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UNIT 2: MAKING OF A HERO

2.0 Intended Learning Outcomes

a. Explain the social dynamics of Rizal’s childhood and early adulthood, and relate it to his
works and ideals;
b. Construct a matrix which traces the influences in Rizal’s life that shaped his aspirations
and values; and
c. Weigh the effects of Rizal’s execution on Spanish colonial rule and the Philippine Revolution.

2.1 Introduction
Heroism is connected with various concepts. For historians, heroes are nationalistic persons
from our past who died while defending the Philippine sovereignty and who, at present, serve as
role models among Filipinos. For government administrators who are concerned with economic de-
velopment, heroes are synonymous to overseas contract workers who remit dollars to our country,
thereby adding to our dollar reserves which are badly needed to keep us competitive in the global
market. For environmentalists, heroes are those who keep the environment clean and green, making
sure that it could still be used and enjoyed by future generations. To the ordinary Filipino, heroes are
those who simply do the right thing without ifs and buts, those who do good to help others without
asking for anything in return. Personality, nowadays, is often related with an individual’s physical
bearing and ability to deal with others with grace. One’s personality reflects one’s outlook in life, at-
titude and behavior. Thus, one’s decision-making style and practice depend upon her or his person-
ality (De Viana, A., et al, 2018).

2.2 Topics/Discussion

2.2.1 Rizal’s Life: Family, Childhood and Early Education

The wisdom and sacrifices of Jose Rizal for the country earned him the title of the greatest Ma-
layan who ever lived. It was an honor he rightfully deserves. Up to this day, no Asian has surpassed
Rizal’s ingenuity and extreme intelligence. The fact that he is the national hero of the Philippines is
just one side of him. The life and times of Rizal though short is an endeavor that scholars and scien-
tists alike find worthy study and analyze (Pangilinan, M.C., 2016).

Jose Rizal’s Family

The Rizal family belonged to the ―principalia‖ an aristocratic town of distinguished families.
By frugal living, hard and honest work, Rizal’s parents were able to live well. From the farms, which
were rented from the Dominican Order, they harvested rice, corn and sugarcane. They raised pigs,
chickens and turkeys in their backyard. In addition, Doña Teodora managed a grocery store and op-
erated a small flour mill.

Rizal’s parents were able to build a large stone house which was situated near the town church.
They owned a carriage which was a status symbol of the ilustrados in the Philippines and a private
library consisting of 1,000 volumes.
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Their children were studying in colleges in Manila. They participated in all social and reli-
gious affairs in the community. They were gracious and hospitable to all visitors and guests
during the town fiesta and other holidays.

The Rizal family had a simple, contented and happy life and was intimately close. Don
Francisco and Doña Teodora loved their children but they never spoiled them. They were strict
parents and they trained their children to love God, to behave well, to be obedient and to re-
spect people especially the old folks.

When the children got into mischief, they were given a good spanking because they be-
lieved in the saying ―Spare the rod and spoil the child.‖

The Hero’s Father

Jose Rizal’s Father, Don Francisco Mercado Rizal (1818-

1898) was born in Biñan, Laguna. He studied Latin and Philoso-
phy at the College of San Jose in Manila. After their parent’s
death, Francisco and two of his sisters moved to Calamba. He
became a tenant farmer of the Dominican-owned hacienda. He
was hardworking, and independent-minded who talked less but
worked more and valiant in spirit.

Jose Rizal described his father in his diary:

“My father was a model of fathers had given us an education

commensurate with our small fortune; and through thrift he was able
to build a stone house; erect a little nipa house in the middle of our or-
chard under the shade of some trees and others.”

The Hero’s Mother

Doña Teodora Alonso Y Realonda (1826-1911) was born in

Meisik , Sta. Cruz Manila. She studied at Colegio de Sta. Rosa in
Manila. She was a woman of refined culture and character, with
exemplary literary talents, the fortitude of a Spartan woman and
with business ability, she managed their store.

Rizal lovingly described his mother:

―My mother is a woman of more than ordinary culture; she

knows literature and speaks Spanish better than I. She even corrected
my poems and gave me wise advises when I was studying rhetoric. She
is a mathematician and has read many books.”

Both parents greatly influenced Rizal as shown in his char-

acter. ―From his father he inherited a profound sense of dignity
and self-respect, seriousness and from his mother the dreamer
and bravery for sacrifices and her literary prowess.‖
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Don Francisco Mercado Rizal and Doña Teodora Alonso Y Realonda were blessed with
eleven (11) children: two (2) boys and nine (9) girls. They were as follows in the order of their
birth (Pangilinan, M.C., 2016).

1. Saturnina (1859-1913)
The eldest child of the Rizal children, nicknamed ―Neneng‖ who was married to Manuel
T. Hidalgo of Tanauan, Batangas. Hidalgo and Rizal sent frequent correspondence while the
latter was in Europe.

2. Paciano (1851-1930)
He was the second child and oldest brother of Rizal. He was Rizal’s confidant, and he was
the one who convinced Rizal to study in Europe without their parent’s permission. Paciano con-
stantly advised his brother Jose Rizal through letters while in Europe. After Rizal’s execution in
December 1896 at Bagumbayan, he joined the Philippine Revolution and became a combat gen-
eral. He returned to his farm in Los Baños, where he lived as a gentleman farmer and died at
the age of 79.

3. Narcisa (1852-1939)
The third child and whose nickname is ―Sisa‖ and was married to Antonio Lopez (nephew
of Father Leoncio Lopez) a school teacher in Morong, Bataan.

4. Olympia (1855-1887)
The fourth child with a nickname ―Ypia‖, who was married to Silvestre Ubaldo, a tele-
graph operator from Manila and was blessed with five children. She died while giving birth in
1887.

5. Lucia (1857-1919)
Who married Mariano Herbosa (nephew of Father Casañas). Herbosa died of Cholera and
was denied of Christian burial being the brother-in-law of Jose Rizal.

6. Maria (1859-1945)
Her nickname was ―Biang‖ and was married to Daniel Faustino Cruz of Biñan Laguna.
The couple was blessed with five (5) children.

7. Jose (1861-1896)
His nickname was ―Pepe‖ the greatest Filipino hero, and peerless genius. He became the
National Hero of the Philippines. He had a common law relationship with Josephine Bracken,
an Irish girl from Hong Kong. He had a son but died a few hours after birth. Rizal named him
Francisco after his father.

8. Concepcion (1862-1865)
Her nickname was ―Concha‖ who died at the age of three. Her death was Rizal’s first sor-
row in life.

9. Josefa (1865-1945)
Her nickname was ―Panggoy.‖ She was epileptic and died spinster at the age of 80.
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10. Trinidad (1868-1951)

Her nickname was ―Trining.‖ She was the last of the Rizal children to survive and died as
spinster too and died at the age of 83.

11. Soledad Rizal (1870-1929)

The youngest whose nickname is ―Choleng‖ married to Pantaleon Quintero of Calamba
and was blessed with five children.

Jose Rizal loved his sisters that he usually wrote letters to them while in the Philippines
and foreign countries.

He emphasized his ideas about women and their righteous place in the society. He also
compared the Filipina to European women as to their dignity.

One of his letters before he left the Philippines for Cuba in 1896 stated thus:

“I urge you take care, serve and love our parents as you would like your children later to take care
of you, serve and love you in your old age. May you live united, forgive one another’s faults, and avoid
misunderstanding, the natural thorns of life because it is displeasure for parents to see that their children
are not living in harmony.”

The Birth of Rizal

Jose Rizal, the 7th child of the Rizal family, was born on June 19, 1861 Wednesday between
11:00 and 12:00 night in the town of Calamba, province of Laguna, Philippines. His mother al-
most died during her delivery because Jose’s head was big. As he recounted in his student
memoirs:

―My coming out in this vale of tears would have cost my mother her life, had she not vowed to the
Virgin of Antipolo to take me to her sanctuary by way of pilgrimage.”

He was baptized in the Catholic Church in Calamba on June 22, 1861 by the parish priest,
Father Rufino Collantes. His godfather was Father Pedro Casañas, a close friend of the Rizal
family. Father Collantes was impressed by the big head of baby Jose. He told them ―Take good
care of this child, for someday he will become a great man.‖ The name ―Jose‖ was chosen by his
mother in honor of San Jose (St. Joseph) whose feast was March 19.

His complete name was Jose Protacio Mercado Rizal Alonzo Y Realonda. The name Protacio
was taken from the Catholic calendar which was a practice during the Spanish time, that when
a child is born, he/she is named after the saint of the day. The surname Mercado which means
market in English was adopted in 1731 by his paternal great-grandfather, Domingo Lamco a
full-blooded Chinese merchant.

Added surname Rizal was given by Don Francisco which is closer to the Spanish word Ra-
cial which means ―luntiang bukirin‖ related to his work as hacienda owner/farmer. Alonzo was
the surname of Rizal’s mother and Realonda was used by Doña Teodora which is the surname of
her godmother.
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Jose Rizal’s Childhood Years

Jose Rizal, as a young boy has beautiful, fruitful and pleasant memories as well as sorrow.
He grew up in a happy home. He could remember the tenderest care of his parents because he
was frail, sickly and undersized boy. His father built a nipa hut in the garden for him to play in
the daytime. At the age of three (3), he enjoyed watching in the garden the insects, the maya,
culiawan, maria capra, pipit, the martin and other birds. He listened ―with excitement and won-
der‖ to their twilight songs and sounds.

Another childhood memory was the daily praying of Angelus every 6:00 pm in their altar
as all of them gathered for prayers. At the ―azotea” on a moonlit night, the aya (nursemaid)
would tell stories about fairies, legends, tales of buried treasures, and other fabulous stories.
Sometimes if he did not like to eat his supper, the Aya would threaten him that asuwang, tikba-
lang, nuno or the turbaned Bombay will come to take him away. He is brought for a walk for
the relief-giving breeze, to see the fruit bearing trees, flowers, birds. The scenic beauty of his
hometown Calamba, the legendary Mt. Makiling and the distant Antipolo with the shrine of the
miraculous Lady of Peace and Good Voyage. At the age of three (3) he began to join religious
processions, novena in the church and at the age of five (5) he was able to read the Spanish Bible
with the help of his mother.

The early education of Rizal reminded him about the ―a jar that contains the odor of the
body that it first held‖. The significance from this insight of Rizal has shown the importance of
education that must start at the early age. At home provided him a habit to listen, read and
learn by the education given by his mother that made him understand the basic knowledge of
artistic appreciation about human compassion and love of nature The social stature of Rizal’s
family had provided him the basic comfort of life when he had a nanny and nurse at home. He
appreciated in the way they cared him. Rizal described his father as a ―model of fathers‖.

While Rizal showed his love with his mother Teodora Alonso y Quintos as he described
―my coming out in this vale of tears would have cost my mother her life had she not vowed to
the Virgin of Antipolo to take me to her sanctuary by way of pilgrimage. Rizal inherited his ge-
nius from his mother. Dona Teodora Alonzo Realonda provided all the support in intellectual
endeavour and polishing the true value of education of Rizal.

She made him the best gladiator in the arena of human intellectual struggle of his time.
The gentle love and compassion of Rizal that bounded by intellect that translated from his liter-
ary and political masterpieces that later on shape the destiny of the Filipino nation. The poetical
genius of Rizal was aligned to the education that he received from his mother became the po-
tent tool to stimulate his artistic literary learning in poem and drama. At early age he learned to
read the bible. He began writing poems at the ear-
Activity ly age. Before the age of eight years old he had
composed a drama.
Answer the question which will be counted
towards your class participation. (10 pts) The Rizal children were bound together by
the ties of love and care. Jose loved most his little
Enumerate and explain briefly the importance sister Concha (Concepcion) who was next to
and similarities of your family and parents to him. Unfortunately, Concha died at the age of
Rizal’s family and parents. three and for the first time he shed tears for love
and grief, which is said to be his first sorrow.
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Jose Rizal’s Early Education

Of all the stories told by Doña Teodora to Jose, the story

of the moth made the profoundest imprint on him which he
recalled after some years (Pangilinan, M.C., 2016).

―My mother was teaching me how to read in Spanish “The

Children’s Friends (El Amigo de los Niños). This was a rare book
and old copy. This night my mother became impatient with hearing
me read so poorly. I did not understand Spanish and so I could not
read with expression. She took the book and read it to me but I was
watching the flame with some little moths circling around the flame.
Soon as my mother noticed that I was not interested. She stopped
and said to me, “I am going to read to you a very pretty story. I
once opened my eyes on hearing the word story. She told me “The
story of the moth.”

Once upon a time, an old moth had warned her daughter against the flame, so beautiful,
so inviting, yet fatal and deceitful for it destroyed whoever came too close. She herself said, she
was once been tempted by it; she had barely escaped with half-burnt wings. The frightened
young moth promised to obey, but was soon asking herself: ―now why should my mother try to
give me such a scare? Why should I close my eyes to such a pretty sight? These old people are
such cowards! They think every fly is an elephant, any old dwarf a giant. What harm can it do
to me, whatever she says, if I come near the flame, so long as I am careful? What I am, a little
silly? What a story I shall have for all other girls if I, being very careful of course, take closer
look. ―No sooner said that done, and the silly little moth went fluttering around the flame. At
first she only felt pleasantly warm; this encouraged her and she flew closer and closer until at
last, dazzled by flame, fell and perished in it.

As she put me to bed, my mother said: “See to it that you do not behave like the young moth. Don’t
be disobedient, or you may get burned as it did. “I do not know whether I answered or not…

The story revealed to me the things until then unknown. Moths no longer were, for me, insignifi-
cant insects. Moths talked, they knew how to warn. They advised just like my mother. The light seemed to
me more beautiful. It had grown more dazzling and more attractive. I knew why the moths circled the
flame.

The tragic fate of the young moth left a deep impact on Rizal’s mind, and like that young
moth he was fated to die as martyr for a noble ideal. Doña Teodora, Rizal’s mother was his first
teacher. Barely three (3) years old, Rizal learned the alphabet from his mother. He was taught
how to read and write in Spanish. As he grew older, his parents employed private tutors to give
him lessons at home. The first was Maestro Celestino and the second, Maestro Lucas Padua.
Later, an old man named Leon Monroy, a former classmate of Rizal’s father, became the boy’s
tutor. This old teacher lived at the Rizal home and instructed Jose in Spanish and Latin. Unfor-
tunately, he did not live long. He died five months later. After Monroy’s death, the hero’s par-
ents decided to send their gifted son to a private school in Biñan. At about this time, two of his
mother’s cousin frequented Calamba. Uncle Manuel Alberto, seeing Rizal frail in body, con-
cerned himself with the physical development of his young nephew and taught the latter love
for the open air and developed in him a great admiration for the beauty of nature, while Uncle
Gregorio, a scholar, instilled into the mind of the boy love for education.
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He advised Rizal: ―Work hard and perform every task very carefully; learn to be swift as
well as thorough; be independent in thinking and make visual pictures of everything.‖

Since childhood, Rizal showed an unusual tal-

ent in art and literature. He scribbled verses on
loose sheets of paper and on the textbooks of his
Sa Aking Mga Kabata sisters. His mother, who was a lover of literature,
noticed his son’s inclination and gift for writing
Kapagka ang baya’y sadyang umiibig poetry.
Sa kanyang salitang kaloob ng langit,
Sanlang kalayaan nasa ring masapit At the age of eight years old, Rizal wrote his
Katulad ng ibong nasa himpapawid. first poem in the native language entitled, ―Sa
Aking Mga Kabata—To My fellow children.‖ This
Pagka’t ang salita’y isang kahatulan poem reveals Rizal’s earliest nationalist sentiment.
Sa bayan, sa nayo’t mga kaharian, In poetic verses, he proudly proclaimed that a peo-
At ang isang tao’y katulad, kabagay ple who truly love their native language will sure-
Ng alin mang likha noong kalayaan.
ly strive for liberty like ―the bird which soars to
freer space above‖ and that Tagalog is the equal of
Ang hindi magmahal sa kanyang salita Latin, English, Spanish, and any other language.
Mahigit sa hayop at malansang isda,
Kaya ang marapat pagyamaning kusa Father Leoncio Lopez, the old and learned
Na tulad sa inang tunay na nagpala. parish priest of Calamba fostered Rizal’s love for
scholarship and intellectual honesty. At an early
Ang wikang Tagalog tulad din sa Latin age, Rizal was already exposed to the injustices
Sa Ingles, Kastila at salitang anghel, and brutalities of Spanish authority in the Philip-
Sapagka’t ang Poong maalam tumingin pines particularly the Guardia Civil who were sup-
Ang siyang naggawad, nagbigay sa atin. posed to protect the people from harm. Rizal won-
dered why these abuses were happening especially
to the poor. Years later, he related:
Ang salita nati’y huwad din sa iba
Na may alfabeto at sariling letra,
Na kaya nawala’y dinatnan ng sigwa I spent many, many hours of my childhood down
Ang lunday sa lawa noong dakong una. on the shore of the lake, Laguna de Bay. I was dreaming
of what might be over on the other side of the waves. Al-
most every day, in our town, we saw the Guardia Civil
lieutenant injuring some unarmed and inoffensive villagers.
The villagers only fault was that while at a distance he had not taken off his hat and made his bow. The
alcalde treated the poor villagers in the same way whenever he visited us.

We saw no restraint put upon brutality. Acts of violence and other excess were committed daily...I
asked myself if, in the lands which lay across the lake, the people lived in this same way. I wondered if
there, they tortured any countryman with hard and
cruel whips merely on suspicion. Or ever yonder Activity
also, in order to live in peace, would one have to
bribe tyrants? Answer the question which will be counted to-
wards your class participation. (5 pts)
Rizal, young as he was, grieved deeply
over the unhappy situations of his beloved Explain the importance of the presented topics and
your family in molding your personality towards
fatherland. The Spanish misdeeds awakened
your bright future.
in his boyish heart a great determination to
fight tyranny.
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2.2.2 Rizal’s Life: Higher Education and Life Abroad

After completing his Bachelor of Arts (high school diploma equiva-

lent), Rizal’s higher education was spent most in UST. Both Paciano and
Don Francisco anted Rizal to enter a university but Donya Teodora op-
posed the idea because the Spaniards might cut-off his head. In April,
when Rizal was nearly 16 years old, he enrolled at UST. He took Philos-
ophy and Letters because his father liked it, and he was uncertain as to
what course he would pursue. At first, he was attracted to a priesthood.
The Jesuits fathers want him to take up farming but Rizal’s choice was
between Literature and Law and Medicine (Pangilinan, M.C., 2016).

Having a talent for self-expression and a keen sense of justice he would have been a bril-
liant lawyer. Having received Father Pablo Ramon’s (Rector of Ateneo) advice to study medi-
cine, he took up medical course enrolling simultaneously in pre-medical course and regular
medical course. While at UST, he also studied at Ateneo taking up vocational course leading to
the title perito agrimensor (expert surveyor). He excelled in all subjects in surveying course and
obtained gold medals in Agriculture and Topography. He passed the final examination in the
surveying course and granted the title as Surveyor in November 25, 1885. While at Ateneo pur-
suing the surveying course, he became active in extracurricular activities. He was elected Presi-
dent of the Academy of Spanish Literature and Secretary of the Academy of Spanish Literature.
He was also the secretary of the Marian Congregation.

While at UST, Rizal fell in love with three women. During his
first year, he fell in love with a woman simply called ―Miss L‖, a
woman with a fair, seductive and attractive eye. The romance died
like a natural death because of two reasons: the sweet memory of Se-
gunda Katigbak (Rizal’s firs sweetheart) was still fresh in his
memory, and Rizal’s father did not like the family of ―Miss L‖. The
identity of ―Miss L‖ is lost in history. During his sophomore year, he
courted Leonor Valenzuela (Orang), a tall girl with regal bearing. He
sent her love notes in invisible ink (combination of salt and water).
During his junior year, Rizal had a romance with Leonor Rivera of
Camiling, Tarlac, a frail pretty girl and a student of La Concordia
College. Both Rizal and Leonor were engaged. Rizal used a sign
name ―Taimis‖ to camouflage their relationship from their parents.
During his college days in UST and Ateneo, Rizal was involved in brawls and Spanish brutality.
During his summer vacation in 1878, while walking on a dimly street not knowing the figure
close to him, he did not greet and say ―Good Evening‖.

The vague figure turned out to be a lieutenant of Guardia Civil and struck Rizal’s back
with his sword. In another student brawls near Escolta in Manila, Rizal was wounded on the
head. His Filipino friends brought him bleeding and covered with dust to his boarding house
―Casa Tomasina‖. Rizal studied at UST from 1878 to 1882. Unlike in Ateneo, Rizal was unhappy
in UST and his grades at UST College of Medicine was not as impressive as what he got in
Ateneo Philosophy and Letters due to the hostility of the Dominican professors to him, back-
ward method of instruction (subjects were taught without laboratory experiments – laboratory
apparatuses were just kept inside showcases for display purposes), and racial discrimination
against Filipino students.
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Jose Rizal’s Travels and Studies Abroad

Dr. Jose Rizal was considered as the ―Most Travelled Filipino Hero‖. He travelled to al-
most 20 countries and about 40 island cities. Rizal’s parents, Leonor, and the Spanish authorities
knew nothing of his decision to go abroad, only his brother Paciano, uncle Antonio Rivera, sis-
ters Neneng and Lucia, the Valenzuela family, Pedro Paterno, compadre Mateo Evangelista,
Ateneo Jesuits priest, and some intimate friends. Before Rizal’s secret departure, he wrote a
farewell letter to his parents and his sweetheart Leonor Rivera which was delivered to them af-
ter he sailed away. His main reason in leaving the Philippines was to transfer at the Univer-
sidad Central de Madrid in Spain and to finish his medicine course. The following events took
place during Rizal’s travels and life abroad are arranged in their chronological order
(Pangilinan, M.C., 2016).

Life in Barcelona

At first, Rizal had a bad impression of Barcelona – ugly, dirty

little inns, inhospitable people – because he happened to stay upon
his arrival in a stingy hotel. Later, he changed his mind and came to
like the city – as a great city with an atmosphere of freedom and lib-
eralism and the people were open-hearted, hospitable, and coura-
geous. Rizal was welcomed by the Filipinos in Barcelona, some were
his classmates in Ateneo. They gave him party, exchanged toast and
told Rizal of the attractions and customs of the people in Barcelona,
Rizal, in turn, gave news and gossips in the Philippines. While in Barcelona, Rizal received two
bad news, first was the cholera outbreak that ravaged Manila and the provinces, the second was
the chatty letter of Chenggoy recounting the unhappiness of Leonor Rivera, who was getting
thinner due to the absence of a loved one.

Life in Madrid

November 3, 1882 – Rizal enrolled in the Universidad Central de Madrid in Medicine and
Philosophy and Letters. He also studied painting and sculpture in the Academy of Fine Arts of
San Fernando, took tutoring lessons in French and English and practiced fencing and shooting
in the Hall of Arms of Sanz Carbonell. Rizal lived frugally, rigidly budgeting his money wisely.
Although he used to buy tickets in every draw of the Madrid lottery, he never wasted his mon-
ey for gambling, wine, and women. He spent his leisure time reading books, purchased second-
hand books, practiced shooting and fencing. At other times, he visited his Filipino friends, frat-
ernized with other students, and visited the home of Don Pablo Ortega y Rey, where he became
attracted to Consuelo’s beauty and charm.

Life in Berlin

November 1, 1886 – Rizal left Dresden by train and reached Berlin where Rizal met for the
first time Dr. Feodor Jagor, a famous German scientist-traveler and author of Travels in the
Philippines. Rizal became impressed in Berlin because of its scientific atmosphere & absence of
racial race. He lived in Berlin in a frugal life. He worked as an assistant in Dr. Schweigger’s clin-
ic, attended lectures in the University of Berlin, took private lessons under French Prof. Mad-
ame Lucie Cerdale, performed daily exercises in a Berlin gymnasium, observe keenly the cus-
toms, dresses, homes and occupations of the peasants and made sketches of the things he saw.
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During winter in 1886 in Berlin, he lived in poverty because he was flat broke, he had to
eat only one meal a day consisted of bread, water, and cheap vegetable soup, washed his
clothes, resulting to his health’s break down. Rizal went to Berlin for five reasons: to increase
his knowledge in ophthalmology, to broaden his studies of sciences and languages, to observe
political and economic conditions of Germany, to associate with famous German scientist and
scholars, and to publish his novel, Noli Me Tangere.

Brief Stay in Calamba

Upon his return from abroad, Rizal established a medical clinic in Calamba, where his first
patient is his mother who is almost blind, thus treating his mother’s eye. Patients from Manila
and nearby provinces flocked to Calamba for treatment. His professional fee were reasonable
and those who were poor were treated free of charge. During his six months stay in Calamba he
failed to see Leonor Rivera. Few weeks after Rizal’s arrival in Calamba, there were threats over
Rizal’s life due to the publication of his book ―Noli‖. Governor General Emilio Terrero (1885-
1888) assigned a young Spanish Lieutenant, Don Jose Taviel de Andrade as bodyguard to pre-
vent Rizal from being harassed.

Rizal’s Impression of America

Good Impressions: America is a progressive nation with great cities, huge farms, flourish-
ing industries and busy factories; American people were energetic and hard-working; the cities
were beautiful; standard of living is high; better opportunities for a better life especially the
poor immigrants. Bad Impressions: racial prejudice existed, democracy and freedom were only
in words, not practiced; no true civil liberty.

From Geneva, Switzerland to Italy

On June 19, 1887, in Geneva, Switzerland, Rizal celebrated his 26th birthday. After two
weeks, then he toured Italy. He visited the famous cities of Venice, Turin, Milan, Florence and
Rome. In Rome, it was regarded as an ―Eternal City‖ and the ―City of Caesars.‖ The Vatican is
the ―Seat of Authority of the Roman Catholic Church‖ and regarded as ―City of Popes.‖ Rizal
stayed in Rome for almost one week and headed back home.

2.2.3 Rizal’s Life: Exile, Trial and Death

A week after the outbreak of the Philippine Revolution, on September 2, 1896, Jose Rizal
left Manila for Spain. Going back to Governor General Ramon Blanco’s last letter to Rizal, the
former approved the latter’s request that he be sent to Cuba as military doctor. As such, Rizal
was to go to Spain first before going to Cuba. But even before he reached his first destination,
he was arrested by the Spanish authorities on board, jailed in Barcelona and shipped back to
Manila and was jailed at Fort Santiago for the last 3 months of his life (De Viana, A., et al, 2018).

Rescue Attempt by the Katipunan

While Rizal was still in exile in Dapitan, the Katipunan emissary, Dr. Pio Valenzuela, in-
formed the former of the secret organization’s attempt to rescue him and to sneak him on a ship
destined to Japan. However, Rizal was not in favor of this plan as he had no plan of breaking
his promises to the Spanish authorities. For the second time, in August 1896, during Rizal’s
stopover in Manila Bay, Andres Bonifacio, Emilio Jacinto and other selected Katipuneros dis-
guised as sailors of the motor Caridad so that they can easily penetrate the cruiser Castilla, then
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harbored at Manila Bay. Rizal was on deck at that time when he was approached by Jacinto
who whispered that they were Katipuneros and were there to rescue him. However, despite the
opportunity given to him, Rizal refused to be rescued.

On board Castilla, Rizal heard of the outbreak of the revolution and was not surprised.
However, his worry was that Spanish authorities might think that he incited the said struggle.
Two recommendation letters from Governor Blanco diverted Rizal’s anguish—one for the Min-
ister of War, General Marcelo de Azcarraga; and the second, for the Minister of Colonies.

Aboard the steamer, Isla de Panay, Rizal left Manila for Spain on September 2, 1896, not
knowing that this will be his last travel abroad. The night before his departure, he wrote a letter
to Doña Teodora Alonzo telling her that his task required strength and dedication, and if he
died, at least he had done something good for mankind.

By the eve of September 7, the steamer reached Singapore and on the 30th, while Isla de
Panay was on its voyage along the Mediterranean Sea, a telegraphic message was received by
Captain A. Alemany, the ship skipper, ordering him to arrest and confine Jose Rizal in his cabin
until they arrive in Barcelona on the 3rd of October. Early morning of October 6, Rizal was
transferred to Montjuich Castle where he was visited by Eulogio Despujol who was then the
military Commander of Cataluña. By 8 o’clock in the evening, aboard the steamer Colon, Rizal
left Barcelona for Manila.

Such occurrences had already been known among Rizal’s friends in Europe and Singa-
pore. His friends from London, Dr. Antonio Ma. Regidor and Sixto Lopez exerted all their ef-
forts to find a lawyer in Singapore who could aid their friend in need. They sent a telegraph to a
certain Atty. Hugh Fort whom they requested to do the task of rescuing Rizal—by issuing writ
of habeas corpus on the steamer Colon. Unfortunately, the judge in Singapore denied Fort’s re-
quest and contention that Rizal was illegally detained in the said steamer because the voyage
cannot be delayed since it was, according to the judge, a warship carrying Spanish troops to
Manila.

Thus, on November 3, Colon arrived in Manila—Jose Rizal, under heavy security, was
brought immediately to Fort Santiago. During his stay, Spanish authorities were searching for
evidence against him. In fact, Filipinos who had been recognized at his side were brutally tor-
tured to implicate him. Some of them were as follows: Deodato Arellano, Dr. Pio Valenzuela,
Moises Salvador, Jose Dizon, Domingo Franco and Timoteo Paez. Even his only brother, Pa-
ciano was arrested and inflicted with pains which the latter endured for his younger brother’s
sake.

Jose Rizal’s Trial

Accustomed to share the merry season with family, friends and relatives, the 1896 Christ-
mas was indeed, Rizal’s saddest. Confined in a dark, gloomy cell, Rizal was in despair and had
no idea of what his fate may be. Under this delusion, he wrote a letter to Lt. Taviel de Andrade
requesting the latter to visit him before his trial for there was a very important matter they need
to discuss. Likewise, Rizal greeted the lieutenant a joyous Christmas (Pangilinan, M.C., 2016).

The next day, December 26, about 8 o’clock in the morning, the court-martial of Rizal com-
menced. The hearing was actually a kind of moro-moro—a planned trial wherein Rizal, before
.
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hearing his verdict, had already been prejudged. Unlike other accused, Rizal had not been al-
lowed to know the people who witnessed against him. The trial took place at Cuartel de España,
a military building, with a court composed of seven military officers headed by Lt. Col. Jose
Togores Arjona. Present at the courtroom were Jose Rizal, the six other officers in uniform
(Capt. Ricardo Muñoz Arias, Capt. Manuel Reguera, Capt. Santiago Izquierdo Osorio, Capt.
Braulio Rodriguez Nuñez, Capt. Manuel Diaz Escribano, and Capt. Fernando Perez Rodriguez),
Lt. Taviel de Andrade, Judge Advocate Capt. Rafael Dominguez, Lt. Enrique de Alcocer
(prosecuting attorney) and a number of spectators, including Josephine Bracken.

According to Rizal, there are twelve points to prove his innocence:

1. As testified by Pio Valenzuela, Rizal was against rebellion.

2. He had not written a letter addressed to Katipunan comprising revolutionary elements.
3. Without his knowledge, his name was used by the Katipunan; if he really was guilty, he
could have escaped while he was in Singapore.
4. If he was guilty, he should have left the country while in exile; he shouldn’t have built a
home, bought a parcel of land or established a hospital in Dapitan.
5. If he was really the leader of revolution, the revolutionaries should have consulted him.
6. He did not deny that he wrote the by-laws of the La Liga Filipina, but to make things clear,
the organization was a civic association, not a revolutionary society.
7. After the first meeting of La Liga, the association banished because of his exile in Dapitan,
thus, did not last long.
8. If the La Liga was reorganized nine months later, he had no idea about it.
9. If the La Liga had revolutionary purpose, then Katipunan shouldn’t have been organized.
10. If the Spanish authorities found his letters having bitter atmosphere, it was because in
1890 his family was being persecuted resulting to their dispossession of properties and de-
portation of all his brothers-in-law.
11. He lived an exemplary life in Dapitan—the politico-military commanders and missionary
priests in the province could attest to that.
12. If according to witnesses the speech he delivered at Doroteo Ongjunco’s house had in-
spired the revolution, then he wants to confront these persons. If he really was for the rev-
olution, then why did the Katipunan send an unfamiliar emissary to him in Dapitan? It is
so because all his friends were aware that he never advocated violence.

Martyrdom at Bagumbayan

In Bagumbayan Field, Rizal shook the hands of the two priests and his defender, bidding
them farewell. A priest blessed and offered him a crucifix which he gently kissed. Rizal had
once request, that is, that he be shot facing the firing squad, however, in vain since the captain
of the squad ordered a back shot. As such, Rizal had no choice but to turn his back. A physician
by the name of Dr. Felipe Ruiz Castillo, was amazed that Rizal’s vital signs were normal, par-
ticularly his pulse rate—was Rizal really unafraid to die? The firing squad was commanded in
unison with drumbeats. Upon the brisk command ―Fire!‖, the guns of the squad flared. Rizal,
by his sheer effort and remaining energy, twisted his body around to face the firing squad, and
so, fell on the ground with his face toward the blue sky, his head slightly inclined toward the
rising sun in the east. What can be heard from the crowd of Spaniards was their loud, audible
voice, shouting ―Long live Spain! Death to traitors!‖ Jose Rizal died at exactly 7:03 in the morn-
ing of December 30, 1896. My last Farewell was Rizal’s last and greatest poem written before his
execution, December 29, 1896, this poem is considered as a priceless gem of the Philippine liter-
ature (Pangilinan, M.C., 2016).
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ASSESSMENT
A. Write TRUE if the statement is correct; and if the statement is false, CHANGE the underlined
word to make it true. (5 pts.)

1. Of all the stories told by Doña Teodora to Rizal, the story of the moth made the profound-
est imprint on him.
2. The Rizal family belonged to the ―principalia‖, the aristocratic section of a town com-
posed of distinguished families.
3. The sacrifices and wisdom of Jose Rizal for the country gave him the title of the Greatest
Malayan.
4. Josefa was the most beloved sister of Rizal who was next to him and died at the age of 3
and for the first time he shed tears for love, grief and was said to be his first sorrow.
5. The Rizal surname was given by Doña Teodora Alonzo which is closer to the Spanish
word ―Ricial‖ which means ―luntiang bukirin‖ related to his work as hacienda owner.

B. Make a matrix diagram that traces the influences in Rizal’s life that shaped his aspirations
and values.
Criteria:

Relevance 30%
Originality 30%
Creativity 25%
Impact 15%
Total: 100%

C. Weigh the effects of Rizal’s execution on Spanish Colonial Rule and the Philippine
Revolution.

Spanish Colonial Rule Philippine Revolution

D. Answer the questions below. (15 pts.)

1. How did the Spanish authorities handle the case of Rizal?
2. How Rizal proved that ―pen is mightier than sword‖?
3. What were the qualities or virtues of Rizal as a student?

2.3 References
De Viana, A., et al (2018). Jose Rizal: Social Reformer and Patriot. REX Book Store.
Pangilinan, M.C. (2016). Dr. Jose P. Rizal: Life, Works, and Writings. Mindshapers Co., Inc.

2.4 Acknowledgment
The images, tables, figures and information contained in this module were taken from the
references cited above.