Lesson 7: Rizal in Dapitan • Teaching his pupils would begin at about 2 p.m.

and
would end at 4 or 5 in the afternoon.
Life in Dapitan • With the help of his pupils, Rizal would spend the rest
of the afternoon farming-planting trees, watering the
• Jose Rizal’s arrival in Manila on June 26, 1892 had become plants, and pruning the fruits.
sensational among the Filipinos. His popularity feared the • Rizal then would spend the night reading and writing.
Spaniards, and such paid careful attention to his every
move – all houses where he had been searched and the Rizal and the Jesuits
Filipinos seen in his company were suspected.
• As he had planned , on July 3, 1892 he founded the La Liga Rizal was given the choice to live in the house of the parish
Filipina in the house of Teodoro Ongjunco in Tondo, Manila. priest, Fr. Antonio Obech or at Carcinero’s house.

July 17, 1892 Rizal, together with his guard Captain He could live in the parish priest’s quarters only if:
Ricardo Carcinero, arrived in Dapitan
• He publicly retracted his Masonic and antichurch beliefs.
Rizal was given the choice to live in the
house of the parish priest, Fr. Antonio • He regularly participates in church rites.
Obech or at Carcinero’s house. • He conducts himself as a good Spanish subject and a man
He could live in the parish priest’s quarters of religion.
only if:
• He publicly retracted his Masonic and May 4, 1893 Carcinero was replaced by Captain Juan Sitges.
antichurch beliefs. The Jesuits sent his old professor at the Ateneo,
• He regularly participates in church rites. Fr. Francisco de Paula Sanchez – to entice him
back to the church.
• He conduct himself as a good Spanish
subject and a man of religion. Sept. 1892 to The priest Pablo Pastells, Superior of the Jesuit
April 1893 Society in the Philippines, also made some
Aug. 6, 1892 Rizal made him a bust and composed a
attempts by correspondence to win over
poem in his honor A Don Ricardo Carnivero
Catholicism the exiled physician.
on his birthday.
Sept. 1892 Rizal and Carnicero won in a lottery. The
Manila Lottery ticket no. 9736 jointly owned Achievements in Spain
by Rizal, Carnicero, and a Spanish resident
of Dipolog won the second prize of P20,000. Community Service
Rizal used some part of his share (P6,200) • He helped on improving the town’s drainage and
in procuring a parcel of land near the coast constructing a better water system using empty bottles and
of Talisay, a barrio near Dapitan. On a bamboo joints.
property of more than 10 hectares, he put up • He also taught the town folks about health and sanitation to
three houses made of bamboo, wood, and avoid the spread of diseases.
nipa. • With his Jesuit priest friend Sanchez, Rizal made a huge
He lived in the house, which was square. relief map of Mindanao in Dapitan plaza.
Another hexagonal house was the barn • He bettered the forest thereby providing evident trails,
where Rizal kept his chickens. In his stairs, and some benches.
octagonal house lived some of his pupils-for • He invented the wooden machine for the mass production
Rizal also established a school, teaching of bricks.
young boys practical subjects, like reading, • He built a water dam for the community with the help of his
writing, arithmetic, geography, and Spanish students.
and English languages. Later, he
constructed additional huts to accommodate As the Town Doctor
his recovering out-of-town patients. • He accepted as “fees” things like poultry and crops, and at
times even gave his services to poor folks for free,
• His specialization was ophthalmology, but he also offered
Daily Life as an Exile treatments for almost all kinds of diseases.

• Rizal practiced medicine, taught some pupils, and As a Farmer

engaged in farming and horticulture. • He helped in the livelihood of the abaca farmers in Dapitan
• He grew many fruit trees and domesticated some by trading their crops in Manila.
animals. • He gave lessons in abaca-weaving to produce hammocks.
• The school he founded in 1893 started with only three • He taught them better techniques in fishing, like weaving
pupils and had more than 20 students at the time his and using better fishing nets.
exile ended.
• Rizal would rise at five in the morning to see his plants, As a Scientist and Philologist
feed his animals, and prepare breakfast. Having taken • Rizal inspected Dapitan’s rich flora and fauna,
his morning meal, he would treat the patients who had providing a sort of taxonomy of numerous kinds of
come to his house. forest and sea creatures.
• Paddling his boat called baroto (he had two of them), • From his laboratory and herbarium, he sent various
he would then proceed to Dapitan town to attend to his biological specimens to scientists in Europe, like his
other patients there the whole morning. Rizal would dear friend Dr. Adolph Meyer in Dresden. In return, the
return to Talisay to take his lunch. European scholars sent him books and some other
academic reading materials.
 • From the collections he sent to European scholars, at to Rizal. Though he was allowed to take
least three species were named after him: walks on deck during the journey, he was
o Rhacophorus Rizali - a Dapitan frog locked up and handcuffed before reaching
o Apogonia Rizali - a type of beetle any port.
o Draco Rizali - a flying dragon. Last Homecoming
Nov. 3, 1896 Arriving in Manila as a prisoner, Rizal was
• Having learned the Visayan language, he also detained in Fort Santiago where he had
engaged himself in the study of language, culture, and imprisoned four years ago.
literature. He examined local folklore, customs, To gather pieces of evidence against him,
Tagalog grammar, and the Malay language. some of his friends, acquaintances,
members of the La Liga Filipina, and even
Lesson 8: Trial and Execution his brother Paciano were tortured and
forcibly questioned.
From Dapitan to Fort Santiago As a preliminary investigation, Rizal
underwent a series of interrogations
July 31, 1896 Leaving Dapitan for Manila with the steamer administered by one of the judges, Colonel
“España”. Stopovers: Dumaguete, Cebu, Francisco Olive-the same military leader
Iloilo, Capiz, Romblon, Manila. who led the troops that forced the Rizal
Aug. 8, 1896 Rizal arrived in Manila. A day after the mail family to vacate their Calamba home in
boat “Isla de Luzon” left for Spain. He waited 1890. Those who were coerced to testify
1-month for the next steamer to arrive. He against Rizal were not allowed to be cross-
requested GG that he be isolated from examined by the accused.
everyone except his family. The government Rizal was said to have admitted knowing
transfers him near midnight to the cruiser most of those questioned, “though he
Castilla docked at Cavite. would deny to the end that he knew
Aug. 19, 1896 Katipunan plot revolt against the Spanish either Andres Bonifacio or Apolinario
authorities was discovered through the Mabini”
confession of a certain Teodoro Patiño to Fifteen pieces of documentary evidence
Mariano Gil, Agustinian Cura of Tondo. were presented letters, letters of his
This led to the arrest of many Katipuneros. compatriots, like Marcelo del Pilar and
Aug. 30, 1896 GG Ramon Blanco issued letters of Antonio Luna, a poem (kundiman), a
recommendation on Rizal’s behalf to the Masonic document, two transcripts of
Spanish Minister of war and the Minister of speech of Katipuneros (Emilio Jacinto and
Colonies with a cover letter clearing Rizal of Jose Santiago), and Rizal’s poem A Talisay.
any connection to the raging revolution. The testimonial evidence involved the oral
Sept. 2, 1896 Rizal was transported to the ship Isla de testimonies of 13 Filipinos notably La Liga
Panay. The steamer left Manila for officers like Ambrosio Salvador, Deodato
Barcelona the next day. Arellano, and the Katipunero Pio
Sept. 7, 1896 Rizal was urged by some Filipinos to stay in Valenzuela.
the British-controlled territory. Trusting Nov. 26, 1896 Olive submitted the report to Blanco.
Blanco’s words, Rizal refused to stay in Captain Rafael Dominguez was assigned
Singapore. Blanco and the Ministers of War as special judge advocate in Rizal’s case.
and the Colonies had been exchanging He made a summary of the case and
telegrams, planning his arrest upon delivered it to Blanco who subsequently
reaching Barcelona sent the papers to Judge Advocate-General
Set. 27, 1896 The steamer made a stopover at Port Said, Don Nicolas de la Peña. After examining the
Egypt. case, Peña recommended that:
The passengers had known that the uprising a) Rizal be instantly brought to trial,
b) he is kept in jail,
in the Philippines got worse as thousands of c) an order of attachment be issued against his
Spanish soldiers were dispatched to Manila, property, and
and many Filipinos were either killed in the d) a Spanish army officer, not a civilian lawyer
bottle or arrested and executed. Rizal had be permitted to defend him in court.
the feeling that he had already been Dec. 8, 1896 Rizal was given the restricted right to
associated with the Filipino revolution as his choose his lawyer from a list of 100 Spanish
co-passengers became aloof to him. army officers. He chose Lt. Luis Taviel de
Oct. 3, 1896 Isla de Panay anchored at Barcelona. Andrade-- the younger brother of his
He was placed under heavy guard by the bodyguard-friend in Calamba in 1887, Jose
then Military Commander of Barcelona, Taviel de Andrade.
General Eulogio Despujol-the same Dec. 11, 1896 He was accused of being the main organizer
former governor-general who deported and the “living soul” of the revolution having
Rizal to Dapitan in 1892. He was brought to proliferated ideas of rebellion and founding
Despujol who told him that there was an illegal organizations. He pleaded not guilty
order to ship him (Rizal) back to Manila in to the crime of rebellion and explained that
the evening. La Liga, the constitution of which he wrote,
He was then taken aboard the ship “Colon” was just a civic organization.
which left for Manila at 8 p.m. The ship was
full of Spanish soldiers and their families
who were under orders not to go near or talk
Dec. 13, 1896 Camilo de Polavieja replaced Blanco as 8AM-9AM Rizal shares his milk and coffee with Fr. Rosell. Lt.
governor-general. Papers of Rizal’s criminal Andrade and the chief of the Artillery come to visit
case were sent to Malacañang. Rizal who thanks each of them. Rizal scribbles not
Dec. 15, 1896 Rizal wrote a manifesto appealing to the inviting his family to visit him.
revolutionaries to discontinue the uprising
and pursue attaining liberty using education 9AM-10AM Sr. Mataix, defying stringent regulation, enter the
and labor. But De la Peña interpreted the death cell and interviews Rizal in the presence of Fr.
manifesto as all more advocating the spirit Rosell. Later, Gov. Luengo drops in to join the
of rebellion as it ultimately willed Filipino conversation.
liberty. Polavieja thus disallowed to issue 10AM-11AM Fr. Faura persuades Rizal to put down his rancours
Rizal’s manifesto. and order to marry Josephine canonically. A heated
The Rat in The Kangaroo Court
discussion on religion occurs between them.
Dec. 26, 1896 Filipino patriot once figuratively referred to
by Spanish officials as a “trapped rat” 11AM-12NN Rizal talks on “various topics” in a long conversation
appeared in the kangaroo court inside the with Fr. Vilaclara who will later conclude that Rizal is
military building, Cuartel de España. He either to Protestant or a rationalist who speaks in “a
was tried before seven members of the very cold and calculated manner” with a mixture of
military court with Lt. Col. Jose Togores a “strange piety.” No debate or discussion on
acting as the president. religion is recorded to have taken place between the
Prosecuting Attorney Enrique de Alcocer
Fathers mentioned and Rizal.
petitioned for a death sentence for Rizal and
an indemnity. Rizal’s defense counsel, Lt. 12NN-1PM Rizal reads the Bible and Imitation of Christ by
Andrade, then took the floor and tried his Kempis, then meditates. Fr. Balaguer reports to the
very best to save his client by reading his Archbishop that only a little hope remains that Rizal is
responsive defense, stressing, too that it going to retract for Rizal was heard saying that he is
was but natural for anyone to yearn for going to appear tranquillity before God.
liberty and independence
1PM-2PM Rizal denies (probably, he is allowed to attend to his
Rizal was allowed to read his
necessities)
complementary defense consisting of
logical proof that he could have not taken 2PM-3PM Rizal confers with Fr. March and Fr. Villaclara.
part in the revolution and that La Liga was 3PM-4PM Rizal reads verses that he had underlined in Eggers
distinct from Katipunan. He argued, among German Reader, a book that he is going to hand over
others, that: to his sister to be sent to Dr. Blumentritt through F.
• he even advised the Katipunan emissary
Stahl.
(Valenzuela) in Dapitan not to pursue the
plan to revolt; 4PM-5:30PM Capt. Dominguez is moved with compassion at the
• the revolutionists had used his name without sight of Rizal kneeling before his mother and asking
his knowledge; for pardon. Fr. Rosell hears Rizal’s farewell to his
• he could have escaped either in Dapitan or
Singapore if he were guilty; and
sister and his address to those presents eulogizing
• the civic group La Liga, which died out upon the cleverness of his nephew. The other sisters come
his exile did not serve the purpose of the in one by one after the other and to each Rizal gives
uprising, and he did not know its reformation. promises to give them a book, an alcohol burner, his
The entire defense was indifferently pair of shoes, and instruction, something to
disregarded in Rizal’s mock trial as it
remember.
instantaneously considered him guilty. The
jury unanimously voted for the death 5:30PM-6PM The Dean of the Cathedral, admitted on account of
sentence. The trial ended with the reading his dignity, comes to exchange views with Rizal. Fr.
of the sentence-Jose Rizal was found guilty, Rosell hears an order given to certain “gentlemen”
and the sentence was death by firing and “two friars” to leave the chapel at once.
squad. 6PM-7PM Fr. Rosell leaves Fort Santiago and sees Josephine
Dec. 28, 1896 Governor-General Polavieja signed the
Bracken. Rizal calls for Josephine and then they
court decision and decreed that the guilty be
executed by firing squad at 7 a.m. of speak to each other for the last time
December 30, 1896, at Bagumbayan 7PM-8PM Fr. Faura returns to console Rizal and persuades him
(Luneta). Because Rizal was also required once more to trust him and the other professors at the
to sign the verdict, he stoically signed his Ateneo. Rizal is emotion-filled and, after remaining
death sentence. some moments in silence, confesses to Fr. Faura.
Rizal’s Last Hours 8PM-9PM Rizal receives Bro. Titllot with whom he had a very
Dec. 29, 1896
“tender” or “useful” interview
6AM-7AM Sr. S. Mataix asks Rizal’s permission to interview
him. Capt. Dominguez reads the death sentence to 9PM-10PM Fiscal Castano exchanges views with Rizal
Rizal. regarding their respective professors.
7AM-8AM Rizal is transferred to his death cell. Fr. Saderra talks 10PM-11PM Rizal manifests a strange reaction and asks guards
briefly with Rizal. Fr. Viza presents a statue of the for paper and a pen. From rough drafts and copies of
Sacred Heart of Jesus and a medal of Mary. Rizal his poem recovered in his shoes, the Spaniards come
rejects the letter, saying, “I’m little of a Marian, to know that Rizal is writing a poem.
Father.”
11PM-12MD Rizal takes time to hide his poem inside the alcohol
burner. It has to be done during the night rather than
during the daytime because he is watched very
carefully. He then writes his last letter to brother
Paciano.
12MD-4AM Rizal sleeps restfully because his confidence in the
goodness of God and the justness of his cause gives
him astounding serenity and unusual calmness.
Dec. 30, 1896
4AM-5AM Rizal picks up Imitation of Christ, reads, meditates,
and then writes in Kempis’ book dedication to his wife
Josephine, and by this very act in itself, he gives to
her their only certificate of marriage.
5AM-6:15AM Rizal washes up, takes breakfast, and attends to his
personal needs. Writes a letter to his parents. Reads
Bible and meditates. Josephine is prohibited by the
Spanish officers from seeing Rizal, according to
Josephine’s testimony to R. Wildman in 1899.
6:15AM-7AM Rizal walks to the place of execution between Fr.
March and Fr. Vilaclara with whom he converses.
Keeps looking around as if seeking or expecting to
see someone. His last word, said in a loud voice: “It
is finished.” (Consumatum Es!)
7AM-7:03AM Sounds of guns. Rizal vacillates, turns halfway
around, falls backward, and lies on the ground facing
the sun. Silence. Shouts of vivas for Spain. The
military band played Marcha de Cadiz.
Rizal was 35 years, 6 months, and 11 days old.
He died at 7:03 a.m. at Bagumbayan and was buried in a secret grave in
Paco Cemetery. The entry of his death was made in the Paco Church
Register among suicides.
The remains of Rizal were cleaned in Higino Mercado’s house in Binondo
and were given to Dona Teodora. His remains were laid to rest inside the
Rizal monument in Luneta.
39 years after Rizal’s Death, one significant issue that came out in
1935 was the argument about Rizal’s retraction of all his statements
against the Catholic Church and the Spanish government via a
document-a handwritten retraction letter allegedly written by Rizal. Up
to this point, the authenticity of the document has been a subject of
debate