Magsumbol, Jessica B.

BSN-III

Chapter 19 CHAPTER 19 El Filibusterismo Published in Ghent (1891)

Days flew fast like fleeting arrows in Brussels. Rizal, unmindful of Suzanne Jacobys enticing affection, was busy correcting and polishing his second novel El Filibusterismo. October, 1887 He began writing it in Calamba. 1888 He made some changes in the plot and revised the chapter already written. He wrote more chapters in Paris, Madrid and Biarritz. March 29, 1891 He finished the manuscript in Biarritz, after toiling on it for three years.

From Brussels, Rizal moved to Ghent, where printing was cheaper. September 18, 1891 El Filibusterismo, the sequel to the Noli, came of the press.

PRIVATATION IN GHENT July 5, 1891 Rizal left Brussels for Ghent. Reasons:

- The cost of living was lower - The price of printing was much cheaper than in Brussels - To escape from the enticing attraction of Petite Suzanne Owing to his limited funds, Rizal lived in a cheap boarding house, with Jose Alejandro as roommate.They lived frugally in Ghent for three months from July to September, 1891.To economize further on their living expenses, they prepared their own breakfast.

THE PRINTING OF EL FILIBUSTERISMO Rizal searched for a printing shop that could give him the lowest quotation for the publication of his novel. At last, he did find a publisher F. MEYER-VAN LOO PRESS, No. 66 Viaanderen Street who was willing to print his book on installment basis.He pawned his jewels in order to pay the down payment and early partial payments during the printing of the novel.Rizal

became desperate because his funds were running low.He received some money from Basa and P200 from Rodriguez Arias for the copies of Morgas Sucesos sold in Manila but these funds were also used up.

July 1891 Rizal wrote a letter to Basa saying that if no money comes he have to stop the El Filis publication. August 6 The printing had to be suspended, as Rizal feared, because he could no longer give the necessary funds to the printer.

EL FILIBUSTERISMO COMES OFF THE PRESS In his morbid moments of despair, Rizal almost burned the manuscript of El Filibusterismo. When everything seemed lost, help came from an unexpected source. Valentin Ventura heard of Rizals predicament and immediately sent the amount needed to finish the publication of the novel. September 18, 1891 El Fili came off to press.

Rizal immediately send 2 copies to Hongkong one for Basa and the other for Sixto Lopez.He gratefully gave the original manuscript of El Fili and a printed copy with his autograph to Valentin Ventura.Filipino patriots praised the novel. The members of the Filipino colony of Barcelona published a tribute in La Publicidad , a Barcelona newspaper, eulogizing the novels original style.The liberal Madrid newspaper, El Nuevo Regimen , serialized the novel in its issues of October, 1891.All copies of the first edition (Ghent edition) of El Fili were placed in wooden boxes and shipped to Hong Kong, but almost all the boxes were confiscated and the books were lost. The book immediately became rare and the few available Ghent copies were sold at very high prices, reaching as high as 400 pesetas per copy.

Rizal, in all his studies, travels and labors in foreign lands, had not forgotten the martyrdom of Fathers Gomez, Burgos and Zamora, which Paciano related to him when he was a mere lad in Calamba. He dedicated El Fili to them. THE MANUSCRIPT AND THE BOOK - The original manuscript of El Fili in Rizals own handwriting is now preserved in the Filipiniana Division of the Bureau of Public Libraries, Manila. - Acquired from Valentin Ventura for P10,000. - Consisting of 279 pages of long sheets of paper.

2 FEATURES THAT DIDNT APPEAR IN THE PRINTED BOOK - Foreword - Warning

These two were not put into print, evidently, to save printing cost. - FOREWORD appears just before the dedicatory page in the manuscript. It is for the Filipino People and the Government. - WARNING found on the other side of the dedication. The title page of El Fili contains an inscription written by Ferdinand Blumentritt.

SYNOPSIS OF EL FILI Characters of El Filibusterismo Padre Irene a kind friar who was a friend of the Filipino students Padre Florentino a retired scholarly and patriotic Filipino priest Isagani a poet nephew of Padre Florentino and a lover of Paulita Gomez Basilio son of Sisa and promising medical student Capitan Tiago patron of Basilio Quiroga rich Chinese merchant Cabesang Tales Father of Juli who is dispossessed of his land in Tiani by the friars Juli sweetheart of basilio Makaraig a rich student and leader of the Filipino students in their movement to have an academy where they could learn Spanish Padre Millon who teaches Physics in UST without scientific experiments

Simoun rich jeweler Doa Victorina ridiculously pro-Spanish native woman Tiburcio de Espadaa husband of Doa Victorina Paulita Gomez beautiful niece of Doa Victorina Ben-Zayb Spanish journalist, who writes silly articles about Filipinos Padre Sibyla Vice-Rector of the University of Santo Tomas Padre Camorra Parish priest of the town of Tiani Don Custodio a pro-Spanish Filipino holding a high position in the government Padre Salvi thin Franciscan friar and former cura of San Diego

Placido Penitente student of Padre Millon who becomes discontented with the poor method of instruction in the university Seor Pasta old Filipino lawyer who refuses to help the Filipino students in their petition to the government for educational reforms Tandang Selo grandfather of Juli

Cabesana Andang the mother of Placido Penitente Pepay the pretty dancer and mistress of Don Custodio Padre Fernandez a good Dominican friar and friend of Isagani Don Timoteo the father of Juanito Pelaez Tano son of Cabesang Tales and brother of Juli Chichay the silversmith who made the bridal earrings for Paulita Gomez

Mr. American who owned the sideshow at the feria of Quiapo exhibiting an Egyptian mummy. Sandoval a Spanish student who supports the cause of the Filipino students to propagate the teaching of Spanish

CHARACTERS FROM EL FILIBUSTERISMO WERE DRAWN BY RIZAL FROM REAL LIFE - Padre Florentino was Father Leoncio Lopez - Isagani was Vicente Ilustre - Paulita Gomez was Leonor Rivera

The issue of which is the superior novel Noli or the Fili is purely academic.Both are good novels from the point of view of history.Both depict with realistic colors the actual conditions of the Philippines and the Filipinos during the decadent days of Spanish rule.Both are instrumental in awakening the spirit of Filipino nationalism.Both are responsible in paving the ground for the Phil. Revolution that brought about the downfall of Spain. September 22, 1891 four days after the Fili came off the press, he wrote to Blumentritt saying that hes thinking of writing a third novel where ethics will play the principal role. October 18, 1891 Rizal boarded the steamer Melbourne in Marseilles bound for Hong Kong.

During the voyage he wrote the 3 rd novel in Tagalog which he intended for Tagalog readers. In Hong Kong he continued it, but did not finish it because his Tagalog was inadequate for literary purposes.

The unfinished 3 rd novel has no title.It consists of 44 pages in Rizals handwriting.The manuscript is still preserved in the Bureau of Public Libraries (formerly National Library).The hero of the novel was Kamandagan, a descendant of Lakan-Dula, last king of Tondo. He plotted to regain the lost freedom of his fathers. It is said that Rizal was fortunate not to finish this novel, because it would have caused greater scandal and more Spanish vengeance on him. Other Unfinished Novels Makamisa a tagalog novel - written in light sarcastic style - in complete with only 2 chapters - consists of only 20 pages Dapitan written in Ironic Spanish - he wrote it while in Dapitan to depict the town life and customs - consists of 8 pages