Noli Me Tangere

     I watched this TV series shown on Netflix, once shown on a Filipino channel, entitled "Maria Clara at Ibarra" based on Jose Rizal's novel Noli Me Tangere believed to have triggered the Philippines revolt against the Spanish colonizers.

Maria Clara at Ibarra on Netflix

     I have not finished all the episodes but as early as the first episode, I have some realizations which I didn't get when I did my book review in high school. 

     The ladies didn't wear bras and panties although they had long skirts and shawls to cover their chest so their breast won't be seen by men. This made me laugh because my grandmother, who was born during the Spanish time, didn't wear underwear until she died in 1989. All this while, I thought she had no money to spare for undergarments and there were other priorities.

     The Noli Me Tangere novel was mainly set during Spanish time but the realities shown, clearly tells it is still happening today. The great divide between the rich and the poor was evident but today it remains. The Filipino elites controlling the economy like the Spaniards  while the great majority remain poor. Many of the Filipino behavior, thinking and all are inherited from the Spanish rule. It is so sad to see that many Filipinos believe we are free from the colonial rule of Spain.