Noli Me Tangere - Touch Me Not

By: Sir. Jason R. Pinlac

Noli Me Tángere (Latin for Touch me not)

is a novel written by José Rizal, one of the national heroes of

the Philippines, during the colonization of the country by Spain to
describe perceived inequities of the Spanish Catholic priests and
the ruling government.
The great novel of the Philippines

In more than a century since its appearance, José Rizal’s Noli Me

Tangere has become widely known as the great novel of the Philippines.
A passionate love story set against the ugly political backdrop of
repression, torture, and murder, “The Noli,” as it is called in the Philippines,
was the first major artistic manifestation of Asian resistance to European
colonialism, and Rizal became a guiding conscience—and martyr—for the
revolution that would subsequently rise up in the Spanish province.
 For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of
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Publication History

Rizal finished the novel in December 1887. At first, according to one of Rizal's
biographers, Rizal feared the novel might not be printed, and that it would remain unread.
He was struggling with financial constraints at the time and thought it would be hard to
pursue printing the novel.

Financial aid came from a friend named Máximo Viola; this helped him print the book
at Berliner Buchdruckerei-Aktiengesellschaft in Berlin. Rizal was initially hesitant, but
Viola insisted and ended up lending Rizal ₱300 for 2,000 copies.
The printing was finished earlier than the estimated five months. Viola
arrived in Berlin in December 1886, and by March 21, 1887, Rizal had sent a
copy of the novel to his friend, Blumentritt.

The book was banned by Spanish authorities in the Philippines, although

copies were smuggled into the country. The first Philippine edition (and the
second published edition) was finally printed in 1899 in Manila by Chofre y
Compania in Escolta.
Major Characters in the Novel:

Crisóstomo Ibarra
Juan Crisóstomo Ibarra y Magsalin, commonly referred to the
novel as Ibarra or Crisóstomo, is the novel's protagonist. The
mestizo (mixed-race) son of Filipino businessman Don Rafael
Ibarra, he studied in Europe for seven years. Ibarra is also María
Clara's fiancé.
María Clara
María Clara de los Santos, commonly referred to as María Clara, is Ibarra's fiancée and
the most beautiful and widely celebrated girl in San Diego.

Kapitán Tiago
Don Santiago de los Santos, known by his nickname Tiago and political title Kapitán
Tiago is said to be the richest man in the region of Binondo and possessed real properties in
Pampanga and Laguna de Bay.

Padre Dámaso
Dámaso Verdolagas, or Padre Dámaso is a Franciscan friar and the former parish curate
of San Diego. He is notorious for speaking with harsh words, highhandedness, and his
cruelty during his ministry in the town.
Elías
Is Ibarra's mysterious friend and ally. Elías made his first appearance as a pilot during a
picnic of Ibarra and María Clara and her friends.

Pilósopo Tasio
Filósofo Tasio (Tagalog: Pilosopong Tasyo) was enrolled in a philosophy course and
was a talented student, but his mother was a rich but superstitious matron.

Doña Victorina
Doña Victorina de los Reyes de de Espadaña, commonly known as Doña Victorina, is
an ambitious Filipina who classifies herself as a Spanish and mimics Spanish ladies by
putting on heavy make-up.
Narcisa or Sisa
Is the deranged mother of Basilio and Crispín. Described as beautiful and young,
although she loves her children very much, she can not protect them from the beatings of her
husband, Pedro.
Crispín
Is Sisa's 7-year-old son. An altar boy, he was unjustly accused of stealing money from
the church. After failing to force Crispín to return the money he allegedly stole, Father Salví
and the head sacristan killed him. It is not directly stated that he was killed, but a dream of
Basilio's suggests that Crispín died during his encounter with Padre Salví and his minion.
Basilio
Is Sisa's 10-year-old son. An acolyte tasked to ring the church's bells for the Angelus, he
faced the dread of losing his younger brother and the descent of his mother into insanity. At
the end of the novel, a dying Elías requested Basilio to cremate him and Sisa in the woods in
exchange for a chest of gold located nearby. He later played a major role in El
Filibusterismo.
Vocabulary Translations:

1. Colonization - Colonizacion 11. Hesitant - Vacilante

2. Manifestation - Manifestacion 12. Edition - Edicion
3. Novel - Novela 13. Distinguished - Distinguido
4. Readers - Lectoras 14. Beautiful - Hermosa
5. Conscience - Conciencia 15. Church - Iglesia
6. Government - Gobierno 16. Acolyte - Acolito
7. Authors - Autoras 17. Ambitious - Ambicioso
8. Dream - Sueno 18. Possessed - Poseida
9. Century - Siglo 19. Ministry - Ministerio
10. Colonialism - Colonialismo 20. Highhandedness - Arrogante
References:
* https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Noli_Me_T%C3%A1ngere_(novel)
* https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/291131/noli-me-tangere-
touch-me-not-by-jose-rizal/9780143039693/
* Google Translate

“ He has made everything beautiful in its time “.

Ecclesiastes 3:11