In 1887, while studying medicine in the Universidad Central de Madrid, he wrote the novel

Noli Me Tangere. He harshly criticized the Spanish colonial rule in Philippines and wrote of
the injustices and brutalities suffered by the native people. His novel was banned by the
government due to its scathing contents.
He had been exposed to the problematic life under the Spanish government and was aware of
the difficulties experienced by the Filipinos. He became the leader of the reform movement of
Filipino students in Spain and wrote several articles and essays in the Spanish newspaper La
Solidaridad.
He believed that Philippines was struggling with the twin problems of corrupt friars and bad
government. Ideas of progressive ideals, peaceful reforms, individual rights and rights for the
Filipino people formed the foundation of his writings.
The main focus of the reforms he advocated were freedom of assembly and speech,
representation in the legislature, equal rights before the law for both Filipinos and Spanish, and
that the Philippines be a province of Spain. However, the colonial authorities did not favor these
reforms.
In 1891, his second novel El Filibusterismo was published as a sequel to his first novel. The
novel dealt with dark and violent themes that were considerably different from the theme of its
predecessor. The novel profoundly impacted the Philippine societys views about national
identity and was banned in some parts of the country for its portrayal of the Spanish
governments corruption.
He returned to Philippines in 1892 as he felt he needed to be in the country to effectively
bring about reforms. He formed a civic movement called La Liga Filipina which campaigned for
social reforms through peaceful and legal means.
By the early 1890s the government had branded Rizal an enemy of the State in spite of the
fact that he advocated peaceful reforms; the authorities were angry with his novels and writings
which had exposed the corruption of the Spanish Colonial government. He was exiled to Dapitan
in July 1892.
In Dapitan he continued his reform work by building a school for young boys, a hospital and
a water supply system. He also taught farming and worked on agricultural projects using abaca, a
plant used for making rope.
In 1895, Cuba was engulfed by an epidemic of yellow fever and Rizal volunteered to serve as
an army doctor. His request was accepted by the Governor-General Ramon Blanco.
By August 1896, a secret society Katipunan started a violent revolution. Even though Rizal
was in no way associated with the revolution, he was arrested enroute to Cuba.
He was sent back to Manila where he was tried for rebellion, sedition and conspiracy and
convicted of all these charges.

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