Jose Rizal in Brussels and Madrid

Jose Rizal in Brussels

~ On January 28, 1890, Rizal left Paris, France and ~ Jose Rizal compatriots feared for his life in the
moved to Brussels, the capital city of Belgium. Philippines, with this situation, Marcelo H. Del Pilar
~ Rizal made the decision to leave Paris to and Mariano Ponce extended their invitation for Rizal
economize his expenses and finish the sequel of his to move in Madrid.
Noli Me Tangere, which was the El Filibusterismo. ~ While Jose Rizal was preparing to go home to the
~ Rizal described Brussels through a letter to Philippines, Rizal received a letter from Paciano
Blumentritt; Rizal, giving him instructions to proceed to Madrid.
“Rizal said; I am here in Belgium, in the beautiful ~ Rizal had no choice but to follow the advice of his
city of Brussels and perhaps will remain here for a elder brother and confidant Paciano.
few months.
~ While in Brussels, Rizal was busy writing his Jose Rizal’s Contributions while in Brussels
second novel El Filibusterismo, at the same time
contributing articles to the La Solidaridad. ~ Reply to Barrantes' Criticism of the Noli Me
~ According to Jose Alejandrino, Rizal's roommate in Tangere;
Brussels. Rizal managed his money meticulously This article was published in the La Solidaridad in
due to lack of funds coming from the Philippines. February 15, 1890, were Jose Rizal argued that
~ Rizal also showed his artistic talent by carving two Barrantes did no read the whole novel and that he
statues, the Triumph of Science Over Death and the had not written the novel for him but for the
Triumph of Death Over Life, which Rizal sent to Philippines.
Ferdinand Blumentritt.
~ Rizal also composed a poem expressing his Nameless
anguish, deep in his heart; the poem was entitled A
Mi Musa (To My Muse). ~ This article was-published in the La Solidaridad in
February 28, 1890, wherein Rizal stated his
Triumph of Science Over Death and the Triumph of bitterness to the unfair treatment of the Spanish
Death Over Life government in the Philippines to the tenants of
Calamba, and that Rizal questioned it, for being
The following stanzas are important lines from the impotent against the abuses of the Catholic
poem; A Mi Musa (To my Muse); Corporations.

Now must I ponder deep The Philippines at the Spanish Congress

Meditate, and struggle on
Even sometimes, I must weep ~ This proposal of Rizal which Rizal drafted in the
For he who love would keep French language, stated 19 propositions of which
Great pain and sorrow 's blight through his effort, an estate of land will be bought
from the British government in Borneo for Filipinos
One by one, they have passed on, who intend to live and conduct farming in the area.
All I loved and moved among;
Dear or married-from me gone, Cosas de Filipinas (Philippine Affairs)
For all I place my heart upon
~ Rizal attacked a local Philippine newspaper named
By Faith are verse are stung El Porvenir de Vesayas for highlighting criminal acts
Go thou, too, o Muse, depart on, of the government and Civil Guards as valid and just
Other regions fairer find; and that Filipinos should be thankful for such actions.
For my land bid offers art ~ Rizal accused the board of censors created by the
For the laurel, chains that bind. Spanish government as nod.
~ This article was dated April 30, 1890.

~ In Brussels, Jose Rizal suffered from financial The Eastern Fables

difficulties and was then taking its effect, that he
wanted to go home to the Philippines. ~ This work was published in the Trubner's record in
~ In June of 1890, Rizal wrote Mariano Ponce a July t 889.
letter stating his desire to go home. ~ Jose Rizal compared and cited the similarities and
~ Rizal stressed in the letter; "I have not received differences of the fables of the Philippines entitled
any thing from the Philippines; that is why I am the “Tale of the Tortoise" and Japan "Saru Kani
thinking of going back there, as soon as possible, Kassen” or “Battle of the Monkey and the Crab”.
and may God say what will happen next...”.
Sobre La Nueva Ortografia de la Tagala (On the ~ In addition, Rizal stated, that nature naturally made
New Orthography of the Tagalog Language) the land fertile that a farmer does not need to work
hard the whole day to insure good harvest.
~ In this work which was published in the La ~ Rizal stated that in the area of industry, Filipinos
Solidaridad on April 15, 1890. Jose Rizal used the were recognized by Chinese traders as among the
ancient Tagalog Alphabet and introduced a new best.
orthography in writing and speaking Tagalog for the ~ Rizal used his annotations from writers who wrote
Filipinos. about the Chinese trade in Asia, particularly in the
~ The ancient Tagalog alphabet consisted of three Philippines, like that of Antonio Morga's book
vowels; a, i, u, and fourteen consonants: ka, ga, nga, "Success de las Islas Filipinas" from which Rizal
ta, ga, nga, ta, da, na, på, ba, ma, ya, la, wa, sa, ha. pointed that the Filipino people are of industrious
~ With these seventeen characters could be kind.
expressed before, and now, all the words in our rich
language. Rizal pointed two reasons why Filipinos lost their
~ The vowel a, which abounds or which is more will to work.
often used, sounds as in Spanish and its use is no
different from ifs use in this language. First: Under the Spanish rule, Filipinos were
~ The u in the middle of a word has the same sound engaged in defending the Catholic faith and Spanish
as the Spanish u. government in the country.
~ The t, n, p, b, m, y, i, and s are use, as they have
been hitherto, in the same way as Spanish. ~ Rizal mentioned the battles of Filipinos against the
attempts of the Portuguese, Dutch, to conquer the
Let Us Be Just country.
~ Another is the attack of the Chinese Limahong and
~ This article of Rizal which was published in the La Muslim raiders from Mindanao; sporadic
Solidaridad dated April 15, 1 890. insurrections and the group executions of Filipinos
~ Rizal criticized the implementation of justice in the who rebelled against the Spanish rule in the country.
Philippines and compared it in Europe. ~ All these led to the decimation of the population.
~ Rizal cited the immorality of the friars and Spanish
land owners. Second: Rizal blamed the abuses of the Spanish
Encomienderos.
Una Esperanza (A Hope)
~ Even the friars in our history were inclined to
~ In this article of Rizal dated July 15, 1890, Rizal defend their Filipino parishioners due to the blatant
expressed hope after the Spanish minister's party tyranny of Spanish land-owners, depriving Filipinos
that was in favor of reforms for the Philippines, lost in of rights as Christians.
the Spanish Congress and worst the conservative ~ The priests also encourage Filipinos to evade
party expressed its favor to the friar- controlled work through their sermons because they
situation in the Philippines. categorically stated that the rich man would not go to
heaven and that all should work for the cause of the
Sobre La Indolencia De Los Filipinos (The church.
Indolence of the Filipinos) ~ Rizal also added that further depletion of laborers
among Filipinos was due to the Polo y servicio or
~ The essay was published in the La Solidaridad in forced labor, wherein Filipinos were forced to work in
five successive issues, from July 15 to September I, construction of Galleons, starting from the hauling of
1890. logs to staffing the ships going to Acapulco, Mexico
~ Using Rizal annotated work in Morga's Sucessos, and back to the Philippines.
Rizal examined with impartiality and using critical
method to study the Filipino past and the impact of
Spanish rule in the Philippines.
~ Rizal also cited many accounts to prove his case
such as Chirino, Colin, Chao Ju-Kua and many
others.

The following are important explanations of the

essay;
~ Nature is responsible for the presence of this
indolence among Filipinos. Rizal pointed that, in the
kind of climate the Philippines had, this would make
it for a Filipino farmer to work less in the farm than in
the cold countries.
Jose Rizal in Madrid Sorrowful Events while Rizal was in Madrid

Rizal’s Temper Tested (Two incident); ~ On August 19, 1890, two Filipino compatriots of
Rizal in Madrid died;
~ Jose Rizal after arriving in Madrid, Spain on ~ They were Feliciano Gonzalez Timbang and Jose
August 1890, Jose Rizal attended the reunion and Maria Panganiban.
festive gathering of Filipinos in Madrid, where an ~ Rizal was close to Panganiban that Rizal relay to
incident happened between him and Antonio Luna. his friends the last words of Panganiban "Which was,
First incident, when Luna was drunk and in disarray, his last words were of loving remembrance to his
Luna stated insulting words against Rizal and idolized fatherland, a heartfelt farewell to the
blaming him for his failure to win the love of Nellie Philippines. " With sadness, Rizal wrote an eulogy
Boustead. for Panganiban.
~ These statements angered Rizal and challenged ~ On May 1890, Rizal was informed by the Real
him to a duel. Audiencia's decision on the Calamba Hacienda
~ On the other side, Luna was equally courageous case fought by the tenants, principales, farmers and
and accepted the challenge. his family.
~ Their Filipino compatriots were shocked with such ~ The decision was in favor of the Dominican
an incident where two of their great friends would Catholic Corporation.
fight to death.
~ Realizing the danger, they explained to the two Rizal received the information he feared.
men that their cause for the Philippines was more
important than personal fights. ~ Toward the end of September 1890, Rizal received
~ Luna realized he was wrong and immediately a letter from his sister Saturnina of the sad events
apologized to Rizal who accepted the apology. that overtook their family in Calamba.
~ Saturnina said that his brother-in-laws were again
Second incident that provoked the anger of Rizal arrested and banished to Mindoro.
was against Wenceslao E. Retana- an intelligent ~ Saturnina also stated to Rizal, the eviction of the
Spanish scholar who was hired by the Catholic entire family including his father Don Francisco who
Corporations from the Philippines to counter the was then 78 years old in their old house in Calamba.
Filipino newspaper in Madrid, the La Solidaridad. ~ Rizal recounted the sad events in 1892 and
~ Based on the account from the writings of W .E. signified his loss of hope in Spain by expressing this
Retana, he explained that Rizal was a man who through a letter to Blumentritt, while he was in Hong
loved his family. Kong.
~ Retana admitted that he wrote and published an
article about the tenants and family of Rizal in Letter of Jose Rizal to Blumentritt;
Calamba, which he stated in his article in La Epoca
that Don Jose Rizal arrived in Calamba from Europe It is horrible to describe the dreadful happenings that
and from then on the settlers refused to pay rent, my family has witnessed in Calamba- sick persons
especially the relatives and friends of Rizal. thrown out of their houses; entire families had to
pass the night outdoors; the Dominicans forbade the
~ Retana narrated that, within 24 hours a rest of the townspeople io give the unfortunates
representative of Rizal came and informed him that lodging and hospitality.
Rizal was challenging him to a duel to death. Terrified, some saw how their houses were being
~ Retana knew Rizal was an expert shooter and destroyed and burned down by the government
good swordsman, he found out, that Antonio Luna in soldiers, some of whom refused to do it! Yes, I lost
his aborted fight with Rizal, did not accept the my hope in Spain.
challenge of pistols, but opted for the sword, For that reason, I shall not write one more word for
because he knew Rizal’s caliber. the La Solidaridad. It seems to me it is in vain.
~ Retana also made a realization that Rizal loved his
family, more than anything else, and with this Rizal attempted to ask for “Help”
reaction, Retana sent Rizal an apology through a
published article. ~ The following incident affected Rizal's loved family
~ In later years, Retana would be the first to write the in the Philippines, Rizal attempted to save his family
biography of Rizal and recognized his martyrdom. while in Europe, using connections and friends to
help him.
~ Rizal was desperate, that Rizal attempted to get
the help of Spanish politicians such as Don Manuel
Becerra but to no avail.
~ Rizal thought of seeing Her Majesty Queen Regent
Maria Cristina, but Rizal had no influential friends to
help him.
~ It was like bad omen in Madrid, for Rizal, in early In August 1891, Rizal wrote to Del Pilar;
December 1890, received a letter from Leonor
Rivera, his true and real love in the Philippines, ~ If I stopped writing for La Solidaridad, it was
informing him that her mother compelled her to because of several reasons:
marry an Englishman named Henry Keeping and 1. First, I need time to work on my book (El
that their marriage will be on June 17, 1891. Filibusterismo);
~ According to compatriots who witnessed Rizal 2. Second, I wanted other Filipinos to work also;
while reading the letter, “Rizal cried in desolation like 3. Third, I consider it very important to the party that
a child when Rizal received the letter." there be unity in the work; and as you are already at
~ In deep sadness, Rizal wrote a letter to Blumentritt the top and I also have my own ideas, it is better to
about what he felt of the incident, later-on Blumentritt leave you alone to direct the policy such as now you
replied: understand it and I do not meddle in it.
Blumentritt: Reply………
Your last letter was filled with sadness, Jose Rizal's Contributions in the La Solidaridad
while in Madrid
Blumentritt continues, After all the misfortunes that
have befallen you, ~ Cobordo Venganza (Cowardly Revenge);
now your beloved had abandoned you. ~ This article dated August 31, 1890, published by
Rizal, where Rizal expressed his bitterness to how
He continues, You have a courageous heart, and the Spanish government in the Philippines treated
you are in love with a nobler woman, the motherland. his two brother –in- laws and his elder brother
Filipinas is like one of those enchanted princess in Paciano.
the German tales, who is captive of a horrid dragon, ~ Rizal complained the arbitrary banishment done to
until she is freed by a valiant knight. them by Spanish authorities through the provocation
of the Dominican friars in Calamba.
Rizal’s Break-up with Del Pilar
Como Se Gobiernan las Filipinas (How the
~ Rizal’s conflict with other compatriots never Philippines is Governed)
stopped while Rizal was in Madrid.
~ In the traditional New Year’s celebrations and ~ Rizal explained that the very Spanish government
reunion of Filipino compatriot in December of 1890, in Philippines from whom its officials who said that
addressing the division of the Filipino colony in problems of all sorts existed in the Philippines, were
Madrid, Rizal called for unity. in fact these officials were the cause the problem.
~ However, division was so strong that resulted to an ~ The friars representing the Catholic Church who
approval of a proposal by electing a leader who will said that everything was well and wonderful, were in
represent the Propaganda Movement. fact the ones gaining from their corporations
~ Compatriots of Rizal were divided into two factions, representing the Catholic Church.
namely; ~ Rizal wrote that it was "The Filipinos in general
The Rizalista representing Jose Rizal; and imputed the ills and wretchedness of their country”.
The Pilarista, representing Marcelo H. Del Pilar, ~ The article was published in in the SOL dated
~ The Pilarista were one strong group, that Rizal's December 15, 1890.
group would be hard to beat.
~ However, Antonio Luna sided with Rizal, with other F. PI. Y Margall: el Luchar Tiempo Nuestro (F. PI.
loyal compatriots. In the election that ensued, two Y Margall: The Struggle of our Time
inconclusive ballots were held.
~ The next day Rizal walked out, but Del Pilar ~ This was a book review of Rizal, about the book
knowing the importance of Rizal in the colony, authored by F. PI. Y. Margall, where Rizal presented
instructed Mariano Ponce to convince some Pilarista a dialog on poverty, soul and the Catholic religion.
supporters to vote for Rizal. ~ The work was published in the SOL dated
~ Rizal was voted as the leader (responsable) of the November 15, 1890.
Filipino colony in Madrid.
~ On the part of Rizal, it was time for him to leave Jose Rizal Masonic Speech in Madrid
Madrid and stopped writing for the La Solidaridad
permanently, while preparing to publish his second ~ Masoneria (Masonry);
novel entitled El Filibusterismo. ~ A lecture prepared and read by Jose Rizal for the
members of the Solidaridad Lodge No. 53, in 1 889,
in Madrid.
~ Rizal discussed on the fundamental foundations of
Masonry (Sciénce, Virtue and Labor).
~ The following lines are excerpts from the lecture;
Science; Virtue; Labor.
Science Jose Rizal in Biarritz and Brussels

Rizal said: You may ask, what science is found in ~ In February of 1891, before proceeding to Ghent,
the Masonic Temple? Rizal took a one month vacation at Biarritz, France,
~ Science might have taken refuge in it during where Rizal received well by the Boustead family.
barbarous epochs in order to erect the sublime ~ Mr. Boustead liked Rizal for his excellent literary
architectural monuments of the past centuries, just talents.
as the fine arts did in the quite and peaceful cloisters ~ Rizal wrote to Mariano Ponce about his Biarritz
of the monasteries, but today science is free, open to vacation have “I have put on much weight since
all and certainly is not to be sought in the weekly arrived here: my cheeks are no longer sunken as
meetings of the lodges but in the universities, before for the reason that I go to bed early and I
scientific centers, and the studies of learned men. have no cares."
~ Rizal also had romance with Nelly Boustead, the
Virtue younger daughter of the Boustead family.
~ In late March, Rizal visited Paris, and proceeded to
Rizal said: What virtue do we practice within this hall? Brussels in the house of Marie and Suzanne Jacoby.
~ Perhaps in the bottoms of your hearts your ~ In late May 1891, Rizal finished his El
consciences smile sadly as if disillusioned at the Filibusterismo in Brussels, where he wrote Jose Ma.
sound of this word; seeing that even within these Basa:
temples we cannot restrain our passions. My work (EL Filibusterismo) is ready to go to press.
~ Perhaps you are right, but before going further, let The first twenty chapters are already corrected and
us see what we understand by virtue, because it can be primed, and I am recopying the remainder.
embodies an idea which is on the lips of everyone If I receive money, you will surely have it in July.
and not all peoples are agreed. I write it with more ardor than the Noli and though it
is not so cheerful, at least it is more profound and
Labor more perfect.

~ With respect for the word Labor, do not smile when Rizal Published the El Filibusterismo in Ghent
you think of what we do in our weekly meetings of
three hours most. ~ In early July 1891, Jose Rizal, together with Jose
Alejandrino and Edelberto Evangelista, left Brussels
True it is that in the secular world machines with their and moved to Ghent, a place in Belgium where
moving arms of steel and their powerful flywheels printing was cheaper. Alejandrino and Evangelista
and eccentrics stir the air about them; true its is that enrolled and studied in the famous University of
the immense factories, like active beehives, employ Ghent, taking up courses in the field of Engineering.
the child, the young man and woman, the wife and ~ Rizal suffered financial difficulties in publishing his
the aged in the production of thousands of articles second novel that the amount of frugality he
necessary to life: true it is that labor makes all the implemented in himself was an insurmountable
molecules and pores of the world vibrate with life, sacrifice.
from the bowels of the earth where the miner digs ~ Jose Alejandrino recounted that Rizal had to give
coal, a thousand limes more useful than the prized up breakfast to reduce rents and limited himself to
diamond, for the high peak of snow-clad mountains the biscuits for more than 10 days.
which the locomotives scales breathing fire and ~ Through the following letters of Rizal to Jose Maria
dragging along with it human thought; true, very true Basa in July 1891.
thar our activity is nothing beside that of the diver
who descends to the abyss of the seas, of the ~ Rizal expressed his financial difficulties:
explorer who penetrates mysterious continents, of 1. I have pawned all I have in order to print this work
the engineer who not contented with the free lanes and I will continue printing it as long as I can, and
of the oceans, goes out to cut continents, open when I no longer have anything to pawn then I will
canals plow through the air in search of new routes! stop and will return to your side (Hong Kong).
2. I am tired of believing in our countrymen; they all
seem to have joined together to embitter my lift; they
have been preventing my return, promising to send
me an allowance, and after having done it one
month, they have not remembered me again.
3. Enclosed is the bill of lading of the four boxes of
books ; I am sending there; as I have already told
you the charges are payable there. If anything
should happen to me, all those books be- come
your property, in case my family does not pay you
the amount I owe you. The books alone are worth
600 pesos.
Valentine Ventura El Filibusterismo Synopsis

~ Rizal was already desperate in resuming the ~ This novel was written in the 19th century by the
printing of El Filibusterismo, when a compatriot from Philippines National Hero, Dr. Jose Rizal, then an
Paris, France learned about his financial problems, expatriate in Europe waging a propaganda campaign
Valentine Ventura saved the El Filibusterismo. against tyranny and oppression in his native land.
~ Ventura’s letter as it reads: ~ El Filibusterismo is a sequel to his earlier work,
Noli Me Tangere, a socio-political novel that depicted
At this moment I received your letter of yesterday the conditions in the Philippine Islands - a colony of
and without loosing time I am answering it, so that Spain for three centuries - under the Spanish yoke.
you can do what seems to your best, without thinking
of the question of funds. ~ Simoun, a mysterious and powerful jeweler who is
in good graces with the Captain General plots a
Yesterday I sent you two hundred Francs and in the coup d'etat against the Spanish government.
letter I wrote you, I told you to let me know if you ~ Simoun secretly abets the abuses committed
needed more, if you need it, without having resort to against the natives in the hope of stirring them to rise
anyone. Precisely I am well off now with funds that I up in revolt. To weaken the regime, Simoun
do not need. encourages corruption, using his immense wealth to
foment injustice and provoke massive unrest.
~ In the middle of September 1 891, Rizal finally ~ Unknown to all, Simoun is Juan Crisostomo Ibarra,
published the novel El Filibusterismo. which Rizal a man who had been wrongfully accused of rebellion
began writing in June 1887, wherein Rizal mentioned and condemned in a plot instigated by his enemies
this in his letter to Mariano Ponce. including a friar who had unchaste feelings for his
~ The draft of the novel was written in different cities fiancée, Maria Clara. Everybody thought Ibarra had
of Europe such as in London, Paris, Madrid, Biarritz been killed as a fugitive, but in truth he had escaped,
and Brussels. enriched himself abroad and has returned to the
~ Rizal dedicated this work to the three martyred islands to avenge himself.
priests who were executed in the gallows in ~ Simoun plans to take Maria Clara who, believing
Bagumbayan (Luneta). They were Mariano Gomez Ibarra is dead, had entered the convent.
(85 years), Jose Burgos (30 years) and Jacinto ~ In the course of his plans, Simoun comes into
Zamora (35 years). contact with young idealistic Filipinos whom Simoun
wants to enlist to his cause, One of these is Basilio,
To the Memory one of- the few who know his secret.
~ Basilio had been adopted by Kapitan Tiyago, a
The Church by refusing to degrade you has cast wealthy landowner and father of Maria Clara. Basilio
doubt on the crime of which you have been accused; is about to graduate as doctor of medicine and plans
the government, by shrouding your case in mystery to marry Juli, his childhood sweetheart.
and shadows creates the belief that some mistake ~ Juli is the daughter of Kabesang Tales, a
has been made at a fatal hour, and the whole homesteader who had been dispossessed of his
Philippines, by venerating your memory and calling lands by the friars.
you martyrs, in no manner whatsoever recognizes ~ Turned outlaw, Kabesang Tales and other victims
your guilt. of injustice have been enlisted by Simoun in his plan
to overthrow the government.
So long, therefore as your participation in the Cavite ~ Another student, Isagani, dreams of a progressive
uprising is not clearly shown, whether or not have future for his Country but his fiancée, Paulita, who
been patriots, whether or not have been stirred by shares his Aunt Dona Victorina's prejudices against
sentiments for justice sentiments for liberty, it is my the natives, is not interested in them.
right to dedicate my work to you as victims of the ~ Simoun's plot is aborted when Simoun learns that
very evil which I undertake to combat. And while we Maria Ciara had died at the convent. Student leaders
are waiting for Spain to rehabilitate you some day who have been advocating the opening of an
and to discover all responsibility for your death, let academy for the teaching of the Spanish language
these pages serve as a belated wreath of withered hold a party where they lampoon the friars.
leaves upon your unknown graves, and whosoever
withered evident proofs should desecrate your ~ The next day, posters are found encouraging
memory, let his hands be stained with your blood. sedition, and those suspected of involvement are
(Enclosed to El Filibusterismo) J. Rizal arrested, including Basilio.
~ Basilio’s foster father having died, nobody
~ The novel El Filibusterismo was a sequel to Rizal’s intercedes for him, while the rich and influential are
earlier work the Noli Me Tangere. In reading the released.
work, there are areas of humor, romance and ~ Meanwhile, Juli is killed in the church alter she had
revolution. In this work of RizaI, he was judged as sought the help of the parish priest for the release of
separatist in some points.
Basilio. Due to this tragedy, Juli’s grandfather, Basilio – The son of Sisa who finished his medical
Tandang Selo, joins the outlaws. studies through the financial support of Capitan
Tiago.
~ Embittered by Maria Clara's death, Simoun plans
another coup d’etat to be staged at the wedding Isagani – Known in the novel as the poet who
reception for Paulita, who has been engaged to played the role of young student, whose idealism for
another man, top government officials including the the country is manifested in his action. However, due
Captain general who are to attend would be blown to his love to Paulita, he aborted the plan of Simoun.
away, the house being planted with explosives which
will be detonated by a device hidden in the lamp Paula Gomez –The love of Isagani in the novel, who
given as gift by Simoun to the newlyweds, Basilio, represented one side of the Filipina womanhood in
who has been released and now wants to take Philippine society. Her presence in the wedding feast
revenge, is ordered by Simoun to lead in the uprising. changed the plans of Simoun, due to the intervention
of Isagani of throwing the destructive lamp outside.
~ At the appointed hour, the guests are terrified upon
reading a note signed by Juan Crisostomo Ibarra, his Cabesang Tales – Represented the tenants of
signature is organized by Father Salvi, the friar who Calamba. He was stripped of his land by the friars,
lusted after Maria Clara. Before the lamp could disillusioned, he became an outlaw to attain personal
explode, Isagani, who has been warned by Basilio revenge. Her daughter Juli the love of Basilio,
about the plot, barges in and throws the lamp into committed suicide to her honor against the Catholic
the river and Isagani escapes. Priest Fr. Camorra.
~ The uprising again fails to take off, and the armed
followers of Simoun, deprived of leadership or devoid School Master – He disobeyed the orders of the
of vision, resort banditry. friars and taught Spanish to his students; later he
~ The lawlessness that reigns in the countryside was jailed and freed from the influence of Simoun on
leads to harsh measures by the government in its whom he will give his loyalty by supporting his plan
efforts to show it if in control. of revolt.
~ The plot at the wedding is finally traced to Simoun
who escapes into a house near the ocean. Juli – the love of Basilio, committed suicide to her
~ After taking poison, Simoun confesses to Father honor against the Catholic Priest Father Camorra.
Florentino, a Filipino priest, who tells him: What is
the use of independence if the slaves of today will be Father Camorra – the priest who took advantage of
the tyrants of tomorrow? After the death of Simoun, Juli.
Father Florentino throws his treasure into the sea.
Reaction of Jose Rizal’s Compatriots to the El
~ Novel of El Filibusterismo, together with the Noli Filibusterismo
Me Tangere, is said to have sparked the revolution
against Spain in 1896. ~ In a letter dated October 2, 1891, Graciano Lopez
~ In it, Rizal presented the dilemma faced by the Jaena stated;
country as the PeopLe groaned under the foreign ~ El Filibusterismo is a superior novel to your Noli
oppressor; to revolt would only lead to a change of Me Tangere in its exquisite, delicate literary style, its
masters, while to do nothing would keep the nation easy and correct dialogue, its clean, vigorous and
enslaved for generations. elegant phraseology, as much as for its profound
~ Rizal proposes a better way, through Father ideas and sublime thoughts.
Florentino as he speaks to the dying Simoun; to ~ Mariano Ponce stated in his letter dated October
educate the natives and when they shall have 11, 1891;
reached that stage where they would be willing to die ~ It is truly excellent; I cannot find any other praise. It
for their principles, God Himself will supply the is a very worthy sister of Noli.
weapon, and "liberty will shine, like the first dawn."
Jose Rizal Proceed to Hong Kong
Characters of El Filibusterismo
~ After publishing the El Filibusterismo, Rizal was
Simoun – The Ibarra of the Noli, now represents determined to proceed to Hong Kong and there Rizal
new ideas using his wealth and influence to destroy unite with his family, before he faced his enemies in
the government by, encouraging corruption and the Philippines.
anomalous acts, to attain his plan of a revolution that ~ On October 18, 1891, Rizal left Europe where
later failed. Rizal said the following words:
"Well! We close the last page of the book of Europe.
Maria Clara – She never had Simoun in her life, and Spain, France, Italy, Germany, Switzerland, Belgium,
after all the sufferings and pains, she had gone Austria, England, goodbye.
through for 13 years, Maria Ciara in the novel finally " Rizal also left this message to his compatriots in
died in the nunnery. Europe through a letter.
Rizal message to his compatriots

If our four countrymen are counting on us here in

Europe they are very much mistaken. I do not want
to deceive anyone. If there is no money, we cannot
do much: We can help them with our life in our
country. That general error that we help here in this
distant country is very, very wrong. Medicine should
be brought near to the patient. If I did not only wish
to shorten my parent 's lives, I would not have left
the Philippines what ever might happen.

The battle fields is in the Philippines, there is where

we should meet;

The letter of Rizal to his compatriots showed him to

be a radical, who was advocating actions that bore
the line of a revolutionist.

…………………………….END…………………………