El Filibusterismo

Dr. Jose Rizal

Chua, Jenalynne Mareah O.
Fernandez, Mia Allyanna A.
Gutierrez, Meliz Iren Kaye R.

Historical
Background

Noli Me Tangere Vs. El Filibusterismo

Noli Me Tangere

El Filibusterismo

Touch Me Not

Ang Pilibustero or Reign of

Greed

Romantic Novel

Political Novel

Mother Country

Gom-Bur-Za

64 Chapters

48 Chapters

Berlin, Germany (1887)

Ghent, Belgium (1891)

Maximo Viola

Valentin Ventura

Background
Change of theme to a darker one:
Abuses experienced by the Rizal family from the Spaniards
Properties were confiscated
Donya Lolay accused as an accomplice in plotting against
Don Albertos wife - imprisoned for almost 2 and a half years
Copies of Noli Me Tangere were burnt in front of the church
Hardships experienced by Rizal abroad (Madrid, Ghent)

Background
Change of theme to a darker one:
Failed love life - Leonor Rivera (11 years) marrying Henry Kipping
Mother of Leonor disapproved of their relationship because
Rizal was a suspected filibustero
Paulita Gomez character in the novel
Theme centered on seeking revenge
Characters personalities were presented stronger

Background

Objectives in writing the novel:

1.To defend Filipino people from foreign accusations of
foolishness and lack of knowledge
2.To show how Filipinos live during the Spanish colonial period
3.To discuss what religion and belief can really do to everyday
lives
4.To expose cruelties, graft and corruption of the Spanish
government and show the misdoings of Filipinos that led to
further failure

Background
Started in October 1887, while practicing Medicine in
Calamba
Made some revisions in London (1888); Continued writing
when he was in Paris
Finished the Manuscript in Biarritz on March 29, 1891
Took him almost three years to finish the novel
Dedicated the novel to Gom-Bur-Za

Moving to Ghent
July 5, 1891 - Rizal moved to Ghent in Belgium
Reasons:
(1) The cost of printing in Ghent was cheaper than in Brussels.
(2) To escape from the enticing attraction of Petite Suzanne
(Suzanne Jacoby - fling in Brussels)
Met two compatriots in Ghent: Jose Alejandro and Edilberto
Evangelista

Printing of El Filibusterismo
F. MEYER-VAN LOO PRESS, No. 66 Viaanderen Street
- Printing press willing to print his book on instalment basis
- Rizal pawned his jewels to pay the down payment and early
partial payments during the printing of his novel

Printing of El Filibusterismo

Lack of funds
- Money he was expecting did not arrive
- Received some money from Basa and P200 from Rodriguez Arias for the
copies of Morgas Sucesos sold in Manila
- Printing was suspended in August 6 (112 pages only)
At times I feel like burning my manuscript. But when I think of you, and I
know that there are many good men like you, good men who truly love their
country.
Valentin Ventura - sent funds for the completion of the printing of the
novel

Printing of El Filibusterismo
September 18, 1891 - El Filibusterismo came off the press
- Sent two copies to Hong Kong: for Jose Maria Basa and Sixto Lopez
- Gave the original manuscript and an autographed copy to Valentin
Ventura
- Complimentary copies to Blumentritt, Mariano Ponce, G. Lopez
Jaena, T.H. Pardo de Tavera, Antonio Luna, Juan Luna and other
friends

Printing of El Filibusterismo
Problems encountered by Jose Rizal during the printing of El
Filibusterismo:
1. Lack of funds
2. Copies shipped to Hong Kong were confiscated and the
books were lost

Acceptance of the Novel

The El Nuevo Regimen-Liberal Madrid newspaper serialized the
novel in its issues of October 1891
Tribute from the Filipino colony in Barcelona published in La

Publicidad
is comparable only to the sublime Alexander Dumas
a model and precious jewel in the now decadent literature of
Spain

Original Manuscript

Preserved in Filipina Division of the Bureau of Public Libraries,

Manila
- Acquired by the Philippine government from Valentin Ventura
for
P 10,000
- Consisted of 279 pages of long sheets of paper
- Two features were not in the printed copies to save printing
cost: FOREWORD and WARNING

Cover Page

Cover Page
Gom--Bur-Za: the novel was dedicated to the martyrdom of the
three secular priest
FOREWORD:
Filibusterism is used by Spanish authorities to frighten the
Filipino people into silence.
Instead of fleeing, we shall look at its face, and with
determined, if inexpert, hand we shall raise the veil to uncover
before the multitude the mechanism of its skeleton.

Cover Page
Inscriptions written by Ferdinand Blumentritt:
It can easily be supposed that a rebel (filibustero) has secretly
bewitched the league of friar-zealots and retrogrades so that,
unwittingly following his incitements, they should favor and foment
that policy which pursues sole end: to spread ideas of rebellion
throughout the length and breadth of the land, and to convince every
Filipino that there is no salvation except through separation from the
Mother Country.

Plot Summary

Chapter 1-3
Set 13 years after the events in Noli
In December, Bapor Tabo is travelling along Pasig River headed to La
Laguna
Bapor Tabo Anatomy:
1. Kubyerta (deck of the ship) - for Spaniards
2. Below the deck of the ship for Indios, Mestizos and Chinese
Donya Victorina- Mas mabilis ang pag-usad ng barko kapag walang
Indio
Simoun- Maghukay ng tuwid na daan

Don Custodio Maraming bayarin at gastos

Basilio and Isaganis plans of establishing an Academy for the Spanish
Language
Isaganis poem Apoy at Tubig relays the message that with the use of
these two elements, machines can become functional
Isagani Kung hindi kailangan, wag bilhin

Captains Alamat ng Malapat na Bato implication of belief in the

supernatural and fantasy
Padre Florentinos Alamat ni Donya Geronima reflection of Maria
Clara and fates of women in the convent
Padre Salvis Buwang Bato St. Nicholas rescuing a Chinese from a
crocodile which later turned into stone when the Chinese prayed to the
saint

Chapter 4
Kabesang Tales (Telesforo Juan de Dios) Cabeza de
Baranggay; victim of mass land-grabbing of friars
Huli had to work for Hermana Penchang to earn money to
free Kabesang Tales (P500)
Agnos ( Kapitan Tiyago Maria Clara leper Basilio
Huli Tata Selo Kabesang Tales)

Chapter 5
Noche Buena, Basilio visits Sisa in San Diego
Conchero (Kalesa driver) maltreated by civil guards after having been found
that he did not have his cedula (residence certificate)
Procession Methusalem (1st god, has longest life), three Magi, Christ and
Mary
Procession shows hierarchy in the society
Legend of Bernardo Carpio- dampen desire of Filipinos to solve their own
problem; they opt to wait for salvation from such a being rather than take
matters into their own hands

Chapter 6
Basilio studied in San Juan de Letran (Dominican) and
Ateneo (Jesuit)
Bachiller en Artes and Medicine
Adsum or present reply of students to teachers
Implications : (1) Some students are going to class not for
learning, but to pass and (2) Discrimination based on race,
status and even physical characteristics

Chapter 7
Basilio sees Simoun and recognizes him as the person who helped
burry his mother Sisa
Simouns desire for revenge
His ideas:
(1)Equality in rights and education
(2)Call to national sentiment and consciousness

(3)Language as key to the minds of people

Basilio vs Simoun on the Academy Simoun believes that learning
Spanish will only lead to more misunderstanding
Basilio did not want to participate in the plan for revenge of Simoun
because he wanted to finish his studies (absence of opposition to
measures prejudicial to people)
(4) Frustrations on youths call for hispanization
(5) If you cannot stop a corrupt government, then support it until the
oppressed people will rise up to revolt themselves

Chapter 8-10
Huli goes to work for Hermana Penchang
Tata Selo (grandfather of Huli) becomes depressed and mute
Alferez (lietenant of guardia civil), Friars and even Hermana
Penchang likened to Pontius Pilate who merely washed his
hands after the crucifixion of Christ
In Tiyani, Simoun wanted to join forces with Tales who wanted
Simouns briliante to free his daughter Huli from Hermana
Penchang

Revolver can kill and can save

Tales took Simouns revolver in exchange for the locker (agnos)
and headed to the rebels/bandits (tulisan)
Simoun has found what he was looking for in Tales (man of
integrity, of action, and of his word)

Chapter 11
Meeting of friars, governor-general and important
personalities
Dominicans against building the academy for Spanish
language. Only Padre Irene supported this cause
Implications: (1) how the government makes decisions (2)
how formation of laws are as trivial as gambling with cards

Chapter 12-15
Placido Penitente model student
-reiterated faulty educational system
-humiliated by Padre Millon (whose method of teaching suits onnly
philosophy and not the science)
Juanito Pelaez mapaglangis or diapichido
Description of Ateneo, UST, Letran, Pamantasang Normal

Problems:
Ex. Technical difficulties, lack of teachers, UST-no classes during feast
days, Viva always the only word written on blackboard since first day
Isagani who preferred honorable ways to get help (Pasta) rather than
dirtier means (like Juanito who was to convince Pepay, a
prostitute/dancer, to talk to Don Custodio)
Senior Pastas refusal to help because of lack of initiative
Macaraig = willing to use his house for the academy; rich

Chapter 16
Main theme: used or be used
Quiroga still smiled at his guests despite despising them in
fervent passion. He needed them for his business
Simoun asked Quiroga (Chinese businessman) to keep his
weapons in Quirogas bodega in exchange for discount on
his jewelries

Chapter 17-18
Fair in Quiapo
La Prenza Filipina or The Philippine Press (wooden sculpture of a women with
one blind eye) -loss of justice in the country, state of journalism in the
philippines
Ang Bayan-symbol of the country in the past; caricature
Abaca Country = Philippines, an abaca country, tied to Spain with abaca
Mr. Leeds and and the Sphinx (the head of Imuthis) ashed became head
with the word Deremof (word anagram of freedom; arrangement of letters)
Imuthiss story greatly parallels Ibarras
Padre Salvi fainted and Mr. Leeds escaped to HK

Chapter 19
Placido told his mother Kabesang Andang he wanted to quit studying and
wanted to go to Hong Kong and come back for revenge
He was recruited by Simoun and the two went to the place where gunpowder
(to be used for the revolution) was produced
Plan to rescue Maria Clara begins = the fuse to tick the bomb (1st priority of
Simoun is Maria Clara. The country and revolution as 2nd priority only)

Chapter 20
Don Custodio (the Arbitrator) did not
approve of the establishment of the
Academy
His desire to please (so he bases his
decisions on what the majority wanted)

Chapter 21-22
Mr. Jovys Les Cloches de Corneville
Camarroncocido an apathetic Spanish who did not value his nationality
Society of Manila
(1)People preferred high class
(2)People preferred international
Why people wanted to watch
(1)Curious why the show was banned by religious groups
(2)Wanted to watch so they know why it should be banned
Filipino Time show started late because the Gov. Gen. has not arrived
Tadeo and Juanito can only criticize in theater and pretend to be a know-it-all to impress Paulita and
Victorina
Ben Zayb knows nothing about arts; mindless critic

Chapter 23
Kapitan Tiyago who was dying of opium
At 11pm revolution shall begin
Groups involved in Simouns revolution:
(1)soldier on Gov. Hen.s side (2) Friar supporters (3) bandits headed by Tales (4) regualr people like
Basilio
Camarroncocido noticed Simouns men surrounding the theater
Simoun asked Basilio to lead a group that will infiltrate the convent to retrieve Maria Clara, but found
out that she was dead instead
Plan for revolt was then put on hold because of Simouns depression after the news
*Chapter 24 = circulated in the conversation of Isagani and Paulitas dreams (youth who cared about
country (Isagani) vs youth who cared about themselves (Paulita)

Chapter 22, 25-26, 32

Academy was not approved by higher ups
Meeting (a sarcastic celebration in a panciteria) among the
40 students, not including Basilio
***Basilio had freed Huli from Hermana Penchang and
bought a place for her to stay with Tata Selo
In chapter 32, these students, even Basilio were arrested
upon the false news that they had a paskil or pasquinades
(signs/satires) they were framed by the friars

Chapter 27
Vox populi, vox Dei voice of the people is the voice of God; democracy
Isagani wanted the friars to treat them well and give them the education that
they deserved
Clay and sculptor= Padre Ferandez reiterated the fault of the clay (represent
students) while Isagani said that it was the sculptors (the friars) fault
Padre Fernandez replied that it was not their fault; they were just following
orders
Acc. To Fernandez:
(1) Source of bad habits of Filipinos were their genes
(2) Filipinos should just learn farming

Chapter 28-29
Chapter 28 -- Rumor and gossip fill the city streets and corners. This chapter
is a clear description of the image of a fearful society, and how this fear causes
more damage than an actual battle news grows bigger and bigger through
word of mouth.
Chapter 29 Kapitan Tiyago dies. Everything that is stipulated in Capitan
Tiagos last will and testament is fabricated by Padre Irene. This way, the
church gets the most out of the riches of the deceased, and his loved ones and
relatives are greatly bereaved, and deprived even of their rightful inheritance
(esp. Basilio)

Chapter 31-30
The students were freed from prison by their relatives except for Basilio (who
was further discriminated because of the fact that he was merely an adopted
child of Kapitan Tiyago and accused of having a forbidden book in medicine).
Simoun was also letting Basilio stay longer in prison so as to worsen the
image of the Governor-general to the public
A high official told Gov. Gen. to free the innocent Basilio but to no avail
Huli approached Padre Camorra for help, but committed suicide instead when
he attempted to rape or molest her. Hermana Bali witnessed this.

Chapter 33
Simoun freed Basilio, who upon knowing about the
unfortunate fate of his lover, willingly offered his service to
Simoun and joined him in his plan of revolution driven by
anger and desire for bloody revenge.
Shift in Simouns objectives Since Maria Clara was
dead, the rebellion was purely intended to satisfy the lust to
kill and exact vengeance in order to somehow dull the
searing pain of pity for himself that he had always claimed
was for the aggrieved and oppressed Filipinos.

Chapter 32, 34-35

Paulita Gomez broke up with Isagani (because of his intense valor and
heroism) when he was jailed. She was to marry a Spanish Mestizo Juanito
Pelaez.
Venue: Deceased Kapitan Tiyagos house which was renovated and
decorated in preparation for the wedding
Gun powder spread all over the place
Dynamite-laden lamp will be given by Simoun. Its explosion will be the signal
for the start of the full-scale revolution in Manila.

Basilio who knew about the plan told his brokenhearted

best friend Isagani to leave.
Isaganis undying love for Paulita prevailed. He took the
already dimming lamp and jumped into the river.
Plan failed
Padre Salvi recognized Ibarras signature. He is the only
one who has seen Ibarras signature in the letter written
by the youth to Maria Clara, which the lady had given to the
friar in exchange for the three letters her mother had written
to Padre Damaso.
Higher ups ordered for Simouns search

Chapter 36
The things Ben Zayb wrote for the news were sugarcoated
in a way that the revolution was minimized and degraded,
the righteousness of friars and Spanish government was
endorsed
Great deal of censorship
Barely existent freedom of speech
Ben Zaybs credibility as a writer was tainted with the faulty
system of relaying of news

Chapter 37

Bottom-line: Simoun is the culprit, Isagani as

the lamp-stealer (that was why his friends were
hiding him)

Chapter 38
Mautang was a sadisitc Filipino Guardia Civil (Filipino guardia civils more
ruthless that Spanish counterparts)
Carolino =Tano (Taless son) who was drafted to the military
Matanglawin = Tales
The two sides of the father and son had a crossfire where Tales was first to
recognize Tano and tried to reach to him, but Tano ended up murdering his
father instead
Simoun had wanted the two to form an alliance, but the plan failed miserably

Chapter 39
Injured Simoun headed to Padre Florentinos house and
drank poison even with the priests protests
Simoun revealed everything to Padre Florentino before
finally passing away
Padre Florentino threw Simouns chest of wealth into the
seas

Conversation Between
Simoun and Padre
Florentino

 Simoun sought refuge in the home of Padre Florentino by the sea

Lt. Perez of the Guardia Civil informs the priest through a letter for
Simouns arrest
Simoun eluded arrest by taking poison
He confessed to Padre Florentino as he is dying
revealed his true identity: Crisostomo Ibarra
plan to use his wealth to avenge himself
aim to destroy his friends and enemies

Padre Florentino:

 Padre Florentino falls upon his knees and prays for the dead
jeweler. He takes the treasure chest and throws it into the sea.

Symbolisms

 Ilog Pasig - Spaniards who prevent the progress of the natives

Bapor tabo - Philippines under the hands of the Spaniards
Placido Penitente (peace & suffering)
a pacifist who suffers in silence
Implication of legends
disappearing ancestral and supernatural belief replaced by
modern supernatural belief (religion)
Tales
like a pot of clay banging against a pot of iron; or like an ant
that bites the heel, knowing it will just be crushed. He continues
to fight even with the fact that he will merely be crushed as if he
was nothing.

 Dark forests
Where the bodies of Elias and Sisa are buried
Symbolizes many secrets kept by Simoun from the public
When the governor general went to the forest, he was not able to
shoot any deer because of his bands loud music = cannot obtain
objectives because of extravagance and ingratiation of power
Senor Pasta
Pilipinong okay na iyan
Practicalism (safe life)

 Isagani
Makabagong kabataan
Idealism (life worth living)
La Prenza Filipina or The Philippine Press (wooden sculpture of a
woman with one blind eye)
loss of justice in the country, represents the state of journalism
in the Philippines
old fashioned
blink one eye = lack of truth in reporting
dirty
Kapitan Tiyagos death = opium which poisoned Tiyago likened to
corruption spreading to the already dying Philippines

Impact on Readers

Impact on Readers
1. Unmasked the abusive policies of the Spanish authorities.
2. Awakened nationalism in the hearts of Filipinos.
3. El Filibusterismo served as an inspiration to the national
heroes after Jose Rizal. Social awakening lead to uprisings.
4. The ending in the novel indicates Rizals conviction that, so
long as the Filipinos are not morally and intellectually
prepared for freedom, revolution was not the correct path to
take

Problems and Issues discussed

in the Novel and still Present
in our Society

Need For educational REforms

Miseducation Molding mens minds is the best
means of conquest
Students main reason to study should be to gain
knowledge and skills
Ex. Former Pres. Arroyos Executive Order No. 210,
Establishing the Policy to Strengthen English as a
Second Language in the Educational System

Bapor Tabo and Our Government

Almost all problems in the novel points to one thing:
SELFISHNESS
Most of those seated in power only wishes to exploit and take
No room for expansion (masikip sa loob ng Bapor Tabo)
Conflicting desires of government and the masses
no sense of direction

Superstitions and REligion

Bahala na and May awa ang Diyos
Faulty understanding of religion leads to gravely
erred sense of judgement in different
circumstances

Points from On the Concept of National Community

by Makul
Personal interest and revenge as driving force to attain freedom is
not right Simoun failed two times because his real objective for
the revolt is Maria Clara and revenge

Donya Victorina--man guided by fancy and self-love

Basilio--absence of opposition to measures prejudicial to people
Ginoong Pasta--lack of initiative; play safe
Hence: WE DESERVE THE KIND OF GOVERNMENT THAT WE HAVE

Reign of Greed
The lessons presented in the novel is a true picture
of Filipino society more than a hundred year ago.
The same portrayal is the same in the current
society.
Power remains corrupt, because the same docile
people cannot remedy the situation

Endless Cycle of Slavery

Because of all these factors, the Filipinos of today remains to be in a
cycle of a panopticon (invisible prison), suppressing the freedom of
self-expression, encaging people who are lead to believe in the
certain things only. Filipinos are trapped in the barriers set by the
Spanish Colonizers and even by the American Neocolonialism.
We are still, therefore, slaves enjoying an illusory freedom, and
prisoners of the past that we have tried to forget.

References
buod.elfilibusterismo.com
http://thelifeandworksofrizal.blogspot.com/
El Filibusterismo shortened by El Vira Dela Cruz, Jose Tumang, Arnold Yumul
http://en.wikipilipinas.org/index.php/El_Filibusterismo_%28novel%29
http://globalvoicesonline.org/2007/06/17/the-english-language-debate-in-the-philippines/
https://80yearsoflove.wordpress.com/2013/09/23/jose-protacio-rizal-mercado-y-alonsorealonda-ang-kanyang-buhay-hanggang-kamatayan/