Assignment in Rizal Course (Mr.

Albela)


1. Read, understand and interpret the following selections from Dr. Rizal`s Noli Me Tangere and El
Filibusterismo.
From El Filibusterismo.
Chapter 7 - SIMOUN
Simoun paused with a repressed sigh, and then slowly resumed, while his gaze wandered about:
"Yes, I am he who came here thirteen years ago, sick and wretched, to pay the last tribute to a great and
noble soul that was willing to die Ior me. The victim oI a vicious system, I have wandered over the world,
working night and day to amass a Iortune and carry out my plan. Now I have returned to destroy that
system, to precipitate its downIall, to hurl it into the abyss toward which it is senselessly rushing, even
though I may have to shed oceans oI tears and blood. It has condemned itselI, it stands condemned, and I
don't want to die beIore I have seen it in Iragments at the Ioot oI the precipice!"
Simoun extended both his arms toward the earth, as iI with that gesture he would like to hold there
the broken remains. His voice took on a sinister, even lugubrious tone, which made the student shudder.
"Called by the vices oI the rulers, I have returned to these islands, and under the cloak oI a
merchant have visited the towns. My gold has opened a way Ior me and wheresoever I have beheld greed
in the most execrable Iorms, sometimes hypocritical, sometimes shameless, sometimes cruel, Iatten on the
dead organism, like a vulture on a corpse, I have asked myselI--why was there not, Iestering in its vitals,
the corruption, the ptomaine, the poison oI the tombs, to kill the Ioul bird? The corpse was letting itselI be
consumed, the vulture was gorging itselI with meat, and because it was not possible Ior me to give it liIe
so that it might turn against its destroyer, and because the corruption developed slowly, I have stimulated
greed, I have abetted it. The cases oI injustice and the abuses multiplied themselves; I have instigated
crime and acts oI cruelty, so that the people might become accustomed to the idea oI death. I have stirred
up trouble so that to escape Irom it some remedy might be Iound; I have placed obstacles in the way oI
trade so that the country, impoverished and reduced to misery, might no longer be aIraid oI anything; I
have excited desires to plunder the treasury, and as this has not been enough to bring about a popular
uprising, I have wounded the people in their most sensitive Iiber; I have made the vulture itselI insult the
very corpse that it Ieeds upon and hasten the corruption.
From Noli Me Tangere.
Chapter 19 : The Schoolmaster`s Difficulties
The schoolmaster shook his head sadly. "A poor teacher struggles not only against prejudices but
also against certain inIluences. First, it would be necessary to have a suitable place and not to do as I must
at present--hold the classes under the convento by the side oI the padre's carriage. There the children, who
like to read aloud, very naturally disturb the padre, and he oIten comes down, nervous, especially when he
has his attacks, yells at them, and even insults me at times. You know that no one can either teach or learn
under such circumstances, Ior the child will not respect his teacher when he sees him abused without
standing up Ior his rights. In order to be heeded and to maintain his authority the teacher needs prestige,
reputation, moral strength, and some Ireedom oI action.
"Now let me recount to you even sadder details. I have wished to introduce reIorms and have
been laughed at. In order to remedy the evil oI which I just spoke to you, I tried to teach Spanish to the
children because, in addition to the Iact that the government so orders, I thought also that it would be oI
advantage Ior everybody. I used the simplest method oI words and phrases without paying any attention
to long rules, expecting to teach them grammar when they should understand the language. At the end oI
a Iew weeks some oI the brightest were almost able to understand me and could use a Iew phrases."
The schoolmaster paused and seemed to hesitate, then, as iI making a resolution, he went on: "I
must not be ashamed oI the story oI my wrongs, Ior any one in my place would have acted the same as I
did. As I said, it was a good beginning, but a Iew days aIterwards Padre Damaso, who was the curate
then, sent Ior me by the senior sacristan. Knowing his disposition and Iearing to make him wait, I went
upstairs at once, saluted him, and wished him good-morning in Spanish. His only greeting had been to put
out his hand Ior me to kiss, but at this he drew it back and without answering me began to laugh loud and
mockingly. I was very much embarrassed, as the senior sacristan was present. At the moment I didn't
know just what to say, Ior the curate continued his laughter and I stood staring at him. Then I began to get
impatient and saw that I was about to do something indiscreet, since to be a good Christian and to
preserve one's dignity are not incompatible. I was going to put a question to him when suddenly, passing
Irom ridicule to insult, he said sarcastically, 'So it's buenos dins, eh? Buenos dias! How nice that you
know how to talk Spanish!' Then again he broke out into laughter."
Ibarra was unable to repress a smile.
"You smile," continued the schoolmaster, Iollowing Ibarra's example, "but I must conIess that at
the time I had very little desire to laugh. I was still standing--I Ielt the blood rush to my head and
lightning seemed to Ilash through my brain. The curate I saw Iar, Iar away. I advanced to reply to him
without knowing just what I was going to say, but the senior sacristan put himselI between us. Padre
Damaso arose and said to me in Tagalog: 'Don't try to shine in borrowed Iinery. Be content to talk your
own dialect and don't spoil Spanish, which isn't meant Ior you. Do you know the teacher Ciruela?|64|
Well, Ciruela was a teacher who didn't know how to read, and he had a school.' I wanted to detain him,
but he went into his bedroom and slammed the door.
"What was I to do with only my meager salary, to collect which I have to get the curate's approval
and make a trip to the capital oI the province, what could I do against him, the Ioremost religious and
political power in the town, backed up by his Order, Ieared by the government, rich, powerIul, sought
aIter and listened to, always believed and heeded by everybody? Although he insulted me, I had to remain
silent, Ior iI I replied he would have had me removed Irom my position, by which I should lose all hope in
my chosen proIession. Nor would the cause oI education gain anything, but the opposite, Ior everybody
would take the curate's side, they would curse me and call me presumptuous, proud, vain, a bad Christian,
uncultured, and iI not those things, then anti-Spanish and a Iilibuster. OI a schoolmaster neither learning
nor zeal is expected; resignation, humility, and inaction only are asked. May God pardon me iI I have
gone against my conscience and my judgement, but I was born in this country, I have to live, I have a
mother, so I have abandoned myselI to my Iate like a corpse tossed about by the waves."
. Secure a copy and interpret these selected poems of Dr. Rizal.
a. Last Poem oI Rizal (Mi Ultimo Adios)
b. Our Mother Tongue
c. Hymn to Labor
d. A Poem That Has No Title
e. To the Philippines Youth
I. Education Gives Luster to the Motherland
g. To the Virgin Mary
h. Sa Aking mga Kabata

. Based on the essay of Dr. Rizal ~To the Indolence of the Filipino is it true that the Filipinos are
indolent by nature?
4. Reflecting on Dr. Rizal`s ~To the Young Women of Malolos, how does Dr. Rizal describe
authentic faith and religion?