A.

BACKGROUND OF THE NOVEL:

EL FILIBUSTERISMO

Background of El Filibusterismo

El Filibusterismo is a sequel to the Noli. It has

little humor, less idealism and less romance than the
Noli Me Tangere. It is more revolutionary, more
tragic than the first novel. Also known as El Fili
or simply Fili, the novel was also written in
Spanish. Its commonly known English alternative
title is The Reign of Greed.
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: the 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.
Rizal dedicated El Filibusterismo to the memory
of Gom-Bur-Za (Don Mariano Gomez, 73 years
old; Don Jose Burgos, 35 years old; Jacinto Zamora,
37 years old)
The original manuscript of El Filibusterismo in
Rizals own handwriting in now preserved in the
Filipiniana Division of the Bureau of Public
Libraries, Manila. It consists of 270 pages of long
sheets of paper
Two features in the manuscript do not appear in
the printed book, namely: the FOREWORD and the
WARNING. These were not put into print to save
printing cost
Where is it taken from?
El Filibusterismo is the Spanish for "The
Filibustering also known by its English alternative
title The Reign of Greed. Filibusterismo in the
novels title is derived from the simpler term
filibustero.
Rizal had to define the word
filibustero to his German friend Ferdinand
Blumentritt, who did not understand his use of the
word in Noli Me Tangere. In a letter, Rizal
explained: "The word filibustero is little known in
the Philippines. The masses do not know it yet. The
Manila newspapers 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 does
not have the meaning of freebooters; it rather means

a dangerous patriot who will soon be hanged or

well, a presumptuous man."
By the end of the nineteenth century, the word
filibustero had acquired the meaning "subversive"
in the Philippines, hence the book is about
subversion.
Why is it entitled that way?
The word filibustero contextually means
subversive, dissident, revolutionary, seditious,
insurrectionary, and treasonous.
Its main purpose is for filibusteros to realize
and break away from the mistreatment of Filipinos
in the hands of Spaniards.

Symbolism of Cover Page

Title Page
The title of El Filibusterismo contains an
inscription written by Ferdinand Blumentritt. The
inscription, which is not found in many published
English translations, is as follows.

It can easily be supposed that a rebel (Filibustero)

has secretly bewitched the league of friar-zealots
and retrogrades so that, unwittingly following his
incitements, they should favor and foment that
policy which pursues one sole end; to spread ideas
of rebellion throughout the length and breadth of
land, and to convince every Filipino that there is no
salvation except through separation from Mother
Country.
Compared to the book cover of Noli Me
Tangere, El Filibusterismo's cover is plain, as
designed by Jose Rizal. The plain cover conveys a
fresh start for the Philippines and Filipinos without

old), and Don Jacinto Zamora (35 years old).

Executed in the Bagumbayan Field on the 28th of
February, 1872." Rizals memory seemed to have
failed him, though, for Father Gomez was then 73
not 85, Father Burgos 35 not 30 Father Zamora 37
not 35; and the date of execution 17th not 28th.
Sources of Inspiration and reasons for
writing the novel
Gomburza. Father Gomez, Father Burgos,
and Father Zamora. Rizal believed that the
Spanish officials treatment and execution of
the priests Gomburza case was unjust.
Rizal wanted to encourage the Filipino to
realize and break away from the
mistreatment in the hands of Spaniards.
The need for reform in the education system.
Issues in the Philippines such as corrupt
officials.
Threat of the growing social status of the
Spaniards.
Power of words, and not fists, to inspire
Filipinos to speak out and fight back.
Form and structure of the European novel of
the time.
Novels: Harriet Beecher Stowes Uncle
Toms Cabin, Victor Hugos Les
Miserables, Alexandre Dumas The Count
of Monte Cristo, and Niccolo Machiavellis
The Prince.
Timeline and Places
October, 1887 Calamba- Rizal had begun writing
the El Fili while practicing medicine.
1888 London- Rizal made some changes in the plot
and corrected some chapters already written. He
wrote more chapters in Paris and Madrid,
March 29, 1891 Biarritz- Rizal finished the
manuscript. It took him three years to write his
second novel.

the trace of symbols from the events and situations

in Noli Me Tangere.
Book cover
Rizal dedicated El Filibusterismo to the
three martyred priests of Cavite mutiny. The
execution of the three priests was significant to the
title of the novel.
"To the memory of the priests, Don Mariano
Gomez (85 years old), Don Jose Burgos (30 years

July 5, 1891 leaving Brussels - Rizal left Brussels

for Ghent, a famous university city in Belgium.
Rizal reasons for moving to Ghent were (1) the cost
of printing in Ghent was cheaper than in Brussels
(2) to escape from the enticing attraction of Petite
Suzanne. Rizal met two compatriots while in Ghent,
Jose Alejandro (from Pampanga) and Edilberto
Evangelista (from Manila), both studying
engineering in the world-famed University of Ghent

*F. Meyer-Van Loo Press- a printing shop that give

Rizal the lowest quotation for the publication of his
novel, who was willing to print his book on
installment basis
August 6, 1891 Ghent -the printing of his book had
to be suspended because Rizal could no longer give
the necessary funds to the printer
*Valentin Ventura- the savior of the Fili
*When Ventura learned of Rizals predicament and
immediately sent him the necessary funds
September 18, 1891 Ghent- El Filibusterismo came
off the press. Rizal immediately sent on this date
two printed copies to Hong Kongone for Basa
and other for Sixto Lopez. Rizal gratefully donated
the original manuscript and an autographed printed
copy to Valentin Ventura.
*La Publicidad- a Barcelona newspaper, wherein it
published a tribute eulogizing the novels original
style which is comparable only to the sublime
Alexander Dumas and may well be offered as
a model and a precious jewel in the now decadent
literature of Spain
October, 1891- El Nuevo Regimen- the liberal
Madrid newspaper that serialized the novel in its
issues
Date of Publication
September 18, 1891 in Ghent, Belgium
Printing Press
F. Meyer van Loo Press in Ghent, Belgium
Financer of the publication
Rizal himself
Valentin Ventura