The “Noli” Based on Truth.

The Noli Me Tangere, unlike many works of fictional literature, was a true story of Philippines conditions
during the last decades of Spanish rule. The places, the characters, and the situations really existed. “The facts I
narrate there,” said Rizal, “are all true and have happened; I can prove them.”

The characters –Ibarra, Maria Clara, Elias, Tasio, Capitan Tiago, Padre Damaso, Padre Salvi, etc. –were drawn
by Rizal from persons who actually existed during his times.
Maria Clara was Leonor Rivera, although in real life she became unfaithful, unlike the heroine of the novel, and
married an Englishman.
Ibarra and Elias represented Rizal himself.
Tasio the philosopher was his elder brother, Paciano.
Padre Salvi was identified by Rizalist as Padre Antonio Piernavieja, the hated Augustinian friar in Cavite who
was killed by the patriots during the revolution.
Capitan Tiago was Capitan Hilario Sunico of San Nicolas.
Dona Victorina was Dona Agustin Medel.
Basilio and Crispin were the Crisostomo brothers of Hagonoy.
Padre Damaso was typical of a domineering friar during the days of Rizal, who was arrogant, immoral, and
anti-Filipino
Sisa – symbolizes, “Inang Bayan” who was maltreated by his husband just as how Spain Maltreated Philppines.

Characters of El Filibusterismo

Simoun, the rich jeweler;

Dona Victorina, the ridiculously pro Spanish native woman who is going to Laguna in search of her henpecked
husband, Tiburcio de Espadana, who has deserted her;
Paulita Gomez, her beautiful niece;
Ben-Zayb (anagram of Ibanez), 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 high 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;
Basilio, son of Sisa and promising medical student, whose medical education is financed by his patron, Capitan
Tiago.

Summary of El Filibusterismo

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 Malacanang, he was called the “Brown Cardinal” or the “Black
Eminence”. By using his wealth and his 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 as
wedding gift to them a beautiful lamp. Only he and his confidential associate, 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 and kidding all 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 lighted 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 lighted lamp, and hurls it into the river, where it
explodes. The revolutionary plot was thus discovered. Simoun was cornered by the soldiers, but he escape.
Mortally wounded, and carrying her 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 avence himself, and his sinister aim to destroy hjs 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 ang begins to meditate. He consoles the dying man, saying:
“God will forgive you, Senor 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 a 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