LESSON 3: The Life of Jose Rizal: Trial, Exile, and Death

ABOUT THE LESSON:

As pointed out in the previous lesson, Rizal was deported to Dapitan in 1892 pursuant to
Despujol's gubernatorial decree. Rizal demonstrated practical nationalism during his four years
of exile in Dapitan by practicing what he preached to his countrymen and fellow reformers. This
lesson will discuss other events in Rizal's life during his exile in Dapitan and how they
influenced his decision to volunteer as a medical surgeon in the Spanish Army in Cuba in 1896.
Additionally, this lesson will tackle our national hero's trial and martyrdom.
At the end of the lesson, you will be able to:
LO1. Discuss the factors that led to Rizal’s execution;
LO2. Compare and contrast the evidence of the prosecution and defense during
Rizal’s trial; and
LO3. Analyze the effects of Rizal’s execution.

LEARNING OUTPUTS/REQUIREMENTS: Reaction Guide (Recorded Video), Quiz

LESSON TIME ALLOTMENT: 2 weeks / 6 hours
LEARNING ACTIVITIES:

RIZAL SA DAPITAN

Watch the video entitled “Rizal sa Dapitan” by Tikoy Aguiluz. You can
access the video by clicking the link below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jrxMkhf1Gu0

Address: Governor Feliciano Leviste Road, Lipa City 4217, Batangas, Philippines
Telephone Numbers: +63 43 757 5277
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 BITTER – SWEET LIFE IN DAPITAN

Dapitan during the Arrival of Rizal

Rizal arrived in Dapitan onboard the steamer Cebu on

July 17, 1892. At the time of Rizal's deportation to Dapitan, the
location had long served as a political and military outpost for
Spaniards in the Philippines. It was a forerunner in Muslim
Mindanao of Spanish culture, religion, and civilization. It was led
by a politico-military commander and a parish priest tasked with
Dapitan during Rizal’s Time
the island's conversion to Catholicism. Retrieved from
traveljunkiemanila.blogspot.com

Rizal and Captain Carnicero

Captain Ricardo Carnicero, the politico-military

commander of the town revived Rizal as a prisoner. Originally,
Rizal was to reside at the Jesuit Mission House under Father
Obach, the parish priest of Dapitan, according to a letter from Fr.
Pablo Pastells, the Society of Jesus' Superior in the Philippines.
However, RIzal chose not to live with the Jesuits and instead resided at the commandant's
Casa Real, house of Capt.
residence, called "Casa Real." Carnicero in Dapitan
Retrieved from Vibal
Foundation, Inc.

Address: Governor Feliciano Leviste Road, Lipa City 4217, Batangas, Philippines
Telephone Numbers: +63 43 757 5277
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 Captain Carnicero, Fr. Pastells, superior of the Fr. Obach, parish priest of
commander of Dapitan Society of Jesus in the Dapiyan
Retrieved from Vibal Phililippines Retrieved from Diosdado
Foundation Inc. Retrieved from Vibal Foundation Inc. Capino and Virginia Buenaflor

Rizal opted not to stay with the Jesuits on account of the following conditions stated in Fr.
Pastell’s letter to Fr. Obach, which he had to comply with, namely:

A To make public retraction of his religious errors

B To issue public statements unmistakably pro-Spanish

C To undergo the spiritual exercises of St. Ignatius

D To make a general confession of his past life

E To lead a model religious and pro-Spanish life

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Telephone Numbers: +63 43 757 5277
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 Captain Carnicero, the commandant, discovered
Rizal to be a man of admirable qualities and a pleasant
personality that is why they became such good friends that
the exile did not feel that the captain was his guard. As a
consequence of the positive impressions that Carnicero
had of Rizal, he gave the latter a free rein to help improve
Dapitan. Moreover, Carnicero gave Rizal all the liberties
except to leave the place. He was just required by
Carnicero to report to the military outpost once a week.

Rizal and Carnicero became good friends. In the frequent exchange of views between the
two, Rizal on many occasions had communicated to Carnicero his political beliefs at the time of
his exile in Dapitan. According to Rizal, the Philippines would become the world's happiest country
if Spain granted him the following reforms:

1 Representation in the Spanish Cortes

2 Secularization of parishes

3 Reformation of the administration in all its branches

4 Encouragement of primary instruction and elimination of friar intervention

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Telephone Numbers: +63 43 757 5277
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 5 Granting teachers of both sexes’ better salaries

6 Division of government jobs equally between Spaniards and Filipinos

7 Making the administration moral

8 Creation of schools of arts and trades in provincial capitals

9 Freedom of speech and freedom of the press

10
Freedom of religion

Rizal Builds His Home at Talisay

Rizal and Carnicero won a lottery in September 1892.

The Manila lottery ticket no. 9736 jointly owned by Rizal,
Carnicero, and a Spanish resident of Dipolog won the second
prize of 20,000 pesos. Rizal used a portion of his share (6,200
pesos) to acquire land near the coast of Talisay, a barrio near
Dapitan. He constructed three houses out of bamboo, wood, and
Talisay, Dapitan
nipa on a property measuring more than ten hectares. Retrieved from Vibal Foundation
Inc.

Address: Governor Feliciano Leviste Road, Lipa City 4217, Batangas, Philippines
Telephone Numbers: +63 43 757 5277
Website: www.ub.edu.ph
 CASA CUADRADA

Rizal, his mother, sister Trinidad and a nephew lived in the house,
which was square in shape.

Retrieved from flickr.com

CASA HEXAGONAL

It serves as the barn where Rizal kept his chickens.

Retrieved from slideshare.net

CASA OCTAGONAL

In this house loved some of his pupils – for Rizal established a school,
teaching young boys practical subjects, like reading, writing,
artithmetic, geography and Spanish and English languages.

Retrieved from wikipedia.com

Rizal used his talents and limited resources to serve his countrymen in Dapitan,
particularly in Talisay, during his four years of exile. Rizal worked as a doctor, farmer,
teacher, community developer, engineer, and scientist in this area. Thus, Rizal earned
the admiration, respect, and recognition of the people of Dapitan as well as Captain
Carnicero.

Address: Governor Feliciano Leviste Road, Lipa City 4217, Batangas, Philippines
Telephone Numbers: +63 43 757 5277
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Daily Life as an Exile

Rizal set a very hectic daily schedule for himself after settling in Talisay. This can be
gleaned from his letter to Blumentritt on December 19, 1893. Part of this letter is shown below:

From my house, I hear the murmur of a crystalline rivulet that comes from the high rocks. I see the
beach, the sea where I have two small crafts two canoes or barotos, as they call them here. I have
many fruit trees – mangoes, lanzones, guyabanos, baluno and nangka. I have domesticated animals
like rabbits, dogs, cats and chickens. I get up early – at 5:00. I visit my fields, I fed the chickens, I
wake up my folks and start them moving. At 07:30, we take breakfast – tea, pastry, cheese and
sweets. Afterwards, I treat my poor patients who come to my land. I dress and go to the town in my
baroto, I treat the people there and I return at 12:00 and take lunch. Afterwards, I teach the boys
until 04:00 and I spend the afternoon farming, I spend the evening reading and studying.

Community Leadership in Dapitan

After a few weeks of familiarizing himself with his new surroundings, Rizal found himself
immersed in a round of activities for Dapitan and its inhabitants. He conceptualized and
implemented plans for the town's beautification. He drew a sketch of the public plaza and
submitted it to Governor Carnicero for approval. Also, Rizal created a massive relief map of
Mindanao out of stones, earth, and grass with the assistance of the newly arrived Father
Francisco de Paula Sanchez, a former teacher at Ateneo Municipal. Later, with the assistance
of the people, he facilitated the installation of lampposts in every corner of town. He ordered the
construction of a water system to supply water for drinking and irrigation.

Fr. Sanchez, Rizal’s former Huge relief map of Mindanao Construction of Water System
teacher at Ateneo Municipal constructed by Rizal Retrieved from Diosdado Capino
Retrieved from Vibal Retrieved from Vibal and Virginia Buenaflor
Foundation, Inc. Foundation, Inc.

Address: Governor Feliciano Leviste Road, Lipa City 4217, Batangas, Philippines
Telephone Numbers: +63 43 757 5277
Website: www.ub.edu.ph
Address: Governor Feliciano Leviste Road, Lipa City 4217, Batangas, Philippines
Telephone Numbers: +63 43 757 5277
Website: www.ub.edu.ph
 Furthermore, Rizal believed that a revolution would fail in the absence of arms and
monetary support from wealthy Filipinos. Thus, he recommended that if the Katipunan were to
initiate a revolution, it should solicit the support of wealthy and educated Filipinos, such as Antonio
Luna, an expert on military strategy.

Visited by Loved Ones

Rizal was in Dapitan when he learned of Leonor Rivera's

death. The visits of his mother and some sisters consoled his desolate
heart. Doña Teodora, along with Daughter Trinidad, joined Rizal in
Dapitan in August 1893 and resided with him in casa cuadrada. At the Rizal operating his mother’s
cataract
time, Rizal successfully operated his mother’s cataract.
Retrieved from wikipedia.com

In 1895, Doña Teodora traveled to Manila from Dapitan to be with Don Francisco, who
was getting weaker. Josephine Bracken entered Jose's life shortly after his mother left

Rizal and Josephine Bracken

Rizal’s fame as an ophthalmologist spread beyond Dapitan

and the Philippines. As a result, a large number of people visited Rizal
in his clinic. However, none of them were as lovely as Josephine
Leopoldine Bracken. From Hong Kong, Josephine and his uncle,
Mr. George Tauffer, traveled. Mr. Tauffer desired to see Rizal at the
time because he was suffering from an eye ailment that the British Rizal checking the condition
of Mr. Tauffer’s eyes
colony's local eye specialists were unable to cure Retrieved from flickr.com

Rizal’s sister suspected Josephine of being an emissary of the

friars with evil plans and asked their brother not to eat any food that she
might prepare without having Josephine taste it first. Despite his sisters'
warnings, Rizal accepted Josephine, relying on his intuition and the
Josephine Bracken,
promptings of his troubled heart. Thus, less than a month after stepdaughter of Mr. Tauffer and
Rizal’s sweetheart
Retrieved from Vibal Foundation,
Josephine's arrival, Rizal asked her to become his life partner. Inc.

Address: Governor Feliciano Leviste Road, Lipa City 4217, Batangas, Philippines
Telephone Numbers: +63 43 757 5277
Website: www.ub.edu.ph
 Rizal requested permission from Mr. Tauffer, who, predictably, raged in fury. Rizal had
been treating him, permitting him to regain a little eyesight. Tauffer, however, loses hope of ever
regaining his sight, as his case is hopeless. Since Josephine was the only one left to him, Tauffer
seized as a razor to slash his throat either because he was doomed to blindness or parental
selfishness. Rizal, however, was able to prevent Tauffer from killing himself.

Tauffer then left Dapitan, insisting on taking Josephine with

him. Josephine conformed with the old man's request. However, upon
her arrival in Manila, Josephine sought refuge in the house of Rizal's
mother, whom she presented with Rizal's letter of introduction.

Josephine was a total stranger to Rizal’s mother and the other

members of the family. It was, however, enough that Rizal loved her.
They, therefore, welcomed her as Rizal’s fiancée. One month after, Rizal’s letter of introduction to
Doña Teodora
Josephine was back in Dapitan with Rizal. (Quirino, 1940)

Meanwhile, Rizal clashed with Father Obach, who insisted on a

retraction before any marriage between Rizal and Josephine could be
performed. Since Rizal was reluctant to comply with this requirement but
was eager to legalize his relationship with Bracken, a church ceremony was
required. He argued with Fr. Obach, who ascertained that the matter should
be referred to the Bishop of Cebu, who had jurisdiction over Dapitan. Rizal
withdrew from the negotiations with the parish priest on the advice of his A statue of Rizal and
Bracken
family and with Josephine's consent. In the absence of formal matrimony, Retrieved from
mailbox.net
Rizal and Josephine vowed to live as husband and wife before heaven.

The following year after their common-law marriage, Josephine

delivered prematurely a baby boy who dies a few hours after birth.
She gave birth as a consequence of a quarrel with Rizal. Rizal
names the stillborn baby as Francisco, after his father and buried
him under a santol tree in Dapitan. Following that, Josephine
decided to travel to Hong Kong via Manila. Josephine stayed in
Manila with Rizal's relatives. However, her brief separation from
Rizal made Sculpture of Bracken created
by Rizal
Retrieved from xiaochua.net

Address: Governor Feliciano Leviste Road, Lipa City 4217, Batangas, Philippines
Telephone Numbers: +63 43 757 5277
Website: www.ub.edu.ph
 her realize how unbearable life had become, and after a month, she requested Narcisa's
assistance in returning to Dapitan.

Adios Dapitan

In 1895, Blumentritt informed Rizal that the revolution-ridden Cuba,

another nation colonized by Spain, was raged by a yellow-fever epidemic.
Rizal wrote to then-Governor-General Ramon Blanco in December 1895,
expressing his desire to provide medical services to war victims and
Governor General
disease-stricken people in Cuba due to a shortage of physicians. Rizal lost Ramon Blanco
Retrieved from
interest in his request after receiving no response from Blanco. wikipedia.com

Rizal received a letter from the governor-general on July 30, 1896, approving his petition
to serve as a volunteer physician in Cuba. Rizal made immediate preparations to depart, selling
his various properties and giving them as souvenirs to friends and students.

Rizal boarded the "España" in the late afternoon of July 31

with Josephine, Narcissa, a niece, three nephews, and three of his
students. With sorrowing heart, he waved his hand in farewell to the
generous and loving people of Dapitan, saying, "Adios Dapitan!"

On July 31, 1896, the steamer departed for Manila. Rizal later Steamer España
Retrieved from knightsofrizal.be
wrote in his ship's diary, with tears in his eyes, "I have been in that
district four years, thirteen days, and a few hours."

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Telephone Numbers: +63 43 757 5277
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 DR. JOSE RIZAL’S TRIAL AND MARTYRDOM

THE TRIAL OF RIZAL

From Dapitan to Trial in Fort Santiago

Leaving Dapitan for Manila on July 31, 1896, the steamer España with Rizal as a
passenger made some stopovers in various areas. Rizal had visited several friends in
Dumaguete, including former classmates from Madrid, and had cured a sick Guardia Civil captain.
In Cebu, he performed four operations and wrote prescriptions for a large number of patients. He
visited the historical Mactan Island while in Iloilo. He went shopping and was impressed by Iloilo's
Molo church. Following that, the ship sailed to Capiz, Romblon, and finally Manila.

In Manila

As the steamer approached Luzon, the Katipuneros attempted to

assist Rizal in escaping. Emilio Jacinto, posing as a ship's crew member,
had gained access to Rizal, while another Katipunero, Guillermo
Masangkay, circled the ship in a boat. Rizal was said to have refused to be
rescued by Katipunan's envoys, steadfast in his determination to complete
Emilio Jacinto
his mission in Cuba. Retrieved from
xiaochua.net

On August 6, 1896, Rizal arrived in Manila. He was transferred

from the steamer that brought him from Dapitan to the cruiser Castilla,
where he remained for nearly a month, awaiting the arrival of a vessel
bound for Spain. Although he was no longer an exile, Rizal was cut off from
the rest of the world, as no one except his family was permitted to see him.
Guillermo Masangkay
Josephine, on the other hand, was a frequent visitor. Retrieved from
xiaochua.net

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Telephone Numbers: +63 43 757 5277
Website: www.ub.edu.ph
The Revolution Breaks Out

The discovery of the Katipunan, as a result of Teodoro

Patiño’s disclosure of the organization’s secrets to Fr. Mariano Gil on
August 19, 1896, resulted in mass arrests of Katipuneros and non-
Katipuneros in Manila. Bonifacio summoned all the leaders for a
meeting to work out the steps the society will take to cope with the
crisis. On August 23, the historic Cry of Pugad Lawin took place Cry of Pugadlawin
Retrieved from pinoystop.org
wherein Bonifacio asked the Katipuneros if they were ready to fight the
Spaniards whatever be the cost. All those who attended the assembly at Pugadlawin expressed
their willingness to fight to the last. Upon hearing the response of his men, Bonifacio ordered them
to take out their cedulas and tore them to pieces, shouting “Mabuhay ang Pilipinas”. This event
marked the beginning of the Philippine of the Philippine Revolution against Spain.

Although he was imprisoned on the steamer Castilla, Rizal was

informed of the revolution's outbreak and the skirmishes that erupted
around Manila through the newspapers he was able to read. On August 30,
1896, Governor-General Ramon Blanco issued a gubernatorial
proclamation declaring a state of war and imposing martial law in
Batangas, Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, Manila, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Marcelo Azcarraga,
Prime Minister of Spain
and Tarlac. Rizal received letters of recommendation from Prime Minister Retrieved from
pinoystop.org
Marcelo Azcarraga and the colonial minister on the same date, absolving
him of the insurrection that was raging at the time.

Rizal Sails to Spain for Cuba

Rizal boarded the steamer Isla de Panay on September 03,

1896, en route to Barcelona, Spain. He felt that he succeeded in his
race against the revolution, spearheaded by the Katipuneros. While
the ship was passing through the Suez Canal, the ship received a
Isla de Panay, steamer which
telegram ordering Rizal's arrest and detention in the captain's cabin. transported Rizal to Barcelona
Retrieved from clydeships.co.uk
This astounded Rizal greatly.

Address: Governor Feliciano Leviste Road, Lipa City 4217, Batangas, Philippines
Telephone Numbers: +63 43 757 5277
Website: www.ub.edu.ph
 Rizal arrived in Barcelona on October 03, 1896. He was heavily guarded and detained on
the steamer Isla de Panay as a prisoner. On October 06, at 3 a.m., he was informed that he
would be transported to Fort Montjuich, the city's prison citadel. When General Dispujol, the
governor-general who ordered his deportation to Dapitan, arrived at the fort, he informed Rizal
that he would be returned to the Philippines aboard the ship “Colon”. Consequently, he left
Barcelona for Spain on the same date. Rizal had realized at this point that he had lost the race
against the Philippine revolution.

Fort Montjuich, the prison Governor General Eulogio Ship Colon, used by Rizal when he
citadel of Barcelona where Despujol, the governor general went back to the Philippines
Rizal was detained who decreed Rizal’s deportation Retrieved from ibiblio.org
Retrieved from kahimyang.com Retrieved from Vibal Foundation, Inc.

Rizal could have avoided this fate had he heeded the advice
of Don Pedro Roxas, a fellow passenger on the Isla de Panay, who
advised him to seek protection under British law. Rizal, however,
disregarded the advice because he believed Governor Blanco was a
friend, having allowed him to travel to Spain as a free man to become
Don Pedro Roxas, a fellow
a medical surgeon for the Spanish Army in Cuba. passenger of Rizal
Retrieved from
arquitecturamanila.blogspot.com

Rizal's European friends learned of his ordeal and decided to

come to his rescue. Regidor and Lopez sent telegrams to an English
lawyer in Singapore, Hugh Fort, pleading for Rizal's release through the
use of a writ of habeas corpus. This, however, failed because Chief
Justice Lionel Cox denied the writ of habeas corpus on the grounds that
the steamer Colon, which was carrying Spanish troops and was classified Chief Justice Lionel Cox
Retrieved from
as a war vessel, was not subject to the jurisdiction of the British authorities peoplepill.com
in Singapore under existing international law.

Address: Governor Feliciano Leviste Road, Lipa City 4217, Batangas, Philippines
Telephone Numbers: +63 43 757 5277
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 On November 03, 1896, the steamer arrived in Manila. Rizal
was brought to and imprisoned at Fort Santiago under tight security.
Meanwhile, the Spanish authorities began their search for any
evidence that could be used against Rizal. Those who expressed
Jose Rizal at Fort
sympathy for Rizal were persecuted and tortured. Santiago
Retrieved from alamy.com

TRIAL OF RIZAL

The Preliminary Investigation

On November 20, 1896, Colonel Francisco Olive summoned

Rizal to appear before him. Rizal appeared before the Judge Advocate in
order to clear his name of the charges imputed against him. During Rizal's
preliminary investigation, the Olive presented two types of evidence to
Col. Francisco Olive, the
Rizal., these are: Judge Advocate of the
Spanish military tribunal
Retrieved from kahimyang.com

1 Documentary 2 Testimonial

The documentary pieces of evidence were culled from the following:

1 Letters of Antonio Luna, Marcelo del Pilar, Carlos Oliver and Rizal himself

2 Poems Kundiman and Hymn to Talisay

3 Transcript of speeches of Emilio Jacinto and Jose T. Santiago

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 On the other hand, the testimonial evidence against Rizal consisted of the following:

1 Oral statements of people who had been associated with him

Colonel Olive forwarded his report on the case to Governor Ramon Blanco for appropriate
action on November 26, 1896, six days after the preliminary investigation. Blanco then appointed
Captain Rafael Dominguez as a Special Judge advocate to conduct an investigation and
evaluation of the case. Following a thorough examination of Olive's report, which was forwarded
to him by the governor-general, he concluded that there is a prima facie case against Rizal. He
then forwarded his summary of charges against Rizal to Judge Advocate General Nicolas dela
Peña for legal advice and adjudication.

Peña concurred with Olive's assessment of the case after reviewing the report prepared
by Olive. On December 08, 1896, Peña made the following recommendations to Governor Blanco
as a prima facie case against Rizal for the complex crime of rebellion and formation of an illegal
organization:

1 That the accused be kept under the custody of law

2 That the accused be brought to trial

3 That an order of attachment be issued against his property

4 That the accused be defended in court by an army officer

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Telephone Numbers: +63 43 757 5277
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The Arraignment of Rizal

On December 08, 1896, Rizal was informed by the Judge Advocate

general to choose his counsel as his arraignment was set on December
11. He was presented with a list of military officers from which he could
choose his defender. Rizal chose Luis Taviel de Andrade after perusing
the list. Luis Taviel de Andrade, his
bodyguard’s brother during his
six-month stay in Calamba
Retrieved from Vibal Foundation, Inc.

The information of charges was read to Rizal on December 11,

1896, in the presence of his defense counsel. He 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, periodicals, and books
dedicated to the fomenting and propagating the ideas of rebellion. He
pleaded not guilty to the crime charged against him and did not even Gen. Camilo de Polavieja, he
relieved Governor Blanco
question the jurisdiction of the military tribunal on his case, considering Retrieved from Vibal
Foundation, Inc.
that the eight provinces that started the revolution were under martial law.

On December 13, 1896, Dominguez submitted the transcript of the

arraignment proceedings to Malacañan Palace. General Camilo de
Polavieja had already relieved Governor Blanco at this point. Archbishop
Nozaleda and the Dominicans believed that with Blanco as governor, Rizal
would be acquitted of the charges leveled against him. Their gut feeling was
based on Blanco's belief that Rizal was not a traitor. With Polavieja into Archbishop Nozaleda, felt
that Rizal would be
the gubernatorial office, Rizal’s fate had been sealed. absolved from the
accusation against him
Retrieved from
gutenberg.org

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Telephone Numbers: +63 43 757 5277
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The Trial of Rizal

On December 19, 1896, Rizal's case was turned over to Dominguez and Alcocer for
prosecution. The trial began on December 26 in the Cuartel de España's Halls of Banners.
Two days prior, the court-martial was constituted with the following as members:

COLONEL JOSE TOGORES

(President)

RICARDO MUÑOS ARIAS MANUEL REGERA

(Member) (Member)

SANTIAGO IZQUIERDO MANUEL ESCRIBANO

(Member) (Member)

ENRIQUE DE ALCOCER
(Prosecutor)

The trial began with Judge Advocate Dominguez reading the

charges against the defendant. This was followed by Alcocer's detailed
presentation of Rizal's case, culminating in his appeal to the military
tribunal's members to render a decision imposing the death penalty on the
accused. Alcocer's argument was based primarily on Rizal's admission of
Jose Rizal’s Kangaroo
the founding of La Liga, which, in his opinion, was connected to Bonifacio's Trial
Retrieved from
revolution. slideshare.net

Following Alcocer's passionate speech, Taviel de Andrade took the floor to defend Rizal.
His defense rested on the rule of evidence and the law in the Philippines upholding the Spanish
Penal Code. Convinced that the prosecution was biased against Rizal, he defended him by stating
that penalties can only be imposed through the following methods: (1) ocular investigation; (2)
confession of the accused; (3) credible witnesses; (4) expert opinion; (5) official documents; and
(6) conclusive pieces of evidence. Rizal was not guilty of the crime charged against him as none
of these existed. Moreover, as oral testimonies used against Rizal were given by those who were
interested in ascribing leadership of the revolution to Rizal, these were biased and should not be
used against the accused.

Address: Governor Feliciano Leviste Road, Lipa City 4217, Batangas, Philippines
Telephone Numbers: +63 43 757 5277
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 Following Taviel de Andrade's brilliant defense, the judge advocate asked Rizal if he had
anything to add to what his lawyer had given. Rizal rose to his feet and presented his brief.

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 escaped from 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 Solidaridad and the Associacion Hispano-Filipino.

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

Laktaw Serrano, founder of the Lodge Nilad,had a higer degree than I had. If I were
the head, since when does and officer permit himself to be promoted to a captain
general?

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 nine months later, I was totally unaware of it.

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 9. It was true that I wrote the statutes of the La Liga. The La Liga, however, is a civic
association whose purposes are unity and development of commerce and industry.

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

11. It was not true that the revolution was inspired in one of my speeches at the house
of Doroteo Ongjungco, as alleged witnesses whom I would like to confront. My
friends knew very well about my vehement opposition to an armed rebellion.

12. Why did the Katipunan send an emissary to me in Dapitan, who was a total stranger
to me? Because those who knew me were cognizant 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 military court's decision, signed by Jose Togores, was handed to
Governor Polavieja, who referred it to Judge Advocate General Nicolas dela Peña for review.
Dela Peña agreed with the court's judgment. He found Rizal 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 De la Peña’s recommendations on December 28,
1896. He subsequently ordered Rizal's death at 7:00 a.m. on December 30 at Bagumbayan
Field. This decree runs as follows:

Address: Governor Feliciano Leviste Road, Lipa City 4217, Batangas, Philippines
Telephone Numbers: +63 43 757 5277
Website: www.ub.edu.ph
 Manila, December 28, 1896
Conformably to the foregoing opinion, I approve the sentence dictated by the
Court Martial in the present case, by virtue of which the death penalty is imposed on
accused Jose Rizal Mercado, which shall be executed by shooting him at 07:00 o’clock
in the morning of the 30th of this month in the field of Bagumbayan.
For compliance and the rest that may correspond, let this be returned to the
Judge Advocate, Captain Don Rafael Dominguez.

Rizal’s Trial and Alleged Guilt

Rizal’s trial was a clear case of the mistrial – a very clear confirmation of the injustice of
the Spanish Regime. It was a deliberate effort to condemn Rizal to death for the following reasons:

1. Rizal was a civilian but was tried by military tribunal.

2. Rizal was already condemned guilty even before the trial.

3. All allegations against Rizal were accepted by the court but not the arguments and
evidence in his favor.

4. Rizal was not allowed to confront witnesses against him nor his counsel to cross-
examine them.

5. Evidences to convict Rizal did not have any bearing on his alleged commission of
the complex crime of rebellion.

6. In military tribunals, the accused is almost certain to be found guilty.

Address: Governor Feliciano Leviste Road, Lipa City 4217, Batangas, Philippines
Telephone Numbers: +63 43 757 5277
Website: www.ub.edu.ph
 THE MARTYRDOM OF RIZAL

The Last Remaining Hours on Earth

The verdict of the death sentence was read to Rizal on

December 29, 1896. At the outset, Rizal refused to sign it owing to
his innocence and objection to him being labeled as a Chinese
Mestizo. He then affixed his signature to the notice of the court's Rizal writing his farewell letter
Retrieved from National Historical
judgment, understanding that the law required it. Commission of the Philippines

While busy attending to his visitors, he found the opportunity to compose his final letter to
Blumentritt, his closest friend and confidante. The letter runs this way:

When you receive this letter, I shall be dead.

I shall be shot tomorrow at seven o’clock, but I am innocent of the crime of rebellion.

I am going to die with a clear conscience.

Farewell my best, dearest friend, and never think ill of me.

Later in the afternoon, Rizal's relatives paid him a visit. Doña

Teodora, who was weeping at the time, approached Rizal to embrace him
but was separated by the jail guard. Rizal knelt and kissed the hand of his
mother. After a brief silence between them, Rizal asked Doña Teodora to
secure the permission of the authorities for his family to bury his dead body.
As his mother could not accept Rizal’s fate, she even tried seeking Rizal’s cell at Fort
Santiago
executive clemency for his son. Nonetheless, her attempt to secure such Retrieved from Vibal
Foundation, Inc.
pardon from the governor-general proved futile.

Address: Governor Feliciano Leviste Road, Lipa City 4217, Batangas, Philippines
Telephone Numbers: +63 43 757 5277
Website: www.ub.edu.ph
 futile.

Following his mother, Rizal's family members arrived one by one.

As a person on the verge of death, he attempted to give each of them
something that would remind them of him. He presented Narcisa with a
wicker chair, while Angelica, his niece, got a handkerchief. Rizal
presented Trinidad with an alcohol burner and informed her that it Rizal’s alcohol burner, a
gift from Pardo de Taveras
contained something important. Rizal had put his last poem inside where he hid his last poem
Retrieved from Vibal
this alcohol burner, which he entitled, “Mi Ultimo Adios” or “My Last Foundation, Inc.

Farewell”. Only Maria, however, was not given by Rizal as nothing was left for her. Josephine
came later for a brief visit, Rizal kissed her before she left. Josephine was in tears, knowing that
Rizal would soon leave her.

Knowing that his message and poem would be kept for posterity Rizal then rested, feeling
that his mission was over, One by one, his memory of the distant and immediate past flashes
back to him. His tranquility was disturbed, however, however, by footsteps and conversations
outside the prison cell. Meanwhile, the Jesuits returned to visit Rizal in order to persuade him to
retract his alleged religious errors and return to the fold of Catholicism.

The Execution of a Hero

Rizal woke up early in spite of the physical and mental fatigue he had the previous day.
After taking his breakfast at 05:30 in the morning, he took time to compose two letters: one for his
family and one for Paciano.

Content of Rizal’s letter to Content of Rizal’s letter to his

his family brother, Paciano

Address: Governor Feliciano Leviste Road, Lipa City 4217, Batangas, Philippines
Telephone Numbers: +63 43 757 5277
Website: www.ub.edu.ph
 Accompanied by Josefa, Josephine came around 05:30 a.m. She
embraced Rizal with tears in her eyes. Rizal reciprocated by hugging her
and giving her his last gift, Thomas Kempis's Imitation of Christ, which he
dedicated: "To my dear and unhappy wife, Josephine / December 30th, Rizal’s gift to Josephine
Bracken
1896/ Jose Rizal." Retrieved from Vibal
Foundation, Inc.

Rizal wrote his last letter to his father when Josephine walked out of his cell. Rizal also
began writing a letter to his mother but was unable to finish it. At 06:30 a.m., the trumpet sounded,
signaling the start of Rizal's death march.

The Death March and Execution of Rizal

The death march began at exactly 06:30 in the morning. Rizal

sported a black suit and vest with a black hat. Although his arms were
tied behind his back, he walked serenely as if nothing would happen
to him. Lieutenant Taviel de Andrade, Father March, and Father
Last walk from Fort Santiago
Villaclara stood behind him. A platoon of Spanish troops marched Retrieved from National Historical
Commission of the Philippines
behind them with pomp and discipline.

Spectators along the street from Fort Santiago to Plaza del

Palacio, in front of the Manila Cathedral; then to Malecon Street until
the participants in the death march, reached Bagumbayan Field. A
mammoth crowd of Filipinos and foreigners was able to inch closer
to the cordon formed by the Spanish soldiers to take a last glimpse
Rizal arrives at the execution site
of Rizal. Retrieved from National Historical
Commission of the Philippines

Rizal bid goodbye to Lieutenant Luis Taviel de Andrade, the

two priests who accompanied him on the march, and finally to
Josephine upon his arrival at Bagumbayan Field. Before proceeding
to the designated place where Rizal was supposed to stand, Dr.
Felipe Castillo, a military physician, checked his pulse and found it
Actual photo of Rizal’s arrival
normal. at Luneta
Retrieved from Vibal
Foundation, Inc.

Address: Governor Feliciano Leviste Road, Lipa City 4217, Batangas, Philippines
Telephone Numbers: +63 43 757 5277
Website: www.ub.edu.ph
 Prior to his execution, Rizal asked the cavalry commander that he be shot facing the
executioners, since he was not a traitor. However, the plea was denied as the Spanish officer had
a standing order from higher authorities that Rizal should be shot at the back.

The trumpet sounded again signaling the commencement of

the execution. As the commander shouted Fuego or Fire, the guns of
the firing squad rang out in a row. Rizal slowly turned his back to the
firing squad, yelled Christ’s two last words “Consummatum Est!” (It
is finished!) as he simultaneously exerted a final effort to twist his
bullet-pierced body halfway around. Facing the sky, Rizal fell to the Actual photo of Rizal’s execution,
as the soldiers aimed their guns at
their relaxed victim
ground. The military band played the Marcha de Cadiz, Spain’s Retrieved from Vibal
Foundation, Inc.
national hymn. At exactly 07:03 on December 30, 1896, shouts of
Viva España (Long Live Spain) and Muerte A Los Traidores (Death to the Traidores) could be
heard across the city. It was finished; Rizal had been executed.

Rizal had died but he lives in the hearts of the people, as a martyr to Filipino freedom. His
forthright, intelligent, liberal, democratic, progressive, compassionate, and peaceful leadership
exemplified his dedication to the Filipino people. This kind of leadership is reflected in his writings
and personal examples. He lies his excellence as an individual, a man with purpose and
conscience.

Rizal’s Mi Ultimo Adios

This poem was the longest, untitled poem written by Rizal on December 29, 1896.
According to Coates (1968), this poem is remarkable for it achieves four separate purposes:

1 It is a poem of farewell.

2 It is an appeal to the Filipinos, not forget him.

Address: Governor Feliciano Leviste Road, Lipa City 4217, Batangas, Philippines
Telephone Numbers: +63 43 757 5277
Website: www.ub.edu.ph
 3 It is Rizal’s last will and testament.

4 It is Rizal’s autobiography.

A close reading of the poem reveals Rizal’s spirit of fairness and

justice, as no stanza is given over to condemnation, no phrase to
recrimination, no words to hatred despite the oppression and injustice
he suffered. Rizal used the poem to bid goodbye to his homeland, which
he referred to as Dear Fatherland, Clime of the Sun Caressed, Pearl
of the Orient Seas, Beloved Filipinas, and My Fatherland. Rizal
willingly sacrificed his life for the sake of his nation, to this venerated First page of the “Mi Ultimo
Adios” in Rizal’s own handwriting
and adored land. Retrieved from Vibal
Foundation, Inc.

The poem's last stanza expresses Rizal's inspiring faith. In this part of Mi Ultimo Adios,
Rizal expressed his masonic and religious fervor. Rizal made it very apparent in this passage that
death has no sting. Thus, he faced death peacefully, knowing that he was entering a realm
without slaves, where faith does not slay, and where God reigns supreme. The poem's last line
conveys Rizal's philosophy of life: "In death, there is rest."

Address: Governor Feliciano Leviste Road, Lipa City 4217, Batangas, Philippines
Telephone Numbers: +63 43 757 5277
Website: www.ub.edu.ph
 REACTION GUIDE

Expound your understanding of Rizal's life through a recorded video based on our discussion
and Tikoy Aguiluz's film "Rizal sa Dapitan".

DIRECTIONS:
ü The vlog must be 2 – 3 minutes in duration and must be
uploaded to our UBian LMS.
ü The presentation must be in the.mp4 format with a video
resolution of 1280 x 720 (720p).
ü You should dress formally and use adequate lighting when
filming your video.
ü Rubric for the activity will be posted on your UBian LMS account.

ASSESSMENT TIME!

To assess whether you have really

understood the topic discussed, your professor
prepared a 15-item quiz which is posted on your
UBian LMS.

Address: Governor Feliciano Leviste Road, Lipa City 4217, Batangas, Philippines
Telephone Numbers: +63 43 757 5277
Website: www.ub.edu.ph
References:
• Mañebog, J., et al. (2018). Life and Works of Rizal: Biography, Writings, and
Legacies Of Our Bayani. 105 Engineering Road, Araneta University Village, Potrero,
Malabon City: Mutya Publishing House, Inc.
• Obias, R., Mallari, A., & Estella, J. (2018). The Life and Works of Rizal. 839
EDSA, South Triangle, Quezon City: C&E Publishing, Inc.
• Garcia, C., De Viana, A., & Cruz, C. (2015). Rizal and the Development of
Filipino Nationalism: A Textbook on the Life, Works, and Writings of Our National Hero.
707 Tiaga corner Kasipagan Streets Barangka Drive, Mandaluyong City: Books Atbp.
Publishing Corp.
• Beason, S.M. (2015). Rizal sa Dapitan (Albert Martinez) 1997. Retrieved from:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jrxMkhf1Gu0

Address: Governor Feliciano Leviste Road, Lipa City 4217, Batangas, Philippines
Telephone Numbers: +63 43 757 5277
Website: www.ub.edu.ph