A RARE CLIP OF JOSE RIZAL'S "EL FILIBUSTERISMO": A FILM BY GERRY DE LEON

"El Filibusterismo" (1962)- Stars Pancho Magalona, Charito Solis, Teody Belarmino, Ben Perez, Carlos Padilla, Jr., Robert Arevalo, Lourdes Medel, Oscar Keesee and Edita Vital/ Directed by Gerardo de Leon

...Basilio is soon released with the help of Simoun. Basilio, now a changed man, and after hearing about Julî's suicide, finally joins Simoun’s revolution. Simoun then tells Basilio his plan at the wedding of Paulita Gómez and Juanito, Basilio’s hunch-backed classmate. His plan was to conceal an explosive inside a pomegranate-styled 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 the people inside, including Isagani, his friend and the former boyfriend of Paulita. Simoun leaves the reception early as planned and leaves a note behind.

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-->Simoun examining the lamp that will start and ignite the revolution.

Initially thinking that it was simply a bad joke by those left behind, Father Salví recognizes the handwriting and confirms that it was indeed Ibarra’s. As people begin 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 and that the explosion and revolution could have fulfilled his ideals for Filipino society. (wikipedia)

Here's that climatic scene masterfully recreated by the great Gerry de Leon---

Courtesy of Arriva Productions

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