CHAPTER XII

POLITICS IN EL FILIBUSTERISMO
Noli Me Tangere is about the Filipino culture:
the social structural set up; the people strengths
and weaknesses; and, their virtuses and vices.
The sequel of Noli Me Tangere is El
Filibusterismo. It focuses more on political
aspects, and like Robert Dahl to start with, we
ask the question, “who gets what and how?”
Our political analysis includes the study of ideals
and ideologies which are necessary in
understanding the conflicting moves in the
second novel.
We go deeper into different implications drawn
from different scenes; the dialogues; the
monologues; and, the presentation of conflicting
views about the revolution is the second novel.
There are also ambiguous propositions: to maintain
the existing set up of society; to modify it ; or, have
it radically changed. After our analyses and
synthesis of the different ideals and ideologies, we
come into a conclusion that Jose Rizal had been
consistent in his stand about the revolution,
regardless of all the seeming paradoxes.
Like Noli Me Tangere, El Filibusterismo was
conceived and written in repressive society. Fili
however, was darkened by the author’s
frustrations and persecution. El Filibusterismo is
more of a contemplation of revolution, the last
recourse of the oppressed people after all pacific
means employed failed. Noli and Fili may be
likened to a diptych, twin tablets where the TEN
COMMANDMENTS were written. thus: we
cannot study El Filibusterismo without touching
Noli Me Tangere and vice versa.
 we are by nature social and political
animals. Accordingly, one way or the other, we
all play politics. Power is the alpha and omega
of politics. It is the capability to influence or
to compel others to change their behavior: to
do what they do not want to do; or not to do
what they want doing, if given the freedom to
act on their own volition.
Politics come into play when there are opposing
claims or interest. It inheres in human relations
because we neither can have one hundred percent
“yes” nor one hundred percent “no” in any given
proposition. Robert Dahl explained, “Politics is an art
of controlling, manipulating or influencing group so as
to advance the purposes of one or some against the
opposition of another or others. Whoever and
whatever we are, power is necessary. Power however,
tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts
absolutely. There is nothing wrong with power in
itself. It is how power players play in raw politics.
absolute power was in the hands of the political elite in
the 19th century: the Crown of Spain, the clergy, the civil
government and the military. Enmeshed in
superstitions, fanaticism and obscurantism, the masses
found themselves powerless to alter the prevailing
social and political set up. The ilustrados were few and
the entire archipelago was geopolitically disunited. The
scattered seven thousand, one hundred-seven islands
and islets; and the difficulties in communication and
transportation had made the country conducive for
Machiavellian tactic of “divide and rule”. In a repressive
society, nationalistic and revolutionary movements
easily fizzled out.
 to aspire for favorable concessions
from colonizers, the colonized have to
struggle. For a revolution to succeed, it is
necessary to mobilized all the people,
from the lowest rung of society to the
topmost. The movement must be
anchored on ideology: philosophy,
program and propaganda.
 Ideologies
Ideologies are set of ideas or beliefs that people
hold about their political regime, its institutions:
and their own position and role in it. Ideologies are
synonymous with political culture and political
tradition. They are building blocks of movement ,
today and from the distant past. They spelled out
what are valued and what are not; and, advocate
what must be preserved or what must be changed.
Ideologies relate to social and political behavior and
action.
 functionally, ideologies interpret; clarify
and assess political objects; legitimize a
regime, an order or status; and, work for
compliance based on the conviction of the
rightfulness of a regime. Ideologies serve as
the framework of a movement: they incite
people to political action, infuse passion and
call for sacrifices.
philosophy of an ideology answers the questions why
or what for, its program prescribes what must be
done; and, its propaganda provides techniques in
spreading information to generate support, for
reawakening , recruitment, politicization, and to
mobilize people. While propaganda is directed to the
intellect, it works more intensely on emotion, that
when effective use can make people cling to what ever
is advocated, no matter illogical the advocacy could
be. propaganda is not only intended to change
people’s way of thinking. It is carried out to provoke
them to action.
 because of their respective ideologies,
Bonifacio and the Katipuneros defied the
Reign of Terror. Jose Rizal chose radical
presented to him. Without idealism, Rizal
could not exhort his people to take on a
continuing revolution.
Anarchism, Conservatism, Liberalism and
Marxism

Ideologies such as conservatism,

liberalism, and anarchism are
presented here to serve as basis in
explaining the seemingly
contradictory ideologies espoused by
Dr. Jose Rizal.
Anarchism is an ideology which stresses belief in the
ability of men and women to establish functioning social
communities, without the need for the apparatus of
state. It advocates destruction of the existing society by
revolution, for the birth of a new and better one.
Anarchists Mikhail Bakunin (1814-1876) and Peter
Kropotkin (1842-1921) maintained that a state is a
parasite and an enemy of the people. They advocated
abolition of private property and condemned fraud
perpetrated in the guise of religion. They glorified
revolution, as the only way to effects change. This was
simoun’s frame of mind when he enticed Basilio and
Elias to join him in El Filibusterismo.
Jose Rizal presented two kinds of anarchism in El
Filibusterismo: classical anarchism and anarcho-
individualism. Classical anarchism espouses
violence as a necessity to uproot the old system and
to counter resistance of the ruling class. It is
extremely critical of social and political roles played
by religion in deceiving and using people for
material gains. Anarcho-individualist on the other
hand, employs radical-pacifism, a kind of protest
which is peaceful, yet overwhelming.
Radical-pacifism is an act of dying as “acceptance” of unjust
punishment for a crime, purportedly committed. It is a non-
violent protest that highlights injustice and corruption and
consequently, spawns strong and violent public reaction.
Socrates for instance, firmly maintained his innocence on
impiety and corruption on minors, but he accepted the unjust
sentence of death, in defense of academic freedom. He was
given the opportunity to escape nonetheless, he accepted his
punishment by willingly taking the hemlock. When ask about
his last wish, he mock his judges by asking them to put up his
statue in public square. At any rate, it was fulfilled years
thereafter
There is a parallelism between Socrates and Jose
Rizal when the latter accepted his death to
identify tyranny and vices of society. By
reading Rizal’s literary works in the author-
oriented context, one may draw out the
message in his poem Mi Ultimo Adios and the
soliloquy of the dying Elias in Noli, as
foreshadowing of the radical-pacifism that he
would take.
In the story of Filipino people, the same was repeated in
assassinations of Benigno Aquino and Evelio Javier.
Conditioned to be passive and indifferent, the Filipinos,
need a spark to blow up a silent explosive social
volcano. All told, the ultimate and most effective tool
of propaganda was the radical-pacific death of Jose
Rizal. It shock the people’s conscience and senses.
Ninoy’s death had a strong impact. The protest actions
sent the dictator out of the country. Gentle and peace
loving people, Filipinos have always borne the brunt of
the oligarchs; greed for wealth and power silently and
patiently through the years; but, it can precipitate in
the unleashing of their wrath eventually.
 Conservatism
Conservatism may be taken as a
precautionary measure against
radical changes. Its features are the
following: organicism, aristocracy,
paternalism, compliance, tradition
and social pessimism.
In organicism, a state is viewed as an organ; the product of a
healthy society; a living organism whose parts are subordinate
to and contributory to the welfare of the whole. Aristocracy is
from the word arete which means “excellence” or the rule of the
best, where the members of the community place the
confidence on a distinct group; and doubt the capacity of the
masses to rule. Paternalism is a concept where the aristocratic
group plays parents and the masses of children, under the
protection and tutelage of the former. Compliance is submission
one’s self to authority and subordination to basic institutions.
This is ascribe to the role assign to the leaders as part of the
organic social whole and are presumed to be just and legitimate.
In traditionalism, customs and institutions are
generally considered the best because they have
been tested by time. In social pessimism, human
beings are believed to be molded by the society ,
and society in turn, is shaped by them. Corollary to
these, society is seen as a reflection of human
nature and the collective behavior of a particular
society. Traditionalism claims that social ills can not
be blamed on the defects of a social system alone,
but are also imputed to culture, the weakness and
defects of human beings themselves. Clericalism is
a principle that disapproves complete separation of
the church and the state because religion serves
as the basis of society.
 Liberalism
Natural rights liberalism recognize the nature man as a rational being,
endowed with natural rights such as life, liberty and property. These
rights ought to be protected by the government. Likewise, the
government and the governed are bounded by a “give and take
relationship”. A government has the right to formulate and
implement laws for the general welfare of the people and in turn,
the people must support the government and abide by the law.
When the government becomes arbitrary and oppressive, the
people have the right to overthrow the government. Liberalism
postulates that human beings differ in incidents and accidents.
Given equal chances, one will strive to show how unequal he is with
his equals and equals unequal. It is therefore , the government’s
task to bridge the gap to social justice.
 Ideals and idealogies
Noli Me Tangere presents two conflicting proposition:
revolt by the masses as articulated by Elias and
peaceful means as espoused by Ibarra. Elias, served
as a spokesperson for the cause of the oppressed
and the outlaws represented by Captain Pablo and
the tulisanes. He relayed to Ibarra the group’s
yearning for radical reforms in the church, in the
government, in the military and in the judicial
system. Through Elias, Rizal criticized abuse of
power and the necessity of the force to stop tyranny.
Elias imputed corruption to superstitions
and incoherence to religion. He
questioned “peace” and “spiritual
salvation” alienation from their own way
of life. Ibarra was reminded by Elias of his
family’s deprivations in the hands of
Spanish authorities. The elements of
conservatism were manifested though,
when he rebuked Elias and Justified the
necessity of civil and political authorities.
Ibarra affirmed the defects of the different institutions
but he justified the necessity of their existence.
While he hated the abuse of power by the guardia
civil, he saw the military force as a necessary evil.
While he condemned the excesses of the friars, he
praised religion as the finest legacy of Spain to the
Filipinos. Ibarra recognized social ills but preferred
education for liberation. Although aware of
questions on sovereignty and imperialism, Rizal
kept faith in Spain. When he was reminded of his
own misgivings, he professed sacrificing personal
interests for his country’s welfare.
 Revolution
El Filibusterismo presents two ideals: revolution as a means
to end and utopia, an ideal state. Adopting the ideology
of liberalism on the other hand, Rizal through Isagani
espoused a government founded on the consent of the
people. By way of parallelism, he compared the
oppressed people to the ocean which will turn into steam.
This is implied in Simoun’s wedding gift to the symbol of
hatred and suffering. Simoun designated the lamp to
explode at the wedding reception where the government
dignitaries, high renking military officials and the friars of
the church are present.
The anticipated slaughter was founded on the
Lockian theory that the people have the right to
overthrow an arbitrary and oppressive
government. For the Marxists and the anarchists,
revolution emphasized not only the necessary
evil but as the only way of cleansing society. The
indispensability of revolution is emphasized in El
Filibusterismo. It is shown when Simoun realized
the existence of social ills, which has been
endemic in social institutions. He resolved to
wage the revolution, to purge the system, and
convinced Basilio to join him in his cause.
At this point, Simoun is fired with positive
thoughts of the revolution and the new
system that shall arise. As this idea is basically
anarchic and Marxist, it involves destruction of
property and elimination of undesirable
elements in society. Holistically, it is the
termination of a vitiated system to give rise to
a new one. Should Rizal allow the mortally
wounded Simoun to live and the revolution to
succeed, then, El Filibusterismo could be taken
purely as a call to arms.
 Utopia
Utopia literally means “nowhere”. It is an ideal place, not
found here on earth. Recall the words of Basilio when
he described the world state achieved through science,
and the thoughts of Simoun when he contemplated
whether or not he too, was a garbage of society. Basilio
realized the immortality of revolution as a means to an
end, and the consequences of sacrificing the lives of the
innocents. He was struck by the thought that only God
can take back life. Even Father Florentino shunned
revolution and told Simoun that a revolution will fail..
Lockian theory however, justifies revolution.
Through the words of Simoun, Rizal said, “Water
is very sweet and can be drunk, but drowns out
wine and beer and puts out fire; that heated, it is
steam, that irritated, it becomes an ocean and it
has once destroyed humanity and made the
world tremble in its foundations!”. The
forebodings of revolution are echoed by Isagani,
when he said, “When fire heats it, when the
small creeks that are now scattered in the rugged
valleys unite in the abyss that men are digging,
driven by fatality…”
The Characters Elias, Simoun, and Isagani were
agitated. They instituted the impending breaking out
of revolution:
The centuries old submissiveness and patience, like
placid water is now a dam about to burst and the
sores of torments have invaded the system like
venom sweeping the archipelago’s life supporting
tributaries and streams. The uprising has been
sounded, and the call, heard all over the land. The
time for radical remedy has come.
Crouched in a poetic language, Rizal sternly warned his
people on the inevitability of revolution.
 Burke and Rosseau in El Filibusterismo
The British parliamentarian, Edmund Burke (1729-1797) was
the first strong exponent of conservatism. In his book
Reflections on the Revolution in France, he underscored
liberal idealism behind the 1789 revolution, which for him
ironically produced illiberal doctrines and practices when the
revolution succeeded. Liberalism maintains that the people
are entitled to prescriptive rights or legitimate rights as
recognized by society. As such, they ought to enjoy the same
rights as men are created equal. The battle cry of the French
revolution was equality, liberty and fraternity, but Burke
pointed out the fallacies of this proposition:
Conflicting Thoughts in El Filibusterismo
• El Filibusterismo establishes the necessity of waging a
revolution while putting it side by side with anarchism
and conservatism. At the wedding reception, violence is
prevented by the snatching and the throwing of a bomb
to the river. The question on the morality of revolution
is asked by Simuon who had chosen the path of
violence to change the decadent society and to
completely demolish its political, social and economic
structures. It was the expression of Rizal,s despondency
through Simuon and a reflection on the violent options:
 The choice between Conservatism and
Liberalism
• What a person writes about and how he writes reveal his
personality, his beliefs, his values idiosyncrasies and the
influence of events of individualization, we know that Rizal
spoke through Ibarra. He expressed optimism on the possible
reforms and fair treatment by the Spanish Crown as it did with
some of her other colonies. A man of peace, he preferred
education to revolution in liberating his people, From his
earlier writings up to the last piece he wrote, he exalted the
value of education. As Ibarra, he said , I shall have a
schoolhouse constructed, I shall have my people instructed so
they may gain progressive ideas, with light they will see the
right road.
 Marxism in El Filibusterismo
• In the dialogue between Elias and Ibarra, Elias insisted
that, or there has been no liberty without fighting. This
may be viewed as an incendiary to fight. Following the
thoughts of Karl Marx, the capitalist and the workers will
never be reconciled. As production improves and the
capitalists profits increase, there will also be new baubles
for the elite, It is theorized that the propertied, the
moneyed and powerful will never give up without a fight.
Marx posited that workers all over the have nothing to
lose except their chains. For the Marxist therefore,
revolution is imperative and inevitable.
 The Moral Basis of Revolution
• Simon’s resolve to re-invigorate his country mass
killing, reflects the anarchist Bakunin’s view of
revolution as creative and revitalizing

• Through the dialogue of Fr. Florentino, good

triumphs over evil in El Filibusterismo. The
revolution was aborted when Isagani hurled the
bomb to the river. The good priest explained to
Simon why God allowed the revolution to fail.
The Philippine Revolution: Its Necessity and
Inevitability
• There were three attempts to wage revolution
in El Filibusterismo. The first fizzled out
because of inept planning and because Maria
Clara, who was supposed to be rescued from
the nunnery, had died. Many innocent people
where punished and Simon saw this as an
opportunity to incite the people to take up
arms and overthrow the government.
 Why must Revolution fail?
• The diff sides of revolution are discussed in El
Filibusterismo. They are presented in
dialogues and in the series of events which
took place. While Rizal through Simuon said
that revolution is the last argument of the
oppressed, revolution in El Filibusterismo
must fail to forewarn both the tyrants and the
slaves of its price. As a whole, El Fili provides
the moral basis , an analysis of the causes,
effects, and the inevitability of the Philippine
revolution.
 The Challenge
• In a scene in El Fili, Rizal through
Isagani spoke about selflessness and
patriotism. Isagani chided the self
serving Senor Pasta and reminded of
good citizenship:
 The Timelessness and Timelines of Noli and
Fili
• ,Malaysian Rizalist, Anwar Ibrahim, spoke of Asian
nations. He, as well, echoed Rizal’s words on social cancer.
• Noli and Fili were published more than a hundred years
ago. It is timeless as it holds true in anytime of our history.
It is universal as well because it is true to all parts of the
world. The message of Rizal is never anachronistic. It
remains true in the face of stark reality of the Philippine
social and moral decay in the 1st century. Rizal did not pick
up arms to wage a bloody revolution but his struggle for
freedom continues.