02A Lesson Proper for Week 7

Rizal’s Exile in Dapitan

On July 6, 1892, Dr. Jose Rizal received a summon from Governo- General Despujol,
directing him to proceed to Malacanang. Upon his arrival, he was confronted with a leaflet
entitled Pobres Frailes (Poor Friars) written by Fr. Jacinto (Rizal’s pen name in the Hongkong
telegraph) that was allegedly found by inspectors in the luggage of his sister Lucia. With this
evidence at hand, the Governor-General ordered the arrest of Rizal. He was accompanied by
Ramon Despujol, who was the younger brother of the Governor at Fort Santiago, where he was
placed in detention and declared as “incommunicado.”

His guards received the order to board Rizal at the S.S. Cebu bound for Dapitan. To explain
Rizal’s exile to Dapitan publicly, Governor-General Despujol published the following reasons why
Rizal met such fate in the Gloria de Manila:

1. Publication of books and proclamations that manifested his disloyalty to Spain and were
anti-Catholic and anti-friar.
2. The discovery of the pamphlet entitled “Poor Friars.” The patience and humble generosity
of the Filipinos were satirized. Accusations against the customs of the religious orders
were also published in this pamphlet.
3. His last novel, El Filibusterismo, was dedicated to the three Filipino friars.
4. His end goal in his efforts and writings was to tear the Filipinos’ holy Catholic faith.

Fruitful Years in Dapitan

1. Physician – He rendered free medical services to the poor townsfolk of Dapitan. In his
last two years, he became a famed doctor.
2. Farmer – With the winnings in the lottery and other income, Jose Rizal purchased 16
hectares of land in Talisay, Dapitan.
3. Businessman – In the area of business, Jose Rizal had several business partnerships, such
as asking several Spaniards to supply the town with fish in the market. He also had an
agreement with Mariano Hamoy from Dapitan about the buying and selling of abaca and
copra. He also engaged in merchandising by selling shoes and socks.
4. Teacher – A part of the reform called by Jose Rizal from the Spanish government was a
better education for the Filipinos. In his capacity in Dapitan, Rizal opened a community
school that started from January 1894 to July 1896.
5. Scientist – As a man of science, Jose Rizal collected specimens of flora and fauna found in
Dapitan and sent them to Ateneo de Manila and his friends in Europe.
6. Inventor – Rizal invented a manual machine that could produce 6,000 bricks a day and
discovered a formula for making bakhaw paste.
7. Linguist – Despite his tight schedule in Dapitan, Rizal found time to study the Bisaya
language and made a comparison of Tagalog-Bisayan and Malayan languages.
8. Artist – Rizal also manifested sculpture prowess. The statues he produced include (1) a wild
boar, (2) the bust of Captain Carnicero and his wife, (3) the reclaiming figure of Josephine
Bracken, (4) St. Paul holding on to a cross, (3) Dapitan girl cutting grass, (6) a mother’s
revenge (mother dog biting a crocodile), and (7) a head of a Dapitan girl.
 9. Public servant – Aside from giving free medical service and medicine to the poor people
of Dapitan, he took charge and initiative in the construction of a dam or water
depository near the square house to provide clean water to local folks living near his
area.

The Impending Revolution

Rizal did not know Dr. Pio Valenzuela from Manila, who told him about the impending
Philippine Revolution when he was visited on July 1, 1896. Rafael Palma, who was one of Rizal’s
biographer, stated that "Rizal thought that fate was playing a bad joke on him, but he resigned to
it. He saw the revolution in the Philippines rising in the dark and forebode that however far he
was from it, he would be implicated if he remained in the country. Hence, he desired to go far
away, where responsibility for one drop of blood would not reach him.”

Before the outbreak of the Philippine Revolution, Dr. Pio Valenzuela, Andres Bonifacio,
and Emilio Aguinaldo agreed to consult Rizal on his position on the impending revolt and seek
his advice on the matter. Immediately, the two doctors conferred. Valenzuela informed Rizal
about the existence of the Katipunan. To summarize the two doctors' conversation in Dapitan,
Rizal gave the following advice:

1. He approved of the resolutions of the Katipunan, one of which is "to bring about the
separation of the Philippines by violent means."
2. Rizal did not approve of a revolution without enough arms.
3. He stressed that they take all necessary precautions to prevent the discovery of the
Katipunan.
4. He also advised the Katipunan to convince Antonio Luna to direct the campaign.
5. The Katipunan should attract rich Filipinos; if they refused, then they should remain
neutral.

The Charges Against Rizal

With the evidence against Rizal, he was formally arraigned on December 11, 1896. He
chose First Lieutenant Luis Taviel de Andrade as his council. The following were the charges as
summarized and filed against Dr. Jose Rizal by the Spanish authorities in the Philippines, which
were then punishable by death:

1. The acts in question constituted the crimes of founding illegal associations and promoting
or inducing the commission of rebellion, the first being a necessary means for the execution
of the second.
2. The accused, Dr. Jose Rizal, stood guilty of both crimes in the capacity of a principal-agent.
3. In the commission of these crimes, the fact that the criminal was a native (Filipino) must be
considered an aggravating circumstance, with no extenuating circumstances.
Rizal’s Defense

On the side of Rizal, he and his lawyer gave the following summary of defense to answer
to the following charges:

1. 1. “Concerning the rebellion. I have nothing to do with the political affairs from July 6,
1892 to June 1, 1896. In June 1896, after being told by Don Pio Valenzuela that an uprising
was being contemplated, I advised against it and made him sought amnesty from
authorities. This is proof that I had no dealings with anyone regarding political affairs.”
2. “They exploited my name cruelly and at the very last moment sought to take by surprise. Why
did they not get in touch with me earlier? Possibly because word had reached them that I was,
if not contented, at least resigned in my place of exile, for I had refused to entertain any of the
various proposals that many people made to get me out.” He added that he owned several
vessels and was permitted to take trips on surrounding villages and Muslim friends having
vintas. Rizal had chances of escape that he did not utilize because he was obedient to the
Spanish government’s orders.
3. However, he admitted that he framed the statutes of the La Liga whose aim was to promote
the commerce industry using cooperation. He added that La Liga was not a subversive
organization, and it died at an early stage.
4. About his letters that carried bitter criticism, he did not deny them but asked the court the
time they were written. "They were written after we were stripped of our two residential
houses, our warehouses, our lands, and other properties, as well as when all my brothers-in-
law and my elder brother were exiled.”[Ana Marie1]

His Impending Death

At 6:30 a.m., a bucket of soldiers was formed. Rizal dressed in a black coat, hat, shoes, tie,
and a white T-shirt. He was also tied elbow to elbow and preceded in the march with a bugle and
drum. At his side was Fr. Villaclara and behind was his defender in the military court, that is, Luis
Taviel de Andrade, and an escort of artillery.

The march of Rizal was filled with Filipino and Spanish spectators as the party moved
passing Paseo de Maria Cristina (now A. Bonifacio Avenue). While walking, Rizal said to his Jesuit
companion, "We are on the road to Calvary. I can well realize now the passion of Christ, mine is
so insignificant." As Rizal proceeded to Bagumbayan, he was serene and tranquil; his body poised
was erect, without affection and eyes that were glad and bright.

While they were still on the march, Rizal stated to one of his companions, "What a
beautiful morning! Some mornings like this I used to come here to spend with my sweetheart.”
Upon passing in front of Ateneo, Rizal asked, "Is that the Ateneo? “Yes,” his companions replied.
He continued, “I spent a few years there.” As Rizal approached the place of execution, he hastened
his steps as if catching the glory that he might miss.
 While standing, he asked for permission to be shot facing the firing line, but the Captain
refused. Even at a dying stage, Jose Rizal wanted to prove that he was not a traitor to Spain and
the Philippines. Therefore, he needed to fall facing the sky. Rizal had a request to the captain of
the picket to shoot him at the back and spare his head. The request was granted. He had a strong
handshake to his defender Lieutenant Luis Taviel de Andrade and to the Jesuits who gave him a
crucifix to kiss. Then, the Spanish Military Doctor Ruiz Castillo approached him and took his
pulse and said, “Your pulse is very good.” As informed by the doctor, Rizal was ready to meet his
death.

Rizal’s Death

At the moment of fire, Rizal was indeed a man of science. He waited for the final word
“Fuego!” (meaning “Fire!”), the brilliant Rizal, before the soldiers of the 70th Regiment pulled the
triggers of their guns, turned his back to the right. When the bullets reached his body, the law of
physics turned Rizal's dying body to fall facing upward.

Rizal was 35 years old when he died with 8 bullets in his heart at 7:03 in the morning.
His body was hauled in a wagon and buried in Paco Cemetery without due respect. A marker
stands today between two acacia trees, which were the only official witness when Rizal’s body
was buried.

The Aftermath

More and more provinces in the Philippines decided to fight. Rizal was the best reason
that the Spaniards had created in favor of the Philippine Revolution. After his death, other
provinces decided to join the fight for freedom aside from Manila, Bulacan, Cavite, Batangas, and
Nueva Ecija. The province of Tarlac declared its Cry of Tagumpay in January 1897 and attacked
the Spaniards in the provincial capital. Afterward, Ilocano and Visayan provinces followed.