The novel Noli Me Tangere contains 63 chapters and epilogue. It begins with a reception given by Capitan Tiago (Santiago de los Santos) at his house in Calle Analogue (now Juan Luna Street) on the last day of October. The reception or dinner is given in honor of Crisostomo Ibarra, a young and rich Filipino who had just returned after seven years of study in Europe. Ibarra was the only son of Don Rafael Ibarra, friend of Capitan Tiago, and a fiancé of beautiful Maria Clara, supposed daughter of Capitan Tiago.

Among the guests during the reception were Padre Damaso, a fat Franciscan friar who had been parish priest for 20 years of San Diego (Calamba), Ibarra’s native town; Padre Sybila, a young Dominican parish priest of Binondo; Señor Guevara, as elderly and kind lieutenant of the Guardia Civil; Don Tiburcio de Espadaña, a bogus Spanish physician, lame, and henpecked husband of Doña Victorina; and several ladies.

Ibarra, upon his arrival, produced a favorable impression among the guests, except Padre Damaso, who has rude to him. In accordance with a German custom, he introduced himself to the ladies.

During the dinner the conversation centered on Ibarra’s studies and travels abroad. Padre Damaso was in bad mood because he got a bony neck and a hard wing of the chicken tinola. He tried to discredit Ibarra’s remarks.

After dinner, Ibarra left Capitan Tiago’s house to return to his hotel. On the way, the kind Lieutenant Guevara told him the sad story of his father’s death in San Diego. Don Rafael, his father, was a rich and brave man. He defended a helpless boy from the brutality of an illiterate Spanish tax collector, pushing the latter and accidentally killing him. Don Rafael was thrown in prison, where he died unhappily. He was buried in consecrated ground, but his enemies, accusing him being a heretic, had his body removed from the cemetery.

On hearing about his father’s sad story, Ibarra thanked the kind Spanish lieutenant and vowed to find out the truth about his father’s death.

The following morning, he visited Maria Clara, his childhood sweetheart. Maria Clara teasingly said that he had forgotten her because the girls in Germany were beautiful. Ibarra replied that he had never forgotten her.

After the romantic reunion with Maria Clara, Ibarra went to San Diego to visit his father’s grave. It was All Saint’s Day. At the cemetery, the grave digger told Ibarra that the corpse of Don Rafael was removed by order of the parish priest to be, buried in the Chinese cemetery; but the corpse was heavy and it was a dark and rainy night so that he (the grave-digger) simply threw the corpse into the lake.

Ibarra was angered by the grave-digger’s story. He left the cemetery. On the way, he met Padre Salvi, Franciscan parish priest of San Diego. In a flash, Ibarra pounced on the priest, demanding redress for desecrating his father’s mortal remains. Padre told him that he had nothing to do with it, for he was not the parish priest at the time of Don Rafael’s death. It was Padre Damaso, his predecessor, who was responsible for it. Convinced for Padre Salvi’s innocence, Ibarra went away.

In his town Ibarra met several interesting people, such as the wise old man, Tasio the philosopher, whose ideas were too advanced for his times so that the people, who could not understand him, called him “Tasio the Lunatic;” the progressive school teacher, who complained to Ibarra that the children were losing interest to their studies because of the lack proper school house and the discouraging attitude of the parish friar towards both the teaching of Spanish and of the use of modern methods of pedagogy; the spineless gobernadorcillo, who catered to the wishes of the Spanish parish friars; Don Filipo Lino, the teniente-mayor and leader of the cuardrilleros (town police); and the former gobernadorcillos who were prominent citizens Don Basilio and Don Valentin.

A most tragic story in the novel is the tale of Sisa, who was formerly a rich girl but became poor because she married a gambler, and a wastrel at that. She became crazy because she lost her two boys, Basilio and Crispin, the joy of her wretched life. These boys were sacristanes (sextons) in the church, working for a small wage to support their poor mother. Crispin the younger of the two brothers was accused by the brutal sacristan mayor (chief sexton) of stealing the money of the priest. He was tortured in the convent and died. Basilio, with his brother’s dying cries ringing in his ears, escaped. When the two boys did not return home, Sisa looked for them everywhere and, in her great sorrow, she became insane.

Capitan Tiago, Maria Clara, and Aunt Isabel (Capitan Tiago’s cousin who took care of Maria Clara, after his mother’s death) arrived in San Diego. Ibarra and his friends give picnic at the lake. Among those present in this picnic, were Maria Clara and her four girl friends the merry Siñang, the grave Victoria, the beautiful Iday, and the thoughtful Neneng; Aunt Isabel, chaperon of Maria Clara; Capitana Tika, mother of Siñang; Andeng, foster sister of Maria Clara; Albino, the ex-theological student who was in love with Siñang; and Ibarra and his friends. One of the boatmen was a strong and silent peasant youth named Elias.

An incident of the picnic was the saving of Elias’ life by Ibarra. Elias bravely grappled with a crocodile which was caught in the fish corral. But the crocodile struggled furiously so that Elias could not subdue it. Ibarra jumped into the water and killed the crocodile, thereby saving Elias. After the crocodile incident, was the rendering of a beautiful song by Maria Clara who had a sweet voice and they went ashore. They made merry in the cool, wooded meadow. Padre Salvi, Capitan Basilio (former gobernadorcillo and Siñang’s father) the alferez (lieutenant of the Guardia Civil) and the town officials were present. The luncheon was served, and everybody enjoyed eating.

The meal over, Ibarra and Capitan Basilio played chess, while Maria Clara and her friends played the “Wheel of Chance”, a game based on a fortune-telling book. As the girls were enjoying their fortune-telling game, Padre Salvi came and tore to pieces the book, saying that it was a sin to play such game. Shortly thereafter, a sergent and four soldiers of the Guardia Civil suddenly arrived, looking for Elias, who was hunted for assaulting Padre Damaso and throwing the alferez into a mud hole. Fortunately Elias had disappeared, and the Guardia Civil went away empty-handed. During the picnic also, Ibarra received a telegram from the Spanish authorities notifying him the approval of his donation of a schoolhouse for the children of San Diego.

The next day Ibarra visited old Tasio to consult him on his pet project about the schoolhouse. He saw the old man’s writings were written in hieroglyphics. Tasio explained to him that he wrote in hieroglyphics because he was writing for the future generations who would understand them and say, “Not all were asleep in the night of our ancestors!”

Meanwhile San Diego was merrily preparing for its annual fiesta, in honor of its patron saint San Diego de Alcala, whose feast day is the 11^th of November. On the eve of the fiesta, hundreds of visitors arrived from the nearby towns, and there were laughter, music, exploding bombs, feasting and moro-moro. The music was furnished by five brass bands (including the famous Pagsanjan Band owned by the escribano Miguel Guevara) and three orchestras. 

In the morning of the fiesta there was a high mass in the church, officiated by Padre Salvi. Padre Damaso gave the long sermon, in which he expatiated on the evils of the times that were caused by certain men, who having tasted some education spread pernicious ideas among the people.

After Padre Damaso’s sermon, the mass was continued by Padre Salve. Elias quietly moved to Ibarra, who was kneeling and praying by Maria Clara’s side, and warned him to be careful during the ceremony of the laying of the cornerstone of the schoolhouse because there was a plot to kill him.

Elias suspected that the yellowish man, who built the derrick, was a paid stooge of Ibarra’s enemies. True to his suspicion, later in the day, when Ibarra, in the presence of a big crowd, went down into the trench to cement the cornerstone, the derrick collapsed. Elias, quick as a flash, pushed him aside, thereby saving his life. The yellowish man was the one crushed to death by the shattered derrick.

At the sumptuous dinner that night under a decorated kiosk, a sad incident occurred. The arrogant Padre Damaso, speaking in the presence of many guests, insulted the memory of Ibarra’s father. Ibarra jumped to his seat, knocked down the fat friar with his fist, and then seized a sharp knife. He would have killed the friar, were it not for the timely intervention of Maria Clara.

The fiesta over, Maria Clara became ill. She was treated by the quack Spanish physician, Tiburcio de Espadaña, whose wife, a vain and vulgar native woman, was a frequent visitor in Capitan Tiago’s house. This woman had hallucinations of being a superior Castillan, and, although a native herself, she looked down on her own people as inferior beings. She added another “de” to her husband’s surname in order to more Spanish. Thus she wanted to be called “Doctora Doña Victorina de los Reyes de De Espadaña.” She introduced to Capitan Tiago’s young Spaniards, Don Alfonso Linares de Espadaña, cousin of Don Tiburcio de Espadaña and godson of Padre Damaso’s brother in law. Linares was a penniless and jobless, fortune hunter who came to the Philippines in search of a rich Filipino heiress. Both Doña Victorina and Padre Damaso sponsored his wooing of Maria Clara, but the latter did not respond because she loved Ibarra.

The story of Elias like that of Sisa, was a tale of pathos and tragedy. He related it to Ibarra. Some 60 years ago, his grandfather, who was then a young bookkeeper in a Spanish commercial firm in Manila, was wrongly accused of burning the firm’s warehouse. He was flogged in public and was left in the street, crippled and almost died. His was pregnant, beg for alms and became a prostitute in order to support her sick husband and their son. After giving birth to her second son and the death of her husband, she fled, with her to sons to the mountains.

Years later the first boy became a dreaded tulisan named Balat. He terrorized the provinces. One day he was caught by the authorities. His head was cut off and was hung from a tree branch in the forest. On seeing this gory object, the poor mother (Elias’ grandmother) died.

Balat’s younger brother, who was by nature kindhearted, fled and became a trusted laborer in the house of rich man in Tayabas. He fell in love with the master’s daughter. The girl’s father, enraged by the romance, investigated his past and found out the truth. The unfortunate lover (Elias’ father) was sent to jail, while the girl gave birth to twins, a boy (Elias) and a girl. Their rich grandfather took care of them, keeping secret their scandalous origin, and reared them as rich children. Elias was educated in the JesuitCollege in Manila, while his sister studied in La Concordia College. They lived happily, until one day, owing to certain dispute over money matters, a distant relative exposed their shameful birth. They were disgraced. An old male servant, whom they used to abuse, was forced to testify in court and the truth came out that he was their real father.

Elias and his sister left Tayabas to hide their shame in another place. One day the sister disappeared. Elias roamed from place to place, looking for her. He heard later that a girl answering to his sister’s description, was found died on the beach of San Diego. Since then, Elias lived a vagabond life, wandering from province to province – until he met Ibarra.

Elias, learning of Ibarra’s arrest, burned all the papers that might incriminate his friend and set Ibarra’s house on fire. Then he went to prison and helped Ibarra escape. He and Ibarra jumped into a banca loaded with sacate (grass). Ibarra stopped at the house of Capitan Tiago to say goodbye to Maria Clara. In the tearful last scene between the two lovers, Ibarra forgave Maria Clara for giving up his letter to her to the Spanish authorities who utilized them as evidence against him. On her part, Maria Clara revealed that those letters were exchanged with a letter from her late mother, Pia Alba which Padre Salvi gave her. From his letter, she learned that her real father was Padre Damaso.

After bidding Maria Clara farewell, Ibarra returned to the banca. He and Elias paddled up the PasigRiver toward Laguna de Bay. A police boat, with the Guardia Civil on board, pursued them as their banca reached the lake. Elias told Ibarra to hide under the zacate. As the police boat was overtaking the banca, Elias jumped into the water and swam swiftly toward the shore. In this way, he diverted the attention of the soldiers on his person, thereby giving Ibarra a chance to escape. The soldier fired at the swimming Elias, who was hit and sank. The water turned red because of his blood. The soldiers, thinking that they had killed the fleeing Ibarra returned to Manila. Thus Ibarra was able to escape.

Elias seriously wounded, reached the shore and staggered into the forest. He met a boy, Basilio, who was weeping over his mother’s dead body. He told Basilio to make a pyre on which their bodies (his and Sisa) were to be burned to ashes. It was Christmas eve, and the moon gleamed softly in the sky. Basilio prepared the funeral pyre. As life’s breath slowly left his body. Elias looked toward the east and murmured: “I die without seeing the dawn brighten over my native land.” You, who have it to see, welcome it! And forget not those who have fallen during the night.

The novel has an epilogue which recounts what happened to the other characters. Maria Clara, out of her loyalty to the memory of Ibarra, the man she truly loved, entered the Santa Clara nunnery. Padre Salvi left the parish of San Diego and became a chaplain of the nunnery. Padre Damaso was transferred to a remote province, but the next morning he was found dead in his bedroom. Capitan Tiago the former genial host and generous patron of the church became an opium addict and a human wreck. Doña Victorina, still henpecking poor Don Tiburcio, had taken to wearing eye-glasses because of weakening eyesight. Linares, who failed to win Maria Clara’s affection, died of dysentery and was buried in Paco cemetery.

The alferez, who successfully repulsed the abortive attack on the barracks, was promoted major. He returned to Spain, leaving behind his shabby mistress, Doña Consolacion.

The novel ends with Maria Clara, an unhappy nun in Santa Clara nunnery – forever lost to the world.

REFLECTION:
Jose Rizal wrote Noli Me Tangere during the time of the Spanish occupation in the Philippines. The novel is a reflection of what the Filipinos were going through during that time. He wrote it to open the eyes of the Filipinos to the reality that they were being oppressed. 
I FEEL SO PROUD to all the writers when the Filipinos are still under for those invaders . because these writers played the urgent role in the life of Filipinos during the colonization, they are the one who help the Filipinos to be enlighten , they find ways to help our country by the use of their ink they make the Filipinos more persevere and determined to fight to get their freedom.

Florante at Laura

The story begins with a description of a dark, dangerous, deserted forest in the kingdom of Albania, that is inhabited by serpents, basilisks, hyenas, and tigers.  Deep in the heart of the depressing jungle where the tangled growth of vines and thickets intertwined, and the great canopy of heavy foliaged trees formed a roof over the dismal jungle clearing, the moans and anguished cries of a forsaken man filled the savage stillness of the air.  The man is tied to a tree and is barely alive.  He is Florante, the son of Duke Briseo and Princess Floresca.blonde hair, fair smooth skin, and a face and body that is comparable to that of Narcissus and Adonis.  He has 

Florante, while tied to a tree, questions the heavens for the suffering of the people of Albania.  Here he describes the treachery and suffering that are happening inside and outside of the kingdom of Albania.  Gone are the days of peace and and justice.  Innocent people have become victims of those who are hungry for power and money. Those who fought to save the kingdom have suffered grievously.   He mentions that Count Adolfo was said to be behind the treachery with his plot to steal the crown from King Linceo and the wealth of Duke Briseo.  Florante begs heaven to save the kingdom of Albania.

The man tells the heavens that he can take whatever trial or challenge that may come his way as long as Laura will always remember him.  Aside from all that is happening to Albania, he takes refuge in the memories of the times he shared with Laura.  He mentions that he would be pleased to see Laura crying over his dead body if Laura would betray him.  With this, he imagines Laura in the arms of Count Adolfo. This thought brings him to tears and devastation which made him tired and cause him to pass out.

The man cries for Laura to save him, but she does not come.  With this, the man thinks that Count Adolfo has finally stolen Laura from him. He mentions that he will thank Count Adolfo for all the hardship as long as he doesn't take Laura from him.  With too much to bear, the man cries in despair and faintes.

In another part of the forest comes Aladin, a Muslim soldier.  He sits on a stump and professes his love for a woman named Flerida.  He talks about his overwhelming love for Flerida and vows to kill for the sake of love.  He says that no one can stand in his way nor is there anyone who can take his love from him, not even his father.  He also says that love can make a person blind to the truth and make him forget about reason and honor.

After professing his love for Flerida, the Muslim soldier hears a voice in the forest.  This voice talks about the brutal death of his loving father.  The man talks about how his father was beheaded and had his body thrown somewhere else.  No one attempted to bury his father's remains for fear of Count Adolfo's wrath.   Even without seeing his father, the man knew that the old man was thinking of him until the end of his life.

While tied to a tree, Florante was approached by two lingering lions.  But the lions did not seem to attack, thinking that the man might already be dead.  Realizing the approach of death, the man says his farewell to Albania, the land he wished to serve since he was a child, and to Laura, whom he will forever love.

Upon hearing the man's cries, Aladin set off to find the man.  His timing was impeccable because the lions were about to attack Florante.  With a swift motion of his weapon, the Muslim soldier killed the two lions.  With his courage and precision in combat, he was compared to Ares, the god of war.

After rescuing Florante, Aladin frees him and lays him down.  Florante wakes up delirious looking for Laura.  The Muslim soldier does not respond and Florante goes back to sleep.   When he finally wakes up, Florante is surprised to see an enemy taking care of him.  Aladin told him that he wishes the man no harm and that the command of heaven to help is what's important.  The man said that he did not want the soldier's pity, what he needs is death.   Aladin yelled at him for speaking such nonsense.

Due to all that they have been through recently, Aladin and Florante decide to become silent.  When nightfall comes, Aladin carried Florante and rests on a flat rock.  The Muslim soldier feeds Florante and has him sleep on his lap.  He watches over Florante because he is still delirious and he is devastated every time the latter wakes up.  In the morning, Florante thanks Aladin for what he has done for him.  The soldier asked Florante why he was so devastated, and the latter willingly narrated his story.

The man tells the Muslim soldier that his name is Florante.  Florante tells him that he came from Albania and that he is the son of Duke Briseus, second in command of the kingdom, and Princess Floresca of Croton.  He proudly talks about his father saying what a brave and kind man he was.  He also emphasizes that there is no one who can outdo his father in loving a child and in teaching him good manners.  Florante also spoke of two accounts when he almost died as a child.  One was when he was almost caught by a vulture but was rescued by his cousin Menalipo.  The other was when someone attempted to take the diamond that was on his chest.

Florante spoke about his happy childhood.  When he was a child, he loved playing outdoors and hunting. He realized that a child must not be raised with too much freedom and security because life is tougher when one grows older.  He also says that a child will have difficulty in facing challenges if he is too pampered and safe as a child.  Duke Briseus taught him how to stand alone by sending him to Athens to study under Antenor.

Florante studies in Athens under Antenor.   He becomes homesick and longs to be with his parents again but he is comforted by Antenor.  Adolfo, a boy from Albania and the son of Duke Sileno, becomes his classmate.  Adolfo is two years older than him and is admired by everyone in school for his wisdom and kindness.  Due to his intelligence, Florante was able to learn the lessons about philosophy, astrology and mathematics in no time at all which astonished his teachers.  He even surpassed Adolfo in all aspect and became known all across Athens.  Everyone distrusted the kindness that Adolfo is showing.  In a sporting competition, Adolfo's true color began to show which aroused the people's suspicions.

During a play performed by the students, Adolfo attempted to kill Florante but did not succeed due to his classmate Menandro's interference.  After two months, Florante received a letter from his father bringing bad news and summoning him to come home.  It was difficult for Florante to say his goodbyes to his classmates and his mentor, Antenor.  Before leaving, Antenor advised Florante not to be too trusting because there are enemies all around us.   Florante went home with his friend, Menandro. Upon arriving at Albania, Florante cried when he saw his father.  After he calmed down, Duke Briseus told Florante about the death of Princess Floresca.

The emissary of Croton came to Albania with a letter asking for help in saving Croton from the Persian invaders headed by General Osmalic.  Florante pauses to praise Aladin, saying that the general is only second to Aladin in combat skill.  With this, Aladin smiles and says that rumors are not necessarily true. Returning to his story, Florante said that he and his father went to King Linceus to discuss how they could help Croton.  King Linceus appointed Florante to lead the army that will help save Croton.

During their visit to King Linceus, Florante saw Laura, the daughter of the king.  He was mermerized by Laura's beauty.  He became speechless and stuttered a lot in the presence of Laura.  After talking about Laura, Florante's mind drifts toward horrible thoughts about Laura's unfaithfulness.

Before setting off to war, King Linceus threw a feast for Florante.  The celebration lasted for three days and within this period, he did not get to see Laura.  The day before he set of to war, Florante saw Laura and he professed his love.  Laura did not give him a straight answer, instead she cried and Florante took this as a sign of Laura's reciprocation of his feelings.

General Osmalic and Florante finally meet and they battled for five hours until Florante was able to defeat the general.

Florante was able to save Croton from the hands of the enemy with the help of Menandro and his troupes.  The people rejoiced their victory especially when they learned that Florante is the king's grandson.  But Florante and the king did not rejoice with them for they remembered Princess Floresca and mourned for her death.  Five months had passed when Florante decided to return to Albania to be with Laura again.  On his journey back, Florante became weary when he saw the Muslim flag swaying in Albania.

Florante hid on the outskirts at the foot of the mountain to observe what is happening.  He saw a woman tied and blindfolded who is about to be beheaded.  He remembered Laura and hastily went to rescue the woman.  He fought the Muslims and rescued the woman who happened to be Laura herself.  Laura told Florante about that Albania had been conquered.  They went back and redeemed the country from the invaders.  Florante freed the captives including King Linceus, Duke Briseus, and Count Adolfo.  The king honored Florante for his bravery and Florante won Laura's affection.  With the victory of Florante, Adolfo's hatred and envy deepened and he planned to take revenge against Florante.

A few months have passed since Albania was last invaded when the Persian army, headed by Miramolin disturbed its peace.  But the Turkish invaders did not succeed because Florante had defeated him.  After this, Florante successfully won many battles which earned him the respect of thirteen kings.  One day, while Florante was in the middle of a war, he received a letter ordering him to return immediately to Albania.  He left the war under the command of Menandro and set off to return to Albania.  Upon arriving, he was surprised to be welcomed by 30,000 soldiers who abducted him.  Here he learned that Adolfo had ordered for his father, Duke Briseus, and King Linceus to be beheaded.  He also learned that Laura was engaged to Count Adolfo.  Florante was imprisoned for 18 days then was transferred to the forest where he was tied to an Acacia tree.  He had been in the forest for two days when the Muslim soldier found and rescued him.

After Florante narrated his story, the Muslim soldier introduces himself as Aladdin, son of Sultan Ali-Adab of Persia.  Aladdin tells Florante that he will tell his own story in due time because he needs some time to collect himself.

After wandering around the forest for five months, Aladin begins to narrate his story.  He says that his father is the root of all his suffering.  His father became his rival for his love, Flerida.  In order to succeed, Sultan Ali-Adab plotted a scheme to behead Aladin by framing him as the cause of the downfall of the Persian invaders that resulted to Florante's victory in Albania.  On the night before Aladin's execution, Sultan Ali-Adab forgave Aladin on the condition that he would flee Persia and never return.  Aladin agreed but could not accept the idea of Flerida in the arms of another man.  Since then, Aladin has been a wanderer of the forest for six years.  He suddenly stops his story when they heard voices in the forest.

The two men heard voices.  One of the women narrated the story she heard about the danger that her lover was in.  She begged the Sultan not to push through with his beheading in exchange for her agreement to marry him.  The Sultan agreed and her lover was set free, leaving without saying goodbye.  One night, while everyone was busy with the wedding preparations, the woman who happens to be Flerida, disguised herself as a soldier and escaped.  She wandered the forest hoping to find her love. Here in the forest is where the two women met when Flerida saved Laura who was about to be assaulted by a man.  They stop talking when they hear footsteps approaching and were surprised to see Florante and Aladdin.

Laura narrates her story.  It began when Florante left to battle the Persian invaders.  Adolfo ordered that the king and his loyal servants be beheaded.  Adolfo took over the throne and forced Laura to marry him.  It took five months for him to court Laura but she did not waver in her decision not to marry him. After Florante was sent to die in the forest, Menandro and his men returned to Albania and overthrew Adolfo from the throne.  Adolfo would not accept defeat; instead he took Laura and his men to the forest.  Here Adolfo saw no escape and decided to rape Laura right there.  Upon hearing a woman's cry for help, Flerida came to the rescue and killed Adolfo with an arrow.

Their conversation is interrupted by the arrival of Menandro and his troupe.  Upon seeing Florante, he rejoices to see his friend.

The two couples return to Albania where they are warmly welcomed.  Flerida and Aladdin agree to be baptized as Christians.  Both couples are wed and Florante and Laura rule over Albania with justice, peace, and harmony.  When Sultan Ali-Adab dies, Aladdin and Flerida return to Persia and they rule over the people happily.

MORAL LESSONS :
The moral lesson in that story by francisco balagtas is that love conquers all. it could give you the courage to move on and fight your way just to see your loved one and aside from that... it teaches the students about the great faith of the characters in God and in their principles.