Noli Me Tangere

Noli Me Tangere Characters Noli Me Tangere is set during the 19th century in the Philippines. Sectors of the society were represented as the novel progresses. The abusive clergy was represented by Padre Damaso and Padre Salvi, the wealthy meztizo by the protagonist Crisostomo Ibarra; meanwhile the wealthy Indio was represented by Capitan Tiago. As such, the novel offers a straightforward analysis of Philippine society under the Spanish rule. Crisstomo Ibarra, or commonly called as Ibarra, is a half-Filipino half-Spaniard who is the last descendant of the wealthy Spanish Don Pedro Eibarramenda. He was born and grew up in the Philippines, but during his adolescence, he spent seven years in Europe for education. Those years prevented him to know what was happening to his country. Upon finding that Padre Damaso ordered that the corpse of Ibarra's father, Don Rafael, was to be transferred to a Chinese cemetery then dumped into a river, he didn't really think of revenge at the time. Ibarra didn't believe in brute force in the fight for justice. He believed that changes could be achieved through little but organized steps. He also believed that evil must also exist because it is always accompanied with kindness. Ibarra is usually able to control his temper but was once angered when his father was disrespected.

Mara Clara de los Santos, is the most dominant yet weakest representation of women in the setting. When thinking of Noli, the name of Mara Clara is can be seen predominantly as image of ideal Filipina women. Mara Clara is the primary female character in the novel. She is seen as the daughter of Capitn Tiago and Doa Pa Alba. Doa Pa died when delivering Maria Clara. The poor child only grew under the guidance and supervision of Ta Isabl, Capitn Tiago's cousin. Mara Clara is known to be Ibarra's lover since childhood. When Ibarra was away in Europe, Capitn Tiago sent Maria Clara to Beaterio de Santa Clara where she developed femininity under religion. Later in the novel, Mara Clara discovers that her biological father is not Capitn Tiago, but the San Diego's former curate and her known godfather Padre Dmaso instead.

Dmaso Verdolagas (commonly known as Padre Dmaso/Padre Damaso or Father Damaso), of Franciscan order, was the former curate of the parish church of San Diego. He was the curate for almost twenty years before he replaced by much younger Padre Salvi. Padre Damaso was known to be friendly with the Ibarra family, so much that Crisstomo was surprised by what the former curate had done to Don Rafal. He is revealed to be the biological father of Maria Clara.

Padre Dmaso is described to be snobbish, fierce and talkative. He does not control his words when speaking and does not care if the person he is talking to feels down. There are also issues that he and Doyna Pia had a relationship and they had a daughter which is Maria Clara.

Don Santago de los Santos, commonly known as Capitn Tiago, is the only son of a wealthy trader in Malabon. Due to his mother's cruelty, Capitn Tiago did not attain any formal education. He became a servant of a Dominican priest. When the priest and his father died, Capitn Tiago decided to assist in the family business of trading before he met his wife Doa Pa Alba, who came from another wealthy family. Because of their consistent devotion to Santa Clara in Obando, they were given a daughter who shared same features as Padre Damaso, who is Maria Clara. Capitn Tiago owned many properties in Pampanga, Laguna and especially, in San Diego. He also managed boarding houses along Daang Anloague and Santo Cristo (in San Diego too) and had contracts for opening an opium business. He is with the priests because he gave lump of money during ecclesiastical donations and always invited the parish curate every dinner. He was also with the government because he always supported tax increase whenever the local officials wished. That was the reason he obtained the title of gobernadorcillo, the highest government position that a non-Spaniard could have in the Philippines. Later in the Noli sequel, El Filibusterismo, Capitn Tiago loses all his properties and becomes addicted to opium, which would eventually lead to his death. Don Anastacio, or commonly known as Filsofo Tacio (Philosopher Tasyo) is one of the most important character in Noli. In one side, he is referred to as philosopher/sage (hence, Pilosopo Tasyo) because his ideas were accurate with the minds of townspeople. On the other hand, if his ideas were against what the majority thought of, he is considered to be Imbecile Tacio (or Tasyong Sintusinto) or Lunatic Tacio (Tasyong Baliw). Filsofo Tacio was born into a wealthy Filipino family. His mother allowed him to take formal education, then abruptly ordered him to stop. She feared that Tasyo would become "too educated" and lose faith and devotion to religion. Her mother gave him two choices: either go into priesthood or stop his education. Tasyo chose the latter because he had a girlfriend that time. Soon enough, they married. After a year, Tasyo became a widower while his mother also died. He took most of his time reading and buying books so much that all his properties were lost and he became poor.

Elis came from the family which the Ibarra clan downtrodded for generations. He grew up in a wealthy family until when he discovered something that changed his life forever.

Doa Victorina de los Reyes de de Espadaa

Narcisa is the mother of Basilio and Crispin. Shows how Filipino mothers love their children.

Doa Consolacon, el musa de los guardias civiles e esposa de Alferez

Noli Me Tangere Summary The young and idealistic Juan Crisostomo Ibarra returns home after seven years in Europe. The wealthy meztizo, like his father Don Rafael endeavors for reform primarily in the area of education in order to eliminate poverty and improve the lives of his countrymen. Upon learning about his fathers demise and the denial of a Catholic burial for his father provoked Ibarra to hit Padre Damaso which eventually lead to his excommunication. The excommunication was later on rescinded upon the intervention of the Governor General. Padre Salvi, Ibarras mortal enemy accused Ibarra of insurrection. Ibarras letter to his beloved Maria Clara was used against him. Later in the story, Maria Clara will tell Ibarra that she did not conspire to indict him. She was compelled to give Ibarras letter in exchange for the letters of her mother before she was born. Maria Clara found out that the letters of her mother were addressed to Padre Damaso about their unborn child which means that she is the biological daughter of the priest and not of her father, Capitan Tiago. Meanwhile, Ibarra was able to escape the prison with Elias, who also experienced injustice with the authorities. Ibarra was able to speak with Maria Clara about the letters and thereafter forgave her. Ibarra and Elias flee to the lake and were chased by the Guardia Civil. One was shot and the other survives. Upon hearing the news, Maria Clara believed that Ibarra was dead; she entered the nunnery instead of marrying Alfonso Linares. The fatally wounded Elias found the child Basilio and his dead mother Sisa. The latter was driven to insanity when she learned that her children were implicated for theft by the sacristan mayor. Elias instructed Basilio to dig for his and Sisas graves and there is a buried treasure which he can use for his education. Noli Me Tangere brilliantly described Philippine society with its memorable characters. The melancholic fate of Maria Clara and the insanity of Sisa characterized the countrys pitiful state, which was once beautiful, turned miserable. Reading Noli Me Tangere will open ones mind about oppression and tyranny.

El Filibusterismo
El Filibusterismo Characters Simoun - Crisstomo Ibarra disguised as a wealthy jeweler, bent on starting a revolution to get revenge on the people who had accused him wrongly. Disguised as the top adviser of the Captain-General. Basilio - The eldest of Sisa's two sons, now an aspiring doctor whose medical education was being financed by Capitan Tiago. He is now at the point of graduation during the events in the novel. Isagani - Poet and Basilio's best friend; portrayed as emotional and reactive; Paulita Gmez' boyfriend before being dumped for fellow student Juanito Pelez Kabesang Tales - Telesforo Juan de Dios, a former cabeza de barangay (barangay head) of Sagpang, a barangay in San Diego's neighboring town Tiani, who resurfaced as the feared Luzn bandit Matanglawin (Tagalog for "Hawkeye"); Don Custodio - Custodio de Salazar y Snchez de Monteredondo, a famous "journalist" who was asked by the students about his decision for the Academia de Castellano. In reality, he is quite an ordinary fellow who married a rich woman in order to be a member of Manila's high society. Paulita Gomez - The girlfriend of Isagani and the niece of Doa Victorina, the old Indio who passes herself off as a Peninsular, who is the wife of the quack doctor Tiburcio de Espadaa. In the end, she and Juanito Pelez are wed, and she dumps Isagani, believing that she will have no future if she marries him. Macaraig - One of Isagani's classmates at the University of Santo Tomas. He is a rich student and serves as the leader of the students yearning to build the Academia de Castellano. Father Florentino - Isagani's godfather, and a secular priest; was engaged to be married, but chose to be a priest after being pressured by his mother, the story hinting at the ambivalence of his decision as he chooses an assignment to a remote place, living in solitude near the sea. Juli - Juliana de Dios, the girlfriend of Basilio, and the youngest daughter of Kabesang Tales. To claim her father from the bandits, she had to work as a maid under the supervision of Hermana Penchang. Eventually, she was freed but committed suicide after Father Camorra attempted to rape her. Juanito Pelaez - The son of Don Timoteo Pelaez, a Spanish businessman, he is also one of the members of Macaraig's gang who wish to have the Academia de Castellano built. He is considered by Isagani as his rival to Paulita Gomez, the

woman whom he fell in love and wed in the end. Placido Penitente considers him as a "good for nothing" classmate. Doa Victorina - Victorina delos Reyes de Espadaa, known in Noli Me Tangere as Tiburcio de Espadaa's cruel wife. She is the aunt of Paulita Gomez, and favors Juanito Pelaez than Isagani. Although of Indio ideology, she considers herself as one of the Peninsular. Father Camorra - The parish priest of Tiani, San Diego's adjacent town. He has been desiring young women ever since. He nearly raped Juli causing the latter to commit suicide. Ben-Zayb - The pseudonym of Abraham Ibaez, a journalist who believes he is the "only" one thinking in the Philippines. (Ben-Zayb is an anagram of Ybanez, an alternate spelling of his name.) Placido Penitente - A student of the University of Santo Tomas who was very intelligent and wise but did not want, if not only by his mother's plea, to pursue his studies. He also controls his temper against Padre Millon, his physics teacher. Hermana Penchang - Sagpang's rich pusakal (gambler). She offers Huli to be her maid so the latter can obtain money to free Kabesang Tales. Disbelieving of Huli and her close friends, she considers herself as an ally of the friars. Tiburcio de Espadaa - Don Tiburcio is Victorina de Espadaa's lame husband. He is currently on hiding with Father Florentino. Father ren - Captain Tiago's spiritual adviser. Although reluctant, he helped the students to establish the Academia de Castellano after being convinced by giving him a chestnut. The only witness to Captain Tiago's death, he forged the last will and testament of the latter so Basilio will obtain nothing from the inheritance. Quiroga - A Chinese businessman who dreamed of being a consul for his country in the Philippines. He hid Simoun's weapons inside his house. Don Timoteo Pelaez - Juanito's father. He is a rich businessmen and arranges a wedding for his son and Paulita. He and Simoun became business partners. Tandang Selo - Father of Kabesang Tales. He raised the sick and young Basilio after he left their house in Noli me Tangere. He died in an encounter on the mountains with his son Tales. Father Fernndez - The priest-friend of Isagani. He promised to Isagani that he and the other priests will give in to the students' demands. Sandoval - The vice-leader of Macaraig's gang. A Spanish classmate of Isagani, he coerces his fellow classmates to lead alongside him the opening of the Spanish language academy.

Hermana Bli - Another gambler in Tiani. She became Huli's mother-figure and counselor; helped to release Kabesang Tales from the hands of bandits. Pasta - One of the great lawyers of mid-Hispanic Manila, opposed the students' demands for a Spanish language academy Father Millon - The Physics teacher of the University of Santo Tomas. He always becomes vindictive with Placido and always taunts him during class. Tadeo - Macaraig's classmate. He, along with the other three members of their gang, supposedly posted the posters that "thanked" Don Custodio and Father Irene for the opening of the Academia de Castellano. Leeds - An American who holds stage plays starring decapitated heads; he is in good friends with Simoun. Tano - Kabesang Tales's elder son after his older sister, Lucia died in childhood. He is currently one of the Guardia Civil. He then returned under the name Carolino after his exile inCaroline Islands. Pepay - Don Custodio's supposed "girlfriend". A dancer, she is always agitated of her "boyfriend"'s plans. She seems to be a close friend of Macaraig. Gobernador General - The highest-ranking official in the Philippines during the Spanish colonial period, this unnamed character pretends that what he is doing is for the good of the Indios, the local citizens of the country, but in reality, he prioritizes the needs of his fellow Spaniards living in the country. Pecson - Basilio's classmate who had no idea on the happenings occurring around him. He suggested that they held the mock celebration at the panciteria. Father Hernando de la Sibyla- A Dominican friar introduced in Noli Me Tangere, now the vice-rector of the University of Santo Tomas. Father Bernardo Salvi- Former parish priest of San Diego, now the director and chaplain of the Santa Clara convent. Captain Tiago - Santiago delos Santos, although making a cameo appearance, Captain Tiago is Maria Clara's father and the foster-father to Basilio. His health disintegrates gradually because of the opium he was forced to smoke given to him by Father Irene. Maria Clara - Introduced in Dr. Rizal's first novel "Noli Me Tangere". She was once the girlfriend of Crisostomo Ibarra but chose to became a nun despite Father Damaso's arguments. She eventually died, as witnessed by Basilio when he visited the convent of Santa Clara; this propelled Simoun to expedite his plans for revolution.

El Filibusterismo Summary Also known as El Fili in Filipino, the novel was published in 1891 in Ghent, Belgium. It was shipped to the Philippines via Hong Kong and many of the copies were confiscated before reaching the Philippine shore. 'El Filibusterismo' was thereafter serialized in El Nuevo Regimen in Madrid and translated into Filipino, other Philippine dialects, English, German, Japanese and French. Set thirteen years after Crisostomo Ibarra, the main character in 'Noli Me Tangere,' left the Philippines, a mysterious jeweler named Simoun returns to the Philippines on board the steamer Tabo. The all powerful Simoun with his beard and his blue tinted eyeglasses is a friend of the Spanish government, being an advisor to the Governor General of the Philippines. On the outside, he is a good friend of Spain, but in his heart, he is planning revenge in opposition to the Spanish atrocities in the Philippines. This is for the reason that Simoun, who in reality is Crisostomo Ibarra, is fueled by revenge and his fixation to instigate a revolution against Spain and to rescue his beloved Maria Clara from the convent.