Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Rizal Characters El Fili
Rizal Characters El Fili
Father Millon The Physics teacher of the University of Santo Tomas. He always
becomes vindictive with Placido and always taunts him during class.
Tadeo Macaraigs 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 good
friends with Simoun
Tano Kabesang Taless 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
Pepay Don Custodios supposed girlfriend. A dancer, she is always agitated of
her boyfriends 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 Basilios 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 theUniversity 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 Claras stepfather 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.
Major Charaters
Crisstomo Ibarra
Juan Crisstomo Ibarramedia y Magsalin, commonly referred to the novel
as Ibarra or Crisstomo, is the protagonist in the story. Son of a Filipino
businessman, Don Rafael Ibarra, he studied in Europe for seven years. Ibarra is also
Mara Claras fianc. Several sources claim that Ibarra is also Rizals reflection: both
studied in Europe and both persons believe in the same ideas. Upon his return,
Ibarra requested the local government of San Diego to construct a public school to
promote education in the town. (Penaflorida)
Mara Clara de los Santos y Alba
Commonly referred to as Mara Clara, is Ibarras fiance. She was raised by
Capitn Tiago, San Diegoscabeza de barangay and is the most beautiful and widely
celebrated girl in San Diego. In the later parts of the novel, Mara Claras identity
was revealed as an illegitimate daughter of Father Dmaso, former parish curate of
the town, and Doa Pa Alba, wife of Capitn Tiago. In the end she entered local
convent for nuns Beaterio de Santa Clara. In the epilogue dealing with the fate of
the characters, Rizal stated that it is unknown if Mara Clara is still living within the
walls of the convent or she is already dead.
Kapitn Tiago
Don Santiago de los Santos, known by his nickname Tiago and political
title Capitn Tiago is a Filipino businessman and the cabeza de barangay or head
of barangay of the town of San Diego. He is also the known father of Mara Clara.
In the novel, it is said that Kapitn Tiago is the richest man in the region
of Binondo and he possessed real properties in Pampanga and Laguna de Bay. He is
also said to be a good Catholic, friend of the Spanish government and was
considered as Spanish by colonialists. Capitn Tiago never attended school, so he
became a domestic helper of a Dominican friar who taught him informal education.
He married Pa Alba from Santa Cruz.
Dmaso Verdolagas, or Padre Dmaso
He is a Franciscan friar and the former parish curate of San Diego. He is best
known as a notorious character who speaks with harsh words and has been a cruel
priest during his stay in the town. He is revealed to be the real father of Mara Clara
and an enemy of Crisstomos father, Rafael Ibarra. Later, he and Mara Clara had
bitter arguments whether she would marry Alfonso Linares or go to a convent. At
the end of the novel, he is again reassigned to a distant town and is found dead one
day. (Duterte)
Elas
Elas is Ibarras mysterious friend and ally. Elas made his first appearance as a
pilot during a picnic of Ibarra and Mara Clara and her friends. He wants to
revolutionize the country and to be freed from Spanish oppression
The 50th chapter of the novel explores the past of Elas and history of his
family. In the past, Ibarras great-grandfather condemned Elas grandfather of
burning a warehouse which led into misfortune for Elas family. His father was
refused to be married by her mother because his fathers past and family lineage
was discovered by his mothers family. In the long run, Elas and his twin sister were
raised by their maternal grandfather. When they were teenagers, their distant
relatives called them hijos de bastardo or illegitimate children. One day, his sister
disappeared which led him to search for her. His search led him into different places,
and finally, he became a fugitive and subversive.
Pilosopo Taci
Filosofo Tacio, known by his Tagalized language name Pilosopo Tasyo, is another
major character in the story. Seeking for reforms from the government, he
expresses his ideals in paper written in a cryptographic alphabet similar
from hieroglyphs and Coptic figures hoping that the future generations may be
able to decipher it and realized the abuse and oppression done by the conquerors.
His full name is only known as Don Anastasio. The educated inhabitants of San
Diego labeled him as Filosofo Tacio (Tacio the Sage) while others called him as Tacio
el Loco (Tacio the Insane) due to his exceptional talent for reasoning. (Filipino
People)
Doa Victorina
Doa Victorina de los Reyes de Espadaa, commonly known as Doa Victorina, is
an ambitious Filipina who classifies herself as a Spanish and mimics Spanish ladies
by putting on heavy make-up. The novel narrates Doa Victorinas younger days:
she had lots of admirers, but she did not choose any of them because nobody was a
Spaniard. Later on, she met and married Don Tiburcio de Espadaa, an official of the
customs bureau who is about ten years her junior. However, their marriage is
childless. (Imelda Marcos)
Her husband assumes the title of medical doctor even though he never attended
medical school; using fake documents and certificates, Tiburcio practices illegal
medicine. Tiburcios usage of the title Dr. consequently makes Victorina assume the
title Dra. (doctora, female doctor). Apparently, she uses the whole name Doa
Victorina de los Reyes de de Espadaa, with double de to emphasize her marriage
surname. She seems to feel that this awkward titling makes her more
sophisticated.
Sisa, Crispn, and Basilio
Sisa, Crispn, and Basilio represent a Filipino family persecuted by the Spanish
authorities:
Basilio is Sisas 10-year-old son. An acolyte tasked to ring the church bells for
the Angelus, he faced the dread of losing his younger brother and the descent
of his mother into insanity. At the end of the novel, Elas wished Basilio to bury
him by burning in exchange for a chest of gold located on his death ground. He
he is willing to kill an innocent child, Crispin, just to get his money back,
though there was not enough evidence that it was Crispin who has stolen his 2
onzas.
El Alfrezor Alperes chief of the Guardia Civil. Mortal enemy of the priests
for power in San Diego and husband of Doa Consolacion.
Don Filipo Lino vice mayor of the town of San Diego, leader of the liberals.
Dona Pa Alba wife of Capitan Tiago and mother of Mara Clara, she died
giving birth to her daughter. In reality, she was raped by Dmaso so she could
bear a child.
Non-recurring characters
These characters were as mentioned in the novel, appeared once, mentioned
many times or have no major contribution to the storyline.
Don Saturnino Ibarra the son of Don Pedro, father of Don Rafael and
grandfather of Crisstomo Ibarra. He was the one who developed the town of
San Diego. He was described as a cruel man but was very clever.
Andeng Maria Claras childhood friend. She is like a sister to Maria Clara
since they shared the same wet nurse. She has a clear, cheerful look and a
reputation for being a good cook. Her name is a diminutive form from the
name Miranda and the Tagalog participle ng.
Salom Elas sweetheart. She lives in a little house by the lake, and though
Elas would like to marry her, he tells her that it would do her or their children
no good to be related to a fugitive like himself. In the original publication
of Noli, the chapter that explores the identity of Elas and Salom was omitted,
classifying her as a total non-existing character. This chapter, entitled Elas y
Salom was probably the 25th chapter of the novel. However, recent editions
and translations of Noli provides the inclusion of this chapter, either on the
appendix or renamed as Chapter X (Ex).
Capitn Tinong and Capitn Valentn other known people from the town
of San Diego
Tandng Pablo the leader of the tulisanes (bandits), whose family was
destroyed because of the Spaniard
Lucas the brother of the taong madilaw. He planned a revolution against the
government with Ibarra as the leader after he was turned down by Ibarra. He
was said to have a scar on his left cheek. He would later be killed by the
Sakristan Mayor.
Bruno and Tarsilo a pair of brothers whose father was killed by the
Spaniards.
Albino a former seminarian who joined the picnic with Ibarra and Mara
Clara. He was later captured during the revolution.
Sacristn Mayor the one who governs the altar boys and killed Crispn for
his accusation.
Mga Tauhan:
Simoun
Ang mapagpanggap na mag-aalahas na nakasalaming may kulay
Isagani
Ang makatang kasintahan ni Paulita
Basilio
Ang mag-aaral ng medisina at kasintahan ni Juli
Kabesang Tales
Ang naghahangad ng karapatan sa pagmamay- ari ng lupang sinasaka na inaangkin
ng mga prayle
Tandang Selo
Ama ni Kabesang Tales na nabaril ng kanyang sariling apo
Ginoong Pasta
Ang tagapayo ng mga prayle sa mga suliraning legal
Ben-zayb
Ang mamamahayag sa pahayagan
Placido Penitente
Imuthis
Ang mahiwagang ulo sa palabas ni G. Leeds