RODRIGUEZ, LYNNE PSY185
EL FILIBUSTERISMO CHARACTERS
Character Definition
Simoun Crisóstomo Ibarra reincarnated as
a wealthy jeweler, bent on starting
a revolution.
Basilio Has risen from poverty to become
Captain Tiago’s charge. Close to
acquiring his medical degree, he is
pledged to Julí, the beautiful
daughter of Cabesang Tales.
Isagani poet and Basilio's best friend;
portrayed as emotional and
reactive; Paulita Gómez' boyfriend
before being dumped for fellow
student Juanito Peláez.
Kabesang Tales Telesforo Juan de Dios, a former
cabeza de barangay who
resurfaced as the feared Luzón
bandit Matanglawin (Tagalog for
Hawkeye).
Makaraig Makaraig shared the same
nationalistic ideals with that of
Isagani. The both of them led their
fellow students in the movement
for the establishment of the
Spanish academy for Filipinos. The
only difference between the two is
their social status.
Paulita Gómez The girlfriend of Isagani and the
niece of Doña Victorina. In the end,
she and Juanito Peláez are wed,
and she dumps Isagani, believing
that she will have no future if she
marries him.
Father Florentino Isagani's godfather, and a secular
priest; was engaged to be married,
but chose the priesthood instead,.
The story hinting at the
ambivalence of his decision as he
chooses an assignment to a remote
place, living in solitude near the
sea.
Symbolism
Simoun represents the
revolutionaries during that time
who supported the idea of holding
bloody revolt against the Spanish
government. His death in El
Filibusterismo tells readers that
Rizal does not support the armed
revolution.
He represents the youth with a
simple dream that his education
will improve his social and
economic status in the future and
is indifferent and selfish to the
needs of society.
Isagani is the symbol of the youth
whose love for the country is great
to the point of being branded as
idealistic.
He personified a typical Filipino
who is content with living a simple
life. He also symbolizes the natives
and farmers whose lands were
seized by the friars, an explanation
as to why Filipinos became rebels.
Makaraig represented the well-to-
do Filipino youth during the
Spanish era who had good dreams
for the country. His character also
provided readers a glimpse of how
different the rich and the poor
were treated during that time in
society.
Paulita Gomez is a caricature of a
woman who chooses the best
option for a more stable future.
She knows what is best for her and
would take advantage of her
admirers to get what she wants.
Father Florentino represented the
secular Filipino priests in Rizal’s
time. It was also through his
character that the author stressed
his disapproval of a bloody revolt.
 Juli Juliana de Dios, the girlfriend of
Basilio, and the youngest daughter
of Kabesang Tales.
Ben Zayb Abraham Ibañez is his real name.
He is a journalist who thinks he is
the only one thinking in the
Philippines.
Placido Penitente A student of the University of
Santo Tomas who is always
miserable, and therefore controls
his temper.
Señor Pasta He is an old Filipino lawyer who
refuses to help the Filipino
students in their clamor for
educational reforms.
Father Irene He is a kind friar who is a friend of
the Filipino students. He supports
the students who appeal to the
government for an academy of
Spanish language.
Juli, like Maria Clara, symbolizes
the purity and innocence of the
lower class women during Rizal's
time. She would rather sacrifice
rather than give up her ideals.
Personifies a corrupted media.
Placido means – silent and
Penitente means – suffering.
Combining those words, “silent
suffering” or in tagalog “tahimik na
pagluluksa”.
He represents the part of the
society that is only generous and
sympathetic to the rich and
powerful.
He embodies the few Spaniards
who are sympathetic to the
Filipinos.

Summary:

El Filibusterismo is a sequel to Noli Me Tangere. A dark, brooding, at times satirical novel of revenge, unfulfilled
love, and tragedy, the Fili (as it is popularly referred to) still has as its protagonist Juan Crisóstomo Ibarra. Thirteen
years older, his idealism and youthful dreams shattered, and taking advantage of the belief that he died at the end
of Noli Me Tangere, he is disguised as Simoun, an enormously wealthy and mysterious jeweler who has gained the
confidence of the colony’s governor-general.

References:

https://www.penguinrandomho http://manlolokong- https://www.penguinrandomho

use.com/books/291131/noli-
me-tangere-touch-me-not-by-
jose-
rizal/9780143039693/readers-
guide/
https://prezi.com/q67afzrbofrl/
noli-me-tangere-characters-
and-symbolism-copied/
https://www.litcharts.com/lit/n
oli-me-tangere/characters
katarungan.tumblr.com/post/65
963217446/placido-penitente
https://prezi.com/wlhjqkzw8lby
/el-filibusterismo/
https://www.slideshare.net/kyu
ng2/filipino-el-fili-padre-
florentino
http://carlojoe5.tripod.com/elfil
ibusterismocharacters.html
https://prezi.com/njwlnsvdngm
c/characters-of-noli-me-
tangere-and-el-filibusterismo/
use.com/books/302595/el-
filibusterismo-by-jose-
rizal/9780143106395/readers-
guide/
https://www.kapitbisig.com/phi
lippines/el-filibusterismo-the-
reign-of-greed-by-dr-jose-rizal-
book-notes-summary-in-
english-the-characters-the-
summary-of-el-
filibusterismo_202.html
https://www.carayanpress.com
/ultimo.html