LESSON 16

In Belgian Brussels (1890)

On January 28, 1890 left for Brussels, capital Belgium. Two reasons
impelled Rizal to leave Paris, namely: the cost of living in Paris was very high
because of the universal exposition and (2) the gay social life of the city hampered
his literary works, especially the writing of his second novel El Filibusterismo. His
friends, including M.H. del Pilar and Valentine Ventura, were of the belief that he
left because he was running away from a girl just as he left London. When he told
them that the reason for his leaving Paris was economic because his money was
dwindling, Ventura generously invited him to live with him in Paris without paying
[Link] could not accept Ventura’s invitation, for he had a high sense of dignity and
would not accept charity from any man.
Life in Brussels. Rizal was accompanied by Jose Albert when he moved
to Brussels. They lived in a modest boarding house on 38 Rue Philippe
Champagne, which was run by two Jaceby sisters (Suzanne and Marie). Later
Albert left the city, and was replaced by Jose Alejandro, an engineering student.
In Brussels, Rizal was busy writing his second novel which was a
continuation of the Noli. He was never idle even for an [Link] from writing its
chapters,he wrote articles for La Solidaridad and letters to his family and
[Link] a physician,he spent part of his time in the medical clinic.
Speaking of Rizal’s frugality Jose Alejandro his roommate in Brussels said
“In Brussels we took our meals in the house and Rizal on one occasion suggested
that we eat [Link] were spending so much a day and so we spent and so we
spent one day’s appropriation for the purchase of the necessary ingredients .It
seems, however,that he commited an error. In order to remedy the error we were
compelled to have pansit for lunch and supper for two days.
Articles Published in La Solidaridad. During his sojourn in Brussels, Rizal
wrote articles for La Solidaridad in defense on his oppressed people and to point
out the evils of Spanish rule in the Philippines. Among these articles which
appeared in the patriotic periodical were:
1. “A La Defensa” (To La Defensa)
2. “La Verdad Para Todos” (The Truth For All)
3. “Vicente Barrantes’ Teatro Tagalo”
4. “Una Profanacion” (A Profanation)
5. “Verdades Nuevas” (New Truths)
6. “Crueldad” (Cruelty)
7. “Diferencias” (Diffenrences)
8. “Inconsequencias” (Inconsequences)
9. “Llanto y Risas” (Tears and Laughter)
10. “Ingratitudes” (Ingratitude)
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 New Orthography of Tagalog Language. In spite of his European
education and his knowledge of foreign languages, Rizal loved his own native
language. He was the first to advocate the Filipinization of its orthography. For
instance, the Tagalog letters k and w should be used instead of the Spanish c and
o. Thus the Hispanized Tagalog term arao be changed to araw.
Rizal’s Criticizes Madrid Filipinos for Gambling. In Brussels, Rizal
received news from Juan Luna and Valentin Ventura that the Filipinos in Spain
were destroying the good name of their nation by gambling too much. These two
compatriots in Paris urged him to do something about it.
Accordingly, Rizal wrote to M.H. del Pilar on May 28, 1890 to remind the
Filipinos in Madrid that did not come to Europe to gamble, but to work for their
Fatherland’s freedom. His letter runs as follows:
Luna in Paris complains of the gambling of the Filipinos in
Madrid, so does Ventura. They say that, according to news from the
Philippines, the parents are very much disgusted… I am afraid we are
serving the friars’ scheme. There is nothing at home to remind them
that Filipino does not come to Europe to gamble and amuse himself,
but to work for his liberty and for the dignity of his race. It is not
necessary to leave the Philippines to gamble, for there they already
gamble very much. If we who are called upon to do something, if we
in whom the poor people place their modest hopes, spend our time in
these things precisely when the years of youth should be employed in
something more noble and lofty for the very reason that youth noble
and lofty, I fear much that we are fighting for a useless illusion and that,
instead of being worthy of liberty, we are worthy of slavery.
I appeal to the patriotism of all Filipinos to give the Spanish people proof
that we are superior to our misfortune and that neither are we capable of being
brutalized, nor can our noble sentiments be deafened with the corruption of
customs. The gambling Filipinos in Madrid were angry when they learned of Rizal’s
moralizing. They derisively called him “Papa” (Pope) instead of “Pepe”.
“To My Muse” (1890). It was against a background of mental anguish in
Brussels, during those sad days when he was worried by family disasters, that he
wrote his pathetic poem, “A Mi…” (To my Muse). This poem lacks the
exquisiteness of “To the Flowers of Heidelberg” and is less polished than “To the
Filipino Youth,” but it is passionate in feeling.
Romance with Petite Jacoby. Two things brought some measure of cheer
to the despondent Rizal, as he was preparing for his trip to Madrid. First was the
summertime festival of Belgium which was celebrated in carnival style – with
colorful costumes, fantastic floats, and many days of merriment. Second was his
romance with Petite Jacoby, the pretty niece of his landladies.

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 Rizal was so charming and dignified a gentleman that Petite Susanne was
attracted to him. He was lonely in strange country and Leonor Rivera was so far
away. Naturally, being a normal young man, he found certain bliss in the company
of a pretty Belgian girl. He might have flirted with Petite Suzanne, but he could not
stoop low to a deceptive amorous relationship.
Like other women—Segunda Katigbak, Orang Valenzuela, Leonor Rivera,
O-Sei-San, Gettie Beckett, Consuelo Ortiga y Perez and the Nellie Boustead –
Suzzane fell in love with Rizal. She cried when he left toward the end of July, 1890
for Madrid, stopping for few days in Paris.
* * * * *

3
 LESSON 17
Misfortunes in Madrid
(1890-1891)

Early in August, 1890, Rizal arrived in Madrid. He tried all legal means to
seek justice for his family and the Calamba tenants, but to no avail. Disappointment
after disappointment piled on him, until the cross he bore seemed insuperable to
carry. He almost fought two duels one with Antonio Luna and the other with
Wenceslao E. Retana. On top of his misfortunes, Leonor Rivera married a British
engineer. The infidelity of the girl, with whom he was engaged for eleven years,
broke his heart. With resilient strength of character, he survived the bitter pangs of
love’s disillusion and continued his mission to redeem his oppressed people.
Failure to Get Justice for Family. Upon arrival in Madrid, Rizal
immediately sought the help of the Filipino colony, the Asociation Hispano-Filipina,
and the liberal Spanish newspapers (La Justicia, El Globo, La Republica, El
Resumen, etc) in securing justice for the oppressed Calamba tenants, including
family. Together with M.H del Pilar (who acted as his lawyer) and Dr. Dominador
Gomez (secretary of the Asociation Hispano-Filipina), he called on the Minister of
Colonies (Senior Fabie) in order to protest the injustices committed by Governor
General Valeriano Weyler and the Domicians against the Calamba folks
Nothing came out of Rizal’s interview with Minister Fabie. As El Resumen,
a Madrid newspaper which sympathized with the Filipino cause, said: “To cover
the ears, open the purse, and fold the arms – this is the Spanish colonial policy”.
In his desperation, Rizal sought the aid of the liberal Spanish statemen, who
were former members of the ministry, including Becerra and Maura. Again, he was
disappointed, for these statesmen merely gave him honeyed words of sympathy,
and nothing else.

Rizal’s Eulogy to Panganiban. Barely had Rizal settled down in Madrid,

when he experienced another disappointment. This was the doleful news that his
friend, Jose Ma. Panganiban, his talented co-worker in the Propaganda
Movement, died in Barcelona on August 19, 1890, after a lingering illness. He
deeply mourned the passing of this Bicol hero.
With a sorrowing heart, Rizal took up his pen and wrote a great eulogy to
Panganiban as follows.
Panganiban, that excellent companion of labor and difficulty, that amiable
friend and countryman beloved, has just described to the tomb at the early age of
27 years. We just caught his last whisper, saw him expire in our arms, as it were,

4
and it seems as if we are listening to his phrases saturated with energetic
patriotism, inspired by the purest love of his native land.
Infidelity of Leonor Rivera. In the autumn of 1890. Rizal was feeling bitter
at so many disappointments he encountered in Madrid. One night he had and
some friends attended a play at Teatro Apolo, and there he lost his gold watch
chain with a locket containing the picture of Leonor Rivera, his beloved sweetheart.
The loss of the locket proved to be a bad omen. Early in December, 1890,
with the cold winds of winter sweeping across the shivering city, Rizal received a
letter from Leonor, announcing her coming marriage to an Englishman (the choice
of her mother) and asking his forgiveness. This letter was a great blow to him. He
was stunned, his eyes dimmed with tears, and his heart broke.
Adios, Madrid. Rizal wrote a brief note thanking his compatriots for electing
him as a Resposable. Sadly, he packed up his bags, paid his bills, and boarded a
train leaving Biarritz.
As his train pulled out of the railway station, he gazed through its window at
the city of Madrid, where he was happy during his sojourn (1882-85) but unhappy
on his second visit (1890-91). It was the last time he saw Madrid. His agonizing
heart bade goodbye to the metropolis, of which he has written years ago:
Madrid is one of the gayest cities of the world which combines
the spirit of Europe and the East, which has adopted the orderliness,
the convenience, the bon ton of civilized Europe without disdaining,
without repelling the brilliant colors, the ardent passions, the primitive
customs of the African tribes, of the chivalrous Arabs whose traces are
still recognizable everywhere, in the look, feelings, and prejudices of
the people, and even in their laws.

* * * * *

5
 LESSON 18
Biarritz Vacation and
Romance with Nelly Boustead
(1891)

To seek solace for his disappointments in Madrid, Rizal took a vacation in

the resort city of Biarritz on the fabulous French Riviera. He was a guest of the rich
Boustead family at its winter residence ---- Villa Eliada. He had befriended Mr.
Eduardo Boustead and his wife and two charming daughters (Adelina and Nellie)
in Paris in 1889-90. He used to fence with the Boustead sisters at the studio of
Juan Luna and to attend parties at the Boustead Parisian home. It was in Biarritz
he had a serious romance with Nellie and finished the last chapter of his second
novel, El Filibusterismo.
With the Bousteads in Biarritz. When Rizal arrived in Biarritz at the
beginning of February, 1891, he has warmly welcomed by the Boustead,
particularly Mr. Boustead who had taken a great liking for him because of his
remarkable talents. As a family guest, he was treated with friendliness and
hospitality by Mrs. Boustead, Adelina, Nellie, and Aunt Isabel (Mrs. Boustead’s
sister).
Romance with Nellie Boustead. Biarritz, with its romantic gardens,
delightful villas, and panoramic beauties is an ideal setting for romance. On an
emotional rebounce, Rizal having lost his beloved Leonor, came to entertain
considerable affection for Nellie, the prettier and younger daughter of his host. He
found her to be a real Filipina, highly intelligent, vivacious in temperament, and
normally upright. He wrote to his intimate friends, except Professor Blumentritt, of
his love for Nellie, also called Nelly, and his intention to propose marriage to her.
As early as on February 4, 1891, M.H. del Pilar teased him about changing
the “o” in Noli to an “e”, which means Noli to Nelly. Five days later, Tomas Arejola
told Rizal:
In your letter you talk repeatedly of Boustead who can be a
Madame or a Mademoiselle. Several times here since last year I have
been told about this young woman who, according to your letter is also
a Filipino. They told me that she is highly commendable for her
thorough education, her very beautiful moral and physical qualities,
and in addition, for being a Filipino. On this occasion and all the time
you are there exposed to the warmth of the treatment and attentions
of that family, may I take the liberty for making the following reflections.
Through you yourself, I know that you are now free from your
engagement in the Philippines. On the other hand, while conditions
there are not altered, your permanence in our country is not advisable;

6
 and even if it were so, they would never leave you in peace at your
home. Consequently, by marrying there, I fear that instead of
happiness, you would only find bitterness and trouble.
And what is the remedy? ... See if Mademoiselle Boustead
suits you, court her, and marry her, and we are here to applaud such
a good act.
El Filibusterismo Finished in Biarritz. Frustrated in romance, Rizal found
consolation in writing. Evidently, while wooing Nellie and enjoying so “many
magnificent moonlight nights” with her, he kept working on his second novel which
he began to write in Calamba in 1887.
On March 29, 1891, the eve of his departure from Biarritz to Paris, he
finished the manuscript of El Filibusterismo. Writing to Blumentritt on that date he
said:
I have finished my book! Oh, no, I have not written in it my idea of
revenge against my enemies but only what is for the good of those who are
suffering, for the rights of the Tagalog race, though brown and may not have good
features!
Retirement from Propaganda Movement. Since abdicating his leadership in
Madrid in January,1891, owing to the intrigues of his jealous compatriots, Rizal
retired from the Propaganda Movement, or reform crusade. He desired to publish
his second novel, to practice his medical profession, and later, when become
financially independent, he expected to make a more vigorous campaign for his
country’s redemption.
Revising the Fili for Publication. In Brussels Rizal worked day after day revising
the finished manuscript of El Filibusterismo and readied it for printing. Apparently,
the revision was mostly completed on May 30, 1891.
* * * * *

7
 LESSON 19
El Filibusterismo Published in Ghent (1891)

Days flew swiftly for Rizal in Brussels like flying arrows. Day in and day out,
he was busy revising and polishing the manuscript of El Filibusterismo so that it
could be ready for the press. He had begun writing it in October, 1887, while
practicing medicine in Calamba. The following year (1888), in London, he made
some changes in the plot and corrected some chapters already written. He wrote
more chapters in Paris and Madrid, and finished the manuscript in Biarritz on
March 29, 1891. It took him, therefore, three years to write his second novel.
Privations in Ghent. On July 5, 1891, Rizal left Brussels for Ghent, a
famous university city in Belgium. His reasons for moving to Ghent were (1) the
cost of printing in Ghent was cheaper than in Brussels and (2) to escape from the
enticing attraction of Petite Suzanne. In Ghent, he met two compatriots, Jose
Alejandro (from Pampanga) and Edilberto Evangelista (from Manila), both studying
engineering in the world-famed University of Ghent.
Owing to his limited funds, Rizal lived in a cheap boarding house, with Jose
Alejandro as room-mate. Theirs was a very frugal life, subsisting on barest
necessities. To economize further, they prepared their own daily breakfast in their
room.
The Printing of El Filibusterismo. Shortly after his arrival in Ghent, Rizal
searched for a printing shop that could give him the lowest quotation for the
publication of his novel. At last, he did find a publisher - F. MEYER-VAN LOO
PRESS, No. 66 Viaanderen Street – who was willing to print his book on instalment
basis. He pawned his jewels in order to pay the down payment and the early partial
payments during the printing of the novel.
Ventura, Savior of the Fili. Rizal’s Calvary in connection with the printing
of the Noli was repeated in the Fili’s printing. His funds ran out in Ghent, a similar
calamity that he experienced in Berlin in the winter of 1886. Once more he felt the
dolorous grip of despair. In a moment of bitter disillusionment, he almost hurled
the manuscript of the Fili into the flames, just as he almost did the Noli in Berlin.
The Fili Comes Off the Press. At last, September 18, 1891, El
Filibusterismo came off the press. Rizal, now a very happy man, immediately sent
on this date two printed copies to Hong Kong – one for Basa and the other for Sixto
Lopez.
Dedicated to Gom-Bur-Za. Evidently, Rizal in all the years of his studies,
travels, and labors in foreign lands, had not forgotten the martyrdom of Father
Gomez, Burgos, and Zamora, which Paciano related to him when he was a mere
lad in Calamba.

8
 The Manuscript and the Book. The original manuscript of El Filibusterismo
in Rizal’s own handwriting is now preserved in the Filipiana Division of the Bureau
of Public Libraries, Manila, It had been acquired by the Philippine Government from
Valentin Ventura for P10, 000. It consist of 279 pages of long sheets of paper.
Synopsis of El Filibusterismo. This novel is a sequel to the Noli. It has
little humor, less idealism, and less romance than the Noli Me Tangere. It is more
revolutionary, more tragic than the first novel.
The hero of El Filibusterismo is a rich jeweler named Simoun. He was
Crisostomo Ibarra of the Noli, who, with Elias’ help, escaped from the pursuing
soldiers at Laguna de Bay, dug up his buried treasure, and fled to Cuba where he
became rich and befriended many Spanish officials. After many years, he returns
to the Philippines, where he freely moved around. He is a powerful figure not only
because he is a jeweler, but also because he is a good friend and adviser of the
governor general.
Outwardly, Simoun is a friend of Spain. However, deep in his heart, he is
secretly cherishing a terrible revenge against the Spanish authorities. His two
magnificent obsessions are (1) to rescue Maria Clara from the nunnery of Santa
Clara and (2) to foment a revolution against the hated Spanish masters
“Noli” and “Fili” Compared. The two novels of Rizal vary in many
respects, although they are written by the same author and are supposed to be
dealing with the same story and have the same characters. The Noli is a romantic
novel; it is a “work of the heart” – a “book of feeling”; it has freshness, color, humor,
lightness, and wit.
On the other hand, the Fili is a political novel; it is a “work of the head” – a
“book of the thought”; it contains bitterness, hatred, pain, violence, and sorrow.
The original intention of Rizal was to make the Fili longer than the Noli. As
printed, however, it is shorter than the Noli. It contains 38 chapters as against the
Noli’s 64. Rizal had to cut the Fili drastically owing to lack of funds.

The friends of Rizal and our Rizalists today differ in opinion as to which is
the superior novel – the Noli or the Fili. Rizal himself considered the Noli as
superior to the Fili as a novel, thereby agreeing with M.H. del Pilar who had the
same opinion.
Rizal’s Unfinished Third Novel. Even before Lopez Jaena suggested the
writing of another novel, Rizal had already in mind to pen a third novel. On
September 22, 1891, four days after the Fili came off the press, he wrote to
Blumentritt: “I am thinking of writing a third novel, a novel in the modern sense of
the word, but this time politics will not find much space in it, but ethics will play in
the principal role. I shall deal mainly with the habits and customs of the Filipinos,
and only two Spaniards, the friar curate and the lieutenant of the Guardia Civil will
be there. I wish to be there. I wish to be humorous, satirical and witty, to weep and
to laugh, to laugh amidst tears, that is, to cry bitterly”.
9
 LESSON 20
Ophthalmic Surgeon in Hong Kong (1891-92)
After the publication of El Filibusterismo, Rizal left Europe for Hong Kong,
where he lived from November, 1891 to June, 1892. His reasons for leaving
Europe were (1) life was unbearable in Europe because of his political differences
with M.H. del Pilar and other Filipinos in Spain (2) to be near his idolized Philippines
and family.
Farewell to Europe. October 3, 1891-two weeks after the publication of
Fili, Rizal left Ghent for Paris, where he stayed a few days to say goodbye to the
Lunas, the Pardo de Taveras, the Venturas and other friends; Rizal proceeded
by train to Marseilles and on October 18 he boarded the steamer Melbourne
bound for Hong Kong.
Rizal and the German Ladies. One evening at a dinner time the
passengers were having their meal in the dining room. Rizal; being the only Asian,
was eating alone at one table. Near him was a bigger table occupied by some
German ladies who were gaily eating and gossiping about the lone Asian male
who was quietly taking his meal. Rizal, who was fluent in German, understood
what the talkative German ladies were saying about him, but he simply kept silent,
letting the ladies enjoy their gossip.
Suddenly the fast running steamer encountered a heavy squall and the door
of the dining room was blown open. Nobody among the passengers who were
busy eating stood up to close the door. A lady said to her companions in German:
“If this man in front of us were a gentleman he would close the door”.
Upon hearing her remark, Rizal, without saying a word, rose and closed the
door, after which he resumed his seat. He then conversed with German ladies in
perfect German. Of course, the German ladies were very much embarrassed, and,
thereafter they treated Rizal with admiration and respect, despite his brown skin,
for he was a cultured gentleman.
Family Reunion in Hong Kong. Before Christmas of 1891, he was gladdened by
the arrival of his father, brother, and Silvestre Ubaldo ( his brother in law) in Hong
[Link] long afterwards his mother and sister Lucia, Josefa, and Trinidad also
arrived. His mother was then 65 years old and was almost blind. She had suffered
so much from Spanish brutality and injustice
The Christmas of 1891 in Hong Kong was one of the happiest Yuletide celebrations
in Rizal’s life. For he had a happy family reunion.
Ophthalmic Surgeon in Hong Kong. Dr. Lorenzo P. Marques – a friend
and admirer who helped him to build up a wide clientele. He successfully operated
on his mother’s left eye so that she was able to read and write again. January 31,
1892 – writing to Blumentritt, he said:
10
 “Here I practise as a doctor and I have . . . Here many sick of
influenza because there is an epidemic. Through the newspaper I am
informed that this sickness is also causing ravages in Europe. I hope
you and your esteemed family will be spared. In our house, my mother,
my brother-in-law, and one of my sister are sick. Thank God, they are
out of danger”.

Rizal possessed the qualities of a great ophthalmic surgeon. In the words

of Dr. Geminiano de Ocampo, a distinguished Filipino ophthalmologist:
“He had all the qualities that would make an ideal ophthalmic
surgeon – a keen and analytical intellect, lightness of touch and artistry
of a painter, courage and imperturbability, a broad and deep
knowledge of medicine and ophthalmology, and last but not the least,
he had been properly and adequately trained by master ophthalmic
surgeons.”
Decision to Return to Manila. May 1892 –Rizal made up his mind to return
to Manila. The decision was spurred by the following: 1.) To confer with Governor
Despujol regarding his Borneo colonization project. 2.) To establish the Liga
Filipina in Manila 3.) To prove that Eduardo de Lete was wrong in attacking him in
Madrid that he being comfortable and safe in Hong Kong, had abandoned the
country’s cause.
Last Hong Kong Letters. On June 19, 1892 he spent his 31st birthday in
Hong Kong. Evidently, he had premonition of his death, for the following day, June
20 he wrote two letters which he sealed, inscribed in each envelop “to be opened
after my death,” and gave them to his friend, Dr. Marques for safekeeping.
The first letter was addressed TO MY PARENTS, BRETHREN, AND
FRIENDS, is as follows:
“The affection that I have ever professed for you suggests this
step, and time alone can tell whether or not it is sensible. The outcome
judges things according to the consequences; but whether the result
be favorable or unfavorable, it may always be said that duty urged me,
so if I die in doing it, it will not matter.
I realize how much suffering I have caused you yet I do not
regret what I have done. Rather, if I had to begin over again I should
do just the same, for what I have done has been only in pursuit of my
duty. Gladly do I go to expose myself to peril, not as an expiation of
misdeeds for in this matter I believe myself guiltless of any, but to
complete my work and so that I, myself, may offer the examples of
which I have always preached.

11
 A man ought to die for duty and his principles. I hold fast to
every idea which I have advanced as to the condition and future of our
country, and shall willingly die for it, and even more willingly sacrifice
all to secure justice and peace for you.
With pleasure, then, I risk life to save so many innocent
persons – so many nieces and nephews, so many children of friends,
and children too of others who are not even friend – who are suffering
on my account. What am I?
A bachelor, practically without a family and sufficiently
undeceived as to life. I have had many disappointments and the future
before me is gloomy, and will be gloomy if light does not illuminate it
with dawn of a better day for my native land. On the other hand, there
are many persons, filled with hope and ambition, who perhaps might
be happier if I were dead, and then I hope my enemies would be
satisfied and stop persecuting so many entirely innocent people. To a
certain extent their hatred is justifiable as to myself, and my parents
and relatives.
Should fate go against me, you will all understand that I shall
die happy in the thought that my death will end all your troubles. Return
to our country and may you be happy in it. Till the last moment of my
life I shall be thinking of you and wishing you all good fortune and
happiness.”
The second letter was addressed TO THE FILIPINOS, and is as follows:
The step which I am taking, or rather am about to take, is
undoubtedly risky, and it is unnecessary to say that I have considered
it for some time. I understand that almost everyone is opposed to it;
but I know also that hardly anybody else understands what is in my
heart. I cannot live on seeing so many suffer unjust persecution on my
account; I cannot bear the sight of my sisters and their numerous
families treated like criminals. I prefer death and cheerfully shall
relinquish life to free so many innocent persons from such unjust
persecution.
I appreciate the fact that at present the future of our country
gravitates in some degree around me, that at my death many will feel
triumphant, and thus, many are now wishing for my fall. But what of it?
I hold duties of conscience above all else. I have obligations to the
families who suffer, to my aged parents whose sight strikes me to the
heart; I know that I alone, only my death can make them happy,
returning them to their native land to a peaceful life at home. I am all
my parents have, but our country has many more sons who can take
my place and even do my work better.

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 Besides I wish to show those who deny us the boon of
patriotism that we know how to die for duty and principles. What
matters death, if one dies for what one loves, for native land and beings
held dear?
If I thought that I were the only resource for the consummation
of a policy of progress in the Philippines and were I convinced that my
countrymen were going to make use of my services, perhaps, I should
hesitate about taking this step; but there are others who can take my
place, who can do my services that are not utilize, and I am reduced
to inactivity.
Always have I loved our unhappy land, and I am sure that I
shall continue loving it till my last moment, in case men prove unjust to
me. My career, my life, my happiness – and all I have sacrificed for
love of it. Whatever my fate I shall die blessing it and longing for the
dawn of its redemption.
On June 21, 1892 – Rizal penned another letter in HK for Governor
Despujol. In this letter, he informed the governor general of his coming to Manila
and placed himself under the protection of the Spanish government. June 21, 1892
– (On the same date) Rizal and his sister Lucia left HK for Manila. They carried a
special passport or “safe-conduct” issued by the Spanish consul-general in Hong
Kong.
Rizal Falls into Spanish Trap. The Spanish consul-general sent a
cablegram to Governor Despujol that the victim “is in the trap”. On the same day a
secret case was filed in Manila against Rizal and his followers “for anti-religious
and anti-patriotic agitation” Despujol ordered his secretary, Luis de la Torre, to find
out if Rizal was naturalized as a German citizen, as was rumoured, so that he
might take proper action against on “who had the protection of a strong nation”
Meanwhile, Rizal and his sister were peacefully crossing the China Sea. They were
fully unaware of the Spanish duplicity.

* * * * *

13
 LESSSON 21
Second Homecoming and The Liga Filipina

Rizal’s bold return to Manila in June, 1892 was his second homecoming,
his first homecoming from abroad being in August, 1887. It marked his re-entry
into the hazardous campaign for reforms. He firmly believed that the fight for
Filipino liberties had assumed a new phase; it must be fought in the Philippines not
in Spain. “The battlefield is in the Philippines,” he told countrymen in Europe,
“There is where we should meet. . . There we will help one another, there together
we will suffer or triumph perhaps”. Two months later on December 31, 1891, he
reiterated this belief in a letter to Blumentritt, “I believe that La Solidaridad is no
longer our battlefield; now it is a new struggle. . . the fight is no longer in Madrid”.
In going home to lead anew the reform movement, he was like the biblical Daniel
bearding the Spanish lion in its own den.

Arrival in Manila with Sister. At noon of June 26, 1892, Rizal and his
widowed sister Lucia (wife of late Mariano Herbosa) arrived in Manila. A meticulous
diarist, he described his second homecoming as follows:

I arrived at Manila on 26 June (1892), Sunday, at 12:00 noon. I was

met by many carabineers headed by a major. There were in addition one captain
and one sergeant of Veteran Civil Guard. I came down with my luggage and they
inspected me at the customhouse. From there I went to Hotel de Oriente where I
occupied room No. 22, facing the church of Binondo”.

In the afternoon at 4:00 o’clock, he went to Malacañan palace to seek

audience with the Spanish governor general, General Eulogio Despujol, Conde de
caspe. He was told to come back at that night at 7:00 o’clock. Promptly at 7:00
p.m., he returned to Malacañan and was able to confer with Governor General
Despujol, who agreed to pardon his father but not the rest of his family and told
him to return on Wednesday (June 29).

After his brief interview with the governor general, he visited his sisters in
the city- first Narcisa (Sisa, wife of Antonio Lopez) and later Neneng (saturnine,
wife of Manuel T. Hiidalgo).

Founding of the Liga Filipina. On the evening of Sunday, July 3, 1892,

Rizal attended a meeting of patriots at the home Street, Tondo, Manila. Among
those present were Pedro Serrano Laktaw (Panday Pira), a Mason and tobacco
shopkeeper; Jose A. Ramos (Socorro), engraver, printer, owner of Bazar Gran

14
Brentaña, and first worshipful Master of Nilad, first Filipino masonic lodge;
Ambrosio Salvador, gobernadorcillo of Quiapo and Mason; Bonifacio Arevalo
(Harem), dentist and Mason; Deodato Arelllano, brother-in-law of M.H. del Pilar
and civilian employee in the army; Ambrosio Flores (Musa), retired lieutenant of
infantry; Agustin de la Rosa, bookkeeper and Mason; Moises Salvador (Araw),
contractor and Mason; Luis Villareal, tailor and Mason; Faustino Villaruel (Ilaw)
pharmacist 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.

Rizal explained the objectives of the Liga Filipina, a civic league of Filipinos,
which he desired to establish and its role in the socio-economic life of the people.
He presented the Constitution of the Liga which he had written in Hong Kong and
discussed its provisions. The patriots were favorably impressed and gladly
approved the establishment of the Liga.

Constitution of the Liga Filipina. The aims of the Liga Filipina, as

embodied in its Constitution, were the following:

1. To unite the whole archipelago into one compact and homogenous body.
2. Mutual protection in every want and necessity.
3. Defense against all violence and injustice.
4. Encouragement of education, agriculture, and commerce.
5. Study and applications of reforms.
The motto of the Liga Filipina was: Unus Instar Omnium (One Like All)

The governing body of the league was the Supreme Council which had
jurisdiction over the whole country. It was composed of a president, a secretary, a
treasurer, and a fiscal. There was a provincial Council in every province and a
Popular Council in every town.

All Filipinos who have at heart the welfare of their father land are qualified
for membership. Every member pays an entrance fee of two pesos and a monthly
due of 20 centavos.

The duties of the Liga members are as follows: (1) obey the orders of the
Supreme Council; (2) to help in recruiting new members; (3) to keep in strictest
secrecy the decisions of the Liga authorities; (4) to have a symbolic name which
cannot change until he becomes president of his council; (5) to report to the fiscal

15
anything that he may hear which affects the Liga; (6) to behave well as befits a
good Filipino; and (7) to help fellow members in all ways.

Rizal Arrested and Jailed in Fort Santiago. On Wednesday, July 6, Rizal

went to Malacañan palace to resume his series of interviews with the governor
general. During his interview, Governor General Despujol suddenly showed him
some printed leaflets which were allegedly found in Lucia’s pillow cases. These
incriminatory leaflets were entitled Pobres Frailes (Poor Friars) under the
authorship of Fr. Jacinto and printed by the Imprenta de los Amigos del Pais,
Manila. They were a satire against the rich Dominican friars who amassed fabulous
riches contrary to their 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 Hong Kong
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 Governor General Despujol. In Fort Santiago, he was kept incommunicado as
he related in his diary:

They assigned me a fairly furnished room with a bed, a dozen

chairs, one table, a wash basin, and a mirror. The room had three
windows; one without grill which opens on a patio, another with grills
which looks out on the city walls and the beach and another which was
the door closed with a padlock. Two artillery men as sentinels guarded
it. They had orders to fire on anyone who might signal from the beach.
I could not write nor speak with any one except the officer on duty.

The following day, July 7, the Gaceta de Manila published the story
of Rizal’s arrest which produced indignant commotion among the Filipino
people, particularly the members of the newly organized Liga Filipina.

Arbitrary Deportation to Dapitan. The same issue of the Gaceta

(July 7, 1892) contained Governor General Despujol’s decree deporting
Rizal to “one of the islands in the South”. The gubernatorial decree gave the
reasons for Rizal’s deportation as follows:

1. Rizal had published books and articles abroad which showed

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

16
 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 view 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 of July 14 (that is 12:30 a.m. of July 15, 1892),
Rizal was brought under heavy guard to the steamer Cebu which was sailing
for Dapitan. This steamer under Captain Delgras departed at 1:00 A.M., July
15, sailing south, passing Mindoro and Panay, and reaching Dapitan on
Sunday, the 17th of July, at 7:00 in the evening.

Captain Delgras went ashore and handed Rizal over to Captain

Ricardo Carnicero, 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.

* * * * *

17
 LESSON 22
Exile in Dapitan, 1892-96

Rizal lived in exile in far-away Dapitan, a remote town in Mindanao which

was under the missionary jurisdiction of the Jesuits, from 1892 to 1896. This four-
year interregnum in his life was tediously unexciting, but was abundantly fruitful
with varied achievements. He practised medicine, pursued scientific studies,
continued his artistic and literary works, widened his knowledge of languages,
established a school for boys, promoted community development projects,
invented a wooden machine for making bricks, and engaged in farming and
commerce. Despite his multifarious activities, he kept an extensive
correspondence with his family, relatives, fellow reformists, and eminent scientist
and scholars of Europe, including Blumentritt, Reinhold Rost, A. B. Meyer, W.
Joest of Berlin, S. Knuttle of Stuttgart, and N. M. Keihl of Prague.
Beginning of Exile in Dapitan. The steamer Cebu which brought Rizal to
Dapitan carried a letter from Father Pablo Pastells, Superior of the Jesuit Society
in the Philippines, to Father Antonio Obach, Jesuit parish priest of Dapitan. In this
letter, Father Superior Pastells informed Father Obach that Rizal could live at the
parish convent on the following Condition:
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
life.”
3. “That henceforth he conduct himself in an exemplary manner as a Spanish
subject and a man of religion.”

Rizal did not agree with these conditions. Consequently, he lived in the
house of commandant, Captain Carnicero. The relations between Carnicero (the
warden) and Rizal (the prisoner) were warm and friendly.
Carnicero was charmed by Rizal’s fine qualities and personality. They ate
together at the same table and had many friendly conversations.
Carnicero came to know that Rizal was not a common felon, much less a
filibustero. He gave good reports on his prisoner to Governor Despujol. He gave
him complete freedom to go anywhere, reporting only once a week at his office,
and permitted Rizal, who was a good equestrian, to ride his chestnut horse.
Rizal on his part, admired the kind, generous Spanish captain. As
evidence of his esteem, he wrote a poem, A Don Ricardo Carnicero, on
August 26, 1892 on the occasion of the captain's birthday.
Wins in Manila Lottery. On September 21, 1892, the sleepy town of
Dapitan burst in hectic excitement. The mail boat Butuan was approaching the
town, with colored pennants flying in the sea breezes. Captain Carcinero, thinking
18
that a high Spanish official was coming hastily dressed in gala uniform, ordered
the town folks to gather at the shore, and himself rushed there, bringing a brass
band.
The mail boat, Butuan, brought no Spanish officials but the happy tidings
that a Lottery ticket No.9736 jointly owned by Captain Carnicero, Dr. Rizal
and Francisco Equilior (Spanish resident of Dipolog, a neighboring town of
Dapitan) won the second prize of P20,000 in the government-owned Manila
Lottery.
Rizal's share of the winning lottery ticket was P6,200, He gave P2,000 to
his father and P200 to his friend Basa in Hong Kong and the rest he invested well
by purchasing agricultural lands along the coast of Talisay about one kilometer
away from Dapitan.
Rizal's winning in the Manila Lottery reveals an aspect of his lighter
side. He never drank hard liquor and never smoked but he was a lottery addict.
During his first sojourn in Madrid from 1882 to 1885 he always invested atleast
three pesetas every month on lottery tickets. "This was his only
vice," commented Wenceslao E. Retana, his first Spanish biographer and former
enemy.
Idyllic Life in Dapitan. In Dapitan, Rizal had an exemplary life, idyllic in
serenity. Since August 1893, members of his family took turns in visiting him in
order to assuage his loneliness in the isolated outpost of the Spanish power in the
Moroland. Among them were his mother, Sisters Trinidad, Maria, Narcisa; and
nephews Teodosio, Estanislao, Mauricio, and Prudencio. He built his house by the
seashore of Talisay, surrounded by fruit tree. He had also another house for his
school boys and a hospital for his patients.
Describing his life in Dapitan, Rizal wrote to Blumentritt on Dec. 19, 1893:
I shall tell you how we live here. I have three houses;
one square, another hexagonal, and a third octagonal, all of bamboo,
wood and nipa. In the square house we live, my mother, sister
Trinidad, a nephew and I; in the octagonal live my boys or some good
youngsters whom I teach arithmetic, Spanish and English; and in the
hexagonal live my chickens. From my house I hear the
murmur of a crystal clear brook which comes from the high rocks;
I see the sea shore, the sea where I have small boats, two canoes or
barotos, as they say here. I have many fruit trees, mangoes, lanzones,
guyabanos, baluno, nangka, etc. I have rabbits, dogs, cats, etc. I rise
early – at five – visit my plants, feed the chickens, awaken my people
and put them in movement. At half-past seven we breakfast with tea,
pastries, cheese, sweetmeats, etc. Later I treat my poor patients who
come to my land; I dress, I go to the town in my baroto, treat the people
there, and return at 12 when my luncheon awaits me. Then I teach the

19
 boys until 4 P.M. and devote the after- noon to agriculture. I spend the
night reading and studying.
Rizal's Encounter with the Friar's Spy. During the early
days of November 1893 Rizal was living peacefully and happily at his house in
Talisay, a kilometer away from Dapitan. His mother, sisters Narcisa and Trinidad,
and some nephews were then living with him. His blissful life was then suddenly
jolted by a strange incident involving a spy of the friars. The spy with the assumed
name of "Pablo Mercado" and posing as a relative, secretly visited Rizal at his
house on the night of November 3, 1893. He introduced himself as a friend and a
relative, showing a photo of Rizal and a pair of buttons with the initials
"P.M."(Pablo Mercado) as evidence of his kinship with the Rizal family.
In the course of their conversation the strange visitor offered his
services as a confidential courier of Rizal's letter and writings for the patriots in
Manila. Rizal, being a man of prudence and keen perception became
suspicious. Irked by the impostor's lies, he wanted to throw him out of the house,
but mindful of his duty as a host and considering the late hour of the night and the
heavy rainfall, he hospitably invited the unwanted visitor to stay at his house for
the night. And early the next day, he sent him a way.
As Physician in Dapitan. Rizal practiced medicine in Dapitan. He had
many patients but most of them were poor so that he even gave them free
medicine. To his friend in Hong Kong, Dr. Marquez, he wrote: "Here the people are
so poor that I even have to give medicine gratis." He had, however, some
rich patients who paid him handsomely for his surgical skill.

In August 1893 his mother and sister (Maria) arrived in Dapitan and lived
with him for one year and a half. He operated on his mother's right eye. The
operation was successful but Dona Teodora ignored her son's instructions by
removing the bandages from her eyes, t hereby causing the wound to be infected.
Thus Rizal told Hidalgo his brother-in-law; "Now I understand very well why a
physician should not treat the members of his family. Fortunately, the
infection was arrested and Dona Teodora's sight was restored.

Rizal’s fame as a physician particularly as an eye specialist pave way to

patients from different parts of the Philippines – from Luzon, Bohol, Cebu, Panay,
Negros, and Mindanao – and even from Hong Kong. A rich Filipino patient, Don
Ignacio Tumarong, was able to see again because of Rizal’s ophthalmic skill; and
highly gratified by the restoration of his sight, he paid P3, 000. Another rich patient,
an Englishman, paid P5, 000. Don Florencio Azacarraga, a rich hacendero of
Aklan, was also cured of eye ailment, and paid Rizal a cargo sugar.

As a Physician in Dapitan, Rizal became interested in local medicine and in

the use of medicinal plants. He studied the medicinal plants of the Philippines and
their curative values. To poor patients, who could not afford to buy imported
medicine, he prescribed the local medicinal plants.

20
 Water System for Dapitan. Rizal held the title of expert surveyor (perito
agrimensor), which he obtained from the Ateneo. He supplemented his training as
a surveyor by his reading of engineering books, so that he came to know about
engineering. In Dapitan, he applied his knowledge of engineering by constructing
a system of waterworks in order to furnish clean water to the townspeople.

Modern engineers marvelled how Rizal could have built such a system of
waterworks, for he had inadequate tools and meager materials, and his finances
were very limited. Without any aid from the government, he succeeded in giving a
good water system to Dapitan.
An American engineer, Mr. H. F. Cameron, praised Rizal's engineering
feat in the following words:
Another famous and well-known water supply is that of
Dapitan, Mindanao, designed and constructed by Dr. Rizal during his
banishment in that municipality by the Spanish
authorities...this supply comes from a little
mountain stream across the river from Dapitan and follows the
contour of the country for the whole distance. When one considers that
Doctor Rizal had no explosives with which to block the hard rocks and
no resources save his own ingenuity, one cannot help but honor a
man, who against adverse conditions, had the courage and tenacity to
construct the aqueduct which had for its bottom the fluted tiles
from the house roofs, and was covered with concrete made from limed
burned from the sea coral. The length of this aqueduct is several
kilometers, and it winds in and out among the rocks and is carried
across gullies in bamboo pipes upheld by rocks or brick piers to the
distribution reservoir.
Community Projects for Dapitan. When Rizal arrived in Dapitan, he
decided to improve it, to the best of his God-given talents, and to awaken the civic
consciousness of its people. He wrote to Fr. Pastells: “I want to do all I can do for
this town."
Aside from constructing the town’s first water system, he spent many
months draining the marshes in order to get rid of malaria that infested Dapitan.
As a European- trained physician, he knew that malaria is spread by the mosquitos
which thrive in swampy places.
The P500 which an English patient paid him was used by him to equip the
town with its lighting system which consist of coconut oil lamps placed
in dark streets of Dapitan. Electric lighting was unknown then in the
Philippines not until 1894 when Manila saw the first electric lights.
Another community project of Rizal was the beautification of Dapitan. With
the help of his former Jesuit teacher and friend, Father Sanchez, he remodeled the
town plaza in order to enhance its beauty. He jokingly remarked that it could "rival

21
the best in Europe”. In front of the church, Rizal and Fr. Sanchez made a huge
relief map of Mindanao out of earth, stones, and grass. This map still adorns the
town plaza of Dapitan.

“Hymn to Talisay.” Rizal conducted his school at his home in Talisay, near
Dapitan, where he had his farm and hospital. His favorite rendezvous with his boys
was under a talisay tree, after which the place was named. In honor of Talisay, he
wrote a poem entitled “Himno A Talisay” for his pupils to sing.
Contributions to Science. Rizal found Mindanao a rich virgin field for
collecting specimens. With his baroto (sailboat) and accompanied by his pupils, he
explored the jungles and coasts, seeking specimens of insects, birds, snakes,
lizards, frogs, shells, and plants. He sent these specimens to the museum of
Europe, especially the Dresden Museum. In payment for these valuable
specimens, the European scientist sent him scientific books and surgical
instruments.
During his four-year exile in Dapitan, Rizal built up a rich collection of
oncology, which consisted of 346 shells representing 203 species.
He discovered some rare specimens who were named in his honor by the
scientists. Among these was Draco rizali (a flying dragon), Apogonia rizali (a small
beetle), and Rhacophorus rizali (a rare frog).

Rizal also conducted anthropological, ethnographical, archaeological,

geological and geographical studies, as revealed by his voluminous
correspondence with his scientist friends in Europe. There was no limit to his
scientific versatility.
Linguistic Studies. A born linguist, Rizal continued his studies of
languages. In Dapitan he learned the Bisayan, Subanum, and Malay languages.
He wrote a Tagalog grammar, made a comparative study of the Bisayan and
Malayan languages, and studied the Bisayan (Cebuan) and Subanum languages.
On April 5, 1896, his last year of exile in Dapitan, he wrote to Blumentritt: “I
know already Bisayan and I speak it quite well; it is necessary, however, to know
other dialects of the Philippines.” By this time, Rizal could rank with the world’s
great linguist. He knew 22 languages, as follows: Tagalog, Ilokano, Bisayan,
Subanum, Spanish, Latin, Greek, English, French, German, Arabic, Malay,
Hebrew, Sanskrit, Dutch, Catalan, Italian, Chinese, Japanese, Portuguese,
Swedish, and Russian.
Rizal as Farmer. In Dapitan Rizal devoted much of his time to agriculture.
He bought 16 hectares of land in Talisay, where he built his home, school, and
hospital, and planted cacao, coffee, sugarcane, coconuts and fruit trees. “My land,”
he wrote to his sister Trinidad, “is half an hour from the sea. It is very poetic and
very picturesque. If you and our parents come I will build a big house we can all
live in.” Later, he acquired more lands until his total holdings reached 70 hectares,

22
containing 6,000 hemp plants, 1,000 coconut trees, and numerous fruit trees,
sugarcane, corn, coffee and cacao.
On his farms, Rizal introduced modern methods of agriculture, which he
had observed in Europe and America. His pupils helped him in the daily farm labor.
He encouraged the Dapitan farmers to discard their primitive system of tillage and
adopt the modern agricultural methods. He imported agricultural machinery from
the United States.
Rizal dreamed of establishing an agricultural colony in the Sitio of Ponot
near Sindangan Bay, where there was plenty of water and good port facilities. He
believed that this place would be ideal to raise cacao, coffee, coconuts, and cattle.
He invited his relatives and friends, especially those in Calamba, to come to his
projected agricultural colony. “We will establish a new Kalamba,” he wrote to
Hidalgo, his brother-in-law. Unfortunately this colony did not materialize, like his
previous Borneo colonization, because he could not get the support of the
government.
Rizal as Businessman. Aside from farming, Rizal engaged in business. In
partnership with Ramon Carreon, a Dapitan merchant, he made profitable
business ventures in fishing, copra, and hemp industries. He invited his relatives,
particularly Saturnina and Hidalgo to come to Mindanao, for there “is vast and
ample field of business” in the island. He particularly told Saturnina that in Dapitan
she could profitably engage in the textile, jewelry, and hemp business.
In a letter to Hidalgo, dated January 19, 1893, he expressed his plan to
improve the fishing industry of Dapitan. He said that the two has a good beach like
Calamba and there is abundant fish in the sea; however, the fishing folks, using
primitive methods of fishing, were able only to catch small fishes. Accordingly, he
instructed Hidalgo to help him buy a big net for trawl fishing (puklutan) and to send
him two good Calamba fishermen who could teach the Dapitan folks better
methods of fishing.
The most profitable business venture of Rizal in Dapitan was in the hemp
industry. At one time, he shipped 150 bales of hemp to a foreign firm in Manila at
huge profit for himself and his business partner. He purchased hemp in Dapitan
at) 7 and 4 reales per picul and sold it in Manila at P10 and 4 reales, giving him a
profit of P3 per picul. In his letter to Blumentritt on July 31, 1894, he said: “To kill
time and to help also the people of this town, I have become a merchant. I buy
abaca and ship it to Manila. Luck was with me this month. I made a profit of P2000
in one stroke.”
On May 14, 1893, Rizal formed a business partnership with Ramon Carreon
(Dapitan businessman) in lime manufacturing. Their lime burner had a monthly
capacity of more than 4000 bags of lime.
Rizal’s Inventive Ability. One little knows fact about Rizal was that he was
also an inventor. It should be remembered that in 1887, while practicing medicine

23
in Calamba, he invented a cigarette lighter, which he sent as a gift to Blumentritt.
He called it “sulpuklan.” This unique cigarette lighter was made of wood.” Its
mechanism,” said Rizal, “is based on the principle of compressed air.”
During his exile in Dapitan, he invited a machine for making bricks. This
machine could manufacture about 6, 000 bricks daily. Thus Rizal wrote to
Blumentritt on November 20, 1895: "I have made a wooden machine for making
bricks, and I believe it could make more or less 6,000 bricks a day... When I was
in Belgium, I saw the making of bricks out-of-doors without kilns, and during my
visit to Baden I saw also amount of bricks on the ground. I suppose in Bohemia
they make bricks on the by means of a different method; if this is so, please inform
me how the bricks are baked such that not much heat is wasted".
"My Retreat". In February 1895, Doña Teodora, with her eyesight fully
restored, returned to Manila. During her long stay in Dapitan, she saw how busy
her talented son was and regretted that he had neglected the Muses. She
requested him to write poetry again. In response to her request, Rizal wrote a
beautiful poem about his serene life as an exile in Dapitan and sent it to her on
October 22, 1895. This poem was "Mi Retiro"(My Retreat), which is acclaimed by
literary critics as one of the best ever penned by Rizal.
Rizal and Josephine Bracken. In the silent hours of the night after the
day’s hard work, Rizal was often sad. He missed his family and relatives, his
good friends in foreign lands, the exhilarating life in the cities of Europe, and his
happy days in Calamba. The death of Leonora Rivera on August 28, 1893 left a
poignant void in his heart. He needed somebody to cheer him up in his lonely
exile.
In God’s own time, this “somebody” came to Dapitan, like a sunbeam to
dispel his melancholy mood. She was Josephine Bracken, an Irish girl of sweet
eighteen, “slender, a chestnut blond, with blue eyes, dressed with elegant
simplicity, with an atmosphere of light gayety.” She was born in Hong Kong on
October 3, 1876 of Irish parents – James Bracken, a corporal in the British
garrison, and Elizabeth Jane MacBride. Her mother died in childbirth, and she
was adopted by Mr. George Taufer, who later became blind.
No ophthalmic specialist in Hong Kong could cure Mr. Taufer’s blindness
so that he, accompanied by his adopted daughter Josephine went to Manila to
seek the services of the famous ophthalmic surgeon, Dr. Rizal. They heard in the
city that Dr. Rizal was in Dapitan, where they proceeded – accompanied by a
Filipina companion Manuela Orlac . They presented to Rizal a card of
introduction by Julio Llorente, his friend and schoolmate.
Rizal and Josephine fell in love with each other at first sight. After a
whirlwind romance of one month, they agreed to marry. But Father Obach, the
priest of Dapitan, refused to marry then without the permission of the Bishop of
Cebu.

24
 When Mr. Taufer heard of their projected marriage, he flared up in violent
rage. Unable to endure the thought of losing Josephine, he tried to commit
suicide by cutting off his throat with a razor. Rizal, however, grabbed his wrists
and prevented him from killing himself. To avoid a tragedy, Josephine went with
Taufer to Manila by the first available steamer. The blind man went away
uncured because his ailment was venereal in nature, hence incurable.
Mr. Taufer returned alone to Hong Kong. Josephine stayed in Manila with
Rizal’s family. Later she returned to Dapitan. Since no priest would marry them,
Rizal and Josephine held hands together and married themselves before the
eyes of God. They lived as man and wife. Of course, Father Obach was
scandalized, and many unsavory tales were circulated by gossips in Dapitan.
Adios, Dapitan. On July 31, 19\896, Rizal’s four-year exile in Dapitan
came to an end. At midnight of that date, he embarked on board the steamer
Espa’na, He was accompanied by Josephine, Narcisa, Angelica (Narcisa’s
daughter), his three nephews, and six pupils. Almost all Dapitan folks, young and
old, were at the shore to bid him goodbye.
As the steamer pushed out into the sea, Rizal gazed for the last time on
Dapitan with his hands waving in farewell salute to its kind and hospitable folks
and with a crying heart filled with tears of nostalgic memories. When he could no
longer see the dim shoreline, he sadly went to his cabin and wrote in his diary: “I
have been in that district four years, thirteen days, and few hours.”

* * * * *

25
 LESSSON 23
Last Trip Abroad (1896)

No longer an exile, Rizal had a pleasant trip from Dapitan to Manila, with
delightful stopovers in Dumaguete, Cebu, Iloilo, Capiz and Romblon. He missed
the regular steamer Isla de Luzon, which sailed to Spain the day before he arrived
in Manila Bay. While waiting for the next ship for Spain, he was kept as a “guest”
on board of Spanish cruiser Castilla. Meanwhile, on August 26, 1896, Andres
Bonifacio and the Katipunan raised the cry of revolution in the hills of Balintawak,
a few miles north of Manila. Rizal, worried about the raging hostilities, left for Spain
on the steamer Isla de Panay on September 3, 1896. It was his last trip abroad.
From Dapitan to Manila. Leaving Dapitan at midnight, July 31, 1986, the
España, with Rizal and party on board, sailed northward. At dawn the next day
(Saturday, August 1), it anchored at Dumaguete, capital of Negros Oriental.
The España left Dumaguete about 1:00 pm and reached Cebu the following
morning. Rizal was fascinated by the entrance to Cebu which he considered
“beautiful”. At the house of attorney Mateos he met an old couple whom he had
known in Madrid.
In Cebu he wrote in his diary, “I did two operation of strabotomy, one
operation on the ears, and another of tumor.
Rizal Misses Ship Going to Spain. The España arrive in Manila bay early
in the morning of Thursday, August 6 1896. Unfortunately, Rizal was not able to
catch the mail ship Isla de Luzon for Spain because it had departed the previous
day 5:00 pm. He was greatly disappointed, but he took this unlucky incidence with
abiding resignation.
Near midnight of the day, August 6, Rizal was transferred to the Spain
cruiser Castilla, by order of Governor General Ramon Blanco. He was given good
accommodation by the gallant captain, Enrique Santalo, Who told him that he was
not a prisoner, but a guest detained on board “in order to avoid difficulties from the
friend and enemies”.
Departure for Spain. On August 30 1896, the day when the state of war
was proclaimed in the eight provinces, Rizal received from Governor Blanco two
letter of introduction for the minister of war and the minister of colonies, with a
covering letter which absolved him from all blame of the raging revolution as
follows:

26
 Mr. Jose Rizal
My dear Sir:
Enclosed are two letter for the minister of war and colonies which I
think will be well received.
I have no doubt that you will justify me before the government by your
future behavior not only for your word of honor but because the present
happening must have shown you palpably that certain actions which are the
product of foolish ideas yield no other result but hatred, destruction, tears
and blood.
May you be very happy is the wish of your attentive servant who kisses your
hand.
Ramon Blanco

The two letters of introduction were identical. The one addressed to General
Marcelo de Azcarraga, minister of war, was written as follows:
Most Excellent Marcelo De Arcarraga
My esteemed General and distinguished Friend,

I recommended to you with genuine interest Dr. Jose Rizal who is

departing for the peninsula at the disposal of the government, ever desirous
of rendering his services as physician to the army in Cuba.
His conduct during the four years that he was exile in Dapitan has
been exemplary and he is, in my opinion, the more worthy of pardon and
benevolence as he is in no way involved either in the criminal attempt that
we are lamenting these days or in any conspiracy or secret society that they
been plotting.
With this object I have pleasure to remain,
Your most affectionate friend
and colleague who kisses
your hand

Ramon Blanco
On September 2, 1986, the day before his departure for Spain, Rizal on
board the Castilla, wrote to his mother, as follows:

27
My dearest Mother,
As I promise, I am addressing you a few lines before leaving,
to let know about the condition of my health.
I am well, thank God; I am only concerned as to what will
happen or shall have happened to you in these day of upheaval and
disorder. God will that my old father may not have any indisposition.
I shall write to you from the places where the boat stops; I
expect to be in Madrid or at least in Barcelona at the end of this month.
Do not worry about anything; we are all in hands of divine
providence. Not all those who go to Cuba die, and in the end one has to
die; at least die doing something good
Take good care of yourself and take of my old father so that
we shall see each other again. Many regards for my brother, sister,
nephews, and nieces, aunts etc., etc. I leave contented, confident that as
long as you are alive the family will remain united and the old intimacy will
reign in it. You two are the bond that unites all of us.
With nothing more, my every dear mother, I kiss your hand
and that of my father with all the affection and love that my heart is capable
of giving; give me your blessings of which I am in much need.
A found embrace for everyone of my sister; may they love one
another just as I love all of them.
Your son,
Jose

Rizal in Singapore. The Isla de Panay arrived at Singapore in the evening

of September 7. The following morning Rizal and other passengers went ashore
for sightseeing and shopping for souvenirs.
Victim of Spanish Duplicity. By refusing to break his word of honor in
Singapore, Rizal sealed his own doom. For without his knowledge, Governor
General Blanco was secretly conspiring with the minister of war and the colonies
(ultramar) for his destruction
The truth of the matter, as now substantiated by the declassified documents
in the ministries of war and the colonies, was that Blanco was his implacable foe,
who regarded him as a “dangerous Filipino” who was responsible for the raging
Philippine revolution, and therefore plotted his doom.
Rizal Arrested Before Reaching Barcelona. The Isla de Panay, with Rizal
on board, left Singapore at 1:00 pm, September 8. Unaware of the Spanish
duplicity, particularly of Governor General Blanco’s infernal deceit, he happily
continued the voyage towards Barcelona.
* * * * *

28
 Chapter 24
Last Homecoming and Trial

A Martyr’s Last Home Coming. Day by day since leaving Barcelona on

Tuesday, October 6, 1896, Rizal conscientiously recorded the events in his diary.
He was given a good cabin in the second class and although strictly guarded, he
was courteously treated by the army officers. “The officer on duty,” he wrote in his
diary, “seems amiable, refined, and polite, consistent with the seriousness of his
duty.”
On October 8 a friendly officer told Rizal that the Madrid newspapers were full
of stories about the bloody revolution in the Philippines and were blaming him for
it. Realizing the adverse and unjust public opinion, he thanked God for giving him
the chance to return in order to confront his slanderers and to vindicate his name.
He wrote in his diary on the same date (October 8):
I believe that what God is doing to me is a blessing, allowing
me to go back to the Philippines in order to be able to destroy such
accusations. Because, either they do me justice and recognize my
innocence and then I will be rehabilitated or they sentence me to death
and thereby, before the eyes of society, I atone for my supposed crime.
Society will forgive me and later, without any doubt, justice will be done
me and I will be one more martyr. At any rate, instead of dying abroad
or in the manigua (jungle in Cuba), I’ll die in my own country. I believe
that what is happening is the best that can happen to me. Always let
God’s will be done! I feel more calm with regard to my future. . . I feel
that peace has descended upon me, thank God! Thou art my hope and
my consolation! Let Your Will be done; I am ready to obey it. Either I
will be condemned or absolved. I’m happy and ready.
Confiscation of Rizal’s diary. It was known to the Spanish authorities
on board the Colon that Rizal was keeping track of the daily events in
his diary. They were of course, curious as to what were recorded in his
diary. Not only their curiosity, but also their suspicion was aroused.
On October 11 before reaching port Said, Rizal’s diary was taken away
and was critically scrutinized by the [Link] dangerous was
found in its [Link] cabin was searched thoroughly. But nothing
incriminating was [Link] November 2, the diary was returned to
him.
Arrival in Manila. On November 3, the Colon reached Manila, where it was
greeted with wild rejoicings by the Spaniards and friars because it brought more
reinforcements and military supplies. While the Spanish community was exulting

29
with joy, Rizal was quietly transferred under heavy guard from the ship to Fort
Santiago.
Meanwhile the Spanish authorities fished for evidence against Rizal. Many
Filipino patriots, including Deodato Arellano, Dr. Pio Valenzuela, Moises Salvador,
Jose Dizon, Domingo Franco, Temoteo Paez, and Pedro Serrano Laktaw, were
brutally tortured to implicate Rizal. Rizal’s own brother, Paciano, was arrested and
cruelly tortured. He suffered all pains inflicted by Spain’s diabolical torturers, but
he never signed any damaging statement incriminating his younger brother.
Although his body was shattered on the torture rack and his left hand crushed by
the screw, his valiant Asian spirit remained unbroken.
Preliminary Investigation. On November 20. The preliminary investigation
began. Rizal, the accused, appeared before the Judge Advocate, Colonel
Francisco Olive. He was subjected to a grueling five-day investigation. He was
informed of the charges against him. He answered the question asked by the
Judge Advocate, but he was not permitted to confront those testified against him.
Two kinds of evidence were presented against Rizal, namely documentary and
testimonial. The documentary evidence consisted of fifteen exhibits, as follows:
1. A letter of Antonio Luna to Mariano Ponce dated Madrid, October 16,
1888, showing Rizal’s connection with the Filipino reform campaign in
Spain.
2. A letter of Rizal to his family, dated Madrid, August 20, 1890, stating that
deportations are good for they will encourage the people to hate tyranny.
3. A letter from Marcelo H. del Pilar to Deodato Arellano, dated Madrid,
January 7, 1889, implicating Rizal in the Propaganda campaign in Spain.
4. A poem entitled Kundiman, allegedly written by Rizal in Manila on
September 12, 1891. This poem is as follows:
KUNDIMAN
In the Orient beautiful
Where the sun is born,
In a land of beauty
Full of enchantments
But bound in chains.
Where the despot reigns,
The land dearest to me.
Ah! that is my country,
She is a slave oppressed
Groaning in the tyrant’s grips;
Lucky shall he be
Who can give her liberty!

30
 5. A letter of Carlos Oliver to an unidentified person, dated Barcelona,
September 18, 1891, describing Rizal as the man to free the Philippines
from Spanish oppression.
6. A Masonic document, dated Manila, February 9, 1892, honoring Rizal
for his patriotic services.
7. A letter signed Dimasalang (Rizal’s pseudonym) to Tenluz (Juan
Zulueta’s pseudonym), dated Hong Kong, May 24, 1892, stating that he
was preparing a safe refuge for Filipinos who may be persecuted by the
Spanish authorities.
8. A letter of Dimasalang to an unidentified committee dated Hong Kong,
June 1, 1892, soliciting the aid of the committee in the “patriotic work”.
9. An anonymous and undated letter to the Editor of the Hong Kong
Telegraph, censuring the banishment of Rizal to Dapitan.
10. A letter to Ildefonso Laurel to Rizal, dated Manila, September 2, 1892,
saying that the Filipino people look up to him (Rizal) as their savior.
11. A letter of Ildefonso Laurel to Rizal, dated Manila, 17, 1893, informing
an unidentified correspondent of the arrest and banishment of Doroteo
Cortes and Ambrosio Salvador.
12. A letter of Marcelo H. del Pilar to Don Juan A. Tenluz (Juan Zulueta),
dated Madrid, June 1, 1893recommending the establishment of a
special organization, independent of Masonry, to help the cause of the
Filipino people.
13. Transcript of a speech of Pingkian (Emilio Jacinto), in a reunion of the
Katipunan on July 23, 1893, in which the following cry was uttered “Long
Live the Philipiines! Ling live Liberty! Long live Doctor Rizal! Unity!”
14. Transcript of a speech of Tik-Tik (Jose Turiano Santiago) in the same
Katipunan reunion, where in the Katipuneros shouted: “Long live the
eminent Doctor Rizal! Death to the oppressor nation!”
15. A poem by Lalong Laan (Rizal), entitled A Talisay, in which the author
makes Dapitan schoolboys sing that they know how to fight for their
rights,
The testimonial evidence consisted of the oral testimonies of Marti
Constantino, Aguedo del Rosario, Jose Reyes, Moises Salvador, Jose Dizon,
Domingo Franco, Deodato Arellano,Ambrosio Salvador, Pedro Serrano Laktaw,
Dr. Pio Valenzuela, Antonio Salazar, Francisco Quison, and Timoteo Paez.
Rizal Chooses His Defender. The only right given to Rizal by the Spanish
authorities was to choose his defense counsel. And even this was highly restricted.
For he had to choose only from a list submitted to him. He looked over the list. One
name struck his fancy. It was Don Luis Taviel de Andrade,1st Lieutenant of the
Artillery. The name was familiar to him so that he chose the lieutenant to be his
defender in court.
The Trial of Rizal. The trial of Rizal was eloquent proof of Spanish injustice
and misrule. More than a farce, it was patently a mistrial. Rizal, a civilian, was tried
by a military court composed of alien military officers. His case was prejudged; he

31
was considered guilty before the actual trial. The military court met not to give him
justice, but to accuse and condemn him. It accepted all charges and testimonies
against him, and ignored all arguments and proofs in his favor. Moreover, Rizal
was not given the right (which any accused is entitled to have in a real court of
justice) to face the witnesses against him in open court.
At 8:00 a.m., December 26, 1896, the court martial f Rizal started in the
military building called Cuartel de Espańa. Seated behind a long table on an
elevated dais were the seven members of the military court, dressed in their
respective army uniforms, as follows: Lt. Col. Jose Togoes Arjona (president),
Capt. Ricardo Munóz Arias, Capt. Manuel Reguera, Capt. Santiago Izquierdo
Osorio, Capt. Braulio Rodriguez Nuńez, Capt. Manuel Diaz Escribano, and Capt.
Fermin Perez Rodriguez.
Also present at the courtroom were Dr. Rizal (the accused), Lt. Taviel de
Andrade (his defense counsel), Capt. Rafael Dominguez (Judge Advocate), Lt.
Enrique de Alcocer (Prosecuting Attorney), and the spectators. Among the
spectators were Josephine Bracken, some newspapermen, and many Spaniards.
Rizal sat on the bench between two soldiers. His arms were tied behind,
elbow to elbow, like a common felon. He was dressed in black woolen suit with a
white vest and black tie. He was calm and dignified in appearance.
The trial was opened by Judge Advocate Dominguez who explained the
case against Rizal. After him, Prosecuting Attorney Alcocer arose and delivered a
long speech summarizing the charges against Rizal and urged the court to give
the verdict of death to the accused. The Spanish spectators applauded noisily
Alcocer’s petition for the sentence of death.
After the prosecuting attorney finished his spirited harangue, Defense
Counsel Taviel de Andrade took the floor and read his eloquent defense of Rizal.
He ended his defense with a noble, but futile, admonition to the members of the
military: “The judges cannot be vindictive; the judges can only be just”.
Incidentally, his admonition fell on deaf ears. The Spanish army officers who
were trying Rizal were both vindictive and unjust.
When Lt. Taviel de Andrade took his seat, the court asked Rizal whether he
had anything to say. Rizal then read a supplement to his defense which he wrote
in his prison cell. In his supplementary defense, he further proved his innocence
by twelve points:
1. He could not be guilty by rebellion, for he advised Dr. Pio
Valenzuela in Dapitan not to rise in revolution.
2. He did not correspond with the radical, revolutionary elements.
3. The revolutionists used his name without his knowledge. If he
were guilty he could have escaped in Singapore.

32
 4. If he had a hand in revolution, he could have escaped in a Moro
vinta and would not have built a home, a hospital, and bought
lands in Dapitan.
5. If he were the chief of the revolution, why was he not consulted
by the revolutionists?
6. It was true he wrote the by-laws of the Liga Filipina, but this is
only a civic association --- not a revolutionary society.
7. The Liga Filipina did not live long, for after the first meeting he
was banished to Dapitan and it died out.
8. If the Liga was reorganized nine months later, he did not know
about it.
9. The Liga did not serve the purpose of the revolutionists, otherwise
they would not have supplanted it with the Katipunan.
10. If it were true that there were some bitter comments in Rizal’s
letters, it was because they were written in 1890 when his family
was being persecuted, being dispossessed of houses,
warehouses, lands, etc. and his brother and his brothers-in-law
were deported.
11. His life in Dapitan had been exemplary as the politico-military
commanders and missionary priests could attest.
12. It was not true that the revolution was inspired by his one speech
at the house of Doroteo Ongjunco, as alleged by witnesses whom
he would like to confront. His friends knew his opposition to
armed rebellion. Why did the Katipunan send an emissary to
Dapitan who was unknown to him? Because those who knew him
were aware that he would never sanction any violent movement.
The military court, prejudiced as it was, remained indifferent to Rizal’s
pleading. The president, Lt. Col. Togores Arjona, considered the trial over and
ordered the hall cleared. After a short deliberation, the military court unanimously
voted for the sentence of death.
On the same day (December 26th), the court decision was submitted to
Governor General Polavieja. Immediately, Polavieja sought the opinion of Judge
Advocate General Nicholas de la Peńa on the court decision. The latter affirmed
the death verdict.
Polavieja Signs Rizal’s Execution. On December 28th. Polavieja
approved the decision of the court-martial and ordered Rizal to be shot at 7:00
o’clock in the morning of December 30 at Bagumbayan Field (Luneta). His decree
in this matter runs as follows:
Manila, December 28, 1896:
Conformably to the foregoing opinion. I approve the sentenced
dictated by the court Martial in the present case, by virtue of which the death
penalty is imposed on the accused Jose Rizal Mercado, which shall be

33
 executed by shooting him at 7:00 o’clock in the morning of the 30th of this
month in the field of Bagumbayan.
For compliance and the rest that may correspond, let this be returned
to the Judge Advocate, Captain Don Rafael Dominguez.
Camilio G. de Polavieja

For signing the fatal document ordering the execution of Dr. Rizal, Governor
General Polavieja won the eternal odium of the Filipino people. He and other
Spanish officials who were responsible for the death of Rizal will evermore remain
as obnoxious villains in the Philippine history.

* * * * *

34
 Lesson 25
Martyrdom at Bagumbayan

After the court-martial, Rizal returned to his cell in Fort Santiago to prepare
his rendezvous with destiny. During his last 24 hours on earth --- from 6:00 A.M.
December 29 to 6:00 A.M., December 30, 1896 --- he was busy meeting visitors,
including Jesuit priests, Josephine Bracken and members of his family, a Spanish
newspaper correspondent (Santiago Mataix), some friends, and secretly finishing
his farewell poem. As a Christian and a hero-martyr, he was serenely resigned to
die for his beloved country, which he called “Pearl of the Orient Sea” in his last
poem and “Pearl of the Orient” in an article entitled “Unfortunate Philippines”
published in The Hong Kong Telegraph on September 24, 1892.

Last Hours of Rizal. At 6:00 A.M., December 29, 1896, Captain Rafael
Dominguez, who was designated by Governor General Camilo Polavieja to take
charge of all arrangements for the execution of the condemned prisoner, read the
death sentence to Rizal --- to be shot at the back by a firing squad at 7:00 A.M. in
Bagumbayan (Luneta).

At 7:00 A.M., an hour after the reading of the death sentence, Rizal was
moved to the prison chapel, where he spent his last moments. His first visitors
were Father Miguel Saderra Mata (Rector of Ateneo Municipal), and Father Luis
Viza, Jesuit teacher.

At 7:15 A.M., Rector Saderra left. Rizal, in a jovial mood, reminded Fr. Viza
of the statuette of the Sacred Heart of Jesus which he had carved with his pen
knife as an Ateneo student. Fr. Viza, anticipating such reminiscence, got the
statuette from his pocket and gave it to Rizal. The hero happily received it and
placed it on his writing table.

At 8:00 A.M., Fr. Antonio Rosell arrived to relieve Father Viza. Rizal invited
him to join him at breakfast, which he did. After breakfast, Lt. Luis Taviel de
Andrade (Rizal’s defense counsel) came, and Rizal thanked him for his gallant
services.

At 9:00 A.M., Fr. Federico Faura arrived. Rizal reminded him that he said
that 9Rizal would someday lose his head for writing the Noli. “Father,” Rizal
remarked, “You are indeed a prophet”.

35
 At 10:00 A.M. Father Jose Vilaclara (Rizal’s teacher at the Ateneo) and
Vicente Balaguer (Jesuit missionary in Dapitan who had befriended Rizal during
the latter’s exile) visited the hero. After them, came the Spanish journalist, Satiago
mataix, who interviewed Rizal fr his newspaper El Heraldo de Madrid.

From 12:00 A.M. (noon) to 3:30 P.M., Rizal was left alone in his cell. He
took his lunch, after which he was busy writing. It was probably during this time
when he finished his farewell poem and hid it inside his alcohol cooking stove (not
lamp as some biographers erroneously assert) which was given to him as a gift by
Paz Pardo de Tavera (wife of Juan Luna) during his visit to Paris in 1890. At the
same time he wrote his last letter to Professor Blumentritt (his best friend) in
German, as follows:

Prof. Ferdinand Blumentritt:

My dear Brother:

When you receive this letter, I shall be dead. Tomorrow at seven, I

shall be shot; but I am innocent of the crime of rebellion.

I am going to die with a tranquil conscience.

Goodbye, my best, my dearest friend, and never think ill of me.

Fort Santiago, December 29, 1896.

(Signed) Jose Rizal

Regards to the entire family, to Sra. Rosa, Loleng, Conradito, and

Federico.
I am leaving a book for you as a last remembrance of mine.

At 6:00 A.M., as the soldiers were getting ready for the death march to
Bagumbayan, Rizal wrote his last letter to his beloved parents as follows:

My beloved Father,

Pardon me for the pain with which I repay you for sorrows and
sacrifices for my education.
I did not want nor did I prefer it.
Goodbye, Father, goodbye ….
Jose Rizal
36
 To my very dear Mother,
Sra. Dńa. Teodora Alonso
6 o’clock in the morning, December 30, 1896.
Jose Rizal

Death March to Bagumbayan. About 6:30 A.M., a trumpet sounded at Fort

Santiago, a signal to begin the death march to Bagumbayan, the designated place
for the execution. The advance guard of four soldiers with bayoneted rifles moved.
A few meters behind, Rizal walked away calmly, with his defense counsel (Lt. Luis
Taviel de Andrade) on one side and two Jesuit priests (Fathers March and
Vilaclara) on the other. More well-armed soldiers marched behind him.

Rizal was dressed elegantly in a black suit, black derby hat, black shoes,
white shirt, and black tie. His arms were tied behind from elbow to elbow, but the
rope was quite loose to give his arms freedom of movement.

To the muffled sounds of the drums, the cavalcade somnolently marched

slowly. There was a handful of spectators lining the street from Fort Santiago to
the Plaza del Palacio in front of the Manila Cathedral. Everybody seemed to be out
at Bagumbayan, where a vast crowd gathered to see how a martyr dies.

Going through the narrow Postigo Gate, one of the gates of the city wall,
the cavalcade reached the Malecon (now Bonifacio Drive), which was deserted.
Rizal looked at the sky, and said to one of the priests: “How beautiful it is today,
Father. What morning could be more serene! How clear is Corregidor and the
mountains of Cavite! On mornings like this, I used to take a walk with my
sweetheart”.

While passing in front of the Ateneo, he saw the college towers above the
walls. He asked; “Is that the Ateneo, Father?”

“Yes”, replied the priest.

They reached the Bagumbayan Field. The spectators crowded a huge

square formed by soldiers. The cavalcade entered this square. Rizal walked
serenely to the place, where he was told to stand. It was a grassy lawn by the
shore of Manila Bay, between two lamp posts.

Martyrdom of a Hero. Rizal, knowing that his rendezvous with destiny was
imminent, bade farewell to fathers March and Vilaclara and to his gallant defender
Lt. Luis Taviel de Andrade. Although his arms were tied, he firmly clasped their
hands in parting. One of the priests blessed him and offered him a crucifix to kiss.
Rizal reverently bowed his head and kissed it. Then he requested the commander

37
of the firing squad, that he be shot facing the firing squad. His request was denied,
for the captain had implicit orders to shoot him in the back.

Reluctantly, Rizal turned his back to the firing squad and faced the sea. A
Spanish military physician, Dr. Felipe Ruiz Castillo, asked his permission to feel
his pulse, which request was graciously granted. Dr. Castillo was amazed to find
it normal, showing that Rizal was not afraid to die.

The death ruffles of the drums filled the air. Above the drum-beats, the sharp
command “Fire” was heard, and the guns of the firing squad barked. Rizal, with
supreme effort, turned his bullet-riddled body to the right, and fell on the ground
dead – with face upward facing the morning sun. It was exactly 7:03 in the morning
when he died in the bloom of manhood – aged 35 years, five months, and 11 days.

* * * * *

38