Module 13& 14

El Filibusterismo
III. ACTIVITY
Question

What does el filibuster mean?

The term "filibuster" refers to either a pirate or a member of parliament who, in the lack of orders to
stop, speaks continuously during a political debate.

What were the struggles that Rizal went through to publish El Fili?
Rizal started writing El FIlibusterismo in October 1887 in Calmaba during his first homecoming.
The novel was thus written against the background of threats and oppressions he and his family suffered
because of the Noli and the so called Calamba agrarian trouble.

IV. Assessment

1. Why did Rizal dedicate the El Filibusterismo to Gomburza?

In order to make his point that the three killed priests Mariano Gomez, Jose Burgos, and
Jacinto Zamora's deaths were unfair, so Rizal wrote El Filibusterismo and to honor them also.

2. Choose a character in the novel. What does he/she symbolize in relation to Philippine society
today?
I chose Basilio because despite of his difficulties, Basilio was a positive and happy person.
Basilio showed maturity at a young age, realizing the need to find his family after being raised by Selo
and being aware of his father's abuse of his mother. As a Filipino, we are brave and strong to face any
hardships and consequence that we may face even if our lives may be put in danger just for our family.