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Lesson 10. El Filibusterismo

This chapter will focus on the important themes tackled by Rizal in his second novel.
Through these themes, the national hero’s views and ideas about the different aspects of
society can be examined. It will also narrate how Rizal was able to write and publish his second
novel despite threats from the Spanish colonial government that regarded his first book, Noli
Me Tangere, as subversive. A brief synopsis of his novel will also be presented for discussion
and analysis.

Lesson Objectives:
Vocabulary
At the end of this lesson, you will be able to:
✓ Cabeza de barangay – Head of the barangay.
• Trace the meaning of the term filibustero ✓ Filibustero – In 19th century context, it was translated as
“subversive”.
across time;
✓ Guardia civil – Police/military force assigned by the colonial
• Explain the historical context in which El government to maintain peace and order.
✓ Principalia class – The ruling and usually educated upper
Filibusterismo was written; and
class in the 19th century Philippines.
• Examine current events through the eyes ✓ Reform – Improvement or change to a better state.
of the characters.

Getting Started:

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.

To counter Noli Me Tangere’s hopeful and romantic atmosphere, Rizal followed it up

with El Filibusterismo. Rizal started writing El Filibusterismo in 1888 and finished it in 1889. But just
like the fate of Noli Me Tangere, Rizal also had difficulties in the publication of El Filibusterismo

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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 Filibusterismo’s original cover

Fortunately, his friend, Valentin Ventura, offered him financial assistance which led to
the novel’s publication in September 1891. El Filibusterismo was much shorter with only 39
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.

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. Through the different characters in the novel,
Rizal provided insights regarding the condition of Philippine society under the Spanish colonial
rule. It was also through the experience of these characters that Rizal was able to direct
readers into recognizing the ills that plagued the country. At the end of the novel, Rizal
challenged the youth in the character of Basilio, to recognize their role in the society – as the
catalyst for social change.

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In El Filibusterismo, Rizal warned the Spain 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.

Furthermore, Rizal also condemned the elite Filipinos, who out of greed, selfishness,
complacency, and cowardice, turned a blind eye on the abuses of the Spanish authorities as
long as these did not affect them.

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

Rizal’s second novel, El Filibusterismo, is a story set in twilight years of the Spanish colonial
government. 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 judgement on
political and social conditions in the country, 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.”

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, C burns with passion and ideology, wherein El Filibusterismo showed
his maturity as a novelist.

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Filibustero: History and Context

Rizal started writing El Filibusterismo as a sequel to the Noli Me Tangere after he returned
to Europe on 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 meaning of the word “filibustero” after reading
the Noli Me Tangere, which he did not fin in the Spanish language. To recall, Rizal replied that
the word “filibustero” means a dangerous patriot who will soon be hanged, or a presumptuous
fellow.

For Wenceslao Retana, “filibustero” means the one who, eager for independence of
the country, resort to various extralegal proceedings in order to reach the objective that he
pursues. (Aguilar, 2011)

By the end of the 19th century, the Spanish colonial government defined “filibuster” as
someone who works for the separation of our overseas provinces. With this definition, one will
have an idea about the plot of Rizal’s second novel. It deals with subversion. It pictures the
lives of people under an oppressive regime. It narrates the struggle of every Filipino in fighting
for independence.

El Filibusterismo: Continuing Relevance

124 years after Rizal’s execution, his writings remain socially relevant. The ills that he
rallied against – inept leadership, corruption, abuse of women, and the influence of Catholic
Church over political and social affairs – are still persisting in the Philippines today.

Rizal’s main objective in writing El Filibusterismo is to expose the Philippine situation as he

witnessed during his time. In reading this novel, one can see the nation’s past and present
situations which make this literary work enduringly significant.

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Revolution as a Means of Social Change

In the novel, Simoun is the filibuster who encourages the principalia class to abuse the
poor so that the latter would be driven to revolt against the government. His character may
be interpreted as someone who represents theFilipino revolutionaries that supported the idea
of a bloody revolution against the Spanish colonial government.

Simoun’s failed uprisings in the narrative, were interpreted as Rizal’s abhorrence of

violence and bloodshed. They failed to see that Rizal, together with the other reformists,
regarded reform and assimilation as a first step towards Philippine independence.

On Leadership and Governance

El Filibusterismo’s message is very clear – the inept leaders, corrupt officials, and system
of government in the Philippines could lead to Spain’s downfall.

Rizal himself was admired as a good leader. His colleagues in the Propaganda
Movement respected him because he showed a kind of leadership that was no motivated by
personal interest. The call for a good leadership could be gleaned from El Filibusterismo when
he stressed the importance of national sentiment to guard the society against all kinds of
injustices, and oppression.

Rizal condemned the friar-led officials for their greed corruption, and exploitations of the
natives. On the other hand, he also criticized his fellow Filipinos who did not respond to the
challenges under the abusive leadership of the Spaniards.

The character of Basilio, for example, who, despite the extreme sufferings that he and
his family experienced, did not support Simoun’s plan of overthrowing the government. He
only joined the revolutionary group after being arrested and imprisoned, followed by the
death of his sweetheart, Juli. There was also another character, Señor Pasta, who abandoned
his noble ideas to serve only the interest of those who hired him.

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On Education and Language

At the time that Simoun was planning to launch the revolution, students including Basilio
were also fighting for the establishment of a school that would allow natives to learn Spanish
language. Simoun strongly reacted against the project advocated by the students.

Basilio on the other hand believed that true education, he would be able to alleviate
the lives of his felloe Filipinos. He did not believe that revolution could be an answer to
achieved freedom. For him, education and science would save the country from its present
condition.

On the Filipino Youth

Such were the words of Jose Rizal through the character of Padre Florentino, a patriotic
Filipino priest in El Filiburterimo. Rizal sw the youth as the future of the country because this
generation would one day lead the nation. Their actions today would shape the path of
tomorrow.

El Filibusterismo in Present Time

In the present, the two novels still remain popular. The original manuscript of Noli Me
Tangere was acquired by the Philippine government in 1911 for ₱32,000 from Soledad Rizal
Quintero. The original manuscript of the El Filibusterismo was sold by Valentin Ventura to the
Philippine government in 1928 for ₱ 10,000. Both were kept in Manila City Hall for safekeeping.
However, the liberation battle of 1945 destroyed almost everything in Manila and the looting
and pilferage of historical became rampant because of their outstanding monetary value.

In 1946, most of the lost documents were returned to the National Library under a “no
publicity – no question policy” arrangement. Through this, the invaluable works of Rizal were
safely kept by the National Library in the Rare Books and Manuscripts Section. In 1961, as the

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government prepared for the centennial celebration of Rizal’s birth anniversary, the original
works of Rizal were included in the exhibit as part of the international conference organized
by the Jose Rizal National Centennial Commission.

However, on December 8, 1961, the three works were stolen from the glass-encased-
locked display counter. Upon negotiations, they were returned to the National Library on
February 9, 1962.

A few years ago, the original copies of the Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo in the
possession of the National Library were reported to be decaying. Fortunately, the German
government offered a conservation project in 2011 just in time for the 150th birth anniversary of
Jose Rizal.

Summary

• This chapter traced the history of the term “filibustero” and how the Filipinos defined the
concept during Rizal’s time. Compared to Noli Me Tangere, El Filibusterismo showed how
Rizal matured as a writer. This transformation could be seen in the main character
Simoun who changed from being a moderate ilustrado to a revolutionary jeweler and
planned to launch a revolution against the colonial government. Through this novel,
one could see how a victim of oppression and injustice could turn into an influential
revolutionary.

• It also showed how El Filibusterismo could be used in examining the Philippine condition
during Rizal’s time. Through his novel, readers got a glimpse of the kind of society where
Rizal lived. The characters might be fictional but most of the situations in the story were
actual events or portrayals of similar events that happened in the past.

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References:

Obias, R., Mallari, A. & Estella, J. (2018), The Life and Works of Jose Rizal, C& E Publishing, Inc.,
Clemente, J. & Cruz, G. (2019), The Life and Works of Rizal Outcome-Based Module, C& E
Publishing, Inc.,
Crudo, E., Guiwa, H. & Pawilen, R. (2019), A Course Module for The Life, Works, and Writings of
Jose Rizal, Rex Bookstore, Inc.,

Learning Module on The Life and Works of Jose Rizal