Noli Me Tangere - The 4th Reading

This year, the Filipino nation celebrates the 150th birth anniversary of Jose Rizal, "The First Filipino" as described by Leon Ma. Guerrero.

Born om June 19, 1861, Rizal made himself immortal writing two of the best novels this brown nation has ever produced - Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo.

The first time I read Noli was in High School, second was in College, third was two years ago and fourth, a week ago.

The first and second occasions left no impact with much thanks to my former teachers; the third was an awakening; the last time, a sense of wonder. Had Rizal not died in 1896 and lived till he was 40 when life as they say begins, he could have been a Nobel nominee.

However, had he been nominated, surely, the Spanish government would have done to Rizal what the Portuguese government had done to Jose Saramago, the 1998 Nobel Prize for Literature Winner. Portugal's conservative government would not allow Saramago's work to compete for the European Literary Prize, arguing that it offended the Catholic community. (José Saramago: Autobiography. 1998. Nobelprize.org. Retrieved 2011-02-04)

The above tells us that the world hasn't really changed. The Joses of the world still fight using their pens. Some quarters still use God to advance personal interests masquerading as humanity's salvation.

The Story of Elias will put to shame the current teleseryes and telenovelas, be it locally made or Korean made. Ibarra, as a tragic hero can be placed side by side Oedipus and Medea.

While it is true that Noli is way too didactic and that both Ibarra and Elias are used shamelessly as mouthpieces of Rizal, one can't disregard the fact that a piece of literature gets conceived precisely for that.

That is Noli.

As of last night, I have read the first 14 chapters of El Filibusterismo.

"Blindness" Is About Seeing Clearly

I've just finished reading "Blindness" by Jose Saramago, the Nobel Prize for Literature awardee. It was through my most revered professor that I first heard about Saramago, almost ten years ago.

A few weeks ago, I was browsing through a shelf at Powerbooks-Greenbelt 3 that offered a line up of writers I thought I couldn't find in any Philippine bookstore. Amazing how Powerbooks does it. They must have very good literary consultants there. There were simply a dozen titles I wanted to take home. However, thinking about the holidays and what I recently stumbled upon - a book given by my former boss with this written quote from her:

"Book reading is a solitary and sedentary pursuit and those who do are cautioned that a book should be used as an integral part of a well-rounded life, including a daily regimen of rigorous physical exercise, rewarding personal relationships, and sensible low-fat diet. A book should not be used as a substitute or an excuse." (The Book of Guys by Garrison Keillor)

I decided not to buy any book for the holidays. A good book is a distraction.

But on December 27 at Powerbooks-Festival Mall while I was checking out possible gifts for some friends (I am usually the last to give gifts. I don't subscribe to pre-Christmas shopping), a book stood out, a book that shouldn't have been where it was, a book I remember from PB's G3 branch. I couldn't help saying, "Oh, it's you again." "You have to get me and read me," it was telling me. Fine. Without a moment's hesitation, I took it and bought it.

"Blindness" offered itself to me twice, this book ought to be so good. Ought to be better than most books I've read in recent months. And it had some great competitions. Recently I've read "Love in the Time of Cholera," I Know This Much Is True," "Things Fall Apart (a second reading; this time non-academic), and a host of other notable books.

And lo! It turns out to be better than GG Marquez's "Cholera"! And Achebe's "Things Fall Apart" is only slightly better. But of course, "Things Fall Apart" is from another dimension.

"Blindness" is a modern parable, too straightforward, too raw, too crude you'd think it came from the Old Testament. It doesn't say, "Excuse me, the next scenes are too gory, they're almost real. Please, skip the pages." It is about humanity stripped of television. It is about humanity in the highest level of undress. It is like "The Lord of the Flies" adult version.

"One day, when we realize that we can no longer do anything good and useful we ought to have the courage simply to leave this world." Page 378. And you are bound to realize and know it is true that your life is not about you. That you live for others and others live for you and because of you.

Today is the second day of the year and I have already read the one book I needed to read for 2011.