“NOLI ME TANGERE”

➢ “Touch Me Not”; “The Social Cancer”

➢ Published in 1887 in Berlin, Germany.
➢ Savior of Noli was Maximo Viola
➢ It has 63 chapters
➢ Dedicated to the Fatherland
➢ It describes the ailing 19th century Philippines, with issues as such: Racial Discrimination,
Oppression of Human Rights, Gender Bias/Discrimination, Corruption, Poverty, Social
Injustice
➢ Translated from Spanish into English by Charles Derbyshire.
➢ Paciano first attempted to translate Noli to Filipino language.

SUMMARY
Juan Crisostomo Ibarra returns to the Philippines after seven years of education in
Europe. In honor of his return, a grand feast is hosted by Captain Tiago, with many notable
personalities in attendance. At this banquet, Father Damaso criticizes Ibarra. Rather than
retaliate, Ibarra gracefully excuses himself, stating he has urgent matters to handle. Maria Clara,
Ibarra’s enchanting girlfriend and Captain Tiago’s daughter, is visited by him the next day.
Together, they reminisce about their relationship by revisiting old letters exchanged before
Ibarra left for Europe. As Ibarra departs from his visit with Maria, Lieutenant Guevarra discloses
the tragic fate of Ibarra’s father, Don Rafael, who passed away the previous year. Father Damaso
had accused Don Rafael of heresy and subversion, mainly due to his reported absence from
church and confession. These allegations were triggered when Don Rafael defended a child
against a tax collector, who accidentally killed the child. In the aftermath, an investigation was
conducted, during which several of Don Rafael’s secret adversaries levelled accusations against
him. These events deeply affected Don Rafael, leading to his illness in jail and eventually his
death. Despite the heavy rain during the exhumation of Don Rafael’s remains ordered by an
unsatisfied Father Damaso, the body was unceremoniously tossed into a lake instead of being
relocated to the Chinese cemetery.Choosing not to seek revenge, Ibarra carries on his father’s
work by constructing a school with the help of Nol Juan. Just as the school is about to be
inaugurated, Elias saves Ibarra from an assassination attempt, resulting in the death of the
assassin, who was hired by a secret enemy.

When Father Damaso once again insults Ibarra, it is the belittling of his father that pushes
Ibarra to attempt to stab the priest, but he is stopped by Maria Clara. As a consequence, the
Archbishop excommunicates Ibarra from the Catholic Church. Seizing the opportunity, Father
Damaso manipulates Captain Tiago to call off Maria Clara’s engagement to Ibarra, with rumors
suggesting she is to marry Linares, a young Spaniard instead. Following the lifting of his
excommunication due to the intervention of the Captain General, Ibarra is unexpectedly arrested
again, accused of instigating an attack on the barracks. During a party held at Captain Tiago’s
house celebrating the impending union of Linares and Maria Clara, Ibarra manages to escape
with Elias’ help.
Before his escape, Ibarra confronts Maria about a letter used as evidence against him in court.
She vehemently denies any involvement and reveals that the incriminating letter was stolen from
him in return for another that indicates Father Damaso as her biological father. Resigned, she
affirms her love for Ibarra but maintains her decision to marry Linares for her mother’s honor.
Escaping with Elias, Ibarra boards a boat and navigates the Pasig River to Bay Lake. In an attempt
to lose the pursuers, Elias jumps into the water, leading them to believe that the escapee they’ve
shot is Ibarra. On hearing of Ibarra’s supposed death, a despairing Maria Clara pleads with Father
Damaso to let her enter a monastery, threatening suicide otherwise. Meanwhile, a mortally
wounded Elias stumbles upon the mythical Ibarra forest, where he encounters Basilio and his
dead mother, Sisa. In his dying moments, Elias implores the fortunate to remember those who
have perished in the darkness.

CHARACTERS
CRISOSTOMO IBARRA
- also known in his full name as Juan Crisostomo Ibarra y Magsalin, a Filipino who
studied in Europe for 7 years, the love interest of Maria Clara. Son of the deceased
Don Rafael Ibarra. The main and most important character in the novel manifesting in
him the Filipino who acquired European idea through his education in Europe.
ELIAS
- Ibarra’s mysterious friend, a master boater, also a fugitive. He was referred to at one
points as “the pilot”. He wants to revolutionize his country. In the past, Ibarra’s
grandfather condemned his grandfather of burning a warehouse, making Elias the
fugitive he is. The character that Rizal placed to represent the Filipino masses who
suffered from Spanish brutalities and abuse due to their powerless in the novel and
in real Philippines social situation of that time.
MARIA CLARA
- Maria Clara de los Santos, Ibarra’s sweetheart; the legitimate daughter of Father
Damaso and Pia Alba. In her, Ibarra has fallen in-love, she also mirrored the Filipino
woman of religious upbringing and orientation, and through her love to Ibarra, and
she represents true loyalty and religiosity of the woman in real Filipino society.
FATHER DAMASO
- also known in his full name as Damaso Verdolagas, friar and Maria Clara’s biological
father. An antagonist in character and represents the in Christian works for the
Catholic friars who are in the church.
SISA
- the mother of Basilio and Crispin who became insane after losing her sons. She
represented in the novel unfortunate Filipina mothers losing her two sons; Basilio and
Crispin. In the novel, Sisa loses her sanity
CAPITAN TIAGO
- also known in his full name as Don Santiago de los Santos, the known father of Maria
Clara but not the real one, lives in Binondo. An illegal opium leader who subsequently
was a landlord. He represented a businessman who used his money to work for him
even in religious life and obligations.
PILOSOPONG TASYO
- also known as Don Anastacio, portrayed in the novel as pessimistic, and mad by his
neighbors. He portrays the role of a Philosopher who was completely misunderstood
in many aspects, he argues with the belief of the Catholic Church and social change
on the novel.
DON VICTORINA
- Victorina de los Reyes de Espana, a woman who poses herself as a Peninsulares. Wife
of Don Tiburcio de Espadaa, known in the novel as a trying hard rich woman who
abhors anything that Filipino and clings for Spanish way of life. This kind of character
was manifested on some Filipinos of that time.
PEDRO
– abusive husband of Sisa who loved cockfighting.
DON RAFAEL IBARRA
– known in the plot as a concerned citizen and property owner who was a father of
Crisostomo Ibarra. Padre Damaso who played an antagonist role called him heretic
and filibuster due to his view on relating to liberalism in society.
BASILIO
– the elder son of Sisa.
CRISPIN
- the younger son of Sisa who died from the punishment of the soldier from the false
accusation of stealing an amout of money.
PADRE SIBYLA
– Hernando de la Sibyla, a Filipino friar. He described as short and has fair skin.
PADRE SALVI
– also known in his full name as Bernando Salvi, a secret admirer of Maria Clara.
THE ALFEREZ
– chief of the Guardia civil, mortal enemy of the priest for power in San Diego.
DON TIBURCIO DE ESPADANA
– Spanish husband of Dona Victorina who was limp and submissive tp his wife, he also
pretended to be a doctor.
DONA CONSOLACION
– wife of the Alfarez, another woman who passed herself as a Peninsular; best
remembered for her abusive treatment of Sisa. Being the only competitor of Capitan
Tiago in godliness, she did everything to pretend that she was really religious by
showing off to the public what she could contribute to the church.
CAPTAIN GENERAL (no specific name)
– the most powerful official in the Philippines; a hater of secular priests and corrupt
officials; and a friend of Ibarra.

“EL FILIBUSTERISMO”

➢ “The Reign of Greed”; “The Filibuster”; “The Rebellion”

➢ Published in 1891 in Ghent, Belgium
➢ Savior of El Fili was Valentin Ventura
➢ It has 38 chapters
➢ It was first translated to English version by Charles Derbyshire in 1912
➢ Dedicated to the GOMBURZA
➢ As sequel of Noli Me Tangere, the novel suggested the “solution” for the social cancer in
the society.
➢ EL Fili presented various actions that the Filipinos would have made to “heal”
Philippines. Starting from education reforms to the rebellion of Simoun.

The word Filibustero means a dangerous patriot who will soon to be hanged. By the end of
nineteenth century,the word Filibustero had acquired the term SUBVERSIVE in the Philippines,
hence the book is about subversion.
SUMMARY
Thirteen years after the deaths of Sisa and Elias, the story began. A steamboat called
Bapor Tabo traveled between Manila and Laguna. Among its passengers were the jeweler
Simoun, Basilio, and Isagani. Upon arriving in San Diego, Basilio visited his mother’s grave in the
Ibarra family cemetery. There, he unexpectedly encountered Simoun, who he recognized as
Crisostomo Ibarra in disguise.

To protect Ibarra’s secret, Simoun attempted to kill Basilio but was unsuccessful. Instead,
Simoun tried to persuade Basilio to join his quest for revenge against the Spanish Government.
Basilio refused, as he wanted to finish his studies. Meanwhile, while the Governor-General was
vacationing in Los Baños, Filipino students submitted a petition to establish a Spanish Language
Academy. The proposal was rejected because the clergy would be in charge, preventing the
students from having any control over the institution’s operations. Simoun and Basilio met again,
and Simoun once more tried to convince Basilio to join his planned rebellion and create chaos in
a forced opening of the Sta. Clara convent to abduct Maria Clara. However, this didn’t happen
because Maria Clara passed away that same evening.

On the other hand, the students held a gathering at the Panciteria Macanista de Buen
Gusto, expressing their disappointment over the failed establishment of the Spanish Language
Academy. Speeches were given inside the Panciteria, where the students openly criticized the
clergy. The friars eventually learned about this. The next day, posters containing criticism and
calls for rebellion were found on the university’s doors, and the students’ organization members
were blamed. The students were arrested, and Basilio was among those apprehended. This
deeply affected his lover, Juli. Although hesitant, Juli eventually sought help from Padre Camorra
to free Basilio. Hermana Bali also persuaded her, believing that only the priest could help secure
Basilio’s release. To exonerate the students, their relatives intervened for their release. Basilio,
however, remained in jail as he had no intermediary.

Padre Camorra assaulted Juli. Traumatized by the incident, she jumped from the convent
window, leading to her death. Simoun continued plotting his revenge against the government.
To advance his plans, he partnered with Don Timoteo Pelaez, Juanito’s father, and arranged
Juanito’s marriage to Paulita Gomez. The Governor-General was invited to be the wedding
godfather, and other high-ranking officials were also invited to the banquet. Two months after
his imprisonment, Basilio was released with Simoun’s help. Due to the tragic events in his life,
including Juli’s death, Basilio finally agreed to join Simoun’s rebellion. Simoun seized the
opportunity to show Basilio the bomb he had made. It was a grenade-shaped lamp, the size of a
human head. He planned to present this extravagant lamp to the newlyweds, Juanito and Paulita.
The lamp would emit a bright light for twenty minutes before dimming. When the wick was raised
to brighten it again, the grenade would explode, causing the destruction of the pavilion and
ensuring no guest would survive. The explosion would serve as a signal for Simoun to initiate the
rebellion.
 On Juanito and Paulita’s wedding day, at around seven in the evening, Basilio paced
outside the banquet venue. Simoun also left the house, anticipating the imminent explosion. As
Basilio was about to leave, he spotted Isagani, Paulita’s former lover. Temporarily forgetting his
life’s disappointments, Basilio revealed the planned explosion to Isagani and warned him to leave
the area. As the lamp began to dim, the Governor-General ordered Padre Irene to raise the wick.
However, Isagani snatched the lamp, ran to the terrace, and threw it into the river.

Simoun’s planned rebellion was thwarted. He fled to the house of Padre Florentino, a
Filipino priest. As those pursuing Simoun were closing in, he drank poison to avoid being captured
alive. It was then that he confessed his true identity to the priest. He shared his return to the
Philippines from Europe thirteen years prior, his love affair with Maria Clara, and his disguise as
a jeweler to seek revenge against the government through a rebellion. After confessing, Simoun
passed away. The remaining jewels belonging to Simoun were thrown into the sea by Padre
Florentino.

CHARACTERS
SIMOUN
– is a tall dark man with white hair and a thin black beard. He is reincarnated as a wealthy
jeweler, bent on starting a revolution.
– Simoun represents the revolutionaries during that time who supported the idea of
holding bloody revolt against the Spanish government.
BASILIO
– was originally an industrious and patient man. After gaining enough savings as a
sharecropper, he thought of tilling land in the forest, enlisting the help of his entire family.
– He symbolizes the natives and farmers whose lands were seized by the friars.
– His story presents the cause of the revolution.
ISAGANI VILLAMOR
- Basilio's friend.
- He is Padre Florentino's nephew, but there are rumors that he is also Florentino's
offspring from a previous relationship before he was consecrated as a priest.
- His uncontrolled idealism and poeticism run counter to Paulita Gómez, his lover, who has
more everyday worries.
- He was saying goodbye to his landlords, the Orenda family, in the novel's final mention in
order to move in permanently with Florentino.
KABESANG TALES
- was originally an industrious and patient man. A former cabeza de barangay of San Diego.
After gaining enough savings as a sharecropper, he thought of tilling land in the forest,
enlisting the help of his entire family.
- He symbolizes the natives and farmers whose lands were seized by the friars.
- His story presents the cause of the revolution.
DON CUSTODIO
- Custodio de Salzar y Sanchez de Monteredondo, a famous “contactor” who was tasked
by the Captain-General to develop the students association’s proposal for an academy for
the teaching of Spanish, but was then also under pressure from the priests not to
compromise their prerogatives as monopolizers of instruction.
PAULITA GOMEZ
- the girlfriend of Isagani and the niece of Dona Victorina.
- Paulita Gomez is a caricature of woman who chooses the best option for a more stable
future.
- She knows what is best for her and would take advantage of her admires to get what she
wants.
MACARAIG
- the one who shared the same nationalistic ideals with that of Isagani. The both of them
led their fellow students in the movement for the establishment of the Spanish academy
for Filipinos.
- Makaraig represented the well-to-do Filipino Youth during the Spanish era who had good
dreams for the country.
- His character also provided readers a glimpse of how different the rich and the poor were
treated during that time in society.
FATHER FLORENTINO
- The parish priest of the town of Tiani and the adoptive uncle of Isagani.
- He is described as having white hair, a calm, peaceful demeanor, and a powerful frame.
- He didn't drink or smoke.
- He was highly regarded by his peers, including Spanish officials and friars.
FATHER CAMORA
- The parish priest of Tiani.
- Ben Zayb’s regular foil, he is said to look like an artilleryman in counterpoint of Ben -
Zayb’s friar looks.
 - He stops at nothing to mock and humiliate Ben-Zayb’s liberal pretensions in his own
parish, Camora has a reputation for unrestrained lustfulness.
- He also drives Juli into suicide after attempting to rape her inside the convent for his
misbehavior he was ‘’detained’’ in luxurious riverside villa just outside manila.

FATHER IRENE
- Capitan Tiago’s spiritual adviser.
- A kind friar who is friend of Filipino students.
- He supports the students who appeal to the government for an academy of Spanish
language.
FATHER FERNANDEZ
- A Dominican who was a friend of Isagani.
- Following the incident with the posters, he invited Isagani to a dialogue, not so much as
a teacher with his student but as a friar with a Filipino. Although they failed to resolve
their differences, they each promised to approach their colleagues with the opposing
views from the other party – although both feared that given the animosity that existed
between their sides, their own compatriots may not believe in the other party's existence.
FATHER MILON
- A Dominican who serves as a physics professor in the University of Santo Tomás.
FATHER HERNANDO DE LA SYBILA
- Dominican introduced in Noli Me Tángere who now serves as the director and chaplain
of the University of Santo Tomas.
FATHER BERNANDO SALVI
- A Franciscan friar who is currently the director and chaplain of the Santa Clara convent.
- He was previously the parish priest of San Diego in Noli Me Tángere. Salvi frequently rapes
Mara Clara while he is present at the convent, according to the Noli's epilogue.
JULI
- The girlfriend of Basilio, and the youngest daughter of Kabesang Tales.
- Juli is the purity and innocence of the lower class women during Rizal’s time. She would
rather sacrifice that give up her ideals.
JUANITO PELAEZ
- Isagani’s rival for Paulita Gomez’s affection. He was the son of Timoteo Pelaez, a
metalworks trader.
 - He was also favorite of his professors.
- A regular prankster, he was said to have developed a hump by playing some trick and
then hunching behind his classmates.

BEN ZAYB
- Abraham Ibanez is his real name.
- He is a journalist who thinks he is the only one thinking in the Philippines.
- Personifies a corrupted media.
PLACIDO PENITENTE
- A student of University of Santo Tomas who is always miserable, and therefore controls
his temper.
HERMANA PENCHANG
- The one among the “rich folks” of Tiani who lent Juli money to ransom Kabesang Tales
from the bandits. In return, Juli will serve as her maid until the money was paid off.
- Penchang is described as a pious woman who speaks Spanish, however, her peity was
clouded over by the virtues taught by the friars.
QUIROGA
- A Chinese businessman who aspired to be a consul for China in the Philippines.
- Simoun coerced Quiroga into hiding weapons inside the latter's warehouses in
preparation for the revolution.
TANDANG SELO
- Father of Kabesang Tales and grandfather of Tano and Juli.
- A deer hunter and later a broom-maker, he and tales took in the young, sick Basilio was
then fleeing from the Guardia Civil.
- Selo suffered some form of stroke that impaired his ability to speak. After Juli’s suicide,
Selo left town permanently, taking with him his hunting spear.
- He was later seen with the bandits and was killed in an encounter with the Guardia Civil
– ironically by the gun of the troops’ sharpshooter Tano, his grandson.
SANDOVAL
- a peninsular who had come to Manila as a government employee and was finishing
his studies, and who had completely identified himself with the cause of the Filipino
 students. After the outlawing of the group, he still managed to pass his courses
through sheer oratorical skill.
HERMANA BALI
- Juli’s mother figure and counselor.
- She accompanied Juli in her efforts to secure Kabesang Tales’ ransom and later on
Basilio’s release. Bali was a panguinguera - a – gambler who once performed religious
services in Manila convent.
- Bali also the one who suggested Juli the idea to borrow money from Tiani’s wealthy
citizen, payable when Tales’ legal dispute over his farm was won.

TADEO
- A truant and charlatan who regularly dreamed of an eternal “holiday” from school but
was all the same beloved by professors and passed courses.
- A long time manila resident he is seen having fun by telling outrageous stories about
himself to a newcomer student from his home province.
TANO
- Kabesang Tales’s son, second to Lucia who died in childhood. He was nickname “Carolino”
after returning from Guardia Civil Training in the Carolines.
- His squad was escorting prisoners through a road that skirted a mountain when they were
ambushed by bandits.