RIZAL and EL

FILIBUSTERISM
O
 • Objectives:
• 1. Recall experiences Rizal had when written El Filibusterismo.
• 2. Familiarize the characters, settings, and plot of El
Filibustrerismo.
• 3. Describe the context in which Rizal wrote El Filibusterismo.
• 4. Appraise how El Filibusterismo contributed to national
consciousness and the revolution.
• 5. Compare and contrast El Filibusterismo and Noli Me Tangere.
 Belgium

• In January 1890, Rizal decided to

leave Paris for Brussels (Belguim’s
capital) for two reasons. (1) the high
cost of living, and (2) because of too
many invitations to social gatherings,
which hampered his literary works,
particularly his second novel, EL
Filibusterismo.
•
• Aside from
writing his
second novel,
he also
contributed
some articles
to La
Solidaridad
and when to
engage
physical
recreation.
Rizal, regularly went to engage
physical recreation such
gymnastics, fencing and
shooting. In a letter to Luna, he
said; “ I am sending you a target
containing ten bullet holes; it
was seven and half members
from me, at twenty-five meters
I can pull all my shots into
twenty-centimeter target.”
• While in Brussels, letter from home
made him worried.
• (1) filing of suit in court against his
father, For Don Francisco failed to pay
high rentals imposed by the Dominicans,
a friar’s land.
• (2) worsening of Calamba agrarian
problem;
• (3) deportation of Paciano and brothers-
in-law, Antonio Lopez and Silvestre
Ubaldo to Mindoro; and
• (4) Manuel T. Hidalgo’s (Saturnina
husband) banishment in Bohol.
On hearing the
appaling situation of
his family, he wanted
to go back to the
Philippines and and
ignored the warnings
of Blumemtritt, Jose
Ma. Basa, Mariano
Ponce and all of his
friends for possible
danger awaited back
home.
In Spain, Rizal sought
the legal advice of
MarceloH. Del Pillar
and also sought help
with some members
of Associacion
Hispano-Filipino in
seeking justice for his
family and tenant
farmers in Calamba
• Madrid days
were bleak
for Rizal due
to various
misfortunes
• The Church, by
refusing to unfrock
you (Gomburza), has
put in doubt the
crime charged
against you; the
government
enshrouding your
trial in mystery and
pardoning you co-
accused has implied
that some mistake
was committed
when your fate was
decided.
• -JOSE RIZAL, EL
FILIBUSTERISMO
• The story began with the Tagalog-
named steam ship, Tabu,
struggling to navigate upstream
along winding the Pasig River
going to Laguna. Some of the
characters of the novel were
introduced and discussed on any
subject came to mind. The social
stratification of the Philippines
was depicted in the passenger’s
arrangement which was divided
into two; upper deck and lower
deck.
• Simoun, a man of wealth
and mystery, because of his
political influence, he
encouraged the Spanish
government and the
governor-general to
promote oppression of the
masses so that the people
may become desperate
and revolt.
• Determined to take revenge and
save Maria Clara from nunnery he
systematically plots with various
characters including the medical
student, Basilio. After all the
circumstances that hampered his
plan to overthrow the government,
he considered the wedding of Paulita
Gomez and Juanito Pelaez as the
perfect occasion, were Simoun gave
them a lamp as a gift, which was
mechanically manipulated to blow
up the entire house.
• At the end of the novel,
Simoun confessed his
identity, his plan to use his
wealth in destroying people
who had caused him pain
and misery. Padre
Florentino watched Simoun
died peacefully with a clear
conscience and at peace
(Rizal, reprint 2011).
• Rizal started to write his
second novel in October
1887, while he was in
Calamba and finished it in
Biarritz on March 29, 1891.
it took him three years to
write his second novel and
the next thing on his mind
was to publish the novel.
Owing to his generous
friend Valentin Ventura,
he was able to print the
novel on September 18,
1891, at Ghent, Belgium
(“Jose Rizal:
Correspondence with
Fellow Reformist”, 2011).
• The book was
dedicated to the
memory of the three
priests executed on the
17th of February 1872.
Rizal, in all the years of
his studies, travels, and
labors had not
forgotten the
martyrdom of Fathers
Gomez, Burgos, and
Zamora.
• The EL Filibusterismo
expressed the theme of
Philippine nationalism in a
most profound and dramatic
manner to arouse the spirits
of frustrated people. The
novel presented an anti-
clerical and out-spoken
fiction over the anarchy and
greed in the Philippines.
• The original copy
of El
Filibusterismo is
now preserved in
the Bureau of
Public Libraries,
Manila. The novel
was acquired by
the Philippine
government from
Valentin Ventura.