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Rizal Deported to Dapitan

On June 26, 1892, accompanied by his elder sister Lucia, Rizal arrived in Manila. After
lodging himself and his sister at the Oriente Hotel in Binondo, he went to Malacanang to pay a
courtesy call and to interview the Govenor-General Despujol, who agreed to pardon his father
and sisters, but not of his brother-in-law. Despujol tried to dissuade him from going to Borneo,
and instead promised to give him lands in any island two leagues from Calamba

Filipino League Founded. Rizal was enthusiastically received by his friends and admirers,
e.g., Andres Bonifacio, Apolinario Mabini, Ambrosio Salvador, Timoteo Paez and Deodato Arellano
and told them the objectives of the La Liga Filipina which he planned to establish. The day
following his arrival, he was taken by them on a visit to Malolos (Bulacan), San Fernando
(Pampanga), and Tarlac (Tarlac), in which places he urged his countrymen to join the La Liga
Filipina (Filipino League).

Encouraged by the favorable reception and response extended to him by his friends and
supporters, Rizal formally organized the League in Ilaya Street, Tondo, Manila on July 3, 1892. A
big gathering of Filipino patriots attended and witnessed this historic event.

The aims of the La Liga Filipina were:

1. Unification of the whole archipelago into one compact and homogeneous body;

2. Mutual protection in every want and necessity;

3. Defense against all violence and injustice;

 4. Encouragement of instruction, agriculture and commerce; and

5. Study and application of reforms.

The League's ultimate objective was to promote the progress of the country.

The Arrest and Deportation of Rizal. Four days after the founding of the La Liga Filipina,
Rizal was ordered arrested by Governor-General Despujol allegedly for having found in his
baggage, a few hours after his arrival from Hongkong a bundle of leaflets entitled “Poor Friars”
(Pobres Frailes). The leaflets were against the rich Dominicans who amassed fabulous wealth
contrary to their “vow of poverty.” He was incarcerated temporary in Fort Santiago for about a
week, after which time he was deported to Dapitan in Northern Mindanao.

Life in Dapitan. At first he lived in the residence of Don Ricardo Carnicero, Captain of the
Infantry and politico-military governor of Dapitan.

Carnicero was charmed by Rizal’s refined manners. On several occasions, they had
friendly conversations and sometimes ate together on the same table. Later, Carnicero learned
that Rizal was not a person who had committed a felony; so he gave good reports on Rizal (the
deporter) to Governor-General Despujol. Because of his good impression about the exiled Rizal,
he has him considerable freedom to move around and report only once a week.

Rizal was very much pleased and admired the Spanish Captain for his generosity, as a sign
of gratitude and appreciation, he wrote a poem on the occasion of Don Ricardo Carnicero’s
birthday.

When Captain Carnicero left Dapitan, he was succeeded by Captain Juan Sitges, a more
demanding officer, but weeks later, he changed his attitude and gradually grew to like the
deporter.

Rizal lived an exemplary life in exile. He built his own house, planted many fruit-bearing
trees and practiced his medical profession. Many people in all walks of life from far and near
places came to his medical clinic for treatment.

Some members of his family took turns in visiting him and staying with him for some time
so as to appease his feeling of loneliness. Among those who visited him were Dona Teodora, his
mother, sister Trinidad, Maria, and Narcisa, and his nephews Teodosio, Estanislao and Prudencio.

In Dapitan, Rizal continued his interest in scientific, artistic, literary, linguistic and other
intellectual pursuits. All his free time were devoted to agricultural, business and civic
development activities. He studied also the Bisayan and Malayan languages and he even wrote
an original Tagalog grammar. He maintained correspondence with his European friends, notably
Professor Blumentritt, Doctors Rast, Joesty, and Meyer.

Rizal as a Physician. Dr. Rizal continued his medical practice in Dapitan. Many patients
from different parts of the Philippines from faraway places came for consultation either for eye
diseases or for any kind of clinical ailment. Sometime in August, 1893, Dona Teodora and sister
Maria arrived in Dapitan and lived with him for a year. For the third time, he operated on his
mother’s eyes successfully. In this particular instance, Rizal realized that sometimes it was not
advisable to be the doctor of the member of the immediate family. Her mother, disregarded her
son’s clinical instructions, by removing the bandages from her eyes, causing the wound to be
infected.

Rizal could not help shared the incident to his brother. in-law, Manuel Hidalgo, his sister's
husband, Saturnina: “Now I understand very well why a physician should not treat the members
of his family.”

Rizal’s good reputation as a physician and surgeon became widely known. Don Ignacio
Tumarong, a wealthy patient whose eye were operated successfully by him restored his sight. As
a sign of gratitude, he paid Rizal P3,000 for his ophthalmic skills. Don Florencio Azcarraga,
another wealthy patient who owned a big hacienda of sugarcane in Aklan, paid Rizal a cargo of
sugar for curing his eye ailment. A rich patient, an Englishmen paid him P500.

Rizal became interested in local medicine by way of applying various medicinal plants in
the community. He studied local medicinal plants and their potential curative values. For indigent
patients, who could not afford to buy imported medicines for common ailments, he prescribed
the local medicinal plants.

Rizal as an Educator. In building the foundation of a nation, education is very essential. It

is the very foundation from which one can train and nurture the vital instruments of progress of
the citizens especially the youth. For him, the youth is one of the most essential ingredients in
any transformation endeavor, the young people with commensurate skills and the necessary
values who are willing to subordinate their interest for the common good. These are the youth
who are guided by a common vision and who are inspired by a sense of mission. “Without
education and liberty, the soil and the sun of mankind, no reform is possible.

It is in this context, that Rizal established a modest school which was attended by a
group of selected students whose ages were thirteen and fourteen from prominent families in
Dapitan. These students did not pay their tuition fees, but they were made to work in his garden,
in the fields, and other civic projects in the community.
 Rizal taught these young boys the value of hard work, character building, respect of
human worth and dignity, the spirit of cooperation and family solidarity.

He also taught them various cultural values of the Filipino’s e.g., “Kaayusan,"
“Delicadeza” and “Palabra de Honor” (Word of Honor).

On nationalism, he emphasized concern for national unity and the Filipino tenacity in the
pursuit and defense of national ideals.

Rizal taught these young boys reading, writing in Spanish and English, history and
geography, mathematics, industrial arts activities, the study of nature, ethics and gymnastics. He
trained them to collect various specimens of plants and animals for scientific study. He also
emphasized the value of good manners and good conduct.

In line with his pedagogical philosophy of Sound Mind in a Sound Body, the students
happily engaged in boxing, wrestling, swimming, fencing, arnis and boating.

Rizal as an Engineer. Rizal is a full-fledged surveyor “which he obtained from Ateneo and
passed the prescribed examination. In his desire to know more about Engineering as a field of
learning, he read a lot of books about the subject to have a better knowledge about construction
works.

Rizal endowed with superior intelligence was able to apply his knowledge of engineering
by constructing a system of waterworks in order to provide the people in Dapitan clean water.

It is interesting to note that engineers with adequate knowledge, training and experience
in the field of civil and construction works, marveled how Rizal could built such a system of water
works, for he had inadequate equipment, tools and the necessary materials and finances and
even without the help of the government.

An American engineer, H.H. Cameron was all admiration and praised in Rizal’s ingenuity,
for he had no explosives with which to blast the hard rocks and limited resources, except his
determined effort and tenacity to construct the aqueduct which had for its bottom the fluted
tiles from the old house roofs, and was covered with concrete made from lime burned from the
sea coral. The length of the aqueduct is long, and it winds in and out among the rocks and is
carried across gutters in bamboo pipes upheld by rocks to the distribution reservoir.

Rizal as Scientist. Rizal found Dapitan and other places in Zamboanga an ideal place for
collecting specimens for scientific study. Accompanied by students they explored the forest and
seacoast looking for specimen of insects, plants seashells and other aquatic lives. He examined
carefully every specimen to find out its potential value.
 He discovered Nami, a kind of root plant to be edible when cooked properly, but it was
poisonous because it contained hydrocyanic acid. In one incident, his middle finger was bitten by
a centipede and the pain was so intense so he applied the natural fluid extracted from the said
root plant and the pain disappeared. In another occasion, he applied the “hydro alcoholic
solution” extracted from the Nami to a cat so that he could dissect its gonad. In a few minutes,
the cat fell asleep and he was able to perform his scientific experiment. As a result, he discovered
that the fluid extracted from the Nami was an effective medicine and capable of producing
anesthetic results, He sent different types of specimen, e.g., insects birds, fish, snakes and shells
to Dresden. Some of the specimens he sent were rare and had not been known yet which were
named in his honor by the European scientist. Among these specimens were Draco rizali (a flying
dragon), Apogonio rizali (a small bettle), and Rhacaphorus rizali (a rare frog).

In payment of these valuable specimens and in recognition of his effort, the European
scientists sent him various scientific books, and journals and surgical instruments.

Rizal’s quest for knowledge was boundless. He also conducted researches and studies in
anthropological, ethnographical, archeological, geographical and geological field of knowledge.

Rizal as a Farmer. In Dapitan, instead of wasting his time doing nothing and thinking of
this exile, he thought of how he could spend his time profitably. He bought 16 hectares of
agricultural land where he planted fruit-bearing trees, e.g., mangoes, guavas, lansones, santol
and durian, aside from cacao, coffee, sugarcane, corn and coconuts. He also raised livestock, e.g.,
horses, cattle, sheep, and other useful animals aside from chicken, ducks and turkeys in his farm.
Later, he acquired adjacent lands of his farm until his total land area expanded near a river where
it became a source of irrigation that consequently doubled his rice production.

On this big tract of arable land suitable for agriculture he introduced modern methods of
farming and agricultural means and techniques he had observed in Europe and America. He
encourages the farmers in Dapitan to discard their primitive system and practices of farming and
adopt the modern and scientific agricultural methods.

Rizal as an Entrepreneur. Rizal was a person who organized, managed and assumed
responsibility in any kind of human endeavor. In Dapitan, aside from farming, he engaged in
business. His business partnership with a Dapitan merchant, turned profitable. His business
ventures included fishing, copra and hemp industries.

Rizal introduced a modem method of hemp stripping through a machine in order to

improve the quality and at the same time increased the production. He also organized a
cooperative in Dapitan, where the farmers jointly owned means of production and distribution of
goods and services operated by themselves to get rid of pernicious business practices and to
stabilize the price of hemp in the market.
 In one of his letters to his brother-in-law, Manuel Hidalgo, he expressed his plan to
improve the fishing industry of Dapitan. He observed that Dapitan like Calamba has good
grounds for fishing for it abounded with corals.

Rizal as an Inventor. Perhaps few Filipinos knew that Rizal was also an inventor. Even
when he was still in Calamba and actively engaged in the practice of medicine he invented a
cigarette lighter called Sulpukan. This unique cigarette lighter was made of Philippine wood and
‘its mechanism” said Rizal, “is based on the principle of compressed air.” He sent this unique
invention to Blumentritt as a gift which he became very much delighted.

Meantime, while in Dapitan as an exile he invented a machine for making bricks a

rectangular block of clay hardened by drying in the sun or burning in a kiln used for building and
paving. The machine could manufacture 6,000 pieces of bricks every day. He wrote Blumentritt,
“I have made a wooded machine for making bricks, and | believe it could make more or less
6,000 bricks a day.”

Rizal as an Artist. Rizal as a young boy at the age of five revealed his remarkable talents
for the arts. Before learning how to read, he could already sketch different pictures of animals,
birds, flowers, mountains and human figures. He had also developed an interest in creating
different forms and shapes with wax and clay. He curves figures of animals and human figures in
wood.

In one occasion, when Rizal was a young boy in Calamba, a religious banner which was
always used during the town fiesta was damaged, thereby diminishing to a certain extent its
aesthetic value. To replace it, Rizal painted in oil colors a new banner that delighted the town
people because it was more beautiful than the original one.

Rizal impressed his Jesuit professors in the Ateneo when he was studying because of
artistic skill when he curved an image of Our Virgin Mary on a piece of batikuling (Philippine
hardwood) with his pocket-knife.

In London, he curved “The Triumph of Death over Life” and “The Triumph of Science over
Death”.

In Dapitan he curved “The Mother’s Revenge”. He modeled a statute representing the

mother dog killing the crocodile by way of avenging her lost puppy.

Other sculptural works of Rizal in Dapitan using wood as its medium were the bust of
Father Guerrico, an Ateneo professor, “The Dapitan Girl” and Josephine Bracken which appeared
realistic because of their anatomical shapes and proportion.
 Rizal as a Linguist. Rizal could be ranked with the world’s great linguistics because of his
remarkable skills in speaking several languages as follows: Spanish, Latin, English, Greek, French,
German, Arabic, Hebrew, Dutch, Italian, Chinese, Japanese, Swedish, Portuguese, Russian and
Sanskrit; Ilokano, Bisayan and Subanun.

Inspite of his other activities, he wrote a Tagalog grammar, made comparative study of
the Bisayan and Malayan languages, and conducted a research on the Bisayan (Cebuana) and
Subunan languages.

Rizal as a Writer. Rizal wrote quite a number of short stories, novels, poems essays, plays
and fables. He translated his works in different languages, e.g., Spanish, English, Italian, French
and German while in Dapitan.

Rizal as a Musician. Music had always been a part in every Filipino reunion and social
functions in Barcelona, Madrid, and other cities of Europe. At times when feeling nostalgic of
their loved ones back home, it provided therapeutic effects to lessen their loneliness.

Rizal admitted that he had no natural aptitude for music. But his determined effort and
constant practice, he learned to play the flute fairly well.

In various occasions during social gathering of Filipinos in Barcelona and Madrid, Rizal as
flutist can produce melodies and expressive sounds to the delight of his friends and other guests.

It is said that he composed the song entitled “Leonor’, “E1 Canto del Prisoner” and “Alin
Mang Lahi” which were characterized by melodic rhythm and tone and expressive of sentiments
and emotions.

Josephine Bracken in Dapitan. One of the most significant events worth remembering in
connection with Rizal's life in Dapitan was the coming of Miss Josephine Bracken.

In the still of the night, after a hard day’s work, Rizal could not free himself from the
pangs of extreme melancholy. He thought of his family, relatives and friends and his happy
boyhood days in Calamba, the exhilarating moments of his life in the historical and beautiful
cities of Europe and other places of interest he had gone, the bitter memories about Leonor
Rivera’s marriage to an Englishman, whom he loved so dearly for years and the many
disappointments and sad experiences caused his heart to bleed.

The misfortune and challenges which marred and befallen in his life could wrecked a man
of weaker stuff.

But God in his time and in his mysterious way writes straight in crooked lines. The light of
hope beckoned lovingly in the distance upon the arrival of an eighteen-year-old lady, sweet,
slender, almond blue eyes, brown hair, and dressed with elegant simplicity -Miss Josephine
Bracken.

Born on October 3, 1876 in Hongkong of Irish parents. Her mother died from childbirth
and was adopted by an American engineer, George Taufer, who after a few years with delightful
memories with amiable and kind-hearted Josephine.

Josephine, her adopting father, Engineer Taufer and Manuela Orlac, a Filipino companion
arrived in Dapitan in February, 1895, coming the way from Hongkong. Their purpose of going to
Dapitan was to consult Dr. Rizal for surgical treatment of Engineer Taufer’s blindness whose
reputation as ophthalmic surgeon was not only recognized in the country but also in Hongkong.
Mr. Julio Llorente, a friend of Rizal gave them a note of introduction.

Rizal and Josephine fell in love, and each day that passed seemed to bring them closer
together. Towards the end of February, Rizal told George Taufer that he was in love with
Josephine and that he intended to marry her. Taufer objected vehemently. Both Rizal and
Josephine calmed him down Josephine promising to accompany him back to Manila and telling
Rizal she would return. She did. In April, into the arms of Rizal to an ecstatic reunion of a man
burdened by exile because he gallantly fought for the emerging nation and a woman saddened
by a forlorn past, orphaned and dominated but adoptive father.

Josephine gave joy to Rizal. Rizal was fascinated by her lack of pretenses, so their love
blossomed.

Perhaps they were destined to be husband and wife because of their intense mutual love
for each other. Since there were no legal impediments, they agreed to marry. Father Obach, the
parish priest of Dapitan refused to marry them in the absence of the ecclesiastical permission
from the Bishop of Cebu.

Since the parish of Dapitan could not solemnize the marriage, one moonlight night, they
went to the beach, clasped each other's hand and united themselves before Heaven. Better a
union by the grace of God than marriage darkened by sin.

Rizal and Josephine pledged to love each other and lived as husband and wife, and
thereafter, lived happily.

So great was this Irish orphan’s love for him.

The most important document is the letter to the Bishop of Cebu. It bears a documentary
stamp and the number 3.486.477.

Most Excellent and Ilustrious Bishop of Cebu

Fray Martin Garcia Alcocer

Most Illustrious Sir:

Mr. Jose Rizal Mercado Y Alonzo, native of

Calamba, Laguna, age 33 years, with due respect expounds to your Lordship.

Desiring to marry in the church, Miss Josefina Leopoldina Taufer, age 18 years, orphan of mother,
registered in the American consulate in Manila where she was residing and also professing the
Roman Catholic and Apostolic religion, and having been informed by the Very Reverend Father
Antonio Obach, S.J., missionary of this district, that it was necessary to apply to your Illustrious
Lordship for the issue of the permit, in accordance with customs, requests your Lordship to
please issue the pertinent authorization.

He has no doubt that he will be granted this permission considering the recognized piety and
righteousness of Your Lordship whose life may God preserve for many years.

Dapitan, 6 March, 1895

Most Excellent and

Very Reverend Bishop of Cebu

How the late Mr. Famorca of Dapitan came to possess these documents is a mystery.

In January of the following year Rizal wrote his mother to tell her that he was sending her
some salted fish “prepared by the person who lives at my home”. She is good, obedient, and
meek. All that we lack is to be married; but as you yourself say, “It is better to live in grace of God
than to be married in mortal sin.”

To his sister, Trining, he wrote; Miss J. is better than her reputation …. what we only need
is to pay a curate, that is to say, it is not necessary to us. Until now we have not quarreled, we
are always gay.... The public can say that it is a scandal; without doubt it is. It is very scandalous
to live better than married people.”
 After living in for almost eight months, Josephine are in the family Way, but
unfortunately, she gave birth prematurely to an eight-month boy, that lived for only a few hours.
For the couple, the loss of the baby was indeed unbearable.

Some reactionary Filipinos believed that Rizal led an immortal life with Josephine in
Dapitan. The letter to the Bishop threw a new light on the relationship. Obviously, Rizal would
have married her if circumstances had permitted. On March 14, 1895 (the same month in which
he wrote the Bishop), he sent a letter to his mother in Manila through Josephine, whom
according to the letter, he “was on the point of marrying... Our relations were broken on her
suggestion on account of the numerous difficulties in the way.

Other interesting events and incidents in connection with Rizal’s life in Dapitan included:
his long controversy on philosophy and religion with Rev. Pablo Pastells, Superior of the Jesuit
Order in the Philippines, by correspondence and the visit of Dr. Pio Valenzuela, who was Andres
Bonifacio’s emissary, to sound Rizal’s views on the proposed uprising against the Spanish
government.

Rizal to Cuba. Rizal’s concern for the welfare of mankind is universal. At the suggestion
of his friend Blumentritt, Dr. Rizal volunteered his services as a physician attached to the Spanish
medical corps in Cuba. After a little more than six months, his application was accepted and so
he had to leave Dapitan for Manila, where he arrived on board the Espara on August 6, 1896,
Since the mail boat for Spain had already left the day before his arrival, Rizal had to wait for the
next streamer. In the meantime, he requested the authorities not to allow anybody except his
family to communicate with him. Accordingly, he was transferred to the Spanish cruiser Castilla
then anchored near Cavite to wait for the next streamer which was scheduled to sail for Spain
the following month.

CHAPTER 11
The Arrest and Trial of Rizal

Sometime in August 1896, before the outbreak of Philippine Revolution, Andres Bonifacio

together with other Katipuneros attempted to save Rizal from the cruiser, Castilla, anchored at
Cavite. Through a motor boat, they were able to board surreptitiously the cruiser to persuade
Rizal to escape, he politely refused. Being a man of principle and conviction, he was ready to face
the consequences of his decision.
 Rizal stayed on board Castilla for almost a month. By this time, Bonifacio and his
Katipunan followers had already proclaimed defiance of the Spanish government by tearing
cedula certificates during the famous historical “Cry of the Balintawak”. On August 30, 1896,
Governor- General Ramon Blanco gave Rizal a letter of recommendation to the Minister of War,
General Marcelo de Azcarraga, which said among other things.  “Rizal's conduct during the four
years he remained in Dapitan has been exemplary, and he is no way involved in the chimerical
(unreal or imaginary) attempt we are now deploring, neither in the conspiracy nor in any of the
secret societies that have been formed.

The next day his ship sailed for Spain on his way to Cuba. In his farewell letters to his
family, he said: “We are in the hands of Divine Providence. Not all who go to Cuba die; and the
end, if one has to die at least doing something good.

Events had moved so swiftly and conspired recklessly against Rizal. On September
30, 1896, Rizal left for Spain on board the streamer Isla de Panay, while Revolution had began in
the nearby provinces around Manila and other parts of Luzon. While the ship was cruising the
Mediterranean Sea, Rizal was informed by the captain of the ship, that he has just received a
telegraphic order from the Minister of War to arrest and confined him in his cabin. Rizal was
greatly surprised by the sudden order. When the ship arrived in Barcelona on October 6, he was
transferred to Montjuich Castle, in cell No. 11. A few hours later General Despujol, the Governor-
General who deported him in Dapitan in 1892 and who was now in charge of Montjuich prison,
came and informed Rizal that he would be sent back to Manila on board of S.S. Colon.

From a Volunteer Physician to a Prisoner. From Manila, Governor-General Blanco wired

back the most ominous warning for Rizal. "After departure of Rizal very serious charges filed
against him for causing

The steamer reached Manila on November 3. Rizal under tight security was brought and
detained to Fort Santiago. While Rizal was held incommunicado, in Fort Santiago, the Spanish
authorities were busy looking for evidence against him. Many Filipinos who sympathized
with him were arbitrarily harassed. Some were even tortured. Documents and letters of Rizal's
friends in the Propaganda Movement were seized by the civil guards.

The Trial. Rizal's trial began with the preliminary investigation on November 20. He
appeared before the Judge Advocate, Colonel Francisco Oliver Garcia and subjected to a very
tiring and severe investigation for five days. He was accused of the crimes of rebellion, sedition
and forming illegal associations.
The results of the preliminary investigation of the case conducted by Colonel Olive Garcia
were transmitted to Governor-General Ramon Blanco for appropriate action, who in turn,
appointed Captain Rafael Dominguez as the Judge Advocate to evaluate the case and
subsequently, made the corresponding decision against Rizal.

Dominguez, without delay, made a brief summary of the charges against the accused and
transmitted them to Judge Advocate General Nicolas dela Pena for legal opinion and
adjudication.

Immediately, after looking into the case, Pena submitted the following recommendations
to wit:

1. the accused be brought to trial without delay

2. the accused be incarcerated in prison, and

3. the accused should be defended in court by an army officer.

Rizal and His Defender. Denied the legal services of an experience civilian lawyer, Rizal
was given a list of names of first and second lieutenants to choose his counsel. He chose the
name that seemed familiar to him, that of Lieutenant Luis Traviel de Andrade who happened to
be the brother of Lieutenant Jose Traviel de Andrade, the officer once assigned to him when he
was under surveillance during his brief sojourn in Calamba after his first return from Europe. Rizal
and Andrada became fast friends. When he was notified by authorities that he was chosen by
Rizal to be his defender, he accepted the responsibility.

The charges of the commission of offense committed by Rizal were read in the presence
of his defender and other persons in the court. Some of the charges were refuted by Rizal to wit:

1. Since his deportation to Dapitan within a period of four years, he had not engaged in any
political activities.

2. The declaration of the witnesses against him was fabricated and not true.

Meanwhile, on December 13, 1896, the case against him was referred to Governor
Camilo dela Polaveja who replaced Governor-General Blanco. By virtue of the authority granted
to him by the Spanish authorities, it was within his power to order the creation of a Court Martial
consisting of military personnel who could try the accused.

On December 15, 1896, Rizal wrote a public declaration of his avowed intentions. He
appealed t the Filipino people to stop shedding of blood and to achieve their freedoms through
education and hard work. What the country needs today are individuals, not only with a sense of
vision and purpose, but above all, MEN OF CONSCIENCE.
 This declaration which was written in his prison cell at Fort Santiago, a portion of which
stated:

From the beginning, whom I had news of what was being planned, I opposed it, fought
for it, and demonstrated its absolute impossibility. This is the truth, and witnesses to my words
are still living. I was convinced that that the idea was highly absurd and, what was worse, would
bring great suffering. I did more when later, inspite of my counsels, the movement broke out, I
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.

On December 24, the Ordinary Court Martial of the Post was constituted, with seven
members: Colonel Jose Tagores Arjona (Cavalry), Ricardo Munoz Arias (Captain, Artillery). Manuel
Reguera (Captain, Cavalry), Santiago Osorio (Captain, Rangers), Manuel Escribano (Captain,
Engineers) and Fermin Rodriguez (Captain, General Ordinance). The assistant judge advocate
general, Enrique de Alcocer, was appointed prosecutor.

Rizal tried by a Court Martial. On December 26, Rizal was tried by a Court Martial of
seven Spanish army officers at the Hall of Banners of Cuartel del Espana. Also in the court room
were Captain Rafael Dominguez, the Judge Advocate, Lieutenant Enrique de Alcocer, the
Prosecuting Attorney, Dr. Jose Rizal, the accused, and Lieutenant Traviel de Andrade, his defender
and some spectators - Filipinos and Spaniards, Josephine Bracken and a sister of Rizal and some
Filipino and foreign newspapermen witnessed the proceedings and deliberations.

Judge Advocate Dominguez opened the trial by reading the charges against Rizal, e.g.,
rebellion, sedition, and illegal association. After the presentation of the charges against the
accused, the prosecuting Attorney Alcocer stood up and delivered his remarks by giving the
summary of the charges against Rizal and urged the members of military tribunal to decide by
imposing death penalty upon the accused.

When the Prosecuting Attorney had finished his long and passionate speech, Rizal's
defender Traviel de Andrade took the floor and presented his eloquent defense characterized by
forceful and appropriate expression.
After Lieutenant Traviel de Andrade's able defense on the accused he took his seat. The military
court asked Rizal whether he had something to say in addition to the confidence, intelligence
and skill of his counsel about this case.
 Rizal presented his own brief-memorandum of points of facts as follows:

1. I could not be guilty of rebellion, for I even advised Dr. Pio Valenzuela in Dapitan not to rise in
revolution.

2. The revolutionists used my name without my knowledge. If I were guilty, I could have escaped
from Singapore.

3. If I had a hand in the evolution, I could have escaped in a Moro vinta and would not built a
house, and bought lands in Dapitan.

4. If I were the chief of the revolution, why was I not consulted by the revolutionists?

5. The La Liga Filipina did not live long, for after the first meeting, I was deported to Dapitan and
it died out.

6. If the La Liga Filipina was reorganized nine months later, I did not know about it.

7. It was true I wrote the Constitution and By-Laws of the La Liga Filipina, but this is only civic
association and not a revolutionary society.

8. While it was true that there were some bitter statements in my letters, it was because they
were written when my family was being persecuted, being dispossessed of their houses and
lands; and my brother and my brother-in- law were deported without a due process.

9. It was not true that the revolution was inspired in one of my speeches at the house of Doroteo
Ongjunco, as alleged by witnesses whom I would like to confront. My friends knew very well
about my vehement opposition to an armed rebellion. Why did the Katipunan send an emissary
to Dapitan who was a stranger to me? Because those who knew me were aware that I would
never sanction any violent movement.

10. My life in Dapitan had been exemplary as evidenced by my productive activities for the
welfare of the people; the politico-military commanders and missionary priests could attest to
these.

At the outset, the trial was patently a farce, and evidently, there would be a miscarriage
of justice. Rizal was a civilian, but he was tried by a military tribunal composed of military
officials. The case was already prejudged in the Absence of a due process. Rizal was not even
given the right to face his accusers and witnesses against him in open court. All the accusations
against Rizal were considered and all the arguments and evidence in his favor were virtually
disregarded by the military judges. It seemed that the members of the military court met not to
evaluate the evidence presented before them, but to accuse and condemn Rizal, The Military
court prejudiced even before the trial began, apparently, Rizal could not expect to have a fair,
honest and impartial prejudice.

The so-called trial was a virtual pantomime. No prosecution witness was allowed to testify
so the defense could not ask questions on cross-examination.

The procedure of trial was a prototype of simplicity if a mockery, (1) The prosecution's
brief (ln law, a memorandum of facts for use in conducting a case was read before the court by
the prosecutor: (2) Andrade presented the defense brief dated December 25, and (3) Rizal
completed the process by reading his "Additions to My Defense”, which he Wrote dated
December 26.

Rizal and Andrade received the brief for the persecution on December 23. They were
given only two days to prepare for the trial on December 26:
Rizal concluded: "He never sought liberty to rebel but only political liberties. Rizal's last message
to the court was attached to the brief for the defense as ordered by the president of the Military
Court.

When Rizal had concluded his defense the court room was cleared, and the members of
Military Tribunal went into secret sessions to deliberate and render its decision.
After a while, the presiding officer of the Military Court and its members made its
deliberation to resolve the charges and unanimously voted for the imposition of the extreme
death penalty.

On the same day, December 26, Innocent's Day Military Court submitted its verdict on
the charges against Rizal to Governor General Polavieja who affirmed the death sentence and
decreed that the accused Jose Rizal should be executed before a firing squad at seven o'clock in
the morning on  December 30, 1896, on the field of Bagumbayan (now Rizal Park), with all the
formalities required by law.
 Rizal was advised of the judgment on December 29, which he signed in witness that it
had been made known to him. Retana writes of Rizal's signature on the death sentence "It was
written in a very steady, clear and beautiful hand, every stroke denoting the most complete self-
possession; the most beautiful signature of Rizal I have come across.

The trial was a sham. It was ridiculous and an utter display of power, arrogance and deceit
and total mockery of the law.

But Rizal personified a lesson in history that cannot be reversed by time or circumstances
and be remained steadfast and firm in his faith and convictions

"What is most admirable in Rizal," wrote Palma, "is his complete self-denial, his complete
abandonment of his personal interests in order to think only of those of his country."

CHAPTER 12
The Execution of a National Hero

After the infamous decision of the military court, Rizal knew that his fate was sealed he
was destined to die. He was formally notified of his death sentence twenty-four hours before the
exact time of the execution. During his remaining hours, he received a number of visitors from his
prison cell in Port Santiago. They were the Jesuit fathers who were his former professors at
Ateneo and who offered him spiritual consolation and prayers. They were Fathers Miguel Saderra
Mata - Rector of Ateneo, Antonio Rosell, Luis Viza, Jose Vilaclara, Federico Faura and Vicente
Balaguer.

Don Santiago Mataix, correspondent of the Heraldo de Madrid and Lieutenant Taviel de
Andrada, his able and gallant defender during the trial also came to see him.

In the afternoon of the same day, the immediate members of his family - his aged mother,
Doña Teodora, sisters and Josephine Bracken came. To his sister Trinidad, he gave his alcohol
cooking lamp, inside which he had written his Ultimo Adios.

Before they left the prison cell, Rizal kissed his mother's hand and told her with a soft and
emotional voice: "I knew I had caused you pain and moments of unhappiness, please forgive me;"
then he gave Josephine a tender kiss as if to say, "goodbye my dear and unhappy wife." They left
the prison cell with tears in their eyes.
 The Retraction. Rizal’s life as a national hero of the Philippines was the most documented
both in primary and secondary sources. However, the issue on retraction was still in case where
the abundance of material seemed to actually led to confusion. A number of biographers and
historians had to follow a paper trail down to the primary sources to establish the validity of the
piece if information. As a national hero of the Philippines, Rizal’s life has become public – he has
little or no private life left. Some textbooks and other printed literature give the impression that
Rizal – a multi-talented, liberal-minded, self-denying and reformist intellectual with emotional
sensitivity, a man of strong character and conviction did not embrace back the Catholic faith
until his last breath. His retraction continues to intrigue historians and academicians.

But even if he became a Master Mason, since at the early childhood the Catholic doctrine
and teachings were deeply implanted in his mind, he continued to have faith in God. It is
interesting to note that when a person is at the point of death, he returns back to his Creator.
Imbued with courage and moral conviction are facets of Jose Rizal that continued to fascinate
people’s imagination.

At around ten o'clock in the evening a draft of the retraction from Archbishop Bernardo
Nozaleda was shown to him, but he did not like it because it was too wordy and too long.
Another draft was shown again by Father Balaguer which was prepared by Father Pio Pi, the
Superior of the Jesuit Mission in the Philippines. Rizal like it, however, he wanted some portions
be changed.

During his last hours at the prison cell at Fort Santiago, he agonized on the question of
whether to heed the advice of the priests attending to his spiritual needs to reconcile with the
Catholic Church which he finally abandoned in favor of Free Masonry.

Rizal finally relented and wrote a letter of retraction which was published in the Spanish
newspaper during that time.

Records showed that Rizal wrote the retraction and finally signed in which he renounced
Masonry. A portion of it read:

“I declare that I am a Catholic, and in this religion, in which I was born

and educated, I wish to live and die"

Rizal's retraction was premised on the attacks he made against various practices of the
church and certain errors in religion and not his personal political philosophy and conviction.
 His retraction and his renunciation of Masonry and returning to the fold of Catholicism
made Rizal even a greater man because it takes moral courage for any man to recognize his
errors and misconceptions and to rectify what was conceived bad and immoral.

In the morning of December 30, 1896, Rizal woke up early and recited the morning prayer
his mother taught him when he was a young boy.

He heard mass said by Father Balaguer. Before the mass began, he confessed before
Father Balaguer and received Holy Communion during the mass. He also read the Acts of Faith,
Hope and Charity from the Spanish prayer book entitled Aceptation dela Muerte, (Acceptance of
Death) and Imitacion de Cristo, (The Imitation of Christ) by Thomas a Kempis.

At around five o'clock in the morning, he had his last breakfast. A little later, Josephine,
accompanied by his sister Trinidad came. Rizal requested Father Balaguer to solemnize a
canonical marriage with Josephine an hour before his death.

Rizal’s Last Letters. Rizal wrote farewell letters to his Father, to his mother, to his brother
Paciano, and to his intimate friend, Blumentritt.

The words he said were products of his thoughts and feelings reflective of his mental and
emotional conditions, character, temperament and conviction.

His last letter to his father;

Dear Papa,
Forgive me for all the pains and sorrows that I had caused you to repay you
for your sacrifices for my education.
Goodbye, Father.
Pepe

His last letter to his bosom friend, Professor Blumentritt a part of which read:

My dear friend,
I shall be dead by the time you receive this letter. Tomorrow, I shall be shot
by a firing squad at seven o'clock in the morning at Bagungbayan Field.
I am innocent of the charges against me and I die with a clear conscience.
Goodbye.
Jose Rizal
 The Death March Begins. At about 6:30 in the morning on December 30, 1896, at Fort
Santiago, the trumpet with its deafening tone sounded out that the death march was about to
begin. With martial pomp and precision marching, the Spanish soldiers with drawn bayonets,
ostentatiously displayed their gala uniforms.

Rizal wore a black suit and vest with black hat, he walked calmly with noble bearing, his
body upright, erect yet without affection with his defender, Lieutenant Taviel de Andrade and
two priests while a platoon of Spanish guards marched behind them. His arms were tied behind
his back.

The participants of the death march moved on a brisk fashion with the beat of the drum
as spectators lined along the street from Fort Santiago to plaza del Palacio in front of the Manila
Cathedral, then to Malecon Street (now Bonifacio Drive) until they reached the Bagongbayan
Field. A huge crowd of Filipinos and foreigners moved closer to the cordon formed by Spanish
soldiers who liked to capture a glimpse of Rizal.

The Execution. Dr. Jose Rizal bade farewell to his defender, the two priests and Josephine.
“Farewell, sweet foreigner, my darling, my delight.” The priests blessed him.

A military physician, Dr. Felipe Castillo, examined Rizal and was surprised only to find out
that his pulse was perfectly normal.

Rizal looked unperturbed as he marched to the place of his glory and immortality. His face
was quite pale, but serene and bright like the sky on its horizon beckoning a new dawn.

His lips shaded by thin moustache smiled at the world, as if he wanted to bid goodbye to
all.

His request to be shot facing the firing squad was denied for the Spanish officer had
specific order from higher authorities to have him shot at the back.

As the people crowded the scene, the guns of the firing squad rang out successively and
suddenly, an immense sigh arose from the multitude, indicating that all was over...
Rizal's body riddled by bullets fell lifeless on the ground with his face upward facing the
sky. He died exactly at 7:03 the morning. Shouts of "Viva España!" (Long Live Spain Death to the
traitors,”) filled the air.
 What an outrage! It was indeed a great day for Spain. Little did she realize that the shots
that snuffled the life of Rizal shattered to pieces her empire.

An eye witness of the execution, Howard Q. Bray wrote: “Never while life lasts, shall I
forget that awful morning nor the thrilling sensation I felt when the rifles cracked and his
mangled body fell on the public promenade amid the jeers of Spaniards and monks, thus
consummating one of the most cold-blooded crimes registered in history since the tragedy of
Golgota.” While the Military Band played, people began to disperse and to leave the place.

The remains of the great martyr were buried in Paco Cemetery but on December 30,
1912, they were transferred to the base of the present Rizal monument at the Luneta.

Today, a very famous landmark, right on the heart of Manila, stands a statue of a man
silhouetted against the blue sky, perhaps the greatest educated Filipino - a man with a purpose
and a man of conscience, martyr and national hero - DR. JOSE RIZAL.

Rizal's “ULTIMO ADIOS”. The famous, longest and untitled poem which the hero wrote on
December 29, 1896, the eve of his execution in his prison cell at Fort Santiago was full of
beautiful and sublime thoughts characterized with a sense of lofty ideals, love of country and his
countrymen. It is full of emotions filled with sadness and nostalgic memories because he was
leaving his loved ones and his beloved country.

The original in Spanish of this Ultimo Adios was translated in different languages, e.g.
English, French, German, Italian, Japanese and Malayan.

The translation from Spanish to English was by Charles E. Derbyshire, while the Tagalog
translation was by Jose Gatmaitan.

Hulíng Paalam (Mi Último Adiós)

Hermano Jose Rizal

Translated in Filipino by José Gatmaitan

Paalam, sintang lupang tinubuan,

bayang masagana sa init ng araw,
Edeng maligaya sa ami’y pumanaw,
at perlas ng dagat sa dakong Silangan.
 Inihahandog ko nang ganap na tuwa
sa iyo yaring buhay na lanta na’t aba;
naging dakila ma’y iaalay rin nga
kung dahil sa iyong ikatitinawa.

Ang nanga sa digmaan dumog sa paglaban

handog din sa iyo ang kanilang buhay,
hirap ay di pansin at di gunamgunam
ang pagkaparool o pagtagumpay.

Bibitaya’t madlang mabangis na sakit

o pakikibakang lubhang mapanganib,
pawang titiisin kung ito ang nais
ng baya’t tahanang pinakaiibig.

Ako’y mamamatay ngayong minamalas

ang kulay ng langit na nanganganinag
ibinababalang araw ay sisikat,
sa kabila niyang mapanglaw na ulap.

Kung dugo ang iyong kinakailangan

sa ikadidilag ng iyong pagsilang,
dugo ko’y ibubo’t sa isa man lamang
nang gumigiti mong sinag ay kuminang.

Ang mga nasa ko, mulang magkaisip,

magpahanggang ngayong maganap ang bait,
ang ikaw’y makitang hiyas na marikit
ng dagat Silangan na nakaliligid.

Noo mo’y maningning at sa mga mata

mapait na luha bakas ma’y wala na,
wala ka ng poot, wala ng balisa,
walang kadungua’t munti mang pangamba.

Sa sandaling buhay maalab kong nais

ang kagalingan mo’t ang paiwang sulit
ng kaluluwa kong gayak ng aalis,
ginhawa’y kamtan mo. Anong pagkarikit!

Nang maaba’t ikaw’y mapataas lamang,

mamatay at upang mabigyan kang buhay,
malibing sa lupang puspos ng karikta’t
sa silong ng iyong langit ay mahimlay.

Kung sa ibang araw ikaw’y may mapansin

nipot na bulaklak sa aba kong libing,
sa gitna ng mga damong masisinsin,
hagka’t ang halik mo’y itaos sa akin.

Sa samyo ng iyong pagsuyong matamis,

mataos na taghoy ng may sintang dibdib,
bayang tumaggap noo ko ng init,
na natatabunan ng lupang malamig.

Bayaan mong ako’y malasin ng buwan

sa liwanag niyang hilaw at malamlam;
bayaang ihatid sa aking liwayway
ang banaag niyang dagling napaparam.

Bayaang humalik ang simoy ng hangin;

bayaang sa huning masaya’y awitin;
ng darapong ibon sa kurus ng libing
ang buhay payapang ikinaaaliw.

Bayaang ang araw na lubhang maningas

pawiin ang ulan, gawing pawang ulap,
maging panginuring sa langit umakyat,
at ang aking daing ay mapakilangkap.

Bayaang ang aking maagang pagpanaw,

itangis ng isang lubos na nagmamahal;
kung may umalala sa akin ng dasal,
ako’y iyo sanang idalangin naman.

Idalangin mo rin ang di nagkapalad,

na nangamatay na’t yaong nangaghirap
sa daming pasakit, at ang lumalanghap
naming mga ina ng luhang masaklap.

Idalangin sampo ng bawa’t ulila

at nangapipiit na tigib ng dusa;
idalangin mo ring ikaw’y matubos na
sa pagkaaping laong binabata.

Kung nababalot na ang mga libingan

ng sapot na itim ng gabing mapanglaw,
at wala ng tanod kundi pawang patay,
huwang gambalain ang katahimikan.

Pagpitaganan mo ang hiwagang lihim,

at mapapakinggan ang tinig marahil,
ng isang salteryo: Ito nga’y ako ring
inaawitan ka ng aking paggiliw.

Kung ang libingan ko'y limot na ng madla

ay wala nang kurus at bato mang tanda
sa nangagbubukid ay ipaubayang
bungkali’t isabog ang natipong lupa.

Ang mga abo ko’y bago pailanlang

mauwi sa wala na pinanggalingan,
ay makaulit munang parang kapupunan
ng iyong alabok sa lupang tuntungan.

Sa gayo’y wala ng anoman sa akin,

na limutin mo na’t aking lilibutin
ang himpapawid mo kaparanga’t hangin
at ako sa iyo’y magiging taginting.

Bango, tinig, higing, awit na masaya

liwanag at kulay na lugod ng mata’t
uulit-ulitin sa tuwi-tuwina
ang kataimtiman ng aking pag-asa.
 Sintang Pilipinas, lupa kong hinirang,
sakit ng sakit ko, ngayon ay pakinggan
huling paalam ko’t sa iyo'y iiwan
ang lahat at madlang inirog sa buhay.

Ako’y yayao na sa bayang payapa,

na walang alipi’t punong mapang-aba,
doo’y di nanatay ang paniniwala
at ang naghahari'y Diyos na dakila.

Paalam anak, magulang, kapatid,

bahagi ng puso’t unang nakaniig,
ipagpasalamat ang aking pag-alis
sa buhay na itong lagi ng ligalig.

Paalam na liyag, tanging kaulayaw,

taga ibang lupang aking katuwaan;
paaalam sa inyo, mga minamahal;
mamatay ay ganap na katahimikan.

CHAPTER 13
NOLI & FILI: RIZAL’S IMMORTAL NOVELS

Rizal consecrated his God-given talents, and even sacrificed his own life for the
redemption of his countrymen. His entire political life, both in thought and action, applied
morality to politics, the fundamental belief that “violence breeds violence” and that no good
could come of it. He was determined to aid a young people to find its own personality as a nation
of the future. The long period of colonial domination and the constant humiliations and
discrimination experienced by the Filipinos from their colonial master, the Spaniards developed in
them a feeling of inferiority and a lack of racial pride and dignity.
Rizal believed that his life and death were for a purpose and God desired him to act as he
did. His efforts to fight to free his countrymen from ignorance and exploitation was vividly and
dramatically manifested in his two immortal novels “Noli Me Tangere” (Social Cancer), and “El
Filibusterismo” (The Reign of Greed).
Noli Me Tangere
 Noli is a classic novel, definitive, adhering to an established set of artistic standard,
punctuated with humor and wit and of sustained interests, quality and style, vigorous and
elegant, full of profound ideas and sublime thoughts, something worthy of its kind and worth
remembering.
Noli Me Tangere came into being because Rizal was deeply touched while reading Harriet
Beecher Stowe’s “Uncle Tom’s Cabin,” which portrayed the brutalities of American slave-owners
and the pathetic conditions of the unfortunate Negro slaves. His empathy as he sympathized
with this oppressed people became the starting point to write these twin novels. These two
novels were aimed towards reform but they were treated with different styles characterized by a
particular and distinctive mode of presenting and treating the content.
While “Noli Me Tangere,” was pacifist, choosing peaceful reforms through education of
the youth, in “El Filibusterismo,” Rizal sought to revenge the sufferings of his family and
countrymen resulting from bitter and traumatic experiences. This difference was accounted for
by Rizal’s political ideal that the right thing would happen at the right time. He knew that his
duty was to continue relentlessly to bring enlightenment of his country in general and to its
educated youth in particular, making them see for themselves as they really were – a people
under tyranny and misrule of the colonial masters. He also wished that the Spaniards can see for
themselves as they were – the oppressors; thereafter leaving it to events to take their course.
Rizal was convinced that the Philippines was not ready to stand on its own feet and still
needed assistance and support from Spain. He only yearned that the rights of the Filipinos would
not be trampled upon and were respected, that the freedom due them were duly granted, that
the policy of the government was carried out judiciously without treachery or deceit.
He disliked revolution, because it would bring about utter destruction to lives and
property, but he concluded that if it had to be, so be it. Only time would tell if and when.
“Noli Me Tangere,” did not advocate for full independence, but Rizal postulated it as the
only alternative if the Filipino cries were heard. “Noli,” was dedicated “To My Country,” for the
Filipino people-his countrymen. He hoped to bring, about an improvement in the relation
between the rulers and the ruled. The novel presented Spain an opportunity to introduce
fundamental reforms before it was too late. The book also exposed some Filipino weaknesses as
well as friar wickedness.
Rizal was aware of the shortcomings of his own people when it came to misplaced
individualism. He emphatically advocated that “there would no tyrants if there were no slaves,”
and the tyranny of some was possible only through cowardice and negligence of others. He
believed that the youth was the hope of the Fatherland, and that they needed education in order
to attain reforms through peaceful methods.
 Noli Me Tangere is a Latin phrase, translated in English which means “Touch Me Not.” The
book contained things nobody in the Philippines had dared to speak about because they were
delicate matters and could not be touched by anyone.
El Filibusterismo
Fili as a political novel, dramatized bitterness, hatred, pain, violence, sorrow, greed, and
vengeance. It was dedicated in memory of the martyrdom of the Filipino priests – Mariano
Gomez, Jose Burgos and Jacinto Zamora, who were executed in Bagongbayang Field on February
28, 1872. Fili was a novel that bore an irresistible urge to revolution, while promising nothing
from it. The novel, however, achieved a dual purpose; both an incitement to revolution and a
dreadful warning against it, which appeared very realistic.
Rizal saw no alternative to revolution, since every plea fell on deaf ears. But he could not
envision how a revolution could succeed. “El Filibusterismo,” was not an appeal. “It was a
profound description of revolt, with all the urgency of its demands and with all the shortcomings
in their fulfillment.” To Spain it was a last warning.
Symposis of the Noli Me Tangere
The Noli Me Tangere is a classical novel that described the true Philippine socio-political
conditions during the last decades of the Spanish rule. The places, the characters and the
incidents were real. "The facts I narrate are true and they actually happened; Rizal said, I can
prove them.”
The novel begins with a dinner given by Capitan Tiago in honor of Crisostomo Ibarra, a
young and wealthy Filipino who had just returned after several years of successful study in
Europe.
Ibarra was the only son of Don Rafael Ibarra and the fiancé of beautiful and demure Maria
Clara, whose supposed father was Capitan Tiago, a friend of Don Rafael.
The guests that graced the occasion were Padre Damaso, Franciscan parish priest of San
Diego, Padre Sibilya, a Dominican priest. Senor Guevara, a Lieutenant of the Guardia Civil, Don
Tiburcio de Espadaña, a pseudo Spanish physician, lame and with physical delormity, hempecked
and husband of Doña Victoria, vain and full of hallucinations and pretending to be a pure-
bloodied Castillian, and quite a number of ladies.
Ibarra was introduced before the guests and they were all impressed by his gentle
manners and winsome personality. His successful study and various travel abroad was the
centerpiece of the conversation among the guests especially the young ladies except Padre
Damaso who seemed not interested at all and was sulking like a child because he was displeased
with the bony neck of chicken tinola he got that was served during the dinner.
When the dinner was over, Ibarra politely left the house accompanied by Lieutenant
Guevara who narrated to him the sad and tragic story of the death of his father while defending a
boy who was pushed by an abusive Spanish tax collector; and accidentally killing him. He was
thrown in jail without due process where he died later.
He became sad and upset because of the anguish and pain about the story he learned
from Lieutenant Guevara. Determined to find out the truth about the death of his father, he went
to San Diego to look for his father's grave.
At the cemetery, the sepulterero (grave-digger) told Ibarra that the corpse of Don Rafael
was removed upon the order, of the parish priest to be buried in the Chinese cemetery. Because
of the heavy rains and gusty winds with lightning and thunder and the heavy corpse, he dragged
it and threw the dead body into the lake.
Ibarra became furious by the grave-digger's story and immediately left the cemetery. On
his way, he met Padre Salvi, the parish priest of San Diego. Ibarra narrated to him about the
grave-digger's story. Padre Salvi told him that he had nothing to do with it, since he was not the
parish priest of the town at the time of his father's death who was Padre Damaso.
On a fine Sunday morning an interesting incident was the picnic in the lake wherein Ibarra
and his friends gave to Capitan Tiago, Maria Clara, members of his family and a few close friends.
When everybody was enjoying the serenity of the lake, an almost tragic incident happened when
the big banca they were riding almost capsized because of the huge wave created by a big
crocodile. The dreadful episode that almost spoiled the picnic was the saving of the life of Elias,
the boatman when he bravely grappled with the ferocious crocodile in the lake. Ibarra sensing
that the life of Elias was in virtual danger, he immediately jumped into the water and defied the
menacing harm in his life. With a dagger, he gave a hard thrash on the crocodile's belly killing the
reptile.
Meanwhile the people of San Diego were all busy preparing for the celebration of the
annual fiesta. One of the highlights of the said occasion was the laying of the cornerstone of the
construction of the school building. During the ceremony, in the presence of a huge crowd when
everybody's attention was focused on the laying of the marker, Ibarra went down into the trench
when all of a sudeen, a mysterious man attacked and attempted to kill him. Fortunately, Elieas,
the man he saved at the brink of death during the picnic in the lake saved his life.
In the evening of the same day, a sumptuous dinner for all was attended by the
townspeople at the plaza. Padre Damaso kept on insulting the memory of Ibarra's father in the
presence of guests. Beclouded with passion and obfuscation, Ibarra almost killed the ill-
mannered friar. The timely intervention of Maria Clara prevented the tragic incident.
With this unfortunate episode, he was excommunicated and as a consequence his
engagement with Maria Clara was broken. Later, he was pardoned.
Maria Clara could not bear the pain and the anguish surrounding the incident. She could
not get over it so she became ill.
 When the fiesta was over, a young, boastful, self-conceited and jobless Spaniard, Don
Alfonso Linares de Espadaña, cousin of Don Tiburcio de Espadaña came to visit the Philippines to
look for a woman who can be his wife.
Doña Victorina and Padre Damaso introduced Linares to Maria Clara. The introduction
was deliberately planned and they thought would have some positive results, but Maria Clara did
not respond because Ibarra left a niche in her heart.
Another episode of the novel that provided life, color and meaning is Sisa, formerly a rich
girl who married a gambler and a good for nothing husband. Because of her marital agony and
the loss of her two sons-- Basilio and Crispin, she became mentally imbalance. These two young
boy were working for a meager wage as sacristans, doing odd jobs in the church to support their
mother. Crispin, the younger one was accused by the sacristan mayor of stealing the money of
the church. He was brutally tortured and died while Basilio escaped. When the two boys failed to
return home for supper, Sisa full of anxiety and fear look for them everywhere.
The terrifying impossibility to see her sons triggered her mental condition to break down
and consequently she became insane.
The story of Elias was full of challenges, unpleasant memories evoking feelings of pity and
compassion. He related to Ibarra the details of his life.
His grandfather who was employed in a commercial establishment in manila was accused
of setting fire on the firm's warehouse. His punishment was a severe beating that he almost died.
His wife was pregnant and after giving birth became a prostitute in order to survive and to
support her sick husband and their young sons.
Several years later, the older son became a dreaded tulisan roaming around ad sowing
terror and apprehension among the people of the towns. His terroristic unlawful activities finally
ended when he was caught by the authorities. His head was cut off and was hanged on a branch
of a tree near the river while his headless body was buried.
When her mother saw the horrible object which was her son’s head, she fainted and
eventually died.
The younger brother left the place and became a helper of a wealthy man. He fell in love
with the daughter of the rich man, his master. When the girl’s father knew about their
relationship, he became furious and investigated his past. The unfortunate lover who
impregnated his daughter was Elias father.
Because his master was well-to-do, he was able to force him to leave the place leaving her
daughter behind and gave birth to twins – a boy (Elias) and a girl.
The wealthy grandfather who had illicit relations with their mother took good care and
reared them as rich children while keeping with outmost secrecy about their incestuous and
scandalous origin.
 Since no one can deny the existence of the truth, their biological relationship was finally
discovered and they were disgraced and mortified. They came to know later, that the poor
ignored abused old servant of the family was their real father.
Elias and his sister with remorse feeling about their grandfather who was also their father
left the place to go to another town where nobody knew them to conceal their shame-full past.
One day his sister disappeared and was nowhere to be found. There was even no cue
about her whereabouts. Elias about her sister’s sudden disappearance roamed around the place
looking for her. In the late afternoon, the people of San Diego found a dead girl in the beach and
was later confirmed that she was Elias sister.
Since then, Elias, alone, forlorn, helpless, hopeless, and desperate lived a vagabond life
wondering from one place to another without any direction and purpose until he met Ibarra.
The enemies of Ibarra were determined to destroy his life. When Elias learned about the
impending arrest of Ibarra, he burned all the papers and other pieces of evidence that would
incriminate his friend. He went to the prison where Ibarra was incarcerated and helped him to
escape by way of riding a banca full of zacate (grass for horses).
Hurriedly, Ibarra stopped in the house of Capitan Tiago to see Maria Clara and bid
goodbye, Maria Clara could not help control her emotions so her eyes welling with tears, she told
Ibarra that she gave his letters to the Spanish authorities in exchange of the letter of her late
mother; Pia Alba which Padre Salvi kept. From the letter Padre Salvi gave her she found out that
her real father was Padre Damaso.
Hastily, after clasping the hands of Maria Clara, he returned to the banca where Elias were
waiting. Elias told Ibarra to lie down in the banca and covered him grass while he paddled the
banca along Pasig River headed toward the Manila Bay.
A police boat loaded with Guardia Civil pursued them until they reached the bay. When
the police boat was about to overtake their banca, Elias jumped into the water and swam toward
the shore diverting the attention of Guardia Civil and giving Ibarra a chance to escape.
With the rapid and successive fire by the Guardia Civil aimed at the swimming Elias, he
was hit and he sank. The water turned into red because of the blood; an indication he was
wounded.
Thinking that Ibarra was killed, the soldiers stopped firing. The news spread that Ibarra is
dead.
In the meantime, Elias who was seriously wounded was able to reach the shore, crawled
slowly and hid to the forest. Feeling weak and dizzy because of loss of blood, he met Basilio, son
of Sisa who was weeping over her mother’s dead body.
Other Characters of El Filibusterismo
 Cabesang Tales, evicted arbitrarily from his piece of land by Spanish friars, became
desperate and turned himself into banditry.
Jule, innocent-looking and unaffected, daughter of Cabesang Tales and sweetheart of
Basilio (Sisa’s Son) took her own life because she valued chastity and honor rather than to
succumb to the amorous mundane desire of Padre Camorra.
Makaraig, a student leader with vision
Padre Million, Domican friar, dogmatic and arrogant and complete intolerant of any
creed belief on opinion that differs from his own, teaches at the University of Santo Tomas
Placido Penitente, a student of the U.S.T who became disgusted and disillusioned on the
methods of teaching in the university.
Senior Pasta, a Filipino lawyer, insensitive to the needs of the Filipino students who were
seeking his legal advice to petition the government for educational reforms.
Tandang Delo, father of Cabesang Tales and grandfather of Jule.
Sandoval, a Spanish student and supportive to the cause of Filipino student who agitates
for the teaching of Spanish.
Cabesana Andana, haggard-look, the mother of Placido Penitente
Pepay, the pretty dancer with expressive eyes and mistress of Don Custodio
Padre Fernandez, a humane Dominican friar and friend of Isagani.
Don Timoteo, gray haired and frank, the father of Juanito Pelaez .
Tano, jolly and care-free, son of Cabesang Tales and brother of Jule.
Chichoy , the creative and skillful silversmith who fashioned the bridal earings for Paulita
Gomez.

The characters in El Filibusterismo are not derived from fictional literature but were drawn
from real life and factual situations.