Adriel Juan Migel V Cruz

Grade 6

Noli Me Tangere

The young and idealistic Juan Crisostomo Ibarra returns home after seven years
in Europe. The wealthy meztizo, like his father Don Rafael endeavors for reform
primarily in the area of education in order to eliminate poverty and improve the lives of
his countrymen. Upon learning about his father’s demise and the denial of a Catholic
burial for his father Ibarra was provoked to hit Padre Damaso which eventually lead to
his excommunication. The excommunication was later rescinded upon the intervention
of the Governor General.

Padre Salvi, Ibarra’s mortal enemy accused Ibarra of insurrection. Ibarra’s letter
to his beloved Maria Clara was used against him. Later in the story, Maria Clara will tell
Ibarra that she did not conspire to indict him. She was compelled to give Ibarra’s letter
in exchange for the letters of her mother before she was born. Maria Clara found out
that the letters of her mother were addressed to Padre Damaso about their unborn child
which means that she is the biological daughter of the priest and not of her father,
Capitan Tiago.

Meanwhile, Ibarra was able to escape the prison with Elias, who also
experienced injustice with the authorities. Ibarra was able to speak with Maria Clara
about the letters and thereafter forgave her. Ibarra and Elias flee to the lake and were
chased by the Guardia Civil. One was shot and the other survives. Upon hearing the
news, Maria Clara believed that Ibarra was dead; she entered the nunnery instead of
marrying Alfonso Linares.

The fatally wounded Elias found the child Basilio and his dead mother Sisa. The
latter was driven to insanity when she learned that her children were implicated for theft
by the sacristan mayor. Elias instructed Basilio to dig for his and Sisa’s graves and
there is a buried treasure which he can use for his education.

Noli Me Tangere brilliantly described Philippine society with its memorable

characters. The melancholic fate of Maria Clara and the insanity of Sisa characterized
the country’s pitiful state, which was once beautiful, turned miserable. Reading Noli Me
Tangere will open one’s mind about oppression and tyranny.
 El Filibusterismo

This novel is a sequel to the Noli. It has a little humor, less idealism, and less
romance than the Noli Me Tangere. It is more revolutionary and more tragic than the
first novel.

The hero of El Filibusterismo is a rich jeweler named Simoun. He was

Crisostomo Ibarra of the Noli, who, with Elias’ help, escaped from the pursuing soldiers
at Laguna de Bay, dug up his buried treasure, and fled to Cuba where he became rich
and befriended many Spanish officials. After many years he returned to the Philippines,
where he freely moved around. He is a powerful figure not only because he is a rich
jeweler but also because he is a good friend and adviser of the governor general.

Outwardly, Simoun is a friend of Spain. However deep in his heart, he is secretly

cherishing a terrible revenge against the Spanish authorities. His two magnificent
obsessions are to rescue Maria Clara from the nunnery of Santa Clara and to foment a
revolution against the hated Spanish masters.

The story of El Filibusterismo begins on board the clumsy, roundish shaped

steamer Tabo, so appropriately named. This steamer is sailing upstream the Pasig from
Manila to Laguna de Bay. Among the passengers are Simoun, the rich jeweler; Doña
Victorina, the ridiculously pro-Spanish native woman who is going to Laguna in search
of her henpecked husband, Tiburcio de Espadaña, who has deserted her; Paulita
Gomez, her beautiful niece; Ben-Zayb (anagram of Ibañez), a Spanish journalist who
writes silly articles about the Filipinos; Padre Sibyla, vice-rector of the University of
Santo Tomas; Padre Camorra, the parish priest of the town of Tiani; Don Custodio, a
pro-spanish Filipino holding a position in the government; Padre Salvi, thin Franciscan
friar and former cura of San Diego; Padre Irene, a kind friar who was a friend of the
Filipino students; Padre Florentino, a retired scholarly and patriotic Filipino priest;
Isagani, a poet-nephew of Padre Florentino and a lover of Paulita; and Basilio, son of
Sisa and promising medical student, whose medical education is financed by his patron,
Capitan Tiago.

Simoun, a man of wealth and mystery, is a very close friend and confidante of
the Spanish governor general. Because of his great influence in Malacañang, he was
called the “Brown Cardinal” or the “Black Eminence”. By using his wealth and political
influence, he encourages corruption in the government, promotes the oppression of the
masses, and hastens the moral degradation of the country so that the people may
become desperate and fight. He smuggles arms into the country with the help of a rich
Chinese merchant, Quiroga, who wants very much to be Chinese consul of Manila. His
first attempt to begin the armed uprising did not materialize because at the last hour he
hears the sad news that Maria Clara died in the nunnery. In his agonizing moment of
bereavement, he did not give the signal for the outbreak of hostilities.

After a long time of illness brought about by the bitter loss of Maria Clara, Simoun
perfects his plan to overthrow the government. On the occasion of the wedding of
Paulita Gomez and Juanito Pelaez, he gives a wedding gift to them a beautiful lamp.
Only he and his confidential associates, Basilio (Sisa’s son who joined his revolutionary
cause), know that when the wick of his lamp burns lower the nitroglycerine, hidden in its
secret compartment, will explode, destroying the house where the wedding feast is
going to be held killing all the guests, including the governor general, the friars, and the
government officials. Simultaneously, all the government buildings in Manila will be
blown by Simoun’s followers.

As the wedding feast begins, the poet Isagani, who has been rejected by Paulita
because of his liberal ideas, is standing outside the house, watching sorrowfully the
merriment inside. Basilio, his friend, warns him to go away because the lightened lamp
will soon explode.

Upon hearing the horrible secret of the lamp, Isagani realizes that his beloved
Paulita was in grave danger. To save her life, he rushes into the house, seizes the
lightened lamp, and hurls it into the river, where it explodes.

The revolutionary plot was thus discovered. Simoun was cornered by the
soldiers, but he escaped. Mortally wounded, and carrying his treasure chest, he sought
refuge in the home of Padre Florentino by the sea.

The Spanish authorities, however, learns of his presence in the house of Padre
Florentino. Lieutenant Perez of the Guardia Civil informs the priest by letter that he
would come at eight o’clock that night to arrest Simoun.

Simoun eluded arrest by taking poison. As he is dying, he confesses to Padre

Florentino, revealing his true identity, his dastardly plan to use his wealth to avenge
himself, and his sinister aim to destroy his friends and enemies.
 The confession of the dying Simoun is long and painful. It is already night when
Padre Florentino, wiping the sweat from his wrinkled brow, rises and begins to meditate.
He consoles the dying man saying: “God will forgive you Señor Simoun. He knows that
we are fallible. He has seen that you have suffered, and in ordaining that the
chastisement for your faults should come as death from the very ones you have
instigated to crime, we can see His infinite mercy. He has frustrated your plans one by
one, the best conceived, 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!”

Watching Simoun die peacefully with a clear conscience and at peace with God.
Padre Florentino falls upon his knees and prays for the dead jeweler. He takes the
treasure chest and throws it into the sea; as the waves close over the sinking chest.

Reference: [Link]
filibusterismo-summary-and-reflection/
 La Liga Filipina

Jose Rizal established La Liga Filipina, a civic association, in the house of

Doroteo Ongjunco at Ilaya Street, Tondo, Manila on July 3, 1892. Though it was Jose
Ma. Basa who conceived the establishment of ‘La Liga Filipina’ (The Philippine League),
his friend and namesake Jose Rizal was the one who wrote its constitution in Hong
Kong and actually founded it upon his return in the Philippines in 1892.

Considered an indirect upshot and subsidiary of the Propaganda, the La Liga

aimed to directly involve the patriotic Filipinos, especially those based in the country, in
the reform movement. Intending to uplift the life of the Filipinos, the society would
promote mutual aids through projects like establishing cooperatives to provide supports
like legal assistance, scholarship grants, and economic loans. The La Liga aspired,
among others, to 1) unite the whole archipelago into one strong and united organization;
2) have mutual protection in every need and want; 3) serve as a defense against all
violence and injustices; 4) encourage education, agriculture, and commerce; and 5)
study the application of reforms.

The meeting in the house of Doroteo Ongjunco was attended by at least 20

Filipinos, including Andres Bonifacio and Apolinario Mabini. Rizal explained the aims of
the ‘La Liga Filipina’ and officers were afterward elected, having Ambrosio Salvador as
the president and Deodato Arellano as secretary.

Three days after the meeting though, Rizal was arrested, imprisoned, and later
deported to Dapitan. The society thus became inactive, but was immediately
reorganized through the active efforts of Andres Bonifacio and Domingo Franco. The
revived organization expressed its support for the Propaganda Movement and its cause
and vowed to raise funds for its operations.

However, disagreements on how reform should be attained soon emerged as

some members wanted armed revolution whereas others wanted to preserve La Liga’s
principle of a peaceful reform. The La Liga was thus dissolved before long and its
membership split into two groups: the ‘Cuerpo de Compromisarios’ which comprised the
conservatives who aimed to continue supporting the La Solidaridad, and the ‘Katipunan’
which consisted of the radicals led by Bonifacio. The ‘Cuerpo’ ultimately died out while
the Katipunan attracted many Filipinos. Historically therefore, Rizal’s La Liga gave birth
to Bonifacio’s Katipunan. (© 2013 by Jensen DG. Mañebog )

The Constitution of La Liga Filipina

(References: Agoncillo & Guerrero, History of the Filipino People, 5th edition, 1977;
Blair, Emma Helen & Robertson, James Alexander, The Philippine Islands: 1493-1898,
Vol. LIII, pages 217-226, Published 1903)

Ends
1. To unite the whole archipelago into one compact, vigorous, and homogenous
body.
 2. Mutual Protection in every want and necessity.
3. Defense against all violence and injustice.
4. Encouragement of instruction, agriculture and commerce.
5. Study and application of reforms.

Motto
Unus Instar Omnium (one life for all).

Form
1. To set these ends in operation, a Popular Council, a Provincial Council, and a
Supreme Council shall be created.
2. Each Council shall consist of a Chief, a Fiscal, a Treasurer, a Secretary, and
members.
3. The Supreme Council shall consist of the Provincial Chiefs, just as the Provincial
Council shall be composed of the popular chiefs.
4. The supreme council shall have command of the La Liga Filipina, and shall deal
directly with the provincial chiefs and popular chiefs.
5. The Provincial Council shall have command of the Popular Chiefs.
6. The Popular Council only shall have comman of the members.
7. Each Provincial Council and Popular Council shall adopt a name different from
that of their locality or region.

Duties and Rights of the Chief

Duties of the Chief
1. He shall continually watch over the life of his Council. He shall memorize the new
and real names of all the Councils if he is the Supreme Chief, and if only a
Popular Chief those of all his affiliated members.
2. He shall constantly study means to unite his subordinates and place them quick
communication.
3. He shall study and remedy the necessities of the La Liga Filipina, of the
Provincial Council, or of the Popular Council, according as he is a Supreme
Chief, Provincial Chief, or Popular Chief.
4. He shall heed all the observations, communications, and petitions which are
made to him, and shall immediately communicate them to the proper person.
5. In danger, he shall be the first, and he shall be the first to be held responsible for
whatever occurs within a council.
6. He shall furnish an example by his subordination to his superior chiefs, so that he
may be obeyed in his turn.
7. He shall see to the very last member, the personification of the entire La Liga
Filipina.
8. The omissions of the Authorities shall be punished with greater severity than
those of the simple members.
Rights of the Chief
1. He shall not be discussed unless accusations of the Fiscal precede.
2. For want of time and opportunity, he may act by and with himself, as he has the
obligation to perform the charges which may be laid on him.
3. Within the Council, he shall be the Judge of every question or dispute.
4. He shall be the only one who shall be empowered to know the real names of his
members or subordinates.
5. He shall have ample power to organize the details of the meetings,
communications, and undertakings, for their efficacy, security, and rapid
dispatch.
6. Whenever a Popular Council is sufficiently numerous, the Provincial Chief may
create other subordinate Councils after first appointing the authorities. Once
constituted, he shall allow them to elect their authorities according to regulations.
7. Every Chief shall be empowered to establish a Council in a village if none exists,
after which he shall inform the Supreme Council or Provincial Council.
8. The Chief shall appoint a Secretary.

Duties and Rights of the Fiscal

Duties of the Fiscal
1. The Fiscal shall see to it that all comply with their duty.
2. He shall accuse in the presence of the Council every infraction or failure to
perform his duty in any member of the Council.
3. He shall inform the Council of every danger of persecution.
4. He shall investigate the conditions of the funds of the Council.

Rights of the Fiscal

1. He shall cause every accused person to go out or appear while his case is being
discussed in the Council.
2. He shall be able to examine the ledgers at any time.

Duties and Rights of the Secretary

Duties of the Secretary
1. At each meeting, he shall keep a record of the proceedings, and shall announce
what is to be done.
2. He shall have charge of the correspondence of the Council. In case of absence
or incapacity, every authority shall name a substitute, until the council name one
to fill his place.

Rights of the Secretary

1. He may convoke extra meetings or assemblies in addition to the monthly
meetings.
Duties and Rights of the Treasurer
Duties of the Treasurer
1. He shall enter in a ledger the new names of the members forming the Council.
2. He shall render strict monthly account of the dues received, noted by the
members themselves, with their special countermarks.
3. He shall give a receipt and shall have a note of it made in the ledger in the hand
of the donor, for every gift in excess of one peso and not over fifty.
4. The Popular Treasurer shall keep in the treasury of the Popular Council, the third
part of the dues collected, for the necessities of the same. The remainder,
whenever it exceeds the sum of ten pesos, shall be delivered to the Provincial
Treasurer, to whim he shall show his ledger, and himself writing in the ledger of
the Provincial Treasurer the amount delivered.
5. The Provincial Treasurer shall then give a receipt, and if it is in accordance with
the accounts, shall place his O.K. in the ledger of the other. Like proceedings
shall follow when the Provincial Treasurer delivers funds in excess of Ten Pesos
to the Supreme Treasurer.
6. Whenever any member desire to give the La Liga Filipina a sum in excess of
Fifty Pesos, he shall deposit the sum in a safe bank, under his vulgar name and
then shall deliver the receipt to the treasurer of his choice.

Rights of the Treasurer

1. He shall dispose of the funds in an urgent and imperious necessity of any
member of the Council, with the obligation of giving accounts and answering
before the tribunal of the La Liga Filipina.

Duties and Rights of the Members

Duties of Members
1. They shall pay monthly dues of ten centavos.
2. They shall obey blindly and promptly every order emanating from a council or
chief.
3. They shall inform the Fiscal of their Council of whatever they note or hear that
has reference to the La Liga Filipina.
4. They shall preserve the most absolute secrecy in regard to the decisions of the
council.
5. In all walks of life, preference shall be given to the members. Nothing shall be
bought except in the shop of a member, or whenever anything is sold to a
member, he shall have rebate. Circumstance being equal, the member shall
always be favored. Every infraction of this article shall be severely punished.
6. The member who does not help another member in case of need or danger,
although able to do so, shall be punished, and at least the same penalty suffered
by the other shall be imposed on him.
7. Each member, on affiliation, shall adopt a new name of his own choice, and shall
not be able to change same, unless he becomes a Provincial Chief
8. He shall bring to each Council a service, an observation, a study, or a new
candidate.
9. He shall not submit to any humiliation or treat anyone with contempt.
Rights of the Members
1. Every Member has the Right to the Moral, material, and pecuniary aid of his
Council and of the La Liga Filipina.
2. He may demand that all the members favor him in his trade or profession
whenever he offers as many guarantees as others. For this protection, he shall
transmit to his popular chief his real name and his footing, so that the latter may
hand it to the Supreme Chief who shall inform all the members of the La Liga
Filipina of it by proper means.
3. In any want, injury or injustice, the member may invoke the whole aid of La Liga
Filipina.
4. He may request capital for an enterprise whenever there are funds in the
treasury.
5. He may demand a rebate of all the institution or members sustained directly by
La Liga Filipina, a for all articles or services rendered him.
6. No members shall be judged without first being allowed his defense.

Investment of funds
1. The member or his son, while not having means, shall show application and
great capacities, shall be sustained.
2. The poor shall be supported in his right against any powerful person.
3. The member who shall have suffered a loss shall be aided.
4. Capital shall be loaned to the member who shall need it for an industry or for
agriculture.
5. The introduction of machines and industries, new or necessary in the country,
shall be favored.
6. Shops, stores, and establishments shall be opened, where the members may be
accommodated more economically than elsewhere.
7. The Supreme Chief shall have power to dispose of the funds in needy cases,
whenever he later renders an account to the Supreme Council.

General Rules
1. No one shall be admitted without a previous and unanimous vote of the Council
of his village, and without satisfying the tests to which he must submit.
2. Offices shall end every two years, except when there is an accusation by the
fiscal.
3. In order to obtain the posts, three fourths of all the votes present shall be
required.
4. The members shall elect the Popular Chief, the Popular Fiscal, and the Popular
Treasurer. The Popular Authorities shall elect the Provincial Authorities; and the
Provincial Authorities shall elect the Supreme Authorities.
5. Every time that a member becomes the Popular Chief, that fact shall be
communicated to the Supreme Chief, together with his new and old names; and
the same shall be done whenever a new Council shall be founded.
6. Communications in ordinary times shall bear only the symbolic names both of the
writer and of the persons for whom these are intended, and the course to be
 pursued shall be from the members to the Popular Chief, from the latter to the
Provincial Chief or to the Supreme Chief , and vice versa. However, in any time
and place the Supreme Chief may address anyone directly.
7. It is not necessary for all the members of a Council to be present to render
decisions valid. It shall be sufficient if one-half the members are present and one
of the authorities.
8. In critical moments, each Council shall be considered as the safeguard of the La
Liga Filipina, and if for any cause or other, the other Councils are dissolved or
disappeared, each Council, each Chief, each member shall take upon himself the
mission of reorganizing and re-establishing them.

Reference:
[Link]