A book review of the novel, “El Filibusterismo”

Reviewed by: Jaren Dave M. Marfil

Title: El Filibusterismo
 Author: Jose P. Rizal
Chapters: 39
Publication date: 1891
Language: Spanish
Genre: Novel, Fiction

Book Review

El Filibusterismo (The Reign of Greed), is the second novel written by the Philippine national hero Dr. Jose P. Rizal. It is the sequel of Rizal’s Filipino classic, Noli Me Tangere. Like the first book, it is first written in Spanish and was published in 1891 in Ghent and later translated in English, German, French, Tagalog, Ilonggo, and other language. Rizal dedicated the book to the three martyr priests, Fr. Mariano Gomez, Fr. Jose Burgos, and Fr. Jacinto Zamora who were executed by the Spaniards on charges on supervision in 1872. The book depicts the darker, bolder version of the first book and shows the corruption of those in power, emphasizes vengeance, greed, and anger.

Story revolves 13 years after the events of Noli, Juan Crisostomo Ibarra, believed to be dead, returns with an alias, Simoun, as a jewelry merchant carrying a big ambition and quite possibly do any means to accomplish them. He keeps himself near to the government by advising the governor-general but slowly destroys the system by rotting it to the core. One man knew his secret but he decided to trust it to him, knowing that one day he would join him in his crusade. At the climax of his plan, it was sabotaged and he decided to kill himself so that his life would not end at the hands of his enemies. At his death bed, he confesses everything to an indio priest. Later, the priest threw his treasures to the sea.

With many events of murder, abuse, suicide, and false accuse, it can be inferred that El Filibusterismo is far darker and brutal than Noli Me Tangere. El Filibusterismo is also a massive turning point, not only on the plot but to the characters as well. New characters are introduced in the story and depicts a different role and personality which can be reflected to what is happening in the society. Characters from Noli, which includes Basilio, Donya Victorina, and Padre Salvi, grow as a character. Basilio, who was a poor and needy boy turned into a fine and smart student, whose only goal in life is to become a doctor, but still continued to be a victim of fate. Donya Victorina grew to become more arrogant than the first novel, as she wants to divorce with his husband so that he can be together with a younger man. Padre Salvi became the high priest and depicts a more abusive but naïve side of him.

After the events of Noli, Ibarra grew and become a vengeful, angry, and cunning. His growth was influenced by the events that happened to him. As he went under the alias of Simoun, he didn’t strip his birth name but the entire Juan Crisostomo Ibarra in him. The novel tells us that no matter how great we are, vengeance and anger can change and take over the person’s being .Both Simoun and Ibarra do not share the same plan, mind, heart but one thing in common with them is that they both love Maria Clara, if not speaking the physical attribute. Despite of the events, anger, and vengeance, Love overwhelms these. Simoun did plan to overthrow the system but the main reason that he did it in the first place is his love for Maria Clara and wants to save her from her suffering and to live together with her. The novel uses the romanticism theory.

Aside from the characters growth and depiction to the reality in the society, the moral lesson of the novel is its greatest strength. The novel showed the evil scheme and negative reality of the system at that time that opened the minds of the Filipinos. Until now, these evil schemes and negative reality exist in our society today. But despite of these negative qualities, the moral of the story teaches different things that will remind us that we are still humans and we still have to become human. At Simoun’s final moments, as he confesses everything to Father Florentino, he questioned God on why did He not punished the people with more evil than him. Father Florentino replied that their punishments will be meted on their due time. This teaches us that all rewards and punishments for all of us will come at the right time. Despite of his evil plans and being, he was still able to find peace and feel light and ended up being the man we started with.

Rizal believed that a pen is mightier than a sword and thus he write to fight. On his novel El Filibusterismo promotes “violence is not the answer,” as what Rizal was trying to do while fighting against the colonizers. Simoun asked Father Florentino on why did his plan failed. The friar replied that God saw that there is no justice in the way he wanted to be done. Simoun tried to murder the officials of the government, the friars, and other Spanish who are his enemies and cancer to the society.

To conclude, El Filibusterismo is a social-critical work, with many chapters and scenes that depicts the corruption and debased of the society. Rizal is too specific in his prescriptions and moralizing the case of education but it strays stories, illustrative of excess and corruption are ultimately the most distracting. His social criticisms may be specific to time and place but it is certainly universal, meaning what happened in his time also happened during this time. Choice of words and depiction of characters proved that this book is   a worthwhile to be read. Every chapter has its own moral and lesson to pick upon. I recommend to read the book because it is not just entertaining and educational but realization can be made on what is happening in the reality of today.El Filibusterismo (The Reign of Greed), is the second novel written by the Philippine national hero Dr. Jose P. Rizal. It is the sequel of Rizal’s Filipino classic, Noli Me Tangere. Like the first book, it is first written in Spanish and was published in 1891 in Ghent and later translated in English, German, French, Tagalog, Ilonggo, and other language. Rizal dedicated the book to the three martyr priests, Fr. Mariano Gomez, Fr. Jose Burgos, and Fr. Jacinto Zamora who were executed by the Spaniards on charges on supervision in 1872. The book depicts the darker, bolder version of the first book and shows the corruption of those in power, emphasizes vengeance, greed, and anger.

Story revolves 13 years after the events of Noli, Juan Crisostomo Ibarra, believed to be dead, returns with an alias, Simoun, as a jewelry merchant carrying a big ambition and quite possibly do any means to accomplish them. He keeps himself near to the government by advising the governor-general but slowly destroys the system by rotting it to the core. One man knew his secret but he decided to trust it to him, knowing that one day he would join him in his crusade. At the climax of his plan, it was sabotaged and he decided to kill himself so that his life would not end at the hands of his enemies. At his death bed, he confesses everything to an indio priest. Later, the priest threw his treasures to the sea.

With many events of murder, abuse, suicide, and false accuse, it can be inferred that El Filibusterismo is far darker and brutal than Noli Me Tangere. El Filibusterismo is also a massive turning point, not only on the plot but to the characters as well. New characters are introduced in the story and depicts a different role and personality which can be reflected to what is happening in the society. Characters from Noli, which includes Basilio, Donya Victorina, and Padre Salvi, grow as a character. Basilio, who was a poor and needy boy turned into a fine and smart student, whose only goal in life is to become a doctor, but still continued to be a victim of fate. Donya Victorina grew to become more arrogant than the first novel, as she wants to divorce with his husband so that he can be together with a younger man. Padre Salvi became the high priest and depicts a more abusive but naïve side of him.

After the events of Noli, Ibarra grew and become a vengeful, angry, and cunning. His growth was influenced by the events that happened to him. As he went under the alias of Simoun, he didn’t strip his birth name but the entire Juan Crisostomo Ibarra in him. The novel tells us that no matter how great we are, vengeance and anger can change and take over the person’s being .Both Simoun and Ibarra do not share the same plan, mind, heart but one thing in common with them is that they both love Maria Clara, if not speaking the physical attribute. Despite of the events, anger, and vengeance, Love overwhelms these. Simoun did plan to overthrow the system but the main reason that he did it in the first place is his love for Maria Clara and wants to save her from her suffering and to live together with her. The novel uses the romanticism theory.

Aside from the characters growth and depiction to the reality in the society, the moral lesson of the novel is its greatest strength. The novel showed the evil scheme and negative reality of the system at that time that opened the minds of the Filipinos. Until now, these evil schemes and negative reality exist in our society today. But despite of these negative qualities, the moral of the story teaches different things that will remind us that we are still humans and we still have to become human. At Simoun’s final moments, as he confesses everything to Father Florentino, he questioned God on why did He not punished the people with more evil than him. Father Florentino replied that their punishments will be meted on their due time. This teaches us that all rewards and punishments for all of us will come at the right time. Despite of his evil plans and being, he was still able to find peace and feel light and ended up being the man we started with.

Rizal believed that a pen is mightier than a sword and thus he write to fight. On his novel El Filibusterismo promotes “violence is not the answer,” as what Rizal was trying to do while fighting against the colonizers. Simoun asked Father Florentino on why did his plan failed. The friar replied that God saw that there is no justice in the way he wanted to be done. Simoun tried to murder the officials of the government, the friars, and other Spanish who are his enemies and cancer to the society.

To conclude, El Filibusterismo is a social-critical work, with many chapters and scenes that depicts the corruption and debased of the society. Rizal is too specific in his prescriptions and moralizing the case of education but it strays stories, illustrative of excess and corruption are ultimately the most distracting. His social criticisms may be specific to time and place but it is certainly universal, meaning what happened in his time also happened during this time. Choice of words and depiction of characters proved that this book is   a worthwhile to be read. Every chapter has its own moral and lesson to pick upon. I recommend to read the book because it is not just entertaining and educational but realization can be made on what is happening in the reality of today.