EL FILIBUSTERISMO

BACKGROUND

 It is the second novel written by José Rizal as the sequel to Noli Me Tangere. Like
Noli Me Tangere, it was written in Spanish. Its commonly known English
alternative title is ‘The Reign of Greed’.
 Rizal dedicated El Filibusterismo to the three martyred priests of Cavite mutiny-
GomBurZa. The execution of the three priests was significant to the title of the
novel.
 It consist of 38 chapters. The original manuscript of El Filibusterismo in Rizal’s
own handwriting in now preserved in the Filipiniana Division of the Bureau of
Public Libraries, Manila. It consists of 270 pages of long sheets of paper.
 Two features in the manuscript do not appear in the printed book, namely: the
FOREWORD and the WARNING. These were not put into print to save printing
cost

Where is it taken from?

El Filibusterismo is the Spanish for "The Filibustering” also known by its English
alternative title The Reign of Greed. Filibusterismo in the novel’s title is derived from
the simpler term ‘filibustero’. Rizal had to define the word filibustero to his German
friend Ferdinand Blumentritt, who did not understand his use of the word in Noli Me
Tangere.

In a letter, Rizal explained: "The word filibustero is little known in the Philippines.
The masses do not know it yet. The Manila newspapers and the Spaniards apply
this word to one whom they want to make a revolutionary suspect. The Filipinos
belonging to the educated class fear the reach of the word. It does not have the
meaning of freebooters; it rather means a dangerous patriot who will soon be
hanged or well, a presumptuous man."

By the end of the nineteenth century, the word filibustero had acquired the
meaning "subversive" in the Philippines, hence the book is about subversion.

Why is it entitled that way?

The word ‘filibustero’ contextually means subversive, dissident, revolutionary,

seditious, insurrectionary, and treasonous. Its main purpose is for ‘filibusteros’ to
realize and break away from the mistreatment of Filipinos in the hands of Spaniards.

Symbolism of Cover Page

Title Page

The title of El Filibusterismo contains an inscription written by Ferdinand

Blumentritt. The inscription, which is not found in many published English translations,
is as follows.
 “It can easily be supposed that a rebel (Filibustero) has secretly bewitched the
league of friar-zealots and retrogrades so that, unwittingly following his
incitements, they should favor and foment that policy which pursues one sole end;
to spread ideas of rebellion throughout the length and breadth of land, and to
convince every Filipino that there is no salvation except through separation from
Mother Country.”

Compared to the book cover of Noli Me Tangere, El Filibusterismo's cover is

plain, as designed by Jose Rizal. The plain cover conveys a fresh start for the Philippines
and Filipinos without the trace of symbols from the events and situations in Noli Me
Tangere.

Book cover

Rizal dedicated El Filibusterismo to the three martyred priests of Cavite mutiny.

The execution of the three priests was significant to the title of the novel.

"To the memory of the priests, Don Mariano Gomez (85 years old), Don Jose Burgos
(30 years old), and Don Jacinto Zamora (35 years old). Executed in the
Bagumbayan Field on the 28th of February, 1872."

Rizal’s memory seemed to have failed him, though, for Father Gomez was then 73
not 85, Father Burgos 35 not 30 Father Zamora 37 not 35; and the date of execution
17th not 28th.

OBJECTIVES

1. To defend Filipino people from foreign accusations of foolishness and lack of

knowledge.

2. To show how the Filipino people live during Spanish colonial period and the cries and
woes of his countrymen against abusive officials.

3. To discuss what religion and belief can really do to everyday lives.

4.To expose the cruelties, graft and corruption of the false government and honestly
show the wrong doings of Filipinos that led to further failure.

Sources of Inspiration and reasons for writing the novel

 Gomburza. Father Gomez, Father Burgos, and Father Zamora. Rizal believed that
the Spanish officials’ treatment and execution of the priests’ Gomburza case was
unjust.
 Rizal wanted to encourage the Filipino to realize and break away from the
mistreatment in the hands of Spaniards.
 The need for reform in the education system.
  Issues in the Philippines such as corrupt officials.
 Threat of the growing social status of the Spaniards.
 Power of words, and not fists, to inspire Filipinos to speak out and fight back.
 Form and structure of the European novel of the time.
 Novels: Harriet Beecher Stowe‘s Uncle Tom‘s Cabin, Victor Hugo‘s Les
Miserables, Alexandre Dumas‘ The Count of Monte Cristo, and Niccolo
Machiavelli‘s The Prince.

TIMELINE AND PLACES

 October, 1887 Calamba- Rizal had begun writing the El Fili while practicing
medicine.
 1888 London- Rizal made some changes in the plot and corrected some
chapters already written. He wrote more chapters in Paris and Madrid.
 March 29, 1891 Biarritz- Rizal finished the manuscript. It took him three years
to write his second novel.
 July 5, 1891 leaving Brussels - Rizal left Brussels for Ghent, a famous university
city in Belgium. Rizal reasons for moving to Ghent were (1) the cost of printing in
Ghent was cheaper than in Brussels (2) to escape from the enticing attraction of
Petite Suzanne. Rizal met two compatriots while in Ghent, Jose Alejandro (from
Pampanga) and Edilberto Evangelista (from Manila), both studying engineering
in the world-famed University of Ghent
o *F. Meyer-Van Loo Press- a printing shop that give Rizal the lowest
quotation for the publication of his novel, who was willing to print his
book on installment basis
 August 6, 1891 Ghent -the printing of his book had to be suspended because
Rizal could no longer give the necessary funds to the printer
o *Valentin Ventura- the savior of the Fili
o *When Ventura learned of Rizal’s predicament and immediately sent him
the necessary funds
 September 18, 1891 Ghent- El Filibusterismo came off the press. Rizal
immediately sent on this date two printed copies to Hong Kong—one for Basa
and other for Sixto Lopez. Rizal gratefully donated the original manuscript and
an autographed printed copy to Valentin Ventura.
o *La Publicidad- a Barcelona newspaper, wherein it published a tribute
eulogizing the novel’s original style which “is comparable only to the
sublime Alexander Dumas” and may well be offered as “a model and a
precious jewel in the now decadent literature of Spain”
 October, 1891- El Nuevo Regimen- the liberal Madrid newspaper that
serialized the novel in its issues
 o Date of Publication - September 18, 1891 in Ghent, Belgium
o Printing Press - F. Meyer van Loo Press in Ghent, Belgium
o Financer of the publication - (1) Rizal himself , (2) Valentin Ventura

COMPARISON

NOLI ME TANGERE EL FILIBUSTERISMO

• A romantic novel • A political novel
• A book of the heart • A work of the head
• A book of feeling • A book of thought
• It has freshness, color, humor and • It contains bitterness, hatred, pain,
intelligence violence and sorrow
• Contains 64 chapters • Contains 38 chapters

CHARACTERS OF EL FILIBUSTERISMO

 Simoun- The continuation of the character of Crisostomo Ibarra disguised as a

wealthy jeweller, bent on starting a revolution. Using his wealth, he encouraged
the people who experienced abuse to join him in his rebellion against the church
and government.
 Basilio- Sisa’s son and was adopted by Kapitan Tiago, boyfriend of Juli and an
aspiring doctor.
 Isagani- poet and Basilio’s best friend; portrayed as emotional and reactive
student leader; Paulita Gomez’s boyfriend before being dumped for fellow
student Juanito Pelaez.
 Kabesang Tales- a former ‘cabeza de barangay’ who was known as Luzon bandit
Matanglawin.
 Don Custodio- a famous journalist who was asked by the students about his
decision for the Academia de Castellano. In reality, he was quite an ordinary
fellow who married a rich woman in order to be a member of Manila’s high
society.
 Paulita Gomez- the girlfriend of Isagani and the niece of Doña Victorina. In the
end, she and Juanito Pelaez were wed, and she dumped 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 to be priest and chose an assignment to a remote place, living
in the solitude near the sea.
 Juli- Juliana de Dios, the girlfriend of Basilio, and the youngest daughter of
Kabesang Tales.
 Ben Zayb- He is a journalist who thought he was the “only” one thinking of the
Philippines.
  Placido Penitente- a student of the University of Santo Tomas who was very
intelligent and wise but did not want to pursue studies, if not only by his
mother’s plea, to pursue his studies.
 Quiroga- a Chinese businessman who dreamt of being a consul of a “Consulate of
China” in the Philippines. He kept Simoun’s weapon inside his house.
 Tandang Selo- Father of Kabesang Tales. He raised the sick and young Basilio
after his mother Sisa dies.
 Father Fernandez- the priest-friend of Isagani. He promised Isagani that he and
the other priests will give in to the students’ demands.
 Attorney Pasta- one of the great lawyers of mid-Hispanic Manila.
 Captain- General (no specific name)- the powerful highest official in the
Philippines.
 Padre Sibyla- a Filipino friar and now the vice-rector of the University of Santo
Tomas.

SUMMARY OF EL FILIBUSTERISMO

The story in El Filibusterismo revolves around its main character Simoun who is an
affluent jeweler. Simoun is actually Crisostomo Ibarra of the Noli whom everyone
thought had been killed by the Guardia Civil at Laguna de Bay.

He had in fact escaped, fled to Cuba, become wealthy, and made connections with
influential Spanish officials. Upon his return to the Philippines after many years, he
becomes very influential as the governor general, who owes so much to him, consults
him in making decisions.

In reality however, everything Simoun does is just part of his grand plan to take revenge
against the Spanish officials and rescue Maria Clara from the convent. Planning to stage
a revolution, he smuggles arms and looks for followers, mainly from the exploited and
abused natives. One of his recruits is Basilio, the son of Sisa, who with Capitan Tiago’s
help was able to study in Manila.

Simoun also makes an alliance with the revolutionary group of Kabesang Tales, a former
‘cabeza de barangay’ who suffered maltreatments from the hands of the friars. Using his
influence, Simoun encourages corruption, decadence, and more oppressive government
policies so that the citizens may become more infuriated. However, the planned revolt
one night was not carried out because Simoun, upon hearing that Maria Clara died in the
nunnery, decided not to give the signal for the outbreak of the uprising.

Another plan was made some months later. At the venue of the wedding reception of
Juanito Pelaez and Paulita Gomez, Simoun planted many explosives—enough to kill the
invited guests, primarily the friars and government officials.

According to the plot, the big explosion shall be started by the gift he would give to the
newlyweds at the reception—a kerosene lamp with an explosive. When the lamp
flickers and someone turns the wick, it will result into a big explosion that will become a
signal to the revolutionary troops to simultaneously attack all the government buildings
in Manila.

During the reception, Simoun gives his gift to the newly-weds. Before hurriedly leaving
the venue, he leaves a piece of mysterious paper bearing the message “You will die
tonight” signed by Juan Crisostomo Ibarra.

Meanwhile, Isagani, the rejected lover of Paulita, is standing outside the reception. His
friend Basilio tells him to leave the place because the lamp will soon blow up.

When Father Salvi identifies the handwriting in the note and confirms that it was indeed
Ibarra’s, the guests begin to panic. When the lamp flickers, Father Irene tries to turn the
wick up. But Isagani, wanting to save Paulita’s life, rushes into the house, grabs the
lamp, and throws it into the river where it explodes.

Simoun’s revolutionary plot was thus known and he is thus hunted by the law enforcers.
He managed to escape but was seriously wounded. Carrying his jewelry chest, he finds
shelter in the home of Padre Florentino by the sea. Learning of his presence in the house
of the priest, the lieutenant of the Guardia Civil informs Padre Florentino that he will
come in the evening to arrest Simoun.

Simoun then takes poison that he would not be caught alive. As the poison’s effects start
to take toll on his body, he confesses to Florentino his true identity and his plan of
revenge through bloody revolution.

The story ends with the priest throwing Simoun’s treasures into the sea so that they
would not be used by the greedy. The priest hopes that when the right time comes, they
would be recovered and used only for the good.