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 Rizal’s 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 novel’s 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." Rizal’s 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 Stowe‘s Uncle Tom‘s Cabin, Victor Hugo‘s Les Miserables, Alexandre Dumas‘ The Count of Monte Cristo, and Niccolo Machiavelli‘s 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 Rizal’s 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 Kong—one 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 novel’s 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
