MODULE 8 - El Filibusterismo

PHILIPPINE COLLEGE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Old Nalsian Road, Nalsian, Calasiao, Pangasinan, Philippines 2418

Tel. No. (075)522-8032/Fax No. (075)523-0894/Website: www.philcst.edu.ph
ISO 9001:2015 CERTIFIED, Member: Philippine Association of Colleges and Universities (PACU),
Philippine Association of Maritime Institutions (PAMI)
LIFE AND WORKS OF Dr. JOSE P. RIZAL
MODULE 8: EL FILIBUSTERISMO
On September 18, 1891, the second novel of Dr. Jose Rizal, El Filibusterismo (Reign
of Greed), written in Spanish and a sequel to Noli Me Tangere, was published in Ghent,
Belgium.
Rizal, who began writing El Filibusterismo in October 1887 in Calamba, Laguna,

revised some chapters while he was in London and completed the book on March 29, 1891.
Rizal wrote El Filibusterismo in dedication to the three martyred priests Mariano Gomez,
Jose Burgos, and Jacinto Zamora, expressing conviction that their treatment and deaths at
the hands of the Spanish authorities was unjust.
Plots are poles apart compared with Noli Me Tangere, where people were encouraged
to ask and aspire for change and liberation, in El Filibusterismo, Rizal urged the society to
open its eyes to reality and rebel against the Spanish government for its oppression and
abuse.
In Noli Me Tangere, there is aspiration, beauty, romance, and mercy. In El

Filibusterismo, readers will feel is bitterness, hatred, and antipathy. The romance and
aspirations are gone. Even the characters' personalities seem to have undergone radical
change.
 Simoun
Crisóstomo Ibarra reincarnated as a wealthy jeweler, bent on starting a revolution
 Basilio
Sisa's son, now an aspiring doctor
 Isagani
A 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 (barangay head) who resurfaced
as the feared Luzón bandit Matanglawin (Tagalog for Hawkeye); his father, Old Man Selo,
dies eventually after his own son Tano, who became a guardia civil, unknowingly shoots
his grandfather in an encounter.
 Don Custodio
Custodio de Salazar y Sánchez de Monteredondo, a famous journalist who was asked
by the students about his decision for the Academia de Castellano. In reality, he is quite an
ordinary fellow who married a rich woman in order to be a member of Manila's high
society.
 Paulita Gómez
The girlfriend of Isagani and the niece of Doña Victorina, the old India who passes
herself off as a Peninsular, who is the wife of the quack doctor Tiburcio de Espadaña. 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.
 Huli
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
 Quiroga
a Chinese businessman who dreamt of being a consul of a Consulate of China in the
Philippines. He hid Simoun's weapons inside his house.
 Old Man Selo

The father of Kabesang Tales. He raised the sick and young Basilio after his mother
Sisa had died
 Father Fernandez
The priest-friend of Isagani. He promised to 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 of the Philippines
 Padre Sibyla
Hernando de la Sibyla, a Filipino friar and now vice-rector of the University of Santo
Tomas (U.S.T.)
Chapter 1: On the Upper Deck
The steamer Tabo makes its way up the Pasig river one December morning. On its upper deck
is Dona Victorina, traveling in search of her husband Don Tiburcio, who has fled from her abuse.
On deck too are Don Custodio, the writer Ben-Zayb and Padres Salvi, Sibyla, Irene and Camorra,
and the steamer’s captain. Also present is the jeweler Simoun, conspicuous for his long white hair
and large blue sunglasses. He is reputed to have advisory influence over the Captain-General.
The group fall into discussing the winding path of the river. Simoun suggests digging a new
canal straight from the mouth of the river passing Manila, and closing old Pasig. To achieve this,
he further suggests the destruction of towns, using prisoners as laborers to eliminate the cost, and
increasing forced labor among men and boys. Don Custodio and Padre Sibyla bring up the
possibility of uprisings, which Simoun sharply dismisses, as he leaves the group to head below
deck.
Chapter 2: On the Lower Deck
Below deck, medical student Basilio and the young poet Isagani chat with Capitan Basilio.
The younger Basilio first apprises the capitan of the lack of improvement in Capitan Tiago’s health
condition and supposed continued use of opium. Their conversation turns to the Spanish language
academy the young men are planning to start. Capitan Basilio is doubtful of their success, but the
young men dispel his doubts by revealing they expect a permit soon, and that they have teachers
and funds contributed by fellow students. Their venue will be the house of a student named
Makaraig. Capitan Basilio concedes and heads off.
The young men move on to other topics including Paulita, Dona Victorina’s niece and
Isagani’s love interest; Dona Victorina’s hiring of Isagani to look for Don Tiburcio, and the fact
that Don Tiburcio is actually hiding in Isagani’s uncle’s house. Simoun joins them briefly, and
Basilio introduces him to Isagani. Also below deck on the rear is Isagani’s uncle, Padre Florentino,
now retired and with a fortune left to him by his long departed mother in exchange for his taking
orders.
Chapter 3: Legends
Padre Florentino and Simoun join the group on the upper deck, and the captain launches into
the topic of legends about the Pasig river. He talks about Malapad-na-bato,[2] believed to have been
the home of spirits but later became a bandits’ nest.
Padre Florentino next tells the story of Dona Jeronima, a woman who had grown old waiting
for her betrothed who had forgotten her and had gone on to become the Archbishop of Manila. To
appease her, he prepared a cave for her where she lived and died. Hearing this, Simoun turns to
Padre Salvi and pointedly remarks at how ungallant the Archbishop had been. He believes it would
have been more fitting if the lady were shut up in a nunnery like Santa Clara.
An uncomfortable Padre Salvi changes the topic and relates a legend of his own about an
unbelieving Chinaman who, when attacked by a cayman, invoked St. Nicholas, and the cayman
turned to stone.
As the steamer enters the lake, Ben-Zayb asks the captain where a certain Ibarra had been
killed. The captain gives a quick account of the pursuit on the lake thirteen years ago and indicates
where Ibarra had been lost.
Chapter 4: Cabesang Tales
Herein is the story of Tandang Selo and his son Tales, old friends of Basilio.
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 Cochero’s Chirstmas Eve
Basilio’s arrival in San Diego is delayed as his cochero had been detained and knocked about
by the guardia civil for forgetting his cedula. They 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 yeas 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: Simoun
Basilio is about to leave his mother’s tomb when he hears someone 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 demures, 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
remians uncommitted.
Chapter 8: Merry Christmas
Early in the morning, Juli prepares to leave Tandang Selo to begin her new employment in
payment for the money loaned for her father’s ransom. She tries to keep her spirits up, but she is
miserable.
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: Wealth and Want
Simoun obtains temporary lodgings at Cabesang Tales’ house where the townspeople come
to see his jewels. They are both awed and terrified by 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 Baños
The Captain-General is on a working vacation in Los Baños. With him are 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
Placido Penitente walks reluctantly to the University of Santo Tomas. He 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 Class in Physics
Padre Million asks students to recite lessons from memory, giving good 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: In the House of the Students
Makaraig’s large house teems with student activity. Mixed in with those studying are those
engaged in raucous horse play. The hubbub dies down with the arrival of distinguished students,
including the optimists Isagani and Sandoval, a peninsular.[2]
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 Pasta
Isagani visits Señor Pasta and relates the developments regarding the 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 Tribulations of a Chinese
The Chinese Quiroga, who hopes to open a consulate for his nation, hosts a dinner for
important people from the church, government, military and 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 Quiapo Fair
Spotted at the fair is the exquisitely beautiful Paulita Gomez, accompanied by Isagani and
Dona Victorina, who calls out to her favorite, Juanito Pelaez.
The group from Quiroga’s dinner stroll around the fair and stop by a stall of figurines, majority
of which are figures of priests. Unlike the depictions of priests in Europe, who are shown
participating in worldly activities or having fun, the priests’ figurines in the stall are elegant, saintly
and serene.
Chapter 18: Legerdemain
At Mr. Leeds’ room, Ben Zayb examines the table for mirrors, which he 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.[2] 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 Fuse
Placido Penitente is enraged by his experience at the university. Back at 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 Arbiter
Don Custodio has been mulling over the question of the Spanish 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: Manila Types
People flock to the theater for the first show of a French operetta company. Outside, an
unkempt Spaniard nicknamed, The Shrimp, chats about the show with Uncle Quico.[1] 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 Performance
The performance opens late to an impatient audience due to the 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 a 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 Corpse
Since his return from San Diego to rescue Juli, Basilio has been devoting 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: Dreams
While waiting to meet Paulita, Isagani overhears Ben Zayb talk about 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: Smiles and Tears
Makaraig and the other students celebrate their loss at a pansiteria and put on an air of
forced gaiety. They launch into mocking jests, dedicating 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: Pasquinades
Basilio sets out early to inquire at the university about his license and to 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 Friar and the Filipino
Padre Fernandez hears Isagani’s impassioned speech to his fellow students and asks to speak
with him. He asks Isagani what the students 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: Tatakut
The incident about the subversive posters results in a great deal of 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 Capitan Tiago
Padre Irene is the executor of Capitan Tiago’s last will and testament 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 High Official
The girl’s death and even her identity are largely left unremarked by both 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 advocates 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 of the Pasquinades
As a result of the events involving the students, Pecson, Tadeo and Pelaez are suspended
from their courses, and Makaraig leaves for Europe. 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 Ultima Razon
Basilio, having been released from prison through Simoun’s intercession, 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 Wedding
While waiting for the agreed time for the uprising, Basilio whiles away the 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 Fiesta
Important people arrive at the party, and Basilio hesitates when he 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. As the lamp is about to go out, a figure rushes in and throws it
into the river.
Chapter 36: Ben-Zayb’s Afflictions
Ben-Zayb writes an embellished account of what transpired at the 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 Mystery
While on a visit to the wealthy Orenda family’s house, Isagani listens to 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: Fatality
Along a mountainside, soldiers escort a group of individuals suspected of being members

of the feared Matanglawin’s gang of bandits. The 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: Conclusion
Padre Florentino receives a note from a lieutenant warning of the arrival of the civil
guards to arrest the Spaniard hidden at the padre’s house. 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.
Reference:
https://www.pinoywit.com/el-filibusterismo-index-chapter-summaries/

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PHILIPPINE COLLEGE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

Old Nalsian Road, Nalsian, Calasiao, Pangasinan, Philippines 2418

LIFE AND WORKS OF Dr. JOSE P. RIZAL

Rizal, who began writing El Filibusterismo in October 1887 in Calamba, Laguna,

In Noli Me Tangere, there is aspiration, beauty, romance, and mercy. In El

 Old Man Selo

Chapter 1: On the Upper Deck

Chapter 2: On the Lower Deck

Chapter 4: Cabesang Tales

Chapter 5: A Cochero’s Chirstmas Eve

Chapter 8: Merry Christmas

Chapter 10: Wealth and Want

Chapter 11: Los Baños

Chapter 12: Placido Penitente

Chapter 13: The Class in Physics

Chapter 14: In the House of the Students

Chapter 15: Señor Pasta

Chapter 16: The Tribulations of a Chinese

Chapter 17: The Quiapo Fair

Chapter 18: Legerdemain

Chapter 19: The Fuse

Chapter 20: The Arbiter

Chapter 21: Manila Types

Elsewhere, the student Tadeo is accompanied by a newcomer to whom he gives an overview

Chapter 22: The Performance

Chapter 23: A Corpse

Chapter 24: Dreams

Chapter 25: Smiles and Tears

Chapter 26: Pasquinades

Chapter 27: The Friar and the Filipino

Chapter 28: Tatakut

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

Chapter 29: Exit Capitan Tiago

Chapter 30: Juli

Chapter 31: The High Official

Chapter 32: Effect of the Pasquinades

Chapter 33: La Ultima Razon

Chapter 34: The Wedding

It is revealed that the Captain-General will be bearing a lamp, confidentially procured by

Chapter 35: The Fiesta

Chapter 36: Ben-Zayb’s Afflictions

Chapter 37: The Mystery

Chapter 38: Fatality

Along a mountainside, soldiers escort a group of individuals suspected of being members

Chapter 39: Conclusion

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