El Filibusterismo (lit. Spanish for "Filibustering"[1]), also known
Simoun insinuates
by its English alternative title The Reign of Greed,[2] is the
second novel written by Philippinenational hero Jos Rizal. It is
the sequel to Noli me tangere and, like the first book, was
written in Spanish. It was first published in 1891 in Ghent.
The novel's dark theme departs dramatically from the previous
novel's hopeful and romantic atmosphere, signifying the
character Ibarra's resort to solving his country's issues through
violent means, after his previous attempt at reforming the
country's system have made no effect and seemed impossible
with the attitudes of the Spaniards towards the Filipinos. The
novel, along with its predecessor, was banned in some parts of
the Philippines as a result of their portrayals of the Spanish
government's abuse and corruption. These novels along with
Rizal's involvement in organizations that aim to address and
reform the Spanish system and its issues led to Rizal's exile to
Dapitan and eventual execution. Both the novel and its
predecessor, along with Rizal's last poem, are now considered
Rizal's literary masterpieces.
Both of Rizal's novels had a profound effect on Philippine
society in terms of views about national identity, the Catholic
faith and its influence on Filipino's choice, and the government's
issues of corruption, abuse, and discrimination, and on a larger
scale, the issues related to the effect of colonization on people's
lives and the cause for independence. These novels later on
indirectly became the inspiration to start the Philippine
Revolution.
Throughout the Philippines, the reading of both the novel and its
predecessor is now mandatory for high school
students throughout the archipelago, although it is now read
using English, Filipino, and the Philippines' regional languages
Plot
Thirteen years after the events of Noli me tangere, Crisostomo
Ibarra returns to the Philippines under the guise of Simoun, a
wealthy bearded jewelry tycoon sporting blue-tinted glasses,
and a confidant of the Captain-General. Abandoning his
idealism, he becomes a cynical saboteur and agitator, seeking
revenge against the Spanish Philippine system responsible for
his misfortunes by plotting a revolution.
himself into Manila high society and influences every decision of
the Captain-General to mismanage the countrys affairs so that
a revolution will break out. He cynically sides with the upper
classes, encouraging them to commit abuses against the
masses to encourage the latter to revolt against the oppressive
Spanish colonial regime. This time, he does not attempt to fight
the authorities through legal means, but through violent
revolution using the masses. His two reasons for instigating a
revolution are at first, to rescue Mara Clara from the convent
and second, to get rid of the ills and evils of Philippine society.
A now grown-up Basilio visits the grave of his deranged mother,
Sisa, in a forested land owned by the Ibarra family one evening.
Near the gravesite, Simoun digs for his buried treasures. His
identity is discovered by Basilio when the two happen to meet
up just as the latter leaves Sisa's grave to go home. Simoun
spares Basilio's life and tells his story of his past, then asks him
to join in his planned revolution against the government, egging
him on by bringing up the tragic misfortunes of the latter's
family. Basilio declines the offer as he still hopes that the
countrys condition will improve.
Basilio, at this point, is a graduating medical student at the
Ateneo Municipal. After the death of his mother, Sisa, and the
disappearance of his younger brother, Crispn, Basilio heeded
the advice of the dying boatman, Elas, and traveled to Manila to
study. Basilio was adopted by Capitan Tiago after Mara Clara
entered the convent. With the help of the Ibarra's riches and
Capitan Tiago, Basilio was able to go to Colegio de San Juan
de Letrn where, at first, he is frowned upon by his peers and
teachers because of his skin color and his shabby appearance
but is able to win their favor after winning a fencing tournament.
Capitan Tiagos confessor, Father Irene is making Captain
Tiagos health worse by giving him opium even as Basilio tries
hard to prevent Capitan 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 Universidad de
Santo Toms. With the help of a reluctant Father Irene as their
mediator and Don Custodios decision, the academy is
established but this turns bad as they will serve, not as the
teachers but as caretakers of the school. Dejected and
defeated, they hold a mock celebration at a pancitera while a
spy for the friars witnesses the proceedings. Basilio, however,
did not show up during the event.
Simoun, for his part, keeps in close contact with the
bandit group of Kabesang Tales, a former cabeza de barangay
who suffered misfortunes at the hands of the friars. Once a
farmer owning a prosperous sugarcane plantation, Tales was
forced to give everything he had owned to the greedy,
unscrupulous Spanish friars and the Church. His son, Tano,
who became a Civil Guard, was captured by bandits; his
daughter Jul had to work as a maid under Hermana Penchang
to get enough ransom money for Tano's freedom; and his
father, Tandang Selo, became mute. Before joining the bandits,
Tales took Simouns revolver while Simoun was staying at his
house for the night. As payment, Tales leaves a locket that once
belonged to Mara Clara. To further strengthen the revolution,
Simoun has Quiroga, a Chinese businessman hoping for a
consul position in the Philippines, smuggle weaponry to the
country, using the latters bazaar as a front. Simoun plans to
attack during a stage play with all of his enemies in attendance.
On the afternoon of the day the attack is supposed to happen,
Basilio informs Simoun of Mara Clara's death in the convent
during the morning hours of the day. A heartbroken Simoun
abruptly aborts his plan in order to mourn her death.
A few years after the mock celebration by the students,
the people are agitated when disturbing posters are found
displayed around the city. The students present at the[which?]
pancitera (that is to say, a local noodle shop) are arrested on
charges of agitation and disturbing the peace. Basilio, although
not present at the mock celebration, is also arrested. Capitan
Tiago dies after learning of the incident. But before he dies he
signs a will; unknown to him, it was forged by Father Irene.
Tiago's will originally stated that Basilio should inherit all his
property; but due to this forgery his property is given in parts,
one to Santa Clara, one for the archbishop, one for the Pope,
and one for the religious orders, leaving nothing for Basilio to
inherit. 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. Jul, Basilios
sweetheart and the daughter of Kabesang Tales, tries to ask
Father Camorra's help upon the advice of Hermana Bali.[who?]
The two travel to the convent, but during a rendezvous,
Camorra tries to rape Jul, due to his long-hidden desires for
young women. Hermana Bali tries to intervene to stop
Camorra's immoral act but is outmatched by the friar. Jul,
finding herself trapped and being cornered by the friar, jumps
from the convent's window to her death. Simoun arranges for
Basilio's release and manages to get him out of confinement.
After Basilio is released, Simoun tells him about Jul's
ordeal with Camorra and her suicide. Basilio decides to join
Simouns revolution. Simoun then tells Basilio his plan at the
wedding of Paulita Gmez and Juanito Pelaez, Basilios hunch-
backed classmate. He plans to conceal an explosive charge of
nitroglycerin inside a pomegranate-styled kerosene lamp that
Simoun will give to the newlyweds as a gift during the wedding
reception. The reception is to take place at the former home of
the late Capitan Tiago, which is now filled with explosives
planted by Simoun. According to Simoun, the lamp will stay
lighted for only twenty minutes before it flickers; if someone
attempts to turn the wick, it will explode and kill everyone
important members of civil society and the Church hierarchy
inside the house. Basilio has a change of heart and attempts to
warn Isagani, his friend and the former sweetheart of Paulita.
Simoun leaves the reception early as planned and leaves a note
behind:
Mene Thecel Phares.
Initially thinking that it is simply a bad joke, Father Salv
recognizes the handwriting and confirms that it is indeed
Ibarras. 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, sabotaging Simoun's plans. He escapes by diving into the
river as guards chase after him. He later regrets his impulsive
action: The explosion and revolution could have fulfilled his
ideals for Filipino society; he had contradicted his own belief
that he loved his nation more than he loved Paulita.
Simoun, now unmasked as the perpetrator of the
attempted arson and failed revolution, becomes a fugitive.
Wounded and exhausted after being shot by the pursuing
Guardia Civil, he seeks shelter at the home of Father Florentino,
Isaganis uncle, and comes under the care of doctor Tiburcio de
Espadaa, Doa Victorina's husband, who was also hiding at
the house. Simoun takes poison in order not to be captured
alive. Before he dies, he reveals his real identity to Florentino
while they exchange thoughts about the failure of his revolution
and why God forsook him, when all he wanted was to avenge
the people important to him that were wronged, such as Elias,
Maria Clara, and his father Don Rafael. Florentino opines that
God did not forsake him and that his plans were not for the
greater good but for personal gain. Simoun, finally accepting
Florentinos explanation, squeezes his hand and dies.
Florentino then takes Simouns remaining jewels and throws
them into the Pacific Ocean with the corals hoping that they
would not be used by the greedy, and that when the time came
they would be used for the greater good.
Simoun - Crisostomo Ibarra in disguise, left for dead at the end
of Noli me tangere. Ibarra has resurfaced as the wealthy
jeweler, Simoun, sporting a beard, blue-tinted glasses, and a
revolver. Fueled by his mistreatment at the hands of the
Spaniards and his fury at Maria Clara's fate, Simoun secretly
plans a revolution to seek revenge against those who wronged
him.
Basilio - Son of Sisa and another character from Noli Me
Tangere. After his mother's death, he became a vagabond until
Captain Tiago took him in out of pity and hired him as a
houseboy in exchange for sending him to school. In the events
of the book, he is a graduating medical student who discovered
Simoun's true identity and befriended him. His girlfriend is Juli.
Isagani - Basilio's friend and one of the students who planned
to set up a new school. He is very idealistic and hopes for a
better future for the Philippines. His girlfriend was the rich and
beautiful Paulita Gomez, but they broke up once he was
arrested. Despite this, his love for her still endured. He
sabotaged Simoun's plans by removing the lamp that contained
explosives and threw it in the waters.
Kabesang Tales - Cabeza Telesforo Juan de Dios, a former
cabeza de barangay (barangay head) of Sagpang, a barangay
in San Diego's neighboring town Tiani, who resurfaced as the
feared Luzn bandit Matanglawin. He is the son of Tandang
Selo, and father of Juli and Tano.
Don Custodio - Custodio de Salazar y Snchez de
Monteredondo, a famous "journalist" who was asked by the
students about his decision for the Academia de Castellano. In
reality, he is quite an ordinary fellow who married a rich woman
in order to be a member of Manila's high society.
Paulita Gmez - The girlfriend of Isagani and the niece of Doa
Victorina, the old Indio who passes herself off as a Peninsular,
who is the wife of the quack doctor Tiburcio de Espadaa. In the
end, she and Juanito Pelez are wed, and she dumps Isagani,
believing that she will have no future if she marries him.
Macaraig - One of Isagani's classmates at the University of
Santo Tomas. He is a rich student and serves as the leader of
the students yearning to build the Academia de Castellano.
Father Florentino - Isagani's godfather, and a secular priest;
was engaged to be married, but chose to be a priest after being
pressured by his mother, the story hinting at the ambivalence of
his decision as he chooses an assignment to a remote place,
living in solitude near the sea. Florentino also harbors great
hatred for the corrupt Spanish friars. He offered shelter to Don
Tiburcio de Espandaa when the latter was hiding from his wife,
Donya Victorina.
Huli - Juliana de Dios, the 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. Eventually, she was freed but committed
suicide after Father Camorra attempted to rape her.
Juanito Pelaez - A favorite student of the professors. They
belong to the noble Spanish ancestry. After failing in his grades,
he became Paulita's new boyfriend and they eventually wed.
Doa Matutinay - Victorina delos Reyes de Espadaa, known
in Noli Me Tangere as Tiburcio de Espadaa's cruel wife. She is
the aunt of Paulita Gomez, and favors Juanito Pelaez over
Isagani. She is searching for her husband, who has left her and
is in hiding. Although of Indio heritage, she considers 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. He
nearly raped Juli causing the latter to commit suicide.
Ben-Zayb - The pseudonym of Abraham Ibaez, a journalist
who believes he is the "only" one thinking in the Philippines.
Ben-Zayb is an anagram of Ybanez, an alternate spelling of his
name.
Placido Penitente - A student of the University of Santo Tomas
who was very intelligent and wise but did not want, if not only by
his mother's plea, to pursue his studies. He also controls his
temper against Padre Millon, his physics teacher. During his
High School days, he was an honor student hailing from
Batangas.
Hermana Penchang - Sagpang's rich pusakal (gambler). She
offers Juli to be her maid so the latter can obtain money to free
Kabesang Tales. Disbelieving of Juli and her close friends, she
considers herself as an ally of the friars.
Tiburcio de Espadaa - Don Tiburcio is Victorina de
Espadaa's lame husband. He is currently in hiding at Father
Florentino's.
Father rene - Captain Tiago's spiritual adviser. Although
reluctant, he helped the students to establish the Academia de
Castellano after being convinced by giving him a chestnut. 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.
Quiroga - A Chinese businessman who dreamed of being a
consul for his country in the Philippines. He hid Simoun's
weapons inside his house.
Don Timoteo Pelaez - Juanito's father. He is a rich
businessmen and arranges a wedding for his son and Paulita.
He and Simoun became business partners.
Tandang Selo - Father of Kabesang Tales and grandfather of
Tano and Juli. He raised the sick and young Basilio after he left
their house in Noli me tangere. He died in an encounter on the
mountains with his son Tales, when he was killed by a battalion
that included his own grandson, Tano.
Father Fernndez - The priest-friend of Isagani. He promised to
Isagani that he and the other priests will give in to the students'
demands.
Sandoval - The vice-leader of Macaraig's gang. A Spanish
classmate of Isagani, he coerces his classmates to lead
alongside him the opening of the Spanish language academy.
Hermana Bli - Another wealthy gambler in Tiani. She became
Juli's mother-figure and counselor; helped to release Kabesang
Tales from the hands of bandits.
Father Millon - A Dominican friar who serves as the Physics
professor of the University of Santo Tomas. He always becomes
vindictive with Placido and always taunts him during class.
Millon is based on/inspired by an ill-mannered Dominican friar
who was Rizal's anatomy professor in Santo Tomas.
Tadeo - Macaraig's classmate. He, along with the other three
members of their gang, supposedly posted the posters that
"thanked" Don Custodio and Father Irene for the opening of the
Academia de Castellano.
Leeds - An American who holds stage plays starring severed
heads; he is good friends with Simoun.
Tano - Kabesang Tales's elder son after his older sister, Lucia
died in childhood. He took up the pseudonym "Carolina" after
returning from exile in the Caroline Islands, and became a civil
guard. He was among the battalion killed his grandfather, Selo,
who was part of a group of an attacking rebels.
Pepay - Don Custodio's supposed "girlfriend". A dancer, she is
always agitated of her "boyfriend"'s plans. She seems to be a
close friend of Macaraig.
Gobernador General - The highest-ranking official in the
Philippines during the Spanish colonial period, this unnamed
character pretends that what he is doing is for the good of the
Indios, the local citizens of the country, but in reality, he
prioritizes the needs of his fellow Spaniards living in the country.
Father Hernando de la Sibyla - A Dominican friar introduced in
Noli Me Tangere, now the vice-rector of the University of Santo
Tomas.
Pecson - classmate who had no idea on the happenings
occurring around him. He suggested that they held the mock
celebration at the pancitera.
Father Bernardo Salvi- Former parish priest of San Diego in
Noli Me Tangere, now the director and chaplain of the Santa
Clara convent.
Captain Tiago - Santiago delos Santos, Captain Tiago is Maria
Clara's stepfather and the foster-father to Basilio. His health
disintegrates gradually because of his frequent smoking of
opium, which Father Irene unscrupulously encourages despite
Basilio's attempts to wean his guardian off the addiction .
Eventually, he died because Father Irene scared him about the
revolt of the Filipinos.