Chapter 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 corres- pondence with his family, relatives, fellow reformists, and emi- nent scientists 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 conditions:? 1, “That Rizal publicly retract his errors concerning religion, and make statements that were clearly pro-Spanish and against revolution. 2. “That he perform the church rites and make a general confession of his past life. 3. “That henceforth he conduct himself in an exemplary manner as a Spanish subject and a man of relig- fon”, 209 aeJOSE RIZAL: LIFE, WORKS AND WRITINGS ‘ ne ith these conditions. Consequen, Rizal did not agree ea ee Captain Carnicen’® he lived in the house of the © warden) and Rizal (tho Zhe relations between Camnicero (the (the pris. oner) were warm friendly. als fi ati . charmed by Rizal’s fine qualities and pe, ae an ther at the same table and had many friend}, any: Lethe came to know that Rizal was not } common felon, much less a filibustero. ae fave good 1 his prisoner to Governor Despujol. He gave him comple, fecdou to go anywhere, reporting only once a week a hi, office, and permitted Rizal, who was a good equestrian, to ride his chestnut horse. 1 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-Carnicero, thinking 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 the 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 Lot: tery. Rizal’s share of the winning lottery ticket was P6,200. Upon receiving this sum, 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 Manil a 1 a la Lottery reveals an aspect eae side. He never drank hard liquor and never smok of from 1880 7 TY Addict. During his frst sojourn in Madrid 885 he always invested at least three pesetas evel! 220Exile In Dapitan (1892-1896) month in lottery tickets.> “This was his only vice,” slao E. ., his only vice,’ commented | Retana, his first Spanish biographer and former Rizal-Pastells Debate on Religion. During his exile in Dapitan Rizal had a long and scholarly debate with Father Pasiciis on religion. It started when Father Pastells sent him a book by Sarda, with advice that the latter (Rizal) should desist from his majaderas (foolishness) in viewing religion from the prism of individual judgment. and self-esteem. . This interesting Teligious debate may be read in four letters written by Rizal, as follows: (1) September 1, 1892; (2) November 11, 1892; (3) January 9, 1893; and (4) April 4, 1893; and in Father Pastells’ replies dated: (1) October 12, 1892, (2) December 8, 1892, (3) February 2, 1893, and (4) April (no exact date), 1893.” In all his letters to Father Pastells, Rizal revealed his anti- Catholic ideas which he had acquired in Europe and embitterment at his persecution by the bad friars. It is understandable why he was bitter against the friars who committed certain abuses under the cloak of religion. As he wrote to Blumentritt from Paris on January 20, 1890: “I want to hit the friars, but only friars who ‘utilized religion not only as a shield, but also as a weapon, castle, fortress, armor, etc.; I was forced to attack their false and supertitious religion in order to fight the enemy who hid himself behind it”.* According to Rizal, individual judgment is a gift from God and everybody should use it like a lantern to show the way and that self-esteem, if moderated by judgment, saves man from unworthy acts. He-also argued that the pursuit of truth may lie in different paths, and thus “religions may vary, but they all lead to the light”. Father Pastells tried his best to win back Rizal to the fold of Catholicism. Divine Faith, he told Rizal, supersedes every- thing, including reason, self-esteem, and individual judgment. No matter how wise a man is, he argued, his intelligence is limited, hence he needs the guidance of God. He refuted Rizal’s attacks on Catholic dogmas as misconceptions of rationalism and naturalism,-crrors of misguided souls. Se R21JOSE RIZAL: LIFE, WORKS AND WRITINGS i i rilliant polemicists This interesting debate between two bril p ended inconclusively. Rizal could not be convinced by Pastelis' arguments so that he lived in Dapitan beyond the pale of his Mother Church. In spite of their religious differences, Rizal and Pastells remained good friends. Father Pastells gave Rizal a copy of the Imitacién de Cristo (Imitation of Christ), a famous Catholic book by Father Thomas a Kempis. And Rizal, in grateful reciprocation, gave his Jesuit opponent in debate a bust of St. Paul which he “had made. Although Rizal did not subscribe to Pastells’ religious interpretation of Catholic dogmas, he.continued to be a Catholic, He continued to hear Mass at the Catholic church of Dapitan and celebrate Christmas’ and other religious fiestas in the Catholic way. His Catholicism, however, was the Catholicism that inquires and enlightens, the “Catholicism of Renan and Teilhard de Chardin”.'° Rizal Challenges a Frenchman to a Duel. While Rizal was still debating with Father Pastells by. means of exchange of letters, he became involved in a quarrel with a French acquaintance in Dapitan, Mr. Juan Lardet, a businessman. This man purchased many logs from the lands of Rizal. It so happened that some of the logs were of poor quality. Lardet, in a letter written to Antonio Miranda, a Dapitan merchant and friend of Rizal, expressed his disgust with the business deal and stated that “if he (Rizal — Z.) were a truthful man, he would have told me that the lumber not included in the account were bad”. Miranda indiscreetly forwarded Lardet’s letter to Rizal. One of the hero’s weaknesses, it should be noted was his sensitivity. When he read Lardet’s letter, he flared up in anger, regarding the Frenchman’s unsavory comment as an affront to his integrity. Immediately, he confronted Lardet and challenged him to a duel. When the commandant heard of the incident, Carnicero told the Frenchman to apologize rather than accept the challenge. ‘My friend, you have not a Chinaman’s chance in a fight with Rizal on a field of honor. Rizal is an expert in martial ar’, Particularly in fencing and Pistol shooting”. 222Exile In Dapitan (1892-1896) Heeding the commandant’s advi i in French, dated Dapitan, March air, ts Ske insulting comment. Rizal, as a gentleman and wellversed in pundonor (Hispanic chivalric code) accepted the apology, and good relations between hitn and the Frenchman were restored. It is interesting to recall that twice before hi: itivi caused him to challenge people to a duel — ‘Antonio. tna 1890 and W. E. Retana in the same year. Rizal and Father Sanchez. Father Pastells, aside from his personal efforts to persuade Rizal to discard his “errors of religion”, instructed two Jesuits in Mindanao — Father Obach, cura of Dapitan, and Father Jose Vilaclara, cura of Dipolog — to try their best to bring back Rizal within the Catholic fold. Furthermore, he assigned Father Francisco de Paula Sanchez, Rizal’s favorite teacher at the Ateneo de Manila, to Dapitan. Father Sanchez, since Rizal’s days at the Ateneo, had spent three years in Europe and returned to Manila in 1881 to resume teaching at the Ateneo and to head its museum. He was the only Spanish priest to defend Rizal’s Noli Me Tangere in public.'* Immediately, upon his arrival in Dapitan, Father Sanchez lost no time in meeting his former favorite student: Of all the Jesuits, he was the most beloved and esteemed by Rizal. Almost daily they carried theological arguments in a friendly manner. But all efforts of Sanchez were in vain. For once, Rizal could not be convinced by his former beloved teacher. Despite his failure to persuade Rizal to discard his unor- thodox views on the Catholic religion, Father Sanchez enjoyed the latter’s company. He assisted Rizal in beautifying the town plaza. On his birthday, Rizal gave him a precious birthday gift — a manuscript entitled: Estudios sobre la lengua tagala (Studies on the Tagalog Language), — a Tagalog grammar, which Rizal wrote and which he dedicated to his beloved former teacher. 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 Spanish power in the Moroland. Among them were his mother; sisters Trinidad, Maria, Narcisa; and nephews Teodosio, Estanislao, Mauricio, and Prudencio. He 223JOSE RIZAL: LIFE, WORKS AND WRITINGS built his house by the seashore of Talisay, surrounded by fruit trees. He had also another house for his school boys and g hospital for his patients. Describing his life in Dapitan, Rizal wrote to Blumentritt on December 19, 1893: I shall tell you how we live here. I have three houses: one square, another hexagonal, and a third octagonal, all of bam- boo, 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 seashore, the sea where I have. small boats, two canoes or barotos, as they say here. I have many fruit trees, mangoes, lanzones, guayabanos, baluno, nanka, 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, sweatmeats, etc. Later I treat my Poor patients who come to my land; I dress, go to the town in my baroto, treat the people there, and return at 12, when my luncheon awaits me.-Then I teach the boys until 4 P.M. and devote the afternoon 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, sis- ters 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. This 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 relative, showing a photo of Rizalanda pair of but- tons with the initials “P.M.” (Pablo Mercado) as evidence of his kinship with the Rizal family. __Inthe course of their conversation the strange visitor offered his services as a confidential courier of Rizal’s letters 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 mindfui of his 224Exile In Dapitan (1892-1896) 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 away. After the departure of his bogus relative, Rizal attended to his daily chores, forgetting the incident of the previous night. Later. he learned that the rascal was still in Dapitan, telling people that he was a beloved relative of Dr. Rizal. Losing his cool, he went to the comandancia and denounced the impostor to Captain Juan Sitges (who succeeded Captain Carnicero on May 4, 1893 as commandant of Dapitan. Without much ado, Sitges ordered the arrest of “Pablo Mercado” and instructed Anastacio Adriatico, to investigate him immediately. The truth came out during this investigation. The real name of “Pablo Mercado” was Florencio Namanan. He was a native of Cagayan de Misamis, single and about 30 years old. He was hired by the Recollect friars to a secret mission in Dapitan — to introduce himself to Rizal as a friend and relative, to spy on Rizal’s activities, and to filch certain letters and writings of Rizal which might incriminate him in the revolutionary movement. Strangely, Commandant Sitges suddenly quashed the investiga- tion and released the spy. He promptly forwarded the transcripts, of the investigation together with his official report to Governor General Blanco who, in turn, kept these documents as highly confidential. Rizal, who was surprised at the turn of events, requested for a copy of the proceedings of the investigation, but Sitges denied his request. As now declassified and preserved at the Biblioteca Nacional in Madrid, these documents contain certain mysterious deletions. These available documents on the failed mission of the friars’spy have been quoted by three Rizalist_ biographers — Retana (1907), Palma (1949), and Jose Baron Fernandez (1982). But none of these biographers quoted the text of another docu- ment which is more reliable and valuable in clarifying the whole incident. It is Rizal's Letter to his brother-in-law, Manuel T. Hidalgo, written in Dapitan, December 20, 1893, as follows:'* My Dear Brother-in-Law Maneng, I was unable to write you by the previous mail for lack of time, for the boat left unexpectedly. 225JOSE RIZAL: LIFE, WORKS AND WRITINGS With regard to Pablo Mercado, I tell you that he came here presenting himself as a courteous friend in order to get from me my letters, writings, etc.; but I found him out soon, and if I did not throw him out of the house brusquely, it was because I always want to be nice and polite to everyone. Nevertheless, as it was raining, I let him sleep here, sending him away very early the next day. I was going to let him alone in contempt but the rascal went around saying secretly, that he was my cousin or brother-in-law, I reported him to the Commandant who had him arrested. It was revealed in his declaration that he was sent by the Recollects who gave him P72 and promised him more if he succeeded in wrestling from me my letters for certain persons in Manila. The rascal told me that he was a cousin of one Mr. Litonjua, son of Luis Chiquito, according to him and brother-in-law of Marciano Ramirez. He wanted me to write to these gentlemen. He brought along besides a picture of mine, saying that it was given to him by one Mr. Legaspi of Tondo or San Nicolas, 1 don’t remember exactly. It seems that he belongs to a gcod family of Cagayan de Misamis. Be careful of him, he is a tall boy, somewhat thickset, slightly squint-eyed, dark, slender, broad shoulders, and of impudent manners. He smokes much, spits more, and has thin lips. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Your brother-in-law who loves you, (Signed) Jose Rizal Based- upon all these available documentary sources, the incident of the secret mission of “Pablo Mercado” in Dapitan was not an “Assassination Attempt on Rizal.” It.was merely an espionage plot concocted by the friars. As Physician in Dapitan. Rizal practised 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 have even to give medicine gratis.”!’ He had, however, some rich Patients who paid him handsomely for his sur:icai skill. 226Exile In Dapitan (1892-1896) In August 1893 his mother and si ia) arrived i Dapitan and srelk with him for one year Fa Pa ee peak on his mother’s right eye. The operation was successful, but Dofia Teodora, ignoring her son’s instructions, removed the bandages from her eyes, thereby 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 mem- bers of his family.”"° Fortunately, the infection was arrested so that Dofia Teodora’s sight, thanks to her son’s ophthalmic pro- wess, was fully restored. : Rizal’s fame.as a physician, particularly as an eye specialist, p ad far and wide. He had many patients who came from different parts of the Philippines — from Luzon, Bohol, Cebu, Panay, Negros, and Mindanao — and even from Hong Kong. A tich 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 P500. Don Florencio Azacarraga, a rich hacendero of Aklan, was also cured of eye ailment, and paid Rizal a cargo of sugar." As a physician, 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. 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: 22,JOSE RIZAL: LIFE, WORKS AND WRITINGS Another famous and well-known water supply is that af Dapitan, Mindanao, designed and constructed by Dr. Rizal during his banishment in that municipality by the Spanish authorities... This supply corhes 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 blast 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 flutted tiles from the house roofs, and was covered with concrete made from lime. 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 that I can for this town.”!9 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. This lighting system consisted of coconut oil lamps placed in the dark streets of Dapitan. Electric lighting was unknown then in the Philippines. It was 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 remodelled the town plaza in order to enhance its beauty. He jokingly remarked that he would make it nicely so that it could “rival the best in Europe”. In front of the church, Rizal and Father Sanchez made a huge relief map of Mindanao Out of carth, stones and grass. This map still adorns the town Plaza of Dapitan. Rizal as Teacher. Since boyhood Rizal knew the value of good education. During his travels abroad he observed the 228_—————__—— Exile In Onpitan (1892-1806) His exile to Dapitan gave him ractice his educational ideas. In 1993 he established a school which existed until the end of his exile in July, 1896. It began with three pupils and in the course of time the enrolment increased to 16 and later to 21. In his letter to Blumentritt on March 13, Rizal said that he had 16 pupils in his school and that these pupils did not pay any tuition.2° Instead of charging them tuition fees, he made them work in his garden, fields, and construction projects in the community. the opportunity to put into Rizal taught his boys reading, writing, languages (Spanish and English), geography, history, mathematics (arithmetic and geometry), industrial work, nature study, morals, and gymnas- tics.7! He trained them how to collect specimens of plants and animals, to love work, and to “behave like men”. Formal classes were conducted between 2:00 p.m. and 4:00 p-m. Rizal, the teacher, sat on a hammock, while the pupils sat on a long bamboo bench. On one day the lessons were conducted in Spanish; on the next day, in English. As in the Ateneo, the best pupil was called “emperor” and he sat at the head of the bench; the poorest pupil occupied the end of the bench. During the recess the pupils built fires in the garden to drive away the insects, pruned the fruit rees, and manured the soil. Outside the class hours, Rizal encouraged them to play games in order to strengthen their bodies. They had gymnastics, boxing, wrestling, stone-throwing, swimming, arnis (native fenc- ing), and boating. “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 @ poem entitled “Himno A Talisay” for his pupils to sing: HYMN TO TALISAY At Dapitan, the sandy shoreJOSE RIZAL: LIFE, WORKS AND WRITINGS 230 And rocks aloft on mountain crest Form thy throne, O refuge blest, ‘That we from childhood days have known. In your vales that flowers adorn And your fruitiful leafy shade, Our thinking powers are being made, And soul with body being grown. We are youth not long on earth But our souls are free from sorrow; Calm, strong men we'll be tomorrow, Who can guard our families’ rights. Lads are we whom naught can frighten, Whether thunder, waves, or rain Swift of arm, serene of mien In peril, shall we wage our fights. With our games we chum the sand, Through the caves and crags we roam, On the rocks we make our home, Everywhere our arms can reach. Neither dark nor night obscure Cause us fear, nor fierce torment That even Satan can invent Life or death? We must face each! “Talisayans”, people call us! Mighty souls in bodies small Over Dapitan’s district all No Talisay like this towers. None can match our reservoir. Our diving pool the sea profound! No rowing boat the world around For a moment can pass ours. We study sciences exact; The history of our motherland; Three languages or four command; Bring faith and reason in accord. Our hands can manage at one time The sail and working spade and pen, The mason’s maul — for virile men Companions — and the gun and sword.Exile In Dapitan (1892-1896) Live, live, O leafy green Talisay! Our voices sing thy praise in chorus ‘Clear star, and precious treasure for us. Our childhood’s wisdom and its balm. In fights that wait for every man, In sorrow and adversity, Thy memory a charm will be, And in the tomb, thy name, thy calm. CHORUS Hail, O Talisay! Firm and untiring Ever aspiring, Stately thy gait. Things, everywhere In sea, land and air Shalt thou dominate. 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 scientists sent him scientific books and surgical instruments. During his four-year exile in Dapitan, Rizal built up a rich collection of concology which consisted of 346 shells representing 203 species.* He discovered some rare specimens which were nained in his honor by the scientists. Among these wese 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, Sub- anum, and Malay languages. He wrote a Tagalog grammar, made 231 | “aaJOSE RIZAL: LIFE, WORKS AND WRITINGS 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 linguists. He knew 22 languages, as follows: Tagalog, okano, Bisayan, Subanun, Spanish, Latin, Greek, English, French, German, Arabic, Malay, Hebrew, Sanskrit, Dutch, Catalan, Italian, Chinese, Japanese, Portuguese, Swedish, and Russian. Artistic Works in Dapitan. Rizal continued his artistic pur- suits in Dapitan. He contributed his painting skill to the Sisters of Charity who were preparing the sanctuary of the Holy Virgin in. their private chapel. For the sake of economy, the head of the image was “procured from abroad”.”” The vestments conce- aling all the rest of the figure except the feet, which rested upon a globe encircled by a snake in whose mouth is an apple, were made by the sisters. Rizal modeled the right foot of the image, the apple, and the serpent’s head. He also designed the exquisite curtain, which was painted in oil by an artist Sister under his direction. Rizal made sketches of persons and things that attracted him in Dapitan. He drew, for instance, the three rare species of animal life — the dragon, the frog, and the beetle — which he had discovered. He had sketches of the numerous fishes he caught in Dapitan waters. One day in 1894 some of his pupils secretly went to Dapitan in a boat from Talisay; a puppy of Syria (Rizal’s dog) tried to follow and was devoured by a crocodile. Rizal reprimanded them, telling them that had they not disobeyed his advice not 10 go to town without his permission the puppy would not have died and the mother-dog: would have been spared the sorrow of losing an offspring. To stress the moral of the incident, he modeled a statuette representing the mother-dog killing the crocodile, by way of avenging her lost Puppy, and called it “The Mother's Revenge” Other sculptural works of Rizal in Dapitan were a bust of Father Guerrico (one of his Atenco Professors), a statue of a 232Exile In Dapitan (1892-1896) girl called “The Dapitan Girl,” a woodcarvin i Bracken (his wife), and a bust of St. Paul eae ie ee Father Pastells. ch be gave : — pricier 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 ions 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 ‘0 hectares, 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 agricul- ture 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 ot establishing an agricultural colony.in the sitio of Ponot near Sindagan 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.” Unfortu- nately this colony did not materialize, like his previous Borneo colonization, because he could not get the support of the govern- ment.? 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 Satur- nina and Hidalgo to come to Mindanao, for there “is vast and ample field for 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 233JOSE RIZAL: LIFE, WORKS AND WRITINGS that the town has a good beach like Calamba and there ig abundant fish in the sea; however, the fishing folks, using primi. tive methods of fishing, were able only to catch small fishes, Accordingly, he instructed Hidalgo to help him buy a big net for trawl fishing (pukutan) 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 P7 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 P200 in one stroke,.™* On May 14, 1893, Rizal formed a business partnership with Ramon Carreon (Dapitan businessman) in lime manufacturing.** Their limeburner had a monthly capacity of more than 400 bags of lime. To break the Chinese monopoly on business in Dapitan, Rizal organized on January 1, 1895 the Cooperative Association of Dapitan Farmers. According to its constitution, which he had drafted, its purposes were “to improve the farm products, obtain better outlets for them, collect funds for their purchases, and help the producers and workers by establishing a store wherein they can buy prime commodities at moderate prices”.*° Rizal’s Inventive Ability. One little-known fact about Rizal was that he was also an inventor. It should be remembered that in 1887, while practising medicine in Calamba, he invented a cigarette lighter which he sent as a gift to Blumentritt. He called it “sulpukan”. This unique cigarette lighter was made of wood. “Its mechanism”, said Rizal, “is based on the principle of com- pressed 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 234 Sil,Exile In Oapitan (1892-1896) d make more or less 6,000 bricks ing of bri aday. .. in Bel- dont tts Sin us 2 SFT puppo3e in Boe i Saw also a mount of bricks on the ea sethod; if this is Ae make bricks by means of a dif- - , Please it : baked such that not much heat is stort how the bricks are ee ok, s February, 1895, Doiia Teodora, with her cxesige a rn , teturned to Manila. During her long stay ’ 7" na ee ay oe her talented son was and gegretted ‘ 1 Muses, She ted hi i me : requested him to write In response to her request, Rizal wrote a beauti 4 o . autiful poem about his serene life as an exile in Dapitan and sent it to’ bet 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. It is as follows: MY RETREAT By the spreading beach where the sands are soft and fine At the foot of the mouth in its mantle of green Ihave built my hut in the pleasant grove’s confine; From the forest seeking peace and a calmness divine, Rest for the weary brain and silence to my sorrow’s keen. Its roof of the frail palm-leaf and its floor the cane. Its beams and posts of the unhewn wood; Little there is of value in this hut so plain, And better by far in the lap of the mount to have lain, By the song and the murmur of the high sea’s flood. A purling brook from the woodland glade Drops down o’er the stones and around it sweeps, ‘Whence a fresh stream is drawn by the rough cane’s aid; That in the still night its murmur has made, ‘And in the day’s heat a crystal fountain leaps. When the sky is serene how gently it flows, And its zither unseen ceaselessly Plays; But when the -rains fall a torrent it goes Boiling and foaming through the rocky close, Roaring uncheck’d to the sea’s wide ways.JOSE RIZAL: LIFE, WORKS AND WRITINGS The howl of the dog and the song of the bird, And only the kalao’s hoarse call resound; Nor is the voice of vain man to be heard; My mind to harass or my steps to begird; ‘The woodlands alone and the sea wrap me round. ‘The sea, ah, the sea! for me it is all, And it massively sweeps from the world’s apart; Its smile in the mom to my soul is a call, And when in the evening my faith seems to pall, It breathes with its sadness on echo to my heart. By night an arcanum; when translucent it glows, All spangled over with its millions of lights, And the bright sky above resplendent shows; While the waves with their sighs tell of their woes — Tales that are lost as they roll to the heights. They tell of the world when the first dawn broke, And the sunlight over their surface played; When thousands of beings from nothingness woke, To people the depths and the heights to cloak, Wherever its life-giving kiss was laid. But when in the night the wild winds awake, And the waves in their fury begin to leap, ‘Through the air rush the cries that my mind shake; Voices that pray, songs and moans that partake Of laments from the souls sunk down in the deep. Then from their heights the mountains groan, And the trees shiver tremulous from great unto least; The groves rustle plaintive and the herds utter moan, For they say that the ghost of the folk that are gone Are calling them down to their death’s merry feast. In terror and confusion whispers the night, While blue and green flames flit over the deep; But calm reigns with the morning’s light, And soon the bold fisherman comes into sight, | And his bark rushes on and the waves sink to’sleep. So onward glide the days in my lonely abode; | Driven forth from the world where once I was known, J muse o'er the fate upon me bestowed; | A fragrant forgotten that the moss will corrode, To hide from mankind the world in me shown,Exile In Dapiten (1892-1896) [live in thought of the lov’d ones, left And of their names to my mind are borne; Some have forsaken me and some by death are reft; But now ‘tis all one, as through the past I drift . ‘That past which from one never be torn. , For it is the friend that is with me always, ‘That ever in sorrow keeps the faith in my soul; while through the still night it watches and pra S, ‘As here in my exile in my one hut it stays To strengthen my faith when doubts o’er me roll. ‘That faith I keep and I hope to see shine ‘The day when the Idea prevails over might; When after the fray and death's show decline. Some other voice sounds, far happer than'mine, To raise the glad of the triumph of right. I see the sky glow, refulgent and clear, ‘As when it forced on me my first dear illusion; I feel the same wind kiss my forehead sore, ‘And the fire is the same that is burning here To stir up youth’s blood in boiling confusion. I breathe here the winds that perchance have pass’d Over the fields and the rivers of my own natal shore; ‘And mayhap they will bring on the returning blast The sighs that lov'd being upon them has cast — Messages sweet from the love I first bore. To see the same moon, all'silver'd as.of yore.. I feel the sad thoughts within me arise; ‘The fond recollections of the troth we swore. Of the field and the bower and the wide seashore, ‘The blushes of joy, with the silence and sighs. A butterfly seeking the flowers and the light, _Of other lands dreaming of vaster’ extent; Scarce a youth, from home and love I took flight, To wander unheeding, free from doubt of affright — So in foreign lands were my brightest days spent. ‘And when like a languishing bird I was fain To the home of my fathers and my love to return, Of a sudden the fierce tempest roar'd amain; So,I saw my wings shattered and no home remain, My trust sold to others and wrecks round me burn.JOSE RIZAL: LIFE, WORKS AND WRITINGS Hiur'd out into exile from the land T adore, My future all dark and no refuge t0 Sees My roseate dreams hover, round me once ‘more, Sole treasures of all that life to me bore; ‘The faiths of youth that with sincerity speak. But not as of old, full of life and of grace, Do you hold out hopes of undying reward; Sadder I find you; on your lov'd face, Though still sincere, the pale lines trace The marks of the faith it is yours to guard. ‘You offer now, dreams, my gloom to appease, And the years of my youth again to disclose; So I thank you, O storm, and heaven-born breeze, That you knew of the hour my wild flight to ease, To cast me back to the soil whence I rose. By the spreading beach where the sands are soft and fine, At the foot of the mount in its mantle of green; Thave found a home in the pleasant grove’s confine, In the shady woods, that peace and calmness divine, Rest for the weary brain and silence to my sorrow keen, 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. Geori Taufer, whe later became blind. Deets geen No ophthalmic specialist in Hong Kong could cure Mr. Taufer's blindness so that he, accompanied by his adopted daugh- ter Josephine went to Manila to seek the services of the famous 238Exile In Dapitan (1892-1896) ophthalmic surgeon, Dr. Rizal. They heard in the ci Rizal was in Dapitan, where they proceeded — Sconeealal by a Falipina eee Manuela Orlac. They presented to izal a card of introduction by Julio LI is fri Saree as y- lorente, his friend and Rizal and Josephine ‘fell in love with e: wee ach 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. ‘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. Rizal and Josephine lived happily in Dapitan. In several letters to his family, Rizal praised Josephine and revealed his new happiness. He was no longer lonely. Dapitan had become for him a heaven of bliss. At one time, Rizai wrote a poem for Josephine, which runs as follows: Josephine, Josephine Who to these shores have come Looking for a nest, a home, Like a wandering swallow; If your fate is taking you To Japan, China or Shanghai, Don’t forget on these shores A heart for you beats high. 239JOSE RIZAL: LIFE, WORKS AND WRITINGS In the early part of 1896 Rizal was extremely happy because Josephine was expecting a baby. Unfortunately, he Played a prank on her, frightening her so that she prematurely gave birth to an eight-month baby boy, who lived only for three hours. This lost son of Rizal was named “Francisco” in honor of Don Francisco (the hero’s father) and was buried in Dapitan. Rizal and the Katipunan. While Rizal was mourning the loss of his son, ominous clouds of revolution gradually darkened the Philippine skies, Andres Bonifacio, the “Great Plebeian,” was sowing the seeds of an armed uprising. The secret revolutio- nary society, called Katipunan, which he founded on July 7, 1892, was gaining more and more adherents. In a secret meeting of the Katipunan at a little river called Bitukang Manok, near the town of Pasig, on May 2, 1896, Dr. Pio Valenzuela was named emmisary to Dapitan, in order to inform Rizal of the plan of the Katipunan to launch a revolution for freedom’s sake. On June 15, Dr. Valenzuela left Manila on board the steamer Venus. To camouflage his real mission, he brought with him a blind man named Raymundo Mata and a guide, ostensibly going to Dapitan to solicit Rizal’s expert medical advice. Dr. Valenzuela arrived in Dapitan in the evening of June 21, 1896. Rizal, ever a hospitable host, welcomed him. After supper, the two had a heart-to-heart talk in the garden. Valen- zuela told him of the Katipunan plan and of the necessity of his support.*© Rizal objected to Bonifacio’s audacious project to plunge the country in bloody revolution. He was of the sincere belief that it was premature, for two reasons: (1) the people are not ready for a revolution, and (2) arms and funds must first be collected before raising the cry of revolution. He also disapproved of the other plan of the Katipunan to rescue him because he had given his word of honor to the Spanish authorities and he did not want to break it. Volunteers as Military Doctor in Cuba. Months before the Katipunan contacted him, Rizal had offered his services as milit- ary doctor in Cuba, which was then in the throes of a rev~lution and a raging yellow fever epidemic. There was a shortage of 240 ‘Exile In Dapiten (1892-1898) icians to minister to the needs of the Spanish troops and ae Cuban people. It was Blumentritt who told him: of the deplorable health situation in war-ridden Cuba and advised him to volunteer as army physician there. Acting upon Blumentritt’s advice, Rizal wrote to Governor General Ramon Blanco, Despujol’s successor, on December 17, 1995, offering his services as military doctor in Cuba. Months sed and he received no reply fron: Malacafiang. He gave up hope that his humanitarian offer would ever receive government approval. When he least expected it, a letter from Governor Blanco dated July 1, 1896 arrived in Dapitan, notifying him of the acceptance of his offer. This letter, which reached him on July 30th, also stated that the politico-military commander of Dapitan would give him a pass so that he could come to Manila, where he would be given a safe-conduct to Spain, “and there the Minister of War will assign you to the Army of Operations in Cuba, detailed to the Medical Corps”.‘” “The Song of the Traveler”. Great was Rizal’s joy in receiv- | img the gladsome news from Malacafiang. At last, he was free! | once more, he was going to travel — to Europe and then to | Cuba. It was with this joyous thought of resuming his travels that he wrote his heart-warming poem “El Canto del Viajero” | (The Song of the Traveler) which runs in full:** THE SONG OF THE TRAVELER Like to a leaf that is fallen and withered, Tossed by the tempest from pole unto pole; Thus roams the pilgrim abroad without purpose, Roams without love, without country or soul. Following anxiously treacherous fortune; Fortune which e’en as he grasps at it flees, Vain though the hopes that his yearning is seeking Yet does the pilgrim embark on the seas, Ever impelled by the invisible power, Destined to roam from the East to the West; Oft he remembers the faces of loved ones, Dreams of the day when he, too, was at rest. 241 , eeJOSE RIZAL: LIFE, WORKS AND WRITINGS, Chance may assign him tomb on the desert, Grant him a final asylum of peace; Soon by the world and his country forgotten, God rest his soul when his wanderings cease! Often the sorrowing pilgrim is envied, Circling the globe like a sea-gull above; Little, ab, little they know what a void Saddens his soul by the absence of love. Home may the pilgrim return in the future, Back to his loved ones his footsteps he bends; Naught will he find out snow and the ruins, Ashes of love and the tomb of his friends. Pilgrim, begone! Nor return more hereafter, Stranger thou art in the land of thy birth; “ Others may sing of their love while rejoicing, “Thou once again’ must roam o’er the earth. . Pilgrim, ‘begone! Nor return more hereafter, ~ Dry are the tears that a while for thee ran; Pilgrim, begone! And forget thine affliction, Loud laughs the world at the sorrows of man. Adiés, Dapitan. On July 31, 1896, Rizal's four-year exile in Dapitan came to an end. At midnight of that date, he embarked on board the steamer Esparia. 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. Many wept as the steamer sailed away — especially the other pupils who were too Poor to accompany their beloved teacher to Manila. As farewell music, the town brass band strangely played the dolorous Funeral March of Chopin. As its melancholy melody floated in the air, Rizal must have felt it deeply, for with his Presentiment of death, it seemed an obsequy or a requiem. As the steamer pushed out into the sea, Rizal gazed for the last time on Dapitan with his hiands 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 bl dn sioteloe, he sadly went to his cabin and wrote in his ¢ ay: pate Been in that district four years, thirteen days, and 22Chapter 23 Last Trip Abroad, (1896) No longer an exile, Rizal had a pleasant trip from Dapitan to Manila, with delightful stopovers in Dumaguete, Cebu, Toile, 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 the 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, 1896, the Esparia, with Rizal and party on board, sailed northward. At dawn the next day (Saturday, August 1), it anchored at Dumaguete, capital of Negros Oriental. “Dumaguete,” wrote Rizal in his travel diary, “spreads out on the beach. There are big houses, some with galvanized iron roofing. Outstanding are the house of a lady, whose name 1 have forgotten, which is occupied by the government and another one just begun with many ipil posts”.’ In Dumaguete, Rizal visited a friend and former classmate, Herrero Regidor, who was the judge of the province. He also visited other friends, including the Periquet and Rufina families. In the afternoon he operated on a Spanish captain of the Guardia Civil. The Esparia left Dumaguete about 1:00 p.m. and reached Cebu the following morning. Rizal was fascinated by the entrance to Cebu which he considered “beautiful”. At the house of Attor- ney Mateos he met an ‘old couple whom he had known in Madrid. 243YOSE RIZAL: LIFE WORKS AND WRITINGS “In Cebu”, he wrote in his diary, “I did two operations of strabotomy, one operation on the ears, and another of tumor”, In the morning of Monday August 3, Rizal left Cebu going to Iloilo. “The voyage was fine,” he wrote, “At the right we " saw Mactan, an island famous for what happened to Magellan. The whole afternoon was magnificent. . . We saw many islands along our way... The next day, in the morning, we entered Iloilo”... Rizal landed at Iloilo, went shopping in the city, and visited Molo. Of the Molo church, he commented: “The church is pretty Outside and the interior is not bad, considering that it had been Painted by a lad. The paintings are mostly copies of biblical scenes by Gustave Dore”.* From Iloilo, Rizal's ship sailed to Capiz. After a brief stopover, it proceeded towards Manila via Romblon. Rizal Misses Ship Going to Spain. The Esparia arrived 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 at 5:00 p.m.° He was greatly disappointed, but he took this unlucky incidence with abiding resignation. Writing to Blumentritt later, Rizal mentioned this episode, “Unfortunately”, he said, “I did not catch the mail ship for Spain, and fearing that my stay in Manila for a month might bring me troubles I made known to the governor general, while _ remaining on board the ship (Espaiia — Z.), of my wish to be isolated from everybody, except my family”.® Near midnight of the same day, August 6, Rizal was trans- ferred to the Spanish cruiser Castill ) 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 friends and enemies”, Rizal stayed on the cruis 6 to September.2, 1896, steamer. Outbreak of the Philippine Revolution. While Rizal was patiently waiting on the cruiser Castilla for the next steamer to 244 er for about a month, from August Pending the availability of a Spain-bound { i |take him to Spain, portentous events occurred, presagin: the downfall of Spanish power in Asia. ee On the fateful evening of August 19, 1896, the Katipunan plot to overthrow Spanish rule by. means of revolution was discovered by Fray Mariano Gil, Augustinian cura of Tondo. This startling ioncident struck terror into the hearts of the Spanish officials and residents, producing a hysteria of vindictive retali- ation against the Filipino patriots. The tumult produced by the discovery of the Katipunan plot was aggravated by the “Cry of Balintawak” which was raised by Bonifacio and his valiant Katipuneros on August 26, 1896. At sunrise of August 30, the revolutionists led by Bonifacio and Jacinto attacked San Juan, near the city of Manila, but they were repulsed with heavy losses. In the afternoon, after the Battle of San Juan, Governor General Blanco proclaimed a state of war in the first eight provinces for rising in arms against Spain — Manila (as a province), Bulacan, Cavite, Batangas, Laguna, Pampanga, Nueva Ecija, and Tarlac. Rizal learned of the eruption of the revolution and the raging, battles around Manila through the newspapers he read on the Castilla. He was worried for two reasons: (1) the violent revolu- tion which he sincerely believed to be premature and would only cause much suffering and terrible loss of human lives and property, had started and (2) it would arouse Spanish vengeance against all Filipino patriots. Depature for Spain. On August 30, 1896, the day when the state of war was proclaimed in the eight provinces, Rizal received from Governor General Blanco two letters of introduction for the Minister of War and the Minister of Colonies, with a covering letter which absolved him from all blame for the raging revolu- tion, as follows:” Mr. Jose Rizal My Dear Sir: Enclosed are two letters for the Ministers 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 245JOSE RIZAL: LIFE, WORKS AND WRITINGS A 5 hs shown you palpably that certain actions which are pro- duct of foolish ideas yield no other result but hatred, destruc- tion, 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 Azcarraga My esteemed General and distinguished Friend, I recommend 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 in 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 have been plotting. With this object I have the pleasure to remain, Your most affectionate friend and colleague who kisses your hand. Ramon Blanco On September 2, 1896, the day before his departure for Spain, Rizal, on board the Castilla, wrote to his mother, as foltows:® 246 My Dearest Mother, As I promised, I am addressing you a few lines before leaving, to let you know about the condition of my health. Tam well, thank God; I am only concerned as to wh “ 5 at we spre sell have happened to you in these days of upheaval and disorder. God will that my not have any indisposition. ge fae, ay ec in ink tiLast Trip Abroad (1896) I shall write to you from the places where the boat sores J yee eae Madrid or at least in Barcelona at Do not worry about anything; we ai in of Divine Providence. Not all those ho a te oa die, and in the end one has to die; at least die doing something. good. Take good care of yourself and take care of my old father so that we shall see each other again. Many Roads for my brother,sisters, nephews and nieces, aunts, etc., etc. [ leave contented, confident that as long as you are alive the family will remain unfted and the old intimacy will reign in it. You two are the bond that unites all of us. With nothing more, my very 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 fond embrace for everyone of my sisters; may they love one another just as I love all of them. ‘Your son, Jose At 6:00 p.m., September 2, Rizal was transferred to the steamer Isla de Panay which was sailing tor‘Barcelona, Spain. The next morning, September 3, this steamer left Manila Bay. At last, Rizal’s last trip to Spain began. Among his fellow passengers on board were Don Pedro Roxas (rich Manila creole industrialist and his friend) and his son named Periquin. 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. In his travel diary, Rizal wrote: “I have observed some changes: There are more Chinese merchants and less Indian . . . | bought a Chinese gown . . . Singapore has changed much since I saw it for the first time in 1882.”° Don Pedro, with his son, disembarked at Singapore. He advised Rizal to stay behind too and take advantage of the Protection of the British law. Rizal did not heed his advice. Several Filipino residents of Singapore, headed by Don Manuel Camus, boarded the steamer, urging him to stay in Singapore 747JOSE RIZAL: LIFE, WORKS AND WRITINGS to save his life. He also ignored their appeal because he haq given his word of honor to Governor General Blanco and he did not like to break it. Victim of Spanish Duplicity. By refusing to break his worg of honor in Singapore, Rizal sealed his own doom. For without his knowledge, Governor General Blanco was secretly conspiring with the Ministers of War and the Colonies (ultramar) for his destruction. Great hero and genius that he was, Rizal proved to be as gullible as Sultan Zaide, another victim of Spanish intrigue.!° For all his wonderful talents, Rizal was after all a mortal man who committed mistakes. And one of his greatest mistakes was to believe that Governor General Blanco was a man of honor and a friend because he allowed him to go as a free man to Spain to become a physician-surgeon of the Spanish army in Cuba, where a bloody revolution was raging, and gave him two nice letters of introduction addressed to the Spanish Ministers of War and the Colonies. The truth of the matter, as now substantiated by the declas- sified 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 Philip- pine Revolution, and therefore plotted his doom.'! Rizal was unaware that since his departure from Manila Bay on his way to Spain, Bianco and the Ministers of War and the Colonies were exchanging coded telegrams and confidential messages for his arrest upon reaching Barcelona and that he was a deportee and was being secretly kept under surveillance. Rizal Arrested Before Reaching Barcelona. The Isla de Panay, with Rizal on board, left Singapore at 1:00 p.m., Sep- tember 8. Unaware of the Spanish duplicity, particularly of Govemor General Blanco’s infernal deceit, he happily continued the voyage towards Barcelona. On September 25, he saw the steamer Isla de Luzon, leaving the Suez Canal, crammed with Spanish troops. Two days later (Sunday, September 27) he heard from the passengers that 4 telegram arrived from Manila reporting the execution of Fran- cisco Roxas, Genato, and Osorio. 248Last Trip Abrosd (1896) On September 28, a day aft said (Mediterranean termin ‘er the steamer had left Port 7 us of the Suez Canal), a passenger told Rizal the bad news that he would be arrested by order of Governor General Blanco and would be sent to prison in Ceuta (Spanish Morocco), opposite Gibraltar, Shocked by the alarming news, Rizal belatedly realized that he was duped by the unscrupulous Spanish officials, particularly the sly Governor General Blanco. With an agonizing heart, he immediately wrote a letter to his best friend, Blumentritt, unbur- dening his disgust and bitterness, as follows:!2 S.S.'Isla de Pana: Mediterranean September 28, 1896 My very dear Friend, A passenger on board has just told me a news that I can hardly believe and should it be true, would bring to an end the prestige of Philippine authorities. T cannot believe for it would be the greatest injustice and the most abominable infamy, unworthy not of a military official but of the last bandit. I have offered to serve as a physician, risking life in the hazards of war and abandoning all my business. I am innocent and now in reward they are sending me to prison! T cannot believe it! This is infamous, but if it turns out to be true, as everybody assures me, I am’communicating to you these news so that you may appraise my situation. Yours, (Signed) Jose Rizal There was nothing official yet about his impending arrest; it was still merely shipboard gossip. On September 29, Rizal wrote in his travel diary: “There are people on board who do nothing but slander me and invent fanciful stories about me. T'm going ta become a legendary personage.” The following day (September 30), at 4:00 p.m., he was Officially notified by Captain Alemany that he should stay in his cabin until further orders from Manila. He graciously complied with the captain's directive. 249JOSE RIZAL: LIFE, WORKS AND WRITINGS: Arrival in Barcelona as a Prisoner. About 6:25 p.m., Sep. tember 30, the steamer anchored at Malta. Being confined to his cabin, Rizal was not able to visit the famous island-fortress of the Christian crusaders. “I saw through a tiny window,” he wrote in his diary, “the beautiful view of the port [Malta — Zi, with its monumental and magnificent castle in three levels . . . il- lumined by the lingering afternoon lights.”"® On October 3, at 10:00 o’clock in the morning, the Isla de Panay arrived in Barcelona, with Rizal a prisoner on board, The trip from Manila to Barcelona lasted exactly 30 days. He was kept under heavy guard in his cabin for three days. His jailor was no longer the ship captain but the Military Commander of Barcelona, who happened to be General Eulogio Despujol, the same one who ordered his banishment to Dapitan in July, -1892. It was one of those coincidences in the lives of men that make “history stranger than fiction.”!* On his second day in Barcelona, Rizal, although held incom- unicado in his cabin, noticed the city celebration of the feast of St. Francis of Assisi. He recorded it in his diary as follows: “At 6:00 in the morning many cannon shots awakened us. It seems that they are in honor of the feast of St. Francis of Assisi. . . At 12:00 o'clock I counted:as many as 31 cannon shots and at 6:00 there were again as many. At night there was a concert in the dining room which can be heard from my cabin.”!5 At 3:00 a.m. on October 6, Rizal’ was awakened by the guards and escorted to the grim and infamous prison-fortress named Monjuich. He spent the whole morning in a cell. About 2:00 in the afternoon, he was taken out of prison by the guards and brought to the headquarters of General Despujol. In the interview, which lasted a quarter of an hour, the brusque general told Rizal that he would be shipped back to Manila on board the transport ship Colon which was leaving that evening. After the interview, Rizal was taken aboard the Colon, which was “full of soldiers and officers and their families.”"® At - 8:00 p.m., October 6, the ship left Barcelona, with Rizal on board. - we eae 250Chapter 24 Last Homecoming and Trial Rizal’s homecoming in 1896, the lac: in his life, was his saddest return to his beloved native land. He knew he was facing the supreme test, which might mean the sacrifice of his life, but he was unafraid. As a matter of tact, he welcomed it. Gladly, he desired to meet his enemies and to offer himself as a sacrificial victim to their sadistic lust and unholy designs for he knew that his blood would water the seeds of Filipino freedom. The trial that was held shortly after his homecoming was one of history’s mockeries of justice. His enemies howled like mad dogs for his blood, and they got it, without benefit of genuine justice. A Martyr’s Last Homecoming. 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, 251JOSE RIZAL: LIFE, WORKS AND WRITINGS before the eyes of society, : baste a ors ae i il ive me and later, a on = ‘whe 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 miy 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, for they feared that the diarist might be writing something seditious or treasonable. On October 11 before reaching Port Said, Rizal’s diary was taken away and was critically scrutinized by the authorities. Nothing dangerous was found in its contents. The cabin was searched thoroughly, but nothing incriminating was found. On November 2, the. diary was returned to him. Owing to the interruption, Rizal was not able to record the events from Mon- day, October 12 to Sunday, November 1. Speaking of this inci- dent, he wrote in his diary.? Monday, 2 November — Today, they returned to me this notebook which they took away on the 11th of last month before reaching Port Said. For this reason my diary was interrupted. They searched me and inspected throughly my luggage. They took away all my papers and afterward they put me behind bars and they did not take me out until we reached the Red Sea. That was what they did to me in 16 hours before our arrival. Also twice they put me in four or six hours before and they take me out when we are already in the high seas. However, at Singapore they put me in 16 hours before our arrival. Al: i MESore: Iso twice they put Unsuccessful Rescue in Singapore. News of Rizal’s predica- ment reached his friends in Europe and Singapore. From London, Dr. Antonio Ma. Regidor and Sixto Lopez dispatched franticui ‘mt Homecoming And Trial By Spanish Military Court 3 to i ' : ae Rizal a ie levoer in Singapore named Hugh Fort to by meai f Spanish steamer when it reached Sin- gapore ry ins Of a writ of habeas corpus. : tiie the ae in Singapore, Atty. Fort instituted the steamer Thee Court for the removal of. Rizal from ™ 1 “ill fe crux of Mr. Fort’s legal contention was that Rizal was “illegally detained” on the Spanish steamer Unfortunately, Chief Justice Loinel Cox denied the writ on the ground that the Colon was carrying Spanish troops to the Philippines. Hence it is a warship of a foreign power, which under international law was beyond the jurisdiction of the Sin- gapore authorities.* Rizal was unaware of the attempt made by his friends to rescue him in Singapore because he was then kept behind bars in the ship. 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 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 Arel- ~ lano, 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 gruelling five-day investigation. He was informed of the charges against him. He answered the questions asked by the Judge Advocate, but he was not permitted to confront those who testified against him. 253JOSE RIZAL: LIFE, WORKS AND WRITINGS Two kinds of evidence we! documentary and testimonial. sisted of fifteen exhibits, as follows: 1. Alletter 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 the deportations are good for they will encourage the people to hate tyranny. 3.. A letter from Marcelo H.-del Pilar to Deodato Arellana, 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:” 5 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! 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 Hongkong, May 24, 1892, stating that he was preparing a safe refuge for Filipinos who may be persecuted by the Sparish authorities. : re presented against Rizal, namely The documentary evidence cop.” of Martin Constantino, Ague' ing action against Rizal. Last Homeco ing And Trial By Spanish Military Court 8 A i tee, dated Hong, Dimasalang to an unidentified commit p Cates ong, June 1, 1892; soliciting the aid of the committee in the “patriotic work”. 9. An anonymous and undat ted letter to the Editor of the i i f Perea Telegraph, censuring the banishment of 10. _A letter of Ildefonso Laurel to Rizal, dated/Mani a Manila, September 3, 1892, saying that the Filipino peopl p to him (Rizal) as their savior. oie ere 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, 1893 recom- mending the establishment of a special organization, inde- pendent 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 Philippines! Long 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 Laong Laan (Rizal) entitled A Talisay, in which the author makes the Dapitan schoolboys sing that they know how to fight for: their rights. The testimonial evidence consisted of the otal testimonies do 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. On November 26, after the prelimi onel- Olive transmitted the © of the case to Governor General Ramon Blanco, and the letter appointed Captain Rafael Dominguez as special Judge Advocate 255JOSE RIZAL: LIFE, WORKS AND WRITINGS: Immediately, Dominguez made a brief resume of the charges h et Governor General Blanco who, and returned the papers to thereupon, transmitted them to the Judge Advocate General, Don Nicolas de la Pefia, for an opinion. After studying the papers, Pena submitted the following recommendations: (1) the accused be immediately brought to trial; (2) he should be kept in prison; (3) an order of attachment be issued against his property to the amount of one million pesos as indemnity; and (4) he ‘should be defended in court by an army officer, not by a civilian lawyer. 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. On December 8, Feast Day of the Immaculate Conception, a list of 100 first and second lieutenants in the Spanish Army was presented to Rizal. He looked over the list. One name struck his fancy. It was Don Luis Taviel de Andrade, 1st Lieuten- ant of the Artillery, The name was familiar to him so that he chose the lieutenant to be his defender in court. Lt. Luis Taviel de Andrade proved to be the brother of Lt. Jose Taviel de Andrade, Rizal’s “bodyguard” in Calamba in 1887. Upon being notified by the authorities that he was chosen to. defend the accused, he gladly accepted the task. He had previously heard from his older brother (Jose Taviel de Andrade) about Dr. Rizal of Calamba. Reading of Information of Charges to the Accused. On December 11, the information of charges was formally read to Rizal in his prison cell, with his counsel present. He was accused of being “the principal organizer and the living soul of the Filipino insurrection, the founder of societies, periodicals and books dedicated to fomenting and propagating ideas of rebellion.”® As the accused, Rizal raised no objection on the jurisdiction of the court, but pleaded not guilty to the ‘crime of rebellion. He admitted that he wrote the Constitution of the Liga Filipina which was merely a civic association. He waived the right to amend or make further statements already made, excent that he had taken no part in politics since his exile to Dapitan. 256Lest Homecoming And Tria! By Spanish Military Court Dominguez forwarded the ca‘ of ns alacafian Palace on December Brthe pisllgaep re Gaal Camilo G- de Polavieja, with the help of the powerful Dominican ‘friars, became Governor General of the Philippines, succeeding General Blanco. The withdrawal of Blanco from the gubernato- rial office sealed Rizal’s fate, for he was more humane in character than the ruthless Polavieja and, moreover, he firmly believed that Rizal was not a traitor to Spain, Had he remained longer in office, Rizal would not have been executed, But this was one of those intriguing “ifs” in history, of which man has no control because the destiny of men and nations is in accordance with God’s divine plan. Rizal’s Manifesto to His People. On December 15, Rizal wrote a manisfesto to his people appealing to them to stop the necessary shedding of blood and to achieve their liberties by means of education and industry. This manifesto, written in his prison cell at Fort Santiago, runs as follows:° My Countrymen: On my return from Spain, I learned that my name had been used as a war cry among some who were in arms. The news painfully surprised me, but believing it was all over, I kept silent over what I considered irremediable. Now I hear rumors. that the disturbances continue, and lest any persons should still go on using my name in bad or good faith, to remedy this abuse and to undeceive the unwary, T hasten to address you these lines so that the truth may be known. From the beginning, when I had news of what was being planned, I opposed it, fought it, and demonstrated its absolute impossibility. This is the truth, and witnesses to my words are still living, 1 was convinced that the idea was highly absurd and, what was worse, would bring great suffering. I did more. When later, in spite of my counsels, the movement broke out, T spontaneously offered not only my services, but my life, and even my name so that they might use them in the manner they saw fit to suppress the rebellion, for, convinced ‘of the evils that would befall them, I considered myself fortunate if, at any sacrifice, I could prevent such useless misfortunes. ‘This is equally of record, 257SOGE RIZAL: LIFE, WORKS AND WRITINGS : i roofs, more than any. My comnts: erties tt ‘out country and | stl desbe then, But I pace as prea the ecvostion Of the People s0 that by means of education and ks they might have a personality of their own and make themselves worthy of liberties. In my writings 1 have recommended redemption. I have also written (and iny words have been Tepeated) that reforms, to be fruitful, have to come from above, that those that come from below are irregular and unstable. Imbued with these ideals, I cannot but condemn and I do condemn this absurd, savage uprising planned behind my back, which dishonors us, the Filipinos, and discredits those who may advocate our cause. I abhor its criminal methods and disclaim all participation therein, pity- ing from the bottom of my heart the unwary who have allowed themselves to be deceived. Return then to your homes, and may God forgive those who have acted in bad faith. Fortunately for Rizal, Judge Advocate General Nicolas de la Pefia recommended to Governor General Polavieja that the manifesto be suppressed. The latter heeded the Tecommefdation so that Rizal’s manifesto was not issued to the people. Thus Rizal was “saved from the shame of his manifesto’s being mis- interpreted and disobeyed by the Filipinos in arms.""! Rizal’s Saddest Christmas. December 25 » 1896 was Christ- mas. On that day all Christendom joyously celebrated the birth- day of Christ who was born to redeem mankind and to bring Peace and brotherhood to all men on earth, What a dark and cheerless Christmas for Rizal! He, who was accustomed to spend this merry season in the company of his beloved family or dear friends, found himself alone and depressed in a dreary prison cell. Truly, the Christmas of 1896, his, last on earth, was the saddest in Rizal’s life. He was in despair for, he had no illusions about his fate. Brooding over his hopeless case, he wrote a letter to Lt. Taviel de Andtade, as follows:!! Fort Santiago, December 25, 1896 My Very Distinguished Defender: The Investigating Judge has informed me that tomorrow ¥ case wil be beard before the court. I was waiting for 258you this morning to tell you of an im, portant matter, but eee eaby tet your work did not permit you Investigatis eT shor an pret a nvestiaating Judge. If you have the court; I shall be grateful if this evening, or tomorrow. Wishing you “Merry Christmas,” I reiterate, Always your attentive and affectionate servant and client, you before I appear before if you come this afternoon, Jose Rizal The Trial of Rizal. The trial of Rizal was an 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 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 of Rizal started in the military building called Cuartel de Espafia. 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 Togores Arjona (president), Capt. Ricardo Munéz Arias, Capt. Manuel Reguera, Capt. Santiago Izquierdo Osorio, Capt. Braulio Rodriguez Nujiez, 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 (Prosecut- ing Attorney), and the spectators. Among the spectators were Josephine Bracken, some newspapermen, and many Spaniards. Rizal sat on a bench between two soldiers: His arms were tied behind, elbow to elbow, like a common felon. He was dressed in a 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 259 Lest Homecoming And Tria! By Spanish Militery Court ie.JOSE RIZAL: LIFE, WORKS AND WRITINGS: Alcocer arose and delivered a long speech summarizing the inst Ri | and urged the court to give the verdict of nee d. 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 supple- Ment 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 of rebellion, for he advised Dr. Pio Valenzuela in Dapitan not to rise in revolution. 2. He did not correspond with the radical, revolutio- nary elements. 3. The revolutionists used his name without his know- ledge. If he were guilty he could have escaped in Singapore. 4. 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. 5. If he were the chief of the Tevolution, why was he Not consulted by the revolutionists? 6. Ttwas true he wrote the by-laws of the Liga Filipina but this is only.a civic associat tion — not a revolutionary 7. The Liga Filipina did not live long, for after the ished to Dapitan and it died out. first meeting he was baniLast Homecoming And Trial By Spenish Military Court 10. If it were true that there were some bit 10 t 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 all his brothers-in-law were deported. 11. His life in Dapitan had been exemplary as the ee ae: 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 Katipu- nan 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 Genera! Nicolas de la Pefia 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 on this matter runs as follows:'* Manila, December 28, 1896: Conformably to the foregoing opinion. T approve the sentence 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 executed by shooting him at 7:00 o'clock in the morning of the 30th of this month in the field of Bagumbayan.4OSE RIZAL: LIFE, WORKS AND WRITINGS For compliance and the rest that may correspond, let this be returned to the Judge Advocate, Captain Don Rafael Dominguez. Camilo 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 Tesponsible for the death of Rizal will evermore remain as obnoxious villains in Philippine history. 262Chapter 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 correspodnent (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 and “Pearl of the Orient” in an article entitled “Unfortu- nate Philippines” published in The Hongkong 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 | teminded Fr. Viza of the statuette 0! which he had carved with his pen knife as an Ateneo student. Fr. Viza, anticipating such reminiscence, got the statuette frou his pocket and gave it to Rizal. The hero happily received it and placed it on his writing table. left. Rizal, in a jovial mood, f the Sacred Heart of Jesus 264JOSE RIZAL: LIFE, WORKS AND WRITINGS: At 8:00 A.M., Fr. Antonio Rosell arrived to relieve Fath, Viza. Rizal invited him to join him at breakfast, which he dig 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 Temindeg him that he said that (Rizal) would someday lose his heag for writing the Noli. “Father,” Rizal remarked, “You are indeeg a prophet”.! At 10:00 A.M., Fathers 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, Santiago Mataix, who interviewed Rizal for 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 aleohol cooking stove (not Jamp 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 Rizat Regards to the entire family, to Sra. Rosa, Loleng, Conradito, and Federico. I am leaving a book for you as a last remembrance of: (Martyrdom At Bagumbayan (December 30, 1896) At 3:30 P.M., Fath i and discussed with Rizal Sirlaguet returned to Fort Santiago if in his writi about his retraction of the anti-Catholic ideas lings and membership in Masonry At 4:00 P.M., Rizal’s ‘ ae mother arrived. Rizal ye dee Fen ea her hands, begging her to forgive im. Rrortly afterward ah were crying as the guards separate them. fe ly eel is Trinidad entered the cell to fetch her mother. As they 7 leaving, Rizal gave to Trinidad the alcohol cooking sere ispering to her in English: “There is something inside”. Trinidad understood. She knew English because Rizal taught her this language. This “something” was Rizal's farewell poem.* So it came to pass that she was able 10 smuggle the hero’s last and greatest poem — a priceless gem of Phili pine literature. ’ After the departure of Dofia Teodora and Trinidad, Fathers Vilaclara and Estanislao March entered the cell, followed by Father Rosell. At 6:00 P.M. Rizal received a new visitor, Don Silvino Lopez Tufion, the Dean of the Manila Cathedral. Fathers Balaguer and March left, leaving Vilaclara with Rizal and Don Silvino. At 8:00 P.M., Rizai had his last supper. He informed Captain Dominguez who was with him that he forgave his enemies, including the military judges who condemned him to death. At 9:30 P.M., Rizal was visited by Don Gaspar Cestafio, the fiscal of the Royal ‘Audiencia of Manila. As a gracious host, Rizal offered him the best ‘chair in the cell. After a pleasant conversation, the fiscal left with a good impression of Rizal’s intelligence and noble character. At 10:00 of the night of December 29th, the draft of the retraction sent by the anti-Filipino Archbishop Bernardino Nozaleda (1890-1903) was submitted by Father Balaguer to Rizal for signature, but the hero rejected it because it was too long and he did not like it. According to Father Balaguer’s testimony, he showed Rizal a shorter retraction which was prepared by Father Pio Pi, Superior of the sa Sone in ET which was acceptable to ‘Rizal. After making son it, Rizal ‘then arte his retraction, in which he abjured Masonry and his religious ideas which were anti-Catholic.’ This retraction 265