NOTABLE LITERARY WORKSNoli Me TangereEl FilibusterismoBiag ni Lam-angIbong AdarnaFlorante at LauraDoctrina Christiana

Noli Me Tangere

• “Noli Me Tangere” is a latin phrase that Rizal took from the Bible, meaning “Touch me not”.

• It has been also noted by French writer D. Blumenstihl that “Noli Me Tangere” was a name used by ophthalmologists for cancer of the eyelids. That as an ophthalmologist himself Rizal was influenced by this fact is suggested in his dedication, “To My Country”.

El Filibusterismo• El Filibusterismo also known by its English alternate title The Reign of Greed, is

the second novel written by Philippine national hero José Rizal. It is the sequel to Noli me tangere and, like the first book, was written in Spanish.

• The novel's dark theme departs dramatically from the previous novel's hopeful and romantic atmosphere, signifying the character Ibarra's resort to solving his country's issues through violent means, after his previous attempt at reforming the country's system have made no effect and seemed impossible with the attitudes of the Spaniards towards the Filipinos. The novel, along with its predecessor, was banned in some parts of the Philippines as a result of their portrayals of the Spanish government's abuse and corruption. These novels along with Rizal's involvement in organizations that aim to address and reform the Spanish system and its issues led to Rizal's exile to Dapitan and eventual execution. Both the novel and its predecessor, along with Rizal's last poem, are now considered Rizal's literary masterpieces.

Biag ni Lam-ang

• Biag ni Lam-ang (The Life of Lam-ang) is an epic poem of the Ilocano people from the Ilocos region of the Philippines. Recited and written in the original Ilocano, the poem is believed to be a composite work of various poets who passed it on through the generations, and was first transcribed around 1640 by a blind Ilocano bard named Pedro Bucaneg.

Ibong Adarna

• Ibong Adarna is an epic written in the 17th Century about an eponymous magical bird. The title's longer form during the Spanish Era was "Korrido at Buhay na Pinagdaanan ng Tatlóng Principeng Magkakapatid na anak nang Haring Fernando at nang Reyna Valeriana sa Kahariang Berbania" ("Corrido and Life Lived by the Three Princes, children of King Fernando and Queen Valeriana in the Kingdom of Berbania"). The author of the largely known epic was claimed to be José de la Cruz or "Huseng Sisiw", but until now the real author was never known.

Florante at Laura• Florante at Laura (full title: Pinagdaanang Buhay nina

Florante at Laura sa Kahariang Albanya: Kinuha sa madlang “cuadro histórico” o pinturang nagsasabi sa mga nangyayari nang unang panahon sa Imperyo ng Gresya, at tinula ng isang matuwain sa bersong Tagalog) by Francisco Balagtas is considered as one of the masterpieces of Philippine literature. Balagtas wrote the epic during his imprisonment. He dedicated to his sweetheart María Asuncion Rivera, whom he nicknamed "M. A. R." and is referenced to as "Selya" in the dedication "Kay Selya".

Doctrina Christiana

• The Doctrina Christiana was an early book of Roman Catholic Catechism, written in 1593 by Fray Juan de Plasencia, and is believed to be one of the earliest books printed in the Philippines.