El Filibusterismo Reviewer
GROUP 8 (SUCGANG - TUMALIUAN -TUTOR - VALLINAS)
EL FILIBUSTERISMO CONTEXT AND CONTENT
CONTEXT
It is the second novel written by José Rizal as the sequel to Noli Me Tangere.
A Like Noli Me Tangere, it was written in Spanish.
"The Reign of Greed" in English
It consist of 38 chapters
El Filibusterismo is dedicated to three Filipino priestsFrancisco Gómez, José Burgos, and Jacinto
Zamorawho were executed on false charges of inciting a failed 1872 uprising against the Spanish
priests and colonial government. Rizal would be executed 24 years later at the exact same site,
which is today called Manilas Rizal Park.
THE TITLE
Rizal had to define the word filibustero to his German friend Ferdinand Blumentritt, who did not
understand his use of the word in Noli Me Tangere. In a letter, Rizal explained:
"The word filibustero is little known in the Philippines. The masses do not know it yet. I heard it for
the first time in 1872 when the tragic executions 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, etc. The Manila newspapers and the Spaniards apply this word to one whom
they want to make are volutionary suspect."
"The Filipinos belonging to the educated class fear the reach of the word. It does not have the
meaning of freebooters; it rather means a dangerous patriot who will soon be hanged or well, a
presumptuous man."
HISTORY OF THE NOVEL
Rizal took 3 years to write his second novel.
Rizal began writing El Filibusterismo in October 1887 while he was in Calamba.
In London (1888), he revised the plot and some chapters. Rizal continued to work on his
manuscript in Paris.
He later moved to Brussels where the cost of living was cheaper and he would be less likely to be
distracted by social events so he could focus on finishing the book.
He finally completed the book on March 29, 1891 in Biarritz.
September 18, 1891 - the novel was published in Ghent, partially funded by Rizal's friend Valentin
Ventura. Rizal immediately sent on this date two printed copies to Hong- Kong, one for Basa and
other for Sixto Lopez.
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El Filibusterismo Reviewer
Rizal gratefully donated the original manuscript and an autographed printed copy to Valentin
Ventura.
Rizal sent complimentary copies to Blumentritt, Mariano Ponce, Graciano Lopez Jaena, Antonio
Luna, T.H. Pardo de Tavera, Juan Luna and other friends.
The El Nuevo Regimen-liberal Madrid newspaper serialized the novel in its issues of October 1891.
Original manuscript of El filibusterismo in Rizal's own handwriting is now preserved in the Filipiniana
Division of the Bureau of Public Libraries in Manila.
Acquired by Philippine government from Valentin Ventura for 10,000 pesos..
Consists of 279 pages of long sheets paper
OBJECTIVES OF DR. JOSE RIZAL IN WRITING THE NOVEL
1. To defend Filipino people from foreign accusations of foolishness and lack of knowledge.
2. To show how the Filipino people live during Spanish colonial period and the cries and woes of his
countrymen against abusive officials.
3. To discuss what religion and belief can really do to everyday lives.
4. To expose the cruelties, graft and corruption of the false government and honestly show the
wrong doings of Filipinos that led to further failure.
CONTENT
MAIN CHARACTERS
Simoun (Crisóstomo Ibarra) A wealthy jeweler and secret revolutionary seeking revenge against
Spanish rule.
Basilio A diligent medical student who initially avoids politics but later joins Simouns cause.
Isagani An idealistic poet who values justice and prevents Simouns bombing plot.
Cabesang Tales A farmer who loses his land to friars, turns to violence, and joins the rebels.
Julí Cabesang Tales daughter and Basilios fiancée, who dies while trying to escape a friars abuse.
Paulita Gómez A wealthy socialite who abandons Isagani and marries Juanito for status.
Juanito Peláez A privileged, opportunistic student who benefits from corruption and marries Paulita.
Father Florentino A retired priest who urges Simoun to believe in justice over revenge
PLOT
I. The Journey on the Steamboat (Introduction of Key Characters & Themes)
A steamboat traveling from Manila to La Laguna carries passengers from different social
backgrounds, symbolizing Philippine society under Spanish rule. Among them are influential priests,
journalists, socialites, and Simoun, the mysterious jeweler who serves as the shadowy adviser to the
Captain-General. Also on board are Basilio and Isagani, two students advocating for the
establishment of an independent Spanish-language academy. The passengers engage in political
discussions, revealing the growing unrest in the country. As the boat passes the site where
Crisóstomo Ibarra was presumed dead, Simoun remains silent, hiding his true identity.
II. Cabesang Tales and the Fight for Land (Injustice & Resistance)
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El Filibusterismo Reviewer
Upon arriving in La Laguna, the story shifts to Cabesang Tales, a hardworking farmer who struggles
against the Spanish friars claim over his land. Despite his efforts to fight for his rights, the corrupt
authorities side with the priests, leaving him powerless. When he refuses to surrender his property,
he is disarmed and later kidnapped by bandits. His daughter, Julí, who is also Basilios fiancée, is left
with no choice but to sell herself into servitude to ransom her father.
III. Simouns True Identity Revealed (Revenge & Revolution)
Basilio, now a medical student in Manila, returns to La Laguna and visits his mothers grave. There,
he unexpectedly encounters Simoun, whom he recognizes as Crisóstomo Ibarra in disguise. Simoun
finally confirms his true identity and explains that he has returned not for justice, but for revenge and
revolution. He tries to recruit Basilio into his cause, but Basilio refuses to join him, believing that
violence is not the answer. However, Simoun chooses to spare Basilios life, trusting that he will keep
his secret.
IV. Cabesang Tales Becomes a Rebel (Rise of an Outlaw)
Simoun takes temporary refuge in Cabesang Tales home, using it as a base to sell his jewels to the
local elite. Tales, now free but penniless, travels to the nearby town to sell the valuable gems.
Despite this, he refuses to sell a locket once owned by María Clara, which Simoun wants to reclaim.
That night, fueled by rage and despair, Tales steals Simouns gun, kills the friar who stole his land,
and murders the new landowner. He then abandons his family and joins a group of outlaws in the
forest, seeking vengeance against the Spanish authorities.
V. The Spanish-Language Academy Debate (Student Struggles & Political Corruption)
Back in Manila, student activism grows as Basilio and his fellow students continue to push for
educational reform. The Captain-General, however, shows little interest in their petition and ignores
their request for an independent academy. Meanwhile, Plácido Penitente, another student, loses
faith in the education system after being humiliated by his professor, Father Millón. The students
then turn to Don Custodio, a supposed reformist, but he refuses to make a firm decision, ultimately
allowing the friars to take control of the academy. This move crushes the students hopes for
meaningful change.
VI. Simouns Secret Plot Begins (Building the Revolution)
Meanwhile, Simoun furthers his secret plan for revolution by recruiting key allies. Quiroga, a wealthy
Chinese merchant, seeks Simouns help in settling his debts. In exchange, Simoun convinces
Quiroga to hide weapons that will be used for the upcoming rebellion. At the Quiapo Fair, a
performance featuring a talking head terrifies Father Salví, hinting at his guilty conscience over past
sins. The tension in Manila continues to grow as Simoun prepares for his ultimate act of revenge.
VII. The Operetta and the Students Banquet (Tensions Rise in Manila)
A French operetta opens in Manila, entertaining and scandalizing the citys elite. During the event,
Isagani is devastated to see his fiancée, Paulita Gómez, with Juanito Peláez, signaling her betrayal.
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El Filibusterismo Reviewer
Meanwhile, the students receive devastating newsDon Custodio has approved the
Spanish-language academy, but it will be controlled by the friars, defeating its original purpose. In
response, the students organize a banquet, using it as an opportunity to mock the government and
the clergy.
VIII. The False Rebellion and Student Arrests (Crushing Dissent)
The day after the students banquet, Manila is thrown into chaos when authorities discover
subversive pamphlets posted on school gates. In response, the government closes the schools and
arrests several student leaders, including Basilio, even though they had nothing to do with the
incident. Isagani confronts Father Fernández, one of the few sympathetic priests, but their debate
reveals that even the most well-meaning friars ultimately prioritize their own interests over justice.
IX. Julís Tragic Death (Ultimate Injustice)
Following the arrests, Manila remains on edge, but Simouns plan for a full-scale rebellion does not
materialize. Captain Tiago dies, leaving Basilio vulnerable, as he remains imprisoned longer than his
peers. Desperate to save him, Julí seeks the help of Father Camorra, but instead of assisting her,
the priest sexually assaults her. In her despair, Julí jumps to her death, further fueling Basilios
hatred for the system and pushing him closer to joining Simouns revolution.
X. Simouns Final Plan: The Bomb at the Wedding (Climax of the Revolution)
Now free from prison, Basilio finally agrees to join Simouns revolution. Simoun reveals his final and
most ambitious plot: He plans to plant a booby-trapped lamp at Paulita and Juanitos wedding,
which, once ignited, will explode and kill Manilas most powerful elite. As the wedding takes place,
Basilio warns Isagani of the impending massacre. Instead of leaving, Isagani heroically breaks into
the venue and throws the lamp into the river, saving the guests but ruining Simouns plan.
XI. Simouns Downfall and Death (Reckoning & Redemption)
With his identity exposed and wounded from the failed rebellion, Simoun flees to the home of Father
Florentino, seeking shelter. Knowing that he is dying, he confesses his true story, revealing his
hatred, regrets, and failures. Father Florentino urges Simoun to believe in justice rather than
revenge, reminding him that true freedom cannot be achieved through violence alone. In his final
moments, Simoun takes poison, ending his tragic journey. To symbolize the rejection of greed and
vengeance, Father Florentino throws Simouns jewels into the sea, ensuring that they will never be
used to fuel another cycle of bloodshed.
CONCLUSION
El Filibusterismo serves as a powerful and poignant sequel to Noli Me Tangere, delving deeper into
the themes of oppression, corruption, and the yearning for liberation in the Philippines under
Spanish colonial rule. Rizal masterfully crafts a narrative that exposes the complexities of seeking
change, contrasting Simoun's vengeful approach with the idealism of characters like Isagani and the
tragic plight of individuals like Cabesang Tales and Julí. The novel's exploration of societal ills, from
the abuses of the friars to the corruption within the government, remains relevant even today,
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El Filibusterismo Reviewer
prompting reflection on the importance of justice, education, and genuine reform.
Through its intricate plot and compelling characters, El Filibusterismo presents a thought-provoking
commentary on the potential pitfalls of revolution and the importance of moral principles in the
pursuit of freedom. Simoun's ultimate failure underscores the destructive nature of vengeance, while
Father Florentino's counsel emphasizes the need for a more profound and ethical approach to
societal transformation. The novel serves as a cautionary tale, urging readers to consider the
long-term consequences of their actions and the importance of upholding values such as justice,
compassion, and integrity in the face of adversity.
In conclusion, El Filibusterismo is a timeless masterpiece that continues to resonate with readers
due to its profound exploration of human nature, societal issues, and the enduring quest for
freedom. Rizal's unflinching portrayal of the complexities of revolution and the importance of moral
principles ensures that the novel remains a relevant and compelling work of literature, inspiring
generations to strive for a more just and equitable society. The novel's enduring legacy lies in its
ability to challenge readers to critically examine the world around them and to actively participate in
the pursuit of positive change.
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