Exile in Dapitan

Exile in Dapitan

• Rizal was deported to Dapitan by virtue of Governor General Eulogio

Despujol’s gubernatorial decree of 1892

• His deportation was based on the following charges against him.

– a. publication and introduction f various anti-monastic books and handbills.
– b. travelling through different provinces without permit from the Governor-
General
– c. finding in his luggage the pamphlet “Pobres Frailes” or “Poor Friars”, which mocked the
religious orders.
– d. dedication of the El Filibusterismo to the memory of GOMBURZA
– e. Rizal’s attempt at de-Catholicizing and denationalizing the Filipino

With his deportation to Dapitan, the Liga died its

natural death.
• It split into two branches: the rightist, Cuerpos de
Compromisarios, and the leftist, known as the
Katipunan or KKK, a society whose aim was to
overthrow colonial
rule in the Philippines.
• In the four years of Rizal’s banishment to Dapitan (1892-
1896), he demonstrated practical nationalism and Rizal’s Home in Dapitan
patriotism.

Community Leadership in Dapitan

• Rizal in Dapitan (1892-1896) was marked by varied activities.

• It was in Dapitan, particularly Talisay, where Rizal exercised his
professions and skills to be of service to his country men: as a doctor, a
farmer, teacher, engineer, inventor, scientist and community
developer.
• With these activities, Rizal won the respect and recognition of the
people of Dapitan, as well as Captain Ricardo Carnicero, politico-commander of the
island who became his guardian and friend.

The ff. are contribution s of Rizal in Dapitan which demostrate leadership and
nationalism:
1. Construction water system
2. Construction of a huge aid map of Mindanao out of stones, earth and grass.
3. Beautification of Talisay by facilitating the putting up of lamp posts at every corner of the
town.
4. Building of school and taught pupils for academic and vocational training
 5. Training pupils boxing, swimming, and arnis.
6. Offering free medical services to his poor country folks.
7. Organizing an association of farmers to improve farm production and generate higher
incomes.
8. Training fishermen of Dapitan the making and use of fishnets in fishing.
9. Engaging in abaca and copra trading.
10. Invention of brick-making machine.
11. Built-up a rich collection of Conchology.

• Rizal became well-known on Opthalmology in Dapitan.

• Even exiled in Dapitan, he was visited by foreing clietns for treatment. One of
them was Mr. George Taufer who came to Dapitan for his medial services. His
adopted daughter, Josephine Bracken, who accompanied him, later became
Rizal’s wife.

• As historical accounts would attest, Rizal in Dapitan has become:

– The first to introduce social and environmental engineering; –

The first rural doctor;
– The first professional to engage in business;
– The first practitioner of town planning and beautification;
 – The first to introduce the principles of livelihood and self-reliance programs;
– The first to show the way to community development;
– The first ophthalmic surgeon sought by patients abroad;

– The first to set up community school with himself as the first community teacher;
– The first systematic collector of Philippine shells, butterflies, reptiles and other
fauna and flora in Mindanao;
– The first in sanitary engineering and public health work;
– And the first Filipino doctor with social conscience, who charged fees according to
the patient’s ability to pay.
Rizal and the Katipunan

• On June 21, 1986, Dr. Pio Valenzuela, Bonfacio’s

representative, visited Rizal in Dapitan and informed the
plan of the Katipunan to launch revolution.

• Rizal objected Bonifacio’s project stating that such would

be a veritable suicide.
Andres Bonifacio
 Rizal suggested that it would be best for the Katipunan to get first support of
the rich and influential people of Manila to strengthen their cause.

• Rizal lamented the possible consequences of the planned armed rebellion.

Rizal said:

“To die and to conquer is pleasant, but to die and be conquered is

painful”.

• Rizal also disapproved of the plan of the Katipunan to rescue him from his
exile for he had given his word to the Spanish authorities that he would never
escape from Dapitan

Trial of Rizal

• Rizal was accused of the complex crime of rebellion as he was the

principal organizer and the living soul of the insurrection, the founder of
societies, publications, and books dedicated to the propagating ideas
of rebellion.
• He pleaded not guilty to the crime charged against him.
• But the case was continued in the jurisdiction of military tribunal.
• The evidences of his guilt has been gathered by Captain Francisco de Olive.

• On November 20, 1896, Colonel Rafael Dominguez, a special judge,

conducted the preliminary investigation.

• Rizal was interrogated without the presence of a counsel.

• He was not allowed to meet the witnesses face to face.

• He was questioned, among other things, on:

• his participation in political activities,
• membership in Masonic lodges,
• and concerning his appoint as honorary president of the Katipunan, about Pio
Valenzuel’as meeting with him at Dapitan.
• At the trial , Lieutenant Enrique de Alcocer showed a detailed
presentation of Rizal’s case.
• Alcocer’s argument rested on Rizal’s admission of the founding La
Liga Filipina, which to his mind had something to do with Bonifacio’s
revolution.
 • He showed that Rizal’s writing were designed to provoke anti-friar and
Spanish sentiments.
• Alcocer exposed Rizal as the “Soul of Rebellion”.

• These evidences has culminated the call on the members of the military
tribunal to render a decision by imposing death penalty on Rizal.

• However, according to Luis Taviel de Andrade, Rizal as guilty had not been
proven since no conclusive evidences has been found based on ocular
inspection, confession of the accused and official documents.

• As to the charge of Rizal founding illegal associations, Andrade argued that

the Constitution of the La Liga Filipina did not specify any illegal objectives.

• Furthermore, Andrade said, Liga was short-lived because Rizal was deported
to Dapitan before it could fully organized and it was revived without Rizal’s
knowledge.
• After Andrade’s brilliant defense, Rizal was asked by the judge whether he had
something to add. Rizal stood up and presented his own statements:

1. I am not guilty of rebellion as I even advised Dr. Pio Valenzuela in Dapitan not to rise in
revolution.
2. The Revolutionists used my name without my knowledge. If I were guilty. I could have
been escaped to Singapore.

3. If I had a hand in the Katipunan revolution. I could have escaped Dapitan and should
have not built a house there.

4. If I were the chief of the revolution, why did they not consult me on their plans?

5. I was not the founder of La Soildaridad and the Assosacion Hispano-Filipina.

6. I had nothing to do with the introduction of masonry in the Philippines.

7. The La Liga did not live long. It died a natural death after my banishment to Dapitan.
8. If the La Liga was re-organized, was totally unaware of it.

9. It was true that I wrote the statues of La Liga. But, La Liga is a civic association whose
purpose are unity and development of commerce and industry.
10. While it was true that there were bitter statements in my letters, it was because they
were written when my family was being persecuted, being disposed of their houses
and lands
11. It was not true that the revolution was inspired in one of my speeches. My friends
knew very well about my vehement opposition to an armed rebellion.

12. Why did the Katipunan send an messenger to me in Dapitan, who was a total
stranger to me? Because those who knew me were aware that I would never
sanction any violent movement.

13. My life in Dapitan had been exemplary, as evidenced by my productive activities

for the welfare of the people, Even the politico-military commanders and
missionary priests could attest to this.

• On the same day, the decision of the military court, signed by Jose Togores,
was submitted to Governor-General Polavieja.

• Rizal was found guilty beyond reasonable doubt and therefore should be
condemned to death by firing squad at the place and time to be chosen by
the Governor-General.
• Polavieja approved Judge Advocate General Niclas dela Perna’s
recommendations on December 30 at 7:00 o’clock in the morning at the
Bagumbayan Field.

Execution at Bagumbayan
• Rizal was convicted of rebellion and was sentenced to
death through musketry.

• The verdict of death sentence was read to Rizal on

December 29, 1896.

• Rizal refused to sign it due to his innocence and objection to

his being labeled as a Chinese mestizo.

• Later, realizing that the law required it, he affixed his signature on the
notification of the court’s decision.

• On December 30, 1896, Josephine arrived at 5:30 in the morning

accompanied by Josefa. Rizal embraced her and gave his last gift; the book of
Thomas Kemphis entitled Imitation of Christ.

• The death march began at exactly 6:30 in the morning. Rizal sported a black
suit and vest with a black hat as he came out of his cell.
• Rizal walked to the place of execution between Father Villaclara and Father
Marcha.
• At the execution square, the military physician,
Dr. Felipe Ruiz y Castillo, felt his pulse and fount
it normal.

• Rizal requested the commander of the cavalry

that he be shot facing his executioners
considering that he was not a traitor.

• The request, however, was denied as the Spanish

officer had a standing order from higher authorities that Rizal should be shot
at the back.

• At 7:03 the guns of the firing squad rang out in a row.

• Rizal turned halfway around, fell down backwards and laid on the ground
facing the sun.

• Rizal’s execution became the vehicle awaken the national consciousness of

the Filipinos.
 • It sparked the fire of the Philippine revolution against the Spanish colonizers,
which elevated him as the national hero of the country.
Rizal’s Retraction Issue

• One of the most controversial points of Rizal’s life was the

alleged retraction where he renounced masonry and his
religious beliefs that were anti-catholic.

• Some are arguing that Rizal retracted his Masonic views and
embraced his Catholic faith before he died.

Claims that Rizal Retracted his Masonic Views

1. Rizal recited and signed prayer book entitled Acts of Faith, Hope, Charity. This
book was offered after his signing of the retraction document according to Father
Baguer.

2. The testimony of the press at the time of the event of eyewitnesses, attested Rizal
retracted and signed a retraction document.
 3. Rizal performed acts of piety during his last hours, as testified by
the witnesses.

4. The church through the Jesuits, solemnized Rizal’s marriage to

Josephine Bracken, as attested by witnesses. The Catholic Church
will not officiate a marriage ceremony without Rizal’s retraction of
his religious errors.

Claims that Rizal did not retract

1. The retraction document is a forgery.

• As pointed out by Pascual (1950), the handwriting in the document is
questionable, as only one man prepared it.

• The point was supported by the confession of the forger to Antonio Abad on
August 13,1901, employed by the friars earlier that same year to make several
copies of the retraction document.

2. The other facts of Rizal do not fit well with the story of retraction. Some are the ff:
 a. The retraction document was not made public until 1935. Even members of
Rizal’s family did not over see it.

b. No effort was made to save Rizal from death penalty after saying his retraction.

c. Rizal’s burial was kept secret. He was buried outside the wall of Paco cemetery.
d. The record of his burial was not placed on the page of entries of December 30 th.
e. There is no marriage certificate or public record of Rizal’s marriage with
Josephine Bracken.
f. Rizal’s behavior did not point to a conversion during his last 24 hours. The
letters he wrote during his remaining hours do not indicate
conversion.
Rizal’s Remains

• After the execution of Rizal on December 30, 1896 at the

Bagumbayan field, the body of Rizal was buried in the old and
unused Paco cemetery.

• In his grave, they placed a plaque with his initials in reverse, R.P.J.
which means, Rizal Protacio Jose. There were no funeral ceremonies for Rizal.
• A few days after the Americans took Manila in August 1898, Rizal’s sister, Narcisa,
asked permission of the new authorities to exhume the remains of Rizal.
Permission was granted.

• When the body was dig up, it was discovered that Rizal’s body had not been
even placed in a coffin.

• The remains were then placed in appropriate condition and reinterred in the
proper manner at the Paco cemetery.

• In 1911, the remains of Rizal were transferred from the Paco cemetery to the base
of Rizal monument which had earlier been erected at Luneta Park (now Rizal
Park).
Rizal’s Letters, Articles and Writings

Through Education Our Motherland Receives Light

• At early age, Rizal developed the spirit of nationalism as he became

aware of his Motherland.
• He envisioned what education can do to a country, if its leadership would be
made up of a pool of educated youth.

• He expressed his thoughts on education in the poem entitled: Through Education

Our Motherland Receives Light (Por La Educacion Recibe Lustre La Patria).

• In this poem, Rizal urged his fellow students to educate themselves because
education gives birth to science and art.

A La Juventud Filipina

• To the Filipino Youth (A La Juventud Filipina) was written by Rizal when he was
only 18 years old. This poem was dedicated to the Filipino youth.

• He called the youth the “Fair Hope of My Motherland”.

• He considered the youth as leaders of tomorrow and as such responsible for the
nation’s future.
Mi Ultimo Adios
• Jose Rizal, before his execution by firing squad at Rizal or Luneta Park (formerly
Bagumbayan ), wrote his last poem Mi Ultimo Adios (My Last Farewell).
• Interestingly enough, his original writing was said to have no title; the
title Mi Ultimo Adios was given by Mariano Ponce.
• The poem was Rizal’s farewell to his native land. It is an epic poem
expressive of idealism, morality and spirituality.
• He demonstrated his willingness, as a patriot, to offer his life for the
love of country.

La Indolencia de los Filipinos

• The Indolence of the Filipinos was published in La Solidaridad in Madrid in 1890.

• Written by Rizal as response to the accusations of the Spaniards on Filipino
laziness.
• Rizal stated that Filipinos are not by nature indolent.
• Long before the coming of Spaniards, Rizal pointed out that Filipinos were
industrious and hardworking.
• It was only the Spanish conquest bought the decline in economic activities of
Filipinos.
• It was because of native revolts, forced labor, lack of stimulus to work harder
because the people could not enjoy the fruits of their labor, depressing and anti-
human actions of Spanish against Filipinos.
 Rizal’s Last Letter to His Family

To my Family,

I ask you forgiveness for the pain I caused you, but someday I shall have to die
and it is better that I die now in the plenitude of my conscience.

Dear Parents, Brothers, and Sisters, give thanks to God that I may preserve my
tranquility before my death. I die resigned, hoping that with my death, you will
be left in peace, Ah! It is better to die than to live suffering. Console yourselves.

I enjoin you to forgive one another the little meanness of life and try to live united
in peace and good and harmony.
Treat your old parents as you would like to be treated by your children later.
Love them very much in my memory.

Bury me in the ground. Place a stone and a cross over it, my name, the date of my
birth, and of my death. Nothing more.
If later you wish to surround my grave with a fence, you can do so. No
anniversaries.

Have pity on poor Josephine.

Rizal’s Last Letter to Paciano
My dear Brother,
It has been four years and a half that we have not seen each other
Nor have we communicated with each other.
I do not think it is due to lack of affection on my part nor on yours, but because,
knowing each other so well, we do not need to talk to understand each other.

Now, I am about to die, and it is to you that I dedicate my last

lines, to tell you how sad I am to leave you alone in life,
burdened with the weight of the family and our old parents.

I am thinking now how hard you have worked to give me a career;

I believe I have tried not to waste my time. Brother of mine; if the fruit as been
bitter, it is not my fault, but the fault of circumstances.
I know that you have suffered much on my account, and I am sorry.

I assure you, brother, that I die innocent of this crime of rebellion.

If my former writings have contributed, I do not deny it absolutely;
but then, I thought I have expiated for the past with my deportation.
Tell our father I remember him, and how I remember my whole
childhood, of his affection and his love. Ask him to forgive me for the
pain that I have unwillingly caused him.