Module 5 – GEM 101, GE 112 (Life and Works of Rizal) In May 1896, Andres Bonifacio sent Dr.

In May 1896, Andres Bonifacio sent Dr. PioValezuela for an advice about the revolution. Rizal refused to be
Jose Rizal’s Exile in Dapitan, Trial and Martydom and his Works. rescued by the Katipunan and advised them to prepare first by means of acquiring sufficient arms and ammunitions
and securing the loyalty and support of the principalias or middle classes. On October 06, 1896, Jose Rizal was
arrested for being implicated in the revolution and was sent back to Manila and detained in Fort Santiago.
Jose Rizal by the order of the governor-general, was exiled to Dapitan, a remote place in Zamboanga del
Norte. On July 17, 1892, Jose Rizal reached Dapitan boarding the boat Cebu.He was loved by the people of Timeline of Jose Rizal’s arrest, trial and martyrdom
Dapitan because of the way he treated and cared for them.
August 1, 1896:
Rizal bade farewell to the Dapitan students and neighbors, and sailed for Manila with his wifeand sister.
Jose Rizal as a Teacher - Jose Rizal put up a school which accommodated seventeen boys who were sons for
the most part of leading citizens of Dapitan. Formal classes were conducted between two and five o'clock, he August 5, 1896:
sat in a hammock, while the boys sat on a long bamboo bench. Jose Rizal taught his students arithmetic, Andres Bonifacio prepared to save him. Emilio Jacinto and others, disguised as sailors, went to the S. S. España on
geometry, English and Spanish. In one day,Rizal requires them to speak only English; on the next day, only a launch. Jacinto started to swab down the deck until he had a chance to speak to Rizal alone. Rizal refused to
Spanish. If any boy forgot and spoke the wrong language he had to wear rattan handcuffs. The best student escape.
was called "emperor" and sat at the head of the bench. The poorest sat at the foot, and had to jump, dance, and
take exercises before the others. This system was similar to the one he experienced in Ateneo Municipal. September 3, 1896:
Another subject in Rizal’s school was the "Nature study"wherein his students helped him collect specimens of Bearing letters of introduction from the Governor-General to the Secretaries of War and Foreign Affairs in Spain,
flowers, shells, insects, and reptiles. A large number of collection of shells, snakes and insects collected by Jose
he departed for Barcelona.
Rizal and his students are housed in the Manila Jesuit Museum.
An attempt was made to rescue Jose Rizalby Pedro B. Roxas, a fellow Filipinopassenger, and CaptainCamus,
while he was in Singapore bound for Spain
Jose Rizal as a Doctor - Jose Rizal spent many months draining swamps to get rid of the malaria which infested
the region. He cared for the sick of Dapitan without ever accepting a fee. News about him traveled fast and people October 6, 1896:
from distant areas came to him for consultation and treatment, and these he charged according to their financial 3:00 AM: On his 4th day of being held in his cabin at the MV Isla de Panay docked at Barcelona, Spain on his way
capacity. to Cuba, Rizal was awakened to be brought to Montjuic Prison in Barcelona, Spain.

Jose Rizal as a Scientist - Rizal found Mindanao a wonderful field for collecting specimens. Using his canoe, he 2:00 PM: Interview with General EulogioDespujol
explored the coast, seeking specimens of shells, bugs, and new varieties of plants. He also wrote to his friend Dr.
Ferdinand Blumentritt articles about the ethnography of the Philippines and a detailed map of Mindanao. Rizal 8:00 PM: Aboard the Colon, Rizal left Barcelona for Manila.
sent over four hundred articles of scientific value and many specimens of animals, insects, and plants for Another attempt was made to rescue Jose Rizal by Dr. Antonio Regidor, Sixto Lopez when he was in Singapore
identification to the Anthropological and Ethnographical Museum of Dresden. He did not receive any monetary going back to the Philippines. The attempt was unsuccessful.
payment. He wanted in exchange were scientific books, magazines and surgical instruments which he needed and
used in Dapitan. Rizal discovered some rare specimens which were named in his honor by the scientists. Among November 3, 1896:
these were Draco rizali (a flying dragon), Apogoniarizali (a small beetle), and Rhacophorusrizali (a rare frog) Rizal was brought to Fort Santiago, where other patriots, including his brother Paciano, were being tortured to
implicate him. Paciano refused to sign anything despite his body beingbroken and his left hand crushed.
Jose Rizal as a Community Organizer - Jose Rizal envisioned the establishment of the ‘New Calamba’ in
Dapitan. Jose Rizal with the help of Father Pastells ‘remade’the town plaza. He made a relief map of Mindanao
outside the town’s church. He directed the construction of a water system for Dapitan. November 20, 1896:
Preliminary investigation began with Rizal appearing before Judge Advocate Colonel Francisco Olive. The
He spent most of his winnings in the lottery (6,000 pesos) for the improvement of Dapitan. He installedlamps for
investigation lasted five days.
the Dapitan streets from the money (500 pesos) he was paid for having successfully removed an Englishman’s
cataracts. He put up a hospital which was located opposite the house where he dwelt.
November 26, 1896:
Jose Rizal as a Poet - Jose Rizal in his letter to Blumentritt, stated that he was working on a grammar of the
The records of the case were handed over to Governor-General Ramon Blanco who then appointed Captain Rafael
Tagalog language. His life experiences in Dapitan had inspired him to write poems.
Dominguez as special Judge Advocate.

Departure from Dapitan December 8, 1896:

From a list submitted to him by the authorities, he chose the brother of his friend, Lt. Luis Taviel de Andrade to
become his trial lawyer. He was only made to choose among army officers and not a civilian lawyer. 4:00 PM: Visit of Rizal’s mother, Teodora Alonso. Then Rizal’s sister Trinidad entered to get her mother and
Rizal whispered to her in English referring to the alcohol stove, “There is something inside.” They were also
December 11, 1896: accompanied by Narcisa, Lucia, Josefa, Maria and son Mauricio Cruz. Leoncio Lopez Rizal, Narcisa’s eleven-
In his prison cell, Rizal was read the charges against him: “principal organizer and the living soul of the Filipino year-old son, was not allowed to enter the cell. While leaving for their carriages, an official handed over the
insurrection, the founder of societies, periodicals and books dedicated to fomenting and propagating the ideas of alcohol stove to Narcisa. After their visit, Fathers Vilaclara and Estanislao March returned to the cell followed by
rebellion” [for the crime of having founded illicit associations and for having incited and promoted rebellion]. Father Rosell.

December 13, 1896: 6:00 PM: Rizal was visited by the Dean of the Manila Cathedral, Don Silvino Lopez Tuñon. Fathers Balaguer and
Ramon Blanco was replaced by Camilo de Polavieja, a more ruthless character, as Governor-General of the March left Father Vilaclara to be with the two.
Philippines. Dominguez submitted the papers of the Rizal case to Malacañan Palace.
8:00 PM: Rizal’s last supper where he informed Captain Dominguez that he already forgave those who condemned
December 15, 1896: him.
Rizal issued his manifesto to certain Filipinos calling to end the “absurd” rebellion and to fight for liberties with
education as a prerequisite. The authorities suppressed the manifesto. 9:30 PM: Rizal was visited by the fiscal of the Royal Audiencia of Manila, Don Gaspar Cestaño with whom Rizal
offered the best chair of the cell. According to accounts, the fiscal left with “a good impression of Rizal’s
December 26, 1896: intelligence and noble character.”
8:00 AM: Trial of Rizal began at the Cuartel de España. On the same day, the court- martial secretly and
unanimously voted for a guilty verdict with the penalty of death before a firing squad. December 30, 1896:
3:00 AM: According to Father Balaguer’s account, Rizal asked to have confession, hear mass and be given Holy
December 28, 1896: Communion. Allegedly he also signed the document retracting his anti-Catholic writings and his membership in
Governor-General Camilo de Polavieja signs the death verdict. masonry. This series of events is still a contentious issue among Rizal experts.

December 29, 1896: 5:30 AM: Rizal took his last meal. According to stories told to Narcisa by Lt. Luis Taviel de Andrade, Rizal threw
6:00 AM: Rizal was read his verdict by Captain Rafael Dominguez: To be shot the next day at 7:00 AM at the some eggs in the corner of a cell for the “poor rats,” “Let them have their fiesta too.” Rizal also wrote to his family
Luneta de Bagumbayan (Rizal Park). and to his brother.

7:00 AM: Rizal was transferred to the chapel cell adorned by religious images to convince him to go back to the 5:30 AM: Teary-eyed Josephine Bracken and Josefa Rizal came. Josephine was gifted by Rizal with the classic
Catholic fold. His first visitors were Jesuit priests Fathers Miguel Saderra Mata and Fr. Luis Viza. Thomas á Kempis book Imitations of Christ in which he inscribed, “To my dear and unhappy wife, Josephine,
December 30th, 1896, Jose Rizal.” They embraced for the last time.
7:15 AM: After Fr. Saderra left, Rizal asked Fr. Viza for the Sacred Heart statuette which he carved when he was
an Ateneo student. From his pocket the statuette appears. 6:00 AM: Rizal wrote to his father, Francisco Mercado “My beloved Father, Pardon me for the pain with which I
repay you for sorrows and sacrifices for my education. I did not want nor did I prefer it. Goodbye, Father,
8:00 AM: Fr. Viza was relieved by Fr. Antonio Rosell who joined Rizal for breakfast. Lt. Luis Taviel de Andrade goodbye… Jose Rizal.” To his mother, he had only these words, “To my very dear Mother, Sra. Doña Teodora
joins them. Alonso 6 o’clock in the morning, December 30, 1896. Jose Rizal.”

9:00 AM: Fr. Federico Faura, who once said that Rizal would lose his head for writing the Noli Me Tangere, 6:30 AM: Death march from Fort Santiago to Bagumbayan begins. Four soldiers with bayoneted rifles lead the
arrived. Rizal told him, “Father you are indeed a prophet.” procession followed by Rizal, Taviel de Andrade, Fathers Vilaclara and March and other soldiers. They passed by
the Intramuros plaza, then turned right to the Postigo gate then left at Malecon, the bayside road now known as
10:00 AM: Fathers José Vilaclara and Vicente Balaguer visited Rizal, followed by a Spanish journalist, Santiago Bonifacio Drive.
Mataix of El Heraldo de Madrid, for an interview.
7:00 AM: Rizal, after arriving on the execution site at the Luneta de Bagumbayan, was checked with his pulse by
12:00-3:30 PM: Rizal’s time alone in his cell. He had lunch, wrote letters and probably wrote his last poem of 14 Dr. Felipe Ruiz Castillo. It was perfectly normal. Rizal once wrote, “I wish to show those who deny us patriotism
stanzas which he wrote in his flowing handwriting in a very small piece of paper. He hid it inside his alcohol stove. that we know how to die for our duty and our convictions.”
The untitled poem was later known as Mi Ultimo Adios (My Last Farewell). In its second stanza, he already “Preparen.” “Apunten.” Rizal shouted, “Consummatum est.” It is done.
praised the revolutionaries in the battlefield for giving their lives “without doubt, without gloom.”
3:30 PM: Fr. Balaguer visits again and, according to him, talks to Rizal about retracting his anti-Catholic writings 7:03 AM: With the captain shouting “Fuego!” Shouts rang out from the guns of eight indio soldiers. Rizal, being a
and his being a mason. convicted criminal was not facing the firing squad. As he was hit, he resists and turns himself to face his
executors. He falls down, and dies facing the sky. The Spaniards shouted “Viva España! Muerte a los traidores!” Three of Dr. Jose Rizal’s essays – The Philippines: A Century Hence, On the Indolence of the Filipino and To the
But in two years, the victorious Philippine revolutionaries will seal the fate of the Spanish Empire in the east. Young Women of Malolos contain his ideas and thoughts about the prevailing conditions of the Philippines under
Three hundred thirty three years of Spanish Colonialism ended in 1898. the Spanish colonial regime. He emphasized through these works the pervasive effects of colonization to the
Philippines and Filipinos and how could these be addressed or redressed. Rizal also used history as an effective
December 30, 1896, afternoon: Narcisa, after a long search, discovered where her brother’s body was secretly tool to analyze the prevailing social conditions in the Philippines; to rectify the errors and misconceptions on the
buried, at the old unused Paco Cemetery. She asked the guards to place a marble plaque designed by Filipinos insinuated by the Spaniards; and to present the probable situations that will happen in the Philippines.
DoroteoOngjungco containing Rizal’s initials in reverse—“RPJ” Selected Poems of Jose Rizal
Rizal’s Novels A. To My Fellow Children
The novels of Jose Rizal were so powerful that they served as eye-opener for Filipinos and Spaniards on the social
ills and defects perpetuated by Spanish authorities and clergies and imbibed by some Filipinos. The novels It is a Tagalog poem written allegedly by Jose Rizal when he was 8 years old. [Up to this day, the authorship is
reflected the social conditions of the Philippines at that time. Though it must be noted that these novels particularly still debated.] Whether or not it was written by Jose Rizal, the poem had inspired nationalism among Filipinos.
the Noli mi tangere and El Filibusterismo were written in Spanish and their publication and circulation were
prohibited and punishable by the law, Jose Rizal through these novels had inspired the revolution that ended more Ideas of Jose Rizal:
than three centuries of Spanish colonial rule in the Philippines. He also expressed his views and ideas about the 1. Love of one’s language
Philippine society and its people. His unfinished third novel was another attempt to expose the social ills and 2. The Tagalog language was equated by Jose Rizal to other languages like the Spanish, English and Latin.
defects he had observed plaguing the Philippines.
B. To The Filipino Youth
Noli Me Tangere
It is a poem submitted by Jose Rizal to a poetry contest which had been organized for Filipinos by the Manila
It was published in 1887 in Berlin, Germany through the financial aid from Maximo Viola. The title means “Touch
Lyceum of Art and Literature in 1879. He won the first prize and received a silver pen.
Me Not”. It is a Latin version of words spoken by Jesus in Mary Magdalene after the resurrection (John 20:13-17).
In this poem, Rizal challenged the youth to study, and develop their full potential for they are the fair hope of our
The original English translation is ‘The Social Cancer’. In the introduction, Jose Rizal dedicated the novel to the
motherland. They should be able to think and act independently, seek solutions from within themselves for the
Philippines [‘fatherland’] hoping that by exposing the social cancer, reforms will be granted for its improvement. It
betterment of the country.
was written in Spanish which intended to raise political consciousness in relation to the current state of affairs in
C. To the Flowers of Heidelberg
the Philippines. Jose Rizal hoped that through this novel, Spain the mother country will be aware of the conditions
This poem was written by Jose Rizal in August, 1886 while he was in Germany studying techniques of eye
of the Philippines and grant her the needed reforms for the betterment and progress of the country and its people.
operations.
He was fascinated by the flowers in spring in Heidelberg and wrote this poem with a feeling of deep longing for
El Filibusterismo
his family and his country. This poem reflects Rizal’s hopes for the betterment of the country and the lives of the
It was published in 1891 in Brussels, Belgium through the financial aid from Valentin Ventura. The title was
Filipinos.
derived from the word filibustero a word which according to Jose Rizal was little known by the Filipinos at that
D. MiRetiro
time and that the educated class feared the reach of the word. This word was also used by the Spanish authorities to
It is a poem written by Jose Rizal for his mother which expressed Jose Rizal’s serene life in Dapitan. This poem
refer to a revolutionary person. Rizal further defined filibustero as a dangerous patriot who will soon be hanged or
shows Rizal’s acceptance of his destiny and whatever justice will be given him.
a presumptuous man. Jose Rizal dedicated the novel to the GOMBURZA –the three priests who were executed in
E. ‘Mi Ultimo Adios’
Bagumbayan for being implicated in the Cavity Mutiny in 1872. Like the Noli Me Tangere, it was written in
It is an untitled and undated poem written by Jose Rizal.This poem expresses Jose Rizal’s undying love for the
Spanish and intended to raise political consciousness in relation to the state of affairs in the Philippines observed
Philippines and his loved ones. He reiterated that dying for one’s conviction and for the country is a great honor.
by Rizal. The theme of the El Filibusterismo focuses on revolution as an alternative solution to reforms that failed
to create significant change in the country. However, Jose Rizal also emphasized the danger of a revolution that is
built upon hatred and vengeance or personal vendetta. Activity #1 - Answer the following questions in google classroom
a) If you were in the place of Rizal will you give up your life for the country? Why?
Etikang Tagalog/Makamisa b) In today’s generation does martyrdom and heroism still exist? How and why?
It is considered as the third and unfinished novel of Jose Rizal. It is believed that Rizal started writing this in 1892
while he was in Hong Kong. The manuscript was first compiled under the drafts of the Noli Me Tangere and was
Activity #2 - Answer the following questions:
only discovered in 1987 by Prof. AmbethOcampo. ‘Makamisa’ is the title given by Prof. AmbethOcampo who
wrote the English translation of the novel. ‘Etikang Tagalog’ is the title given by Dr. NiloOcampo who wrote the a) What was the main topic Noli Mi Tangere?
Tagalog translation of the novel. b) Who was the inspiration of Rizal’s Character Pilosopo Tasyo?

Selected Essays of Jose Rizal