#1 Silhouette of a Filipina

- believed to be Maria Clara or as the "Inang Bayan" to whom Rizal dictates the novel

Cross/Crucifix
- represents the Catholic faith as it rises above Inang Bayan and Filipinos (shows
dominance)
- it also symbolizes sufferings and death

Pomelo Blossoms & Laurel Leaves

- they represent faith, honor and fidelity, which are the values Rizal aspires to be
embodied by Filipinos
- pomelos are used to scent their air commonly during prayers and cleansing rituals
- laurel leaves are used as crowns during Greek Olympics for honoring the best

Burning Torch
- refers to the Olympic torch
- pertains to the awakening of Filipino consciousness
- it also sheds light to the text of the manuscript
Sunflower
- it symbolizes a new beginning
- it is compared to the happiness of which appears to be always bowing down

Feet
- it symbolizes the power of the friars
- it is placed on the base of the triangle (foundation) because without friars, the Filipinos
cannot stand on their own

Shoes
- it represents wealth
- it is also the footprints left by friars in teaching Catholicism

Hairy Legs
- it symbolizes the Legend of the Wolf
- the wolf shape shifts just like how friars hide their true nature and character

Helmet of a Guardia Civil

- it represents the arrogance of those in authority

Whip
- it represents the abuses and cruelties done by the Spaniards and friars as depicted in
the novel

Flogs (Suplina)
- it is used for self-flagellation
- just like the whip, this also symbolizes the cruelties of the Guardia Civil

Chain
- it symbolizes slavery and imprisonment
Rizal's Signature
- it shows that Rizal experienced and witnessed the ills and abuses that happened
during his time

Bamboo Stalks
- it represents Filipino resiliency
- despite the sufferings, Filipinos can still stand tall and firm

#2
Summary:
Having completed his studies in Europe, young Juan Crisóstomo Ibarra y Magsalin
comes back to the Philippines after a 7-year absence. In his honor, Don Santiago de los
Santos "Captain Tiago," a family friend, threw a get-together party, which was attended
by friars and other prominent figures. One of the guests, former San Diego curate Fray
Dámaso Vardolagas belittled and slandered Ibarra. Ibarra brushed off the insults and
took no offense; he instead politely excused himself and left the party because of an
allegedly important task.

The next day, Ibarra visits María Clara, his betrothed, the beautiful daughter of
Captain Tiago and affluent resident of Binondo. Their long-standing love was clearly
manifested in this meeting, and María Clara cannot help but reread the letters her
sweetheart had written her before he went to Europe. Before Ibarra left for San Diego,
Lieutenant Guevara, a Civil Guard, reveals to him the incidents preceding the death of
his father, Don Rafael Ibarra, a rich hacendero of the town.

According to Guevara, Don Rafael was unjustly accused of being a heretic, in

addition to being a subversive — an allegation brought forth by Dámaso because of
Don Rafael's non-participation in the Sacraments, such as Confession and Mass.
Dámaso's animosity against Ibarra's father is aggravated by another incident when Don
Rafael helped out on a fight between a tax collector and a child fighting, and the
former's death was blamed on him, although it was not deliberate. Suddenly, all of those
who thought ill of him surfaced with additional complaints. He was imprisoned, and just
when the matter was almost settled, he died of sickness in jail. Still not content with
what he had done, Dámaso arranged for Don Rafael's corpse to be dug up from the
Catholic Church and brought to a Chinese cemetery, because he thought it
inappropriate to allow a heretic a Catholic burial ground. Unfortunately, it was raining
and because of the bothersome weight of the body, the undertakers decide to throw the
corpse into a nearby lake.[1]

Revenge was not in Ibarra's plans, instead he carried through his father's plan of
putting up a school, since he believed that education would pave the way to his
country's progress (all over the novel the author refers to both Spain and the Philippines
as two different countries as part of a same nation or family, with Spain
seen as the mother and the Philippines as the daughter).
In the epilogue, it was explained that Tiago became addicted to opium and was seen
to frequent the opium house in Binondo to satiate his addiction. María Clara became a
nun where Salví, who has lusted after her from the beginning of the novel, regularly
used her to fulfill his lust. One stormy evening, a beautiful crazy woman was seen at the
top of the convent crying and cursing the heavens for the fate it has handed her. While
the woman was never identified, it is insinuated that the said woman was María Clara.

#3. Make a list of the lessons we could learn from the Novel, Noli Me Tangere.
Learning life and works of Dr. Jose P. Rizal is timeless and it was captivating
because you can really observed and felt the hardship, loved and dedicative he exerted
on his country just to have freedom from the colonizers. In line with, Dr. Jose P. Rizal is
considered as our greatest hero because he was capable of revolutionizing the way the
Filipino thought. He was known because of his two famous novels which are El
Filibusterismo and Noli Me Tangere and which I believed that he wrote this for his
countrymen to woke up and see silver lining and be the voice of each Filipino individual
as the Spaniards abusive and colonized the precious mother land.
The message of the novels that Rizal tries to tell to us, he wrote these in hope of
opening the eyes of the Filipinos from the abuses that the colonizers have been
inflicting to them. He wanted to undress the cancer that has infected the Philippines
society through fictional writings and character. Rizal depicted how the catholic religion
and its practices has cause problem instead of bringing and providing hope, healing,
assurance, counselling and injustices have brought only fear, destruction and abuse of
power. That instead that they were the voice of voiceless Filipinos who were not able to
fight their rights and justice. And the worst is that they just remain quite while these
abusive thing are happening to them but Rizal believes that there still hope to have
freedom from the colonizers. Moreover, in writing these novels Rizal aims to:
Noli Me Tangere (touch me not) is not merely a stack on the Spanish colonial
regime. It is a charter nationalism. It calls on the Filipino to recover his self-confidence,
to appreciate his own worth, to return to the heritage of his ancestors, to assert himself
as the equal of the Spaniard. It is romantic novel, book of feeling, work of the heart,
contains freshness, color, humor, lightness and wit despite that it depicts the suffering of
the Filipino people under the Spanish rule. However, in this book he expressed the
growing national consciousness of many Filipinos who opposed Spanish colonial
tyranny and aspired to attain democratic rights. It also, perfectly how we, Filipinos has
long endured the slavery, corruption and abuse of the Spaniards. The Filipinos who
have struggled long and hard for their redemption continue to suffer because all the
previous national leaders are men and women who favor the rich and keep the poor
marginalized. Therefore, Dr. Jose P. Rizal’s novels tell us that we should reflect on our
actions and beliefs for our country. That in choosing our leaders we must think deeply
before putting into an action. A leader who will give honor and prioritize his countrymen
by realizing the true goal of the country. A leader who will fight what is right, teaches his
countrymen the values of wisdom, give justices for those whose seeking for justice and
love his country as well as his countrymen. Being a true Filipino is what Jose Rizal
wants us to be, to know who we are and what is our true goals will make the country
flourished.
“The youth is the hope of our fatherland.” It is timeless quote said by our national
hero Dr. Jose P. Rizal. What he actually wanted to say is, “The educated youth is the
hope of the fatherland”. With education, you can equip yourself with solid knowledge
that will elevate you to accomplish your noble purpose. Therefore, without education,
the youth is not the hope, but becomes the curse of the nation. At certain time, does
youth really the hope of nation? It is sad to say that majority of youth are in the streets
either working for a living or into drugs were they should in school preparing for the
future.
Admit or not, the spirit of youth has changed dramatically over the years. Many
students dropout from schools to just to stay in computer shops all day. Especially this
pandemic, students drop out because of the new learning that the higher education
implemented. Online learning will not help them to be the hope of the nation but it gave
and felt the students tortured because of academic load reason to stop pursuing their
dreams. Many girls expose to harassment and got pregnant at young age. Also, I heard
about an underage/ student arrested for dealing drugs. These realistic break my heart
because I do not see this kind of youth as the hope of our future. But, still I’m hoping
and believing that the youth can be still the hope of the fatherland if their families and
relatives be the model and have the greatest responsibilities to discipline their children
and be the hope of the nation. Basically, the following are the list which can be learn
from the said Novel;
· Patriotism
Another very evident theme in the novel turns out to be patriotism. Portrayed by
Crisostomo Ibarra and Elias, these two men earnestly desire for independence from the
oppressors. Although different in their means for seeking reform, they both profess their
goals. Since Elias resolves for a revolt against the Spaniards, he finds all means to lead
a revolution against the friars, civil guards and government officials. Believing that God
will bring forth justice over Filipinos depicts patriotism by all means. All in all, “Noli Me
Tangere” shall forever remain as one of the most powerful tools the Philippines has ever
had to spread awareness on the “social cancer” and to fight for independence. As Jose
Rizal used various themes to spread the word regarding the battle against abusive
power, injustice, false religious claims and other inappropriate dealings with innocent
people, the cause Rizal started more than a hundred years ago shall endure.
 · Abusive Power
Having been colonized by Spaniards since the 1500s, the author depicts the
Filipinos suffering abuse from civil guards, friars and other government officials. Using
their power to mistreat civilians, the civil guards harass them because of simple causes,
such as not rendering the customary salute, not being able to show identification cards,
etc. The same goes with friars who commercialize religion through simony and plenary
indulgence. Government officials, likewise, make use of their power to control those
whom they believe would be detrimental to the Spanish rule. Just as Crisostomo Ibarra,
the main character in the novel, experiences this through the death of his father (Don
Rafael), this theme in “Noli Me Tangere” comes to life.
· Freedom From Spain
“Noli Me Tangere,” the first novel written by the Philippine’s national hero Jose Rizal,
mirrors its creator’s persistence in attaining freedom from the Spaniards. True enough,
as Rizal aimed to redeem the country and its people by exposing the barbarity, greed,
cruelty and ignorance of the Spanish colonizers, his work reflected the struggles of the
Tagalogs — being the first to project such a bold account of living in the 1800s in the
Philippines. Likewise, as “Noli Me Tangere” portrays the different aspects of gaining
independence, Jose Rizal focuses on social climbers, abusive power, family devotion,
self sacrifice, and purity and faithfulness.

· Social Climbers
Representing the various classes of society during the late 1800s in the
Philippines, Jose Rizal includes personalities such as Doña Victorina and Capitan
Tiago. These characters, indeed, show how people tend to associate with higher
classes of society, specifically the Spaniards and the illustrados (“learned” ones) and
mestizos. Capitan Tiago, in this instance, portrays this character as he gives friars
lumps of money as ecclesiastical donations and even invites the parish curate at his
home every dinner. Aside from that, he also supports the government’s tax increases,
leading to his title of gobernadorcillo, the highest post a non-Spaniard can attain.
Meanwhile, Doña Victorina’s character in the novel shows an obsession in becoming
Spanish. She does this by covering her face with too much makeup, dressing just like
Spanish women, speaking Spanish (though incorrectly), and basically promotes the
“colonial mentality” as she prefers being just like a Spaniard when in fact she is a
Filipino.

· Family Devotion
Never forgetting the positive qualities of the Filipinos, Jose Rizal still highlights
devotion to one’s family through Crisostomo Ibarra, Maria Clara and Sisa. With the
death of Don Rafael, Ibarra’s father, Crisostomo traces all means to seek for justice.
This is also true with Maria Clara, an obedient daughter to Capitan Tiago. Consenting to
her father’s request that she marry a Spaniard (as requested by Padre Damaso), Maria
Clara adheres to this (but gets very ill afterward). Sisa, on the other hand, definitely
shows her devotion to her family by doing everything to serve her family. Considering
her children (Basilio and Crispin) as her treasures, she endures the trials she goes
through just to keep them secure.

· Self Sacrifice
Just as Jose Rizal sacrificed himself for his country, “Noli Me Tangere” also conveys
this message all throughout its text. Starting off with Sisa’s never-ending sacrifices for
her children, she withstands her husband’s beatings and even takes on the journey of
finding her sons, thereby showing her real love as a mother.

· Purity and Faithfulness

Maria Clara portrays purity and faithfulness as she remains true to her love for
Crisostomo Ibarra. Even though she is engaged to a Spaniard, she still does not submit
herself to him because of her undying love for Ibarra. Thus, she prefers to become a
nun and hence dies afterward when Padre Salvi rapes her.
#4 Characters of Noli Me Tangere
Ø Crisostomo Ibarra
 Juan Crisostomo Ibarra y Magsalin , commonly called Ibarra, is 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. Those years prevented him from knowing what was happening in his country.
When he returned to the Philippines, he found his father had died and the corpse was
(supposedly) moved to a Chinese cemetery (but the body ended up in a river). He heard
tales of how helpful and kind his father had been and decided to honor the memory of
his father by doing as his father did.
 Ø María Clara

María Clara de Los Santos y Alba, is the most dominant yet weakest
representation of women in the setting. When thinking of Noli, the name of María Clara
can be seen predominantly as the image of the ideal Filipino woman. María Clara is the
primary female character in the novel. She is the daughter of Capitán Tiago and Doña
Pía Alba. Doña Pía died while delivering Maria Clara. The poor child grew under the
guidance and supervision of Tíya Isabél, Capitán Tiago's cousin. María Clara is known
to be Ibarra's lover since childhood. When Ibarra was away in Europe, Capitán Tiago
sent Maria Clara to the Beaterio de Santa Clara where she developed into a lovely
woman under the strict guidance of the religious nuns. Later in the novel, María Clara
discovers that her biological father is not Capitán Tiago, but San Diego's former curate
and her godfather Padre Dámaso. After hearing about Ibarra's death, she persuaded
Padre Damaso to let her be endorsed into a nunnery. Padre Damaso wouldn't let her at
first but finally relented for fear that Maria Clara might take her own life. She remained in
the nunnery and died before Ibarra (Simoun in El Fili) could rescue her. Although raised
as the daughter of Captain Santiago "Kapitán Tiyago" de Los Santos and his wife Doña
Pía Alba, who are both native Filipinos, María Clara is revealed to have been the
illegitimate daughter of Padre Dámaso, a Spanish friar, who coerced Doña Pía into illicit
sexual relations.
 Ø Elias

Eliás came from the family which the Ibarra clan had oppressed for generations.
He grew up in a wealthy family until he discovered something that changed his life
forever. Despite that Ibarra's family subjugated his family, he is entirely indebted
towards him. Furthermore, Ibarra, who in turn, saved Elías' life when they tried to kill a
crocodile. Elias helped him again before Ibarra got arrested by burning his house. Elias
and Ibarra continued supporting each other until Elias sacrificed himself to help him one
last time. He was shot by the guards (mistakenly took as Ibarra trying to dive down the
river and escape) and slowly died.
 Ø Padre Dámaso

Dámaso Verdolagas (commonly known as Padre Dámaso/Padre Damaso or

Father Damaso), of Franciscan order, was the former curate of the parish church of San
Diego. He was the curate for almost twenty years before he was replaced by the much
younger Padre Salvi. Padre Damaso was known to be friendly with the Ibarra family, so
much that Crisóstomo was surprised by what the former curate had done to Don Rafaél.
Padre Dámaso is described to be a snobbish, ruthless and judgemental extrovert. He
does not control his words when speaking and does not care if the person he is talking
to will feel embarrassed or remorseful. He always berates or criticizes other people
around him-- especially Ibarra. Enraged, Ibarra once almost stabbed the priest after he
embarrassed him in front of the people in the sacristy. This made everyone think that he
was slain before Ibarra was being issued for arrest. There are also issues that he and
Donya Pia had a relationship and also revealed that he is the biological father of Maria
Clara.
 Ø Sisa

Narcisa is married to the man named Pedro and the mother of Basilio and
Crispín. She depicts how Filipino mothers love their children unquestionably. After days
when Crispin was held captive by Mang Tasyo, the owner of the sacristy, she was
arrested, locked up in the jail. One day later, she was pardoned by the town Alferez and
was released. However, when she returned home, Basilio was also gone. When she
found Crispin's clothes soaked with blood, she grew lunatic as she continues to find her
children. At the end of the novel, Basilio grievously mourns for his mother as he found
her dying under the tree
Ø Crispin
 Crispín is Sisa's seven-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.
Ø Basilio
 Basilio is Sisa's 10-year-old son. An acolyte tasked with ringing 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 the sequel, El filibusterismo.

Ø Don Santíago

Don Santíago de los Santos, commonly known as Kapitán Tiago, is the only son of a
wealthy trader in Malabon. Due to his mother's cruelty, Kapitán Tiago did not attain any
formal education. He became a servant of a Dominican priest. When the priest and his
father died, Kapitán Tiago decided to assist in the family business of trading before he
met his wife Doña Pía Alba, who came from another wealthy family. Because of their
consistent devotion to Santa Clara in Obando, they were blessed with a daughter who
shared the same features as Padre Dámaso, named Maria Clara. Kapitán Tiago owned
numerous properties in Pampanga, Laguna and especially, in San Diego. He also
managed boarding houses along Daang Anloague and Santo Cristo (in San Diego too)
and had contracts for opening an opium business. He is close to the priests because he
had given numerous contributions of money during ecclesiastical donations and always
invited the parish curate to every formal dinner. He was also entrenched with the
government because he always supported tax increases whenever the local officials
wished. That was the reason he obtained the title of gobernadorcillo, the highest
government position that a non-Spaniard could have in the Philippines. Later in the Noli
sequel, El Filibusterismo, Kapitán. Tiago loses all his properties and becomes addicted
to opium, which would eventually lead to his death.
Ø Pilósopo Tasyo

Don Anastacio, commonly known as Filósofo Tacio (Philosopher Tasyo) is one of

the most important characters in Noli. On the one hand, he is referred to as a
philosopher/sage (hence, Pilosopo Tasyo) because his ideas were accurate with the
minds of the townspeople. On the other hand, if his ideas were against the thinking of
the majority, he was considered the Imbecile Tacio (or Tasyong Sintu-sinto) or Lunatic
Tacio (Tasyong Baliw). Filósofo Tacio was born into a wealthy Filipino family. His
mother let him be formally educated, then abruptly ordered him to stop. She feared
Tasyo would become "too educated" and lose his faith and devotion to religion. His
mother gave him two choices: either go into the priesthood or stop his education. Tasyo
chose the latter because he had a girlfriend that time. Soon enough, they married and
after a year, Tasyo widowed while his mother also died. Most of his time was taken up
in reading and buying books that all his properties were lost and he became poor.

Ø Doña Victorina
Doña Victorina de los Reyes de Espadaña is the one who pretended to be a meztisa (a
Spaniard born in the Philippines) and always dreamed of finding a Spanish husband, in
which she married Don Tiburcio. She was feared by everyone in the town because of
her odd appearance, her ruthless personality, and her fierce rivalry against Donya
Consolacion. It actually came to pass that she did not like Don Tiburcio. She merely
forced herself to marry him despite having fallen in love with Kapitan Tiago.
Ø Don Tiburcio
 Don Tiburcio de Espadaña – A Spanish quack doctor who is weak and
submissive to his pretentious wife, Doña Victorina.

Ø Doña Pía
 Doña Pía Alba – wife of Kapitán Tiago and mother of María Clara; she died
giving birth to her daughter. Kapitán Tiago was officially the child's father, but in reality,
Alba was raped by Padre Dámaso.

#5. Differentiate Noli Me Tangere and El Fili Busterismo

 Dr. Jose P. Rizal was a very amazing person at his time. He was humble, fighting
for reforms through his writings instead of through a revolution. He used intelligence,
talents and skills in a more peaceful way rather than the aggressive way. He opted for
a non-violence reform in the government. Instead he used his writings to open the eyes
of the Filipinos. He dedicated his life for his countrymen without hesitation. He was
known for his meekness and coolness but never fought on a war. Most of the world
heroes was elevated as such because of their war exploits. Rizal never did it. That’s
why Rizal become as the national hero of the Philippines. He was a great and good
example to every Filipino who had fought for freedom, rights and justices under the
hands of evil ones.
Noli metangere and El filibusterismo are the two marked novels of our national
hero, Dr. Jose Rizal which are similar and different in some ways. The two novels are
similar primarily in their author, Rizal. Another, in a way that they both talk about how
Spaniards abused the Filipinos, the abuse of the church of their power and the
discrimination on Filipinos. Both Noli and El Fili shows strong anti-Clerical and even
anti-Catholic color. They convey one story because the latter is published in sequel or
continuation.
However, they are different in many cases. Firstly Noli Metangere, Latin title
meaning “touch me not” refers to the letter of John 20:17 in King James version of the
Bible as Mary Magdalene tried to touch the newly risen Jesus, He said “Touch me not;
for I am not yet ascended to my Father”. Meanwhile, El filibusterismo is Spanish title
which is known in english as The Reign of Greed. Noli is a love story or a romantic
novel, dedicated to our motherland while El fili is a political novel associated with
revenge and anger and is dedicated to GOMBURZA.
The first is more on action and motion, the latter is thoughtful, discursive and
dialectal. Noli showed a sofspoken, patient, compassionate and idealistic Crisostomo
Ibarra while El Fili featured a different Ibarra who portrayed the angry and vengeful side
of him and disguised himself as the wealthy jeweller named Simoun. Noli is written in
the idea that would expose the ills of Philippine society after Harriet Beecher Stowe’s
Uncle Tom’s Cabin. In general Noli is more on the reformist side of Rizal while El fili is
on his revolutionist.
Personal Opinions Noli Metangere is actually a tale of romance between
Crisostomo Ibarra and Maria Clara. Between the side lines of Ibarra and Maria Clara’s
love story is the historical narrative of the era of Dr. Jose Rizal. Ibarra’s journey in the
world of Noli is the life of our National hero: from Ibarra’s philosophies, disputes, and
mysteries. Many may conclude Rizal is Ibarra. Another character that could be Rizal’s
reflection is the farmer that became Ibarra’s mysterious friend. Elias, contrary to Ibarra
in this context, believes in revolution for the country to be freed from the Spanish
oppression. Much can be said about the controversial Noli, but as much as the students
nowadays stray away from the subject Rizal, we cannot deny the influence of the Noli
Me Tangere, and its role in igniting the Filipino sense of national identity. El
Filibusterismo which literally means The Reign of Greed in English is the sequel to the
first novel written by Dr.Jose Rizal, Noli Me Tangere. El Fili narrates the return of a Noli
character Crisostomo Ibarra as the wealthy jeweller, bent on starting a revolution. This
novel, together with the Noli Me Tangere, is said to have sparked the revolution against
Spain in 1896. In it, Rizal presented the dilemma faced by the country as the people
groaned under the foreign oppressor: to revolt would only lead to a change of masters,
while to do nothing would keep the nation enslaved for generations.

Rizal proposes a better way, through Father Florentino as he speaks to the dying
Simoun: educate the natives, and when they shall have reached that stage where they
would be willing to die for their principles, God Himself will supply the weapon, and
“liberty will shine, like the first dawn. ” As gospels of Philippine nationalism, Rizal’s
novels convey the essence of his nationalism that was to reverberate in the hearts of
the people. He identified this essence in his letters as his aspiration to alleviate the
sufferings of the masses, to make men worthy, to avenge one day the many victims of
cruelty and injustice, to erect a monument to the native tongue and to educate his
people. In the two novels, the essence of Rizal’s nationalism is best understood through
the keen study of the characters. Through their dialogue and actions, in their ideas and
ideals, or in the lack of these are seen Rizal’s range of vision, his concept of love of
country, his appeal for reforms, his attitude towards the friars, and his views on the
weaknesses of the Filipinos.