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By: Celesse Aisle Nacpil
Whenever discussions about Dr. Jose Rizal’s famous literary works arise, it’s always Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo that immediately comes to mind. Perhaps this is because these novels are integral to our high school curriculum, or maybe it’s because they remain deeply relevant to the Filipino collective consciousness. Whatever the reason, it’s safe to say that both of these novels continue to captivate readers to this day with its artistic and critical take on Spanish colonial oppression and the Filipino struggle for freedom during that period, despite it being written more than a century ago.
As a Filipino student, I, too, had the opportunity to read these novels during my junior high school years. Among the many characters introduced—such as Crisostomo Ibarra, Maria Clara, Elias, Kapitan Tiago, Padre Damaso, Padre Salvi, and so much more—the one who resonated with me the most is Sisa. Her story, both as a woman and as a mother of Crispin and Basilio, broke my heart. One that is of love, loss, and madness, her fate in the novel is not only tragic but also profoundly human.
Sisa stands out as my favorite character, and arguably also my favorite sub-plot in the novel, as I am drawn to her humanity as she has so much love to over despite the unimaginable suffering she endures due to poverty, or her husband’s abuse, among many others. Unlike the wealthier or more educated characters in Noli Me Tangere, Sisa is a simple woman—uneducated and poor—yet her story feels universal. I am reminded of the countless Filipino families persevering against hardships through love, including my family, that despite financial challenges after my Papa retired from work due to health conditions, continue to win through life day by day, with my Mama serving as the biggest factor for our survival. Her life is driven by love, a love so intense it leads her to madness when she loses the two people she loves the most. Her tragedy lies in the fact that despite her love and sacrifices, she is powerless to protect her loved ones from a society that values authority over compassion. But Sisa’s fate is more than just a story of personal loss, her sorrow reflects and symbolizes the agony experienced by the Filipino people due to the constant abuse and discrimination of foreign oppressors.
What makes Sisa a compelling character is the depth of her suffering and the purity of her love. Her story unfolds in the Chapter 16 of Noli Me Tangere, aptly titled after her. She is portrayed as a selfless woman who sacrifices everything for the well-being of her two sons, Basilio and Crispin. Essentially a single mother, Sisa receives absolutely no support from her husband, Pedro, who abandons his responsibilities, choosing instead to gamble, and proceed to neglect his family. His indifference and abuse are evident in this chapter when Sisa prepares a small feast, eagerly awaiting her sons’ return from their duties at the church, however, it is Pedro who shows up, selfishly consuming most of the food without even asking about his family before disappearing once again (Rizal, 1912). Despite the pain and neglect she suffers from her husband, Sisa pours all of her love into her sons. They are her everything, both literally and figuratively, so when they fall into danger, her life begins to crumble.
Before we learn about Sisa’s story, in Chapter 15 titled “The Sacristans,” we see that Crispin is wrongly accused of theft and disappears soon after (Rizal, 1912). Basilio, barely managing to return home that night, tells his mother of his younger brother’s situation after much contemplation, only to flee his own home the next day to escape the guardia civils, as recounted in Chapter 17, “Basilio” (Rizal, 1912). Her sons are her only source of hope amidst the chaos of her life, so when Sisa returns home from the parish after searching for Crispin, only to find that both of her sons are now gone, her whole world shatters before her very eyes, and she falls into the deep slumber of madness.
As if that pain wasn’t enough, I was deeply heartbroken to see Sisa losing her sanity in the Chapter 21 of the novel titled “The Story of a Mother.” Left utterly alone, wandering the streets, calling out for her children and begging them to come back, Sisa’s transformation from a great woman and a devoted mother despite all the problems she’s facing, into a “madwoman” after losing her children is immensely heartbreaking (Rizal, 1912). Her fellow people, which should have supported her, instead views her with disdain, similar to how the Spanish oppressors looks down on all Filipinos. This treatment reflects a deeply rooted stigma against mental illnesses that still exists in the Philippines today. Up until now, mental health issues are often judged, misunderstood, or labeled as “crazy,” and their struggles are met with dismissiveness and judgement instead of compassion.
To this day, Sisa’s experiences resonate with many Filipinos, especially those who remain marginalized and oppressed. Her suffering is a direct reflection of the injustices and struggles faced by the poor and powerless in society, and how the privileged continue to abuse that fact to gain more power and control over them. In Rizal’s time, Sisa symbolized the pain of the Filipinos who were trapped in Spanish oppression and helplessness, constantly facing abuse and discrimination without any hope for justice, change, or freedom. At the same time, her story remains relevant even now as unfortunately, even though we are not colonized anymore, many Filipinos still suffer from poverty, injustice, corruption, and systemic abuse—caused by Filipinos who are greedy for more power. In today’s time, our enemy is our own fellow people, our fellow that shares the same blood as us.
Another thing is that Sisa embodies resilience, strength, and the enduring spirit of a woman fighting against an unjust society. She is a reminder of the countless women who continue to persevere against hardships, abuse, belittlement, and inequality. As a women myself, I am in awe as her story serves as a call to see beyond the stereotypes of society, that it is okay to love intensely, to be vulnerable, to show your weakness, and to express your suffering, which encourages us to be empathetic and understanding instead.
In conclusion, Sisa’s story in Noli Me Tangere goes way beyond the tragic narrative of a woman who lost her sanity. She is the symbol of the anguish and powerlessness experienced by Filipinos—both in the past and today—who continue to suffer from the corrupt and abusive system. Just as Sisa was branded as insane and treated with contempt, so too are the cries of the marginalized who are often dismissed and ignored in our society. Her madness is not just the result of losing Crispin and Basilio, but rather, is a manifestation of her helplessness in a society that continuously tramples on her dignity. This sense of helplessness is echoed by many Filipinos who are trapped in a cycle of poverty and systemic abuse up to this day. Her narrative also challenges us to confront the stigma surrounding mental health, to show love and empathy to those struggling. Ultimately, Sisa helps us to see people beyond the stereotypical labels the society imposes upon us.