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Jose Rizal's Bomb Plot

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Victorian lamp The Plot Long before suicide bombers and bomb couriers were adapted by international terrorist in their campaign of blood and vengeance, our national hero Jose Rizal thought of a plot in his novel that involves blowing a whole town to start a revolution.  In "El Filibusterismo" (Chapters 34-35), Simoun brought along a lamp in the wedding rece ption of Juanito Pelaez and Paulita Gomez, a  gift to the newly weds and in it is an explosive compound -- "Nitroglycerin".  The reception takes place at the former home of the late Captain Tiago, which was planted with explosives before the reception. 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 inside the house,  mostly the important members of civil society and the church hierarchy. The explosion will be the signal to start a revolt in Manila.  Reading this chapters of the "El Fili