El Filibusterismo Study Flashcards

Flashcards covering the historical background, characters, themes, and key chapter developments of El Filibusterismo from the provided lecture notes.

El Filibusterismo

Jose Rizal's second novel, meaning "Paghahari ng Kasakiman" in Filipino or "Reign of Greed" in English, written between 1887 in Calamba, Laguna and finished in 1891 in Brussels, Belgium.

Jose Alejandro

A friend of Jose Rizal who assisted in editing El Filibusterismo and acted as a messenger during its printing and distribution.

Valentin Ventura

A benefactor who provided financial support to Rizal to complete the publication of El Filibusterismo, receiving the original manuscript in gratitude, which was later purchased by the Philippine government for 10,000 pesos.

F. Meyer-Van Loo Press

The printing press located in Ghent, Belgium where El Filibusterismo was printed in 1891.

Gomburza

The collective name for the three martyr priests—Mariano Gomez, Jose Burgos, and Jacinto Zamora—executed by garrote, to whom Rizal dedicated El Filibusterismo.

Bapor Tabo

A circular, slow-moving river steamer serving as a metaphor for the Philippine state and colonial government, featuring an upper deck for the wealthy Spaniards and a lower deck for the poor Indios.

Upper Deck (Itaas na Kubyerta)

The spacious upper section of Bapor Tabo reserved for high-ranking Spanish officials, friars, and wealthy individuals.

Lower Deck (Ibaba na Kubyerta)

The cramped, hot, and foul-smelling bottom section of Bapor Tabo where Indios, Chinese passengers, and students traveled.

Don Custodio

An advisor to the Governor-General known for his absurd legislative proposals, such as raising ducks to deepen the Pasig River.

Donya Victorina

A pretentious Filipina who heavily paints herself to look Spanish, despises native culture like balut, and relentlessly searches for her runaway husband, Don Tiburcio.

Padre Salvi

A Franciscan friar described as "Masamang Damo" who formerly targeted Maria Clara and maintains a position of authority in San Diego.

Ben Zayb

A arrogant Spanish journalist who writes negatively about Filipinos while praising the colonial government.

Padre Irene

A Canon priest nicknamed "Mr. Pogi" who is close to Kapitan Tiago and sympathetic to the students' initiative.

Simoun

A wealthy jewel merchant and influential advisor to the Governor-General who conceals his identity while secretly plotting a revolution against Spanish rule.

Basilio

A medical student nearing graduation, adopted by Kapitan Tiago, who manages his adoptive father's opium addiction and treats local patients.

Isagani

A patriotic student poet from Ateneo, foster son of Padre Florentino, who leads the effort to establish the Akademya ng Wikang Kastila.

Padre Florentino

A retired secular priest forced into the priesthood by his mother, who acts as Isagani's foster father and gives shelter to Don Tiburcio.

Akademya ng Wikang Kastila

A proposed educational institution advocated by student leaders Basilio and Isagani to enable Filipinos to learn Spanish and advance their studies.

Water vs. Beer Metaphor

A debate between Isagani and Simoun where water represents the calm yet potentially explosive power of Filipinos, while beer represents the Spaniards.

Malapad na Bato

A sacred river rock once believed to host spirits, which later became a hideout for bandits, symbolizing how fear-based Spanish authority replaced native beliefs.

Legend of Donya Geronima

A tale recounted by Padre Florentino about a woman whose lover became an archbishop, who spent her remaining life residing in a cave by the Pasig River.

Miracle of San Nicolas

A story told by Padre Salvi about a non-Catholic man who prayed to Saint Nicholas when confronted by a crocodile, causing the beast to turn into stone.

Kabesang Tales (Telesforo)

The son of Tata Selo and father of Juli and Tano, who served as a Cabeza de Barangay and fought a legal battle against friars usurping his cleared lands.

Tata Selo

The elderly father of Kabesang Tales and foster grandfather of Basilio who repeatedly urged his son to practice patience ("magtimpi").

Juli

The beautiful and devoted daughter of Kabesang Tales and sweetheart of Basilio who sacrificed her personal ambitions for her family.

Tano

The son of Kabesang Tales who was conscripted into the civil guard (Guwardiya Sibil) when his family could not pay to release him from military service.

Cabeza de Barangay

A local tax collection post assigned to Kabesang Tales, requiring him to cover unpaid village taxes out of his own pocket ("abono"), ultimately bankrupting his family.