MANILA, Philippines — A rare first edition of Jose Rizal’s El Filibusterismo — signed by the Philippine national hero himself — has sold for a staggering ₱21 million at an auction, making it the most expensive book ever sold in the Philippines. The sale took place on Valentine’s Day, February 14, 2026, during the Leon Gallery Asian Cultural Council Auction in Manila.
The historic copy of El Filibusterismo — the powerful sequel to Rizal’s Noli Me Tangere — was signed and dedicated by Rizal in Ghent, Belgium on September 16, 1891, to his close friend Dr. Trinidad Pardo de Tavera. Its rarity and deep historical significance drove intense collector interest, with the hammer price starting from ₱5 million.
Including the buyer’s premium, the final price reached approximately ₱25.3 million, surpassing the previous Philippine auction record held by a signed copy of Noli Me Tangere, which sold for ₱19 million in 2025.
Experts say the scarcity of first editions of El Filibusterismo — especially those with Rizal’s own inscription — stems from its limited initial print run and subsequent confiscation of copies by Spanish colonial authorities during the late 19th century. Only a handful survived, making such editions highly prized by bibliophiles and historians alike.
The novel itself, first published in Ghent in 1891, continues the story of Crisóstomo Ibarra — now disguised as Simoun — and paints a darker, more revolutionary picture of Filipino society under Spanish rule. Along with Noli Me Tangere, it helped inspire the Philippine struggle for independence.
The record setting sale highlights not only the monetary value of rare historical works, but also the enduring cultural and national importance of Rizal’s writing in the Philippines and beyond.
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