Copies of manuscripts of novels now in US university

Manila, Philippines - Copies of the original manuscripts of Dr. Jose Rizal’s “Noli Me Tangere” and “El Filibusterismo” have found a new home: the Northern Illinois University (NIU) in Chicago in the United States.

The Philippine Consulate General in Chicago reported to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) that Consul General Leo Herrera-Lim donated copies of the original manuscripts of Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo to the university on May 6.

NIU president John Peters accepted the books from Herrera-Lim in a simple ceremony held at the Altgeld Hall of the university.

“The visit was Consul General Herrera-Lim’s first Rizal event outside of Chicago, a week after his presentation of similar books to the University of Chicago,” the DFA said in a news release.

The activity was held in connection with the Consulate’s Spreading Rizal’s Message program as part of its continuing celebration of the national hero’s 150th birth anniversary.

The NIU was chosen as recipient of the books for being the home of the Center for Southeast Asian Studies, one of only seven Title VI Southeast Asian National Resource Centers in the United States.

The NIU university libraries are also home to the Donn V. Hart Southeast Asia Collection, an impressive collection of Southeast Asia-related materials, such as original manuscripts, field notes, photo albums, original artwork, rare books, large and expensive folios and palm-leaf manuscripts.

Among those in attendance during the event were members of the Filipino-American community, NIU’s faculty and students, as well as officials of the consulate.

The original copies of the Noli and Fili are reported to be in danger of being permanently damaged.

Germany and the Philippines are earmarking P2 million to buy equipment for the restoration of the manuscripts as well as Rizal’s sketches and diaries.

Books that made history

Rizal, born on June 19, 1861, was a patriot and the most prominent advocate for reforms in the Philippines during the Spanish colonial era.

Through his novels and other writings, he had exposed the ills of Philippine society during the Spanish era.

Noli and Fili depicted the abuses suffered by the native indios at the hands of Spanish tyrants.

The Noli shows the rotten system during the Spanish regime, the illicit ways of the church, and the unequal trade of the privileged class.

Fili, the sequel of Noli, paints a clearer picture of the “social cancer” afflicting Philippine society.

The two novels had been very popular during that period and are believed to have triggered the 1896 revolution and, eventually, the end of the Spanish colonization.

Upon his return to the country, Rizal was implicated in the brewing rebellion and in July 1892, was deported to Dapitan in the province of Zamboanga.

The execution of Rizal on Dec. 30, 1896 paved the way for the eventual fall of the Spanish era in the country.