Fine Time in Belgium

Better in brussels. Lifestyle in brussels was cheap. Nevertheless, the city was beautiful and architecturally impressive. He boarded with the jacoby sisters, marie and Suzanne, whose household included a niece who also had a name Suzanne. He arrived in brussels together with jose albert.

The jacobys were delighted with rizal’s presence. He easily became part of the family. Suzanne and rizal spent a lot of time together in just simple conversations. In this atmosphere of a friendly company. Rizal continued writing el filibusterismo, the sequel to noli me tangere. As his stay lengthened in the jacoby residence, affectionate sentiments soon filled the air between him and Suzanne. Rizal was not in favor of whatever it is that he might have made of Suzanne. His friend Valentin ventura, to whom rizal sent a sculpture of a naked woman, had noticed a view of romance going on in brussels. He wondered who could have been the model of rizal for the sculpted woman.

In brussels, rizal was busy writing his second novel which served as the continuation of Noli. In noli me tangere, he initiated action by exposing the cancer present in the society through as accurate depiction of the day to day events in his country under the reign of Spanish oppression. This leads up to el filibusterismo, his call to revolution, which is the last resort and ultimate resolution against oppression.

Aside from writing the chapters of the sequel, he also wrote articles for la solidaridad and letters to his family and friends. Being a physician, he spent part of his time in the medical clinic. For recreation he had gymnastics, target practice and fencing. When jose albert left the city, he was replaced by a new boardmate, jose alejandrino.

La solidaridad. La solidaridad became the voice of the prapagandists. It heralded the attempt of ilustrados to push for liberal reforms in the Philippines. The fortnightly newspaper was founded by graciano lopez jaena in Barcelona, spain on February 15, 1889. The idea was initially offered to rizal, but rizal declined to found it that time for he was still very busy finishing his annotation of morga’s sucesos de las islas Filipinas. Nevertheless, rizal came to be a most valued adviser and supporter to the newspaper.

The three main personalities that put forward the endeavor wore jose rizal, marcelo H. del pilar and graciano lopez jaena. With rizal far away, mariano ponce became a significant contributor to the works for the paper. To protect the interest and welfare of the contributors and writers of the paper, together with their families against the vindictive scheme of Spaniards, the propagandists adopted various pseudonyms in la solidaridad. Some examples are the following:

Rizal-dimasalang and laong laan M.H Del pilar- plaridel Mariano ponce- tikbalang, naming, kalipulako Jose Ma. Panganiban- jomapa

La solidaridad articles of rizal. The first article of rizal that appeared in the first issue of la solidaridad was entitled los agricultores Filipinos which described the deplorable condition of the Filipino farmers. The following articles appeared in the later issues:

1. La verdad para todos(The truth for all)

2. Verdades Nuevas(New truths) july 31, 18893. Una pronfanacion, an attack against the friars for refusing the burial of mariano herbosa in

catholic cemetery4. Diferencias(differences, sept 15, 1889)5. Filipinas dentro de cien anos( the Philippines a century hence)6. Ingratitudes(ingratitudes) january 15, 18907. Sin nombre(without name)8. Sobre la nueva ortgrafia de la lengua tagala( on the new ortography of the tagalog language)9. Cosas de Filipinas(things about the Philippines10. Sobre la indolencia de los Filipinos(on the indolence of the Filipinos)11. A la defense(to la defense)12. Crueldad(cruelty)

Anti-gambling pope. Rizal news from juan luna and valentin ventura that many Filipinos in spain were ruining the reputation of their country by gambling too much. He reminded them that they did not arrive in madrid only to gamble. He advised them further that they should just continue supporting the propaganda rather than wasting their money in games.

The gambling gilipinos in madrid were angered when they learned of rizals comments trying to moralize them. Thereafter, to ridicule him, they started calling him papa instead of pepe.

Rizal wrote to M.H. del pilar on may 28, 1890 to remind the Filipinos in madrid that they did not come to Europe to gamble but to work on things for their people’s cause and their fatherland’s freedom. He reminded them that their activities must not only serve themselves but also their people who need much their help.

The sequel. El filibusterismo in rizal’s novel on a nation that is on the brink of a revolution. This is presented clearly as an alternative to the reform efforts that led the Filipinos nowhere. In the story, rizal was also clearly pointing out the presence of danger of taking an alternative that is based on hate and vengeance. According to rizal’s biographer Austin coates, elfilibusterismo is a morality, a profound description of the mentality and climate of revolt with all the urgency of its demands, and with all its shortcomings in their fulfillment. But to spain it was a last and terrible warning.

Rizal, at this time, already wanted to go home. He was already being drawn closer to his country by a strong force which seeks the warmth of the love of his parents and family. In any event, he felt that life for him in Europe had become miserable and unbearable. His decision to be homeward bound would not be turned aside. He was tired of Europe.

The calamba deportation of 1890. From the time rizal left calamba, the agrarian conflict therein had gone from bad to worse. From the very start, rizal had already questioned the right of the Dominicans in increasing the land rent. He believed that the Dominicans had no justifiable reasons to impose more on their tenants since they never really exerted any amount of agrarian support to them anyway, and harvests did not really, at any way, improved at all. At one point, when he discovered that the management had already gone too abusive. Rizal advised his father and other tenants to finally, refuse paying. This is to express to the management that the tenants have had

enough and the abuse must stop. Rizal promised that he would take care of the problem directly in spain. Accordingly, don Francisco heeded his advice. It was a move that would just enrage their enemy.

In 1890, the Dominicans filed a suit against the tenants of calamba. The suit was to dispossess the tenants of the lands that they were renting from the order. Soon, upon the order of the new gov. valeriano weyler, the rizal family and the other calamba tenants were persecuted and, finally, ejected from their lands and homes in calamba. The calamba deportation affected 25 members of the Mercado family. Paciano and brothers in law Antonio lopez and Silvestre ubaldo were even exiled to Mindoro. Manuel hidalgo was earlier thrown to bohol.

The news reached rizal and it cleared mixed emotions of sadness and anger on his part. In his letter to soledad, he expressed how guilty he felt for everything. He believed that he was to be blamed for whatever happened to his family. Spain’s hate on him had turned to his loved ones.

Before proceeding to manila, rizal prepared himself for madrid, as he promised, he will do everything to find justice for his family.

Frustrated in madrid.

No justice found. Realizing the need to amend the events that surrounded tha calamba agrarian situation, rizal arrived to madrid to call the attention of minister fable of the ministry of the colonies and to protest against the injustices committed by gov. general valeriano weyler and the Dominicans to the farmer tenants of calamba. To heighten the pressure on the government concerning the agrarian issue, through the asociacion hispano-filipina, he asked for aid from some liberal news media in spain like la justicia, el dia and el globo to publish some articles on the issue. Marcelo h. del pilar, who served as his lawyer and dominador Gomez were there to assist rizal.

The meeting rizal had with the minister was fruitless as no compromise was reached. The newspaper el resumen condemned the inaction.

Panganiban dies. Another disappointment struck rizal when he learned that his good friend jose Ma. Panganiban was already dying because of a lingering illness. Like him, Panganiban was a staunch nationalist who worked hard also for reforms in the propaganda. In tribute, rizal wrote his eulogy to Panganiban. Here, rizal expressed his mourn over the young amiable friend whom he admired as an energetic patriot and one who has a purest love for his native land. Jose Ma. Panganiban, or jomapa, died on august 19, 1890

For nelly’s honor. At a gathering a Filipino in august of 1890, rizal had a heated conflict with Antonio luna. The two have been friends for years and it was only this time that the two came against each other. The story goes that while the party was going on and the wines were being served, Antonio, already got too drunk. In the conversation where rizal was present, Antonio accidentally made some tactless remarks about nelly, a girl whom he had courted but chose rizal. Rizal was immediately offended by the remarks Antonio expressed. This made him approach Antonio as he prepared to beat him. Rizal was paused by the other paisanos. The two exchanged

words which finally rove rizal to challenge Antonio to duel. Rizal offered Antonio the choice of weapon, pistol or saber, Antonio chose saber.

The duel would have pursued and one of the heroes could have died prematurely but, after a moment, when Antonio had already recuperated from his intoxication, he approached rizal and asked for forgiveness. Being a long time friend with timeshared like brothers, rizal easily forgave Antonio with the incident already at their backs.

Another duel. Though it seems that rizal was already being suicidal at these times, he had no other way out. Honor meant so much for him. This time it was for his family’s honor. Wenceslac Retana, friar defending press member, one time made some imprudent remarks against rizal family and the calamba tenants in the anti-filipino newspaper la epoca. He mentioned that the family and the other tenants only deserved what ever happened to them for they continually, have been defiant paying the Dominicans their land rents.

Injured by such a seemingly disposition of the part of retana, rizal sent him a message challenging to a duel in any weapon of the former’s choice. To rizal, retana was left with two choices, a public apology or die.

Retana, alarmed by the predicament he had got himself into, made a quick public retraction and apology to rizal and his family. From that time retana ceased on attacking rizal and even made friendly relation to the man. Retana would later, upon the death of rizal, make a biography of his life. The biography was, this time, was fair and objective, bestowing the man all the honors he deserved.

No more waiting for Leonor. Rizal was already having a bad time in madrid when he received a letter from her informing him that she was getting married. The news tore his heart apart. Of course, rizal had girls from the time he left Leonor. But rizal never did get married. She was still in love with Leonor. There was a part in rizal that was still assuming that Leonor would still wait. He still would have married her. The news shattered rizal so uch he started to grow thin while in madrid. In a letter to blumentritt, rizal accused Leonor of infidelity. Love had turned to hate. Galicano apacible, a long time friend since the ust days, and who had known the affair, consoled rizal by telling him that there are lots of girls in the world. He even endorsed him to marrying instead the daughter of Margall, another girl who was truly in love with rizal.

On the part of Leonor, she was mad at him because of his silence. It had been a long time for him. In the letter she sent, she expressed how much she still loved him and that her marriage to another was not because of her lack of love for him, rather, it was possibly because of his lack of love for her.

On whatever standards, traditional or modern eleven years of wait is too long. Leonor was already getting old and the last time her lover went to the Philippines, he did not even bother to see her. She was disappointed on his silence and was not sure of whatever it was happening to him. Rizal probably just could not understand that. Leonor married an Englishman in manila, henry kipping, an engineer.

The leader of all Filipinos. A situation was taking place in the propaganda circles. At a banquet at calle de atocha, rizal, in his speech, called for unity among the members of the propaganda. He

encountered his fellow paisanos to be more solid and compact in determining matters for the well-being of their country. Furthermore, he emphasized that discipline and a sense of sacrifice are needed in every endeavor.

As a reaction to the speech, a proposal was put forward by some paisanos to create a movement that would bind the colony into a single entity in the aim of making all actions more effective towards the redemption of the native land. They proposed that a responsible be elected as a leader who would become undisputed and official representative of all Filipinos abroad.

When rizal learned the plan, he was in favor of it. He already believed at this point that he was the one they were referring to for he was the most outstanding Filipino in abroad or in the islands. Little did rizal know that there were those who did not like him. Some thought that he was a self- righteous individual, a dictatorial and a hypocrite. This group endorsed the candidacy of M.H del pilar.

When the first session on the matter began, rizal arrived surrounded by those who had initiated the movement, and were out to support him. Eduardo de lete presided and introduce to the members the plan. Rizal supported the idea. On the other hand, del pilar opposed the plan. He believed there was no need for it since there were already entities to take care of every necessity: the asociacion hispano Filipina, to take care of their political purposes, and the centro de propaganda, a patriotic association formed in the islands. However, del pilar’s arguments were quickly refuted by the rest. A committee was later created to draw up the salutes that would transform the colony into one homogenous body. The committee was composed of julio llorente, del pilar and rizal. The two agreed to choose rizal as head.

When the by laws were drawn, del pilar objected the provision which states that the responsible wold have control over the politics of the colony and the editorial policies of la solidaridad. Del pilar contended that the solidaridad was an entirely separate entity. Rizal, nevertheless, pacified del pilar when he said that he and his companios would vote for him anyway. This issue then would be immaterial. To end the issue, the comitee settled it by amending the provision making the soli the official organ which would serve as guidance to the policy-making power of the responsible.

The statutes were then read to the body in another meeting. Questions and answers were exchanged to clearly point the authority of the responsible and the role of the soli. At the end of the discussion, the moved to the agenda of election.

Rizal and del pilar became two candidates. Both wanted to withdraw, but the members insisted their nominations. The test of popularity was on. The rule of the election was that the candidate must have a 2/3 majority vote in order to be declared winner.

In the first balloting, though rizal had a slight majority, neither was able to reach two-thirds. The same results were obtained in the second and third balloting. The session was adjourned without results. The next day, del pilar was absent. The results in the balloting did not change a bit. As the stalemate continued, both had wanted to withdraw. However according to their friends, they should not so for their honor and reputation were at stake here. A few moments passed and no settlement was reached. Thinking that all these were just to ridicule him by pointing out that he was not that

popular at all to become the responsable, rizal, already growing impatient publicity announced that he was leaving madrid to work alone.

When the second balloting was over, it also resulted to another deadlock. Rizal then counted his votes and said good I see I have but nineteen friends in the colony. Farewell gentlemen, I’m going to pack my bags. Until we meet again. He took his hat and left.

Ponce quickly turned to lete, sandiko, Antonio luna and others to shift their votes to rizal. Whom all pilaristas were convinced, dominador Gomez spoke intheir behalf announcing their charge of vote for the sake of unity, this made rizal elected unanimously.

The election continued up to the second day without rizal. Lete won as counselor. On the third day, realizing that he won as responsible, rizal was present upon the insistence of friends. Modesto reyes was elected as the other counselor since the members could not agree once more between apacible and ponce. Before taking the oath of office, rizal, in his acceptance speech admonished the paisanons for their lack of unity. He blamed lete for being the one who caused all the trouble. He also expressed his disappointment with del pilar who should have immediately withdrawn his candidacy to avoid all the troubles. Being the leader of the nationalist movement in manila, it would have been disappointing to receive the news of him being defeated as leader of the movement abroad. Rizal reminded them that even the centro de propaganda in manila looked up on him as the author of all political thought that agitate the people. Though it may sound that rizal was being to proud of himself, what he proclaimed were, nevertheless, true. He was indeed even at the times was already the most popular Filipino in the islands and abroad.

A Biarritz interlude. After a month being disappointed with everything in madrid, rizal tried to cheer himself up by seeing nelly in Biarritz. In his brief stay, he finally made a decision to marry her. Edward boustead, nelly’s father, was not against with the desire of the two to settle down, but to protect his child he made some conditions for rizal. First that he would stay with his daughter and abort his intentions to travel abroad. Second that he would practice medicine and leave politics. And thirdly that he would be converted as a protestant before marriage. Nelly told him that hic conversion would be most important for her. Rizal, realizing that he would not be able to answer to these conditions, not in the meantime, told nelly that he would need to take some time first to think about it.

Printing the fili. Rizal went back by February, 1891 to edit revise his el filibusterismo. By the end of may, it was ready for press. Upon learning that printing was cheaper in ghent, rizal, with alejandrino moved to the city that july. He expected that the centro de propaganda would supply him fund needed for printing of el filibusterismo. Nothing, to his disappointment, ever came. He had spent all his money to finish the novel. He also had nothing to pawn anymore. All that he received from his countrymen was 100 pesos as part of his allowance from the society.

This was where it all would end. Rizal, in his letter to basa, expressed that he was tired of believing in his country men. They have made his life miserable with promises that never materialized. Rich people have pledged to finance the publication of his book, and yet, when it was done, they had forgotten him. His position as leader was only good for more than a month, and then, they have abandoned him.

Rizal was only consoled when, finally, valentin ventura agreed to load him the money enough to finish the printing of the fili. The novel was printed by F.Meyer van loo press. As a gesture of his appreciation, he gave the original manuscript to ventura. Rizal dedicated the novel in memory of the three martyrs of freedom, Gomez, burgos, and Zamora.

Rizal resigns. Before leaving for manila, rizal sent a letter of his resignation as a contributor of la solidaridad. In his proclamation, he also sent a message to his compatriots that he was giving up on his political leadership in spain and would from now on work on his own for the same endeavor. This news saddened many in the propaganda circle.

Before his departure from Europe, rizal made a quick visit to nelly to say goodbye. Since he could not marry her yet, he might as well go back to the Philippines to take care of the problems of his family. He, then, proceeded to marselles for a trip to hongkong. Rizal boarded the ship SS Melbourne.

In the company of friars. Inside the ss Melbourne of so many passengers that he could have joined cabin with, it was friar that came to accompany him. He was fr. Volunteri, an Augustinian who have spent years in the Philippines. Rizal described him as a sort of padre damaso, only kinder. He also met the fr. Fuchs and many other friars on board who were together with fr. Volunteri.

Hongong practice

Back in hongkong. Rizal arrived in hongkong on November 20,1891. He was welcomed by Filipino friends including jose Ma. Basa. He established his residence at D’Aguilar st. rednaxela terrace, on top a seaman’s bar, where he also opened a medical clinic. In his letters to his family, he expressed how much he wanted to return home. If only they would permit him, then he would do so. He was aware of the frustrations and despair they suffered from and would do anything just to be with them. To make this reunion come true, the family conceived a way.

A family reunion. A few days before Christmas, rizal was delighted by the arrival of his father, brother, and Silvestre ubaldo in hongkong. Not long afterwards, his mother and sisters Lucia josefa, and Trinidad also arrived. His mother was then 65 yrs old and was almost blind. She was just again arrested recently for refusing to use the new surname and had suffered so much from spain brutality and injustice.

The Christmas of 1891 in hongkong was one of the the most joyful celebrations in rizal’s life. For the first time, in four years, he was finally reunited with his family. Writing to blumentrit, rizal mentioned his pleasant life in hongkong being that was able to secure his family safe and far from the persecutions of the government in the Philippines.

The practice. In order to earn some money for himself and his family. Rizal practiced medicine. In time, rizal was able to meet other physicians. A new friend, dr Lorenzo marques, gave a set of clientele with ophthalmic cases to rizal in recognition to his exceptional talent in his fiel. In due time, the new doctor in town became a successful and popular as a medical practitioners in hongkong. He had many patients including foreigners, Asians or Europeans. Through his continued

correspondence with friends abroad, supports in the form of books and equipment started to come in. for the second time, he operated on his mother’s eye so that she may read and write again.

Writings. Alongside his practice, rizal continued to write. As he browsed along the individual rights the Spaniards have violated against his people, rizal came to the idea of translating into tagalog the rights of man, as proclaimed by the French revolution in 1789. Rizal, in addition, wrote a la nacion espaniola(to the Spanish nation), an appeal to spain to rectify the wrongs done by the Spaniards against the calamba tenants. To expose the brutality of the offense committed against the calamba tenants, sa mga kababayan(to my countrymen) was written in December 1891. It explained the calamba agrarian situation. Rizal also, through frazier smith, one of its editor, contributed articles to the hongkong telegraph, a british newspaper. When copies of the newspaper entered the Philippines wherein many Filipinos were able to read rizal’s articles, the spain censors, upon discovering his writings, had immediately banned the hongkong newspaper.

On march 1892, rizal wrote una visita a la Victoria gaol(a visit to Victoria gaol). It was an account of his visit to the colonial prison of hongkong. In this article, he compared the cruel Spanish prison system with that of the modern and more humane british system.

The borneo colonization project. Realizing the condition of the calamba folks under governor valeriano weyler’s regime, rizal conceived the establishment of a Filipino colony in north bornea(sabah). He planned to move the landless Filipino families to the rich british occupied land he referred to as new calamba.

On march 7, 1892 rizal traveled to Sandakan, sabah on board the ship menon to negotiate with the british authorities the establishment of a Filipino colony therein. The lands over the bengkoka river in the maraud bay were the ones offered to him by the british north borneo company. In the compromise the british would give 100000 acres of land free of charge to rizal and his company, that is, provided that he would be able to recruit50 families to migrate therein. He thought that, in this way, he would be able to compensate the calamba families of the lands they previously have lost.

After the short visit, rizal elaborated further on his borneo colonization project by writing an article entitled the british north borneo colonization project. He, later, translated it in French colonization du british north borneo, par des families de Iles philipphines.

The realization of his borneo project received a new hope with the new trends going on in the islands. The infamous weyler, whom the Cubans referred to as the butcher was relieved of his gubernatorial position. A new governor general eulogio despujol, announced to the Filipino people a fine program of government. Believing that the new administration was more liberal the its predecessor, rizal began writing the new governor letters, a response was achieved by rizal through a provision that he may enter the islands and sec governor on the basis of safe conduct of passage that is a temporary stay that is free from arrest.

A desire to go home. In may 1892 rizal made up his mind to return to manila. This decision was motivated by the following reasons:

1. To confer with the governor despujol regarding his borneo colonization project2. To establish la liga Filipina in manila3. To request the lift of the exile of his other family members

4. To prove lete del pilar and the rest of la solidaridad that they were wrong in attacking him in madrid that he beaing at ease and safe in hongkong had already abandoned the thought of returning to the Philippines

The second homecoming

At noon of june 26, 1892, rizal and his windowed sister lucia(wife of the late mariano herbosa) arrived in manila. They were met by many carabineers headed by a major. There were in addition a captain and a seargent of the veteran civil guard. He came down with his luggage and they inspected him at the custom house. From there he and lucia went to hotel de oriente where they occupied a room.

In the afternoon, he proceeded to malacanan palace to seek audience with the Spanish governor general eulogio despujol. He was told to come back at that night at seven. Promptly he returned to malacanan and was able to confer with governor general despujol, who agreed to pardon his father but not his brother and brothers in law. The governor told him to return on Wednesday, june 29.

A trip to Luzon. June 27, rizal boarded a train at the tutuban station for a trip to provinces. He visited his friends in malolos(bulacan),san Fernando(Pampanga), tarlac(tarlac), and bacoor(Pampanga). He was welcomed and lavishly entertained at the homes of his friends. These friends were good patriots, his supporters in the reform crusade. In this occasion he took the opportunity to greet them personally and discussed the problems affecting their people.

Rizal returned by train to manila the next day. Whether he knew it or not, he was followed by government spies who watched carefully his every move. The homes he had visited were later raided by the guardia civil wherein they seized copies of the noli and fili and other subversive pamphlets.

The founding of liga Filipina. On the evening of Sunday, july 3, 1892, following his morning interview with the governor general despujol, rizal attended a meeting of patriots at the home of the Chinese-filipino mestizo, doroteo ongjuco on ylaya street, tondo manila. Among thoses present were pedro serrano laktaw(panday pira), a mason and school teacher, domingo franco(felipe real), mason and tobacco shopkeeper, jose A. ramos(soccoro), engraver, printer, owner of bazar gran bretana, and first worshipful master of nilad, first Filipino masonic lodge, ambrosia Salvador, gobernadorcillo of quiapo and mason, bonifacio arevallo(harem), dentist and mason, deodato arellano, brother in law of M.H. del pilar and civilian employee in the army, ambrosia flores(musa), retired lieutenant of infantry, agustin de la rosa, bookkeeper and mason, mariano Crisostomo, landlord, numeriano Adriano(ipil), notary public and mason, estanislao Legaspi, artisan and mason, teodoro plata, court clerk and mason, andres bonifacio, warehouse employee, apolinario mabini(katabay), lawyer and mason and juan zulueta, playwright, poet, and government employee.

The initiation. Rizal explained the objectives of the liga Filipina, a civic league of Filipinos, which desire to establish and make its role in the socio economic life of the people. He presented the constitution of the liga which he had written in hongkong and discussed its provisions. The patriots were favorably impressed and gladly approved the establishment of the liga. The officersof the new league were elected as follows, ambrosia Salvador, president, deodato arellano, secretary, bonifacio Arevalo, treasurer, and agustin de la rosa, fiscal.

The aims of la liga Filipina were the following:

1. To unite the whole archipelagic into one compact and homogenous body2. Mutual protection in every want and necessity3. Defense against all violence and injustice4. Encouragement of education agriculture and commerce5. Further study and application of reforms

The motto of the la liga Filipina was: unus imstar omnium(one like all)

The liga government. The government body of the league was the supreme council which had jurisdiction over the whole country. It was composed of a president, a secretary, a treasure, and a fiscal. There was a provincial council and a popular council in every town.

The duties of the liga Filipina members are as follows:

1. Obey the orders of the supreme council2. To help in recruiting new members3. To keep in strictest secrecy the decisions of the liga authorities4. To have a symbolic name which he cannot change until he becomes the president of his council5. To report to the fiscal anything that he may hear which affects the liga6. To behave well as befits a good Filipino7. To help fellow members in all ways

No way out. On Wednesday, july 6 rizal went to malacanan palace to resume his series of interviews with the governor general. During this interview gen. despujol suddenly showed him some printed leaflets were allegedly found in lucia’s pillow cases. These incrimatory leaflets were entitled pobres frailes(poor friars) under the authorship of P.jacinto and printed by the imprenta de los amigos del pais, manila. They were a satire against the rich domician friars who amassed fabulous riches contrary monastic vow of poverty.

Rizal vigorously denied having those leaflets in either his or lucia’s baggage, which had been thoroughly searched upon their arrival from hongkong by the custom authorities who found nothing. Despite his denial and insistent demand for investigation in accordance with the due process of law, he was placed under arrest and escorted to fort Santiago by ramon despujol, nephew and aide of Gen. despujol. Initially rizal was informed that he was to be banished to bataan in Luzon. In later by the time that he was already aboard the ship, did he learn that the destination was not at all bataan it was dapitan a far military district in Mindanao.

The gubernatorial decree gave the reasons for rizal’s deportation as follows:

1. Rizal had published books and articles abroad which showed his disloyalty to spain and which were frankly anti-catholic and imprudently anti-friar

2. A few hours after his arrival in manila there was found in one of the packages a bundle of handbills entitled pobres frailes in which the patient and humble generosity of the Filipinos is satirized and which accusation is published against the customs of the religious orders.

3. His novel el filibusterismo was dedicated to the memory of three traitors burgos Gomez and Zamora and on the title page he wrote that in views of the vices and errors of the Spanish administration the only salvation for the Philippines was separation from the mother country.

4. The end which he pursues in his efforts and writings is to tear from the loyal Filipino breasts the treasures of our holy catholic faith

Shortly after midnight july 14(that is 12:30am of july15, 1892). Rizal was brought under heavy guard to the steamer CEBU which was sailing for dapitan. This steamer under captain delgras at 1:00am, july 15 sailing south, passing Mindoro and panay, and reaching dapitan on Sunday the 17 of july, at 7:00 in the evening.

Captain delgras went ashore and handed rizal over to captain ricardo carcinero, Spanish commandant of dapitan. That same night, july 17, 1892, rizal began his exile in lonely dapitan, which would last until july 31, 1896, a period of four years.

The dapitan exile

The cast away. Rizal lived in exile in far away dapitan, a remote town in Mindanao which was under the the missionary jurisdiction of the Jesuits, from 1892-1896. This four year interlude in his life was tediously unexciting, but was abundantly fruitful with varied achievements. He practiced medicine, pursued scientific studies, continued his artistic and literary works, widened his knowledge of languages, established school for boys, promote community development projects, invented a wooden machine for making bricks and engaged in farming and commerce.

The steamer cebu which brought rizal to dapitan carried a letter from father Pablo pastelles, superior of Jesuit society of the Philippines, to father Antonio obach, Jesuit parish priest of dapitan. In his letter, father superior pastels informed obach that rizal could live at the parish convent on the following conditions:

1. That rizal publicly retract his errors concerning religion and make statements that were clearly pro-spanish and against revolution

2. That he perform the church rites and make a general confession of his past life3. That he hence forth he conduct himself in an exemplary manner as a Spanish subject and a

man of religion.

Rizal did not agree with these conditions and had just preferred to stay in casa real, the residenc of the commandant. Captain carcinero(the warden)

A new friend. Carcinero was fascinated by rizal’s fine qualitites and personality. He came to know that rizal was not a common felon much less a filibuster. So fond of rizal he gave good report on his prisoner to governor despujol and even gave him complete freedom to go anywhere and to report only once a week at his office.

Rizal on the other hand admired the kind and generous Spanish captain and as evidence of his esteem, he wrote a poem a don ricardo carcinero on august 26, 1892 on occasion to captain’s birthday.

The katipunan was born. Right after the banishment of rizal to dapitan, the members of the liga Filipina met once more to discuss the future of the organization and what moves to make in order to continue their patriotic cause.

In this meeting the members were divided as to what should be the next step. Some proposed that the liga Filipina continue its cause for reforms. Somehow, this was not the view of others. The company of ambrosia slavador believed that there was still hope for reforms. On the other hand, deodato arellano, andres bonifacio and the rest saw the liga as rizal’s initial effort to an eventual separation from spain. The liga was eventually divided as those who still believed in reforms founded the companerismo. Those who believed in a more radical action against spain, separated to organize a secret organization called katipunan. Arellano, bonifacio with ladislao diwa and teodoro plata founded the organization.

Rizal won lotto. On September 21, 1892, the sleepy town of dapitan burst in excitement when a mail boat butuan approached the town. It brought no Spanish officials but onlt the happy tidings that the lottery ticket no. 9736 jointly owned by captain carcinero, rizal and Francisco equilor(a Spanish resident of dipole, a neighboring town of dapitan) won the second prize of P20000 in the government owned manila lottery.

Rizals share of the winning lottery ticket was P6200. Upon receiving this sum, he gave P2000 to his friend basa in hongkong, and the rest he invested well by purchasing agricultura lands along the coast of talisay, about 1km away from dapitan.

Rizals-pastells religious debates. During his exile in dapitan, rizal had a long and scholarly debate with father pastels on religion. It started when father pastels sent him a book by sarda, with advice that the latter should refrain being locked to his idea of individual judgement and self-esteem.

In all his letters to father pastelles, rizal revealed his anti-catholic ideas. He expressed his embitterment over the persecution being done by many friars to his people. He criticized the friars for being abusive using their religious authority to subjugate the will of others. According to rizal, individual judgement is a gift from god and everybody should use it like a lantern to show the way and that self-esteem if moderated by judgement saves man from unworthy act. He also insisted the pursuit of truth in diferent paths and thus religions may vary, but they all lead to the light.

Father pastels, tried his best to win back rizal to the fold of Catholicism divine faith, he told rizal, supersedes everything, incuding reason, self-esteem, and individual judgement. No matter how wise a man is his intelligence is limited, hence he needs the guidance of god. He refuted rizal’s attacks on catholic dogmas as misconceptions of rationalism and naturalism, errors of misguided souls.

The interesting debate of the two on religion inclusively. Rizal couldn’t be convinced by pastellas argument so that he lived in dapitan beyond the pale of his mother church.

Duel aborted again. As a businessman, rizal involved himself in the sale of lumber logs. In an occasion, rizal was involved in a quarrel with a French acquaintance in dapita, mr. juan lardet, another businessman. At one time juan purchased a number of logs from rizal, after the deal,

lardet found that many of those delivered to him were of poor quality. This enraged lardet and started accusing rizal of being a cheater.

Lardet in a letter written to dapitan merchant Antonio Miranda, expressed his disgust over the kind of person rizal was as based on the belief that he was cheated by the latter in one of their business deals. Miranda, on the other hand, little did lardet know, was a loyal friend of rizal. To be just to his friend he indiscreetly forwarded the letter to rizal. Rizal flared up in anger and confronted lardet with a challenge of a duel. However instead of accepting the challenge asked rather and apology. Rizal being honorable man, accepted it.

A Jesuit mission. Father pastels, in the attempt to take rizal back to the catholic folds, instructed two Jesuits to proceed to Mindanao. They were father obach, cura of dapitan and father jose vilaclara, cura of dipolog. Furthermore, he also assigned father Francisco de paula sanchez, to dapitan as well.

Father sanchez, had spent three years in Europe and returned to manila in 1881 to resume teaching at the ateneo and to head its museum. He was the only Spanish priest to defend rizal’s noli me tangere in public.

As a former professor who was much loved by rizal, sanchez was chosen by the superior to be an agent in the much desired conversion of rizal. Despite of his failure to persuade rizal to discard his unorthodox views on the catholic religion, he enjoyed the latters company. Rizal was like a son to him and whatever he may have been started to believe in, as he told rizal, he would respect it. During his birthday, rizal gave him a manuscript entitled estudios sobre la lengua tagala(studies of the tagalog language). With sanchez, Rizal made some of his projects in dapitan. It was sad that they had separate so soon.

The physician. Rizal practiced medicine in dapitan. Patients came from everywhere in the visayas and Mindanao. He treated the poor for free and for the rich and the noble, he asked consultation fees and payment for the medicines. As he continued to make miracles in treating the eye, his name became more popular even to the far north Luzon and even hongkong. He operated his mother’s right eye and it was successful but later on the wound become infected due to improper care. Fortunately, rizal was able to finally restore dona teodora’s sight.

Community projects. When rizal arrived in dapitan, he decided to improve it. Seeking the potential of dapitan he began to work on converting part of the town a park. To do this task rizal had to clear the land of weeds and other obstacles, uniform the plants and plant additional flowers. The park was highlighted by a relief map of Mindanao which he constructed out of soil. Added to this, the P500 which an English patient paid him was used by him to equip the town with its lighting system. This lighting system consisted of coconut oil lamps paced in the dark streets of dapitan. Electric lighting was unknown then in the Philippines. It was only until 1894 when manila saw the first electric lights.

To make water be easily more available to the people, he constructed the town’s first water system wherein he used bamboos as pipelines. He also spent many months draining the marshes to get rid of malaria that had always infested dapitan.

The educator, a man of arts and sciences. Rizal wanted to make a difference on the lives of the people of dapitan. He believed that changes may be introduced through education. In 1893 he established a school for boys which existed until the end of his exile. Rizal did not allow his 16 pupils to pay any tuition fees, instead he only wanted teach them whatever it is that he knew so that these children may grow to become enlightened to the truth.

As an educator he continued to study by reading books his friends from manila and Europe would send him. He also made scientific researches by collecting various species of plant and animal life on land and watch which he would later send abroad to his friends, like meyer and Virchow, for recording. Three such as he sent were given to his credit, they were a, a beetle, a frog, a dragonfly.

Always being curious what he could come up with, rizal made a couple of inventions. They included a lighter that ignites through stones and a brick maker.

As an artist rizal made a lot of sketches which mostly featured the flora and fauna of Mindanao. A number sculptures were carved while he was in dapitan. They are namely, the mother’s revenge, a tribute to his dog Syria who child was killed by a crocodile, the dapitan girl, a woodcarving of josephine’s image and the busts of Fr. Guerrico and st. paul.

An agriculturist and entrepreneur. Coming from a family of farmers rizal made himself busy in managing the vast lands that he purchased in talisay which covered around 70 hectares. He was able to purchase these lands through the money that he won in the lottery.

Though sad and lonely, rizal spent his days fruitful by diligently farming his lands together with a number of helpers. Here he planted coconuts, abaca(hemp), cacao, corn, sugarcane and fruit trees. Seeing the potential of the abaca industry he made a partnership with a businessman ramon carreon. Rizal also indulged himself in fishery through a fish pond that he also purchased.

A period of pain. The life of rizal in dapitan maybe generalized as somehow unhappy. Years have passed and this made him miss his family so much, especially those who never even had the opportunity of visiting him. It had been a long time since he saw his father, brother, and other sisters. The only consolation to him was the arrival of his mother and three sisters who stayed with him together with some of his nephews, for his company and assistance.

Rizal had always been sad because of what has happened to his life and his family. He was also sad because nothing good has ever happened to his country and people. Leonor rivera died in august 1893 and this even created a terrible pain in his heart. A mixture of disappointment and guilt were what he felt he was never there for her.

A beautiful stranger(dulce estranjera). Since 1892 everything had been routine in the life of rizal. Love was never something that he thought about for sometime. But all these was about to change when one time someone came along. She was Josephine bracken, an irish girl of sweet eighteen. Her mother died in childbirth, and was adopted by mr. George taufer, who later became blind. When they heard about the famous ophthalmic surgeon, dr. rizal, they went to dapitan for his advice with a Filipina companion, Manuela Orlac.

As days passed rizal and Josephine fell in love with each other. It was at first sight and after one month of courtship they already have planned not to separate and get married. They asked the permission of mr. taufer but he flared up in violent rage and attempted to commit suicide. It was fortunate that rizal was able to stop him.

When rizal broke the news that mr. taufer’s blindness was incurable, the latter planned to come back to hongkong. Mr. taufer returned to hongkong and Josephine assisted him to manila. Here, Josephine stayed with rizal’s family. After a while she returned to dapitan and reunited with rizal. The two planned to be married in a catholic ceremony, however fr. Antonio obach insisted that rizal must first retract and embrace the faith once more before any ceremony. Rizal refused for he would not give up his personal beliefs just for a personal favor. With no priest or church, rizal and Josephine married themselves as god was their witness.

The two led a happy life for quite some time in dapitan until there was such a time that the two discovered their differences. Being a catholic, Josephine often went to parish church. Here many, including rizal’s isters, have seen Josephine having conversations with the friars therein. Rizal was informed of such a activities of his wife. With his sisters not really liking Josephine from the very start news and comments reached rizal on assimilated manner. Rizal began to become paranoid even suspecting his wife as a spy the friars may have hired against him. Heated arguments between the couple started to become frequent.

Rizal’s son. Rizal loved Josephine, however due to the problems the two recently faced, Josephine grew to become worrisome and always frightened of what may happen to the relationship. This became a reason why Josephine prematurely gave birth to their baby at the eighth month. Rizal tried to save his baby but to no avail. Rizal’s son lived for around three hours. He named the baby Francisco after his father. So much was rizal’s grief that he had to bury his own child. Sometime after the delivery Josephine left rizal and proceeded to manila. Rizal made all efforts to take her back.

Dapitan writings. Rizal’s exile gave away from him to write once more. Himmo a talisay(hymn to talisay) was a hymn poem written in tribute of a tree to which a town was named, and where rizal often stayed. Rizal and his students have always used the talisay tree as a meeting place and in grateful appreciation of the shade she provided they would occasionally sing the hymn.

The other poems wrote are Mi retiro(my retreat), which depicts his life as an exile in dapitan, and canto del viajero(song od the traveler), a poem celebrating his renewed opportunity to travel abroad and end of exile in dapitan.

The revolution of 1896 and rizal. Since the beginning of the Cuban revolution in 1895, the katipunan had been contemplating on the idea that a revolution was also inevitable in the Philippines. With the Cubans fighting the Spaniards in the other side of the pacific it would be a great disadvantage for the Filipino to strike as well at the same time for it is whenspain would have divided attention and strength. In a meeting at the montalban cave in april of 1896, bonifacio and the katipunan made a decision that the revolution was had already come to pass. On the 2nd of may, the katipunan supreme council chose dr. pio Valenzuela as its official emissary to dapitan. Valenzuela’s objective was to convince rizal to join and lead the katipunan since it was he who had been identified by the Filipinos as their savior and leader.

On june 21 1896 after a week long travel Valenzuela arrived in dapitan. Inorder to pass through inspecting officials, Valenzuela brought along a blind man named Raymundo mata to act as a patient. Eventually they were able to see rizal.

Because rizal did not know who he was , Valenzuela introduced himself first. Later on the katipunero disclosed the true pupose of his arrival and the nature of the katipunan. At the end of the rather long conversation of the two, rizal expressed that he did no adhere to the idea of katipunan. He believed that the katipunan had no capability of defeating the much powerful Spanish army on the reasons that:

1. The katipunan does not have enough arms to fight the well equipped enemy2. The katipuneros do not have enough skills and training to fight an army of veteran in

engaging in battles3. Its hierarchy lacks credibility which may result only to confusion in the chain of

command among leaders4. The enemy has allies which only indicates that the revolution must have foreign aid in

order to ensure that resources may not be depleted5. Ships(navy) are needed especially in an archipelago like the Philippines, for they are

crucial to communications.

Rizal believed it was not yet the time for a revolution. A revolution must be launched not only on the basis of sentiments and burning passion. It must be launched on the context of the ability to become triumphant in the end of it all. Rizal told Valenzuela that if the revolution is the last resort, it must then be prepared for another five to ten years just to ensure victory.

Valenzuela left failing to get rizal or even his support. It is not that rizal was no in agreement with a revolution as a means to liberate his country it is only that a revolution must be prepared to ensure its victory and prevent the people from perishing in senseless manner. Rizal advised Valenzuela to discuss also the situation with Antonio luna whom he regard as a man of military expertise. He also noted that if ever they pushed through, they have to first try to seek the support of the Japanese at least.

The end of retreat. When the Cuban revolution erupted in 1895 the Spanish government began recruiting physicians who are willing to go to cuba as volunteer to attend to the sick and wounded soldiers therin. After learning this news. Rizal immediately applied for it in the hope of ending his exile in dapitan through this option. He sent letters to the new gov. gen. ramon blanco to permit him in serving spain through this manner.

After months of waiting, finally received a response letter from the office of the gov. gen. accepting him as a volunteer physician for cuba. On july 31, 1896, rizal’s four year exile in dapitan came to an end. He embarked that day on board the steamer espana. Together with him were his sister narcisa , three nephews, a niece and his wife whome he got reunited with just a few days after departure. Almost all dapitan folks were at shore tobid him goodbye. It was a sad farewell for he already came to love the good people of dapitan and will never forget them in his heart.

Rizal and the 1896 revolution

Stranded in manila. Due to the many stopovers the steamer espana made its arrival to manila was slightly delayed. When it reached manila on august 6, to rizal’s disappointment the ship was ss isla de Luzon, that should have carried him to spain(from spain he would then proceed to cuba) had already left the day before. Authorities informed him that the next ship that would board him will be the ss isla de panay. This ship as scheduled, will arrive in 28 days.

Because the espana was already about to leave, rizal was transferred to a cruiser where he would stay for the next 26 days. This was the castilla a vessel manned by the courteous Enrique santalo.

Emergency rescue. Right before its discover, the katipunan made a last effort to rescue rizal from the cruiser castilla. Aboard a launch named caridad, Emilio jacinto and a few katipuneros sneaked, disguising as sailors, inside the docked cruiser, castilla upon meeting rizal, jacinto identified himself, confirmed that they were armed and told the former that he had to be rescued. With all courteousness, rizal refused the katipunan leader and pleaded that he be left alone for he knew what he was doing. Jacinto was left without choice.

Rizal could have escaped the authorities from that point, but he had already set his mind to his own plan. If ever he would have to join a revolution, it would be under his terms. From the beginning he never had confidence with the katipunan. This was his decision, his undoing his destiny.

The revolution. Just as rizal was taking his time in the manila harbor aboard the cruiser castilla and waiting for the much anticipated isla de panay the katipunan through the betrayal of a member was discovered on august 19.

On the 26 of that month, bonifacio and the rest of the katipunan raised the cry of pugadlawin marking the beginnine of the Philippine revolution. Rizal who was still in manila was informed. He was not surprised he expected it on his part he will pursue his plans.

The last voyage abroad. On august 30, rizal received from the gov. gen. blanco a congratulatory letter and letters of recommendation. He was set for departure. On September 3, rizal left for spain aboard the ss isla de panay. The ship proceeded Singapore. When it arrived, pedro and perliquin roxas, two of his fellow passengers escaped from the ship. They encountered rizal to do the same for it would be safer to stay in the English colony. But no avail, rizal insisted that he stay out. He did not want to become a fugitive. He was not afraid to face anything for he believe he had done nothing wrong.

Without a doubt. The discovery of the katipunan led to the uncovering of its secrets. Successive raids and mass arrests were made by the authorities. Bulks of documents were found in secret offices and hide-outs which were further investigated. Many of these documents implicated rizal to the katipunan. Pictures, copies of noli me tangere and el filibusterismo were likewise found. Documents declaring rizal as honorary president of the katipunan were also found. The Spanish authorities learned also that rizal was being used as the rally cry of the members, their true leader and hero. All of these together with many letters and testimonies from those arrested led to the conclusion that rizal was part of it all.

The arrest. Realizing the deep involvement of rizal with the revolution, directly or indirectly, archbishop of manila Bernardino nozaledas insisted that jose rizal be placed under arrest before he reaches cuba and all become to late. On his part gov. blanco was reluctant for he already gave rizal his word guaranteeing his arrival to cuba as a volunteer physician. However, after further evaluation, together with the clerical pressure, the governor came up to his mind that rizal’s arrest and return to the Philippines was unavoidable. By telegraph, the governor ordered the arrest and detection of rizal aboard the ship.

On September 30, while the ship was cruising the Mediterranean sea, rizal was put put under arrest by capt. Alemany. Rizal was enraged by the order and referred to blanco as worse than an animal. He was detained inside his cabin during the remainder of the trip

On early oct 6, the ship reached barcelona. Rizal was imprisoned at the montjuich. Later that day, eulogio despujol the former Philippine governor who banished him to dapitan pain a visit. Despujol was the military commander of cataluna that time.

The next day, rizal was transferred to anew ship, the ss colon. The ship was bound for manila.

The final homecoming. Since leaving Barcelona on October 6, rizal continuously recorded the events in his diary. On October 8 an officer told him that the madrid newspapers were full of stories about the bloody revolution in the Philippines and all blame was on him. Realizing the adverse effects of these unjust public opinion, he thanked god for giving him the chance to return in order to confront his slanderers and to vindicate his name.

News of rizal’s predicament reached his friends in Europe and Singapore. From London dr. Antonio Ma. Regidor and sixto lopez dispatched telegrams to an English lawyer in Singapore named hugh fort to rescue rizal from the Spanish steamer when it reached Singapore by means of a writ of habeas corpus.

When the colon arrived in Singapore, atty. Fort instituted proceeding at the Singapore court for the removal of rizal from the ss colon. The legal contention was that rizal was being illegally detained on the Spanish steamer.

Unfortunately, chief justice lionel cox denied the writ on the ground that the colon was carrying Spanish troops to the Philippines. Hence it is a warship of a foreign power which under international law, was beyond the jurisdiction of the Singapore authorities.

Rizal was unaware of the attempt by his friend to rescue him in Singapore because he was then kept behind bars in the ship.

Coming back to manila. On November 3, the colon reached manila it was greeted with mild rejoicing by the Spaniards and friars because it brought more reinforcements and military supplies. While the Spanish community was exaulting with joy was quietly transferred under heavy guard from the ship to fort Santiago.

The investigation and trial

The preliminary investigation. Immediately after his arrival. Rizal the accused appeared before the judge advocate colonel Francisco olive, here he was subjected to a grueling five day

investigation and was informed of the charges pressed against him. There were two kinds of evidence that were presented against tizal, namely documentary and testimonial.

The status of rizal as a detainee was determined by Nicolas dela pena who recommended the he rizal continue to be in prison his assets frozen up to one million pesos and that he be put to trial in a military court the only right given to rizal by the Spanish authorities was to choose his own defense counsel. And even this was highly restricted. For he had to choose only from a list submitted he schooses don luis taviel de Andrade 1st lieutenant of the artillery to be his defender.

On December 11, the information of charges was formally read to rizal in his prison cell with his counsel present. The charges were pressed against rizal. These were rebellion which was punishable by death, sedition also having the penalty of death and illegal association which was punishable to reclusion perpetua or lower. He was accused of being the principal organizer and the living soul of the Filipino insurrection, the founder of societies, periodicals and books dedicated to fomenting and propagating ideas of rebellion. Rafael Dominguez forwarded the papers of rizal case to malacanang palace on December 13 the same day when gen. camilio g. de polavieja, with the help of the powerful Dominican friars, became governor general of the Philippines succeeding general blanco.

A manifesto. On December 15, rizal wrote a manifesto to the people appealing to them to stop the unnecessary shedding of blood and to achieve their liberties by means of education and industry. He in the end, advised the revolutionist to go home and that may god and man forgive them.

Through this writing many have criticized rizal to be a traitor to the cause of the revolution. His condemnation to it was proof that he did not believe in this fight for independence. However, it must be realized that rizal never was in favor of this revolution anyway. He did not even like the premature way it started if he condemned if for using his name, that would be natural, since he really did not have anything to do with it. One thing to add is that it is also possible that he had written this for the reason that polavieja was attempting to make a deal with him – write something and the sentence will be lighter. With this he wrote the manifesto believing that whatever he may say, though he started it all, he would not be able to stop it. This is also probably the reason why polavieja never had it published. It was useless to deal with rizal for a letter would be too shallow to use as an instrument against a revolution. One more thing, who would have believe him? He may be their hero but being under their custody this may just sound like him being tortured obeying whatever is told him.

It is not rizal did not think of revolution as a means to obtain liberty for his country. in his conversation with Valenzuela, he told the katipunero that to make a revolution successful it must be so prepared, for if not, it would just be a massacre of the people. He evenadvised valezuela that if they want him to be with them, they must wait. He told him his plan of going to cuba an there he would study their revolution, head for America of Germany for possible aid or alliance and then come back to the Philippines to liberate his people. But this he said may take five to ten years. This only proves that rizal also contemplated on a revolution, though not the kind bonifacio built.

The trial of rizal. At 8:00am, December 26, 1986, the court martial of rizal started in the military building called cuanel de espana. The trial was opened by judge advocate Dominguez who explained the case against rizal.

After him, prosecuting attorney Enrique de alcocerarose and delivered a long speech summarizing the charges against rizal and urged the court to give the verdict of death to the accused. While on the other hand, defense counsel luis taviel de Andrade took the floor and read his eloquent defense with a noble, but futile, admonition to the members of the military saying the judges cannot be vindictive the judges can only be just.

Rizal’s defense. As agreed upon by the two, rizal was called by taviel to the stand in defense of himself. In his argument, he insisted that he could not be involved in the rebellion since he was already in dapitan when it was conceived. That from 1892, he already retired from politics and many can attest to that. If he were guilty he could have escaped back then in Mindanao, or during the time he was in Singapore and was not yet being arrested. He also insisted that if he ever said things offensive to the crown, he already had paid for that through the banishment imposed on him that lasted for three years. He admitted having the conversation Valenzuela in regard to the secret organization, nevertheless, just like as how he testified to it, he was never in agreement with their plans. The manner by which the rebels dragged his name to the rebellion was something that surprised him and one that which he truly condemned. In the end of his speech, rizal finally argued that if he were the leader of the rebellion then what kind of a leader would he be that in the middle of the rebellion there he was abandoning his men and trying to go abroad.

On the same day the court decision was submitted to gov. gen. polavieja. Immediately polavieja sought the opinion of judge advocate general Nicolas de la pena on his court decision. The latter affirmed the death verdict.

On December 28th polavieja approved the decision of the cort martial ordered rizal to be shot at 7:00 in the morning of December 30 at bagumbayan field (luneta).

The martyrdom

The last hours of rizal is an episode in the life of the hero og which only the Jesuits and some Spanish officials who were the only ones allowed to be present can make full a account of. Though the account had caused much controversy concerning the eventual religious stand of rizal in the final moments of his life it is important that it must be presented so as to provide the reader a way of reasoning to himself whether or not he would believe it. The reader must also finde guide that masons and some other rizalist find it difficult to accept the story that follows.

At 6:00am December 29 1986, captain Rafael Dominguez, who was designated by gov. gen. Camilo polavieja to take charge of all arrangements for the execution of the condemned prisoner, read the death sentence to rizal. He was informed that the manner of execution was that he was to be shot at back by a firing squad at 7:00am in bagumbayan(luneta).

At seven o’clock am in an hour after reading of the death sentence, rizal was moved to the prison chapel. It is here when he spent his last moments. His first visitors were father Miguel saderra mata(rector of ateneo municipal) and father luis viza,Jesuit professor. At 7:15 rizal

happily received from viza the statuette sacred heart of jesus which he carved when he was still in ateneo. He placed it on hi writing table. At 8:00 am. Fr. Antonio rosell arrived to relieve father viza. Rizal invited rossell to join him for breakfast. After breakfast, rizal’s defense councel came whom he thanked for the gallant service rendered.

By 9:00am fr. Frederico faura arrived from 12:00 am to 3:30 pm rizal was left alone in his cell. He took his lunch and after which he was busy writing it was probably during this time that he finished his farewell poem and hid it at the alcohol cooking stove. At the same time he wrote his last letter to professor blumentritt at 3:30pm, fr. Vicente balaguer arrived to discuss religious matters with rizal.

The agony of a mother. At 4:00, rizals mother arrived. Rizal knelt down before her and kissed her hands begging to forgive him. The two were immediately separated by the guards. Shortly afterwards, Trinidad came in and rizal gave him the alcohol lamp which contained the farewell poem. Right after his mother and sister left. Fathers vilaclara and march entered the cell, followed by fr. Rosell.

Don silvino lopez tunon, dean of the manila cathedral arrived at 6:00pm. Frs balaguer. March and vilaclara took turns in accompanying rizal. By 8:00am the visitors came, it was fiscal gaspar cestano of the royal audencia.whatever was the purpose of this man’s visit is not clear. It is a probability that rizal may have still sought for some legel moves to, at least , postpone the execution.

The retraction. According to fr. Vicente balaguer, rizal had already looked forward to retract earlier that day. It was only late that night that this ever came to pass. At 10:00pm balaguer once more arrived to present rizals the retraction draft of archbishop Bernardino nozaleda. Rizal declined to take the draft being that it was long. Rizal preferred better the other draftwhich fr. Pio pi y vidal, superior of the Jesuit mission, had created with slight changes applied to the draft, according to balaguer, rizal finally wrote and signed it in the presence of two witnesses juan del fresno, chief of the guard detal and eloy moure , adjutant of the plaza. The full text retraction contains the following:

At 3:00 in the morning of December 30, 1896 rizal heard mass confessed his sins, and took holy communion. Aroun 5:00 he took his last breakfast. After this, he wrote two letters. The first was addressed to be his family and the second to his brother paciano. At 5:30. Josephine bracken, accompanied by a sister of rizal(josefa), arrived. Balaguer, who was present officiated the marriage of the two. Rizal gave Josephine his last gift the imitation of Christ by Thomas krempis. At 6:00 he wrote his last letter to his parents.

The controversy. It was not until 1902 when the claim of the church on rizal’s retraction was left uncontested. The issue did not emerge immediately from the time of execution to 1898 since the Spaniards would not allow it and a revolution was on going. The years that followed were spend more on the question of what will happen to the Filipino-american war. The issue only began when, in 1901, in the occasion of rizal’s death anniversary, some writers published once again the claim of balaguer that rizal retracted and was catholic before he died.

The masons, having the opportunity of the americal atmosphere of freedom began issue with the question where is the retraction document? Along with it were the questions:

I rizal were a catholic before he died, why then was he not given a catholic burial? Where is the death certificate?

If rizal and Josephine bracken were married before the former’s execution, where then is the marriage certificate?

Where are the books that rizal signed?

The questions with regards to the existence of the retraction document rizal signed was not answered clearly enough by baaguer by claiming that it burden of proof was turned to those who claim the conversion. There was no definite answer to the mystery until, in the early part of 1930’s, when a certain priest claimed to have found a retraction document other papers and a number of books that appeared to be rizal’s. this was the retraction document and all the others he had signed the day before his execution.

By the time the retraction came out in the public the masons and the anti-retraction rizalists, to continue their argument, made intensive investigation of the document. There are those who claimed that the discovered retraction was authentic. However, there are others who said that this was a product of forgery. This argument was backed up by sides on the document that lead them to believe that the one who signed the document was not rizal, and that the whole document was a handwriting in the document had many indications of stops. Which only happens when a forger pauses to determine his next stroke. Another finding is that, of all signatures of rizal this was most slanted or disfigured. With so many controversies created around on the document, soon, its public presentation was denied for further studies.

The issue on the retraction continues as there are many arguments from both sides of the story that continue to come along. Some say it’s not that important because this issue would only refer to the religious conviction of rizal before he died and has nothing to do with his consistent political views. However others say that this is significant because the claim rizal retracted was only conceived that rizal would retract all he had said, done and write, be it political or religious. He was a man of integrity and honor, and not even death would be able to break him from the beliefs he deeply held against spain and the church al throughout his matured life.

The martyrdom of rizal. Around 6:30 am. Rizal elegantly dressed in black, began his death march. Tough tied by all his elbows, rizal walked on through with all serenity. Together with him were luis taviel de Andrade on one side and frs. Vilaclara and march in the other. Infront of them were the four advance guards with drawn bayonets.

There were only a number of people who were there from the fort to plaza del paacio. By the time they arrived at bagumbayan, a multitude was already gathered to watch the execution.

As they walked on, rizal greeted the lovliness of the morning, the clearness of the mountains of cavite and coregidor. He even made a last glance of the ateneo and talked about it with the friars.

When the cavalcade arrived at bagumbayan they proceeded to a square in front of a squad(of which another squad was at the back), rizal was made of stand ten paces apart. He bade goodbye to his

defender and the priest and shook their hands. One of the priests offered a crucifix to be kissed and rizal kissed it.

Rizal turned to the official present to request that he be allowed to face the firing squad . the official explained that it cannot be done. Strict instructions state that he should be shot at the back. When the blindfold was presented to him, he swayed his head to indicate that he did not want to. This one request was granted. Rizal turned his back to the firing squad and faced the sea.

A Spanish military physician, dr. felipe ruiz Castillo, approached rizal to feel his pulse. Rizal graciously complied. Dr. Castillo found it normal, showing only that rizal did not fear death. It was standard procedure to see first if the person to be executed is well. This was due to the fact that there have been many incidences that a person for execution would fall even before the shots are made due to cardiac arrest. This defeats the purpose of execution.

The death ruffles of the drums began. Above the drum-beats, the sharp commands ready aim fir were heard and all the bullets from the four man squad ripped through his back. Rizal will all effort turned his bullet riddled body to the right and fell on the ground dead with back flat on the grass and face upward fronting the morning sun at half eyes closed. It was 7:03 in the morning when he died. Rizal aged 35 yrs old, five months and 11 days.

After the hero’s execution the Spanish spectators shouted viva espana muerte los traidores and the Spanish military band, joining the jubilance over rizal’s death, played the triumphant marcha de cadiz.

Rizal’s body was quickly loaded to a carriage. As he instructed it, many of his followers followed the carriage of which destination was unknown. The sisters of rizal, however painful it was, managed to approach the site of his death to retrieve the blood that flowed and flesh and clothes that teared from the soil.

Rizal’s body went directly to the paco cemetery, dumped on a shallow grave without a coffin, and left without a name. There were no ceremonies of any kind. The family members were not even notified where the body was to be buried. Narcisa and company had to look over many cemeteries before that finally discovered it in paco. The loyal followers of rizal quickly remedied the rude treatment by properly burying him with only the letters rpj written on a wooded crucifix established on top of the site.