Much has been said about Jose Rizal’s novels, but his message lies much deeper than what we probably remember from Filipino class. His literature was rich and his details vivid, emphasizing the disparity and discrimination between the Spaniards and Filipinos.

In Noli Me Tangere, for instance, Rizal used food as a tool for social commentary. He used it to highlight the difference between rich and poor, the powerful and the powerless.