Asymptotes of inverse trig functions

NoliMeTangere(TouchMeNot)byJoséRizalThisbookisthemostimportantliteraryworkinthePhilippines.Onehundredtwenty-six(126)afteritwaswritten,itsmessageisstillrelevanttousFilipinos.Ihavealsoreadalotofotherbookswrittenbylocalauthorsand,forme,thequalityofRizal’swritingisstillunsurpassed."NoliMeTangere"(TouchMeNot)isanoveloftheNationalHeroofthePhilippines,Dr.JoseRizal.TheLatintitlecamefromtheHolyBible,John20:17“Touchmenot,forIhavenotyetascendedtomyfather.”BiblicalscholarsdonotknowexactlywhyJesustoldthistoMarywhenlater,HeinvitedThomastotouchHiswoundandinMatthew28:9,whenwomensawHim,“theyheldHimbythefeet,andworshippedHim.”Theywerenottold“nottotouchHim.”However,inthebook,thisphraseisalludedtobyEliasreferringtotheimpendingrevolutionbeingplannedbytherebels.ThroughIbarra,hegivesawarningtotheSpanishfriarsforthecontinuouskillingsandinjusticesbeingdonetothenativeFilipinos.Hesaysthatanytime,ataslightprovocation,therevolutionwillstart.This1887novelwasoriginallywritteninSpanish(firstpublishedinGermany).ItsFilipino(Tagalog)translationisarequiredreadinginthirdyearhighschoolthroughoutthecountry.ThefirsttimeIreadthiswasinschoolyear1978-1979ormorethan3decadesago.IthinktheversionthatwereadwastheonewithredcoverandwastranslatedbyDomingodeGuzman(abridged,IthinkbutitretainedsomeSpanishphrases).However,justlikemyclassmatesthen,IreaditwithpassingthePilipinocourseasmyonlymotivation.Ipainstakinglymemorizedtheplot,characters,eventsthathadhighprobabilityofbeingaskedinthequizzesandexams.Now,duringthissecondreading,evenafter33years,Icouldstillrecallsomenamesofthecharacters,somescenesandevents.LikeprobablyallFilipinoswhofinishedthirdyearhigh,wewerealltoldthatthisnovelcausedDr.JoseRizal’sdeathbyfiringsquadonDecember30,1896oraround10yearsafterhestartedwritingthis.TheSpanishfriarsbannedthisnovelinthePhilippinesbecausethisannouncedtothewholeworldtheatrocities,injustices,killingsandmaltreatmentsthattheyweredoingthentothenativeFilipinoswhotheyalsoderogatorilyreferredtoasindios.Rizal’sdeathwassaidtobethetriggerfortheFilipinostoworkhardintheirfightagainsttheSpaniards.Thentheireffortsledtoourcountry’sgainingofourindependencefromSpainviathePhilippineDeclarationofIndependenceonJune12,1898.Butthen,thiswasafterSpainlosttotheUSAduringtheBattleofManilaBayonMay1,1898resultingtothesigningofTreatyofParisbetweenthetwocountrieswhereSpainsoldthePhilippinestotheUSAtothetuneof$20,000,000(twentymilliondollars).So,didthisbookreallymakeabigdifferenceconsideringthattheTreatyofPariswastheonethatreallyendedtheSpanish-Americanwarandchangedthecountry’scolonialmasterfromSpaintotheUSA?ThenRizalwasappointedastheNationalHeroofthePhilippinesbecauseGovernor-GeneralHowardTaft,duringtheAmericanoccupation,thoughtthatitwouldbe“nice”forFilipinostohaveitsownnationalheroeveryonecanlookupto?ThensinceRizalhadnoanti-Americanleanings,TafthandpickedRizalfortheposition?Forme,theanswerisyes.Thisbook,evenifthisdidnotreallymovemountainsandearthforthePhilippines,reallyhelpedFilipinostorealizethattheywerebeingtreatedbadlybytheSpaniards.TheFilipinosletthefriars'atrocitiespassbecausetheSpaniardsalsobroughtChristianitytotheislandsandthesesupposedlymenofclothfooledtheFilipinosintobelievingthattheywouldgotohelliftheyopposedthefriars’whimsandcaprices.So,thefriarsbecamepowerfulandruledthecountryfor300years.ThencameRizal.DuringoneofhisdinnersinBarcelona,hesuggestedtohisequallyrichmaleilustradofriends,thattheycollectivelywriteanoveltoexposethecrueltyoftheSpanishfriarsinthePhilippines.TheysaidyesbutRizaldidnothearanythingfromthemanymore.So,Rizalwrotethisbookallbyhimself.TherewasevenanaccountthathesacrificedalotlikehepickedcigarettebuttsfromthestreetbecauseitwascoldinGermanywhenthisbookwaspublishedandhedidnothavemoneytobuyevencigarettes.Thebookiswell-written.Theplotisthickandcanbeinterpretedinmanyways.Itisalovestorynotonlybetweenamanandawoman:arichyoungunicohijo(onlychild)CrisostomoIbarraandhisfiancée,alsoarichheiress,MariaClara/Claritabutalsotheloveofapersontohiscountry.Thatsecondtypeofloveisillustratedherebytwocharacterswithtwodifferentreasons:IbarraloveshiscountrybecausesheprovidesforhishappinesswhileEliasloveshiscountrydespitegivinghimallhissufferings.Thesetwomenalsohaveopposingviewsonrevolution.RealistIbarrathinksthatitisbetterforthePhilippinestostayunderSpanishruleandwhathedesiresisonlyforthecountrytobeaprovinceofSpainsothattherightsoftheFilipinoswillbethesameasthoseoftheSpaniards.IdealistElias,ontheotherhand,thinksthatthisisimpossibleandtotalsecessionofthePhilippinesfromSpainistheonlysolutiontoendallthesocialills.Almostallofthemanycharactersarememorableandwelldeveloped.Thedescriptionsofthesettingsarebeautifullydetailed,Ithoughtthatwhilereadingsomeofthescenes,Icouldfeelthedustyroad,smelltheanimaldung,hearthegallopinghorses,seethecrazymotherSisawearingherdirtytatteredclothesandwanderingthestreetsmindlessly.TherearemanypoignantanddramaticscenesbutIwillneverforgetthesetwo:thefirstoneiswhenSisaseestheghostofherdeadyoungersonCrispinandthesecondoneistowardstheendingwhenEliasaskstheelderbrotherBasiliotoburnhisandSisa’sbodyonChristmasEve.Theheightofirony.Igotgoosebumpswhilereadingthesescenesthatmy15-yearoldskindidnotexperiencethefirsttimeIreadthisbook33yearsago.TheSpaniardsconquistadoresandAmericansGIshavelongbeengone.Althoughthisiscontestable,thePhilippineshaslongbeenafreecountry.Let’ssaythisistrue.So,whatisthelegacythatthisbookhasleftforthepresentgenerationoftheFilipinos?Yousee,IthinkthebookstilltalkstousFilipinos.RizalbelievedintheimportanceofeducationasinculcatedinhismindbyhisparentsandbrotherPaciano.Hestudiedabroad,i.e.,Spain,FranceandGermany,becausehisparentsfeltthattheeducationinthePhilippineswasnotenough.Whenhecameback,hefoundedandranaschoolforyoungboysinDapitan.IfRizalwerealivetoday,hewouldhavebeenaneducator-probablyanownerordeanofabiguniversity,orthesecretaryofEducationoreventhePresidentofthePhilippines.Hemusthavesurelyhavebeenrepeatedlysayingthatthesolutiontotheabjectpovertythatisnowverymucharoundisthis:educationofthemasses.Forme,that’sthemostrelevantmessagethisbookistellingusatthispointinournation’sjourney.RemindertoallFilipinosinGoodreadswhohaveratedthislessthan5stars.ThisbookcausedthedeathofourNationalHerobyfiringsquad.Thisbooktriggeredorfannedthe1886revolution.ThisbookmademanyFilipinostofalldownduringthemanysucceedingrevoltsthroughoutthecountry.Thisbookledtoourindependence.Thisbookiswell-written.Trytoreadthisagainnowthatyouaremoremature(nolongerchildishlikewhenyouwereinhighschool)andseethedifference.IamsureyouwillfindthisbetterthanDivergent,TheHungerGames,TwilightandtheHarryPotterseries.|Dr.JoseRizalwrotetwonovelsinanattempttostirtheFilipino’sthoughtsandemotions-andwithgreathopethatfreedommaybeobtainedinapeacefulway–withouttheviolencethathadclaimedmanyheroiclives.NoliMeTangereisthefirst,followedbyElFilibusterismo.We’vereadthis,alongtimeago,backinHighSchool.Compulsoryreadingdoesnotusuallyreapgoodharvest-butoncetheseedwasplanted,itstayswithin.Wehadaverypassionateteacher,andshelovedDr.Rizal.ShespokewellinEnglish,Filipino,andSpanish,sotranslationwasneveraproblem.Wheneverwehitabrickwall,shewouldmakeusdrill.Itwasexhausting,sometimesexciting,andoftenboring-butnoonewoulddaresleepinMrs.Abanto’sclass,never.“...forthesoilisnotready,itisonlysownwithdiscord.”IbelievetheOldSage’swordsbestdescribedPhilippines-beforeandnow.Once,IwantedtoaskthenationalheroofhisthoughtsonthePhilippinestoday.Haveweachievedhisdreams?IsthePhilippinesanybetternowthanbeforehehadleftus?Areweenjoyingtheeconomyandeducationhefoughtanddiedfor?Tothinkofthesocialcancerdisablinguswasheartbreaking,butinspirationsarenotlackingifwebutlookclosely.TheFilipinoinuswillfindthemineverychildbehindus,taggingatourshirt,beggingforapesooraparting.Wewillfinditinastreetchild,alongRoxasBlvd.,juststartingtolearntheAbakadaattheageof10.Wewillfinditineveryfamilyweseesoakingwettreadingtheflood-orlayingonmatsattheevacuationcenters,hungryandbeaten,butalwaysreadytogiveyoutheirbestsmiles.Thereisnoreasontostopandletgo.NowIunderstandMrs.Abanto’spassion.Patriotism,resilience,andcouragewerethingswecannotlearninschool,it’sintheveryfabricofourFilipinoblood.Theschool’spurposewastoplanttheseedofhopethatsomedaywewillunderstandbetter.IfoundtreasureintheLunaticsreasoning,abastioninthiseverdisputingcountry.“Ifsuchshouldhappen,iftheenterpriseshouldfail,youwouldbeconsoledbythethoughtthatyouhaddonewhatwasexpectedofyouandthussomethingwouldbegained.Youwouldhaveplacedthefirststone,youwouldhavesowntheseed,andafterthestormhadspentitselfperhapssomegrainwouldhavesurvivedthecatastrophetogrowandsavethespeciesfromdestructionandtoserveafterwardsastheseedforthesonsofthedeadsower.Theexamplemayencourageotherswhoareonlyafraidtobegin.”Ifit’slunacy,thensobeit.Originalreviewpostedhere.|MythirdtimetoreadthismostimportantnoveleverinthePhilippines.Thefirsttwo,IreadinTagalog(inhighschoolasarequirementandtwoyearsagoasagroupreadinabookclub).Thistime,IreadtheEnglishversion.ThisparticulartranslationissaidtobethebestbecausethiswaswrittenbySoledadLacson-LocsinwhowasanativeSpanishspeakerandshewas86yearsoldwhensheagreedtowritethisbook.EducatedatAssumptionConvent,sheknewbyheartbothEnglishandSpanishsoshewasabletotranslatethisbook(originallypublishedinSpanish)intocontemporaryEnglish(hissonRaulL.Locsinhelpedhimonthis)butmaintainingthecadenceofSpanishlanguage.Theendproductislikeabookwrittenfortoday'sreadersbutwiththeaftertasteofaclassicbookbyaLatinAmericanauthor.ThinkGabrielGarciaMarquezorEcadeQuiros.Twoyearsago,IgavetheTagalogversionofthisbookaperfectratingof3stars(Istilllikedit).Now,despitetheawesometranslationofLocsin,Ihaveloweredmyappreciationofthisbookto4.Why?IattendedtheBasicApologeticsClasssponsoredbyDefensoresFideiandrealizedthatthisbookwasRizal'spersonalpropagandaagainsttheSpanishfriarsthatabusedhisfamily.Well,maybehealsothoughtthatthiswouldinspire(anditdid)theFilipinopeopletoraisearmsagainsttheMotherSpainbutfirstandforemost,inmyopinionnow,thereisvindictivenesstoavengewhattheDominicanfriarsdidtohisfamilyespeciallytohisagingdearmother.ItsohappenedthathisfamilywasnotalonebearingthehardshipsofbeingmaltreatedbysomefriarssothecollectiveuprisingagainstSpainhappenedandculminatedtowhatisknownastheThePhilippineRevolutionof1896.Allthefriarshere-PadreSalviwhomyfriendPoopinestobethecruelestamongthevillainsinthebook,PadreDamasotheacid-tonguewomanizerwhoisthemosthatedpriestinPhilippineLiteratureandPadreSibylaareportrayednegativelyasiftheyhavenothinggoodaboutthemselves.EventheseminarianwhoiswithIbarraandMariaClarainthepicnicmadesexualinnuendototheladies.Imean,RizalhatedtheSpanishfriarssomuchthathechosetoshowonlytheirnegativesides.Thisisaworrisomerealizationbecausethisbook,alongwiththesequel,ElFilibusterismo(2ndreading-5stars)arerequiredreadingsinallhighschoolshereinthePhilippines.ThisisprobablyoneofthereasonswhymanyCatholicsinthecountryarenowfondofcriticizingtheCatholicchurchdespitethefactthat85%ofthepopulationarestillunderthePapal'sfold.Thisdoesn'tmeanthoughthatIhavelowerrespectforthisbook.IstilllikeitandstillseeitsimportancetoPhilippinehistoryandourprideasFilipinos.However,wehavetotakeintoconsiderationthatSpainalsobroughtotherthingslikecommerceandindustrytothePhilippines.WealsoneedtotakenotethatdefinitelynotallfriarswerebadlikethesevillainsinRizal'snovels.Therearesome,likeinF.Sionil'sPO-ON(5stars)whotakescareoftheyoungIstakandplanstosendhimtotheseminary.Weneedtochangeourperspectiveandnotlimitourviewtothefriar'satrocitiesandexcesses.Afterall,theyarehumantooandpriestsdocommitmistakesjustlikeeachofus.WealsohavetorememberthatweneedtorespectthemfortheirpriestlyvocationoffollowingthefootstepsofChristandtheirhumanfrailtiesarejustbuttheytooarehuman.IamnotsayingthatthisbookshouldbebannedtouplifttheimageoftheCatholicchurchinthecountry.Maybeourteachersshouldputmorecautionandpresentamorebalancedviewwhilediscussingthebook.Myteacherbackinhighschooldidnot.Sofor40+yearsmyimagesofSpanishfriarswereallsexmaniacs,corrupt,power-crazyandhooligans.|Thepenismightierthanthesword,theysay,anditisnotoftenthatonehastheopportunitytoreadanovelthathasforgedanindependencemovement.NoliMeTangere(TouchMeNot)(1887)byJoséRizalissuchabook,foralthoughitsauthoradvocatedreformnotindependence,thenovelwassoinstrumentalinarticulatingaFilipinoidentitythatitprovokedresistanceagainsttheSpanishcolonialregime.Ostensiblyitisalovestory,butonesetagainstabackdropofrepressionandviolence.Rizalwouldbedeadwithintenyears,executedbyfiringsquadinManila.Buthisnovelhaslivedon...Theauthor’ssatiricalintentisevidentintheveryfirstparagraph:TowardstheendofOctober,DonSantiagodelosSantos,whowasgenerallyknownasCaptainTiago,gaveadinnerpartythat,despiteitshavingbeenannouncedonlythatafternoon,whichwasnothisusualpractice,wasthetopicofeveryconversationinBimondoandneighboringareas,andevenasfarasIntramuros.InthosedaysCaptainTiagowasconsideredthemostliberalofmen,anditwasknownthatthedoorsofhishouse,likethoseofhiscountry,wereclosedtonoonebuttradesmenorperhapsanewordaringidea.(p5)TheSpanishauthoritieswhoreadthisbookinthe1880scouldbeinnodoubt,then,aboutthischallenge,andRizalhadthechurchinhissightstoo.OnthesamepagehisnarratorsaysofCaptainTiago’shousethathedoesn’tthinkthattheownerwouldhavedemolishedit‘becausethissortofworkisusuallyreservedforGodornature,whichhas,itappears,manyprojectsofthistypeundercontractwithourgovernment’.Thebookisasavagecritiqueofthechurch,exposingbrutality,venalityandsexualexploitationofwomen.Theclergyareshowntoencourageignorance,superstitionandsocialinequityonagrandscale.Andaboveall,thechurchconspireswiththecolonialauthoritiestoensureacquiescenceinthestatusquo.Toreadtherestofmyreviewpleasevisithttp://anzlitlovers.wordpress.com/201...AbigthankyoutoKDforsendingittome!|NoliMeTangereisdescribedonthebackcoveras‘ThenovelthatsparkedthePhilippinerevolution’.Whichsoundsabithyperbolic,butapparentlythepublicationofthenovelin1887wasanimportantmoment-evenmoreso,Rizal’ssubsequentexecutionforrebellion,seditionandconspiracy.Soit’sapoliticalnovel,anunusuallyearlyexampleofacolonialnovelwrittenfromtheperspectiveofthecolonised.Inthiscase,themainrepresentativesofcolonialpowerarefromthechurchratherthanthecivilauthorities.That’snotunique-religionhasoftenbeenanimportanttoolofempireandpost-colonialnovelsarefullofpriestsandnunsand,aboveall,churchschools.ButthePhilippinesdoesseemtohavebeenanextremecase,wherethereligiousinstitutionsweremorepowerfulthanthecivilauthorities.Whichmeansthatthebookispeopledwithvillainousfriars—cruel,vindictive,scheming,manipulative,hypocritical,lustful,oleaginous—anditremindedmeofthoseearlygothicnovelswhichalwaysseemedtohavesinister,black-heartedmonksinthem.Especiallysinceit’snevershyofabitofmelodrama.Infact,it’saratherlumpymixtureofmelodrama,satireandlong,wordypoliticaldiscussions,andIcan’tsayallofitheldmyattentionequally.Ilikeditmostwhenitwasatitsmostexaggerated—ferociouslysatiricalorfloridlygothic—andIfounditfellabitflatwhenitaimedforgenuinesentiment.Amixedbagforme,then.Bitsofitaregenuinelybrilliant,though.There’sascenewithgravediggersatworkinabadlyover-crowdedcemeterywhichiswonderfullymorbid,forexample-andagrotesqueportrayalofanageingFilipinawhoissodeterminedtomarryaSpaniardandbe‘Spanish’herselfthatshemarriesauseless,fecklessmanwhoseonlyqualityisthatinthePhilippineshisnationalitygiveshimanersatzrespectability,theninsistsononlyspeakingbrokenSpanish.NoliMeTangereismybookfromthePhilippinesfortheReadtheWorldchallenge.
This1887novelwasoriginallywritteninSpanish(firstpublishedinGermany).ItsFilipino(Tagalog)translationisarequiredreadinginthirdyearhighschoolthroughoutthecountry.ThefirsttimeIreadthiswasinschoolyear1978-1979ormorethan3decadesago.IthinktheversionthatwereadwastheonewithredcoverandwastranslatedbyDomingodeGuzman(abridged,IthinkbutitretainedsomeSpanishphrases).However,justlikemyclassmatesthen,IreaditwithpassingthePilipinocourseasmyonlymotivation.Ipainstakinglymemorizedtheplot,characters,eventsthathadhighprobabilityofbeingaskedinthequizzesandexams.Now,duringthissecondreading,evenafter33years,Icouldstillrecallsomenamesofthecharacters,somescenesandevents.LikeprobablyallFilipinoswhofinishedthirdyearhigh,wewerealltoldthatthisnovelcausedDr.JoseRizal’sdeathbyfiringsquadonDecember30,1896oraround10yearsafterhestartedwritingthis.TheSpanishfriarsbannedthisnovelinthePhilippinesbecausethisannouncedtothewholeworldtheatrocities,injustices,killingsandmaltreatmentsthattheyweredoingthentothenativeFilipinoswhotheyalsoderogatorilyreferredtoasindios.Rizal’sdeathwassaidtobethetriggerfortheFilipinostoworkhardintheirfightagainsttheSpaniards.Thentheireffortsledtoourcountry’sgainingofourindependencefromSpainviathePhilippineDeclarationofIndependenceonJune12,1898.Butthen,thiswasafterSpainlosttotheUSAduringtheBattleofManilaBayonMay1,1898resultingtothesigningofTreatyofParisbetweenthetwocountrieswhereSpainsoldthePhilippinestotheUSAtothetuneof$20,000,000(twentymilliondollars).So,didthisbookreallymakeabigdifferenceconsideringthattheTreatyofPariswastheonethatreallyendedtheSpanish-Americanwarandchangedthecountry’scolonialmasterfromSpaintotheUSA?ThenRizalwasappointedastheNationalHeroofthePhilippinesbecauseGovernor-GeneralHowardTaft,duringtheAmericanoccupation,thoughtthatitwouldbe“nice”forFilipinostohaveitsownnationalheroeveryonecanlookupto?ThensinceRizalhadnoanti-Americanleanings,TafthandpickedRizalfortheposition?Forme,theanswerisyes.Thisbook,evenifthisdidnotreallymovemountainsandearthforthePhilippines,reallyhelpedFilipinostorealizethattheywerebeingtreatedbadlybytheSpaniards.TheFilipinosletthefriars'atrocitiespassbecausetheSpaniardsalsobroughtChristianitytotheislandsandthesesupposedlymenofclothfooledtheFilipinosintobelievingthattheywouldgotohelliftheyopposedthefriars’whimsandcaprices.So,thefriarsbecamepowerfulandruledthecountryfor300years.ThencameRizal.DuringoneofhisdinnersinBarcelona,hesuggestedtohisequallyrichmaleilustradofriends,thattheycollectivelywriteanoveltoexposethecrueltyoftheSpanishfriarsinthePhilippines.TheysaidyesbutRizaldidnothearanythingfromthemanymore.So,Rizalwrotethisbookallbyhimself.TherewasevenanaccountthathesacrificedalotlikehepickedcigarettebuttsfromthestreetbecauseitwascoldinGermanywhenthisbookwaspublishedandhedidnothavemoneytobuyevencigarettes.Thebookiswell-written.Theplotisthickandcanbeinterpretedinmanyways.Itisalovestorynotonlybetweenamanandawoman:arichyoungunicohijo(onlychild)CrisostomoIbarraandhisfiancée,alsoarichheiress,MariaClara/Claritabutalsotheloveofapersontohiscountry.Thatsecondtypeofloveisillustratedherebytwocharacterswithtwodifferentreasons:IbarraloveshiscountrybecausesheprovidesforhishappinesswhileEliasloveshiscountrydespitegivinghimallhissufferings.Thesetwomenalsohaveopposingviewsonrevolution.RealistIbarrathinksthatitisbetterforthePhilippinestostayunderSpanishruleandwhathedesiresisonlyforthecountrytobeaprovinceofSpainsothattherightsoftheFilipinoswillbethesameasthoseoftheSpaniards.IdealistElias,ontheotherhand,thinksthatthisisimpossibleandtotalsecessionofthePhilippinesfromSpainistheonlysolutiontoendallthesocialills.Almostallofthemanycharactersarememorableandwelldeveloped.Thedescriptionsofthesettingsarebeautifullydetailed,Ithoughtthatwhilereadingsomeofthescenes,Icouldfeelthedustyroad,smelltheanimaldung,hearthegallopinghorses,seethecrazymotherSisawearingherdirtytatteredclothesandwanderingthestreetsmindlessly.TherearemanypoignantanddramaticscenesbutIwillneverforgetthesetwo:thefirstoneiswhenSisaseestheghostofherdeadyoungersonCrispinandthesecondoneistowardstheendingwhenEliasaskstheelderbrotherBasiliotoburnhisandSisa’sbodyonChristmasEve.Theheightofirony.Igotgoosebumpswhilereadingthesescenesthatmy15-yearoldskindidnotexperiencethefirsttimeIreadthisbook33yearsago.TheSpaniardsconquistadoresandAmericansGIshavelongbeengone.Althoughthisiscontestable,thePhilippineshaslongbeenafreecountry.Let’ssaythisistrue.So,whatisthelegacythatthisbookhasleftforthepresentgenerationoftheFilipinos?Yousee,IthinkthebookstilltalkstousFilipinos.RizalbelievedintheimportanceofeducationasinculcatedinhismindbyhisparentsandbrotherPaciano.Hestudiedabroad,i.e.,Spain,FranceandGermany,becausehisparentsfeltthattheeducationinthePhilippineswasnotenough.Whenhecameback,hefoundedandranaschoolforyoungboysinDapitan.IfRizalwerealivetoday,hewouldhavebeenaneducator-probablyanownerordeanofabiguniversity,orthesecretaryofEducationoreventhePresidentofthePhilippines.Hemusthavesurelyhavebeenrepeatedlysayingthatthesolutiontotheabjectpovertythatisnowverymucharoundisthis:educationofthemasses.Forme,that’sthemostrelevantmessagethisbookistellingusatthispointinournation’sjourney.RemindertoallFilipinosinGoodreadswhohaveratedthislessthan5stars.ThisbookcausedthedeathofourNationalHerobyfiringsquad.Thisbooktriggeredorfannedthe1886revolution.ThisbookmademanyFilipinostofalldownduringthemanysucceedingrevoltsthroughoutthecountry.Thisbookledtoourindependence.Thisbookiswell-written.Trytoreadthisagainnowthatyouaremoremature(nolongerchildishlikewhenyouwereinhighschool)andseethedifference.IamsureyouwillfindthisbetterthanDivergent,TheHungerGames,TwilightandtheHarryPotterseries.|Dr.JoseRizalwrotetwonovelsinanattempttostirtheFilipino’sthoughtsandemotions-andwithgreathopethatfreedommaybeobtainedinapeacefulway–withouttheviolencethathadclaimedmanyheroiclives.NoliMeTangereisthefirst,followedbyElFilibusterismo.We’vereadthis,alongtimeago,backinHighSchool.Compulsoryreadingdoesnotusuallyreapgoodharvest-butoncetheseedwasplanted,itstayswithin.Wehadaverypassionateteacher,andshelovedDr.Rizal.ShespokewellinEnglish,Filipino,andSpanish,sotranslationwasneveraproblem.Wheneverwehitabrickwall,shewouldmakeusdrill.Itwasexhausting,sometimesexciting,andoftenboring-butnoonewoulddaresleepinMrs.Abanto’sclass,never.“...forthesoilisnotready,itisonlysownwithdiscord.”IbelievetheOldSage’swordsbestdescribedPhilippines-beforeandnow.Once,IwantedtoaskthenationalheroofhisthoughtsonthePhilippinestoday.Haveweachievedhisdreams?IsthePhilippinesanybetternowthanbeforehehadleftus?Areweenjoyingtheeconomyandeducationhefoughtanddiedfor?Tothinkofthesocialcancerdisablinguswasheartbreaking,butinspirationsarenotlackingifwebutlookclosely.TheFilipinoinuswillfindthemineverychildbehindus,taggingatourshirt,beggingforapesooraparting.Wewillfinditinastreetchild,alongRoxasBlvd.,juststartingtolearntheAbakadaattheageof10.Wewillfinditineveryfamilyweseesoakingwettreadingtheflood-orlayingonmatsattheevacuationcenters,hungryandbeaten,butalwaysreadytogiveyoutheirbestsmiles.Thereisnoreasontostopandletgo.NowIunderstandMrs.Abanto’spassion.Patriotism,resilience,andcouragewerethingswecannotlearninschool,it’sintheveryfabricofourFilipinoblood.Theschool’spurposewastoplanttheseedofhopethatsomedaywewillunderstandbetter.IfoundtreasureintheLunaticsreasoning,abastioninthiseverdisputingcountry.“Ifsuchshouldhappen,iftheenterpriseshouldfail,youwouldbeconsoledbythethoughtthatyouhaddonewhatwasexpectedofyouandthussomethingwouldbegained.Youwouldhaveplacedthefirststone,youwouldhavesowntheseed,andafterthestormhadspentitselfperhapssomegrainwouldhavesurvivedthecatastrophetogrowandsavethespeciesfromdestructionandtoserveafterwardsastheseedforthesonsofthedeadsower.Theexamplemayencourageotherswhoareonlyafraidtobegin.”Ifit’slunacy,thensobeit.Originalreviewpostedhere.|MythirdtimetoreadthismostimportantnoveleverinthePhilippines.Thefirsttwo,IreadinTagalog(inhighschoolasarequirementandtwoyearsagoasagroupreadinabookclub).Thistime,IreadtheEnglishversion.ThisparticulartranslationissaidtobethebestbecausethiswaswrittenbySoledadLacson-LocsinwhowasanativeSpanishspeakerandshewas86yearsoldwhensheagreedtowritethisbook.EducatedatAssumptionConvent,sheknewbyheartbothEnglishandSpanishsoshewasabletotranslatethisbook(originallypublishedinSpanish)intocontemporaryEnglish(hissonRaulL.Locsinhelpedhimonthis)butmaintainingthecadenceofSpanishlanguage.Theendproductislikeabookwrittenfortoday'sreadersbutwiththeaftertasteofaclassicbookbyaLatinAmericanauthor.ThinkGabrielGarciaMarquezorEcadeQuiros.Twoyearsago,IgavetheTagalogversionofthisbookaperfectratingof3stars(Istilllikedit).Now,despitetheawesometranslationofLocsin,Ihaveloweredmyappreciationofthisbookto4.Why?IattendedtheBasicApologeticsClasssponsoredbyDefensoresFideiandrealizedthatthisbookwasRizal'spersonalpropagandaagainsttheSpanishfriarsthatabusedhisfamily.Well,maybehealsothoughtthatthiswouldinspire(anditdid)theFilipinopeopletoraisearmsagainsttheMotherSpainbutfirstandforemost,inmyopinionnow,thereisvindictivenesstoavengewhattheDominicanfriarsdidtohisfamilyespeciallytohisagingdearmother.ItsohappenedthathisfamilywasnotalonebearingthehardshipsofbeingmaltreatedbysomefriarssothecollectiveuprisingagainstSpainhappenedandculminatedtowhatisknownastheThePhilippineRevolutionof1896.Allthefriarshere-PadreSalviwhomyfriendPoopinestobethecruelestamongthevillainsinthebook,PadreDamasotheacid-tonguewomanizerwhoisthemosthatedpriestinPhilippineLiteratureandPadreSibylaareportrayednegativelyasiftheyhavenothinggoodaboutthemselves.EventheseminarianwhoiswithIbarraandMariaClarainthepicnicmadesexualinnuendototheladies.Imean,RizalhatedtheSpanishfriarssomuchthathechosetoshowonlytheirnegativesides.Thisisaworrisomerealizationbecausethisbook,alongwiththesequel,ElFilibusterismo(2ndreading-5stars)arerequiredreadingsinallhighschoolshereinthePhilippines.ThisisprobablyoneofthereasonswhymanyCatholicsinthecountryarenowfondofcriticizingtheCatholicchurchdespitethefactthat85%ofthepopulationarestillunderthePapal'sfold.Thisdoesn'tmeanthoughthatIhavelowerrespectforthisbook.IstilllikeitandstillseeitsimportancetoPhilippinehistoryandourprideasFilipinos.However,wehavetotakeintoconsiderationthatSpainalsobroughtotherthingslikecommerceandindustrytothePhilippines.WealsoneedtotakenotethatdefinitelynotallfriarswerebadlikethesevillainsinRizal'snovels.Therearesome,likeinF.Sionil'sPO-ON(5stars)whotakescareoftheyoungIstakandplanstosendhimtotheseminary.Weneedtochangeourperspectiveandnotlimitourviewtothefriar'satrocitiesandexcesses.Afterall,theyarehumantooandpriestsdocommitmistakesjustlikeeachofus.WealsohavetorememberthatweneedtorespectthemfortheirpriestlyvocationoffollowingthefootstepsofChristandtheirhumanfrailtiesarejustbuttheytooarehuman.IamnotsayingthatthisbookshouldbebannedtouplifttheimageoftheCatholicchurchinthecountry.Maybeourteachersshouldputmorecautionandpresentamorebalancedviewwhilediscussingthebook.Myteacherbackinhighschooldidnot.Sofor40+yearsmyimagesofSpanishfriarswereallsexmaniacs,corrupt,power-crazyandhooligans.|Thepenismightierthanthesword,theysay,anditisnotoftenthatonehastheopportunitytoreadanovelthathasforgedanindependencemovement.NoliMeTangere(TouchMeNot)(1887)byJoséRizalissuchabook,foralthoughitsauthoradvocatedreformnotindependence,thenovelwassoinstrumentalinarticulatingaFilipinoidentitythatitprovokedresistanceagainsttheSpanishcolonialregime.Ostensiblyitisalovestory,butonesetagainstabackdropofrepressionandviolence.Rizalwouldbedeadwithintenyears,executedbyfiringsquadinManila.Buthisnovelhaslivedon...Theauthor’ssatiricalintentisevidentintheveryfirstparagraph:TowardstheendofOctober,DonSantiagodelosSantos,whowasgenerallyknownasCaptainTiago,gaveadinnerpartythat,despiteitshavingbeenannouncedonlythatafternoon,whichwasnothisusualpractice,wasthetopicofeveryconversationinBimondoandneighboringareas,andevenasfarasIntramuros.InthosedaysCaptainTiagowasconsideredthemostliberalofmen,anditwasknownthatthedoorsofhishouse,likethoseofhiscountry,wereclosedtonoonebuttradesmenorperhapsanewordaringidea.(p5)TheSpanishauthoritieswhoreadthisbookinthe1880scouldbeinnodoubt,then,aboutthischallenge,andRizalhadthechurchinhissightstoo.OnthesamepagehisnarratorsaysofCaptainTiago’shousethathedoesn’tthinkthattheownerwouldhavedemolishedit‘becausethissortofworkisusuallyreservedforGodornature,whichhas,itappears,manyprojectsofthistypeundercontractwithourgovernment’.Thebookisasavagecritiqueofthechurch,exposingbrutality,venalityandsexualexploitationofwomen.Theclergyareshowntoencourageignorance,superstitionandsocialinequityonagrandscale.Andaboveall,thechurchconspireswiththecolonialauthoritiestoensureacquiescenceinthestatusquo.Toreadtherestofmyreviewpleasevisithttp://anzlitlovers.wordpress.com/201...AbigthankyoutoKDforsendingittome!|NoliMeTangereisdescribedonthebackcoveras‘ThenovelthatsparkedthePhilippinerevolution’.Whichsoundsabithyperbolic,butapparentlythepublicationofthenovelin1887wasanimportantmoment-evenmoreso,Rizal’ssubsequentexecutionforrebellion,seditionandconspiracy.Soit’sapoliticalnovel,anunusuallyearlyexampleofacolonialnovelwrittenfromtheperspectiveofthecolonised.Inthiscase,themainrepresentativesofcolonialpowerarefromthechurchratherthanthecivilauthorities.That’snotunique-religionhasoftenbeenanimportanttoolofempireandpost-colonialnovelsarefullofpriestsandnunsand,aboveall,churchschools.ButthePhilippinesdoesseemtohavebeenanextremecase,wherethereligiousinstitutionsweremorepowerfulthanthecivilauthorities.Whichmeansthatthebookispeopledwithvillainousfriars—cruel,vindictive,scheming,manipulative,hypocritical,lustful,oleaginous—anditremindedmeofthoseearlygothicnovelswhichalwaysseemedtohavesinister,black-heartedmonksinthem.Especiallysinceit’snevershyofabitofmelodrama.Infact,it’saratherlumpymixtureofmelodrama,satireandlong,wordypoliticaldiscussions,andIcan’tsayallofitheldmyattentionequally.Ilikeditmostwhenitwasatitsmostexaggerated—ferociouslysatiricalorfloridlygothic—andIfounditfellabitflatwhenitaimedforgenuinesentiment.Amixedbagforme,then.Bitsofitaregenuinelybrilliant,though.There’sascenewithgravediggersatworkinabadlyover-crowdedcemeterywhichiswonderfullymorbid,forexample-andagrotesqueportrayalofanageingFilipinawhoissodeterminedtomarryaSpaniardandbe‘Spanish’herselfthatshemarriesauseless,fecklessmanwhoseonlyqualityisthatinthePhilippineshisnationalitygiveshimanersatzrespectability,theninsistsononlyspeakingbrokenSpanish.NoliMeTangereismybookfromthePhilippinesfortheReadtheWorldchallenge.