El Filibusterismo

CHAPTER IV

Kabesang Tales

A REFLECTION PAPER

In partial Fulfillment of the Requirements

In the Subject BSIT-3

Rizal’s Life and Works

To be Submitted to

Mrs. Reinne Villanueva.

Submitted by

Jaspher M. Tampos

Date of submission: 28 May 2021

 ABSTRACT

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. Cabesang Tales starts out as a simple farmer who cares first and
foremost about providing for his family. As he gains wealth, however, he shows himself to be quite naïve.
His idealism and trust in the system lead him to become cabeza de barangay to help the town. That
causes him to pay for costs with his own money. Cabesang Tales also puts his trust in lawyers and
judges, hiring many to help him go against the friars and expecting them to make the right judgment.
When they side with the friars, Cabesang Tales is left poor and cheated. 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. Kabesang Tales cultivates a piece of land with his father and his
family. Because of having to endure hard work and manual labor under the sun, Tales's wife and eldest
daughter die. At the time of harvest, some men representing a certain religious order lay claim to the land
and demand from Tales an annual payment of rent. Having no other choice, Tales accepts the
agreement. However, year after year the rent keeps going up in incredible increments and Tales decides
he has had enough. He brings the issue up in court, demanding that the religious order provide proof of
their ownership of the land. Tales loses the case. Time passes and he is kidnapped by bandits
demanding ransom for his neck. In the attempt to gather up enough money to pay for the release of her
father, Juli (Tales's daughter) borrows money from Hermana Penchang and works for the woman as a
servant in order to pay the debt.

CHAPTER 4 Kabesang Tales if Tales did not win the case, then he felt that he

won’t need his son anyway. Tales built a fence

Selo, who adopted Basilio in the forest, is now
around his property and patroled it (he was
quite old. His son, Cabesang Tales, is the father
armed with a rifle). No one could get near
of Lucia. Cabesang Tales, the head of the
because Tales was known for his skill in
barangay, grew rich through hard work and
marksmanship — a formidable sharpshooter.
perseverance. He started by partnering with an
When rifles were outlawed, Tales carried a bolo.
investor. After saving some money, Cabesang
When that was banned, he then carried an axe.
Tales inquired about a place in the forest and,
Since he only carried an axe, the armed bandits
after verifying that there were no owners,
kidnapped him and demanded ransom. Juli sold
planted sugarcane there. He wanted to send Juli
all her jewelry to raise funds. All, that is, except
to college in order to match the educational
for a locket given to her by Basilio. Not enough
attainment of Basilio, her sweetheart. After
funds were raised, though, so Juli borrowed
Cabesang Tales’ plot of land was developed, the
money from Hermana Penchang. To secure the
friars wanted to grab it. The friars taxed
debt, she agreed to work for the Hermana as a
Cabesang Tales and kept raising the tax rate
companion (aka: maid or slave). Her first day of
until Cabesang Tales could not pay anymore.
work was to commence on Christmas Day. No
He brought the friars to court and asked them for
wonder Juli had bad dreams on Christmas eve.
proof of land ownership. No proof was
(Selo must have had worse nightmares.
presented, but the courts still ruled in favor of
Imagine, here was his granddaughter, the
the friars. When his son, Tano, was drafted into
prettiest in the barrio, and now… forced to
the army, Tales did not “ransom” his son.
become a maid. Basilio, on the other hand, is
Instead, he spent the money on lawyers in
about to meet a hapless cochero, or horse rig
hopes that he would win the land case. Besides,
driver.)
INTERPRETATION DURING JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL

Selo, who adopted Basilio in the forest, is now all her jewelry to raise funds. All, that is, except

quite old. His son, Cabesang Tales, is the father for a locket given to her by Basilio. Not enough

of Lucia. Cabesang Tales, the head of the funds were raised, though, so Juli borrowed

barangay, grew rich through hard work and money from Hermana Penchang. To secure the

perseverance. He started by partnering with an debt, she agreed to work for the Hermana as a

investor. After saving some money, Cabesang companion (aka: maid or slave). Her first day of

Tales inquired about a place in the forest and, work was to commence on Christmas Day. No

after verifying that there were no owners, wonder Juli had bad dreams on Christmas eve.

planted sugarcane there. He wanted to send Juli (Selo must have had worse nightmares.

to college in order to match the educational Imagine, here was his granddaughter, the

attainment of Basilio, her sweetheart. After prettiest in the barrio, and now… forced to

Cabesang Tales ’plot of land was developed, the become a maid. Basilio, on the other hand, is

friars wanted to grab it. The friars taxed about to meet a hapless cochero, or horse rig

Cabesang Tales and kept raising the tax rate driver. )

until Cabesang Tales could not pay anymore.

He brought the friars to court and asked them for

proof of land ownership. No proof was Selo, who adopted Basilio in the forest, is now

presented, but the courts still ruled in favor of quite old. His son, Cabesang Tales, is the father

the friars. When his son, Tano, was drafted into of Lucia. Cabesang Tales, the head of the

the army, Tales did not “ransom” his son. barangay, grew rich through hard work and

Instead, he spent the money on lawyers in perseverance. He started by partnering with an

hopes that he would win the land case. Besides, investor. After saving some money, Cabesang

if Tales didn’t win the case, then he felt that he Tales inquired about a place in the forest and,

won’t need his son anyway. Tales built a fence after verifying that there were no owners,

around his property and patroled it (he was planted sugarcane there. He wanted to send Juli

armed with a rifle). No one could get near to college in order to match the educational

because Tales was known for his skill in attainment of Basilio, her sweetheart. After

marksmanship - a formidable sharpshooter. Cabesang Tales ’plot of land was developed, the

When rifles were outlawed, Tales carried a bolo. friars wanted to grab it. The friars taxed

When that was banned, he then carried an ax. Cabesang Tales and kept raising the tax rate

Since he only carried an ax, the armed bandits until Cabesang Tales could not pay anymore.

kidnapped him and demanded ransom. Juli sold He brought the friars to court and asked them for
proof of land ownership. No proof was to college in order to match the educational

presented, but the courts still ruled in favor of attainment of Basilio, her sweetheart. After

the friars. When his son, Tano, was drafted into Cabesang Tales ’plot of land was developed, the

the army, Tales did not “ransom” his son. friars wanted to grab it. The friars taxed

Instead, he spent the money on lawyers in Cabesang Tales and kept raising the tax rate

hopes that he would win the land case. Besides, until Cabesang Tales could not pay anymore.

if Tales didn’t win the case, then he felt that he He brought the friars to court and asked them for

won’t need his son anyway. Tales built a fence proof of land ownership. No proof was

around his property and patroled it (he was presented, but the courts still ruled in favor of

armed with a rifle). No one could get near the friars. When his son, Tano, was drafted into

because Tales was known for his skill in the army, Tales did not “ransom” his son.

marksmanship - a formidable sharpshooter. Instead, he spent the money on lawyers in

When rifles were outlawed, Tales carried a bolo. hopes that he would win the land case. Besides,

When that was banned, he then carried an ax. if Tales didn’t win the case, then he felt that he

Since he only carried an ax, the armed bandits won’t need his son anyway. Tales built a fence

kidnapped him and demanded ransom. Juli sold around his property and patroled it (he was

all her jewelry to raise funds. All, that is, except armed with a rifle). No one could get near

for a locket given to her by Basilio. Not enough because Tales was known for his skill in

funds were raised, though, so Juli borrowed marksmanship - a formidable sharpshooter.

money from Hermana Penchang. To secure the When rifles were outlawed, Tales carried a bolo.

debt, she agreed to work for the Hermana as a When that was banned, he then carried an ax.

companion (aka: maid or slave). Her first day of Since he only carried an ax, the armed bandits

work was to commence on Christmas Day. No kidnapped him and demanded ransom. Juli sold

wonder Juli had bad dreams on Christmas eve. all her jewelry to raise funds. All, that is, except

(Selo must have had worse nightmares. for a locket given to her by Basilio. Not enough

Imagine, here was his granddaughter, the funds were raised, though, so Juli borrowed

prettiest in the barrio, and now… forced to money from Hermana Penchang. To secure the

become a maid. Basilio, on the other hand, is debt, she agreed to work for the Hermana as a

about to meet a hapless cochero, or horse rig companion (aka: maid or slave). Her first day of

driver. ) Selo, who adopted Basilio in the forest, work was to commence on Christmas Day. No

is now quite old. His son, Cabesang Tales, is the wonder Juli had bad dreams on Christmas eve.

father of Lucia. Cabesang Tales, the head of the (Selo must have had worse nightmares.

barangay, grew rich through hard work and Imagine, here was his granddaughter, the

perseverance. He started by partnering with an prettiest in the barrio, and now… forced to

investor. After saving some money, Cabesang become a maid. Basilio, on the other hand, is

Tales inquired about a place in the forest and, about to meet a hapless cochero, or horse rig

after verifying that there were no owners, driver. )

planted sugarcane there. He wanted to send Juli

 how his foregoing struggles have had nearly

accounted to no result in the country and the

Spaniards demeanor to the Filipinos. Noli Me

PERSONAL REFLECTION Tangere and El Filibusterismo were both a

stunning success for Dr. Jose Rizal. The

Dr. Jose P. Rizal wrote El Filibusterismo to show
publication of
us how an individual planted anger and develop

thirst for revenge. I know that we all want to do Books were both faced by hardships of Rizal.

good and we all want to be a good person who The two novels revealed the history of the

choose what is right over what is wrong. Being a Philippines

good person is fulfilling, not totally in the sense

During the Spanish era, the aim and purpose of
of blessings but in the sense that we know that
the novel are equally the same which is to open
we did what is good and our heart just feels over
the eyes and let the Filipinos know what is
so light. For me, Dr. Jose P. Rizal wanted to
happening during the Spanish colonization. Both
show us to do our best to never tie up ourselves
novels greatly impact
in doing bad. The El Filibusterismo also shared

that violence is not the answer of the problem in the history and the present time of the

that we encountered in our life. As what I country.

observed, the El Filibusterismo is dark and

brutal with many happenings of killing, sexual

abuse and suicide. We must think of it, we References:

should not lower our self to that level to cover

http://rizalville.com/character-cabesang-tales
ourselves with the violence and rage or anger.
http://thelifeandworksofrizal.blogspot.com/2011/

04/el-filibusterismo-summary-and-

COMPARISON WITH NOLI ME TANGERE analysis_2369.html

Noli Me Tangere has 64 chapters that is http://buod.elfilibusterismo.com/2011/08/el-fili-

dedicated to the fatherland while the El chapter-4-kabesang-tales.html

Filibusterismo has only 38 chapters and Dr.

Rizal devoted this novel to the GOMBURZA. El

Filibusterismo plot has a dark setting contrary

from the novel of Noli Me Tangere's which is

optimistic, romantic and witty atmosphere. The

transformation of Ibarra and his desire for

reprisal indicates his former possibility to free

the Philippines. He embroil to ferocity, and

viciousness as a vengeance for what had

transpired to him in Noli Me Tangere, and just

a) How does El Filibusterismo impact in our current society?

El Filibusterismo serves as an inspiration to the Filipino people. It brings a profound effect on Philippine

society in terms of views about national identity, the Catholic faith and its influence on Filipino's choice,

and the government's issues of corruption, abuse, and discrimination, and on a larger scale, the issues

related to the effect of colonization on people's lives and the cause for independence. The book

awakened the Filipinos in the past and is still awakening the Filipinos of today, to fight for what we believe

is right. We may not be the victor always in every battle but the most important is, we continue to fight

until our very last breath, just like Rizal.

b) Is the novel too radical for the national hero? Why or why not?

For me, yes because driven by his undying love for his country, Rizal wrote the novel to expose the ills of

Philippine society during the Spanish colonial era. At the time, the Spaniards prohibited the Filipinos from

reading the controversial book because of the unlawful acts depicted in the novel. Rizal clarified his

intentions in writing the work: “I have not written in El Filibusterismo my idea of revenge against my

enemies but only what is for the good of those who are suffering”. The novels he wrote was to show

people how the Philippines were being bandaged by Spain. Jose made the Philippine League to get their

first reform group and to get their freedom from Spain that is why it is too radical for him.

c) Do you believe that radicalism can bring change to the country? Why or why not?

For me, it depends because radicalism denotes the intent to transform or replace the fundamental

principles of a society or political system, often through social change, structural change, revolution or

radical reform. The process of adopting radical views is termed radicalization. The essential mystery of

the future poses a huge challenge to a country. If change is only explicable in the rear-view mirror, how

can we accurately envision the future changes we seek, let alone achieve them? How can we be sure our

proposals will make things better, and not fall victim to unintended consequences? People employ many

concepts to grapple with such questions. In complex systems, change results from the interplay of many

diverse and apparently unrelated factors. Those of us engaged in seeking change need to identify which

elements are important and understand how they interact.

d) Did Jose Rizal really change his thoughts about his purpose for change in the Philippine

society? Why or why not?

For me, no, because even Jose Rizal traveled the world he never forgets the Philippines, he expanded

his knowledge and skill on writing and medicine while never forgetting the Philippines, he died with the

future still on his mind, and he never forgot the Philippines. He stood by his purpose in fact, He was the
one who led the Filipinos to start a revolution against the Spanish Government to attain freedom and to

gain control of the country, that is how desperate he is in order to fulfill his purpose for his country.