Jakarta: Dr. Jose Rizal's seminal works, Noli Me Tangere (Jangan Sentuh Aku) and El Filibusterismo (Orang-orang Rakus), have been made available in Bahasa Indonesia, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) announced Thursday.

According to Philippines News Agency, the translations were undertaken by Indonesian literary figures: Anton Kurnia for Noli Me Tangere and Atta Verin for El Filibusterismo. PT Copas Copus published both works under the Philippine Guest of Honor at the Frankfurt Book Fair 2025 (PhlGoH2025) Funding Program, with the aim of making Rizal's works more accessible to Indonesian readers and enhancing their understanding of Philippine history and literature.

The novels, written by Filipino national hero Dr. Jose Rizal, portray social inequalities and injustices during Spanish colonial rule in the Philippines. The publication of these works in Indonesia is also backed by the National Book Development Board of the Philippines (NBDB), the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), and the Office of Sen. Loren Legarda.

The Philippine Embassy in Jakarta, on August 28, led the rededication of Sentro Rizal Jakarta, reinforcing efforts to promote Philippine culture, arts, language, and heritage in Indonesia. During the event, Philippine Ambassador to Indonesia Christopher Montero underscored the historical and cultural ties between the Philippines and Indonesia, emphasizing that Rizal's ideas resonated with Indonesian nationalist leaders and fostered a shared understanding of their struggles against colonialism.

Sentro Rizal Jakarta, inaugurated on November 22, 2015, has hosted various programs to highlight the shared history and heritage between the Philippines and Indonesia. The DFA stated that the re-launched Sentro Rizal Jakarta will expand its cultural initiatives, including a Filipino Language Program for Young Learners, a Philippine Horror Film Festival, and lectures on shared heritage and history.