Picar, Henrik Andreas L.

Eng 12 THU

2014-74735
Rizals Noli and Fili as National Literature and World Literature

Jose Rizal, the de facto national hero of the Philippines, is undoubtedly one of the best
literary writers our beloved country had. He was the first to show the Filipino literary spectacle to
the world. Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo, two of Rizals best literary pieces known
worldwide had shown satire, activism, criticism, critical thinking and, based on my personal
opinion, humor and pleasure through literature hidden in symbolisms and figures of speech.
These novels started the sparks that fueled up the heroes in action like Andres Bonifacio and Gen.
Emilio Aguinaldo that will start the first Republic in Southeast Asia. But, what makes these part
of the very preserved, honored, and prestigious national literature? As world literature? As
literature itself?
Noli Me Tangere, translated to English as touch me not, got its title from John 20:17 of
the Bible. Originally proposed by Rizal to the Ilustrados as an anthology of Filipino culture, the
book became a novel, due to Rizals lack of support from the rest of the Ilustrados. It was first
published in Berlin in 1887, with the financial help of Maximo Viola (Jose Rizal University).
The Noli follows the story of a certain Crisostomo Ibarra, a middle-class Filipino who
recently arrived at the Philippines from studies in Europe. A welcome party in his honor was made
by a family friend famously called as Captain Tiago. Friends, famous people and high-ranking
officials, including friars, attended the said party. During the course of the party, a certain Fray
Damaso Vardolagas, the ex-curate of Ibarras hometown, San Diego, threw discriminatory insults
to Filipinos. After the party, a date between Ibarra and Maria Clara, Captain Tiagos daughter,
occurred. Ibarra was then informed by a Lieutenant Guevara about what Fray Damaso did to his
father. Ibarras father was wrongly accused of being a heretic after not going to confessions and
masses. His father later intervened on a quarrel between a tax collector and a child, accidentally
killing the former. This aggravated the pressure on Ibarras father, which was sent to jail and died.
His remains were ordered by Fray Damaso to be removed from the local cemetery it originally
interred. Setting revenge aside, he opened a school in his hometown to fulfill his fathers wish. In
the schools inauguration, he was saved by a certain Elias from an assassination attempt. Fray
Damaso gate-crashed the after-event party and insulted Ibarra because the plot says so. The Fray

insulted Ibarras father in the party, causing Ibarra to physically attack the Fray. This caused
Ibarras ex-communication but was later lifted thanks to the help of the Governor-General. Fray
Damaso, seeing Ibarras reputation went down, encouraged Captain Tiago to let Maria Clara marry
a certain Alfonso Linares de Espadaa, a recently-arrived peninsular Spaniard. An armed revolt
occurred after, and Ibarra was the falsely-accused mastermind. He was imprisoned and was left
out by his old peers. A banquet was held at Captain Tiagos place to announce the wedding of
Maria Clara and Linares. At this time, Ibarra escaped prison with Elias help, and talked, in secret,
to Maria Clara regarding the lovers letters, that was forced to surrender in exchange of letters
written by Doa Pia (Maria Claras mother, died of childbirth). It was found out through the
exchanged letters that Maria Claras biological father was Fray Damaso. Ibarra waved goodbye,
and escaped. Ibarra and Elias was caught by the Guardia Civil and was fired, but the latter made
himself a scapegoat, allowing the former to escape without a scratch. Elias, already fatally
wounded, woke up in Christmas Eve in a forest, seeing Basilio and Sisa. The latter became insane
after the death of her other son, Crispin, due to allegations of the local convent to her sons of
stealing small gold pieces. Elias instructs Basilio to build a funeral pyre for him and Sisa, get the
hidden treasure if no one goes to the place, and use it to get an education. Elias spoke his most
memorable line, translated in English: I shall die without seeing the dawn break upon my
homeland. You, who shall see it, salute it! Do not forget those who have fallen during the night.
The epilogue tells that Maria Clara, disillusioned and depressed on the alleged death of Ibarra,
entered a nunnery and became a nun, while Captain Tiago became addicted to opium. It also tells
the story of a beautiful but insane woman crying and cursing in the nunnery roof for the events
that occurred.
El Filibusterismo, Spanish for The Filibuster, is the direct sequel of the Noli. It was
published in 1891 by F. Meyer van Loo Press in Ghent, Belgium (Zaide). Despite the warnings by
peers and the fate of the Noli in Spanish Philippines, Rizal felt that he needs to make this sequel,
seeing that the ending of the Noli is sealed by the Spaniards. The Fili, unlike its predecessor, was
published in Ghent, was reduced to 38 chapters and was delayed due to financial problems. Despite
Rizal pawning everything he has of value, he still let the Fili be published, thanks to the needed
financial support courtesy of Valentin Ventura (Jose Rizal University).
The Fili, which occurred thirteen years after the Noli, follows the story of Simoun, a
radicalized Crisostomo Ibarra in disguise as a wealthy jeweler influential to the Governor-General.

As a filibuster, and part of the elite, he influences the ones in power to commit abuses to the masses
hoping an armed revolution will occur. He wants an armed revolution so that, first, to rescue his
beloved Maria Clara from the convent, and second, to permanently remove the ills and evils of the
beloved motherland. His true identity was discovered by Basilio, now a graduating medical student
thanks to Captain Tiagos support, while he was digging for treasures hidden by Elias in the same
place the last chapter of Noli occurred. Basilio, who was plainly visiting his mother, was supposed
to be killed by Simoun, but was spared, hoping that Simoun can persuade him through
remembering what happened to Sisa and Crispin. Hoping that the Philippines will improve, he
declined the offer. Simoun seeks the cooperation of Kabesang Tales, an old cabeza de barangay
who became a victim of the Spanish Friars abuses, for the revolution. He also seeks Quiroga, a
Chinese man who hoped to be a consul, to use the Chineses bazaar as a front for storing weapons.
He was supposed to start the revolution, but was cancelled after hearing Maria Claras death
through Basilio. Meanwhile, a group of students, including Basilio, was arrested due to disturbance
of peace despite Basilio did not do anything. Captain Tiago died a short time later, and despite the
fact that Basilio was the original recipient of his fortune, the wealth was distributed to many
recipients, such as the Church, thanks to the intervention of a certain Father Irene. Basilios
girlfriend, Juli, committed suicide to avoid being raped by a priest named Camorra, hoping that
the priest can help on the release of Basilio. Simoun arranged Basilios release, and following the
abuses to him, finally joined Simouns radical cause. There was an incoming wedding sponsored
by Simoun at the late Captain Tiagos house filled with explosives. All people with Spanish
influence and power will be at the reception. A lamp with explosives will be given to the
newlyweds as a gift, and will explode twenty minutes after the lamp will be lighted. Father Salvi
saw a note with the words Mene Thecel Phares and Ibarras signature, which caused panic at
the said reception. A guy named Isagani, the brides ex-boyfriend, stole the lamp and threw it in
the river, failing Ibarras revolution. Ibarra, now exposed, became a running fugitive and was
injured due to clashes with the Guardia Civil. He hid to the house of Isaganis uncle named Father
Florentino, gave his last confession, and committed suicide through poisoning. Father Isagani then
threw Simouns treasure in the sea, hoping that it will not be used for evil again.
Literature, based on the Russian Formalists definition, is anything that uses a form of
literary language, and the essence of the literary language was estrangement (Eagleton). The Noli
and the Fili were applying estrangement, even before the Russian Formalists defined so in the

early 20th century. One of this forms was the use of exaggeration and symbolisms, as portrayed by
Fray Damaso and the boat Tabo respectively. Fray Damaso, seen in the Noli, portrays an
exaggerated stereotypical anti-Filipino, corrupt and pervert Spanish priest. The boat Tabo, shown
in the first two chapters of the Fili, is an allegory of the Philippines, an old ship painted white just
to hide the ugliness it has. It also showed the racism in the Philippines, i.e. the elite is on the top,
the poor is on the bottom (Jose Rizal University).
But, there have been arguments on the Russian Formalists view, and Eagleton defined
literature as something that has been appreciated by a population with authority. Such authority is
the government, and, in the case of the Noli and Fili, the Philippine Government did made it as
literature.
Jose Rizals Noli and Fili is considered as national literature in the Philippines because it
is required to students to read and learn. The government showed the appreciation of it as literature
by passing Republic Act No. 1425, also known as Rizal Law. Section 1 of the said law state that:
Courses on the life, works and writings of Jose Rizal, particularly his novel Noli Me Tangere and
El Filibusterismo, shall be included in the curricula of all schools, colleges and universities, public
or private: Provided, That in the collegiate courses, the original or unexpurgated editions of the
Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo or their English translation shall be used as basic texts.
The Noli and Fili was also secured to have sufficient copies in libraries, and shall cause the
translation of the Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo, as well as other writings of Jose Rizal
into English, Tagalog and the principal Philippine dialects; cause them to be printed in cheap,
popular editions; and cause them to be distributed, free of charge, to persons desiring to read
them (Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines). Despite its recognition by the
government, the Noli and Fili has great influence in our country, considering the schools, streets,
or even a province named after Rizal, or anything about the novels, such as Sisa and Basilio streets
in Manila (Vera).
The Noli and the Fili, originally written in Spanish, was easy to translate to English without
removing or making major alterations on the novels meaning. The novels basic idea, despite its
heavy use of symbolisms and exaggerations, was simple: patriotism and unity through education,
not war. It may not be as famous as The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins but it has great
influence to us Filipinos, as mentioned above. Aside from its influence to us, it also showed
influence to Filipino-Spanish relations after the colonial period. It is the most known literary

evidence that we have of our connections. It is part of the pieces that makes us remember our dark
past to make sure our future stays bright. Thanks also to the American assimilation, the Noli and
Fili was translated to English and studied by American scholars, spreading the Filipino spectacle
to the west. Also, in 2007, the newly translated Noli was introduced in Australia by Penguin
Classics, and was translated by Harold Augenbraum (Ubalde).
Damrosch recognizes the spread of a piece of literature to the world as a factor in making
the said piece as world literature. He also proposes that world literature is an elliptical refraction
of national literaturesis writing that gains in translationis not a set canon of texts but a mode
of reading: a form of detached engagement with worlds beyond our own place and time.
Damrosch discussed that the refraction in this case acceptance of one literature into a culture
foreign to its home base. The Noli and Fili, despite being nationalistic in nature, can be well
received by foreign cultures to promote the use of peace and education to promote independence
and development, not war, as mentioned above. The Noli and Fili was easy to understand, despite
its translation. It is a very good piece that well encompasses Damroschs second proposal. The
Noli and Fili, despite being fictional, gives the reader the feeling of Spanish Philippines, i.e. what
it is like, how do people live, what are the problems. Its like time travelling without a time
machine. It is a very good way of following Damroschs third proposal.
The Noli and Fili, two of the best in Philippine Literature, is part of world literature thanks
to its physical spread, influence, and epicness.

Works Cited
Damrosch, David. What is World Literature? Princeton: Princeton University Press, 2003. Print.
Eagleton, Terry. Introduction: What is Literature? n.d. Print.
Jose Rizal University. El Filibusterismo. 2004. Web. 11 December 2014.
. Noli Me Tangere. 2004. Web. 11 December 2014.
Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines. Republic Act No. 1425. 12 June 1956. Web. 11
December 2014.
Ubalde, Mark. Rizal's Noli hits major Aussie bookshelves. News. Manila: GMANews.TV, 2007.
Web.
Vera, Noel. Critic After Dark: El Filibusterismo (Gerardo de Leon, 1962). 7 February 2014. Blog.
12 December 2014.
Zaide, Gregorio. Jose Rizal: Life, Works and Writings. Manila: National Book Store, 2003. Print.