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What does “catalyst” mean in this context? Why did the author choose “Catalyst of Revolution” over “Catalyst of the Revolution”? The word “catalyst” in the context means “to start” or “to trigger things”. The author chose the wording for the title with some care so he chose the “Catalyst of Revoluti...

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1. What does “catalyst” mean in this context? Why did the author choose “Catalyst of Revolution” over “Catalyst of the Revolution”? The word “catalyst” in the context means “to start” or “to trigger things”. The author chose the wording for the title with some care so he chose the “Catalyst of Revolution” than the “Catalyst of the Revolution” because he wanted to draw a direct line between the two since the matter is more complex than that. However, he emphasized that there was indeed a connection between the Noli and the Revolution of 1896. 2. Why did Rizal decide to write Noli Me Tangere? Rizal’s purpose in writing the Noli is to provide a catalyst for a revolution, to start the process that would lead to the emancipation of the Philippines 3. Who are the four (4) people who advocated Rizal as reformist and not a revolutionist? What did they say about such? There were four people who advocated Rizal as reformist and not a revolutionist namely, Amado Guerrero, Renato Constantino, Wenceslao E. Retana, and W. Cameron Forbes. As for Amado Guerrero, he stated in his book, Philippine Society and Revolution, that “Rizal has failed to state categorically the need for revolutionary armed struggle to effect separation from Spain”. Then for Renato Constantino who said “the demands of the ilustrado reformists were necessarily delimited by their class position”, and that Rizal was a reformist to the end. Then for Wenceslao E. Retana who was a Spaniard who denied that Rizal had been the enemy of Spain, but only one who sought reforms. And for W. Cameron Forbes who insisted “Rizal never advocated independence nor did he advocate armed resistance to the government. He urged reform from within, by publicity, by public education, and appeal to the public conscience”. 4. What are the three (3) factors, according to Schumacher, that caused other writers not to see Rizal’s true intentions towards revolution? The three factors that caused other writers not to see Rizal’s true intentions towards revolution according to Schumacher were (1) The failure to distinguish between what Rizal (and other Filipinos who shared his ideas) were able to say publicly and what they felt privately. (2) The failure to read Rizal’s Noli Me Tangere and his other writings within the context of his personal correspondence at the time he was publishing. And (3) The failure to see the Noli Me Tangere not simply as an independent work but as a part of a well-thought-out long-range plan.

5. Why was Noli Me Tangere said to be a charter of nationalism? The Noli Me Tangere was said to be a charter of nationalism because Rizal wrote it not for the Spaniards, but for his fellow Filipinos. He wrote it to demand from the Filipinos that they must bring about reform themselves and it calls on the Filipinos to regain their self-confidence, to appreciate their own worth, to return to the heritage of their ancestors, to assert themselves as the equal of the Spaniards, and since it was intended for the Filipinos, Rizal insisted that his book had to reach the Filipinos and had to be written in a language that Filipinos would understand.

6. What message did Rizal wish to transmit to his fellow Filipinos through Noli Me Tangere? The message Rizal wished to transmit to his fellow Filipinos through Noli Me Tangere is that they should be aware of what was wrong with Philippine society, not only Spanish abuses, but Filipino failures as well while in the hands of the Spaniards. 7. What was Rizal’s answer to Blumentritt when the latter said that the Philippines will gradually be given independence by Spain? Rizal answered Blumentritt when the latter said that the Philippines will gradually be given independence by Spain, will never happen and it will remain as a dream since Spain will never learn from Spain’s earlier colonies like South America. And Rizal added that Filipinos do not want separation from Spain, rather more care, better instruction, better officials, one or two representatives, and more security for him and for his fellow Filipinos and their properties. However, Rizal admitted that Spain can still win Philippines but only Spain was more reasonable. Here is Rizal’s answer verbatim, “It will never come. The peaceful struggle must remain a dream, for Spain will never learn from her earlier colonies in South America. But in the present circumstances we want no separation from Spain; all we demand is more care, better instruction, better officials, one or two representatives, and more security for ourselves and our property. Spain can still win the Philippine for herself forever, if only Spain were more reasonable.” 8. What was the point that the Spanish writer Vicente Barrantes missed in his interpretation of Noli Me Tangere? Vicente Barrantes thought that Rizal made his fellow Filipinos just as bad as the friars and the Guardia Civil in his novel. But in fact, he missed the point. The point that the Spanish writer Vicente Barrantes missed in his interpretation of Noli Me Tangere was that it was not written to glorify the Filipino race, though it does from time to time highlight the virtues and good qualities of the unspoiled Filipino, any more than it does the mere

condemnation of Spanish oppression. Rizal made it that way since he thought thayt before starting the struggle, the foundation must be well and surely laid. 9. Why was it important to know the past according to Rizal? According to Rizal, it is important to know the past because making known of the past will make it possible to judge the present better and to measure the path which has been traversed during three centuries. He also thought that awakening the consciousness in people of their past would be the best foundation for them to dedicate themselves in studying the future. 10. What does Padre Florentino’s quote on p.97 (Because you chose…) want to tell us? Padre Florentino replied to dying Simoun’s question which was quoted on p.97, “Because you chose a means of which He could not approve… Hate only creates monsters, crimes, criminals; only love can work wonders, only virtue redeem. If our country is one day to be free, it will not be through vice and crime, it will not be through the corruption of its sons, some deceived, others bribed; redemption presupposes virtue; virtue, sacrifice; and sacrifice, love.” This quote of Padre Florentino wants to tell us that the God of justice and freedom doesn’t want to pursue anything with hate in our heart, but rather love and sacrifices. Since the God of justice and freedom is also the God of love. For hate will only creates monsters and can manipulate us from inside and it could destroy the true essence of the thing that we’ve been fighting for, the thing that we’ve been pursuing, and that is freedom and justice for our fellowmen. 11. Why did Rizal place the responsibility of the misfortunes on Filipinos themselves? Rizal placed the responsibility of the misfortunes on Filipinos themselves which he quoted, “our misfortunes are our own fault, let us blame nobody else for them…” because he believed that if we were less tolerant of having a cruel and oppressive government, then Spain wouldn’t have held us on the neck in the first place. If we were braver, readier to fight and suffer for our rights, then we wouldn’t have suffered in the hands of the Spaniards to begin with. 12. Differentiate a reformist and revolutionary. Springing from Marxist ideology, to be a reformist means to engage in futile tinkering with the political and economic structure of society through parliamentary means, or even by political bargaining and intrigue while to be revolutionary was to wake up against the government, the establishment, those in power. 13. What does Del Pilar mean with “Rizal was formed in libraries” (p.99)?

Del Pilar’s judgement of Rizal through his “Rizal was formed in libraries” means that he saw Rizal as someone who based his whole life in books and in theories, since Rizal was really into books and readings ever since he was young Rizal. He saw Rizal as someone who do not know how real life works and what real life really is, the real life outside of the pages of the books Rizal had read. 14. What did Rizal mean with his conviction written to Del Pilar on p. 100 (If our countrymen…)? Rizal’s conviction written for Del Pilar in which he quoted, “If our countrymen hope in us in Europe, they are certainly mistaken… The help we can give them is our lives in our country. Had I not been unwilling to shorten the life of my parents; I would not have left the Philippines no matter what happened. Those five months I stayed there were a life of example, a book even better than the Noli Me Tangere. The field of battle is the Philippines; there is where we should be found… There we will help each other, there we will suffer united, and perhaps even triumph” means that Rizal would not have left his beloved motherland, in the first place, if his mother was not sick. The life he lived in Europe is like a life which Crisostomo Ibarra lived in the novel, even better. He was in middle of the battle, but he was not in the battlefield. The battle was in the Philippines, he was fighting for justice, freedom, and rights of his fellow Filipinos so he should be standing in the Philippines, his motherland. In the Philippines where Filipinos should help each other, should suffer together or even succeed united. 15. In your own opinion after reading this article, is Rizal a revolutionary or a reformist? Explain. After reading this article, I figured it to myself that Rizal is both reformist and revolutionary. Rizal did not really resist Bonifacio’s idea of revolution, he just thought that it wasn’t the right time which could lead to useless bloodshed and he even suggested Heneral Luna to the KKK for their revolutionary plan. He wrote the Noli and the El Fili with a revolutionary goal in mind. He wanted to wake the consciousness of his fellow Filipinos to their rights, human and national dignity, and their freedom so they could ready to sacrifice themselves to defend it and the Philippines. He may not start the revolutionary war himself, instead he made a process to get to it and led the Filipinos to get to the process to make sure of the triumph in the end even if it meant his life....