Separation of Church and
State) was unheard of by the Filipino masses. Rizal also portrayed the apathetic tendencies of
Filipinos during that time by the affluent members of the community.

On the other hand, it also had characters that are likened to historical figures. For instance,
Pilosopo Tasyo acts similarly to Socrates, the pioneer of philosophy from Ancient Greece.
Like the latter, Pilosopo Tasyo is highly regarded by some, but is gravely hated by many
others who find his musings to be delusional or outright absurd. Clearly, he is just a man
ahead of his time. He is like the prisoner who was set free from the Allegory of the Cave.

Also, there’s Crisostomo Ibarra, who is the main character of the story and the voice of
reason among the people of San Diego. His western education had helped him in seeing
things in a different perspective. He finds the norms of San Diego to be odd and unjust,
unlike his experiences in Europe. He is often viewed by his fellow Filipinos as an intellectual,
a man of culture, and a philanthropist. On the other hand, the Spanish authorities saw him as
a revolutionary, a subversive and a filibuster.
Ibarra is bears a strong resemblance to Rizal himself. Both were from affluent families, they
both finished their studies overseas, they are both advocates of education and they both share
the passion for social reforms. This is one of the reasons why Dr. Jose Rizal was loathed by
the frayles and the Spanish government as well. In some way, he is like Niccolo Machiavelli
and Karl Marx rolled into one person. Both men had wrote books that were hated by the
authorities (The Prince and The Communist Manifesto), but were considered as important
works of literature because of their effects and contributions to the society.

Rizal, on the other hand, wrote Noli Me Tangere; a novel that would be one of the
inspirations behind the uprisings against the Spanish regime. Like the uprisings of the
proletariat at the latter half of the Industrial Revolution, Filipino revolutionaries were able to
get the message across. This novel served as the affirmation to the quote: “The pen is
mightier than the sword”.

To end, Noli Me Tangere is not just some obscure, old novel that was written by a national
hero. It is an allegory that talks about the injustice, hardships, struggles, and the yearning of
the Filipino people for a change.
Dennis Jay A. Paras
Bachelor of Laws-1
Constitutional Law 1
Block D

El Filibusterismo (Review)

El Filibusterismo is a sequel to Rizal’s first book. Compared to its predecessor, El

Filibusterismo has a darker and depressing theme, as it tells of how the lives of its characters
turn from normal to bleak. It also introduced a couple of new characters like Basilio and
Simoun, who are both considered as the central characters to this novel.

In this book, Kapitan Tiago’s life had reached rock bottom. He squandered all of his
properties and possessions, and later on became addicted to opium. What was once a
respected and well-revered man is now reduced to nothing but a shadow of his former self.
Gone are the days when he was known for his affluence and grandeur. Instead, he was
forgotten by the townspeople who once looked up to him, and his life became a cautionary
tale to those who are around him. In short, he faded into obscurity.

On the other hand, Maria Clara’s life headed down south as well. After receiving news that
her true love, Crisostomo Ibarra had already met his demise at the hands of the guardia civil,
she decided to enter the beaterio (convent) to become a nun. She did everything that she
could just so that she would eventually forget about Ibarra. After all the hardships that she
had been through, Maria Clara decided to end her miserable life once and for all. Her death
was one of the most heart-wrenching events that happened in the novel.

Aside from themes of melancholy and depression, this novel also has its share of vengeance
and retribution. Simoun, who is the nom de plume of Crisostomo Ibarra, is a jeweler who
yearns to exact revenge to the Spanish government. He is considered as an enigmatic and
mysterious man, who captivates the attention and the admiration of Basilio and who later
became the mentor of the latter.

Lastly, this novel is likened to that of The Count of Monte Cristo; Basilio, the son of Sisa
rose from rags to riches just like the Count. With the help of an unknown stranger (who was
later revealed as Elias), Basilio found a hidden treasure (Ibarra’s wealth) buried beside a tree.
What was once a poor boy, who was known to be the son of a crazy woman, had now
become one of the affluent and exceptional bachelors of the town of San Diego.

To end, El Filibusterismo serves as a sequel to Noli Me Tangere. It served as a continuation

to Rizal’s agenda in the first book, which is liberation from Spanish rule and the awakening
of the social coconsciousness of his fellow men. It only shows that Rizal is eager to risk his
own life and liberty to get the message of freedom and activism across every Filipinos.