NOLI ME TANGERE AND

EL FILIBUSTERISMO
EL FILIBUSTERISMO
◈ El Filibusterismo was Rizal’s second novel. He began writing
the manuscript while he was in Calamba in 1887 and
continued writing the novel in 1888 while he was staying in
Paris. The rest of the novel was written in Madrid and Biarritz,
France while staying as a guest of Juan Luna.
◈ He finished the novel on March 29, 1891. Compared to the
Noli Me Tangere it took him three years to complete the
manuscript of El Filibusterismo.
◈ While in Ghent, Jose Alejandrino was Rizal’s roommate to
save on rent. The building they were staying in was an
inexpensive boarding house and both men had to prepare their
own breakfast. Rizal shared with his friend a can of biscuits
which they intend to last for thirty days.
 EL FILIBUSTERISMO
◈ Rizal found a suitable printing press for his book,
the F. Meyer Van Loo Press located at 66
Viaandern Street. It was willing to print his book
on an installment basis. Rizal pawned all his jewels
to print the book. Also proceeds from the annotated
Sucesos amounting to P200 started coming in.
◈ He borrowed money from Jose Ma. Basa from
Hong Kong.
◈ Valentin Ventura – savior of El Filibusterismo;
Maximo Viola for Noli Me Tangere.
◈ Rizal gave Ventura a copy of his novels with his
autograph.
 THE TERM “FILIBUSTERSMO”
◈ The name “filibuster” comes from filibutor which refers to pirates or
the West Indian buccaneer who were mostly French, Dutch and
English. These pirates raided the Spanish galleons in the Pacific and
Atlantic when Spain was the leader of the world commerce. The
term became the Dutch vribueter (vriuiter) and in Spanish it became
filibuster. To be a filibuster is one who makes trouble.
 RIZAL’S CHOICE FOR THE TITLE OF THE NOVEL

◈ Rizal’s choice for the title of his second novel is embedded from his
personal experience during the events of 1872. On January 21 of that
year the Cavite Mutiny broke out and those who were implicated in
the mutiny were called Filibusteros. To be called a “filibuster”
during that time is considered a dangerous person. That person is an
anarchist whose object was to destroy society as it is. Such a person
is destined to be hunted down more than a common criminal and
since the filibuster also wishes to destroy the religious status quo he
is considered an enemy of God and his church and his soul is bound
for hell.
RIZAL’S CHOICE FOR THE TITLE OF THE NOVEL
 GOMBURZA
◈ Mariano Gomes was the first priest to go. His eyeglasses fell as he walked to the scaffold, and his famous last
words were: “Let us go where the leaves never fall or move without the will of God.”
◈ Jacinto Zamora went next. His guilt and complicity in the Cavite Mutiny of January 1872 was built on a note in
his confiscated mail. It was an innocent invitation to a card game that read: “Grand reunion … our friends are
well provided with powder and ammunition.” Taken literally by the authorities, it sealed his fate even if it
simply referred to money for an overnight card game. Witnesses marveled at Zamora’s amazing serenity at the
execution site not knowing the priest had suffered a nervous breakdown. One could say that he was already
dead before the garrote broke his neck.
◈ Jose Burgos had the worst time, having heard the crank of the garrote followed by the sound of breaking necks
thrice before his turn. “What crime have I committed to deserve such a death? Is there no justice in the
world?” Then 12 friars restrained him and calmed him down with advice to accept a Christian death. Pushed
back into the seat, Burgos sprung up again shouting: “But I haven’t committed any crime!” At that point, one
of the friars holding him down hissed: “Even Christ was innocent!” That remark calmed Burgos who then
accepted his fate after pardoning his executioner and giving one last blessing that brought the curious crowd to their knees.

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◈After 1872 the word “filibuster” was used to scare a person
into silence by simply threatening to label him as such.
When one is called a Filibustero he can be arrested anytime
by the authorities to be imprisoned, deported.
 PERSONAL CONTEXT OF THE NOVEL
◈ The times when Rizal was writing and publishing El
Filibusterismo were not the best times of his life.
◈ Expulsion of tenants by the Dominican Administrators
◈ Fight with Antonio Luna over Nelly Boustead
◈ Leadership dispute in the Asosacion Hispano-Filipino
 WIDER NATIONAL CONTEXT OF THE NOVEL
◈ Agrarian Unrest: Tabacco Monopoly
◈ Natural factors: droughts and floods
◈ Man-made factors: fall of the prices in the world market of cash crops like sugar.
◈ Farmers were addicted to activities like gambling.
◈ Tenants who could not afford to pay rent or those who were tired of the abuse by the colonial
authorities ran to the hills to become remontados or cimmarrones.
◈ Cimmaron was a term for a tame carabao which either ran from its master or was set loose in the
forest and became wild. The same term refers to people who were under the control of colonial
authorities but have fled to the wilderness to escape the harsh treatment by the authorities.
◈ Cabesang Tales – feared bandit Matanglawin
SUMMARY OF EL FILIBUSTERISMO
FROM: SILVER SKETCHES

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fE39aANHDhE&t=66s
 CHARACTERS OF
EL FILIBUSTERISMO
 SIMOUN
◈ Crisostomo Ibarra reborn, who returns to the Philippines after 13
years of absence to destroy the Philippines society, having become a
victim of the vicious system.
◈ Crisostomo Ibarra in disguise, left for dead at the end of Noli
Me Tangere. Ibarra has resurfaced as the wealthy
jeweler, Simoun, porting a beard, blue-tinted glasses, and a
revolver. Fueled by his mistreatment at the hands of the Spaniards
and his fury at Maria Clara’s fate, Simoun secretly
plans a revolution to seek revenge against those who wronged him.
 BASILIO
◈Son of Sisa and another character from Noli Me Tangere
◈After his mother’s death, he became a vagabond until
Captain Tiago took him in out of pity and hired him as
a houseboy in exchange for sending him to school. In the
events of the book, he is a graduating medical student who
discovered Simoun’s true identity and befriended
him. His girlfriend is Juli.
 ISAGANI
◈Basilio’s friend and one of the students who planned to set
up a new school. He is very idealistic and hopes for a better
future for the Philippines. His girlfriend was the rich
and beautiful Paulita Gomez, but they broke up once he was
arrested. Despite this, his love for her still
endured. He sabotaged Simoun’s plans by removing the
lamp that contained explosives and threw it in the waters.
 KABESANG TALES
◈Cabeza Telesforo Juan de Dios, a former cabeza de
barangay (barangay head) of Sagpang, a Barangay in San
Diego’s neighboring town Tiani, who resurfaced as the
feared Luzon bandit Matanglawin. He is the son of Tandang
Selo, and father of Juli and Tano.
 DON CUSTODIO
◈ Custodio de Salazar y Sanchez 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 GOMEZ
◈ The girlfriend of Isagani and the niece of Doña Victorina, the old
Indio who passes herself off as a Peninsular , who is the wife of
the quack doctor Tiburcio de Espadaña. In the end, she
and Juanito Pelaez are wed, and she dumps Isagani, believing that
she will have no future if she marries him.
 MACARAIG
◈One of Isagani’s classmates at the University of Santo
Tomas. He is a rich student and serves as the leader of the
students yearning to build the Academia de Castiellano.
 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. Florentino
also harbors great hatred for the corrupt Spanish
friars. He offered shelter to Don Tiburcio de
Espandaña when the latter was hiding from his wife, Donya
Victorina.
 JULI
◈Juliana de Dios, the girlfriend of Basilio, and the youngest
daughter of Kabesang Tales. To claim her father from the
bandits, she had to work as a maid under the supervision of
Hermana Penchang. Eventually, she was freed but committed
suicide after Father Camorra attempted to rape her.
 JUANITO PELAEZ
◈favorite student of the professors. They belong to the noble
Spanish ancestry. After failing in his grades, he became
Paulita’s new boyfriend and they eventually wed.
 DONA VICTORINA
◈Victorina delos Reyes de Espadaña, Known in Noli Me Tangere
as Tiburcio de Espadaña’s cruel wife. She is the aunt of Paulita
Gomez, and favors Juanito Pelaez over Isagani. She is searching
for her husband, who has
left her and is in hiding. Although of Indio
heritage, she considers herself as one of the Peninsular.
 FATHER CAMORRA
◈The lustful parish priest of Tiani, San Diego’s adjacent
town who has longtime desires for young women. He
nearly raped Juli causing the latter to commit suicide.
 BEN-ZAYB
◈The pseudonym of Abraham Ibañez, a journalist who
believes he is the “only’’ one thinking in the
Philippines. Ben-Zayb is an anagram of Ybanez, an
alternate spelling of his name.
 PLACIDO PENITENTE
◈A Student of the University of Santo Tomas who was very
intelligent and wise but did not want, if not only by his
mother’s plea, to pursue his studies. He also controls his
temper against Padre Millon, his physics teacher. During
his High School days, he was an honor student hailing from
Batangas.
 FATHER IRENE
◈Capitan Tiago’s spiritual adviser. Although reluctant, he
helped the students to establish the Academia de Castellano
after being convinced by giving him a chestnut. The only
witness to Captain Tiago’s death, he forged the last will and
testament of the latter so Basilio will obtain nothing from
the inheritance.
 QUIROGA
◈A Chinese businessman who dreamed of being consul for
his country in the Philippines. He hid Simoun’s weapon
inside his house.
 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.
 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 FERNANDEZ
◈The priest-friend of Isagani. He promised to Isagani that he
and the other priests will give in to the students’ demands.
 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.
 HERMANA BALI
◈Another wealthy gambler in Tiani.
She became Juli’s mother-figure and counselor; helped to
release Kabesang Tales from the hand.s of bandits.
 FATHER MILLON
◈A Dominican friar who serves as the physics professor of the
University of Santo Tomas. He always becomes
vindictive with Placido and always taunts
him duringclass. Millon is based on/inspired by an ill-
mannered Dominican friar who was Rizal’s anatomy
professor in Santo Tomas.
 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
head; he is a 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 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 rebel.
 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
 FATHER HERNANDO DE LA SIBYLA
◈A Dominican friar introduced in Noli Me Tangere,
now the vice-rector of the University of Santo
Tomas.
 PECSON
◈Classmate who had no idea on the happenings
occurring around him. He suggested that they held
the mock celebration at the panciteria.
 FATHER BERNARDO SALVI
◈Former Parish Priest of San Diego in Noli Me
Tangere, now the director and chaplain of the Santa
Clara convent.
 CAPITAN TIAGO
◈Santiago delos Santos, Capitan Tiago is Maria Clara’s
stepfather and the foster-father of Basilio. His health
disintegrates gradually because of his frequent smoking
of opium, which Father Irene unscrupulously encourages
despite Basilio’s attempts to wean his guardian off the
addiction. Eventually, he died because Father Irene
scared him about the revolt of the Filipinos.x
COMPARING NOLI ME TANGERE AND

EL FILIBUSTERISMO
◈ Noli Me Tangere was described to be a cultural and romantic novel
as it depicts many of the customs and traditions of the Philippines.
Perhaps Rizal had in mind the book he and his fellow Filipinos were
planning that would show the rich culture of the islands. It is
romantic novel because it shows the main protagonist Ibarra fighting
impossible odds for his beloved and for his country.
◈ According to Zaide, the Noli Me Tangere had an element of
lightness and freshness. It even has a song called Canto de Maria
Clara (Song of Maria Clara) composed by Rizal himself and sang in
the novel by Maria Clara.
◈El Filibusterismo on the other hand was a political novel
and it warns of a coming revolution unless reforms were
undertaken. The two books also reveal something about the
author. The Noli Me Tangere shows a witty and romantic
Rizal while the second reveals a cynicism and bitterness
about the author. While the Noli Me Tangere showed
Rizal’s charm and wit, the El Filibusterismo was dark and
full of pain and sorrow.
ANTONIO LUNA VS RIZAL OVER NELLY BOUSTEAD
 Luna’s letter to Rizal
◈ “No serious crime has been committed, because love is not a crime,
and if we had any fault at all it was that we concealed our love.”
◈ In the same letter Luna bid his friend farewell as he was leaving to
fight a duel in Barcelona. Thinking he would not survive, he asked
Rizal to “tell Nelly how much i have loved her.”
◈ Things got complicated when Luna noticed that Nelly was not falling
for him but for Rizal. Due to this conflict of interest, the two men did
not mind each other for a while, with Luna later breaking the ice.
 Luna to Rizal
◈ “You thought I was cold toward you and I thought you were
doing the same to me. It’s simple miscommunication…we have
no reason to be cold to each other for I asked you many times if
you were in love with Nelly and you told me you were not. You
even encouraged me to court her, saying that you have
commitment to fulfill…Thus, I was sure of you, that you were
my friend, the rest did not matter to me… we ought to continue
as friends as though we never ceased to be friends.”
Antonio Luna and Nelly Boustead

“Now, I am killing myself

with Chemical Biology and
other subjects for my
doctorate.”
 RIZAL HANDWRITTING
◈ In the facsimile of the Noli Me Tangere, Rizal’s handwriting was uniform and
regular. There were hardly any mistakes and erasures. In most of the pages of the
draft, Rizal wrote only on the front leaving the back of the page blank. The ink he
was using was uniformly black throughout the manuscript.
◈ However in El Filibusterismo, the handwriting varies from having large font letters
to small ones. There were more mistakes and erasures. Also Rizal began to write
on the back pages of his writing paper. He even wrote on the margins of the pages
and on pages that should have been discarded. There were whole pages in which
the entire writings were erased and Rizal would just use the back of the page for
his writing.
◈ In El Filibusterismo, the ink he was using turned from black to purple. He must
have been diluting his ink to make it last longer. In Noli Me Tangere, Rizal had to
discard an entire chapter, Elias and Salome to save on printing costs.
COVER OF THE TWO NOVELS
◈ Rizal published his two famous novels in Europe. In March 1887, his first book,
Noli Me Tangere, a satirical novel exposing the arrogance and despotism of the
Spanish government and clergy, was published in Berlin.
◈ El Filibusterismo, the sequel of Noli Me Tangere, was published on September
18, 1891 in Ghent. It is more revolutionary and tragic than Noli Me Tangere.
◈ Rizal’s original intention was to make El Filibusterismo longer than Noli Me
Tangere, but due to lack of funds, El Filibusterismo came to consist of only 38
chapters as against Noli Me Tangere’s 64. This notwithstanding, Rizal’s friends
Blumentritt, Jaena, and Palma were all of the opinion that El Filibusterismo is
superior to Noli Me Tangere.
References:
◈ De Viana, Agusto. 2019. “Laon-Laan: A Guide for the study and understanding of the life and
contributions of Jose Rizal to Philippine Nationhood and Society.Mandaluyong City: Books
atbp.Publishing Corporation.

◈ Ocampo, Ambeth R. 2021. “Queridaz de Rizal”. Mandaluyong City: Anvil Publishing,Inc.