INTRODUCTION

Art is a diverse range of human activities in creating visual, auditory or performing artworks, expressing
the author's imaginative, conceptual idea, or technical skill, intended to be appreciated for their beauty or
emotional power. In their most general form these activities include the production of works of art, the criticism
of art, the study of the history of art, and the aesthetic dissemination of art. Art has had a great number of
different functions throughout its history, making its purpose difficult to abstract to any single concept. This
does not simply that the purpose of Art is vague, but that it has had many unique different reasons for being
created.
The purpose of art may be to communicate ideas and knowledge, such as in politically, spiritually, or
philosophically motivated art; to give historical information; to create a sense of beauty or aesthetics; to explore
the nature of perception for pleasure; or to generate strong emotions and also be seemingly nonexistent. Just like
million years ago, early civilizations or settlers had used of oral tradition to express their thoughts, knowledge
and even their feelings not only just for communication. And for it to be remember they put it on record they
tend to speak out their history and culture in a form of symbols and drawings for them to pass it from one
generation to another. But not all has the skill to draw hence others has the skill of writing. Writing is more
complement or alternative to speech or spoken language. That’s why there are lots of recorded writing accounts
than drawing accounts in our history.
Literary Arts is the integrative discipline of ideation, literary appreciation and creative writing. It
focuses on rigorous ideation and the expression of ideas through the medium of words. It places an emphasis on
many topics from human tragedies to tales of the ever-popular search for love. While it is physically written in
words, these words come alive in the imagination of the mind, and its ability to comprehend the complexity or
simplicity of the text. Literature enables people to see through the lenses of others, and sometimes even
inanimate objects; therefore, it becomes a looking glass into the world as others view it. It is a journey that is
inscribed in pages, and powered by the imagination of the reader. Ultimately, literature has provided a gateway
to teach the reader about life experiences from even the saddest stories to the most joyful ones that will touch
their hearts. The world today is ever-changing. Never before has life been so chaotic and challenging for all.
Life before literature was practical and predictable, but in present day, literature has expanded into countless
libraries and into the minds of many as the gateway for comprehension and curiosity of the human mind and the
world around them. Literature is of great importance and is studied upon as it provides the ability to connect
human relationships, and define what is right and what is wrong. Therefore, words are alive more than ever
before.
Below, we choose the best novel in the books of Filipinos to represent a type of literary art we may had.
The following context is compose of powerful depictions based on real life situation of what Filipino history is
all about.
SUMMARY: EL FILIBUSTERISMO by JOSE PROTACIO RIZAL
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, Doña Victorina, Ben Zayb,
Don Custodio, Padre Irene, Sibyla, Camorra, and Salvi. 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. 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 Doña 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. 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. 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. 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 Tiago’s help, he is now studying to be a
doctor and plans to marry his sweetheart, Juli. 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. 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. 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 Selo’s family because they had not taught Juli to pray properly.
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 daughter’s 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 word "Tales" written in blood is found near the dead tenant’s wife. On the last day of December,
the Governor-General and his advisers, together with some friars, are taking a rest in Los Baños. After the
game of cards, the Governor-General asks his advisers' opinion about the students' proposal to put up a self-
sufficient 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. 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. 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 Señor Pasta, a lawyer, to give a
favorable decision. Isagani volunteers to persuade Señor Pasta to support and to endorse their project. Isagani
approaches Señor Pasta to persuade him to support and endorse the students' project. Not wishing to provoke
the friars who are against the project, Señor Pasta decides to oppose it and to convince Isagani instead to focus
on his studies. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. Señor 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. 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. 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.
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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. Capitan Tiago dies, and Padre Irene becomes the executor of his will. Capitan
Tiago has willed his properties toSta. Clara, to the pope, to the archbishop, and to religious corporations. The
news of Basilio’s 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 friar’s help. 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. 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 father’s business. In
jail, Basilio learns the sad news of Juli’s death. Simoun befriends Don Timoteo Pelaez, who is now busy
preparing for the wedding of his son to Paulita Gomez. 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 Quiroga’s
warehouse. Simoun is to place at an important gathering a dynamite-laden lamp that would then explode to
signal the attack. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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.
SYNOPSIS
The story in El Filibusterismo revolves around its main character Simoun who is an affluent jeweler. Simoun is
actually Crisostomo Ibarra of the Noli whom everyone thought had been killed by the Guardia Civil at Laguna
de Bay. He had in fact escaped, fled to Cuba, become wealthy, and made connections with influential Spanish
officials. Upon his return to the Philippines after many years, he becomes very influential as the governor
general, who owes so much to him, consults him in making decisions. In reality however, everything Simoun
does is just part of his grand plan to take revenge against the Spanish officials and rescue Maria Clara from the
convent. Planning to stage a revolution, he smuggles arms and looks for followers, mainly from the exploited
and abused natives. One of his recruits is Basilio, the son of Sisa, who with Capitan Tiago’s help was able to
study in Manila. Simoun also makes an alliance with the revolutionary group of Kabesang Tales, a former
‘cabeza de barangay’ who suffered maltreatments from the hands of the friars. Using his influence, Simoun
encourages corruption, decadence, and more oppressive government policies so that the citizens may become
more infuriated. However, the planned revolt one night was not carried out because Simoun, upon hearing that
Maria Clara died in the nunnery, decided not to give the signal for the outbreak of the uprising. Another plan
was made some months later. At the venue of the wedding reception of Juanito Pelaez and Paulita Gomez,
Simoun planted many explosives—enough to kill the invited guests, primarily the friars and government
officials. According to the plot, the big explosion shall be started by the gift he would give to the newlyweds at
the reception—a kerosene lamp with an explosive. When the lamp flickers and someone turns the wick, it will
result into a big explosion that will become a signal to the revolutionary troops to simultaneously attack all the
government buildings in Manila. During the reception, Simoun gives his gift to the newly-weds. Before
hurriedly leaving the venue, he leaves a piece of mysterious paper bearing the message “You will die tonight”
signed by Juan Crisostomo Ibarra. Meanwhile, Isagani, the rejected lover of Paulita, is standing outside the
reception. His friend Basilio tells him to leave the place because the lamp will soon blow up. When Father Salvi
identifies the handwriting in the note and confirms that it was indeed Ibarra’s, the guests begin to panic. When
the lamp flickers, Father Irene tries to turn the wick up. But Isagani, wanting to save Paulita’s life, rushes into
the house, grabs the lamp, and throws it into the river where it explodes. Simoun’s revolutionary plot was thus
known and he is thus hunted by the law enforcers. He managed to escape but was seriously wounded. Carrying
his jewelry chest, he finds shelter in the home of Padre Florentino by the sea. Learning of his presence in the
house of the priest, the lieutenant of the Guardia Civil informs Padre Florentino that he will come in the evening
to arrest Simoun. Simoun then takes poison that he would not be caught alive. As the poison’s effects start to
take toll on his body, he confesses to Florentino his true identity and his plan of revenge through bloody
revolution. After the emotional and agonizing confession of the dying man, the priest absolves the dying man
from his sins, saying: “God will forgive you Señor Simoun. He knows that we are fallible. He has seen that you
have suffered … He has frustrated your plans one by one … first by the death of Maria Clara, then by a lack of
preparation, then in some mysterious way. Let us bow to His will and render Him thanks!” The story ends with
the priest throwing Simoun’s treasures into the sea so that they would not be used by the greedy. The priest
hopes that when the right time comes, they would be recovered and used only for the good.

Guided Questions:
1. What is it all about?
“El Filibusterismo” is Jose Rizal’s second novel written as the sequel of his “Noli Me Tangere”.
Commonly nicknamed ‘El Fili’ or simply “Fili”, the novel was written also in Spanish and consist of 38
chapters. Its commonly known English alternative title is “The Reign of Greed”. Rizal started writing El
Filibusterismo in October 1887 in Calamba during his first homecoming. He continued working on it,
making some revisions, in London in 1888. Rizal then went on to write the novel in Paris, and then in
Brussels where distractions were less and the cost of living was cheaper. Being able to focus on
finishing the book, Rizal had finally completed it by March 29, 1891 in Biarritz. Indeed a continuation
 of the Noli, the El Filibusterismo exposes the real picture of Filipino society at the hands of the Spanish
authorities. Socio-political issues mentioned in the Noli are also dealt with in its sequel: the abuses and
hypocrisy of the members of the Spanish Catholic clergy, superstitions disguising as religious faith, the
need for reform in educational system, the exploitation and corruption of government officials, and the
pretenses of some social-climbing Filipinos and Spaniards. What makes El Fili essentially different from
its prequel is that it offers various means of attaining social reform and somewhat hinted what the author
believed was ideal. Some dialogues and incidents seem to suggest the apparent improbability of any
radical socio-political change. The main character’s persistence to push through with the rebellion, on
the other hand, seems to suggest that independence is attainable through revolution. However, the
closing chapters rather insinuate that freedom must be attained without bloodshed as the story ends with
the failure of Simoun’s planned uprising.

What is it for?
The “Filibusterismo” in the novel’s title is derived from the simpler term “filibuster”. The word
“filibuster” contextually means subversive, dissident, revolutionary, seditious, insurrectionary, and
treasonous. Fittingly, Rizal dedicated the book to the memory of the “Gomburza” they are namedly Don
Mariano Gomez (73 years old), Don Jose Burgos (35 years old), and Don Jacinto Zamora (37 years
old)and were executed in the Bagumbayan Field on the 17th of February, 1872 , the three Filipino
patriotic priests who were accused of being “filibustero”. In his dedication, Rizal fearlessly declared his
conviction that the Spanish officials treatment of the priests case was unjust as their complicity in the
Cavite Mutiny is not clearly proved. And the novel was thus written also against the background of
threats and oppressions he and his family suffered because of the Noli and the so-called Calamba
agrarian trouble. Generally, El Fili presents a gloomier depiction of the country under the Spanish
regime. More radical and revolutionary, the novel has less idealism and romance than the Noli. Rizal
made use of GOMBURZA as a symbol to awaken as from reality that we need to fight for our freedom
and dignity that’s why Rizal finished this novel that the protagonist failed his mission for the Filipinos to
had the idea to continue and pursue it..

2. What is it made of?

The novel is the sequel of Noli Me Tangere and written by Rizal for him being patriotic and brave
enough to fight for his country by using his skills on writing.
3. What is its style?
Rizal creative way of writing the novel is fictional based on true events happen on his past by
giving it a twist by using a symbolic characters that represents the people’s government and society.

4. Is there a social relevance?

The great impact of the novel is to serve as an inspiration to the Filipino people. It brings a
profound effect on Philippines society in terms of views about national identity, the catholic faith and its
influence on Filipino’s choice and the government’s issues of corruption, abuse and discrimination, and
on larger scale, the issues related to the effect of colonization on people’s lives and the cause for
independence. The book awakened the Filipinos in the past and is still awakening the Filipinos of today,
to fight for what we believe is right. We may not be the victory always in every battle but the most
important is, we continue to fight until our very last breath, just like Rizal.
 ARTS
APPRECIATION

GROUP 2 MEMBERS: SUBMITTED TO:

FELIX AGPALZA MS. NORMA SORIANO
JUDY ANNE ALMARIO
MEL CARIŃO
HAZEL GUILLERMO
JANET GUIQUING
JONALYN MAUANAY
ROSET ZALUN