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Rizal's Return: Noli Me Tangere Challenges

The document outlines the learning objectives and content of a module focused on Jose Rizal's first homecoming and the challenges he faced upon returning to the Philippines. It details Rizal's motivations for returning, the controversies surrounding his novel 'Noli Me Tangere', and the agrarian issues in Calamba. The module also includes activities and references for further study.

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Jethro Orejuela
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14 views10 pages

Rizal's Return: Noli Me Tangere Challenges

The document outlines the learning objectives and content of a module focused on Jose Rizal's first homecoming and the challenges he faced upon returning to the Philippines. It details Rizal's motivations for returning, the controversies surrounding his novel 'Noli Me Tangere', and the agrarian issues in Calamba. The module also includes activities and references for further study.

Uploaded by

Jethro Orejuela
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

MODULE

First Homecoming and His


5 Challenges
LEARNING OBJECTIVES

Course Learning Outcomes Module Learning Outcomes Topic Learning Outcome


CLO 8: Display MLO 1: Determine the reasons why Rizal TLO 5: Analyze the works of Rizal
professionalism and suddenly decided to come back home. in the overseas particularly his
excellence, being as a MLO 2: Conclude the aftermath of the works in Madrid and Barcelona
com petent professional and accord of Rizal.
MLO 3: Describe the outcome of the TLO 6: Identify the travels of
gallant citizen; and Rizal in Europe as well as his
novel as well as the impressions of the
impressions especially with
Spaniards and Filipinos that time
CLO 9: Display a professional Maximo Viola
com mitment to ethical
practice daily by being TLO 7: Discuss how Rizal work
the Noli Me Tangere as his major
responsible students attending
masterpiece in Europe
their classes and subm itting
reports on tim e.

CLO 10: Describe on how the


Rizal fought in relevance to the
m odern concept of nationalism

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title Pages Recommended Time Allotment


First Homecoming 1887-1888 2 2
Storm over Noli 3-4 2
Calamba’s Agrarian Reform 5-6 1
Summary 7 30 mins.
Activities 8 30 mins.
References

TOTAL HOURS 6

Page 1 of 10
Prepared by Ma Elena Ocana, LPT (2019-2020)
Edited by Francisco L Sanchez Jr., LPT (September, 2021)
A. FIRST HOMECOMING, 1887-88

Decision to return home

He was warned by Paciano, Silvestre Ubaldo, Chengoy and other friends not to
return home. However, these are the reasons for returning, first is to operate on his
mother’s eyes, to serve his people who had long been oppressed by the Spanish Tyrants,
to find out for himself how the Noli and his other writings were affecting Filipinos and
Spaniards in the Philippines, and lastly, to inquire why Leonor Rivera remained silent

In a delightful trip to Manila, on July 3, 1887 boarded the steamer Djemnah, the same
steamer which brought him to Europe 5 yrs ago, with 50 passengers, 4 Englishmen, 2
Germans, 3 Chinese, 2 Japanese, many Frenchmen and 1 Filipino. Steamer was enroute
to the Orient via the Suez Canal and at Saigon on July 30, he transferred to another
steamer Haiphong. On August 2, the steamer left Saigon to Manila

Arrived in Manila near midnight of August 5, the Haiphong arrived in Manila. He found
Manila the same as when he left 5 years ago. It was a happy Homecoming, on August 8,
he returned to Calamba. Upon his return he established a medical clinic. His mother was
his 1st patient. But could not perform surgical operations because her eye cataracts were
not yet ripe. He called “Doctor Uliman” because he came from Germany. Within few
months he was able to earn P900 as a physician, on February 1888 he earned a total of
P5,000 as medical fees. Opened a gymnasium for young folks, where he introduced
European sports to discourage cockfights and gambling, and he failed to see Leonor
Rivera

Page 2 of 10
Prepared by Ma Elena Ocana, LPT (2019-2020)
Edited by Francisco L Sanchez Jr., LPT (September, 2021)
B. STORM OVER NOLI ME TANGERE

The following are controversies that arose upon Jose’s return in Manila, with regards
to Noli Me Tangere (Ocana, 2020): Painted several beautiful landscapes and translated
the German Poems of Von Wildernath into Tagalog. Received a letter from Governor
General Emilio Terrero (1885-88) requesting him to come to Malacañang Palace.
o He merely exposed the truth but did not advocate subversive ideas.
o Visited the Jesuit Fathers to ask for the copy of Noli he sent them. His
former professors – Fr. Francisco de Paula Sanchez, Fr. Jose Bech, and Fr.
Frederico Faura – were glad to see him.
▪ “everything in it was the truth. You may lose your head for it” – Fr.
Faura
o Gov. Gen. Terrero assigned a young Spanish Lieutenant, Don Jose Taviel
de Andrade, as a bodyguard of Rizal
o Archbishop of Manila, Msgr. Pedro Payo (Dominican) sent a copy of the Noli
to Father Rector Gregorio Echavarria of the University of Sto. Tomas for
examination by a committee of the faculty.
o Faculty members report about Noli: heretical, impious and scandalous in
the religious order, and anti-patriotic, subversive of public order, injurious
to the government of Spain and its function in the Philippine Islands in the
Political order.
o Gov. Gen. Terrero was dissatisfied with the report for he knew that the
Dominicans were prejudiced against Rizal. He sent the novel to the
Permanent Commission of Censorship, which was composed of priests and
laymen.
▪ The report was drafted by its head, Fr. Salvador Font, Augustinian
cura of Tondo and submitted to Gov. Gen. on December 29.
▪ Found the novel to contain subversive ideas against the Church and
Spain and recommended ‘that the importation, reproduction and

Page 3 of 10
Prepared by Ma Elena Ocana, LPT (2019-2020)
Edited by Francisco L Sanchez Jr., LPT (September, 2021)
circulation of this pernicious book in the islands be absolutely
prohibited.

C. ATTACKERS OF NOLI ME TANGERE

Father Font printed his report and distributed copies of it in order to discredit the
controversial novel. Fr. Jose Rodriguez, Prior of Guadalupe, published a series of 8
pamphlets under the general heading Cuestiones de Sumo Interes (Questions of Supreme
Interest) to blast the Noli and other anti-Spanish writings. 8 pamphlets were entitled:
▪ Porque no los he de leer? (why should I not read them?)
▪ Guardaos de ellos. Porque? (beware of them. Why?)
▪ And what can you tell me of plague?
▪ Why do the impious triumph
▪ Do you think there is really no purgatory?
▪ Is there or is there no hell?
▪ What do you think about these libels?
▪ Confession or damnation?
o fiercely attacked on the session hall of the Senate of the Spanish Cortes by
various senators:
▪ Gen. Jose de Salamanca, April 1, 1888; Gen. Luis M. de Prando on
April 12; Sr. Fernando Vida on June 11; Vicente Barrantes, Spanish
academician of Madrid, bitterly criticized the Noli in an article
published in La Espana Moderna in January 1890.

Page 4 of 10
Prepared by Ma Elena Ocana, LPT (2019-2020)
Edited by Francisco L Sanchez Jr., LPT (September, 2021)
D. DEFENDERS OF NOLI ME TANGERE

Marcelo Del Pilar, Dr. Antonio Ma. Regidor, Graciano Lopez Jaena, Mariano Ponce and
other Filipino reformists in foreign lands rushed to uphold the truths of the Noli. Father
Sanchez defended and praised it in public. Dr. Segundo Moret, former Minister of the
Crown; Dr. Miguel Morayta, historian and statesman; Professor Blumentritt, scholar and
educator, read and liked the novel.
o Brilliant defense from Rev. Vicente Garcia, a Filipino Catholic priest -scholar,
a theologian of the Manila Cathedral, and a Tagalog translator of the famous
Imitation of Christ by Thomas a Kempis.
o Fr. Garcia penname Justo Desiderio Magalang, wrote a defense published
in Singapore as an appendix to a pamphlet dated July 18, 1888.
▪ Arguments:
● Rizal cannot be an ignorant man
● Rizal does not attack the Church and Spain
● Fr. Rodriguez said that those who read the Noli commit a
mortal sin; since he had read the novel, therefore he also
commits a mortal sin
o Rizal defended his novel against Barrantes’ attack. Exposed Barrantes’
ignorance of Philippine affairs and mental dishonesty which is unworthy of
an academician
o Letter to Fernando Canon from Geneva, June 13, 1887: price set per copy
was only 5 pesetas equivalent to 1 peso but the price later rose to 50 pesos
per copy.

What marred Rizal’s happy days in Calamba with Lt. Andrade is the death of his older
sister Olympia, and the groundless tales circulated by his enemies that he was a “German
spy, an agent of Bismarck, a protestant, a mason, a witch, a soul beyond salvation, etc.

Page 5 of 10
Prepared by Ma Elena Ocana, LPT (2019-2020)
Edited by Francisco L Sanchez Jr., LPT (September, 2021)
E. AGRARIAN TROUBLES IN CALAMBA

On December 30, 1887, civil governor of Laguna directed the municipal authorities
to investigate the agrarian conditions of their locality. Rizal wrote down his findings which
the tenants and three of the officials of the hacienda signed on January 8, 1888. Findings:
The hacienda of the Dominican order comprised not only the lands around Calamba, but
also the town of Calamba, Profits of Dominican increased because of the arbitrary
increase of rentals, The hacienda owner never contributed a single centavo for the
Celebration of town fiesta, for education of the children, and for improvement of the
agriculture, and the tenants who had spent much labor in clearing the lands were
dispossessed of said lands for flimsy reasons. The high rates of interest were charged the
tenants for delayed payment of rentals and when the rentals could not be paid, the
hacienda management confiscated their carabaos, tools and homes.

F. FAREWELL TO CALAMBA

The following are the reasons why Jose Rizal needs to leave Calamba, Laguna for
the second time: his presence in Calamba was jeopardizing the safety and happiness of
his family and friends, he believed that he could fight better his enemies and serve his
country’s cause with greater efficacy but writing in foreign countries. A poem for Lipa. In
commemoration of the town’s elevation to a villa (city) by virtue of the Bocerra Law 1888.
Himno Al Trabajo (Hymn to Labor).

LET US LOOK BACK!

Jose Rizal decided to go back home even with the warning of his brother and

friends not to go back. He came back after 5 years because first he needs to operate his

mother’s eyes next to know how his writings affected the social conditions of the

Philippines and lastly to help his fellow oppressed Filipino. His comeback became stormy

Page 6 of 10
Prepared by Ma Elena Ocana, LPT (2019-2020)
Edited by Francisco L Sanchez Jr., LPT (September, 2021)
because Spanish friars strongly condemned the publication of his work, Noli Me Tangere.

Despite of this he still managed to create a good friendship with Lieutenant Taviel De

Andrade. Lastly, the challenge in the Calamba Agrarian Reform wherein he noted several

negative findings. Because of all the turmoil he encountered he decided to leave Calamba

and go back abroad because he can fight better and write efficiently while in abroad.

Page 7 of 10
Prepared by Ma Elena Ocana, LPT (2019-2020)
Edited by Francisco L Sanchez Jr., LPT (September, 2021)
I’M A PHILSCAN, PRO-ACADEMIC HONESTY!

Oppps! Before you challenge your wit, don’t forget to sign the honesty pledge below! Remember,
our course policy states that “students are expected to display the highest degree of honesty and
professionalism in their class work, requirements, and activities especially that the flexible modality offers
greater opportunity for cheating.”

I, a proud and honest PhilSCAn, do hereby promise to exercise highest degree o f


honesty and professionalism as I accomplish the tasks laid before me. With this, I
abhor any forms of cheating, particularly any acts of plagiarism. If ever I committed
such act and got caught, I shall submit myself to due process as stipulated in the
Student Manual. So help me, God.

___________________________ _____________________________
Your Printed Name and Signature Your Parent or Guardian’s

______________________________
Your Instructor’s Printed Name and Signature

Page 8 of 10
Prepared by Ma Elena Ocana, LPT (2019-2020)
Edited by Francisco L Sanchez Jr., LPT (September, 2021)
WORKSHEET 8

NAME: DATE:
COURSE/YR/SEC: INSTRUCTOR:

Direction: Answer the following questions:

1. What are the reasons why Rizal came back to the Philippines?

2. Explain the struggles of Rizal when he came back.

3. On your opinion, is his decision to come back rational?

Page 9 of 10
Prepared by Ma Elena Ocana, LPT (2019-2020)
Edited by Francisco L Sanchez Jr., LPT (September, 2021)
G. ADDITIONAL REFERENCES AND RESOURCES

Revel, Nicol, ed. Literature of Voice: Epics in the “Philippines, a century hence”, Gutenberg Press,
Philippines. Quezon City: Ateneo de Manila [Link]
University Press, 2005. h/[Link]

Hau, Caroline S. Necessary Fictions: Philippine “From Cadiz to La Liga: The Spanish Context of
Literature and the Nation, 1946-1980. Quezon Rizal’s Political Thought”, Aseniero, George,
City: Ateneo de Manila University Press, 2000. [Link]
49-1-
Ocampo, Ambeth. Rizal Without the Overcoat.
2013/From%20Cadiz%20to%20La%20Liga%20-
Pasig City: Anvil Publishing Inc. 1990. %20Spanish%20Context%20of% 20Rizals%20P
De Jesus, Joaquin Carlos, “How Rizal’s life in olitical%20Thought%20-%[Link]
Europe and friendship with a Czech scholar
Rizal Articles, National Historical Commission of
changed a nation’s fate”, ABS-CBN News, 20
the Philippines,
December, 2019, [Link] [Link]
[Link]/ancx/culture/spotlight/12/30/19/how-
ticles-resources/rizal-articles/
rizals-life-in-europe-and-friendship-with-a-czech-
scholar-changed-a-nations-fate

Page 10 of 10
Prepared by Ma Elena Ocana, LPT (2019-2020)
Edited by Francisco L Sanchez Jr., LPT (September, 2021)

Common questions

Powered by AI

Interpersonal relationships were central to Rizal's activities and challenges. His connections, like those with Lt. Jose Taviel de Andrade and Filipino reformists abroad, provided strategic support and nationalistic momentum. Domestically, strained ties, such as with Leonor Rivera, and familial warnings against returning highlighted personal sacrifices. Meanwhile, his friendships facilitated deeper political insights and alliances, crucial for his reformist agenda, as he navigated oppressive political climates and personal adversities, illustrating the complex interplay between personal bonds and nationalistic pursuits .

Rizal leveraged his medical knowledge, acquired in Europe, to directly impact Filipino society by addressing both personal and public health needs. He established a clinic and earned a considerable sum as a physician, emphasizing professional excellence and service to countrymen, which he saw as part of his broader mission to uplift his compatriots. His efforts to introduce European sports to young locals aimed at reducing vices like cockfighting and gambling depicted his commitment to societal reform, encouraging a healthier, more disciplined community .

Father Vicente Garcia's defense of Noli Me Tangere, under the pseudonym Justo Desiderio Magalang, was a pivotal moment in religious and political discourse. His arguments showcased an alternative theological and intellectual stance within the Church itself, emphasizing Rizal's learned background and the novel's legitimacy as a social critique rather than an attack on faith. Garcia's meticulous reasoning against Father Rodriguez's condemnation of the novel as sinful shifted the debate, allowing for more nuanced interpretations and opening paths for intellectual support from religious circles against an oppressive colonial state .

Noli Me Tangere, upon Rizal's return to the Philippines, drew strong reactions for its critical portrayal of Spanish colonial rule. The novel was deemed heretical, impious, and subversive by the religious and political establishment, particularly the Dominicans, leading to a ban on its circulation . However, Filipino reformists, including Marcelo Del Pilar and Graciano Lopez Jaena, defended and praised it for its truthful depiction of Filipino suffering under Spanish rule. This divide highlighted the contentious political and social environment in colonial Philippines, where each side perceived the novel's implications in drastically different lights .

Governor General Emilio Terrero played a crucial role in amplifying Rizal's influence and the discourse surrounding Noli Me Tangere. By rejecting the biased opinions of Dominican authorities and advocating for a fair examination by the Permanent Commission of Censorship, Terrero effectively highlighted the novel’s importance and the broader implications of censorship. This gesture not only protected Rizal temporarily from immediate retribution but also validated his work's relevance, enabling broader public engagement and strengthening his standing among reformists and his audience .

Rizal's return journey to the Philippines via countries like Saigon highlighted the interconnectedness of colonial networks and the geopolitical factors influencing travel. Steamer routes through ports governed by varying colonial powers such as the French and the Spanish reflected the European dominance over Asian passages and trade during his era. This underlined the complexities Rizal encountered in securing safe passage and illustrated wider colonial interactions that shaped his awareness of the global context of imperial control, which informed his subsequent calls for Filipino self-determination .

Jose Rizal decided to leave the Philippines again due to the continuous threats to his and his family's safety following his outspoken criticisms of agrarian problems and Spanish rule. He believed that he could contribute more effectively to the nationalist cause and counter his adversaries by writing and advocating from abroad, free from immediate persecution. The escalating tensions in Calamba and his efforts to champion Filipino rights against Spanish oppressors made his presence in the country unsustainable .

Jose Rizal decided to return to the Philippines in 1887 for several reasons: first, to operate on his mother's eyes, then to serve his fellow Filipinos who were oppressed by Spanish tyranny, assess the impact of his writings, such as Noli Me Tangere, on the local populace, and to investigate the silence of Leonor Rivera, with whom he corresponded. Despite warnings from his family and friends about the potential dangers, his commitment to addressing these personal and national concerns outweighed such risks .

Rizal's involvement in the agrarian issues in Calamba had significant repercussions. By documenting and reporting the arbitrary practices of the Dominican hacienda owners—such as sudden rent increases and the unfair dispossession of lands—he highlighted the systemic exploitation faced by Filipino tenants. His findings, signed by tenants and local officials, laid bare the lack of contributions by the hacienda to community development and the severe penalties imposed for rent delays. This documentation intensified tensions and added to the reasons Rizal was perceived as a threat by the colonial authorities, eventually necessitating his departure from the area .

Rizal's time in Europe critically shaped his nationalist ideology, evident upon his return to the Philippines. His experiences abroad broadened his intellectual horizons and inspired him to advocate for national reforms from a position informed by European liberal ideas. Friendships with European scholars like Professor Blumentritt played a crucial role, reinforcing Rizal's belief in equal rights and justice, which he aspired to implement back home. European democratic values found articulation in his writings, such as Noli Me Tangere, which critiqued colonial rule and called for social change, resonating with Filipino reformists and intellectuals .

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