diced b Jos e S. Arc a, - non

vacillating, and ever on the search for the right thing to do. On his final triphome from Europe, he was unexpectedly thrown into the company of certainFranciscans and other European missionaries bound for China. Theirconversation and personal behavior stirred his conscience and forced him toquestion whether or not his Nall me tangere had been an unjust calumny ofperhaps an innocent group of people whom he had lumped together becauseof the faults of a few of them. To Rizal's surprise, they were familiar withrecent political developments in the Philippines and shared with him theshock and pain he felt over the probably unjust execution of three innocentpriests accused of complicity in the Cavite mutiny of 1872. Studying hithertounused documents, Dr. Tormo Sanz offers a new perspective that will changetraditional views of the Cavite mutiny and clarify unsuspected aspects of the19th-century rivalry of the European powers and its effects on thePhilippines.The next two essays by Fr. Sanchez Fumes are important studies whichthe serious historian of the Philippines cannot overlook. Meticulouslycomparing certain passages of the Noli with other contemporary writings, heshows that Rizal was strongly influenced by the liberal anti-clericalatmosphere pervading Madrid. This explains the passion and biting sarcasmwith which the national hero castigated those he thought were the cause of thePhilippine social cancer. Particularly relevant is the essay on Rizal's attitudetowards the Franciscans. It not only explains why he singled them out for hisattacks by making them the main protagonists in his novels, but also suggestswhat Rizal believed was the underlying motivation behind the Cavite mutiny.The next four essays are suggestions on how to read Rizal's novels, andwhat conclusions may be drawn from them. This is perhaps the true gauge ofthe novel, namely, that they are an inexhaustible treasure and people willalways find in them something valuable. Fr. Arcilla's study deservesattention because people today seem to misread Rizal's novel. Implicitly hesays Noli me tangere is, first, a literary piece of writing — a novel—and mustbe read accordingly. It is not history, although it is based on historical reality.Unless this is kept in mind, people will never fully understand the powerfulpropaganda piece Rizal produced.Blumentritt's role in Rizal's growth as a Filipino nationalist has yet to bestudied in its totality. The essay of Professor Sichrovsky exemplifies just that.And Dr. Dahm's analysis of Rizal's views on violence or revolution, a topicconstantly analyzed, presents still new insights that are not without merit. Itcertainly proves, despite the growing skepticism of Rizal's relevance today,he is still very much the man of the hour in our society.viii