CHAPTER
5
THE GREAT NOVEL: NOLI ME TANGERE
AND THE FIRST HOMECOMING
OBJECTIVES
At the end of the chapter, the student should be able to:
•
•
•
•
Explain the lesson learned from the great novel “Noli Me Tangere” with that of the present
situation in the Philippines;
Emulate the dedication of Rizal and the worth of his ideas to contemporary Philippines
society.
Perform the salient events in the novel” Noli Me Tangere” and apply the different virtues
and values learned in the novel; and
Recite the message of the literary writings of Rizal towards achieving excellence in the
ideals of nationalism.
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CHAPTER 5
THE GREAT NOVEL: NOLI ME TANGERE AND THE FIRST HOMECOMING
The Novel: Noli Me Tangere
As a man obsessed with freedom and liberty for the Filipino people, Rizal proposed a
book writing project to the Filipino members of the Circulo Hispano Filipino. The book would
deal on the socio-cultural and political aspects of life in the Philippines. When details were
discussed during the meeting, most of the members wanted to write about the characters and
activities of the Filipino women. Most of them were not interested in Rizal’s proposed project.
With this, Rizal decided to write the book by himself. He did not lose hope, using his talent
and writing skills he started to write his masterpiece the, “Noli Me Tangere”. He joined the
Brotherhood of Masons for more mature contacts and enlightenment to complete the book.
He managed to finish the first half of the Noli Me Tangere in Madrid. He continued
writing in Paris where he was inspired through the immortal declaration of the rights of man,
that had been passed and being implemented. He finished it in Germany where scientific
research and philosophy were free from the church and state control.
The Noli Me Tangere was printed in Berlin because Rizal was short of funds. He was
charged P300.00 for 2,000 copies. His friend Maximo Viola offered to pay the amount and the
book was finally released in March 1887.
Rizal studied Hebrew to enable him to interpret the Bible in its original text and be
better prepared to defend any controversial religious issues that Noli Me Tangere might arise.
He had translated some passages from the Bible that he used in his book.
“Noli me tangere” is a Latin phrase that Rizal took from the Bible, meaning "Touch
me not." In John 20:13-17, the newly-risen Christ says to Mary Magdalene: "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."
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Noli Me Tangere (The Social Cancer as the alternative English title) is a Spanishlanguage novel written by Dr. Jose P. Rizal that is credited with the awakening of nationalism
among the Filipinos of Rizal's time. It was published in 1887 in Berlin. The novel is commonly
referred to by its shortened name Noli. The English translation of Charles Derbyshire was titled
The Social Cancer, although some other translations retain the original Latin.
SUMMARY OF NOLI ME TANGERE
Having completed his studies in Europe, young Juan Crisostomo Ibarra came back to
the Philippines after a 7-year absence. In his honor, Captain Tiago threw a get-together party,
which was attended by friars and other prominent figures. In an unfortunate incident, former
curate Father Damaso belittled and slandered Ibarra. But Ibarra brushed off the insult and took
no offense; he instead politely excused himself and left the party because of an allegedly
important task.
The day after the humble party, Ibarra went to see María Clara, his love interest, a
beautiful daughter of Captain Tiago and an affluent resident of Binondo, Manila. Their longstanding 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 Guardia Civil, revealed to him the incidents preceding the death
of his father, Don Rafael Ibarra, a rich haciendero of the town.
According to the Lieutenant, Don Rafael was unjustly accused of being a heretic, in
addition to being a filibuster—an allegation brought forth by Father Damaso because of Don
Rafael's non-participation in the Sacraments, such as Confession and Mass. Father Damaso's
animosity against Ibarra's father was aggravated by another incident when Don Rafael helped
out on a fight between a tax collector and a student 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 got sick and died in jail. Still not content with what he had done, Father Damaso arranged
for Don Rafael's corpse to be dug up and transferred from the Catholic cemetery to the Chinese
cemetery, because he thought it inappropriate to allow a heretic such as Don Rafael a Catholic
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burial ground. Unfortunately, it was raining and because of the bothersome weight of the
cadaver, the men in charge of the burial decided to throw the corpse into the lake.
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
which form part of a same nation or family, being Spain the mother and the Philippines the
daughter). During the inauguration of the school, Ibarra would have been killed in a sabotage
had Elías—a mysterious man who had warned Ibarra earlier of a plot to assassinate him—not
saved him. Instead the hired killer met an unfortunate incident and died. The sequence of events
proved to be too traumatic for María Clara who got seriously ill but was luckily cured by the
medicine Ibarra sent her.
After the inauguration, Ibarra hosted a luncheon during which Father Damaso,
uninvited and gate-crashing the luncheon, again insulted him. Ibarra ignored the priest's
insolence, but when the latter slandered the memory of his dead father, he was no longer able
to restrain himself and lunged at Father Damaso, prepared to stab the latter for his imprudence.
As a consequence, Father Damaso excommunicated Ibarra. Father Damaso took this
opportunity to persuade the already-hesitant father of María Clara to forbid his daughter from
marrying Ibarra. The friar wished María Clara to marry a Peninsular named Linares who just
arrived from Spain.
With the help of the Captain-General, Ibarra's excommunication was nullified and the
Archbishop decided to accept him as a member of the Church once again. But, as fate would
have it, some incident of which Ibarra had known nothing about was blamed on him, and he
was wrongly arrested and imprisoned. But the accusation against him was overruled because
during the litigation that followed, nobody could testify that he was indeed involved.
Unfortunately, his letter to María Clara somehow got into the hands of the jury and was
manipulated such that it then became evidence against him.
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Meanwhile, in Captain Tiago's residence, a party was being held to announce the
upcoming wedding of María Clara and Linares. Ibarra, with the help of Elías, took this
opportunity and escaped from prison. But before leaving, Ibarra talked to María Clara and
accused her of betraying him, thinking that she gave the letter he wrote her to the jury. María
Clara explained to Ibarra that she will never conspire against him but that she was forced to
surrender Ibarra's letter to her in exchange for the letters written by her mother even before she,
María Clara, was born. The letters were from her mother, Pia Alba, to Father Damaso alluding
to their unborn child; and that she, María Clara, was therefore not the daughter of Captain
Tiago, but of Father Damaso.
Afterwards, Ibarra and Elías boarded a boat and left the place. Elías instructed Ibarra
to lie down and the former covered the latter with grass to conceal the latter's presence. As luck
would have it, they were spotted by their enemies. Elías thought he could outsmart them and
jumped into the water. The guards rain shots on the person in the water, all the while not
knowing that they were aiming at the wrong man.
María Clara, thinking that Ibarra has been killed in the shooting incident, was greatly
overcome with grief. Robbed of hope and severe disillusion, she asked Father Damaso to
confine her into a nunnery. Father Damaso reluctantly agreed when María Clara threatened to
take her own life, demanding, "the nunnery or death!" Unbeknown to her, Ibarra was still
alive and able to escape. It was Elías who had taken the shots. It was Christmas Eve when Elias
woke up in the forest, gravely wounded and barely alive. It was in this forest that Elias found
Basilio and his lifeless mother, Sisa.
Noli Me Tangere was Rizal's first novel. He was 26 at its publication. This book was
historically significant and was instrumental in establishing the Filipino's sense of national
identity. The book indirectly influenced a revolution although the author, Jose Rizal, actually
advocated for direct representation to the Spanish government and larger role of the Philippines
inside the Spanish political affairs. The novel was written in Spanish, the language of the
educated at a time when Filipinos were markedly segregated by diverse native languages and
regional cultures.
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The novel created so much controversy that only a few days after his arrival, GovernorGeneral Emilio Terrero summoned him to the Malacañang Palace and told him of the charges
saying that the Noli Me Tangere was full of subversive ideas. After a discussion, the liberal
Governor General was appeased; but he mentioned that he was unable to offer resistance
against the pressure of the Church to take action against the book. The persecution can be
discerned from Rizal's letter to Ferdinand Blumentritt in Leitmeritz:
"My book made a lot of noise; everywhere, I am asked about it. They
wanted to excommunicate me because of it ... I am considered a German spy, an
agent of Bismarck, they say I am a Protestant, a freemason, a sorcerer, a damned
soul and evil. It is whispered that I want to draw plans, that I have a foreign
passport and that I wander through the streets by night ..."
The book was instrumental in creating a unified Filipino national identity and
consciousness, as many Filipinos previously identified with their respective regions to the
advantage of the Spanish authorities. It lampooned, caricatured and exposed various elements
in the colonial society.
CHARACTERS OF NOLI ME TANGERE
Rizal included around 30 characters in the novel. Below are some of the major characters of
the story that represent conditions of the Philippines.
1. 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; Crisostomo changed his surname from Eibarramendia to Ibarra, from his
ancestor's surname. The main and most important character in the novel manifesting in him the
Filipino who acquired European idea through his education in Europe. In the novel, Ibarra’s
personality will result in the disagreements of liberal idealism in education and conservatism
represented by the Catholic Church.
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2. Elias – Ibarra's mysterious friend, a master boater, also a fugitive. He was referred to at one
point 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 powerlessness in the novel and in real Philippines social
situation of that time.
3. Maria Clara – María Clara de los Santos, Ibarra's sweetheart; the illegitimate daughter of
Father Damaso and Pia Alba. In her, Ibarra has fallen in-love, she also mirrored the Filipina
woman of religious upbringing and orientation, and through her love to Ibarra, and she
represents true fidelity and religiosity of the woman in real Filipino society.
4. Father Damaso – also known in his full name as Damaso Verdolagas, Franciscan friar and
María Clara's biological father. An antagonist in character and represents the un-Christian
works of the Catholic friars who are in the church.
5. Sisa – the mother of Basilio and Crispin, who became insane after losing her sons. She
represented in the novel a sad plight of the Filipina mothers losing her two sons, Basilio and
Crispin. In the novel, Sisa loses her sanity.
6. Kaptain Tiago – also known in his full name as Don Santiago de los Santos the known
father of María Clara but not the real one; lives in Binondo. An illegal opium trader who
subsequently was a landlord. He represented a different view in religion and thus, more of a
businessman who used his money to work for him even in religious life and obligations.
7. Pilosopong Tasyo – also known as Don Anastasio, portrayed in the novel as pessimistic,
cynic, 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
changes and concerns in the novel.
8. Doña Victorina – Victorina de los Reyes de Espadaña, a woman who passes herself off as
a Peninsulares. Wife of Don Tiburcio de Espadaña, known in the novel as a trying hard rich
woman who abhors anything that is Filipino and clings to Spanish way of life. This kind of
character was manifested on some Filipinos of that time.
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9. Pedro – abusive husband of Sisa who loved cockfighting.
10. Don Rafael Ibarra – known in the plot as a concerned citizen and property owner who
was the father of Crisostomo Ibarra. Padre Damaso who played an antagonist role called him
a heretic and rebel due to his view on relating to liberalism in society.
11. The School Master – A teacher at San Diego who’s view in the novel represented the weak
and useless education in the Philippines. He attributes the problem from facilities and methods
of learning that the friars implemented in the country.
12. Tandang Pablo – The Leader of the rebels, whose family was destroyed because of the
Spaniards.
13. Basilio – the elder son of Sisa.
14. Crispin – the younger son of Sisa who died from the punishment of the soldiers from the
false accusation of stealing an amount of money.
15. Padre Sibyla – Hernando de la Sibyla, a Filipino friar. He is described as short and has fair
skin.
16. Padre Salvi – also known in his full name as Bernardo Salvi, a secret admirer of María
Clara.
17. The Alferez – chief of the Guardia Civil; mortal enemy of the priests for power in San
Diego.
18. Don Tiburcio – Spanish husband of Donya Victorina who was limp and submissive to
his wife; he also pretended to be a doctor
19. Doña Consolacion – wife of the alferez, another woman who passed herself as a
Peninsular; best remembered for her abusive treatment of Sisa.
20. 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.
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THE FIRST HOMECOMING
With all beautiful memories of his five years of travel to foreign lands, Rizal could
never forget the Philippines, his Motherland. During the time he was abroad, he studied,
acquired knowledge and learned the languages foreign nations, enjoyed the friendship of many
great men of the Western world, but he remained at heart a true Filipino with an enduring love
for the Philippines and very strong determination to serve and die in the land of his birth the
Philippines. He decided to return to Calamba for such reasons: to operate on his mother’s
eyes; to help his family and the Filipino people; to find out for himself how the Noli Me
Tangere and his other writings were affecting the Filipinos and Spaniards in the Philippines.
Last but not the least; he wanted to find out why Leonora Rivera remained silent while he
was in Rome. On June 29, 1887, Rizal wrote to his father about his homecoming. He expected
to be in the Philippines by the 15th to 30th of August 1887.
Rizal boarded the steamer Djemnah on July 3, 1887, the same ship which brought him
to Europe 5 years ago, Rizal was the only Filipino among the passengers (Englishmen, German,
Chinese, Frenchmen and also Japanese) who could speak many languages, so he had a good
time acting as interpreter for his companions. He also got along well with the other passengers
by playing chess.
Reaching Saigon, he transferred to another steamer Haiphong which was bound for
Manila on August 2, 1887. He reached Manila on August 6, and was welcomed heartily by his
parents, relatives and friends. He found Manila the same as when he left it 5 years ago. He
stayed in the city for a short time to visit his friends. He returned to Calamba on August 8. He
wrote to Blumentritt. “I had a pleasant voyage, I found my family enjoying good health and
happiness. It was great seeing each other again. They shed tears of joy and I had to answer their
thousands of questions at the same time”.
Amidst the happy and peaceful aura of his arrival, his family was worried for his safety.
Thus, Paciano did not leave him to protect him from any enemy assault. His own father would
not let him go out alone for something else might happen.
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In Calamba, Rizal built a medical clinic with his mother as his first patient who was
almost blind. He treated his mother’s eyes but could not be operated on because her eye
contracts were not yet ripe. His coming back as a doctor spread far and wide. He was called
“Doctor Uliman” because he came from Germany. His professional fees were reasonable, even
“gratis” for the poor. He opened a gymnasium for young folks to introduce European sports,
gymnastics, fencing and shooting so as to discourage time being spent in cockfights (sabong)
and gambling.
TROUBLE IN NOLI ME TANGERE
A few weeks after his stay in Calamba, he received a letter from the Gov. General
Emilio Terrero requesting him to come to Malacañang Palace to explain about the subversive
ideas contained in the Noli Me Tangere. Rizal went to see the Governor General. He denied
the charges and explained that he merely exposed the truth, but he did not advocate subversion.
Pleased by his explanation and curious about the controversial book the Governor General
asked for a copy. Rizal promised to give him one. The Governor General minded Spaniard and
knew that Rizal’s life was in danger because the friars were powerful, he assigned a cultured
Spanish lieutenant named Don Jose Taviel de Andrande as his bodyguard. Governor General
Terrero read the Noli Me Tangere and found nothing wrong with it. Nonetheless, he had it
banned when reports were submitted to him by the Commission of Censorship calling for its
outright censorship. The banning of the Noli Me Tangere made it more popular; causing
everybody among the masses to read the novel at night secretly.
THE ATTACKS OF NOLI ME TANGERE
Salvador Fort printed copies of the Commission’s report and Fr. Jose Rodriguez printed
eight pamphlets under general heading “Questions of Supreme Interest (Custiones de
Sumoditues)”. Many Filipinos were forced to buy but they did not believe these Anti-Rizal
pamphlets. The Noli Me Tangere was also attacked in the senate of the Spanish Cortes. It was
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also vociferously attacked by the Spanish academician, Vicente Barrantes, who was once a
ranking official of the Philippines.
DEFENDERS OF NOLI ME TANGERE
The Noli Me Tangere had its great defenders who bravely came out to prove the merits
of the novel and to enlighten the unkind attackers. They were the reformers in foreign lands
like Marcelo H. Del Pilar, Graciano Lopez Jaena, Mariano Ponce, Dr. Antonio, Ma. Regidor,
Professor Ferdinand Blumentritt, Dr. Miguel Morayta, and Don Segismundo Moret, a former
Minister of the Court. Father Sanchez of Ateneo upheld and praised the Noli in public. Rev.
Father Vicente Garcia, a Filipino Catholic priest-scholar, a theologian of the Manila Cathedral
and a Tagalog Translator of the famous ‘Imitation of Christ ’by Kempis wrote a defense of the
Noli Me Tangere under the penname Justo Desiderio Magalang. This was published in
Singapore as an appendix to a pamphlet dated July 18, 1888. He blasted the attacks and
arguments of Fr. Rodriguez with the following counter-argument:
1. Rizal cannot be an “ignorant man” as Fr. Rodriguez alleged, because he was a
graduate of Spanish universities and was a recipient of scholastic honors.
2. Rizal does not attack the Church and Spain because what Rizal attacked in the Noli
Me Tangere were the bad Spanish officials and not Spain, and the bad corrupt friars
and not the Church.
3. Father Rodriguez said that those who read the Noli Me Tangere committed a mortal
sin. Since he (Fr. Rodriguez) had read the novel therefore he also committed mortal
sin.
Rizal cried with overwhelming gratitude to Father Garcia’s brilliant defense of his Noli
Me Tangere. Rizal wrote a letter to Barrantes to defend himself and to expose Barrantes’
ignorance of the Philippine affairs and mental dishonesty which is unworthy of an academician.
While the controversy over the Noli was raging in fury, Rizal was untouched in Calamba
because he was with a bodyguard. Because both of them are young, educated and cultured with
same interest so they became friends.
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While Rizal was in Calamba, his help was sought by the folks for their grievances
against the hacienda management, and they were calling for the central government to impose
certain reforms. After a thorough study of the conditions of the Calamba hacienda which the
Dominican Order owned since 1883, he wrote down his findings which the tenants and the
three officials of the hacienda signed on January 8, 1888 and was submitted to the governor
general for action.
1. The Hacienda of the Dominican order comprised not only the lands around Calamba
but the town of Calamba.
2. The profits of the Dominican order continuously increased because of the arbitrary
increase of the rentals being paid by the tenants.
3. The hacienda owner never contributed a single centavo for the celebration of the town
fiesta; for the education of the children and for the improvement of agriculture.
4. Tenants who had spent much labor clearing the lands were ejected from their lands for
flimsy reasons.
5. High rates of interest were charged from the tenants for delayed payment of rentals and
when the rentals could not be paid, their carabaos, tools and homes were confiscated.
This report further heightened the anger of the friars and they pressured the governor
general to deport him. Governor Terrero refused for there is no valid charge against Rizal in
court. Governor General Terrero advised Rizal to leave the Philippines for his own good and
to escape the fury of the friars.
1. His presence in Calamba is endangering the safe and happiness of his family and
friends.
2. He could fight better his enemies and serve his country’s cause efficiently by writing
in foreign countries.
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Before Rizal left Calamba in 1888, his friends from Lipa requested him to write a poem
to commemorate the town’s elevation to a city (villa) by virtue of the Becerra Law of 1888.
He wrote the poem dedicated to the industrious folks of Lipa entitled Hymn to Labor
(Himno Al trabajo). He finished it and sent it to Lipa before his departure from Calamba.
Himno Al Trabajo. “Hymn to Labor” (1888) which was written on request in
commemoration of Lipa’s elevation from a town to a city. This is an admirable poem because
it originated from one who himself worked hard and worked well. He asked the people to
assume their distinctive roles in promoting their country’s progress through the dignity of labor
and industry.
The hymn is all about how every Filipino is willing to work hard for his country. Its
purpose is also to commend the hard work and dedication of the people of Lipa. The poem is
divided into four parts. Wherein each part is supposed to be acclaimed by the following: the
men, wives, maidens, and the children. The lines for each part symbolize the culture of the
Filipino people according to their age and status in the society.
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HYMN TO LABOR
(Imno Sa Paggawa)
For the Motherland in war,
For the Motherland in peace,
Will the Filipino keep watch,
He will live until life will cease!
MEN:
Now the East is glowing with light,
Go! To the field to till the land,
For the labour of man sustains
Fam'ly, home and Motherland.
Hard the land may turn to be,
Scorching the rays of the sun above...
For the country, wife and children
All will be easy to our love.
(Chorus)
WIVES:
Go to work with spirits high,
For the wife keeps home faithfully,
Inculcates love in her children
For virtue, knowledge and country.
When the evening brings repose,
On returning joy awaits you,
And if fate is adverse, the wife,
Shall know the task to continue.
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(Chorus)
MAIDENS:
Hail! Hail! Praise to labour,
Of the country wealth and vigor!
For it brow serene's exalted,
It's her blood, life, and ardor.
If some youth would show his love
Labor his faith will sustain :
Only a man who struggles and works
Will his offspring know to maintain.
(Chorus)
CHILDREN :
Teach, us ye the laborious work
To pursue your footsteps we wish,
For tomorrow when country calls us
We may be able your task to finish.
And on seeing us the elders will say :
"Look, they're worthy 'f their sires of yore!"
Incense does not honor the dead
As does a son with glory and valor
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IMNO SA PAGGAWA
(Hymn to Labor)
KORO
Dahilan sa Bayan sa pagdirigmaan,
Dahil sa Bayan din sa kapayapaan,
Itong Pilipino ay maasahang
Marunong mabuhay o kaya’y mamatay.
(Mga Lalaki)
Nakukulayan na ang dakong Silangan,
Tayo na sa bukid, paggawa’y simulan,
Pagka’t ang paggawa’y siyang sumusuhay
Sa bayan, sa angkan, sa ating tahanan.
Lupa’y maaring magmamatigas naman,
At magwalang-awa ang sikat ng araw
Kung dahil sa anak, asawa at Bayan,
Ang lahat sa ating pagsinta’y gagaan.
KORO
(Mga babaing may Asawa)
Magmasigla kayong yao sa gawain,
Pagka’t ang baba’y nasa-bahay natin,
At itinuturo sa batang mahalin
Ang Bayan, ang dunong at gawang magaling
Pagdatal ng gabi ng pagpapahinga,
Kayo’y inaantay ng tuwa’t ligaya
At kung magkataong saama ang manguna,
Ang magpapatuloy ang gawa’y ang sinta.
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KORO
(Mga Dalaga)
Mabuhay! Mabuhay! Paggawa’y purihin
Na siyang sa Baya’y nagbibigay-ningning!
At dahil sa kanya’y taas ng paningin,
Yamang siya’y dugo at buhay na angkin.
At kung may binatang nais na lumigaw,
Ang paggawa’y siyang ipaninindigan;
Sapagka’t ang taong may sipag na taglay,
Sa iaanak nya’y magbibigay-buhay.
KORO
(Mga Bata)
Kami ay turuan ninyo ng gawain;
At ang bukas ninyo’y aming tutuntunin
Bukas, kung tumawag ang bayan sa amin,
Ang inyong ginawa’y aming tatapusin.
Kasabihan niyong mga matatanda:
“Kung ano ang ama’y gayon din ang bata,”
sapagka’t sa patay ang papuri’y wala.
Maliban sa isang anak na dakila.
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CHAPTER 5 - ACTIVITY
THE GREAT NOVEL: NOLI ME TANGERE AND THE FIRST HOMECOMING
Name: _________________________________________ Score ____________
Professor: ____________________ Yr/Sec: _______ Date: _______________
I. IDENTIFICATION. Identify the following statements correctly by writing the answer on
the space provided before the number.
____________________1. Character in Rizal’s Noli Me Tangere representing a Filipino who
acquired ideas through his education in Europe.
____________________2. The first novel of Dr. Jose Rizal which awakened the minds of
Filipinos under the Spanish rule.
____________________3. The antagonist of Rizal’s novel who represents the unchristian
works of the Catholic friars.
____________________4. The character in Noli Me Tangere who married the Filipina woman
of religious upbringing and orientation.
____________________5. A poem of Rizal for the people in Lipa to commemorate a city in
Batangas.
____________________6. The pen name used by the Tagalog translator of the famous
Imitation of Christ in his defense for “Noli Me Tangere”.
____________________7. He represented the Filipino masses who suffered from Spanish
brutalities and abuse due to his weakness in the novel.
____________________8. The character who argued with the belief of the Catholic Church
and social changes in Rizal’s novel.
____________________9. The friend of Rizal who offered to pay the amount for the printing
Rizal’s first novel, “Noli Me Tangere”.
____________________10. Official who invited Rizal to Malacañang to talk about the
subversive ideas of Rizal’s novel.
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II. TRUE OF FALSE
Write TRUE if the statement is correct and FALSE if otherwise.
___________1. The first novel of Rizal was printed and published in Ghent, Belgium.
___________2. Noli Me Tangere was written by Rizal as a way to rebel against the Spaniards.
___________3. Rizal’s reason for his homecoming was to operate on his mother’s eyes and to
help his family and the Filipino people.
___________4. The novel “Noli Me Tangere” did not affect the Filipinos and Spaniards in the
Philippines.
___________5. Rizal had admitted the subversive ideas contained in the “Noli Me Tangere”
___________6. The message of the poem “Hymn to Talisay” is about the hard work of the
people to promote progress in their land.
___________7. The School Master attributed the problem from facilities and methods of
learning that the friars implemented in the country.
___________8. Dr. Jose Rizal successfully operated his mother’s eyes when he came back in
the Philippines.
___________9. Filipinos read the “Noli Me Tangere” secretly at night because it was banned
by Commission of Censorship.
___________10. One of the defenders who said that Rizal attacked the Spanish officials and
not Spain, and the corrupt friars.
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III. MATCHING TYPE. Match Column A with Column B by writing the correct answer on
the space provided before the number.
PART 1
A
B
________ 1. A woman who passes herself off as a
A. Captain- General
Peninsulares, wife of Don Tiburcio de Espadaña
B. Don Rafael Ibarra
and known as a trying hard rich woman
C. Padre Sibyla
________ 2. The most important character in the
D. The Alferez
novel manifesting in him the Filipino who acquired
E. Sisa
European idea through his education in Europ
F. Simoun
________ 3. The most powerful official in the Philippines,
a hater of secular priest and corrupt officials
________ 4. Wife of the alferez, another woman who
G. Maria Clara
H. Pilosopo Tasyo
I. Tandang Pablo
passed herself as a Peninsular, best remembered
J. Kapitan Tiago
for her abusive treatment of Sisa
K. Basilio
_________5. He attributes the problem from facilities
L. Father Damaso
and methods of learning that friars implemented
M. Don Santiago
in the country.
N. Don Tiburcio
________ 6. Also known in his full name as Bernardo
Salvi, a secret admirer of Maria Clara
_________7. Chief of the Guardia Civil; mortal enemy
of the priests for power in San Diego
________ 8. Ibarra’s sweetheart; the illegitimate
daughter of Father Damaso and Pia Alba
________ 9. Also known as Don Anastasio, portrayed
O. Elias
P. Doña Consolacion
Q. Padre Salvi
R. Pedro
S. Crispin
T. Don Francisco
U. The School Master
in the novel as pessimistic, cynic and may
V. Crisostomo Ibarra
by his neighbors.
W. Doña Victorina
_______ 10. The mother of Basilio and Crispin, who
became insane after losing her sons.
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X. Gobernadorcillo
PART 2
A
B
_________1. Ibarra’s mysterious friend, a master boater,
A. Captain- General
also, a fugitive and he was referred to
B. Don Rafael Ibarra
at the point as “the plot”
C. Padre Sibyla
_________ 2. An antagonist in character and biological
father of Maria Clara who represents the
D. The Alferez
E. Sisa
un christian works of the Catholic friars
who are in the church
F. Simoun
_________3. the younger son of Sisa who died from the
G. Maria Clara
punishment of the soldiers from the false
H. Pilosopo Tasyo
accusation of stealing an amount of money
I. Tandang Pablo
_________4. The leader of the Rebels, whose family
was destroyed because of the Spaniards
_________ 5. Abusive husband of Sisa who loved
cockfighting
J. Kapitan Tiago
K. Basilio
L. Father Damaso
M. Don Santiago
_________6. The elder son of Sisa
N. Don Tiburcio
_________7. Chief of Guardia Civil; mortal enemy
O. Elias
of the priest for power in San Diego
________ 8. Hernando de la Sibyla, a Filipino friar.
he is described as short and has fair skin
_________ 9. Spanish husband of Dona Victorina
P. Doña Consolacion
Q. Padre Salvi
R. Pedro
S. Crispin
who was limp and submissive to his wife;
T. Don Francisco
he also pretended to be a doctor
U. The School Master
_______ 10. Known in the plot as a concerned citizen
V. Crisostomo Ibarra
and property owner who was the father of
W. Doña Victorina
Crisostomo Ibarra
X. Gobernadorcillo
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III. ESSAY
1. Describe and explain how Jose Rizal, gained the friendship of the passengers of the steamer
Djemnah even if he was the only Filipino on board.
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2. Given the chance to be like Rizal who had written his great novel “Noli Me Tangere” that
created so much trouble, what would you do as a student?
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3. Compare and contrast the duties and authority of the guardia civil during Rizal’s Time and
the law enforcers of the present time.
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4. Describe and explain how Jose Rizal helped the Calamba folks with regard to their problems
in the hacienda which the Dominican order owned.
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5. Among the characters of Rizal’s Noli Me Tangere who among them would you like to be in
relation to you as a student? Why?
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IV.
GUIDED REFLECTION …
Accomplish the reflection guide sheet below.
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Accomplish the reflection guide sheet below.
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