El Filibusterismo Chapter 28 Summary, Characters, Lessons, etc.

In this article, we will discuss a brief summary of El Filibusterismo Chapter 28 – Fear. Additionally, we will examine the key events, characters, setting, and the lessons, messages, or implications that can be taken from this chapter.

Summary of El Filibusterismo Chapter 28 – Fear

News spread in the newspaper El Grito about Ben-Zayb’s prediction that education could cause unrest in the Philippines. According to Ben-Zayb, education was harmful and dangerous for the country, and recent events seemed to prove his point. This caused alarm among the people, especially the Chinese, the priests, and the Governor-General. The priests, who often visited Quiroga’s store, stopped coming, which made the Chinese merchant panic.

Fearing the chaos might escalate, Quiroga went to Simoun’s house to ask if he should use the weapons stored in his warehouse, as advised by the jeweler. However, Simoun refused to see anyone and said to let things be. Don Custodio also did not meet with Quiroga, as he was busy preparing plans in case of an attack. When Quiroga went to see Ben-Zayb, he found him armed with guns, which frightened him even more. Quiroga hurried home and pretended to be sick out of fear.

Rumors spread that students and bandits from San Mateo were planning to join forces to start a rebellion. There were also claims that German ships were stationed nearby to support the uprising. Discussions about the students’ supposed plans scared many people, and some suggested using the opportunity to take harsh measures, like arresting and shooting suspected rebels.

Despite precautions, incidents of violence and panic still occurred. A soldier mistakenly attacked children playing and grabbing coins outside a church, leading to greater fear and people fleeing in panic. In another area, a policeman was shot, and others died due to false alarms about enemies.

There were many opinions about who was behind the controversial posters. Some believed it was Padre Salvi or Quiroga, trying to cover up other schemes. Towards the end of the chapter, Ben-Zayb found the body of a native woman in Luneta while walking. However, he chose not to report it in his newspaper.

Important Events in El Filibusterismo Chapter 28

News in El Grito claimed education was dangerous and could cause unrest, with Ben-Zayb’s prediction alarming many, including the Chinese, priests, and the Governor-General, leading to heightened tensions.
Quiroga panicked as priests stopped visiting his store, and he sought Simoun’s advice on whether to use the stored weapons, but Simoun refused to see him, telling him to let events unfold.
Rumors spread about students and bandits from San Mateo planning a rebellion, with alleged German support, fueling widespread fear and leading to calls for harsh measures like arrests and executions.
Incidents of violence and panic ensued, including a soldier attacking children mistakenly and a policeman being shot, further intensifying fear among the people.
Amid the chaos, some speculated that figures like Padre Salvi or Quiroga might have been behind the controversial posters, while Ben-Zayb, walking near Luneta, discovered a native woman’s body but chose not to report it in his newspaper.

Characters in El Filibusterismo Chapter 28

These are the characters mentioned in chapter 28 of El Filibusterismo:

Ben-Zayb

A writer who claimed education was harmful to the Philippines. He thought highly of himself, believing only he could see and understand what was happening.

Quiroga

A wealthy Chinese merchant who was terrified of the unrest. He tried to contact Simoun for advice about using the weapons he had stored.

Simoun

A jeweler and revolutionary who advised Quiroga about the weapons but refused to meet him during the chaos.

Don Custodio

A government official who was busy preparing defense plans but also refused to meet with Quiroga.

Padre Irene

A friar who informed Captain Tiago about the unrest and shared officials’ plans to deal with suspected rebels.

Captain Tiago

Overwhelmed with fear and grief after hearing about Basilio’s arrest and the other students, he became gravely ill and eventually died.

Setting in El Filibusterismo Chapter 28

The events in this chapter took place in various parts of Manila and nearby areas.

Lessons in El Filibusterismo Chapter 28

Fear and misinformation can create significant chaos and anxiety in society, leading to poor decisions and actions by people.
Spreading rumors and baseless news can cause harm and confusion, emphasizing the importance of being cautious when accepting information.
Intense fear and worry can destroy trust among people and worsen situations, becoming obstacles to peace and understanding in a community.

And that concludes our lesson on El Filibusterismo Chapter 28 Summary, Characters, Setting, and Lessons. Did you find this article helpful? If yes, please share it with your classmates and friends so they too can learn from the first chapter of this novel.

You can also share it on your social media accounts. Just click the share button on your screen. If you have more questions about the lesson, please leave a comment below.