Lesson 12: Chapter 9

Jose Rizal and the Revolution (week 13)

Overview

Every age is an age of revolution. Some revolution are bloody such as the French revolution
and Some revolution are peaceful such as reforms in effecting change in the government,
there were Silent but powerful revolutions which permanently changed and shaped the minds
of human race.

Rizal and the Katipunan

On June 21, 1896. Dr. Pio Valenzuela, Bonifacio’s emissary, visited Rizal in Dapitan and
informed him of the plan of the Katipunan to launch a revolution. Rizal objected to Bonifacio’s bold
project stating that such would be a veritable suicide. Rizal stressed that the Katipunan leaders
should do everything possible to prevent premature flow of native blood. Valenzuela, however,
warned Rizal that the Revolution will inevitably break out if the Katipunan would be discovered.

Sensing that the revolutionary leaders were dead set on launching their audacious project, Rizal
instructed Valenzuela that it would be for the best interests of the Katipunan to get first the support of
the rich and influential people of Manila to strengthen their cause. He further suggested that Antonio
Luna with his knowledge of military science and tactics, be made to direct the military operations of
the Revolution.

Rizal and the Propaganda Movement

To prove his point and refute the accusations of prejudiced Spanish writers against his race,
Rizal annotated the book, Sucesos de las Islas Filipinas, written by the Spaniard Antonio Morga.
The book was an unbiased presentation of 16th century Filipino culture. Rizal through his annotation
showed that Filipinos had developed culture even before the coming of the Spaniards.

While annotating Morga’s book, he began writing the sequel to the Noli, the El Filibusterismo. He
completed the Fili in July 1891 while he was in Brussels, Belgium. As in the printing of the Noli, Rizal
could not published the sequel for the lack of finances. Fortunately, Valentin Ventura gave him
financial assistance and the Fili came out of the printing press on September 1891.

The El Filibusterismo indicated Spanish colonial policies and attacked the Filipino collaborators of
such system. The novel pictured a society on the brink of a revolution.

To buttress his defense of the native’s pride and dignity as people, Rizal wrote three significant
essays while abroad: The Philippines a Century hence, the Indolence of the Filipinos and the Letter
to the Women of Malolos. These writings were his brilliant responses to the vicious attacks against
the Indio and his culture.

While in Hong Kong, Rizal planned the founding of the Liga Filipina, a civil organization and the
establishment of a Filipino colony in Borneo. The colony was to be under the protectorate of the North
Borneo Company, he was granted permission by the British Governor to establish a settlement on a
190,000 acre property in North Borneo. The colony was to be under the protectorate of the North
Borneo Company, with the "same privileges and conditions at those given in the treaty with local
Bornean rulers".

Governor Eulogio Despujol disapproved the project for obvious and self-serving reasons. He
considered the plan impractical and improper that Filipinos would settle and develop foreign territories
while the colony itself badly needed such developments.
Review question
1. What is a revolution?
2. What are the reasons why revolution exist?
3. How do revolution break out?
4. Is revolution justified? Why or why not?

Lesson 13:
Chapter 10
Jose Rizal in Dapitan
Overview
The name dapitan originated from the Visayan term “dapit” which means to invite. A small
town Situated in western Mindanao of Sulu Sea. Dapitan is also known as the shrine city
famous for its Rustic beauty and serenity. Likewise known as haven by the sea.
You cannot stop a determined man from success, put stumbling block along his way and on
them he will climb to greatness, from his failures he learns valuable lessons, from his
frustrations, he makes a strong resolve to rise up again, from his deprivation he becomes
resourceful & from humiliations, he shall have a meaningful climb to greatness.

Peaceful Life in Dapitan

During the early part of his exile in Dapitan, Rizal lived at the commandant’s residence. With his prize
from the Manila Lottery and his earnings as a farmer and a merchant, he bought a piece of land near
the shore of Talisay near Dapitan. On this land, he built three houses- all made of bamboo, wood,
and nipa. The first house which was square in shape was his home. The second house was the living
quarters of his pupils. And the third house was the barn where he kept his chickens. The second
house had eight sides, while the third had six sides.

In a letter to his friend, Ferdinand Blumentritt, on December 19, 1893, Rizal described his peaceful
life in Dapitan.

"I shall tell you how we lived here. I have three houses-one square, another hexagonal, and the third
octagonal. All these houses are made of bamboo, wood, and nipa. I live in the square house, together
with my mother, my sister, Trinidad, and my nephew. In the octagonal house live some young boys
who are my pupils. The hexagonal house is my barn where I keep my chickens.
"From my house, I hear the murmur of a clear brook which comes from the high rocks. I see the
seashore where I keep two boats, which are called barotos here.
"I have many fruit trees, such as mangoes, lanzones, guayabanos, baluno, nangka, etc. I have
rabbits, dogs, cats, and other animals.
"I rise early in the morning-at five-visit my plants, feed the chickens, awaken my people, and prepare
our breakfast. At half-past seven, we eat our breakfast, which consists of tea, bread, cheese, sweets,
and other things.
"After breakfast, I treat the poor patients who come to my house. Then I dress and go to Dapitan in
my baroto.
I am busy the whole morning, attending to my patients in town.

"At noon, I return home to Talisay for lunch. Then, from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m., I am busy as a teacher. I
teach the
young boys.
"I spend the rest of the afternoon in farming. My pupils help me in watering the plants, pruning the
fruits, and
planting many kinds of trees. We stop at 6:00 p.m. for the Angelus
"I spend the night reading and writing."

Rizal's First Christmas in Dapitan

After a short time, Jose Rizal began to enjoy the simple life of Dapitan.

Rizal became prosperous. Aside from his lottery prize, Rizal earned more money by practicing
medicine. Some rich patients paid him well for curing their eye ailments. He began to buy agricultural
lands in Talisay, a barrio near Dapitan. He planned to build his house in this scenic barrio by the
seashore.

As Christmas came nearer, Rizal became more cheerful. His savings increased, for the cost of living
in Dapitan was cheaper than in Calamba. His health improved. Many Dapitan folks, who were
formerly indifferent to him, became his friends.

No wonder, Rizal enjoyed his first Christmas in Dapitan. He was one of the guests of Captain
Carnicero at a Christmas Eve dinner in the comandancia (house of the commandant). The other
guests were three Spaniards from the neighboring town of Dipolog and a Frenchman named Jean
Lardet. It was a merry feast. The guests enjoyed the delicious dishes prepared by the commandant’s
native cook. With the exception of Rizal, they drank beer, for he disliked hard liquor. At midnight,
Captain Carnicero, Rizal, and other guests went to church to hear the Mass of the Noche Buena.

In a letter to his mother, dated January 5, 1893, Rizal described how he enjoyed his first Christmas in
Dapitan.
He said:
"I spent a merry Christmas here. It could not have been merrier. I had a happy dinner on Christmas
Eve, together with my host (the commandant), three Spaniards from a neighboring town, and a
Frenchman. We heard Mass at 12:00 midnight, for you know I go to Mass here every Sunday."

Rizal as a Farmer in Dapitan

To prove to his people that farming is a good profession as medicine, Rizal became a farmer in
Dapitan. In a letter to his sister, Lucia, on February 12, 1896, he said: "We cannot all be doctors; it is
necessary that there would be some to cultivate the soil."

During the first year of his exile (1893), Rizal bought an abandoned farm in Talisay, a barrio near
Dapitan. This farm had an area of sixteen hectares and was rather rocky. It lay beside a river that
resembled the Calamba River-clear fresh water, wide and swift current. In his letter to his sister
Trinidad on January 15, 1896, Rizal said: "My land is half an hour’s walk from the sea. The whole
place is poetic and very picturesque, better than Ilaya River, without comparison. At some points, it is
wide like the Pasig River and clear like the Pansol, and has some crocodiles in some parts. There are
dalag (fish) and pako (edible fern). If you and our parents come, I am going to build a large house
where we can all live together."

On this land in Talisay, Rizal actually built a permanent home. With the help of his pupils and some
laborers, he cleared it and planted cacao, coffee, coconuts, and fruit trees. Later, he bought more
lands in other barrios of Dapitan. In due time, his total land holdings reached 70 hectares. They
contained 6,000 abaca plants, 1,000 coconut palms, many coffee and cacao plants and numerous
kinds of fruit trees.

On his lands, Rizal introduced modern methods of agriculture which he had observed during his
travels in Europe and America. He encouraged the Dapitan farmers to replace their primitive system
of cultivation with these modern methods. These modern methods of farming consisted of the use of
fertilizers, the rotation of crops, and the use of farm machines. Rizal actually imported some farm
machines from the United States.

Rizal dreamed of establishing an agricultural colony in the sitio of Ponot near Sindangan Bay. This
region contained plenty of water and good port facilities. He believed that it could accommodate
about 5,000 heads of cattle and 40,000 coconut palms. It was also ideal for the cultivation of coffee,
cacao, and sugar cane because of its fertile soil and favorable climate.

He invited his relatives and friends in Luzon, especially those in Calamba, to colonize the Sindangan
Bay area. Unfortunately, his plan of founding an agricultural colony in Sindangan Bay did not
materialize, like that of his former project to colonize North Borneo. He did not get the support of the
Spanish government.

Before Rizal was exiled in Dapitan, he already knew many languages. These languages were:
Tagalog, Ilokano, Spanish, Latin, Greek, English, French, German, Arabic, Hebrew, Sanskrit,
Catalan, Dutch, Italian, Chinese, Japanese, Portuguese, Swedish, and Russian-19 in all.

His knowledge of many languages was one aspect of Rizal’s amazing genius. Few men in history
were gifted by God with such ability to learn any language easily. And one of these rare men was
Rizal. To learn a new language, Rizal memorized five root words every night before going to bed. At
the end of the year, he learned 1,825 new words. He never forget these foreign words because of his
retentive memory.

Rizal made a good use of his knowledge of many languages in his travels in Europe and America, in
communicating with foreign scholars and scientists, and in his writings. Many times during his travels
abroad, he acted as interpreter for his fellow travelers who belonged to various nationalities-
Americans, British, French, German, Italians, Spaniards, Japanese and others.
During his exile in Dapitan, Rizal increased his knowledge of languages. He studied three more
languages- Malay, Bisayan and Subanun. On April 5, 1896, he wrote to his Austrian friend, Professor
Blumentritt: "I know Bisayan already, and I speak it quite well. It is necessary, however, to know other
dialects."

By the end of his exile in Dapitan on July 31, 1896, Rizal had become one of the world’s great
linguists. He knew 22 languages, namely, Tagalog, Ilokano, Spanish, Portuguese, Latin, Greek,
Sanskrit, English, French, German, Arabic, Hebrew, Catalan, Dutch, Italian, Chinese, Japanese,
Swedish, Russian, Malay, Bisayan, and Subanun.

Rizal as a Painter in Dapitan

In Dapitan, Rizal demonstrated his talent for painting. Before the Holy Week of 1894, Father Vicente
Balaguer, a young Jesuit parish priest, was worried. He needed a good backdrop (canvas oil painting
behind the main altar) for the annual Lenten celebration. In his native city of Barcelona, Spain, a
church had one that showed a colonnaded court, viewed from a wide open gate- a scene depicting
the court of Pontius Pilate.

Upon hearing of Rizal’s painting ability, Father Balaguer went to Talisay to talk with the exiled doctor.
He was accompanied by a convent helper named Leoncio Sagario.

"Doctor," he told Rizal, "I need your help. I would like to have a beautiful backdrop behind the church
altar that shows the spirit of the Holy Week. I’ve in mind something similar to one in a church in
Barcelona."

Father Balaguer made some rough sketches as he described the backdrop in the Barcelona church.
"Can you paint in oil such a picture on a huge canvas, Doctor?" he asked.
"I’ll try, Father. You see, I haven’t done any painting for many years, but I’ll do my best."

The following day, Rizal went to the Jesuit priest, bringing his own sketch based on the latter’s ideas.
Father Balaguer was satisfied and urged Rizal to begin the painting job at once.

The actual painting of the backdrop was a difficult task. Rizal obtained the help of two assistants-
Sister Agustina Montoya, a Filipina nun from Cavite who could paint, and Francisco Almirol, a native
painter of Dapitan.

The trio-Rizal, Sister Montoya, and Almirol- made the sacristy of the church as their workshop. Rizal
sketched in soft pencil the general outline of the picture, after which his two assistants applied the oil
colors.

Daily, Rizal supervised the work of his assistants. He himself put the finishing touches. He was glad
to note that he still had the skill in painting. Father Balaguer was very much satisfied with the finished
oil painting of the backdrop. “Beautiful, very beautiful," he said. He warmly thanked Rizal and his two
assistants for the work well done.
The gorgeous backdrop became a precious possession of the Dapitan church- Santiago Church. It
was truly a masterpiece.

Senate President Manuel L. Quezon saw Rizal’s painting masterpiece during his visit to Dapitan. He
was deeply impressed by its majestic beauty. At one time General Leonard Wood, governor-general
of the Philippines, saw it and said that it was truly "a Rizalian legacy".

After the establishment of the Commonwealth of the Philippines, the beautiful backdrop was sent to
the Museum of the Ateneo de Manila for safekeeping.

Unfortunately, it was destroyed during the Second World War when fires and bombs razed the city of
Manila.

Rizal's Son Dies

By the beginning of 1896, Rizal was very happy. His beloved Josephine was heavy with child. Within
a few months, she would give birth to a child. As an expectant father, Rizal had every reason to be
cheerful and gay.

"I wish it would be a boy," he told Josephine.

"I also have the same wish," she replied.

"Let us hope and pray," said Rizal, "that it will be a boy. I will name him after my father."

"Suppose," asked Josephine in joking manner, "that it will be a girl?"

"Then, I will name her after my mother."

Unfortunately, Rizal and Josephine were not destined to have a child. One day in early March 1896,
Rizal played a practical joke on Josephine, which frightened her terribly. As a result of her great fright,
she gave birth prematurely to an eight-month baby boy.

The baby was very weak and was gasping for breath. Seeing the baby’s condition, Rizal immediately
baptized him Francisco in honor of his father. He did everything he could to save the life of his infant
son, but in vain. All his knowledge and skill as a physician could not save little Francisco. Sorrowfully,
Rizal saw his child die three hours after birth.

With a heavy heart, he drew a sketch of his dead son. Then he buried him under a shady tree near
his home. He prayed": "Oh, God, I give you another tiny angel. Please bless his soul.

Rizal's Last Christmas in Dapitan

The Christmas of 1895 was one of the happiest events in Rizal’s life. It was because of the presence
of Josephine, who proved to be a loving wife and a good housekeeper.

She was now used to living a simple rural life in the Philippines. She was industrious and learned to
cook all sorts of native dishes. In his letter to his sister, Trinidad, on September 25, 1895, Rizal
praised Josephine, thus: "She cooks, washes, and takes care of the chickens and the house. In the
absence of miki for making pancit, she made some long macaroni noodles out of flour and eggs,
which serves the purpose. If you could send me a little angkak, I should be grateful to you, for she
makes bagoong. She makes also chili miso, but it seems to me that what we
have will last for 10 years."

On December 25, 1895, Rizal and Josephine gave a Christmas party at their home in Talisay. By a
strange twist of fate, it proved to be Rizal’s last Christmas in Dapitan.

Rizal roasted a small pig to golden brown over a slow fire. He also made chicken broth out of a fat
hen. He invited all his neighbors. They all danced and made merry until dawn.

Writing to his sister, Trinidad, on January 15, 1896, Rizal described his last Christmas party in
Dapitan. "We celebrated merrily, as almost always. We roasted a small pig and hen. We invited our
neighbors. There was dancing, and we laughed a great deal until dawn."

Adios Dapitan
On the morning of July 31, 1896, his last day in Dapitan, Rizal busily packed his things. He was
scheduled to leave the town on board the España, which was sailing back to Manila. He had sold his
lands and other things he owned to his friend, mostly natives of Dapitan.

At 5:30 in the afternoon, he and eight other companions embarked on the steamer. His eight
companions were Josephine; Narcisa (his sister); Angelica (daughter of Narcisa); his three nephews,
Mauricio (son of Maria Rizal), Estanislao (son of Lucia Rizal), and Teodosio (another son of Lucia
Rizal); and Mr. And Mrs. Sunico.

Almost all Dapitan folks, young and old, were at the shore to see the departure of their beloved
doctor. The pupils of Rizal cried, for they could not accompany their dear teacher. Captain Carnicero,
in full regalia of a commandant’s uniform, was on hand to say goodbye to his prisoner, whom he had
come to admire and respect. The town brass band played the music of the farewell ceremony.

At midnight, Friday, July 31, 1896, the steamer departed for Manila. The Dapitan folks shouted
"Adios, Dr. Rizal!" and threw their hats and handkerchiefs in the air. Captain Carnicero saluted his
departing friend. As the steamer left the town, the brass band played the sad music of Chopin’s
Farewell March.

Rizal was in the upper deck, with tears in his eyes. He raised his hand in farewell to the kind and
hospitable people of Dapitan, saying: "Adios, Dapitan!" He gazed at the crowded shore for the last
time. His heart was fille sorrow.

When he could no longer see the dim shoreline, he turned sadly into his cabin. He wrote in his diary:
"I have been in that district four years, thirteen days, and a few hours."

Review question
1. Describe how Jose Rizal lived his life in dapitan?
2. Describe Jose Rizal situation in dapitan that made him fall in love with the young
Josephine?
3. Who decide the deportation of Jose Rizal in dapitan?
4. How long did it take for Jose Rizal to court and propose marriage to Josephine?
 Lesson 14: Chapter 11
Katipunan before the Revolution
Overview
Revolution is the culmination of politics which cannot be carried out in diplomatic ways. Some
revolution Are violent while others are peaceful. Revolutions all the same, grow slowly and
imperceptibly.

Establishment of the Katipunan

On July 7, 1892, the same date Rizal was exiled to Dapitan, Andres Bonifacio, Valentin Diaz,
Teodoro Plata, Ladislao Diwa, Deodato Arellano, and a few others, met secretly at a house on
Azcarraga (Claro M. Recto ave.)
Establishment of the Katipunan
They founded an association called Kataastaasan Kagalang-galang na Katipunan ng mga Anak ng
Bayan (KKK), or Katipunan for short.
Aims of Katipunan
To unite the Filipinos into a solid nation
To win Philippine independence by means of revolution

Recruitment of the katipunan

They first used the triangle method on recruiting members
Later on, since the triangle method was slow, Bonifacio allowed them to recruit as many members as
possible. The First Edition of Kalayaan (the Katipunan newspaper) also helped a lot in recruiting more
members.

Membership of katipunan
There were 3 grades of members:
Katipon – lowest class password; ANAK NG BAYAN
Recruitment of more members will turn him into a Kawal
Kawal – middle class password; GOMBURZA
If elected as an officer, he becomes a Bayani
Bayani – highest class password; RIZAL
 Membership
The 2 factions of the Katipunan are Magdalo and Magdiwang.
When the war broke out they made flags different from each other. They also had an argument that
led to the Tejeros Convention.

Women’s Chapter of the Katipunan

They were limited to only the wives, daughters, or relatives of the members of the Katipunan. They
served as the watch during meetings of the Katipunan.
Prominent women were Josefa Rizal: President, Gregoria de Jesus: Vice President, Marina Dizon:
Secretary, Angelica Rizal Lopez: Fiscal.
Josefa Rizal and Gregoria de Jesus Secrecy In order to remain secret, they made different codes and
countersigns
Codes of katipunan
Countersigns: When two members meet on the road, one member will put his right palm on his chest
and the other member will close his hand such that the index finger and thumb touch each other.
Review question

1. Explain the roles played by heroes in the breaking out of revolution?

2. Who betrayed the katipunan to the authorities?
3. What roles played by women in the katipunan?
4. What is the recruitment process in the membership of the katipunan?

A short discussion of each poem.

Last Poem of Rizal (Mi Ultimo Adios)
To The Philippines
Our Mother Tongue
Memories of My town
Hymn to Labor
Kundiman
A Poem That Has No Title
Song of Maria Clara
To the Philippines Youth
To Josephine
Education Gives Luster to the Motherland
To the Virgin Mary
Sa Aking mga Kabata
Lesson 15: Chapter 12
The katipunan, the Revolution and Jose Rizal
Overview
Jose Rizal believe in revolution as the last recourse of the oppressed but he disapproved
waging the revolution Due to the unreadiness of the katipunan. Unfortunately the secret of
katipunan was prematurely divulged. Revolution spread, those implicated were either tortured
or executed, some opted for executive clemency, Betraying valuable information about the
secret organization known as katipunan.

The Katipunan was founded on the day Dr. Rizal was exiled Bonifacio sent Dr. Pio Valenzuela to
Dapitan to ask for Dr. Rizal’s opinion about the Revolution Dr. Pio Valenzuela
Rizal’s answer and the Revolution
Rizal said that a revolution without sufficient arms should not be started against an armed nation. He
suggested that they should find a way so that the elite of those times will join the Katipunan.
But Dr. Pio Valenzuela reasoned out that it would be difficult to make the elites join the poor. This was
one problem Rizal was not able to find a solution.
Katipunan led the Revolution

RESCUE ATTEMPTS BY THE KATIPUNAN:

The Katipunan- a secret revolutionary society founded by Bonifacio.
Dr. Pio Valenzuela- secret emissary of the Katipunan to Dapitan.
Persons who plotted to rescue Rizal from the cruiser, Castilla, which was then anchored at Manila
Bay:
Andres Bonifacio, Emilio Jacinto, Other brave Katipuneros

LAST TRIP TO SPAIN:

Cry of Balintawak- the cry that started the Philippine Revolution. (On 23 of August 1896, Bonifacio
and his fellow katipuneros tore their cedulas (residence certificate) during their revolution: & quote;
long live the Philippines. This was marked as the historic; Cry of Balintawak; which actually occurred
in Pugadlawin. Thus it is also called Sigaw ng Pugadlawin.
Fr. Mariano Gil- Augustinian parish priest of Tondo.
After the “the Cry of Balintawak”, Rizal receive letters from:
Governor Blanco- wishing him happiness.
Two additional letters from the Minister of War (General Marcelo de Azcarraga – Philippine-born
Spaniard and the Minister of Colonies.)
Isla de Panay- the steamer were Rizal board when he left for Spain.
RIZAL IN SINGAPORE:
Rizal’s fellow-passengers:
Don Pedro Roxas, Periquin

ARREST AND IMPRISONMENT:

Captain A. Alemany- a ship skipper who arrested Rizal.
General Despujol- the man who banished him to Dapitan in 1892 and now military Commander of
Cataluṅa which jurisdiction over Montjuich Castle.Colon- the steamer were Rizal board when he left
Barcelona.

UNSUCCESSFUL RESCUE IN SINGAPORE:

Persons who dispatched frantic telegrams:
Dr. Antonio Ma. Regidor and Sixto Lopez
Mr. Fort- an English lawyer in Singapore.
The dispatched frantic telegrams contains that Mr. Fort should rescue Rizal from the Spanish steamer
when it
reached Singapore by a writ of Habeas Corpus.
Habeas Corpus- is a writ , or legal action, through which a prisoner can be released from unlawful
detention ,
that is, detention lacking sufficient cause or evidence.-

BACK TO MANILA:
Filipino Patriots, Deodato Arellano, Dr. Pio Valenzuela, Moises Salvador, Jose Dizon, Domingo
Franco
Timoteo Paez, Paciano was arrested and cruelly tortured.

PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATION:
Two kinds of evidence presented against Rizal, namely:
Documentary – consist of documents submitted as evidence or exhibit.
Testimonial – consist of oral statements submitted as evidence.
The Documentary Evidence consisted of fifteen exhibits as follows:
A letter of Antonio Luna to Mariano Ponce
A letter of Rizal to his family
A letter from Marcelo H. Del Pilar to Deodato Areliano
A poem entitled Kundiman
A letter of Carlos Oliver to an unidentified person
A Masonic document
A letter signed Dimasalang
A letter of Dimasalang to an unidentified committee
An anonymous and undated letter to the Editor of the Hongkong Telegraph
A letter of Ildefonso Laurel to Rizal
A letter of Rizal Segundo
A letter of Marcelo H. Del Pilar to Don Juan A. Tenluz
Transcript of a speech of Pingkian
Transcript of speech of Tik-Tik
A poem by Laong Laan
The testimonial evidence consists of the oral testimonies of:
Martin Constantino 8. Ambrosio Salvador
Aguedo Del Rosario 9. Pedro Serrano Laktaw
Jose Reyes 10. Dr. Pio Valenzuela
Moises Salvador 11. Antonio Salazar
Jose Dizon 12. Francisco Quison
Domingo Franco 13. Timoteo Paez
Deodato Arellano
Colonel Olive- transmitted the records of the case.
Governor Ramon Blanco- who, in turn, appointed Captain Rafael Dominguez as the Judge Advocate
to institute
the corresponding action against Rizal.
Don Nicolas de la Pena- Judge Advocate General, whom General Blanco transmitted the papers for
an opinion.
After studying the papers, Pena submitted the following recommendations:
The accused be immediately brought to trial.
He should be kept in prison.
An order of attachment be issued against his properties to the amount of one million pesos as
indemnity.
He should be defended in court by an army officer, not by a civilian lawyer.

RIZAL CHOOSES HIS DEFENDER

Don Luis Taviel de Andrade - 1 st Lieutenant of the Artillery, brother of Jose Taviel de
Andrade, the bodyguard of Rizal.

CHARGES READ TO RIZAL

December 11, the charges were read to Rizal in the presence of his counsel to questions asked,
Rizal replied:
He did not question the jurisdiction of the court.
He had nothing to amend, except that since his deportation to Dapitan in 1892 he had not engaged in
politics.
He did not admit the charges preferred against him.
He did not admit the declarations of the witness against him.
RIZAL MANIFESTO TO HIS PEOPLE:
RIZAL SADDEST CHRISTMAS:
He wrote a letter to Lt. Taviel de Andrade

THE TRIAL OF RIZAL:

December 26, 1896- the court martial of Rizal. Cuartel de Espana- military building.
Seven Members of the Military Court:
Lt. Col. Jose Togores Arjona (president)
Capt. Ricardo Munoz Arias
Capt. Manuel Reguera
Capt. Santiago Izquierdo Osorio
Capt. Braulio Rodriguez Nunez
Capt. Manuel Diaz Escribano
Capt. Fernando Perez Rodriguez

Also present in the courtroom were:

Dr. Jose Rizal (the accused)
Lt. Taviel de Andrade (his defense council)
Capt. Rafael Dominguez (Judge Advocate)
Lt. Enrique de Alcocer (prosecuting Attorney)

The Spectators
-Josephine Bracken
-a sister of Rizal
-some newspapermen
- Many Spaniards

Prosecuting Attorney Alcocer arose and delivered a long and bitter 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.

Rizal was accused of three crimes:

Rebellion, Sedition and illegal Association
Penalty: Rebellion and Sedition- was from life imprisonment to death.
Illegal Association- was correctional imprisonment and a fine of 325 to 3,250 pesetas.
In his supplementary defense he further proved his innocence by twelve points:
He could not be guilty of rebellion, for he advised Dr. Pio Valenzuela in Dapitan not to rise in
revolution.
He did not correspond with the radical, revolutionary elements.
The revolutionists used his name without his knowledge. If he were guilty he could have escaped in
Singapore.
If he had a hand in the revolution, he could have escaped in a Moro vinta and would not have built a
home, a hospital, and bought lands in Dapitan.
If he were the chief of the revolution, why was he not consulted by the revolutionists?
It was true he wrote the by-laws of the Liga-Filipina, but this is only a civic association – not a
revolutionary society.
The Liga Filipina did not live long, for after the first meeting he was banished to Dapitan and it died
out.
If the Liga was reorganized nine months later, he did not know about it.
The Liga did not serve the purpose of the revolutionists, otherwise they would not have supplanted it
with the Katipunan.
If it were true that there were some bitter comments in Rizal’s letters, it was because they were
written in 1890when his family was being persecuted, being dispossesssed of houses, warehouses,
lands, etc… and his brother and brother-in-law were deported.
His life in Dapitan had been exemplary as the politico-military commanders and missionary priests
could attest.
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.
Lt. Col. Togores Arjona – considered the trial over and ordered the hall cleared.

Governor General POLAVIEJA SIGNS RIZAL’S EXECUTION

December 30 – the execution of Rizal at Bagumbayan Field (Luneta).
Review question
1. What is a court martial? Was there due process in the trial of Jose Rizal case?
2. What are the criminal charges against Jose Rizal?
3. Explain what was the decision of court martial against Jose Rizal?
4. What is the reasons why Jose Rizal was arrested and imprison?