Crisstomo Ibarra[edit]

Crisstomo Ibarra, commonly called Ibarra, is half Filipino-Spanish and the only descendant of the wealthy Spaniard Don Rafael Ibarra. He was born and grew up in the Philippines, but during his adolescence, spent seven years studying in Europe. Those years prevented him from knowing what was happening in his country. When he returned to the Philippines, he found his father had died and the corpse was (supposedly) moved to a Chinese cemetery (but the body ended up in a river). He heard tales of how helpful and kind his father had been and decided to honor the memory of his father by doing as his father did.

Mara Clara[edit]
Mara Clara de los Santos, is the most dominant yet weakest representation of women in the setting. When thinking of Noli, the name of Mara Clara can be seen predominantly as the image of the ideal Filipino woman. Mara Clara is the primary female character in the novel. She is the daughter of Capitn Tiago and Doa Pa Alba. Doa Pa died while delivering Maria Clara. The poor child grew under the guidance and supervision of Ta Isabl, Capitn Tiago's cousin. Mara Clara is known to be Ibarra's lover since childhood. When Ibarra was away in Europe, Capitn Tiago sent Maria Clara to the Beaterio de Santa Clara where she developed into a lovely woman under the strict guidance of the religious nuns. Later in the novel, Mara Clara discovers that her biological father is not Capitn Tiago, but San Diego's former curate and her godfather Padre Dmaso.

Padre Dmaso[edit]
Dmaso Verdolagas (commonly known as Padre Dmaso/Padre Damaso or Father Damaso), of Franciscan order, was the former curate of the parish church of San Diego. He was the curate for almost twenty years before he replaced by much younger Padre Salvi. Padre Damaso was known to be friendly with the Ibarra family, so much that Crisstomo was surprised by what the former curate had done to Don Rafal. He is revealed to be the biological father of Maria Clara. Padre Dmaso is described to be snobbish, fierce and talkative. He does not control his words when speaking and does not care if the person he is talking to feels down. There are also issues that he and Donya Pia had a relationship and they had a daughter which is Maria Clara.

Capitn Tiago[edit]
Don Santago de los Santos, commonly known as Capitn Tiago, is the only son of a wealthy trader in Malabon. Due to his mother's cruelty, Capitn Tiago did not attain any formal education. He became a servant of a Dominican priest. When the priest and his father died, Capitn Tiago decided to assist in the family business of trading before he met his wife Doa Pa Alba, who came from another wealthy family. Because of their consistent devotion to Santa Clara in Obando, they were blessed with a daughter who shared the same features as Padre Dmaso, named Maria Clara.

Capitn Tiago owned numerous properties in Pampanga, Laguna and especially, in San Diego. He also managed boarding houses along Daang Anloague and Santo Cristo (in San Diego too) and had contracts for opening an opium business. He is close to the priests because he had given numerous contributions of money during ecclesiastical donations and always invited the parish curate to every formal dinner. He was also entrenched with the government because he always supported tax increases whenever the local officials wished. That was the reason he obtained the title of gobernadorcillo, the highest government position that a non-Spaniard could have in the Philippines. Later in the Noli sequel, El Filibusterismo, Capitn Tiago loses all his properties and becomes addicted to opium, which would eventually lead to his death.

Pilsopo Tasyo[edit]
Don Anastacio, commonly known as Filsofo Tacio (Philosopher Tasyo) is one of the most important characters in Noli. On the one hand, he is referred to as a philosopher/sage (hence, Pilosopo Tasyo) because his ideas were accurate with the minds of the townspeople. On the other hand, if his ideas were against the thinking of the majority, he was considered the Imbecile Tacio (or Tasyong Sintu-sinto) or Lunatic Tacio (Tasyong Baliw). Filsofo Tacio was born into a wealthy Filipino family. His mother let him be formally educated, then abruptly ordered him to stop. She feared Tasyo would become "too educated" and lose his faith and devotion to religion. His mother gave him two choices: either go into the priesthood or stop his education. Tasyo chose the latter because he had a girlfriend that time. Soon enough, they married and after a year, Tasyo widowed while his mother also died. Most of his time was taken up in reading and buying books that all his properties were lost and he became poor.

Elis[edit]
Elis came from the family which the Ibarra clan had oppressed for generations. He grew up in a wealthy family until he discovered something that changed his life forever. He is also the one who helped Ibarra run away from the guards. Furthermore, he saved Ibarra's life, who in turn, saved Elas' life.

Doa Victorina[edit]
Doa Victorina de los Reyes de Espadaa always dreamed of finding a Spanish husband. It actually came to pass but she did not like Don Tiburcio. She merely forced herself to marry him despite having fallen in love with Kapitan Tiyago.

Sisa[edit]
Narcisa is the mother of Basilio and Crispn. She depicts how Filipino mothers love their children unquestionably.

Doa Consolacon[edit]
Doa Consolacon, la musa de los guardias civiles y esposa del Alfrez

Other characters[edit]
Noel Alfred Ayie

Notes on Filipinization of names[edit]

Transformations[edit]
As mentioned on the introduction page, Noli Me Tangere was originally written in Spanish. Specifically, when Noli was translated into the Tagalog language, many names were retained with their Spanish spelling. However, when later Tagalog editions came into print, apart from removing the diacritics, names were modified into Tagalog orthography. Although many names in the novel retained the Spanish spelling, a vast majority is in Tagalog. Crisstomo Ibarra is spelled now Crisostomo Ibarra in Tagalog and English texts of Noli. Mara Clara is now spelled Maria Clara, while others spelled the name as Mariya Klara or Mariya Clara. Padre Dmaso is now spelled as Padre Damaso, other books use the conventional Pari Damaso (pari being the Filipino word forfather-priest, even though padre is a Filipino word too). In English, Father Damaso is used. Capitn Tiago is now spelled Kapitang Tiyago or Kapitan Tiyago, although in English it is widely known as Captain Tiyago orCaptain Tiago. Filsofo Tasyo is now spelled Pilosopong Tasyo or Pilosopo Tasyo. In English, it is either Pilosopo Tacio, Sage Tacio, Sage Tasyo, or any word that describes somebody with incredible intelligence. Tacio can also be an alternate for Tasyo. Elas is now spelled Elias. Elijah is not acceptable. Doa Consolacin is now spelled Donya Consolacion. (see below) Alfrez is now spelled Alperes. English texts employ the use of Alferez although some use the word's semi-equivalent, lieutenant-general. Gobernador General is now spelled Gobernador Heneral (or with the dash in between the words Gobernador and Heneral). In English, it is Governor-general. Teniente is now spelled tinyente or tenyente. In English, it is lieutenant. Guardia Civil is now spelled guardiya sibil, guwardiya sibil or guardia sibil. In English, it is civil guard. Gobernadorcillo is now spelled gobernadorsilyo. In English it is still spelled the same way as Spanish.

Noli Me Tangere
Sa nobelang Noli Me Tangere, si Ibarra ay nagmula sa isang mayamang pamilya sa bayan ng San Diego. Siya ay bumalik sa Pilipinas nang kanyang mabalitaan ang pagkamatay ng kaniyang ama na si Don Rafael Ibarra, na tiniwalag mula sa simbahang Katoliko dahil sa pagiging diumano'y pilibustero. Sa kaniyang pagbalik sa San Diego, muli niyang nakadaupang-palad ang kasintahang si Maria Clara. Nang nakita ni Ibarra na mabagal ang pag-unlad ng kanilang bayan, napagisipan niyang magtayo ng paaralan at maging guro. Sinimulan ni Ibarra ang plano niya sa tulong ng magsasakang si Elias na kalauna'y naging kaibigan niya. Gayunpaman, nabanggit ni Pilosopo Tasyo na marami nang naudlot na proyekto ukol sa pagpapatayo ng paaralan sapagkat tinututulan ito ng mga prayle, lalong lalo na si Padre

Salvi, sapagkat sila ay nangangamba na ang paaralang ito ay maging banta sa kanilang kapangyarihan sa San Diego. Nang kalauna'y hindi natiis ni Ibarra ang pangungutya sa kaniya ng mga prayle at sa isang piging, kaniyang nilusob si Padre Damaso, na siyang nagpataw ng ekskomunikasyon sa kaniyang ama. Ito ang naging mitya ng ekskomunikasyon at pagkakakulong ni Ibarra. Nang kalauna'y tumakas si Ibarra at siya'y tinulungan ni Elias habang siya'y tinutugis ng mga Kastila.

Kaugnayan kay Rizal

Noong isinulat ni Rizal ang Noli Me Tangere, inilahad niya rito ang mga kalapastanganang ginagawa ng mga prayle sa mga Pilipino noong panahon ng kanilang pananakop. At gaya ni Ibarra, inilarawan ni Rizal ang 'di makatarungang lipunan na kinabibilangan ng pangunahing tauhan ng nobela. Si Ibarra, kahalintulad ni Rizal, ay nagkaroon ng karanasang makapag-aral sa Europa at mamulat sa iba't-ibang suliranin ng mga bansa roon. Karagdagan pa, maituturing na isang magandang kaugnayan kina Ibarra at Rizal ang masidhing pagpapahalaga nila sa edukasyon. Sa kalaunan, si Ibarra ay magbabalik sa katuhan ni Simoun sa nobelang El Filibusterismo.

Mara Clara, whose full name is Mara Clara de los Santos, is the mestiza heroine inNoli Me Tngere, a novel by Jos Rizal, the national hero of the Republic of the Philippines. Her name and character has since become a byword in Filipino culture for the traditional ideally woman. Mara Clara is the childhood sweetheart and fiance of Noli Me Tngere's hero, Juan Crisstomo Ibarra y Magsalin, the son of Don Rafael Ibarra. Although raised as Santiago "Kapitan Tiyago" de los Santos' daughter, Mara Clara is the illegitimate offspring of Father Dmaso, a Spanish friar, and Doa Pa Alba. Doa Alba is the wife of Kapitan Tiyago, who are both native Filipinos. Father Damaso (also known as Padre Damaso) is known to Maria Clara as a godfather. Mara Clara never met her mother because Doa Alba died during the delivery of her daughter. She grew under the guidance and supervision of Ta Isabl, Kapitan Tiyago's cousin. While her boyfriend Crisostomo Ibarra was travelling inEurope, Kapitan Tiyago sent her to the Beaterio de Santa Clara, a convent where she developed femininity under religion. Later in the novel, Mara Clara discovers the truth that Father Damaso is her biological father.

Mara Clara's song by Jos Rizal[edit]

Sweet the hours in the native country, where friendly shines the sun above! Life is the breeze that sweeps the meadows; tranquil is death; most tender, love. Warm kisses on the lips are playing as we awake to mother's face: the arms are seeking to embrace her,

the eyes are smiling as they gaze. How sweet to die for the native country, where friendly shines the sun above! Death is the breeze for him who has no country, no mother, and no love!

Padre Dmaso is one of the notorious characters in the novel Noli Me Tangere. The novel was written by Jos Rizal, one of the leaders of the Propaganda Movement in thePhilippines. Noli Me Tangere (Touch Me Not or "Social Cancer") is a controversial and anticlerical novel that exposed the abuses of the Spanish friars (belonging to the Roman Catholic Church) and the Spanish elite in colonial Philippines during the 19th century. The novel, according to the author, represented the state of Philippine society under Spanish colonial rule. It was intended as a liberal-nationalist wake-up call for the people of the Philippines. While the natives (indios) were trained to become secular clergy, Spanishpriests in the powerful religious orders were given preferential treatment in the assignment to parishes. Dmaso Verdolagas, a Franciscan Spanish priest, was the former curate of the town of San Diego. He was an enemy of Don Rafael Ibarra, Crisstomo Ibarra's father; Don Rafael refuses to conform to the friars' power. After Rafael's death in jail, Dmaso ordered his corpse exhumed and transferred to the Chinese cemetery, which was reserved for "heathens". He was also the father of Mara Clara before his secret past was revealed when Father Salv discloses to Mara Clara that Dmaso is her true father. Mara Clara's mother, Doa Pa Alba, and Don Santiago de los Santos had been trying to have a child when Dmaso raped Doa Pia. Near the end of the novel, he and Mara Clara had a dispute about her not marrying Alfonso Linares, and her going to the covenant, or dying. This event broke Dmaso's heart. At the end of the novel, after he was transferred to another town to be its curate, he was found dead with unknown causes, possibly depression.

Capitn Santiago de los Santos or simply Capitn Tiago is the foster father of Maria Clara, the heroine in Jose Rizals Noli Me Tangere and the husband of Pia Alba. Capitan Tiago is one of the affluent landlords of Binondo and owned vast tracts of farm lands in Pampanga and Laguna. He is said to favor the town of San Diego, a place where he spends about two months of every year. He enjoys the cockpit, agreeable baths, and memories of the place. Aside from the income earned from his estates, Capitan Tiago also had businesses. One of these businesses is the opium monopoly with the Chinese which raked in big money. He also had profitable contracts with the Philippine government, from providing zacate to feeding the imprisoned in Bilibid. No one can equal his influence except for a certain Perez, who was also close to the authorities and had vast lands.

Capitan Tiago was also religious, in an ironic kind of way. He paid for masses from the priests and rosaries from the poor. He also believed in saints (such as St. Lucy, St. Anthony of Padua, St. Pascual Bailon, St. Anthony the Abbot, St. Peter the Martyr, and St. Francis of Assissi) and prays that they intercede for him. His most favorite was the Lady of Peace and Prosperous Voyages which he would visit, especially thebatis where she is said to have taken baths. His only competition was a certain old woman named Doa Patrocinio. She often surpassed whatever Capitan Tiago spent for the Church.

Philosophers Tasio was one of the prominent character in the novel Noli Me Tangere by Jose Rizal . He is known for his figurative and sharp opinions that meet the real experience of the Philippines in the hands of the Spanish . He has previously studied philosophy in college of San Jose but due to the wishes of his mother, he left his studies. Tasio was the only remaining treasure of his mother so he will not be forgetting the Lord. His mother wanted him magpari but turn it against his will. Early married was Tasio. As soon raka'y after his mother died and his wife. To escape the boredom and loneliness and prevent detergent and other bad habit, chose Tasio reading lots of books. It became the [1] reason of his neglect of his inherited wealth which is the reason he gradually paghirap He is called "Don Anastacio" or "Filisopo Tasio" of thoroughbred. Meanwhile, he also called Tasiong mad as ignorant as his extraordinary mental and human relationships. He died and was buried in the [1] tomb of the Chinese.

Elias was first mentioned in Chapter 24 as the rogue who managed to inflict physical harm on Padre Damaso and the alferez, according toPadre Salvi. During the very long sermon, he managed to warn Ibarra about the attempt to murder him during the school's inauguration. When Ibarra could not avoid the situation Elias had warned him about, the latter managed to save him from the collapsed scaffolding. In Chapter 49, Ibarra's conversation with Elias focused on the reforms in their society. Ibarra's sheltered life had made him blind to the needs of the country while Elias' misfortunes had him hankering for revolution. Elias' history began to unfold with his lineage, as to how his grandfather had been shamed by this Spanish merchant and his grandmother had resorted to prostitution to make ends meet up to the time when he learned of his horrible lineage after insulting a distant relative. His friendship with Ibarra grows awry when the former discovered that the merchant who had been the root of his family's miseries had been Ibarra's great grandfather, Pedro Eibarramendia. However, he helps burn Ibarra's papers which may be used against the latter. Despite the misery Ibarra's family had done to him, Elias helps him escape and visit Maria Clara one last time. He managed to let Ibarra live when he hid the latter in the boat while he swam for the shore to escape. Since he was injured severely, he instructs Basilio to burn his corpse and Sisa's and to take the gold which he had buried. [edit]

Symbolism

Elias represents the common Filipino who is not only aware of the injustices done to their countrymen but would also like to deliver them from their oppressors. He is said to be the personification of Andres Bonifacio.

Sisa played a major role in Chapters 16, 21, 39, and 63 of Noli me Tangere. She had a pure heart that carried no pretenses, the opposite ofDoa Consolacion. She was a loving mother who wanted to give her sons a filling meal. She was disappointed when leftovers remained after her husband ate dinner. Sisa became surprised when her wounded son, Basilio, came home and told her of Crispin's situation at the convent. She had tried to supplicate at the convent for the young boy's return but in vain. She comes home to see civil guards getting her hen and sending her to thecuartel. On the way, Sisa was put to shame when people saw her in town and associated her sons with the stolen money at the convent. When her case was dismissed, she returns home to look for her sons but in vain. She loses her mind. When she causes a commotion by associating herself with a leper, she was imprisoned and tortured by the cruel muse of the alferez after the latter was exposed as a fraud Spanish speaker and was affected by Sisa's song. After being saved by the alferez, Sisa roamed about and was recognized by the limping Basilio. As she has not recognized her son, a chase ensued and ended when Basilio fell off the tree to catch his mother. When she finally recognizes her son, Basilio had fainted. When Basilio woke up, Sisa had died. Rizal made her death one of the highlights of the novel as it showed hope upon the orphaned Basilio. [edit]

Symbolism

Sisa is thought to have represented the motherland who was suffering as her character have suffered with the loss of her children. The tragic events that ruined her life represented the abuse that the motherland received from her colonizers.

Doa Victorina provided comic relief in the novel. Rizal had her criticize the natives inherent culture and that she had been rubbing elbows with the powers that be in a humorous way. The way she hen-pecked Tiburcio for slight mistakes was meant to elicit smiles from the reader. She dislikes the cruel Doa Consolacion for the latter's rudeness. Chapter 47 had the two women face-off only to be separated by Padre Salvi. In the end, she drove the carriage herself and had numerous accidents because of her poor eyesight, which she managed to repair by wearing eyeglasses. [edit]

Symbolism

As one of the lesser evils in the novel, Doa Victorina symbolizes those who have a distorted view of their identity. Everything that is indigenous is inferior and everything foreign as superior. It is the comedic form of colonial mentality. The novel warns that this delusion will end in one being avoided by the foreigners they admire and a caricature of sort to their countrymen.