EL FILI CHARACTERS

Simoun - Crisostomo Ibarra in disguise, left for dead

at the end of Noli Me Tangere. Ibarra has resurfaced as
the wealthy jeweler, Simoun, sporting a beard, blue-
tinted glasses, and a revolver. Fueled by his
mistreatment at the hands of the Spaniards and his fury
at Maria Claras fate, Simoun secretly plans a revolution
to see! revenge against those who wronged him.
Basilio - Son of Sisa and another character
from Noli Me Tangere. "e became a servant of Captain
#iyago in e$change for education. In the events of the
boo!, he is a graduating medical student who befriended
Simoun. "is girlfriend is %uli.
Isagani - &asilios friend and one of the students who
planned to set up a new school. "e is very idealistic and
hopes for a better future for the 'hilippines. "is girlfriend
was the rich and beautiful 'aulita (ome), but they bro!e
up once he was arrested. *espite this, his love for her
still endured. "e sabotaged Simouns plans by removing
the lamp that contained e$plosives and threw it in the
waters.
Kabesang Tales - Cabe)a #elesforo %uan de *ios, a
former cabeza de barangay +barangay head, of
Sagpang, a barangay in San *iegos neighboring town
#iani, who resurfaced as the feared -u).n bandit
Matanglawin. "e is the son of #andang Selo, and father
of %uli and #ano.
Don Custodio - Custodio de Sala)ar y S/nche) de
Monteredondo, a famous 0journalist0 who was as!ed by
the students about his decision for the Academia de
Castellano. In reality, he is 1uite an ordinary fellow who
married a rich woman in order to be a member of
Manilas high society.
Paulita Gmez - #he girlfriend of Isagani and the
niece of *o2a 3ictorina, the old Indio who passes herself
off as a Peninsular, who is the wife of the 1uac! doctor
#iburcio de 4spada2a. In the end, she and %uanito
'el/e) are wed, and she dumps Isagani, believing that
she will have no future if she marries him.
Macaraig - 5ne of Isaganis classmates at the
6niversity of Santo #omas. "e is a rich student and
serves as the leader of the students yearning to build the
7cademia de Castellano.
Father Florentino - Isaganis godfather, and a
secular priest8 was engaged to be married, but chose to
be a priest after being pressured by his mother, the story
hinting at the ambivalence of his decision as he chooses
an assignment to a remote place, living in solitude near
the sea. "e too! in *on #iburcio de 4spanda2a when he
was hiding from his wife, *onya 3ictorina.
Juli - %uliana de *ios, the girlfriend of &asilio, and
the youngest daughter of 9abesang #ales. #o claim her
father from the bandits, she had to wor! as a maid under
the supervision of "ermana 'enchang. 4ventually, she
was freed but committed suicide after Father Camorra
attempted to rape her.
Juanito Pelaez - 7 favorite student of the professors.
#hey belong to the noble Spanish ancestry. 7fter failing
in his grades, he became 'aulitas new boyfriend and
they eventually wed.
Doa !ictorina - 3ictorina delos :eyes de
4spada2a, !nown in Noli Me Tangere as #iburcio de
4spada2as cruel wife. She is the aunt of 'aulita (ome),
and favors %uanito 'elae) over Isagani. She is searching
for her husband, who has left her and is in hiding.
7lthough of Indio heritage, she considers herself as one
of the Peninsular.
Father Camorra - #he lustful parish priest of #iani,
San *iegos adjacent town who has longtime desires for
young women. "e nearly raped %uli causing the latter to
commit suicide.
Ben"#a$b - #he pseudonym of 7braham Iba2e), a
journalist who believes he is the 0only0 one thin!ing in
the 'hilippines. &en-;ayb is an anagram of <bane), an
alternate spelling of his name.
Placido Penitente - 7 student of the 6niversity of
Santo #omas who was very intelligent and wise but did
not want, if not only by his mothers plea, to pursue his
studies. "e also controls his temper against 'adre
Millon, his physics teacher. *uring his "igh School days,
he was an honor student hailing from &atangas.
%ermana Penchang - Sagpangs
rich pusakal +gambler,. She offers %uli to be her maid so
the latter can obtain money to free 9abesang #ales.
*isbelieving of %uli and her close friends, she considers
herself as an ally of the friars.
Tiburcio de &s'adaa - *on #iburcio is 3ictorina de
4spada2as lame husband. "e is currently in hiding at
Father Florentinos.
Father (rene - Captain #iagos spiritual adviser.
7lthough reluctant, he helped the students to establish
the 7cademia de Castellano after being convinced by
giving him a chestnut. #he only witness to Captain
#iagos death, he forged the last will and testament of the
latter so &asilio will obtain nothing from the inheritance.
)uiroga - 7 Chinese businessman who dreamed of
being a consul for his country in the 'hilippines. "e hid
Simouns weapons inside his house.
Don Timoteo Pelaez - %uanitos father. "e is a rich
businessmen and arranges a wedding for his son and
'aulita. "e and Simoun became business partners.
Tandang Selo - Father of 9abesang #ales and
grandfather of #ano and %uli. "e raised the sic! and
young &asilio after he left their house in =oli me
#angere. "e died in an encounter on the mountains with
his son #ales, when he was !illed by a battalion that
included his own grandson, #ano.
Father Fern*ndez - #he priest-friend of Isagani. "e
promised to Isagani that he and the other priests will give
in to the students demands.
Sando+al - #he vice-leader of Macaraigs gang. 7
Spanish classmate of Isagani, he coerces his classmates
to lead alongside him the opening of the Spanish
language academy.
%ermana B*li - 7nother gambler in #iani. She
became %ulis mother-figure and counselor8 helped to
release 9abesang #ales from the hands of bandits.
Father Millon - #he 'hysics teacher of the 6niversity
of Santo #omas. "e always becomes vindictive with
'lacido and always taunts him during class.
Tadeo - Macaraigs classmate. "e, along with the
other three members of their gang, supposedly posted
the posters that 0than!ed0 *on Custodio and Father
Irene for the opening of the 7cademia de Castellano.
,eeds - 7n 7merican who holds stage plays starring
severed heads8 he is good friends with Simoun.
Tano - 9abesang #aless elder son after his older
sister, -ucia died in childhood. "e too! up the
pseudonym 0Carolina0 after returning from e$ile in
the Caroline Islands, and became a civil guard. "e was
among the battalion !illed his grandfather, Selo, who was
part of a group of an attac!ing rebels.
Pe'a$ - *on Custodios supposed 0girlfriend0. 7
dancer, she is always agitated of her 0boyfriend0s plans.
She seems to be a close friend of Macaraig.
Gobernador General - #he highest-ran!ing official in
the 'hilippines during the Spanish colonial period, this
unnamed character pretends that what he is doing is for
the good of the Indios, the local citi)ens of the country,
but in reality, he prioriti)es the needs of his fellow
Spaniards living in the country.
Father %ernando de la Sib$la - 7 *ominican friar
introduced in Noli Me Tangere, now the vice-rector of
the 6niversity of Santo #omas
Pecson - classmate who had no idea on the
happenings occurring around him. "e suggested that
they held the moc! celebration at the panciteria.
Father Bernardo Sal+i- Former parish priest of San
*iego in Noli Me Tangere, now the director and chaplain
of the Santa Clara convent.
Ca'tain Tiago - Santiago delos Santos, Captain
#iago is Maria Claras stepfather and the foster-father to
&asilio. "is health disintegrates gradually because of
the opium he was forced to smo!e. 4ventually, he died
because 'adre Irene scared him about the revolt of the
Filipinos.
NOLI ME TANGERE CHARACTER
Juan Crisstomo Ibarramedia $ Magsalin, commonly
referred to the novel as Ibarra or Crisstomo, is the
protagonist in the story. Son of a Filipino
businessman, *on :afael Ibarra, he studied in 4urope for
seven years.
>?@
Ibarra is also MarAa Claras fiancB. Several
sources claim that Ibarra is also :i)als reflectionC both
studied in 4urope and both persons believe in the same
ideas. 6pon his return, Ibarra re1uested the local
government of San *iego to construct a public school to
promote education in the town.
>D@
Mar-a Clara de los Santos $ .lba, commonly referred to
as Mar-a Clara, is Ibarras fiancBe. She was raised by
Capit/n #iago, San *iegoscabeza de barangay and is the
most beautiful and widely celebrated girl in San *iego.
>E@
In
the later parts of the novel, MarAa Claras identity was
revealed as an illegitimate daughter of Father */maso,
former parish curate of the town, and *o2a 'Aa 7lba, wife of
Capit/n #iago.
>F@
In the end she entered local convent for
nuns &eaterio de Santa Clara. In the epilogue dealing with
the fate of the characters, :i)al stated that it is un!nown if
MarAa Clara is still living within the walls of the convent or she
is already dead.
>GH@
Don Santiago de los Santos, !nown by his
nic!name Tiago and political title Capitn Tiago is a Filipino
businessman and the cabeza de barangay or head
of barangay of the town of San *iego. "e is also the !nown
father of MarAa Clara.
>E@
In the novel, it is said that 9apit/n #iago is the richest man in
the region of &inondo and he possessed real properties
in 'ampanga and -aguna de &ay. "e is also said to be a
good Catholic, friend of the Spanish government and was
considered as a Spanish by colonialists. Capit/n #iago never
attended school, so he became a domestic helper of
a *ominican friar who taught him informal education. "e
married 'Aa 7lba fromSanta Cru).
>E@
D*maso !erdolagas, or 'adre */maso is
a Franciscan friar and the former parish curate of San *iego.
"e is best !nown as a notorious character who spea!s with
harsh words and has been a cruel priest during his stay in
the town.
>GG@
"e is revealed to be the real father of MarAa Clara
and an enemy of Cris.stomos father, :afael Ibarra.
>F@
-ater,
he and MarAa Clara had bitter arguments whether she would
marry 7lfonso -inares or go to a convent.
>GI@
7t the end of the
novel, he is again reassigned to a distant town and is found
dead one day.
>GH@
&l-as is Ibarras mysterious friend and ally. 4lAas made his
first appearance as a pilot during a picnic of Ibarra and MarAa
Clara and her friends.
>GJ@
"e wants to revolutioni)e the
country and to be freed from Spanish oppression.
>GK@
#he LHth chapter of the novel e$plores the past of 4lAas and
history of his family. In the past, Ibarras great-grandfather
condemned 4lAas grandfather of burning a warehouse which
led into misfortune for 4lAas family. "is father was refused to
be married by her mother because his fathers past and
family lineage was discovered by his mothers family. In the
long run, 4lAas and his twin sister were raised by their
maternal grandfather. Mhen they were teenagers, their
distant relatives called them hijos de bastardo or illegitimate
children. 5ne day, his sister disappeared which led him to
search for her. "is search led him into different places, and
finally, he became a fugitive and subversive.
>GL@
Piloso'o Tacio/edit0
Filoso1o Tacio, !nown by his #agali)ed
language name Pilosopo Tasyo, is another major character in
the story. See!ing for reforms from the government, he
e$presses his ideals in paper written in a cryptographic
alphabet similar from hieroglyphs and Coptic
figures
>G?@
hoping 0that the future generations may be able to
decipher it0 and reali)ed the abuse and oppression done by
the con1uerors.
>GD@
"is full name is only !nown as Don .nastasio. #he
educated inhabitants of San *iego labeled him as Filosofo
Tacio +#acio the Sage, while others called him as Tacio el
oco+#acio the Insane, due to his e$ceptional talent
for reasoning.
Doa !ictorina de los 2e$es de &s'adaa, commonly
!nown as *o2a 3ictorina, is an ambitious Filipina who
classifies herself as a Spanish and mimics Spanish ladies by
putting on heavy ma!e-up.
>GG@
#he novel narrates *o2a
3ictorinas younger daysC she had lots of admirers, but she
did not choose any of them because nobody was a Spaniard.
-ater on, she met and married *on #iburcio de 4spada2a, an
official of the customs bureau who is about ten years her
junior.
>GE@
"owever, their marriage is childless.
"er husband assumes the title of medical doctor even though
he never attended medical school8 using fa!e documents and
certificates, #iburcio practices illegal medicine. #iburcios
usage of the title !r" conse1uently ma!es 3ictorina assume
the title !ra" +doctora, female doctor,.
>GE@
7pparently, she uses
the whole name Doa !ictorina de los 2e$es de de
&s'adaa, with double de to emphasi)e her marriage
surname.
>GE@
She seems to feel that this aw!ward titling
ma!es her more 0sophisticated.0
3arcisa or #isa is the deranged mother of &asilio
and CrispAn. *escribed as beautiful and young, although
she loves her children very much, she can not protect
them from the beatings of her husband, Pedro.
Cris'-n is Sisas D-year-old son. 7n altar boy, he was
unjustly accused of stealing money from the church.
7fter failing to force CrispAn to return the money he
allegedly stole, Father SalvA and the head sacristan !illed
him. It is not directly stated that he was !illed, but the
dream of &asilio suggests that CrispAn died during his
encounter with 'adre Salvi and his minion.
Basilio is Sisas GH-year-old son. 7n acolyte tas!ed
to ring the church bells for the 7ngelus, he faced the
dread of losing his younger brother and the descent of
his mother into insanity. 7t the end of the novel, 4lAas
wished &asilio to bury him by burning in e$change for a
chest of gold located on his death ground. "e will later
play a major role in $l Filibusterismo.
*ue to their tragic but endearing story, these characters are
often parodied in modern Filipino popular culture.
Salom4 - 4lAas sweetheart. She lives in a little house
by the la!e, and though 4lAas would li!e to marry her, he
tells her that it would do her or their children no good to
be related to a fugitive li!e himself. In the original
publication of Noli, the chapter that e$plores the identity
of 4lAas and SalomB was omitted, classifying her as a
total non-e$isting character. #his chapter, entitled $l%as y
#alom& was probably the ILth chapter of the novel.
"owever, recent editions and translations
of Noli provides the inclusion of this chapter, either on
the appendi$ or renamed as Chapter ' +4$,.
Padre %ernando de la Sib$la N a *ominican friar.
"e is described as short and has fair s!in. "e is
instructed by an old priest in his order to watch
Cris.stomo Ibarra.
Padre Bernardo Sal+- N the Franciscan curate of
San *iego, secretly harboring lust for MarAa Clara. "e is
described to be very thin and sic!ly. It is also hinted that
his last name, 0Salvi0 is the shorter form of 0Salvi0
meaning Salvation, or 0Salvi0 is short for 0Salvaje0
meaning bad hinting to the fact that he is willing to !ill an
innocent child, Crispin, just to get his money bac!,
though there was not enough evidence that it was
Crispin who has stolen his I on)as.
&l .l14rez or .l'eres N chief of the (uardia Ci)il.
Mortal enemy of the priests for power in San *iego and
husband of *o2a Consolacion.
Doa Consolac-on N wife of the Alf&rez, nic!named
as la musa de los guardias ci)iles +#he muse of the Civil
(uards, or la Alf&reza, was a former laundrywoman who
passes herself as a Peninsular8 best remembered for her
abusive treatment of Sisa.
Don Tiburcio de &s'adaa N Spanish Ouac!
*octor who is limp and submissive to his wife, *o2a
3ictorina.
Teniente Gue+ara - a close friend of *on :afael
Ibarra. "e reveals to Cris.stomo how *on :afael
Ibarras death came about.
.l1onso ,inares N 7 distant nephew of #iburcio de
4spanada, the would-be fiancB of MarAa Clara. 7lthough
he presented himself as a practitioner of law, it was later
revealed that he, just li!e *on #iburcio, is a fraud. "e
later died due to given medications of *on #iburcio.
T-a Isabel - Capit/n #iagos cousin, who raised
Maria Clara.
Go+ernor General +(obernador "eneral, N
6nnamed person in the novel, he is the most powerful
official in the 'hilippines. "e has great disdain for the
friars and corrupt officials, and sympathi)es with Ibarra.
Don Fili'o ,ino N vice mayor of the town of San
*iego, leader of the liberals.
Padre Manuel Mart-n - he is the linguist curate of a
nearby town who delivers the sermon during San *iegos
fiesta.
Don 2a1ael Ibarra - father of Cris.stomo Ibarra.
#hough he is the richest man in San *iego, he is also
the most virtuous and generous.
Dona P-a .lba - wife of Capitan #iago and mother of
MarAa Clara, she died giving birth to her daughter. In
reality, she was raped by */maso so she could bear a
child.
Don Pedro &ibarramendia - the great-grandfather
of Cris.stomo Ibarra who came from the &as1ue area of
Spain. "e started the misfortunes of 4lias family. "is
descendants abbreviated their surname to Ibarra. "e
died of un!nown reasons, but was seen as a decaying
corpse on a &alete tree.
Don Saturnino Ibarra - the son of *on 'edro, father
of *on :afael and grandfather of Cris.stomo Ibarra. "e
was the one who developed the town of San *iego. "e
was described as a cruel man but was very clever.
Sinang - Maria Claras friend. 'etite, cheerful, lively.
&ecause Cris.stomo Ibarra offered half of the school he
was building to Sinang, he gained Capitan &asilios
support.
.ndeng - Maria Claras childhood friend. She is li!e
a sister to Maria Clara since they shared the same wet
nurse. She has a clear, cheerful loo! and a reputation for
being a good coo!. "er name is a diminutive form from
the name 0Miranda0 and the #agalog participle 0ng0.
Ida$5 3eneng and !ictoria - Maria Claras other
friends.
Ca'it*n Basilio - Sinangs father, leader of the
conservatives.
Pedro N the abusive husband of Sisa who loves
coc!fighting.
Tand*ng Pablo N the leader of
the tulisanes +bandits,, whose family was destroyed
because of the Spaniards.
&l hombre amarillo +apparently means 0yellowish
person,0 named as Taong Madila*, - one of Crisostomo
Ibarras would-be assassins. "e is not named in the
novel, and only described as such. In the novel, he
carved the cornerstone for Ibarras school. Instead of
!illing Ibarra, he was !illed by his cornerstone.
,ucas - the brother of the taong madila*. "e
planned a revolution against the government with Ibarra
as the leader after he was turned down by Ibarra. "e
was said to have a scar on his left chee!. "e would later
be !illed by the Sa!ristan Mayor.
Bruno and Tarsilo N a pair of brothers whose father
was !illed by the Spaniards.
6or Juan +Pol %uan, - appointed as foreman of the
school to be built by Ibarra
Ca'itana Ti7a 82ustica9 - Sinangs mother and wife
of Capitan &asilio.
.lbino - a former seminarian who joined the picnic
with Ibarra and MarAa Clara. "e was later captured
during the revolution.
Ca'itana Mar-a &lena - a nationalist woman who
defends Ibarra of the memory of his father.
Ca'it*n Tinong and Ca'it*n !alent-n - other !nown
people from the town of San *iego.
Sacrist*n Ma$or - the one who governs the altar
boys and !illed CrispAn for his accusation.