EL

FILIBUSTERISMO
BACKGROUND
OF THENOVELOF
ELFILIBUSTERISMO
El Filibusterismo is a sequel to the Noli. It haslittle
humor, less idealism and less romance than the Noli Me
Tangere.
It is more revolutionary, moretragic than the first novel. Also
known as ‘El Fili’or simply ‘Fili’, the novel was also written
inSpanish. Its commonly known English alternative title is
‘The Reign of Greed’.
El Filibusterismo exposes the real picture ofFilipino society at
the hands of the Spanish authorities.
Socio-political issues mentioned in the Noli are also dealt
with in its sequel: the abuses and hypocrisy of the members
of the Spanish Catholicclergy, superstitions disguising as
religious faith, the need for reform in educational system, the
exploitation and corruption of government officials,and the
pretenses of some social-climbing Filipinos and Spaniards.

Rizal dedicated El Filibusterismo to the memory of Gom-Bur-

Za (Don Mariano Gomez, 73 yearsold; Don Jose Burgos, 35
years old; Jacinto Zamora,37 years old)
The original manuscript of El Filibusterismo in Rizal’s own
handwriting in now preserved in the Filipiniana Division of
the Bureau of Public Libraries, Manila. It consists of 270
pages of long sheets of paper. Two features in the
manuscript do not appear in the printed book.

Namely: the FOREWORD and the WARNING. These were not

put into print to save printing cost
El Filibusterismo is the Spanish for "The Filibustering” also
known by its English alternative title The Reign of Greed.
Filibusterismo in the novel’s title is derived from the simpler
term‘filibustero’.

Rizal had to define the word filibustero to his German friend

Ferdinand Blumentritt, who did not understand his use of
theword in Noli Me Tangere. In a letter, Rizal explained: "The
word filibustero is little known in the Philippines. The masses
do not know it yet.
The Manila newspapers and the spaniards apply this word to
one whom they want to make are volutionary suspect.

The Filipinos belonging to the educated class fear the reach

of the word. It does not have the meaning of free booters; it
rather means a dangerous patriot who will soon be hanged
orwell, a presumptuous man. "By the end of the nineteenth
century, the word filibustero had acquired the meaning
"subversive"in the Philippines, hence the book is about
subversion
SYMBOLISM OF
COVER PAGE
 TITLE PAGE
“It can easily be supposed that a rebel
(Filibustero) has secretly bewitched the league
of friar-zealotsand retrogrades so that,
unwittingly following hisincitements, they
should favor and foment that policy which
pursues one sole end; to spread ideasof
rebellion throughout the length and breadth
ofland, and to convince every Filipino that there
is no salvation except through separation from
Mother Country.”
Compared to the book cover of Noli MeTangere, El
Filibusterismo's cover is plain, as designed by Jose Rizal.
The plain cover conveys afresh start for the Philippines and
Filipinos without the trace of symbols from the events and
situations in Noli Me Tangere.
Rizal dedicated El Filibusterismo to the
three martyred priests of Cavite mutiny. The
execution of the three priests was
significant to the title of the novel."To the
memory of the priests, Don Mariano Gomez
(85 years old), Don Jose Burgos (30
yearsold), and Don Jacinto Zamora (35
years old). Executed in the Bagumbayan
Field on the 28th of February, 1872." Rizal’s
memory seemed to have failed him, though,
for Father Gomez was then 73not 85,
Father Burgos 35 not 30 Father Zamora 37
not 35; and the date of execution 17th not
28th.
EL FILIBUSTERISMO
CHARACTERS AND
THEIR TRAITS
Simoun
Simoun symbolizes revolutionaries who advocated for a
bloody revolt against the Spanish government, but his
death in El Filibusterismo shows Rizal’s disapproval of
armed rebellion.

Basilio
Basilio represents the youth striving for personal
advancement but lacking social awareness.
Isagani

Isagani embodies the youth with great love for their country,
willing to stand up for their beliefs.

Father Florentino

Father Florentino, Isagani’s uncle and a retired priest, is a

respected figure despite his past romantic entanglements.
Having chosen priesthood over love, he represents the
secular Filipino priests of Rizal’s time. His character also
emphasizes Rizal’s opposition to a bloody revolt.
Ben-Zayb
Isagani embodies the youth with great love for their country,
willing to stand up for their beliefs.

Placido Penitente
A University of Santo Tomas student, Placido Penitente
reluctantly continues his studies at his mother’s request. After
clashing with his physics professor and meeting Simoun, he
becomes a devoted follower of Simoun’s revolutionary cause.
His name, which translates to “silent suffering,” reflects his
temperament and struggle.
Father Irene

As Capitan Tiago’s spiritual adviser, Father Irene is criticized for

his alliance with temporal authority for power and monetary
gain. Despite receiving gifts from the student association, he
betrays them by advising against their vision of a secular,
privately managed school. He secretly supplies Capitan Tiago
with opium, and upon Basilio’s imprisonment, ensures Basilio
inherits nothing from Tiago’s estate.
Father Irene represents the few Spaniards who show sympathy
towards Filipinos.
Capitan Tiago

Don Santiago de los Santos, Maria Clara’s father, is a wealthy

landowner with properties in Pampanga, Binondo, and Laguna.
Despite his wealth, he falls into depression after Maria enters
the convent, leading him to develop an opium addiction, fueled
by his association with Padre Irene.
Capitan Tiago hires Basilio as a servant-student, who
eventually becomes his caregiver and estate manager. He dies
from shock after hearing of Basilio’s arrest and tales of violent
revolt.
Captain-General

The highest-ranking official in the Philippines during the

Spanish colonial period, the Captain-General is Simoun’s friend
and confidant. He is driven by an insatiable lust for gold, which
Simoun exploits to manipulate him and drive the country
towards revolution. After a public rebuke, he is shamed into
not extending his tenure in the Philippines.
Father Camorra

Father Camorra is the parish priest of Tiani and often mocks

Ben-Zayb’s liberal views, despite their contrasting
appearances. Known for his insatiable lust, Father Camorra’s
actions ultimately lead Juli to take her own life after he tries to
assault her within the convent. Due to his misconduct, he is
placed under “house arrest” in his order’s lavish river side villa
just outside of Manila.
Father Bernardo Salvi
The former parish priest of San Diego, Father Salvi is now
the director and chaplain of the Santa Clara convent.
Implied to have assaulted Maria Clara, he remains fearful of
Ibarra’s potential revenge.

Father Hernando de la Sibyla

Introduced in Noli Me Tangere as the curate of Binondo,
Father Sibyla now serves as the director and chaplain of the
University of Santo Tomas. He is a liberal friar who values
reason.
Father Millon
A Dominican priest who serves as a physics professor at the
University of Santo Tomas.

Paulita Gomez

Isagani’s girlfriend and Doña Victorina’s niece, Paulita

eventually breaks up with Isagani to marry Juanito Pelaez,
believing she has no future with Isagani.
Don Custodio
Custodio de Salazar y Sanchez de Monteredondo is a
contractor tasked with developing a proposal for a Spanish
language academy. An opportunist and social climber, he is
portrayed as incompetent and laughably in effective.

Quiroga

A Chinese businessman aspiring to become a consul for

China in the Philippines. Simoun coerces him into hiding
weapons in his warehouses for the planned revolution.
SOURCES OF INSPIRATION
AND REASONS FOR WRITING
THE NOVEL
Gomburza Father Gomez, Father Burgos,and Father
Zamora. Rizal believed that the Spanish officials’
treatment and execution of the priests’ Gomburza
case was unjust.

Rizal wanted to encourage the Filipino torealize and

break away from the mistreatment in the hands of
Spaniards.

The need for reform in the education system.

Issues in the Philippines such as corrupt officials.

Threat of the growing social status of theSpaniards.

Form and structure of the European novel ofthe time.

Novels: Harriet Beecher Stowe‘s UncleTom‘s Cabin, Victor

Hugo‘s Les Miserables, Alexandre Dumas‘ The Countof
Monte Cristo, and Niccolo Machiavelli‘sThe Prince.

Power of words, and not fists, to inspire Filipinos to

speak out and fight back.
October, 1887 Calamba
Rizal had begun writing the El Fili while practicing
medicine.
1888 London
Rizal made some changes in the plot and corrected some
chapters already written. He wrote more chapters in Paris
and Madrid
March 29, 1891 Biarritz
Rizal finished the manuscript. It took him three
years to write his second novel.
July 5, 1891 leaving Brussels

Rizal left Brusselsfor Ghent, a famous university city in Belgium.

Rizal reasons for moving to Ghent were (1) the costof printing in
Ghent was cheaper than in Brussels(2) to escape from the enticing
attraction of Petite Suzanne. Rizal met two compatriots while in
Ghent,Jose Alejandro (from Pampanga) and Edilberto Evangelista
(from Manila), both studying engineering in the world-famed
University of Ghent F. Meyer-Van Loo Press- a printing shop that
give Rizal the lowest quotation for the publication of his novel,
who was willing to print his book on installment basis
August 6, 1891 Ghent

the printing of his book had to be suspended because

Rizal could no longer give the necessary funds to the
printer.

*Valentin Ventura- the savior of the Fili

*When Ventura learned of Rizal’s predicament and

immediately sent him the necessary funds to the printer
September 18, 1891 Ghent
El Filibusterismo came off the press. Rizal immediately
sent on this date two printed copies to Hong Kong—one
for Basa and other for Sixto Lopez. Rizal gratefully
donated the original manuscript and an autographed
printed copy to Valentin Ventura.
*La Publicidad- a Barcelona newspaper, wherein it
published a tribute eulogizing the novel’s originalstyle
which “is comparable only to the sublime Alexander
Dumas” and may well be offered as“a model and a precious
jewel the now decadent literature of Spain”
October, 1891- El Nuevo Regimen
the liberal Madrid newspaper that serialized the
novel in its issues
Date of Publication
September 18, 1891 in Ghent, Belgium

Printing Press
F. Meyer van Loo Press in Ghent, Belgium

Financer of the publication

Rizal Himself
Valentin Ventura
THANK YOU
SO MUCH