A REFLECTION PAPER

“NOLI ME TANGERE CHAPTER 33: THOUGHT FOR FREEDOM”

In Partial Fulfillment in the Requirements

In the Subject GE1804

Rizal’s Life and Works

To be submitted to:

De leon, Quiovy

Submitted by:

Amar, Tyrone D.
 Date of submission:

24 April 2021

ABSTRACT

The young man who called as Juan Crisostomo Ibarra returning back after 7 years in Europe. Juan
Crisostomo Ibarra is way like his father Don Rafael endeavors for reform primarily in the area of
education in order to reduce the hunger and poverty and improve the countrymen life. The denial of
Catholic Church to the burial of Don Rafael was provoke by Padre Damaso who is the parish priest in
their town and lead to his excommunication. Eventually, Padre Salvi, the mortal enemy of Crisostomo
Ibarra accused him rebellion. Ibarra’s letter to his beloved Maria Clara was used against him. A while ago
Maria Clara found out that the letter of her mother were addressed to Padre Damaso about their
unborn child which means that Damaso is her biological father not of her father Capitan Tiago. At the
end of the Story Ibarra was able to escape the prison with Elias, who also experienced cruelty and
injustice system of the authorities. Ibarra and Elias was fleeing to the lake and chased by the Guardia
Civil. One was being shot and other was survived. A News report telling that Ibarra was already died and
she entered nunnery instead entering in a marriage life with Alfonso Linares. Noli Me Tangere describe
the Philippine system and society that time that characterizes by the important persons in this novel.
When you read the full novel, you will be enlighten and realize that it is catalyst and an eye opener for
every Filipinos. It opens mind about tyranny and oppression at this time.

Noli Me Tangere: Chapter 33

Characters:

Elias
Crisostomo Ibarra
Yellow man
Nor Juan
Alkalde
In this chapter Elias visited Ibarra and informs him that he had many enemies around him. Elias
emphasizes that these enemies think Ibarra seas unaware of their bad intentions to him. Ibarra was
shocked and Elias said the “Enmity is the law of life”. He tell that he met yellow man the night before
and hear mysterious things and rose the suspicions of Elias about the yellow man statements. Elias held
that the yellow man in his place so that he could not escape. Ibarra questions the morality of Elias but
Elias says that “I did not kill him, I let the hand of God to kill him”. Ibarra was grateful to Elias and asked
if Elias was a scholar and Elias replied that “I have had to believe a great deal with God, I have lost a
belief in man”. At the end of their conversations Elias said that he will be there at the time when Ibarra
needs him.

Ibarra heads home to change. Elias arrives. "You saved my life before, and now I have returned the
favor. There is no need for you to thank me, Sir," the man says to Ibarra. He goes on to remind him not
to hint to those people in power the warning that Elias gave him earlier in the church. Elias explains that
it would be better for Ibarra if his enemies thought he wasn't ready. Ibarra is stunned; he had no idea
he had enemies. "We all have enemies," says Elias. "Disagreement is a part of life." Elias then confesses
to have jumped the yellowish man into the excavation the moment the latter tried to make a run for it.

Interpretation during Junior High school

I interpret this chapter during high school as freedom of thought. This chapter was characterized by
Elias and Crisostomo Ibarra. This is the time were Elias informs and signal Ibarra about the enemy
around him. It also emphasize the wrong teachings and system of Catholic priest. Elias and Ibarra is
seem to align their self that Christianity is ultimately a force for good, but suddenly some people and
officials in church was corrupt and cruel. At this time as long as you silent and don’t against their system
you were be able to live a peaceful life.

Reflection of the issue to the modern Society

As a youth, my realization to this novel was the paternal love for the family and friends, Education and
love for our country. Now a days we know that most of young doesn’t respect and give gratitude to their
parents or eldest. In our culture we Filipino known for the family oriented. I’m sad to observe that
because of the modernity young people ignored their responsibility to their parents. Some of them
doesn’t give respect to them. Yes, our world is constantly changing as well the people but these value
was unconditional, we need to preserve these characteristic for the betterment of our society. Second
love for our country. World doesn’t have perfect and best country but this is depend on the people who
lived to his/her perspective country. Modern world welcome new things and sometimes we follow other
countries rather than real nationalism. What I mean is love our country respect it, preserve the treasure
that our ancestors and national heroes fought for our freedom. As well about the religions, as I observe
the Christianity was improved to their system now a days. I think that the officials doesn’t use religions
to gain more power and expressed cruelty. Now I proudly to say that churches improving rather to the
past that the Filipino mistrust to their religious belief because of the wrong teachings of priest. Long ago
other people back their faith about God. But the only problem that I think nothing to improve is our
government systems. Until now we heard about corruption and injustice system. I think from now the
problem during Rizal time was same problem until now. In the Philippines some of government official
used their power to do crime, commit sexual abuse, kill people and use the money and wealth of people
for their personal needs. The last the power of education. As a college student I’m happy because in
modern world there’s a lot of School and College that helps youth to become more knowledgeable,
because in the time of Rizal the access in education was very hard because there’s no knowledgeable
aside from the officials and Spaniards. But now a days, because of Jose P. Rizal he open the power of
education for the better future. Yes, now in a modern world parents always says that in order to have a
good life, you need to go in school. The Philippines from now gives a huge important to education rather
than past.

Personal Reflection

When Elías says that he “let the hand of God” kill the “yellow” man, he justifies his actions in a religious
manner. This is significant because it shows that even a criminal in Noli Me Tangere still believes in God
and sees religion as a positive force, even if the people currently running the church are corrupt. Indeed,
Ibarra is similarly devoted to religion despite his bitterness toward people like Father Dámaso

References:
https://www.gradesaver.com/noli-me-tangere/study-guide/summarychapters-33-36

https://www.academia.edu/Documents/in/Noli_Me_Tangere