Rizal Module 6 EL FILI PDF

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EL FILIBUSTERISMOEL Filibusterismo is the second and last novel by Dr. Jose Rizal (1861-1896). It was his sequel to the Noli Me Tangere known by its alternative English title The Reign of Greed. It is a novel about revolution that failed which was orchestrated by Simoun. He described the government ...

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EL FILIBUSTERISMO

1. Compare and contrast the characters, plot and theme of the Noli and the El Fili 2. Value the role of the youth in the development and future of society EL Filibusterismo is the second and last novel by Dr. Jose Rizal (1861-1896). It was his sequel to the Noli Me Tangere known by its alternative English title The Reign of Greed. It is a novel about revolution that failed which was orchestrated by Simoun. He described the government in a very cynical way by lambasting the friars and the Spanish officials for their greed, corruption, exploitation and injustice to satisfy their evil desires and to seek their own interest. Noli and Fili illustrated the actual conditions in the Philippines during the time of Rizal which became instrumental in awakening the spirit of Filipino nationalism. Amazon.com

The Writing and Printing of Fili Rizal started writing El FIlibusterismo in October 1887 in Calmaba during his first homecoming. The novel was thus written against the background of threats and oppressions he and his family suffered because of the Noli and the so called Calamba agrarian trouble. He continued working on it making some revisions in London in 1888. Rizal then went on to write the novel in Paris and then in Brussels where distractions were less, and the cost of living was cheaper. Being able to focus on finishing the book, Rizal had finally completed it by March 29, 1891 in Biarritz. Jose Alejandrino, Rizal‟s roommate in Belgium related that he was the one who looked for a printing press for El Filibusterismo. He delivered proofs and revisions of F. Meyer Van Loo in Ghent. For his assistance, Rizal gave him the El Fili „s corrected proofs and the pen used in doing the corrections. Unluckily, these historical souvenirs were either lost or destroyed during the revolution (Ocampo,2012. P. 111) (For Rizal‟s collaboration and relation with Jose Alejandrino, read Appendix O of “Rizal‟s Relations with other Filipino Patriots and Heroes.”) Alejandrino, who later became a general in the Philippine revolution, might have possibly been the first person to read the novel aside from the author. However, the honor of being called “the savior of the “Fili” had gone to Valentin Ventura, Rizal‟s friend who partially financed the novel‟s publication. (Ventura‟s steal of the title, one may argue, in another classic elucidation of the expression” That‟s what money can do”) Initially, Rizal financed El Fili‟s printing by pawning his properties. In a letter to Jose Basa dated July 9,1891, he related: For the past three months I have not received a single centavo, so I have pawned all that I have in order to publish this book. I will continue publishing it as long as I can, and when there is nothing pawnable I will stop” (El Filibusterismo” n.d.)

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Rizal‟s next letter to Basa carried the sad news that the printing had to be suspended for lack of funds, and it was at this point where Valentin Ventura came into the picture. Having known Rizal‟s predicament, Ventura offered him financial help in hindsight, we can assume that Ventura was bothered by his conscience, hence his generous monetary assistance for Rizal‟s novel. Remember that Ventura was one of the Filipinos who promised to co- author Rizal‟s proposed first book but ended up contributing nothing. But even with Ventura‟s help, Rizal found it necessary to fundamentally shorten the novel, erasing 47 whole pages from the 279page manuscript to save expenses (Ocampo, 2012.p111.) Thus, the printed El Fili, which came off the press by the middle of September 1891, turned out comprising only 38 chapters compared with the 64 of the Noli contrary to his original plan to made a longer sequel. For Ventura‟s salvific act, Rizal gave him the novel‟s original manuscript, a pen and an autographed printed copy in 1925, the Philippine government bought the El Fili manuscript from Ventura fo a large sum of 10,000 pesos G. Zaide. (G. Zaide & S. Zaide, 194) It is now being kept in the National Library. Filibustero and Gomburza The Filibusterismo in the novel‟s title is derived from the simple term filibuster. Rizal defined the word (filibustero) to his friend Ferdinand Blumentritt who encountered but did not fully comprehend the word in the Noli. Rizal, thus explained in a letter (“El Filibusterismo” 2011). The word filibuster is little known in the Philippines, I heard it for the first time in 1872 when the tragic executions (of Gomburza) took place. I still remember the panic that this word created. Our father forbade us to utter it, as well as the words Cavite, Burgos (one of the executed priests) etc. The Manila newspaper and the Spaniards apply this word to one whom they want to make a revolutionary suspect. the Filipinos belonging to the educated class fear the reach of the word. It means a dangerous patriot who will soon be hanged or well a presumptuous man” Amazon.com

The word filibustero thus, contextually means subversive, dissident, revolutionary, seditious, insurrectionary and treasonous. Fittingly Rizal dedicated the book to the memory of the Gomburza, the three Filipino, patriotic priest who were accused of being filibuster and thus, executed. In his dedication, Rizal fearlessly declared his conviction that the Spanish officials‟ treatment of the priest‟ case was unjust as [their] complicity in the Cavite Mutiny is not clearly proved. The dedication partly reads “To the memory of the priest, Don Mariano Gomez (85 years old). Don Jose Burgos (30 years old) and Don Jacinto Zamora (35 years old). Executed in the Bagumbayan Field on the 28th of February 1872, I have the right to dedicate my work to you as victims of the evil which I undertake to combat. “(“El Filibusterismo,” n.d.) Rizal however made mistakes in indicating the ages of the priest and the date of their execution. During their martyrdom on the 17th (not 28th) of February, 1872. Gomez was then 73 (not 85) Burgos was 35 (not 30) and Zamora was 37 (not 35). Like many other students today (especially men), Rizal was perhaps not that good in memorizing historical details like dates and ages.

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The foreword of the Fili was nonetheless addressed “To the Filipino People and Government. “The original manuscript also included a “warning “and an “inscription” on the title page written by the author‟s friend, Ferdinand Blumentritt. Themes of Fili Indeed, a continuation of the Noli, the El Filibusterismo exposes the real picture of Filipino society at the hands of the Spanish authorities. Socio- political issues mentioned in the Noli are also dealt with in its sequel: abuses and hypocrisy of the members of the Spanish Catholic clergy ,superstitions disguising as religious faith ,the need for reform in educational system, the exploitation and corruption of government officials, and the pretenses of some social –climbing Filipinos and Spaniards. What makes El Fili essentially different from its prequel is that it offers various means of attaining social reform and somewhat hinted what the author believed was ideal. Some dialogues and incidents seem to suggest the apparent improbability of any radical socio-political change. The main character‟s persistence to push through with the rebellion, on the other hand, seems to suggest that independence is attainable through revolution. However, the closing chapters rather insinuate that freedom must be attained without bloodshed as the story ends with the failure of Simoun‟s planned uprising. The novel‟s ending some scholars explain, however, should not be interpreted as Rizal‟s categorical stand against revolution. At best, Rizal can be said to be against unprepared and disorganized rebellion of uneducated people, which could have a slim chance of victory. It is important to note that Rizal once commented that an upright, patriotic and selfless individual like Noli‟s Elias would be a viable revolutionary leader. In fact, Rizal was said to have confessed that he seriously regretted having killed Elias insted of Ibarra. These seem to prove that Rizal, though practically promoting the attainment of reforms peacefully, also advocated the idea of armed revolution under some conditions. Intelligent as he was, what Rizal would never subscribe to is the “useless spilling of blood “but not the uprising per se. Noli vs. Fili Rizal wrote the El Filibusterismo about four years after the Noli. The experiences he had in those four years spelled a lot of differences in the way he treated his two novels. In depicting the social conditions in the country both novels employ satire and caricatures. El Fili however is more serious as there is less humor and more bitterness in the treatment of situations. In the Noli, the author reveals the cruelty and exploitation suffered by the natives at the hands of the colonizers. In El Fili, Rizal depicts a society at the brink of rebellion as the native‟s minds have been awakened and revolutionary forces have been found formed. Generally, El Fili presents a gloomier depiction of the country under the Spanish regime. More radical and revolutionary, the novel has less idealism and romance than the Noli. The El Fili manifest Rizal‟s more mature and less hopeful attitude toward the sociopolitical situation in the country. The grimmer outlook and more tragic mood can be attributed to the persecutions and sufferings the author and his family experienced from the Spanish friars and officials in the years he was writing the novel. Notwithstanding the sufferings caused by the Spaniards to the Rizal family, the Fili its author claimed, is not a matter or revenge. Jose wrote to Blumentritt: “I have not

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written in it [ Fili] any idea of vengeance against my enemies, but only for the good of those who suffer for the rights of Tagalogs. Some of Rizal‟s friends like Blumentritt and Graciano Lopez Jaena, expressed that Fili was superior o Noli. Rizal himself apparently once believed in the superiority of the Fili.When its printing had to be stopped for lack of funds, he wrote to Basa: “It is a pity because it seems to me that this second part [the Fili] is more important than the [Noli]” (“The El Filibusterismo,”2013) After the Fili was published, nonetheless, Rizal appeared to have a change of heart. In his October 13, 1891 letter to Marcelo Del Pilar, he said: I appreciate what you say about my work, and I value your opinion highly that considered my Filibusterismo inferior to the Noli I, too frankly, without irony or words with a double meaning share your opinion. For me, the Filibuserismo as a novel is inferior to the Noli. You are the firsy one to tell me the truth and I agree with you. This flatters me as it proves that I still know how to judge myself (“Rizal and Other Reformers,” n.d) As regards his friends who told him that Fili was better, Rizal explained in the same letter “Blumentritt, all those in Paris and Barcelona, for their benevolence towards me say the Fili is superior, I attribute it only to their benevolence”

Synopsis The story in in El Filibusterismo revolves around its main character Simoun who is an affluent jeweler. Simoun is actually Crisostomo Ibarra of the Noli whom everyone thought had been killed by the Guardia Civil at Laguna de bay. He has in fact escaped, fled to Cuba, became wealthy, and made connections with influential Spanish officials. Upon his return to the Philippines after many years, he becomes very influential as the governor –general, who owes so much to him, consults him in making decisions. In reality, however, everything Simoun does is just part of his grand plan to take revenge against the Spanish officials and rescue Maria Clara from the convent. Planning to stage a revolution, he smuggles arms and looks for followers, mainly from the exploited and abused natives. One of his recruits is Basilio, the son of Sisa, who with Capitan Tiago‟s help was to study in Manila. Simoun also makes an alliance with the revolutionary group of Kabesang Tales, a former cabeza de barangay who suffered maltreatments from the hands of the friars, using his influence, Simoun encourages corruption, decadence, and more oppressive government policies so that the citizens may become more infuriated.

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However, the planned revolt one night is not carried out because Simoun, upon hearing that Maria Clara has died in the nunnery, decides not to give the signal for the outbreak of the uprising. Another plan is made some months later. At the venue of the wedding reception of Juanito Pelaez, Simoun plants many explosives –enough to kill the invited guest, primarily the friars and government officials. According to the plot the big explosion shall be started by the gift he will give to the newlyweds at the reception –a Kerosene lamp with an explosive. When the lamp flickers and someone turns the wick, it will result into a big explosion that will become a signal to the revolutionary troops to simultaneously attack all the government buildings in Manila. During the reception, Simoun gives his gift to the newlyweds. Before he hurriedly leaving the venue, he leaves a piece of mysterious paper. Bearing the message “You will die tonight” signed by Juan Crisostomo Ibarra. Meanwhile Isagani, the rejected lover of Paulita, is standing outside the reception. His friend Bailio tells hm to leave the place because the lamp will soon blow up. When father Salvi identifies the writing in the note and confirms that it is indeed Ibarra‟s the guest begin to panic. When the lamp flickers, Father Irene tries to turn the wick up. But Isagani wanted to save the Paulita‟s life rushes in to the house, grabs the lamp and throws it into the river where it explodes. Simuon‟s revolutionary plot is thus known, and he is hunted by the law enforcers. He manages to escape but is seriously wounded. Carrying his jewelry chest, he finds shelter in the home of Padre Florentino by the sea. Learning of his presence in the house of the priest, the lieutenant of the Guardia Civil informs Padre Florentino that will come in the evening to arrest Simoun. Simoun then takes poison so that he will not be caught alive. As poisons effects start to take toll on his body, he confessed, to Florentino his true identify and his plan of revenge through body revolution. After the emotional and agonizing confession of the dying man the priest absolves the dying man from his sins, saying “God will forgive you Senor Simoun. He knows that we are fallible. He has seen that you have suffered – He has frustrated your plans one by one – first by the death of Maria Clara, then by lack of preparation, then in some mysterious way. Let us know bow to His and render Him thanks! The story ends with the priest throwing treasures in the sea so that they will not be used by the greedy. The priest hopes that when the right time comes, they will be recovered and used only for good. Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo Stolen In Rizal; time, the Permanent of Commission of Censorship recommended the absolute prohibition on the importance, reproduction, and circulation of the Noli. The copies of the Fili, on the other hand, were destroyed by customs in Manila upon shipment to the Philippines. The rare surviving copies of were secretly purchased and according to one friend of the family. It had to be read in the smallest, most private room in the house – the toilet “ This was the fate of the first editions of Rizal‟s novels. But that is nothing compared to what happened to their original manuscript about 70 years of publication. The original manuscripts of the of the Noli and Fili (along with that of the poem “Mi Ulimo Adios.”) were stolen from the national library on the evening of December 8,...