AN ALTERNATIVE ENDING FOR NOLI ME TANGERE
Written by: Dr. Jose Rizal
Alternative Ending
Written by:
Andrea D. Cumahig
A Return from the Shadow
Crisostomo Ibarra was standing on the motionless shoreline as the sun began shining in the morning sky, creating a glow of pale golden reflection onto the water and smoothening the damage of multiple weeks of running away and being miserable. The ocean was stretched out infinitely in front of him, similar to the confusion he had felt all the days after he could no longer remain in San Diego due to being thought dead by many and pursued by some very powerful people; he had travelled to many far away towns and still could not escape the ache of his fathers’s senseless death and the broken hopes of being able to reform his people through peaceful means. Now he had finally found peace within himself with a calmness that was derived from nothing but having a purpose instead of from his rage. His days of running had saved his life but failed to ease the tensions on his soul.
As Basilio stood next to Ibarra, he contemplated the horizon quietly until finally speaking up. Concern lacing his voice, Basilio said carefully, “You still have options, this world has many places for a man like you to find a home and there’s evil waiting for you back in San Diego.” Returning his gaze towards Basilio and shaking his head back and forth, I barra replied frimly but calmly,”No!! Where there is fear there can also be courgae because when one has the strength to stand against injustice, the fear will be defeated and therefore an end will come to oppression. To run away forevey will bring victory to oppression.” Basilio was silent as he contemplated Ibarra’s comments and after a short while responded, “Then let’s go back, not as victims, but as those who made a choice to stand.”
Mara Clara’s Awakening
Maria Clara finds peace in having the time to pray in the covent, surrounded by walls built of solid stone. Every ray of sunlight shining through the small windows, created a sense of comfort and tranquility. The peace and quiet of the convent is intended to give her comfort, but instead it allowed her to reflect on her previous life, the suffering of those around her and how much she loved San Diego with her partner. She realized that because someone chooses to live an isolated lifestylke does not mean that person is holy and that living with silence in fear is allowing oneself to be a victim of the circumstances that they created.
Maria Clara looked up slowly from the floor and saw the look on Tia Isabel’s face; she saw both doubt and the determination to act. “I hid behind the idea that I was being obedient for my own virtue, but I also hid behind fear,” she responded softly with sincerity and a shaking voice. Tia Isabel took her hand in hers and held it tight as she continued, “Now you must follow your conscience, daugther.” After taking a deep breath, Maria Clara could feel the doubt unravel as she made a decision. Instead of allowing herself to be trapped or submissive, she chose to have faith that directed her toward love, truth, and action.
The Homecoming
As Ibarra ambled through San Diego under the mellow glow of oil lamps, he could not help but notice how much changed since his arrival. In particular, the transformation of his initial feelings of joy and excitement into that of rejection and despair when he departed. Walking through San Diego’s narrow alleyways at night, he had overheard numerous conversations regarding his presence back in town, which led him to contemplate how much he had overheard numerous conversations regarding his presence back in town, which led him to contemplate how much he had lost to the prejudices of the townsfolk towards him and how much he had to endure throughout his stay there. Upon arriving back in San Diego after years of absence, Ibarra was met with shock and yet empathy from his former peers, as they too experienced the struggles and hardships associated with being an oppressed and marginalized group. They were also unsure whether or not to take the opportunity to restart their lives with him as their new leader.
As a part of this beginning, an old farm worker, who all his life used to work hard, with his arms bent down from work; with his back bent even further than when the men began digging ditches for irrigation in their fields of corn. He came to the front. He had come back to tell us he had returned. He was looking directly at Ibarra telling him “Are you going to leave us again?” He said it in a very honest and tired sounding voice. Ibarra replied, “I am not going to leave again. The first time I came back I had the right to live with fear or ignorance, and now I have that same right again.” The voices of the people began to whisper together and eventually they started to agree with one another and nod their heads in approval. The people of San Diego had hope for the first time in years. San Diego come together as one, and for the first time in many, many years, the people had hope for a better future.
A Different Foundation
The dimly lit town hall on that evening provided a gathering place for the villagers and the glow of candles created flickering lights on their faces and an underlying sense of worry and expectation. Ibarra speaks to them with his worn-out sketches and notes he had taken with him since he was exiled. He was discussing what would have been a school he had created in the past and the hopes he had for that school to instill reason, equality, and respect for the nation into students. This time around, he envisions this school will not be built by the permission of the oppressors who are afraid of bright minds, but rather by the common people’s dedication to growth, patience, and courage.
“Education should help people think freely, rather than fearfully or to follow blindly.” At least a few others expressed their support for him. A specific woman said that, although she had no money, she could sew books together and repair or patch uniforms. Many others were inspired to give whatever they had to assist with building the school as well. Ibarra smiled as he was touched by their kindness and said, “It is not going to be stone school. We build the school through all our collective sacrifices, through the unity between all of us, and through the conviction that the school represents our hopes for tomorrow.”
V Voices of the Plaza
Following the reopening of their school, opposition against Ibarra became evident to everyone that feared what he could do with his newfound power. In a town square under a blazing sun, a crowd gathered to watch and listen to the confrontation of Padre Salvi and Ibarra, where Padre Salvi declared, “Your actions will create fear and disturbance in this town. Continue to oppose the government, and create disorder and subsequent punishment.” As emotions intensified, an uncomfortable hush developed between groups of young men and women around the square. The level of anxiety leading up to Ibarra’s return seemed to be increasingly repidly.
Ibarra moved forward. He continued to remain calm and collected throughout his conversation with Padre Salvi. After hearing the challenge placed before him, Ibarra replied: “A person’s mind becomes chaotic when it is kept from thinking, or is prevented from making choices.” Before Ibarra finished, Maria Clara turned to Ibarra and stood beside him with dignity and firmness. Maria Clara strongly asserted that “Knowledge shouldn’t weaken faith” and likewise that “Understanding won’t eliminate the truth.” When she spoke those statements, those in attendance at the time reacted; numerous spectators nodded their heads in approval, raised their chin up, and made direct eye contact with both Maria Clara and Ibarra, all portraying an intense unwavering belief in them. At that moment, logic and strength have triumphed over oppression. The might of the words is greater than an intimidation of these words.
Lessons Beyond Walls
Before the school was finished being built with stones being put together for the walls of the school, students were taught their lessons under a large acacia tree. While seated on mats, the children listened intently to what they were learning while enjoying the breeze from the open air. Children made letter sounds on their slate boards, counted their numbers using little stones, and learned about faraway places and is full of courage, giving life to their imaginations. Because there was no fear of punishment in learning, the following of lessons became a way of standing up against ignorance and submission through the peaceful act of coming together as one.
As the elderly woman was sitting there trembling and holding both hands tightly over her heart, Ibarra saw her gray hair hanging down, and thought how beautiful that was. With great wonder in her voice, the elderly woman said softly, "This is hope." The elderly lady heard Ibarra say something to the effect that hope arises from the idea that we are important. Basilio mentioned that hope comes from being able to ask questions about the injustices around them, rather than simply accepting them as an unfortunate way life will exist. Upon hearing those words, the elderly lady shed tears of joy; she was very happy to hear the sounds of children being educated while she listened.
A Changed Community
With the opening of the School was actually the celebration of a community gathering place that the community had been waiting for and anticipating for such a lengthy period of time. All the neighbors who, only a short while ago, would not have even attempted to strike up a conversation with each other were now able to look up at each other with pride. The entire neighborhood embraced the School, bonded as a community, and provided support in the face of Community Fear and Community Shame that once enveloped the City. The way schools used to be constructed in the past is no longer considered as the greatest form of achievement
Maria Clara’s unwavering voice was a reminder of what it means to be living legally and knowing oneself. Following Maria Clara's speech, Ibarra spoke to the audience and provided them with a message of inspiration and a challenge to be actively involved. Ibarra proclaimed, "There will be a new breed of Man that will show love for his country, and who will work diligently to improve this great country of ours through education and love rather than through fighting and hatred", to which the citizens of San Diego responded enthusiastically and showed great appreciation for the future Ibarra and Maria Clara envisioned for them.
The Legacy of Light
Over time, the school grew to become part of the soul of the city of San Diego, contributing to the development not only of the children that we serve but also the city's spirit. Basilio had transformed from being an insecure teacher to becoming a mentor for the students he was employed to teach. He was helping the students gain insight into their history, ethical obligations towards other people, and how to be good citizens. The same students that would run from adults now possessed confidence and the ability to ask difficult questions of people in power when they saw acts of injustice happening to their Little Friends.
"We did more than just change this school," she commented wistfully (giving thanks for their past). While Ibarra watched the sunset to the west, he replied, "We altered what the future will be." Although San Diego had many difficulties, through gaining knowledge, developing courage and maintaining hope, San Diego was now awake and strong.