This document provides an overview of pre-colonial and Spanish colonial Philippine literature. It discusses various pre-colonial oral literary forms like folk tales, epics, poems, and songs that existed across ethnic groups. It also summarizes some significant ethnographic epics. When the Spanish colonized the Philippines, they began influencing the culture and introduced the Roman alphabet and works of Christian doctrine. Literary works from the Spanish period included religious books, dictionaries documenting local languages, poems, metrical romances, songs, and Passion plays. Notable novels from this era discussed are Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo.

1. TWENTY-FIRST
CENTURY LITERATURE
FROMTHE PHILIPPINES
ANDTHEWORLD
“PRE-COLONIALTEXT AND SPANISH COLONIALTEXT”

2. PRE-COLONIALTEXT
LITERATURE

3. PRE-COLONIALTEXT
■ The variety and abundance of Philippine literature evolved even before
the colonial periods. Folk tales, epics, poems and marathon chants
existed in most ethno linguistic groups that were passed on from
generation to generation through word of mouth.Tales associated with
the Spanish conquest also took part in the country’s rich cultural
heritage. Some of these pre-colonial literary pieces showcased in
traditional narratives, speeches and songs are tigmo in Cebuano,
bugtong inTagalog, patototdon is Bicol and paktakon in Ilongo.

4. POETRY
“Dalawang Balon
Hindi Malingon”
“Sa araw ay Bunbong
Sa gabi ay Dahon”
“Sang dalagang marikit
Nakaupo sa tinik”

5. ETHNO-EPICS
Biag ni Lam-ang (Life of Lam-ang) of the Ilocanos narrates the
adventures of the prodigious epic hero, Lam-ang who exhibits
extraordinary powers at an early age. At nine months he is able to go
to war to look for his father’s killers. Then while in search of lady love,
Ines Kannoyan, he is swallowed by a big fish, but his rooster and his
friends bring him back to life.
Labaw Donggon is about the passionate exploits of the son of a
goddess Alunsina, by a mortal, Datu Paubari. The polygamous hero
battles the huge monster Manaluntad for the hand of Abyang
Ginbitinan; then he fights Sikay Padalogdog, the giant with a
hundred arms to win Abyang Doronoon and confronts the lord of
darkness, Saragnayan, to win Nagmalitong Yawa Sinagmaling
Diwata.

6. MYTH
The Gods and the Goddesses (Ilokos)
Cabalangegan was a formerly a jungle at the edge of the river Abra. On the far
side of the river were mountains, high and steep. On these mountains lived an old man
named Abra, the father of Caburayan. The old man controlled the weather. It is said that
the river Abra was covered by a gathering of water vapor at night, and during the days, it
was always bright with sunlight.
At that time, Anianihan, god of harvests, was in love with Caburayan, goddess of
healing. Her mother, Lady Makiling, knew about their mutual attraction, but Abra did not
know it because the three were afraid to tell him since he might punish them as he
disapproved of Anianihan. Abra wanted his daughter to marry either Saguday, god of the
wind, or Revenador, god of thunder and lightning. This being so, Anianihan took
Caburayan from her home. Abra wept a great deal. He sent Lady Makiling away after
beating her.
When Abra was alone, he wept day and night till Bulan, god of peace and calm,
came. Though Bulan was there to brighten Abra's spirits, Abra did not stop weeping. He
could not express his anger. He begged the other gods to bring back his daughter.

7. (continuation)
One day the sun, eye of Amman, shone so brightly that the water of the river
Abra was excessively heated. Smoke rose from the river. Soon, thick, black clouds began
to darken the sky.Then Saguday sent the strongest wind until the crowns of the trees
brushed the ground.The god Revenador sent down the largest strings of fire.The heaviest
rains fell. All these frightful events lasted seven days.The river Abra then rose and covered
the trees.There rose a vast body of water until only the highest part of the mountain could
be seen. It looked like a back of a turtle from a distance.This was the spot where Abra
lived.
On the seventh day, Abra heard a cry. He also heard a most sorrowful song. Abra
dried his tears and looked around, but he saw no one. He was determined to find Maria
Makiling, his grandchild. He did not find her, for the cries of the baby stopped.
The search for the baby lasted three full moons but to no avail, and the poor old man
returned to his home very sad. He lost all hope; his wits were gone. At that time Maria
Makiling was under the care of the fierce dog, Lobo, who was under a god of the
Underworld. He had been punished by the other gods, and that is why he looked like a
fierce dog. He was sent down to do charity.

8. Mag-asawangTubig (Tagalog)
In the olden days, there was a small town in which few farmers' families lived.
Among them was the couple known as Ba Imo and Ba Sinta.They were well liked and
respected in that place, for although they were well off, they were humble and generous.
One day Bathala put them to the test. A beggar in tattered clothes came to their
house and asked for lodgings.The couple very hospitably welcomed their guest and even
joined him for a meal at their table.To the great amazement of the couple, although they
had been eating for some time, the food at the table did not decrease. Realizing that their
guest was God, the couple knelt before him and prayed.The old man blessed them. In
their prayer, the couple asked that they may die at the same time, so that neither of them
would experience grief and loneliness which would surely happen if one of them died first.
God granted the wish of the couple.They died at the same time and were buried
in adjoining graves. Not long afterwards, a brook sprang from their graves.This later grew
and grew until it became a river, which was named Mag-asawangTubig in memory of the
loving couple.

9. LEGEND
Legend of the Banana Plant
In the early days when the world was new, spirits and ghosts lurked everywhere.
They lived in gloomy caves, they hid in anthills and tree trunks they frolicked in nooks and
corners under the houses. In the dark, sometimes their tiny voices could be heard dimly,
or their ghostly presence be felt. But they were never seen.
It was during these days of phantoms and unseen spirits that a young and
beautiful girl lived. Her name was Raya, and she was a girl bold and daring. She was never
afraid of spirits. She would walk in the shadowy forests, bringing along a lighted candle.
Then she would tiptoe into dark and dirty caves, searching the place for spirits.
Raya only felt or heard them never having seen them. But Raya always felt the presence
of one kind spirit, whenever she walked in the forest the spirit was with her at all times.
One day she heard someone call her name, and she looked up to see a young
handsome man. She asked him who he was, and he replied that his name was Sag-in, and
he was the spirit who followed her around, and even confessed that he had fallen in love
with a mortal.

10. (continuation)
They married had a child and lived happily, but Sag-in knew that his time on earth
was short for he was a spirit-man, and would have to return to the spirit world soon.When
he knew his time had come, he called Raya and explained why he had to leave.As he was
slowly vanishing, he told Raya that he would leave her a part of him. Raya looked down
and saw a bleeding heart on the ground. She took the heart and planted it. She watched it
night and day. A plant with long green leaves sprouted from the grave.
One day, the tree bore fruit shaped like a heart. She touched the fruit and
caressed it.Thinking could this be Sag-in's heart? Slowly the fruit opened , Long golden
fruits sprouted from it. Raya picked one, peeled it and bit into it.Then, she heard Sag-in's
voice floating in the air:Yes, Raya, it is my heart. I have reappeared to show you that I will
never forsake you and our child.Take care of this plant, and it will take care of you in
return. It's trunk and leaves will give you shelter and clothing.The heart and fruits will be
your food.And when you sleep at night, I will stand and watch by your window. I will stay
by your side forever!"
-The End-

11. Legend of the Dama de Noche
A thousand years ago, there was a rich maharlika, or nobleman, who spent his
early bachelor days recklessly, wining and dining in the company of nobility. He drank the
finest wines, ate the most delectable food and enjoyed the company of the loveliest,
perfumed and bejewelled women of the noble class.
After years of this kind of life, the maharlika finally felt it was time to settle down
and marry the woman of his choice. "But who is the woman to choose?" he asked himself
as he sat in the rich splendour of his home, "All the women I know are beautiful and
charming, but I am tired of the glitter of their jewels and the richness of their clothes!" He
wanted a woman different from all the women he saw day and night, and found this in
simple village lass. She was charming in her own unaffected ways, and her name was
Dama.
They married and lived contentedly. She loved him and took care of him. She
pampered him with the most delicious dishes, and kept his home and his clothes in order.
But soon, the newness wore off for the maharlika. He started to long for the company of
his friends. He took a good look at his wife and thought, she is not beautiful and she does
not have the air of nobility abouther, she does not talk with wisdom.And so the maharlika
returned to his own world of glitter and splendor. He spent his evenings sitting around
with his friends in their noble homes , drank and talked till the first rays of the sun peeped
from the iron grills of their ornate windows.
Poor Dama felt that she was losing her husband. She wept in the silence of their
bedroom. "I cannot give my husband anything but the delights of my kitchen and the
warmth of my bed. He is tired of me." She looked to the heavens. "Oh, friendly spirits!
Help me. Give me a magic charm. Just one little magic charm to make my husband come
home again, that he will never want to leave my side, forever!"

12. (continuation)
It was midnight when the maharlika came home. He opened the door of their
bedroom and called for Dama to tell her to prepare his nightclothes. "Dama! Dama, where
are you?" he called. He shouted all around the bedroom. He sarched the whole house. Still
the nobleman could not find his simple wife. Finally the nobleman returned to their
bedroom, tired and cross. But, as he opened the door, he stopped.
He smelled a very sweet and fragrant scent. It was a scent he had never smelled
before. He entered the room and crossed to the window where the scent seemed to be
floating from. A strange bush was growing outside the window. Some of its thin branches
had aleady reached the iron grills and were twisting around. And all over the bush were
thousands of tiny starlike, white flowers, from which burst forth a heavenly, enchanting
scent!
He stood there, completely enraptured by the glorious smell. "Dama..." he
whispered softly, onderingly, could this be Dama?The rich maharlika sat by the window,
and waited for the return of his loving simple wife. But she did not come back. She never
returned to him again.Only the fragrance of the flowers stayed with him, casting a spell
over his whole being.
In the moonlight, Dama of the night, or Dama de Noche would be in full bloom, capturing
the rich maharlika, making him never want to leave her side, forever.
-The End-

13. RIDDLES/BUGTONG
“Pinihit ko si kaibigan,
bumukas ang daanan”
“Kung bayaan ay nabubuhay
himasin ay namamatay”

14. SALAWIKAIN/SAWIKAIN
■ Lumang tugtugin
■ Makapal na mukha
■ Magbanat ng buto
■ Mahapdi ang bituka
■ Biro ng taghana
■ Bakas ng kahapun

15. BULONG/CHANTS
■ “Tabi,Tabi po Ingkong
Makikiran po lamang.”

16. KASABIHAN/SAYINGS
“Dala na marahil ito ng katandaan,
Pagtanda mo, maintindihan mo rin ako.”

17. TANAGA
“Katitibay ka, tulos
Sakaling datnang agos,
Ako’y mumunting
Lumot,
Sa iyo’y pupulupot.”

18. AMBAHAN
“Isn’t this the truth with all:
If the wife is good and kind,
The husband reasonable,
You have always friends around
Like long hair drooping so nice
Till the final burial mount,
You’ll be sleeping on one mat.
You don’t want to separate
Putting down my thought like this:
An example very clear,
BeingTWO, you’re only ONE.”

19. FOLK SONGS
■ Uyayi – Lullaby
■ Komintang-War Song
■ Kundiman – Melancholic love song
■ Harana – Serenade
■ Tagay – Drinking song

20. SPANISH COLONIAL
TEXT
LITERATURE

21. Spanish ColonialText
The Spanish colonial occupied Philippines in early 15th century.The first Filipino
alphabet wasAlibata, that is changed into Roman alphabet when the Spaniards came.
Over the years, the Spanish colonial use a strategy to undermine the native oral tradition
by substituting for the Passion of Christ. It is to be emphasized, however, that the native
tradition survived and even flourished in areas inaccessible to the colonial power.
Moreover, the tardiness and the lack of assiduity of the colonial administration in making
a public educational system work meant the survival of oral tradition, or what was left of
it, among the conquered tribes.
Spain also brought to the country, though at a much later time, liberal ideas and
an internationalism that influenced our own Filipino intellectuals and writers for them to
understand the meanings of “liberty and freedom.”

22. CHURCH
DOCTRINE
Doctrina Christiana (1593)

23. BOOKS
■ Nuestra Senora del Rosario
■ Libro de los Cuatro Postprimeras de Hombre
■ Ang Barlaan at Josephat
■ The Pasion
■ Urbana at Felisa
■ Psalms for Mary

24. LITERARYCOMPOSITION
■ Vocabulario de la Lengua Bisaya
– Bisayan vocabulary
■ Vocabulario de la Lengua Pampanga
– Pampango vocabulary
■ Compendio de la LenguaTagala
– Understanding theTagalog language
■ Arte y Reglas de la LenguaTagala
– Art and Rules of theTagalog language
■ Vocabulario de la LenguaTagala
– Tagalog vocabulary

25. POEMS
■ Pag-Ibig SaTinubuang Lupa
■ Sampaguitas
■ Mahal Na Pasion ni Jesu Christo (1704)

26. METRICAL ROMANCES
■ Florante at Laura
■ Ibong Adarna (Adarna Bird)
■ Gonzalo de Cordoba (Gonzalo of Cordoba)

27. SONGS
■ Balayan –Wedding Song
■ Dalit
■ Pamulinawen (Iloko)
■ Dandansoy (Bisaya)
■ Sarong Banggi (Bicol)

28. PASYON
■ Ang Mahal na Passion ni Jesu Christong Panginoon natin na
tola (Holy Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ inVerse)

29. NOVELS
■ NINAY
■ Noli meTangere
■ El Filibusterismo

30. “Noli Me
Tangere”
The novel Noli MeTangere contains 63
chapters and epilogue. It begins with a
reception given by CapitanTiago (Santiago
de los Santos) at his house in Calle
Analogue (now Juan Luna Street) on the
last day of October.The reception or dinner
is given in honor of Crisostomo Ibarra, a
young and rich Filipino who had just
returned after seven years of study in
Europe. Ibarra was the only son of Don
Rafael Ibarra, friend of CapitanTiago, and a
fiancé of beautiful Maria Clara, supposed
daughter of CapitanTiago.

31. Among the guests during the reception were Padre Damaso, a fat Franciscan friar who
had been parish priest for 20 years of San Diego (Calamba), Ibarra’s native town; Padre Sybila, a
young Dominican parish priest of Binondo; Señor Guevara, as elderly and kind lieutenant of the
Guardia Civil; DonTiburcio de Espadaña, a bogus Spanish physician, lame, and henpecked husband
of DoñaVictorina; and several ladies.
Ibarra, upon his arrival, produced a favorable impression among the guests, except Padre
Damaso, who has rude to him. In accordance with a German custom, he introduced himself to the
ladies.
During the dinner the conversation centered on Ibarra’s studies and travels abroad. Padre
Damaso was in bad mood because he got a bony neck and a hard wing of the chicken tinola. He
tried to discredit Ibarra’s remarks.
After dinner, Ibarra left CapitanTiago’s house to return to his hotel. On the way, the kind
Lieutenant Guevara told him the sad story of his father’s death in San Diego. Don Rafael, his father,
was a rich and brave man. He defended a helpless boy from the brutality of an illiterate Spanish tax
collector, pushing the latter and accidentally killing him. Don Rafael was thrown in prison, where he
died unhappily. He was buried in consecrated ground, but his enemies, accusing him being a
heretic, had his body removed from the cemetery.
On hearing about his father’s sad story, Ibarra thanked the kind Spanish lieutenant and
vowed to find out the truth about his father’s death.
The following morning, he visited Maria Clara, his childhood sweetheart. Maria Clara
teasingly said that he had forgotten her because the girls in Germany were beautiful. Ibarra replied
that he had never forgotten her.
After the romantic reunion with Maria Clara, Ibarra went to San Diego to visit his father’s
grave. It was All Saint’s Day. At the cemetery, the grave digger told Ibarra that the corpse of Don
Rafael was removed by order of the parish priest to be, buried in the Chinese cemetery; but the
corpse was heavy and it was a dark and rainy night so that he (the grave-digger) simply threw the
corpse into the lake.

32. Ibarra was angered by the grave-digger’s story. He left the cemetery. On the way, he met Padre Salvi, Franciscan
parish priest of San Diego. In a flash, Ibarra pounced on the priest, demanding redress for desecrating his father’s
mortal remains. Padre told him that he had nothing to do with it, for he was not the parish priest at the time of Don
Rafael’s death. It was Padre Damaso, his predecessor, who was responsible for it. Convinced for Padre Salvi’s
innocence, Ibarra went away.
In his town Ibarra met several interesting people, such as the wise old man, Tasio the philosopher, whose
ideas were too advanced for his times so that the people, who could not understand him, called him “Tasio the
Lunatic;” the progressive school teacher, who complained to Ibarra that the children were losing interest to their
studies because of the lack proper school house and the discouraging attitude of the parish friar towards both the
teaching of Spanish and of the use of modern methods of pedagogy; the spineless gobernadorcillo, who catered to
the wishes of the Spanish parish friars; Don Filipo Lino, the teniente-mayor and leader of the cuardrilleros (town
police); and the former gobernadorcillos who were prominent citizens Don Basilio and DonValentin.
A most tragic story in the novel is the tale of Sisa, who was formerly a rich girl but became poor because
she married a gambler, and a wastrel at that. She became crazy because she lost her two boys, Basilio and Crispin,
the joy of her wretched life.These boys were sacristanes (sextons) in the church, working for a small wage to support
their poor mother. Crispin the younger of the two brothers was accused by the brutal sacristan mayor (chief sexton)
of stealing the money of the priest. He was tortured in the convent and died. Basilio, with his brother’s dying cries
ringing in his ears, escaped. When the two boys did not return home, Sisa looked for them everywhere and, in her
great sorrow, she became insane.
CapitanTiago, Maria Clara, and Aunt Isabel (CapitanTiago’s cousin who took care of Maria Clara, after his
mother’s death) arrived in San Diego. Ibarra and his friends give picnic at the lake. Among those present in this picnic,
were Maria Clara and her four girl friends the merry Siñang, the graveVictoria, the beautiful Iday, and the thoughtful
Neneng; Aunt Isabel, chaperon of Maria Clara; Capitana Tika, mother of Siñang; Andeng, foster sister of Maria Clara;
Albino, the ex-theological student who was in love with Siñang; and Ibarra and his friends. One of the boatmen was a
strong and silent peasant youth named Elias.
An incident of the picnic was the saving of Elias’ life by Ibarra. Elias bravely grappled with a crocodile which
was caught in the fish corral. But the crocodile struggled furiously so that Elias could not subdue it. Ibarra jumped
into the water and killed the crocodile, thereby saving Elias. After the crocodile incident, was the rendering of a
beautiful song by Maria Clara who had a sweet voice and they went ashore.They made merry in the cool, wooded
meadow. Padre Salvi, Capitan Basilio (former gobernadorcillo and Siñang’s father) the alferez (lieutenant of the
Guardia Civil) and the town officials were present.The luncheon was served, and everybody enjoyed eating.

33. The meal over, Ibarra and Capitan Basilio played chess, while Maria Clara and her friends played the “Wheel
of Chance”, a game based on a fortune-telling book. As the girls were enjoying their fortune-telling game, Padre Salvi
came and tore to pieces the book, saying that it was a sin to play such game. Shortly thereafter, a sergent and four
soldiers of the Guardia Civil suddenly arrived, looking for Elias, who was hunted for assaulting Padre Damaso and
throwing the alferez into a mud hole. Fortunately Elias had disappeared, and the Guardia Civil went away empty-
handed. During the picnic also, Ibarra received a telegram from the Spanish authorities notifying him the approval of
his donation of a schoolhouse for the children of San Diego.
The next day Ibarra visited old Tasio to consult him on his pet project about the schoolhouse. He saw the old
man’s writings were written in hieroglyphics. Tasio explained to him that he wrote in hieroglyphics because he was
writing for the future generations who would understand them and say, “Not all were asleep in the night of our
ancestors!”
Meanwhile San Diego was merrily preparing for its annual fiesta, in honor of its patron saint San Diego de
Alcala, whose feast day is the 11th of November. On the eve of the fiesta, hundreds of visitors arrived from the nearby
towns, and there were laughter, music, exploding bombs, feasting and moro-moro.The music was furnished by five
brass bands (including the famous Pagsanjan Band owned by the escribano Miguel Guevara) and three orchestras.
In the morning of the fiesta there was a high mass in the church, officiated by Padre Salvi. Padre Damaso
gave the long sermon, in which he expatiated on the evils of the times that were caused by certain men, who having
tasted some education spread pernicious ideas among the people.
After Padre Damaso’s sermon, the mass was continued by Padre Salve. Elias quietly moved to Ibarra, who
was kneeling and praying by Maria Clara’s side, and warned him to be careful during the ceremony of the laying of the
cornerstone of the schoolhouse because there was a plot to kill him.
Elias suspected that the yellowish man, who built the derrick, was a paid stooge of Ibarra’s enemies. True to
his suspicion, later in the day, when Ibarra, in the presence of a big crowd, went down into the trench to cement the
cornerstone, the derrick collapsed. Elias, quick as a flash, pushed him aside, thereby saving his life.The yellowish man
was the one crushed to death by the shattered derrick.
At the sumptuous dinner that night under a decorated kiosk, a sad incident occurred.The arrogant Padre
Damaso, speaking in the presence of many guests, insulted the memory of Ibarra’s father. Ibarra jumped to his seat,
knocked down the fat friar with his fist, and then seized a sharp knife. He would have killed the friar, were it not for the
timely intervention of Maria Clara.

34. The fiesta over, Maria Clara became ill. She was treated by the quack Spanish physician, Tiburcio de Espadaña,
whose wife, a vain and vulgar native woman, was a frequent visitor in CapitanTiago’s house.This woman had
hallucinations of being a superior Castillan, and, although a native herself, she looked down on her own people as
inferior beings. She added another “de” to her husband’s surname in order to more Spanish. Thus she wanted to be
called “Doctora DoñaVictorina de los Reyes de De Espadaña.” She introduced to CapitanTiago’s young Spaniards, Don
Alfonso Linares de Espadaña, cousin of DonTiburcio de Espadaña and godson of Padre Damaso’s brother in law.
Linares was a penniless and jobless, fortune hunter who came to the Philippines in search of a rich Filipino heiress. Both
DoñaVictorina and Padre Damaso sponsored his wooing of Maria Clara, but the latter did not respond because she
loved Ibarra.
The story of Elias like that of Sisa, was a tale of pathos and tragedy. He related it to Ibarra. Some 60 years ago,
his grandfather, who was then a young bookkeeper in a Spanish commercial firm in Manila, was wrongly accused of
burning the firm’s warehouse. He was flogged in public and was left in the street, crippled and almost died. His was
pregnant, beg for alms and became a prostitute in order to support her sick husband and their son. After giving birth to
her second son and the death of her husband, she fled, with her to sons to the mountains.
Years later the first boy became a dreaded tulisan named Balat. He terrorized the provinces. One day he was
caught by the authorities. His head was cut off and was hung from a tree branch in the forest. On seeing this gory
object, the poor mother (Elias’ grandmother) died.
Balat’s younger brother, who was by nature kindhearted, fled and became a trusted laborer in the house of
rich man inTayabas. He fell in love with the master’s daughter.The girl’s father, enraged by the romance, investigated
his past and found out the truth.The unfortunate lover (Elias’ father) was sent to jail, while the girl gave birth to twins, a
boy (Elias) and a girl.Their rich grandfather took care of them, keeping secret their scandalous origin, and reared them
as rich children. Elias was educated in the JesuitCollege in Manila, while his sister studied in La Concordia College.They
lived happily, until one day, owing to certain dispute over money matters, a distant relative exposed their shameful
birth.They were disgraced. An old male servant, whom they used to abuse, was forced to testify in court and the truth
came out that he was their real father.
Elias and his sister leftTayabas to hide their shame in another place. One day the sister disappeared. Elias
roamed from place to place, looking for her. He heard later that a girl answering to his sister’s description, was found
died on the beach of San Diego. Since then, Elias lived a vagabond life, wandering from province to province – until he
met Ibarra.

35. Elias, learning of Ibarra’s arrest, burned all the papers that might incriminate his friend and set Ibarra’s house on
fire.Then he went to prison and helped Ibarra escape. He and Ibarra jumped into a banca loaded with sacate (grass). Ibarra
stopped at the house of CapitanTiago to say goodbye to Maria Clara. In the tearful last scene between the two lovers,
Ibarra forgave Maria Clara for giving up his letter to her to the Spanish authorities who utilized them as evidence against
him. On her part, Maria Clara revealed that those letters were exchanged with a letter from her late mother, Pia Alba which
Padre Salvi gave her. From his letter, she learned that her real father was Padre Damaso.
After bidding Maria Clara farewell, Ibarra returned to the banca. He and Elias paddled up the PasigRiver toward
Laguna de Bay. A police boat, with the Guardia Civil on board, pursued them as their banca reached the lake. Elias told
Ibarra to hide under the zacate. As the police boat was overtaking the banca, Elias jumped into the water and swam swiftly
toward the shore. In this way, he diverted the attention of the soldiers on his person, thereby giving Ibarra a chance to
escape.The soldier fired at the swimming Elias, who was hit and sank.The water turned red because of his blood.The
soldiers, thinking that they had killed the fleeing Ibarra returned to Manila.Thus Ibarra was able to escape.
Elias seriously wounded, reached the shore and staggered into the forest. He met a boy, Basilio, who was
weeping over his mother’s dead body. He told Basilio to make a pyre on which their bodies (his and Sisa) were to be burned
to ashes. It was Christmas eve, and the moon gleamed softly in the sky. Basilio prepared the funeral pyre. As life’s breath
slowly left his body. Elias looked toward the east and murmured: “I die without seeing the dawn brighten over my native
land.”You, who have it to see, welcome it! And forget not those who have fallen during the night.
The novel has an epilogue which recounts what happened to the other characters. Maria Clara, out of her loyalty
to the memory of Ibarra, the man she truly loved, entered the Santa Clara nunnery. Padre Salvi left the parish of San Diego
and became a chaplain of the nunnery. Padre Damaso was transferred to a remote province, but the next morning he was
found dead in his bedroom. CapitanTiago the former genial host and generous patron of the church became an opium
addict and a human wreck. DoñaVictorina, still henpecking poor DonTiburcio, had taken to wearing eye-glasses because
of weakening eyesight. Linares, who failed to win Maria Clara’s affection, died of dysentery and was buried in Paco
cemetery.
The Alferez, who successfully repulsed the abortive attack on the barracks, was promoted major. He returned to
Spain, leaving behind his shabby mistress, Doña Consolacion.
The novel ends with Maria Clara, an unhappy nun in Santa Clara nunnery – forever lost to the world.

36. “El
Filibusterismo”
This article is based from the
book of Jose Rizal (blue covered
book) which was written by Zaide.
This novel is a sequel to the
Noli. It has a little humor, less
idealism, and less romance than the
Noli MeTangere. It is more
revolutionary and more tragic than
the first novel.

37. The hero of El Filibusterismo is a rich jeweler named Simoun. He was Crisostomo Ibarra of
the Noli, who, with Elias’ help, escaped from the pursuing soldiers at Laguna de Bay, dug up his
buried treasure, and fled to Cuba where he became rich and befriended many Spanish officials.
After many years he returned to the Philippines, where he freely moved around. He is a powerful
figure not only because he is a rich jeweler but also because he is a good friend and adviser of the
governor general.
Outwardly, Simoun is a friend of Spain. However deep in his heart, he is secretly cherishing
a terrible revenge against the Spanish authorities. His two magnificent obsessions are to rescue
Maria Clara from the nunnery of Santa Clara and to foment a revolution against the hated Spanish
masters.
The story of El Filibusterismo begins on board the clumsy, roundish shaped steamerTabo,
so appropriately named.This steamer is sailing upstream the Pasig from Manila to Laguna de Bay.
Among the passengers are Simoun, the rich jeweler; DoñaVictorina, the ridiculously pro-Spanish
native woman who is going to Laguna in search of her henpecked husband,Tiburcio de Espadaña,
who has deserted her; Paulita Gomez, her beautiful niece; Ben-Zayb (anagram of Ibañez), a
Spanish journalist who writes silly articles about the Filipinos; Padre Sibyla, vice-rector of the
University of SantoTomas; Padre Camorra, the parish priest of the town ofTiani; Don Custodio, a
pro-spanish Filipino holding a position in the government; Padre Salvi, thin Franciscan friar and
former cura of San Diego; 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; and Basilio, son of Sisa and promising medical student, whose
medical education is financed by his patron, CapitanTiago.

38. Simoun, a man of wealth and mystery, is a very close friend and confidante of the Spanish governor
general. Because of his great influence in Malacañang, he was called the “Brown Cardinal” or the “Black
Eminence”. By using his wealth and political influence, he encourages corruption in the government,
promotes the oppression of the masses, and hastens the moral degradation of the country so that the
people may become desperate and fight. He smuggles arms into the country with the help of a rich Chinese
merchant, Quiroga, who wants very much to be Chinese consul of Manila. His first attempt to begin the
armed uprising did not materialize because at the last hour he hears the sad news that Maria Clara died in
the nunnery. In his agonizing moment of bereavement, he did not give the signal for the outbreak of
hostilities.
After a long time of illness brought about by the bitter loss of Maria Clara, Simoun perfects his plan
to overthrow the government. On the occasion of the wedding of Paulita Gomez and Juanito Pelaez, he
gives a wedding gift to them a beautiful lamp. Only he and his confidential associates, Basilio (Sisa’s son
who joined his revolutionary cause), know that when the wick of his lamp burns lower the nitroglycerine,
hidden in its secret compartment, will explode, destroying the house where the wedding feast is going to be
held killing all the guests, including the governor general, the friars, and the government officials.
Simultaneously, all the government buildings in Manila will be blown by Simoun’s followers.
As the wedding feast begins, the poet Isagani, who has been rejected by Paulita because of his
liberal ideas, is standing outside the house, watching sorrowfully the merriment inside. Basilio, his friend,
warns him to go away because the lightened lamp will soon explode.
Upon hearing the horrible secret of the lamp, Isagani realizes that his beloved Paulita was in grave
danger.To save her life, he rushes into the house, seizes the lightened lamp, and hurls it into the river, where
it explodes.
The revolutionary plot was thus discovered. Simoun was cornered by the soldiers, but he escaped.
Mortally wounded, and carrying his treasure chest, he sought refuge in the home of Padre Florentino by the
sea.

39. The Spanish authorities, however, learns of his presence in the house of Padre
Florentino. Lieutenant Perez of the GuardiaCivil informs the priest by letter that he
would come at eight o’clock that night to arrest Simoun.
Simoun eluded arrest by taking poison.As he is dying, he confesses to Padre
Florentino, revealing his true identity, his dastardly plan to use his wealth to avenge
himself, and his sinister aim to destroy his friends and enemies.
The confession of the dying Simoun is long and painful. It is already night when
Padre Florentino, wiping the sweat from his wrinkled brow, rises and begins to meditate.
He consoles the dying man saying: “God will forgive you Señor Simoun. He knows that
we are fallible. He has seen that you have suffered, and in ordaining that the
chastisement for your faults should come as death from the very ones you have
instigated to crime, we can see His infinite mercy. He has frustrated your plans one by
one, the best conceived, first by the death of MariaClara, then by a lack of preparation,
then in some mysterious way. Let us bow to His will and render Him thanks!”
Watching Simoun die peacefully with a clear conscience and at peace with God.
Padre Florentino falls upon his knees and prays for the dead jeweler. He takes the
treasure chest and throws it into the sea; as the waves close over the sinking chest.

40. POETS
■ Salamat nang walang hanga/ gracias de sin sempiternas

41. THANKS FOR
WATCHING
Jeniel Escoton
Ryan Camay
Alsed R.Veliganilao