EL FILI’s

DESCRIPTION
EL FILI’s DESCRIPTION
After Jose Rizal published Noli Me Tangere in 1887, he returned to the
Philippines to see how it was received by the public. As he expected,
the possession and distribution of the novel were immediately banned
and the Spanish authorities ordered the burning of available copies.

Rizal encountered strong opposition from the Catholic Church

such that he was forced to leave the country again for Europe.

He finally completed the book on March 29, 1891, in Biarritz,

France and was published in September of that year in
Ghent.
 EL FILI’s DESCRIPTION
To counterNoli Me Tangere’s
hopeful and romantic
atmosphere, Rizal followed it up with El
Filibusterismo. Rizal started writing El
Filibusterismo in 1888 and finished it.

But just like the fate of Noli Me Tangere, Rizal

also had difficulties in the publication of El
Filibusterismo due to the expensive printing cost. Rizal
had to move to Ghent to look for cheaper ways of
printing the book but still found it too costly.
 EL FILI’s DESCRIPTION

Fortunately, his friend, Valentin Ventura,

offered him financial assistance which led to the
novel’s publication in September 1891.

On the contrary, even with Ventura’s help,

Rizal found it necessary to fundamentally shorten
the novel, erasing 47 whole pages from the
279- page manuscript to save expenses.
EL FILI’s DESCRIPTION
El Filibusterismo was much shorter with only
38 chapters compared to Noli Me Tangere which has
64 chapters. Rizal gave Ventura the original
manuscript of El Filibusterismo as a token of
gratitude for his contribution to the publication of the
novel.

In 1925, the Philippine government bought

the El Fili manuscript from Ventura for a large
sum of 10,000 pesos (Zaide,1984). At present, it is
now being kept in the National Library.
EL FILI’s DESCRIPTION
Rizal used his first novel, Noli
Me Tangere, to expose
to the Filipinos the abusive
ways of the Spanish authorities and friars.
Through the characters and plot of the novel, Rizal was
able to bring to light the corruption of the
Spaniards.

In El Filibusterismo, Rizal warned the Sp ain

that its corrupt and self-seeking colonial government
would only lead to disaster. The novel focuses on the
discontent of the youth, led by Basilio, with the
condition of Philippine society.
EL FILI’s DESCRIPTION
Despite presenting a narrative that starkly
condemned the Spanish rule, Rizal was not asking for a
revolution to demand immediate independence. Instead, he
proposed that the task of Filipinos was to prepare for
eventual independence once they are
proven to be worthy and ready for it.

It is through education, exemplary lives, and

willingness to sacrifice, that freedom can be achieved
according to Rizal. At the end of the novel, Rizal,
through Padre Florentino, called on the youth to respond
to such challenge.
 El
Filibusterismo:
Context and
Content
El Filibusterismo: Context and Content
It was first translated in English language by
Charles Derbyshire in 1912 under the title, “The Reign
of Greed.”

The book according to the translator

“represents Rizal’s more mature judgment on
political and social conditions in the
country, and in its graver and less hopeful tone
reflects the disa ppointments and
discouragements which he had encountered in
his efforts to lead the way to refor m.”
El Filibusterismo: Context and Content
In Soledad Lacson-Locsin (2004) translation of the
novel, themes that can be seen in the story is that
“El Filibusterismo begins where Noli Me Tangere
is leaves off, where love, romance, heroism,
idealism and tragedy turn to hate bitterness,
anger, disillusionment, and vengeance.”

Unlike Noli Me Tangere, burns with passion and

ideology, wherein El Filibusterismo showed his
matu rity as a novelist.
 El Filibusterismo: Context and Content
Rizal started writing El Filibusterismo as a sequel to
the Noli Me Tangere after he returned to Europeon
February 1888. The novel was written in the midst of
threats and oppressions he and his family were
experiencing because of the Noli Me Tangere and
the Calamba Hacienda incident.

In March 1887, Blumentritt asked Rizal the mean

ing of the word “filibustero” after reading the Noli Me
Tangere, which he did not know in the Spanish language.
FILIBUSTERO
DEFINED
FILIBUSTERO DEFINED
“The word filibuster is little known in the Philippines. The
masses do not know it yet. I heard it for the first time in
1872 when the tragic executions (of Gomburza) took
place. I still remember the panic that this word created. Our
father forbade us to utter it, as well as the words Cavite,
Burgos (one of the executed priests), etc. The Manila
newspapers and the Spaniards apply this word to one
whom they want to make a revolutionary suspect. The
Filipinos belonging to the educated class fear the reach of
the word. It does not have the meaning of freebooters; it
rather means a dangerous patriot who will soon be
han ged or well, a presumptuous man.”
FILIBUSTERO DEFINED
By the end of the 19th century, the word filibuster had
acquired the meaning “subversive” in the Philippines, hence
the book is about subversion.

Note that the ‘Filibusterismo’ in the novel’s title is

derived from the simpler term ‘filibustero’, which
contextually means subversive, dissident,
revolutionary, seditious, insurrectionary, and
treasonous. Fittingly, Rizal dedicated the book to the
memory of the Gomburza, the three Filipino patriotic
priests who were accused of being ‘filibustero’ and thus
exe cuted.
 PLOT OF EL
FILIBUSTERISMO
 The story in El Filibusterismo revolves around its main character Simoun
who is an affluent jeweler. Simoun is actually Crisostomo Ibarra of the Noli whom
everyone thought had been killed by the Guardia Civil at Laguna de Bay. He had in fact
escaped, fled to Cuba, become wealthy, and made connections with influential Spanish
officials. Upon his return to the Philippines after many years, he becomes very
influential as the governor general, who owes so much to him, consults him in making
decisions.

In reality however, everything Simoun does is just part of his grand plan to
take revenge against the Spanish officials and rescue Maria Clara from the convent.
Planning to stage a revolution, he smuggles arms and looks for followers, mainly
from the exploited and abused natives. One of his recruits is Basilio, the son of Sisa,
who with Capitan Tiago’s help was able to study in Manila. Simoun also makes an
alliance with the revolutionary group of Kabesang Tales, a former ‘cabeza de
barangay’ who suffered maltreatments from the hands of the friars. Using his
influence, Simoun encourages corruption, decadence, and more oppressive
government policies so that the citizens may become more infuriated.
 Yet, the planned revolt one night was not carried out because
Simoun, upon hearing that Maria Clara died in the nunnery, decided not
to give the signal for the outbreak of the uprising. Another plan was made
some months later.

At the venue of the wedding reception of Juanito Pelaez and Paulita

Gomez, Simoun planted many explosives — enough to kill the invited
guests, primarily the friars and government officials. According to the plot,
the big explosion shall be started by the gift he would give to the newlyweds
at the reception—a kerosene lamp with an explosive. When the lamp
flickers and someone turns the wick, it will result into a big explosion that
will become a signal to the revolutionary troops to simultaneously attack all
the government buildings in Manila.
 During the reception, Simoun gives his gift to the newly- weds.
Before hurriedly leaving the venue, he leaves a piece of mysterious
paper bearing the message “You will die tonight” signed by Juan
Crisostomo Ibarra.

Meanwhile, Isagani, the rejected lover of Paulita, is standing

outside the reception. His friend Basilio tells him to leave the place
because the lamp will soon blow up.

When Father Salvi identifies the handwriting in the note and

confirms that it was indeed Ibarra’s, the guests begin to panic. W hen the
lamp flickers, Father Irene tries to turn the wick up. But Isag ani, wanting to
save Paulita’s life, rushes into the house, grabs the lamp, and throws it
into the river where it explodes.
 Simoun’s revolutionary plot was thus known and he is
thus hunted by the law enforcers. He managed to escape but
was seriously wounded. Carrying his jewelry chest, he finds
shelter in the home of Padre Florentino by the sea. Learning
of his presence in the house of the priest, the lieutenant of the
Guardia Civil informs Padre Florentino that he will come in
the evening to arrest Simoun.
 Simoun then takes poison that he would not be caught alive. As
the poison’s effects start to take toll on his body, he confesses to Florentino
his true identity and his plan of revenge through bloody revolution. After
the emotional and agonizing confession of the dying man, the priest
absolves the dying man from his sins, saying: “God will forgive you Señor
Simoun.
He knows that we are fallible. He has seen that you have suffered
… He has frustrated your plans one by one … first by the death of Maria
Clara, then by a lack of preparation, then in some mysterious way. Let us
bow to His will and render Him
thanks!”

The story ends with the priest throwing Simoun’s treasu res into
the sea so that they would not be used by the greedy. The priest hopes that
when the right time comes, they would be recovered and used only for
the good.
THE SEMBLANCE OF
NOLI AND EL FILI
THE SEMBLANCE OF NOLI AND EL FILI
• Both novels portray an exposure of the ills of the Spanish
authorities. In depicting the social conditions in the
country, the use of satires and caricatures were very
evident, although El Fili is more serious, less humorous and
more bitter in its treatment of the situations.

• The suffering of the native Filipinos from the cruelty

and exploitation of the colonizers were very much
depicted in the Noli. On the other hand, there is awakening
in El Fili wherein the natives were described to be at the
brink of a rebellion as revolutionary forces have been
formed.
THE SEMBLANCE OF NOLI AND EL FILI
•
In general, El Fili presents a more miserable
representation of the country under the Spanish
regime. The novel is more radical and
revolutionary — it has less idealism and romance as
compared to the Noli.

•
The novel’s poor outlook and more tragic mood
can be attributed to the persecutions and
sufferings that Rizal and his family experienced
from the Spanish friars and officials in the years he was
writing the novel.
THE SEMBLANCE OF NOLI AND EL FILI

• Some of Rizal’s friends like Blumentritt and Graciano Lopez

Jaena expressed that the El Fili was more superior than Noli.
Apparently, Rizal himself also believed in the superiority
of the El Fili. When its printing had to be stopped for
lack of funds.

• Indeed, the El Filibusterismo is a novel about a failed

revolution as organized by Simoun. His return to the
Philippines was to encourage corruption in the government
using his wealth and influence in order to provoke the people
take a stand against the Spanish regime.
THE SEMBLANCE OF NOLI AND EL FILI

•
Rizal’s message was very clear: Filipinos
should be courageous enough to protest and
proclaim their rights. They have to be willing
to sacrifice in the face of oppression and
tyranny — only then can they be deserving of
the independence that they desperately want to
attain.
THE SEMBLANCE OF NOLI AND EL FILI
• According to Guerrero (1998), Rizal was a reluctant
revolutionary. He believed in independence as a solution to the
sufferings of the many Filipinos under the Spanish rule but he
hesitated and backed down. One explanation seemed logical: To
Rizal, the Filipinos during his time were not yet ready for a
revolution.

• Similarly, they were not ready for independence. They were

still unworthy of independence because they have not yet
learned to prioritize the common good over their personal
gain. The Filipinos were not yet ready to become a nation. For
Rizal, God will provide the means — be it a revolution or a peaceful
separation from Spain — but they need education, exemplary lives and
the willingness to sacrifice for other people.