GE1804
CHAPTER 4
“Cabesang Tales”
A REFLECTION PAPER
In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements
In the Subject GE1804
Rizal's Life and Works
To be Submitted to:
LO, JOHN ARIS
Course Instructor
Submitted by:
DEYPALUBOS, NIKKA
LAVA, MARK LOUIE
AMARAO, JAYLOU
MONDONEDO, JENEATH
MALINAO, MARY FAITH
MARZO, MARIA LIZ
BLONES, RAVEN SHANE
BSHM 4 – 1BP
Date of Submission
15 DECEMBER 2022
ABSTRACT
El Filibusterismo, which translates to "The Filibustering" in Spanish, is the second book
written by Dr. José Rizal, a national hero of the Philippines. It is also known by its English
translation, "The Reign of Greed." Like the first novel, it is the sequel to Noli Me Tangere and was
written in Spanish. He updated certain elements and made a few changes to the storyline in
London (1888). After continuing to work on it while in Paris, Madrid, and Brussels, Rizal finally
completed it on March 29, 1891, in Biarritz. In Ghent, it was distributed that year.
Cabesang Tales is the title of chapter 4 of El Filibusterismo. The family life of Cabesang
Tales is discussed in this chapter by introducing his mother, Tandang Selo, his wife, his eldest
daughter Lucia, who both passed away from malaria while working on the family farm, Julianna or
Juli, his youngest daughter who also happens to be Basilio's girlfriend, and some friar
administrators.
Chapter 4: Cabesang Tales the beginning of twenty or thirty pesos for the
Characters Involved: sake of humanity. In order to avoid any further
Cabesang Tales, Tandang Selo, Tano, Juliana de issues, Cabesang Tales decided to pay the friars
Dios (Juli), Hermana Penchang rather than take his case to court. Tandang Selo
added that a lawsuit would cost a significant sum
Chapter Summary of money to pursue, as opposed to engaging in a
Tales and his family have been farming lands for battle with the friars. Tales was instructed by
a long time, even before Tales was elected the Tandang Selo to just say that the thirty pesos had
cabesa de barangay of the San Diego town. either been lost in gaming or had fallen into the
Cabesang Tales and his family were able to build river and been devoured by crocodiles. The friars
a home by saving money by cultivating land. decided to raise the annual fee to fifty pesos,
However, the friars abruptly began asserting nevertheless, as the area continued to yield
ownership of Cabesang Tales' land in their first strong crops. Additionally, it was during this
year of harvest. The friars, however, are unable period that Cabesang Tales's desire of building a
to provide credible proof that the land owned by home for the family and funding their education
Cabesang Tales is a portion of their own came true. The friars did not stop raising the rent
property. Until one day, a friar administrator to 200 pesos in spite of this dream. At this point,
made the decision to just allow Cabesang Tales Cabesang Tales had had enough and began to
and his family to pay a yearly rent to the friars in fight back against the friars by hiring lawyers and
taking his case to court. Cabesang Tales was Philippines. Even if a Filipino, or Indio as the
forced to spend all of his savings as a result of Spaniards refer to us, works honestly and
this. Even though friars aren't allowed to acquire diligently, oppression and abuse will still triumph
land, Cabesang Tales still lost to the friars in spite if power and influence are utilized against the
of his bold move. As a result, Cabesang Tales common people. Despite coming from a low-
decided to take matters into his own hands and income background, Cabesang Tales and his
began protecting his property from the abusive family were able to improve their standard of
friars, no matter what, until it led to his living by working diligently to cultivate their
kidnapping for ransom. Juli used her savings to property for successful harvests.
save his father and ultimately borrowed money
from Hermana Penchang, for whom she had no Personal Reflection
choice but to work. The dilemma that Cabesang Tales and his family
had is still present in the Philippine society of
Implied Topic Covered in this Chapter: today. Several hundred years have passed since
This chapter's implied topic is land ownership the Spanish colony, but this unfavored practice is
and how greedy the friars are. It demonstrates still very much in use. This system, known as
that, despite our best efforts to lead peaceful, "palakasan," allows those who are powerful and
contented lives, there will always be individuals wealthy to typically obtain what they want
who will take advantage of their position of through the use of money and occasionally force
authority and oppress others who are beneath as well as frequently eluding the law. El
them. Many will continue to put us down, but Filibusterismo has an impact on our
when that happens, we must fight with justice contemporary culture by highlighting repulsive
and equality. This chapter also demonstrates behaviors that modern Filipinos deal with and
how hard work will lead to success, so build on regrettably inherited from the harsh and careless
your achievements and keep what you have behaviors of the Spaniards, especially the friars.
worked for to yourself. El Filibusterismo is the turning moment where
Elias or Crisostomo Ibarra finally had enough of
Interpretation of Your Junior High School the abuses of the Spaniards and decided to stand
Teacher for this Chapter up against them, according to a comparison of
According to our junior high school teacher, this Jose Rizal's two novels. Because Jose Rizal never
chapter solely demonstrates the friars' political intended to lead a bloody revolt against the
influence during the Spanish colonization of the Spaniards, I conclude that El Filibusterismo is
definitely too radical for the national hero. He system by handling these in the most peaceful
believed that the best way to overthrow Spain manner possible. Nevertheless, this ultimately
was peacefully, using education as the main tool. proved to be useless. Violence was employed by
Because this administration has repeatedly let Rizal in El Filibusterismo as a means of retaliation
the country's citizens down, we do believe against the Spaniards.
radicalism may bring about change. Instead of
coming together as a nation to confront and References (in APA format):
resolve the present local and global issues, the
Lim, R. (2011). The Life And Works Of Rizal:
Filipino people are constantly split into being a
El Filibusterismo: Summary and Analysis of
dilawan and/or a DDS. Yes, since he intended to
Chapter 4 (Cabesang Tales). Retrieved
emphasize in the first book that, whenever
[Link]
possible, nonviolent ways may be used to solve
/2011/04/el-filibusterismo-summary-and-
any problem. But in the second book, it had
analysis_2369.html
already reached the point where a violent
uprising might be necessary to free the Filipinos
Viloria, M. (2011). El Fili Chapter 4:
because peaceful means were powerless to stop
Kabesang Tales. El Filibusterismo Chapter
the Spaniards' cruel treatment of the Filipinos. In
Summaries. Retrieved
our opinion, Jose Rizal had already hinted at this
[Link]
possibility.
[Link]
Comparison with Noli Me Tangere
A. How does El Filibusterismo impact our
I. The Intended Messages of Both Novels
current society?
Both works' intended messages encourage
We gain our freedom and support their
readers to speak out against abuse and injustice,
right. Now, our nation has many
to defend what they believe to be right and just,
institutions, there is equality, and most
and to emphasize that no one should be above
importantly, we are not being manipulated.
the law..
B. Is the novel too radical for the national
II. Differences between the Two Novels
hero? Why or Why not?
Noli me Tangere, as previously noted, revealed
Yes, the novel is too radical for a national
the mistreatment, wrongdoings of the Spaniards,
hero since it exposes the cruelty of the
and sufferings of the Filipinos living in an unequal
Filipino people by the government. The
novel's primary all Filipinos are mistreated by Spaniards, he
characters exhibit greed in their decides to fight for our nation's freedom
personalities. Rizal observed the hardships and equal rights for Filipinos and Spaniards.
the Filipinos were experiencing as a result
of Spanish colonization. The story inspired
the Filipinos to urge for revolution in order
to protest the unfair treatment they were
receiving from the Spaniards because they
were receiving harsh and unfair treatment
themselves. The novel's significance lies in
the fact that it supported the Filipino
people in their quest for national freedoms
and rules. Jose Rizal taught them the value
of fighting for their rights without actually
using much violence.
C. Do you believe that radicalism can
bring change to the country? Why or why
not?
Yes, because radicalism is connected to
extreme ideas and the desire for quick
social change, especially in a political
setting, and can bring about change to the
nation..
D. Did Jose Rizal really change his
thoughts about his purpose for change in
the Philippine society? Why or why not?
Yes, Jose Rizal is aware that continuing to
battle for our nation's rights will require
him to sacrifice his own life, livelihood, and
dreams; nevertheless, because he sees how
