Cebu Normal University

College of Arts and Sciences

Osmea Boulevard, Cebu City

EL FILIBUSTERISMO
Chapter Summary 1 39

Schenley G. Abe
B.S. in Chemistry-Physics III

February 3, 2015

Life and Works of Rizal

TTh (06:00 07:30 PM)

Accepted:

DR. MARILYN LASPIAS

Instructor
Chapter 1

On the Upper Deck

The novel begins with the steamship Tabo sailing on the Pasig River on its way to
Laguna. While the passengers on the upper deck discuss subjects regarding the
lake and the slow pace of ship travel, readers are gradually introduced to some
characters of the novel such as the jeweler Simoun, Doa Victorina, Ben Zayb, Don
Custodio, Padre Irene, Sibyla, Camorra, and Salvi.

Chapter 2
On the Lower Deck
On the lower deck of the steamship Tabo, Basilio and Isagani converse with Don
Basilio. The two students tell the Don the plan of the students to establish a
Spanish academy. Although the two students are hopeful that the academy would
be approved by the Governor-General, Don Basilio expresses his pessimism.

Chapter 3
Legends
The wealthy passengers of the steamship amuse themselves by telling stories and
legends of interesting places and spots along the river. Padre Florentino recounts
the legend of Doa Jeronima, while Padre Salvi narrates the story of a Chinese
infidel who was saved from the caymans by asking St. Nicholas for help. Ben Zayb
then asks the captain the exact spot where a man named Ibarra was killed. While
pointing to the exact spot, Ben Zayb observes that Simoun is silent and thoughtful.

Chapter 4
Cabesang Tales
Cabesang Tales with his family and father cultivate a piece of land. From the
hardship the experience and sickness they experience, Tales's wife and eldest
daughter die. When he is about to harvest his crops, a religious order lays claim to
the land and demands an annual rent. Tales eventually agrees to the arrangement,
but every year the rent keeps going up until he has had enough. He goes to the
courts and demands that the religious order present some proof of their ownership
of the land. After a long and expensive litigation, Tales loses the case. He is
unfortunately abducted by bandits demanding ransom. Not enough money is raised
for the ransom, so Juli, the daughter of Cabesang Tales, borrows money from
Hermana Penchang. To pay the debt, Juli agrees to work for the Hermana as a
servant.

Chapter 5
A Cocheros Christmas Eve
On the way to the town of San Diego, a cochero endures abuse and maltreatment
from the Guardia Civil. He is hit with a rifle butt when he tells them he has
forgotten to bring his cedula with him. He is detained and beaten up again when
the light of his carromata goes out. Basilio arrives at San Diego and, after making
his way to Capitan Tiago's house, he receives the news that Cabesang Tales has
been abducted by bandits.

Chapter 6
Basilio
At Christmas Eve, Basilio enters the forest previously owned by the Ibarra family but
has been sold to Capitan Tiago. In the middle of the forest stands a Balete tree,
where he visits the grave of his mother Sisa and a stranger (Elias). He remembers
that thirteen years ago, a second stranger (Ibarra) had helped him cremate and
bury his mother and the stranger. Through Capitan Tiagos help, he is now studying
to be a doctor and plans to marry his sweetheart, Juli.

Chapter 7
Simoun
Basilio is about to leave the forest when he sees someone approach and starts
digging near the Balete tree. He announces his presence and is surprised that the
man turns out to be Simoun the jeweler, who is none other than Crisostomo Ibarra.
Simoun convinces Basilio to cooperate in his plans of avenging the death of his
mother (Sisa) and his younger brother (Crispin) but Basilio remains steadfast saying
that revenge would never bring back his brother and mother.

Chapter 8
Merry Christmas!

It is Christmas day and Juli wakes up early to pack her things to go to Hermana
Penchang. She forgets to greet his grandfather Tata Selo a Merry Christmas. After
Juli leaves, Tata Selo is preoccupied with thoughts of his pretty granddaughter with
her delicate hands working as a servant, of his son Cabesang Tales still held by
bandits, and of being alone on Christmas Day. Dwelling on all these misfortunes, he
discovers that he has become dumb.

Chapter 9
Pilates
The gossip about the misfortunes of Tata Selo and his family spreads around town,
and a number of people are claiming that they are not to blame for these
misfortunes. The Alferez of the Guardia Civil says that he was just following a
government order to collect all firearms in town. The friar who has taken over
Cabesang Tales's comments that if Tales had remained at home, he would never
have been abducted by the bandits. Hermana Penchang merely says that God
brought down hardships on Tata Selos family because they had not taught Juli to
pray properly.

Chapter 10
Wealth and Want
Simoun visits Cabesang Tales's house to sell his jewelry to the rich inhabitants of
San Diego and Tiani. Cabesang Tales is convinced to sell his daughters locket but
decides to get his daughter's permission first. The following day Simoun discovers
that his revolver has been stolen by Tales. News circulates in the town that three
persons have been murdered: the friar administrator, as well as the new tenant and
his wife. A piece of paper with the wordTales written in blood is found near the dead
tenants wife.

Chapter 11
Los Baos
On the last day of December, the Governor-General and his advisers, together with
some friars, are taking a rest in Los Baos. After the game of cards, the GovernorGeneral asks his advisers' opinion about the students' proposal to put up a selfsufficient Spanish academy. There is a disagreement of opinions, so no decision is

made. Afterwards, the Governor-General orders the release of Tata Selo, who has
been arrested by the Guardia Civil in place of his son, Cabesang Tales.

Chapter 12
Placido Penitente
Placido enters the class in physics conducted by Padre Millon. The class has no
laboratory equipment, while the instruments bought by the university are never
used. At a class recitation, Placido argues with the professor when he gets a bad
mark even if he had been marked as being absent. From disgust and frustration,
Placido Penitente walks out of the class.

Chapter 13
The Class in Physics
Placido enters the class in physics conducted by Padre Millon. The class has no
laboratory equipment, while the instruments bought by the university are never
used. At a class recitation, Placido argues with the professor when he gets a bad
mark even if he had been marked as being absent. From disgust and frustration,
Placido Penitente walks out of the class.

Chapter 14
In the House of the Students
Arriving at the school dormitory, Makaraig announces that the decision to issue the
permit for building the academy has been passed to a commission headed by Don
Custodio. The students then devise schemes to influence Don Custodio or Seor
Pasta, a lawyer, to give a favorable decision. Isagani volunteers to persuade Seor
Pasta to support and to endorse their project.

Chapter 15
Seor Pasta
Isagani approaches Seor Pasta to persuade him to support and endorse the
students' project. Not wishing to provoke the friars who are against the project,

Seor Pasta decides to oppose it and to convince Isagani instead to focus on his
studies.

Chapter 16
The Tribulations of a Chinese
Quiroga, a Chinese businessman, gives a dinner in his house. Friars, government
officials, soldiers, and merchants attend the dinner. Simoun asks Quiroga to store
some rifles in his warehouse as exchange for the portion of the debt that the
Chinese merchant owes him.

Chapter 17
The Quiapo Fair
Twelve people leave Quiroga's house to watch Mr. Leeds' show. Padre Camorra
ogles the young women at the fair, and gets more excited when he sees Paulita
Gomez, Isagani's rich and beautiful sweetheart.

Chapter 18
Legerdemain
Ben Zayb, Padre Camorra, Padre Salvi, and others enter the tent of Mr. Leeds to
watch his show. Mr. Leeds presents to them a box containing some ashes that had
been found in one of the pyramids of Egypt. Upon shouting a magic word, the
ashes come to life and the Sphinx named Imuthis narrates his sad story. A priest,
he says, was in love with his sweetheart and in order to eliminate him, he was
implicated in a rebellion. Imuthis was then arrested but was killed in a lake while
trying to escape. Seeing the parallelism between Imuthis' story and that of
Crisostomo Ibarra, Padre Salvi faints when the Sphinx starts calling him murderer,
slanderer, and hypocrite.

Chapter 19
The Fuse

Placido Penitente meets and joins Simoun in his trip around the city. Placido learns
that Simoun is organizing a revolution in order to rescue Maria Clara from the
convent.

Chapter 20
The Arbiter
Don Custodio studies his decision regarding the proposal of the university students.
He is undecided, since he wants to please the friars who are against the proposal
while at the same time desires to give the students a chance to study the Spanish
language. Seor Pasta and Pepay the dancer have been consulted, but they they
do not not give him a concrete answer. After much contemplation, he arrives at a
decision.

Chapter 21
Manila Types
The people of Manila gather in the Teatro de Variadades to watch Les Cloches de
Corneville. Camarrocido, who is from a prominent family in Spain, is poorly dressed
and is employed in putting up posters of upcoming shows of the Teatro. While
walking near the Teatro he sees some men suspiciously loitering around. He finds
out that Simoun is ordering the men to stop a civil unrest.

Chapter 22
The Performance
Humorous incidents happen at the show. Juanito Pelaez pretends to understand
French in order to impress Paulita Gomez but is embarrassed when he mistranslates
some French words. Padre Irene, in a disguise, watches the show and applauds one
of the French actresses. Don Custodio is also present at the show, falsely claiming
that he watching the show to judge if it is indecent or not. During the show, the
students led by Makaraig learn about Don Custodio' s decision.

Chapter 23
A Corpse

Basilio reads some medical books when Simoun arrives at Capitan Tiago's house.
Simoun convinces Basilio in vain to assist in the revolution initiated by the jeweler.
Simoun adds that a revolution is necessary to rescue Maria Clara at the Sta. Clara
nunnery. Basilio informs Simoun that Maria Clara is dead. Simoun leaves the house
weeping, tormented and bereaved.

Chapter 24
Dreams
Isagani meets Paulita at Malecon. In their conversation, Isagani is revealed to be an
idealist who envisions progress and economic development of his country. He
converses with Paulita about railway expansion, cooperation between Spaniards and
Filipinos, and the imminent commercial trade. Paulita dismisses these thoughts
saying they are unattainable dreams.

Chapter 25
Smiles and Tears
The students organize a banquet at a panciteria to honor Don Custodio and his
decision about the Spanish academy. In his decision, the academy must come
under the supervision of the Dominican order and the students would simply collect
contributions for the proposed school.

Chapter 26
Pasquinades
Basilio goes to the hospital but sees students acting as if classes are suspended. A
student informs him that seditious and revolutionary posters are found at the
university implicating the student organization. The government has also issued
the arrest of all its members and students who participated in the banquet at the
panciteria. Basilio then goes to the house of Makaraig to ask for a loan, but he and
Makaraig are arrested by soldiers.

Chapter 27
The Friar and the Filipino

Padre Fernandez calls Isagani to discuss his involvement at the banquet in the
panciteria. Their discussion centers on the policy of the friars in educating students.
Isagani argues that the friars are deliberately teaching antiquated education in
order to inhibit the aspiration of the people to be free. He argues that people who
aspire to be educated are branded as filibusters. Padre Fernandez replies that he
has done what he could and that not all friars are backward and against the idea of
educating the people. He says that education can only be bestowed to a deserving
and ready people.

Chapter 28
Tatakut
Because of the seditious posters found in the university, the city is adrift with rumor
and gossip. Gossip about arrested students being shot and deported is circulated,
while rumor exists that members of the student association had connived with
bandits and the German ships to bring down the government.

Chapter 29
Exit Capitan Tiago
Capitan Tiago dies, and Padre Irene becomes the executor of his will. Capitan Tiago
has willed his properties to Sta. Clara, to the pope, to the archbishop, and to
religious corporations.

Chapter 30
Juli
The news of Basilios imprisonment deeply troubles Juli. The town clerk, Hermana
Pechang, and Hermana Bali convince Juli to ask Padre Camorra to intercede for
Basilio. She is hesitant to approach the friar since he is known to be frolicsome and
fond of women. When news reaches Tiani that Basilio is about to be shot, Juli is
compelled to ask the friars help.

Chapter 31
The High Official

A high official convinces the Governor-General in vain to release Basilio who he

believes is innocent. The Governor-General insists that innocent individuals must
suffer in order to restore order and to cow the people into submission. Because of
this disagreement, the high official resigns and goes back to Spain.

Chapter 32
Effect of the Pasquinades
Because of the revolutionary and seditious posters, Pecson, Tadeo, and Juanito
Pelaez are suspended from their classes. Tadeo burns his books, while Juanito gets
engaged in his fathers business. In jail, Basilio learns the sad news of Julis death.
Simoun befriends Don Timoteo Pelaez, who is now busy preparing for the wedding
of his son to Paulita Gomez.

Chapter 33
La Ultima Razn
Basilio is released from prison and immediately approaches Simoun in order to help
him initiate a revolution. Simoun is pleased that Basilio will join his cause. He
directs Basilio to meet Cabesang Tales at a designated time to acquire the rifles that
are hidden in Quirogas warehouse. Simoun is to place at an important gathering a
dynamite-laden lamp that would then explode to signal the attack.

Chapter 34
The Wedding
Basilio walks aimlessly in the streets of Manila to wait for the agreed signal for the
revolution. He passes Calle Anloague where the wedding fiesta of Juanito Pelaez
and Paulita Gomez is being held. After seeing the rich decorations, the number of
guards, and the important visitors that would be coming, he assumes that this is the
crucial gathering mentioned by Simoun.

Chapter 35
The Fiesta

Basilio sees Simoun placing the lamp at the center of the house. Basilio is about to
leave the place when he sees Isagani. He tries to convince Isagani to stay away
from the house and explains that the lamp from Simoun would explode killing
everybody in the house. In a rare act of love and loyalty to Paulita, he boldly rushes
to the house, quickly throwing the lamp into the river to prevent it from exploding.

Chapter 36
Ben-Zaybs Afflictions
The Governor-General prohibits any mention of the events that have taken place at
the wedding fiesta of Juanito Pelaez and Paulita Gomez. News circulates that a band
of tulisanes have attacked a friar country house. The robbers who are caught
describe a Spanish mestizo as the one who ordered them to attack the city at a
designated signal. The description given by the robbers perfectly fits Simoun.

Chapter 37
The Mystery
The events of the previous night are discussed by Isagani, Capitana Loleng, Capitan
Toringoy, Sensia, and Chichoy. Chichoy divulges that Simoun is the mastermind
behind storing the sacks of gunpowder in order to kill all the people at the wedding
feast. He also adds that the lamp was to start the fire and ignite the gunpowder.

Chapter 38
Fatality
A group of prisoners are being escorted by the soldiers when they are ambushed.
Carolino, one of the members of the Guardia Civil and the son of Cabesang Tales,
bravely fight the bandits, killing with a spear the bandits' leader and an old man.
Upon approaching the dead, he recognizes that the old man that he has shot is
none other that his grandfather, Tata Selo.

Chapter 39
Conclusion

A wounded and exhausted Simoun goes to Padre Florentino's house to hide from the
Guardia Civil that are out to arrest him. After taking a poison, he informs Padre
Florentino of his true identity. He says that he is the fugitive Juan Crisostomo Ibarra
and that his was the unsuccessful attempt to corrupt the government in order to
start a revolution that would free the country. Padre Florentino reprimands Simoun,
saying that freedom cannot be won through violence and bloodshed but by
education, constant work, and suffering.

Source:
http://www.kapitbisig.com/philippines/el-filibusterismo-the-reign-of-greed-by-dr-joserizal-book-notes-summary-in-english-chapter-summaries-of-elfilibusterismo_204.html