Delfin is a socialist while Felipe, his friend, is an anarchist. Delfin wants the citizens to have more rights in business and property relations. He believes that society could be changed through education. On the other hand, Felipe believes in tearing down society’s walls. Factories should be owned by those who work there and land owned by those who till it. Banaag at Sikat mirrors the clash of forces during the American empire in the Philippines. Its burning passages on race, class, and colonialism still resonate today. Translated by ‘one of Asia’s best writers’, it is hoped that this modern rendering will inspire new readers to shape their lives so they ‘can help change the world’.