CHAPTER V- RIZAL’S LIFE: EXILE, TRIAL, AND DEATH

Introduction

This chapter focuses on the last years of Jose Rizal. From his second homecoming to the
Philippines, the establishment of the La Liga Filipina, his deportation and life in Dapitan, his
opinions on the plan to hold a revolution against Spain, his arrest, trial, execution. It is important
to understand that in the last years of Rizal especially during his exile years, he was a person
who contributed many things not just through his literary works but also he put his ideas into
action that benefitted the townspeople of Dapitan. Finally, this chapter also tackles the effect of
his death both to the Filipinos and Spaniards.

Intended Learning Outcome

At the end of the lesson, the students will be able to;

1. Analyse the factors that led Rizal’s execution

Stimulating Learning

1. Have you heard or watched any particular news that reports about the death of an
important person in the society? What came into your mind when you heard such news?
How did people react when they heard the same news?

Inculcating Concepts (Lesson Proper)

Exile in Dapitan (1892-1896)

In 1892, Rizal decided to return to the Philippines thinking that the real struggle was in his
homeland. In spite of warnings and his family’s disapproval, Rizal arrived in the Philippines on
June 26, 1892. Immediately, he visited his friends in Central Luzon and encouraged them to join
the La Liga Filipina, a socio-civic organization that Rizal established on July 3, 1892.
Unfortunately, just a few days after the Liga’s formation, Rizal was arrested and brought to Fort
Santiago on July 6, 1892. He was charged with bringing with him from Hong Kong leaflets
entitled Pobres Frailes (Poor Friars), a satire against the rich Dominican friars and their
accumulation of wealth which was against their vow of poverty. In spite of his protests and
denial of having those materials, Rizal was exiled to Dapitan in Mindanao.

Rizal arrived in Dapitan on board the steamer Cebu on July 17, 1892. Dapitan (now a city within
Zamboanga Del Norte) was a remote town in Mindanao which served as a politico-military
outpost of the Spaniards in the Philippines. It was headed by Capt. Ricardo Carnicero who
became a close friend of Rizal during his exile. He gave Rizal the permission to explore the place
and required him to report once a week in his office.
The quiet place of Dapitan became Rizal’s home from 1892-1896. Here, he practiced medicine,
pursued scientific studies, and continued his artistic pursuits in sculpture, painting, sketching,
and writing poetry. He established a school for boys and promoted community development
projects. He also found time to study the Malayan language and other Philippine languages. He
engaged himself in farming and commerce and even invented a wooden machine for making
bricks.

On September 21, 1892, Rizal won second prize in a lottery together with Ricardo Carnicero and
another Spaniard. His share amounted to 6,200 pesos. A Portion of Rizal’s winnings was used in
purchasing land approximately one kilometer away from Dapitan in a place known as Talisay.
He built his house on the seashore of Talisay as well as a school and a hospital within the area.

Rizal’s house and clinic in Dapitan

Contributions in Dapitan
The Dapitan Town plaza with the big relief map of Mindanao was Rizal’s project to improve and
beautify the place. He was helped by his former professor in Ateneo, Fr. Francisco Sanchez. And
the Talisay water system which he and his pupils constructed to supply the town with water for
drinking and irrigation. He also developed a system for the lighting and cleaning of the areas to
avoid mosquitos.

Rizal established a school that catered to education of the young people for free.

Rizal initiated the founding of a cooperative for the fishermen in Talisay as well as for the
farmers. He also worked for the development of the sugar, abaca and lumber trading.
 Rizal taught the more advance system of farming.

Rizal developed studies about the different species that could be found in Dapitan. Some of the
animal species were named after him: Rhacophorus rizali, a frog, and the Apogonia rizali, a
beetle.
In Dapitan, Rizal wrote a letter to Fr. Pablo Pastells S.J, to defend himself against the accusation
of the priest.

Literary Works of Rizal while in Dapitan

 El Canto Viajero
 A Ricardo Carnicero
 Mi Retiro
 Hymn to Talisay

Having heard of Rizal’s fame as an ophthalmologist, George Taufer who was suffering from an
eye ailment travelled from Hong Kong to Dapitan. He was accompanied by his adopted
daughter, Josephine Bracken, who eventually fell in love with Rizal. Rizal was also attracted to
the charming face and kind behaviour of Josephine. His mother objected to their relationship
because Josephine had mysterious origin. She had a modest education and worked in a restaurant
in Hong Kong. But Jose Rizal asked his parents and sisters to accept Josephine because
according to Rizal, Josephine tried her best to make him happy. They lived as husband and wife
in Rizal’s octagonal house after being denied the sacrament of marriage by Father Obach, the
parish priest of Dapitan, due to Rizal’s refusal to retract his statements against the church and to
accept other conditions. The union of Rizal and Josephine was blessed with a son. Unfortunately,
the Rizal’s son died because of being premature. He named him Francisco.
 Josephine Bracken, the Dulce Estrangera for Rizal

On the eve of June 21, 1896, Dr. Pio Valenzuela together with a blind man, Raymundo Mata
visited Rizal in Dapitan and informed him about the founding of Katipunan and the planned
revolution. Rizal objected to it, citing the importance of a well-planned movement with sufficient
arms.

Dr. Ferdinand Blumentritt updated Rizal on World events. He suggested that Rizal volunteer his
services to the Spanish government and join forces as a doctor in Cuba as means to end his exile.

Meanwhile, Rizal had been sending letters to then Governor-General Ramon Blanco. Twice he
sent letters, one in 1894 and another in 1895. He asked for a review of his case. He said that if
his request would not be granted, he would volunteer to serve as a surgeon under the Spanish
army fighting in the Cuban revolution.

On July 30, 1896, Rizal’s request to go to Cuba was approved. The next day, he left for Manila
on board the steamer España. And on September 3, 1896, he boarded the steamer Isla de Panay
which would bring him to Barcelona. Upon arriving at the fort, however, General Despujol told
him that there was an order to ship him back to Manila. On November 3, 1896, Rizal arrived in
Manila and was immediately brought to Fort Santiago.

Trial and Execution

The preliminary investigation of Rizal’s case began on November 20, 1896. He was accused of
being the main organizer of the revolution by having had proliferated the ideas of rebellion and
of founding illegal organizations. Rizal pleaded not guilty and even wrote a manifesto appealing
to the revolutionaries to discontinue the uprising. Rizal’s lawyer, Lt. Luis Taviel de Andrade,
tried his best to save Rizal.
Governor-General Blanco reviewed all the things related to the case of Rizal and the friars were
not happy with the way Blanco was handling the case. So using their influence, they replaced
Blanco and appointed Governor General Camillo Polavieja.

On December 26, 1896, the Court Martial trial of Rizal started in the Cuartel de España, a
military building. Lt. Enrique Alcocer, the prosecuting lawyer, delivered a very long speech,
enumerating the charges against Rizal. He tried very hard to convince the members of the
military court to give the death verdict to Rizal, the accused. Upon hearing Lt. Alcocer’s petition,
the Spanish noisily cheered and clapped their hands.

Defense Council Luis Taviel de Andrade’s defense of Rizal came next. He ended by reminding
the judges to be just and avoid vindictiveness when making decisions.

The court asked Rizal if he wanted to add other things to Lt. Taviel de Andrade’s defense of his
case. Rizal answered in the affirmative and read his supplementary defense, which consisted of
twelve statements:

1. Starting in July 1892, he had no political affiliation or any participation in any political
acts. And when the Katipuneros asked Pio Valenzuela to talk to him about the plan, he
tried to convince him that they should go back on the side of the government and
cooperate.
2. It was not true that he had conversation or correspondence to the rebels and there was no
letter that could prove his communications to the leader of KK.
3. His decision to become a volunteer doctor to Cuba was the evidence that he wanted to
reconcile with the Spanish government. And if he had intention to escape, he could have
done it while he was in Singapore.
4. In Dapitan, he had a small boat or Kayak which he could use if he really had intention to
escape or join the rebel group.
5. If he was the leader of the uprising, he should know all the plans and the other members
should constantly ask for his advice.
6. The truth was that he only established the La Liga Filipina, a civic society which aimed
for the reform of the government.
7. The aims of La Liga Filipina were not realized because of his deportation to Dapitan.
8. He was not aware of the continuous establishment of La Liga Filipina after his
deportation to Dapitan.
9. The La Liga Filipina had no connection to the KKK since their aims were in contrast.
10. The time when he wrote his novel should be considered because the injustices that he
discussed in his works were based on the injustices that his family had experienced.
11. In his four years of deportation in Dapitan, he followed all the rules and this could be
attested by his guards and other missionaries who had contact with him during his
deportation.
 12. All the things that the authorities accused him of were baseless and there was no one who
could testify to his direct involvement to the uprising.

However, the trial ended and the sentence was read. Jose Rizal was found guilty and sentenced
to death by firing squad.

On December 28, 1896, Governor-General Camilo de Polavieja signed the court decision. He
later decreed that Rizal be executed by firing squad at 7:00 a.m. of December 30. On December
29, 1896, Rizal was informed about the decision and he was not surprised. On his remaining
time, he wrote letters to his family and friends.

Rizal on his last remaining days composed his longest poem, Mi Ultimo Adios, which was about
his farewell to the Filipino people. When his mother and sisters visited him on December 29,
1896, Rizal gave away his remaining possessions. He handed his gas lamp to his sister Trinidad
and murmured softly in English, “There is something inside.” Eventually, Trining and her sister
Maria would extract from the lamp the copy of Rizal’s last poem.

The gas lamp and the poem he wrote which his sister’s Trining and Maria would extract from the
lamp after their last meeting with their brother in the prison cell at Fort Santiago.
 The last letters of Rizal for his parents while awaiting his execution.

At 6:30 in the morning of December 30, 1896, Rizal in black suit with his arms tied behind his
back, walked to Bagumbayan. The orders were given and shots were fired. Consummatum est!
(“It is finished!”) Rizal died offering his life for his country and its freedom.

Jose Rizal’s death was welcomed by the Spanish spectators, as they shouted: Viva España! Or
“Long Live Spain!’’ but the Filipinos, as expected, were very sad and angry at the same time.
Rizal, their defender, died a martyr to Filipino freedom.

References

1. Francisco, Virlyn and Francisco, Paul Micah (2018). Rizal, A modular Approach Based on the New CHED
Curriculum. Intramuros, Manila. Mindshapers Co. Inc.
2. Obias, Rhodalyn O, Mallari, Aaron A, and Estella, Janet R (2018). The Life and Works of Jose Rizal.
Quezon, City. C & E Publishing Inc.
3. De Viana, Augusto V. Cabrera, Helena Ma F., et al. (2018) Jose Rizal: Social Reformer and Patriot, A
Study of His Life and Times. Manila. Rex Book Store.
4. Grey, Evelyn J. Biong, Ryan D. Erebaren, Gerardo C. (2017). Readings in Philippine History, Professor’s
Edition. Jaro, Iloilo. Malones Printing Press and Publishing House.