Basilio

**Basilio** was a young boy living in San Diego and the older brother of Crispin. Following his mother's death and his brother's disappearance, Basilio fled the town and was taken in by Capitan Tiago. Living in Manila, he became a medical student, also joining the student organization attempting to found the Castilian Academy.

## History

### Early History

Basilio was born the son of Sisa in San Diego sometime in 1871. Growing up with his younger brother Crispin, the two eventually became sacristans at the San Diego parish.

### Tribulations of a Sacristan

On All Saints' Day, 1881, Basilio and his brother were ringing the bells in the San Diego church. Having been accused of stealing two gold pieces by the sacristan mayor, Crispin related his worries to his brother.

When the sacristan mayor suddenly arrived and began beating them, Crispin was unable to escape while Basilio fled. Fired at by the Guardia Civil, Basilio was grazed by a bullet before returning home, comforted by his mother. Telling her what had happened, Basilio later fell asleep, dreaming of his brother being beaten and killed by the sacristan mayor and Padre Salvi.

The following day, Sisa went to town to fetch Crispin. As he saw Guardia Civil approach, Basilio fled the house; at some point, he became wounded, fell unconscious, and was discovered in the woods by the De Dios Family. Taken in by them, Basilio recovered over the two months he stayed with them.

On Christmas Eve, Basilio went into town, worried about his mother and brother. He eventually located Sisa at the town square; with the woman having gone insane, she ran away from him, Basilio pursuing her into the forest.

Finally reuniting with her, Basilio watched Sisa have several moments of lucidity before dying. Fainting soon after, he came to and saw a stranger, Elias, and was instructed by him to cremate him and his mother. Going out to fetch wood, Basilio later returned and found Elias dead, and another man, Ibarra, there; the two then cremated Elias and buried Sisa. Given a few gold coins by Ibarra and told to flee, Basilio traveled to Manila.

### Hope for the Future

While there, Basilio chanced upon the carriage of Capitan Tiago and Tia Isabel. Hired as a serving-man for the household, Basilio worked for Capitan Tiago, who funded his education and allowed him to become a medical student. During this time, Basilio reunited with Juli, the daughter of Cabesang Tales, and the two became sweethearts.

In December of 1894, Basilio rode the steamship Tabo with his close friend Isagani, the two discussing with Capitan Basilio the student association's plans to establish an academy teaching Spanish. In reply, Capitan Basilio expressed his doubts and left.

After arriving in San Diego, Basilio learned from the coachman about Cabesang Tales' abduction by bandits. Planning to visit the de Dios family, Basilio first detours to the Ibarras' forested land to visit the grave of his mother on Christmas Eve. By coincidence, Crisostomo Ibarra, in disguise as the jeweler Simoun, was also visiting the land to dig up more of his family's treasures. The two meet each other just as Basilio leaves to continue his journey and recognizes Simoun's true identity; Simoun attempted to recruit him into his revolution, but Basilio refused. Following his visit, he learned that Juli had become a maid for Hermana Penchang; he then withdrew his savings to free her from her servitude.

Two months later, Basilio learned that Maria Clara had died at the Sta. Clara convent. Later that day, Basilio was tending to Capitan Tiago, who was in his final moments due to opium poisoning, when he was visited by Simoun. As Simoun attempted to recruit him once again, Basilio, who is designated with rescuing Maria Clara from the convent, reveals that she had died earlier that day; a grief-overwhelmed Simoun aborts the attack, leaving soon after to mourn her death.

### Fateful Days

Later on, Basilio visited the hospital and learned that seditious posters had been posted all over the university. Traveling to Makaraig's house for a loan, Basilio was then arrested for being part of the student organization supposedly behind the seditious posters, despite his absence in the organization's mock celebration.

Due to the manipulation of Padre Irene, none of Capitan Tiago's wealth was passed down to Basilio following his death, causing him to remain in prison while his other friends were set free.

Eventually, Basilio was bailed out by Simoun. Learning of Juli's suicide after being assaulted by Padre Camorra, Basilio visited Simoun and swore allegiance to him, agreeing to join his revolution. As he learned Simoun's plan of detonating a bomb disguised as a lamp during an important celebration, Basilio was tasked with leading the masses to a warehouse with weapons once the revolt broke out.

While walking the streets, Basilio noticed the wedding reception of Juanito Pelaez and Paulita Gomez, surmising it to be the celebration Simoun was referring to. Seeing Isagani, Basilio told him to run away, only to be met with his friend's refusal. Basilio then fled soon after.

## Personality and Traits

Basilio was an optimistic and hopeful individual in spite of the hardships he faced. At a young age, Basilio demonstrated a certain maturity, aware of his father's abuse towards his mother and recognizing the need to find his family after he was taken in by Selo. As part of this maturity, Basilio dreamed of becoming a herdsman for Crisostomo Ibarra and eventually work in the fields in order to lift his family out of poverty.

Basilio's optimism extended into his life as a young man, working tirelessly to become a doctor and participating in the student organization's efforts to establish the Castilian Academy. Because of his values, Basilio initially rejected Simoun's offer to join his revolution, reluctant to endanger himself and not wanting to avenge his family. However, after losing Juli, Basilio became embittered and joined Simoun's cause, not having anything left to lose. Throughout his life, Basilio was dutiful towards his family, including Capitan Tiago, whom he saw as a father.

## Character Connections

Crispin: Basilio's younger brother. Basilio was very close to his brother Crispin, the two working together as sacristans at the San Diego church. Following the incident that left Crispin missing and presumably dead, Basilio became wracked with grief and guilt for leaving Crispin behind to save himself. Throughout his life Basilio was presumably motivated by Crispin, taking on his dream of becoming a doctor and working tirelessly to achieve it. Crispin's disappearance was, therefore, the driving force that inspired Basilio to study, as a way of keeping his brother's memory alive.

Sisa: Basilio's mother. From an early age, Basilio demonstrated great devotion to Sisa, becoming aware of his father's abuses towards her and making efforts to care for her. Such was his devotion that Basilio risked life and limb to return to her, doing everything in his power to get him to recognize her following her descent into insanity.

Capitan Tiago: Basilio's adoptive father. Taken in by Tiago a few days after Maria Clara entered the nunnery, Basilio approached Tiago with the intention of simply being his servant, although eventually taken in by him as a son. As with Sisa, Basilio demonstrated great care and devotion for Tiago, to the extent of tolerating his foul moods caused by his opium addiction. Tiago's death was among the many great losses Basilio suffered.

Juli: Basilio's lover. Meeting her as a child and later falling in love with her, Basilio made sacrifices for her, such as withdrawing his savings to get her out of being Hermana Penchang's servant. Juli's death stemming from Padre Camorra pushed Basilio into his lowest point, causing him to join Simoun's revolution as an embittered and destructive version of his former self.

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 *Noli Me Tangere* – Chapter 15
2. ↑ *Noli Me Tangere* – Chapter 16
3. ↑ *Noli Me Tangere* – Chapter 17
4. ↑ *Noli Me Tangere* – Chapter 18
5. ↑ *Noli Me Tangere* – Chapter 63
6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 *El Filibusterismo* – Chapter 6
7. ↑ *El Filibusterismo* – Chapter 2
8. ↑ *El Filibusterismo* – Chapter 5
9. ↑ *El Filibusterismo* – Chapter 7
10. ↑ *El Filibusterismo*
11. ↑ *El Filibusterismo* – Chapter 23
12. ↑ *El Filibusterismo* – Chapter 26
13. ↑ *El Filibusterismo* – Chapter 29
14. ↑ *El Filibusterismo* – Chapter 31
15. ↑ *El Filibusterismo* – Chapter 33
16. ↑ *El Filibusterismo* – Chapter 34
17. ↑ *El Filibusterismo* – Chapter 35