El Filibusterismo is Jose Rizal's second novel predicament, Ventura offered him

written as the sequel of his Noli Me Tangere. financial help. In hindsight, we can assume'
Commonly nicknamed El Fili or simply Fili, the that Ventura was bothered by his
novel was written also in Spanish. Its commonly conscience, hence his generous monetary
known English alternative title is The Reign of assistance for Rizal's novel. Remember
Greed. that Ventura was one of the Filipinos who
promised to co-author Rizal's proposed
The Writing and Printing of Fili first book but ended up contributing
nothing.
 Rizal started writing El Filibusterismo in
 But even with Ventura's help, Rizal found it
October 1887 in Calamba during his first
necessary to fundamentally shorten the
homecoming. The novel was thus written
novel, erasing 47 manuscripts to save
against the background of threats and
expenses (Ocampo. 2012. P.111). Thus, the
oppressions he and his family suffered
printed El Fili, which came off the press by
because of the Noli and the so-called
the middle of September 1891, turned out
Calamba agrarian trouble.
comprising only 38 chapters compared
 He continued working on it, making some
with the 64 of the Noli-contrary to his
revisions, in London in 1888. Rizal then
original plan to make a longer sequel.
went on to write the novel in Paris, and
 For Ventura's salvific act, Rizal gave him
then in Brussels where distractions were
the novel's original manuscript, a pen, and
less, and the cost of living was cheaper.
an autographed printed copy. In 1925, the
Being able to focus on finishing the book,
Philippine government bought the El Fili
Rizal had finally completed it by March 29,
manuscript from Ventura for a large sum
1891 in Biarritz.
of 10,000 pesos (G. Zaide & S. Zaide, 1984.
 Jose Alejandrino, Rizal's roommate in
p. 194). It is now being kept in the
Belgium related that he was the one who
National Library
looked for a printing press for El Fili. He
delivered proofs and revisions to F. Meyer
van Loo in Ghent. For his assistance, Rizal Filibustero and Gomburza
gave him the El Fili's corrected proofs and  The word filibustero is little known in the
the pen used in doing the correction. Philippines I heard it for the first time in
 Alejandrino, who later became a general 1872 when the tragic executions [of the
in the Philippine revolution, might have Gomburza] took place. I still remember
possibly been the first person to read the the panic that this word created. Our
novel aside from the author, However, the father forbade us to utter it, as well as the
honor of being called "the savior of the words Cavite, Burgos (one of the
Fili" -had gone to Valentin Ventura-Rizal's executed priests), etc. The Manila
friend who partially financed the' noveľ's newspapers and the Spaniards apply this
publication. (Ventura's steal of the title, word to one whom they want to make a
one may argue, is another classic revolutionary suspect. The Filipinos
elucidation of the expression,"That's what belonging to the educated class fear the
money can do.") reach of the word. It means a dangerous
 Initially. Rizal financed El Fili's printing by patriot who will soon be hanged or well, à
pawning his properties. In a letter to Jose presumptuous man."
Basa dated July 9, 1891, he related: "For
the past three months I have not received
a single centavo, so I have pawned all that
 Fittingly, Rizal dedicated the book to the
I have in order to publish this book. I will
memory of the Gomburza, the three
continue publishing it as long as I can; and
Filipino patriotic priests who were
when there is nothing to pawn I will stop "
accused of being filibustero and, thus,
("El Filibusterismo," n.d.)
executed. In his dedication, Rizal
 Rizal's next letter to Basa carried the sad
fearlessly declared his conviction that the
news that the printing had to be
Spanish officials'
suspended for lack of funds, and it was at
this point where Valentin Ventura came
into the picture. Having known Rizal's
 treatment of the priests' case was unjust negotiations, had retrieved the
"as [their] complicity in the Cavite Mutiny documents without paying any single
is not clearly proved." centavo. The manuscripts were returned
 The dedication partly reads: "To the on installment basis-the "Ultimo Adios"
memory of the priests, Don Mariano during the first meeting, the El Fili on the
Gomez (85 years old), Don Jose Burgos next negotiation, and lastly, the Noli.
(30 years old). and Don Jacinto Zamora There was a time when the demanded
(35 years old). Executed in the ransom was reduced to 100,000 pesos
Bagumbayan Field on the 28th of and then to 10,000 pesos (Ocampo, 2012,
February, 1872. -I have the right to p. 148). But recognizing perhaps that they
dedicate my work to you as victims of the would get nothing from the government,
evil which I undertake to combat." ("El the robbers ultimately settled on
Filibusterismo," n.d.) returning the expensive documents, free
 Rizal, however, made mistakes in of charge. Many still find this "charge-free
indicating the ages of the priests and the return of the manuscripts" strange and
date of their execution. During their mind-blowing. But the following
martyrdom on the 17th (not 28th) of additional details about the story could
February, 1872, Gomez was then 73 (not perhaps shed light on the account. During
85), Burgos was 35 (not 30) and Zamora the negotiations, one of the burglars
was 37 (not 35). Like many other students related to Roces that on the night of the
today (especially men), Rizal was perhaps robbery, "the Rizal manuscripts suddenly
not that good in memorizing historical became heavy [as] a cavan of rice" The
details, like dates and ages. thief, thus, exclaimed, "The manuscript
must be holy or haunted!"
(Ocampo,2012, p. 148). One robber even
Noli and El Fili Stolen claimed that he read Rizal's handwritten
 In Rizal's time, the Permanent novels anddescribed the feeling. "Ang
Commission of Censorship recommended sarap basahin, kinikilabutan ako!"
the absolute prohibition on the (Ocampo, 2012, p. 148).
importation, reproduction, and circulation  Anding promised not to identify the
of the Noli. The copies of the Fili, on the robbers or to be a witness against them in
other hand, were destroyed by Customs court. Thus, the hilariously controversial
in Manila upon shipment to the thieves were ñever known.
Philippines. The rare surviving copies of
the novels were secretly purchased.
Themes of Fili
 That was the fate of the first editions of  Indeed a continuation of the Noli, the El
Rizal's novels. But that is nothing Filibusterismo exposes the real picture of
compared to what happened to their Filipino society at the hands of the
original manuscripts about 70 years after Spanish authorities. Socio-political issues
their publication. The original manuscripts mentioned in the Noli are also dealt with
of the Noli and Fili (along with that of the in its sequel: the abuses and hypocrisy of
poem "Mi Ultimo Adios“) were stolen the members of the Spanish Catholic
from the National Library on the evening clergy, superstitions disguising as religious
of December 8,1961. After some days, faith, the need for reform in educational
the thieves who outsmarted the building's system, the exploitation and corruption of
sleepy guards .Sent a ransom note "made government officials, and the pretenses
of newspaper cutouts" to the Jose Rizal of some social-climbing Filipinos and
National Centennial Commission (JRNCC) Spaniards.
(Ocampo, 2012, p. 148). The robbers  What makes El Fili essentially different
demanded 1.4 million pesos for the from its prequel is that it offers various
return of the original texts, else Rizal's means of attaining social reform and
handiworks would be burned. To somewhat hinted what the author
summarize the "historic robbery," the believed was ideal. Some dialogues and
then Education Secretary Alejandro incidents seem to suggest the apparent
Anding Roces personally met with the improbability of any radical socio-political
burglars and, after some various change. The main character's persistence
 to push through with the rebellion, on the manifests Rizal's more mature and less
other hand, seems to suggest that hopeful attitude toward the socio-
independence is attainable through political situation in the country.
revolution. However, the closing chapters
rather insinuate that freedom must be
attained without bloodshed as the story The Novels' Legacy
ends with the failureof Simoun's planned  For fearlessly depicting the corruptions
uprising. and abuses by the Spanish clergy and
 The novel's ending, some scholars the colonial government during the
explain, however, should not be Spanish regime in the Philippines, the two
interpreted as Rizal's categorical stand novels are historically very significant.
against revolution. At best, Rizal can be Basically a social sketch of the country
said to be against unprepared and then, the Noli and Fili reveal the true
disorganized rebellion of uneducated setting and condition of the Filipino
people, which could have a slim chance of society in the era,
victory. It is important to note that Rizal As essential sources of sociological and
once commented that an upright, anthropological studies, the books
patriotic, and selfless individual like Noli's provide rich insights into the culture of
Elias would be a viable revolutionary the 19th and 20th century Philippines.
leader. In fact, Rizal was said to have Their realistic depictions expose a
confessed that he seriously regretted conflicted colonial society seriously split
having killed Elias instead of Ibarra. These between the oppressors and the suffering
seem to prove that Rizal, though local slaves. The novels' characters mimic
practically promoting the attainment of the various elements and types of
reforms peacefully, also advocated the individuals in that society. Furthermore,
idea of armed revolution under some they show
conditions. Intelligent as he was, what Favorable positive traits of the natives
Rizal would never subscribe to is the then, like the sense of gratitude, the
"useless spilling of blood," but not the fidelity of women to their loved ones, and
uprising per se. the yearning for freedom and equality.
For their explicit portrayal of what the
locals really wished for their country, the
books were instrumental in forming the
Noli Vs Fili Filipino's (Indios) sense of national
 Rizal wrote the El Filibusterismo about identity. Indirectly but significantly, the
four years after the Noli. The experiences novels influenced the revolution led by
he had in those four years spelled a lot of the
differences in the way he treated his two Katipunan as they inspired Andres
novels. Bonifacio and the other revolutionaries in
 In depicting the social conditions in the their
country, both novels employ satires and cause.
caricatures. El Fili however is more
serious as there is less humor and more
bitterness in the treatment of situations.
 In the Noli, the author reveals the cruelty
and exploitation suffered by the rest at
the hands of colonizers. In El Fili, Rizal
depicts a society at the brink of rebellion
as the natives' minds have been
awakened and revolutionary forces have
been formed.
 Generally, El Fili presents a gloomier
depiction of the country under the
Spanish regime. More radical and
revolutionary, the novel has less idealism
and romance than the Noli. The El Fili
Name: Name:
Course: Course:

1. What is the second novel that Rizal wrote? 1. What is the second novel that Rizal wrote?

2. From 64 chapters, El fili was cut to ____chapters 2. From 64 chapters, El fili was cut to ____chapters
because of lack of funds because of lack of funds

3. El Filibusterismo was dedicated to who? 3. El Filibusterismo was dedicated to who?

4. Who is the main character in Elfilibusterismo? 4. Who is the main character in Elfilibusterismo?

5-7 Complete name of the three martyr priest 5-7 Complete name of the three martyr priest

8-9 Where and when does the execution of the three 8-9 Where and when does the execution of the three
martyr priest takes place? martyr priest takes place?

10. Who prohibited the importation, reproduction, and 10. Who prohibited the importation, reproduction, and
circulation of the Noli? circulation of the Noli?

11. How much ransom that the robber demanded to 11. How much ransom that the robber demanded to
JRNCC? JRNCC?

12. What does JRNCC stands for? 12. What does JRNCC stands for?

13. Who retrieve the original manuscript of Rizal’s poem 13. Who retrieve the original manuscript of Rizal’s poem
and novel without paying any centavos? and novel without paying any centavos?

14-15 The publishing company that publish El Fili and 14-15 The publishing company that publish El Fili and
where it located where it located