Chapter EL FILIBUSTERISMO

Course Intended 1. Know the context in which Rizal wrote El Filibusterismo.

Learning Outcomes 2. Identify specific contribution of this novel to national consciousness and the revolution.
3. Compare what is distinctive between Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo.
Essential Questions 1. Simoun plans to foment civil disturbance to precipitate the fall of the Spanish colonial
government. What are his reasons? Exactly how does he intend to accomplish this?
What has brought him to this point in his life? Discuss his past and its relevance to the
narrative of El Filibusterismo.

2. At the novel’s conclusion, after Simoun’s suicide, Father Florentino throws the jewel box
into the ocean. Why?

3. Why is El Filibusterismo dedicated to Gomburza?

Overview This lesson focuses on the summary of the novel “El Filibusterismo” per chapter.

Learning Targets At the end of this lesson, students should be able to:

a. make a novel analysis about El Filibusterismo.

El Filibusterismo (Spanish for The Filibustering), also known by its English alternate title The Reign of Greed, is the
second novel written by Philippine national hero Dr. José Rizal. It is the sequel to Noli Me Tangere and like the first book,
was written in Spanish. Rizal began the work in October 1887 while practicing medicine in Calamba. In London (1888),
he made several changes to the plot and revised a number of chapters. Rizal continued to work on his manuscript
while in Paris, Madrid, and Brussels, finally completing it on March 29, 1891 in Biarritz. It was published the same year in
Ghent.
Activation of Prior
Knowledge
 The book narrates the return of the protagonist of Noli Me Tangere, Crisostomo
Ibarra, under the disguise of a wealth jeweler named Simoun. Disillusioned by the abuses
of the Spanish, Ibarra abandons his pacifist beliefs in order to return to the Philippines and
start a violent revolution.
Noli Me Tangere’s Basilio, now a young man and a skilled medical student, is recruited by
Ibarra to aid him in detoning a bomb at a social gathering, signaling the beginning of
the revolution.

However, Basilio warns his friend Isagani. Realizing that the woman he loves is in the
building, Isagani throws the bomb into the river, averting the explosion and their
evolution. Implicated in these matters, Simoun commits suicide by taking poison and
finds resting place at the home of a priest, Father Florentino, who hears his last confession
and assures him that not all hope is lost.

The priest (Father Florentino), upon Simoun’s death, commends the jewels into the sea,
remarking that the jewels once used to bribe and corrupt people, would one day be
hopefully found to be used for a meaningful purpose.

Presentation and
development of El Filibusterismo
Concepts
Chapter 1: On The novel opens with the steamship Taboheading up the Pasig river on its
Deck way to La Lagunaone Decembermorning. Take note of the possible
parallelism between the ship and the government ruling in the
Philippines during Rizal‘s time: full of hot air, tyrannical, pretentious.We
meet Doña Victorina, the only lady in the European group on the
upper deck (guess who have to stay below deck). She is depicted
as a foul-mouthed, extravagant, heavily made-up, disdainful, and
insufferable Indio who tries to pass herself off as a European through her
wigs and clothes. She is accompanied by her niece, the beautiful
andrich Paulita Gomez. Doña Victorina is the wife of Don Tiburcio de
Espadaña, who left her after many years of marriage and who was
now hiding (maybe) in Laguna.

Among the other characters introduced are: Don Custodio, an official

counsellor; Ben Zayb, an exceedingly intelligent (in his own mind) writer
whose pseudonym is an anagram of the surname Ybañez; Father Irene,
the canon; and the jeweller Simounwho sports long, white hair and
a sparse black beard and who wears a pair of huge blue-tinted
sunglasses (in the 1800s? Hmmm.). Anyway, Simoun‘s great influence
over His Excellency, the Capitan-General was known in Manila. Thus,
people held him in high regard.

Discussing the issue of the lake and the slowness of ship travel
were Ben Zayb, Padre Camorra, and Padre Salvi,a Franciscan.
Simouncuts in and offers a rather radical solution: dig a new river
channel and close the Pasig even if it means destroying villages
and committing people to forced and unpaid labor.

What follows is a debate between Simoun and Don Custodioon whether

the indios were going to revolt or not. Padre Sibyla, a Dominican, was
concerned that the people might rise up as before, but Simoun dismissed
 the possibility with a "what are you friars for if the people can rise in
revolt?"

After Simoun left the fuming group, Don Custodiooffers his own solution:
Get people to raise ducks. Since ducks feed on snails, the people will
help deepen the river as they will remove or dig up the sandbars which
contain the snails. Doña Victorinawasn‘t exactly fond of the idea since
she considers balut (duck) eggs disgusting.

Chapter 2: Lower Below deck, we find those belonging to the lower rungs of the social
Deck ladder. Unlike the airy upper deck, the conditions below deck are far
from comfortable because of the heat from the boilers and the stifling
stench of various nose crinkling scents. (The descriptions in the novel are
much more vivid, so please read it.)

The reader‘s attention is focused on two characters: Basilio, a student of

medicine and Isagani, a poet from the Ateneo. Conversing with them is
the rich Capitan Basilio.The main point of discussion is the establishment
of an academy for the teaching of Spanish. While Capitan Basilio is
convinced that such a school will never be set-up, Isagani expects to get
the permit, courtesy of Father Irene. Father Sibylais also against this, which
is why Father Ireneis on his way to Los Baños to see the Governor General.

To support the funding of the project, every student was asked to

contribute fifteen centavos.Even the professors offered to help (half
were Filipinos and half were Spaniards from Spain). The building itself
will be one of the houses of the wealthy Makaraig.(Note: Some people in
Spain were in favor of teaching Spanish to the Filipinos. Compare them
with Spaniards based in the Philippines who did not want the Filipinos to
learn their language.)

Isagani is in love with Paulita Gomez, but his uncle, Father

Florentinois against it. Father Florentino would rather not go on deck
because he might bump into Doña Victorinawho might ask him about
her husband, Don Tiburcio (who happens to be hiding in Father Florentino
‘s house).

Coming from the upper deck, Simoun finds Basilio who then introduces
Isagani to him. Isagani takes offense when Simoun talks about the
poverty in Basilio ‘s province. (Read their resulting argument about water
and beer.)

After Simoun leaves, Basilio chastises Isagani for treating the jeweller that
way. Basilio emphasizes Simoun‘s position in society be calling him the
Brown Cardinal, or Black Eminence of the Governor-General.This is in
reference to His Grey Eminence, a Capuchin adviser of Cardinal
Richelieu, a once all-powerful Prime Minister of France.

They are interrupted when Isagani is informed by a servant that his uncle,
Father Florentino needed him. Take note of the description of Fr.
Florentino as well as the story of how he lost the woman he loved
because he became a priest.
 Additional background info: Father Florentino retired from his parish soon
after the Cavite Mutiny of 1872 fearing that the revenues from his parish
would attract attention. He was possibly worried by the fact that he was
a Filipino priest and that in the Cavite Mutiny, three Filipino priests
identified with the movement to turn the parishes over to the native
clergy were charged and executed.

The legend-loving skipper of the vessel sees Fr. Florentino and asks him to
go on deck lest the friars assume this Filipino priest did not want to mingle
with them. Fr. Florentino then instructs Isagani not to go near the lounge
because that would be tantamount to abusing the hospitality of the
skipper who would surely invite Isagani. Actually, Isagani felt it was his
uncle ‘s way of preventing him from speaking with Doña Victorina.

Chapter 3: Padre Florentino sees the guests laughing above deck. The friars are
Legends complaining about the increasing social awareness of the Filipinos and
about the investigation on the finances of the church. Simoun arrives and
is told how unfortunate he is to have missed seeing the places the ship
had passed. Simoun replies that places are worthless, unless there are
legends associated with them.

The Kapitan of the ship then relates the Legend of the Wide Rock, a
place considered sacred by the natives of long ago; the abode of some
spirits. During the time of bandits, the fear of spirits disappeared, and
criminals inhabited the place. The Kapitan also talks about the Legend of
Doña Geronima. Padre Florentino is asked to give the details: Doña
Geronima had a lover in Spain, who later became an archbishop in
Manila. The woman goes to see him to ask that he fulfill his promise of
marrying her. Instead, he sends the woman to live in a cave near the
Pasig River.

Ben Zayb liked the legend. Doña Victorina grew envious because she
also wanted to live in a cave. Simoun asks Padre Salvi if it wouldn‘t have
been better if the woman were placed in a monastery such as Sta.
Clara. Padre Salvi explained that he cannot judge the actions of an
archbishop. To change the topic, he narrates the legend of St. Nicholas
(San Nicolas) who rescued a Chinese from a crocodile. Legend has it
that the crocodile turned to stone when the Chinese prayed to the saint.

When the group reached the lake, Ben Zayb asked the Kapitan where in
the lake a certain Guevarra, Navarra or Ibarra was killed.
(Refer to the Noli Me Tangere).

The Kapitan shows the spot, while Doña Victorina peers into the water,
searching for any trace of the killing (thirteen years after the event
occurred). Padre Sibyla adds that the father is now with the corpse of the
son (in the Noli Me Tangere, the corpse of Ibarra ‘s father–Don Rafael–
was thrown in the lake). That’s the cheapest burial, quips Ben Zayb.
People laugh. Simoun pales and does not say anything. The Kapitan
thinks Simoun is just seasick.
 Chapter 4: Herein is the story of Tandang Selo and his son Tales, old friends of Basilio.
Kabesang Tales
Tales, experiencing some improvements in his family’s fortune, decides to
clear a portion of the woods to cultivate. During their first harvest, a
religious corporation claims the land as their own and exacts an annual
fee from Tales. He pays dutifully, but begins to rebel when the fee
becomes exorbitant. He takes the religious order to court, arms himself
and begins patrolling his land. Tales loses the case and ends up draining
his resources. His only son, Tano, is conscripted, as he is unable to pay for
a substitute. Tano is later rumored to have either embarked for the
Carolines or become a guardia civil. To make matters worse, bandits
kidnap Tales and demand a ransom.

To save her father, Juli sells her belongings except for a locket Basilio
gave her, a locket Basilio received from a leper patient who in turn
obtained if from Capitan Tiago’s daughter. To complete the ransom
amount, Juli borrows money from an old religious lady and agrees to
work as a servant to pay for it.
Chapter 5: A Basilio’s arrival in San Diego is delayed as his cochero had been detained
Cochero’s and knocked about by the guardia civil for forgetting his cedula. They
Christmas Eve are delayed a second time as they wait for the Christmas procession to
pass. The cochero envies the time of the saints, thinking there were no
civil guards then, else Methuselah, would not have lived to an old age,
nor a black magi allowed to be with the others.

As they continue down the road, Basilio notes the fewer ornaments and
 sounds of merriment, and thinks this is because things had gone badly
with agriculture, taxes had risen and civil guards had become more
abusive.

The cochero is stopped a second time for an unlighted coach lamp, so

Basilio proceeds on foot. Passing by Capitan Basilio’s house, he glimpses
Simoun making deals with his jewelry with the capitan, the curate and
the alferez. Basilio does not think well of Simoun, who he thinks is always
going about something, and who, he has been told, sells his jewels for
double the price he bought them for.

Basilio reaches his guardian Capitan Tiago’s house where the old man
narrates an assortment of bad news including the kidnapping of
Cabesang Tales.
Chapter 6: Basilio Basilio steals out of the house at midnight and heads to the old wood
previously owned by the Ibarras, and now belonging to Capitan Tiago.
He visits his mother’s grave by the balete tree and recalls the night
thirteen years ago when his mother died on the spot and a stranger
came and helped him bury his mother and burn the body of another
stranger.

Basilio thinks back too on the events of his life since then. He had suffered
hunger and privation in his journey to Manila in search of employment,
until he was taken in as an unpaid servant at Capitan Tiago’s house in
exchange for permission to study.
 Poor and badly dressed, he was shunned by his classmates and ignored
by his teachers, so he was unable to make a mark in his first three years.
With continued diligence and hard work however, he eventually
distinguished himself in his studies and went on to study medicine.

In two months, Basilio is set to complete his medical studies and will cap
his academic career as commencement speaker. He plans to marry Juli.
Chapter 7: Basilio is about to leave his mother’s tomb when he hears someone
Simoun arrive. He espies Simoun, but without the jeweler’s blue glasses, Basilio
also recognizes the face of the man who helped him bury his mother
thirteen years ago. He infers from the events and memories of the past,
that Simoun may actually be Ibarra.

Basilio reveals himself, and Simoun, to protect his secret identity,

contemplates killing Basilio, but decides instead to try to recruit Basilio to
his cause. Simoun confesses that his goal is to destroy society’s system of
corruption by encouraging the vices and greed of the governing powers
with his wealth. This in turn has led to more injustices, poverty and misery,
which he expects will eventually incite the downtrodden to unrest.

Simoun then derides the youth’s desire for Hispanism and the teaching of
Spanish, seeing it as a means for the loss of nationality and the
subjugation of the Filipino’s unique thought and feeling. Simoun asks for
Basilio’s help to convince the youth to abandon their calls for
Hispanization. Basilio demure, professing the task to be beyond his
abilities. Simoun attempts a different approach by reminding Basilio of
 the injustice his mother and brother suffered. Basilio remains
uncommitted.
Chapter 8: Merry Juli wakes up before dawn and does her chores. She is surprised to find
Christmas 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.

Later, when relatives come to visit Tandang Selo, they discover he has
lost his ability to speak.
Chapter 9: Pilates Certain townspeople do not feel particularly bothered by the misfortune
of Tandang Selo and Cabesang Tales’ family. The lieutenant of the
guardia civil feels he did his duty by pursuing the bandits when he could,
 while the local friar, Padre Clemente thinks Cabesang Tales is simply
being punished for resisting the friars.

Sister Penchang, the woman who employs Juli, believes bad things
happen to sinners or to people who have sinning relatives. She believes
Juli is a sinning relative, and when she learns that Basilio intends to ransom
Juli from servitude, she believes Juli is a lost woman.

The friars win the case against Tales with finality, and they take his land
and award it to a new renter. Tales learns about this and the misfortunes
of his father and daughter upon his return. At the same time, he receives
a court order to vacate his house.
Chapter 10: Simoun obtains temporary lodgings at Cabesang Tales’ house where the
Wealth and townspeople come to see his jewels. They are both awed and terrified by
Misery Simoun’s display of excessive and dazzling wealth. Aside from selling,
Simoun also buys old jewelry from the townspeople and he asks if Tales
has any to sell. Maria Clara’s locket is of course in the house and when
Simoun sees it, he makes an offer for it. Tales asks to go to town to ask his
daughter. Along the way, he sees the friar administrator and the man
awarded his land. A feeling of anger overcomes him.

In the morning, Simoun finds the locket and a note from Tales in his
holster. Tales says he intends to join some bandits and has exchanged
the locket for Simoun’s gun. Guardia civil arrive, but in the absence of
Tales, they arrest Tandang Selo instead. Three people had been killed in
the night, the friar administrator, the man who had been given Tales’
 land, and his wife, beside whom was found a piece of paper with the
name Tales written in blood.
Chapter 11: Los The captain-General is on a working vacation in Los Baños. With him are
Baños some friars, Don Custodio, Ben Zayb and Simoun. Among matters settled
is the banning of one type of sport pistol to prevent bandits from
acquiring more, a decision that came at the heels of Simoun’s having
been held up and despoiled of his pistols. The captain-General also
settles the Tiani schoolmaster’s appeal for a better building by
suspending him for complaining.

The final point for discussion is the youth’s request to open an academy
for studying Spanish. Padre Sibyla opposes it as he thinks it is a form of
rebellion, and a challenge to the prestige of the University of Santo
Tomas. Padre Camorra and Simoun are against it too. Padre Fernandez
believes it is a reasonable request and believes the people’s interests can
eventually no longer be denied. On his side are Padre Irene and Don
Custodio.

Meanwhile, Juli is in the premises to request for the release of her

grandfather, Tandang Selo. Padre Camorra supports her petition and the
captain-General relents.
Chapter 12: Placido Penitente walks reluctantly to the University of Santo Tomas. He
Placido Penitente wishes to withdraw from his studies despite his having been previously
known to be a promising pupil in his province. With him is Juanito Pelaez,
a rich student and teacher’s pet who is indifferent to his classes.
 They arrive at the university entrance where other students mill around,
some observing the people arriving at the neighboring church. Among
those seen is Paulita Gomez who notices and smiles at Isagani. With
Paulita is Doña Victorina who smiles at Juanito.

On their way to class, Placido is detained by a student attempting to

convince him to sign a protest against the proposed Spanish academy.
As a result he is late for the class roll call, the most important part of class.
Placido decides to stay as it is nearly examinations and the teacher
hasn’t noticed him yet, as a consequence of which he may fail the
school year.
Chapter 13: The Padre Million asks students to recite lessons from memory, giving good
Class in Physics grades to those who make no mistakes. He calls on a student he sees
yawning, and the student immediately launches into a memorized lesson
about the classification of mirrors, but is bewildered when Padre Million
asks him questions requiring analysis.

The professor next calls on his favorite, Juanito to answer a question

about the composition of mirrors. Juanito signals to Placido for answers,
but Placido cannot help and is in turn called upon by the professor.
Placido is also unable to answer, and when the professor asks him to
recite, he makes mistakes, earning him a bad mark.

Padre Million further announces that Placido has had fifteen absences
despite his having really had fewer. Placido reasons that he could not
have recited and been absent at the same time. Padre Million insults him
 for philosophizing. Angered, Placido declares he has had enough and
storms off. Padre Million launches into a sermon about the ingratitude of
the youth and segues into the impertinence of students requesting to
establish an academy for teaching Spanish.
Chapter 14: A Makaraig’s large house teems with student activity. Mixed in with those
Student's Lodging studying is those engaged in raucous horseplay. The hubbub dies down
House with the arrival of distinguished students, including the optimists Isagani
and Sandoval, a peninsular.

Sandoval believes the permit for the Spanish academy will not be
denied, as Spain experiences what the Philippines feels and will not deny
the same rights as Spaniards enjoy. Another student, Pecson, is more of a
pessimist and thinks that the church may fear that an academy may help
Filipinos understand each other, thereby threatening the integrity of the
state. He thinks too that the academy attacks the dignity of the
University.

Makaraig arrives jubilant and relates how Padre Irene defended their
cause, preventing their petition for a permit from getting shelved. Padre
Irene succeeded in allowing the formation of a commission under Don
Custodio to provide its opinion on the petition. The students brainstorm
ideas to influence Don Custodio. Isagani offers to approach Señor Pasta,
Don Custodio’s legal retainer, in the hopes of swaying him.
Chapter 15: Señor Isagani visits Señor Pasta and relates the developments regarding the
Pasta students’ petition. Señor Pasta feigns ignorance but actually already
knows what has happened and even knows that it was actually Padre
 Sibyla, who suggested the commission to buy time.

Señor Pasta does not wish to be involved with the students’ cause and
tells Isagani that the best way to help the government is to let it do what
it thinks is best. He adds that it is offensive to try to do more than the
government gives as it injures its prestige. Isagani counters Señor Pasta’s
arguments by declaring justice and reason to be stronger bases for
colonial government than prestige. He adds that it is reasonable for
people to ask a blessing of its government as of a parent.

Señor Pasta advises Isagani to just apply himself to his studies, marry a rich
girl, attend to his religious duties, and to not get involved trying to
improve the situation of others and the country. Isagani shuns his advice.
Chapter 16: The The Chinese Quiroga, who hopes to open a consulate for his nation, hosts
Tribulations of a a dinner for important people from the church, government, military and
Chinese business.

Some merchants gather around Simoun complaining about the

difficulties of doing business in the country in the hopes that Simoun will
pass on their ideas for solutions to the Captain-General. Quiroga too
shares his difficulties with Simoun about a bribe he had attempted to pull
off with Simoun’s jewellery that had resulted instead in a financial loss.
Simoun offers to reduce Quiroga’s debt if Quiroga agrees to temporarily
keep some rifles for him. Quiroga agrees.

Later, some of the guests, including Don Custodio, Ben Zayb, Juanito
 Pelaez, Simoun and Padres Salvi, Camorra and Irene decide to head off
to the Quiapo Fair to see a head which an American, Mr. Leeds has
been exhibiting.
Chapter 17: The Camorra admires the pretty girls and regrets not being a parish priest of
Quiapo Fair 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.

Chapter 18: At Mr. Leeds’ room, Ben Zayb examines the table for mirrors, which he
Deceptions thinks is the trick behind the exhibit. Finding none, Mr. Leeds produces a
box containing some ashes and a piece of papyrus which he supposedly
found during a visit to the pyramid of Khufu. Leeds pronounces a word
from the papyrus and the box reveals the head of a cadaver. Leeds
commands the head to tell its story.

The head introduces himself as Imuthis, whose life was ruined after
returning home from his studies abroad and discovering the secret of the
governing impostor, Gaumata. With the help of tyrannical Egyptian
priests, Gaumata engineers the ruin of Imuthis through the young priest
Abydos, who coveted the woman Imuthis loved. Abydos falsely
implicated Imuthis in a rebellion, which led to the death of Imuthis in a
lake during an attempted escape.

Padre Salvi recognizes the similarities between the story of Imuthis and
events of his past. He collapses in terror, calls for mercy and declares
 some woman still lives.
Chapter 19: The Placido Penitente is enraged by his experience at the university. Back at
Fuse his rented room, he finds his mother, Cabesang Andang on a visit. He
narrates what happened to him, and his mother reminds him of both their
sacrifices and asks him to be patient and humble.

Placido leaves to escape his mother and sees Simoun with whom he
shares his story. Simoun invites him to tag along, and they make their way
to the house of a pyrotechnist. Placido hears the two converse about
bombs, and an event that is to transpire the following week involving
Cabesang Tales and his men, any delay in which may mean death for
Maria Clara.

Placido later spends a few hours at Simoun’s house from which he

emerges thoughtful. He later concedes to his mother’s plan to try to
placate the friars at his university.

Alone at his house, Simoun momentarily revolts at his own actions, but he
quickly turns away from his conscience.
Chapter 20: The Don Custodio has been mulling over the question of the Spanish
Arbitrator academy for many days without a solution, wanting to please both those
who are for and against it.

Who is Don Custodio? He met with some success after using his wife’s
money to go into business, which led to numerous distinguished
appointments. He once returned to Spain from where he gathered an
 assortment of ideas, which he then implemented in unusual projects in
the Philippines which others criticized.

Regarding his opinion of the native population, he thinks them only fit for
mechanical work and imitative arts, and refuses to think them capable of
being distinguished. Don Custodio is Catholic, but only because he thinks
it necessary to be so among backward people. In the Philippines, he
thinks the friars are necessary and are superior colonial masters. It is
because of this that the friars think favorably of him.

As he continues to ponder the question of the academy, his eyes land on

one of his project files concerning the School of Arts and Trades. He has a
eureka moment and declares he has arrived at a decision.
Chapter 21: People flock to the theater for the first show of a French operetta
Manila company. Outside, an unkempt Spaniard nicknamed, The Shrimp, chats
Characters about the show with Uncle Quico. The Shrimp thinks that the performance
sold out because people grew curious as a result of the friar’s strong
opposition to it on moral grounds, and the public chatter among the
show’s prominent supporters.

Elsewhere, the student Tadeo is accompanied by a newcomer to whom

he gives an overview of the backgrounds of every important looking
person they see. Tadeo makes up stories about those he doesn’t really
know.

Makaraig, Pecson, Sandoval and Isagani arrive and Tadeo accepts their
 offer to join them in their theater box.
Chapter 22: The The performance opens late to an impatient audience due to the
Performance delayed arrival of the captain-General. Across the students’ box is one
procured by Makaraig for Pepay, Don Custodio’s dancer, in an effort to
get her to influence Don Custodio in their favor regarding the appeal for
a Spanish academy permit. They are in good spirits seeing Pepay’s
happy looks. Only Isagani is in a bad mood, seeing Paulita with his rival
Juanito Pelaez.

Don Custodio, who earlier sided with the friars against the show, is also
there under the guise of critiquing the show. Padre Irene in disguise is
likewise in attendance, with the excuse that he had been sent by Padre
Salvi as secret religious police.

At the end of the first act, Makaraig heads off to see Pepay and Padre
Irene and learns that the commission has accepted Don Custodio’s
recommendation in favor of the Spanish academy, but stipulates that the
implementation of the plan must be supervised by a religious order. The
student’s participation is to be restricted to the collection of fees. The
dejected students leave the theater.
Chapter 23: A Since his return from San Diego to rescue Juli, Basilio has been devoting
Corpse his time to studying, visiting the hospital and attending to a sick and
severely opium-addicted Capitan Tiago.

On the night of the French operetta, Basilio is at his studies, but is

interrupted by the arrival of Simoun who asks after Capitan Tiago. Basilio
 apprises him of the dire condition of Tiago’s health, but Simoun cuts him
off and reveals that a revolution, which came about under his influence,
will break out in an hour. He asks Basilio to choose sides.

Basilio reluctantly asks what is expected of him and Simoun asks him to
head a group to rescue Maria Clara from the convent. Basilio tells him he
is too late, and informs him of Maria Clara’s death as confirmed by a
letter from Padre Salvi. Simoun runs out in anguish.
Chapter 24: While waiting to meet Paulita, Isagani overhears Ben Zayb talk about
Dreams Simoun falling ill and refusing to see even the Captain-General’s men.
Isagani thinks bitterly about the care given to the rich, and the
contrasting lack of attention to sick soldiers returning from fighting
abroad.

Paulita arrives and acts resentful at Isagani for his having paid too much
attention to the operetta performers. She forgives him and explains she
was only at the performance hoping to see him. They laugh that it is
actually Doña Victorina, Paulita’s aunt, who is in love with Juanito. Isagani
reveals that Don Tiburcio, Doña Victorina’s husband, is still in hiding in his
uncle’s home.

This turns their conversation to Isagani’s town, for which he expresses a

deep love, as he describes its beauty and his happy diversions there in
former years. But Paulita refuses to travel to it without a coach. Isagani is
optimistic, and eventually expects progress and a much better future for
the Philippines owing to the youth in Madrid working for its welfare.
 Paulita is doubtful and declares these sentiments dreams.
Chapter 25: Makaraig and the other students celebrate their loss at a pansiteria and
Laughters and put on an air of forced gaiety. They launch into mocking jests, dedicating
Tears the soup bones to Don Custodio to make a project out of.

They then dedicate the lumpia to Padre Irene, the crab omelette to the
friars for the crabs that they are, and the stewed noodles to the
disorganized government. Pecson then jestingly takes the aspect of an
Augustinian preacher. He jokes about the ubiquity of friars in life, the
necessity of their hairy limbs in sustaining unity, and the need for
scapularies and masses to occupy people and have something to put
their money on.

The students later notice they are being watched. They spot Padre
Sibyla’s man leaving the pansiteria and entering Simoun’s carriage with
an unknown man.
Chapter 26: Basilio sets out early to inquire at the university about his license and to
Pasquinades ask Makaraig for help with the costs, having spent most of his money in
ransoming Juli. Along the way he learns from acquaintances that
subversive posters had been found at the university gates and that the
students’ union of which he is a member, is being blamed for it.

He meets Sandoval who seems unable to hear his call, and then Tadeo,
who, though ecstatic over the cancellation of classes, thinks every union
member will be arrested. He also encounters Juanito Pelaez who
denounces his involvement with the union.
 At the university, he hears Isagani berating students for fleeing at the
threat of imprisonment. Basilio turns away from him and proceeds to
Makaraig’s house where he and Makaraig are both arrested.
Chapter 27: The Padre Fernandez hears Isagani’s impassioned speech to his fellow
Friar and the students and asks to speak with him. He asks Isagani what the students
Filipino want of the friars. Isagani tells him to do their duty to improve the
development of the youth, and not to stifle the pursuit of education.

The priest declares education should only be given to the morally worthy.
In response, Isagani blames the failings of the subjugated Filipino to the
conquerors who have had centuries, and yet supposedly failed, to mold
the moral character of an oppressed people.

Padre Fernandez deflects blame by reasoning that the friars are limited
by the the government’s laws. He asks Isagani for a simpler request that
the friars can grant, and Isagani asks that students be treated better, to
which the priest responds that the students should change first. Isagani
reminds him of what happens to students who stand up to their
professors.

The priest commits to speaking with his brethren about Isagani’s thoughts.
He envies the Jesuits who were responsible for Isagani’s early education.
The Jesuits however, openly denounce Isagani.
Chapter 28: The incident about the subversive posters results in a great deal of
Tatakut unease among many people. Quiroga sets off to see Simoun about the
 rifles the jeweller had stored in his warehouse. Simoun, still refusing to see
anyone, leaves a message for Quiroga to keep the rifles where they are.

In the afternoon, there is talk of the students having allied themselves with
outlaws to take the city by surprise. Padre Irene tells Capitan Tiago that
some have advised the captain-General to implement a reign of terror.
The more moderate suggest only a show of force. Capitan Tiago passes
away of fright from the priest’s stories.

In other places, the prevailing feeling of anxiety leads to a number of

unfortunate consequences, such as an officer mistaking the commotion
at a baptism for a riot, and two individuals getting shot by mistake.

At the silversmith’s where Placido Penitente lodges, he and Simoun’s

pyrotechnist join the smith workers just as they finish swapping theories
about the posters. The pyrotechnist cautions everyone to prepare, as
there may be a massacre in the evening.
Chapter 29: Exit Padre Irene is the executor of Capitan Tiago’s last will and testament
Capitan Tiago which divides most of his wealth among the nunnery of St. Clare, and
various other religious entities and orders. He revokes Basilio’s legacy of
twenty-five pesos, but Padre Irene declares he will pay this anyway out of
his own pocket.

It is said Capitan Tiago appeared to the nuns, radiant and dressed in a

frock coat. People believe he has been saved due to his numerous
masses and pious legacies. His funeral rites are first class, filled with many
 prayers, rites, incense, holy water and tolling of the bells.
Chapter 30: Juli News of Basilio’s arrest reaches San Diego and Juli is devastated, more so
because people say the arrest was motivated by revenge against her
and her father. Juli thinks Padre Camorra may be able to help free
Basilio, but shrinks from approaching him when she remembers how the
priest asked her for certain sacrifices in exchange for his having procured
Juli’s grandfather’s freedom.

A traveler from Manila soon relates that all the prisoners have been
released except for Basilio who has no influential protector. This finally
convinces Juli to see Padre Camorra. On the same day she visits the
priest, a girl is said to have thrown herself from a parish window and died.
The following day, Tandang Selo, grieved and stricken, takes his hunting
spear and leaves the village forever.
Chapter 31: The The girl’s death and even her identity are largely left unremarked by both
High Official the newspapers and the locals, even as Padre Camorra leaves town for
another.

Meanwhile, through the intervention of their relatives, the detained

students are released, except for Basilio who is further accused of
possessing prohibited books. The captain-General keeps him detained to
maintain the appearance of authority.

One high official advocate for Basilio, believing he is innocent, and

argues with the captain-General. The official tells the captain-General to
treat the Filipinos better to give them no cause to reproach Spain. The
 official ends up resigning shortly after the argument and heads back to
Spain.
Chapter 32: Effect As a result of the events involving the students, Pecson, Tadeo and Pelaez
of the are suspended from their courses, and Makaraig leaves for Europe.
Pasquinades Isagani passes only Padre Fernandez’s course but is suspended from the
others. Only Sandoval is able to sway the examiners in his favor. Basilio
remains in jail, where someone brings him the news of Juli’s passing.

Simoun recovers from his illness and is rumored to be leaving soon with
the captain-General at the end of his term. In the interval, he is purported
to have become the business partner of Don Timoteo, Juanito’s father.

Paulita ditches Isagani and decides to marry Juanito Pelaez. It is rumored

that Simoun is responsible for arranging all the particulars of the couple’s
celebratory party, where the captain-General will be present as the
couple’s wedding patron.

Chapter 33: La Basilio, having been released from prison through Simoun’s intercession,
Ultima Razon visits the jeweler. Basilio castigates himself for forgetting his mother and
brother’s misfortunes and pledges to support Simoun’s plans for a violent
revolution.

Simoun welcomes his support. He reveals that he plans to ignite dynamite

hidden in a decorative lamp at nine in the evening during Juanito and
Paulita’s wedding party, at the venue of which, sacks of gunpowder are
 hidden. Simoun intends to take the city after the explosion with the help
of Cabesang Tales and his group of malcontents. He instructs Basilio to
take charge at the appointed hour of arming anyone willing to fight from
the store of rifles in Quiroga’s warehouse, and to put to death those
unwilling to join.
Chapter 34: The While waiting for the agreed time for the uprising, Basilio whiles away the
Wedding time. His thoughts swing between feeling sorry for the jilted Isagani and
anger over Juli’s death and his own broken dreams. He heads off to
Capitan Tiago’s old house, now owned by Don Timoteo, where he
witnesses the lavish preparations for the evening wedding party.

It is revealed that the captain-General will be bearing a lamp,

confidentially procured by Simoun, as a wedding gift at the dinner party.
Chapter 35: The Important people arrive at the party, and Basilio hesitates when he
Fiesta observes the number of innocent individuals. He experiences a
momentary strengthening of his resolve when he sees Padre Irene and
Padre Salvi, but his good heart gets the better of him. He attempts to
warn the guests of the impending danger, but is stopped by the
doorman.

Basilio sees Simoun leave the house and knows the lamp has been lit. He
flees and meets Isagani, who is in the street hoping to get a glimpse of
Paulita. In the hopes of saving his friend, Basilio reveals the planned
explosion. Isagani rushes toward the house.

Inside, a note with the words: Mane Thecel Phares Juan Crisostomo
 Ibarra, is circulating among the guests. Padre Salvi recognizes Ibarra’s
handwriting and is struck with terror, along with those who knew of
Ibarra’s story.
Chapter 36: Ben- Ben-Zayb writes an embellished account of what transpired at the
Zayb’s Afflictions wedding party, making the Captain-General appear more heroic and
the distinguished guests more stoic than they had actually been in the
face of danger. His editor returns his work unpublished following the
Captain-General’s orders not to discuss the incident.

Ben-Zayb turns his journalistic energies towards investigating an assault

and theft at an inn where priests had been injured. In the process, he
learns that the apprehended thieves confessed that they had been part
of a plot, led by a Spaniard fitting Simoun’s description, to sack abbeys
and houses of the rich. When the signal did not materialize, they broke off
from their gang to do some mischief on their own.

Meanwhile, Simoun is nowhere to be found, and the sacks of gunpowder

are found hidden at the wedding party venue. People become
suspicious of Simoun.
Chapter 37: The While on a visit to the wealthy Orenda family’s house, Isagani listens to
Mystery Chichoy relate how he had been to Don Timoteo’s house in time to
witness the discovery of the sacks of gunpowder there. He also reveals
hearing the rumor that government staff believe Simoun is the culprit. The
civil guards are now looking for the missing jeweler.

Momoy, the fiance of the eldest Orenda girl, who had been at the party
 then relates how an unknown thief had stolen the lamp at the Captain-
General’s dining room. Chichoy then shares the prevailing belief that the
lamp was meant to ignite the gunpowder and set the house on fire.

Isagani tells Momoy that if the thief had known what it was about and
had time to reflect, he would not have stolen the lamp. Later, Isagani
leaves for his uncle’s place for good.
Chapter 38: A Along a mountainside, soldiers escort a group of individuals suspected of
Twist of Fate being members of the feared Matanglawin’s gang of bandits. The
(Sawimpalad) soldiers cruelly whip their already exhausted detainees, and one soldier
called Carolino speaks up in protest against the cruelty to no avail.

As they move along, unseen individuals shoot at the soldiers from an

elevated position screened by trees. The corporal at the head of the
soldiers immediately orders the shooting of all prisoners and then orders
his men to fire at their invisible enemies

One of the attackers reveals himself. Carolino shoots him, and the
attacker disappears. Another man with a spear appears and the soldiers
shoot him too. Carolino approaches the fallen man and recognizes his
grandfather, Tandang Selo. Carolino, back from the Carolines, is Tano,
son of Cabesang Tales. The old man, already dead, has his eyes fixed on
Tano and his finger pointed at something behind the rocks.
Chapter 39: The Padre Florentino receives a note from a lieutenant warning of the arrival
Final Chapter or of the civil guards to arrest the Spaniard hidden at the padre’s house.
Conclusion Don Tiburcio, thinking the note refers to him and that his wife Dona
 Victorina had finally discovered his location decides to leave. Padre
Florentino however is certain that the note pertains to Simoun who had
arrived at his house injured.

Simoun confesses his real identity and his story to Padre Florentino,
including how he had befriended and used the current Captain-
General’s greed to commit more injustices and stir up discontent among
the people. Padre Florentino believes God will forgive Simoun and will not
abandon an oppressed people.

When Simoun laments how God has denied freedom to an oppressed

people and saved others more criminal than he, Padre Florentino points
out how the just must suffer for their ideals. He further stresses how
suffering improves and makes worthy those among the people who are
complicit in vice.

Simoun passes away and Padre Florentino takes the jeweler’s fortune in its
steel case and hurls it into the ocean, exhorting nature to keep it, only to
emerge when men need it for a holy reason.

*Note: If you want to understand more about the story, please open this url:
http://rizalville.com/chapter-summaries

Assessment
Context Analysis. For 100 points, create a maximum of 7 paragraph analysis of the novel El
Filibusterismo.

The paper will be graded accordingly Introduction – 20 points

Summary – 20 points
Critical evaluation – 40 points
Conclusion – 20 points

Format (Softcopy) Fonts size (12)

Times New Roman or Calibri
Spacing 1.5
Margin (normal)
A4 size

Format (Hardcopy) Legible and clear handwritten

Use either black or blue.
Drawing Notebook or A4 size in a form of
book with staple at the left-side.
Guide Introduction
● Name the work being reviewed as well
as the date it was created and the
name of the author/creator.  
● Describe the main argument or
purpose of the work.
● Explain the context in which the work
was created.  This could include the
 social or political context, the place of
the work in a creative or academic
tradition, or the relationship between
the work and the creator’s life
experience. 
● Have a concluding sentence that
signposts what your evaluation of the
work will be. For instance, it may
indicate whether it is a positive,
negative, or mixed evaluation.

Summary
• Briefly summarise the main points and
objectively describe how the creator
portrays these by using techniques,
styles, media, characters or symbols.
This summary should not be the focus
of the critique and is usually shorter
than the critical evaluation.
Critical evaluation
• This section should give a systematic
and detailed assessment of the
different elements of the work,
evaluating how well the creator was
able to achieve the purpose through
these. For example: you would assess
the plot structure, characterization and
setting of a novel; an assessment of a
painting would look at composition,
brush strokes, colour and light; a
critique of a research project would
look at subject selection, design of the
experiment, analysis of data and
conclusions.
• A critical evaluation does not simply
highlight negative impressions. It should
deconstruct the work and identify both
strengths and weaknesses. It should
examine the work and evaluate its
success, in light of its purpose.
Examples of key critical questions that
could help your assessment include:
• Who is the creator? Is the work
presented objectively or subjectively?
• What are the aims of the work? Were
the aims achieved?
• What techniques, styles, media were
used in the work? Are they effective in
portraying the purpose?
• What assumptions underlie the work?
Do they affect its validity?
• What types of evidence or
 persuasion are used? Has evidence
been interpreted fairly?
• How is the work structured? Does it
favour a particular interpretation or
point of view? Is it effective?
• Does the work enhance
understanding of key ideas or theories?
Does the work engage (or fail to
engage) with key concepts or other
works in its discipline?

To support the evaluation, provide

evidence from the work itself, such as a
quote or example, and you should also cite
evidence from related sources. Explain
how this evidence supports your evaluation
of the work.

Conclusion
This is usually a very brief paragraph, which
includes:
• A statement indicating the overall
evaluation of the work
• A summary of the key reasons,
identified during the critical evaluation,
why this evaluation was formed.
• In some circumstances,
recommendations for improvement on
the work may be appropriate.