NOLI ME TANGERE, THE

OPERA
BY FELIPE PADILLA DE LEON
NOLI ME TANGERE,
THE OPERA
NATIONAL ARTIST FELIPE PADILLA DE LEON

The three-act opera Noli Me Tangere was

composed by National Artist Felipe Padilla de
Leon, with libretto by National Artist Guillermo
Tolentino. It premiered in 1957 at the Far Eastern
University (FEU) Auditorium. The cast included
Juanita Javier Torres as Maria Clara, Don David as
Ibarra, Fides Cuyugan Asensio as Sisa, Milo
Cristobal as Padre Damaso, and Morli Daram as
the director.
NOLI ME TANGERE,
THE OPERA

Several other productions followed the premiere performance. In

1987, the Noli opera was re-staged at the CCP Main Theater from
September 18 to 20 in cooperation with the Music Theatre
Foundation of the Philippines. Oscar C. Yatco conducted the
Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra, and direction was by Jonas
Sebastian.

The opera had its US production premiere as Noli Me Tangere:

The Opera at Harris Theater in Chicago on May 28, 2012. It was
also staged at The Kaye Playhouse, Hunter College, New York City,
USA in October 2013, and at the Resorts World in Manila in
September 2014.
 THE NOVEL BEHIND THE OPERA
The title of Rizal's novel Noli Me Tangere (Touch Me Not) is said to have originated from the Latin version
of the words from the Bible verse John 20:17. It was spoken by Jesus to Mary Magdalene who recognized
Him after His Resurrection, reasoning to her "for I am not yet ascended to the Father." The novel was
written to expose the ills of the Spanish Catholic friars and the ruling colonial government, and was
completed in 1886.

Rizal initially found it difficult to solicit moral and financial support for his novel from his friends. until
Maximo Viola helped him with the printing which was done in Berlin, Germany. The book was banned in
the Philippines by the Spanish authorities for its supposedly subversive elements. This led to Rizal's exile,
imprisonment, and eventual execution.
SYNOPSIS OF THE
OPERA
 ACT 1

The spacious sala of Santiago de los Santos, otherwise known as

Kapitan Tiage in Sum Diego, is the setting for a welcome reception.
It is a gathering honoring the 22-year old sadem Crisostomo Ibarra
after a seven-year stay in Europe. The Gobernadorcillo and has we
Doss Victorina lead the guest list that includes Padre Damaso,
vocal in his criticism of the Filipino whom he refers to as "indio"
while also blaming the Gobernadorcillo for interfering in their local
affairs. He continues this harsh attitude upon the arrival of Ibarra,
whom he goes when the latter tries to greet the friar.

Ibarra is also shaken by the news of the death of his father, Don
Rafael Ibarra, even as he confides to Don Filipo his puzzlement
about his father's death. Before Ibarra left for San Diego, LL.
Guevara, a civil guard, had revealed to him the circumstances
that led to his father's death. Don Rafael, a rich haciendero
(owner of a vast tract of land or estate) of the town, had been
unjustly accused by Padre Damaso of being a heretic and a
subversive, and was subsequently jailed. As the case was about
to be resolved, Don Rafael fell sick and died in his cell. His
remains, initially interred at the Catholic cemetery, were ordered
transferred by Padre Damaso to another location.
 ACT 2. SCENE I
All roads lead to the cemetery as the Ibarra arrives at the cemetery to look for his As evening approaches amidst flashes of
people of San Diego observe All Saints' father's grave. He is angered when one of lightning and sounds of thunder, the
01 Day. Pilosopo Tasio meets Crispin and
02 the gravediggers informs him that he was
03 Gobernadorcillo and Pilosopo Tasio are
Basilio going to the church to ring the ordered to transfer the body of Ibarra's engaged in sarcastic conversation. The scene
bells. The ringing of the bells will warn father to another site. When Ibarra inquires shifts to Crispin who is suddenly accused of
the people of a coming storm. He about the location of the new site, the man theft and is detained at the convent. His
cautions the two brothers to stay away confides that he disobeyed the orders and, brother Basilio runs to their mother Sisa but is
from the bells to avoid being struck by instead, threw the body into the lake. This shot in the leg. Sisa, confronted by the guardia
lightning. causes Ibarra to jump at him in a fury and civil, arrives and protests her son's innocence
leave the cemetery in a rage. as she breaks down in shock.
ACT 2
SCENE II
The young people of San Diego hold a picnic by the lake to celebrate
Ibarra's return from Europe. Maria Clara is prevailed upon to sing,
and she renders the famous number Kay Tamis ng Buhay recalling
the happy life in her native land. Meanwhile, a group of fishermen
arrive to lament the presence of a crocodile that prevented them
from catching any fish. Elias, a woodsman, volunteers to drive the
crocodile away but is greatly endangered. Ibarra rushes to Elias'
rescue and saves him. In gratitude, Elias warns Ibarra of the
approaching dangers from the latter's enemies. As Sisa passes by,
she is still lonely over her lost children. Elias assists the insane
woman to find the two boys. While Ibarra continues to tell of his
dream to build a school in his father's memory, Padre Damaso joins
in the conversation and ridicules the plan as a "scheme of the viper."
Enraged, Ibarra grabs a knife and attempts to stab the friar. Only the
timely intercession of Maria Clara pacifies the young man. However,
this gives Padre Damaso an excellent opportunity to have him
excommunicated.
 ACT III

SCENE I SCENE II SCENE III

 As Ibarra has been exiled from San Diego, Maria Clara is left depressed while her Tia Isabel and friends try to
comfort her. Kapitan Tiago enters the bedroom to announce the sad news that, in spite of his appeal, Padre
Damaso has told him to cancel the wedding arrangements between Maria Clara and Ibarra. Actually, Kapitan

ACT III :
Tiago has plans for Maria Clara to marry his relative Alfonso Linares instead of Ibarra. Doña Victorina then
enters the room and, together with Padre Damaso, starts planning the meeting between Maria Clara and
Linares.

SCENE I Meanwhile, Ibarra has sought the help of the Gobernadorcillo who manages to stop his excommunication
from the church. He returns to visit Maria Clara to propose marriage. The couple's rejoicing at the house of
Kapitan Tiago is interrupted by the arrival of the Alferez who arrests Ibarra for being involved in an uprising.
Again driven to depression, Maria Clara seeks the help of the Heavenly Mother. Suddenly, a fire is seen
through the closed
ACT III - SCENE II
Worried about Ibarra's fate, Maria Clara ignores Padre Damaso's advice
discouraging her from entering the convent. As she prays to the Heavenly
Mother to restore her lost love, Elias appears at the window. along with Ibarra
who has just escaped from prison. Ibarra is desperate upon hearing the rumor
of Maria Clara's impending marriage to Linares. She explains that she was
forced to accept the marriage agreement to save her mother's honor after
finding out that her real father was in fact Padre Damaso. Nevertheless, she
assures Ibarra that her heart will always belong to him.

Meanwhile, as Ibarra and Elias sneak out of the window, two gunshots are
heard from the guardia civil (Spanish civil guard). Maria Clara witnesses the
tragic scene. She thinks that Ibarra has been shot and killed, but it is Elias who
was shot while Ibarra has managed to escape.

ACT III - SCENE III

Sisa is seen at the cemetery, wailing a haunting refrain as she rests on a
tombstone. Basilio, still nursing the wounds on his leg, arrives and greets his
mother. Unable to recognize him at first. Sisa eventually recovers her fragile
memory and embraces her son. However, the shock is too much for her
heart and she dies.

Meanwhile, a seriously wounded Elias appears and instructs Basilio to build

a funeral pyre for his mother and him as he gives him a stash of hidden gold
to fund his education. As the boy starts to gather materials for the funeral
pyre and the early light of dawn appears, Elias gasps out his last breath.
 MEMBERS:

MANZANO, Irish Shanley

PORMENTO, Van Michael
MELAD, Jhocel Anne
MENDIOLA, Marie Cathlyne
MENDOZA, Nicole
ORAIZ, Sean Delmark
THANK YOU
FOR
LISTENING