El Filibusterismo Summary
Thirteen years after the supposed to be dead Crisostomo Ibarra in Noli Me Tangere, Simoun returns in the Philippines as a rich jeweler sporting a beard and blue-tinted glasses, and a confidante of the Captain-General. Ibarra, now as Simoun, seems to have abandoned his vision of ending the autocracy of Spain with words and peace. He became hungry for vengeance by plotting a revolution. Simoun maneuvers himself into Manila high society and influences every decision of the Captain-General so that a revolution will break-out. He does not attempt to fight the authorities through legal means, but through violent revolution using the masses with the reason of rescuing Maria Clara from the convent and to get rid of the evils in the Philippine society.
Simoun’s true identity – as Ibarra – was discovered by Basilio who was visiting the grave of his mother, Sisa. Simoun spares Basilio’s life and asks him to join him in his planned revolution prompting the latter by bringing up the tragedy of his family. Basilio who is a graduating student of medicine at the Ateneo Municipal de Manila, declines the offer. After the death of Basilio’s mother, Sisa, and the disappearance of his younger brother, Crispin, he followed the advice of Elias and traveled to Manila to study. Basilio was adopted by Kapitan Tiago after Maria Clara entered the convent. Father Irene, Kapitan Tiago’s confessor, was making the latter’s health worse by giving him opium. With the help of a reluctant Father Irene as their mediator, Basilio and his fellow students established a Spanish Language Academy with a condition – that they will only serve as caretakers and not as teachers.
Simoun keeps in close contact with the bandit group of Kabesang Tales, a former cabeza de barangay who suffered misfortunes in the hands of the friars. Before joining the bandits, Tales took Simoun’s revolver while the latter was staying at his house for the night and as payment, Tales leaves a locket that once belonged to Maria Clara. To further strengthen the revolution, Simoun has Quiroga, a Chinese man who hopes to be appointed consul to the Philippines, smuggle weapons into the country. Simoun wishes to attack during a stage play where all of his enemies are present which he later on disregarded when he learns from Basilio that Maria Clara had died earlier on that day in the convent.
A few days after the mock celebration by the students which was held for the successful establishment of the Spanish Language Academy, the authorities accused the students present at the pancitería of agitation and disturbing peace and has them arrested. Basilio, although not present at the mock celebration, is also arrested. Captain Tiago dies after learning the incident and as stated in his will which was forged by Irene, all of his possessions are given to the Church, leaving nothing for Basilio. The latter was left in prison as the other students are released. A high official tries to intervene for the release of Basilio but the Captain-General, bearing grudges against the official, persuades him to tender his resignation.
Juli, Basilio’s girlfriend and the daughter of Kabesang Tales, tries to ask Father Camorra’s help upon the advice of an elder woman. Instead of helping Juli, however, the priest tried to rape her. Juli, rather than submit to the will of the friar, jumps over the balcony which leads to her death. Basilio was soon released with the help of Simoun.
Basilio, after hearing about Juli's suicide, finally joins Simoun’s revolution. The latter then tells Basilio his plan at the wedding of Paulita Gomez and Juanito, Basilio’s classmate. His plan was to conceal an explosive inside a kerosene lamp that Simoun will give to the newlyweds as a gift during the wedding reception. The reception will take place at the former home of the late Captain Tiago, which was now filled with explosives planted by Simoun. According to Simoun, the lamp will stay lighted for only 20 minutes before it flickers; if someone attempts to turn the wick, it will explode and kill everyone—important members of civil society and the Church hierarchy—inside the house. Basilio has a change of heart and attempts to warn Isagani, his friend and the former boyfriend of Paulita. Simoun leaves the reception early as planned and leaves a note behind that states: “Mene Thecel Phares. ” and signed by his real identity - Juan Crisostomo Ibarra. Father Salví recognizes the handwriting and confirms that it was indeed Ibarra’s. As people began to panic, the lamp flickers. Father Irene tries to turn the wick up when Isagani, due to his undying love for Paulita, bursts in the room and throws the lamp into the river, sabotaging Simoun's plans. He escapes by diving into the river as guards chase after him. He later regrets his impulsive action because he had contradicted his own belief that he loved his nation more than Paulita.
Simoun, now unmasked as Ibarra and the perpetrator of a failed revolution, becomes a fugitive. Wounded and exhausted after he was shot by the pursuing Guardia Civil, he seeks shelter at the home of Father Florentino, Isagani’s uncle, and comes under the care of doctor Tiburcio de Espadaña, Doña Victorina's husband, who was also hiding at the house. Simoun takes poison in order for him not to be captured alive. Before he dies, he reveals his real identity to Florentino while they exchange thoughts about the failure of his revolution and why God forsake him. Florentino explains that God did not forsake him and that his plans were not for the greater good but only for personal gain. Simoun, finally accepting Florentino’s explanation, squeezes his hand and dies. Florentino then takes Simoun’s remaining jewels and throws them into the Pacific Ocean hoping that they would not be used by the greedy.
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