Brief Background 

of the Noli me Tangere

The Noli, one of the two famous novels of our National Hero, Jose Protacio
Mercado Rizal y Realonda or simply known as the great Dr. Jose Rizal, came up
into writing The Book as inspired and motivated by the scene in a novel by
Harriet Beecher Stowe -- Uncle Tom's Cabin, which describes and illustrates
the slavery and the harsh situation of the African Americans.
 
Jose Rizal, also known as Pepe, proposed the writing of his first novel in a
meeting on January 2, 1884 which was held at the Paterno's Residence in
Madrid. The novel would contain or show the current situation of the
Philippines during that time. Perdo Maximo, Antonio Paterno, Graciano Lopez
Jaena, Evaristo Aguire, Eduardo de Lete, Julio Lorente, Melacio Giguerora and,
Valentin Ventura all agreed in writing the novel together with Pepe. However,
these people, as history tells, had vices on gambling and women, hence, Rizal
decide to write the novel on his own.
 
The Novel's Origin 
The title of the book is a Latin phrase taken by Pepe from the Bible himself,
meaning "Touch me not". It is particularly found in John 20:13-17, as 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 ascended
unto my Father, and to my God and your God."

 
Although a much technical transition of the title is a particularly painful type of
cancer. Jose intended to show through his novel the Filipino society cancers
that the oppressed felt too much pain too much. 
 
Further earlier translations led to use English titles such as An Eagle
Flight (1990) and The Social Cancer (1912) however, disregarding the true
symbolism of the Novel's title. 
 
The Writing of the Novel and its Publication

 
Vicente Blasco Ibanez (29 January 1867 - 28 January 1928) was a journalist,
politician and best-selling Spanish novelist in various genres whose most
widespread and lasting fame in the English-speaking world is Hollywood films
adapted from his works. 
Jose Rizal wrote the first half of the Noli from 1884-1885 while he was in
Madrid, Spain studying Medicine. From time--to-time, while in Paris, Pepe is
completing the book. 
 
A well-known political activist and writer/journalist agreed to proofread the
novel in the person of Vicente Blasco Ibanez, who also became the consultant
of Rizal.
 

Rizal finally completed his first novel in December of 1886 in Berlin, Germany.
However, he feared that he might not be able to print the book since he is
having financial difficulties, according to the National Hero's biographers.
 
Maximo Viola
One Maximo Viola, appeared in the scene who offered help in financing the
publication of the book of Rizal. Viola is understood to be the best friend of
Pepe. Hesitant at first, Rizal turned the offer of his friend down. However,
Viola was insistent and ended up tending Jose P300 for 2,000 copies. The
printing was finished earlier than the expected five month period of printing.
 
The Noli Me Tangere was eventually published on March 21, 1887 by the
cheapest publisher Rizal found in Berlin, the BERLINER - ACTIEN
-GESSELSCHAFT, SETZERINNEN - SCHULE DE LETTE VEREINES.  
 
The Noli and its Goals
 
The Noli me Tangere, "Touch me not" or as translated in Filipino, "Huwag mo
akong Salingin" reveals the current situation of the Filipinos during the Spanish
colonization. It is also understood that the book was made to awaken the
feelings of the people from oppression. It also depicts a series of Filipino
scenes such as superstitious and hypocritical fanaticism of many who consider
themselves religious people, the ignorance, corruption. and brutality of the
Filipino civil guards, the passion for gambling unchecked by the thought of
duty and responsibility, the servility of the wealthy Filipino towards friars and
government officials, the ridiculous efforts of Filipinos to dissociate
themselves from their fellowmen or to lord it over them -- all these are
ridiculed in the novel. Nevertheless, Rizal clearly implies that many of these
failings are traceable to association with the Spaniard, or to the misguided
policy of the government and the questionable practices of the friars.
 
But the real reason or purpose of Pepe in writing the- Novel is to disprove
wrong accusations of Spaniards to Filipinos and the Philippines. He also
expresses the sad conditions of the society, beliefs, hopes, dreams and the cry
of the Filipino people. Rizal wants to expose everything about the wrong use
of religion or the exploitation of the word of God which friars used for them to
benefit and corrupt people. He added to portray the cruelties, graft and
corruption of the false government. 
 
Yet, Rizal controlled and balanced the national likeness through giving
highlights to the virtues and good traits of the uninfluenced Filipinos: the
women's modesty and devotion, the openhanded hospitality of Filipino
families, the commitment the parents to their children and vice versa, the
deep sense of gratitude, and the undeniable common sense of the
uneducated Filipino peasants.
 
The Novel's Social Impact and Controversies
The Noli Me Tangerewas considered to be one of the instruments that
initiated Filipino nationalism that led to the 1896 Philippine Revolution. 
Noli was originally written in Spanish so the likelihood that the Spanish
authorities will read it first is high which our National Hero really intended to
happen. 
Copies of books were redirected to churches, many have been destroyed,
many anti-Noli writers came into the picture and the Catholic leaders in the
Philippines during that time regarded the book as heretical, while Spanish
colonial authorities declared. 
 
 
 
 
 
The Book as Subversive and against the Government. 
 
The impact of the Novel also includes the expulsion of Jose in Clamba, laguna. 
Extradition cases were filed against Rizal which led to writing his sequel of the
Noli me 
Tangere, the El Filibusterismo. 
 
Rizal received a letter of summons to the Malaccan Palace by the Governor-
General Emilio Torrero. He defended himself and his book from the governor-
general. Terrero go interested on the controversial book and requested a copy
of it from Jose to find out if there are really any subversive ideas in the novel.
He didn't see anything wrong in the novel but thought that Rizal's enemies
were powerful and far more superior that what he had anticipated.
 
Governor-General Emilio Torrero
The Novel's importation, reproduction and circulation were prohibited and
publicized through the newspapers. Though this only made people more likely
to read the novel even more despite of the strictness and security of the
guardia civils. Many Filipinos were still able to Governor-General Emilio
Torrero secure a copy of the Noli and read it in secret. The price of the book
even raised from a peso to thirty pesos per copy.
 
The anti-Noli
 
• Many Spanish Officials, friars and church           persons were against the Noli
me Tangere
 
•   Father Salvador Font was the one responsible    for prohibiting the Noli me
Tangere's reproduction and circulation
 

Father Jose Rodriguez, Superior of Guadalupe, published a writing entitled
“Cuestiones de Sumo Interes" (Katanungan ng Dakilang lnteres) to confront
 Rizal's Noli. His copies of the book were sold and distributed in the church
after the mass. Many Filipinos were forced to by though they do not believe
what the author said in his writings.
 
The pro-Noli
 
  Many Filipinos were convinced and accepted the Noli, even great historians,
doctors, poets and church persons or clergies.
•Reverent Vicente Garcia, a Filipino priest who defended Jose Rizal and
a       Catholic scholar at the Manila Cathedral, wrote a book, using the
penname Justo Desiderio Magalang, in response to the statement of
Father Rodriguez about the Noli me Tangerethat contains something like 
these:
1.'"Hindi masasabing 'ignoranteng tao' si Riza,gaya ng sabi ni Padre 
Rodriguez, dahil siya ay nagtapos sa mga unibersidad sa Espanya at 
nakatanggap pa ng mga karangalang iskolastiko;" 
2."Hindi tinutuligsa ni Rizal ang Sirnbahan at Espanya, gaya ng
sinasabi ni Padre Rodriguez, dahil pinupuna ni Rizal sa Noli ay yaong
masasamang opisyal at tiwaling prayle, hindi ang Simbahan;"
3."Sinabi ni Padre Rodriguez na yaong bumabasa ng Noli ay
gumagawa ng kasalanang mortal dahil nabasa nya ang Nobela." 
 
Marcelo H. Del Pilar, with the penname "Dolores Manapat", praises Rizal's
Noli through writing another book entitled, "Caiingat Cayo" (Maging Madulas
katulad ng Igat). He used the same technique as how Padre Rodriguez did in
confronting the Noli, but this time, del Pilar made the act in a church in his
hometown in Bulacan.

Bibliography
Editorial, 11  Anniversary of Dr. Jose Rizal’s Martyrdom. Manila: Manila
th

Bulletin. December 2007.

Guerrero, Leon Ma., The Forest Filipino: A Bibliography of Jose Rizal. Manila:
National Historical Institute, 1963, 1965, 1969, 1971, 1974, 1977, 1979, 1987,
1991.
Rizal, Jose P. Historical Events of the Philippine Islands by Dr. Antonio de
Morga. Manila: National Historical Institute, 1990.
Bantug, Asuncion Lopez (1982). Lolo Jose: An intimate portrait of Rizal. Manila:
Instramuros Administration.
Capino, Diosdado C., Gonzales, Ma. Minerva A. and Pineda, Filipinas.
(1977). Rizal: Life, Works and Writings.  Quezon City. JMC Press.
Guerrero, Leon Ma. (1998). The First Filipino. Philippines: Guerrero Publishing.
Zaide, Gregorio and Zaide, Sonia. (1999). Jose Rizal: Life, Works and Writings.
Manila: All-Nations Publishing Co., Inc.
Zaide, Gregorio and Zaide, Sonia. (1997). Jose Rizal: Buhay, mga Ginawa at
mga Sinulat. Quezon City. All-Nations Publishing Co., Inc.
Capino, Diosdado G., Minerva A. Gonzalez, Ma., and Filipinas E. Pineda. Rizal's
Life, Works & Writings. Quezon City: Publishers Association of the Philippines,
1977.
 
References and Suggested Readings
1. Zaide, Gregorio and Zaide, Sonia M.:
Jose Rizal: Life, Works and Writings of a Genius, Writer, Scientist, and National
Hero Second Edition. All – Nations Publishing Co., Inc. Quezon City. 1999.
2. Purino, Anacoreta P.: Rizal, the Greatest Filipino Hero. Rex Book Store,
Manila, Philippines. 2008
3. José Rizal (1997). Prophecies of Jose Rizal about the Philippines: From the
Pen of the Visionary National Hero, Phenomenal Revelations and Coded
Messages about Events Past, Present and Future: Destiny of the
Philippines …. Rex Bookstore, Inc.
4. Valdez, Maria Stella S. (2007). Doctor Jose Rizal and the Writing of His Story.
Rex Bookstore, Inc.
5. Rizal, José. 1996. Noli me tangere, trans. Ma. Soledad Lacson-Locsin.
Makati: Bookmark.
6. Anderson, Benedict. 2008. Why counting counts: A study of forms of
consciousness and problems of language in Noli me tangere and El
filibusterismo, pp. 1–37. Quezon City: Ateneo de Manila University Press.