Course Code and Title: GEHS – Rizal’s Life and Works

Lesson Number: 14

Topic: EL FILIBUSTERISMO

INTRODUCTION
This module provides a summary of Rizal’s follow-up novel to Noli Me
Tangere, El Filibusterismo. It focuses on the Novels’ legacy and the stolen Noli Me
Tangere and El Filibusterismo. The module also focuses on the importance of the youth
in nation-building as presented in the novel.

Learning Objectives:
At the end of this lesson, you should be able to:
 Analyze the context of Rizal’s 2nd novel El Filibusterismo.
 Assess the significance of Rizal’s Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo in the
21st-century Philippines.
 Appreciate the novels’ legacy.
 Use current technology to assist and facilitate learning and research.

Pre-Assessment:
Instructions: Choose the letter of the best answer.

___ 1. The man character of El Filibusterismo.

A. Elias C. Simoun
B. Ibarra D. Capitan Tiago

___ 2. The novel, El Filibusterismo is about _____.

A. Politics & revolution C. Humor & liberty
B. Love & emotion D. All of the above
___ 3. Simoun is a wealthy jeweler who came back to the Philippines after how many
years?
A. 7 C. 13
B. 5 D. 20

___ 4. Who was Maria Clara’s real father?

A. Father Salvi C. Father Sibyla
B. Lieutenant Guevara D. Father Damaso

___ 5. The title “El Filibusterismo” means?

A. Do not detain me C. Subversive
B. Touch me not D. Rebel

LESSON PRESENTATION:
Synopsis
The story in El Filibusterismo revolves around its main
character Simoun who is an affluent jeweler. Simoun is Crisostomo
Ibarra of the Noli whom everyone thought had been killed by the
Guardia Civil at Laguna de Bay. He had escaped, fled to Cuba,
become wealthy, and made connections with influential Spanish
officials. Upon his return to the Philippines after many years, he
becomes very influential as the governor-general, who owes so much
to him, consults him in making decisions.
In reality, however, everything Simoun does is just
part of his grand plan to take revenge against the Spanish officials and
rescue Maria Clara from the convent. Planning to stage a revolution,
he smuggles arms and looks for followers, mainly from the exploited
and abused natives. One of his recruits is Basilio, the son of Sisa, who with Capitan Tiago’s help was able
to study in Manila. Simoun also allies with the revolutionary group of Kabesang Tales, a former ‘Cabeza de
barangay’ who suffered maltreatment at the hands of the friars. Using his influence, Simoun encourages
corruption, decadence, and more oppressive government policies so that the citizens may become more
infuriated. However, the planned revolt one night was not carried out because Simoun, upon hearing that
Maria Clara died in the nunnery, decided not to give the signal for the outbreak of the uprising.
Another plan was made some months later. At the venue of the wedding reception of
Juanito Pelaez and Paulita Gomez, Simoun planted many explosives—enough to kill the guests, primarily
the friars and government officials. According to the plot, the big explosion shall be started by the gift he
would give to the newlyweds at the reception—a kerosene lamp with an explosive. When the lamp flickers
and someone turns the wick, it will result in a big explosion that will become a signal to the revolutionary
troops to simultaneously attack all the government buildings in Manila.
During the reception, Simoun gives his gift to the newly-weds. Before hurriedly leaving the
venue, he leaves a piece of mysterious paper bearing the message “You will die tonight” signed by Juan
Crisostomo Ibarra. Meanwhile, Isagani, the rejected lover of Paulita, is standing outside the reception. His
friend Basilio tells him to leave the place because the lamp will soon blow up.
When Father Salvi identifies the handwriting in the note and confirms that it was indeed
Ibarra’s, the guests begin to panic. When the lamp flickers, Father Irene tries to turn the wick up. But
Isagani, wanting to save Paulita’s life, rushes into the house, grabs the lamp, and throws it into the river
where it explodes. Simoun’s revolutionary plot was thus known and he is thus hunted by the law enforcers.
He managed to escape but was seriously wounded. Carrying his jewelry chest, he finds shelter in the home
of Padre Florentino by the sea. Learning of his presence in the house of the priest, the lieutenant of the
Guardia Civil informs Padre Florentino that he will come in the evening to arrest Simoun.
Simoun then takes poison that he would not be caught alive. As the poison’s effects start
to take a toll on his body, he confesses to Florentino his true identity and his plan of revenge through
bloody revolution. After the emotional and agonizing confession of the dying man, the priest absolves the
dying man from his sins, saying: “God will forgive you Señor Simoun. He knows that we are fallible. He has
seen that you have suffered … He has frustrated your plans one by one … 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!”
The story ends with the priest throwing Simoun’s treasures into the sea so that they would
not be used by the greedy. The priest hopes that when the right time comes, they would be recovered and
used only for the good.

SELF-REFLECTION QUESTIONS
 1. Why did Rizal write Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo?
2. What is the implication of the El Filibusterismo during the
Spanish era?

Noli and Fili Stolen

In Rizal’s time, the Permanent
Commission of Censorship recommended the
absolute prohibition on the importation,
reproduction, and circulation of the Noli. The
copies of the Fili, on the other hand, were
destroyed by Customs in Manila upon
shipment to the Philippines. The rare surviving
copies of the novels were secretly purchased
and “according to one friend of the family, had
to be read in the smallest, most private room in
the house—the toilet” (Ocampo, p. 108).
That was the fate of the first edition of Rizal’s novels. But that is nothing
compared to what happened to their original manuscripts about 70 years after their
publication.
The original manuscripts of the Noli and Fili (along with that of the poem
‘Mi Ultimo Adios’) were stolen from the National Library on the evening of December 8,
1961. After some days, the thieves who outsmarted the building’s sleepy guards sent a
ransom note “made of newspaper cutouts” to the Jose Rizal National Centennial
Commission (JRNCC) (Ocampo, p. 148). The robbers demanded 1.4 million pesos for
the return of the original texts, else Rizal’s handiworks would be burned.
To summarize the ‘historic robbery’, the then Education Secretary
Alejandro ‘Anding’ Roces personally met with the burglars and, after some various
negotiations, had retrieved the documents without paying a single centavo. The
manuscripts were returned on an installment basis—the ‘Ultimo Adios’ during the first
meeting, the ‘El Fili’ on the next negotiation, and lastly, the ‘Noli’. There was a time
when the demanded ransom was reduced to 100,000 pesos and then to 10,000 pesos
(Ocampo, p. 148). But recognizing perhaps that they would get nothing from the
government, the robbers ultimately settled on returning the expensive documents, free
of charge.
Many still find this ‘charge-free return of the manuscripts’ strange and
mind-blowing. But the following additional details about the story could perhaps shed
light on the account.
During the negotiations, one of the burglars related to Roces that on the
night of the robbery, “the Rizal manuscripts suddenly became heavy as a Cavan of
rice”. The thief thus exclaimed, “The manuscript must be holy or haunted!” (Ocampo, p.
148). One robber even claimed that he read Rizal’s handwritten novels and described
the feeling, “Ang sarap basahin, kinikilabutan ako!” (Ocampo, p. 148). It’s remarkably
funny to note however that the thief did not understand Spanish! Nonetheless, these
indicate that the stealers were probably bothered by their conscience, hence the
consent to just send back the national hero’s works.
Anding promised not to identify the robbers or to be a witness against
them in court. Thus, the hilariously controversial thieves were never known.

The legacy of Noli and El Fili

For fearlessly depicting the
corruptions and abuses by the Spanish clergy
and colonial government during the Spanish
regime in the Philippines, the two novels are
historically very significant. A social sketch of the
country then, the Noli and Fili reveal the true
setting and condition of the Filipino society in the
era.
As an essential source of sociological and anthropological studies, the
books provide rich insights into the culture of the 19th and 20th century Philippines.
Their realistic depictions expose a conflicted colonial society seriously split between the
oppressors and the suffering local slaves. The novels’ characters mimic the various
elements and types of individuals in that society. Furthermore, they show favorable
positive traits of the natives then like the sense of gratitude, the fidelity of women to their
loved ones, and the yearning for freedom and equality.
For their explicit portrayal of what the locals wished for their country, the
books were instrumental in forming the Filipino’s (Indios) sense of national identity.
Indirectly but significantly, the novels influenced the revolution led by the Katipunan as
they inspired Andres Bonifacio and other revolutionaries in their cause.
Rizal was arrested, exiled to Dapitan, and ultimately executed in 1896
based principally on his writings. In 1956, the Philippine Congress passed the Rizal Law
(Republic Act 1425) requiring all levels of Philippine schools to teach as part of the
curriculum the hero’s two novels.
Originally written in Spanish, the Noli and the Fili had been translated into
various languages like Filipino, English, German, French, Chinese, and other Philippine
languages. In 2007, an English version of Noli Me Tangere was released to major
Australian book stores. It was published by Penguin Books Classics as part of the
publication’s commitment to publish the major literary classics of the world.

SUMMARY:
In El Filibusterismo, Rizal warned Spain that its corrupt and self-seeking
colonial government would only lead to disaster, such as what happened to Kabesang
Tales and Basilio in the Novel. The novel focuses on the discontent of the youth, led by
Basilio, with the condition of Philippine society. Basilio experienced great loss in both
novels. In some analyses, Basilio seemed to represent Rizal in the novel. Furthermore,
Rizal also condemned the elite Filipinos, who out of greed, selfishness, complacency,
and cowardice, turned a blind eye on the abuses of the Spanish authorities as long as
these did not affect them. Despite presenting a narrative that starkly condemned the
Spanish rule, Rizal was not asking for a revolution to demand immediate independence.
Instead, he proposed that the task of Filipinos was to prepare for eventual
independence once they are proven to be worthy and ready for it. It is through
education, exemplary lives, and willingness to sacrifice that freedom can be achieved
according to Rizal. At the end of the novel, Rizal through Padre Florentino called on the
youth to respond to such a challenge.
The original manuscript of Noli Me Tangere was acquired by the
Philippines government in 1911 for 32,000 pesos from Soledad Rizal de Quintero. The
original manuscript of El Filibusterismo was sold by Valentin Ventura to the Philippine
government in 1928 for 10,000 pesos. In 1961, as the government prepared for the
centennial celebration of Rizal’s birth anniversary, the original works of Rizal including
Noli Me Tangere, El Filibusterismo, and Mi Ultimo Adios were included in the exhibit as
part of the international conference organized by the Jose Rizal National Centennial
Commission. On December 8, 1961, the three works were stolen from the glass-
encased-locked display counter. Upon negotiations, they were returned to the National
Library on February 9, 1962. A few years ago, the original copies of the Noli and Fili in
the possession of the National Library were reported to be decaying.

APPLICATION:
Instructions: Read Rizal’s “El Filibusterismo” and then create/construct a timeline that
shows the main events and when the events happened in sequential order.

ACTIVITY/EVALUATION:
Instructions: Complete the chart below by identifying examples of the elements from
El Filibusterismo. (10 points)

Elements of the Novel: El Filibusterismo

Elements of the Novel Examples
Character
Setting
Point of view
Style
Theme

ASSIGNMENT: 14
Instructions: When Jose Rizal wrote his two novels, Noli and El Filibusterismo, he
was driven by the existing social, political, religious, and economic circumstances at that
time. Today, the characters in Rizal’s novels remain significant and notable.
Research on the following characters found in the novels and characterize
their presence in the 21st century Philippine Society.
1. Basilio
2. Sisa
3. Padre Damaso
4. Kabesang Tales
5. Dona Victorina

GRADING RUBRIC:
For a ten-point essay:
9 –10 Used many details thoroughly and expertly; applied integrated concepts;
made connections between facts and ideas.
7–8 Used many details to illustrate the topic; clearly understood the topic well.
5–6 Used some details to illustrate the topic; understood topic
3–4 Used one or two details, alluded to details vaguely; followed directions had a
basic knowledge of the topic.
1–2 Used no historical details, made factual errors; thinking not justified, no evidence
that knowledge was acquired.
0– No attempt to answer the question was made.

References

 Galicia, R. D. (2019). The Life and Works of Jose Rizal. 2nd Edition.
Mandaluyong City: Azes Publishing Corporation.
 Manebog, J. D. (2018). Life and Works of Rizal. Manila: Mutya Publishing. Inc.
 Clemente, J. E. (2019). The Life and Works of Rizal. Quezon City: C & E
Publishing, Inc.