The Social Cancer ( Noli Me Tangere )

In the novel's dedication, Rizal explains that there was once a type of cancer so terrible
that the sufferer could not bear to be touched, and the disease was thus called noli me
tangere (Latin: “do not touch me”). He believed that his homeland was similarly
afflicted. Likewise, as "Noli Me Tangere" portrays the different aspects of gaining
independence, Jose Rizal focuses on social climbers, abusive power, family devotion,
self sacrifice, and purity and faithfulness.

The Social Cancer, original title Noli me tangere, novel by Filipino political activist and
author José Rizal, published in 1887. The book, written in Spanish, is a sweeping and
passionate unmasking of the brutality and corruption of Spanish rule in the Philippines
(1565–1898).

The Reign of Greed ( El Filibusterismo )

Rizal's Masterpiece: El Filibusterismo. l Filibusterismo was written in dedication to

the three martyred priests Mariano Gomez, Jose Burgos, and Jacinto Zamora, whose
deaths left an indelible mark in his mind. Like Noli Me Tangere, Fili aims at enlightening
the society, at bringing the Filipinos closer to the truth.

Extradition cases were filed against him. This led to his decision to write the sequel of
Noli Me Tangere, the El filibusterismo. ... So to ensure revolutionary ideas and
patriotic reaction, Rizal redefined his careful concepts in Noli to aggression in El Fili.
The theme and plot of El Filibusterismo was changed to convey the message that the
present system of government in the Philippines through corrupt officials, dominated by
the friars can lead to the downfall of Spain. Rizal's Masterpiece: El Filibusterismo.
The message of the novel is clear: the present system of governing the Philippines
through corrupt and self-seeking officials, dominated by the friars and being submissive
to their interests in one fashion or another, can only lead to disaster for Spain.
 Rizal Annotation of Sucesos De Las Islas Filipinas
Morga wrote that the purpose for writing Sucesos was so he could chronicle "the deeds
achieved by our Spaniards i the discovery, conquest, and conversion of the Filipinas
Islands - as well as various fortunes that they have from time to time in the great
kingdoms and among the pagan peoples surrounding the islands. Rizal’sannotation of
the chapter was to convey that Filipino people already existed even before
theSpaniards took over the land. Our ancestors already had their
antiquity, customs and governance
Rizal comments that the Philippines of his time was no better than the pre-
Hispanic Philippines. He says it could have developed on its own into something
great.According to Rizal, Filipinos has a system of writing, an advanced knowledge
of metallurgy and a ship-building industry.Rizal knew that the Spaniards wouldn’t
like his work with it being banned in the Philippines. However, the works first
critic is his friend Blumentritt. In his introduction for the book, he cited hindsight
and anticlericalism as fatal defects in a purely scholarly work.Rizal used history
as a propaganda weapon. It was deemed too much propaganda for historians and
too historical for propagandists.By recreating the proud pre- Hispanic civilization,
Rizal's Morga had set the tone for Philippine historiography and Filipino identity.

To the young women of Malolos

This letter was made by dr. jose rizal for the good news he received from the young
women of malolos, bulacan. He praised and honor these brave Filipinas for they
emerge victorious in their demand for education and for they are no longer blinded by
the fraud religious beliefs brought by the friars. The critical issued tackled in the letter
are inequality between Filipino men and women, slavery done by Spaniards because of
ignorance, fraud religious beliefs brought by the friars, the roles and obligations of
mothers in the family, and the abuse of the Spaniards because of the blind hospitality of
the Filipinos.

El Amor Patrio” (The Love of Country)

This was the first article Rizal wrote in the Spanish soil. Written in the summer of 1882,
it was published in Diariong Tagalog in August. He used the pen name “Laong Laan”
(ever prepared) as a byline for this article and he sent it to Marcelo H. Del Pilar for
Tagalog translation.

Written during the Spanish colonization and reign over the Philippine islands, the article
aimed to establish nationalism and patriotism among the natives. Rizal extended his call
for the love of country to his fellow compatriots in Spain, for he believed that nationalism
should be exercised anywhere a person is.

“Revista De Madrid” (Review of Madrid)

This article written by Rizal on November 29, 1882 wasunfortunatelyreturned to him
because Diariong Tagalog had ceased publications for lack of funds.

“Los Agricultores Filipinos” (The Filipino Farmers)

This essay dated March 25, 1889 was the first article of Rizal published in La
Solidaridad. In this writing, he depicted the deplorable conditions of the Filipino farmers
in the Philippines, hence the backwardness of the country.

“A La Defensa” (To La Defensa)

This was in response to the anti-Filipino writing by Patricio de la Escosura published by
La Defensa on March 30, 1889 issue. Written on April 30, 1889, Rizal’s article refuted
the views of Escosura, calling the readers’ attention to the insidious influences of the
friars to the country.

“Los Viajes” (Travels)

Published in the La Solidaridad on May 15, 1889, this article tackled the rewards gained
by the people who are well-traveled to many places in the world.

“La Verdad Para Todos” (The Truth for All)

This was Rizal’s counter to the Spanish charges that the natives were ignorant and
depraved. On May 31, 1889, it was published in the La Solidaridad.

Vicente Barrantes’ Teatro Tagalo”

The first installment of Rizal’s “Vicente Barrantes” was published in the La Solidaridad
on June 15, 1889. In this article, Rizal exposed Barrantes’ lack of knowledge on the
Tagalog theatrical art.

“Defensa Del Noli”

The manuscripts of the “Defensa del Noli” was written on June 18, 1889. Rizal sent the
article to Marcelo H. Del Pilar, wanting it to be published by the end of that month in the
La Solidaridad.

“Verdades Nuevas”(New Facts/New Truths)

In this article dated July 31, 1889, Rizal replied to the letter of Vicente Belloc Sanchez
which was published on July 4, 1889 in ‘La Patria’, a newspaper in Madrid. Rizal
addressed Sanchez’s allegation that provision of reforms to the Philippines would
devastate the diplomatic rule of the Catholic friars.

“Una Profanacion” (A Desecration/A Profanation)

Published on July 31, 1889, this article mockingly attacked the friars for refusing to give
Christian burial to Mariano Herbosa, Rizal’s brother in law, who died of cholera in May
23, 1889. Being the husband of Lucia Rizal (Jose’s sister), Herbosa was denied of
burial in the Catholic cemetery by the priests.

“Crueldad” (Cruelty),
Dated August 15, 1889, this was Rizal’s witty defense of Blumentritt from the libelous
attacks of his enemies.

“Diferencias” (Differences)
Published on September 15, 1889, this article countered the biased article entitled “Old
Truths” which was printed in La Patria on August 14, 1889. “Old Truths” ridiculed those
Filipinos who asked for reforms.
 “Inconsequencias” (Inconsequences)
The Spanish Pablo Mir Deas attacked Antonio Luna in the Barcelona newspaper “El
Pueblo Soberano”. As Rizal’s defense of Luna, he wrote this article which was
published on November 30, 1889.

“Llanto Y Risas” (Tears and Laughter)

Dated November 30, 1889, this article was a condemnation of the racial prejudice of the
Spanish against the brown race. Rizal remembered that he earned first prize in a literary
contest in 1880. He narrated nonetheless how the Spaniard and mestizo spectators
stopped their applause upon noticing that the winner had a brown skin complexion.

“Filipinas Dentro De Cien Anos” (The Philippines within One

Hundred Years)
This was serialized in La Solidaridad on September 30, October 31, December 15, 1889
and February 15, 1890. In the articles, Rizal estimated the future of the Philippines in
the span of a hundred years and foretold the catastrophic end of Spanish rule in Asia.
He ‘prophesied’ Filipinos’ revolution against Spain, winning their independence, but later
the Americans would come as the new colonizerThe essay also talked about the
glorious past of the Philippines, recounted the deterioration of the economy, and
exposed the causes of natives’ sufferings under the cruel Spanish rule. In the essay, he
cautioned the Spain as regards the imminent downfall of its domination. He awakened
the minds and the hearts of the Filipinos concerning the oppression of the Spaniards
and encouraged them to fight for their right.

Part of the essays reads, “History does not record in its annals any lasting domination
by one people over another, of different races, of diverse usages and customs, of
opposite and divergent ideas. One of the two had to yield and succumb.” The
Philippines had regained its long-awaited democracy and liberty some years after
Rizal’s death. This was the realization of what the hero envisioned in this essay.
 Ingratitudes” (Ingratitude)
Dated January 15, 1890, this article was the hero’s reply to Governor General Weyler
who told the people in Calamba that they “should not allow themselves to be deceived
by the vain promises of their ungrateful sons.” The statement was made as a reaction to
Rizal’s project of relocating the oppressed and landless Calamba tenants to North
Borneo.

“Sobre La Nueva Ortografia De La Lengua Tagala” (On The

New Orthography of The Tagalog Language)
Rizal expressed here his advocacy of a new spelling in Tagalog. In this article dated
April 15, 1890, he laid down the rules of the new Tagalog orthography and, with
modesty and sincerity, gave the credit for the adoption of this new orthography to Dr.
Trinidad H. Pardo de Tavera, author of the celebrated work “El Sanscrito en la Lengua
Tagala” (Sanskrit in the Tagalog Language) published in Paris, 1884.

“I put this on record,” wrote Rizal, “so that when the history of this orthography is traced,
which is already being adopted by the enlightened Tagalists, that what is Caesar’s be
given to Caesar. This innovation is due solely to Dr. Pardo de Tavera’s studies on
Tagalismo. I was one of its most zealous propagandists.”

Sobre La Indolencia De Los Filipinas” (The Indolence of the

Filipinos)
This logical essay is a proof of the national hero’s historical scholarship. The essay
rationally countered the accusations by Spaniards that Filipinos were indolent (lazy)
during the Spanish reign. It was published in La Solidaridad in five consecutive issues
on July (15 and 31), August (1 and 31) and September 1, 1890.

Rizal argued that Filipinos are innately hardworking prior to the rule of the Spaniards.
What brought the decrease in the productive activities of the natives was actually the
Spanish colonization. Rizal explained the alleged Filipino indolence by pointing to these
factors: 1) the Galleon Trade destroyed the previous links of the Philippines with other
countries in Asia and the Middle East, thereby eradicating small local businesses and
handicraft industries; 2) the Spanish forced labor compelled the Filipinos to work in
shipyards, roads, and other public works, thus abandoning their agricultural farms and
industries; 3) many Filipinos became landless and wanderers because Spain did not
defend them against pirates and foreign invaders; 4) the system of education offered by
the colonizers was impractical as it was mainly about repetitive prayers and had nothing
to do with agricultural and industrial technology; 5) the Spaniards were a bad example
as negligent officials would come in late and leave early in their offices and Spanish
women were always followed by servants; 6) gambling like cockfights was established,
promoted, and explicitly practiced by Spanish government officials and friars
themselves especially during feast days; 7) the crooked system of religion discouraged
the natives to work hard by teaching that it is easier for a poor man to enter heaven; and
8) the very high taxes were discouraging as big part of natives’ earnings would only go
to the officials and friars.

Other Rizal’s articles which were also printed in La Solidaridad were “A La

Patria” (November 15, 1889), “Sin Nobre” (Without Name) (February 28, 1890),
and “Cosas de Filipinas” (Things about the Philippines) (April 30, 1890).

“Acerca de Tawalisi de Ibn Batuta”

This historical commentaryis believed to form part of ‘Notes’ (written incollaboration with
A.B. Meyer and F. Blumentritt) on a Chinese code in the Middle Ages, translated from
the German by Dr. Hirth. Written on January 7, 1889, the article was about the “Tawalisi”
which refers to the northern part of Luzon or to any of the adjoining islands.

It was also in London where Rizal penned the following historical commentaries: “La
Political Colonial On Filipinas” (Colonial Policy In The Philippines), “Manila En El
Mes De Diciembre” (December , 1872), “Historia De La Familia Rizal De
Calamba” (History Of The Rizal Family Of Calamba), and“Los Pueblos Del
Archipelago Indico (The People’s Of The Indian Archipelago)

“La Vision Del Fray Rodriguez” (The Vision of Fray

Rodriguez)
Jose Rizal, upon receipt of the news concerning Fray Rodriguez’ bitter attack on his
novel Noli Me Tangere, wrote this defense under his pseudonym “Dimas Alang.”
Published in Barcelona, it is a satire depicting a spirited dialogue between the Catholic
saint Augustine and Rodriguez. Augustine, in the fiction, told Rodriguez that he
(Augustine) was commissioned by God to tell him (Rodriguez) of his stupidity and his
penance on earth that he (Rodriguez) shall continue to write more stupidity so that all
men may laugh at him. In this pamphlet, Rizal demonstrated his profound knowledge in
religion and his biting satire.
 “To The Young Women of Malolos”
Originally written in Tagalog, this famous essay directly addressed to the women of
Malolos, Bulacan was written by Rizal as a response to Marcelo H. Del Pilar’s request.

Rizal was greatly impressed by the bravery of the 20 young women of Malolos who
planned to establish a school where they could learn Spanish despite the opposition of
Felipe Garcia, Spanish parish priest of Malolos. The letter expressed Rizal’s yearning
that women be granted the same chances given to men in terms of education. In the
olden days, young women were not educated because of the principle that they will
soon be wives and their primary career would be to take care of the home and children.
Rizal however advocated women’s right to education.

“Ang Mga Karapatan Ng Tao” (The Rights Of Man)

This was Rizal’s Tagalog translation of “The Rights of Man” which was proclaimed by
the French Revolution in 1789.

“A La Nacion Espanola”(To The Spanish Nation)

Written in 1891, this was Rizal’s appeal to Spain to rectify the wrongs which the Spanish
government and clergy had done to the Calamba tenants.

“Sa Mga Kababayan” (To My Countrymen)

This writing written in December 1891 explained the Calamba agrarian situation.

“Una Visita A La Victoria Gaol” (A Visit To Victoria

Gaol), March 2, 1892
On March 2, 1892,Rizal wrote this account of his visit to the colonial prison of Hong
Kong. He contrasted in the article the harsh Spanish prison system with the modern and
more humane British prison system.

“Colonisation Du British North Borneo, Par De Familles De

Iles Philippines” (Colonization Of British North Borneo By
Families From The Philippine Islands)
This was Rizal’s elucidation of his pet North Borneo colonization project.

“Proyecto De Colonization Del British North Borneo Por Los

Filipinos” (Project Of The Colonization Of British North
Borneo By The Filipinos)
In this writing, Rizal further discussed the ideas he presented in “Colonization of British
North Borneo by Families from the Philippine Islands.”

“La Mano Roja” (The Red Hand)

This was a writing printed in sheet form. Written in Hong Kong, the article denounced
the frequent outbreaks of fires in Manila

“Constitution of The La Liga Filipina”

This was deemed the most important writing Rizal had made during his Hong Kong
stay. Though it was Jose Ma. Basa who conceived the establishment of Liga Filipina
(Philippine League), his friend and namesake Jose Rizal was the one who wrote its
constitution and founded it.

Articles for Trubner’s Record

Due to the request of Rizal’s friend Dr. Reinhold Rost, the editor of Trubner’s Record (a
journal devoted to Asian Studies), Rizal submitted two articles:

Specimens of Tagal Folklore

Published in May 1889, the article contained Filipino proverbs and puzzles.

Two Eastern Fables (June 1889)

It was a comparative study of the Japanese and Philippine folklore. In this essay, Jose
Rizal compared the Filipino fable, “The Tortoise and the Monkey” to the Japanese fable
“Saru Kani Kassen” (Battle of the Monkey and the Crab).

Citing many similarities in form and content, Rizal surmised that these two fables may
have had the same roots in Malay folklore. This scholarly work received serious
attention from other ethnologists, and became a topic at an ethnological conference.

Among other things, Rizal noticed that both versions of the fable tackled about morality
as both involve the eternal battle between the weak and the powerful. The Filipino
version however had more philosophy and plainness of form whereas the Japanese
counterpart had more civilization and diplomacy.

“Pensamientos De Un Filipino” (Reflections of A Filipino)

Jose Rizal wrote this in Madrid, Spain from 1883-1885. It spoke of a liberal minded and
anti-friar Filipino who bears penalties such as an exile.

“Por Telefono”
This was a witty satire authored by “Dimas Alang” (one of the hero’s pen names)
ridiculing the Catholic monk Font, one of the priests who masterminded the banning of
the “Noli”. Published in booklet form in Barcelona, Spain, it narrated in a funny way the
telephone conversation between Font and the provincial friar of the San Agustin
Convent in Manila.

This pamphlet showed not only Rizal’s cleverness but also his futuristic vision.
Amazingly, Rizal had envisaged that overseas telephonic conversations could be
carried on—something which was not yet done during that time (Fall of 1889). It was
only in 1901, twelve years after Rizal wrote the “Por Telefono,” when the first radio-
telegraph signals were received by Marconi across the Atlantic.

“La Instruccion” (The Town Schools In The Philippines)

Using his penname “Laong Laan”, Rizal assessed in this essay the elementary
educational system in the Philippines during his time. Having observed the educational
systems in Europe, Rizal found the Spanish-administered education in his country poor
and futile. The hero thus proposed reforms and suggeted a more significant and
engaging system.

Rizal for instance pointed out that there was a problem in the mandated medium of
instruction—the colonizers’ language (Spanish) which was not perfectly understood by
the natives. Rizal thus favored Philippine languages for workbooks and instructions.

HYMN TO TALISAY
Hymn to Talisay. “Hymn to Talisay” was written by Rizal for his pupils in Dapitan to
sing whenever they rendezvous under the talisay tree. ... He challenged them by letting
them climb balete trees. “Hymn to Talisay” was written by Rizal for his pupils to sing
while they rendezvous under the Talisay tree.

TO THE CHILD JESUS

Jose Rizal wrote the poem To the Child Jesus (in other references, Child Jesus) when
he was 14 years old. A rather short poem only eight lines long, it follows the traditional
Spanish pattern of poetry.The poem begins with Rizal addressing the child Jesus and
asking him why he had chosen a lowly manger as the place through which he would
enter the world of humanity. He further enriches this question by asking whether
Fortune - in this case it could mean wealth or power or prestige or all of the above - had
decided to stay far away from the Lord the moment he decided to become a man.