El filibusterismo, the second novel

written by Jose Rizal, is a sequel to his

El filibusterismo was published in

* Simoun
Crisostomo Ibarra, who was the main character in noli me tangere, comes back as Simoun. He
was described as a rich bearded jeweler who likes to wear blue tinted glasses. Simoun is the main
character of the sequel novel and is known as a confidant of the captain general, who became a
cynical saboteur who sought revenge against the Spanish regime by masterminding a revolution.
Simoun’s tactic was to influence the decisions of the captain general so that he will make bad
decisions, which would cause a revolution to break out. He sides with the upper classes and advises to
abuse the Filipinos so that the Filipino masses will have a reason to revolt against the Spanish
occupants.
Two reasons why simoun is instigating a revolution is to rescue Maria Clara from the convent and
to admonish the ills and evils of the Philippine society. However, his cover is blown and his true
identity discovered by a boy named Basilio. This happened while Basilio was visiting the grave of his
mother sisa, who was a significant character in noli me tangere. Simoun offered to make Basilio his
accomplice, but the boy declined.
* Basilio
Son of Sisa and the same Basilio introduced in Noli Me Tangere. After his mother's death, he
became a vagabond until Captain Tiago took him in out of pity and hired him as a houseboy in
exchange for sending him to school. In the events of the book, he is a graduating medical student who
discovered Simoun's true identity and befriended him. His girlfriend is Juli.
* Isagani
Basilio's friend and one of the students who planned to set up a new school. He is very idealistic
and hopes for a better future for the Philippines. His girlfriend was the rich and beautiful Paulita
Gomez, but they broke up once he was arrested. Despite this, his love for her still endured. He
sabotaged Simoun's plans by removing the lamp that contained explosives and threw it in the waters.

* Kabesang Tales
Cabeza Telesforo Juan de Dios, a former cabeza de barangay(barangay head) of Sagpang, a
barangay in San Diego's neighboring town Tiani, who resurfaced as the feared Luzon bandit
Matanglawin. He is the son of Tandang Selo, and father of Juli and Tano
* Don Custodio
Custodio de Salazar y Sánchez de Montere dondo, a famous "journalist" who was asked by the students
about his decision for the Academia de Castellano. In reality, he is quite an ordinary fellow who married a rich
woman in order to be a member of Manila's high society.
* Paulita Gómez
The girlfriend of Isagani and the niece of Doña Victorina, the old Indio who passes herself off as a
Peninsular, who is the wife of the quack doctor Tiburcio de Espadaña. In the end, she and Juanito Peláez are
wed, and she dumps Isagani, believing that she will have no future if she marries him.
* Macaraig
One of Isagani's classmates at the University of Santo Tomas. He is a rich student and serves as the leader
of the students yearning to build the Academia de Castellano.
* Father Florentino
Isagani's godfather, and a secular priest; was engaged to be married, but chose to be a priest after being
pressured by his mother, the story hinting at the ambivalence of his decision as he chooses an assignment to a
remote place, living in solitude near the sea. Florentino also harbors great hatred for the corrupt Spanish friars.
He offered shelter to Don Tiburcio de Espandaña when the latter was hiding from his wife, Donya Victorina
* Huli
Juliana de Dios, the girlfriend of Basilio, and the youngest daughter of Kabesang Tales. To claim
her father from the bandits, she had to work as a maid under the supervision of Hermana Penchang.
Eventually, she was freed but committed suicide after Father Camorra attempted to rape her.
* Juanito Pelaez
A favorite student of the professors. They belong to the noble Spanish ancestry. After failing in his
grades, he became Paulita's new boyfriend and they eventually wed.
* Doña Matutinay
Victorina delos Reyes de Espadaña, known in Noli Me Tangereas Tiburcio de Espadaña's cruel
wife. She is the aunt of Paulita Gomez, and favors Juanito Pelaez over Isagani. She is searching for her
husband, who has left her and is in hiding. Although of Indio heritage, she considers herself as one of
the Peninsular.
* Father Camorra
The lustful parish priest of Tiani, San Diego's adjacent town who has longtime desires for young
women. He nearly raped Juli causing the latter to commit suicide
* Ben-Zayb
The pseudonym of Abraham Ibañez, a journalist who believes he is the "only" one thinking in the
Philippines. Ben-Zayb is an anagram of Ybanez, an alternate spelling of his name.
* Placido Penitente
A student of the University of Santo Tomas who was very intelligent and wise but did not want, if
not only by his mother's plea, to pursue his studies. He also controls his temper against Padre Millon,
his physics teacher. During his High School days, he was an honor student hailing from Batangas.
* Hermana Penchang
Sagpang's rich pusakal(gambler). She offers Juli to be her maid so the latter can obtain money to
free Kabesang Tales. Disbelieving of Juli and her close friends, she considers herself as an ally of the
friars.
* Tiburcio de Espadaña
Don Tiburcio is Victorina de Espadaña's lame husband. He is currently in hiding at Father
Florentino’s.
* Father Írene
Captain Tiago's spiritual adviser. Although reluctant, he helped the students to establish the
Academia de Castellano after being convinced by giving him a chestnut. The only witness to Captain
Tiago's death, he forged the last will and testament of the latter so Basilio will obtain nothing from the
inheritance.
* Quiroga
A Chinese businessman who dreamed of being a consul for his country in the Philippines. He hid
Simoun's weapons inside his house.
* Don Timoteo Pelaez-
Juanito's father. He is a rich businessmen and arranges a wedding for his son and Paulita. He and
Simoun became business partners.
* Tandang Selo
Father of Kabesang Tales and grandfather of Tano and Juli. He raised the sick and young Basilio
after he left their house in Noli me tangere. He died in an encounter on the mountains with his son
Tales, when he was killed by a battalion that included his own grandson, Tano
* Father Fernández
The priest-friend of Isagani. He promised to Isagani that he and the other priests will give in to the
students' demands.
* Sandoval
The vice-leader of Macaraig's gang. A Spanish classmate of Isagani, he coerces his classmates to
lead alongside him the opening of the Spanish language academy.
* Hermana Báli
Another wealthy gambler in Tiani. She became Juli's mother-figure and counselor; helped to
release Kabesang Tales from the hands of bandits.
* Father Millon
A Dominican friar who serves as the Physics professor of the University of Santo Tomas. He
always becomes vindictive with Placido and always taunts him during class. Millon is based
on/inspired by an ill-mannered Dominican friar who was Rizal's anatomy professor in Santo Tomas.
* Leeds
An American who holds stage plays starring severed heads; he is good friends with Simoun.
* Tadeo
Macaraig's classmate. He, along with the other three members of their gang, supposedly posted the
posters that "thanked" Don Custodio and Father Irene for the opening of the Academia de Castellano.
* Tano
Kabesang Tales's elder son after his older sister, Lucia died in childhood. He took up the
pseudonym "Carolina" after returning from exile in the Caroline Islands, and became a civil guard. He
was among the battalion killed his grandfather, Selo, who was part of a group of an attacking rebels.
* Pepay
Don Custodio's supposed "girlfriend". A dancer, she is always agitated of her "boyfriends” plans.
She seems to be a close friend of Macaraig.
* Gobernador General
The highest-ranking official in the Philippines during the Spanish colonial period, this unnamed
character pretends that what he is doing is for the good of the Indios, the local citizens of the country,
but in reality, he prioritizes the needs of his fellow Spaniards living in the country.
* Father Hernando de la Sibyla
A Dominican friar introduced in Noli Me Tangere, now the vice-rector of the University of Santo
Tomas.
* Pecson
classmate who had no idea on the happenings occurring around him. He suggested that they held
the mock celebration at the panciteria.
* Father Bernardo Salvi
Former parish priest of San Diego in Noli Me Tangere, now the director and chaplain of the Santa
Clara convent.
* Captain Tiago
Santiago delos Santos, Captain Tiago is Maria Clara's stepfather and the foster-father to Basilio.
His health disintegrates gradually because of his frequent smoking of opium, which Father Irene
unscrupulously encourages despite Basilio's attempts to wean his guardian off the addiction .
Eventually, he died because Father Irene scared him about the revolt of the Filipinos.