El Filibusterismo Chapter Summaries

(eng translation)

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 updates the capitan on 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 calm 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 accepts their explanation 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 agreeing to become a priest.
 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, believed to have been the
home of spirits but later became a bandits’ nest. Padre Florentino next tells the story of Doña
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 charges Tales an annual fee. He pays dutifully, but begins to rebel when the fee becomes too
high. 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 gone to 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[1] 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 poverty 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 sees 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 concludes from the events and memories of the past, that
Simoun may actually be Ibarra. Basilio reveals himself, and Simoun, to protect his secret identity,
thinks of 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 push the downtrodden to rebel. Simoun then mocks 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 declines, 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 as a result of Simoun’s having been
held up and losing his pistols to bandits. 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.[1] 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 gives his approval.
 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 good pupil in his province. With him
is Juanito Pelaez, a rich student and teacher’s pet who doesn’t care about his classes. They arrive
at the university entrance where other students gather 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 result 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 confused 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 the impertinence of
students requesting to establish an academy for teaching Spanish.
 Chapter 14: In the House of the Students
Makaraig’s large house is alive with student activity. Mixed in with those studying are those
engaged in horseplay. The noise dies down with the arrival of distinguished students, including
the optimists Isagani and Sandoval, a peninsular. 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 in a joyful mood 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 convincing 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 the blessing of its government as of a parent. Señor Pasta advises
Isagani to just study hard, 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 rejects 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 talk about
bombs, and an event that is to happen the following week involving Cabesang Tales and his men,
which, if delayed, may mean death for Maria Clara. Placido later spends a few hours at Simoun’s
house from which he emerges thoughtful. He later agrees to his mother’s plan to try to appease
the friars at his university.Alone at his house, Simoun is momentarily bothered by his conscience,
but quickly turns away from it.

Chapter 20: The Arbiter

Don Custodio has been thinking about the students’ petition for a Spanish academy for many
days, 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 think about the petition, his eyes
land on one of his project files concerning the School of Arts and Trades. He gets an idea (which
he hasn’t revealed yet) 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 because the show’s popular supporters talked about it
publicly. 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’ theater box is one obtained 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 excuse of critiquing the show. Padre Irene in
disguise is likewise in attendance, saying he had been supposedly 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 requires the implementation of the plan to be supervised by a religious order. The
students’ 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 informs him of the critical 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 memories of the place. 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
thoughts as mere 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[1] 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[4]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.