RIZAL’S TRIAL AND EXECUTION
A letter of Carlos Oliver to an unidentified
THE TRIAL
• Upon Rizal’s return to Manila, he was
imprisoned in Fort Santiago, while the Spanish
authorities were investigating his case
• On November 20, 1896, the Spanish authorities
discussed the nature of Rizal’s case. They used
the different poems, novels and letters of Rizal
against him. Among the writings which were
used were the Hymn for Talisay, Noli, El Fili, his
speeches and letters which according to them
used by Rizal to encourage rebellion against the
church and government.
• He was accused as the leader of the uprising
and the founder of the KKK since some of the
founder of the KKK was present in the
establishment of the La Liga Filipina. They also
found the photograph of Rizal in the headquarter
of the KKK and his name was also used as the
password of the KKK.
• The preliminary investigation that was held on
November 20 was under the presence of Colonel
Francisco Olive, acting as the Judge Advocate,
He did not allow the witnesses to appear on the
trial or hearing. Two kind of evidences were
presented against Rizal categorically divided into
two
documentary evidences
testimonial evidences
EVIDENCES PRESENTED BY COLONEL
OLIVE THAT HINT THEM TO PURSUE
THE TRIAL OF RIZAL
1. A letter from Antonio Luna to Mariano Ponce
dated Oct 16, 1888, Madrid.
2. A letter of Rizal to his family dated August
20, 1890, Madrid
3. A letter from M.H. del Pilar to Deodato
Arrelano dated Jan. 7, 1889, Madrid
4. A poem entitled “Kundiman” allegedly
written by Rizal. The verse are written in
Tagalog.
KUNDIMAN
“Tunay ngayong umid yaring dila’t puso Sintay
umilag, tuwa lumalayo Bayan palibhasa’y lupig
at sumuko Sa kapabayaan ng nagturong puno
Datapuwa’t muling sisikat and araw Pilit
maliligtas and inaping bayan
Magbabalik man din at muling iiral Ang ngalan
Tagalog sa sandaigdigan Ibubuhos naming and
dugo’babaha Matubos and lamang and sa amang
lupa Habang di ninilang panahong tadhana
Sintay’ tatahimik iidlip and nasa
5.
person, Sept 18, 1891
6. A Masonic document dated February 9, 1892
7. A letter signed Dimas Alang to Ten Luz (Juan
Zulueta) dated may 24, 1892, Hong Kong
8. A letter signed Dimas Alang to unidentified
committee dated June 1, 1892, Hong Kong
9. An anonymous and undated letter to the Editor
of the Hong Kong Telegraph
10. A letter of Ildelfonso Laurel to Rizal, dated
Sept 3, 1892
11. A letter of Segundo, dated Sept 17, 1893
12. A letter of M.H. del Pilar to Juan Zulueta
13. A transcript of the speech of Pinkian (Emilio
Jacinto in a meeting of the katipunan on July 23,
1893)
14. Transcript of the speech Tik-Tol ( Jose
Turiano Santiago) during the same katipunan
meeting
15. A poem of Laon Laan (Jose Rizal) entitled
“Talisay”
RECOMMENDATION
• After the preliminary investigation, Judge
Advocate General NICOLAS de la PEÑA,
submitted the following
1. the accused be immediately brought to trial
2. he should be kept in prison
3. an order of attachment is issued against his
property as an indemnity
4. he should be defended in court by an army
officer
• November 26, the record of the case were
handed – over to Governor General Ramon
Blanco who then appointed Captain Rafael
Dominguez as special Judge Advocate.
• December 8, 1896, Rizal chose from among the
names given to him, the person who could be his
legal counsel. He chose LUIS TAVIEL de
ANDRADE, the brother of his former guard.
• On December 11, inside his prison cell there
was a preliminary trial. Rizal was informed on
the charges against him
•Information of Charges against Rizal
1. the principal organizer and the living soul of
the Filipino insurrection
2. the founder of the societies, periodicals and
books dedicated to formenting and propagating
ideas of rebellion.
RIZAL’S REBUT ON THE ACCUSATION
• 1. He does not question the jurisdiction of the
court
• 2. He has nothing to amend except that during
his exile in Dapitan in 1892, he had not dealt in
political matters
• 3. He has nothing to admit on the charges
against him
• 4. He had nothing to admit on the declaration of
the witnesses. He had not met nor knew, against
him
December 13, General Blanco was replaced by
General Camilo de Polavieja (more ruthless
character) Captain Rafael Dominguez a special
judge advocate submitted the papers of the Rizal
case to Malacanang Palace
December 15 – Rizal wrote a manifesto
appealing to his people to stop the necessary
shedding of blood and to achieve their liberties
by means of education and industry. But the
manifesto was suppressed thus it was not issued
to the people. GOV. POLAVIEJA
December 26, 1896 at the Cuartel de Espana, the
trial of dr. Rizal held in a Spanish military court
composed of Alien Military Officer, Prosecutor
Lt. Enrique de Alcocer.
• On said hearing, Pio Valenzuela pleaded was
granted to present testimonies
PIO VALENZUELA’S TESTIMONIES
1. He had not written a letter addressed to the
Katipunan comprising revolutionary elements
2. Without his knowledge, his name was used by
the Katipunan; if he really was guilty, he could
have escaped while he was in Singapore
3.If he was guilty, he should have left the country
while in exile. More so, he shouldn't have built a
home, brought a parcel of land or established a
hospital in Dapitan
4.If he was really the leader of the revolution, the
revolutionist should have consulted him
5. After the first meeting of La Liga, the
association banished because of his exile in
Dapitan, thus did not last long.
6. If the la Liga was reorganized nine months, he
had no idea about it.
7. If the La Liga had a revolutionary purpose,
then the katipunan should have not been
organized
9. If the Spanish authorities found his letters
having bitter atmosphere, it was because in 1890,
his family was being persecuted resulting to their
dispossession of properties
10. He lived an exemplary life in Dapitan, the
politicomilitary commanders and missionary
priests in the province could attest to that
11. If according to witnesses the speech he
delivered at Doroteo Ongjunco’s house had
inspired the revolution, then he want to confront
these persons. If he really was the revolutionist,
then why did the katipunan send an unfamiliar
emissary to Dapitan.
• The prosecutor made a long summarized speech
after the presentation of Pio Valenzuela. In his
speech he mentioned the charges against Dr.
Rizal and urged the court to give the verdict of
Life imprisonment – death penalty for sedition
and rebellion and fine of 325 – 3250 pesetas for
illegal association or conspiracy findings.
• December 28 despite all valid pleading, the
military court, vindictive as it was, voted for the
sentence of death.
• Governor Camilo de Polavieja affirmed the
decision of the court martial and ordered Rizal to
be shot at 7:00 AM of December 1896 at
BAGUMBAYAN FIELD.
•Upon hearing the court’s decision, Rizal already
knew that there is no way that his destiny would
be changed- Rizal knew it was his end and had
accepted his fate.
SCHEDULES PRIOR TO THE LAST
JOURNEY OF DR. RIZAL’S LIFE
• December 29, 6:00 AM -- Rizal was read his
verdict by Captain Rafael Dominguez, “To be
shot the next day at 7:00 AM at the LUNETA de
BAGUMBAYAN
• December 29, 7:00 AM --Rizal was transferred
to the chapel cell. His first visitors were Jesuit
priests, Father Miguel Saderra Mata and Luis
Viza, handedover a religious images to convince
him to go back to the Catholic fold.
• December 29, 7:15 AM – After father Saderra
left, Rizal put out a piece from his pocket a
Sacred Heart statute and asked Fr. Viza to
blessed the statute which he had carved when he
was an Ateneo student.
• December 29, 8:00 AM – Fr Viza was relieved
by Fr. Antonio Rosell who joined Rizal for
breakfast. Lt. Luis Taviel de Andrade joins them.
• December 29, 9:00 AM -- Fr. Federico Fauna,
came and reminisce his reminders to Dr. Rizal
that would lose his head for writing the Noli Me
Tangere. Rizal told him, “Father you are indeed a
prophet”.
• December 29, 10:00 AM – Father Jose
Vilaclara and Estanislao March visited Rizal,
followed by a Spanish journalist, Santiago
Mataix of El Heraldo de Madrid, for an interview
• December 29, 12:00 – 3:30 – Rizal’s time
alone in his cell. He had lunch wrote letters and
last poem for about 14 stanzas. He used his
flowing handwriting in a very small piece of
paper. He hid his writings inside his alcohol
stove. The untitled poem was later known as Mi
Ultimo Adios (My Last Farewell) BY. M.
VILORIA
• turns himself to face the Spanish authority set up
December 29, 4:00 PM – Dona Teodora Alonzo
and his siblings visited Rizal. Rizal whispered to
his sister Trinidad in English referring to the old
petroleum lamp or alcohol stove “There is
something inside. . . While leaving for their
carriage an official handed over the alcohol stove
to Narcisa. After their visit Fathers Vilaclara and
March returned to the cell followed by Father
Rosell.
• December 29, 6:00PM – Rizal was visited by
the dean of the Manila Cathedral, Don Silvino
Lopez Tuñon, Father march and Father Vilaclara
left Dr. Rizal to be with Don Tuñon.
• December 29, 8:00 PM – Rizal’s last supper
where he informed Captain Domiguez that he
already forgave those who condemned him
• December 29, 9:30 PM – Rizal was visited by
the fiscl of the Royal Audiencia of manila Don
Gaspar Cestaño with whom Rizal offered the best
chair of the cell. According to accounts, the fiscal
left with a written “ a good impression of Rizal’s
intelligence and noble character.
December 30 5:00 AM – Teary –eyed Josephine
Bracken and Josefa came. According to the
testimony of the agent of the CUERPO DE
VIGILANCIA, Josephine and Rizal were married
Was there really a marriage between Rizal and
Josephine? Did this mean that Rizal retract? The
marriage and retraction of Rizal – known
controversies in Philippine History
December 30, 1896 – Death March from Fort
Santiago to Bagumbayan The procession was
lead by 4 soldiers with bayoneted rifles, Rizal
accompanied by Lt Taviel de Andrade, Father
Vilaclara and father March.
• December 30 – Rizal, after arriving on the
execution site at the Luneta , Dr. Felipe Cruz
Castillo checked his pulse. It was perfectly
normal Rizal once wrote, “I wish to show those
who deny us patriotism that we know how to die
for our duty and our convictions”
December 30, 7:03 –With the captain shouting
FUEGO, shouts rang out from the guns of eight
Indio soldiers. Rizal”s Last word “ Consumatum
est! (It is Finished!)
• Rizal being a convicted criminal was not facing
the firing squad As he was hit, he resists and
the ceremony like a fair. And even in the moment
of his fall, Rizal turns his body so that he ends up
lying on his back with his face to the sun. “Rizal
falls down and dies facing the sky”
JOSE RIZAL AS A LOVER
A lover is someone that a man has a physical
relationship with. However, a lover is not usually
the term used for someone who is in an official
and committed relationship. If you are in a
committed relationship you will call your partner
boyfriend or girlfriend, not lover.
There were at least nine women link with Rizal
namely Segunda Katigbak, Leonor Valenzuela,
Leonor Rivera, Consuelo Ortega, O-Sei-San,
Gertrude Beckette, Nelly Boustead, Suzanne
Jacoby and Josephine Bracken.
Segunda Katigbak “Ms. K”
Segunda is not Jose’s segunda but rather the very
first girl who made in Jose’s life. according to
Jose’s very own diary, Memorias de un
Estudiante de Manila,
“she is not the most beautiful woman I had ever
seen” writes somewhat harshly, “but I blushed
every time she looked at me,” he concedes. “I
have not met anyone more alluring and
beguiling”.
Rizal first met Segunda in Manila. In their first
meeting, Pepe noticed the charming personality
of Segunda. For a year Pepe visited Segunda in
her dormitory but could not express his true
feeling for Segunda because of her engagement
to Manuel Luz. When the parents of Segunda
found out about the constant visit of Pepe to their
daughter they asked Segunda to go back to Lipa.
And until the last moment Pepe did not admit to
Segunda his true feelings. In the diary of Rizal: “
He bore the heartache that Segunda brought him
for two years. The feelings that he had no
courage to admit
Leonor Valenzuela “Orang”
Rizal’s province-mate. She was the daughter of
Capitan Juan and Capitana Sanday Valenzuela,
who were from Pagsanjan, Laguna.
a tall girl with regal bearing
Rizal love notes were mysteriously written in
invisible ink made of common table salt and
water, which could be read by heating the note
over a candle or lamp.
Leonor Rivera “Taimis”
childhood sweetheart, and “lover by
correspondence of José Rizal. Rivera was the
“greatest influence” in preventing Rizal from
falling in love with other women while Rizal was
traveling outside the Philippines “tender as a
budding flower” Leonor is commonly described
as having wavy soft hair, high forehead, wistful
almond eyes, small and pensive mouth, and
charming dimples. She was said to be intelligent
and talented, as she could play the harp and the
piano—skills which matched her fascinating
singing voice.
During the departure of Rizal going to Europe,
Orang knew of Jose’s departure while Taimis
was not aware that Jose would leave for Europe.
For eight years, Leonor waited for Jose and
because her mother did not want Jose for Leonor,
the mother intercepted the letters of Leonor to
Jose and the letter of Jose to Leonor. Leonor
thought that Jose had forgotten her and Jose also
thought of the same thing. She decided to marry
an English man named Charles Kipping because
of her mother but she had never forgotten Rizal.
Before she died she requested that during her
funeral her dress should be the one that she wore
during her first date with Jose.
Consuelo Ortiga y Rey
Rizal wrote a poem for her entitled A La Señorita
C.O. y R.
She was the daughter of Don Pablo Ortiga y Rey,
a former mayor of Manila who later became vice-
president of the Council of the Philippines in the
Ministry of Colonies. Because Consuelo’s father
was very supportive of the Filipinos studying in
Madrid, their house became a meeting place of
Circulo Hispano-Filipino members like Rizal.
Pepe noticed the attractive face of Consuelo and
her intelligence. However, Rizal chose not to
court Consuelo because of her engagement with
Leonor Rivera. And his friend Eduardo de Lete
who was courting Consuelo. He then expressed
his feelings to Consuelo by writing a poem for
her bearing, the initials of Consuelo as the title “
A la Senorita C.O.y R. Aside from romantic
verses Rizal gave her flowers as well as gifts.
Was the love of Rizal really undeclared or was it
indirectly declared in his poem and gifts?
Seiko Usui “O-Sei-San”
She served as Rizal’s interpreter and
accompanied him on sightseeing trips around
Japan She helped Rizal understand the Japanese
language and also related him the culture of the
Japanese
She possessed the qualities of Rizal’s ideal
woman Beauty, charm, modesty and intelligence
They easily became at ease with each other which
later led them to being together as lovers
Seiko Usui “O-sei San is one of the reasons why
Jose Rizal wanted to stay in Japan. He met O Sei
San when he stayed in the Spanish Embassy. The
23 year old girl was a descendant of a samurai.
She was intelligent and could speak French.
Broken-hearted by the departure of Rizal, the first
man to capture her heart, O Sei San mourned for
a long time, the loss of her lover. Eventually, she
became resigned into her fate, cherishing unto
death the nostalgic memories of her romance
with Rizal. About 1897, a year after Rizal’s
execution, she married Mr. Alfred Charlton,
British teacher of Chemistry of the Peer’s School
in Tokyo. Their wedlock was blessed by one
child – a daughter named Yuriko.
Rizal wrote in his diary “ To you I dedicated the
final chapter of these memoirs of my youth. No
woman like you, has ever loved me. No woman,
like you has ever sacrificed for me. . .You shall
never return to know that I have once more
thought of you and that your image lives in my
memory, and undoubtedly, I am always, thinking
of you, your name lives in the sight of my lips,
your image accompanies and animates my
thoughts. When shall I return to pass another
divine afternoon like that in the temple of
Meguro? When shall the sweet hours I spent with
you return? When shall I find them sweeter, more
tranquil, more pleasing? You the color of the
camellia, its freshness, it elegance….Sayonara,
Sayonara!
Gertrude Beckett “Tottie/Gettie”
She served as his accomplice in his sculptures
and paintings and accompanied him some times
in the museums Rizal described her “She was a
buxom girl, with blue eyes, rosy cheeks and
brown hair. Gertrude’s sweet smiles captured
Rizal’s heart.
Rizal handed a carving of the Beckett sisters to
Gertrude. When Rizal left, Gettie wrote her a
letter that would remind us of their relationship “
You are always moving: you are a funny little
thing, now suppose if I had come with you, we
should have had a dear little room and not apt
fidgeting about so. Do you worry when you never
received the first letter I wrote you? I had it
returned the other day, wasn’t it funny? After
such a long time because I wrote it directly after
you went, so you would have received it the next
morning. Oh I was so miserable then; I couldn’t
help writing you, nobody knew anything about it
though.
Suzanne Jacoby Thill “Petite/little Suzanne”
Letter of Petite: After your departure, I did not
take the chocolate. The box is still intact as on the
day of your parting. Don’t delay too long writing
us because I wear out the soles of my shoes for
running to the mailbox to see if there is a letter
from you. There will never be any home in which
you are so loved as that in Brussels, so my little
bad boy, hurry and come back….(October 1,
1890)
Nelly Bousted
She came from the rich family of Filipino-British
who settled in Paris. In his stay in Paris, Rizal
had the opportunity to meet Nelly but Antonio
Luna was courting Nelly thus Rizal could not tell
Nelly about his admiration. Nelly had special
feelings for Rizal but she could not reveal it
because she knew that Antonio Luna and Jose
Rizal were friends. Then Luna leaving Biarritz to
fight a duel in Barcelona, Rizal served as a bridge
between Antonio and Nelly. In Antonio’s letter to
Rizal, he asked for some news about Nelly asking
if Nelly still love him( Antonio). But how can
Rizal respond if Nelly was not falling for Luna
but for him? Love Triangle – start of conflict
between Luna and Rizal, The end of conflict was
the duel using swords but before they could kill
each other they were stopped by their other
friends. When everything turned well, Luna
realizing that Jose was the real love of Nelly,
Antonio helped Jose for Nelly since Leonor
Rivera was already married. Rizal began
courting Nelly and courageously asked for her
hand in marriage. However, due to diverse
religious convictions (Rizal a Catholic while
Nelly a Protestant) it was not that easy for him to
marry Nelly. His beloved wanted him to be
converted into Protestantism and while waiting
for his decision, she promised to remain faithful
to him The pressure added when the mother of
Nelly did not approve of him because he did not
have stable job to secure a family. Hence, Nelly
was warned by her mother not to fall into the
illusion of believing her beloved Rizal for he did
not possess anything attractive (Ocampo, 2006)
At the peak of his emotions, Rizal took with him
his sense of pride and left Biarritz and the
memory of their unfinished affection.
Josephine Bracken
Pretty Irish Girl Dulce Estrangera in the life of
Rizal
Josephine accompanied her foster father, George
Taufer, an American engineer, seeking a cure for
his blindness from Rizal. Rizal and Josephine
encounter happened just in time when loneliness
and the pointlessness of living a life with no
future in sight were beginning to wear him down.
Rizal was easily attracted to her. On the other
hand Josephine, whose foster father was too
dependent on her because of his blindness, found
new light in Rizal. The two needed each other
but their being together broke off when Josephine
went back to Manila after the treatment to
accompany her foster father on his way back to
Hong Kong. After six months, she returned to
Dapitan that marked the beginning of their happy
days as a couple. However there were many
impediments along the way. Rizal”s family could
not accept Josephine because of some reasons
unaccepted to their social status.
1. When Josephine and her foster father went to
Dapitan, the one who accompanied them had a
friar for lover (Manuela Orlac) hence, Josephine
was to thought to be a Church spy.
2. The church refused to marry them canonically
because Rizal had to retract his stand for the
church. Having no civil marriage to legalize their
Union and the refusal of the church to marry
them, they married themselves in their own
ceremony. Their relationship was blessed when
she became pregnant of their son. However she
suffered a miscarriage Their child died after few
hours of delivery. He was named Francisco,
named after Rizal’s father. When Rizal was
detained in Fort Santiago, Josephine continuously
consoled him. She visited him, sent him clothes
fruits, foods and letters to comfort him. They
were separated by bars but their undying love
continuously ignited. This could be proven by the
August 13, 1896 letter of Josephine to Rizal “ I
know my dear it breaks my heart to go and bid
you good bye! But! Dear what can I do; than to
suffer until the Good God brings you back to me
again. . . Love, I will love you ever, love, I will
leave thee never, ever to me precious to thee,
never to part, heart bound to heart, or never to say
goodbye
Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo
Noli Me Tangere
• Noli is a romantic novel – it is a work of the
heart ‘ a book of feelings”
• It has freshness, color, humor, lightness and wit.
• Noli Me Tangere is longer than the El
Filibusterismo, 64 chapters
El Filibusterismo
• Fili is a political novel – it is a work of the head
“ a book of the thought
• It contains bitterness, hatred, pain, violence and
sorrow
• Filibusterismo is shorter than the Noli Me
Tangere, 38 chapters
• Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo are
purely academic. Both are good novels, depicting
the actual conditions of the Philippines and
Filipinos during the Spanish rule.
• Both novels are instrumental in awakening the
spirit of Filipino nationalism and both are
responsible in paving the ground for the
Philippine revolution that brought about the
downfall of Spain
• What are the main aims of the Novels? a. To
awaken the Filipinos to the idea that they belong
to a nation, to make them feel that they have a
country to love and to make them promote its
welfare.
b. Both novels were aimed towards reform but
they were treated differently. Noli Me Tangere
The novel projects Rizal’s thoughts on peaceful
reforms.
• Ibarra said to Governor – General “ Sir, my
dearest wish is the happiness of my country, a
happiness which I desire to see owed to the
mother country, and to the efforts of my fellow
citizens, the two united by eternal bonds of
common aspirations and common interests. What
I should request can only be given by the
government by years of unceasing toil and after
the introduction of definite reforms.
Ibarra chose reform when he decided to follow
his father’s wishes by having a school built in
San Diego
The Writing of the Novel
What inspired Dr. Jose Rizal to write the Noli Me
Tangere?
Harriet Beecher Stowe’s “ Uncle Tom’s Cabin”

Painting of Juan Luna “Spolarium”
January 2, 1884 – Filipino Reunion
Madrid – Paterno residence, Rizal proposed the
writing of a novel about the Philippines to a
group of Filipinos
No compatriots were expected to collaborate on
the novel. 
End of 1884, Rizal began writing the Novel 
Madrid – finished one half 
Paris(1885) – finished one half of the second half

Germany – last fourth of the novel final revision
of the manuscript was made in Berlin
Publication 
Maximo Viola – Savior Berliner Buchdruckrei-
Action Gesselschaft
Reason of Writing the Novel 
Rizal gave several reasons for writing the book
(letter to Felix Hidalgo) “ I have replied to the
insults that for so many centuries have been
heaped on us and our country. I have described
the social condition, the life there in the
Philippines, our beliefs, our hopes, our desires,
our complaints, our sorrows.
I have unmasked hypocrisy that under the clock
of religion has impoverished and brutalized us. I
have distinguished the true religion from the
false, from superstitious, from that which
capitalizes the holy word in order to extract
money, in order to make us believe in absurdities
which Catholicism would blush if it would know
them I have lifted the curtain in order to show
what is behind the deceitful and glittering words
of our government. I have told our compatriots
our defects, our vices, our culpable and cowardly
complacency with the miseries over there.
Whenever I have found virtue I proclaimed it and
rendered homage to it; and I have not wept in
speaking about our misfortune instead I have
laughed because no one would want to cry with Rizal observed that the happiness of the Filipinos
me over the misery of our native land, and in the Spanish time are only fulfilled through
laughter is always good to conceal our sorrow. their giving in and bowing down to the more
The incidents I narrate are all true and they powerful entity: Spain
happened; I can give proof of them. Lower Triangle
Noli Me Tangere Noli Me Tangere (translated as This represents current situation in the
Touch Me Not ) is a novel written by Jose Rizal Philippines during Rizal’s time
which served as an eye opener and wake up call Feet of the Friar
to the Filipinos – “Social Cancer of the Society” It symbolizes the power of the friars It is placed
on the base of the triangle (foundation) because
Why did Rizal call the novel Noli Me Tangere? without friars, the Filipinos cannot stand on their
Noli Me Tangere ( Do not touch me) are the own 
words of Jesus Christ to Mary Magdalene when Shoes
she visited the tomb of Christ early on the It represents wealth It is also the footprints left by
morning of Eastern Sunday. ( Christ must not be friars in teaching Catholicism
touched for He is holy and Mary Magdalene was Hairy Legs
a sinner) And Rizal used the words Noli Me It represents the Legend of the Wolf The wolf
Tangere because the book contains things nobody shape shifts just like how friars hide their true
in the Philippines had dared to speak about nature and character
because they were delicate and could not be Helmet of a Guardia Civil
touched by anyone It represents the arrogance of those in the
authority
To whom Rizal Dedicated the Novel? Whip
Symbols in the cover of the Noli Me Tangere It represents the abuses and cruelties done by the
Upper Triangle Spaniards and friars as depicted in the novel
This represents past situation in the Philippine Flogs (Suplina)
History It is used for self – flagellation just like the whip,
Silhouette of a Filipina this also symbolizes the cruelties of the Guardia
It was popular belief that the it represents the Civil 
unfortunate Maria Clara (Leonor Rivera) Chain
Crisostomo Ibarra’s love. It symbolizes slavery and imprisonment
Cross/Crucifix Bamboo Stalks
It represents the Catholic faith as it rises above It represents Filipino resiliency (ability to become
Inang bayan and Filipinos It also symbolizes strong again/successful after something bad
sufferings and death happens) despite the sufferings, Filipinos can still
Pomelo Blossoms and Laurel Leaves stand tall and firm 
Represent faith, honor, fidelity. Pomelo Blossoms Rizal’s Signature
are utilized as loose potpourri or mixture of dried It shows that Rizal experienced and witnessed the
flower petals and spices used to scent the air. It is ills and abuses that happened during his time
commonly used in prayers and cleansing. The Characters of the Noli Me Tangere
laurel leaves are used as crown during ancient Juan Crisostomo Ibarra
Greek Olympics where in the best of the best are Maria Clara 
treated heroes. These are values Rizal aspires to Sisa
be embodied by Filipinos . Pia Alba 
Burning Torch Capitan Tiago Basilio 
A reference to the Olympic torch, it tells Crispin
everyone the beginning of the defense of honor Victorina 
and the start of proving themselves worthy of Don Tiburcio de Espadana
victory. Pertains to the awakening of Filipino Pedro 
consciousness Represents rage and passion It also El Hombre Amarillo (yellowish person” named
sheds light to the text of the manuscript as Taong Madilaw) Padre Damaso
Sunflower Elias
It symbolizes a new beginning The sunflower is
often associated with adoration and longevity.
CHARACTERS OF THE NOVEL “NOLI ME
TANGERE”
Juan Crisostomo Ibarra y Magsalin
CRISOSTOMO IBARRA
•He was a Filipino-Spanish and the only
descendant of the wealthy Spaniard Don Rafael
Ibarra. He was born and grew up in the
Philippines, but during his adolescence, spent
seven years studying in Europe.
•Ibarra was an earnest and idealistic young man.
Influenced by his European education, he sought
to improve the country; as part of this, he
believed in the power of education to enact
reforms and made efforts to establish a school in
San Diego
María Clara
•Creation of the feminine ideal
•María Clara as a colonial figure became the ideal
Filipina woman as she embodied the qualities of
the Virgin archetype, mainly purity, chastity and
sacrifice.
•Maria Clara is the epitome of purity and
innocence. The representation of Maria Clara as
demure and self-effacing posed an ideal "image"
of what a Filipina should be.
PADRE DAMASO
• Franciscan friar and the former parish curate of
San Diego and the main antagonist of Jose Rizal's
novel Noli me Tangere. He is best known as a
notorious character who speaks with harsh words
and has been a cruel priest during his stay in the
town
•Padre Damaso He represents the wealthy
Filipinos who use their position of power and
wealth to oppress their fellow citizens in
exchange for personal benefit and financial gain.
He is a metaphor for Rizal's Spanish friar era and
a slam against Spanish colonial rule.
CAPITAN TIAGO
• A Filipino socialite and well-respected member
of the country's wealthy elite. Close with high-
ranking clergy members like Father Salví and
Father Dámaso, Captain Tiago is one of the
richest property owners in Manila and San Diego.
• What does Capitan Tiago symbolizes today? He
symbolizes the rich Pilipinos who oppress their
fellow Pilipinos in exchange for the influence and
the riches that they might gain from their
powerful associations
PILOSOPO TASYO
•Mang Pilosopo Tasyo was the old Don
Anastacio of his home town. He is the man who
used to wander around the streets and who
doesn't know where to go and doesn't care where
to live or stay. He was tagged as stupid and weird
old man in their place. Thought of as a lunatic
due to his unorthodox ideas, he became an
adviser for several individuals in town.
ELIAS
• Elias represents the common Filipino who is not
only aware of the injustices done to their
countrymen but would also like to deliver them
from their oppressors. He is said to be the
personification of Andres Bonifacio.
DONYA VICTORINA
•Doña Victorina is the vainest character and has a
distorted view in her identity. She is so obsessed
to be a Spanish (even though she is a 100%
Filipino) the reason why she describes herself as
a “mestiza”, she also always wears European
dress, has a curly hair and heavy makeup.
•Colonial Mentality
SISA
•Narcisa, or Sisa, is the deranged mother of
Basilio and Crispín. Described as beautiful and
young, she loves her children very much but
cannot protect them from beatings by her
husband, Pedro. Crispín is Sisa's seven-year-old
son. An altar boy, he was unjustly accused of
stealing money from the church.
•Sisa symbolizes the Inang Bayan, which became
an exile due to the unfortunate treatment of the
Spaniards to the Filipinos. Rizal highlighted her
as an example of a typical Filipino mother's
willingness to stand up for her children in the
face of any abuse or allegation.
Doña Consolacion
• Tiya Isabel - Helped Kapitan Tiyago take care
of Maria Clara as she grew up • Idáy, Sinang,
Victoria and Neneng - Friends of Maria Clara in
San Diego. Idáy is beautiful and plays the harp.
Sinang is cheerful and naughty and Maria Clara's
closest friend, Victoria is Sinang's strict elder
cousin, Neneng is quiet and shy.
• Andeng - Foster sister of Maria Clara who
cooks well. She is the caretaker of Kapitan
Tiago's house in San Diego.
• Doña Pía Alba - Mother of María Clara and
wife of Kapitán Tiago. Died after giving
childbirth to María Clara.
• Kapitana Ticâ and Kapitan Basilio - Mother •PLACE OF PUBLICATION – GHENT,
and father of Sinang (Kapitan Basilio is not the BELGIUM
same as Basilio) •PUBLISHER – F. MEYER-VAN LOO PRESS
• Albino - ex-seminarian who became
disillusioned with the Catholic church. Admirer RIZAL’S FINANCIAL CONDITION -
of Victoria. PUBLICATION
• Crispin and Basilio - children of Sisa and were •RIZAL PAWNED HIS JEWELS IN ORDER
the sacristan and server of San Diego Church TO PAY THE DOWN PAYMENT AND THE
• Padre Salvi - He replaced Padre Damaso EARLY PARTIAL PAYMENT.
• Padre Sibyla - A Dominican priest and former •AS THE PRINTING WAS GOING ON, RIZAL
teacher. He was also a teacher of Ibarra and very BECAME DESPERATE BECAUSE HIS
helpful to Padre Damaso in times of anomalies FUNDS WERE RUNNING LOW AND
ahead; And wears golden glasses. MONEY HE EXPECTED FROM HIS FRIENDS
• Pedro - Father of Crispin and Basilio and the DID NOT ARRIVE. HE HAD RECEIVED
husband of Sisa. He is an irresponsible husband. SOME MONEY FROM BASA AND P200
CHARACTERS OF THE EL FROM RODRIGUEZ ARIAS FOR THE
FILIBUSTERISMO COPIES OF MORGA’S SUCESOS SOLD IN
Simoun MANILA. BUT THESE FUNDS WERE ALSO
Father Hernando de la Sibyla USED UP, AND MUCH MORE WERE
Placido Penitente NEEDED TO PAY THE PRINTER •WRITING
Basilio TO BASA FROM GHENT ON JULY 1891 “I
Father Millon HAVE ALREADY PAWNED ALL MY
Paulita Gómez JEWELS. I LIVE IN A SMALL ROOM, I EAT
Isagani IN THE CHEAPEST RESTAURANT IN
Quiroga ORDER TO ECONOMIZE AND BE ABLE TO
Kabesang Tales PUBLISH MY BOOK: SOON I WILL HAVE
Father Florentino TO STOP ITS PUBLICATION IF NO MONEY
Don Custodio COMES. . . . . . “ ON AUGUST 6, THE
Tandang Selo PRINTING HAD TO BE SUSPENDED AS
Father Fernández RIZAL FEARED BECAUSE HE COULD NO
Ben-Zayb LONGER GIVE THE NECESSARY FUNDS
Juli TO THE PRINTER
Capitán Tiago • RIZAL’S CALVARY IN CONNECTION
Father Camorra WITH THE PRINTING OF THE NOLI WAS
Father Bernardo Salví REPEATED IN THE FILI’S PRINTING. HIS
Father Írene FUNDS RAN OUT IN GHENT A SIMILAR
CALAMITY THAT HE EXPERIENCED IN
EL FILIBUSTERISMO “THE REIGN OF BERLIN IN THE WINTER OF 1886. ONCE
GREED” THE WRITING OF THE SECOND MORE HE FELT THE DOLOROUS GRIP OF
NOVEL DESPAIR. IN A MOMENT OF BITTER
•EL FILIBUSTERISMO IS A SEQUEL TO DISILLUSIONMENTS, HE ALMOST
NOLI ME TANGERE HURLED THE MANUSCRIPTS OF THE FILI
•RIZAL HAD BEGUN WRITING THE INTO FLAMES, JUST AS HE ALMOST DID
SECOND NOVEL IN OCTOBER 1887, WHILE THE NOLI IN BERLIN.
PRACTICING MEDICINE IN CALAMBA. • WHEN EVERYTHING SEEMED LOST,
•1888- IN LONDON HE MADE SOME HELP CAME FROM AN UNEXPECTED
CHANGES IN THE PLOT AND CORRECTED SOURCE. VALENTINE VENTURA IN PARIS
SOME CHAPTERS ALREADY WRITTEN LEARNED OF RIZAL’S PREDICAMENT
•HE WROTE MORE CHAPTERS IN PARIS AND IMMEDIATELY SENT HIM THE
AND MADRID AND FINISHED THE NECESSARY FUNDS. WITH HIS FINANCIAL
MANUSCRIPT IN BIARRITZ ON MARCH 29, AID, THE PRINTING OF THE EL FILI WAS
1891. RESUMED
•RIZAL TOOK HIM, THREE YEARS TO
WRITE HIS SECOND NOVEL FILI COME OFF THE PRESS
•ON SEPTEMBER 18, 1891 EL • RIZAL’S MEMORY SEEMED TO HAVE
FILIBUSTERISMO CAME OFF THE PRESS. FAILED HIM, THOUGH, FOR FATHER
RIZAL IMMEDIATELY SENT ON THIS GOMEZ WAS THEN 73 NOT 85, FATHER
DATE 2 PRINTED COPIES TO HONGKONG- BURGOS 35 NOT 30 FATHER ZAMORA 37
ONE FOR BASA AND THE OTHER TO NOT 35; AND THE DATE OF EXECUTION
SIXTO LOPEZ. 17TH NOT 28TH.
• TO VALENTINE VENTURA, RIZAL
GRATEFULLY DONATED THE ORIGINAL THE MANUSCRIPT AND THE BOOK
MANUSCRIPT AND AN AUTOGRAPHED • THE ORIGINAL MANUSCRIPT OF EL
PRINTED COPY. HE SENT FILIBUSTERISMO IN RIZAL’S OWN
COMPLIMENTARY COPIES TO HANDWRITING IS NOW PRESERVED I THE
BLUMENTRITT, MARIANO PONCE, G. FILIPINIANA DIVISION OF THE BUREAU
LOPEZ JAENA, T.H. PARDO DE TAVERA, OF PUBLIC LIBRARIES MANILA. IT HAD
ANTONIO AND JUAN LUNA AND OTHER BEEN ACQUIRED BY THE PHILIPPINE
FRIENDS GOVERNMENT FROM VALENTINE
VENTURA FOR P10,000. IT CONSISTS OF
EL FILIBUSTERISMO DEDICATED TO 279 PAGES OF LONG SHEETS PAPER.
GOMBURZA • THE AUTHOR CORRECTIONS ARE SEEN
"TO THE MEMORY OF THE PRIESTS, DON THROUGHOUT THE MANUSCRIPT. ONLY
MARIANO GOMEZ (85 YEARS OLD), DON A FEW PAGES HAVE NOT BEEN REVISED
JOSE BURGOS (30 YEARS OLD), AND DON BY RIZAL.
JACINTO ZAMORA (35 YEARS OLD). • TWO FEATURES IN THE MANUSCRIPT
EXECUTED IN THE BAGUMBAYAN FIELD DO NOT APPEAR IN THE PRINTED BOOK
ON THE 28TH OF FEBRUARY, 1872." NAMELY: THE FOREWORD AND THE
• "THE CHURCH, BY REFUSING TO WARNING. THESE WERE NOT PUT INTO
DEGRADE YOU, HAS PLACED IN DOUBT PRINT, EVIDENTLY TO SAVE PRINTING
THE CRIME THAT HAS BEEN IMPUTED TO COST
YOU; THE GOVERNMENT, BY
SURROUNDING YOUR TRIALS WITH
MYSTERY AND SHADOWS CAUSES THE
BELIEF THAT THERE WAS SOME ERROR,
COMMITTED IN FATAL MOMENTS; AND
ALL THE PHILIPPINES, BY WORSHIPPING
YOUR MEMORY AND CALLING YOU
MARTYRS, IN NO SENSE RECOGNIZES
YOUR CULPABILITY. IN SO FAR,
THEREFORE, AS YOUR COMPLICITY IN
THE CAVITE MUTINY IS NOT CLEARLY
PROVED, AS YOU MAY OR MAY NOT
HAVE BEEN PATRIOTS, AND AS YOU MAY
OR MAY NOT CHERISHED SENTIMENTS
FOR JUSTICE AND FOR LIBERTY, I HAVE
THE RIGHT TO DEDICATE MY WORK TO
YOU AS VICTIMS OF THE EVIL WHICH I
UNDERTAKE TO COMBAT. AND WHILE
WE AWAIT EXPECTANTLY UPON SPAIN
SOME DAY TO RESTORE YOUR GOOD
NAME AND CEASE TO BE ANSWERABLE
FOR YOUR DEATH, LET THESE PAGES
SERVE AS A TARDY WREATH OF DRIED
LEAVES OVER ONE WHO WITHOUT
CLEAR PROOFS ATTACKS YOUR MEMORY
STAINS HIS HANDS IN YOUR BLOOD."