GESS 211 (Life and Works of Dr.

Jose Rizal)
Prepared by: Mr. Lorenzo Jr. T. Gulle

EL FILIBUSTERISMO: Facts, Symbolisms/Characters, and Synopsis

EL FILIBUSTERISMO: FACTS

 second novel of Rizal

- sequel to Noli Me Tangere
 Translation: The Reign of Greed
 dedicated to the secular priests Mariano Gómez, José Burgos, and Jacinto
Zamora (GOMBURZA) who were implicated by the Spanish authorities in the
Cavite Mutiny
- executed by garrote in Luneta (Bagumbayan) on February 17, 1872
 WRITING:
- Purpose: Ideal means of achieving social reform
- written when Rizal was travelling and studying to Europe

- published in Ghent, Belgium in 1891.

 A number of chapters have long dialogues that seem like debates, pitting Rizal’s
fading hopes for reform against this long-held aversion to revolution
 Composed of 38 chapters
 Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo have similarities in terms of aim and
purpose. Both aim to enlighten the Filipinos on what is happening in the
country. They want the people to fight for their country and have the total
freedom.
 characters from the Noli Me Tangere (Basilio, Doña Victorina, Padre Salvi)
return
- new ones are introduced like Simoun (the transformed Ibarra);
Cabesang Tales and his struggle for justice; the nationalist student
Isagani; and the Indio priest Padre Florentino

- through them, the colonial milieu is expanded – its officialdom,

education, legal system, power plays, social patterns and seen anew as
context for conflict and insight.

Noli Me Tangere El Filibusterismo

A socio-historical novel A political novel
Romantic novel, work of the heart Book of thought, work of the head
A passionate expose of about the evils of Predicted the coming of the revolution
the Spanish friars
Crisostomo Ibarra: for reformation Simon: for revolution

EL FILIBUSTERISMO: CHARACTERS AND SYMBOLISMS

 Juan Crisostomo Ibarra – represents the revolutionaries during that time who
supported the idea of holding bloody revolt against the Spanish government.
 - Juan Crisostomo Ibarra reincarnated as a wealthy jeweler, bent on starting a
revolution.

 Basilio – represents the youth with a simple dream that his education will improve
his social and economic status in the future and is indifferent and selfish to the needs
of society
- has risen from poverty to become Capitan Tiago’s charge. Close to acquiring his
medical degree, he is pledged to Juli, the beautiful daughter of Cabesang Tales.
 Juli – like Maria Clara, she symbolizes the purity and innocence of the lower-class
women during Rizal’s time. She would rather sacrifice than give up her ideals.
- Juliana de Dios, Basilio’s girlfriend and the youngest daughter of Cabesang
Tales.
 Isagani – symbol of the youth whose love for the country is great to the point of
being branded and idealistic
- poet and Basilio’s best friend; portrayed as emotional and reactive.

 Paulita Gomez – caricature of a woman who chooses the best option for a more
stable future. She knows what is best for her and would take advantage of her admirers
to get what she wants
- Isagani’s girlfriend and the niece of Dona Victorina. In the end, she dumped
Isagani and wed Juanito Pelaez.

 Cabesang Tales – personified a typical Filipino who is content with living a simple
life. He symbolizes the natives and farmers whose lands were seized by the friars, an
explanation as to why Filipinos became rebels.
- Telesforo de Dios, former cabeza de barangay of San Diego who resurfaced as
the feared Luzon bandit Matanglawin.
 Makaraig – represented the well-to-do Filipino youth during the Spanish era who had
good dreams for the country.
- Shared the same nationalistic ideals with that of Isagani. Both led their fellow
students in the movement for the establishment of the Spanish academy for
Filipinos. The difference between Isagani and Macaraig is their social status.
 Father Florentino – represented the secular priests in Rizal’s time. It was also
through his character that Rizal stressed his disapproval of a bloody revolt.
- Isagani’s godfather and a secular priest. He was engaged to be married but the
priesthood instead. The story hinting at the ambivalence of his decision as he
chooses to be assigned in a remote place, living in solitude near the sea.

 Ben Zayb – personifies a corrupted media

- Abraham Ibanez, a journalist who thinks he is the only one thinking in the
Philippines.

 Placido Penitente – placido (silent) and penitente (suffering). Combining these words,
meaning silent suffering
- a student of the University of Santo Tomas who is always miserable, and
therefore, controls his temper.

 Senor Pasta – represents part of the society that is only generous and sympathetic to
the rich and powerful
- an old Filipino lawyer who refuses to help the Filipino students in their clamor
for educational reforms.
  Father Irene – embodies the few Spaniards who are sympathetic to the Filipinos
- he is a kind friar who is a friend to the Filipino students. He supports the students
who appeal to the government for an academy of Spanish language.

EL FILIBUSTERISMO: SYNOPSIS

After thirteen years of being away from the Philippines, Juan Crisostomo Ibarra
returns under the guise of Simoun, a rich jeweler and a confidant of the Captain-General.
Simoun influences every decision of the Captain-General to mismanage the country’s affairs
so that a revolution will break out. Simoun has reasons for instigating a revolution. First is to
rescue Maria Clara from the convents, and second, to get rid of the corruption and evil of the
society. His true identity is discovered by a now-grown-up Basilio while visiting his mother’s
grave. Sisa, as Simoun was digging near the grave site for his buried treasures. Simoun spares
Basilio’s life and asks him to join in his planned revolution against the government. Basilio
declines the offer as he still hopes that the country’s condition will improve.

Basilio, at this point, is a graduating student of medicine at the Ateneo Municipal.

Basilio was adopted by Captain Tiago after Maria Clara enters the convent. With Captain
Tiago’s help, Basilio was able to go to Colegio de San Juan de Letran and the Ateneo.
Captain Tiago’s confessor, Father Irene, is making Captain Tiago’s health worse by giving
him opium even as Basilio prevents Captain Tiago from smoking it. He and other students
want to establish a Spanish language academy so that they can learn to speak and write
Spanish despite the opposition from the Dominican friars of the University of Santo Tomas.
With the help of a reluctant Father Irene as their mediator and Don Custodio’s decision, the
academy is established, however, they will only serve as caretakers of the school, not as the
teachers. Dejected and defeated, they hold a mock celebration at a pansiteria while a spy for
the friars witnesses the proceedings.
Simoun, for his part, keeps close contact with the bandit group of Cabesang Tales, a
former cabeza de barangay who suffered misfortunes at the hands of the friars. Before joining
the bandits, Tales took Simoun’s revolver whole Simoun was staying at his house for the
night. As payment, Tales leaves a locket that once belonged to Maria Clara. To further
strengthen the revolution, Simoun has Quiroga, a Chinaman hoping to be appointed consul

to the Philippines, smuggle weapons into the country using Quiroga’s bazaar as a front.
Simoun wishes to attack during a stage play with all of his enemies in attendance. He,
however, abruptly aborts the attack when he learns from Basilio that Maria Clara died in the
convent.
A few days after the mock celebration by the students, the people are agitated when
disturbing posters are found displayed around the city. The authorities accuse the students
present at the pansiteria of agitation and disturbing peace and has them arrested. Basilio,
although not present at the mock celebration, is also arrested. Captain Tiago dies after
learning of the incident, and as stated in his will – forged by Father Irene – all of his
possessions are given to the church, leaving nothing for Basilio. Basilio is left in prison as the
other students are released. A high official tries to intervene for the release of Basilio but the
Captain-General , bearing grudges against the high official, coerces him to tender his
resignation. Juli, Basilio’s girlfriend and the daughter of Cabesang Tales, tries to ask Father
Camorra’s help upon the advice of an elder woman. Instead of helping Juli, however, Father
Camorra tries to rape her as he has long-hidden desires for Juli. Juli, rather than submit to the
will of the friar, jumps over the balcony for her death.
 Basilio is soon released with the help of Simoun. Basilio, now a changed man, finally
joins Simoun’s revolution. Simoun then tells Basilio his plan at the wedding of Paulita Gomez
and Juanito, Basilio’s haunch-backed classmate. His plan was to conceal an explosive inside a
lamp that Simoun that will give to the newly-weds as a gift during the wedding reception. The
reception will take place at the former home of Capitan Tiago, which was now filled with
explosives planted by Simoun. According to Simoun, the lamp will stay lighted for only 20
minutes before it flickers; if someone attempts to turn the wick, it will explode and kill
everyone inside the house. Basilio has a change of heart and attempts to warn the people
inside, including Isagani, his friend and the former boyfriend of Paulita. Simoun leaves the
reception early as planned and leaves a note behind, “Mane Thacel, Phares. Juan Crisostomo
Ibarra.” Initially thinking that it was simply a bad joke by those left behind, Father Salvi
recognizes the handwriting and confirms that it was indeed Ibarra’s. As people begin to panic,
the lamp flickers. Father Irene tries to turn the wick up when Isagani, due to his undying love
for Paulita, bursts in the room and throws the lamp into the river. He escapes by diving into
the river as guards chase after him.
Simoun, now unmasked as the perpetrator of the attempted arson and failed
revolution, becomes a fugitive. Wounded and exhausted, he seeks shelter at the home of
Father Florentino, Isagani’s uncle, and came under the care of Doctor Tiburcio de Espadana,
the husband of Dona Victorina, who was also hiding at the house. Simoun takes poison in
order for him not to be captured alive by the authorities. Before he dies, he reveals his identity
to Father Florentino while they exchange thoughts about the failure of his revolution and why
God forsook him. Father Florentino opines that God did not forsake him and that his plans
were not for the greater good but for the personal gain. Simoun, finally accepting Father
Florentino’s explanation, squeezes his hands and dies. Father Florentino then takes Simoun’s
remaining jewelries and throws them into the sea, hoping that they would not be used by the
greedy, and that

if the time came, that it would be used for the greater good, the sea would reveal the treasures.

APPLICATION 1: (ANSWER THIS!)

Direction: ESSAY: Briefly and concisely answer the questions below. Maximum of three (3)
sentences ONLY.

1. What is the difference between the characters of Juan Crisostomo Ibarra and Simoun in terms of
country’s attainment of independence from the Spanish rule?
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2. “There are no tyrants where there are no slaves.” – Jose P. Rizal

As a GESS 211 student and as a citizen of this country, what is the implication of this quote to
you? Provide your personal insights.
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 Rubrics in Grading Essay
0 3 5 7 10
Student is unable to Student is able to Student is able to Student not only Student establish the
establish the ideas establish the ideas establish the ideas establish the correct correct ideas and
and concepts and concepts and concepts ideas and concepts concepts prescribed
prescribed by the prescribed by the prescribed by the prescribed by the by the topic, shows
topic. topic but shows topic and shows topic but also shows evidence by citing
erroneous correct evidence by citing relevant examples,
understanding. understanding. relevant examples. and consistently
contributes
additional thoughts
to the Core idea.

SOURCES:
Gulle Jr., L. T. (2020): Life, works, and writings of Dr. Jose Rizal (R.A. 1425). Digos City :
Davao del Sur State College
Leaño Jr., R. D., & Tabotabo, C. V. (2009). Jose P. Rizal: A hero’s life. Manila City:
Mindshapers Co., Inc.

Locsin, S. L. (2018). El filibusterismo. Honolulu : University of Hawaii Press

Rodriguez, L. (2020). El filibusterismo characters and symbolisms. Retrieved from

https://pdfcoffee.com/el-filibusterismo-characters-character-symbolism-pdf-free.html