Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo

Noli me Tangere (Touch Me Not) is the first novel written by Filipino patriot and national hero Dr. José P. Rizal in 1887 during the colonization of the country by Spain to expose the inequities of the Spanish Catholic priests and the ruling government.

The story line goes detailed with the society of the Philippines during Spanish colonial period and features aristocracy behind poverty and abuse of colonialists. In its publication, the novel caused an uproar among Filipino people that also felt Spanish abuse. Noli me Tangere was followed by its sequel, El Filibusterismo (1889) before common Filipinos crossed the borderline and started the infamous Philippine Revolution in 1896, some month's before Dr. Rizal's execution.

El Filibusterismo (The Reign of Greed) is the second novel written by Philippine national hero José Rizal. It is the sequel to Noli me tangere and, like the first book, was written in Spanish. It consist of 38 chapters

The novel's dark theme departs dramatically from the previous novel's hopeful and romantic atmosphere, signifying the character Ibarra's resort to solving his country's issues through violent means, after his previous attempt at reforming the country's system have made no effect and seemed impossible with the attitudes of the Spaniards towards the Filipinos. 

Rizal dedicated El Filibusterismo to the three martyred priests of Cavite mutiny. The execution of the three priests was significant to the title of the novel.

Rizal had to define the word "Filibustero" to his German friend Ferdinand Blumentritt, who did not understand his use of the word in Nole Me Tangere. In a letter, Rizal explained:

"The word Filibustero is little known in the Philippines. The masses do not know it yet. I heard it the first time in 1872 when the tragic executions took place. I still remember the panic that this word created."

Rizal took three years to finish this novel. He began writing in October 1887 while he was in Calamba and finished the book in March 29, 1891

Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo were banned in Philippines because of their portrayal of corruption and abuse by the colonial government and the Catholic Church. Copies of the book were nevertheless smuggled in and hidden, and when Rizal returned to the Philippines after completing medical studies, he quickly ran afoul of the local government. A few days after his arrival, Rizal was summoned to Malacañan Palace by Governor-General Emilio Terrero, who told him of the charge that Noli me tangere contained subversive elements. After a discussion, Terrero was appeased but still unable to offer resistance to pressure from the Church against the book. Later on, Rizal was executed by firing squad at the Luneta outside Manila's walls on December 30, 1896.

Trivia: Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo are considered Rizal's literary masterpieces