El Filibusterismo Characters

Simoun

- the protagonist of Noli Me Tangere, Crisostomo Ibarra, under the disguise of a wealthy jeweler
named Simoun. Disillusioned by the abuses of the Spanish, Ibarra abandons his pacifist beliefs to
return to the Philippines and start a violent revolution. Simoun represents the revolutionaries
during that time who supported the idea of holding bloody revolt against the Spanish
government. His death in El Filibusterismo tells readers that Rizal does not support the armed
revolution.

Basilio

- Has risen from poverty to become Captain Tiago’s charge. Close to acquiring his medical
degree, he is pledged to Julí, the beautiful daughter of Cabesang Tales. He represents the youth
with a simple dream that his education will improve his social and economic status in the future
and is indifferent and selfish to the needs of society.

Isagani

- Poet and Basilio's best friend; portrayed as emotional and reactive; Paulita Gómez'
boyfriend before being dumped for fellow student Juanito Peláez. Isagani is the symbol of the
youth whose love for the country is great to the point of being branded as idealistic.

Kabesang Tales

- Telesforo Juan de Dios, a former cabeza de barangay who resurfaced as the feared
Luzón bandit Matanglawin (Tagalog for Hawkeye). He personified a typical Filipino who is
content with living a simple life. He also symbolizes the natives and farmers whose lands were
seized by the friars, an explanation as to why Filipinos became rebels.

Makaraig
 - Makaraig shared the same nationalistic ideals with that of Isagani. The both of them led
their fellow students in the movement for the establishment of the Spanish academy for
Filipinos. The only difference between the two is their social status. Makaraig represented
the well-to- do Filipino youth during the Spanish era who had good dreams for the country. His
character also provided readers with a glimpse of how the rich and the poor were treated during
that time in society differently.

Paulita Gómez

- The girlfriend of Isagani and the niece of Doña Victorina. In the end, she and Juanito
Peláez are wed, and she dumps Isagani, believing that she will have no future if she marries him.
Paulita Gomez is a caricature of a woman who chooses the best option for a more stable future.
She knows what is best for her and would take advantage of her admirers to get what she wants.

Father Florentino

-Isagani's godfather, and a secular priest; was engaged to be married but chose the
priesthood instead. The story hints at the ambivalence of his decision as he chooses an
assignment to a remote place, living in solitude near the sea. Father Florentino represented the
secular Filipino priests in Rizal’s time. It was also through his character that the author stressed
his disapproval of a bloody revolt.

Juli

-Juliana de Dios, the girlfriend of Basilio, and the youngest daughter of Kabesang Tales.
Juli, like Maria Clara, symbolizes the purity and innocence of the lower-class women during
Rizal's time. She would rather sacrifice rather than give up her ideals.

Ben Zayb

-Abraham Ibañez is his real name. He is a journalist who thinks he is the only one
thinking in the Philippines. Personifies a corrupted media.
Placido Penitente

-A student of the University of Santo Tomas who is always miserable, and therefore
controls his temper. Placido means – silent and Penitente means – suffering. Combining those
words, “silent suffering” or in tagalog “tahimik na pagluluksa”.

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.

Father Florentino

- Isagani's godfather, and a secular priest; was engaged to be married, but chose to be a
priest after being pressured by his mother, the story hinting at the ambivalence of his decision as
he chooses an assignment to a remote place, living in solitude near the sea. He took in Don
Tiburcio de Espandaña when he was hiding from his wife, Donya Victorina.

Father Fernández

- a Dominican who was a friend of Isagani. Following the incident with theposters, he
invited Isagani to a dialogue, not so much as a teacher with his student but as a Friar witha
Filipino. Although they failed to resolve their differences, they each promised to approach
theircolleagues with the opposing views from the other party - although both feared that given
theanimosity that existed between their sides, their own compatriots may not believe in the other
party'sexistence.

Quiroga

- a Chinese businessman who aspired to be a consul for China in the Philippines.Simoun

coerced Quiroga into hiding weapons inside the latter's warehouses in preparation for
therevolution.
Captain-General

- the highest-ranking official in the Philippines during the Spanish colonialperiod. The
captain-General in the El filibusterismo Simoun's friend and confidant and is described ashaving
an insatiable lust for gold. Simoun met him when he was still a Major during the Ten Years'War
in Cuba. He secured the Major's friendship and promotion to Captain-General through
bribes.When he was posted in the Philippines, Simoun used him as a pawn in his own power
plays to drivethe country into revolution. The Captain-General was shamed into not extending
his tenure afterbeing rebuked by a high official in the aftermath of Basilio's imprisonment. This
decision to retirewould later on prove to be a crucial element to Simoun's schemes.

Señor Pasta

-He is an old Filipino lawyer who refuses to help the Filipino students in their clamor for
educational reforms. He represents the part of the society that is only generous and sympathetic
to the rich and powerful.

Tandang Selo

- Father of Kabesang Tales and grandfather of Tano and Juli. He raised the sick and
young Basilio after he left their house in Noli me tangere. He died in an encounter on the
mountains with his son Tales, when he was killed by a battalion that included his own grandson,
Tano.

Father Hernando de la Sibyla

- A Dominican friar introduced in Noli Me Tangere, now the vice-rector of the University
of Santo Tomas
Other Characters
Pecson - classmate who had no idea on the happenings occurring around him. He suggested that
they held the mock celebration at the panciteria.
Sandoval - The vice-leader of Macaraig's gang. A Spanish classmate of Isagani, he coerces his
classmates to lead alongside him the opening of the Spanish language academy.
Father Irene - He is a kind friar who is a friend of the Filipino students. He supports the
students who appeal to the government for an academy of Spanish language. He embodies the
few Spaniards who are sympathetic to the Filipinos.
Hermana Penchang - Sagpang's rich pusakal (gambler). She offers Juli to be her maid so the
latter can obtain money to free Kabesang Tales. Disbelieving Juli and her close friends, she
considers herself an ally of the friars.
Don Timoteo Pelaez - Juanito's father. He is a rich businessman and arranges a wedding for his
son and Paulita. He and Simoun became business partners.
Hermana Báli - Another gambler in Tiani. She became Juli's mother-figure and counselor;
helped to release Kabesang Tales from the hands of bandits.
Father Millon - The Physics teacher of the University of Santo Tomas. He always becomes
vindictive with Placido and always taunts him during class.
Tadeo - Macaraig's classmate. He, along with the other three members of their gang, supposedly
posted the posters that "thanked" Don Custodio and Father Irene for the opening of the Academia
de Castellano.
Leeds - An American who holds stage plays starring severed heads; he is good friends with
Simoun.
Tano - Kabesang Tales's elder son after his older sister, Lucia died in childhood. He took up the
pseudonym "Carolina" after returning from exile in the Caroline Islands, and became a civil
guard. He was among the battalion killed his grandfather, Selo, who was part of a group of an
attacking rebels.
Pepay - Don Custodio's supposed "girlfriend". A dancer, she is always agitated of her
"boyfriend"'s plans. She seems to be a close friend of Macaraig.