El Filibusterismo Dr. Jose Rizal Chua, Jenalynne Mareah O. Fernandez, Mia Allyanna A. Gutierrez, Meliz Iren Kaye R.
Historical Background
Historical Background
Noli Me Tangere Vs. El Filibusterismo Noli Me Tangere
El Filibusterismo
“Touch Me Not”
“Ang Pilibustero” or “Reign of Greed”
Romantic Novel
Political Novel
Mother Country
Gom-Bur-Za
64 Chapters
48 Chapters
Berlin, Germany (1887)
Ghent, Belgium (1891)
Background ●
Change of theme to a darker one: Abuses experienced by the Rizal family from the Spaniards ■ Properties were confiscated ■ Donya Lolay accused as an accomplice in plotting against Don Alberto’s wife - imprisoned for almost 2 and a half years ■ Copies of Noli Me Tangere were burnt in front of the church Hardships experienced by Rizal abroad (Madrid, Ghent) ○
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Background ●
Change of theme to a darker one: ○ Failed love life - Leonor Rivera (11 years) marrying Henry Kipping ■ Mother of Leonor disapproved of their relationship because Rizal was a suspected filibustero ■ Paulita Gomez’ character in the novel ○ Theme centered on seeking revenge Characters’ personalities were presented stronger ○
Background ●
Objectives in writing the novel: 1.To defend Filipino people from foreign accusations of foolishness and lack of knowledge 2.To show how Filipinos live during the Spanish colonial period 3.To discuss what religion and belief can really do to everyday lives 4.To expose cruelties, graft and corruption of the Spanish government and show the misdoings of Filipinos that led to further failure
Background • Started in October 1887, while practicing Medicine in Calamba • Made some revisions in London (1888); Continued writing when he was in Paris • Finished the Manuscript in Biarritz on March 29, 1891 • Took him almost three years to finish the novel • Dedicated the novel to Gom-Bur-Za
Moving to Ghent ●
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July 5, 1891 - Rizal moved to Ghent in Belgium Reasons: (1) The cost of printing in Ghent was cheaper than in Brussels. (2) To escape from the enticing attraction of Petite Suzanne (Suzanne Jacoby - fling in Brussels) Met two compatriots in Ghent: Jose Alejandro and Edilberto Evangelista
Printing of El Filibusterismo F. MEYER-VAN LOO PRESS, No. 66 Viaanderen Street - Printing press willing to print his book on instalment basis - Rizal pawned his jewels to pay the down payment and early partial payments during the printing of his novel ●
Printing of El Filibusterismo Lack of funds - Money he was expecting did not arrive - Received some money from Basa and P200 from Rodriguez Arias for the copies of Morga’s Sucesos sold in Manila - Printing was suspended in August 6 (112 pages only) “ … At times I feel like burning my manuscript. But when I think of you, and I know that there are many good men like you, good men who truly love their country.” ●
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Valentin Ventura - sent funds for the completion of the printing of the novel
Printing of El Filibusterismo September 18, 1891 - El Filibusterismo came off the press - Sent two copies to Hong Kong: for Jose Maria Basa and Sixto Lopez - Gave the original manuscript and an autographed copy to Valentin Ventura - Complimentary copies to Blumentritt, Mariano Ponce, G. Lopez Jaena, T.H. Pardo de Tavera, Antonio Luna, Juan Luna and other friends
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Printing of El Filibusterismo ●
Problems encountered by Jose Rizal during the printing of El Filibusterismo: 1. Lack of funds 2. Copies shipped to Hong Kong were confiscated and the books were lost
Acceptance of the Novel ●
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The El Nuevo Regimen-Liberal Madrid newspaper serialized the novel in its issues of October 1891 Tribute from the Filipino colony in Barcelona published in La Publicidad ○ ○
“is comparable only to the sublime Alexander Dumas” “a model and precious jewel in the now decadent literature of Spain”
Original Manuscript ●
Preserved in Filipina Division of the Bureau of Public Libraries, Manila - Acquired by the Philippine government from Valentin Ventura for P 10,000 - Consisted of 279 pages of long sheets of paper - Two features were not in the printed copies to save printing cost: FOREWORD and WARNING
e g a P r e v o C
Cover Page ●
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Gom--Bur-Za: the novel was dedicated to the martyrdom of the three secular priest FOREWORD: ○ Filibusterism is used by Spanish authorities to frighten the Filipino people into silence. ○ “Instead of fleeing, we shall look at its face, and with determined, if inexpert, hand we shall raise the veil to uncover before the multitude the mechanism of its skeleton.”
Cover Page ●
Inscriptions written by Ferdinand Blumentritt:
It can easily be supposed that a rebel (filibustero) has secretly bewitched the league of friar-zealots and retrogrades so that, unwittingly following his incitements, they should favor and foment that policy which pursues sole end: to spread ideas of rebellion throughout the length and breadth of the land, and to convince every Filipino that there is no salvation except through separation from the Mother Country.
Plot Summary
Chapter 1-3 •Set 13 years after the events in Noli •In December, Bapor Tabo is travelling along Pasig River headed to La Laguna •Bapor Tabo Anatomy: 1. Kubyerta (deck of the ship) - for Spaniards 2. Below the deck of the ship – for Indios, Mestizos and Chinese •Donya Victorina- “Mas mabilis ang pag-usad ng barko kapag walang Indio” •Simoun- “Maghukay ng tuwid na daan”
•Don Custodio – “Maraming bayarin at gastos” •Basilio and Isagani’s plans of establishing an Academy for the Spanish Language •Isagani’s poem “Apoy at Tubig” relays the message that with the use of these two elements, machines can become functional •Isagani – “Kung hindi kailangan, ‘wag bilhin”
•Captain’s Alamat ng Malapat na Bato – implication of belief in the supernatural and fantasy •Padre Florentino’s Alamat ni Donya Geronima – reflection of Maria Clara and fates of women in the convent •Padre Salvi’s Buwang –Bato – St. Nicholas rescuing a Chinese from a crocodile which later turned into stone when the Chinese prayed to the saint
Chapter 4 •Kabesang Tales (Telesforo Juan de Dios)– Cabeza de Baranggay; victim of mass land-grabbing of friars •Huli had to work for Hermana Penchang to earn money to free Kabesang Tales (P500) •Agnos ( Kapitan Tiyago → Maria Clara → leper → Basilio → Huli → Tata Selo → Kabesang Tales)
Chapter 5 •Noche Buena, Basilio visits Sisa in San Diego •Conchero (Kalesa driver) maltreated by civil guards after having been found that he did not have his cedula (residence certificate) •Procession – Methusalem (1 st god, has longest life), three Magi, Christ and Mary •Procession shows hierarchy in the society •Legend of Bernardo Carpio- dampen desire of Filipinos to solve their own problem; they opt to wait for salvation from such a being rather than take matters into their own hands
Chapter 6 •Basilio studied in San Juan de Letran (Dominican) and Ateneo (Jesuit) •Bachiller en Artes and Medicine •Adsum or present – reply of students to teachers •Implications : (1) Some students are going to class not for learning, but to pass and (2) Discrimination based on race, status and even physical characteristics
Chapter 7 •Basilio sees Simoun and recognizes him as the person who helped burry his mother Sisa •Simoun’s desire for revenge •His ideas: (1)Equality in rights and education (2)Call to national sentiment and consciousness
(3)Language as key to the minds of people •Basilio vs Simoun on the Academy – Simoun believes that learning Spanish will only lead to more misunderstanding •Basilio did not want to participate in the plan for revenge of Simoun because he wanted to finish his studies (absence of opposition to measures prejudicial to people) (4) Frustrations on youth’s call for hispanization (5) If you cannot stop a corrupt government, then support it until the oppressed people will rise up to revolt themselves
Chapter 8-10 •Huli goes to work for Hermana Penchang •Tata Selo (grandfather of Huli) becomes depressed and mute •Alferez (lietenant of guardia civil), Friars and even Hermana Penchang likened to Pontius Pilate who merely washed his hands after the crucifixion of Christ •In Tiyani, Simoun wanted to join forces with Tales who wanted Simoun’s ‘briliante’ to free his daughter Huli from Hermana Penchang
Revolver – can kill and can save •Tales took Simoun’s revolver in exchange for the locker (agnos) and headed to the rebels/bandits (tulisan) •Simoun has found what he was looking for in Tales (man of integrity, of action, and of his word)
Chapter 11 •Meeting of friars, governor-general and important personalities •Dominicans against building the academy for Spanish language. Only Padre Irene supported this cause •Implications: (1) how the government makes decisions (2) how formation of laws are as trivial as gambling with cards
Chapter 12-15 •Placido Penitente – model student -reiterated faulty educational system -humiliated by Padre Millon (whose method of teaching suits onnly philosophy and not the science) •Juanito Pelaez – “mapaglangis” or diapichido •Description of Ateneo, UST, Letran, Pamantasang Normal
•Problems: Ex. Technical difficulties, lack of teachers, UST-no classes during feast days, “Viva” always the only word written on blackboard since first day •Isagani who preferred honorable ways to get help (Pasta) rather than dirtier means (like Juanito who was to convince Pepay, a prostitute/dancer, to talk to Don Custodio) •Senior Pasta’s refusal to help because of lack of initiative •Macaraig = willing to use his house for the academy; rich
Chapter 16 •Main theme: used or be used •Quiroga still smiled at his guests despite despising them in fervent passion. He needed them for his business •Simoun asked Quiroga (Chinese businessman) to keep his weapons in Quiroga’s bodega in exchange for discount on his jewelries
Chapter 17-18 •Fair in Quiapo •La Prenza Filipina or The Philippine Press (wooden sculpture of a women with one blind eye) -loss of justice in the country, state of journalism in the philippines •Ang Bayan-symbol of the country in the past; caricature •Abaca Country = Philippines, an abaca country, tied to Spain with abaca •Mr. Leeds and and the Sphinx (the head of Imuthis) – ashed became head with the word “Deremof” (word anagram of freedom; arrangement of letters) •Imuthis’s story greatly parallels Ibarra’s •Padre Salvi fainted and Mr. Leeds escaped to HK
Chapter 19 •Placido told his mother Kabesang Andang he wanted to quit studying and wanted to go to Hong Kong and come back for revenge •He was recruited by Simoun and the two went to the place where gunpowder (to be used for the revolution) was produced •Plan to rescue Maria Clara begins = the fuse to tick the bomb (1st priority of Simoun is Maria Clara. The country and revolution as 2nd priority only)
Chapter 20 •Don Custodio (the Arbitrator) did not approve of the establishment of the Academy •His desire to please (so he bases his decisions on what the majority wanted)
Chapter 21-22 •Mr. Jovy’s Les Cloches de Corneville •Camarroncocido – an apathetic Spanish who did not value his nationality •Society of Manila (1)People preferred high class (2)People preferred international •Why people wanted to watch (1)Curious why the show was banned by religious groups (2)Wanted to watch so they know why it should be banned •Filipino Time – show started late because the Gov. Gen. has not arrived •Tadeo and Juanito can only criticize in theater and pretend to be a know-it-all to impress Paulita and Victorina
Chapter 23 •Kapitan Tiyago who was dying of opium •At 11pm revolution shall begin •Groups involved in Simoun’s revolution: (1)soldier on Gov. Hen.’s side (2) Friar supporters (3) bandits headed by Tales (4) regualr people like Basilio •Camarroncocido noticed Simoun’s men surrounding the theater •Simoun asked Basilio to lead a group that will infiltrate the convent to retrieve Maria Clara, but found out that she was dead instead •Plan for revolt was then put on hold because of Simoun’s depression after the news *Chapter 24 = circulated in the conversation of Isagani and Paulita’s dreams (youth who cared about country (Isagani) vs youth who cared about themselves (Paulita)
Chapter 22, 25-26, 32 • Academy was not approved by higher ups •Meeting (a sarcastic celebration in a panciteria) among the 40 students, not including Basilio ***Basilio had freed Huli from Hermana Penchang and bought a place for her to stay with Tata Selo •In chapter 32, these students, even Basilio were arrested upon the false news that they had a paskil or pasquinades
Chapter 27 •Vox populi, vox Dei – voice of the people is the voice of God; democracy •Isagani wanted the friars to treat them well and give them the education that they deserved •Clay and sculptor= Padre Ferandez reiterated the fault of the clay (represent students) while Isagani said that it was the sculptor’s (the friars) fault •Padre Fernandez replied that it was not their fault; they were just following orders •Acc. To Fernandez: (1) Source of bad habits of Filipinos were their genes (2) Filipinos should just learn farming
Chapter 28-29 •Chapter 28 -- Rumor and gossip fill the city streets and corners. This chapter is a clear description of the image of a fearful society, and how this fear causes more damage than an actual battleà news grows bigger and bigger through word of mouth. •Chapter 29 – Kapitan Tiyago dies. Everything that is stipulated in Capitan Tiago’s last will and testament is fabricated by Padre Irene. This way, the church gets the most out of the riches of the deceased, and his loved ones and relatives are greatly bereaved, and deprived even of their rightful inheritance (esp. Basilio)
Chapter 31-30 •The students were freed from prison by their relatives except for Basilio (who was further discriminated because of the fact that he was merely an adopted child of Kapitan Tiyago and accused of having a forbidden book in medicine). •Simoun was also letting Basilio stay longer in prison so as to worsen the image of the Governor-general to the public •A high official told Gov. Gen. to free the innocent Basilio but to no avail •Huli approached Padre Camorra for help, but committed suicide instead w hen he attempted to rape or molest her. Hermana Bali witnessed this.
Chapter 33 •Simoun freed Basilio, who upon knowing about the unfortunate fate of his lover, willingly offered his service to Simoun and joined him in his plan of revolution driven by anger and desire for bloody revenge. •Shift in Simoun’s objectives→ Since Maria Clara was dead, the rebellion was purely intended to satisfy the lust to kill and exact vengeance in order to somehow dull the searing pain of pity for himself that he had always claimed was for the aggrieved and oppressed Filipinos.
Chapter 32, 34-35 •Paulita Gomez broke up with Isagani (because of his intense valor and heroism) when he was jailed. She was to marry a Spanish Mestizo Juanito Pelaez. •Venue: Deceased Kapitan Tiyago’s house which was renovated and decorated in preparation for the wedding •Gun powder spread all over the place •Dynamite-laden lamp will be given by Simoun. Its explosion will be the signal for the start of the full-scale revolution in Manila.
•Basilio who knew about the plan told his brokenhearted best friend Isagani to leave. •Isagani’s undying love for Paulita prevailed. He took the already dimming lamp and jumped into the river. •Plan failed •Padre Salvi recognized Ibarra’s signature. He is the only one who has seen Ibarra’s signature – in the letter written by the youth to Maria Clara, which the lady had given to the friar in exchange for the three letters her mother had written to Padre Damaso.
Chapter 36 •The things Ben Zayb wrote for the news were sugarcoated in a way that the revolution was minimized and degraded, the righteousness of friars and Spanish government was endorsed •Great deal of censorship •Barely existent freedom of speech •Ben Zayb’s credibility as a writer was tainted with the faulty system of relaying of news
Chapter 37
•Bottom-line: Simoun is the culprit, Isagani as the lamp-stealer (that was why his friends were hiding him)
Chapter 38 •Mautang was a sadisitc Filipino Guardia Civil (Filipino guardia civils more ruthless that Spanish counterparts) •Carolino =Tano (Tales’s son) who was drafted to the military •Matanglawin = Tales •The two sides of the father and son had a crossfire where Tales was first to recognize Tano and tried to reach to him, but Tano ended up murdering his father instead •Simoun had wanted the two to form an alliance, but the plan failed miserably
Chapter 39 •Injured Simoun headed to Padre Florentino’s house and drank poison even with the priest’s protests •Simoun revealed everything to Padre Florentino before finally passing away •Padre Florentino threw Simoun’s chest of wealth into the seas
Conversation Between Simoun and Padre Florentino
● Simoun sought refuge in the home of Padre Florentino by the sea ● Lt. Perez of the Guardia Civil informs the priest through a letter for Simoun’s arrest ● Simoun eluded arrest by taking poison ● He confessed to Padre Florentino as he is dying ○ revealed his true identity: Crisostomo Ibarra ○ plan to use his wealth to avenge himself ○ aim to destroy his friends and enemies
Padre Florentino:
● Padre Padre Flor Florent entino ino falls falls upon upon his knees knees and and pray prays s for for the the dead dead jeweler. He takes takes the treasure chest chest and throws it into into the sea.
Symbolisms
● Ilog Ilog Pasig Pasig - Span Spaniar iards ds who who preven preventt the the progre progress ss of of the nati natives ves ● Bapor Bapor tabo tabo - Phili Philippi ppines nes under under the the hand hands s of the Spania Spaniards rds ● Plac Placid ido o Pen Penit iten ente te (pea (peace ce & suf suffe feri ring ng)) ○ a pac pacif ifis istt who who suff suffer ers s in in sil silen ence ce ● Impli mplica cati tion on of lege legen nds ○ disapp disappear earing ing ance ancestr stral al and and supern supernatu atural ral beli belief ef repla replaced ced by by modern supernatural belief (religion) ● Tales ○ like a pot of clay banging against a pot of iron; or like an ant that bites the heel, knowing it will just be crushed . He continues to fight even with the fact that he will merely be crushed as if he was nothing.
● Dark forests ○ Where the bodies of Elias and Sisa are buried ○ Symbolizes many secrets kept by Simoun from the public ● When the governor general went to the forest, he was not able to shoot any deer because of his band’s loud music = cannot obtain objectives because of extravagance and ingratiation of power ● Senor Pasta ○ “Pilipinong okay na iyan” ○ Practicalism (safe life)
● Isagani ○ “Makabagong kabataan” ○ Idealism (life worth living) ● La Prenza Filipina or The Philippine Press (wooden sculpture of a woman with one blind eye) ○ loss of justice in the country, represents the state of journalism in the Philippines ■ old fashioned ■ blink one eye = lack of truth in reporting ■ dirty ● Kapitan Tiyago’s death = opium which poisoned Tiyago likened to corruption spreading to the already dying Philippines
Impact on Readers
Impact on Readers 1. Unmasked the abusive policies of the Spanish authorities. 2. Awakened nationalism in the hearts of Filipinos. 3. El Filibusterismo served as an inspiration to the national heroes after Jose Rizal. Social awakening lead to uprisings. 4. The ending in the novel indicates Rizal’s conviction that, so long as the Filipinos are not morally and intellectually prepared for freedom, revolution was not the correct path to take
Problems and Issues discussed in the Novel and still Present in our Society
Need For educational REforms ●
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Miseducation→ Molding men’s minds is the best means of conquest Students’ main reason to study should be to gain knowledge and skills Ex. Former Pres. Arroyo’s Executive Order No. 210, “Establishing the Policy to Strengthen English as a Second Language in the Educational System”
Bapor Tabo and Our Government ●
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Almost all problems in the novel points to one thing: SELFISHNESS Most of those seated in power only wishes to exploit and take No room for expansion (masikip sa loob ng Bapor Tabo) Conflicting desires of government and the masses no sense of direction
Superstitions and REligion ● ●
Bahala na and “May awa ang Diyos” Faulty understanding of religion leads to gravely erred sense of judgement in different circumstances
Points from On the Concept of National Community by Makul •Personal interest and revenge as driving force to attain freedom is not right→ Simoun failed two times because his real objective for the revolt is Maria Clara and revenge Donya Victorina--man guided by fancy and self-love ● Basilio--absence of opposition to measures prejudicial to people ● Ginoong Pasta--lack of initiative; play safe ● ● Hence: WE DESERVE THE KIND OF GOVERNMENT THAT WE HAVE
Reign of Greed ●
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The lessons presented in the novel is a true picture of Filipino society more than a hundred year ago. The same portrayal is the same in the current society. Power remains corrupt, because the same docile people cannot remedy the situation
Endless Cycle of Slavery Because of all these factors, the Filipinos of today remains to be in a cycle of a panopticon (invisible prison), suppressing the freedom of self-expression, encaging people who are lead to believe in the certain things only. Filipinos are trapped in the barriers set by the Spanish Colonizers and even by the American Neocolonialism. We are still, therefore, slaves enjoying an illusory freedom, and prisoners of the past that we have tried to forget.
