El-Fili 1

Faith Joy P.
Ebuetada Bachelor in Agricultural Technology 3A
El Filibusterismo
Summary
The protagonist of El Filibusterismo is a jeweler named Simoun, He is the new

identity of Crisostomo Ibarra who, in the prequel Noli, escaped from pursuing
soldiers. It is revealed thatCrisostomo dug up his buried treasure and fled to Cuba,
becoming richer and befriending Spanish officials.
After many years, the newly fashioned Simoun returns to the Philippines,
where he is able to freely move around. He is a powerful figure not only because of
his wealth but also because he is a good friend and adviser of the governor general.
Outwardly, Simoun is a friend of Spain; however, in secret, he is plotting a

terrible revenge against the Spanish authorities. His two obsessions are to rescue
his paramour Maria Clara from the nunnery of Santa Clara and to foment a
Philippine revolution against Spain.
The story of El Filibusterismo begins on board a steamer ship sailing up the

Pasig river from Manila to Laguna de Bay. Among the passengers are Simoun: Doña
Victorina, a pro- Spanish native woman who is going to Laguna in search of her
henpecked husband. Tiburcio de Espadaña, who has deserted her, Paulita Gomez,
her beautiful niece; Ben-Zayb (anagram of Ibañez), a Spanish journalist who writes
silly articles about the Filipinos; Padre Sibyla, vice- rector of the University of Santo
Tomas, Padre Camorra, the parish priest of the town of Tiani: Don Custodio, a pro-
Spanish Filipino holding a position in the government; Padre Salvi thin Franciscan
friar and former cura of San Diego; Padre Irene, a kind friar who was a friend of the
Filipino students; Padre Florentino, a retired scholarly and patriotic Filipino priest;
Isagani, a poct-nephew of Padre Florentino and a lover of Paulita, and Basilio, son of
Sisa and promising medical student, whose medical education is financed by his
patron, Capitan Tiago.
A man of wealth and mystery, Simoun is a very close friend and confidante of
the Spanish governor general. Because of his great influence in Malacañang, he was
called the "Brown Cardinal" or the "Black Eminence". By using his wealth and
political influence, he encourages corruption in the government, promotes the
oppression of the masses, and hastens the moral degradation of the country so that
the people may become desperate and fight. He smuggles arms into the country with
the help of a rich Chinese merchant. Quiroga, who aspires to be Chinese consul of
Manila. His first attempt to begin the armed uprising did not materialize because at
the last hour he hears the sad news that Maria Clara died in the nunnery. In his
agonizing moment of bereavement, he did not give the signal for the outbreak of
hostilities.
After a long time of illness brought about by the bitter loss of Maria Clara,
Simoun perfects his plan to overthrow the government. On the occasion of the
wedding of Paulita Gomez and Juanito Pelaez, he gives a wedding gift to them a
beautiful lamp Only he and his confidential associates, Basilio (Sisa's son who joined
his revolutionary cause), know that when the wick of his lamp burns lower the
nitroglycerine, hidden in its secret compartment, will explode, destroying the house
where the wedding feast is going to be held killing all the guests. including the
governor general, the friars, and the government officials. Simultaneously, all the
government buildings in Manila will be blown by Simoun's followers
As the wedding feast begins, the poet Isagani, who has been rejected by
Paulita because of his liberal ideas, is standing outside the house, sorrowfully
watching the merriment inside. Basilio, his friend, warns him to go away because the
lightened lamp will soon explode.Upon hearing the horrible secret of the lamp,
Isagani realizes that his beloved Paulita is in grave danger. To save her life, he
rushes into the house, seizes the lightened lamp, and hurls it into the river, where it
explodes.
The revolutionary plot is thus discovered. Simoun is cornered by the soldiers,

but he escapes. Mortally wounded, and carrying his treasure chest, he seeks refuge
in the home of Padre Florentino by the sea. The Spanish authorities, however, leams
of his presence in the house of Padre Florentino. Lieutenant Perez of the Guardia
Civil informs the priest by letter that he will come at eight o'clock that night to arrest
Simoun. Simoun eludes arrest by taking poison. As he is dying, he confesses to
Padre Florentino revealing his true identity, his dastardly plan to use his wealth to
avenge himself, and his sinister aim to destroy his friends and enemies revealing his
true identity, his dastardly plan to use his wealth to avenge himself, and his sinister
aim to destroy his friends and enemies.
The confession of the dying Simoun is long and painful. It is already night
when Padre Florentino, wiping the sweat from his wrinkled brow, rises and begins to
meditate. He consoles the dying man saying: "God will forgive you Señor Simoun.
He knows that we are fallible. He has seen that you have suffered, and in ordaining
that the chastisement for your faults should come as death from the very ones you
have instigated to crime, we can see His infinite mercy. He has frustrated your plans
one by one, the best conceived, 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!" Watching Simoun die peacefully with a clear conscience and at peace with
God, Padre Florentino falls upon his knees and prays for the dead jeweler. The
priest then takes the treasure chest and throws it into the sea.
Origin of Characters in El Filibusterismo
 Simoun
Crisóstomo Ibarra reincarnated as a wealthy jeweler, bent on starting a
revolution.
 Basilio
Sisa's son, now an aspiring doctor.
 Isagani
Poet and Basilio's best friend; portrayed as emotional and reactive; Paulita
Gómez' boyfriend before being dumped for fellow student Juanito Peláez.
 Kabesang Tales
Telesforo Juan de Dios, a former cabeza de barangay (barangay head) who
resurfaced as the feared Luzón bandit Matanglawin (Tagalog for Hawkeye); his
father, Old Man Selo, dies eventually after his own son Tano, who became a guardia
civil, unknowingly shoots his grandfather in an encounter.
 Don Custodio
Custodio de Salazar y Sánchez de Monteredondo, a famous journalist who
was asked by the students about his decision for the Academia de Castellano. In
reality, he is quite an ordinary fellow who married a rich woman in order to be a
member of Manila's high society.
 Paulita Gómez
The girlfriend of Isagani and the niece of Doña Victorina, the old India who
passes herself off as a Peninsular, who is the wife of the quack doctor Tiburcio de
Espadaña. In the end, she and Juanito Peláez are wed, and she dumps Isagani,
believing that she will have no future if she marries him.
 Father Florentino
Isagani's godfather, and a secular priest; was engaged to be married, but
chose the priesthood instead, the story hinting at the ambivalence of his decision as
he chooses an assignment to a remote place, living in solitude near the sea.
 Huli
Juliana de Dios, the girlfriend of Basilio, and the youngest daughter of Kabesang
Tales.
 Ben Zayb
Abraham Ibañez is his real name. He is a journalist who thinks he is the only
one thinking in the Philippines.
 Placido Penitente
A student of the University of Santo Tomas who is always miserable, and therefore
controls his temper.
 Quiroga
A Chinese businessman who dreamt of being a consul of a Consulate of
China in the Philippines. He hid Simoun's weapons inside his house.
 Old Man Selo
Father of Kabesang Tales. He raised the sick and young Basilio after his
mother Sisa had died.
 Father Fernandez
The priest-friend of Isagani. He promised to Isagani that he and the other
priests will give in to the students' demands.
 Attorney Pasta
One of the great lawyers of mid-Hispanic Manila.
 Captain-General
The powerful highest official of the Philippines.
 Padre Sibyla
Hernando de la Sibyla, a Filipino friar and now vice-rector of the University of
Santo Tomas (U.S.T.).

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Faith Joy P.

Ebuetada Bachelor in Agricultural Technology 3A

The protagonist of El Filibusterismo is a jeweler named Simoun, He is the new

Outwardly, Simoun is a friend of Spain; however, in secret, he is plotting a

The story of El Filibusterismo begins on board a steamer ship sailing up the

The revolutionary plot is thus discovered. Simoun is cornered by the soldiers,

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