The Philippine Embassy in Iraq has launched the first-ever Arabic translation of Noli Me Tangere, marking a milestone in cultural diplomacy as the Philippines and Iraq commemorate 50 years of bilateral relations, the Department of Foreign Affairs said in a news release.
The project was formally unveiled during a reception hosted by the Embassy on December 10, 2025, led by Ambassador Charlie Pacaña Manangan, and attended by Iraqi government officials, members of the diplomatic corps, academics, and cultural heritage advocates.
Originally written in 19th-century Spanish by national hero José Rizal, Noli Me Tangere has now been rendered into Arabic—a language spoken by more than 400 million people worldwide—broadening global access to one of the Philippines’ most influential literary works.
The translation project was conceived in 2024 by Ambassador Manangan, a Knight of Rizal from the Wilhelmsfeld-Heidelberg Chapter in Germany, together with the Embassy’s cultural diplomacy team led by Third Secretary and Vice Consul Anthon Cayaco.
The Arabic translation was completed by Prof. Dr. Reyadh Mahdi Jasim Al-Najjar of the University of Baghdad, with funding support from the Office of Cultural Diplomacy of the Department of Foreign Affairs and the National Historical Commission of the Philippines.
A manuscript of the translation was formally turned over to the Iraqi government, represented by Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Planning Affairs Dr. Hisham Al-Alawi. The handover was witnessed by Spanish Ambassador to Iraq Alicia Rico Perez del Pulgar, Philippine Honorary Consul to Kurdistan Falah Anwar Kahrur, and ICTSI Basra Gateway Terminal CEO Romeo Salvador.
Copies of the Arabic translation are expected to be made available to the public in 2026, underscoring the role of literature as a bridge between peoples and a shared platform for historical reflection, dialogue, and mutual understanding.