El Filibusterismo

‘The Reign of Greed’

Rizal’s last testament and legacy
Fili and its writing history

▣ Pages after pages is crossed out and

paragraphs expunged, a sign of Rizal’s penury.
▣ March 29 1891, he informed Blumentritt that
he had finished the manuscript.
▣ April 23, he informed Blumentritt that he had
finished writing and was copying it once
again.
▣ May 30, he was informing Jose Ma. Basa, he
was ready to take his manuscript to press.
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Fili and its writing history

▣ On June 13, he informed Basa that he had only

3 chapters left to correct, and saying that Fili is
longer than Noli.
▣ In sum, the Fili went through four versions
between March 29 and June 13, 1891.
▣ Personal predicaments had prompted Rizal to
revise the Fili extensively.
▣ The Fili is the last major work of Rizal before
his death.
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Dedication to Frs Gomez, Burgos, and
Zamora

▣ Rizal notes how both Church and State have

put in doubt the justice of the execution, while
the Filipino people do not believe they are
guilty.
▣ Seen in his dedication is the meaning of
filibustero.
▣ ‘A dangerous patriot who will soon be
hanged, or else a conceited fellow’
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Filibustero

▣ Guerrero translates it as ‘subversion’

▣ The term was widely used by the Spaniards in
spreading stigma and fear, thereby impeding
progress.
▣ For Rizal, the execution was a tragedy not
because they were patriots, but because they
are accused of a crime they did not commit.
▣ They were examples of the innocent and the
defenseless.
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The Fili’s Epigraph

▣ The main idea of Blumentritt’s epigraph is the

the ‘gang of friar-lovers and reactionaries’ are
the most effective filibusteros.
▣ He identified 3 groups opposed to the
assimilation of the Philippines to Spain
▣ The first: those who suffer delusions of
grandeur of European race
▣ The second: functions like a good Samaritan
▣ The third: unthinking and the doctrinaire
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Plot: Part 1 Beginnings

▣ Opens with an image of the Philippine society

reflected in the upper and lower decks of a
steamship traveling up the Pasig River.
▣ Two storylines will course through the novel:
Simoun’s plot to organize a revolution and the
students’ project to put up an academy to teach
Spanish.
▣ In Chapter 7, we see the debate about how to
achieve the betterment of the Philippine society,
by armed revolution or pursuit of science. 7
Plot: Part 2 Protagonists and
Supporters

▣ We see here the narrative of the becoming of

Cabesang Tales as a fugitive.
▣ This part is also focused on the proposal of the
students for a Spanish academy
▣ The plight of Placido Penitente which was the
experience somehow of Rizal in UST.

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Plot: Part 3 Development

▣ Here the student’s proposal will be presented on

Señor Pasta and Don Custodio.
▣ Chapters during this part shows the development
of Simouns plot of revolution.

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Plot: Part 4 Failure

▣ Both the projects of the Simoun and the students

fail.
▣ Don Custodio is not in favor of the academy, and
the plan of Simoun for the revolution was halted
by his loss of focus due to the death of Maria Clara.
▣ Paulita Gomez and Isagani went on a date.

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Plot: Part 5 Denouement

▣ With the presence of many subversive posters in

the campus, several students are arrested
including Basilio.
▣ Isagani had a long debate with Padre Fernandez
which resulted for him to be jailed with his
classmates.
▣ This has unexpected consequences: Paulita
accepts another young man’s marriage proposal.

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Plot: Part 6 Simoun’s Second Attempt

▣ Basilio offers his services to Simoun.

▣ Simoun’s plan will happen in the wedding of
Paulita.
▣ Fili ended with Simoun fleeing with his box of
jewels.
▣ Hunted by the law and wounded, he seeks
sanctuary in the house of a native priest, Father
Florentino.
▣ To escape his pursuers, he takes poison and dies in
despair. 12
The Characters

▣ Ibarra-Simoun
▣ Basilio VS Isagani
▣ Padre Florentino
▣ Don Custodio and Señor Pasta
▣ Juli
▣ Cabesang Tales, Tandeng Selo, Tano

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Themes of Fili

▣ Fili becomes a huge irony

▣ Simoun is similar to Edmond Dantes,
Alexander Dumas’ protagonist in The
Count of Monte Cristo
▣ Rejection of Rizal of the ideals of
enlightenment and the longing of a
once peaceful life
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Themes of Fili

▣ Virtue
▣ Civic Freedom
▣ Fili and the youth

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Philippine Society from Sickness to
Health

▣ Redemption requires virtue

▣ Suffering and death can sow ideas
▣ A good citizen should suffer and work
▣ All citizens play a part in the corruption or
health of a society
▣ The school of suffering tempers, the fighting
arena strengthens souls
▣ The Goal: Citizens who merit civic freedom in
themselves
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