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What was the social condition, life, beliefs, hopes, desires, grievances and griefs

of the Philippines during the time of Rizal as depicted in Noli Me Tangere?


During Spanish colonization, Filipinos was nearly became deaf,
muted, blind and disabled. But this was never became a fate. Jose Rizal, our
beloved national hero remedied this epidemic lack of will to fight what we really
deserve in the land that we, natives of Philippines, became slaves in the hands
of foreign colonizers. A tactic unbeatable by any deadly weapons is the words
inscribe in the famous novel entitled Noli Me Tangere which unleashes the
concealed reality of the brutalities of Spanish regime that limit Filipinos to
acquire a democratic nation free from slavery, lethal punishment, absolute
control of friars, and constraint in speech. Despite Rizal being penniless and sick,
he still strived to fill page by page the words of truth, wisdom, courage and
conviction. The stories reflect from the naked eyes of Jose Rizal which witnessed
the unfortunate circumstances occurred among the people he encountered
along with his own painful experiences during those times. I, myself at first, is
already familiar with the novel of Rizal but I admit I dont really have the
knowledge of the true message and how this novel greatly impact the
perception of readers. But since I had read the synopsis and other related
information, I got to have a profound insights that Filipinos, indeed, suffered not
just enough but in its extremity. Like what Rizal figuratively said, Recorded in the
history of human sufferings is a cancer so malignant a character that the least
tough irritates it and awakens in its sharpest pains. And the worse is some Filipinos
inherited from their ancestors the same rough treatement received from the
Spaniards. In this paper, I will briefly discuss to you at the peak of my ability the
social condition, life, beliefs, hopes, desires, grievances, and griefs of the Filipinos
during the time of Rizal as depicted in his novel also called as Touch Me Not.
Social Condition. Despite of the cruel conduct of Spaniards, Filipinos still value
the quality of being hospitable. As can be read, Crisostomo Ibarra who had just
returned from Europe showed enthusiasm regardless of race. But on the other
hand, Spanish friars due to its intervention in the local government, abused the
people through power and religion. One of the mentioned friars is Padre
Damaso, a Franciscan friar yet the biological father of Maria Clara, who is rude
to Ibarra and to the people he governed. These Spanish parish priests hold the
power. People with high position in local government such as the said spineless
gobernadorcillo was forced to cater the wishes of these friars. Back then,
glamorous senoras also involved into warfare and even used gutter language
until end up in a disastrous squabble in a formal event. This illustrate that the
social condition is not working well in the Philippines during Spanish occupation.

Life. The highlight of the novel is the tragic story of Sisa and her sons. Sisa, a
mother who tenderly love her children, suffered from mental depression and
sorrow due to the death of her son. Sisa, who looked everywhere, not knowingly
that his son was accused of stealing money and tormented in the covenant
and died. That story was quite brutal. Filipinos dont deserve that life. Spanish
priest didnt even considered Crispin, a son of Sisa, as an innocent child who has
an immature mind and poor living. Basilio, the son of Sia who had survived, still
mourned in his mothers body in the end. In his young age, he prepared funeral
pyre for the wounded Elias and his dead mother during Christmas eve. This
entails that nobody will support and shoulder yourself but only you and your
fellow Filipinos. On the other hand, the life of Crisostomo Ibarra who has
character of Jose Rizal is always at stake. The first incident is during the
ceremony of the cornerstone of the school house. There is no clear reason
behind this attack, But I suspects that Padre Damaso was involved. The second
incident when Ibarra attempted to seized a sharp knife to Padre Damaso
because of insulting the memory of his father.
Beliefs. In Noli Me Tangere, it was noted that games based from fortune telling
book are forbidden to play since it is a sin to play such game. During those
times, Filipinos value the reputation they carry. In an instance, when Ibarra
involved in a brawl his engagement immediately cancelled and was also
excommunicated. Another instance was when Elias and his sister left Tayabas to
hide their shame and in order to revive their good image. In addition, a servant
in the past was banned to have an affair with a rich guy or lady.
Hopes. Filipinos had risked so much lives to endure the pain. They became
servant in their own land. Freedom and justice was removed from them. They
only hope was that Philippines will be saved from someone who got the wisdom
and bravery to fight against Spaniards. They hope people to unite and
collaborate to perform one revolution and reform in the country.
Desires. Filipinos desired to have a peaceful life. But some of those Spaniards are
opportunist. They take advantage those weak Filipinos yet wealthy to grab
fortune and penny. Some of these merciless intentions of Spaniards connived
with other Spanish friars. Of course, for them to have share from the planned
theft they want to plot.
Grievances. One of the protests that needs justice is the death of Don Rafael,
father of Crisostomo, he was imprisoned defending a helpless boy from the
brutality of an illiterate Spanish tax collector. Afterwards, spend his life and died
unhappily behind the bars. Noticeably, if a Filipino commit an accidental crime,
there would surely be a heavy punishment in consequence. On the other hand,
the penalty isnt fair with Spanish who also did the same mistake. There was also
an instance that Elias, a brave boatmen, hunted because of assaulting a
Spanish friar. That implies the inequality of the law because they dont based it
in how heavy their crime is. In addition to this, it is not still humane to disregard
the corpse of Don Rafael which was casted out from the cemetery and was
thrown in the lake because of accusing him of being heretic. In pay of his
respect, even the other Spanish friar neglected the complaint of Don Rafaels
son. It shows that Spanish friars doesnt even have a peck of reverence to the
family who had lost a relative. Innocence is not an excuse. They even have
power in the government and agriculture but never at least to those who are
needy. Another visible complaints was from Tasio the Lunatic. This is regarding to
the children who were losing interest in their studies because of lack of a proper
schoolhouse. Education during those times were less prioritize. It is real that
Filipinos indeed experience a discouraging attitude of the parish priest toward
teaching of Spanish and use of modern methods of pedagogy. Those parish
priest was supposed to be a model of virtue but turns out to be the otherwise.
Griefs. Jose Rizal also narrates the story of Elias, a fiction of despair and tragedy.
This is another incident that demonstrates how Spanish easily accused Filipinos
who doesnt have any evidence that prove that they are really guilty. Because
of this faulty accusation, the grandfather of Elias existed in a living hell where he
left in the street very pitiful and his wife who was pregnant. But despite of their
pathetic condition, his wife without any choice left was forced to be a prostitute
to support her family. This only shows how Filipinos has a strong foundation to
stand up with their bare foot every defeat they encounter. The most sorrowful
scenario is when the Elias grandmother seen her childs head hung on a tree
branch because of her son allegedly reported for terrorism. This is completely
inhumane. Laws should handle this case of prosecution and not immediately
put into death someone who is not yet filed guilty.

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