A landmark launch was made at the Frankfurt Book Fair last October 15th. The long-awaited German editions of Dr. Jose Rizal’s seminal novels, Noli Me Tángere (Touch Me Not) and El Filibusterismo (The Subversive, Die Rebellion in German), were officially launched at the Philippine Pavilion.
This publication is a triumphant homecoming for the Philippines, finally placing the intellectual and emotional foundations of its national literature—authored by its National Hero—directly into the hands of German readers. For over a century, these explosive novels, which sparked a revolution against colonial oppression, have been revered in Southeast Asia. Now, they are ready to captivate a new, critical European audience, creating an essential bridge between nations and eras.
José Rizal’s Profound German Connection
José Rizal’s time in Germany was a critical, transformative period that solidified his professional skills, broadened his intellectual scope, and allowed him to complete his most influential work. Rizal went to Germany to train in ophthalmology, studying under the renowned Dr. Otto Becker in Heidelberg. This experience honed his medical expertise and instilled a sense of scientific rigor. His poetic side flourished here too, leading to the creation of “A las Flores de Heidelberg.” He actively engaged with the German academic world, associating with notable scholars like the anthropologist Rudolf Virchow.
The most significant achievement of his time in Germany was the completion and publication of his seminal novel, Noli Me Tángere, in Berlin. Despite facing severe poverty and illness, Rizal finished the manuscript, which was ultimately printed thanks to the financial support of his friend, Maximo Viola. This literary act marked the beginning of his public reformist career. Rizal also forged deep, intellectual bonds, especially with Austrian ethnologist Ferdinand Blumentritt. These relationships, along with connections to figures like Feodor Jagor and Adolph Meyer, provided him crucial intellectual validation and support. His German experience shaped his perspective on nationalism, enhanced his confidence, and provided the methodological discipline that would define his life as a writer and reformist. However, while Rizal is a revered figure across Europe, memorialized with plaques and statues as a hero of enlightenment, his literary works have, until now, remained largely undiscovered by the wider German public.
These meticulously crafted new translations are a crucial, essential step toward filling that void, ensuring the hero’s mind, not just his memory, is accesible. Securing the German translations in time for the 2025 Frankfurt Book Fair, where the Philippines is the coveted Guest of Honour, is a major strategic victory for the National Book Development Board (NBDB).
It ensures that the hero’s narrative is not a footnote, but the central pillar of the country’s presentation to the global literary world. The event’s principal figure, Senator Loren Legarda, the visionary behind the Philippines’ Guest of Honour participation, delivered a powerful, moving speech that distilled the significance of the moment. “I would like to express my gratitude to everyone who made possible the rebirth of Noli Me Tángere and El Filibusterismo in the German Language. The translators and scholars who labored tremendously and with love for ensuring that Rizal continues to speak to the world,” she said.
Mirror and a Map
Senator Legarda highlighted the powerful symbolism of the launch. “There is deep symbolism of being here in Frankfurt, not far from Berlin and Ghent, where Noli and Fili first saw print more than a century ago. We have come full circle.” The Senator passionately described the new role of these texts.
The works that once challenged the power of an empire are now returning to Europe not as cries of the oppressed but as an invitation to dialogue—between past and present, between nations, and between cultures that continue to serve the common good.
Sen. Loren Legarda
Rizal’s legacy, she reminded the audience, is a timeless lesson in vigilance. His core belief was that nationhood begins with enlightenment, teaching that reform starts in the mind and that knowledge is the first act of resistance. In the Noli and the Fili, he didn’t just reveal the colonial struggle; he exposed the moral challenges that persist today: the abuse of power, the silence of the educators, the indifference of the privileged. Legarda asserted that these masterpieces are not merely relics of the past. “As we confront the crisis of the time—the climate emergency, the loss of pre-colonial heritage, and the erosion of truth—Rizal’s wisdom offers a mirror and a map.”
She drew a crucial distinction between the two novels. In Noli, Rizal believed that the enlightenment of the nation is born out of empathy and compassion. In El Fili (Die Rebellion), readers tackle the pain that follows disillusionment and the moral courage required to demand change. “Together,” she concluded, “they remind us that Filipino nationhood requires more than patriotism and shared identity. It requires heart and courage. A heart to feel the suffering of others and the courage to act upon it.”
The Senator views this launch as more than a literary event—she sees it as an act of renewal. “A promise that our stories, when told and retold and shared beyond borders, can still change lives and our nation.” The message of universality resonated deeply with Rizal’s own family. During the launch, Noelle Sy-Quia , great-grand-niece of Jose Rizal, stressed the enduring necessity of Rizal´s message.
It is very important that Rizal’s words be read again everywhere in the world.
Noelle Sy-Quia
Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo are an urgent appeal to the shared human spirit of the German audience. Rizal’s vibrant prose reminds us that the pursuit of knowledge and the power of compassion are not confined by borders or prejudices—they are universal endeavors that transcend both geography and time. To Filipinos abroad, this launch serves as a powerful, resonant call back to a rich tradition of thought and conscience which is a vital guide for national survival.
To order Noli Me Tangere (German version), contact: Noli me tangere. Buch von José Rizal (Insel Verlag)
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