Noli and Fili: Musings at the Original Manuscripts

 

Finally, I had the rare chance to see face-to-face the original manuscript of Jose Rizal’s Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo, as well as the original Mi Ultimo Adios. These were on display at the National Library of the Philippines (NLP) along with all other century-old documents and books that shape the history of the country.

 

When I entered the hall of the gallery, what first caught my attention was the portrait painting of Jose Rizal mounted on the far end. I went straight to it. But before getting near it, I saw the original manuscripts of Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo inside the glass cases. I had goosebumps as I was standing there staring at the copies. The books that sparked nationalistic ideals during those times were lying next to me. I have imagined the many long hours of thinking and writing that Rizal went through, as well as the financial hardships that accompanied it; the uncertainty of having it finished and published, especially since he was in Europe during that time. It can only be love of country and devotion to the freedom of man that inspired Rizal to endure everything until he reached the finish line.

 

In another glass case is the original Mi Ultimo Adios. There was no title in the original. It was only given later when Rizal was already gone. It was written on a small sheet of paper with handwriting that was so small that all the words could fit. This was inserted by Rizal on a small lamp, which is on display at his museum at Fort Santiago. I had already seen this lamp recently.

 

Besides, the two books are facsimile or replica versions of the original. I flipped through the pages. I saw that everything was handwritten. I can only imagine the patience and hard work Rizal put into it, through long days and sleepless nights, writing hundreds of pages. I think I have nothing to complain about when I am surrounded by loads of writing tasks in the office. I have my computer and all the online assistance stuff. Rizal had only his pen and paper. Of course, I do not have his genius and his passion.

 

My admiration for Rizal started when I was in elementary and I was about nine or eleven years old. It was at this age that I first finished reading a book, cover to cover. That was the biography of Jose Rizal at my aunt’s house. I got fascinated by his story of The Monkey and The Turtle, which I also came across the original version of Rizal, just a few steps from the original Noli. I cannot forget his story about his lost slippers and the tale about the moth and the lamp. It was then that my yearning to know and understand Rizal started. Even now, I still do not know everything about Rizal, though I have already visited his houses in Calamba and Dapitan, his trial chamber and cell at Fort Santiago, and his execution site at Rizal Park and read some of his writings.

 

Now I realize, the more I discover about Rizal, the more I am convinced that I still have more to discover about him. He was young when he died for the country, yet he lived long.