The Natures and Aftermath of The Social Cancer and Reign of Greed

The Natures and Aftermath of "The Social Cancer" and "Reign of Greed"
Is it possible to achieve peace and compromise between divided people and factions when fairness
and justice have always seemed out of reach?
I am a Filipino: an inheritor of a glorious past, hostage to the uncertain future. As such I must prove
equal to a two-fold task—the task of meeting my responsibility to the past, and the task of performing
my obligation to the future.
— I am a Filipino, Carlos P. Romulo
This is a convoluted story about a pacifist who accidentally inspired various national uprisings and
revolutions by raising his pen. These two novels feature real-life characters and frequently imbue the majority
with satirical traits to better comprehend the internal and external struggles of a society split by a plethora of
motivations, beliefs, ideologies, and moralities. These books are regarded as two of the most well-known and
prolific literary works written by a Filipino, written in a character-driven framework and highlighting plots as
direct associations during the Spanish colonial reign.
"Touch Me Not" or "The Social Cancer" is translated as "Noli Me Tangere," and "El Filibusterismo" is
translated as "The Reign of Greed." Both works were set in a politically and historically based the fictional
Philippines during the Spanish colonial period and were influenced by the author's experiences, perspectives,
ideas, and ideals while living under Spanish authority.
The main protagonist of the two novels is Crisostomo Ibarra, an educated and intellectual Filipino who
studied in Europe before returning to the Philippines. He changed his name to Simoun after a series of painful
events altered his thinking and beliefs from idealistic to anarchistic, wishing for vengeance and horrible
vengeance against those who had wronged him. Like Noli Me Tangere, El Filibusterismo seeks to educate the
people and bring Filipinos closer to the truth.

The conclusion of the sequel, as well as the overarching narratives that loop around the stories that
center on a diverse and complex cast of characters, could be interpreted as wheels within wheels within
wheels: that the answers to injustices aren't more injustices, and that hatred only breeds monsters. Only love,
in the end, produces magnificent achievements; only virtue can save! This was ironic because love was one of
the reasons Crisostomo/Simoun became a full-fledged anarchist in the novels, and it was also one of the
reasons his coordinated plots to topple the tyrannical church and state in the second book failed. To keep
readers reading their diverse yet intertwined stories, he peppered the novels with whole grains of sarcasm,
humor, and irony. In his writings, Rizal used these techniques to try to destabilize the brutally oppressive
colonial regimes of his time, such as controlling, filthy governments and powerful corrupt religious institutions.
Ibarra's natural rage towards those who had clearly wronged him, as well as his methods of exacting
unfathomable vengeance, were entirely warranted. But, as we all know, hatred fosters hatred, and one of the
novel's messages is that if we, as readers, cave to our darkest thoughts of our so-called "enemy," we will never
understand something clearly at last fully. It's a tense, strong, difficult, and intricate ambiguity that poses real-
world problems.
Filipinos have the uncanny ability to accept anything life throws at them because they are strong and
resilient in the face of adversity. They have the potential to be your best friends or your worst enemies.
However, everything, like Rizal, must reach a certain minimum level before snapping and releasing.
The societal message conveyed by Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo is that citizens should lead
their governments, not the other way around. That strength comes from the large number of people who want
to make a difference or give voice to those who have been wronged. They are novels that reflect the lives of
each individual while telling a story from the perspective of each social group. They serve as a reflection and
expression of the notion that rights, justice, and freedom must be pursued at any cost.
These two novels were written to express the author's longing for liberty, freedom, and independence
for his people, and to see it manifest in real-life events set against hundreds of years of oppression and the
darkest days of empire. From patriotism and nationalism to responsible social and political activity and
methods of fighting for what is right, these books serve as teachings for future generations. Authoritarian
authorities usually try to eliminate idealists and intellectuals because they see them as a threat, and one way to
resist oppressive institutions is to pick up a pen and read a book, with violence being used only as a last resort
after all other options have been exhausted.
Filipinos nowadays may not pine for the past, but they do enjoy learning from it. The lessons they held
were not meant to be used as weapons of hatred against one another, but to ensure that it never happened
again, as they bear no grudges against those who had hurt them both domestically and globally. Past invaders
(Spanish, Americans, and Japanese) will always be present in their thoughts, and they will see both positive
and harmful contributions to modern Filipino culture. The lack of discernable identity that evolved following
colonialism, the prevalence of intrinsic cultural identity crises, and the ensuing and inherent loss are all
disappointing. It was such a waste for a country to never identify when and where it originated because the
prospects of discovering its roots appeared to be so slim and bleak.
Despite this, they are aware of some of the major influences that have molded their culture and
civilization, and they have already forgiven their invaders for previous atrocities. Because they are not their
forefathers from the past, they will accept anyone who will love and appreciate them for who they are, and they
will remain vigilant if they feel threatened. They also vow to never be as low as those who wronged them
throughout wartime and colonial times, honoring their deceased heroes' sacrifices, commemorating their
contributions for the voices they've cried from the rooftops, and resolving to never be as low as those who
wronged them.
Allow for forgiveness but remember to never forget. Any resentment of the past may only lead to
grudges, which will have unintended consequences. We seek knowledge from the past, but we try not to dwell
too long on it for fear of reopening old wounds. Despite all of history's disasters, we have an intense sense of
hope for a better future.

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The Natures and Aftermath of "The Social Cancer" and "Reign of Greed"

and justice have always seemed out of reach?

my obligation to the future.

— I am a Filipino, Carlos P. Romulo

direct associations during the Spanish colonial reign.

ideas, and ideals while living under Spanish authority.

people and bring Filipinos closer to the truth.

after all other options have been exhausted.

prospects of discovering its roots appeared to be so slim and bleak.

hope for a better future.

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