MODULE 8

EL FILIBUSTERISMO

ACTIVITY
Compare & Contrast. Compare and contrast the differences between the Noli and El
Filibusterismo.

NOLI ME TANGERE EL FILIBUSTERISMO

Plot Plot

Crisostomo Ibarra returned to San Crisostomo Ibarra adopts the identity

Diego after studying in Europe for of Simoun, a rich jeweler and personal
seven years. After finding the truth friend of the Captain-General. He
about his father's death and the acts of encourages the government to be
his opponents, Ibarra encountered corrupt and morally bankrupt so that
difficulties, including his expulsion the Filipino people will become
after fighting Padre Damaso. Padre desperate and make a stand. While
Salvi used lies and deception to link Basilio, Isagani, and their friends
Ibarra's name to an armed revolt, and advocate for the establishment of a
there was a murder plot against him. Spanish academy, their liberal ideals
He was later falsely condemned have sparked several controversies,
because letters he wrote to his lover, including claims of treason. Simoun is
Maria Clara, were used to accuse him. the mastermind of a conspiracy to
Maria Clara swapped the letters with destabilize the Spanish government
one written by her late mother, using weaponry he imported and
exposing Padre Damaso as her stashed at the residence of Quiroga, a
biological father. Throughout the Chinese businessman. Ibarra's initial
story, Elias helped Ibarra despite the effort at revolution was interrupted
fact that Ibarra's grandpa was the after learning of Maria Clara's death.
cause of Elias's family's tragedy. Elias Simoun was also able to recruit
helped Ibarra escape jail and sacrificed Basilio's help in the revolution after
himself so that Ibarra might pretend he informing him of the atrocities done to
was dead and flee the lake. Maria Basilio and his late family. Simoun's
Clara opted to enter the nunnery rather attempt to bomb Paulita Gomez and
than marry Linares after learning of Juanito Pelaez's wedding was
Ibarra's alleged death. Elias saw prevented when Isagani tossed the
Basilio with his dead mother on the lamp into the river after discovering
lake's shore after being seriously the plot from the anxious Basilio. To
 injured and commanded him to burn avoid capture, Simoun poisoned
their bodies in fire and discover a himself, repented, and confessed to
treasure for his education if no one Padre Florentino. The priest threw
else arrived. Ibarra's wealth into the sea.
Theme
Theme
Noli Me Tangere is a contemporary
romantic novel with a sense of humor, El Filibusterismo is a political novel, a
lightness, and wit. It symbolizes the book of ideas, full of anger, hatred,
flaws of Spanish colonialism and anguish, violence, and misery. It
society. In the Philippines, the novel portrays the rule of corrupt authorities
promotes reforms and change. It is and their greed. The novel beseeches
milder than its sequel since it does not readers not to turn a blind eye to the
yet include revenge and anger. crimes committed against them.

Main Characters Main Characters

Crisostomo Ibarra - Don Rafael's Simoun - Ibarra poses to be a wealthy

only son and Maria Clara's love jeweler. By inciting and benefiting
interest. He spent seven years in from abuse, he hopes to spark a
Europe studying and developing revolution.
liberal views.
Basilio - Juli's love interest and Sisa's
Elias - Ibarra's friend and fugitive. He son, now fostered by Kapitan Tiago,
has seen injustices his entire life and and is in his last year of medical
aspires for the Philippines to be school.
sovereign, even if it means launching
an armed insurrection. Isagani - Basilio's poet friend. He
pleads for the establishment of the
Maria Clara - Ibarra's love interest, Spanish Academy alongside Basilio
and she has the attributes of a spiritual and his associates. Ex-boyfriend of
and devoted Filipina woman. Paulita Gomez.

Padre Damaso - Maria Clara's Kabesang Tales - Former barangay

aggressive biological father. He's a Kabeza who is also a bandit.
nasty and a hypocrite.
Don Custodio - Was a formidable
Pilosopong Tasyo - An intelligent character who made an effort to please
guru who is misunderstood as crazy everyone. He's just a regular guy who
due to his principles. married a wealthy woman.
 Padre Salvi - A priest who lusts after Paulita Gomez - Isagani's old love
Maria Clara and is responsible for interest and Dona Victorina's niece.
Ibarra's death. She abandoned Isagani for Juanito
Pelaez.
Sisa - The mother of Crispin and
Basilio. She went insane after Juli - Kabesang Tales' daughter and
spending so much time looking for her Basilio's love interest.
children.
Ben Zayb - Journalist who thinks
Basilio - The eldest son of Sisa. He highly of himself and believes that
and his brother were both sacristans. through his work, he can influence the
mentality of the people of Manila.
Crispin - Sisa's youngest child. He
was accused by the church of stealing Goal/Message
two gold coins.
The novel seeks to emphasize that if
those at the top remain to be greedy
Goal/Message and reforms to answer Filipinos'
demands are not adopted, Spain would
The novel's diverse characters depict surely lose its territory. An armed
that the prevalent idea regarding our revolution is unavoidable due to the
ignorance is untrue. The novel also misdeeds of the government, notably
reflects the current state of affairs in the friars.
the Philippines, notably the abusive
friars and those in power. Religion and
ideas' impact on people's actions is
also addressed.

Being in Character
Choose whether you will represent “Simoun'' or “Basilio”. Taking into account the belief,
principles, and viewpoints of the two characters, argue on the following issues. You must argue
by pretending to be either Basilio or Simoun, you may write your arguments in the spaces
provided. The trick is I must not see you in the arguments, but I must see Basilio or Simoun,
whoever you chose to represent.

1. English as the medium of instructions in schools.

2. Reimposition of death penalty in the Philippines.
3. Retaining the Sangguniang Kabataan Federation in the country.

SIMOUN:

Numerous people would say that studying English is essential for expanding our
professions, especially in today's globalized society. This is spiteful for Filipinos
everywhere because it will change our language and values. The Americanization of our
people will not lead to unity and growth, especially because the belief that English is a
superior language is a direct cause of our colonial mentality. Too much reliance on other
people's languages diminishes our language, as well as our views and beliefs because the
will of our soul is best expressed in our language. And suppose we utilize the language
for its original purpose of communicating with people of various nations. In such a
situation, it may embed notions in us that are typically antithetical to Filipino interests
and identity. As a consequence, while English should be taught in schools, it should not
be the principal means of education because we can educate on our own.

In regards of the death penalty, I consider that we must strive as a society to

ensure that crimes that are particularly damaging to our principles and ideals are harshly
punished. The death penalty in the Philippines should be resurrected because we need to
clear out the undesirable doings in our country. They are better off dead if they are not
actually contributing to our bottom line by committing crimes that reveal that we are
monsters. These criminals' deaths will not be in vain since they are no longer a part of us;
they joined with adversaries when they refused to participate in our cause, thus they must
be exterminated. All undecided voters and traitors will be executed as we guarantee that
everyone in this country works for the advantage of all of us rather than their own selfish
interests.

Lastly, the Sangguniang Kabataan Federation in our nation must be protected for
one simple reason: the youth must create their uniqueness, particularly in our country's
administration. From an early age, the Sangguniang Kabataan Federation must serve as a
training ground for young individuals interested in public service. These experiences may
also teach principles and skills that will assist them in reaching their greatest potential
and avoiding the pitfalls of people who have gone before them as they build their own
path. Others must leave the Sangguniang Kabataan alone in order for it to prosper, since
too much engagement by other local authorities in Kabataan tasks will lead to corruption.
Due to various local politicians' involvement, the federation has become a breeding
ground for corruption rather than a breeding ground for prospective future leaders. As a
result, while youth governance must be maintained, it must be left alone.