GE1804

CHAPTER 4

“Cabesang Tales”

A REFLECTION PAPER

In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements

In the Subject GE1804
Rizal's Life and Works

To be Submitted to:

LO, JOHN ARIS

Course Instructor

Submitted by:

DEYPALUBOS, NIKKA

LAVA, MARK LOUIE

AMARAO, JAYLOU

MONDONEDO, JENEATH

MALINAO, MARY FAITH

MARZO, MARIA LIZ

BLONES, RAVEN SHANE

BSHM 4 – 1BP

Date of Submission

15 DECEMBER 2022
 ABSTRACT

El Filibusterismo, which translates to "The Filibustering" in Spanish, is the second book

written by Dr. José Rizal, a national hero of the Philippines. It is also known by its English

translation, "The Reign of Greed." Like the first novel, it is the sequel to Noli Me Tangere and was

written in Spanish. He updated certain elements and made a few changes to the storyline in

London (1888). After continuing to work on it while in Paris, Madrid, and Brussels, Rizal finally

completed it on March 29, 1891, in Biarritz. In Ghent, it was distributed that year.

Cabesang Tales is the title of chapter 4 of El Filibusterismo. The family life of Cabesang

Tales is discussed in this chapter by introducing his mother, Tandang Selo, his wife, his eldest

daughter Lucia, who both passed away from malaria while working on the family farm, Julianna or

Juli, his youngest daughter who also happens to be Basilio's girlfriend, and some friar

administrators.

Chapter 4: Cabesang Tales the beginning of twenty or thirty pesos for the

Characters Involved: sake of humanity. In order to avoid any further

Cabesang Tales, Tandang Selo, Tano, Juliana de issues, Cabesang Tales decided to pay the friars

Dios (Juli), Hermana Penchang rather than take his case to court. Tandang Selo

added that a lawsuit would cost a significant sum

Chapter Summary of money to pursue, as opposed to engaging in a

Tales and his family have been farming lands for battle with the friars. Tales was instructed by

a long time, even before Tales was elected the Tandang Selo to just say that the thirty pesos had

cabesa de barangay of the San Diego town. either been lost in gaming or had fallen into the

Cabesang Tales and his family were able to build river and been devoured by crocodiles. The friars

a home by saving money by cultivating land. decided to raise the annual fee to fifty pesos,

However, the friars abruptly began asserting nevertheless, as the area continued to yield

ownership of Cabesang Tales' land in their first strong crops. Additionally, it was during this

year of harvest. The friars, however, are unable period that Cabesang Tales's desire of building a

to provide credible proof that the land owned by home for the family and funding their education

Cabesang Tales is a portion of their own came true. The friars did not stop raising the rent

property. Until one day, a friar administrator to 200 pesos in spite of this dream. At this point,

made the decision to just allow Cabesang Tales Cabesang Tales had had enough and began to

and his family to pay a yearly rent to the friars in fight back against the friars by hiring lawyers and
taking his case to court. Cabesang Tales was Philippines. Even if a Filipino, or Indio as the

forced to spend all of his savings as a result of Spaniards refer to us, works honestly and

this. Even though friars aren't allowed to acquire diligently, oppression and abuse will still triumph

land, Cabesang Tales still lost to the friars in spite if power and influence are utilized against the

of his bold move. As a result, Cabesang Tales common people. Despite coming from a low-

decided to take matters into his own hands and income background, Cabesang Tales and his

began protecting his property from the abusive family were able to improve their standard of

friars, no matter what, until it led to his living by working diligently to cultivate their

kidnapping for ransom. Juli used her savings to property for successful harvests.

save his father and ultimately borrowed money

from Hermana Penchang, for whom she had no Personal Reflection

choice but to work. The dilemma that Cabesang Tales and his family

had is still present in the Philippine society of

Implied Topic Covered in this Chapter: today. Several hundred years have passed since

This chapter's implied topic is land ownership the Spanish colony, but this unfavored practice is

and how greedy the friars are. It demonstrates still very much in use. This system, known as

that, despite our best efforts to lead peaceful, "palakasan," allows those who are powerful and

contented lives, there will always be individuals wealthy to typically obtain what they want

who will take advantage of their position of through the use of money and occasionally force

authority and oppress others who are beneath as well as frequently eluding the law. El

them. Many will continue to put us down, but Filibusterismo has an impact on our

when that happens, we must fight with justice contemporary culture by highlighting repulsive

and equality. This chapter also demonstrates behaviors that modern Filipinos deal with and

how hard work will lead to success, so build on regrettably inherited from the harsh and careless

your achievements and keep what you have behaviors of the Spaniards, especially the friars.

worked for to yourself. El Filibusterismo is the turning moment where

Elias or Crisostomo Ibarra finally had enough of

Interpretation of Your Junior High School the abuses of the Spaniards and decided to stand

Teacher for this Chapter up against them, according to a comparison of

According to our junior high school teacher, this Jose Rizal's two novels. Because Jose Rizal never

chapter solely demonstrates the friars' political intended to lead a bloody revolt against the

influence during the Spanish colonization of the Spaniards, I conclude that El Filibusterismo is
definitely too radical for the national hero. He system by handling these in the most peaceful

believed that the best way to overthrow Spain manner possible. Nevertheless, this ultimately

was peacefully, using education as the main tool. proved to be useless. Violence was employed by

Because this administration has repeatedly let Rizal in El Filibusterismo as a means of retaliation

the country's citizens down, we do believe against the Spaniards.

radicalism may bring about change. Instead of

coming together as a nation to confront and References (in APA format):

resolve the present local and global issues, the

Lim, R. (2011). The Life And Works Of Rizal:
Filipino people are constantly split into being a
El Filibusterismo: Summary and Analysis of
dilawan and/or a DDS. Yes, since he intended to
Chapter 4 (Cabesang Tales). Retrieved
emphasize in the first book that, whenever
http://thelifeandworksofrizal.blogspot.com
possible, nonviolent ways may be used to solve
/2011/04/el-filibusterismo-summary-and-
any problem. But in the second book, it had
analysis_2369.html
already reached the point where a violent

uprising might be necessary to free the Filipinos

Viloria, M. (2011). El Fili Chapter 4:
because peaceful means were powerless to stop
Kabesang Tales. El Filibusterismo Chapter
the Spaniards' cruel treatment of the Filipinos. In
Summaries. Retrieved
our opinion, Jose Rizal had already hinted at this
http://buod.elfilibusterismo.com/2011/08/
possibility.
el-fili-chapter-4-kabesang-tales.html

Comparison with Noli Me Tangere

A. How does El Filibusterismo impact our
I. The Intended Messages of Both Novels
current society?
Both works' intended messages encourage
We gain our freedom and support their
readers to speak out against abuse and injustice,
right. Now, our nation has many
to defend what they believe to be right and just,
institutions, there is equality, and most
and to emphasize that no one should be above
importantly, we are not being manipulated.
the law..

B. Is the novel too radical for the national

II. Differences between the Two Novels
hero? Why or Why not?
Noli me Tangere, as previously noted, revealed
Yes, the novel is too radical for a national
the mistreatment, wrongdoings of the Spaniards,
hero since it exposes the cruelty of the
and sufferings of the Filipinos living in an unequal
Filipino people by the government. The
novel's primary all Filipinos are mistreated by Spaniards, he

characters exhibit greed in their decides to fight for our nation's freedom

personalities. Rizal observed the hardships and equal rights for Filipinos and Spaniards.

the Filipinos were experiencing as a result

of Spanish colonization. The story inspired

the Filipinos to urge for revolution in order

to protest the unfair treatment they were

receiving from the Spaniards because they

were receiving harsh and unfair treatment

themselves. The novel's significance lies in

the fact that it supported the Filipino

people in their quest for national freedoms

and rules. Jose Rizal taught them the value

of fighting for their rights without actually

using much violence.

C. Do you believe that radicalism can

bring change to the country? Why or why

not?

Yes, because radicalism is connected to

extreme ideas and the desire for quick

social change, especially in a political

setting, and can bring about change to the

nation..

D. Did Jose Rizal really change his

thoughts about his purpose for change in

the Philippine society? Why or why not?

Yes, Jose Rizal is aware that continuing to

battle for our nation's rights will require

him to sacrifice his own life, livelihood, and

dreams; nevertheless, because he sees how