the life and works of rizal

LESSON 9: EL FILIBUSTERISMO: CONTEXT AND CONTENT

PREPARED BY: MARY MAR A. CABARLES

FILIBUSTERISMO: HISTORY AND CONTEXT

 Rizal started writing El Filibusterismo as a sequel to the Noli Me Tangere after

he returned to Europe on February 1888. The novel, therefore, was written in
the midst of threats and oppressions he and his family were experiencing
because of the Noli and the Calamba incident.

 He was able to complete the novel after three years when he was in Biarritz,
France on March 29, 1891.

 In March 1887, after reading the Noli Me Tangere, Blumentritt asked Rizal the
meaning of the word “filibusterismo” which he did not find in the Spanish
language. To recall, Rizal replied:

The word filibusterismo is still very little known in the Philippines; the
common people as yet do not know it. I heard it for the first time in 1872
when the tragic executions took place. I still remember the terror it
aroused. Our father forbade us ever 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 render suspect of revolutionary activities.
The educated fear of the word. It does not have the meaning of
freebooter; it rather means a dangerous patriot who will soon be hanged,
or a presumptuous fellow.

 In 1890, Wenceslao Retana wrote about the “filibusterismo” and described

the term as “the one who eager for the independence of the country, resorts
to various extralegal proceedings in order to reach the objectives that he
pursues.

 El filibusterismo is dedicated to Gomburza, the three priest who were accused

of being filibusters in 1872. In his dedication, Rizal expressed his high regard
for the priests who became victims of “the evil that I am trying to fight”.

 Soledad Lacson-Locsin described the book based on the themes that can be
seen in the story: “El fili begins where the Noli leaves off, where love,
romance, heroism, idealism, and tragedy turn to hate, bitterness, anger,
disillusionment, and vengeance”. Unlike Noli, El fili burns with passion and
ideology.

CHARACTERS OF EL FILIBUSTERISMO

 Simoun- Crisostomo Ibarra, who was the main character in Noli Me Tangere,
comes back as Simoun. He was described as a rich bearded jeweler who likes
to wear blue tinted glasses.
 Cabesang Tales- who was a former cabeza de barangay of the Sagpang. He
resurfaces as the most feared bandit in Luzon named Matanglawin.
 Don Custodio- is a known journalist who is asked by the students about
Academia de Castellano. Don Custodio married a rich woman to become part
of Manila’s high society.
 Isagani - Basilio’s friend who removed the explosive lamp from Kapitan
Tiyago’s house and prevents Simoun from being successful in his plans to
blow up the house of the Kapitan.
 Paulita Gomez - the girlfriend of Isagani and the niece of Dona Victorina, who
is a Peninsulares. She married Juanito Pelaez.
 Macaraig - a classmate of Isagani at the University of Santo Tomas and a rich
student who serves as the leader of students who wish for the construction of
the Academia de Castellano.

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 the life and works of rizal

 Basilio- A graduating medical student who befriended Simoun.

 Father Florentino - Isagani’s godfather and is a seculiar priest who was
engaged to be married but he choosed to be a priest.
 Juli San Jose- Juliana de Dios, girlfriend of Basilio and the youngest daughter
of Cabesang Tales.
 Father Camorra- The lustful father priest of Tani, San Diego adjacent town
who has longtime desires for women. He nearly raped Juli causing the latter
to commit suicide.
 Juanito Pelaez- A favorite student of the professors. They belong to the
Spanish ancestry.

SYNOPSIS

The story of El Filibusterismo revolved around the main character, Simoun,

who was rich jeweler. Simoun was actually Crisostomo Ibarra of the Noli whom
everyone thought was killed by the guardia civil at the Laguna de Bay thirteen years
ago. He was able to escape and fled to Cuba. He became wealthy and was able to
establish connections with prominent Spanish officials. Upon his return to the
Philippines, Simoun became very influential being the consultant to the governor-
general.
Simoun came back with his grand plan to exact revenge on Spanish officials
and to rescue Maria Clara who entered the convent after learning the news of
Ibarra’s death. He planned to launch a revolution which he started by smuggling
arms and recruiting followers, mainly from the exploited and abused natives. One of
his recruits was Basilio, the son of Sisa. With the help of Capitan Tiago, Basilio was
able to study medicine in Manila. Simoun also began to establish an alliance with
Kabesang Tales and his revolutionary group. Kabesang Tales was a former cabeza de
barangay who was maltreated by the friars. Using his position, Simoun encouraged
corruption and more oppressive h\government policies to enrage the people and
thus, provoke them to revolt.
Simouns plans of revolution failed twice. In his first attempt, he decided not
to give the signal for the outbreak of the uprising upon hearing the news of Maria
Clara’s death. Basilio and other students were then arrested for allegedly forming a
seditious organization. Simoun arranged the release of Basilio who became bitter
and vengeful. However, he was very grateful to Simoun and offered his full support
for the revolution entailed the planting of a bomb at the wedding reception of
Paulita Gomez and Juanito Pelaez. Illustrious guests at the mansion included Padri
Salvi and the governor-general. In Simoun’s plan, the revolution would be triggered
by his gift to the couple- a kerosene lamp with an explosive. When the lamp starts
flickering and someone turns the wick, there would be an explosion, signaling the
revolutionaries to attack all the government buildings in Manila.
As planned, Simoun gave the lamp during reception. Before leaving the
venue, he left a note with a message: “You will die tonight,” signed by Crisostomo
Ibarra.
Meanwhile, when Basilio saw all the people at the venue, his conscience
bothered him. He saw his friend, Isagani, who was secretly watching his love Paulita,
celebrating her wedding. Basilio told Isagani about the explosive and asked him to
leave the place.
When Padre Salvi, confirmed Ibarra’s handwriting, the guests began to panic.
The lamp flickered and Padre Irene tried to turn the wick. But Isagani, wanting to
save Paulita, ran into the house, grabbed the lamp, and threw it into the river wher
it exploded.
Simoun took the refuge in the house of a kind Filipino priest, Padre Florentino.
The guardias civiles, however, learned about the whereabouts of the fugitive, and
informed the priest that they would come in the evening to arrest Simoun.
Instead of surrendering to the authorities, Simoun poisoned himself. As the
poison started to take effect on his body, he confessed to Padre Florentino his true
identity and his plans for revenge. After a long tedious confession, the priest told
Simoun that his plan might failed because of the unjust means that were used. He
assured Simoun that there was still hope for the freedom of the country.

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The story ended Padre Florentino throwing Simoun’s jewels into the sea so
that they would not be used by the greedy. He also prayed that when the right time
comes, the treasure would be recovered and used for a noble purpose.

REVOLUTION AS A MEAN OF SOCIAL CHANGE

Simoun as Filibustero
Filibustero- a person engaging in unauthorized warfare against a foreign country.
Someone who represents the Filipino revolutionaries

Misinterpretation of Rizal’s goal

Simoun’s death was concluded as Rizal’s objection on the idea of revolution.

Idea of Violence
“… when no other hope remains but seek our destruction in war, when the Filipinos
would prefer to die rather than endure their misery any longer, then I will also
become a partisan of violent means.” Letter of Rizal to Blumentritt.

ON LEADERSHIP AND GOVERNANCE

Rizal himself was admired as a good leader. His colleagues in the Propaganda
Movement respected him because he showed a kind leadership that was not
motived by personal interest. The call for a good leadership could be gleaned from
El Fili when he stressed the importance of National sentiment to guard the society
against all kind injustices and oppression.

ON EDUCATION AND LANGUAGE

At the time that Simoun was planning to launch the revolution, students including
Basilio were also fighting for the establishment of a school that would allow natives
to learn the Spanish language. Simoun strongly rebated against the project
advocated by the students. For him, it would mean the death of national identity
and the nationalizations of Tyranny.

ON THE FILIPINO YOUTH

Jose Rizal through the character of Padre Florentino, a patriotic Filipino priest in El
Fili. Rizal saw the youth as future of the country because this generation would one
day lead the nation. Their actions today would shape the path of tomorrow.
Rizal stressed the important role of the youth in challenging the government as
seen in the efforts of students like Basilio and Isagani to organize themselves and
unite to call for reforms.
Where are the youth who will concentrate their golden hours, their illusions and
their enthusiasm for the welfare of their country? Where are they who would
generously shed their blood to wash away so much shame, so much crime, so much
abomination? Pure and spotless the victim has to be for the holocaust to be
acceptable!... Where are you, youth who will incarnate in yourselves the vigor of life
that has fled from our veins, the purity of ideas that have been soiled in our minds,
and the fire of enthusiasm that has been extinguished in our hearts?... We wait for
you, O youth! Come, for we await you!

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