Noli-Fili

• NOLI ME TANGERE: "The Social Cancer" The Latin title, means "touch me not" was taken from Christ's words; John 20:17 - "touch me not, for I am not yet ascended to my father"
• Noli is composed of 63 chapters and epilogue; Rizal was a medicine student at Universidad de Central Madrid when he started writing Noli, and he was 26 years old at its publication.
• Rizal started writing Noli in Madrid, Spain; December 1884.
• 1885: Rizal left for France
• April to June 1886: Noli was completed in Berlin, Germany
• March 21, 1887: Noli was published
• Maximo Viola: a friend from a rich family of San Miguel, Bulacan; lend 300 pesos to Rizal so that Noli could be published.
• The Chapter 25 "Elias and Salome" was deleted as Rizal made some adjustments in the novel and he lacks funds
• Noli was influenced by the book Uncle Tom's Cabin by: Harried Beecher Stowe
• Juan Crisostomo Ibarra y Magsalin: a rich youthful mestizo; returned to the Philippines after seven years of studying in Europe. Representation: Ilustrados, who are Filipinos able to study abroad; often accused of revolt because of his desire to improve Filipino's living conditions.
• Maria Clara de los Santos: daughter of Capitan Tiago and Pia Alba; fiance of Ibarra. Representation: symbolizes the traditional traits and pureness of traditional Filipina.
• Elias: Ibarra's mysterious friend, master boater, and fugitive; a victim of abuse of the friars and government. Representation: common Filipinos who desires a better Philippines.
• Capitan Santiago de los Santos: wealthy and high-influential Filipino; caring and protective of his family and social status. Representation: symbolizes wealthy Filipino who is willing to oppress his fellow Filipinos for selfish reasons.
• Pia Alba: Capitan Tiago's wife and mother of Maria; a beautiful and rich woman. Representation: all the victims who had been abused by the clergy and was forced to stay silent.
• Doña Victorina de los Reyes Espadaña : a brazen and determined Filipina, odd, ambitious, and ignorant; spouse of the counterfeit doctor, Tiburcio de Espadaña. Representation: rich Filipinos who are reluctant to be identified as indio.
• Don Tiburcio de Espadaña: limp, fraud, and an introvert doctor; making a living as a quack doctor. Representation: ignorant Spaniards who made absurd decisions tat led to terrible decisions for locals.
• Alferez: Husband of Doña Consolation whom he violently fights. Representation: officials of the state who competes with the church for authority.
• Doña Consolacion: ashamed of her heritage and pretends to be unable to speak Tagalog. Representation: Filipinos who are ashamed of their race and nationality.
• Governor-General: next to the king; he occupies the most powerful position in the colonial government. Representation: typical governor-general assigned in the Philippines.
• Alfonso Linares: a young and smart Spanish lawyer; was arranged to be married to Maria. Representation: Spanish citizen hoping to have a better life in Philippines than Spain.
• Don Anastacio: also known as Pilosopo Tasyo; he is smart, observant, and poor pessimist; he spent most of is money on books. Representation: educated Filipino; despite his economic status, he still choose to remain well-informed.
• Padre Damaso Verdolagas: a talkative and cruel priest; used his authority to abuse people. Representation: Spanish friars who use the Catholic religion to mistreat and abuse Filipinos.
• Padre Bernardo Salvi: described as skinny and frail; manipulates people for his benefit. Representation: a friar abusive to the power of Filipino people.
• Padre Hernando de la Sibyla: a Dominican priest and former professor at San Juan de Letran College; collected and smart. Representation: friars who were aware of the abuse and injustice but would not do anything to change it.
• Sisa: went insane because of the abuses committed to her children and neglect of her husband; Pedro. Representation: the suffering of the motherland, Philippines.
• Crispin and Basilio: denied of luxuries and education. Representation: innocent young Filipinos who were wrongly accused of crimes they did not commit; victim of an oppressive government.
• EL FILIBUSTERISMO: "The Reign of Greed" Dedicated to GomBurZa; comprising only 38 chapters, originally has 279 page manuscript but deleted 47 pages to save expenses.
• Rizal started writing El Fili in October 1887 at Calamba, Laguna.
• March 29, 1891: Rizal finished El Fili
• September 18, 1891: El Fili was published in Ghent, Belgium
• Valentin Ventura: Rizal's friend; partially financed El Fili's publication.
• Jose Alejandrino: Rizal's roommate in Belgium; canvassed for the printing press of El Fili.
• F. Meyer Van Loo Press (#66 Viaanderen St.): willing to print El Filibusterismo in installment basis; Rizal pawned his jewels to pay the down payment and the partial payments during the printing of the novel.
• Simon: he returned as a jeweler, he features a magnanimous intellect, outspoken, and idealistic. Representation: he speaks to the progressive who upheld the thought oflding wicked revolt against the Spanish government.
• Basilio: an inspiring doctor; worked as Capitan Tiago's aid in exchange for his education.
• Telesforo Juan de Dios: also known as Kabesang Tales or Matanglawin; was deprived for his right to own his land.
• Paulita Gomez: pretty girl admired by many students, niece of Doña Victoria; the former lover of Isagani as she believes that there is no good future ahead with him. Representation: narrow-minded lady who will select the leading alternative for a more steady and comfortable future for herself.
• Juanito Pelaez: a Spanish businessman, considered by Isagani as his rival to Paulita.
• Macaraig: one of Isagani's classmate at University of Santo Tomas; rich student, serves as the leader of the students who wants to build Academia de Castellano. Representation: well-off Filipino youth, amid the Spanish time, who had a great dream for the nation.
• Father Florentino: a secular Filipino priest, pressured by his mother to become a priest even though he wanted to marry his lover.