SOCSCI-FINALS
LESSON I. Rizal's First Homecoming 1887-1888
Decision to Return Home
Why Rizal returned to the Philippines?
1. To operate on his mother's eyes;
2. To serve his people who had long been oppressed by
Spanish tyrants;
3. To find out for himself how the Noli and his writings
were affecting Filipinos and Spaniards in the Philippines;
4. To inquire why Leonor Rivera remained silent
Journey to Home
• Rizal left Rome by train for Marseilles, a French
port, which he reached without mishap.
• July 3, 1887-Rizal boarded the steamer
Djemnah, the same streamer which brought
him to Europe 5 years ago
• July 30, 1887-at Saigon, Rizal transferred to
another steamer, Haiphong, which was Manila-
bounded
• August 2, 1887- the steamer left Saigon for
Manila.
• August 5, 1887- Haiphong Arrived in Manila
On August 8, 1887
Rizal returned to Calamba, Laguna
“ I had a pleasant voyage. I found my family enjoying
the good health and our hapiness was great in seeing
each other again. They shed tears of joy and I had to
answer ten thousand questions at the same time.”
• In Calamba, Rizal established a medical clinic.
His first patient was his mother, who was
almost blind. He treated her eyes but could not
perform any surgical operation because her eye
cataracts are not yet ripe.
“Doctor Uliman”
Some people during Rizal’s lifetime referred to Rizal as
“Dr. Uliman” from “el doctor Aleman” (the German
doctor) because he came from Germany.
Rizal suffered one failure during his six months of
sojourn in Calamba-- his failure to see Leonor Rivera.
STORM OVER
NOLI ME TANGERE
• One day, Rizal received a letter from
Governor General Emilio Terrero requesting him to
come to Malacañang Palace because somebody had
whispered to the governor's ear that the Noli Me
Tangere contained subversive ideas.
• Rizal appeared at Malacanang Palace and
denied the charge of Terrero.
• Governor Genereal Terrero asked for a copy of
the Noli Me Tangere so that he could read it
himself. But Rizal had no copy then but
promised to secure one for the governor
general.
“Everything in it was the truth”
“You may lose your head for it” Fr. Federico Faura
• The governor general read the Noli Mi Tangere
and found nothing wrong with it.
• The governor general was a liberal-minded
Spaniard, he knew that Rizal's life was in
jeopardy because the friars were powerful.
Lt. Don Jose Taviel de Andrade
- bodyguard of Rizal
-belonged to a noble family
- cultured and knew painting
-could speak English, French and Spanish
ATTACKERS OF NOLI ME TANGERE
1. Archbishop of Manila, Msgr. Pedro Payo
2. Fr. Rector Gregorio Echavarria of UST
3. Committee of Faculty of UST
Committee of Faculty of UST:
“[the Noli was] heretical, impious, and scandalous in the
religion order, and anti-patriotic, subversive of public
order, injurious to the government of Spain and its
functions in the Philippine Islands in the political order”.
4. Commission of Censorship's Fr. Salvador Font
 SOCSCI-FINALS
“that the importation, reproduction and circulation of
this pernicious book in the islands be absolutely
prohibited.”
5. Fr. Jose Rodriguez
published a series of 8 pamplets under the
general heading Cuestiones de Sumo Interes (Questions
of Supreme Interest) to blast the Noli and other anti-
Spanish writings.
6. Senate of the Spanish Cortes and various senators:
Gen. Jose de Salamanca
Gen. Luis M. de Pando
Sr. Fernando Vida
7. Vicente Barrantes
- a spanish academician of Madrid who formerly
occupied a high government position in the Philippines
• The censorship commission banned Noli, yet it
became more popular to the masses.
• What the Spanish masters don’t like, the
oppressed massed like very much.
• Despite the banning, Filipinos were able to get a
copy and read it at night.
• There were no mass imprisonment/execution,
thanks to General Terrero
DEFENDERS OF NOLI ME TANGERE
1. Marcelo H. del Pilar
2. Dr. Antonio Ma. Regidor
3. Graciano Lopez Jaena
4. Mariano Ponce
5. other Filipinos
rushed to uphold the truths of the Noli
Father Francisco de Paula Sanchez
favorite teacher of Rizal at the Ateneo
defended and praised it in public
Don Segismundo Moret
( former Minister of the Crown )
Dr. Miguel Morayta
( historian and statesman )
Professor Blumentritt
(Scholar and educator)
read and liked the novel
A brilliant defense Noli came from an unexpected
source:
Rev. Vicente Garcia
A Filipino Catholic priest-scholar, a theologian of
the Manila Cathedral, and a Tagalog Translator of the
famous Imitation of Christ by Thomas a Kempis. Writing
under the penname Justo Desiderio Magalang, he
wrote a defense of the Noli which was published in
Singapore as an appendix of a pamphlet dated July 18,
1888.
Rev. Vicente Garcia
He blasted the arguments of Fr. Rodrigez by
stating:
1. Rizal cannot be an “ignorant man”, as Fr. Rodriguez
alleged, because he was a graduate of Spanish
universities and was a recipient of scholastic honors.
2. Rizal does not attack the Church and Spain--but the
bad Spanish officials and not Spain; but the bad and
corrupt friars and not the Church.
3. If Father Rodriguez said that those who read the Noli
commit a mortal sin; and he (Rodriguez) had read the
novel, therefore he also commits a mortal sin.
CALAMBA’S AGRARIAN TROUBLE
Governor General Terrero
ordered a government investigation of the friar estates
to remedy whatever iniquities might have been present
in connection with land taxes and with tenant relations.
One of the friars’ estates affected was the Calamba
Hacienda which the Dominican Order owned since
1883.
December 30, 1887 - the Civil Governor of Laguna
Province directed the Municipal authorities of Calamba
to investigate the agrarian conditions of their locality.
January 8, 1888 - Rizal wrote down his findings which
the tenants and 3 of the officials of the Hacienda who
signed.
 SOCSCI-FINALS
These findings were the following:
1. The Hacienda of the Dominican Order comprised not
only the lands around the Calamba, but also the town of
Calamba.
2. The profits of the Dominican Order continually
increased because of the arbitrary of the rentals paid by
the tenants.
3. Tenants who had spent much labor I clearing the
lands were dispossessed of said lands for flimsy reasons.
4. High rates of interest were charged the tenants for
delayed payment of rentals, and when the rentals could
not be paid, the Hacienda management confiscated
their carabaos, tools, and homes.
FAREWELL TO CALAMBA
Rizal was compelled to leave Calamba for 2 reasons:
1. his presence in Calamba was jeopardizing the safety
and happiness of his family and friends
2. he could fight better against his enemies and serve
his country's cause with greater efficacy by writing in
foreign countries
“Himno Al Trabajo” (Hymn to Labor)
QUIZ
The news of noli apread even to the Spanish Cortes.
- Selected: true This
He published 8 pamphlets to be sold outside the church
to influence the Filipinos not to read noli _
- FR. JOSE RODRIGUEZ
Rizals greatest failure after returning home is his heart
break to see Leonor Venezuela.
- Selected: false This
The streamer which brought him to Europe 5 years ago.
- DJEMNAH
Rizal charges the poor with a high price to create projects in
the society..
- Selected: false This
Noli paved way to start investigation of the lands.
- Selected: false This
He published 8 pamphlets to be sold outside the church
to influence the Filipinos not to read noli
- FR. JOSE RODRIGUEZ
Rizals appointed bodyguard during his first homecoming
- LT. DON JOSE TAVIEL DE ANDRADE
What is the illness of Rizals first patient?
- CATARACT
The unexpected brilliant defender of Noli.
- REV. VICENTE GARCIA
On August 8, 1887, Rizal arrived in CALAMBA, LAGUNA
LESSON II. EL FILIBUSTERISMO
“represents Rizal's more mature judgement on political
and social conditions in the islands, and in its graver and
less hopeful tone reflects the disappointments and
discouragements which he had encountered in his
efforts to lead the way to reform.”
- Charles Derbyshire, The Reign of Greed
guardia civil
- police/military force assigned by the colonial
government to maintain peace and order
cabeza de barangay
- head of the barangay
filibustéro
(19th century context)
-translated as “subversive”
-a patriot who was usually associated with
revolutionary activities
filibustéro
 SOCSCI-FINALS
“the one eager for the independence of the country,
resorts to various extralegal proceedings in order to
reach the objective that he pursues”
-Wenceslao Retana , 1890
filibuster
“someone who works for the separation of our overseas
provinces”
-19th century Spanish colonial government
“The word filibustero is little known in the Philippines …
I heard it for the first time in 1872 when the tragic
executions [of the Gomburza] took place. I still
remember the panic that this word created. Our father
forbade us to utter it, as well as the words Cavite,
Burgos (one of the executed priests), etc. 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 … means a dangerous patriot who will
soon be hanged or well, a presumptuous man.”
Writing the Novel
EL FILIBUSTERISMO
started to be written in October 1887 in Calamba during
his first homecoming
Rizal continued working on his novel and made some
revisions in 1888.
COMPLETION OF THE El Filibusterismo
Rizal had finally completed the El Filibusterismo by
March 29, 1891 in Biarritz, France
Jose Alejandrino
Rizal’s roommate in Belgium
later became a general in the Philippine revolution, may
have been the first person to read the novel aside from
the author
Challenge faced in Writing the El Fili
lack of funds delayed the publication of the El
Filibusterismo
VALENTIN VENTURA
Savior of the El Fili
He was Rizal’s friend who partially financed the novel’s
publication
July 9, 1891
“For the past three months I have not received a single
centavo, so I have pawned all that I have in order to
publish this book. I will continue publishing it as long as
I can; and when there is nothing to pawn I will stop …”
deleted pages
47 whole pages were erased from the 279-page
manuscript to save expenses
Noli Me Tangere
64 chapters
El Filibusterismo
38 chapters
Rizal dedicated the book to the memory of the
GOMBURZA, the three Filipino patriotic priests who
were accused of being ‘filibustero’ and thus executed
Spain used the garrote as a form of state-sponsored
execution as recently as 1974.
Synopsis of the El Fili
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.
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.
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.
 SOCSCI-FINALS

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.
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.
After the emotional and agonizing confession of the
dying man, the priest absolves the dying man from his
sins, saying: “God will forgive you Señor Simoun. He
knows that we are fallible. He has seen that you have
suffered … He has frustrated your plans one by one …
first by the death of Maria Clara, then by a lack of
preparation, then in some mysterious way. Let us bow
to His will and render Him thanks!”
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.
QUIZ
The place where Rizal started El Filibusterismo.
- Philippines
The first who read the El filibusterismo other than Rizal
is
- JOSE ALEJANDRINO
The place where Rizal finished El Filibusterismo.
- France
The place where Rizal stayed to be honed in the English
language.
- London

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