“EL FILIBUSTERISMO, RESIGNATION,

AND EXIT”

JHONEL E. PIDO BSED 4-9

TOPICS
 Independent spokesman of
Filipino aspiration

TOPICS
 Independent spokesman of
Filipino aspiration

Revolutionary second novel

TOPICS
 Independent spokesman of
Filipino aspiration

Revolutionary second novel

TOPICS Shifting the center of struggle
from Europe to Asia
 Independent spokesman of
Filipino aspiration

Revolutionary second novel

TOPICS Shifting the center of struggle
from Europe to Asia

Disillusions
 Since the publication of the Sucesos more
than a year before, Rizal had been critically
short of money.
 Thanks to Basa, he had made a little money out
of Sucesos; out of Noli Me Tangere, despite its
immense success and the extravagant prices paid for
it, nothing.
 In Europe, a conti-
nent accustomed to
European doctors, he
would not be able to
practice medicine with
much prospect of
success.
When he was in
Hongkong, however,
Basa had mentioned
how easy it would be
to have money.
On 4 April he wrote to
Basa asking him if he
would pay the cost of
Messageries Maritimes
first class.
In taking this step at
such a precarious
financial moment it
would seem that he
had doubts about
accepting money from
the La Solidaridad.
By the end of May El
Filibusterismo was
completed, and day or
so later, he searched for
cheap printing,
Brussels.
GHENT
Jose Alejandrino, who
became a revolutionary
general.
Early of July he received message from
Messageries paid by the name of Jose Basa.
Apart from this, his money problems could
scarcely have been worse.
For a moment in the first week of August it
looked as if the printing might have to be
abandoned.
But, in the mid-
September, someone
sent him a sum
sufficient to cover the
outstanding costs and
it was Valentin
Ventura.
El Filibusterismo – a
word coined in the in
the tittle page quotation
from one of the
Blumentritt’s letters:
“One could easily be persuaded that a filibustero had
secretly bewitched the enleagued friars and retrogrades,
since these, unwittingly following an inspiration, are
favouring and formenting a policy aimed solely at one end
: spreading the ideas of filibusterism throughout the whole
country and convincing Filipinos to the last man that
there exists for them no salvation other than separation
from the Mother Country.”
 The book was
dedicated to the
memory of the three
Filipino priests
executed in 1872.
To the Filipino reader of 1891, if Noli Me
Tangere was compelling, El Filibusterismo was
formidable.
El filibusterismo is
not an appeal. It is a
morality, a profound
description of the
mentality and climate
of revolts.
 At the beginning of October he left
Ghent on the first stage of his return to the
East, going as far as Paris.
 To a truly remarkable degree they accepted
every suffering, believing, as his sister Saturnina put
it, that it would ‘bear fruit which will be for the well-
being of all’. But suffering it was nonetheless, for
which he was responsible ; and he desired
profoundly to make atonement for it. If this could
only be by death, then so be it.
Rizal replied, decli-
ning the invitation,
and at last putting his
resignation in words:
“I have determined on my course of conduct, and it
is to let the Filipinos of Madrid conduct the policy,
they who understand and know it so well… I know
the desire of every Filipino to do what he pleases,
and I renounce my idea of forming with my
countrymen the compact group I have been
dreaming of …
Go ahead there, and since you are at the top, use all
your power to put your ideas into practice so that
there may be nothing left to try. Since the beginning
I have sought to introduce delicadeza in political
practices; I present my resignation at the first sign of
discontent …
I shall continue to hold you in my esteem and
friendship, much more a friend to than indifferent to
the Sol.; and rest assured that never will I enter into
any plot or conspiracy to down you or to kill your
periodical. My retirement is not a declaration of
war.”
 Recounting to Blu-
mentritt the intrigues
being conducted against
him in Madrid, where he
was being called a tin
god and a despot, he
said:
“They say that Rizal has a very difficult personality;
very well, Rizal is clearing out. No obstacles must be
put in the way me. It is very possible that they are
giving a different version of what has taken place; but
you have sharp eyesight, and well understand things
people tell you. For my part I shall work in the faith
and calm, dedicating all my energies to the country.
It doesn’t matter what they say about me;
I know my duty, I bear a grudge against none; I trust
in God and in my country’s destiny. I do not know
exactly whether I should go to Philippines or
establish myself in Hongkong. My country draws
me; I long to embrace my parents and family. But
friends and countrymen are against it. In any case I
am set upon leaving Europe; life for me here is
becoming insupportable.”
He told Blumen-
tritt all that he felt
needed to be said:
“I must return to the Philippines. Life is becoming a
burden to me. I must give the example, not fearing
death, terrible though it is. Moreover many have
been murmuring against me, saying I am doing this
and that to the Filipinos. I have some secret
enemies, and I wish to go where I shall the no more.
I have had enough of political enemies; I wish to
have none inside the party. I am going to meet my
destiny. If I die, you will remain. But life for me in
Europe is impossible. Better to die than to live
wretchedly.”
On 18 October 1891 Rizal sailed from
Marseille.
He wrote to his parents
in 1882, he felt
impelled to leave; in
1891 he felt impelled
to return; and as he
told Maximo Viola in
1887,
he believed that if he
did not obey these
impulsions he would fail
in his duty and mission.
Motivation was found in
his letter to pastells, a
prayer in thanking
Jesuit:
“I too pray from time to time, but actually when I
do, it does not occur to me to ask for anything. I
believe that I have all, and since whatever happens
to me is his will, I am content and resigned. Is this
oriental fatalism? I do not know, but I always say to
myself: I will try and do this and that, which will in
the end come out as God desires. Consequently –
forward!”
THANK YOU!