A PROJECT

COMPILATION OF POEMS

in

RIZAL LIFE, WORKS and Writings

Prepared by:

Merry Kriss E. Rivera

Student

Submitted to JOHAINY A PALBUFAA

Professor

TABLE OF CONTENT
I. Biography of Rizal

II. Works and other paintings

a) Paintings of Rizal

b) Sketches

c) Sculptures Made by Rizal

d) POEMS - 17 poems of Rizal

III. Articles About Rizal

 BIOGRAPHY OF RIZAL

JOSE RIZAL, the national hero of the

Philippines and pride of the Malayan race,
was born on June 19, 1861, in the town of
Calamba, Laguna. He was the seventh child
in a family of 11 children (2 boys and 9 girls).
Both his parents were educated and
belonged to distinguished families. His
father, Francisco Mercado Rizal, an
industrious farmer whom Rizal called "a
model of fathers," came from Biñan,
Laguna; while his mother, Teodora Alonzo y
Quintos, a highly cultured and accomplished woman whom Rizal called "loving and
prudent mother," was born in Meisic, Sta. Cruz, Manila. At the age of 3, he learned
the alphabet from his mother; at 5, while learning to read and write, he already
showed inclinations to be an artist. He astounded his family and relatives by his pencil
drawings and sketches and by his moldings of clay. At the age 8, he wrote a Tagalog
poem, "Sa Aking Mga Kabata," the theme of which revolves on the love of one’s
language. In 1877, at the age of 16, he obtained his Bachelor of Arts degree with an
average of "excellent" from the Ateneo Municipal de Manila. In the same year, he
enrolled in Philosophy and Letters at the University of Santo Tomas, while at the
same time took courses leading to the degree of surveyor and expert assessor atthe
Ateneo. He finished the latter course on March 21, 1877 and passed the Surveyor’s
examination on May 21, 1878; but because of his age, 17, he was not granted license
to practice the profession until December 30, 1881. In 1878, he enrolled in medicine
at the University of Santo Tomas but had to stop in his studies when he felt that the
Filipino students were being discriminated upon bytheir Dominican tutors. On May 3,
1882, he sailed for Spain where he continued his studies at the Universidad Centralde
Madrid. On June 21, 1884, at the age of 23, he was conferred the degree of Licentiate
in Medicine and on June 19,1885, at the age of 24, he finished his course in
Philosophy and Letters with a grade of "excellent." Having traveled extensively in
Europe, America and Asia, he mastered 22 languages. These include Arabic, Catalan,
Chinese, English, French, German, Greek, Hebrew, Italian, Japanese, Latin, Malayan,
Portuguese, Russian, Sanskrit, Spanish, Tagalog, and other native dialects. A versatile
genius,he was an architect, artists, businessman, cartoonists, educator, economist,
ethnologist, scientific farmer, historian, inventor, journalist, linguist, musician,
mythologist, nationalist, naturalist, novelist, ophthalmic surgeon, poet, propagandist,
psychologist, scientist, sculptor, sociologist, and theologian. He was an expert
swordsman and a good shot. In the hope of securing political and social reforms for
his country and at the same time educate his countrymen, Rizal, the greatest apostle of
Filipino nationalism, published, while in Europe, several works with highly
nationalistic and revolutionary tendencies. In March 1887, his daring book, NOLI ME
TANGERE, a satirical novel exposing the arrogance and despotism of the Spanish
clergy, was published in Berlin; in 1890 he reprinted in Paris, Morga’s SUCCESSOS
DE LAS ISLAS FILIPINAS with his annotations to prove that the Filipinos had a
civilization worthy to be proud of even long before the Spaniards set foot on
Philippine soil; on September 18, 1991, EL FILIBUSTERISMO, his second novel and
a sequel to the NOLI and more revolutionary and tragic than the latter, was printed in
Ghent. Because of his fearless exposures of the injustices committed by the civil and
clerical officials, Rizal provoked the animosity of those in power. This led himself, his
relatives and countrymen into trouble with the Spanish officials of the country. As a
consequence, he and those who had contacts with him, were shadowed; the authorities
were not only finding faults but even fabricating charges to pin him down. Thus, he
was imprisoned in Fort Santiago from July 6, 1892 to July 15, 1892 on a charge that
anti-friar pamphlets were found in the luggage of his sister Lucia who arrive with him
from Hong Kong. While a political exilein Dapitan, he engaged in agriculture, fishing
and business; he maintained and operated a hospital; he conducted classes-taught his
pupils the English and Spanish languages, the arts. The sciences, vocational courses
including agriculture, surveying, sculpturing, and painting, as well as the art of self
defense; he did some researches and collected specimens; he entered into
correspondence with renowned men of letters and sciences abroad; and with the help
of his pupils, he contracted water dam and a relief map of Mindanao-both considered
remarkable engineering feats.

His sincerity and friendliness won for him the trust and confidence of even those
assigned to guard him; his good manners and warm personality were found irresistible
by women of all races with whom he had personal contacts; his intelligence and
humility gained for him the respect and admiration of prominent men of other nations;
while his undaunted courage and determination to uplift the welfare of his people
were feared by his enemies. When the Philippine Revolution started on August 26,
1896, his enemies lost no time in pressing him down. They were able to enlist
witnesses that linked him with the revolt and these were never allowed to be
confronted by him. Thus, from November 3, 1986, to the date of his execution, he was
again committed to Fort Santiago. In his prison cell, he wrote an untitled poem, now
known as "Ultimo Adios" which is considered a masterpiece and a living document
expressing not only the hero's great love of country but also that of all Filipinos. After
a mock trial, he was convicted of rebellion, sedition and of forming illegal
association. In the cold morning of December 30, 1896, Rizal, a man whose 35 years
of life had been packed with varied activities which proved that the Filipino has
capacity to equal if not excel even those who treat him as a slave, was shot at
Bagumbayan Field.

WORKS AND
OTHER
PAINTINGS
A.PAINTINGS OF
RIZAL
 “IMMACULATE CONCEPTION”
(1874)

“SATURNINA RIZAL”

SKETCHES MADE BY RIZAL

“DAPITAN CHURCH

CURTAINS” (1894)

“A

PAINTING ON A PAIR OF MOTHER-OF-PEARL”

“SPANISH COAT OF ARMS” (1867)

“Spanish Coat of Arms” (1867)

 “Christ Crucified” (1875)

“PORTRAIT OF
MORAYTA” (1885)
MAPS AND PLANS MADE BY
RIZAL
“RELIEF MAP OF

MINDANAO” (1892)

“PACIFIC OCEAN SPHERES OF INFLUENCE” (1889)

“PLAN FOR
MODERN COLLEGE” (1872)

“SKETCH OF THE LUMANAO HILL WHERE JEWELS WERE FOUND”

(1895)
 “THE LAKE
DISTRICT OF
CENTRAL LUZON” (1872)

“PLANS FOR WATERWORKS IN DAPITAN” (1895)

SCULPTURES MADE BY RIZAL

A. WOOD CRAFTS
B. TERRACOTTA

C. PLASTER

POEMS OF RIZAL

Last Poem of Rizal (Mi Ultimo Adios)

Tagalog Our Mother Tounge
English English
 Memories of My town
Hymn to Labor English
Tagalog Kundiman
English English

A Poem that has no Title

English Song of Maria Clara
Tagalog
To Josephine English
English
To the Philippine youth
Education Gives Luster to the Tagalog
Motherland English
English
To the Virgin Mary
English
To the Philippines
English Sa aking mga kababata
Tagalog

ARTICLES ABOUT RIZAL

1) RIZAL SIRED HITLER son of Rizal?

By: Ambeth R. Ocampo Philippines This is absolutely absurd, but since some
Daily Inquirer fairly educated people actually want to
Lifestyle (C3) Monday, June 19, 1995 believe it. I write this column. The
argument is that Rizal had a German
EVERYWHERE I lecture on Rizal, one connection, he studied in Heidelberg,
question never fall to arise in the open and being the Pinoy Don Juan he
forum="Is it true that Adolf Hitler is the probably out Bizal left Germany in
1887. who later turned out to Adolf in the Hotel Metropole, Vienna and
Hitler. Hitler was born sired a son (why Rizai "..encountered the figure of a
not a Daughter?) Unless Hitler was a temptress in the form of Viennese
delayed baby, that is highly improbable. woman of the family of the Camelliasor
Although there is no resemblance Margarite of extraordinary beauty and
between the two, it is argued that unlike irresistible attraction, who seemingly
the tall, blond and blue eyed Germans. had been expressly invited to offer for a
Hitler wanted to propagate into the moment the cup of mundane pleasure to
master race, Hitler himself was small of the apostle of the Philippine freedom
stature had dark hair and dark eyes. I who until the had enjoyed among his
would counter this argument by intimates the fame worthy of his
explaining that contrary to popular glorious namesake, St. Joseph With the
belief, Hitler was Austrian not a German exception of this case I knew of no other
But then Rizal visited in Austria in May slip of Rizal during more than six
1887 and according to Rizal's traveling months of our living together Amazing
companion Max Viola, he did spend a what yarns can be pulled off a one-night
night with an unknown Austrian woman stand with a Viennese prostitute.
Viola remembers that they were billeted

2) RIZAL BEYOND THE IMAGE front-page article for Rizal Day because
By Ambeth Ocampo I was believe it or not. in a place that
Philippine Daily Inquirer First Posted had no Internet connection. There are
01:48:00 01/09/2009 people who think we should wear long
Filed Under history, Personalities, faces and commemorate Dec. 30 with
Books, Anniversaries somber thoughts of death, martyrdom
and "Ultimo Adios." I would rather that
Rizal Day came and went as usual people read Rizal's novels and discuss
without much fuss, except in Rizal Park, them instead of repeating stock phrases
where Senate President Juan Ponce and praises that have numbed our youth,
Enrile presided over the ceremonies. But Better yet, try and read Rizal's other
then, of course, the President was in La writings, those that were not forced on
Union yet again for Rizal Day. Everyone you in school. If you know a bit about
is swept up by Christmas and New Year Rizal, have some idea about his life and
to notice I missed writing yet another the plots of his novels, it would be
fruitful to browse though the little- In "Miscellaneous Writings," everything
known volumes in the 25 volume is translated from the original Spanish or
complete compilation of Rizal's French or Tagalog into English and the
writings. My favorite volumes in the compilation has thus misled some into
series are: "Rizal's Prose" (Vol. II Book concluding that Rizal wrote some fairy
2 of the ,Writings of Jose Rizal" series tales, including "The Ugly Duckling."
published by the Jose Rizal National because the compiler forgot to mention
Centennial Commission in 1962, which that these tales by Hans Christian
has been frequently reprinted in our time Andersen were translated into Tagalog
by the National Historical Institute) and and illustrated by Rizal for his nephews
"Miscellaneous Writings of Jose Rizal." and nieces. These are best read in Rizal's
The former is a collection of writings, original Tagalog. His charming
many of which we were never taught in translation of "Thumbelina" is "Si
school, while the latter is a mixed bag Gahinlalaki" and" Duckling" is rendered
ranging from his medical notebooks, as "Ang Pangit na Sisiu ng Pato." "The
"Rules for the Determination of the Ugly
Dimensions of Parapets, to a list of
shells he collected in Dapitan. "Rizal's It is truly unfortunate that a hero who
Prose is basically on his literary works left so many writings is so seldom read
while "Miscellaneous Writings" is just by his people. Maybe we have become
that: stray pieces on a variety of topics so conditioned to associate Rizal with
not easily classified-notes on Tagalog nationalism and holidays that we forget
orthography, the treatment of the he can be an engaging writer on a wide
bewitched (or how to cure a victim of a range of topics. To read him is to
"mangkukulam"), and one of the few rediscover not just another aspect of the
articles that Rizal originally wrote in hero but a way to understand ourselves
English, which is his re telling of the as Filipinos.
famous Philippine folktale "The Monkey
and the Turtle." Sometimes he can be cryptic, such as
if you are so inclined, there are separate when he says, "Hay mas dias que
volumes for his letters, another for his longanisas (There are more days than
poetry, The schoolmaster's favorite is the longanisas)," which is a phrase whose
one devoted to his political and context is lost on us today. Then there is
historical writings. yet another cryptic parable that can be
relevant to those who like to involve In Rizal's story, the leader of the animals
lawyers and get tangled in lawsuits. is also a pig named Botlok. In this farm
Rizal wrote: there lived an efficient farmhand named
Suan who produced healthy and
Once, two friends found a clam near the productive animals. One day for some
sea. They debated as to who would have unknown reason, the animals turned
it. sickly. Egg production dropped, the
turkeys lost the sheen on their feathers
"1" one said, "saw it first." and the other animals grew thin. This
was strange, because there was no
"But I picked it up." replied his friend. epidemic of animal disease at the time.
The narrator, who was born on St.
They went to court and asked the judge Solomon's Day, had the gift of
to settle the question. The judge opened understanding the language of animals,
the shell ate the meat, and divided the so he climbed and hid in a macopa tree
shell between the litigants. to eavesdrop on the animals. He
discovered that the animals, like
It is a reminder to people who are fond humans, had a social structure of their
of resorting to the courts of justice. own, with the pig at the head of their
Another unfinished story or novel is society. It is unfortunate that Rizal did
quite similar to George Orwell's not complete this story to educate and
"Animal Farm." First entertain us further. When people ask
why Rizal always seems relevant and
published in 1946, Orwell set the story interesting to me, I reply that if we want
in a place called Manor Farm, renamed to understand Rizal and ourselves, we
Animal Farm after a successful revolt of must go beyond the image in our
the animals that drove out the humans. monuments and textbooks to unravel the
The leader of the animals was a pig complexity of a man who mirrors a lot
named Napoleon. of what we are and what we wish for.

2009, 4:36pm
3) RIZAL CONFRONTS US IN THE
THIRD MILLENNIUM Gat Dr. Jose P. Rizal, by his highly
By A Z JOLICCO CUADRA June 21, creative exceptional life of 35 young
years and the great grand glorious ,songs, dances, messages with material
gesture of his early martyrdom, created and spiritual underpinnings, etc.
for us the remarkable conditions for the
birth of Filipino nationhood. Propelled This is the third national public
by his tremendous, indubitably performance of Celyo Rizal: two others
unequalled love for his nation and his preceded it. Celyo Rizal is spearheaded
people. His life thus is full of mystery. by the battlecry of: MakaDiyos,
Makakalikasan, MakaTao, and
His life, polemically, paradoxically, is a MakaBayan. It aims not only to redeem
"realer one more than a mythologer can the lost consciousness of an ancient
conceive("The mystery is in the civilization, Lemuria, but also to
visible"). It's grudgingly accepted that illuminate most the Rizal consciousness
his greatest mystery is his obvious life in us
(his writings and travels abroad among
others contribute to it). The present Rizal celebration was
preceded by two other immeasureable
Now the Rizalistas, federating under the events. In 2007, June 19, at the Luneta,
umbrella organization of Celyo Rizal, Celyo Rizal gave birth to the living,
with Reyna Yolanda Manalo, the throbbing Philippine Human Flag
Suprema Babaylan, its founder at the composed of Rizalistas from all over.
helm being the guiding spirit, forming The men and women participating had
one strong body, after a century of their clothes sewn to the vivid red, blue,
Rizalista diversifications into cults, paid white and gold to simulate the vivid,
material and spiritual obeisance, homage vibrant colors of our flag. A first in the
and greatest honor to Rizal on his 148th nation and Asia,
birth In 2008, the June 17 asalto saw the
mindboggling formation of our
anniversary(the equivalence of almost geography in the Lunet grounds: the
three lifetimes at the LLC Auditorium, Philippine Human Map. Indeed it was a
Calamba City, By staging material and heartbeating, living, breathing
spiritual festivities that began at 12 conglomeration of diverse peoples, for it
Noon of June 18 till 12 midnight of the included our indigenous peoples, the
same day.Indeed it was a joyful asalto Tribos and Katutubos of our grassroots;
tempered with variety of kundiman like the Ifugaos, Isnegs, Itawis,
Maranaos, Taosugs, Higaonons peppered here and there with traditional
Pilipino songs, poems, theater, and
in their rainbowspangled costumes Even dances. But the evening's highlights
schoolchildren from far Natappian, were well-defined by the speeches
Cagayan Valley, delivered by the special guests. DepEd's
assistant secretary Jonathan F. Malaya:
participated. Again: a first not only in National Historical Institute's deputy
the nation but in the world. executive director Emelita V. Almosara,
Muntinlupa Congressman Ruffy Biazon
Celyo Rizal this year participated in the and Bagong Historian Michael Chua of
Rizal Festivities of Calamba City's Jose De La Salle University, with his audio-
Rizal birth anniversary celebrations. The visual presentation of Rizal's rare
celebrations homage is a first for the qualities Outstanding show was the
very first time, Calamba City, Rizal's Sangkapphusay dance evaluation
birthplace, began its homage on June 12, (choreographed by Rexi Wong),
Independence Day, and continued until Pagbubunyi Para Kay Dr. Jose P Rizal.
june 19, Rizal's birthday. Celyo Rizal The tasteful use of colors in the dancers,
progenitrix Reyna Yolanda envisiors this their pantomime in some scenes gave
together momentum to become a the rapt audience its highs. But what
national week-long event in the future to capped the program was the honor
be called Kapistahan ng Lahing Pilipino. plaques etc. given (handed out to the
Celyo Rizal paid homage to Bathalang chairmen and members of the
Ama by presenting its own unique Mangingisda and Mansasaka Calamba
program to the theme Sino At Ano Si Dr. organizations by former assistant
Jose P. Rizal, which conjuncted with secretary of the Department of
Calamba City's theme: Dr Jose Rizal Agriculture Marinela Reyes Castillo), a
Isang Calambenyo, Idolo Ng grand gesture of Celyo Rizal's Reyna
Sambayanang Pilipino. Yolanda, a first in the history of our
Celyo Rizal's program opened with the spirituality. The program was gloriously
singing of Tindig Inang Bayan, followed professionally emceed by Celyo Rizal
by the National Anthem with some spokesman Auggusta De Almeidda with
Rizalistas singing: Ang Mabuhay Ay her beguilingly educated voice. The
Dahil Sa tyo: where Ang Mamatay Ay Rizalista audience, composed of
Dahil Sa Iyo.. The fiesta fun was federated members, their leaders and
visitors garbed in white, looked clean, June 12, Independence Day, culminating
and wellscrubbed in their Sunday best, on June 19, Rizal National Day. This is
avid for unusual entertainment. (Celyo the sacrosanct vision of Celyo Rizal that
Rizal joined in the yearly Calamba float- not only will we celebrate nationally
parade with its uniquely distinctive all- Rizal. At an allotted time on every June
different leaves of Rizal symbols 19, "Lamps" (Rizal's symbol of Divine
decorating its Eid truck.) Illumination and Freedom) be lighted
simultaneously all over the nation! All
Rizal's prophecies for our nation are this in just, greatest respect for Gat Dr
embedded in his two novels, The Noli Jose P. Rizal!
and The Fili; in 1986 those in The Noli
have occurred; but those in The Fill are One recalls the unforgettable memory,
still unfolding. Conjunct with these are when Celyo Rizal paid a courtesy call on
the unfolding prophecies in his essay DepED Secretary Jesli A Lapus who in
Pilipinas: A Hundred Years After. conversation said that in a world
conference on Rizal scholars and
The Rizal Birthday Celebrations will historians in Malaysia they tried to find
have become Law by 2010(It needs only another man who could equal the
the Senate's approval). Meaning, it's achievements of Rizal to no avail. Ang
going to be a national holiday, beginning Buhay SI Rizal At Si Rizal Ay Buhay

4) CRUCIBLE: JOSE RIZAL'S word for green fields, that is why the
NAME, BY JULKIPLI WADI house should be painted the color of rice
fields." How accurate is this view?
QUEZON CITY (MindaNews/01 July)
-- The painting with green color of Jose In April 2002, after a 30 day stint with
Rizal's historic house in Calamba, the International Visitors Program, an
Laguna, by the National Historical educational and cultural tour program of
Institute (NHI) brings to fore an issue the United States, I visited Dr. Cesar
about the name of the Filipino national Adib Majul who was one of the leading
hero, particularly his surname. specialists in Jose Rizal. He lived in the
According to the NHI. green was chosen US after his retirement from the
as the color because "the surname University of the Philippines in 1980
"Rizal" is derived from the Spanish
To my surprise, the man i long wanted to and Arabic word for rice or from
meet was very happy to see me. Despite Spanish "ricial" to mean green field. The
his old age, he went to fetch me at other one is Arabic word rijäl (men),
Oakland Airport and invited me to be which is the plural form of rajul (man),"
with him for two or three days, where I
stayed most of the time at his residence When I interjected that the word "rizal"
conversing and learning intently like a must possibly be "rijal," Majul gave a
novice at the feet of his teacher. light smile and snapped back: "it's
understandable but either way beware in
That meeting started our late but falling into propaganda." It means that
intimate friendship almost a father-son while Majul is probably more convinced
relation as shown through our letters and of his second theory, yet, because of his
emails containing mostly his feelings objectivity and sense of fairness, Majul
and other advices, including his sending provides space to other assumptions,
of books, research materials and other From his answer, I learned as much as
rare documents, personal writings, his Rizal's etymology as the value of
calligraphies carved by himself, prayer objective scholarship in understanding
books and Qur'anic readings in cassette Philippine history from one of the
tapes and others that he entrusted to me country's respected scholars.
and kept sending until a few days before
he passed away in San Pablo, California It is known that the full name of Jose
on October 11, 2003. After exchanging Rizal is José Protacio Rizal Mercado y
salam and other pleasantries at the Alonso Realonda. The name "Rizal" was
airport he rerninisced his days in the adopted as Jose's surname when in 1849
Philippines especially his research on Governor-General Narciso Claveria
Muslims in the Philippines, Apolinario ordered all Filipino families to choose
Mabini, Jose Rizal and many more. On new surnames from a list of Spanish
our way to Pusod, a Filipino non- family names Accordingly, a Spanish
government organization in Berkeley I provincial governor who was a friend of
vividly remember to have asked him the family suggested to Jose's father,
about the etymology of the word "rizal." Francisco Mercado (originally Lam-co),
And Dean Majul responded "there are to adopt the surname "Rizal" which was
two theories about it. The one is the originally Ricial, which means "the
word "rizal" comes from "roz", Spanish green of young growth or green fields.
Whether or not the name "Rizal" is in mentioned by Majul but instructive, too,
the list of Catalogo alfabético de as possible source of the word "rizal.
apellidos which supposedly contained
the family names and the imposition of These rich Arabic words as possible
the Spanish naming system in the mid sources of rizal" should not surprise
19th century, the question is why of all people because Tagalog language has
names the word "rizal" was suggested many Arabic loan words particularly
and why the Mercado family seemed to pertaining to Filipino spirituality. places
willingly accept it. The rice or green and expressions like "kaluluwa" (from
field theory (roz or ricial) which apart Arabic ruh which means soul or spirit),
from the green of young growth or green ala eh" (Allah: God) "simbahan" (subha:
fields" also means "growing again" praise), "Manila" (amānillah: blessing
applying more to the after crop of corn from God), ("mabalacat" (barakah:
and "cut green for the feed of cattle grace), "salamat" (salam: peace),
"hukom" (hukm: judgment) "mamatay"
provides an idea that the word "rizal" is (mawt: death) "buhay" (hay life), hence,
Spanish as well as Arabic. The question the famous Tagalog expression
which language influenced another is "mabuhay" (There is indeed life!), and
irrelevant, except that Arabs ruled Spain thousands of more Arabic words in
for more than 700 years before Philippine languages and dialects.
Ferdinand Magellan accidentally landed
in the Philippines in 1521 To say the least, despite centuries of
Spanish colonialism, religious
Whether the word "rizal" comes from medievalism and historical
Arabic/Spanish "roz" or "ricial," well, it parochialism, these Arabic loan words -
is good to know, but the value of both with their underlying philosophy and
words in relating to "rizal" stops there. worldview continued to shape Filipino
They cannot be substantiated by clearer psyche, history and identity: they have
etymological and historical explanation - never been muted and weeded out of
a reason why Dean Majul considered their essential significance. In his article,
other etymology particularly the Arabic "Our Islamic Heritage. Michael Tan of
word "rijäl." Finally, another Arabic the Philippine Daily Inquirer
term - risāla (message) also with similar encapsulated this point more clearly
root as rasul (messenger) - is not When the Spaniards arrived in the
Philippines, Islam had already reached Manila, and Rajah Lakandula of Tanduh
different parts of the islands, including (corrupted later to Tondo).
Manila. Catholicism eventually became
the dominant religion but ironically, It is not therefore difficult to point out
became another channel for Islamic that apart from his Chinese blood,
influences. Spain, after all, was once Rizal's indigenous lineage dated back to
occupied by the Muslims or Moors, who pre-Hispanic Manila. And knowing such
left a strong influence in the arts, from lineage is significant because as pointed
architecture to music Alicia Coseteng out by Austin Craig the mother of Jose
writes in "Spanish Churches in the Rizal - Teodora Alonzo - traced her root
Philippines" about the Muslim influence to Rajah Lakandula through Eugenio
in churches in the provinces of Bohol Ursua (Teodora's great grandfather) and
and Cebu. One church in Carcar, Cebu, Atty. Manuel de Quintos (Teodora's
even has those onion-shaped domes or grandfather). Moreover, it is not
cupolas and four-cornered hat roofs that impossible to consider that until the
we usually associate with Islamic latter part of Spanish rule the name
architecture,
Rijal (popularly known as Rizal)
The strength of Majul's second continues to ring a bell in Manila and
etymological theory on "rizal" as "rijal" the rest of the Philippines, a reason
is backed up by history. The name probably why Jose and the Mercado
"Rijai" was a famous name among family accepted it. With Spanish ricial as
Malays with the influence of islam and a homonym of rijal it is not difficult for
Arabic language in Southeast Asia since that Spanish provincial governor to
the 10th century, So that when Miguel suggest the name "Rizal" as the
Lopez de Legazpi wrestled Manila from Mercado family's new surname. It is not
a budding Islamic sultanate on 17 May clear however whether that governor
1571, Manila was already under the knew that the word "rizal" has
sway of Brunei particularly the fifth etymological affinity with Arabic or has
sultan of Brunei named Sultan Seifu r- historical antecedent with early Islamic
Rijal (roughly translated as valiant king Manila. It can only be
of men or king of valiant men) who was
related to Muslim chiefs namely Rajah surmised that Spanish officials assigned
Matanda of Pasig, Rajah Sulayman of to the Philippines in the latter part of
Spanish colonialism must have already least concerned with grammar, a reason
been moderated unlike the early wave of why many Indonesian and Malaysian
Conquistadores who carried strong and even some Filipinos today continue
antipathy against Islam. Through time to carry Rizal as their names. What
the situation has become even more bears important to mention is that by
different in Spain especially today. changing the surname from Mercado to
Spanish government has been relentless Rizal the Spaniards thought they had
in preserving Islamic legacy particularly extirpated the indigenous identity of
the majestic Alhambra Mosque in Jose and his family. Truth is, it made
Granada and other Moorish architectural Jose Rizal even more closer to his Asian
masterpieces in Cordova and Seville and heritage making him worthy of the title
other areas. These places have been "the pride of the Malay race" Except
major sources of tourism industry in that, the NHI by callously painting Jose
Spain. It is ironic that while Spain has Rizal's house green using colonial
long embraced back and preserved her interpretation of Philippine history
islamic past, the Philippines continued bordering on what Dean Majul referred
to nu from it. Anyhow, if "rizal" is to as propaganda, defiles such epic
"rijāl," how do we explain the fact that contribution of the man to the formation
the Arabic "rijāl" (men) is actually plural of Asian heritage And no less than Jose
form of "rajul" (man) which by Rizal himself was against such shallow
grammatical construction the latter understanding of Philippine history
should exhorting his people to be inclusive with
their past including most certainly the
have been the more appropriate surname struggle of his ancestors who like
as it refers to single person? if the name himself fought hard for freedom and
"Seifu r-Rijāl" which was actually more justice four centuries before he was born
of a title of the Brunei Sultan and while reminding not to forget them, In
correctly constructed in Arabic grammar the conversation between Ibarra (or
was probably popular among early Elias?) and Basilio in the "Noli Me
Muslim inhabitants of Manila, such title Tangere." Rizal wrote: "Nothing will
must have been thought as a person's remain of me...! die without seeing the
name and subsequently used by other sun on my country. You who are to see
people as such. Besides, Malays who are the dawn, welcome it, and do not forget
not fully Arabic speaking people are those who fell during the night." While,
of course, this reminder by Jose Rizal largely in the making, and thus, its
applies to different circumstances and to fulfillment relies not on others but on
a themselves

different place and time and can be At the minimum, what is being
interpreted from different perspectives demanded is for dominant interpreters of
by different people including Philippine Philippine history to be objective and
Muslim themselves, this view should not inclusive of their historical appraisal not
create an impression that the latter are because other people and their history
simply hungry for recognition demand it but no less than truth requires
appearing, as it were, that they are it. This way they do not only enrich
begging for a place in Philippine history. themselves but would avoid, too, in
Never! committing more files and other
idiosyncrasies. By being inclusive, they
If Philippine Muslims and their history would fully know who they are.
are not appreciated, it's not their (Mindaviews is the opinion section of
problem. Besides, they have a different MindaNews Julkipli Wadi is Associate
framework of history with separate tract Professor of Islamic Studies at the
of historical line, their history remains University of the Philippines Diliman)
school and his life and works in college
5) DR. JOSE RIZAL: THE as part of the curriculum, many things
FOREMOST FILIPINO DEIST have been left out of Importance. Many
details in the novels have been omitted
The national hero of the Philippines was and some aspects of Rizal's life have
actually a deist but this fact is not widely been neglected if not concealed for some
known Tags: deism, deist, filipino, jose reasons
rizal, Religion among Filipinos.
Published by Joemar Taganna in For instance, it is littie known that Rizal
Religion on September 23, 2006 126 was actually a deist. He had a firm belief
responses There are so many things that in God but he rejected revealed religion.
ordinary Filipinos do not know about When we say revealed religion, it refers
their national hero. Even if his two to a religion that bases its teachings on a
novels (Noli Me Tangere and El supposed revelation from God contained
Filibusterismo) is being studied in high in "holy books" andor traditions handed
down from generations to generations. image and likeness. And if my memory
One can read Rizal's exposition on this serves me right, it was Anacreon who
subject in his correspondence with a said that if a bull could form an image of
jesuit priest, Fr. Pablo Pastells, who was God, it would imagine with horns and
actually his spiritual director during his mooing in a superlative degree. Even so
youthful years in Ateneo. The exchange I venture to think of him as infinitely
occurred when Rizal was in an exile in wise, mighty, good (my idea of the
Dapitan and when Fr. Pastells was infinite is imperfect and confused),
already the Superior of the Philippine when I behold the wonders of his works,
Mission of the Society of Jesus. the order that reigns over the universe,
the magnificence and expanse of
In his third letter to Pastells, our national creation, and the goodness that shines in
hero explained: "Through reasoning and all."
by necessity, rather than through faith,
do I firmly believe in the existence of a Read more in Religion You Might Be a
creative Being. Who is he? I do not Delst Without Knowing It
know. What human sounds, what
accents are we to use in pronouncing the We Need God in America Again
name of this Being whose works "Unable to pass judgement on what
overwhelm the imagination? Can surpasses my powers, I settle for
anyone give him an adequate name, studying God in his creatures like
when a small creature on this earth with myself and in the voice of my
power so fleeting carries two or three conscience, which only can have come
names, three or four sumames, and from
many more titles and designations? We
call him Dios but this only comes from him. I strive to read and find his wi all
the Latin dues and ultimately from the surrounds me and the mysterious
Greek Zeus What kind of being is he? I sentiment speaking from within me,
would attribute to him, to an infinite which I strive to purify above all else."
degree, all the beautiful and holy Thus, Rizal's I's belief in a Deity was
qualities my mind can think of, but fear based on reasonable reflection of nature
of my ignorance constrains me. as well as from conscience and not on
Someone has said that everyone faith or divine revelation. On the same
conjures up his own God in his own letter, Rizal expressed his
 revelation that came through ancient
disbelief on the teachings of ancient books or traditions. He pointed it out in
sacred books. He writes: "The various his fourth letter to Fr. Pastells that: "I
religions claim to have God's will believe in revelation, but in the living
condensed and written in books and revelation of nature which surrounds us
dogmas: but apart from the many everywhere, in the voice speaking out
contradictions, conflicting through nature powerful, eternal,
interpretations of words, and many incorruptible, clear, distinct, and
obscure and untenable points I find in universal as the Being from which it
them, my conscience, my reason cannot comes. It is this revelation that I believe
admit that he who like a wise father had in, which speaks to us and penetrates our
provided his creatures with everything being from the day we are born to the
necessary for this life. proceeded to bury day we die. Can any other books reveal
what was necessary for eternal life in the to us more faithfully God's work, his
obscurities of a language unknown to goodness, his love, his providence. his
the rest of the world and hide it behind eternity, his glory, his wisdom? The
metaphors and deeds that go against the heavens tell the glory of the Lord, and
very laws of nature. Is it possible that he the firmament proclaims his handiwork.
who makes the sun rise for all and the Ps 19:1' Must humanity look for other
air to blow everywhere to give life, he gospels in order to love God? Do you
who has endowed everyone with not believe that men did wrong when
intelligence and reason for life here on they looked for God'd will in scrolls and
earth, has also hidden from us what is temples instead of the wonders of nature
most necessary for our eternal life? under the majestic canopy of the skies?
What shall we say of a father who heaps Instead of interpreting obscure passages
candies and toys on his children, but or phrases which provoked hatreds,
gives food only to one of them, educates wars, and dissensions, would it not have
and rears him alone? And what if it so been preferable to interpret the facts of
happens that this chosen one refuses to nature the better to shape our lives
eat while the others die looking for according to its inviolable laws and
food?" utilize its resources for our perfection?"
It is then obvious that Rizal was neither
But Rizal goes to qualify his denial of Catholic nor Protestant or any other
revelation. He only denied special religion you know. He just came to the
conclusion that God exists through incontestably intelligent and no doubt
reasoning and through studying nature studied these matters carefully, came to
and not from any suspicious and arrive at a very simple religious
contradictory revelation advise you get philosophy that was attuned to be one of
hold of these exchanges with Fr. the foundations of the Filipino nation:
Pastells. You can also read the honest attuned to his aspirations of
and equally intelligent replies of Fr. independence, academic and religious
Pastells, which makes their exchange freedom for our country
mentally stimulating and really
interesting. But in the end. Rizal Reference: Bonoan, Raul J., S.J. 1994.
remained unmoved. He was not The Rizal-Pastells Correspondence.
convinced by the priest's arguments as Manila: Ateneo de Manila University
was clearly expressed in his last letter Press, pages 121-216

Therefore, our national hero, who was

believed that Jose Rizal become a
6) JOSE RIZAL'S LEGACY... A national hero because of his example
LIFE WORTH EMULATING and s writings that greatly influenc most
By: Zigfred Diaz of our revolutionary leaders. However
there are those who believe that he
More than 111 years ago, Spanish should only be declared a hero not "The
authorities shot a man in the grounds of national hero." Majority of Filipinos also
Luneta Manila. That moment was about believe that the greatest legacy that he
to change the course of Philippine gave to the Filipino people was his
history. The man who was shot during patriotism and his love for his country.
that time was Jose Rizal. Every year we ago when I was taking up the required
continue to remember and "Rizal" course in college, I was so
commemorate the death anniversary of amazed by the story of Jose Rizal that I
this great man What was the reason why went through Zaide's book on Rizal in
Jose Rizal was chosen as our national just one day. I consider Jose Rizal is one
hero ? What is the of my "Role models. When I went to
Manila, I made sure that I could visit the
greatest.legacy that he gave to the actual grounds where Rizal was shot.
Filipino people ? Majority of Filipinos Contrary to what others believe, Rizal
was not shot where the Rizal shrine in and vision translated into action That is
Luneta stands. The actual place where why he did not waste any time in trivial
he was shot is several meters away from matters. Rather he devoted all of his
the shrine. As you approach the area you time to live out his mission and
can see a sign that says that the place is accomplish his vision. The question
"hollowed ground, and it truly is for me. right now that I should be asking myself
After we took the bar exams. I went with or you should be asking yourself is when
my family to Enchanted Kingdom. I also the time comes for us to leave this earth,
saw this as an oppurtunity to visit nearby will our lives matter? Can we truly say
Calamba, Laguna, Rizal's home. that we have lived a full and meaningful
Hopefully, I hope to visit his place of life? If we cannot answer this question
exile in Dapitan someday. Reading so positively, than we must ask God to
much about Rizal, being to the places grant us a personal vision and a mission
where he has been and watching so for our lives in order that we might not
many Rizal movies, I cannot help but waste our time on things that does not
ask myself, how could a somebody who matter at all. In so doing we might be
lived only 34 years of his life make a able to live a life just like Jose Rizal did
huge difference in this world, not only in and leave a legacy for others to follow.
his country but globally as well ? Leaving a legacy as Rizal did is what I
believe as my higher calling."
It is my personal belief that Jose Rizal's Article Source:
greatest legacy is a life that is full of http://www.approvedarticles.com
meaning and purpose Even if he lived
for only 34 years, he accomplished so
much because he had a vision in his
mind and a mission in his heart. The
strength and intensity of such mission
THE Scaffold was Fathers Gomez,
7) ARTICLE: DR. JOSE P. RIZAL Burgos, and Zamoras stairway to
107TH MARTYRDOM.(OPINION & martyrdom, For Dr. Jose P. Rizal, his
EDITORIAL) martyrdom was etched by the bullets
Article from: Manila Bulletin Article fired from the rifles of a firing squad in
date: December 29, 2003 the early morning of December 30,
1896. The executioners did not only
 meaningful and worthwhile one.
create another Filipino martyr. They also Today, we observe the 107th anniversary
produced a national symbol and a of the martyrdom of the Pride of the
Filipino nation. For Dr. Rizals execution Malay Race
became the catalyst that cemented the Dr Jose P. Rizal. Let us preserve Dr. Jose
disparate inhabitants of the country into P. Rizals memory for the sake of our
one mighty force, thus giving birth to a posterity,
national hero for the Filipino people and
the Filipino republic the first free nation 8) DAPITAN UNVEILS P35-
in 19th century colonial Asia It is MILLION DR. JOSE RIZAL
impossible to write the history of the MONUMENT
Philippines without Dr. Jose P. Rizal, By CHERYL T. BALDICANTOS
historian Austin Coates said as he December 29, 2009, 6:22 pm
highlighted the central role played by
Dr. Rizal in the realization of the ZAMBOANGA DEL NORTE - Dapitan
Filipino desire for freedom. City's ambitious landmark project
El Verbo de la Revolucion (the Messiah consisting of five bronze larger-than-life
of the Philippine Revolution) and the human statues and a boat valued at P35
Apostle of Philippine Freedom are two million was unveiled Tuesday.
of the many illustrious titles scholars The 10-foot-tall monument, which is
have given to Dr. Rizal. His works, situated at the shoreline of Barangay Sta.
especially the Noli Me Tangere and the Cruz in Dapitan City, marks the spot
El Filibusterismo, expressed not only his where Dr. Jose Rizal first arrived in the
countrymens yearnings for liberty and area 117 years ago. It is called the Punto
self-rule, they also concretized the de Disembarco. The molded statues cost
universal principle that the right to be P15 million while the rest of the fund
free is inherent in every people. Dr. was used for the monument's
Rizal had several opportunities to escape foundations. The project is partly
death and live a life of leisure and sponsored by the province of
wealth Instead, he chose martyrdom to Zamboanga del Norte Tony Tubierra did
show to the world what the Filipino the research for the molding
people could do. By losing his life for specifications of the statues. Everything
his country, he made real the idea that a including the lanterns held and the hats
life consecrated to a great purpose is a worn by the men, were made based on
recorded descriptions. Even the face of 9) DIMASALANG: THE MASONIC
Rizal was molded as close to his picture LIFE OF DR. JOSE RIZAL
in the records as they can get it. Before Article by Fred Lamar Pearson.
the bronze was casted into molding, a Jr.
resin replica was first made to see if the
mold Ronel Roces, a former assistant The life and death of Brother Jose Rizal
sculptor of National Artist for Sculpture were central to his fame as the "George
Napoleon Abueva, was perfect sculpted Washington of the Philippines. Dr. Jose
the monument. The newly unveiled P. Rizal, a Philippine national born on
landmark is part of the Heritage Trail June 19, 1861, died before a firing squad
plan of the city. Next, the street facing on December 30, 1896. Thus came to an
the monument will be renamed after Dr. inglorious end the life of a remarkable
Rizal. Life-sized statues of the national man and Mason. Martyr, patriot, poet,
hero will also be installed in places he novelist, physician, Mason he was all of
used to go. "The statues will be like that these and more. In fact, he squeezed into
of Madame Tussaud in Amsterdam. a very few years, 35, an incredible array
Even the statues flesh will be as soft as of activities. Further, he traveled
that of a human," city consultant former extensively and affected profoundly
Rep. Romeo jalosjos said during lives far removed from his native land.
the.opening speech Another plan for the As is often the case with great men,
Heritage Trail is the building of an controversy surrounded his life and
amphitheater inside the Rizal Shrine continues to surface today, in this article
grounds. Dr. Jose Protacio Rizal arrived for the Journal, I am pleased to comment
in Dapitan on July 17, 1892 after he was on a biography of Bro, Rizal by Reynold
exiled by the Spanish administration. S. Fajardo. Titled Dimasalang: The
They incited rebellion through illegal Masonic Life of Dr. Jose Rizal, this
association, For four years, Dr. Rizal book will be more thoroughly reviewed
furthered his practice of medicine and and excerpted from in a future issue of
the other arts here. He also taught some Heredom, the transactions of the
boys in Dapitan science, mathematics Scottish Rite Research Society. The
and the performing arts. in the Sovereign Grand Commander of the
Philippines, Wednesay, December 30, is Philippine Supreme Council of the
Rizal Day. Scottish Rite, IlI. Rudyardo V. Bunda,
33°, writes in the preface to Dimasalang:
"Most Filipinos know that Rizal was a more capable hands The 19th century
Mason, but very few are familiar with produced volatility at home and abroad.
the extent of his involvement in the Cuba experienced a ten-year civil war in
Fraternity The Grand Commander goes the middle part of the century. Cuban
on to note that his Supreme Council expatriates as well as non-Cuban
considers this book as a meaningful adventurers sought to wrest the island
contribution to the scholarship on Rizal from the control of what they considered
and is proud to publish it. its share in the a fossilized monarchy and an absolutist
commemoration of the Centennial church. Their efforts intensified in 1895
(1996] of Rizal?s martyrdom. The 1800s when José Martí returned to the island,
were tumultuous years for the Spanish losing his life but setting off a current of
monarchy. Napoleon had invaded the events which ultimately included an
Iberian Peninsula earlier in the century invasion by the United States and which
taking the royal family into exile and resulted in Cuban independence. The
installing a puppet on the throne Philippine Islands shared much in
Revolution had racked her western common with Cuba during the 19th
hemisphere possessions, and Spain lost century. It was in this environment that
all of them, except Cuba and Puerto Jose Rizal made his appearance in 1861.
Rico by the end of 1824. Then she lost The Philippine hero was born to affluent
Cuba and Puerto Rico in 1898. The parents in Calamba. He showed early
economic life of Spain and her empire academic promise and eventually
had been little changed by the industrial obtained a licentiate in medicine
revolution. Intellectually, a sterility specializing in ophthalmology. Few
existed and did not change significantly Masonic Lodges existed in the
until the Generation of 1898 writers and Philippines during Rizal?s adolescence,
thinkers appeared Also, scandal tore at and Lodge membership consisted
the very heart of the homeland when primarily of European Spaniards with
Generals Prim and Serrano removed only a sprinkling of Philippine nationals.
Queen Isabel Il from the throne for, Rizal?s uncle, Jose Alberto Alonzo, a
among other things, gross immorality. Knight Commander of the Spanish
They provided a military junta Orders of Isabel the Catholic and d
arrangement until the monarchy could Carlos III, had joined the Masonic
be reestablished under Fraternity, possibly in Spain, certainly in
Manila. Rizal lived in his uncle's home
during part of his student days. Whether Spanish Masons. Rizal quickly became
his uncle exercised a Masonic influence involved in Filipino expatriate circles in
on Rizal is not clear, what is certain is Spain and revealed a remarkable ability
that Rizal acquired a lasting positive to write both poetry and prose. He soon
memory of Masonry which was commenced work on his famous novel
enhanced when he visited Naples in Noli Me Tangere (Touch Me Not). In
1882. There he saw a multitude of this seminal work, Rizal dissected the
posters and signs announcing the death Philippine colonial government and
of the great. Italian patriot Giuseppe placed particular blame for its repressive
Garibaldi, a 33" Scottish Rite Mason nature on certain religious elements.
who had served as Grand Master. This Rizal was convinced that conditions in
impressed. Rizal greatly for he wrote the Philippines existed not because of
about this Masonic encounter in a letter Spain or the Catholic Church but
to his family. In Spain the young and because of the practices of certain
highly impressionable Rizal encountered regular clergy, namely Dominicans and
an intellectual environment with far Recollects. Spanish newspapers ran
fewer restraints than the one in his stories about the exciting Philippine
native land. Here he came under the firebrand, stories which soon made their
influence of a host of outstanding way to Manila. There. government and
thinkers, many of them Freemasons For religious authorities immediately took
example, Grand Master Miguel Morayta note and did not hesitate to label Rizal a
helped to expand Rizal?s historical subversive.
mind-set, and ex-President Francisco Pi
y Margal exerted a profound influence Bro. Rizal departed Spain in July 1885
on Rizal?s political evolution. Further, to further his ophthalmology studies in
these republican liberals were staunch France and Germany. For the ne xt two
advocates of Philippine independence. years, he met and associated with the
Not surprisingly, Rizal petitioned Acacia leading minds of of Paris Leipzig.
Lodge No.9, Gran Oriente de España, Berlin, and Heidelberg. It was a heady
the very Lodge in which Morayta and Pi atmosphere for the young Brother, and
y Margal held membership. When Masons in Germany. Dr. Rudolf
initiated, Rizal selected Dimasalang as Virchow and Dr. Feodor Jagor, were
his symbolic name within the Craft, a instrumental in his becoming a member
custom prevalent at the time among of the Berlin Ethnological and
Anthropological Societies. While in enhanced sales. Rizal also involved
Germany, Rizal acquired additional himself in a sticky matter which
Masonic Degrees. concerned a Dominican hacienda in
Calamba. According to critics of the
When his novel Noli Me Tangere, came Dominicans, their hacienda holdings
off the press in Europe, Rizal sent copies were excessive, and the friars had not
to, among others, the Governor-General paid their fair share of taxes, Rizal,
of the Philippines and the Archbishop when requested by the town council of
Manila The Governor General. Emilio Calamba, got involved in an
Terrero y Perinat a 33' Mason, investigation of the
represented no problem, and he
protected Rizal upon on his return to the matter and his report during a public
islands and for as long as he held the meeting was highly critical of the
Goveror-Generalship. The Archbishop, Dominicans The church hierarchy did
however presented a problem which did not take long to react. The Archbishop
not go away. Rizal had become increased pressure on the Governor-
increasingly convinced of his need to General to suppress Noli Me Tangere as
campaign in person for reform in the an inflammatory book and to arrest its
Philippines as opposed to author. Accordingly. Governor General
propagandizing from afar. His friends Terrero, fearing he might not be able to
cautioned him not to return but failed to protect him, put pressure on Rizal to
dissuade the idealist. On August 5, 1887, depart the country. Rizal heeded the
Dr. Rizal stepped ashore in Manila. advice and traveled to Hong Kong.
Meanwhile, the religious authorities
Almost immediately, serious problems carried out reprisals against Rizal?s
emerged. The Manila Archbishop put family which included the arrest of his
pressure on Governor General Terrero to mother.
ban Rizal?s book. Terrero, who had a
real liking for Rizal, hesitated to After a short stay in Hong Kong, Rizal
suppress the book which rapidly traveled to Japan and then the United
circulated in the capital. The church States where he enjoyed the experience
authorities did not delay in publishing a of a coast-to-coast visit, New York, in
condemnation of the work, but to their particular, impressed him, and cryptic
chagrin, the condemnation only evidence in his diary suggests he may
have visited the Grand Lodge of New Lodge.
York From New York City, Rizal
journeyed to England and then on to the Rizal? El Filibusterismo was published
continent. While in Paris. Rizal in September 1891 and in October he
published, with annotations. Antonio de departed for Hong Kong. There he
Morga’s Sucesos de las Islas Filipinas enjoyed a delightful reunion with family
(Events in the Philippine Islands). members. He wanted to return to Manila
Financial pressure forced him to relocate but desisted in view of the controversy
from Paris to Belgium. There, he his books had generated, especially his
worked hard on his second novel, El second, El Filibusterismo. While in
Filibusterismo (The Subversives), in Hong Kong, Rizal developed an
which he sounded clearly the tocsin for extensive and lucrative medical practice.
Philippine revolution During a visit to Meanwhile, a Lodge for Filipinos, Need
Spain, Dr. Rizal affiliated with an all- No. 144, had been established in Manila.
Filipino Masonic Lodge. Solidaridad The Lodge membership honored Rizal
in absentia by electing him "Honorable
(Solidarity) No. 53. At their annual Venerable Master" and had the Secretary
communication, the Brethren elected inform him by letter of his preferment.
him to a minor Soon after formation of Nilad Lodge,
Masonic growth in the Philippines
office, Supervising Architect. Before his mushroomed, and when Rizal returned
departure from Spain, the Gran Oriente in 1892, Masonry was well established.
Español
The Filipino Masons seized every
designated Rizal as its Grand opportunity to honor Rizal after his
Representative with authority to return, and the Spanish authorities, in
represent the Body in France turn, monitored his every movement.
Worried about revolution, the
and Germany. This was a distinct honor, authorities, constantly encouraged by
for Rizal apparently had never served as Rizal?s enemies among the friars, had
Worshipful him arrested and deported to Dapitan on
July 6, 1892. Further, the authorities
Master of a constituent began to close Lodges and deport active
Masons
 today as a national and Masonic hero.
The Jesuits made a determined effort
influence Rizal in his Dapitan exile,
even enlisting former college professors.
Their effort failed. Rizal enjoyed family
visits in Dapitan, and friends of his
sought to arrange a flight to safety.
Rizal, however, did not want to embrace 10) RIZAL, AN
the safety net of a fugitive. When José EXCOMMUNICATED CATHOLIC
Marti and his compatriots launched the Dr. Jose Rizal, an Ex Catholic
Cuban Revolution in 1895, Dr. Rizal
offered his services to the Governor I was wondering earlier what to write
General as a volunteer physician. and publish here on this blog
Governor General Blanco seized the (SELaplana) that might entertain you
opportunity to send Rizal out of the and probably let you learn of something
country and hopefully, save his life. In that can be useful to you. I was browsing
fact, Blanco wrote to cabinet ministers my cards of snippets when I found this:
in Spain requesting the Spanish
government to pardon Rizal. When Nakagawa ng malaking kasalanan si
Rizal departed for Spain, he was Polavieja sa Dios at sa kasaysayan noon
unaware of the doom which awaited umaga ng ika-30 ng Disyembre, 1896.
him. When Rizal?s ship reached Spain, Suriin ninyo kung maipatatawad ang
the authorities returned him to the mga kasalanan niyang ito: Ipinapatay
Philippines to stand trial for treason, and niya ang aking asawa, si Dr. Rizal, na
he was executed on December 30, 1896. walang kasalanan kundi ang umibig sa
The story however does not end there. kanyang bayan. At sa pagpatay na ito ay
The subsequent Philippine Revolution napalakip pa ang isang mabigat na
proved successful and removed sagutin niya. Dili iba kundi ang
European Spaniards from all positions of pagkatanggap ng suhol na aninnapung
authority. The scales of justice not only libong pisong Mehikano (P60,000.00) sa
righted but tipped in favor of such kamay ng Arsobispo, na siyang nangilak
revolutionaries as Bro, Jose Rizal, noon sa mga samahang relihiyosa upang
Recognized as the George Washington matiyak na hindi babaguhin ni Polavieja
of the Philippines, "Bro, Rizal endures ang hatol ng hukumang digma na
patayin ang aking asawa Influenced by Miguel Morayta, a history
professor at the Universidad de Madrid,
(My rough English Translation) Rizal joined Masonry, under the Gran
Polavieja committed sin to God and to Oriente de Espanol, adopting the
the history on the morning of December Masonic name,
30, 1896. Examine his sins if they are
pardonable: He let my husband, Dr. Dimasalang. He was automatically
Rizal (Jose) killed who has done nothing excommunicated, expelled from the
but love his county. And on his death, he Catholic Church, a fate decreed for all
(Polavieja) received a bribe worth Catholics becoming Masons since 1738
P60,000.00 Mexican from the and reaffirmed by the CBCP in 1990.
Archbishop who leads the religious Rizal had plenty of illustrious company
organization, to ensure that Polavieja including Andres Bonifacio. Apolinario
would not change the judgment of the Mabini, Ladislao Diwa, Marcelo H. del
court to kill my husband Pilar, Juan Luna, Deodato Arellano
Graciano Lopez Jaena, H.
This snippet is supposed to be part of the
letter of Josephine Bracken, the wife of Pardo de Tavera, and so many others in
Dr. jose Rizal. to "The China Mall the Propaganda Movement and La Liga
publication. What really struck me is the Filipina (source:
accusation of Rizal's wife to the Catholic http://glphils.org/famous-
Archbishop in the Philippines for masons/frizal.htm)
bribing the acting Governor General of
the Philippines, Camilo Polavieja.I was (2) Rizal was hunted down by the friars
then intrigued if Dr. Jose Rizal was not only because of his book. "Noli Me
really the enemy of the Catholic Church Tangere" but also because he was
since the Catholic Archbishop wanted charged by the Dominicans being
the death of Dr. Rizal. My searches on heretics and agitator
information about Dr. Rizal's relation to
the Catholic Church lead me to these Only a few days after his arrival,
things: (1) Rizal was excommunicated Governor General Terrero receives him
by the Catholic Church when he joined at the Malacanang Palace and tells him
the Masonry of the charges saying that the Noli was
full of subversive
 (3) Dr. Jose Rizal attacked the Catholic
ideas. After a discussion, the liberal Church's doctrines on Miracles,
Governor General appears to be Purgatory. Confession, Trinity, Dual
appeased, but he is unable to offer Nature of Christ, etc. through his
resistance against the pressure of the writings
church to take action against the book.
The persecution can be discerned from In these two novels we find passages
Rizal's letter to Leitmeritz: "My book against Catholic dogma and morals 11
made a lot of noise, everywhere, I am where repeated attacks are made against
asked about it. They wanted to the Catholic religion in general, against
anthemize me to excommunicate me) the possibility of miracles, against the
because of it . I am considered a German doctrine of Purgatory, against the
spy, an agent of Bismarck, they say I am Sacrament of Baptism against
a Protestant, a free mason, a sorcerer, a Confession, Communion, Holy Mass
damned soul. It is whispered that I want against the doctrine of Indulgences,
to draw plans, that I have a foreign Church prayers, the Catechism of
passport and that I wander through the Christian Doctrine, sermons,
streets by night... sacramentals and books of piety. There
are passages casting doubts on or
Soon the friars hunt is in full swing. covering with confusion God's
They have ample ammunition against omnipotence, the even existence of hell,
Rizal because he is not only persecuted the mystery of the Most Blessed Trinity,
on account of the Noli, but he is also and the two natures of Christ.
accused by the Dominicans of being a
heretic and an agitator for his Similarly, we find passages which
intercession in favor of the tenant disparage divine worship 12 especially
farmers in his hometown, Calamba. the veneration of images and relics,
Rizal succeeds in putting up a fight for devotion to the Blessed Virgin and the
half a year, then the Governor General Saints, the use of scapulars, cords and
gives him the friendly advice of leaving habits, the praying of rosaries, novenas,
the country because he can no longer ejaculations and indulgenced prayers.
keep his protective hand over Rizal and Even vocal prayers are included, such as
his family. (source: www.univie.ac.at) the Our Father, the Hail Mary, the
Doxology, the Act of Contrition, and the
Angelus Mass ceremonies, baptismal With this info that we have it is now
and exsequial rites, worship of the clear that Rizal really became the enemy
Cross, the use of holy water and candles, of the Catholic Church because of his
processions, bells and even the Sacred writings. I actually didn't know about
Sunday obligations do not escape scom. this during the time that I was taking up
(source: www.cbcponiine.net) the subject on Dr. Jose Rizal's Life in
high school. You couldn't actually read
(4) The Catholic Church opposed to the about this part of Rizal's life in public
bill requiring Filipino students to read school books. What you can read is that
the books of Rizal because they contain Rizal was merely attacking the Spanish
passages against the Roman Catholic Colonial government not the Catholic
Church. Senator Claro M. Recto wanted Church.
to include Jose Rizal's Noli Me Tangere
and E Filibusterismo in the reading list But how about the said letter of
of college students in 1956. The Josephine Bracken to the The China
Catholic Church opposed the proposal Maila publication, is it really true that
claiming it would violate freedom of the Catholic Archbishop bribed the
conscience and religion. They said the acting Governor General of the
novels belong to the past and it would be Philippines to ensure the death of Dr.
harmful to read them because they Jose Rizal?
present a false picture of conditions in
the country." A priest, who was Well, we couldn't answer it directly with
introduced in the senate committee Yes. Only Josephine Bracken and the
hearing as an authority on Rizal, added said Catholic Archbishop knew the truth.
that the Noli was not a patriotic book But if we will consider the snippet
since it only contained 25 patriotic below, we can say that there is a
passages as opposed to 120 anti-Catholic possibility that it is true that the Catholic
statements. A Catholic senator argued Archbishop bribed Polavieja to ensure
that he cannot allow his son to read the death of Dr Jose Rizal.
Rizal's novels for fear that the boy will
lose his faith. (source: It is here that Rizal is introduced to Luis
www.yehey.com/News/article.aspx7id=2 Taviel (played by Jaime Fabregas) who
21212) has been appointed to defend him at his
trial. Taviel is a Spanish officer who at
first mistrusts Rizal and views him as a
dangerous revolutionary. Most of the Retraction
movie takes place in Rizal's prison cell
and involves Taviel confronting him Some argued that Dr. Rizal wrote those
about his life. There are frequent anti-catholic passages on his letters,
flashbacks but some of them are poems and novels during the times when
flashbacks to his novels, so it is he was still excommunicated from his
sometimes hard to keep the order clear. Catholic faith. So, he was really an
Eventually Taviel learns to respect Rizal enemy of the Catholic Church of that
and he decides to do his best job in time. But prior to his execution by firing
defending him. squad, he wrote a retracting letter which
in turns rejecting all the things he wrote
But it is to no avail. The evil head of the about the Roman Catholic Church.
Franciscan order in Manila arranges for Well, it might be true that there was a
a new governor to take over control of retraction letter and it is said that this
the Philippines. The new governor retraction letter was really written by
promptly orders a show trial where the Rizal. However, the authenticity of this
outcome has already been decided. Rizal letter is still controversial up to this day
must die. Despite his best efforts. Taviel and many believed Rizal didn't sign arıy
cannot save Rizal from his fate. The retraction letter. In 1912, Rizal's family
verdict is reached and the execution date rejected a petition by the Jesuits to
is set for December 30, 1896. Taviel rebury the famous man. Instead the
admits to Rizal that he is ashamed to be honor was given to the Freemasons On
a Spaniard. (source: December 12, 1912, the remains of
www.tomandcathymarking.com/reviews Rizal were removed from his sister's
/jose rizal.htm) home to the Masonic Temple in the
Tondo section of Manila. Led by
According to that review, the head of the Sinukuan Lodge No. 305, several
Franciscan Friars arranged for a new Lodges conducted a Masonic Service
governor that would take over over the remains The next morning the
Philippines. And this governor ordered a Freemsons in full regalia marched in
show trial that the result had already procession to his sister's home where
been decided which was the death of Dr. Rizal's remains were turned over to the
Jose Rizal government representatives. The
remains were then taken to the 1. www.wikipedia.com
legislative building where government 2.philippinesfreepress.wordpress.com/20
officials also held funeral services 06/05/05/the-church-under-attack-may-
before final internment at the Luneta 5-1956
There has been a controversy due to a
claim by the Catholic Church that on the
eve of his execution Rizal had
reembraced the church. The evidence
refutes the claim. During his trial no
cleric came to the defense of Rizal
Church officials remained silent. Only
many years after his execution when
Jose Rizal became known as the
"George Washington" of the Philippines
did the Church make the claim. Esource:
calodges.org/ncrl/RIZAL.html) Now, if
the Rizal retraction is really true, then I
think he did it not because he wanted to
embrace back his Catholic Faith but
because of some family related reasons.
But I actually doubt if Dr. Rizal really
wrote it because like him I am also an
ex-Catholic and I also noticed those
unbiblical doctrines that the Catholic
Church upheld. And that even to my
death, I will never embrace back the
doctrines that I found out to be
unbiblical.

Other sources: