Noli Me Tangere, published in 1887, is a seminal Filipino novel by national hero José Rizal. Written in Spanish and inspired by European liberal thought, it tells the story of Crisóstomo Ibarra, who returns to the Philippines to reform a corrupt colonial society dominated by the Catholic Church. Through satire and realism, Rizal exposes social injustices, clerical abuses, and the plight of the oppressed. The novel sparked nationalist sentiment and played a vital role in the Philippine revolution.