Chapter 19: El Filibusterismo (Publication in Ghent 1988)
Rizal begun writing “El Filibusterismo” on October, 1887, while practicing
medicine in Calamba.
The following year (1888), in London, he made some changes in the plot and
corrected some chapters already written.
He wrote more chapters in Paris and Madrid and finished the manuscript in
Biarritz on March 29, 1891.
It took him, therefore, three years to write his second novel.
Privations in Ghent
July 5, 1891 – Rizal left Brussels for Ghent (in Belgium)
2 Reasons:
i. The cost of printing in Ghent was cheaper than in Brussels and;
ii. To escape from the enticing attraction of Petite Suzanne
Rizal’s 2 Compatriots
Jose Alejandro (from Pampanga)
Edilberto Evangelista (from Manila)
(They were both studying Engineering in University of Ghent)
The Printing of El Filibusterismo
F. MEYER-VAN LOO PRESS, No. 66 Viaanderen Street
He pawned his jewels in order to pay the down-payment and the early partial
payments during the printing of the novel.
On August 6, the printing had to be suspended.
Ventura, Savior of Fili
Valentin Ventura in Paris knew of Rizal’s predicament and immediately sent him
the necessary funds
The printing of the Fili is resumed.
On September 18, 1891, EL FILIBUSTERISMO came off the Press
He sent two printed copies to Hong Kong – one for Basa and the other for Sixto
Lopez.
Rizal gratefully donated the original manuscript and an autographed printed copy
to Valentin Ventura.
He also sent copies to Blumentritt, Mariano Ponce, G. Lopez Jaena, T.H. Pardo de
Tavera, Antonio and Juan Luna, and other friends.
Rizal dedicated his El Fili to:
Don Mariano Gomez
Don Jose Burgos
Don Jacinto Zamora
The Manuscript
The original manuscript of El Filibusterismo in Rizal’s own handwriting is now
preserved in the Filipiniana Division of the Bureau of Public Libraries, Manila. It
had been acquired by the Philippine Government from Valentin Ventura for
10,000 pesos. It consists of 279 pages of long sheets of paper.
The title page of El Fili contains an inscription written by Ferdinand Blumentritt
Features that didn’t appear in the printed book:
o Foreword
o Warning
Sypnosis of El Filibusterismo
Sequel to his first novel, Noli Me Tangere
It has little humor, less idealism, and less romance than Noli
It is more revolutionary and more tragic
The Characters of El Filibusterismo
Dona Victorina
Tiburcio de Espadana
Paulita Gomez
Ben-Zayb
Padre Sibyla
Padre Camorra
Don Custodio
Padre Salvi
Padre Irene
Padre Florentino
Isagani
Basilio
Capitan Tiago
Juanito Pelaez
Other Characters:
Cabesng Tales
Juli
Macaraig
Padre Millon
Placido Penitente
Senor Pasta
Tandang Selo
Sandoval
Pecson
Cabesana Andang
Pepay
Padre Fernandez
Don Timoteo
Tano
Chichay
Characters from El Fili were drawn by Rizal from real life
Padre Florentino was Father Leoncio Lopez
Isagani was Vicente Ilustre
Paulita Gomez was Leonor Rivera
“Noli” and “Fili” Compared
Noli Me Tangere
Romantic Novel
“Work of the Heart”
“Book of Feeling”
It has freshness, color, humor, lightness, and wit
Has 64 chapters
El Filibusterismo
Political Novel
“Work of the Head”
“Book of the Thought”
It contains bitterness, hatred, pain, violence, and sorrow.
Has 38 chapters
Rizal’s Unifinished Third Novel
On September 22, 1891, four days after the Fili came off the press, he wrote to
Blumetritt about his intentions of writing another a third novel.
October 18 1891, Rizal boarded the steamer to Melbourne in Marseilles bound for
Hongkong.
During the voyage, he began writing the third novel in Tagalog which he intended
for Tagalog readers
In Hong Kong he continued it, but for some reason, he did not finished it.
The unfinished third novel has no Title.
It consists of 44 pages in Rizal’s handwriting, still in manuscript form.
It is now preserved in the National Library in Manila.
It said that Rizal was fortunate not to finish this novel, because it would have
caused greater scandal and more Spanish vengeance on him.
Rizal’s Other Unfinished Novels
Makamisa – a novel in Tagalog. It is written in a light sarcastic style. It is
incomplete for only 2 chapters are finished.
Dapitan – it is unfinished, written in ironic Spanish. He wrote it during his exile in
Dapitan.
A novel in Spanish about the life in Pili, a town in Laguna. It is also unfinished. It
is also without title.
Another unfinished novel of Rizal, also without title, consists of 34 pages.
