GEd 103 Module 5: The Making of Noli Me Tangere & El Filibusterismo

Winter of 1886

Rizal's darkest winter spent in Berlin, where no allowance arrived from Calamba and he was left flat broke and suffering.

Dr. Maximo Viola

The close friend and strategic sponsor recognized as the definitive "savior of the Noli" for loaning Rizal the funds to publish it.

Elias and Salome

The entirely sacrificed chapter (Chapter 25) that Rizal completely deleted to drastically minimize Noli printing expenses.

Berliner Buchdruckerei-Action-Gesselschaft

The specialized printing shop in Berlin that charged the lowest commercial rate of 300 pesos for 2,000 copies of the Noli.

March 27, 1887

The historical date on which Noli Me Tangere formally came off the press in Berlin.

Berlin Passport Ultimatum

A strict 4-day ultimatum given to Rizal by the Chief of Berlin Police under suspicion that he was a French spy visiting rural towns.

Gospel of St. John 20:13-17

The exact biblical source of the Latin title phrase Noli Me Tangere ("Touch Me Not").

Noli Cover Axis Division

The layout separating the Noli cover page into an Upper Triangle (representing his past life) and a Lower Triangle (representing current conditions).

Silhouette of a Filipina

The Noli icon positioning a female figure at the top to represent Maria Clara or Inang Bayan (the Motherland).

The Noli Cross

The icon representing the Catholic faith rising above the Motherland to demonstrate supreme institutional dominance, suffering, and death.

Pomelo Blossoms and Laurel Leaves

Noli cover graphics that together represent the fundamental values of faith, honor, and fidelity.

Burning Torch

The Noli icon symbolizing the dynamic awakening of Filipino national consciousness and shedding light onto the manuscript.

Sunflower

The Noli icon symbolizing a new beginning, compared poetically to a happiness always bowing down.

Outsized Friar's Feet

The Noli cover graphic indicating the absolute power of the friars by suggesting Filipinos cannot stand on their own.

Guardia Civil Helmet

The Noli cover icon representing the arrogance and structural power of those in colonial authority.

The Noli Whip

The cover graphic representing the overt abuses, physical floggings, and cruelties executed by the Spaniards.

Suplina

The instruments used for self-flagellation depicted on the Noli cover to symbolize the cruelties inflicted by the Guardia Civil.

The Noli Chain

The cover graphic symbolizing total slavery, structural oppression, and unlawful imprisonment.

Cluster of Bamboo Stalks

The Noli backdrop representing both Filipino resiliency and the reality of the people being pushed into the background.

October 1887

The month and year when Rizal officially commenced writing his second novel, El Filibusterismo, while living in Calamba.

March 29, 1891

The exact date on which Rizal finished writing the complete original manuscript of El Filibusterismo in Biarritz.

Ghent Relocation

Rizal's move from Brussels to Belgium to find a lower cost of living and cheaper printing, escaping Petite Suzanne.

Jose Alejandro

Rizal's roommate in Ghent with whom he lived frugally for three months to economize on daily expenses.

F. Meyer-Van Loo Press

The publisher located at No. 66 Vlaanderen Street in Ghent that printed El Filibusterismo on an distinction installment basis.

Valentin Ventura

The close friend recognized as the "savior of the Fili" for sending the necessary funds to resume printing after its suspension.

September 18, 1891

The historical date on which El Filibusterismo officially came off the press in Ghent, Belgium.

La Publicidad

The Filipino colony newspaper in Barcelona that published a tribute comparing the style of El Fili to Alexandre Dumas.

El Nuevo Regimen

The liberal Madrid newspaper that serialized El Filibusterismo in October 1891.

Fili Manuscript Government Valuation

The 279-page original manuscript acquired by the Philippine Government from Valentin Ventura for 10,000 pesos.

Omitted Fili Features

The Foreword and the Warning, which were completely removed from the printed copy to save on total printing costs.

Fili Dedication Errors

Rizal's note mistakenly listed the GOMBURZA execution as Feb 28, 1872, and altered their true ages (Gomez 73, Burgos 35, Zamora 37).

Simoun

The main protagonist of El Filibusterismo; a wealthy, cynical jeweler who is an altered, vengeful Crisostomo Ibarra.

Kamandagan

The hero of Rizal's unfinished third novel project, a descendant of Lakan-Dula plotting a revolution to regain freedom.

Makamisa

An incomplete Tagalog novel fragment written in a light, sarcastic style, consisting of only 2 chapters spanning 20 pages.