Legarda honors Rizal’s legacy at launch of German translations of Noli, El Fili

Senator Loren Legarda honored the lasting wisdom of Dr. Jose Rizal at the launch of the German editions of Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo, which took place during the Philippines’ Guest of Honour program at the 77th Frankfurt Book Fair held from October 15 to 19, 2025.

Speaking before an international audience, Legarda expressed gratitude to Suhrkamp Verlag, Morio Verlag, and the translators and scholars who brought Rizal’s seminal works to German readers.

“Rizal continues to speak to the world, not as a cry of the oppressed, but as an invitation to dialogue between past and present, between nations, and between cultures committed to the common good.” Legarda said.

Legarda who chairs the Senate Committee on Culture and the Arts, spoke about the meaning of launching the translations in Frankfurt, close to Berlin and Ghent, where Rizal’s novels were first published more than a hundred years ago. The senator said that Noli and El Fili are still important today, as they address issues like global injustice, elite indifference, and the loss of truth.

“Rizal believed that reform begins with the mind. Knowledge is the first act of resistance.” Legarda explained.

Legarda framed the launch as more than a literary milestone.

“This is an act of renewal. A promise that our stories, when shared beyond our borders, can still change lives and nations.” Legarda said.

She called on Filipinos abroad to embrace Rizal’s legacy as a guide for national survival, and encouraged German readers to see the translations as bridges of understanding.

Quoting Crisostomo Ibarra, Rizal’s alter ego in Noli Me Tangere, Legarda concludes with a call to conscience: “I seek truth by means of study, for I wish to be human.”

She added, “To learn is to live with purpose. Our shared humanity is strengthened each time we seek truth, justice, and compassion.” (30)