EL FILIBUSTERISMO Summary and Main Characters

EL FILIBUSTERISMO
SUMMARY AND MAIN

CHARACTERS
(GROUP 2)
✣ The protagonist of El Filibusterismo is a jeweler named Simoun. He is the
new identity of Crisostomo Ibarra who, in the prequel Noli, escaped from
pursuing soldiers. It is revealed that Crisostomo dug up his buried treasure
and fled to Cuba, becoming richer and befriending Spanish officials.
✣ After many years, the newly fashioned Simoun returns to the Philippines,
where he is able to freely move around. He is a powerful figure not only
because of his wealth but also because he is a good friend and adviser of
the governor general.
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✣ Outwardly, Simoun is a friend of Spain; however,
in secret, he is plotting a terrible revenge against
the Spanish authorities. His two obsessions are to
rescue his paramour Maria Clara from the
nunnery of Santa Clara and to foment a
Philippine revolution against Spain.
3
✣ The story of El Filibusterismo begins on board a steamer
ship sailing up the Pasig river from Manila to Laguna de
Bay. Among the passengers are Simoun; Doña Victorina,
Tiburcio de Espadaña, Paulita Gomez, Ben-
Zayb (anagram of Ibañez), Padre Sibyla, Padre
Camorra, Don Custodio, Padre Salvi, Padre Irene,
Padre Florentino, Isagani, Basilio, and Capitan Tiago.
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Simoun is a very close friend and confidante of the Spanish
governor general. By using his wealth and 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. 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.
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✣ 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 a wedding gift
to them a beautiful lamp.
✣ Only he and his confidential associates, Basilio, 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 killing all the guests, including the governor general, the
friars, and the government officials. Simultaneously, all the government
buildings in Manila will be blown by Simoun’s followers.
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✣ As the wedding feast begins, the poet Isagani, who has
been rejected by Paulita because of his liberal ideas, is
standing outside the house, sorrowfully watching the
merriment inside. Basilio, his friend, warns him to go away
because the lightened lamp will soon explode.
✣ Upon hearing the horrible secret of the lamp, Isagani

realizes that his beloved Paulita is in grave danger. To save
her life, he rushes into the house, seizes the lightened lamp,
and hurls it into the river, where it explodes.
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✣ The revolutionary plot is thus discovered. Simoun is cornered by the
soldiers, but he escapes. Mortally wounded, and carrying his treasure
chest, he seeks 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 will come at eight o’clock that night to arrest
Simoun.
✣ Simoun eludes 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 avenge himself, and his sinister aim to destroy his friends
and enemies.
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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 and begins to meditate.
Watching Simoun die peacefully with a clear conscience and

at peace with God, Padre Florentino falls upon his knees and
prays for the dead jeweler. The priest then takes the treasure
chest and throws it into the sea.
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Characters
Simoun- Crisostomo Ibarra in disguise, pretending to side

with the upper class and encouraging them to enslave the
masses, while in reality siding with the masses and urging
them to revolt against the oppressive Spanish regime. He does
not attempt to fight the authorities with knowledge, but by
force.
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✣ Basilio- Son of Sisa. A graduating Medical Student who
befriended Simoun.
✣ Isagani- Basilio’s friend, the man who removed the explosive
lamp from the Capitan Tiago’s house.
✣ Kabesang Tales- A former cabeza de barangay (barangay head)
of Sagpang, who resurfaced the feared Luzon bandit
Matanglawin.
✣ Don Custodio- a famous journalist, he is quite an ordinary
fellow man who married a rich woman in order to be a member
of Manila’s high society.
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✣ Paulita Gomez- The girlfriend and the niece of Doña Victorina. In the
end, she and Juanito Peláez are wed, she dumps Isagani, believing that she
will have no future if she marries him.
✣ Father Florentino- Isagani’s godfather, and a secular priest.
✣ Juli San Jose- Girlfriend of Basilio, and the youngest daughter of
Kabesang Tales. To claim her father from the bandits, she had to work as a
maid under the supervision of Hermana Penchang. She was freed but
committed suicide after Father Camorra attempted to rape her.
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✣ Juanito Pelaez- Belong to the noble Spanish ancestry.
✣ Doña Victorina- Aunt of Paulita Gomez, she consider herself as one of
the Peninsular.
✣ Father Camorra- The lustful parish priest of Tiani, San Diego’s
adjacent town who has longtime desires for young women.
✣ Ben-Zayb - a journalist who believes he is the “only” one thinking in the
Philippines.
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✣ Father Irene- Captain Tiago’s spiritual adviser. The only witness to
Captain Tiago’s death. He forged the last will and testament of the
latter so Basilio will obtain nothing from the inheritance.
✣ Gobernador General- The highest-ranking official in the
Philippines during the Spanish colonial period, pretends that was he
is doing for the good of the Indios, but in reality, he prioritizes the
needs of his fellow Spaniards living in the country.
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THANK YOU!!!!
Members:
Alveniz, Daryl Jireh

Bobier, Kathleen Joy
Francisco, Daryl Jones
Mira, Nico
Preciados, John Benneth
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EL FILIBUSTERISMO

SUMMARY AND MAIN

✣ Upon hearing the horrible secret of the lamp, Isagani

✣ The Spanish authorities, however, learns of his presence in the house of

✣ Simoun eludes arrest by taking poison. As he is dying, he confesses to

Watching Simoun die peacefully with a clear conscience and

Simoun- Crisostomo Ibarra in disguise, pretending to side

Alveniz, Daryl Jireh

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