“Rizal’s Exile in Dapitan

and Last Home Coming”

Jose Rizal

José Protasio Rizal Mercado y (June 19, 1861 – December 30, 1896)
was a Filipino nationalist and polymath during the tail end of the Spanish
Colonial Period of the Philippines. An opthalmologist by profession, Rizal
became a writer and a key member of the Filipino Propaganda Movement which
advocated political reforms for the colony under Spain.
He was executed by the Spanish colonial government for the crime
of rebellion after the Philippine Revolution, inspired in part by his writings,
broke out. Though he was not actively involved in its planning or conduct, he
ultimately approved of its goals which eventually led to Philippine
independence.
He is widely considered one of the greatest heroes of the Philippines
and has been recommended to be so honored by an officially empaneled
National Heroes Committee. However, no law, executive order or proclamation
has been enacted or issued officially proclaiming any Filipino historical figure as
a nationa hero. He was the author of the novels Noli Me Tángere and El
filibusterismo, and a number of poems and essays.

Jose Rizal came from a wealthy family in Calamba, Laguna,

Considered one of the largest families in those times, the 13-member-family
consisted of his father Francisco Mercado II, his mother Teodora Alonso
Realonda, himself, nine sisters and one brother.
Rizal’s Parents

Jose Rizal’s mother: Teodora Alonso Realonda y Quintos (9 November

1827 – 16 August 1911)

She was a wealthy woman in Spanish colonial

Philippines. She was the mother of Jose Rizal,
the Philippines’ national hero. Realonda was born in Santa
Cruz, Manila. She was known for being a disciplinarian and
hard-working mother. Her medical condition inspired Rizal to
take up Medicine.
Jose Rizal’s Father: Francisco Engracio Alejandro Mercado, Rizal (May
11, 1818 – January 5, 1898)

Francisco Mercado was only eight years old when

his father died. He attended the Latin school in Biñan where
his sons would later matriculate. He also attended the
Colegio de San Jose in Manila where he studied Latin and
Philosophy.
Jose Rizal’s famous works

Rizal's Masterpiece: EL FILIBUSTERISMO

EL Filibusterismo was written in dedication to the

three martyred priests Mariano Gomez, Jose Burgos,
and Jacinto Zamora, whose deaths left an indelible
mark in his mind.

Rizal's Masterpiece: Noli Me Tangere

Reasons why Rizal wrote the Noli Me Tangere:

The reader's get acquainted with the social

forces which opposes each other, thus preventing the
realization of Rizal'saspiration for the Filipinos to
regain their human rights, especially human dignity,
justice and freedom.
Rizal's Exile in Dapitan
1892-1896

Rizal lived in exile in far-away Dapitan, a remote town in Mindanao which was
under the missionary jurisdiction of the Jesuits, from 1892 to 1896. This four-year inter
regnum in his life was tediously unexciting, but was abundantly fruitful with varied
achievements. He practiced medicine, pursued scientific studies, continued his artistic
and literary works, widened his knowledge of languages, established a school for boys,
promoted community development projects, invented a wooden machine for making
bricks, and engaged in farming and commerce. Despite his multifurious activities,
he kept an extensive correspondence with his family, relatives, fellow reformists, and
eminent scientists and scholars of Europe, including Blumentritt, Reinhold Rost, A.
B. Meyer, W. Joest of Berlin, S. Knuttle of Stuttgart, and N.M. Keihl of Prague.
Reason why rizal exiled in dapitan.

According to Zaide (2008) there are four reasons:

1. Rizal had published books and articles abroad which showed disloyalty to spain and
which were “frankly anti-catholic” and “imprudently anti-friar”.

2. A few hours after his arrival in manila “there was found in one of the packages a
bundle of handbills entitled Pobres Frailes in which the patient and huble generosity
of Filipino is satirized, and whick accusation is published against the custom of
religious orders.

3. for dedicating his novel, El Filibusterismo to the three “traitors” (Gomez, Burgos and
Zamora) and for emphasizing on the novel's title page that “the only salvation for the
Philippines was separation from the mother country

4. for simply criticizing the religion and aiming for its exclusion from the Filipino culture.
Why Was Jose Rizal Exiled in Dapitan?

Due to his association with the members of Katipunan, Jose Rizal was implicated as one
of its founders and was tried for sedition, rebellion and conspiracy before a military court.
He was sentenced to death and was exiled to Dapitan in 1893.

When was rizal executed?

In the morning of 30 December, 1896, Rizal was executed at Bagumbayan field by

musketry. “Eight native soldiers composed the firing squad. Behind them were eight
Spanish soldiers with Mauser rifles, ready to shoot the native soldiers if they refused to
shoot Rizal.”

On December 30, 1896, Dr. Jose Protacio Rizal, the greatest man of the Malayan race, was
shot to death at Bagumbayan (present day Luneta or Rizal park), Manila, by a firing squad
of native soldiers, on the accusation of political conspiracy and sedition, and rebellion
against the Spanish government in the Philippines.
“Last Home Coming and Trial”
A Martyr’s Last Homecoming

∙Rizal leave Barcelona on Tuesday, October 6,1896, Heconscientiously recorded the events
in his diary.

∙ Rizal was given a good cabin in the second class and althoughstrictly guarded, he was
courteously treated by the armyofficers.

∙ On October 8 a friendly officer told Rizal that the Madridnewspapers were full of
stories about the bloody revolutionin the Philippines and were blaming him for it.
Confiscation of Rizal’s Diary

∙ The Spanish authorities were curious as to what wererecorded in his diary. Not only
their curiosity, but also theirsuspicion were aroused, for they feared that the diarist
might be writing something seditious or treasonable.

∙ On October 11 before reaching Port, Rizal’s diary was takenaway and was critically
scrutinized by the authorities. But itwas returned to him on November 2.

Unsuccessful Rescue in Singapore.

∙ News of Rizal’s predicament reachedhis friends in Europe and Singapore. From London,
Dr. Antonio Ma. Regidor and Sixto Lopez dispatched frantic telegrams to an English lawyer
in Singapore named Hugh Fort to rescue Rizal from the Spanish steamer when it reached
Singapore by means of a writ habeas corpus.

∙ When the colon arrived in Singapore, Atty. Fort institutedproceedings at the Singapore
court for the removal of Rizalfrom the steamer.
∙ Unfortunately, Chief Justice Loinel Cox denied the writ onthe ground that the colon was
carrying Spanish troops to thePhilippines.

∙ Rizal was unaware of the attempt made by his friends torescue him in Singapore because
he was then kept behind bars in the ship.

Arrival in Manila

∙ November 3, the colonreached Manila. Whilethe Spanish communitywas exulting with

joy,Rizal was quietlytransferred under heavyguard from the ship toFort Santiago.

∙ Spanish authorities fishedfor evidence against Rizal.Many Filipino patriots were brutally
tortured toimplicate Rizal.

∙ Rizal’s own brother,Paciano, was arrested andcruelly tortured, but henever signed any
damagingstatement incriminating hisyounger brother.
Preliminary Investigation

∙ Two kinds of evidence were presented against Rizal, namelydocumentary and testimonial.

∙ The documentary evidence consisted of 15 exhibits.

∙ After studying the papers, Pena submitted the following recommendations:

1. The accused be immediately brought to trials.

2. He should be kept in prison.

3. An order of attachment be issued against his property tothe amount of 1M pesos as

indemnity.

4. He should be defended in court by an army officer, not bya civilian lawyer.

Rizal Chooses His Defender.

∙ Rizal chose Don Luis Tavielde Andrade, 1st Lieutenant of

the Artillery to be his defender in court.

∙ Lt. Luis Taviel de Andrade proved to be the brother of

Lt. Jose Taviel de Andrade,Rizal’s “bodyguard” in Calamba in 1887.

Reading Of Information of Charges to the Accused

∙ Dec.11, information about charges was formally read to Rizal in his prison cell, with his
counsel present.

∙ He was accused of being “ the principal organizer and the living soul of the
Filipino insurrection, the founder of societies, periodicals, and books dedicated
to fomenting and propagating ideas of rebellion.”

∙ Rizal raised no objection on the jurisdiction of the court, but pleaded not guilty to the
crime of rebellion.
∙ He admitted that he wrote the Constitution of the La Liga Filipina whichwas merely a civic
association.

∙ He waived the right to amend or make further statements already made,except that he
had taken no part in politics since his exile to Dapitan.

∙ Dec. 13, Captain Rafael Dominguez forwarded the papers of the Rizalcase to Malacañan
Palace.

∙ Also the same day when General Camilo G. de Polavieja, with help ofthe powerful friars,
became Governor General of the Philippines, succeeding General Blanco.

∙ The withdrawal of Blanco from the gubernatorial office sealed Rizal’s fate, for he was more
humane in character than the ruthless Polaviejaand, moreover, he firmly believed that Rizal
was not a traitor of Spain.

∙ If he had remained longer inoffice, Rizal would not have been executed.
Rizal’s Manifesto to His People.

∙ December 15, He wrote a manifesto to his people appealing to them to stop the
necessary shedding of blood and to achieve their liberties by means of education and
industry.

∙ Judge Advocate General Nicolas de la Peña recommended Gov. Gen.

Polavieja that the manifesto be suppressed. The latter heeded the recommendation so that
Rizal’s manifesto was not issued to the people.

∙ Thus Rizal was “saved from the shame of his manifesto’s being misinterpreted and
disobeyed by the Filipinos in arms.”

Rizal’s saddest Christmas

∙ December 25, 1896, Rizal, who was accustomed to spendmerry season in the company of
his beloved family or dearfriends, found himself and depressed in a dreary prison cell.

∙ the 1896 Christmas was in did, was the saddest in Rizal’s life.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 fort here was a very important matter they need to discuss. Likewise,
Rizal greeted the lieutenant a joyous Christmas.
The Trial of Rizal

∙ Trial of Rizal was an eloquent proof of Spanish “injustice &misrule”

∙ His case was prejudged; he was considered GUILTY before theactual trial. The military men
met not to give him JUSTICE, butto accuse and condemn him.

∙ It accepted all charges and testimonies against him, and ignored allarguments and proofs
in his favor.

∙ Rizal was not given the right (which any accused is entitled to havein a real court of
justice) to face the witnesses against him in anopen court.

∙ December 26, 1896 (8:00am), the court-martial of Rizalstarted in the military building
called Cuartel de España.

∙ Seated behind a long table were the 7 members of themilitary court as follows:
Lt. Col. Jose Togores Arjona (president)
Capt. Ricardo Muñoz Arias
Capt. Manuel Reguera
Capt. Santiago Izquierdo Osorio
Capt. Braulio Rodriguez Nuñez
Capt. Manuel Diaz Escribano
Capt. Fermin Perez Rodriguez
Cuartel de Espana, scene of Rizal'smilitary trial

∙ Also present at the courtroom were Dr. Rizal (the accused),Lt. Taviel de
Andrade (his defense counsel), Capt. RafaelDominguez (Judge Advocate), Lt. Enrique de
Alcocer(Prosecuting Attorney), and the spectators including Josephine Bracken, some
newspapermen and manySpaniards.

∙ Rizal sat on a bench between 2 soldiers. His arms were tied behind, elbow to elbow. He
was dresses in a black woolensuit with a white vest and black tie
∙ After a short deliberation, the court unanimously voted forthe sentence of death.

∙ On the same day, the court decision was submitted to Gov.Gen. Polavieja.

∙ The latter sought the opinion of Judge Advocate GeneralNicolas de la Peña, whom
affirmed the death verdict.

Polavieja Signs Rizal’s Execution

∙ December 28, 1896, theGovernor General Polaviejasigned the court's

decisionand ordered Rizal to beshot at 7:00 o’clock in themorning of
December 30at Bagumbayan Field(Luneta).
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