El Filibusterismo (El Fili) - Chapter 1 Chapter Title: On Deck Setting: December Morning, Steamship Tabo (Pasig) Characters

El Filibusterismo (El Fili) – Chapter 1
Chapter Title: On Deck
Setting: December morning, Steamship Tabo (Pasig)
Characters:
 Skipper
 Dona Victorina
 Don Custodio
 Ben Zayb
 Padre Camorra
 Padre Irene
 Simoun
 Padre Salvi
 Padre Sibyla
 Paulita Gomez (mentioned)
 Don Tiburcio (mentioned)
 Capitan General (mentioned)
Chapter Summary:
The book starts with the quote:
“Sic itur ad astra.”
(This way to the stars.)
While sailing, steamship Tabo gets stuck in mud. The skipper tries to steer it out of the mud.
Dona Victorina rants and blames the Indios (even though she is Indio) and the group ignores
her. Ben Zayb argues with Padre Camorra and Padre Salvi joins the argument. They suggest
different ways about how to straighten out the river and develop ports.
Simoun says to dig a canal from the entrance of the river (to make a new channel), and close up
old Pasig. Everyone agrees except Don Custodio, who says that it would be expensive and
require tearing down villages. Simoun says they should go ahead and do that.
Don Custodio says there is no money to pay laborers, and Simoun says the villagers can work for
3-5 months and bring their own food and tools. Simoun argues that even the Pyramids and
Coliseum were built by workers in the same way.
Don Custodio says the people would rebel. Simoun says that back then, the Egyptians and
Jewish people did not rebel. But Don Custodio says Indios are different and have rebelled
before. Simoun says they won’t rebel again, since Indios who built the house and hospital of Los
Banos did so without rebelling.
Simoun leaves to go below deck. The rest wonder what Simoun’s background and race are.
Don Custodio complains to Ben Zayb that Simoun suggested an expedition to the Caroline
Islands, which means they would have to build a ship (cruiser).
Don Custodio suggests his project to clear the sandbars of Laguna: inhabitants of towns near
sandbars should breed ducks to eat snails, so the gathering of snails will deepen the river. Ben
Zayb agrees but Dona Victorina gets angry because more ducks would mean there would be too
many balut eggs.
Trivia:
 Steamship Tabo sails upstream

 People who stay below deck: Indios, Chinese, half-breeds
 People who stay up on deck: Europeans, friars and office workers.
 People who stay up on deck are covered by a tarpaulin and get to sit on armchairs.
Quotes:
Ben Zayb remained silent, half-smiling, perhaps out of respect or because he did not know what
answer to give, despite his being the only thinking head in the Philippines!
Simoun: Only the dead remain dead; and only the strong are given credit by posterity.
Don Custodio: Y ab actu ad posse valet illatio. (what happened before can happen again).
Simoun: What are you friars for if the people can rise in revolt?
Ben Zayb thought it his duty to reply; with his standing as a journalist he was supposed to be
well-informed about everything.
Don Custodio’s projects were as famous as a quack doctor’s prescriptions.
Dona Victorina: But Don Custodio! If everyone were to breed ducks there would be an excess
of balut eggs. Ugh! How disgusting! Leave the sandbars alone!
Chapter Title: Below Deck
Setting: December morning, Steamship Tabo (Pasig), below deck
Characters:
 Basilio
 Isagani
 Capitan Basilio
 Simoun
 Padre Florentino
 Padre Florentino’s servant
 Skipper
 Padre Irene (mentioned)
 Capitan Tiago (mentioned)
 Padre Sibyla (mentioned)
 Dona Victorina (mentioned)
 Padre Camorra (mentioned)
 Macaraig (mentioned)
Chapter Summary:
Below deck, sick Chinese peddlers are sleeping. But students are also there and are wearing
‘spotless white attire’. They are in good moods because they are returning home for the holidays.
Basilio complains that Capitan Tiago is sending him to San Diego on the suggestion of Padre
Irene so that Tiago can just smoke opium at home. Capitan Basilio tells Basilio and Isagani that
he himself does not like opium use.
Isagani explains that they have given Padre Irene 2 chestnut horses as a bribe so he can see
Capitan General about the permit. Capitan Basilio points out that Padre Sibyla opposes their
permit, but Isagani says it doesn’t matter.
Capitan Basilio asks about funds and they explain that each student contributes a real and that
they already found professors (half are Filipinos, half are Peninsulares), and that Macaraig will
let them have one of his houses. Capitan Basilio accepts their explanation and understands their
desire to learn Spanish since their books are in Spanish.
Basilio asks what Isagani’s uncle says about Paulita. They talk about how Dona Victorina asked
Isagani to look for her husband as an exchange for letting Isagani date Paulita. Isagani laughs
because the husband is in his uncle (Padre Florentino’s) house. That is why his uncle did not go
on deck: because Dona Victorina might ask about Don Tiburcio.
Simoun arrives and Basilio introduces Isagani to him. They realize that Isagani and Simoun
lived in towns close to each other. Simoun asks about the province and admits he hasn’t gone
there because people in the province do not buy jewels. Isagani is annoyed and says people in
the province don’t need them. Simoun offers them beer and they refuse.
Simoun says he heard Padre Camorra say that morning that there is a lack of energy in the
country because people drink too much water. Isagani argues and says that water can put out
fires and turn into steam, and becomes the ocean which can destroy humanity. Basilio quotes
Isagani’s verses and Simoun leaves to get beer.
Basilio asks Isagani why he is annoyed. Isagani says he does not know. He says Simoun makes
him feel afraid, but he does not know why.
Florentino’s servant calls Isagani and tells him to go to Florentino. While waiting for Isagani, the
skipper tells Florentino to go up on deck or else the friars will think he won’t want to join them.
Florentino advises Isagani not to visit the deck because it would be abusing the skipper’s
hospitality but Isagani thinks its so he won’t talk to Dona Victorina.
Trivia:
 Below deck, there are only benches and stools.

 The deck is also called the lounge.
Quotes:
These men of the past, they find difficulties for everything; you propose to them one thing and
instead of seeing the advantages they notice only the inconveniences. They want everything to
come out smooth and round as a billiard ball.
Inexorable as are all devout women who believe themselves interpreters of the will of God.
Chapter Title: Legends
Setting: December morning, Steamship Tabo (Pasig), on deck
Characters:
 Padre Sibyla
 Padre Camorra
 Padre Salvi
 Simoun
 Ben Zayb
 Don Custodio
 Skipper
Chapter Summary:
The chapter opens with the following lines:
Ich weiss nich was soll es bedeuten
Dass ich so traurig bin!
(I want to cry,
I do not know why!)
Padre Florentino arrives on deck. Padre Sibyla is angry because his tenants keep complaining.
Padre Camorra tells him not to be mad even when Indios try to haggle for lower rates. Padre
Camorra asks: “Why should a baptism cost less than a chicken?”
Simoun arrives and Don Custodio asks where he was, saying he missed the view. Simoun says he
has seen everything, and is only interested in a view that reminds him of legends.
They take turns telling legends.
1. Malapad-na-bato (told by Skipper)
Malapad-na-bato is a rock that is known as a dwelling place of spirits The rock was turned
into a hangout of bandits who used it to ambush passing boats (bancas). Now there is a
capsized boat there that is easy for other boats to hit.
2. Cave of Dona Geronimo (told by Padre Sibyla)
A student promised to marry a girl (Dona Geronimo) from his village. She waited but he never
came back. The student became Archbishop of Manila so she disguised herself as a man and
asked him to fulfill his promise. The archbishop had a cave built and let her live there until her
death. Dona Jeronimo was so fat she had to enter sideways, but she always threw silver plates
into the river after banquets. A net would catch the plates after washing.
Simoun tells Padre Salvi that maybe the archbishop should have put Dona Geronimo in a
cloister in Santa Clara because that would be more gallant. Simoun asks Padre Salvi what he
would’ve done. Padre Salvi tells a legend
3. Miracle of San Nicolas (told by Padre Salvi)
The river was full of crocodiles. One day, a Chinaman who refused to be converted into a
Christian was passing the church. A devil appeared as a crocodile and planned to eat him. The
Chinese prayed to San Nicolas and the crocodile turned into stone. Now the rock pieces of the
crocodile are scattered.
Padre Salvi said he has seen the head of the stone crocodile. Ben Zayb says he will write an
article that praises the Chinaman for choosing to prayto the ‘least known saint’ instead of
praying to Confucius or Buddha, which shows that Catholicism is better and that the yellow race
(Chinese) is “illogical”. Simoun asks if the devil was trapped in the stone and if petrified animals
are also victims to a saint.
The boat enters the lake with green shores and blue mountains. They see Mt. Makiling and
Talim island (Susong-dalaga or Maiden’s breast).
Ben Zayb asks the skipper which part of the lake that Ibarra (he is not sure if Ibarra is the name
or if it was Guevara or Navarra) was killed in. Everyone looks at the skipper while Simoun looks
away. The skipper says that 13 years ago, Ibarra jumped from a banca near the break and swam
2 miles. The pursuers saw red on the shore that was probably blood.
Ben Zayb asks about the body and Padre Sibyla says it joined that of Ibarra’s father (a
“subversive” or filibustero). Ben Zayb notices that Simoun is quiet and asks if he is seasick. The
skipper says the lake is larger than all lakes in Spain put together and even old mariners have
gotten seasick there.
Trivia:
 Padre Sibyla says everyone knows the tale of the Cave of Dona Geronimo but no one has
heard it before.
Quotes:
Padre Camorra: Why should a baptism cost less than a chicken?

Chapter Title: Cabesang Tales
Setting: Tiana, San Diego (timeline starting from Cabesang Tales’ early adulthood to present,
Christmas Eve)
Characters:
 Cabesang Tales
 Tandang Selo
 Tano
 Juli
 Friar Administrator
 Senor Gobernador M
 Sister Bali
 Sister Penchang
 Basilio (mentioned)
 Maria Clara (mentioned)
Chapter Summary:
The chapter talks about the family history of Cabesang Tales. Tandang Selo was a woodcutter
who lived in the forest. His son Cabesang Tales worked on a farm but but wanted to live on his
own so the family cut down trees to clear land for farming. One by one, Canesang Tales’ family
got sick and died (including his wife and oldest daughter Lucia), and they thought the spirits of
the forest were getting revenge. During their first harvest, the church claimed their fields and
charged them an annual fee of 20-30 pesos to use them.
Tandang Selo said lawyers would be a waste of money anyway, and that Cabesang Tales can
pretend he lost the money gambling or that a crocodile ate it.
The family was productive and and Tales wanted to build a house in Sagpang barrio in Tiana,
San Diego. After one year, the friars raised the rent to 50 pesos. Tandang Selo told Cabesang
Tales to be patient, and to just pretend that the crocodile that ate his money got bigger and ate
more.
The family built their house and thought of sending Juli to school.
Cabesang Tales became Cabeza de Barangay and ended up paying tax deficits and other costs
with his own money. Tandang Selo told him to pretend that the crocodiles’ relatives showed up.
Cabesang Tales promised Juli she would be able to study but the rental price increased to 200
pesos eventually. Tales protested but the friar administrator sent his servants to take back the
land. Cabesang Tales rebelled and said he will only surrender his fields to “the first man who
would water them with blood from his own veins.”
Cabesang Tales refused to surrender his lands because the friars don’t have documents to prove
that they own them. Cabesang Tales decided to pay lawyers and officials to help him but they
took advantage of him and used up his savings.
Cabesang Tales started patrolling his fields with a shotgun, hoping to shoot tulisanes (bandits).
The judges knew Cabesang Tales was right and that friars were forbidden to own lands, but they
wanted to feed their families so they told Cabesang Tales to pay the rent. Senor Gobernador M
tried to talk to Cabesang Tales but he refused.
The judges sided with the friars. Tano left the family, and there were rumors of him going to the
Carolines or joining the guardia civil.
Cabesang Tales became tense and Tandang Selo stopped talking to him. Juli got sick. Because
everyone in town became afraid of Tales, the Capitan General ordered all firearms to be
confiscated so Cabesang Tales patrolled the lands with a long bolo instead. His bolo was
confiscated also so he used an axe.
In present day, the tulisanes have guns and were able to capture Tales. They threaten to kill him
unless they are paid 500 pesos by the family in 2 days.
Juli has only 200 pesos in savings but doesn’t know what to do. She asks for help from Sister
Bali. Juli plans to sell all her jewels except a locket from Basilio. The locket was given by a nun,
Capitan Tiago’s daughter, to a leper. Basilio treated the leper and it was given to him. Juli earns
50 pesos for her jewels. The family thinks about selling the house but cannot because Tales is
not there to give his consent.
Sister Bali suggests asking for a loan on the house which they will pay when they win the case.
But no one wants to buy it because they don’t want to go against the friars.
An old woman lends the amount to Juli as long as she serves her. Juli promises to start working
for her on Christmas Day (the next day).
Tandang Selo is upset by her decision and threatens to return to the forest but Juli argues that it
was necessary. Juli cries at night while Tandang Selo refuses to eat. Juli is sad that Basilio will
be arriving the next day, but they cannot marry because she is now poor.
Juli goes to sleep and dreams of her childhood. In her dream, she is bathing in the stream with
her siblings and she sees Basilio under the water. He has the face of Tano. Her new mistress is
watching from the shore.
Trivia:
Quotes:
Tandang Selo: Patience!
Tandang Selo: In lawsuits, he who wins is left without a shirt.
Cabesang Tales: To the dust we will return, father, and we were born without shirts on.
Chapter Title: A Cochero’s Christmas Eve
Setting: Christmas Eve, San Diego

Characters:
 Basilio
 Cochero / Sinong
 Capitan Basilio
 Sinang
 Alferez of Guardia Civil
 Simoun
 Padre Cura
 Cabesang Tales (mentioned)
Chapter Summary:
Basilio is late because his cochero was detained and beaten by the guardia civil for forgetting his
cedula (identification). They wait in traffic as the procession occurs, seeing the first image:
Methuselah (the European version of Noel), who is a saint.
It is followed by the 3 kings. The cochero talks about the time when there were no guardia civils.
The King Melchor statue is black and wearing a crown, which reminds the cochero of the King of
the Indios.
The cochero asks Basilio if the right foot of the king is free. Basilio is confused. The cochero
explains the legend of the king imprisoned in the cave of San Mateo who will one day free them
from oppression. Every hundred years he breaks one of his chains. He has freed his hands and
left foot. He is called King Bernardo (because the cochero confused his name with that of
Bernardo Caprio). The cochero says that when the king is free he will save them from the
guardia civiles.
After the three kings come, there are two lines of young boys, then St. Joseph. The statue of St.
Joseph looks sad between two statues of guardias civiles. The cochero decides not to pray to
him. After that are little girls carrying paper rabbits lighted by candles.
This reminds the cochero that he had his horses blessed for 10 pesos but they still died. They
had stopped following orders and a layperson told him not to punish them because they were
blessed.
The procession closes with the Virgin (who is shown as pregnant), on her journey to Jerusalem.
It is mentioned that the priest did not come to the parade because he had to convince people at
mass to pay 30 pesos for Christmas morning mass instead of 20 pesos. He got mad at them and
called them subversives.
Basilio and the cochero don’t notice that the rig’s light has gone out. Basilio is looking at the
decorated houses, noticing that there are less decorations each year because of rising taxes, poor
economy and guardia civil abuses. They are in front of the guardia civil headquarters and a
guard catches the rig without lights. The cochero tries to argue that the procession lasted too
long. Basilio gets down and goes to Capitan Basilio’s house, which is the only one that seems to
be noisy.
He sees Sinang who looks fatter (since her marriage). He sees Capitan Basilio chatting with
Padre Cura, the alferez of the guardia civil, and Simoun.
They are planning to go to Tiana to look at Simoun’s jewels. The alferez says he wants a waist
chain. Capitan Basilio wants to be liked by the military so he offers to pay for the alferez’s waist
chain (as a Christmas gift). Padre Cura asks for a pair of lady’s earrings and Capitan Basilio
accepts because he wants to also be on the good side of the church.
Basilio is angry at Simoun, because according to rumors, he buys back jewels at half price from
the people they were given to as gifts.
Basilio goes to Capitan Tiago’s house and talks to the caretaker, who respects Basilio because of
his calmness while performing surgery. Basilio asks about Sagpang. The caretaker tells him
about the kidnapping of Cabesang Tales.
After hearing the story, Basilio doesn’t feel like eating anymore.
Trivia:
 ‘Cochero‘ means rig driver

 Methuselah is described as an old man with a long beard, and is always depicted as the most
cheerful and happiest of men.
 The procession features the following from first to last:
1. Methuselah
2. The three kings
3. Two lines of young boys
4. Joseph between two statues of guardia civiles
5. Girls carrying paper rabbits lit by candles
6. Pregnant virgin Mary
 For the first time in the book, this chapter contains a line that directly addresses the reader:
“Sinang, as short as when our readers first met her”

Quotes:
Basilio: Everyone makes business in this country except us!
El Filibusterismo – Chapter 6 Summary
Chapter Title: Basilio
Setting: Christmas Eve, Forest of Ibarras (San Diego)
Characters:
 Basilio
 Capitan Tiago
 Simoun
Plot:
Basilio visits the grave of his mother and thinks about his past.
Chapter Summary:
Basilio goes to the Forest of the Ibarras, which is owned by Capitan Tiago. Basilio goes
to a Balete tree and prays before a pile of stones, which mark the grave of his mother.
She died 13 years ago, insane and not able to remember him. Back then, a stranger
told him to build a funeral pyre. He did what he was told, and then returned and saw
that the stranger was dead.
A second man was there and helped him build a fire where his mother was burned,
and then they dug a hole where she was buried. The second man gave Basilio coins and
told him to leave. Basilio remembers the man as being tall, with red eyes, bloodless
lips and a sharp nose.
After that incident, Basilio was an orphan so he went to Manila, serving the household
of a rich man and studying at the same time. He became afraid of guardia civils
because he blamed them for the deaths of his mother and brother.
While searching for a master, Basilio saw Capitan Tiago and Tia Isabel in a carriage, so
he followed them. That was the same day Maria Clara entered the cloister so Capitan
Tiago was depressed and accepted Basilio as a servant. He studied in San Juan de
Letran. Because of his dirty attire his classmates didn’t want to be friends with him,
and teachers hated him.
During Basilio’s second year of school, he took care of a fighting cock for Capitan Tiago
and it won. As a reward, he was given money buy Capitan Tiago so he bought shoes
and a hat.
In Basilio’s third year, he could afford shirts and boots, but a Dominican professor
called him a parrot for reciting a lesson word for word. The professor tried to
humiliate him but Basilio proved him wrong, so he was never allowed to recite ever
again.
The next year, Basilio impressed his professors and becomes a favorite. He got
outstanding marks and Capitan Tiago convinced him to transfer to Ateneo Municipal.
Basilio transferred, and in one year he finished fives years of the secondary course,
because he was impressed by the methods of the school. Basilio chose medicine even
though Capitan Tiago wanted him to take up law (so he could be Capitan Tiago’s
lawyer. Capitan Tiago let Basilio go into medicine, thinking that he would be able to
use drugs to change the tempers of Capitan Tiago’s fighting cocks so they could win.
Currently, Basilio is in his last year of medical school. In two months he will be a
physician. He will deliver the valedictory address. He plans to “make his entry into the
world” with his speech.
Trivia:
 Simoun is not mentioned by name in this chapter because Basilio did not recognize
him at that time.
Quotes:
In the end [Basilio] became resigned when he saw that among the three or four
hundred students of his class only some forty deserved the honor of being asked
questions, because they attracted the professor’s attention through their looks, or
buffoonery, or out of fellow-feeling, or for any reason whatsoever.
One goes to college not to learn or study, but to complete the course; and if they could
memorize the textbook, nothing more could be expected from them and they would be
sure to pass the year.
Chapter Title: Simoun
Setting: Christmas Eve, Forest of Ibarras (San Diego)
Characters:
 Basilio
 Simoun
 Sisa (mentioned)
 Crispin (mentioned)
Plot:
Simoun tries to convince Basilio to join his cause.
Chapter Summary:
Basilio sees someone arrive behind the Balete tree. The man has a spade and starts
digging, and he has a lantern that reveals him to be Simoun without his glasses.
Basilio recognizes Simoun as the one who dug the grave of his mother 13 years ago.
Basilio figures out that Simoun is Ibarra. He approaches Simoun and offers to help,
explaining that Simoun helped him before. Simoun takes out a gun and asks who
Basilio thinks he is talking to. Basilio says that Simoun is someone he believed to be
dead and whose suffering always made him feel sympathy.
After a while, Simoun lowers the gun and says that Basilio now knows a secret that can
ruin him. He explains that he should kill Basilio as he might get in the way of Simoun’s
plans. Simoun explains that it would be easy because people would assume that
Basilio’s death was caused by tulisanes or spirits.
Simoun says that because they both have a ‘thirst for justice’, they should help each
other.
Simoun admits that he was the man from 13 years ago and that he wandered the world
to become rich. Now, he plans to “destroy the system” by promoting greed. He
explains that greed feeds on a dead organism like a vulture would. Through greed,
Simoun promoted corruption, cruelty, anxiety, misery, and poverty. But there are
people like Basilio who are pro-Hispanism. Simoun says that young people are
inexperienced, naive and optimistic.
Simoun compares Hispanization to destroying the national identity. He says that by

being Hispanized, the country will be full of civil wars, and always unhappy with
conditions, like countries in South America. Simoun asks Basilio why they would want
to add another language to the 40 dialects in the islands, and says they will just
understand each other less and less.
Basilio argues that knowledge of Spanish will unite them with the government and
unite all the islands.
Simouon says that Spanish will never be the common language because it cannot
capture idioms and ideas unique to the Philippines. By being Hispanized, they will
become truly slaves and that they will not care about their own language anymore.
Simoun says that it is good that the government wants them to keep their own
language, because other countries don’t do that (like Russia and Poland), but instead,
young Filipinos want to take away their own national identity.
Simoun says he watched the pro-Spanish movement become popular, and felt sad that
the smart youth thought they were sacrificing themselves for a good cause but instead
worked against their own country. Simoun wanted to approach them and tell them
they were wrong. He tells Basilio that he wanted to destroy them.
Simoun explains that he’s letting Basilio live because he knows Simoun and knows
how much he has suffered.
Simoun asks Basilio to help him by changing the minds of younger people, that they
should be happy that Spain doesn’t want the Philippines to be part of its nation.
Simoun says that Filipinos should mold their own individuality. They should dream of
being their own a nation, not a province of Spain, and that the Spaniard should always
be thought of as an invader or foreigner instead of a fellow citizen.
Basilio says Simoun is demanding too much. Basilio admits that he just signed the
petition because Spanish will help his studies. His only dream is to help the sickly.
Simoun says that it would be more useful to help the whole nation rather than
individual people. Basilio argues that each person in a society has a role, and that his is
to devote himself to science.
Simoun says that “Science is not the end of man,” but Basilio says that when humanity
is enlightened and everyone is free, science will be what is left while patriotism will be
considered dangerous.
Simoun says that to reach that state, there should be no tyrants and slaves, which can
only be achieved if there is struggle and bloodshed. Patriotism is a tool for oppressed
people who want justice, freedom and dignity.
Simoun realizes Basilio is not convinced so instead he asks what Basilio is doing for his
mother and brother’s memories other than crying over their graves. Basilio gets angry
and says he can’t do anything because he would just end up another victim. Simoun
offers to support him but Basilio says that revenge would not bring them back. Simoun
argues that revenge would mean others wouldn’t suffer the way Basilio has suffered.
Simoun says that he thought like Basilio before, but he was punished for it. He tells
Basilio that the ones who killed his brother and mother will think he wants revenge so
they will try to get rid of him even if he does nothing. Basilio asks how they could hate
him even though they’re the ones who were evil to him. Simoun says it is natural in
man to hate those he has injured.
Basilio says he just wants to live his life, but Simoun says his sons will also suffer the
way he has because he did nothing. He insults Basilio as the “ideal male” who only
wants a house, a woman and rice and considers himself lucky for having those.
Basilio wants to say that he is not good at political matter but that he would help if
necessary. Simoun just says that he knows Basilio won’t give away his secrets because
no one would believe him anyway. He says that if Basilio changes his mind, he should
go to Simoun’s house at Escolta.
Simoun wonders if he said the wrong thing, and that whether serving other people has
made Basilio only want to ‘survive and reproduce’. Simoun says “Have patience”. It is
possible he is telling that to himself in terms of Basilio’s (lack of) decision.
Trivia:
 Simoun says to ‘have patience’, which is also Tandang Selo’s advice to Cabesang
Tales.
Quotes:
Simoun: (to Basilio) I will let you live and I trust I will not regret it. You have
labored, you have struggled with energetic perseverance… And like me, you have
accounts to settle with society.
Simoun: You bond together so that with your efforts you can bind your country to
Spain with garlands of roses, when in reality you are forging her chains harder than
diamond!
Simoun: What will you be in the future? A people without character, a nation without
liberty. Everything in you will be borrowed, even your very defects.
Simoun: Those among you who speak that language are indifferent to their own
tongue, so much so that they neither write nor understand it. How many have I seen
who pretend not to know a single word of it!
Simoun: As long as a people conserve their language they preserve the security of
their liberty.
Simoun: I am the Judge come to punish a social system through its own crimes;
make war against it by flattering it…
Simoun: If they refuse to teach you their language then develop your own,
understand it and make it more widely known.
Simoun: Science is not the end of man.
Simoun: Patriotism can only be a crime in the oppressor nations.
Basilio: All the vindications of justice, all the vengeance of the earth, would not bring
back a single lock of my mother’s hair, or renew a smile on my brother’s lips.
Simoun: Resignation is not always a virtue. It is a crime when it encourages

tyrannies.
Simoun: Proprium humani ingenii est odisse quem laeseris. (It is natural in man to
hate those he has injured.)
Simoun: Have patience.

Chapter Title: Merry Christmas
Setting: Christmas Day, Sagpang (San Diego)

Characters:
 Juli
 Tandang Selo
 Sister Penchang (mentioned)
Plot:
Juli says goodbye to Tandang Selo before leaving for her first day of work.
Chapter Summary:
Juli wakes up before dawn and does her chores. She is surprised to find out that she is
calm, and tells herself she can visit every two days to check the house. She kisses the
locket and then wipes it because she knows it had come from a leper. Then she kisses
Tandang Selo’s hand and tells him to tell Tales that she is finally going to school
because her mistress speaks Spanish so she will be able to learn it.
She leaves the house and cries by the road. Tandang Selo watches from the window as
people bring their children to mass. It is mentioned hat Christmas in the Philippines is
a feast for the children even though the children are forced to dress up and go to mass,
and have to visit relatives who pinch their cheeks and make them dance. The children
are usually given money but their parents take it away.
There is also a Christmas tradition that adults visit their parents and give gifts.
Tandang Selo realizes he has no one to give gifts to, and that Juli didn’t even greet him
Merry Christmas. He wonders if she forgot or if she was trying to be thoughtful.
Relatives visit Tandang Selo and he realizes he cannot speak. The women cry and
announce that he is mute.
Trivia:
Quotes:
Chapter Title: Pilates
Setting: Sagpang (San Diego)
Characters:
 Cabesang Tales
 Teniente of the Guardia Civil
 Padre Clemente
 Sister Penchang
 Juli
 Tandang Selo
Plot:
Sister Penchang puts Juli to work, and Cabesang Tales returns.
Chapter Summary:
No one in the town feels guilty for what happened to Cabesang Tales. The teniente of
the guardia civil tells himself he was just following orders to seize weapons, and that
he even searched for the tulisanes and found suspects.
Padre Clemente claims he has nothing to do with Tales’ disappearance because

Cabesang Tales made him feel unsafe. He thinks Tales deserved the punishment from
heaven for not following the demands of the church.
Sister Penchang believes that people suffer because their relatives sin. She also thinks
Juli is a sinner for not knowing how to pray. She does not allow Juli to return to the
barrio to take care of her grandfather. In her mind, Juli has to work and learn how to
pray. Sister Penchang hears the news that Basilio went to Manila to get his savings and
redeem Juli.
Sister Penchang forces Juli to reread the booklet of Tandang Basio Macunat and tells
her to go see the priest in the convent. The friars celebrate winning the lawsuit against
Cabesang Tales.
Cabesang Tales returns and sees that his lands are gone, and his father is mute and his
daughter is now a maid. There is also an order from the Tribunal to evacuate the house
within 3 days. Cabesang Tales sits beside Tandang Selo and does not speak.
Trivia:
 In this chapter, Juli’s mistress’ name is revealed for the first time.
Quotes:
Sister Penchang: Many times God sends us these things because we are sinners or
we have relatives who are sinners whom we should have taught piety, and we have not
done so.
Sister Penchang: The young men who go to Manila to learn are lost, and they lead
others to be lost, too.
Chapter Title: Wealth and Misery
Setting: Sagpang (San Diego)
Characters:
 Simoun
 Cabesang Tales
 Capitan Basilio
 Capitana Tika
 Sinang
 Sister Penchang
 Juli (mentioned)
 Chinaman Quiroga (mentioned)
 Alferez (mentioned)
 Padre Cura (mentioned)
 Padre Salvi (mentioned)
Plot:
Simoun sells his jewels in Cabesang Tales’ house.
Chapter Summary:
Simoun goes to Cabesang Tales’ house with two servants. He wants to spend the night
there because of the barrio’s prime location. Cabesang Tales is ashamed that he has
nothing to give to show his hospitality. Simoun asks if Cabesang Tales’ revolver is good
enough against the tulisanes. Cabesang Tales says their guns shoot far. Simoun shoots
a bonga palm, saying his own gun shoots the same distance.
Families come over because they want to be on good terms with Simoun, because he is
known for being Capitan General’s friend and adviser.
Capitan Basilio comes with 3,000 pesos. He has his wife (Capitana Tika), daughter
(Sinang) and son in law with him. Sister Penchang wants a diamond ring to give to the
Virgin of Antipolo. She left Juli a booklet to read (it was sold by priests). Sister
Penchang tells Capitana Tika that nothing sticks to Juli’s memory.
Simoun shows the guests his jewelry.
Cabesang Tales is curious but feels angry hat Simoun is showing off his wealth,
compared to Cabesang Tales who is going to lose his house. Simoun says Chinaman
Quiroga offered 6,000 pesos for a green diamond (mistaken for an emerald) as a gift
for a matron.
Simoun shows 3 blue diamonds. The smallest he bought for 20,000 pesos, and will sell
for 30,000 pesos. The other one is from Golconda mines and is worth more than
70,000 pesos. The Viceroy of India is offering to buy it (by mail) for 12,000 pounds
sterling.
Cabesang Tales thinks that even the smallest diamond would get him back everything
he lost. Simoun says that one of those small stones allowed a man to exile his enemy,
and with a red stone, gave the enemy his liberty and the man was restored.
Simoun shows the bottom of the tray, which holds Cleopatra’s necklace. Sinang and
Capitan Basilio are disappointed but Capitan Basilio defends its value. Sinang says she
prefers the modern jewels.
Capitan Tika buys a reliquary with a chip of stone where Jesus rested after his third
fall. Sinang buys a pair of earrings. Capitan Basilio buys a watch chain for the alferez,
lady earrings for the priest and more.
Simoun buys old jewelry from mothers who are selling to him. He sees Cabesang Tales
watching and asks if he is selling anything. Sinang suggests the locket of Maria Clara.
Simoun offers to buy it for 500 pesos. All women encourage Cabesang Tales to sell it
but Sister Penchang wants him to keep it so she can keep Juli as her maid. Sister
Penchang says that Maria Clara, at the convent, is very thin and does not speak, but
Padre Salvi says she is well, and that is why Juli did not want to give up the locket.
Cabesang Tales says he will talk with his daughter and will be back before night. He
leaves and comes across the friar-hacandero and the man who took his lands. They
point and laugh at his house. Simoun wakes up the next day and finds his revolver
missing, but the gold locket of Maria Clara is there, beside a letter.
In the letter, Cabesang Tales apologizes for taking Simoun’s things even though
Simoun is a guest in his house. Cabesang Tales says he needs the revolver so he can
join the tulisanes, and advises Simoun to stay out of their way, because they will
demand a ransom if they catch him.
Simoun tells his servant to go to Los Banos with the larger suitcase and wait for him.
Guardia civiles arrive to arrest Cabesang Tales but take Tandang Selo instead since
Cabesang Tales is no longer there.
The friar-hacandero and new tenant are found dead from head shots, and there is soil
in their mouths. The tenant’s wife is also dead, her throat slashed, next to a paper with
‘Tales’ written on it with blood.
The novel tells the reader to not be alarmed, telling them they are “peaceful citizens of
Calamba” since they are not called Tales and therefore not guilty. The reader is told
that they worked hard for their fields and says “They (the Spaniards) were not content
with violating justice; they stepped on the sacred traditions of your country.” The
reader is told they have suffered more than Cabesang Tales with no justice served.
But the reader is told that Spain watches over them and that sooner or later, they will
obtain justice.
Trivia:
 List of jewelry Simoun shows his buyers:
1. Necklaces of Cleopatra that were found in pyramids

2. Rings of Roman senators found in the ruins of Carthage
3. Earrings of Roman matrons in villa of Annius Mucius Papilinus in Pompeii
4. Rings, lockets, crucifixes, pins
5. Tray of stones and pearls shaped into animals
6. Combs in shapes of diadems, necklaces, chokers of pearls and diamonds
7. Ring of Princess of Lamballe
8. Pendants of lady-in-waiting of Marie Antoinette
9. Third compartment: watches, purses, match-holders and reliquaries with
diamonds
10. Fourth compartment: loose stones
11. Diamonds, emeralds from Peru, rubies from India, sapphires from Ceylon,
turquoises from Persia, oriental mother-of-pearl
12. 2 black diamonds
13. Green diamond
14. 3 blue diamonds
15. Bottom of tray (holy of holies): with Russian leather cases, containing necklace
of Cleopatra and ring that may have belonged to Sulla
Quotes:
The good Senor [Capitan Basilio], although he had read much about the ancients, had
never seen anything of those times because of the lack of museums in the Philippines.
God! That one of those stones should be worth more than a man’s home, a young
woman’s freedom, the peace of an old man in his last days!
Simoun: (in bad tagalog) Within this box I have, as does the doctor’s bag, life and
death; poison and its antidote; and with this handful I can drown in tears all the
inhabitants of the Philippines!
Weep or laugh in the lonely islands where you roam useless and uncertain of the
future! Spain, generous Spain, watches over you and sooner or later you shall obtain
justice!
Chapter Title: Los Banos
Setting: December, Los Banos
Characters:
 Capitan General
 Padre Irene
 Padre Sibyla
 Padre Camorra
 Capitan General’s Secretary
 Don Custodio
 Padre Fernandez
 Simoun
 Ben Zayb
 Schoolmaster of Tiani (mentioned)
 Isagani (mentioned)
 Tandang Selo (mentioned)
 Teniente of Guardia Civil (mentioned)
Plot:
Capitan General tries to decide whether he should approve the students’ petition for a
Spanish academy.
Chapter Summary:
Capitan General goes hunting in Bosoboso but has to be accompanied by a music

band, friars, the military and bureaucrats so it is too noisy and he doesn’t catch
anything.
The gobernadorcillos and cabezas de barangay are afraid because they think Capitan
General will take his failure out on them. Capitan General says he would feel bad
having to hurt animals anyway, but the truth is that he is afraid he will miss if they
come across an animal. Capitan General chooses to end the hunt and instead tells fake
stories about having hunted in other countries and how hunting in the Philippines
doesn’t compare to them.
Capitan General is in the sala of his house playing tresillo with Padre Irene, Padre
Sibyla and Padre Camorra. Padre Irene and Padre Sibyla are losing on purpose but
Padre Camorra doesn’t know about their plan. He does not insult Padre Sibyla’s poor
playing because he respects him. But Padre Camorra thinks Padre Irene is crude.
The secretary is doing business while serving as alcalde in the tresillo game. He lists
topics that Capitan General should decide on. Don Custodio is talking to Padre
Fernandez. Simoun and Ben Zayb are playing billiards. Padre Camorra curses the
game and throws his cards down. He explains to the rest that Padre Irene is an idiot
who made a bad move. Padre Irene makes excuses but hides his smile.
Padre Sibyla asks Padre Fernandez to play but he says he is a bad tresillista. Capitan
General asks Simoun to join. The secretary asks about the decision on sporting
firearms. Padre Irene tells Simoun to use diamonds instead of tokens and Simoun
agrees. Simoun asks what Padre Irene will bet, asking if they will pay with acts of
charity, prayers and virtues.
Simoun asks the friars to pay him with words. He states an example: “I renounce for
five days poverty, humility and obedience/chastity, generosity”.
Simoun asks Capitan General to bet the following:
 5 tokens
 An IOU for 5 days of incarceration
 Another IOU for 5 months
 A codicil (blank deportation order)
 An authorization (summary execution) expedited by the guardia civil
Capitan General asks what Simoun will gain from that. Padre Irene asks what he will
do with deportations and summary executions. Simoun says he will use them to ‘clean
up the country and destroy evil seeds’. Before, he had told them about being ambushed
by tulisanes and being released the next day, but they took his two Smith and Wesson
revolvers and two boxes of cartridges.
Simoun had told Capitan General that the tulisanes had shotguns and rifles, which is
why Capitan General was about to issue a new decree about sporting firearms, to stop
the tulisanes from acquiring more weapons. Padre Irene calls Simoun ungrateful for
not appreciating getting to keep his jewels.
Simoun says he thinks the tulisanes are the most honest men in the country, because
“they are the only ones who earn their rice properly”. He asks Padre Irene if he would
have released him with all his jewels intact. Don Custodio thinks Simoun is being rude
just because he is close to Capitan General.
Padre Irene jokes that Simoun is one of the tulisanes and Simoun agrees, saying they
are not tulisanes “in the open”. He says that if they all lived in the forests then the
country would be saved and Capitan General would be able to play tresillo without
being distracted by the secretary, who yawns at that moment.
Everyone laughs. Capitan General asks if there are more matters to attend to.
Everyone is thinking of the issue of teaching Spanish. Padre Sibyla, as Vice-Rector, is
opposed to it. Padre Irene supports it (as well as Madame Countess).
The secretary brings up sporting firearms. Capitan General says to forbid them but the
secretary argues that sporting firearms are allowed in all countries. Capitan General
says they do not copy any country and the secretary argues that sporting arms are only
good against rats and chickens. Capitan General says he has given proof that he is not
a chicken so they will not be seen as such. The secretary says firearms were prohibited
four months ago but importers were assured that sporting arms would still be allowed.
Simoun suggests that the only sporting arms that can be sold should not have 6 mm
because most have a caliber of 6 mm. Everyone agrees except the secretary, who
whispers to Padre Fernandez that it is improper.
The secretary asks about the schoolmaster of Tiani, who is asking for a better place
because it is roofless. Capitan General says to direct the complaint to the Director of
Administration or Governor of nuncio (province). Padre Camorra says the
schoolmaster is a filibusterillo (subversive) and that someday he will punch the man in
the face. Padre Sibyla says anyone who wants to teach can teach anywhere.
Capitan General says he has heard complaints against the schoolteacher and says he
should be suspended. The secretary feels bad for the schoolteacher and tries to argue
for him, but Capitan General says that he already gave money for the schooteacher to
buy materials before. The secretary says the materials will be wasted without the
proper site.
Capitan General says it is wrong to keep demanding for things when there are people
dying of hunger. Ben Zayb interrupts, saying that country should come before
anything else but everyone ignores him. Capitan General says anyone who will
complain will be suspended.
Don Custodio speaks up and asks about his project, which involves using other
buildings as schoolhouses. The friars are worried that he is referring to convents and
churches but Don Custodio explains that the cockpits should be schools because they
are not used during weekdays, only during fiestas.
Padre Camorra points out that cockfights sometimes take place on weekdays, and that
cockpit concessionaires pay the government. Don Custodio says that classes will be
canceled during those days but Capitan General says he would rather resign if schools
are closed because there are games.
Capitan General ends the discussion and asks if there are more matters involving
public education. The secretary asks about the request of students wanting to open an
academy for teaching Spanish. The application had been waiting for six months.
People who approve of it:
 Secretary (he thinks that the petition is fair)

 Padre Irene
 Don Custodio
 Padre Fernandez
People who are against it:
 Padre Sibyla (he calls it an “assault on our prerogatives”, a “rebellion on stamped

paper”)
 Simoun (“The solicitation has a suspicious character”)
 Padre Camorra (“The Indios should not understand Spanish because they will
argue”)
The secretary admits that it is headed by youths accused of radicalism. Isagani,

Macaraig and Basilio are mentioned. Padre Fernandez says he is pleased with Isagani.
Padre Camorra says that Isagani was insolent on the ship. Padre Irene says Macaraig
is charming and rich. Padre Irene says he knows nothing of Basilio but knows of his
father, who was involved in a mutiny against the guardia civil. The secretary argues
that they cannot deny the petition based on rumors.
Padre Sibyla says that it is not about teaching Spanish but rather about the school
(UST) versus the students and the students will claim to have “defeated” them if they
succeed.
Everyone knows Padre Fernandez has a “thinking head” so they listen to him when he
speaks. He says the Dominicans should be the first to celebrate the teaching of
Spanish. If they approve the petition, the people will be stronger and they (the priests)
should teach people fairness instead of ignorance. The Indio “idolizes” justice and
therefore what they desire is just and fair, and should be granted. Padre Fernandez
says they should be like the “cunning Jesuits”. Padre Sibyla reacts to this as he hates
the idea of Jesuits as a model.
Everyone starts arguing and Capitan General stands and says they should just discuss
the matter tomorrow. The secretary brings up Juli, daughter of Cabesang Tales who is
asking for her grandfather (Tandang Selo) to be freed. Capitan General is irritated, but
Padre Camorra says he came to support the appeal of Juli.
Capitan General tells the secretary to send a note to the teniente of the guardia civil to
release the grandfather to show they are forgiving and compassionate. He looks at Ben
Zayb. Ben Zayb winks back.
Trivia:
 “Tresillo” is a card game

 From the balcony of Capitan General’s house, the island of Talim is visible, as well
as the town of Calamba.
 Basilio is mentioned as one of the main students supporting of the petition, even
though according to him he just signed it and did not help plan it.
 Simoun mentions wanting to throw virtues into the sea with his jewels. Padre
Florentino eventually does this with Simoun’s jewels in Chapter 39.
Quotes:
Padre Camorra was unaware that on the table was at stake the intellectual
development of the Filipinos, the teaching of Spanish, and had he known it, would
have perhaps taken part in the subterfuge.
Padre Sibyla: You would know, Sir [Simoun], that the virtues one may possess are
not like diamonds that can be passed from hand to hand, or sold and resold… They
reside in one’s being, are attributes inherent in the subject…
Simoun: I am tired of hearing talk about virtues and I would like to have them all, all
there are in the world,enclosed in a sack to throw into the sea, even if I have to make
use of all my diamonds for ballast.
Simoun: The evil is not in that there may be tulisanes in the mountains and in
uninhabited places. The trouble lies in the tulisanes of the towns and the cities.
Padre Sibyla: He who wants to teach teaches everywhere, in the open air: Socrates
taught in the public plazas, Plato in the gardens of the academy,and Christ in the
mountains and lakes.
Capitan General: The schoolteachers here do wrong to ask for edifices when those
of the Peninsula die of hunger. It is great presumption to want to be better than the
mother country itself!
Don Custodio: Even more immoral is that the vices have good buildings and for
letters, there are none.
Secretary: My opinion is that the government, giving proof of its confidence in the
people and the stability of its tenure, should grant what they ask of it; and be free
afterwords to revoke permission when it sees that its kindness has been abused.
Padre Camorra: [The Indios] should not learn [Spanish] because then they will dare
to argue with us; and the Indios should not argue, but only obey and pay.
Padre Fernandez: Why should we be in continuous tension with the people, when
after all, we are the few and they are the many, when we need them and they do not
need us?
Chapter Title: Placido Penitente
Setting: Escolta, on the way to UST
Characters:
 Placido Penitente
 Juanito Pelaez
 Isagani
 Dona Victorina
 Paulita Gomez
 Tadeo
 Padre Millon
Plot:
Placido Penitente goes to school but is distracted by his schoolmates.
Chapter Summary:
Placido Penitente is on the way to school (UST). It’s been a week since he arrived from
his hometown. He wrote to his mother twice to ask to leave his studies so he can start
working instead, but his mother said he should graduate or else it would be a waste of
four years.
Placido Penitente is known as school as dedicated, a brilliant debater and one of the
best Latinists. He is so smart that the parish priest called him a subversive. Because he
is considered smart, his classmates are confused by his hatred of classes.
Placido Penitente travels along Paseo de Magallanes and arrives at the gate of Sto
Domingo. Juanito Pelaez greets him and asks how he has been, Placido Penitente just
says “so-so”. Juanito Pelaez talks about how he was invited to Tiani by the parish
priest, Padre Camorra. They sang to (performing a harana) pretty girls at various
houses.
Juanito Pelaez whispers to Placido Penitente, who is surprised to hear about Juli, the
sweetheart of Basilio. Juanito Pelaez says Padre Camorra tackled two people who were
singing to her. Juanito Pelaez criticizes Juli for not knowing Spanish, having no money
and being a maid, as well as being “unsociable”.
Juanito Pelaez asks what happened in class from Monday to Friday (it’s Saturday
currently). Placido Penitente tells him what happened on those days:
 Friday: no class
 Thursday:
 Wednesday: it was drizzling
 Tuesday: birthday of a professor
 Monday: lesson about mirrors
Placido Penitente tries to show Ramos’ lesson in Physics but Juanito Pelaez slaps it out
of the way and says they should have a dia pichido (day between two holidays on
which class is canceled). Placido Penitente calls Juanito Pelaez stupid. They cross into
Sto Domingo, and see the Aduana building. Juanito Pelaez remembers that he is in
charge of collecting the contribution for the monument of Padre Baltazar.
Placido Penitente is confused. Juanito Pelaez explains that Padre Baltazar is a

Dominican. He then asks Placido Penitente for three or four pesos. Placido Penitente
gives three pesos because he remembers a student who once gave away canaries and
ended up passing all his subjects.
Juanito Pelaez mentions the birthday of the Professor of Natural History in fifteen
days. The professor is nice to them, so Juanito Pelaez says they should reward him. He
asks Placido Penitente fora contribution of two pesos.
Placido Penitente gives two pesos and Juanito Pelaez asks for two pesos more “to serve
as bait”. Placido Penitente says it is pointless as they will be returned to him and that
Juanito Pelaez can just write down on the paper that Placido Penitente gave four
pesos. Juanito Pelaez again asks for two pesos more so he can prove that Placido
Penitente paid four in total. Placido Penitente gives the money.
They arrive at University. Most of the students standing around are from Ateneo. One
of them is Isagani, who is explaining the theory of the refraction of light to a
companion.
Dona Victorina and Paulita Gomez arrive. Dona Victorina limps so she has to lean on
Paulita Gomez. She tells Paulita Gomez not to look at anyone who’s staring at them.
They’re on their way to visit the Virgin of the Rosary on Dona Victorina’s “favorite
day”.
Isagani sees Paulita Gomez and gets nervous. Paulita Gomez smiles at Isagani, while
Dona Victorina smiles at Juanito Pelae. Isagani waves and Juanito Pelaez takes off his
hat and bows. Tadeo sees Paulita Gomez and says to his companion to tell the
professor he is suddenly ill (he is always pretending to be sick, but passes his courses
and is well-liked by professors). Tadeo follows Paulita Gomez into the church.
The students see the professor of Physics and Chemistry arriving so they enter the
building. Placido Penitente is called by a fellow student and asked to sign something.
He asks what it is and is told to just sign, but remembers a story that his uncle told
him while pulling his ears: a cabeza de barangay who signed something without having
read it and was imprisoned for months. Because of that, Placido Penitente always
associates signing things with the feeling of his ears being pulled.
The student argues that two carabineros celestiales signed it, but Placido Penitente
says he will sign after class, after reading it carefully. The student says it’s a counter-
petition against the Academy of Spanish.
Placido Penitente says he’s going to be late and doesn’t want to go against Macaraig.
He goes to class and hears the roll call but it’s already at the letter “Q”. He enters the
classroom anyway, but Padre Millon looks at him and shakes his head.
Trivia:
 Placido Penitente crosses the Puente de Espanda bridge. It is said that the name is
ironic because “only its name is from Spain”. The parts of the bridge were imported
from other countries.
 On the way to school, Placido Penitente passes students from other schools and
recognizes the school based on their clothes:
1. Ateneans – dressed in European attire and carrying books

2. Letranites –dressed in Filipina attire, travel in big groups, carry less books
3. UST – neat and well-dressed, carry canes instead of books
4. Escuela Municipal – colorfully-dressed female students, with ribbons over their
shoulders and books in their arms, usually being followed by their maids
 Padre Millon first appears in this chapter but is only mentioned as “the professor”.
Quotes:
Juanito Pelaez: How stupid I am! Do you know, I am turning stupid?
Chapter Title: A Class in Physics
Setting: Physics classroom (The Royal and Pontifical University of Santo Tomas)
Characters:
 Padre Millon
 Fat student
 Juanito Pelaez
Plot:
During Physics class, Padre Millon argues with Placido Penitente about the lesson on
mirrors.
Chapter Summary:
It is mentioned that no Physics-related decorations are present in the classrooms.

Occasionally the teacher shows a tool or the laboratory but students can’t use them,
and the laboratory is only meant to impress high officials. The laboratory is used for
preparatory classes taken by Ateneans (from Ateneo of the Jesuits), but no famous
physicist has ever come from the Philippines.
Padre Millon does roll call, and students have to recite the lesson word for word. A fat
student yawns and Padre Millon scolds him. The students laugh. The fat student
recites the lesson on the mirror.
The student says that mirrors are divided into metal mirrors and glass mirrors. Padre
Millon says that Camagong (wood) or marble also reflect images if they are polished or
varnished. He asks the fat student: what type of mirror does camagong/marble qualify
as?
The fat student ignores the question and continues talking, saying metal mirrors are
formed by brass or alloys and that glass mirrors are formed by two well-polished sides
with one side having tin on it. Juanito Pelaez says Camagong is a mirror of wood.
Everyone laughs.
Padre Millon asks: which qualifies as the mirror? The material surface or the
substance placed on top of the surface to reflect images? The fat student just repeats
the lesson on the mirror referring to all polished surfaces. Padre Millon says:
therefore, it is the surface that is the mirror because that is which on top cannot be
called a surface if it is not on top.
Padre Millon asks in Spanish whether the fat student admits that the surface is on top
therefore it is the mirror. The fat student wants to say “Whatever you want”, but he
knows he will be laughed at. He knows that if one admits to friars that they are right,
they will take advantage of it. The fat sudent wants to deny Padre Millon because a
court official once told him, “because he who denies everything commits to nothing.”
His seatmates signal at him to concede so he says “concedo, Padre”.
Padre Millon asks what happens if you remove quicksilver from a mirror and
put bibingka on it instead, what do you have? The fat student gets more stressed.
Juanito Pelaez speaks, saying you now have a bibingka. Padre Millon asks Juanito
Pelaez the question instead. Juanito Pelaez nudges Placido Penitente for answers.
Padre Millon asks if the polished surface is the mirror, and Juanito Pelaez says no.
Padre Millon asks him to clarify: does what is behind have an influence over what is in
front? Juanito Pelaez says no. Padre Millon asks again if the substance behind has any
influence on the surface. Juanito Pelaez does not know what to say, he steps on
Placido Penitente’s boots.
Placido Penitente calls Juanito Pelaez an idiot, which Padre Millon hears. He calls
Placido Penitente instead, because Padre Millon wants to humiliate the “smart aleck”
who is always well-dressed in class.
Padre Millon asks Placido Penitente about mirrors:
1. Metallic mirrors made of brass/alloy.

2. Mirrors of glass are formed by two surfaces with tin amalgam on one side
3. But tin is a metal.
4. “Amalgam” means united with mercury, so the mirror of glass is actually a mirror
metal
5. Is the classification wrong?
Placido Penitente keeps answering “so the book says” and stutters. Padre Millon scolds
him for not studying and yet trying to coach Juanito Pelaez. The class laughs.
Millon asks for his full name and makes fun of how his last name ‘Penitente’ does not
fit him. He then orders Placido Penitente to recite the lesson. Because he is nervous,
Placido Penitente makes more than 3 mistakes. Padre Millon finds Placido’s name in
the roll call and points out 15 absences. Placido Penitente argues that he was only
absent 5 times (including today). Padre Millon says that since he rarely does roll call,
he places 5 rayitos per absence, so Placido Penitente would have 25..
Padre Millon says he has not caught Placido Penitente more than 3 times, so 3 x 5 =
15. One more absence and Placido Penitente will be kicked out of the class.
Padre Millon places a rayita on Placido’s name for getting the lesson wrong. Placido
Penitente argues that if he was present and failed the lesson then he cannot also be
marked as absent. Because he cannot be absent and at the same time recite the lesson
wrong.
Placido Penitente has an outburst and leaves the class. The class is shocked. Padre
Millon lectures them on youths disrespecting education and their elders, yet trying to
“teach their teachers by setting up an academy for the teaching of Spanish.” Padre
Millon says Placido Penitente most likely supported the project, yet students like him
would have no time to attend the academy when they can barely submit the
requirements for class.
The class ends after Padre Millon rants for a long time, and the students are relieved,
but now feel hatred instead of enthusiasm for their classes.
The chapter ends talking about how the doctrines of the Gospel do not explain why
there still wasted time, labor and intelligence, and a lack of dignity, while He (God)
demands from the “cowardly servant who allowed his own talents to be stolen”.
Trivia:
 Inside the classroom, students sit arranged in alphabetical order

 The professor sits under a portrait of Saint Thomas of Aquinas.
 In Padre Millon’s class, a student who recites without making a mistakegets a raya
buena (good mark). But if they get more than 3 erros, they receive a mala.
Quotes:
Juanito Pelaez: The mirror of Camagong is among the mirrors of wood!
Padre Millon: A good Camagong you are.
Juanito, or rather Placido, who was the one prompting him, was unwittingly
employing Chinese tactics: not to admit the most harmless foreigner so as not to be
invaded.
Placido Penitente: It means that… It means that…
Padre Millon: It means that you have not studied the lesson, miserable soul, that
you do not understand it and yet you prompt your neighbor. You, what are you called?
Aha! Placido Penitente, although you are more like Placido Soplon, Tattle-tale or
Soplado, Swellhead.
Padre Millon: Is it that not being actually present necessarily implies knowledge?
What do you have to say to me, philosophaster?
Placido Penitente: Enough, Padre, enough! Your Excellency can mark me with all
the absences he wishes, but he has no right to insult me. Your Reverence may stay with
the class; I cannot stand it any longer.
Padre Millon: We would like all of you to know Spanish, and to prounounce it well,
so that you do not ruin your eardrums with your twists and your ‘Ps’, but first duty,
and then, satisfaction; fulfill your studies first and then learn Spanish and turn to pen-
pushers if you so desire…

Chapter Title: A Students’ Lodging House
Setting: Macaraig’s House
Characters:
 Macaraig
 Isagani
 Sandoval
 Pecson
 Juanito Pelaez
 Padre Fernandez (mentioned)
 Simoun (mentioned)
 Don Custodio (mentioned)
 Pepay (mentioned)
 Senor Pasta (mentioned)
 Padre Florentino (mentioned)
Plot:
The students discuss ideas on how to get their petition for an Academy of Spanish
approved by the Capitan General.
Chapter Summary:
Macaraig’s house is large and known as a gathering place for students, so it is always
filled with people.
Things going on: people playing sipa, doing gymnastics, fencing matches, Chinese
peddler selling victuals and pastries (hopiaand salted melon seeds) as boys mock him
and pull his pigtail and hit him with clubs. Ateneo students studying at a table,
students writing to sweethearts, people playing instruments and having music lessons,
people playing revisino, people fighting
Macaraig, Isagani, Sandoval and Pecson are talking about the petition to open an
Academy for Spanish.
Sandoval tells everyone that Capitan General won’t allow himself to be influenced by
friars.
Sandoval asks Pecson to state facts. Pecson mentions a time wherein the Provincial of
the Litigating Order was chosen by Capitan General to settle a dispute between friars
and people.
Sandoval asks why they would not allow something that is useful and necessary.
Pecson says it threatens the integrity of the nation. He explains that since class hours
for the Academy for Spanish will be at night, the friars might say that it is immoral like
the school of Malolos. In Malolos, some women wanted to open a school wherein
Spanish would be taught at night, and it was stopped “for reasons of morality”.
Sandoval argues that classes of the Academy of Design and novenas and processions
also take place at night.
Pecson says the petition attacks the University’s dignity. Sandoval says that the
Spanish government has given them everything and not denied them anything. He
explains that Spain and the Philippines are run in the same way so “we weep when you
weep, we suffer when you suffer”. Sandoval tries to cheer everyone up by saying that
times are changing and that they should trust the government. Everyone claps.
Pecson asks what happens if Capitan General denies the authorization. Sandoval says
that even if that happens, their efforts will not have been in vain because they will
become enlightened. No matter what happens, they achieved a lot by “pulling off the
mask and having the gauntlet thrown at you.” This means that they exposed
something (pulling off the mask), which is an achievement, even if they have to be hurt
in the process (hit by a gauntlet).
Pecson asks what happens after that. Sandoval says that if no Filipinos respond to the
challenge, he will do it and will fight for the Filipinos. The crowd cheers. Pecson points
out that Sandoval can say that and not be seen as a subversive because he is Spanish.
Macaraig tells everyone about his conversation with Padre Irene. According to Padre
Irene, the following people were against the petition:
 Padre Sybila
 Padre Fernandez
 Padre Salvi
 Capitan General
 Second top official
 Simoun
 High officials
 Administrative director
 Civil governor
 Chinaman Quiroga
Padre Irene proposed to them that the petition be passed to the Superior Commission
of Primary Instruction since it has to do with teaching Spanish.
Pecson says the Commission is defunct. Macaraig explains that Padre Irene convinced
them to revive it, so Don Custodio (a former member) was named as the Superior
Commission of Primary Instruction’s chairman. Don Custodio promised to act on the
petition within the month.
Pecson asks what happens if Don Custodio rules against. Macaraig says Padre Irene
suggested that they just have to influence Don Custodio since the Capitan General is
“neutral”.
They want to influence Chinaman Quiroga but that would be difficult. They suggest
talking to Pepay instead because she is close to Don Custodio. Juanito Pelaez is
Pepay’s friend and volunteers to arrange with her but Isagani says they are already
using Padre Irene to influence people.
They decide to influence Senor Pasta because Don Custodio always takes his advice.
Isagani says he will go because Senor Pasta was Padre Florentino’s classmate, but first
he will try ‘honest means’ and go to Senor Pasta’s house to convince him. They agree
that it will be done that day and that Isagani will share his news at the University.
Trivia:
Quotes:
Pecson: Perhaps it is feared that we might understand the laws and obey them…
What would happen to the Philippines on the day when we can understand one
another?
Sandoval: The University has to dedicate itself to the needs of the students. And if
this be true, what then is a University?

Chapter Title: Senor Pasta
Setting: Senor Pasta’s house
Characters:
 Isagani
 Senor Pasta
 High Official (mentioned)
Plot:
Isagani tries to convince Senor Pasta why he should support the petition for an
Academy for Spanish while Senor Pasta tries to convince Isagani why the students
should give up.
Chapter Summary:
Isagani goes to Senor Pasta’s house and waits for the line of clients to be done. When
Isagani enters the study, Senor Pasta doesn’t pay him attention and continues writing.
Then, Senor Pasta notices him and smiles and shakes Isagani’s hand. He asks about
Isagani’s uncle (Padre Florentino). Isagani explains his reason for visiting. Senor Pasta
pretends he doesn’t know about the students’ petition.
Isagani asks Senor Pasta to support them if ever Don Custodio asks for his advice. But
Senor Pasta had always known about the petition and decided he would not get
involved. He heard what happened in Los Banos. Padre Irene had lied to Macaraig
because there were actually people who sided with the students:
 Padre Fernandez
 A countess
 A trader who wanted to sell items for the Academy
 High official
Padre Sibyla wanted time to decide so he remembered the Superior Commission and
suggested.
Senor Pasta plans to confuse Isagani by using complex words. He begins by saying he
is in a delicate position and cannot “compromise himself” even though he loves the
country and has respect for people’s dreams. Senor Pasta mentions random quotes,
laws and decrees. He thinks he has managed to confuse Isagani. He says it is
“criminal” to go against authority because it damages the reputation of the authority.
Isagani argues that the government’s reputation should not matter because that is for
the people to decide. Only justice or reason should matter. Senor Pasta is irritated that
Isagani is able to argue back. He tells Isagani to let the government do its job.
Isagani argues that the government is supposed to provide people with what they need
so the government should listen to people. Senor Pasta says the government is made
up of the most qualified people so they know what’s right. Isagani argues that
everyone has flaws so they should listen to opinions of others. Senor Pasta says that
they should trust the government. Isagani says people should be able to ask the
government what they want.
Senor Pasta says the government gives things without asking, and to ask is to assume
the government is lacking. If one knows the government makes mistakes, then
governments won’t be allowed to exist. Isagani argues that when people ask through
legal means, it proves the government is helpful so people are actually praising the
government by going to it for help. The government is not all-powerful and should not
be offended, the same way people ask from God but God is not offended.
Isagani says that the government is a human institution that needs the help of all
people and that Senor Pasta himself should know that if a government denies
everything, it is not reliable. And if people hate the government, the only thing they
should ask is that it lose its power.
Senor Pasta tries to argue that Isagani lacks life experience like the boys in Madrid
who ask for reforms and get accused of subversion. Senor Pasta says it is hard to
explain but the government has many reasons to deny the requests of people.
Senor Pasta is nervous and asks where his glasses are. Isagani points at them and
Senor Pasta puts them on, pretending to read. He stutters, and says that because
Isagani interrupted, he has forgotten what he was going to say. Senor Pasta then says
he is busy.
Isagani stands to leave. Senor Pasta tells him that maybe the Vice-Rector (Padre
Sibyla) is against the way Spanish should be taught to students, but not the concept.
Senor Pasta says that the Rector has a project to reform education. He tells Isagani to
study and that Isagani shouldn’t care since he knows Spanish already. Isagani says he
visited for those who cannot study Spanish.
Senor Pasta says that Isagani managed to learn it and so did he, so others can do the
same. He explains that he was a servant to friars and learned, without need for
teachers, academies or permits from the government. Isagani asks how many people
who wanted to learn ended up like Senor Pasta. Senor Pasta says many became
lawyers, clerks and doctors, and that there are too many. More people should be
farmers.
Isagani says many towns lack doctors and lawyers and even if there are enough, towns
need those of better quality. And even farmers deserve an education so they can
perfect their work. Senor Pasta says that since Isagani will become a doctor he should
focus on medicine. He tells Isagani to stop thinking about the country and instead he
should go to mass and focus on himself. He says Isagani will realize Senor Pasta was
correct, when his hair is also white.
Isagani says that each white hair will be a “thorn” and he will feel shame if he sees that
he only worked for himself without helping the country. He leaves.
Senor Pasta feels pity for Isagani because he was like that once. Thinking like that will
not get Isagani food or glory. He calls Isagani a “poor young man”, and also feels sorry
for Padre Florentino.
Trivia:
Quotes:
Senor Pasta: This is a country of projects!
Senor Pasta: No one exceeds me in love of country and in progressive aspirations,

but… I cannot compromise myself.
Isagani: We pursue the same end, and only differ in the means.
Senor Pasta: It is clearly laudable to help the government when one helps it with
submissiveness.
Isagani: For colonial governments the foundation of prestige is the weakest, because
it does not depend on them, but on the free will of the governed while they wish to
recognize it… The foundation of justice or reason appears to me more durable.
Isagani: Governments were set up for the welfare of the people, and to comply
properly with their end they must follow the manifestations of the citizens, who best
know their needs.
Senor Pasta: Those who form the government are also citizens, and among the most
distinguished.
Isagani: But, as men, they are fallible and they should not ignore the opinions of
others.
Senor Pasta: You have to trust them; they have to take care of everything.
Isagani: There is a Spanish saying which says he who does not cry does not get milk.
He who does not ask is not given.
Senor Pasta: On the contrary! With the government exactly the opposite happens.
Isagani: You yourself know that it is a tyrannical and despotic government that, to
display its power and independence, denies everything out of fear and suspicion.
Isagani: A people who detest their government should not demand more of it than
that it abdicate its power.
Senor Pasta: He who desires to learn, learns and comes to know.

Isagani: Undoubtedly, there are many doctors and lawyers, but I will not say we have
a surplus, since we have towns that sorely lack them, but if they abound in quantity;
perhaps we lack them in quality.
Senor Pasta: Bah, bah, bah! To be a good farmer, there is no need for much rhetoric.
Dreams, illusions, ideology! Eeea!
Senor Pasta: Distance yourself from all things that relate to the general condition of
the country; hear mass, go to confession and communion when the others do, and you
will see afterwards how you will thank me, and I will see it if I still live. Always
remember that charity well understood begins at home; man should not look in this
world for more than the greatest sum of happiness for himself, as Bentham says.
Senor Pasta: A crown of laurels drenched in aloes, dried leaves which hide thorns
and worms. That is not life, that does not bring home food, nor does it win honors; the
laurels hardly serve as sauce… nor give one tranquility… nor win lawsuits – on the
contrary!
Chapter Title: The Tribulations of a Chinaman
Setting: Saturday evening, Quiroga’s bazaar (Escolta Street)
Characters:
 Senor Gonzales
 Don Timoteo Pelaez
 Simoun
 Don Custodio
 Ben Zayb
 Padre Camorra
 Padre Irene
 Padre Salvi
 Juanito Pelaez
 Mr. Leeds (mentioned)
Plot:
Chinaman Quiroga hosts a dinner and the guests talk about the sphinx exhibit found
in Quiapo square.
Chapter Summary:
Chinaman Quiroga hosts dinner at the top floor of his bazaar on Escolta street. Many
people go and he is popular because he provides parishes and convents with their
needs and accepts IOUs.
Friars and bureaucrats are in the salapraying tresillo and talking with one another.
The sala is decorated with Chinese memorabilia, as well as Catholic objects and icons
of Mohammed (Santiago / St. James). Chinaman Quiroga makes sure no one will
“shanghai” (steal) anything, acting kind to some and mean to others because he knows
that they came just for his dinner.
The ones who came just for dinner are:
 Senor Gonzales because he says he supports Chinaman Quiroga’s idea of

establishing a Chinese consulate in Manila, but he writes a column under the name
“Pitili” and attacks Chinese immigration.
 Don Timoteo Pelaez because he insults the Chinese memorabilia and thinks Chinese
competition is ruining his business. Don Timoteo Pelaez , a bureaucrat and a
government official.
 A bureaucrat who smuggled Mexican pesos to China
 A government official who knows that Chinaman Quiroga earned money from
selling Manila lottery tickets in China for a higher price.
Simoun talks to merchants who are complaining to him about their businesses failing.
They hope he will talk to Capitan General to help them. Don Timoteo Pelaez complains
to Simoun about the port not being finished, but a merchant asks why he is upset since
the Capitan General ordered the demolition of houses of light material, while Don
Timoteo Pelaez has a shipment of galvanized iron arriving. But Don Timoteo Pelaez
says the owners of the houses cannot buy from him because they are poor. Simoun
suggests buying the houses, waiting for the order to be withdrawn and then reselling
the houses at double the price.
Chinaman Quiroga respects Simoun because he believes Simoun is counseling Capitan

General to favor the Chinese “to humble the natives”.
Before, mestizos and natives distrusted each other. At mass a gobernadorcillo native
crossed his leg to show off his boots. The gobernadorcillo of mestizos spread his legs
to show off a chain of gold and diamonds on his waistcoat. After that, all the members
of each faction did the same. The Chinese had their own display: one leg tucked and
the other swinging. Civil war was about to happen so Capitan General decreed that
everyone should sit like the Chinese since they paid the most. But because the natives
and mestizos wore narrow trousers, they couldn’t copy the Chinese properly so they
were embarrassed.
Simoun asks about the bracelets Chinaman Quiroga bought from him. Chinaman
Quiroga takes Simoun to a private room to complain because he bought them for
3,000 to 4,000 pesos per piece.. He showed the bracelets to his senora but they were
supposed to be for a friend of a senor who would net him 6,000 pesos. He asked which
one she liked best and she said she liked them all.
Chinaman Quiroga complains about everyone borrowing money from him. Simoun
points out that he lends money from officials so they won’t borrow from Chinaman
Quiroga, to make it easier for him. Simoun tells Chinaman Quiroga he will be in
charge of collecting for Chinaman Quiroga from sailors and officials.
Simoun says that Chinaman Quiroga should do a favor for him since he will lower the
cost of the bracelets to 7,000 pesos (from 9,000 pesos). Since Chinaman Quiroga can
bring anything through customs (which is why he is the one who supplies the convents
with weapons), Simoun asks him to bring in crates of guns to be kept in his
warehouses as they can’t all fit in Simoun’s house.
Chinaman Quiroga is scared. But Simoun blackmails him by saying if he will not help,
then Simoun will need the 9,000 pesos. Chinaman Quiroga agrees and they return to
the party.
Outside, Don Custodio is talking to senoras about a commission sent to India to make
studies on the footwear of soldiers. A senora says it is unnecessary because Indios can
go barefoot so it will save money. A friend of the members of the Commission tries to
argue that wounds on the soles of feet are a common casualty and that every soldier
needs footwear but the senoras say that Indios can get used to it or else money will be
wasted on leather. She says that instead, they should prioritize a pension on orphans
and widows (like her).
Meanwhile, Ben Zayb is arguing with Padre Camorra (as usual). They are talking about
the mummified human head (called “Sphinx”, even though it is not a sphinx) in the
Quiapo Fair, exhibited by an American named Mr. Leeds. Juanito Pelaez claimed to
have seen it. Padre Irene smiles when he hears about it, but Padre Salvi is serious.
Ben Zayb insists there is a scientific explanation and says it is a matter of “optics”. He
takes down mirrors to prove it to them. He tilts the mirrors but his effect is not seen,
so he just says it is optics. Padre Camorra says it is spiritism because “spiritists always
avail themselves of tables” and he believes Padre Salvi should have the exhibit banned.
Simoun says they should go see the Sphinx. Padre Salvi and Don Custodio don’t want
to go at first because they don’t want to be seen by Indios. Ben Zayb promises to ask
Mr. Leeds to give them a private exhibit. He is sure that they will be admitted for free
because Mr. Leeds wouldn’t want Ben Zayb to discover that he is a fraud in front of a
crowd of Indios.
Simoun, Don Custodio, Padre Salvi, Padre Camorra, Padre Irene, Ben Zayb and
Juanito Pelaez take carriages to Quiapo square.
Trivia:
 It is noted that calling the mummified head a “sphinx” is inaccurate, as a sphinx is a

term for a regular head with the body of an animal.
Quotes:
Simoun: Study, all of you, why other nations prosper, and do the same as they.
Simoun: To have a people submissive, there is nothing better than to humiliate and
degrade them in their own eyes.
Simoun smiled: When a Chinese merchant complains, it is because everything goes

well for him, when he pretends that all goes like a thousand miracles, he foresees
bankruptcy or is about to flee to his country.
Simoun: (to Chinaman Quiroga) Do not be alarmed, you do not run any risk: those
rifles are to be concealed, a few at a time, in certain homes, and afterwards a search
will be made and many will be sent to prison… You and I can earn much, procuring
liberty for those detained. Do you understand me?
Senora: Why give them (the Indios) when they were born without them?
Senora 2: And what for give them shirts?
Senora 3: And what for give them trousers?
Padre Camorra: The devil with science! Punales!
Padre Salvi and Don Custodio showed a certain reluctance. They, at a fair, elbow to
elbow with the public, to see sphinxes and talking heads! What would the Indios say?
They might be mistaken for ordinary men, endowed with the same passions and dlaws
as the others.
Chapter Title: The Quiapo Fair
Setting: Saturday evening, Quiapo square
Characters:
 Padre Camorra
 Ben Zayb
 Paulita Gomez
 Isagani
 Dona Victorina
 Juanito Pelaez
 Don Custodio
 Padre Irene
 Padre Salvi
 Mr. Leeds (mentioned)
Plot:
The friars, together with Ben Zayb and Don Custodio, go to the Quiapo fair.
Chapter Summary:
Camorra admires the pretty girls and regrets not being a parish priest of Quiapo. He
sees someone so beautiful that he pinches Ben Zayb;s arm by accident. The person
turns out to be Paulita Gomez, who is accompanied by Isagani and Dona Victorina.
Many people stop to stare at Paulita Gomez. Isagani is upset by all the attention she is
getting. Juanito Pelaez greets them. Dona Victorina calls him over because she secretly
prefers Juanito Pelaez to Isagani.
The group sees a booth selling all sorts of statues of different races and professions.
The friar ones have been made with care and are portrayed as gentle, well-attired and
intelligent, unlike those in Spain which are depicted as “symbols of gluttony and
incontinence”.
Ben Zayb points out a statue of a thin friar sitting at a desk writing a sermon, saying it
is Padre Camorra. Everyone laughs because it looks nothing like him. Padre Camorra
points at a statue of a one-eyed old woman squatting on the floor and ironing clothes.
Ben Zayb is confused until Camorra points out the label “The Philippine Press”,
referring to the iron that the old woman is using. Everyone laughs.
Everyone starts arguing about the aesthetics and proportions of the art, and whether
the Indio can be talented at sculpture, and whether Indios should be discouraged from
trying to be artists. Don Custodio says that Indios have the right attitude but should be
carving saints.
They notice that the Chinese statue looks more like Padre Irene and that the British
Indian looks like Simoun. But Simoun has disappeared, and Padre Camorra thinks it’s
because he doesn’t want to pay for everyone. Ben Zayb says he is afraid of his friend
Mr. Leeds being humiliated.
Ben Zayb explains that it is all just an illusion caused by mirrors.

Trivia:
 Padre Salvi is said to have gone with the group of friars to the Quiapo fair but he
does not speak in this chapter.
Quotes:
Padre Camorra was in seventh heaven, seeing so many pretty maidens.
Instead of the mendicant friar going from door to door with his donkey and his sack
begging for alms, the friar of the Philippines poured from his full hands, gold among
the impoverished Indios…
Chapter Title: Deceptions
Setting: Saturday evening, Quiapo square
Characters:
 Mr. Leeds
 Ben Zayb
 Padre Camorra
 Padre Irene
 Padre Salvi
 Don Custodio
Plot:
The friars, Ben Zayb and Don Custodio meet the sphinx.
Chapter Summary:
Mr. Leeds allows the group to examine the exhibit as thoroughly as they want as long
as they remain quiet. The display shows skulls and cabalistic figures on a table. Ben
Zayb asks if he can see the trick and Mr. Leeds says it’s okay as long as he doesn’t
break anything. Ben Zayb searches for mirrors and checks under the table but there
are none. He gets upset.
Everyone sits down.
Mr. Leeds begins the show and brings in a box of black wood, covered in inscriptions.
He says he found it in the great pyramid of Kufu (Pharaoh of 4th Dynasty), in a
sarcophagus. At the time, hoping to find a mummy of the royal family.
Mr. Leeds explains that the box contained ashes and a papyrus note. He tells them not
to breathe in order to preserve the ashes. He examined the papyrus and saw two
unknown words, but managed to read them. He said one word out loud and the box
fell on the floor. When he opened, it he saw a human head. He read the second word
and the box closed and the head disappeared. Instead, ashes were left. Mr. Leeds
claims he discovered the two “most powerful words”, which meant ‘life’ and ‘death’.
Mr. Leeds puts the box on the table. Ben Zayb asks for the tablecloth to be lifted and
Mr. Leeds agrees. Mr. Leeds says “Dremeof!” and the curtains move. The box opens,
revealing a head with black hair. The head looks around and then directly at Padre
Salvi. Mr. Leeds asks the Sphinx to tell the audience who he is.
The sphinx says he is Imuthis, born in the time of Amasis and killed during the
domination of the Persians. He was going home to finish his studies but while passing
through Babylon, he discovered that Gautama governed with lies. Gautama had him
killed, by getting Egyptian priests on his side (since priests were considered rulers).
They killed Imuthis it for a young priest named Abydos.
The sphinx talks about the cruelties of the priests. This annoys all the friars.
Mr. Leeds asks what the priests did to him and the sphinx says he was in love with a
priest’s daughter. Abydos also liked her and showed people a papyrus (letter) that the
sphinx wrote to the girl. This made everyone turn against the sphinx. Cambysses at the
time was recovering from a disaster and mutiny broke out, so the sphinx was accused
of rebellion and jailed. He escaped and was killed in the lake of Moeris. The girl hid in
a temple of Isis in the island of Philoe but Abydos harassed her until she went crazy.
Padre Salvi passes out as the sphinx calls him a murderer. Padre Irene says it’s
because he ate birds’ nest soup, but Don Custodio says he was hypnotized. The head
turns to ashes and Mr. Leeds bows.
Don Custodio says the spectacle should be forbidden because it is immoral. Ben Zayb
adds that it does not even use mirrors. Ben Zayb publishes an article next day about
the science of the occult and the Ecclesiastic Governor gives an order to suspend the
show.
But by then, Mr. Leeds has escaped to Hong Kong.
At the end of the chapter, there is a note that Ben Zayb was actually correct because
the mirrors were hidden under the floor. Placing the box on the table pressed a spring
to make them rise. If the cloth was lifted it would reveal the table of talking heads.
Trivia:
 In the beginning of this chapter, Mr. Leeds is referred to as “Dr. Leeds”.
Quotes:
All felt as if they had entered a house where there was death.
Ben Zayb: The mirrors, Mister, where are the mirrors?
Mr. Leeds: Your mirrors, I do not know where they might be; I keep mine at my
hotel… Do you want to look at yourself? You look somewhat upset and pale.
Senora: How it smells of death!
Person: It smells of forty centuries!
Ben Zayb: It smells of a church!

Sphinx: Ah! Priest, priest of Abydos! I return to life to reveal your infamies, and after
so many years of silence I call you murderer, sacrilegious, slanderer!
Padre Salvi: No! Mercy!

Chapter Title: The Fuse
Setting: Puente De Espana
Characters:
 Padre Sibyla
 Don Custodio
 Silversmith
 Cabesang Andang
 Capitana Simona
 Simoun
 Mr. Leeds
 Isagani
 Paulita Gomez
 Dona Victorina
 Juanito Pelaez
 Pyrotechnist / Schoolmaster
Plot:
While searching for something to do now that he has quit school, Placido Penitente
meets Simoun.
Chapter Summary:
Placido Penitente leaves the class crying and feeling angry. He sees a carriage with
Padre Sibyla and Don Custodio inside it, and wants to throw Padre Sibyla into the
water. Placido Penitente passes along the Escolta and sees priests joking at the
entrance of Chinaman Quiroga’s bazaar. He has the urge to fight with them.
Placido Penitente goes to the house of the silversmith, where he is staying, and thinks
of going back to the province to show the friars that they should not treat him that
way. He thinks of writing a letter to his mother, Cabesang Andang. He considers
transferring finishing the class in Ateneo, but the Dominicans would not allow it.
Cabesang Andang had arrived from Batangas recently. She notices that Placido
Penitente is sad. She talks about Capitana Simona, whose son will become a priest.
Because of that, she she won’t pay back Cabesang Andang her debts anymore.
Cabesang Andang cries after hearing the news of Placido Penitente leaving school,
saying she promised Placido Penitente’s dead father that he would become a lawyer.
Cabesang Andang says she’s not asking Placido to support the friars but to do humble
and patient.
Placido Penitente leaves to take a walk. He gets hungry and realizes he has no money
so he goes home. He expects Cabesang Andang to be at the neighbor to
play panguingui, but she is there and tells Placido Penitente she will help him return
to the Dominicans. Placido Penitente says he would rather join the tulisanes than go
back to school.
Placido Penitente leaves again and goes to the docks. He sees ships ready to leave for
Hong Kong and decides he will go there. He heard from the silversmith before a story
about a charity that give friars silver items. The friars sold the items for money and
had fake ones made of Ruolz silver crafted in Hong Kong as replacement. Placido
Penitente believes that means business is going well in Hong Kong.
Placido Penitente goes to the fair and sees Simoun saying goodbye to a foreigner (Mr.
Leeds). He hears the word “Hong Kong”. He recognizes Simoun who once sold jewels
in his hometown and told him stories. As Simoun is about to board a carriage Placido
Penitente calls him and asks a favor. He says he wants to go to Hong Kong but Simoun
tells him to accompany him to Iris Street.
They take a carriage to Iris Street. They get down and pass Isagani and Paulita Gomez,
with Dona Victorina and Juanito Pelaez. Placido notices that “he” seems happy
(perhaps referring to Juanito Pelaez) while Simoun says “He only serves for that, it’s
nice to be young” (perhaps referring to Isagani). The chapter asks the question: “To
whom were Placido and Simoun alluding?” but the answer is not given and left to the
reader to figure out.
Simoun and Placido Penitente enter a maze and arrive at a yard with a hut surrounded
by banana plants and bonga palms. Placido Penitente wonders if it’s a house of a
pyrotechnist (castillero). A man talks to Simoun and Placido Penitente is surprised by
his good Spanish. Simoun asks if the gunpowder and bombs are ready. The
pyrotechnist says yes, but that he is waiting for the cartridge shells.
Simoun tells the pyrotechnist to leave that night and speak to the lieutenant and
corporal. In Lamayan he is supposed to meet a man in a banka. when the pyrotechnist
says “Cabesa” the man will say “Tales”, as the man will arrive and take the
pyrotechnist’s place.
The pyrotechnist asks Simoun if there’s anything new. Simoun says “it will be done
within the week”. The pyrotechnist says the suburbs are not ready and that he thought
it would be done at the beginning of Lent. Simoun says the suburbs are not necessary.
He explains that they already have Cabesang Tales’ men, ex-carbineers and a
regiment. He says that the pyrotechnist has to leave now or else Maria Clara will be
dead later.
Simoun asks Placido Penitente if he is surprised by the Indio pyrotechnist’s good

Spanish. He explains that the pyrotechnist is actually a schoolmaster, who wanted to
teach Spanish to children but was exiled for disturbing the peace and for being Ibarra’s
friend. Simoun turned him into a pyrotechnist.
They go back to the main street and Simoun greets a Spaniard on a crutch. Simoun
tells him to be prepared and that “it” will happen the coming week. Simoun asks
Placido Penitente if he’s surprised to see a sickly young Spaniard. Two years ago, the
Spaniard was healthy but his enemies made him work in Balabak so he got
rheumatism and malaria. The Spaniard had married a beautiful woman.
Simoun and Placido Penitente go to Simoun’s house in Escolta. Two hours later,
Placido Penitente leaves. Simoun is in a room looking out at Pasig river. He looks
toward the “Walled City” of Manila and tells himself that he will free Maria Clara and
cleanse the country.
Simoun stops and his conscience tells him that he is part of the “wicked city” of
Manila. He feels guilty “for the first time in his criminal career since in Havana”.
Simoun tries to push away his doubts and fears even as ‘ghosts’ that want revenge cry
out to him. Simoun starts to tremble, which has never happened before.
Simoun looks out at Pasig and feels sick. He is reminded of his father dying in prison
and the face of another man who sacrificed his life for him, believing he would help the
rebirth of the country. Simoun tells himself he can’t turn back because he has done evil
in order to do good.
Simoun tries to sleep.

The next morning, Placido Penitente listens to Cabesang Andang’s plans about getting
help from the Procurator of the Augustinians. He tells her to return to the province to
give the Procurator a gift and several masses so he will be convinced to help.
Trivia:
 Cabesang Andang mentions a friend named Capitana Simona who owes her money,
but Capitana Simona is not mentioned again after this chapter.
 Simoun is seen saying goodbye to a ‘foreigner’ who is leaving for Hong Kong. The
foreigner is most likely Mr. Leeds, though this is not stated.
Quotes:
Placido Penitente: They say that we do not know how to get even. Let the lightning
strike and we shall see!
Cabesang Andang: What are we going to do? The friars have all. If they do not wish
it, no one becomes a lawyer or a doctor… Have patience, my son, have patience!
Placido Penitente: I would throw myself into the sea first. I would become
a tulisanor outlaw first, rather than return to the University.
And thinking of Hong Kong [Placido Penitente] asked himself whether the moonlit
evenings in that city were as poetic, as sweetly melancholic as those in the Philippines,
and a deep sadness settled in his heart.
Simoun: I will shatter the walls of your prison; I will snatch you from the clutches of
fanaticism; white dove, you will be the phoenix that will be reborn from the glowing
ashes…! A revolution plotted by men in obscurity tore me from your side. Another
revolution will bring me to your arms, will revive me and that moon, before reaching
the apogee of its splendor, will light the Philippines, cleansed of her repugnant refuse!
Simoun: If I have done evil it was with the objective of doing good, and the end
justifies the means…
Chapter Title: The Ponente
Setting: Don Custodio’s office
Characters:
 Don Custodio
 Ben Zayb (mentioned)
 Senor Pasta (mentioned)
 Pepay (mentioned)
Plot:
Don Custodio struggles to decide on whether he should approve the petition of the
Academy for Spanish.
Chapter Summary:
Don Custodio keeps postponing the petition of the Academy for Spanish, not wanting
to make a decision because he doesn’t want to disappoint anyone. He asked Senor
Pasta who just said contradictory things. Pepay had no advice but asked for 25 pesos
to bury an aunt and appoint a cousin as assistant in the ministry of public works.
The chapter explains how Don Custodio became a well-respected person in Manila. He
came to Manila young and had a good job, then he married a mestiza from a rich
family. Because he was talented and daring, he made contracts with the government,
and became councilor then eventually mayor.
Don Custodio was appointed several titles in different offices, and took his job
seriously. He was well-known for not picking sides based on who was more popular.
But because he took a long time to decide, he tended to overthink and tended to make
bad decisions.
Once, Don Custodio opposed replacing coconut oil with kerosene lighting because of
the interests of a certain counselor that he disliked, and opposed a serenade for a
governor’s departure just because he resented the governor
Eventually, Don Custodio had to go to Spain for liver treatment but felt insignificant in
Spanish court. He couldn’t feel superior to anyone in Madrid so he preferred Manila.
He was mocked as an Indian and rejected by the Spaniards, so he became disgusted
with Conservatives and declared himself part of the Liberal Party and returned to the
Philippines
Don Custodio learned much about politics in Spain and wanted to use his knowledge
to help Manila but he had bad ideas:
 Heard Madrid mention a wood pavement for Paris and had planks nailed on the
streets of Manila
 Said vehicles should have 3 wheels to reduce the number of 2-wheeled vehicle
accidents
 Fumigated everything (even telegrams)
 Said convicts should wear loin clothes and work at night to prevent them from
wasting clothes and feeling hot under the sun.
When asked what Custodio thought of the Indios, he said they are good for mechanical
work and ‘imitative arts’ only. Whenever he heard about an Indio excelling in
chemistry/medicine/philosophy, he believed they had Spanish blood.
Don Custodio says he loves Indios, but believes they are naturally inferior and
supposed to be submissive. He also prides himself on being Catholic but doesn’t
believe in miracles and goes to the shortest mass. In Madrid, he bashed Catholicism
because that was the trend; but in Manila, he defends it. He said that friars in Manila
are influential and don’t need to use whips to control Indios. The friars sent him gifts,
but he returned them.
The convents have sent Don Custodio gifts again, trying to get Don Custodio on their
side. He has had the petition for 15 days.
Don Custodio looks at his folders titled “PROJECTS” and finds one called “Projects in
Execution”. He removes a sheet of paper and sees the project of the School of Arts and
Trades. He is confused as the Augustinians were in charge of that.
Don Custodio thinks of a solution and is happy, so he starts writing.
Trivia:
Quotes:
Don Custodio: Nothing could be original with the Indios, you understand? I like
them a lot, but they must not be praised for anything, because they would become
intoxicated and disgrace themselves.
Don Custodio: I love the Indios passionately. I have made myself their father and
defender, but it is necessary for things to be in their place. Some are born to
command, others, to serve.
Don Custodio: When you wish to subjugate a people convince them that they are
subjugated – the first day they will laugh; the second, they will protest; the third, they
will doubt; and on the fourth they will be convinced.
Don Custodio: To keep the Filipino docile, it must be repeated to him day after day
what he is, to convince him that he is incompetent. What good would it do, besides, to
have him believe in something else that would make him wretched?
Don Custodio: We can speak out loud! We are not like the English and the Dutch
who, to maintain peoples in submission, make use of the lash… We use other means,
much milder and surer. The salutary influence of the friars is superior to the English
whip.
Chapter Title: Manila Characters
Setting: Evening, Teatro de Variedades
Characters:
 Camaroncocido
 Tio Quico
 Padre Salvi
 Simoun
 Tadeo
 Tadeo’s Townmate
 Pepay
 Ben Zayb
 Padre Irene
 Paulita Gomez
 Dona Victorina
 Juanito Pelaez
 Don Custodio
 Macaraig
 Pecson
 Sandoval
 Isagani
 Mr. Jouy (mentioned)
Plot:
On the play’s opening night, people gather outside the theater.
Chapter Summary:
Mr Jouy’s French operetta company is giving the first performance of Les Cloches de
Corneville. By 7:30 pm there are no more tickets and people are angry.
Camaroncocido and Tio Quico are talking. Tio Quico’s job is to advertise the show by
announcing shows and pasting theater posters. Tio Quico shows Camaroncocido some
pesos, but he doesn’t care. Camaroncocido says that the friars will still earn more,
because all admission tickets were bought by convents.
Friars like Padre Salvi, Padre Camorra, and Padre Irene protested against the
performances. Ben Zayb defended them only because he wanted free tickets. Don
Custodio was against the performance because he thought that there would be
obscenities in French.
But the military and the government want to watch the performances, and so do those
who want to pass themselves off asilustrados. Two factions have formed: pro-
operettas (made up of single people) and anti-operettas (who are made up of people
described as “free and attractive”).
There were a lot of insults from both sides and rumors about Indios rebelling, but the
performances were allowed. Padre Salvi issued a letter that was not read (by anyone
except the printer’s proofreader). People gossiped that Capitan General, Chinaman
Quiroga and Simoun were involved in getting the performances to push through.
As the play neared the opening, people started learning French. Ben Zayb was
appointed as critic and translator of the story plot. Ben Zayb was nervous because he
didn’t know French, and was traumatized by an incident wherein he translated the
name of a tenor of the Italian Opera Company wrong, so another columnist called him
an ignoramus.
Camaroncocido tells Tio Quico that the friars seeking to ban the play made it more
popular than Tio Quico’s ads did. Tio Quico asks if Padre Salvi will cause him to lose
his job. Camaroncocido says “maybe”. Tio Quico wonders if he should become a friar.
Camaroncocido walks around and sees men with dark faces, wearing coats (“as though
they had put on coats for the first time”) and hiding in the shadows. He wonders if
they are secret police or thieves but tells himself that he does not care.
Camaroncocido sees four or five people talking to a soldier. He thinks it’s the secret
police. The soldier talks to more suspicious people and approaches the carriage.
Camaroncocido recognizes Simoun.
Simoun says “The signal is a shot” and says that if the soldier follows his instructions
he will be rewarded, so he should be ready. The carriage leaves. Camaroncocido knows
something is being planned but just shrugs. He walks around again and sees Padre
Salvi talking to someone.
Padre Salvi tells someone that the friars have more power than Capitan General so
that if they do well they will be rich. He also says that the signal is a shot.
Camaron decides not to care.
More people arrive.
Tadeo is showing around a townmate and claiming to know personally everyone who
arrives. He tells his townmate that everyone he recognizes is important (even though
they may just be a shop attendant) and if someone ignores him, he claims that person
is a nobody. He invents stories about the people passing by to impress his townmate.
Tadeo points out Pepay, and says she no longer dances because a Catholic senor
forbade it. He also points at Ben Zayb and says he is a good writer. The townmate
keeps asking who the people are and Tadeo notices Paulita Gomez with a friend,
accompanied by Dona Victorina and Juanito Pelaez.
Juanito Pelaez had given them a box in the theater. Tadeo is briefly distracted by
Paulita Gomez but goes back to pointing out people. He calls out Padre Irene disguised
in a false mustache because his nose is recognizable. Padre Irene is in disguise because
he publicly opposed the play.
Tadeo points out many people but their names are not mentioned. He sees a poet, a
physician and a businessman who is Indio but has daughters who are white-skinned.
The townmate asks about this and
Tadeo explains that is why rice is more expensive, but they eat nothing but bread.
Tadeo sees Don Custodio, who is frowning because he is thinking of a project. Tadeo
sees Macaraig, whom his townmate lives with. Macaraig is with Pecson, Sandoval and
Isagani. Macaraig asks if they are coming and Tadeo says they could not get tickets.
Macaraig invites them to his box because Basilio cannot come. The townmate is shy
and refuses to join, because he is shy (like most provincial Indios).
Trivia:
 Tadeo points out many unnamed people, who have similar traits to the main
characters:
1. Poet T – talented but “has thrown away his pen”; Isagani is commonly described as
poet.
2. Physician U – invented many cures; Basilio aspires to be a physician.
3. Businessman F – wants to be mestizo; Don Custodio shows the same behavior.
 Tadeo also recognizes someone referred to as “the lover”. He is a young man who
does not eat Filipino food because he wants to be like the Spaniards. He ate a jar of
mustard to prove he was European and Basilio saved him from gastritis. This man
is not mentioned again and the reason for his character being included is unknown.
Quotes:
Camaroncocido: You see, Quico, half of the public came because the friars said they
should not – it is a kind of demonstration – and the other half because they said to
themselves, ‘Do the friars prohibit it? Then it must be instructive.’
Camaroncocido: What was it [to him] if the heavens fell?
Tadeo: I never ask for favors! I endow them, but disinterestedly.

Chapter Title: The Performance
Setting: 8:45 pm, Teatro de Variedades
Characters:
 Don Primitivo
 Capitan General
 Macaraig
 Pepay
 Don Custodio
 Sandoval
 Pecson
 Isagani
 Paulita Gomez
 Juanito Pelaez
 Gertrude
 Tadeo
 Lily (“Serpolette”)
 Padre Irene
 Dona Victorina
Plot:
The students watch the play.
Chapter Summary:
The performance is scheduled for 8:30 but curtains are still closed because Capitan
General hasn’t arrived yet.
People in the gallery are getting impatient. The orchestra plays a waltz while waiting,
but people start watching Don Primitivo who refuses to give up his seat, even despite
ushers telling him to leave. People cheer for him.
Macaraig has a box across Pepay’s. She offered to help them with Don Custodio by
writing to Don Custodio to meet her in the theater, which is why Don Custodio
attended the performance. Pepay is looking at Macaraig “happily” so the students
think there is good news. Sandoval asked around and revealed that the Superior
Commission approved their petition. Sandoval, Macaraig and Pecson are happy.
Isagani is not happy about the news because he is distracted after seeing Paulita
Gomez and Juanito Pelaez sharing a box. Paulita just looks at him and smiles, her eyes
“seeking forgiveness”. They had agreed that Isagani would watch it first to see if there
was anything objectionable for a young woman, so Isagani is surprised to see her
there. He is jealous and angry.
The curtain rises, and the peasants of Corneville perform the chorus. The girls are
dancing and Don Custodio takes notes on their dancing and whether the actresses are
showing their knees.
Getrude is the main character. She sings while looking at Capitan General. Tadeo is
excited that the girls will dance the can-can. He is only there because he wants to see
the obscenities that everyone was warned about.
Sandoval translates what is happening (because he read the synopsis) and says
Getrude will lead the can-can dance. Isagani is embarrassed that Paulita Gomez is
watching this, and wonders if he should challenge Juanito Pelaez to a duel.
A character named Serpolette (played by a woman named Lily) smiles at a man who is
clapping for her.
Tadeo realizes that Serpolette is smiling at Padre Irene, who is in disguise. Sandoval
says he saw Padre Irene talking with the actresses.
Padre Irene had been sent by Padre Salvi as a spy. He wanted to examine the actresses
close range so he met with them backstage. Serpolette saw him there and was happy to
greet him.
The play continues: the women almost fight and people of the law come to stop it. The
peasants also want to see the can-can. The music stops, the men leave and the women
talk about someone being missing. Sandoval explains to the students that they’re
talking about where they should dance the can-can.
A senora and her husband occupy one of the boxes and she is proud to be late. But she
sees the last empty box and is angry. She scolds her husband and Juanito Pelaez
shushes them. Juanito Pelaez has been pretending to understand the play. Paulita
Gomez looks at Isagani jealously, thinking he admires the actresses. Juanito Pelaez
continues getting along with Dona Victorina, who compliments him.
The play turns into a comedy as Gaspard tries to hit the coward Grenicheux and
instead hits the bailiff by accident. His wig flies off, and the curtain closes.
The curtain rises, showing a servant market, with notices

of servantes, cochersand domestiques. Paulita Gomez asks the difference
between servantes and domestiques. Juanito Pelaez says domestiques are
domesticated, and the servantes are savages. Dona Victorina agrees but the servants
for hire stand underservantes and the rough-looking characters stand
under domestiques.
The girls and Serpolette are dressed well, holding flowers. They go to stand beside
the servantes. Paulita Gomez questions this and Juanito says they made a mistake.
Paulita Gomez asks if they’re meant to be the cochers. Juanito Pelaez coughs and Don
Custodio shushes him, but pretends to write to avoid being noticed. Dona Victorina
decides she wishes to marry Juanito Pelaez the moment Don Tiburcio passes away.
The first act ends with the Marquis taking Serpollete and Germaine as his servants.
The cocher takes Grenicheux. The intermission starts.
People in the audience discuss the girls. One says Germaine is an “ideal blonde” but
doesn’t have a voice. Ben Zayb says none of them matter, pretending to hate
everything because he believes that is what a critic’s job is.
People speculate about who did not occupy the empty box. They realize it was
probably Simoun because no one saw him. Someone says he saw Simoun in the
afternoon with Mr. Jouy. Simoun apparently gave an actress a necklace. Another
person comments that Simoun is playing the role of Count of Monte Cristo.
Macaraig leaves to talk to Pepay. Tadeo goes to talk to Don Custodio. Sandoval says
that French isn’t as beautiful as Spanish. Paulita Gomez and Isagani stare at each
other in the crowd. Paulita Gomez looks like she wants to say many things to Isagani.
Sandoval asks Pecson if he can name a good French poet and Pecson mentions Victor
Hugo. Sandoval says it’s only because Victor Hugo spent his childhood in Madrid.
Macaraig arrives with a “bitter smile” and gives a paper to Sandoval. It is a letter from
Don Custodio to Pepay:
My dove: Your letter has reached me late; I had already handed in my decision and it
has been approved. However, as if I had divined your thoughts, I have resolved the
matter according to the wishes of your proteges. I will be at the theater and will wait
for your departure.
Your tender little dove, Custodining
Macaraig says he met with Padre Irene who congratulated him. But he reveals that one
of the religious corporations will take charge of the Academy, in case the Dominicans
won’t incorporate the Academy into the University.
The students are disappointed. Macaraig explains that they have to collect money to
turn them over to the treasurer whom the religious corporation will choose. Tadeo
says they will be like cabezas de barangay. Pecson says Sandoval should pick up the
gauntlet (referring to Sandoval’s quote when they argued in a previous chapter).
Sandoval says instead of having a gauntlet thrown at them, it is more like a sock.
Padre Irene advised Macaraig to celebrate with a banquet to thank the people who
intervened. Tadeo says it will be like a banquet of convicts, and Sandoval says it will be
a banquet of funeral speeches. Pecson says they should celebrate in a panciteria,
served by a Chinaman who is not in camisa. They plan to have a celebration that is as
sarcastic as possible.
As the second act of the play begins, the students leave the theater.
Trivia:
 There are no women seated in the orchestra section.

 Someone compares Simoun to the Count of Monte Cristo, which is accurate as the
novel is also about revenge, which is Simoun’s goal in El Filibusterismo.
 Victor Hugo, the author, is mentioned. He is well-known as the author of the novel
“Les Miserables”, which is also about students who are against the government,
similar to the students’ role in El Filibusterismo.
Quotes:
In order to appear as a great critic there is nothing like being contemptuous of

everything.
Chapter Title: A Corpse
Setting: Evening, Manila
Characters:
 Simoun
 Camaroncocido
 Basilio
 Capitan Tiago
 Placido Penitente (mentioned)
Plot:
As the revolution is about to start, Simoun asks Basilio to join him.

Chapter Summary:
Simoun doesn’t go to the theater. Instead, starting 7:00 pm, he leaves his house and
comes back twice with different people. He is seen near the hospital by Macaraig at
8:00 pm, which is near the cloister of Santa Clara. At 9:00 pm, Camaroncocido sees
him near the theater talking to a student.
Basilio doesn’t watch the play also. He has been studying ever since he returned from
San Diego and is staying at the hospital to help Capitan Tiago. Capitan Tiago
sometimes gets mad at Basilio and insults him due when Capitan Tiago is not given
opium. When Capitan Tiago has his opium, he is thankful to Basilio and says he will
make him his heir. Basilio has thought of letting Capitan Tiago die in peace instead of
delaying his suffering.
Capitan Tiago has been getting worse and Basilio sometimes arrives to see him
sleeping after having taken opium. He does not know who is giving the opium because
Capitan Tiago’s only visitors are Simoun and Padre Irene. Simoun rarely visits and
Padre Irene always tells Basilio to be stricter with the regimen to save Tiago. Padre
Irene had promised to get Basilio assigned to a good province and help him become a
professor. But the main reason Basilio has continued helping Capitan Tiago is due to
his conscience.
Basilio is busy studying instead of going to watch Les Cloches de Corneville. He is

reading Medicina Legal y Toxicologia of Dr. Mata which he borrowed because he
couldn’t afford the book. It is banned in Manila and required bribery to purchase.
Basilio ignores the pamphlets that were sent from abroad (and given to him by
Simoun), which are full of insults about the Philippines.
Simoun enters the house and asks how Capitan Tiago is. Basilio says that Capitan
Tiago is getting weaker, with no appetite. Basilio says Capitan Tiago may die any day
(“like the Philippines”, says Simoun). Basilio says that what weakens Capitan Tiago are
the nightmares (“like the government,” says Simoun). Basilio says that Capitan Tiago
thought he went blind and assumed Basilio was Padre Irene, so Capitan Tiago called
Baislio his savior (“like the government,” says Simoun).
Capitan Tiago had asked for his fighting cock, which has been dead for 3 years. Basilio
brought him a hen and he was happy
It is 10:30 pm. Simoun is disappointed that Basilio didn’t read the pamphlets. Simoun
says the revolution will start in an hour. There will be no school, people will start
dying, so Simoun tells Basilio that he must pick a side.
Basilio is afraid. He imagines people being shot and having to medicate them. Simoun
explains that the leaders are distracted right now. They are all in the theater, but there
are many men helping Simoun. The men think the revolution has been ordered by
Capitan General or friars and a lot are working for money, employment or promises.
Simoun says Cabesang Tales is downstairs.
Simoun says that if Basilio is neutral, he will be harmed by both sides. Basilio asks
what he would have to do. Simoun says Basilio has to help open the gates of the
cloister of Santa Clara and take away Maria Clara.
Simoun reveals that he started the revolution so he could get into the cloister. Basilio
says Maria Clara died at 6:00 pm that afternoon. Simoun is in denial. Basilio said she
got sick a few days ago. Padre Irene brought a letter from Paldre Salvi saying the news.
The news made Capitan Tiago cry and start smoking opium.
Simoun cries and runs downstairs. Hearing him cry makes Basilio weep also. He
thinks of Simoun and Maria Clara and of their sad fates.
The chapter addresses an ‘unhappy child of my unfortunate motherland’, (referring to

perhaps Maria Clara or the reader) and says they should sleep in peace.
The chapter ends referring to a certain “her” who has died and will be wept for, her
happy memories celebrated.
Trivia:
 The character in the end of the chapter only mentioned as “she” or “her” is said to
have died but left many happy memories behind. This might be referring to both
Maria Clara or the Philippines itself.
 It is mentioned that Camaroncocido saw Simoun talking to a student. The identity
of the student is not given, but it is most likely Placido Penitente.
Quotes:
Camaroncocido: And what is that to me? What do I get out of warning the
populace?
Basilio would smile bitterly, thinking how in this life the gratification of vice is better
rewarded than the fulfillment of duty.
Padre Irene: Do your duty, young man! Do your duty!
Simoun: Tomorrow there will be no more studying, there will be no University, there
will be nothing but combat and killings.
Simoun: When we win, all those who could have served us but did not will be treated
as enemies. [Basilio], I have come to propose your death or your future!
Simoun: With the Government or with us. With your oppressors or with your
country. You decide now, for time demands it.
Simoun: In grave moments to declare oneself neutral is to expose oneself to the fury
of both contending parties.
Simoun: I began the revolution because only a revolution will open to me the gates of
the cloister!
Basilio: You arrive late, too late!
Simoun: And why?
Basilio: Maria Clara has passed away!

When a man can only bequeath dubious words to his widow, tears to his mother and
slavery to his children, you do well to condemn yourselves to perpetual chastity,
choking within your breasts the seed of a cursed future generation!
Happy she who dies wept for, she who leaves in the heart of those who love her, a pure
vision, a sacred memory, not stained by common passions which ferment with the
years.
We will see you eternally as we have dreamed about you: lovely, beautiful, smiling like
hope, pure like the light and, nevertheless, sad and melancholy contemplating our
miseries.
Chapter Title: Dreams
Setting: Thursday sunset, the Malecon
Characters:
 Isagani
 Paulita Gomez
 Ben Zayb
 Dona Victorina
 Juanito Pelaez (mentioned)
Plot:
Isagani and Paulita Gomez discuss the night they saw each other at the performance.
Chapter Summary:
The chapter begins with the quote:
Amor, astros eres?
(Love, what heavenly body are you?)
Isagani goes to the Malecon to meet up with Paulita Gomez. He thinks she is going to
break up with him. He brings two love letters Paulita had written him. He remembers
his dates with her and swears revenge on Juanito Pelaez, while blaming the French
Operetta for ruining his relationship.
Isagani is angry at anyone passing by. He greets two Jesuits (his old professors). Near
the Anda monument, he overhears Ben Zayb talking to someone about Simoun getting
sick the night before. Isagani is angry at Simoun for getting visitors while soldiers get
none. Isagani is also angry at the insulares for taking his country, and he has the urge
to die for his motherland’s cause.
Isagani waits for Paulita until night, watching people manage boats. He thinks of the
verse from a poem:
Do el viento riza las calladas olas
Que con blando murmullo en la ribera
Se deslizan veloces por si solas…
(Where the wind with gentle moan
Sends the billows swiftly on
In the silence and alone…)
-Alaejos
Isagani sees a familiar carriage pulled by white horses. Inside it are Paulita Gomez,
Dona Victorina and Paulita Gomez’s friend.
Paulita Gomez smiles at him and Isagani feels better. Dona Victorina asks for news on
Don Tiburcio and Isagani says he doesn’t know. Dona Victorina is angry and says she
shouldn’t have to wait ten years to marry. Isagani is surprised. She asks him about
Juanito Pelaez. Isagani praises Juanito Pelaez and that makes Dona Victorina happy.
Paulita Gomez’s friend says she dropped her fan among the rocks on the beach, so they
separate and Isagani and Paulita Gomez are left alone.
Paulita Gomez says she is surprised he is here because the French actresses were at
Luneta. She is jealous and accuses him of staring at the cochers and not looking at her.
She explains that Dona Victorina forced her to go watch the play, and she tells Isagani
that she does not care about Juanito Pelaez, and jokes that Dona Victorina is in love
with him. Paulita Gomez and Isagani laugh. Isagani explains that Don Tiburcio is still
alive. He asks Paulita Gomez to keep that a secret and she promises, but reminds
herself that she will tell her friend later.
They talk about Isagani’s hometown and how it is surrounded by forests and the sea.
Isagani says that he felt truly free there, away from mankind. Paulita Gomez becomes
angry, saying that Isagani seemed happier in his hometown. Isagani explains that he
used to sleep in the forest or look out the cliffs. His uncle (Padre Florentino) used to
preach sermons against Isagani cloud-watching and said he’d bring him to a
physician because Isagani might become a hypochondriac.
Isagani says that if Paulita Gomez went there, the forest would be like Eden. Paulita
Gomez wants to go but only if she gets to travel by carriage or train, because she is
disgusted by leeches found in the mountains. Isagani says that soon all islands will be
connected by machines. Paulita Gomez asks if it will happen when she’s already old.
Isagani says that they are making progress, and that’s why people are studying in
Spain to help the country.
Isagani is excited for industrialization and technology to progress in the Philippines.

He says someday the the Spaniard and Filipino will work together as equals, with no
more slaves. Paulita says that according to her Tia Torina (Dona Victorina), the
country will always be enslaved. Isagani says Dona Victorina thinks that because she
cannot live without slaves.
Isagani says they will overcome their struggles. Paulita Gomez asks what happens if
they don’t accomplish anything. Isagani answers that he would die happy knowing she
is proud of him dying for his country.
Dona Victorina returns and they invite Isagani into their carriage. Isagani sits beside
Paulita Gomez, feeling happy. They tell him they arrived at Plaza Santa Cruz.
Trivia:
Quotes:
Strange destiny, that of some nations. Because a traveler comes to their shores, they
lose their freedom and become the subjects and slaves, not only of the traveler, not
only of his heirs, but even of all his compatriots, and not for one generation, but for
always! Strange concept of justice!
Isagani: Ah! I would like to die, be reduced to nothingness, leave my motherland a

glorious name, die for her cause, defending her from foreign invasion, and that the sun
afterwards illumine my corpse as an immobile sentinel on the rocks of the sea!
Isagani remembered that Don Tiburcio still lived, and confided the secret to his
beloved, after making her promise that she would tell no one. Paulita promised, but
with the mental reservation of revealing it to her girlfriend.
Isagani: A thousand cities, a thousand places I would give up for a remote place of
the Philippines, where far from mankind I feel free with true liberty!
Isagani: (to Paulita Gomez) Before knowing you, that sea was for me my world,my
enchantment, my love, my illusions.
But Paulita had heard it said that to reach Isagani’s home it was necessary to cross
mountains where little leeches abounded, and with this thought alone, the coward
shuddered convulsively. Comfort-loving and spoiled, she said that she would travel
only in a carriage or a railway train.
Isagani: In a little while all the islands are going to be crossed by a net of iron: ‘Where
rapid and winged engines will rush in flight,’ as someone has said; then, the most
beautiful places of the archipelago will be open to all.
Isagani: Tomorrow we will be citizens of the Philippines, whose destiny will be

beautiful because it will be in loving hands.
Isagani: This air so pure and these stones so clean will be covered with coal, with
boxes and barrels, products of human industry, but it matters not, for we shall move
on rapidly in comfortable coaches…
Isagani: It is true we have enemies, that there will be a struggle, but we shall
overcome.
Isagani: If we accomplish nothing, I would dream of another look of yours, and I

would die happy because a flash of pride could shine in your eyes and you would one
day say to the world pointing at my corpse: ‘My love died fighting for the rights of my
Motherland!’
Chapter Title: Laughter and Tears
Setting: Evening, Panciteria Macanista de Buen Gusto
Characters:
 Sandoval
 Isagani
 Tadeo
 Macaraig
 Pecson
 Ben Zayb (mentioned)
Plot:
The students sarcastically celebrate their “victory”.
Chapter Summary:
Fourteen young men gather to celebrate as Padre Irene suggested, but they throw a
party ironically as they are unhappy with the result of their petition. They have placed
on the wall a sign that says “Glory to Custodio for his cleverness, and pansit on earth
to youths of good will!”
They laugh and joke but do it with bitterness. In the sala there is pansit, pastries, tea,
and wine bottles. Sandoval studies everything while everyone talks about the French
operetta and Simoun. There are rumors that he was found wounded in the streets, and
tried to commit suicide or was attacked by someone who wanted to revenge.
In the restaurant, there is a sign that says:
De esta fonda el cabecilla
Al publico advierte
Que nada dejen absolutamente
Sobre alguna mesa o silla.
(The manager of this eatery

Warns the public
That absolutely nothing may be left
On any table or chair.)
Sandoval jokes that it sounds like a poem that Isagani should see. Isagani arrives
looking happy. Juanito Pelaez did not come. Tadeo says they should have invited
Basilio instead so he could get drunk and spill secrets.
Macaraig says the pansit lang-lang (Chinese pansit) tastes good and they should name
it “proyecto de sopa/project soup” in honor of Don Custodio. They consider
dedicating the lumpia (pork spring rolls) to Padre Irene, and one student says Padre
Irene does not eat pork unless he moves his nose away. Everyone says “Down with
Padre Irene’s nose!” Pecson asks everyone to be respectful but they ignore him. They
dedicate the torta (crab omelet) to the friars “for being such crabs”, so they call it torta
of friars.
Macaraig dedicates the pansit guisado (sauteed noodles) to the government because it
is believed to be a Chinese or Japanese dish but is actually Filipino. Isagani wants to
dedicate the pansit to Chinaman Quiroga. He jokes that Chinaman Quiroga is “one of
the four powers of the Filipino world”. Someone suggests dedicating it to Simoun.
Someone announces that people in the plaza are listening to them because it has gone
quiet outside. Macaraig tells Tadeo to make a speech. Tadeo plagiarizes a speech by
the president of the academy and instead talks about chicken being “the treasure of a
people”, yet now they are just eating it
The students demand the lumpia. Sandoval does not like lumpia because it has grease
outside and tough pork inside. Pecson quotes a line from Ben Zayb’s article, that is
supposedly a quote by Don Custodio: that a full belly glorifies God and a hungry belly
glorifies the friars. Isagani says he respects one friar.
Sandoval sings: Un fraile, dos frailes, tres frailes en el coro,
Hacen el mismo effecto que un solo toro!
(One friar, two friars, three friars in the choir-loft
Has the same effect as one solo horny bull!)
Pecson says that friars are with them from the start of life (baptism) all the way to
death (burial) and everything in between (school, marriage) so they should try to
pamper them because their absence would leave a void in society. Pecson explains that
friars unite them, and that without friars there would be no entertainment or rules or
values. Pecson continues saying that the friar is the sculptor and that the Indio is the
statue. Without friars and Indios, the government would be in the hands of the
Chinese. Isagani says it will be a torta (crab).
A student announces that they are being watched by ‘the favorite of Padre Sibyla’.
They see someone leave the pansiteria and enter the carriage of Simoun. Macaraig
says it is Padre Sibyla’s slave.
Trivia:
 Isagani states that he respects one friar. At first, one can assume he is talking about
his uncle, Padre Florentino. However, in a later chapter (Chapter 27), it is revealed
that the only friar Isagani makes exceptions for is Padre Fernandez.
 The beginning of the chapter states that there are fourteen students in total who
attend the party. However, the only ones identified are Sandoval, Isagani, Tadeo,
Macaraig and Pecson. The nine other students are unnamed.
Quotes:
Students: Down with Padre Irene’s nose!
Pecson: (quoting Don Custodio’s line from Ben Zayb’s article) Si tripa plena laudat
Deum, tripa famelica laudabit fratres (If a full belly glorifies God, a hungry belly
glorifies the friars).
Sandoval: (singing) Un fraile, dos frailes, tres frailes en el coro, hacen el mismo
effecto que un solo toro! (One friar, two friars, three friars in the choir-loft has the
same effect as one solo horny bull!)
Pecson: Evil blows its foul breath over the verdant shores of Friarlandia, commonly
known as the Philippine Archipelago!
Chapter Title: Pasquinades
Setting: Morning, Manila
Characters:
 Basilio
 Macaraig
 Professor of Pathology
 Sandoval
 Tadeo
 Juanito Pelaez
 Isagani
 Corporal
Plot:
Basilio learns about the consequences of the students’ dinner.
Chapter Summary:
Basilio wakes up early in the morning to visit his patients in the hospital. After that, he
plans to go to the University to ask about his degree. He also wants to talk to Macaraig
about expenses since he used up his savings to ransom Juli.
Basilio does not notice students walking out of school, whispering to each other. He
arrives at San Juan de Dios hospital and is asked about a conspiracy. Basilio he
assumes they are talking about Simoun. Basilio is told by random students that there
were students who were caught being involved in a conspiracy.
A professor of clinical medicine asks him if he was at the dinner. Basilio is confused
and says no. The professor asks if he is a member of the Association of Students.
Basilio says he pays his dues and the professor says Basilio should resign from the
Association immediately. Basilio asks if Simoun is involved and the professor says
Simoun was mysteriously wounded. The professor explains that subversive posters
were found in the University. Another professor passes by and the first professor tells
him that Capitan Tiago smells like a cadaver.
Basilio finds out that someone put posters on the doors of the University, and the
posters were full of threats. It was reported that this was done by members of the
Association. Basilio wonders if Simoun knew anything about this. He goes to the
University and sees guardia veterana(veteran guards) leading the students on
sidewalks. Basilio sees Sandoval, who ignores him. Tadeo looks happy and tells Basilio
they are not going to have classes because everyone who is part of the Association is
going to jail.
Basilio sees Juanito Pelaez and asks what happened. Juanito Pelaez is scared and says
he knows nothing. He declares that Basilio is his witness and can help him prove that
he was never involved with the Association. Juanito Pelaez runs away when he sees a
guard approaching.
Basilio goes to ask the secretariat about his degree but it is closed. He sees friars,
officers and lawyers gathering in the building. He sees Isagani giving a speech to
students. Isagani says that they should not run away. Someone asks who wrote the
posters and Isagani says it does not matter, they should either support or protest
depending on the ideas of the poster.
Basilio goes to Macaraig’s house and sees two guardias de la Veterana. He says he
wants to see Macaraig, but they tell him to wait for the corporal. The corporal comes
down with Macaraig, both of them talking nicely.
The corporal says Basilio is under arrest as well and Macaraig laughs, and says he will
tell Basilio about the dinner. They get into the carriage and Macaraig tells the driver to
go to the Civil Government. Basilio asks about the payment and Macaraig says no
problem, and that they will invite the corporal and assisting officer to their graduation
festivities.
Trivia:
 “Pasquinades” is a term used for a person who does a criminal act. In this chapter,
it refers to the students who put up subversive posters.
Quotes:
Tadeo: We will not have classes for at least a week, chico! Sublime! Magnificent!
Basilio: But what has happened?
Tadeo: They are going to throw us into jail, all those of the Association!
Basilio: And you are happy?
Tadeo: There are no classes, no classes!
Isagani: It seems preposterous, that an incident so insignificant should disperse us

and that we should flee like sparrows because a scarecrow shakes itself! It is perhaps
the first time that the youth will enter prison for the cause of liberty?
Chapter Title: The Friar and the Filipino
Setting: Padre Fernandez’s office
Characters:
 Isagani
 Padre Fernandez
Plot:
Isagani and Padre Fernandez have a discussion on how friars should treat students.
Chapter Summary:
Vox populi, vox Dei
(Voice of the people; voice of God)
A capista says Padre Fernandez wants to speak with Isagani. Isagani goes to his office.
Padre Fernandez tells Isagani that he likes it when young men can express themselves,
even if they have different beliefs. Padre Fernandez heard Isagani preaching to
students outside and, says that he knows that Isagani was at the dinner. He says
Isagani can take a seat but Isagani remains standing.
Padre Fernandez asks what he should do when students treat friars nicely but then
talk badly about them behind their backs. Isagani explains that anyone who doesn’t
agree with the powerful is punished, so only fools would be honest about what they
really think.
Padre Fernandez argues that he always let Isagani speak up in class (but not others, as
Isagani is an exception) and that if that were untrue he would’ve corrected him.
Isagani says Padre Fernandez is also an exception and he asks Padre Fernandez for
another approach.
Padre Fernandez is surprised because Isagani is talking to him like they’re equals,
even if he calls Padre Fernandez “Professor”. He tells Isagani not to look at him as his
professor and asks what the Filipino students want them to do. Isagani is surprised
and says they should do their duty. Padre Fernandez asks how they have not done,
their duty and what duties they would be assigned. Isagani says that as a Filipino
student he wants the friars to improve and guide them to be honest, prosperous,
intelligent, virtuous, noble and loyal.
Isagani asks if the friars are doing that. Padre Fernandez first says they are but Isagani
says Padre Fernandez himself is but the rest of the order (the Dominicans) is not.
Isagani says friars in towns limit education, and that the friars who turn schools into a
business destroy enthusiasm and dignity of the students, and teach false principles
and ancient ideas.
Isagani points out that the government tries to get the best people to keep criminals
from starving but when it comes to educating the youth, the government uses an
organization (the church) that does not like teaching or advancement. Padre
Fernandez says those are harsh accusations.
Isagani says that friars say it’s not good for students to enlighten themselves because
they will become independent and that is considered a bad thing. The students are
mad because the friars don’t want to educate them properly. Padre Fernandez says
that education is only for those who deserve it, and not for those who don’t have
morality. Isagani asks why there are men without morality and Padre Fernandez says
they inherit it.
Isagani says that they are what they are because friars made them that way. That for
three and a half centuries friars have not helped them improve so it is the friars’ fault.
He compares friars to a sculptor who cannot produce anything good. Padre Fernandez
says the ‘material’ for sculpting must be bad and Isagani says that the sculptor is
stupid then because he keeps wasting time and cheating, stealing money for no reason
without producing anything good.
Padre Fernandez feels as if Isagani is winning the argument. He says that that they are
all at the mercy of the government in the end, and that the government will throw the
friars out if the students do not. Isagani says that if that is the case, then the
government purposely wants them to be demoralized.
Padre Fernandez says that the government has good intentions but sometimes despite
that, the consequences can be bad. The government makes laws but people will always
find ways to break them because if something is forbidden, the more people want to do
it. Therefore, the flaws in the system are the government’s fault.
Isagani asks why they impose a society on others if they know it’s flawed. Padre
Fernandez says they are going off-topic. Isagani asks why they don’t ask those harmed
by society if the society is defective. Padre Fernandez says again that it is off-topic but
Isagani says if the friars will hide behind the government, then the students must
address the government.
Padre Fernandez says he cannot be responsible for the actions of the government. He
can only do what he can do within his power for students. Isagani requests that the
friars not oppose the freedom of education, to push for it instead. Padre Fernandez
says that is suicide. Isagani says it is better to ask for passage than to “trample”
(meaning to do it without asking), and Padre Fernandez says he should ask something
that does not cost so much so there will still be trust between them.
Isagani says the students would react better if the professors treated them better.
Padre Fernandez asks if students complained about his conduct. Isagani says he is
speaking in general, and not about Padre Fernandez specifically. Isagani says the
students barely gain anything from studying and in fact they lose their dignity from
school. The more that learning is suppressed, the more the students want to learn
because humans always instinctively want to learn things. The students deserve a
chance to earn money and have a livelihood since they pay money and give their lives
to the State.
Padre Fernandez says no one is forcing students to study but Isagani says the
government is, because that uneducated Indios’ rights are denied. Isagani asks if
Padre Fernandez wants laborers instead of making people as educated as him.
Padre Fernandez says he wants knowledge for those who will know how to use it. He
says when students use knowledge properly, the professors will be considerate.
Therefore, the students should change first. Isagani asks how can the students change
first when they who have more difficulty changing? He points out even Padre
Fernandez has suffered just from wanting to be fair and fulfill his duty.
Padre Fernandez says he will talk to the other friars but they might not believe the
students. Isagani says his friends will not believe Padre Fernandez’s words either.
Isagani leaves and Padre Fernandez sees him on the street, telling a friend he is going
to the Civil Government to see the posters.
Padre Fernandez says he is jealous of the Jesuits who educated Isagani (even though
they disowned Isagani after he was arrested).
Trivia:
Quotes:
Padre Fernandez: I have always liked young men who express themselves clearly
and who think and act for themselves; it does not matter to me that their ideas may
differ from mine.
Padre Fernandez: There are young men who slander us behind our backs, and
when face to face, kiss our hands and with vile smiles beg for a glance! Puf! What
would you have us do with such creatures?
Isagani: Here, all independent thought, all words which are not an echo of the will of
the powerful, are judged as subversion, and you know very well what that means. A
fool is he who allows himself to say in a loud voice what he thinks, and risks suffering
persecution!
Isagani: When I find myself before a person whom I esteem and respect, I prefer to
be the accused rather than the accuser; I prefer to defend myself than to offend.
Isagani: Liberty is to man what education is to the mind, and the friars not wanting
us to have it is the source of our discontent.
Padre Fernandez: Education is not given except to those who deserve it, to give it to
men without character and without morality is to prostitute it.
Isagani: What we are, you have made us. A people which is tyrannized is obliged to
be hypocritical; those to whom the truth is denied give you falsehood.
Isagani: If after three centuries and a half the sculptor has been able to produce
nothing more than a caricature, indeed, he must be truly stupid.
Padre Fernandez: The people hate the soldier or the guard who makes the arrest,
and not the judge who decreed the imprisonment.
Padre Fernandez: There are beliefs, there are theories and laws which, dictated
with the best of intentions, produce the most deplorable consequences.
Padre Fernandez: To make criminals of a people you have only to doubt their
honesty.
Isagani: The students, besides not gaining any great benefit from the years spent in
classes, often leave there shreds of their dignity, if not all of it.
Isagani: There is the innate desire in man to cultivate his intelligence, a desire that
here grows more powerful the more it is repressed.
Isagani: He who gives his gold and his life to the State, has the right to require of it
that it give him the light to better earn his gold and better conserve his life.
Chapter Title: Panic
Setting: Manila
Characters:
 Ben Zayb
 Horatius
 Simoun
 Padre Irene
 Chichoy
 Silversmith
 Pyrotechnist / Schoolmaster
 Tadeo (mentioned)
Plot:
Everyone in town is anxious after hearing about the students’ arrests.

Chapter Summary:
Ben Zayb is happy because the poster incident confirms what he said in an article a
few days earlier: that education is bad for the Philippines. Horatius, his rival, made
fun of him for it in an article, calling Ben Zayb a Muslim when he writes (because
Muslims are known to have burned the library of Alexandria).
Even the Chinese are tense, and the friars do not go to Chinaman Quiroga’s bazaar
anymore. Chinaman Quiroga does not allow stranger Indios to enter, and even hires a
veteran guard escort. He thinks of the rifles and shells in his warehouse (that Simoun
told him to keep) and is afraid he will be searched, since people frame others by
placing illegal objects in their homes, then force the owner to pay a fine.
Simoun told Chinaman Quiroga he doesn’t want to see him and instead tells him to
keep the weapons where they are. Chinaman Quiroga wants to go to Don Custodio to
ask if he should get weapons to guard his bazaar but Don Custodio doesn’t want to see
him either. Chinaman Quiroga decides to ask Ben Zayb, but sees him armed and using
revolvers as paperweights so instead he locks himself in his house.
At 4:00 pm the rumors spread that the students had a deal with fugitives of San Mateo
to surprise the city. It is said the students were going to Malacanang to pretend to
protest but were actually going to see Capitan General, but Capitan General was
meeting with the provincial governors at that time, as well as Padre Sibyla and Padre
Irene (who was sent by Padre Salvi).
Padre Irene had visited Capitan Tiago and told him that Capitan General was advised
to spread terror and teach the subversives a lesson. Some people say that the
subversives should be shot, while others say that soldiers should guard the streets and
catch subversives. Others want to take advantage of the situation and want a
disturbance, so that the rich and ilustradoswill be arrested, to help clean up the
country. Padre Irene claims that if not for him the streets would be in chaos. He is sad
that Simoun got ill and couldn’t counsel Capitan General also.
Capitan Tiago is already panicking because Basilio was arrested and his house house
was searched. Because of Padre Irene’s words he has what appears to be a heart attack
and collapses, holding onto Padre Irene. Padre Irene is so scared he runs out of the
room, and Capitan Tiago falls to the floor.
Meanwhile, everyone in town is tense and there are many incidents:
 Some cuartos are thrown to the children during a christening at church and an
officer thinks it’s an act of subversion. He pulls out his sword and gets tangled in
the curtains. People see him and panic, thinking there is a revolution. Stores are
suddenly closed.
 Neighbors find two people burying shotguns, and they get into a fight.
 Someone sees a shadow near his house in Ermita and shoots it, thinking it’s a
student. It turns out to be a veteran guard. The witnesses bury the body of the
veteran guard.
 In Dulumbayan, a sentinel shoots a pig and a deaf old man by accident, who did not
hear him ask who was there.
 In a confectionary shop, people speculate: one asks about Tadeo, who owes her
money. There are rumors that Isagani surrendered himself and that Paulita Gomez
will probably marry a Spaniard. There are also rumors that Tadeo and Isagani were
shot.
 Women pray and people stay off the streets.
At the silversmith’s house, people also talk. A worker says it is Padre Salvi who put the
posters. The silversmith says there might be people spying on them right now. A clerk
tells Chichoy that it was Chinaman Quiroga because he has a hundred thousand pesos
in Mexican silver waiting at the bay, and he’s creating a distraction to get the goods in.
They all hear footsteps and become quiet. The silversmith says San Pascual Bailon is a
great saint.
Placido Penitente arrives with the pyrotechnist and says that he couldn’t talk to the
prisoners. There are about thirty of them in jail. The pyrotechnist says there is going to
be a slaughter that night. The silversmith gets scared and starts shaking. Chichoy says
there won’t be a slaughter because Simoun is sick.
The pyrotechnist asks what they should do now that the revolution has failed. Chichoy
says they have to revolt for real because they are going to die. The pyrotechnist tells
them to be prepared since now it’s kill or be killed. The silversmith starts coughing.
They all go home with hammers, saws and weapons, worried they are going to die.
Peninsular artillerymen replace the sentries at the city gates. Ben Zayb takes a walk
the next morning and sees near the Luneta walls, a corpse of an India, half-naked. He
thinks he should write an article about it but no one is discussing it in the newspapers.
Instead there are articles about accidents and falls caused by banana peels.
Ben Zayb instead writes about a cyclone in America that destroyed towns and killed
two thousand people. His article says that the cause of the cyclone is because charity is
more common in Catholic countries, so the Philippines should be thankful it does not
suffer incidents like in the United States.
Horatius writes an article criticizing Ben Zayb for “reducing himself to pleading for the
Philippines” since Ben Zayb is not Catholic.
Trivia:
 Silversmith’s advice of “Prudence!” is similar to Tandang Selo’s advice “Patience!”
Quotes:
Pyrotechnist: A revolution failed, and what shall we do then?
Chichoy: Well, make it real then, now that they are going to slaughter us.
Pyrotechnist: A revolution failed, and what shall we do then?
Chichoy: Well, make it real then, now that they are going to slaughter us.
Pyrotechnist: Nevertheless, prepare yourselves, prepare yourselves. If they want to

force us to kill or be killed…
Silversmith: Prudence, prudence!

Chapter Title: Last Words About Capitan Tiago
Setting: Capitan Tiago’s house
Characters:
 Capitan Tiago
 Padre Irene
 Don Primitivo
 Martin Aristorenas
 Capitan Tinong
 Dona Patrocinio
Plot:
Guests attend Capitan Tiago’s funeral.
Chapter Summary:
The chapter begins with a quote:
Talis vita finis ita.
(His end befitted his life.)
Capitan Tiago’s funeral takes place at his house. The parish priest tells Padre Irene
that Capitan Tiago died without confession, but Padre Irene just laughs. Capitan Tiago
left Padre Irene in charge of his will. According to Padre Irene, Capitan Tiago divided
his estate between Santa Clara, the Pope, the Archbishop and the Religious Orders.
Capitan Tiago also left twenty pesos for needy students, which was suggested by Irene.
Capitan Tiago annulled 20 pesos for Basilio due to Basilio being “ungrateful” but
Padre Irene gave him money from his own share, saying it’s due to his conscience.
Friends gather at Capitan Tiago’s house. There are rumors that while, he was dying,
his soul appeared to nuns surrounded by light. He was wearing a swallow-tailed coat,
his cheek filled with sapa of buyo and a pipe for opium, and he had a fighting cock.
The guests say that now, Capitan Tiago is cockfighting against St. Peter in heaven,
though no one is sure if the cocks are immortal or who serves as the referee. Don
Primitivo argues using quotes by philosophers and says no one would lose because
there is no quarrelling in heaven. Martin Aristorenas argues back and says it would be
a tie at best. Don Primitivo says Martin Aristorenas is going to hell. Martin Aristorenas
gets scared. Chinaman Quiroga gives Don Primitivo a cigar and says when he himself
dies, he will be his own contractor.
Capitan Tinong wants to to dress Capitan Tiago in Franciscan attire, as he has an
outfit that a friar gave to him after donating thirty-six pesos to the church. Capitan
Tinong is sure that the corpse would be saved from the flames of hell. A tailor says that
Capitan Tiago should have a frock coat since that is how the nuns saw him, and he can
make one for thirty-two pesos only. Padre Irene says Capitan Tiago will be in any of
his old suits because God doesn’t take note of attire.
Three friars officiate the funeral rites. All rites possible are performed. Padre Irene
sings Dies Irae in falsetto and the neighbors get headaches. Dona Patrocinio, Capitan
Tiago’s rival, feels jealous and wants to die so she can have better funeral rites.
Trivia:
Quotes:
The pious old woman [Dona Patrocinio] could not suffer the fact that [Capitan Tiago],
whom she had always vanquished in life, would, upon dying, be resurrected with so
much pomp.
Chapter Title: Juli
Setting: January, San Diego
Characters:
 Juli
 Sister Penchang
 Sister Bali
 Padre Camorra
 Tandang Selo
 Juez de Paz (Justice of Peace)
 Teniente of the Guardia Civil
Plot:
Juli finds a way to free Basilio from prison.
Chapter Summary:
News reaches the town that Capitan Tiago has died and that Basilio is in prison.
People speculate that Basilio will be exiled and murdered during the trip, because
January is a “fatal month” (the three priests were hanged in Cavite in January).
Sister Penchang says Basilio is suffering because he would not cross himself if the holy
water in the church was dirty. She believes the holy water cures disease and claims
that it fixed her indigestion when she splashed some on her navel. Other men, who
know that Basilio is a good person, think it’s the friars trying to get revenge on Basilio
because he rescued Juli. Sister Penchang says she doesn’t regret kicking out Juli to not
anger the friars, but she is angry about Juli being free because Juli made progress by
praying and fasting for her.
Sister Bali goes to Juli’s house and has to tell her twice about Basilio’s imprisonment.
Juli at first thinks she’s joking. When she realizes it is true, she faints. When she wakes
up, she cries, thinking it is now her turn to rescue Basilio.
Juli thinks of Padre Camorra and how she has to go to him for help. The authorities
have also imprisoned Tandang Selo in order to get Cabesang Tales to surrender. Padre
Camorra said before that he could have Tandang Selo freed, but had asked for
“sacrifices” from Juli in return. He made her kiss his hand and he often tended to
pinch her. Padre Camorra had also beaten men in the barrio who were serenading
girls. Everyone in the village knows that Cabesang Tales would be pardoned if Juli
went to Padre Camorra.
Juli has become sad and quiet since her family’s troubles started. She once asked
Sister Bali if those who committed suicide went to hell, and Sister Bali said “of course”.
The relatives tried to raise money for Basilio but only managed to gather thirty pesos.
Sister Bali says to ask four the advice of a clerk, who will help if they give a real and a
cigar. She mentions her neighbor Simon, who went to jail for being an unreliable
witness during a robbery. The clerk saved him but he could barely walk and died
anyway because “his rear rotted”.
Juli gives Sister Bali four reales and deer meat (hunted by Tandang Selo) to talk with
the clerk but the clerk says he can do nothing because Basilio is in Manila. The clerk
says to see the Juez de Paz (Justice of Peace). Sister Bali explains the problem to the
Juez de Paz, but he says the only person who can save Basilio is Padre Camorra. The
Juez de Paz advises Juli to speak with Padre Camorra in person.
Juli is afraid to go but Sister Bali says she will accompany her. Sister Bali quotes
Tandang Basio’s booklet, which says that young women should go to the convent to
report on what goes on in their homes. Juli says Sister Bali should go but the Juez de
Paz says that a young face would be more moving.
Juli refuses to go, thinking she did not make that sacrifice to pardon her father and
should not make it to save Basilio. The relatives do not know what Padre Camorra
would do to Juli. They laugh at her fears, thinking he has better options for girls.
Juli wants advice but Tandang Selo is silent and staring at his spear. Juli has a
nightmare of Cabesang Tales being shot and then transforming into Basilio. The next
afternoon, there is talk of shootings so Juli decides to give herself up the next morning
then kill herself afterward.
The next morning, she changes her mind, and after several days Juli is still waiting,
and thinks there might be a miracle. There is news that some prisoners were freed due
to patrons but she wonders who will be sacrificed. Juli has more nightmares about
Cabesang Tales and Basilio dying.
A traveler from Manila reports that all prisoners have been freed except Basilio. He
was forced to sign a petition to ask for exile to the Carolines. Juli finds Sister Bali and
says she is ready. She fixes herself up and appears to be happy. She acts impatient. As
they approach the convent, Juli becomes silent and loses her confidence.
Juli shakes when she sees the convent and says they should go home. Sister Bali drags
her but Juli says no. Sister Bali eventually gives up and says they will go home, but
Basilio will be exiled and shot on the way. That changes Juli’s mind and she enters the
convent.
At night, there are reports that a woman (Juli) leaped to her death from the convent,
and that another woman (Sister Bali) ran out screaming.
An old man (Tandang Selo) goes to the convent but he is not let in. He goes to the
Gobernadorcillo’s house but no one is there. He is told that the Gobernadorcillo is at
the convent. The Juez de Paz is also at the convento, and so is the teniente mayor and
teniente of the Guardia Civil. Tandang Selo returns to his barrio, crying.
At 8:00 pm, more than seven friars from other towns go to the convent to hold a
meeting. Tandang Selo disappears the next day with his spear.
Trivia:
Quotes:
In the Philippines it is a known fact that patrons are needed in everything, from the
time one is baptized until one dies, to obtain justice, secure a passport or exploit
whatever industry.
And meanwhile, those who were so blithely disposing of the destinies of people, he
who commanded legalized murders, he who violated justice and made use of the law to
maintain force, were sleeping in peace.
Chapter Title: The High Official
Setting: Malacanang Palace
Characters:
 Ben Zayb
 Capitan General
 High Official
Plot:
The high official argues with Capitan General for Basilio’s release form jail.
Chapter Summary:
L’Espagne et sa vertu, l’Espagne et sa grandeur
Tout s’en va!
(Spain and her virtue, Span and her grandeur
All that is lost!)
-Victor Hugo
Newspapers in Manila talk about murders in Europe instead of the killings in the
provinces. There are no articles about a band of tulisanes being led by a chieftain
called Matanglawin (Hawkeye). There are only few articles that mention the murders
of people in convents and Spaniards.
The public knows that Padre Camorra left Tiani, but they don’t know if he moved to a
different town or went to stay in a convent in Manila. Ben Zayb feels bad for Padre
Camorra, and says that Padre Camorra has a “good heart”.
Most students were freed thanks to donations. The first was Macaraig and the last was
Isagani (when Padre Florentino went to Manila a week later). People praised Capitan
General for being ‘merciful’ to the students. Basilio stayed in jail because he was found
with prohibited books (referring to the pamphlets of Simoun or his copy of “Legal
Medicine and Toxicology” by Dr. Mata).
Capitan General was advised that there had to be someone to stay in jail or else no one
will respect authority. The high official argues for Basilio’s freedom, saying that if he
stays in jail he cannot graduate and has to study for another year. But the high official
and Capitan General disagree most of the time. Capitan General says it is more reason
for Basilio to stay in jail, as studying another year will be good for him.
The high official says Basilio is innocent and that he wasn’t at the dinner, but Capitan
General says the more innocent the criminal, the better, so that people will be
terrified. It is better to sacrifice the good of one for the good of many.
The high official asks if Capitan General is afraid of the responsibility. Capitan General
asks “What do I have to fear?” as his conscience is clean. He explains that the minister
who appointed him won’t care. The high official argues that he should not forget about
the country. Capitan General asks why he should care about the country when he has
no duties to it and it is not the one that elected him.
The high official says that Capitan General was chosen by Spain, so he should treat the
Indios well so they will not hate Spain. He reminds Capitan General that when he was
on his way to the Philippines, he promised to govern with justice. Capitan General
argues that he is doing what he promised. He asks the high official if he, too, should
share the blame and the high official says he cannot be ordered to because he has
rights.
The high official says he does not want Spain to lose the Philippines but he also doesn’t
want Filipinos to be abused. He says that to be great, Spain does not need to be cruel,
and in fact was greater when it only had its own territory. The high official accuses
General of not understanding the greatness of the Spanish name and that he does not
have honor because for Capitan General, the Spaniard can do evil to keep what he
wants, but for the high official, Spain should lose everything before honor.
High official says he does not want Spain to be known as a tyrant as that’s not what the
ancient kings’ purpose was. He says that they promised to protect the Philippines and
yet they are taking away the freedoms of Indios. They should put themselves in the
place of Filipinos to ask themselves what they would do if put in the same situation.
The high official explains that when people are denied their rights, it is natural to treat
those that denied them as if they were robbers. The high official says that he is not a
soldier but would allow himself to be torn apart to defend the integrity of Spain. He
would rather stand beside the Filipinos than to conquer them, even if Spain is
conqueror.
Capitan General ignores the speech and just asks the high official when the boat
leaves. The high official stares at him then leaves the palace, goes to the garden and
gets in a carriage. He tells the driver that when they eventually declare themselves
independent someday, to remember that in Spain there were people who fought for
their rights. The driver just asks where he wants to be brought.
The high official hands in his resignation letter two hours later and plans to return to
Spain on the next boat.
Trivia:
Quotes:
Capitan General: (to the High official) To govern is to work that way, Senor; often
one must sacrifice the good of one for the good of many… But I am doing more: from
the good of one man I derive the good of all, I preserve the principle of authority so
threatened, its prestige is respected and maintained. With this act of mine I correct
our own errors and those of the others.
General: I have nothing more than my conscience, I behave according to my

conscience, my conscience is satisfied.
General: The country, what have I got to do with the country? Have I by chance
contracted obligations with her? Do I owe her my office? Was she the one who had me
elected?
High Official: Your Excellency has not been chosen by the Filipino people but by
Spain, all the more reason why you should treat the Filipinos well, so that they would
have nothing with which to reproach Spain! All the more reason, my General! Your
Excellency upon coming here promised to govern with justice, to seek the welfare…
High official: I do not want Spain to lose this beautiful empire, these eight millions
of subjects, submissive and patient, who live on disillusion and hopes; but neither do I
wish to soil my hands with their inhuman exploitation.
High official: No, Spain, to be great, has no need to be a tyrant; Spain suffices unto
herself. Spain was greater when she only had her own territory wrested from the
clutches of the Moor! I am also a Spaniard, but before a Spaniard, I am a man, and
before Spain and above Spain, is her honor.
High official: They promised to these islands protection and rectitude, and we play
with the lives and liberties of their inhabitants.
High official: Let us put ourselves in the place of Filipinos and ask ourselves what he
would do in their case!
High official: When a people is denied light, home, liberty, justice, goods without
which life is not possible and at the same time constitute the patrimony of man, those
people have the right to treat those who despoil them as robbers who attack on the
street.
High official: I would place myself beside the oppressed Filipinos, because I would
prefer to succumb for the trampled rights of humanity than to triumph with the
egotistic interests of a nation, even if that nation be called as it is called, Spain!
High official: Someday, when you declare yourselves independent, remember that in
Spainthere was no lack of hearts which beat for you and fought for your rights!
Driver: Where to, Senor?

Chapter Title: Consequences of the Posters
Setting: Summer, Manila
Characters:
 Pecson
 Tadeo
 Juanito Pelaez
 Macaraig
 Isagani
 Sandoval
 Basilio
 Ben Zayb
 Capitan General
 Simoun
 Paulita Gomez
 Tandang Selo (mentioned)
Plot:
The students are suspended. Paulita Gomez decides to marry Juanito Pelaez.
Chapter Summary:
Due to the events at school, mothers tell sons to quit studying and come back to the
province to become farmers. and become. The arrested students are suspended during
exams so only few of them are able to pass.
Pecson, Tadeo and Juanito Pelaez are suspended. Pecson laughs and says he will
become a clerk in court. Tadeo burns his books. Juanito Pelaez is sad about being
suspended, and ends up running his father’s store. But later on he is seen smiling
again. Macaraig was able to get a passport due to his wealth, so he ends up sailing to
Europe. Isagani passes Padre Fernandez’s course but is suspended by the others.
Sandoval’s skills at public speaking allow him to pass the exams.
Basilio is left in Bilibid prison and is interrogated every three days. The cochero,
Sinong, has been updating Basilio of news in Tiani. He has told Basilio about Juli’s
death and Tandang Selo disappearing.
The newspapers (and Ben Zayb) announce that Simoun has recovered, and Ben Zayb
hears a rumor that Simoun will hold a fiesta to celebrate his recovery. It is also to
celebrate his leaving since he will leave with Capitan General (whose term expires in
May). According to rumors, Simoun tried to encourage Capitan General to ask for an
extension but Capitan General refused.
Ben Zayb suggests that Simoun should have bought Capitan Tiago’s house, which Don
Timoteo Pelaez had bought for a low price. Simoun stars hanging out in Don Timoteo
Pelaez’s store.
Weeks later, in April there is a rumor that Juanito Pelaez will marry Paulita Gomez.
Paulita Gomez has fallen out of love with Isagani because of his involvement with the
posters, and how he gave himself up to the police instead of hiding, which to her
means he is not sensible. Instead, Paulita Gomez admires Juanito Pelaez because he is
smart, rich and mestizo (since people think Don Timoteo Pelaez is a full-blooded
Spaniard). Paulita Gomez now looks down on Isagani for being provincial, not having
a respectable family, and not caring about money. Paulita Gomez has complied with
“Darwin’s law” by choosing the “fitter male” who adapts to the environment.
During Holy Week, there is a mutiny by artillerymen but the reason is unknown.
Houses that were made of light materials are demolished by cavalrymen and the
owners are sad, so Simoun goes to see them.
Don Timoteo Pelaez plans to throw a fiesta at the end of April, to celebrate the
wedding of Juanito Pelaez. Capitan General is to be the godfather/sponsor, which was
arranged by Simoun. The fiesta will be scheduled two days before Capitan General
leaves the Philippines.
There are rumors that Simoun will throw jewelry as part of his farewell party.
Everyone wants to attend the fiesta and many buy iron and zinc sheets from Don
Timoteo Pelaez to try to get invited.
Trivia:
 To get a passport, Capitan General made a rule that only those who can ‘spend and
live with ease’ in European cities can leave the country.
 It is implied in the chapter that Simoun does not currently have his own house. It is
possible he sold his house or was renting it from someone the entire time.
Quotes:
Her [Paulita Gomez] love for Isagani had vanished like all first loves anchored in
poetry and on sentiment.
To be able to live in Manila there was no one like Pelaez, who since childhood had had
at his fingertips the grammar of survival.
Chapter Title: The Final Argument

Setting: April, Simoun’s residence
Characters:
 Simoun
 Basilio
Plot:
After Simoun has him freed from prison, Basilio decides to join Simoun’s cause.
Chapter Summary:
Simoun packs his things in the morning. His jewels are in a steel chest, though he
plans to give away bracelets and brooches as gifts.
Capitan General didn’t want to stay any longer in the country because he is afraid of
what people might say. Some people say Simoun does not want to stay because
without Capitan General people that he has angered will get revenge on them. The
next General is said to be a man of morals and might tell Simoun to return his riches.
Other people say that Simoun will move on to another country because there is
nothing left to exploit in the Philippines.
Simoun tells his servant that if Basilio comes, to let him enter. He locks himself in his
room.
Basilio arrives. He has been in jail for two months and his appearance looks haggard.
Simoun is surprised and feels sorry for him. Basilio explains that he refused to join
Simoun’s plans and he was imprisoned, and was only released thanks to Simoun. Now
he is ready to join Simoun.
Simoun is pleased and becomes confident. He tells Basilio that the movement failed
because many left him when they saw him unsure. But now Simoun can control his
emotions because he has no one to care about anymore.
Simoun tells Basilio that if he had joined earlier they would have been successful, with
Simoun getting rid of the corrupt from violence and Basilio helping unite the youth.
Simoun says that the educated were afraid, the rich were selfish and the youth were
dishonest. Only in the mountains did he find men to join his cause.
Simoun brings Basilio to his laboratory. On a table there is a dark green box. Simoun
opens it and shows Basilio a lamp shaped like a pomegranate but as large as a head. It
is colored gold. Simoun opens the burner and reveals a vessel of steel inside. Simoun
shows a yellow crystal flask with Nitroglycerine/dynamite inside. Basilio knows what
it is and feels afraid.
Simoun calls the nitroglycerine “the final argument of the weak” and that they must
fight violence with violence. Simoun tells Basilio he was unsure about using it until
Basilio visited him. He says that tonight, the tyrants will blow up. Simoun assembles
the bomb and puts a lamp shade on it. He explains his plan to Basilio.
The lamp will be on a table at the fiesta later tonight and will be bright enough to light
the whole room. But after twenty minutes the light will become dim. If someone
adjusts the wick, the capsule of fulminate of mercury will detonate and the
pomegranate will explode. The dining room’s roof and floor have sacks of gunpowder
in them so there will be a chain reaction.
Basilio says there is nothing he can assist with. Simoun says that at 9:00 pm the
explosion will be heard in the mountains. He confesses to Basilio that he plotted with
the artillerymen but the uprising failed because of “lack of direction.” The oppressed
people will come out and join Cabesang Tales in Santa Mesa to invade the city.
Simoun convinced the military that Capitan General will stage an uprising so that he
has reasons to stay longer in the Philippines, so they will be on guard and shoot
whoever invades. The people will be scared so Basilio’s job is to lead them to
Chinaman Quiroga’s warehouse where Simoun’s guns are. Cabesang Tales and Simoun
will take over the city and Basilio will be in charge of the bridges, ready to help them.
Basilio’s job is to kill those who fight back or refuse to join them.
Simoun argues that anyone who is not on their side is an enemy and deserves to be
killed because:
 Cowardly fathers will have cowardly sons so their family lines must end.
 A helpless population should die to be replaced by a new, energetic population.
 Death is nothing compared to the suffering of the next generation.
 Death is just like going to sleep.
Because Basilio’s mind has been weakened by months of imprisonment, he does not
think to counter Simoun’s arguments. But the chapter states that Basilio should have
said the following:
 That the worst man is better than a plant because he has a soul and intelligence,
which means he can be redeemed instead of destroying weeds to plant better
things.
 Man has no right to kill one life to save another because everyone has the right to
live.
 Governments are abusive if they blame criminals for crimes they weren’t aware of,
just like how man should not blame others for the faults of their governments or
ancestors.
 Only God can do such things because He can create and is all-powerful, unlike man.
Basilio asks what the world will think of the violence, and Simoun says that the world
will cheer because it has always accepted those that are strongest. Simoun points out
that people celebrated when ‘Indians’ died in America, when Portugal invaded other
islands, when there were revolutions and civil wars in Europe, and when England
invaded the Pacific.
Simoun says that people don’t care about the methods but only see the effects. Any
crime that is executed well will be admired. Basilio agrees and says that the world does
not care about the oppressed. He no longer cares about society because society doesn’t
care about him.
Simoun gives Basilio a revolver and tells him to wait in front of San Sebastian church
at 10:00 pm. At 9:00 pm,he should be far from Anloague street. Basilio agrees, cocks
the gun and leaves.
Trivia:
 Maria Clara is not mentioned by name in this chapter but Simoun implies that
because she is dead, there is no one holding him back.
Quotes:
Simoun was the Devil who did not want to detach himself from his prey.
Pessimistic People: [on Simoun] The field laid waste, the locust moves on to
another part.
Basilio: I have overlooked the murder of one and the tortures of the other, and God
has punished me! Now there remains in me only the will to return evil for evil, crime
for crime, violence for violence!
Basilio: (to Simoun) You were right, and now I have come to tell you: arm my hands
and let the revolution break out!
Simoun: Justice is on my side because my cause is that of the unfortunates…
Simoun: I was holding something in my heart, I was not the master of my emotions
and I still loved… Now everything is dead within me and now there is no sacred corpse
whose sleep I must respect.
Simoun: If we cannot obtain a finished statue, polished in all its details, from the
rough block that we polish, those who are to come will take charge!
Simoun: It is somewhat more than nitroglycerine! It is concentrated tears, repressed

hatred, injustices and wrongs. It is the final argument of the weak, force against force,
violence against violence…
Simoun: This night the most dangerous tyrants will blow up, be pulverized, the
irresponsible tyrants, those who hide themselves behind God and the State, and whose
abuses remain unpunished because no one can prosecute them! This night the
Philippines will hear the explosion which will turn into debris the shapeless
monument whose corruption I have hastened!
Simoun: It is necessary to renew the race. Cowardly fathers breed only slavish sons.
It would not be worth the pain to destroy and then to rebuild with rotten materials!
What? You shudder? You tremble? You fear to sow death?
Simoun: A paralytic and vitiated population must die to give way to another, new,
young, active, full of energy.
Simoun: What is death? Nothingness, or a dream? Can its nightmares be compared

to the reality of the agonies of a whole miserable generation?
Simoun: No more vacillation, no more doubt! What is the pain of death? The
sensation of a moment, perhaps confused, perhaps agreeable like the transit from
wakefulness to sleep…
Basilio: What will the world say at the sight of such butchery?
Simoun: The world will applaud as usual, conceding the right to the strongest, to the
most violent!
Simoun: The common people pay little notice to principle, they look only at the
effect. Execute the crime well, and it will be admired, and you will win more
supporters than would virtuous acts carried to the end with modesty and timidity.
Basilio: What obligations have I to keep with society when she has not kept any with
me?
Chapter Title: The Wedding
Setting: Evening of April, Manila
Characters:
 Basilio
 Juanito Pelaez
 Paulita Gomez
 Simoun
Plot:
Basilio watches people attend the wedding reception of Juanito Pelaez and Paulita
Gomez at Captain Tiago’s house.
Chapter Summary:
Basilio walks on the streets, waiting for time to pass. The students have all gone home
for vacation. Isagani did not want to go home but Basilio found out that he
disappeared in the morning, when Basilio tried to visit him to ask for a place to stay.
Basilio has no money, but tries to feel better by thinking that he is going to be feared
and obeyed in Manila when Simoun’s plan succeeds.
Basilio goes to Capitan Tiago’s old house to get his stuff and saw that it was prepared
for the wedding reception. As he is leaving the street, Basilio sees many carriages pass
him containing well-dressed people. They go in the direction of Rosario Street. He sees
a carriage with Juanito Pelaez inside, beside a girl dressed in white. Basilio recognizes
Paulita Gomez.
Basilio feels sorry for Isagani and wonders if it would be bad to tell him the plan. He
thinks that Isagani would not join them because he did not go through what Basilio
went through. Basilio thinks about how if not for his arrest he would be married, and
practicing medicine in the province. He thinks of Juli being dead and feels angry.
Basilio sees Simoun leave the house with the lamp and enter a carriage. He recognizes
the cochero, Sinong, and is surprised. Basilio sees all the people in Capitan Tiago’s
house joining the party and a lot of veteran guards are on duty.
Capitan General was godfather at the wedding but did not attend the wedding
reception. Instead, Don Custodio is representing him instead. Capitan General’s
wedding gift is a lamp that was brought to the wedding reception by Simoun.
Capitan Tiago’s house had been transformed, with no more smell of opium. There are
carpets, mirrors and chandeliers. The floor is polished. The furniture has been
replaced by other pieces of Louis XC style, with red curtains and vases from Japan.
Don Timoteo Pelaez has replaced Capitan Tiago’s engravings and saints with oil
paintings done by Spaniards.
Trivia:
 It is revealed that Don Timoteo Pelaez had bought Capitan Tiago’s house at half
price and borrowed money from Simoun to buy furniture and decorations.
Quotes:
[Basilio] had a feeling of fierce pleasure in saying to himself that, hungry and all, that
night he was going to be dreaded; that from a poor student and servant, even the sun
would see him as terrible and sinister, standing upon pyramids of corpses, dictating
laws to all those who passed before him in their magnificent coaches.
The ghosts of Juli, mangled in her fall, crossed [Basilio’s] imagination; dark flames of
hatred lighted his eyes, and again he caressed the butt of the revolver, hurting that the
terrible hour had not yet come.
Don Timoteo had sought the rarest and most expensive, and would not have hesitated
at crime had he been told that the Capitan General would like to eat human flesh.
Chapter Title: The Fiesta
Setting: April evening, Capitan Tiago’s house
Characters:
 Juanito Pelaez
 Paulita Gomez
 Dona Victorina
 Ben Zayb
 Capitan General
 Capitan General’s Wife
 Padre Irene
 Padre Salvi
 Simoun
 Basilio
 Isagani
 Don Custodio
 High Official (mentioned)
Plot:
Simoun delivers the lamp to the wedding reception while Basilio bumps into Isagani.
Chapter Summary:

Danzar sobre un volcano
(To dance on a volcano)
The guests who aren’t as wealthy are the first to arrive (employees, merchants,
business executives) and the mood is serious. After a while they start to loosen up,
though some people pretend to not enjoy themselves in order to seem more elite.
The married couple (Juanito Pelaez and Paulita Gomez) arrives with Dona Victorina.
Ben Zayb calls them Cupid and Psyche, and compares them to gods presenting
themselves in Olympus.
Don Timoteo Pelaez is getting tired waiting for Capitan General, while Padre Irene and
Padre Salvi are already there. Someone insults the art prints, saying they ruin the walls
but Don Timoteo Pelaez says they are expensive. In his anger, he promises to collect
the IOUs that the person owes him. Soon, Capitan General finally arrives with his wife.
Capitan General feels sad as this is his last “triumph” after three years of ruling. He
tries to look forward to going back to Europe because he is bringing back a lot of
money. But he remembers that he has enemies in the Court, like the high official.
Other generals like him became bankrupt instead. Capitan General wonders if he
should have stayed longer like Simoun suggested, but realizes that people are not
afraid to stare at him now and do not hide their dislike of him. One party guest tells
another woman that the skirt of the general’s wife was made of the palace curtains.
Meanwhile, Basilio is outside the house watching people enter. He feels bad when he
sees happy people and young girls, thinking they are going to die. He wants to save
them, but when he sees Padre Irene and Padre Salvi arrive he feels angry. He tells
himself that he shouldn’t care because he tried to be a good person but he suffered
anyway.
Basilio sees Simoun arrive with the lamp. He watches Simoun stop, unsure, before
going up the stairs. Basilio imagines death and fires around him and tells himself to
calm down because Capitan General has not arrived yet. He starts shaking. Capitan
General soon arrives and Basilio watches Simoun greet him. Everyone is talking about
the lamp.
Basilio thinks of the innocent people and wants to save them. He tries to enter the
house but is stopped because of his poor attire. Basilio sees Simoun come out, and
knows Simoun already lit the lamp. Simoun gets in a carriage and tells the cochero to
go to Escolta. Basilio tries to run away, pushing through the crowd of people.
Basilio sees Isagani. He tells Isagani to come with him and that they have to get away
from the house. Isagani is watching Paulita Gomez through the window. Isagani asks
why, and that tomorrow Paulita Gomez will no longer be herself. Basilio asks if Isagani
wants to die and Isagani just shrugs. Basilio explains that the lamp in the azotea is
actually a bomb.
Isagani does not want to leave, saying he wants to see Paulita Gomez one last time.
Basilio decides to let Isagani be and leaves. Isagani realizes that Basilio looked scared,
so he starts to believe Basilio’s words. He realizes that Paulita Gomez will die so he
goes into the house.
In the dining room, a parchment is being passed around. It has words written in red
ink:
Mene Thecel Phares
Juan Chrisostomo Ibarra
(“Thou art weighed in the balance and found wanting”)
The line was said to have been written on the wall at Belshazzar’s feast, foretelling
Babylon’s destruction.
Capitan General asks who Ibarra is. Don Custodio says it is a bad joke because Ibarra
was a subversive (filibusterillo) who died more than ten years ago. Padre Irene sees
Padre Salvi looking scared. He asks if Padre Salvi recognizes the signature of his
friend. Padre Salvi is sweating. Padre Salvi says it is written Ibarra’s handwriting.
Everyone looks nervous.
Capitan General says to continue eating but he is also shaking. Don Custodio asks if
the words mean they will be murdered tonight. They wonder if they are going to be
poisoned. The light starts to dim.
Capitan General asks Padre Irene to turn up the wick. Someone runs in and takes the
lamp and runs to the azotea. He throws the lump into the river. The dining room goes
black. The figure jumps into the river.
Trivia:
 Ben Zayb compares Paulita Gomez and Juanito Pelaez to Cupid and Psyche of Greek
mythology. Capitan General is also called “Zeus”, while Padre Irene and Padre Salvi
are called “greater gods”.
 Don Timoteo Pelaez uses figures of Roman mythology instead and compares
Capitan General to “Jupiter”. Capitan General’s wife is compared to “Juno”.
Quotes:
Basilio: What does it matter to me, let the righteous suffer with the sinners.
Basilio: I have tried to forget and forgive; I suffered every imposition and only asked
that I be left in peace. I bothered no one… What have they done to me? Let their
mangled bodies fly through the air! We have suffered enough!
Isagani: Why should I go away? Tomorrow [Paulita Gomez] will no longer be herself!
Basilio: (to Isagani) Do you see that clear white light like an electric lamp, coming
from the azotea? It is the lamp of death! A lamp loaded with dynamite, in a mined
dining-room… It will explode and not a single rat will escape alive. Come!
Basilio: Let destiny have its way!

Chapter Title: The Predicaments of Ben Zayb
Setting: Manila
Characters:
 Ben Zayb
 Editor
 Capitan General
 Padre Camorra
 Don Custodio

Plot:
Ben Zayb writes about the bomb plot incident.
Chapter Summary:
Ben Zayb learns about what happened and enters the dining room when new lights are
brought in. Everyone looks surprised. He decides to go home and write the most
brilliant article ever read.
Ben Zayb exaggerates the story. His article states that he fell on his back and that
sauce landed on Capitan General’s brow. He thinks Capitan General will read his
article, so he makes the Capitan General look like a hero. Ben Zayb says in his article
that Padre Irene going under the table was an act of bravery because he was trying to
catch the thief. Ben Zayb’s article says that Padre Salvi fainted because he felt sadness
at the poor harvest of the Indios. Ben Zayb’s article says that the rest of the people at
the table (like the Countess who held Padre Salvi) didn’t move because they were being
calm and used to danger, but were doing their duties.
Ben Zayb describes the thief as angry and being of a different race, and says that that is
why there should be a permanent military tribunal established in the Philippines. Ben
Zayb ends the article by saying “Go peacefully, brave warrior” (perhaps referring to
Capitan General) and that they will try to find his gift (the lamp) because it is proof of
his bravery.
Ben Zayb sends the article before dawn and goes to sleep. He is woken up at sunrise
with his article and a note from the editor saying that it was rejected because Capitan
General banned any talk of the incident.
Ben Zayb feels sad. He is leaving for Spain in a month or two and cannot publish the
article there because unlike in the Philippines, facts have to be proven in Spain. He
thinks his articles in the Philippines have effects whether they are read or not, unlike
in Spain where people won’t notice him. Ben Zayb wishes a crime would be committed
soon.
Ben Zayb goes to see his editor. The editor says that Capitan General explained that if
people knew that they were robbed, the integrity of the nation would be “endangered”.
Because of that, there will be no search for the lamp or thief and it will be
recommended to the next generals that when dining anywhere, he must have guards.
Only government officials and military are aware of the incident. Ben Zayb
understands, thinking Captain General made a heroic choice.
Ben Zayb is happy when another crime happens. There was a raid on a villa on the
shores of Pasig, where friars are known to spend their vacations. Bandits took 2,000
pesos,leaving a wounded priest and two servants. Ben Zayb exaggerates in his article
and says there were fifty bandits with weapons and that the priest defended himself
with a chair, and instead 10,000 pesos were taken.
Ben Zayb goes to the villa and finds that the wounded priest is Padre Camorra who
was “exiled” to Pasig. There were only three robbers with bolos and they stole fifty
pesos. Padre Camorra was left with a wound on his hand and contusion on his head.
Ben Zayb does not want to believe it and says Padre Camorra does not know what
happened. They start arguing.
The captured robbers confess. They are known as the tulisanes of Matanglawin
(secretly Cabesang Tales) and they are supposed to join him in Santa Mesa to sack
convents and rich homes. A Spaniard (most likely Simoun) was supposed to guide
them, and said he acted on the orders of Capitan General. The military was also
supposed to join them and that the bandits would be pardoned and get a third of the
riches. The signal was the sound of a cannon shot.
They had waited and nothing happened. Some returned home, some went to the
mountains, and some wanted revenge on the Spaniard who did not keep his promise
for the second time. The captured robbers attacked the villa on their own, promising to
give two-thirds of the riches to the Spaniard.
Simoun had vanished, and gunpowder and bullets had been found in his house.
Rumors spread, and people are thankful that they were saved, but are surprised that it
was Simoun all along.
Ben Zayb goes to Don Custodio, bringing revolvers. Don Custodio is working on a
project against American jewelers. He whispers something to Ben Zayb. Ben Zayb gets
scared. Don Custodio makes a signal with his arms, of Simoun creeping up on them.
Ben Zayb asks about the diamonds. Don Custodio mimes a windmill, implying
sweeping away objects. Ben Zayb imitates swallowing air.
Trivia:
Quotes:
Ben Zayb: If only some other crime could be committed tomorrow or the day after.
Chapter Title: The Mystery
Setting: Orenda house, Santa Cruz
Characters:
 Tinay Orenda
 Isagani
 Chichoy
 Momoy
 Sensia Orenda
 Capitana Loleng
 Domingo / Capitan Toringoy
 Senor Pasta
 Don Timoteo Pelaez (mentioned)
 Office Clerk (mentioned)
 Tia Tentay (mentioned)
Plot:
The Orenda family and Isagani discuss the bomb incident.
Chapter Summary:
The rumors of the bomb reach the public. Friends and family are in the Orenda house
talking about it. Tinay is playing sungkawhile everyone discusses the incident. Isagani
usually plays with Tinay Orenda but this time he is busy listening to Chichoy.
Chichoy tells everyone that he delivered earrings to Don Timoteo Pelaez as a gift for
the wedding couple. He saw them demolishing the kiosk which served as a dining
room, and they found gunpowder under the floor, table, seats and roof. Capitana
Loleng asks who put the gunpowder there. Momoy is pale as he had been to the
wedding and was sitting near the kiosk. He says no one knows.
Senor Pasta says there could have not have been more than one person, and that it was
probably an enemy of Don Timoteo Pelaez or a rival of Juanito Pelaez. Everyone looks
at Isagani, who smiles. Capitana Loleng tells him to hide or else he will be accused.
Chichoy said only Don Timoteo Pelaez and Simoun had been in charge of the house.
Isagani just smiles. Capitan Toringoy says all of Anloague street would be gone if the
bomb had exploded.
Capitana Loleng says the people who owe them debts would be gone as they were all at
the wedding, and that they own property near there. Chichoy says that he met his
friend (office clerk) who said it was Simoun responsible. Other people suggested that it
was the friars, Chinaman Quiroga, a student, Macaraig or Isagani. Capitan Toringoy
looks at Isagani.
Everyone doesn’t want to believe it is Simoun as Simoun used to sell them gems and
once complimented the Orenda girls before. Sensia Orenda says but Simoun was at the
fiesta. Momoy says he remembers Simoun leaving when they were going to eat.
Simoun was going to get his wedding gift. They guess that Simoun made himself Don
Timoteo Pelaez’s partner so he could try to kill all the Spaniards.
Sensia Orenda says Tia Tentay once called Simoun the devil. Capitan Toringoy
removes his ring that Simoun gave him. They realize that everything makes sense, and
explains why Simoun is so rich, and why his house smelled like sulfur. Binday Orenda
says she saw blue flames at Simoun’s house.
They realize that the lamp was meant to be explode. They wonder if the thief is one of
the “Black Hand”. Momoy says no one knows if the thief was a Spaniard, Chinese or
Indio.
Isagani says that if the thief had known what was going to happen, he wouldn’t have
taken the lamp and that he would never want to be in the thief’s place. He soon leaves
to stay permanently with his uncle (Padre Florentino)
Trivia:
 It is mentioned that the Orenda family has a talking parrot.
Quotes:
Isagani: It is always wicked to take what does not belong to you. If that thief had
known what it was all about and had been able to reflect, surely he would not have
done it! For nothing in this world would I wish to be in his place!
Chapter Title: A Trick of Fate
Setting: May, Luzon
Characters:
 Cabesang Tales
 Mautang
 Carolino / Tano
 Corporal
 Tandang Selo
 Juan de Paz (mentioned)
Plot:
Soldiers are attacked by bandits in the mountains.
Chapter Summary:
Matanglawin’s band appears in many provinces and causes chaos, destroying farms
and assassinating the juan de paz of Tiani. They steals weapons in the town hall in
Cavite and are well-known even in Tayabas, Pangasinan, Albay and Cagayan.
Matanglawin captures villagers and tortures them if they fight back. They know that if
they ally with him they will be punished by the government instead, so most villagers
decide to join him.
Because of this, economy in the towns suffers. People are afraid to travel and the poor
are captured by guardia civiles and thought to be bandits, so they are tortured.
Six or seven suspects are being marched on a road around a mountain, surrounded by
ten or twelve guards and tied together. Anyone who falls is beaten with a branch.
When the guards stop to drink, the prisoners are not given water. They are beaten
again in order to start moving.
One of the soldiers (named Mautang) stops using the branch and starts kicking the
prisoner. Another soldier, Carolino (who did not abuse the prisoners), tells him to
stop. Mautang says Carolino is probably new, and that he feels this way only because
their prisoners are their countrymen.
Mautang says they should be treated like that so they won’t escape. One of the
prisoners asks to rest. The corporal says to keep going because the place is dangerous.
Mautang hits the prisoner with a branch again and the prisoner says he is more cruel
than a Spaniard. Mautang starts hitting him some more when suddenly he is shot
dead.
The corporal tells everyone to halt but there is another bullet that hits him in the
thigh. The corporal tells the guards to shoot the prisoners. The prisoners beg for mercy
but they are killed. The guards start shooting at the mountains but they cannot see the
enemy.
The corporal yells at Carolino to use his marksmanship skills. A man appears on the
rock and makes signs with his rifle. The corporal says to fire at him and the guards try
but miss. The man keeps shouting.
Carolino thinks he recognizes the figure but the corporal yells to shoot. Carolino
shoots and the man is hit and falls. Another man appears holding a lance and the
soldiers shoot him. The guards move forward (Carolino walking behind them), and
one of them sees a dying old man on the rock. He stabs him with his bayonet but the
old man does not notice. He looks at Carolino and points to something behind him. It
is revealed that Carolino is actually Tano, Cabesang Tales’ son who returned from the
Carolines.
Carolino recognizes his grandfather, Tandang Selo. Tandang Selo keeps pointing
behind the rocks, at Cabesang Tales’ body.
Trivia:
Quotes:
In its impotence, the Government put on a show of force against the persons who
appeared suspect, so that by force of cruelty the people would not notice its frailty, the
fear that goaded such measures.
The cold of Siberia would perhaps be kinder than the sun of May in the Philippines!
Chapter Title: The Final Chapter
Setting: Padre Florentino’s Retreat
Characters:
 Simoun
 Padre Florentino’s servant
 Don Tiburcio de Espadana (mentioned)
 Teniente of the Guardia Civil (mentioned)
 Dona Victorina (mentioned)
Plot:
Padre Florentino talks to a dying Simoun.
Chapter Summary:
Padre Florentino is playing the reed organ. His friend Don Tiburcio de Espadana, who
was hiding there, just left, after getting a note from the teniente of the guardia civil.
The note said the following:
My dear Chaplain: I have just received from the commandant a telegram which
says: Spaniard hidden house Padre Florentino lame capture dead alive. As the
telegram is expressive enough, warn the friend so that he will not be there when I go
to arrest him at eight o’clock tonight.
Yours ever, PEREZ
Burn this letter.
Don Tiburcio de Espadana was shocked, thinking that Dona Victorina wanted him to
be shot.
Padre Florentino explained to him the misspelling: cojera (which means ‘lameness’ in
Spanish) is supposed to be spelled as cogera (‘will catch’) and the hidden Spaniard
refers to Simoun, who came two days ago, injured. But Don Tiburcio de Espadana did
not listen, because Isagani had written to him saying Dona Victorina wanted him dead
or alive. Don Tiburcio de Espadana left to hide in a woodcutter’s hut.
Simoun had arrived with a chest. He was bleeding and depressed. Padre Florentino
took in Simoun because he didn’t know yet about what happened in Manila. He
thought that because Capitan General left, enemies were trying to get revenge on
Simoun. Padre Florentino wondered if the wounds were from Simon trying to get
away, or from a fight or a suicide attempt. Simoun refused to be treated by the doctor.
Padre Florentino looks out at the sea. When he told Simoun that the police were
coming at 8:00 pm to arrest him, Simoun only smiled. Padre Florentino wonders why
Simoun doesn’t hide, and thinks it is because Simoun is too proud. Padre Florentino
compares Simoun’s situation from before (rich and powerful) to now (being in hiding).
Padre Florentino does not care that two months ago Simoun ignored him when he
tried to ask for help in freeing Isagani from prison, or that Simoun helped plan Paulita
Gomez’s wedding, which depressed Isagani. Padre Florentino cares only about fixing
Simoun’s injuries. He wonders if he should hide Simoun. A servant says Simoun wants
to speak to him.
Simoun is in Padre Florentino’s bedroom, in a camagong bed. Padre Florentino sees

that Simoun is in pain. Padre Florentino asks if Simoun is suffering, and Simoun says
that soon his suffering will end. Padre Florentino asks what Simoun took, pointing to a
bottle. Simoun says it does not matter.
Simoun says he wants to tell Padre Florentino his secret and his last will. Simoun asks
if there is a god. Padre Florentino says he can give Simoun an antidote, like
apomorphine, ether or chloroform. Padre Florentino kneels to pray, and then sits
beside the bed to hear Simoun’s story. Simoun tells Padre Florentino his real name
and Florentino is shocked.
Simoun tells his story:
Thirteen years ago, he came back from Europe to marry the woman he loved, and
promised to do good and forgive those who wronged him. But he was involved in an
uprising plotted by his enemies and was only able to escape death due to the help of a
friend. He swore to avenge himself.
He dug up the family wealth in a forest and went abroad. He got involved in the war of
Cuba and met Capitan General (who was a comandante then). He lent Capitan
General money, and eventually became his friend, keeping Capitan General’s crimes a
secret. He manipulated Capitan General and encouraged him to commit injustices
since he knew Capitan General was greedy.
The story continues until night, and Padre Florentino meditates. He says God will
forgive Simoun because everyone makes mistakes and Simoun has suffered. Padre
Florentino says God ruined Simoun’s plans one by one and that everyone should be
thankful.
Simoun says that means God wants the islands to remain in their current state. Padre
Florentino says he cannot read God’s thoughts but he believes that God has not
abandoned the people. He says that God is there when the oppressed fight for their
rights and family.
Simoun asks why God did not support him. Padre Florentino says it is because God
cannot approve of his ways because Simoun also helped ruin the country by
committing wrongs to fix wrongs. Hate only creates monsters, crime and criminals
and only love can create good things. Padre Florentino tells Simoun that the country
will be free one day due to virtue, sacrifice and love instead of vice and crime.
Simoun asks then why God has to deny liberty to people and save those who are worse
than Simoun, and why does he allow so many good people to suffer? Padre Florentino
answers that people must suffer so their ideas will become known. Simoun says “I
knew it” and realizes he made the tyranny worse.
Padre Florentino says that Simoun only helped the country decay instead of producing
a single idea. An immoral government produces immoral people. Simoun asks then
what are they supposed to do. Padre Florentino answers: “To suffer and to work”.
Simoun says that is easy to say if one doesn’t suffer and when work is rewarded.
Simoun asks what kind of God would consider that just? Too many people suffer for
no reason. Padre Florentino says that only a just God does, because he punishes lack of
faith and vices. People suffer the consequences and their children suffer them too.
Padre Florentino says God makes people suffer so they can become better.
Padre Florentino says people must deserve liberty, fighting and dying for it, and when
people do that, God will help make the tyrants fall to allow liberty to win. Padre
Florentino says Filipinos must blame themselves, because Spain will only give them
liberty when they become competent. There is no point of independence if the slaves
become tyrants as well.
Padre Florentino says that until Filipinos can stop abusing when they themselves are
abused, they are not prepared to have liberty because they do not understand it. He
compares it to a husband not getting to marry the wife until he loves her enough and is
willing to die for her.
Simoun takes Padre Florentino’s hand but is quiet. Padre Florentino wonders where
the youth are who will fight for ideas and are willing to die for the country. He thinks
to himself that everyone is waiting for them. Padre Florentino cries and releases
Simoun’s hand. He goes to the window. The servant knocks and asks if he should light
the lamp.
The lamp is lit. Padre Florentino realizes that Simoun is dead. Padre Florentino asks
God to have mercy and those like Simoun, who have turned away from the right path.
The servants kneel and pray for Simoun’s body. Padre Florentino gets Simoun’s chest
of iron from the cabinet. He goes to the cliff where Isagani usually watches the sea.
Padre Florentino throws the chest into the sea.
Padre Florentino addresses the chest, saying it will do no evil by being at the bottom of
the sea.
Trivia:
Quotes:
Simoun: What is done is done. I should not fall alive into anyone’s hand….
Simoun: (to Padre Florentino) You who believe so much in God… I want you to tell
me if there is a God!
Padre Florentino: God will forgive you, Senor… Simoun.
Padre Florentino: I know that He has not abandoned the people who in the
supreme moments have trusted in Him and made Him Judge of their oppression.
Padre Florentino: No, God who is justice, cannot abandon His own cause, the cause
of freedom without which no justice is possible!
Padre Florentino: The glory of saving a country is not for him who has contributed
to cause its ruin.
Padre Florentino: You believed that what crime and iniquity have debauched and
deformed, another rcrime and another iniquity could purify and redeem! Fallacy! Hate
does not create anything but monsters, crime, criminals. Only love brings in the end
marvelous works; only virtue can save!
Padre Florentino: No, if our country is to be free one day it would not be through
vice and crime; it will not be by corrupting its sons, deceiving some, buying others, no!
Redemption implies virtue, virtue, sacrifice, and sacrifice, love!
Simoun: What are my wrongs beside the crime of those governing?

Padre Florentino: The just and the deserving must suffer so that their ideas may be
known and spread out! The vase must be shaken or broken to spread its perfume; the
rock has to be struck to bring out the spark!
Padre Florentino: You fomented social decay without sowing a single idea. From
that ferment of vices could only surge revulsion, and if anything was born from night
to morning, it would be at best a mushroom, because spontaneously only mushrooms
can rise from garbage.
Padre Florentino: An immoral government assumes a demoralized people, an

administration without conscience, rapacious and servile citizens in the towns; bandits
and brigands in the mountains! Like master, like slave; like Government, like country!
Simoun: Then what can be done?
Padre Florentino: To suffer and to work!
Simoun: It is easy to say that when one does not suffer… When the work is rewarded!
Padre Florentino: He is the God of liberty, Senor Simoun, who obliges us to love
Him by making the yoke heavy for us; a God of mercy, of equity who, while He
punishes us improves us, and only concedes well-being to him who has deserved it
with his efforts.
Padre Florentino: The school of suffering tempers; the arena of combat strengthens
the soul.
Padre Florentino: If Spain sees us less complacent with tyranny and more disposed
to fight and suffer for our rights, Spain would be the first to give us liberty, because
when the fruit of conception reaches maturity, woe unto the mother who would wish
to stifle it!
Padre Florentino: Why independence if the slaves of today will be the tyrants of
tomorrow?
Padre Florentino: Where are the youth who will consecrate their golden hours,
their illusions, and enthusiasm for the welfare of their country?
Padre Florentino: God have mercy on those who have turned away from the path!
Padre Florentino: May Nature guard you in her deep abysses among the corals and
pearls of her eternal seas! When for a holy sublime end men should need you, God will
draw you from the breast of the waves… Meanwhile there you will do no evil, you will
not distort right, you will not foment avarice…!

El Filibusterismo (El Fili) - Chapter 1 Chapter Title: On Deck Setting: December Morning, Steamship Tabo (Pasig) Characters

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El Filibusterismo (El Fili) - Chapter 1 Chapter Title: On Deck Setting: December Morning, Steamship Tabo (Pasig) Characters

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El Filibusterismo (El Fili) – Chapter 1

Chapter Title: On Deck

Setting: December morning, Steamship Tabo (Pasig)

The book starts with the quote:

“Sic itur ad astra.”

(This way to the stars.)

 Steamship Tabo sails upstream

Don Custodio’s projects were as famous as a quack doctor’s prescriptions.

Chapter Title: Below Deck

Setting: December morning, Steamship Tabo (Pasig), below deck

 Below deck, there are only benches and stools.

Chapter Title: Legends

Setting: December morning, Steamship Tabo (Pasig), on deck

The chapter opens with the following lines:

Ich weiss nich was soll es bedeuten

Dass ich so traurig bin!

I do not know why!)

They take turns telling legends.

1. Malapad-na-bato (told by Skipper)

2. Cave of Dona Geronimo (told by Padre Sibyla)

3. Miracle of San Nicolas (told by Padre Salvi)

Padre Camorra: Why should a baptism cost less than a chicken?

Chapter Title: Cabesang Tales

Tandang Selo: Patience!

Tandang Selo: In lawsuits, he who wins is left without a shirt.

El Filibusterismo (El Fili) – Chapter 5

Chapter Title: A Cochero’s Christmas Eve

Setting: Christmas Eve, San Diego

 ‘Cochero‘ means rig driver

“Sinang, as short as when our readers first met her”

Basilio: Everyone makes business in this country except us!

El Filibusterismo – Chapter 6 Summary

El Filibusterismo (El Fili) – Chapter 6

Chapter Title: Basilio

Setting: Christmas Eve, Forest of Ibarras (San Diego)

El Filibusterismo (El Fili) – Chapter 7

Chapter Title: Simoun

Setting: Christmas Eve, Forest of Ibarras (San Diego)

Simoun tries to convince Basilio to join his cause.

Simoun compares Hispanization to destroying the national identity. He says that by

Simoun: Science is not the end of man.

Simoun: Patriotism can only be a crime in the oppressor nations.

Simoun: Resignation is not always a virtue. It is a crime when it encourages

Simoun: Have patience.

El Filibusterismo (El Fili) – Chapter 8

Chapter Title: Merry Christmas

Setting: Christmas Day, Sagpang (San Diego)

El Filibusterismo (El Fili) – Chapter 9

Chapter Title: Pilates

Setting: Sagpang (San Diego)

Sister Penchang puts Juli to work, and Cabesang Tales returns.

Padre Clemente claims he has nothing to do with Tales’ disappearance because

El Filibusterismo (El Fili) – Chapter 10

Chapter Title: Wealth and Misery

Setting: Sagpang (San Diego)

Simoun sells his jewels in Cabesang Tales’ house.

Simoun shows the guests his jewelry.

 List of jewelry Simoun shows his buyers:

1. Necklaces of Cleopatra that were found in pyramids

El Filibusterismo (El Fili) – Chapter 11

Chapter Title: Los Banos

Setting: December, Los Banos

Capitan General goes hunting in Bosoboso but has to be accompanied by a music