Chapter 5

Rizal’s Exile, Trial and Death

A. Rizal’s exile

Rizal with his sister Lucia arrived Manila June 26, 1892 and sought audience with Gov.gen Eulogio
Despujol, who agreed to pardon his father but not the rest of the family

Rizal founded the Liga Filipina in the Phils which was an upshot and subsidiary of the Propaganda, aimed to
directly involve patriotic Filipinos to uplift the life of the Filipinos with the society promoting mutual aids

Aims of Liga Filipina:

1. To unite the whole archipelago into one compact, vigorous and homogenous body
2. Mutual protection in every want and necessity
3. Defense against all violence and injustice
4. Encouragement of instruction, agriculture and commerce
5. Study and application of reforms

Motto:
One for All

Rizal had series of interviews with Gov.Despujol and was shown by Gov. Despujol some printed leaflets or bundle of
handbills entitled Pobre Frailes(Poor Friars), a satire against the rich Dominican friars who amassed fabulous riches
contrary to their vow of poverty, written by Father Jacinto which was alledgely found in Lucia’s piloow cases

Gaceta de Manila- where Rizal’s arrest and deportation to one of the islands in the south by Gov.Despujol was
published

Gov. Despujol arrested and deported Rizal to Dapitan

Reason why Rizal was arrested and exiled in Dapitan:

1. During his voluntary exile he published books and proclamations showing his disloyalty to Spain
2. Bundles of handbills entitled Pobres Frailes was found in his packages
3. El Filibusterismo was dedicated to the three martyrs(GOMBURZA)

Rizal was brought under heavy guard to the steamer Cebu which was sailing to Dapitan under the
command of Capt.Delgras
Captain Ricardo Carnicero – was the commandant of Dapitan or Politico-Military gov. of Dapitan
 Rizal’s arrest and imprisonment produced indignant commotion among the members of Liga Filipina and
became inactive but was revived and reorganized by A. Bonifacio and Domingo Franco which expressed his
support for the Propaganda but later Liga was dissolved due to disagreements of its members

Two groups that emerged after the split of its members:

1. Cuerpo de Compromisarios – composed of the conservatives who aimed to continue supporting the La
Solidaridad

2. Katipunan – consisted of the radicals led by Bonifacio

Ultimately, the “Cuerpo” died out while the Katipunan attracted many Filipinos. In such Rizal’s La Liga gave birth to
Bonifacio’s Katipunan on July 7, 1892, the day Rizal was ordered to be deported in Dapitan

Rizal was exiled in Dapitan from July 17, 1892 to July 31, 1896.
Fr. Pablo Pastells- Superior of the Jesuit Society in the Phils.
Fr. Antonio Obach – Jesuit parish priest of Dapitan
In Dapitan, he was made to choose whether to live with the Jesuits or with Captain Ricardo Carnicero
The following conditions were laid to Rizal if he chose to live with Jesuits:
1. Rizal publicly retract his errors concerning religion and make statements that were pro-Spanish and against
revolution
2. Rizal performs the church rites and make general confession of his past life
3. Rizal conducts himself in an exemplary manner as a Spanish subject and a man of religion
Rizal chose to live with Capt. Carnicero
Rizal had a long and scholarly debate on religion with Fr. Pastells in Dapitan and revealed his anti-catholic ideas
acquired in Europe and embitterment at his persecution by the bad friars. Fr. Pastells tried to win back Rizal but in
vain
While in Dapitan Rizal continued to be a Catholic,however Rizal’s Catholicism was a Catholicism of Renan and
Teilhard de Chardin
Rizal’s life in Dapitan was with his members of his family who take turns in visiting him.
Achievements of Rizal in Dapitan proving his versatile genius:
1. architect 12. Mythologist 22. theologian
2. artist 13. nationalist
3. businessman 14. naturalist
4. cartoonist 15. novelist
5. ethnologist 17. Ophthalmic surgeon
6. scientific farmer 18. poet
7. historian 19. propagandist
8. inventor 20. psychologist
9. journalist 21. scientist
10.. linguist 22. sculptor
11. musician 21. Sociologist

Rizal in Dapitan practiced medicine

Pursued scientific studies
Rare Specimens were named after Rizal:
a. Draco rizali( flying dragon
b. apogonia rizali (small beetle)
c. rhacophorus rizali (rare frog)
Continued his artistic works by continuing his painting to the Sister of Charity, modeling a statuette representing a
mother-dog killing the crocodile called “The Mother’s Revenge” ,and other structural works like a bust of
Fr.Guerrero(Atenean professor of Rizal),a statue of a girl called “ The Dapitan Girl”, a woodcarving of Josephine
Bracken, and a bust of St. Paul” which he gave to Fr. Pastells
He widened his knowledge of languages
Languages Rizal knows how to speak:
1. Ilokano
2. Bisayan
3. Subanun
4. Arabic
5. Catalan
6. Chinese
7. English
8. French
9. German
10. Greek
11. Hebrew
12. Italian
13. Japanese
14. Latin
15. Malayan
16. Portuguese
17. Dutch
18. Swedish
19. Russian
20. Sanskrit
21. Spanish
22. Tagalog

Established a shool for boys teaching reading, writing, Spanish and English language,geography,history,
mathematics, industrialwork, nature study, morals and gymnastics
Promted community development projects like waterworks system,draining the marshes to get rid ofmalaria,equipped
the town with lighting system consisted of oil lamps
Invented awooden machine for making bricks
Engaged in farming
He engaged in business with Ramon Carreon( Dapitan merchant)
Rizal was mourning the loss of his son by J. Bracken in the early part of 1896 when in a secret meeting of the
katipunan on May 2, 1896 ,Dr. Pio Valenzuela was named emissary of the katipunan to Dapitan to inform Rizal of the
plan of the katipunan to launch a revolution
Reasons why Rizal objected the plan of the katipunan to launch for a bloody revolution:
1. people are not yet ready for a revolution
2. lack of funds, arms and ammunitions

Rizal disapproved Katipunan’s plan to rescue him for he had given his word of honor to the Spanish authorities

Rizal was advised by Blumentritt to volunteer as a military doctor in Cuba and was approved by Blanco.
Rizal’s four-year exile in Dapitan ended on July 31, 1896 and was accompanied by J. Bracken,Narcisa, Angelica, his
three nephews and six pupils,disembarked on board the steamer Espana.

Rizal’s Trial:
Rizal left Dapitan on board the steamer Espana sailed towards Dumaguete, Cebu, and Iloilo( Molo,Capiz,Romblon)
Rizal was transferred to the Spanish steamer Castilla by order of Gov. Ramon Blanco.

Aug. 19, 1896 – date when the Katipunan plot was discovered to overthrow the Spanish by means of revolution
Fr. Mariano Gil— Augustinian cura of Tondo who discovered the secrets of the Katipunan
Cry of Balintawak—was raised by Bonifacio Aug. 26, 1896

Reasons why Rizal was worried upon learning of the eruption of the revolution:
1. the violent revolution was premature and would only cause much suffering and loss of life and property
2. would arouse Spanish vengeance against all Filipino patriots

Eight provinces declared Martial law by Gov. Blanco:

1. Manila 2. Bulacan 3. Cavite, 4. Batangas 5. Laguna 6. Pampanga 7. Nueva Ecija 8. Tarlac

Rizal received two identical letters of introduction from Gov. Blanco for the Minister of War and the Minister of
Colonies and a letter addressed to him from all blame for the raging of revolution.
Gov. Blanco advised that Rizal not be advisable to go to Cuba

Rizal was transferred to the steamer Isla de Panay sailing for Barcelona,Spain and arrived Singapore,Sept 7, 1896.
He had been adviced to stay in Singapore to take advantage of the protection of the British law and to save his life
but ignored it for he did not want to break his word of honor to Gov. Blanco. By refusing to break his word of
honor,sealed his own doom because without his knowledge Gov. Blanco was secretly conspiring with the Minister of
War and Minister of Colonies of his destruction.

Rizal on board the Isla de Panay, left Singapore for Barcelona Sept. 8, 1896. Unaware of Gov. Blanco’s order.
Don Juan Utor –Rizal’s co passenger in Isla de Panay who told him that he would be arrested by order of Gov.
Blanco and was shocked of the news that he considered it his greatest injustice

On board Isla de Panay, Rizal arrived in Barcelona and was kept under heavy guard in his cabin for three days by
the Capt. Gen of Barcelona who happened to be Gov. Despujol. He was imprisoned in Fort Montjuich
He was transferred to SS Colon the following day of Oct. 6, 1896 for Philippines to be a prisoner.
Rizal arrived in Manila via SS Colon and was imprisoned in For Santiago

Col. Francisco Olive -,the judge advocate in his initial examinations

Olive ordered Gov. Weyler to execute the evictions of Rizal’s townmates
Olive transmitted Rizal’s records of his case to Gov. Blanco who appointed the Capt. Of the Infantry,Don
Miguel Dominguez as special Judge advocate to institute corresponding action against Rizal but did not do
anything about it and and returned the papers to Gov. Blanco

Blanco transmitted again Rizal,s case to Judge Advocate Gen.,, Nicolas de la Pena and had his
recommendations:
1. Rizal be immediately brought to trial
2. the accused be kept in prison
3. indemnity of Php 1M
4. the accused be defended not by a lawyer but an army officer
Rizal was given the right to chose his defense counsel and chose Don Luis Taviel de Andrade
Rizal’s case was forwarded by Capt. Dominguez to Malacanan Palace and his death sentence was
approved by Gov.Polavieja( successor of Gov Blanco)

Rizal’s court Martial occurred Dec 26,1896 in Cuartel de Espana with seven members of the military court:
1. Lt. Jose Tagores Arjona(President) 6. Capt. Manuel Diaz Escribano
2. Capt. Ricardo Munoz Arias 7. Capt. Fermin Perez Rodriguez
3. Capt. Manuel Reguera
4. Capt. Santiago Izquierdo Osorio
5. Capt. Braulio Rpdriguez Nunez
Dominguez opened the case of Rizal
Lt. Enrique de Alcocer was Rizal’s prosecuting officer who summarized the charges against Rizal
Don Luis Taviel de Andrade Rizal,s defense counsel who was a young lieutenant who risked the
displeasure of his superiors read Rizal,s defense
Crimes accused against Rizal:
1. rebellion
2. illegal associations
Dona Teodora wrote a letter to Gov. Polavieja asking for the pardon of his son
Rizal’s death:
Rizal,s death was read by Capt. Dominguez
Rizal’s last visitors in Fort Santiago before his death:

Rizal’s letters in his letter to Blumentritt were addressed to the following:

1. brother 2. Family 3. Parents

Rizal’s death march to Bagumbayan was Dec.30,1896 walked calmly with Fr. Estanislao March, Fr.Vilaclara
and Lt. Andrade
Rizal died Dec 30,1896 at age 35s