LIFE AND WORKS OF RIZAL

PI 21

VII. RIZAL AND THE CAMPAIGN FOR

NATIONALISM
A. PERIOD OF PREPARATION AND EXPEDITION
(1882 – 1888)

1. “LOVE OF COUNTRY”
2. “NOLI ME TANGERE”
3. “SONG OF MARIA CLARA”

Group Members:
Campilan, Vicsam
Daguyam, Donalyn A.
Mangeg, Alleah N.
Lalpuot, Tonton
Tawanna, Gladys
Tomecwa, Agustin
“LOVE OF COUNTRY"
❖ Rizal’s profound love for the Philippines fueled his dedication to advocating for
reforms. He believed that true patriotism stemmed from education and knowledge,
which empowered Filipinos to demand their rights and freedoms.

• In progressive Barcelona, Rizal wrote a nationalistic essay entitled Amor Patrio (Love
of Country), his first article written on Spain's soil.
• Rizal sent this article to his friend in Manila, Basilio Teodoro, who was a member of
the editorial staff of the Diariong Tagalog, the first Manila daily to have a Tagalog
section.
• August 20, 1882 – Rizal's Amor Patrio, under his pen-name Laong Laan, appeared in
print in Diariong Tagalog.
• It was published in two texts - Spanish and Tagalog. The Spanish text was the one
originally written by Rizal in Barcelona. The Tagalog text was a Tagalog translation
made by M. H. del Pilar.
• The article caused quite a sensation among the readers because of its Filipinistic
flavor.
• As in his prize-winning Juventud Filipina, Rizal in his Amor Patrio urged his compatriots
to love their father-land, the Philippines.

“NOLI ME TANGERE”
❖ Published in 1887, ‘Noli Me Tangere’ exposed the societal ills and injustices faced by
Filipinos under Spanish rule. It inspired a sense of national identity and unity among
Filipinos, which became crucial for the revolution.

Idea of Writing a Novel on the Philippines

• Harriet Beecher Stowe's Uncle Tom's Cabin – it portrays the brutalities of American
slave-owners and the pathetic conditions of the unfortunate Negro slaves, which
inspired Dr. Rizal to prepare a novel that would depict the miseries of his people under
the lash of Spanish tyrants. He was then a student in the Central University of Madrid.
• January 2, 1884 – In a reunion of Filipinos in the Paterno residence in Madrid on, Rizal
proposed the writing of a novel about the Philippines by a group of Filipinos. His
proposal was unanimously approved by those present, among whom were the
Paternos (Pedro, Maximino, and Antonio), Graciano Lopez Jaena, Evaristo Aguirre,
Eduardo de Lete, Julio Llorente, Melecio Figueroa, and Valentin Ventura.
• Unfortunately, Rizal's project did not materialize. Those compatriots who were
expected to collaborate on the novel did not write anything. The novel was designed
to cover all phases of Philippine life. However, almost everybody wanted to write on
women. Rizal was disgusted at such flippancy. He was more disgusted to see that his
companions, instead of working seriously on the novel, wasted their time gambling or
flirting with Spanish señoritas.
• Undaunted by his friends’ indifference, he determined to write the novel alone.
The Title of the Novel

• Noli Me Tangere – a Latin phrase which means “Touch Me Not.” It is not originally
conceived by Rizal, for he admitted taking it from the Bible.
• Rizal, writing to Felix R. Hidaldo in French on March 5, 1887, said: “Noli Me Tangere,
words taken from the Gospel of Saint Luke, signify “do not touch me.”
• In citing the Biblical source, Rizal made a mistake. It should be the Gospel of St. John
(Chapter 20, Verses 13 to 17). According to St. John, on the First Easter Sunday, St.
Mary Magdalene visited the Holy Sepulcher, and to her Our Lord Jesus, just arisen
from the dead, said:
“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 to my God and your God.”

The Writing of the Noli

• Toward the end of 1884, Rizal began writing the novel in Madrid and finished about
one-half of it.
• 1885 – When Rizal went to Paris after completing his studies in the Central University
of Madrid, he continued writing the novel, finishing one-half of the second half.
• Rizal finished the last fourth of the novel in Germany.
• April-June, 1886 – Rizal wrote the last few chapters of the Noli in Wilhelmsfeld.
• In Berlin during the winter days of February 1886. Rizal made the final revisions on the
manuscript of the Noli. Sick and penniless, he saw no hope of having it published, so
that in a momentary fit of desperation, he almost hurled it into the flames. Years later
he told his good friend and former classmate, Fernando Canon: “I did not believe that
the Noli Me Tangere would ever be published when I was in Berlin, broken-hearted,
weakened, and discouraged from hunger and deprivation. I was on the point of
throwing my work into the fire as a thing accursed and fit only to die.”
• Rizal dedicated his Noli Me Tangere to the Philippines “To My Fatherland.”
• The friends of Rizal hailed the novel, praising it in glowing colors. As to be expected,
Rizal’s enemies condemned it. Rizal anticipated the vitriolic attacks of his enemies,
who were sore to be told the truth of their evil ways. As he told Blumentritt: “The
government and the friars will probably attack the work, refuting my statements, but I
trust in the God of Truth and in the persons who have actually seen our sufferings.”

Savior of the Noli

• In the midst of his despondency and misery, Rizal received a telegram from Dr. Maximo
Viola who was coming to Berlin.
• Dr. Maximo Viola – friend of Rizal and a scion of a rich family of San Miguel, Bulacan.
When he arrived in Berlin shortly before Christmas Day of 1887, he was shocked to
find Rizal living in poverty and deplorably sickly due to lack of proper nourishment.
• Upon seeing his talented friend’s predicament, Viola, being loaded with ample funds,
gladly agreed to finance the printing cost of the Noli. He also loaned Rizal some cash
money for living expenses. Thus, it came to pass that Rizal and Viola happily
celebrated the Christmas of 1886 in Berlin with a sumptous feast.
 • After the Christmas season, Rizal put the finishing touches on his novel. To save
printing expenses, he deleted certain passages in his manuscript, including a whole
chapter – “Elias and Salome.”
• February 21, 1887 – the novel was finally finished and ready for printing.
• With Viola, the savior of the Noli, Rizal went to different printing shops in Berlin to
survey the cost of printing. After a few days of inquiries, they finally found a printing
shop – Berliner Buchdruckrei-Action-Gesselschaft – which charged the lowest rate,
that is, 300 pesos for 2.000 copies of the novel.

Printing of the Noli Finished

• March 21, 1887 – the Noli Me Tangere came off the press.
• Rizal immediately sent the first copies of the printed novel to his intimate friends,
including Blumentritt, Dr. Antonio Ma. Regidor, G. Lopez Jaena, Mariano Ponce, and
Felix R. Hidalgo.
• In Rizal’s letter to Blumentritt, dated March 21, 1887, he said: “I am sending you a
book. It is my first book, though I have already written much before it and received
some prizes in literary competitions. It is the first impartial and bold book on the life of
the Tagalogs. The Filipinos will find it the history of the last ten years. I hope you will
notice how different are my descriptions from those of other writers. The government
and the friars will probably attack the work, refuting my arguments; but I trust in the
God of Truth and in the persons who have actually seen the sufferings at close range.
I hope I can answer all the concepts which have been fabricated to malign us.”
• March 29, 1887 – Rizal, in token of his appreciation and gratitude, gave Viola the
galley proofs of the Noli carefully rolled around the pen that he used in writing it and a
complimentary copy, with the following inscription: “To my dear friend, Maximo Viola,
the first to read and appreciate my work – Jose Rizal.”

The “Noli” Based on Truth

• The Noli Me Tangere, unlike many works of fictional literature, was a true story of
Philippine conditions during the last decades of Spanish rule. The places, the
characters, and the situations really existed. “The facts I narrate there,” said Rizal, “are
all true and have happened; I can prove them.”
• The characters were drawn by Rizal from persons who actually existed during his
times.
o Maria Clara was Leonor Rivera, although in real life she became unfaithful.
Unlike the heroine of the novel, and married an Englishman.
o Ibarra and Elias represented Rizal himself.
o Tasio, the philosopher was his elder brother, Paciano.
o Padre Salvi was identified by Rizalists as Padre Antonio Piernavieja, the hated
Augustinian friar in Cavite who was killed by the patriots during the Revolution.
o Capitan Tiago was Capitan Hilario Sunico of San Nicolas.
o Doña Victorina was Doña Agustina Medel.
o Basilio and Crispin were the Crisostomo brothers of Hagonoy.
 o Padre Damaso was typical of a domineering friar during the days of Rizal, who
was arrogant, immoral, and anti-Filipino.

Missing Chapter of the Noli

• In the original manuscript of Noli Me Tangere, there was a chapter entitled “Elias and
Salome” which follows Chapter XXIV – “In the Woods”.
• This particular chapter on Elias and Salome was deleted by Rizal so that it was not
included in the printed novel. His reason for doing so was definitely economic. By
reducing the pages of the manuscript. The cost of printing would correspondingly be
reduced.

SONG OF MARIA CLARA

“Sweet are the hours in one’s native land,
Where all is dear the sunbeams bless;
Life-giving breezes sweep the strand,
And death is soften’d by love’s caress
“Warm kisses play on mother’s lips,
On her fond, tender breast awakening;
When round her neck the soft arm slips.
And bright eyes smile, all love partaking.
“Sweet is death for one’s native land,
Where all is dear the sunbeams bless;
Death is the breeze that sweeps the strand,
Without a mother, home, or love’s caress.”

❖ This evocative song from ‘Noli Me Tangere’ encapsulates Rizal’s critique of colonial
mentality and reflects the struggles of Filipino women. It connects cultural identity with
the broader movement for independence.

JOSE RIZAL'S IMPACT ON NATIONALISM

Influence of Rizal's Writings

• Rizal’s works, particularly “Noli Me Tangere” and “El Filibusterismo,” criticized colonial
oppression and inspired Filipinos to seek reform and independence. His portrayal of
the struggles faced by Filipinos resonated across social classes, uniting them under a
common cause.

Historical Context of the Era

 • The late 19th century was marked by Filipino discontent against Spanish rule, fueled
by social inequalities and repressive policies. Rizal’s activism emerged during this time
of awakening nationalism, capturing the aspirations of a nation eager for change.

Responses from the Spanish Government

• Rizal’s writings provoked strong reactions from the Spanish authorities, who viewed
him as a threat to colonial stability. His eventual execution in 1896 marked a turning
point, galvanizing public sentiment and fueling the Philippine Revolution against
Spanish rule.

LEGACY OF RIZAL'S NATIONALISM CAMPAIGN

Continuing Nationalism Movements

• Rizal’s writings ignited a sense of nationalism among Filipinos, inspiring future leaders
and movements. His ideas influenced the founding of organizations such as the
Katipunan, which aimed for independence from Spanish rule.

Educational Reforms Influenced by Rizal

• Rizal championed education as a means of empowerment, urging reforms that

emphasized national identity. His work led to the establishment of institutions
promoting Philippine history and culture, reshaping the educational landscape.

Commemorations and Remembrance

• Rizal’s legacy is celebrated annually in the Philippines, highlighting his contributions to

nationalism. Events such as Rizal Day foster remembrance of his ideals and
encourage ongoing reflection on the nation’s journey.

Impact on Modern National Identity

• Rizal's work laid the foundation for a unique Philippine identity, blending history and
culture. His philosophy continues to uplift Filipino pride and serves as a reference for
modern national movements.