Resumed reading Noli Me Tangere for the past two days. Just stayed home today and read Noli halfway. It is until this time that I have greatly appreaciated the work of Rizal. Satirical, and carefully written to engage the reader. I'm reading the English translation by Ma. Soledad Lacson-Locsin, to my astonishment was an 80-something old lady. Very impressive. I feel for Crisostomo Ibarra, who is an idealistic fresh-from-Europe Spanish Filipino longing to 'save' San Diego and impose 'upgrades' undeterred by a nation molded by its present colonial system. (chapter from 'The Philosopher's House'. But some things are hard to change, that not all that comes from the west is good.