The Philippine Embassy in Iraq has launched the first Arabic translation of Noli Me Tangere to mark 50 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
The project was formally introduced during a reception on Dec. 10, 2025, led by Ambassador Charlie Pacaña Manangan and attended by Iraqi officials, diplomats, and cultural representatives.
The translation was completed by Prof. Dr. Reyadh Mahdi Jasim Al-Najjar of the University of Baghdad, with support from the embassy, the DFA’s Office of Cultural Diplomacy, and the National Historical Commission of the Philippines.
A manuscript was officially handed over to the Iraqi government, and public copies are expected to be available in 2026.
Noli Me Tangere, Dr. Jose Rizal’s 1887 novel exposing Spanish colonial abuses, has now been translated into over 40 languages, with Arabic joining the list.
Source: PhilNews24 | January 5, 2026
