Noli Me Tangere is also a
famous novel by
Philippine national hero
Jose Rizal. This novel begins with
Crisostomo Ibarra coming home to
Manila from
Spain. The book offers an accurate reflection of the
abuses of
Spanish friars and officials at the time, and the excesses of the rich Filipinos. It is also a
tragic love story between
Maria Clara and
Ibarra.
This novel, once banned by the Catholic Church, and it's sequel El Filibusterismo are one of the things that inspired the revolutionary Andres Bonifacio to rise up in arms against the Spanish colonial masters, and begin the Philippine Revolution.