EL FILIBUSTIRISMO

 Characters:
o Simoun
 Crisostomo Ibarra, believed to be dead at the end of Noli Me Tangere, made his
fortune abroad and returns to the Philippines as the wealthy jeweller, Simoun,
disguised with a beard and tinted glasses. His sufferings, related in the first
novel, have motivated him to take his revenge. Hence he becomes a rebel, the
titular "filibustero". While he appears to side with the wealthy and influential in
society, his motivation is actually to encourage them to abuse the masses who
would then be driven to revolt by increasing abuses. Whereas he once sought
reform and education, he now resorts to subterfuge and violence.
o Basilio
 Taking to heart the advice of the dying boatman Elias to study at the end of  Noli
Me Tangere, he went to Manila after burying his mother. There, he was taken in
by Capitan Tiago and was able to go to San Juan de Letran. Though a diligent
student, he failed to please his teachers, who were affronted by the efforts of a
poor native to improve his status in life. His situation in the school improved
when his skill in a fencing match impressed one of his teachers. Having high
grades, he was encouraged by Capitan Tiago to move to Ateneo, where the
teachers were more enlightened and encouraging. While there he pursued a
medical degree and became involved in a movement of some students, headed
by Isagani, to set up a school for the teaching of Spanish to natives. At the time
of Simoun's arrival, he is looking forward to graduating as valedictorian then
marrying his childhood sweetheart, Juliana
o Kabesang Tales
 Aspiring to start his own farm, he suffered great losses. First, his wife and eldest
daughter died while clearing their land. Then most of his land was seized and he
was charged an exorbitant tax on the little left to him. Known to be dependable,
he was elected the kabesa or head of the barangay, which meant often having
to appease the higher officials by shouldering the expenses of those who were
unable to pay their taxes. His son was conscripted by the Civil Guard and his
daughter, Juliana, became a servant to help pay off their debts. Finally, when
Simoun comes to pass the night at his house, he takes Simoun's revolver and
goes to join the tulisanes. He murders the friar-administrator and the new
tenants of his land. Later Juliana is killed in an encounter with a friar and his
father, struck dumb, dies in an encounter with the Guardia Civil, shot by his own
grandson
o Padre Florentino
 A secular Filipino priest. Pressured by his mother, he became a priest even
though he was inl ove. After his former sweetheart married a worthless man, he
devoted himself to his priestly duties and the study of natural sciences. He
prefers to live alone on his family's remote seaside property than to maintain
the position of curate, which suggests his strong character in avoiding the
temptations of a prestigious position and high income. Through his words to the
dying Simoun, he reaffirms Rizal's stance that liberation must be achieved not
through bloody revolution but through peaceful reforms
 Summary:
o Chapter 7: Simoun
 Basilio is about to leave the wood when he notices the shadow of a man
approaching. Basilio announces his presence and is surprised to find out that the
stranger is indeed Simoun the jeweler who, in reality, is Crisostomo Ibarra in
disguise. Simoun tries to convince Basilio to join him in his plans to avenge the
cruel death of his mother (Sisa) and his younger brother (Crispin). Basilio,
however, is not completely in favor of this plan, and tells Ibarra that vengeance
would not bring his family back.
 Plot:
 Simoun tries to convince Basilio to join his cause.
 Analysis:
 The dark forest symbolizes the many secrets kept by Simoun from the
public.
 Basilio symbolizes the Filipino youth, whom Rizal (through SImoun)
advises to be more nationalistic (i.e., love your own language, fight for
your country’s freedom)
 Lessons:
 People who are so different will cling to their own beliefs. Simoun wants
a bloody revolution, while Basilio prefers to search for knowledge
because this will lead to the attainment of justice. 
 Knowledge is better than politics/nationalism. (Basilio) 
 The above point can be attained only in an environment where there is
neither oppressor nor oppressed. To achieve such an environment, only
has to change the present system even if it requires a bloody
revolution. (Simoun) 
 One‘s painful past (Basilio‘s) can be set aside by some people. Others
(Simoun), however, will never rest until they have their revenge. 
 If you cannot stop a corrupt government, then support it and help it
spread its corrupt ways until the oppressed people rise up in revolt
(Simoun‘s strategy)
 Point to Note:
 Simoun is planning his vengeance for three people – 1) Don Rafael; 2)
Maria Clara and; 3) Elias.
 Question: Why doesn't Simoun just kill Basilio in order to protect his secret and
keep his true identity hidden?
 Basilio, like him, is a poor unfortunate soul victimized by the cruel
clutches of the government and the church.
 Basilio wouldn't run to the authorities because he himself is a hunted
man.
 Basilio owes Simoun -- when Ibarra had helped in treating Sisa's ill
condition and in digging her grave as well.
 If things ever came to the worst, it would be Simoun's word against
Basilio's, and it is no doubt that the government would believe Simoun.
 Simoun needs lads like Basilio for his plans of rebellion.  And among all
the young men in the town, it is Basilio who understands Simoun the
best.
o Chapter 33: La Ultima Razon
  Basilio is released from prison and immediately approaches Simoun in order to
help initiate a revolution. Simoun is pleased that Basilio will join his cause. He
directs Basilio to meet Cabesang Tales at a designated time to acquire the riffles
that are hidden in Quiroga’s warehouse. Simoun is to place at an important
gathering a dynamite-laden lamp that would then explode to signal the attack.
 Trivia:
 Maria Clara is not mentioned by name in this chapter but Simoun
implies that she is dead, there is no one holding him back.
 Points to Note:
 Simoun had previously approached Basilio and had asked the youth to
join him in his plan of revolt. That was sometime in April, near close the
semester.
 The students were taken to prison at the middle of April.
 Basilio was in jail for three months.
 FAQs:
 Why doesn’t the governor-general want to lengthen his stay in office?
o According to him, he is afraid of what people might say about him
behind his back.  The real reason is, the governor-general had
already saved enough money for himself and surely, with his recent
association with Simoun, the jeweler had advised him not to exert
any more effort and invest any more money in trying to lengthen his
term.  In Simoun’s interest, however, the governor-general had
already caused enough trouble to the nation to corrupt the social
system and finally make it ready for a revolution.
 What do most people believe about the relationship of Simoun with the
governor-general?
o They say that Simoun is a demon in human flesh who controls the
governor-general and seduces him to do dishonorable things. 
That’s why, when the governor-general leaves the country, Simoun
will leave with him.
 What has changed in Simoun in the past two months?
o He has lost his spirit and his vitality, brought about by his doubts
regarding the true object of his planned rebellion.  It wasn’t like
before, when he had a clear objective to reclaim and rescue Maria
Clara.  Now things were different.  With the maiden gone, the
rebellion was purely intended to satisfy the lust to kill and exact
vengeance in order to somehow dull the searing pain of pity for
himself that he had always claimed was for the aggrieved and
oppressed Filipinos.
o Chapter 39: Conclusion
 Simoun, wounded and exhausted, goes to the house of Padre Florentino to hide
from the civil guards who are sent to arrest him and take him into
custody.  Simoun drinks a poison, then reveals his true identity to Padre
Florentino – that he, Simoun the jeweler, is in fact Juan Crisostomo Ibarra, the
fugitive believed to have died in the river years ago.  He admits that everything
is his futile attempt to corrupt the government and the society so that he could
start a revolution to free the country from the bonds of Spain.  Padre Florentino
 corrects Simoun, telling him that freedom cannot be won by violence and the
shedding of innocent blood but by proper education, hard work, and long-
suffering.
 Points to Note:
 Both the last chapter of the Noli and El Fili are untitled.
 The sun is about to set when Simoun reveals his true identity and life to
Padre Florentino
 FAQs:
 Why did Simoun go to Padre Damaso?
o Simoun felt that the priest was the one who could understand
him more than anyone else.
 What could have caused Simoun’s wounds?
o He could have gotten it from the tulisanes who thought they
were being played again by Simoun in the jeweler’s revolt.
 Padre Damaso: “—from the hands of those you urged
you have been given punishment for your wrongs.”
 What was the mystery behind SImoun’s sad and cynical smile when he
learned he was to be arrested that night?
o He has made up his mind to end his own life.
 The three (3) disappointments in the life of Simoun happened when:
 Simoun failed to save Maria Clara
 Simoun’s lack of care in certain events
 Someone removed the lamp from the house, and thus foiled the plans
of Simoun
 Note:
 On the point of whether God allows evil in this world, Padre Florentino
(similar to Balagtas) simply says that evil is “just there.”
 Other Summaries
o Chapter 7:
 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.
o Chapter 33:
 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 the Capitan General, the 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.
o Chapter 39:
 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: Spaniards hidden
house Padre Florentino lame capture dead alive. As the
telegram is expensive 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.
 Links:
o http://rizalville.com/el-filibusterismo-chapter-33-summary
o http://rizalville.com/el-filibusterismo-chapter-39-summary
o http://rizalville.com/el-filibusterismo-chapter-39-summary
o https://www.scribd.com/doc/156537244/Chapter-Summaries-of-El-Filibusterismo
o https://www.scribd.com/document/127338943/Characters-of-El-Filibusterismo
o