By: Dr.

José Rizal
Proposal on writing a Novel about
the Philippines
• Filipinos were not known in Europe
Practically mistaken as Chinese in Spain and Japanese
in Germany.

• Indios Bravos a term coined by Rizal which was

used by the Filipino expatriates in the Paris Exposition
in 1889 to have a sense of National Identity.
Proposal on writing a Novel about
the Philippines
• july 2 1884 – Rizal proposed the writing of a novel
about the Philippines by a group of Filipinos.

• His proposal was unanimously approved by his

friends, among whom were the Paternos (Pedro,
Maximino, and Antonio); G.L. Jaena; Evaristo
Aguirre; Eduardo de Lete; Julio Llorente and
Valentin Ventura

• But this proposal did not materialize because those

whom he expected to collaborate with him did not do
Proposal on writing a Novel about
the Philippines
• His expatriates were indifferent to the project
since they were more interested to gamble
and to flirt with women.

• Pedro Paterno - published his novel entitled

Ninay: Costumbres Filipinas (Philippine
Customs).
-Made Rizal happy because somehow someone
reacted to his proposal.
 IDEA OF
WRITING A
NOVEL IN
IDEA OF WRITING A NOVEL IN
THE PHILIPPINES

Uncle Tom's Cabin by

Harriet Beecher Stowe

-Portrays the brutalities

committed by American
slave-owners and the
pathetic conditions of the
unfortunate Negro slaves.
The writing
of
The writing of Noli

● Madrid - when Rizal completed the first half of the

novel

● Paris - he completed one-fourth

● Berlin - he finished the novel on February 21, 1887.

Rizal feared the novel might not be printed, and

that it would remain unread.
The man who save “NOLI”
• Dr. Maximo Viola - a rich friend of Rizal from
Bulacan who financed the publishing the Noli.

-Lives at San Miguel, Bulacan

• Visited Rizal in Berlin before Christmas of 1886.

• He was shocked seeing his friend living in

poverty and deplorably sickly because of lack of
proper nourishment.

• Financed the printing of the novel by giving Rizal

Php300.00 for 2000 copies.
The man who save “NOLI”

• Ferdinand Blumentritt, Antonio Ma. Regidor,

Graciano Lopez-Jaena, Mariano Ponce and Felix
Resurreccion Hidalgo received the first copies of
the novel.

• Maximo Viola — received the original handwritten

manuscript with the pen used by Rizal in writing the
novel as a sign of his gratitude to the man who help
in the printing of his novel.
Title of the Novel
• Noli Me Tangere — Latin phrase which means “Touch Me Not”
-A phrase that Rizal got from the bible.
o In a letter addressed to Felix R. Hidalgo, Rizal claimed that the phrase came
from the Gospel of Luke. Rizal made a mistake.
o Gospel of St. John — Chapter 20 verses 13-17.
“ Touch me not; I am not yet ascended to my Father, but go to my
brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father;
and to my God and your God.”

• “ To My Country” - Rizal dedicated the Noli Me Tangere to the

Philippines.

• Social Cancer —a disease that Rizal used to convey the

condition of the Philippines.
 The Characters of the
ovel
• The characters of the novel were drawn by
Rizal from persons who actually existed
during his time.
• Juan Crisostomo lbarra — the protagonist
— Represented the affluent and liberal
European educated Filipino (Ilustrado)
—Desired the education of the people
• Elias — represented the Filipino masses
— Wanted to liberate the people from the
injustices suffered from the Spaniards.
• Represented Rizal himself
• Maria Clara — The object of Ibarra's love
and affection.
— Trained in a convent and immersed in
education that is religious in orientation.
• Salome — Elias’ girlfriend
—Same with Maria Clara epitomizes womanhood
in their fidelity, shyness and modesty.
• Represents Leonor Rivera
• Padre Damaso — the main antagonist in
the novel.
—A typical domineering friar during Rizal's
time.
—Arrogant, immoral and anti-Filipino
—Often mistaken as a Dominican priest.
• Pilosopo Tasyo — perceived to be a sage by
the educated and a lunatic or weird by those
who did not know him.
—Represents Paciano, Rizal's older brother
• Capitan Tiago — Don Anastacio de los Santos
— Husband of Pia Alba
— His wealth carne from illegal opium trade
— Example of a subservient Filipino to the Spanish authorities for
protection and security
— Capitan Juan Sunico of San Nicolas
• Sisa — the mother of Basilio and Crispin
— Symbolizes Filipinos lack of concern in facing and
resolving problems confronting Filipino society.
— But illustrates the typical Filipino mother. Ready to defend their
children from all forms of injustice and accusations.
• Basilio and Crispin — represents the Crisostomo brothers
in Bulacan
• Padre Salvi — represents an immoral and coward friar
— Was believed to be Father Antonio Piernavieja, the
hated Augustinian friar who was killed b the patriots
during the revolution.
• Doña Victorina — wife of Don Tiburcio de Espadaña.
—A social climber. An Indio who wanted to be treated as
a Spaniard for her husband was a citizen of Spain.
• Doña Agustina Medel
• Doña Consolacion — mistress of the Alferez
— Symbolized the mentality of the Guardia Civil:
Vulgar, cruel and quarrelsome.
 Rizal's Diagnosis of Filipino
• Friars — were the enemies of reforms,
progress and justice in the Philippines.
—Agrarian problem in Calamba between the
Dominicans and the tenants like his family, while he
was in Europe.
— The influence of the Spanish friars
against secularization of the parishes.
— Rizal's over-all assessment of the Philippine
political situation in 1886 and 1872.
• Abuses of the friar5 were evident (forced labor, tax
collection, School inspection,
intelligence officers)
 Noli Me Tangere: Charter of Filipino
Nationalism
• The novel calls for the Filipino to:
—Regain his self confidence
—Appreciate his self-worth
—Return to the heritage of his ancestors
—Assert himself
—To equal to the Spaniards
—Insists in the need for education
—Dedication to the country
—Assimilating the aspects of Western culture that could enhance native
traditions
 Rizal's Friends Praise the
•
oli
Ferdinand
Blumentritt — his
congratulating of Rizal
was the most
significant.
— Considers Rizal was
a man of
extraordinary talent.
• Antonio Ma. Regidor
—a Filipino exile in
London for his alleged
participation in the
1872 uprising.
— Said that the book is
superior and Rizal's Noli
Me Tangere will be equal
to the novel Don Quixote
by Miguel de Cervantes
of Spain.
 Other Works pu ished Rizal's
Friends in Europe
• Pedro A. Paterno — Ninay (1885, Madrid)
• Marcelo H. Del Pilar La Soberania
Monalas (1889, Barcelona)
• Graciano Lopez-Jaena — Discursos y
Articulos
Varios (1891, Barcelona).
About Filibusterism
Political
Revolution Dissent
Mars is actually a very Venus has extremely
cold place high temperatures

Intellectual Independenc
rebellion e
Jupiter is the biggest Saturn is a gas giant
planet of them all and has several rings
A timeline always works well

June 19, 1861 June 21, 1892

Jose Rizal was born in Rizal was exiled to
Calamba, Laguna, Dapitan by the Spanish
Philippines authorities.

1877-1882 Dec 30, 1896

Rizal pursued higher Rizal was executed by
education in Europe firing squad at
Bagumbayan