REQUIREMENTS IN HISTORY 100 (RIZALS LIFE, WORKS, AND WRITINGS)

RESEARCH PAPER

SUBMITTED TO: PROF. OSCAR COVARRUBIAS

SUBMITTED BY: MARICAR T. REPOLLO GENERAL ENGINEERING 2-D

MARCH 26, 2011

EL FILIBUSTERISMO

I. II. III. IV. V. VI.

INTRODUCTION.........................................................................................p.3 ABOUT THE AUTHOR (DR. JOSE P. RIZAL)..........................................p.4 ABOUT THE BOOK....................................................................................p.6 THE CHARACTERS IN THE NOVEL........................................................p.10 SUMMARY...................................................................................................p.15 CONCLUSION..............................................................................................p.20

References...................................................................................p. 23

Chapter I Introduction

El Filibusterismo, the second of Jos Rizals novels of Philippine life, is a story of the last days of the Spanish rgime in the Philippines. Under the name of The Reign of Greed it is for the first time translated into English. Written some four or five years after Noli Me Tangere, the book represents Rizals more mature judgment on political and social conditions in the islands, and in its graver and less hopeful tone reflects the disappointments and discouragements which he had encountered in his efforts to lead the way to reform. Rizals dedication to the first edition is of special interest, as the writing of it was one of the grounds of accusation against him when he was condemned to death in 1896.

Chapter II About the Author DR. JOSE P. RIZAL

In full, JOS PROTACIO RIZAL MERCADO Y ALONSO REALONDA (born 19 June 1861, Calamba, Philippines- died 30 December 1896, Manila, Philippines), patriot, physician and man of letters whose life and literary works were an inspiration to the Philippine nationalist movement.

Rizal was the son of a prosperous landowner and sugar planter of ChineseFilipino descent on the island of Luzon. His mother, Teodora Alonso, one of the most highly educated women in the Philippines at that time, exerted a powerful influence on his intellectual development.

He was educated at the Ateneo de Manila and the University of Santo Tomas in Manila. In 1882, he went to study medicine and liberal arts at the University of Madrid. A brilliant student, he soon became the leader of the small community of Filipino students in Spain and committed himself to the reform of Spanish rule in his home country, though he never advocated Philippine independence. The chief enemy of reform, in his eyes, was not Spain, which was going through a profound revolution, but the Franciscan, Augustinian and Dominican friars who held the country in political and economic paralysis.

Rizal continued his medical studies in Paris and Heidelberg. In 1886, he published his first novel in Spanish, Noli Me Tangere, a passionate exposure of the evils of the friars rule, comparable in its effect to Harriet Beecher Stowe's Uncle Tom's Cabin. A sequel, El Filibusterismo, 1891, established his reputation as the leading spokesman of the Philippine reform movement. He annotated an edition in 1890 on Antonio Morga's Sucesos de las Islas Filipinas, which showed that the native people of the Philippines had a long history before the coming of the Spaniards. He became the leader of the Propaganda Movement, contributing numerous articles to its newspaper, La Solidaridad, published in Barcelona. Rizal's political program, as expressed in the newspaper, included integration of the Philippines as a province of Spain, representation in the Cortes (the Spanish parliament), and the replacement of the Spanish friars by the Filipino priests, freedom of assembly and expression, and equality of Filipinos and Spaniards before the law. Against the advice of his parents and friends, Rizal returned to the Philippines in 1892. He found a nonviolent reform society, La Liga Filipina, in Manila, and was deported to Dapitan, in northwest Mindanao, an island south of the Philippines. He remained in exile for four years, doing scientific research and founding a school and hospital. In 1896, the Katipunan, a nationalist secret society, launched a revolt against Spain. Although he had no connections with that organization or any part in the insurrection, Rizal was arrested and tried for sedition by the military. Found guilty, he was publicly executed by a firing squad in Manila. His martyrdom convinced Filipinos that there was no alternative to independence from Spain. On the eve of his execution, while confined in Fort Santiago, Rizal wrote Mi Ultimo Adios ("My Last Farewell"), a masterpiece of 19th-century Spanish verse.

Chapter III About the Book EL FILIBUSTERISMO

The word "filibustero" wrote Rizal to his friend, Ferdinand Blumentritt, is very little known in the Philippines. The masses do not know it yet. Jose Alejandro, one of the new Filipinos who had been quite intimate with Rizal, said, "In writing the Noli Rizal signed his own death warrant." Subsequent events, after the fate of the Noli was sealed by the Spanish authorities, prompted Rizal to write the continuation of his first novel. He confessed, however, that regretted very much having killed Elias instead of Ibarra, reasoning that when he published the Noli his health was very much broken, and was very unsure of being able to write the continuation and speak of a revolution. Explaining to Marcelo H. del Pilar his inability to contribute articles to the La Solidaridad, Rizal said that he was haunted by certain sad presentiments, and that he had been dreaming almost every night of dead relatives and friends a few days before his 29th birthday, that is why he wanted to finish the second part of the Noli at all costs. Consequently, as expected of a determined character, Rizal apparently went in writing, for to his friend, Blumentritt, he wrote on March 29, 1891: "I have finished my book. Ah! Ive not written it with any idea of vengeance against my enemies, but only for the good

of those who suffer and for the rights of Tagalog humanity, although brown and not good-looking." To a Filipino friend in Hong Kong, Jose Basa, Rizal likewise eagerly announced the completion of his second novel. Having moved to Ghent to have the book published at cheaper cost, Rizal once more wrote his friend, Basa, in Hongkong on July 9, 1891: "I am not sailing at once, because I am now printing the second part of the Noli here, as you may see from the enclosed pages. I prefer to publish it in some other way before leaving Europe, for it seemed to me a pity not to do so. For the past three months I have not received a single centavo, so I have pawned all that I have in order to publish this book. I will continue publishing it as long as I can; and when there is nothing to pawn I will stop and return to be at your side." Inevitably, Rizals next letter to Basa contained the tragic news of the suspension of the printing of the sequel to his first novel due to lack of funds, forcing him to stop and leave the book half-way. "It is a pity," he wrote Basa, "because it seems to me that this second part is more important than the first, and if I do not finish it here, it will never be finished." Fortunately, Rizal was not to remain in despair for long. A compatriot, Valentin Ventura, learned of Rizals predicament. He offered him financial assistance. Even then Rizals was forced to shorten the novel quite drastically, leaving only thirty-eight chapters compared to the sixty-four chapters of the first novel.

Rizal moved to Ghent, and writes Jose Alejandro. The sequel to Rizals Noli came off the press by the middle of September, 1891.On the 18th he sent Basa two copies, and Valentin Ventura the original manuscript and an autographed printed copy. Inspired by what the word filibustero connoted in relation to the circumstances obtaining in his time, and his spirits dampened by the tragic execution of the three martyred priests, Rizal aptly titled the second part of the Noli Me Tangere, El Filibusterismo. In veneration of the three priests, he dedicated the book to them.

"To the memory of the priests, Don Mariano Gomez (85 years old), Don Jose Burgos (30 years old), and Don Jacinto Zamora (35 years old). Executed in the Bagumbayan Field on the 28th of February, 1872."

"The church, by refusing to degrade you, has placed in doubt the crime that has been imputed to you; the Government, by surrounding your trials with mystery and shadows causes the belief that there was some error, committed in fatal moments; and all the Philippines, by worshipping your memory and calling you martyrs, in no sense recognizes your culpability. In so far, therefore, as your complicity in the Cavite Mutiny is not clearly proved, as you may or may not have been patriots, and as you may or may not cherished sentiments for justice and for liberty, I have the right to dedicate my work to you as victims of the evil which I undertake to combat. And while we wait expectantly upon Spain some day to restore your good name and cease to be answerable for your

death, let these pages serve as a tardy wreath of dried leaves over one whom without clear proofs attacks your memory stains his hands in your blood." Rizals memory seemed to have failed him, though, for Father Gomez was then 73 not 85, Father Burgos 35 not 30 Father Zamora 37 not 35; and the date of execution 17th not 28th. The FOREWORD of the Fili was addressed to his beloved countrymen, thus: "TO THE FILIPINO PEOPLE AND THEIR GOVERNMENT".

Chapter IV THE CHARACTERS IN THE NOVEL Simoun - Crisstomo Ibarra disguised as a wealthy jeweler, bent on starting a revolution to get revenge on the people who had accused him wrongly. Disguised as the top adviser of the Captain-General.


Basilio - The eldest of Sisa's two sons, now an aspiring doctor whose medical education was being financed by Capitan Tiago. He is now at the point of graduation during the events in the novel.

Isagani - Poet and Basilio's best friend; portrayed as emotional and reactive; Paulita Gmez' boyfriend before being dumped for fellow student Juanito Pelez

Kabesang

Tales -

Telesforo

Juan

de

Dios,

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 (Tagalog for "Hawkeye");


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 Gomez - 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
10

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.

Juli - 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 - The son of Don Timoteo Pelaez, a Spanish businessman, he is also one of the members of Macaraig's gang who wish to have the Academia de Castellano built. He is considered by Isagani as his rival to Paulita Gomez, the woman whom he fell in love and wed in the end. Placido Penitente considers him as a "good for nothing" classmate.

Doa Victorina - 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 than Isagani. Although of Indio ideology, she considers herself as one of the Peninsular.

11

Father Camorra - The parish priest of Tiani, San Diego's adjacent town. He has been desiring young women ever since. 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.

Hermana Penchang - Sagpang's rich pusakal (gambler). She offers Huli to be her maid so the latter can obtain money to free Kabesang Tales. Disbelieving of Huli 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 on hiding with Father Florentino.

Father ren - 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 rich businessmen and arranges a wedding for his son and Paulita. He and Simoun became business partners.

12

Tandang Selo - Father of Kabesang Tales. 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.

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 fellow classmates to lead alongside him the opening of the Spanish language academy.

Hermana Bli - Another gambler in Tiani. She became Huli's mother-figure and counselor; helped to release Kabesang Tales from the hands of bandits.

Pasta - One of the great lawyers of mid-Hispanic Manila, opposed the students' demands for a Spanish language academy

Father Millon - The Physics teacher of the University of Santo Tomas. He always becomes vindictive with Placido and always taunts him during class.

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 decapitated heads; he is in good friends with Simoun.

Tano - Kabesang Tales's elder son after his older sister, Lucia died in childhood. He is currently one of the Guardia Civil. He then returned under the name Carolino after his exile in Caroline Islands.

13

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.

Pecson - Basilio's classmate who had no idea on the happenings occurring around him. He suggested that they held the mock celebration at the panciteria.

Father Hernando de la Sibyla- A Dominican friar introduced in Noli Me Tangere, now the vice-rector of the University of Santo Tomas.

Father Bernardo Salvi- Former parish priest of San Diego, now the director and chaplain of the Santa Clara convent.

Captain Tiago - Santiago delos Santos, although making a cameo appearance, Captain Tiago is Maria Clara's father and the foster-father to Basilio. His health disintegrates gradually because of the opium he was forced to smoke given to him by Father Irene.

Maria Clara - Introduced in Dr. Rizal's first novel "Noli Me Tangere". She was once the girlfriend of Crisostomo Ibarra but chose to become a nun despite Father Damaso's arguments. She eventually passed away, as witnessed by Basilio when he visited the convent of Santa Clara; this propelled Simoun to expedite his plans for revolution.

14

Chapter V SUMMARY

Thirteen years after he left the Philippines, Crisostomo Ibarra (the main character from Noli Me Tangere) returns as Simoun, a rich jeweler sporting a beard and blue-tinted glasses, and a confidant of the Governor-General of the Philippines, the Captain-General. Abandoning his idealism, he becomes a cynical saboteur, the titular filibustero, seeking revenge against the Spanish Philippines system responsible for his misfortunes by plotting a revolution. Simoun insinuates 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 so that the latter would be encouraged 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. Simoun has reasons for instigating a revolution. First is to rescue Mara Clara from the convent and second, to get rid of ills and evils of Philippine society. His true identity is discovered by a now grown-up Basilio while visiting the grave of his mother, Sisa, as Simoun was digging near the grave site for his buried treasures. Simoun spares Basilios life and 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.

15

Basilio, at this point, is a graduating student of medicine at the Ateneo Municipal de Manila. 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 travelled to Manila to study. Basilio was adopted by Captain Tiago after Mara Clara entered the convent. With Captain Tiagos help, Basilio was able to go to Colegio de San Juan de Letrn where, at first, he is frowned upon by his peers and teachers not only because of the color of his skin but also because of his shabby appearance which he also experiences at Ateneo. Captain Tiagos confessor, Father Irene is making Captain Tiagos health worse by giving him opium even as Basilio tries hard to prevent 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 Universidad de Santo Toms. With the help of a reluctant Father Irene as their mediator and Don Custodios 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 pancitera while a spy for the friars witnesses the proceedings. 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 and a cabeza de barangay (barangay head), he was forced to give everything to the greedy and unscrupulous Spanish friars. His son, Tano, who became a civil guard, was captured by bandits; his daughter Hul had to work as a maid to get enough ransom money for his freedom; and his father, Tandang Selo, suffered a stroke and became mute. Before

16

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 man hoping to be appointed consul to the Philippines, smuggle weapons into the country using Quirogas 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 Mara Clara had died earlier that day 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 pancitera of agitation and disturbing peace and have 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 willforged by Irene, all 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. Jul, Basilios girlfriend and the daughter of Kabesang Tales, tries to ask Father Camorras help upon the advice of an elder woman. Instead of helping Jul, however, the priest tries to rape her as he has long-hidden desires for Jul. Jul, rather than submit to the will of the friar, jumps over the balcony to her death. Basilio is soon released with the help of Simoun. Basilio, now a changed man and after hearing about Jul's suicide, finally joins Simouns revolution. Simoun then tells Basilio his plan at the wedding of Paulita Gmez and Juanito, Basilios hunch-backed classmate. His plan was to conceal an explosive inside a pomegranate-styled Kerosene
17

lamp that Simoun will give to the newlyweds as a gift during the wedding reception. The reception will take place at the former home of the late Captain 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 everyoneimportant members of civil society and

the Church hierarchyinside the house. Basilio has a change of heart and attempts to warn Isagani, his friend and the former boyfriend of Paulita. Simoun leaves the reception early as planned and leaves a note behind. Initially thinking that it was simply a bad joke, Father Salv recognizes the handwriting and confirms that it was 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 because he had contradicted his own belief that he loved his nation more than Paulita and that the explosion and revolution could have fulfilled his ideals for Filipino society. Simoun, now unmasked as the perpetrator of the attempted arson and failed revolution, becomes a fugitive. Wounded and exhausted after he was 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 for him 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. Florentino opines
18

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 that it would be used for the greater good, when the nation would be finally deserving liberty for them, the sea would reveal the treasures.

19

Chapter VI CONCLUSION

The novel El Filibusterismo, written by the countrys national hero, Jose Rizal, various criticisms were set forth establishing a connection between the cancer that had been plaguing the country and the institution, which the countrymen greatly revered and followed. If one would analyze, the situation of the Philippines back then is as much as the same as now. Two personas still exist in the continuing story of the Filipino people; after all, a story wouldnt be completed without someone who is abused and someone who abuses. Currently, one may directly say, based on observations that those who are abused are still the marginalized poor. As much as one is sorry for this fact, this holds to be something that is constant and clear due to their lack of resources. Indeed there is still the Kabesang Tales, whose land is forcibly taken, there is still the Juli who is forced to work to save her father from lifes miseries, and there are still the youth, the pag-asa ng bayan as the national hero puts it; the youth who, like Basilio and his colleagues, are still filled with ideas for the supposed betterment of the country. These characters are a mainstay in the story of the Filipino people, a testament to the continuing significance of the novel El Filibusterismo. We see these characters in the persona of the Sumilao farmers who walked for miles and miles besides working day and night just to save and to claim the land that is rightfully theirs. We also see these characters in the persona of our mga bagong bayani, the OFWs, who opt to leave the comfort of their homes and
20

the love of their family just so that they can have hope for a brighter future. And lastly of course, student rallies never fail to make it in the news. However, where is the Padre Damaso and Padre Irene? Where are our villains in long brown robes? One may say that currently, it is not this institution anymore that is the villain. A twist in the story already transpired. However, one can attest that probably this twist is still the one that can hold true to the significance of the El Fili to our present times. One may say that, somehow, the Catholic Church, in particular, already has changed. From the institution there are only now certain individuals who give in to their human frailties. In a way, the novel El Filibusterismo holds significance to our religious beliefs by reminding us that those who propagate these beliefs are also human, and these individuals can also commit mistakes. It is up to us to be our own Imuthis and remind them and also our selves that we control our own lives, although being guided by divine principles. As citizens, particularly Catholics, it is up to us to be ghosts and haunt those institutions that steal from the public, covering up their real motives in holiness and remind them that we offer to help and to give and not to store wealth and be greedy. Furthermore, when it comes to the significance of El Filibusterismo to our religion, it also holds true the event that religion will always be a part or at least will have an influence in the affairs of our government. We see this as politicians line up to attend the anniversary of El Shadai.

21

And so in conclusion, one may say that the novel may not have been able to totally remove the veil that Catholicism has placed over the country, but it was successful in unraveling the its flaw, which is quite understandable given the saying that only God is perfect. Furthermore, if there is one thing that continues to this day, it is the dependence of most Filipinos to on their belief. Regarding this, one thinks that this was actually tackled in Rizals other novel, which is Noli Me Tangere. One may see that this is the attitude that continues to link our beliefs to the miseries that the people are experiencing. In relation to this, as what El Filibusterismo also wants to say, we should act, we should not wait for the vulture to be poisoned by the corps it is eating. Action should be made, for we wont survive in belief alone.

22

References:

http://www.joserizal.ph/fi01.html ( El Filibusterismo ) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/El_filibusterismo http://www.univie.ac.at/voelkerkunde/apsis/aufi/jorizal.htm

23