Jose Rizal: A Biographical Sketch

BY TEOFILO H. MONTEMAYOR

JOSE RIZAL, the national hero of the Philippines and pride of the Malayan race, was
born on June 19, 1861, in the town of Calamba, Laguna. He was the seventh child in a
family of 11 children (2 boys and 9 girls). Both his parents were educated and belonged
to distinguished families.

His father, Francisco Mercado Rizal, an industrious farmer whom Rizal called "a model
of fathers," came from Bian, Laguna; while his mother, Teodora Alonzo y Quintos, a
highly cultured and accomplished woman whom Rizal called "loving and prudent
mother," was born in Meisic, Sta. Cruz, Manila. At the age of 3, he learned the alphabet
from his mother; at 5, while learning to read and write, he already showed inclinations to
be an artist. He astounded his family and relatives by his pencil drawings and sketches
and by his moldings of clay. At the age 8, he wrote a Tagalog poem, "Sa Aking Mga
Kabata," the theme of which revolves on the love of ones language. In 1877, at the age
of 16, he obtained his Bachelor of Arts degree with an average of "excellent" from the
Ateneo Municipal de Manila. In the same year, he enrolled in Philosophy and Letters at
the University of Santo Tomas, while at the same time took courses leading to the
degree of surveyor and expert assessor at the Ateneo. He finished the latter course on
March 21, 1877 and passed the Surveyors examination on May 21, 1878; but because
of his age, 17, he was not granted license to practice the profession until December 30,
1881. In 1878, he enrolled in medicine at the University of Santo Tomas but had to stop
in his studies when he felt that the Filipino students were being discriminated upon by
their Dominican tutors. On May 3, 1882, he sailed for Spain where he continued his
studies at the Universidad Central de Madrid. On June 21, 1884, at the age of 23, he
was conferred the degree of Licentiate in Medicine and on June 19,1885, at the age of
24, he finished his course in Philosophy and Letters with a grade of "excellent."

Having traveled extensively in Europe, America and Asia, he mastered 22 languages.

These include Arabic, Catalan, Chinese, English, French, German, Greek, Hebrew,
Italian, Japanese, Latin, Malayan, Portuguese, Russian, Sanskrit, Spanish, Tagalog,
and other native dialects. A versatile genius, he was an architect, artists, businessman,
cartoonist, educator, economist, ethnologist, scientific farmer, historian, inventor,
journalist, linguist, musician, mythologist, nationalist, naturalist, novelist, opthalmic
surgeon, poet, propagandist, psychologist, scientist, sculptor, sociologist, and
theologian.

He was an expert swordsman and a good shot. In the hope of securing political and
social reforms for his country and at the same time educate his countrymen, Rizal, the
greatest apostle of Filipino nationalism, published, while in Europe, several works with
highly nationalistic and revolutionary tendencies. In March 1887, his daring book, NOLI
ME TANGERE, a satirical novel exposing the arrogance and despotism of the Spanish
clergy, was published in Berlin; in 1890 he reprinted in Paris, Morgas SUCCESSOS DE
LAS ISLAS FILIPINAS with his annotations to prove that the Filipinos had a civilization
worthy to be proud of even long before the Spaniards set foot on Philippine soil; on
September 18, 1891, EL FILIBUSTERISMO, his second novel and a sequel to the NOLI
and more revolutionary and tragic than the latter, was printed in Ghent. Because of his
fearless exposures of the injustices committed by the civil and clerical officials, Rizal
provoked the animosity of those in power. This led himself, his relatives and countrymen
into trouble with the Spanish officials of the country. As a consequence, he and those
who had contacts with him, were shadowed; the authorities were not only finding faults
but even fabricating charges to pin him down. Thus, he was imprisoned in Fort Santiago
from July 6, 1892 to July 15, 1892 on a charge that anti-friar pamphlets were found in
the luggage of his sister Lucia who arrive with him from Hong Kong. While a political
exile in Dapitan, he engaged in agriculture, fishing and business; he maintained and
operated a hospital; he conducted classes- taught his pupils the English and Spanish
languages, the arts.

The sciences, vocational courses including agriculture, surveying, sculpturing, and

painting, as well as the art of self defense; he did some researches and collected
specimens; he entered into correspondence with renowned men of letters and sciences
abroad; and with the help of his pupils, he constructed water dam and a relief map of
Mindanao - both considered remarkable engineering feats. His sincerity and friendliness
won for him the trust and confidence of even those assigned to guard him; his good
manners and warm personality were found irresistible by women of all races with whom
he had personal contacts; his intelligence and humility gained for him the respect and
admiration of prominent men of other nations; while his undaunted courage and
determination to uplift the welfare of his people were feared by his enemies.

When the Philippine Revolution started on August 26, 1896, his enemies lost no time in
pressing him down. They were able to enlist witnesses that linked him with the revolt
and these were never allowed to be confronted by him. Thus, from November 3, 1986,
to the date of his execution, he was again committed to Fort Santiago. In his prison cell,
he wrote an untitled poem, now known as "Ultimo Adios" which is considered a
masterpiece and a living document expressing not only the heros great love of country
but also that of all Filipinos. After a mock trial, he was convicted of rebellion, sedition
and of forming illegal association. In the cold morning of December 30, 1896, Rizal, a
man whose 35 years of life had been packed with varied activities which proved that the
Filipino has capacity to equal if not excel even those who treat him as a slave, was shot
at Bagumbayan Field.

Noli Me Tangere (commonly referred to by its shortened name Noli) is

a novelwritten in Spanish by Filipino writer and national hero Jos Rizal, first
published in 1887 in Berlin, Germany. The English translation was originally
titled The Social Cancer, although more recent translations have been published
using the original Latin title.

The writing of the novel

When Rizal read Uncle Toms Cabin Harriet Beecher Stowes novel on the abuse
of black slaves in America, he thought that a novel should be written about the
abuses that Philippine natives were suffering at the hands of the Spanish friars.
He proposed to his Filipino friends in Madrid in 1884 that they collaborate in
writing a novel on the Philippines. This group of friends included his hosts, the
Paternos (Pedro, Maximo, and Antonio), and Graciano Lopez Jaena. Although the
other men approved of the idea of writing on Philippine life, they all wanted to
write about women rather than about national problems and in any case preferred
to gamble and flirt than to write. Rizal then decided he would have to write the
entire book himself.

Rizal began work on the Noli while still in Madrid, Spain. Of the remainder, most
was written in Paris. He finished the book in Berlin, Germany. Vicente Blasco
Ibez, a well-known writer and political activist, volunteered to be the
proofreader and consultant.
When he was finishing the book in December 1886, Rizal was penniless and
despaired of ever publishing it. The novel might never have seen print had it not
been for the support of his wealthy friend, Maximo Viola, who came to visit him
inBerlin. Rizal gratefully presented him with the galley proofs of Noli on 29 March
1887, the day that Noli was printed.

The title

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.

It has also been noted by French writer D. Blumenstihl that Noli me tangere was
a name used by ophthalmologists for cancer of the eyelids. That as an
ophthalmologist himself Rizal was influenced by this fact is suggested in his
dedication, To My Country:

Recorded in the history of human sufferings is a cancer of so malignant a

character that the least touch irritates it and awakens in it the sharpest pains.
Thus, how many times, when in the midst of modern civilizations I have wished to
call thee before me, now to accompany me in memories, now to compare thee
with other countries, hath thy dear image presented itself showing a social
cancer like to that other!

As shown by this excerpt, the alternate English title, The Social Cancer, is taken
from the books dedication.

Summary

Having completed his studies in Europe, young Juan Crisostomo Ibarra comes
back to the Philippines after a 7-year absence. In his honor, Captain Tiago throws
a get-together party, which is attended by friars and other prominent figures. In
an unfortunate incident, former curate Father Dmaso belittles and slanders
Ibarra. But Ibarra brushes off the insult and takes no offense; he instead politely
excuses himself and leaves the party because of an allegedly important task.

The day after the humbling party, Ibarra goes to see Mara Clara, his love interest,
a beautiful daughter of Captain Tiago and an affluent resident of Binondo, Manila.
Their long-standing love is clearly manifested in this meeting, and Mara 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,
reveals to him the incidents preceding the death of his father, Don Rafael Ibarra, a
rich hacendero of the town.

According to the Lieutenant, Don Rafael was unjustly accused of being a heretic,
in addition to being a filibusteran allegation brought forth by Father Dmaso
because of Don Rafaels non-participation in the Sacraments, such
as Confessionand Mass. Father Dmasos animosity against Ibarras father is
aggravated by another incident when Don Rafael helped out on a fight between a
tax collector and a student fighting, and the formers 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 Dmaso arranged for Don Rafaels 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 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.[1]

Revenge was not in Ibarras plans; instead he carries through his fathers plan of putting up a school, since he believes

that education would pave the way to his countrys progress (all over the novel the author refers to both Spain and

thePhilippines 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

Elasa mysterious man who had warned Ibarra earlier of a plot to assassinate himnot saved him. Instead the hired

killer met an unfortunate incident and died. The sequence of events proved to be too traumatic for Mara Clara who got

seriously ill but was luckily cured by the medicine Ibarra sent her

After the inauguration, Ibarra hosts a luncheon during which Father Dmaso, uninvited and gate-crashing the luncheon,

again insults him. Ibarra ignores the priests insolence, but when the latter slanders the memory of his dead father, he is

no longer able to restrain himself and lunges at Father Dmaso, prepared to stab the latter for his impudence. As a

consequence, Dmaso excommunicates Ibarra. Father Dmaso takes this opportunity to persuade the already-hesitant

father of Mara Clara to forbid his daughter from marrying Ibarra. The friar wishes Mara Clara to marry

a Peninsular named Linares who just arrived from Spain.

With the help of the Captain-General, Ibarras excommunication is nullified and the Archbishop decides 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 is

blamed on him, and he is wrongly arrested and imprisoned. But the accusation against him is overruled because during

the litigation that followed, nobody could testify that he was indeed involved. Unfortunately, his letter to Mara Clara

somehow gets into the hands of the jury and is manipulated such that it then becomes evidence against him.

Meanwhile, in Captain Tiagos residence, a party is being held to announce the upcoming wedding of Mara Clara

and Linares. Ibarra, with the help of Elas, takes this opportunity and escapes from prison. But before leaving, Ibarra talks
to Mara Clara and accuses her of betraying him, thinking that she gave the letter he wrote her to the jury. Mara Clara

explains to Ibarra that she will never conspire against him but that she was forced to surrender Ibarras letter to her in

exchange for the letters written by her mother even before she, Mara Clara, was born. The letters were from her mother,

Pa Alba, to Father Dmaso alluding to their unborn child; and that she, Mara Clara, is therefore not the daughter of

Captain Tiago, but of Father Dmaso.

Afterwards, Ibarra and Elas board a boat and flee the place. Elas instructs Ibarra to lie down and the former covers the

latter with grass to conceal the latters presence. As luck would have it, they are spotted by their enemies. Elas thinks he

could outsmart them and jumps into the water. The guards rain shots on the person in the water, all the while not knowing

that they are aiming at the wrong man.

Mara Clara, thinking that Ibarra has been killed in the shooting incident, is greatly overcome with grief. Robbed of hope

and severely disillusioned, she asks Father Dmaso to confine her into a nunnery. Father Dmaso reluctantly agrees when

Mara Clara threatens to take her own life. demanding, the nunnery or death![2] Unbeknownst to her, Ibarra is still alive

and able to escape. It was Elas who has taken the shots. It is Christmas Eve when Ibarra wakes up in the forest, gravely

wounded and barely alive. It is in this forest that Ibarra finds Basilio and his lifeless mother, Sisa.

Publication history

Rizal finished the novel on December 1886. At first, according to one of Rizals biographers, Rizal feared the novel might

not be printed, and that it would remain unread. He had been struggling financial constraints that time and thought it

would be hard to pursue printing the novel. A financial aid came from a friend named Maximo Viola. Rizal at first, however,

hesitated but Viola insisted and ended up lending Rizal P300 for 2,000 copies; Noli was eventually printed

in Berlin,Germany. The printing was finished earlier than the estimated five months. Viola arrived in Berlin in December

1886, and by March 21, 1887, Rizal had sent a copy of the novel to his friend Blumentritt.[3]

On August 21, 2007, a 480-page then-latest English version of Noli Me Tangerewas released to major Australian book

stores. The Australian edition of the novel was published by Penguin Books Classics, to represent the publications

commitment to publish the major literary classics of the world.[4] American writerHarold Augenbraum, who first read

the Noli in 1992, translated the novel. A writer well-acquainted with translating other Latin literary works, Augenbraum

proposed to translating the novel after being asked for his next assignment in the publishing company. Intrigued by the

novel and having been known more about it, Penguin nixed their plan of adapting existing English versions of the novel,

and instead translate on their own.[4]

Reaction and legacy

Noli Me Tangere was Rizals first novel. He was 26 at its publication. This book was historically significant and was

instrumental in the establishing of the Filipinos sense of national identity. The book indirectly influenced a revolution

although the author, Jos Rizal, actually advocated for direct representation to the Spanish government and larger role of

the Philippines inside the Spaniard 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.
The novel created so much controversy that only a few days after his arrival, Governor-General Emilio Terrero summoned

him to the Malacaang Palace and told him of the charges saying that the Noli 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 Rizals letter

toLeitmeritz: My book made a lot of noise; everywhere, I am asked about it. They wanted to anathematize me

[to excommunicate me] because of it I am considered a German spy, an agent of Bismarck, they say I am a Protestant,

afreemason, 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

Rizal depiction of nationality by emphasizing the qualities of Filipinos: devotion of a Filipina and her influence to a mans

life, the deep sense of gratitude, and the solid common sense of the Filipinos under the Spanish regime.

This novel and its sequel, El Filibusterismo (nicknamed Fili), were banned in some parts of the Philippines because of their

portrayal of corruption and abuse by the countrys Spanish government and clergy. A character which has become a

classic in the Philippines is Maria Clara who has become a personification of the ideal Filipino woman, loving and

unwavering in her loyalty to her spouse. Another classic character is the priest Father Dmaso which reflects the covert

fathering of illegitimate children by members of the Spanish clergy. In the story, Father Dmaso impregnates a woman.

Copies were smuggled in nevertheless, and when Rizal returned to the Philippines after completing medical studies, he

quickly ran afoul of the local government. First exiled to Dapitan, he was later arrested for inciting rebellion based

largely on his writings. Rizal was executed in Manila on December 30, 1896 at the age of thirty-five.

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.

Nowadays, Noli me Tangere and its sequel, El Filibusterismo, is studied by Third Year and Fourth Year secondary school

students in the Philippines as part of the curriculum, usually as part of their Filipino subject. The novel is also often among

the topics of the required course on the study of Rizals life in tertiary education in the country. Textbooks designed for

students were made by various publishers, and the text itself is oftentimes condensed or shortened to facilitate learning

among students.

Adaptations

The Noli has since been adapted in many art forms. A 180-minute film of the same name was produced in 1961.[5] A tv

series existed in 1992, and a musical play was staged in 1994. There is also a comic book adaptation.

Characters

Rizal included around 30 characters in the novel. Below are the major characters of the story.

o Crisstomo Ibarra also known in his full name as Juan Crisstomo Ibarra y Magsalin,[6] 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 ancestors surname.Elas Ibarras 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, Ibarras grandfather condemned his grandfather of burning a warehouse, making Elias the fugitive he is.Mara

Clara Mara Clara de los Santos, Ibarras sweetheart; the illegitimate daughter of Father Dmaso and Pa AlbaFather

Dmaso also known in his full name as Dmaso Verdoglagas,[7]Franciscan friar and Mara Claras biological

fatherDon Filipo A close relative of Ibarra, and a filibuster.Linares A distant nephew of Don Tiburcio de Espadaa,

the would-be fiance of Maria Clara.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.Tandang Pablo The Leader of the rebels,

whose family was destroyed because of the Spaniards.Tarcilo and Bruno Brothers, whose father was killed by the

Spaniards.Sisa the mother of Basilio and Crispn, who went insane after losing her sonsBasilio the elder son of

Sisa.Crispn the younger son of Sisa who died from the punishment of the soldiers from the false accusation of

stealing an amount of money.Padre Sibyla Hernando de la Sibyla, a Filipino friar. He is described as short and has

fair skin.Kaptain Tiago also known in his fullname as Don Santiago de los Santos[8] the known father of Mara

Clara but not the real one; lives in BinondoPadre Salv also known in his full name as Bernardo Salv,[7] a secret

admirer of Mara ClaraPilosopo Tasyo also known as Don Anastasio, portrayed in the novel as pessimistic, cynic,

and mad by his neighborsTheAlfrez chief of the Guardia Civil ; mortal enemy of the priests for power in San

DiegoDon Tiburcio Spanish husband of Donya Victorina who is limp and submissive to his wife; he also pretends

to be a doctorDoa Victorina Victorina de los Reyes de De Espadaa, a woman who passes herself off as

aPeninsularDoa Consolacin wife of the alfrez, another woman who passes herself as a Peninsular; best

remembered for her abusive treatment of SisaPedro abusive husband of Sisa who loves cockfighting