The trial of Rizal: A century after oma foie the Pipe ira Aston Biorenter ae ‘The events of the past yea building up to the center rial of Riza’s marcytdom on December 30, (996 have made ‘me reflect on many things thought I new well encugh. Cet teonial celebrations make us remember the past and we who will not live to see the next censennial (ora least will not be able to enjoy the next one) have to make the most of these years from 1996-1998, ‘Tan ambivalent about the active participation that Me laysia as taker ithe Rizal celebrasions-takalaaa ng paso ‘Kang sa Taal an although Iam lctered hat na less haa, the Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia is using Rial’ ideas wo cart the progress of his county into the 21 century Tam also ‘upset that none of our leaders have equaled the enthusiasm of Aner Train. Malaysia took che lod by sponsoring an inter national conference on Ria in October 1995. Tey have also instituted an endowed Rial fellowship that wil give hefty grants 1 three ASEAN fellows 9 well as residence in any ASEAN _iversiy for three months to wrt something bout Rizal. The frscofthe Rizal fellows is Cesar Malin whose house the yout Tirahim stayed when he wasa stent at UB ‘Spain, the country tht bears Rizal's bod on her hands and conscience has come torerms with her pas td agreed to hhave a monument co Rizal erected in Madi, in the Parque Santander thats situated slong the busy Avenida de Pipi Next week, on December 5, chis monutiet, a replica of the ‘one atthe Luneta, salle unveiled together wit two markers that ae scheduled ro be installed in two of Ria’ known rest dences i the Spanish capital2 Indonesia shall host an international conference on the Philippine Revolution next year and another one wil be held in Alcan Provence, Fiance in Apil 1997, We did have a eom- ference in Mania ast August, but then i was held in the ex clusive Maria Horch, with P2,000-tepstraton fe, fr fom the teach of the ordinary ipo whose history was discussed by 3 stellar cast of largely frig sll Tf you give Ricalleeures ax mvch as To you will note thar three questions always come out in the open forum. Fast Isit rue that Rial was the father of Hitler? Second: Anything, ton Ria’ love life. Thin: Who should be our national hero sl or Bonifacio! Tis pathetie that inthe puis adrvada that Rizal died for a century ago, his heroism is questioned is memory denpated his onmnipresence ignore. Rizal’ greatest inisfortune is being national hero ofthe Philippines. “All ehis mae me remember that early morning ten years ago when [fist stepped into 4 clasoom co teach the college Real course [knew very litle sbout Rizal then, Ifmy memory serves me right did nat even have enthusiasm for dhe man, “ealy in recropect, sm ashamed that Twas one ofthe pulible horde chat had read Renato Constantino'slandmark essay “Ver ction without Understanding” (1968) and swallowed every thing hook, line and sinker Lam embarassed now toreaie that Thad actually sed the Rial couse contrary co its purpose steal of making stents more aware of Rizal's trig virtues 1 two that sme couse 0 elite Rial andl to raise Bonifacio. 1 ‘ead built Bonifacio a¢ Ras expense and at che expense of is: torical ruth, Late on when Istated ro ead Rial inorder tobe two pages ahead of my students read was wrong, AT knew about Rizal at the time, 1 culled fom see- conadary sources, the biographies by: Leon Ma. Guernero (Fist Filipe), Austin Coates (Rial: Pippine Nasional end Mar fy), Cates Quiino (Great Manan) ane Gregorio Zi aa (Rposdle of Pipe Nationalism). When U read Ril’ core fpondence [realized that there was mote 10 the man than 1 ‘thought and imagined. He slowly grew on me. Heamed about ‘Rizal, but more importantly, [scarce 0 appreciate him simply by reading his own wetings. kn historical terms this was an ex perience of consulting the primary sources. After Rizal's lerers Tinoved on to his dares and miscellaneous wating and only then di I sit and ead his novels, not the abridged and expur- tzated Komi versions I housed to pass school requirements By this ime 1 realized that Rizal was fn, Rizal was human. realized why Résal was» hero-wy Rizal isthe national ero. ‘Among the primacy sources on Rial, that are sekdom read ate the records of Ria'stral Of coupe, the original Span {sh is inaccesble to mot Filipinos, but chen there is a superb translation by the late Horacio de la Costa, SJ available. 1f you ‘eal Rizal's val you will wonder why esential parts oft were ‘Conveniently lft out of Constantinos polemics. Constantino males two major pots in his “Wenera- tion without Understanding Fist, that Ral was assist the Philippine Revolution (hath was reformist who di not want independence fot Spa, bue merely cforms aa representa tion in the Spanish Cortes). Second, that Rial was an Ameri an-sponsored hero. Even a quick reading of Rizal’ tial wil prove that those who rake Constantinos works unentcally are Tikewise gully of *Vereration without Understanding” Since theres so uch fiction and fcton in story itis always essen tial to return to the sources. ris nor easy to go agains the tide, but then as the late Teodoro Agoncillo ux to sy, the study of history s not popularity contest. Before the trial self eld in December 1896, Rizal was incerrogated in fate November 1896 and the evidence taken ‘wasmaturally wed against him. The interview was quite reveal- ing, Asked, for example, if he knew Apolinaro Mabini, Rizal replied that he “dk noe know him, personally or by name." (On November 21,1896 Rizal was asked if he knew Andes Borsfico and he replies: “dea Cas) 8) The Roof ia (Mas, Ateneo de Man Uni “eeity Pee 9618 CPeneer eee oa T“Hie doesnot know this person by name, and in fact this the fist time he hears of fhm. Nor does he know him by sight although he (Beoifcio} mighe have been present at the meeting in the house of Doroteo Onge juneo, where be [the pisoner] was into- duced to many persons who ames and ap- pearances he no fonger remembers.” (Unknown to Risa was the fact cha under interoga- ‘on (thats, coupled with intimidation or torre or both) many people implicated him in the revolution, The bt surprsinly icles bis rend Antonio Luna! The prosecutor only used a hana of evidence ia the tral that we shall eturn to later Rizal was asked to ela the fact chat bis poreatwasineladed among thse ofthe Katipunan Rial replied "Astohe porta since the pesoner had ‘ne of otdinay size made ip Madi they might Ihave secured a copy of che portrait. As to their Using his name as a calling cry the prisoner Ihas no idea why they should do this as he has sgven them no pretext whatever for it and Ihe Tooks upon it as unqualied presumption on thee pare” ‘Then Risa added something ce: "He di inde eam fom isfy that his name was being used ro collect funds for him. The prisoner, besides Laying. this information before the military goveraoe of Dapitan in onder that be might transmit it t9 tha 8 Tbe ot His Excellency, the Governor Genera, got his family 1p spread the word around by means of their aequaineancs tac he was not asking for als aa that fe bad sufficient funds oral his ‘eed with what he ered by the practice of his profession and what heluad win the lrtery"= Now the prosevution asked whether Rizal was aware thar his escape fiom Dapitan was being planned to which the reply wa "Romors had reached him that was, ‘bur no one ad spoken to him directly about and he would not hive consented to leave Dapican in his fasion, unless they took him away by force and without warning” Most surprising was the assertion thr afc the planned scape from Dapitan, Real intended to go 0 Japan ad jin ‘haces with Dexowen Cortes snd Marcelo Hdl Pilar fr the tpose of persuading that government to extend asiatance to ‘he Filipinos. Rial replied "Hee has no knowledge of any such plan and those responsible for this falsehood ae doubloss ignorant of the mista! hostility Fherween Dororeo Cortes and the prisoner ‘which effesvely prevents them ftom working together on any project." {should abo ald ere thatthe sme atiude was te ‘or del Pia Contrary to popular belief, cur heroes did not al ink Vlas ll Oo 86Py sways ace eye to ee: The reason Rial et Spin ad conse- “qinly dhe ptopizanda movement was defo dsaareoments sth dl Pe Thy an ai cach ot ns bl fo leader ‘hip of the Flipno sation in Spin “wo ofthe mimervsdepostions ake fo caputed Kasipaero tha implicated Risl were presented as evidence together wit tes rom other peopl npn i, even the poets: Kian, an Ty were icled, All thee sere resend tothe mira court prove heen te shadow Sf doubt that Real yas working or the seperation of the Palins fom te mother ont ‘Matin Constantino a policeman from Bulacan said ta Manda on 9 Seprember 1896, thatthe objec ofthe Kavipunan was che massa- cee of ll the Spaniards and the proclamation of Independence ofthe country ‘that as soon a the Spaniards have all been massecred the Supreme Head would be Rial, who would come toestab- lsh his headguarers in the city! “Agued del Rosario, bookhinde from Mindoro seated, ‘Rial isthe honorary president ‘ofthe Katipunan. His porta hangs ince ses- ‘ion hllofthe Supreme Council Pio Valerouela injotmed Rizal that che people kept demanding an armed uprising. 1 must also adel that the conclaing ines of speeches read by Pinkian (Emilio Jacinto) and TikTik (Joe Turiano ‘Santiago on July 23, 1896 were also presented as evidence 2 Dela Coss (Opa, p87 Fil 588 “Inthe meantime; let us keep our spits up with these bate cris: Long lve the Phlip- panes! Loog live Liberty! Long live De. Ril! Unity? Let us all shout with one voice: Long liye the Philipines! Lang lve Liberty! Long lie the great De Rizal! Death tothe oppressor Nation!" ® Furthermore, we must note that on December 12,1896 ‘when the investigating oficer Rafael Domingue: summed up [ls report he stated: “Ic appeats that the accused José Rial ‘Mercado. isthe principal organizer and the very soul of che Philippine insurtection;, the author of asocations, periodicals and books dedicated to the cultivation and dssemina- tion of ideas instigating che people co rebellion and sedition; and supreme head ofthe national revolutionary movement." Domingues's repore was sent co Governor-General ‘Remon Blanco who in cura refeeted itt the Judge Advorate General, Nicolas de la Petia, who, on December 7, 1896 or- dered that 1. The case was ready for tal ina military court. [Ral id no challenge the jurisdiction of a court martial over him= vein.) ‘al om the nil Spanish) p20 “a pt2. ‘That Rizal remain in prison, imcommunicado (This extended even daring the trial wben he was not allowed t9c00- font, muchlesscross-examine these who westified against him] 3. ‘That Domingue attach Rizal's property ot sather begin confiscation of Rizal’ property dhe equivalent fone mil lion pesos. This was one a day before he was formaly charged. ] “4 That Rials defense wil be banded by amity of ficer nota civilian lawyer. [He was given a list of 106 names of lft and second Leutenantsin the Spanish ces. Rizal chose ‘afamuloe name, Tviel de Andrade, who turned on to be Las ‘Taviel de Andrade the brother of Jose Tiviel de Andrade who was assigned to him as bodyguard in 887.1 ‘On December 10, 1896 Rial requested that he he al- lowed toissue a Manifesto tohiscounsrymen, This was ranted, by the Governor General on December 13 anal Rizal was in- formd December 15, the date found on the Manifesto to cer tain Filipinos, Constrained by time and a short attention span, Jee us take the esential points “1. .my name was being used as. rally: ing ery by some who had taken arms... distur Fbances have nee ceased .. persons continue to twee my nanie in goed or bad faith. put {stop this abuse cand to undeceive the rulihle I adres these nes to you so that the ‘ruth may be kaswa, 2. From the very beginning, when I first ‘received information af what was being planned, opposed, fought against and] made cleat ‘that it was absolucly impossible... Iwas con: winced that dhe wery idea was wholly absurd worse than absurd, st was disasters... was con: vince of the evils whick that rebellion would bring i ts ean, and 0 1 conseted ia pei lege if at whatever sacefice, I could waxd off so such useless suffering, 3. [have given many proofs that 1 esie..libertes for cur country; Leontine sie them. But I lid down asa prerequisite the education ofthe people. in order that by means of such instruction, and by bard work, they may acquire a personality of thet own and soecome worthy of such liberties. la my wrt- {ngs I have recommended study and the civic ‘vetoes, without which no zedempeion posable. 4. Thave alo writen (and my words have been repeated by others) that reforms if they are to bea fet must come fom abe, fo reforms that come fm few are upheavals both violent and transitory Thoroughly imbued wich these ideas, [cannot do less than condemn, as1 do condems, this riculous and barbarous up- rising. plotted behind my back. [ sominate the eximes for which i is responsible and Twill have no parcin t. With all my heart Iam sory foc those who have rasly allowed themselves tobe deceived. Let them return to their homes, and may God pardon those who have acted in tad faith." * Polavica, the Governor General read the Manifesto Fresh our of Rizal's cell and asked chat ic be reviewed by the Judge Advocate General who made the fellowing comments: "1. devoid ofthat patriotic indigna ‘ion against all separatist demonstrations and tendencies which should he conspicuous in every loyal son of Spain, ilo 2-1032. Consistent with his published ‘opinions, Dr. Jose Rizal limits himself co criticizing the present insucrectionary movement a5 premature, and because he believes is success to be lmpossle ar the resent eine 3, But he suggests pretty clearly that the independence they dream of can be achieved by means less dishonocable chan those currently beiny employed by the rebels; thats tosay when the cultural levelof the people shall Ihave been raised tothe point where ie willbe a decisive factories the struggle and a guarantee of success 4. As far as Rial is concerned, the ‘whole question is one of opportunity, not of principles or objectives. This manifesto cam he summatized in these wonds Faced witha clear prospect of defear, my fellow counerymen, lay down your arms; later on, Imyel wil lad you 1 the lad of promise 5. A message of this sor, far from ‘promoting peace, is likly co stimulate for the Future spit of rebellion.” Contrary o Rizal's expectations Nicolas de la Pea on December 19,1896 forbade the publication and dissemination ‘of Rica's Manifesto and asked that tbe incorporated in che ‘documentation against him, This very sae Manifesto now ‘quoted a cenrury later to prove that Rizal was against the revolution. That he was agninst che Philippine Revolution ‘begun by Bonifacio towards the end of August 1896 when Rizal was kept on 2 Spanish cruiser in Manila Bay in transi for bis trip to Cuba tp. 103, ‘One must pick out the essential ines in the brief for the prosecution written hy Entice de Alcocer hecause afer summing up the evidence agaist the accused he sas: "Rizal is a prime mover of the exitme of rebellion... onarable Jugs, we can seein Rizal nothing less than the very sol of this rebellion. His fellow countrymen..ender this rman liege hinage and look up to him 38 a superior being whose sovereign commands are obeyed without queston...he was looked upto by all of chem as one of theit principal leaders...hese men in eheir accounts of the progress and development ofthe insutection ‘make it perfectly clear thatthe cenrealdection ‘of the insurrection was always linked with the person of the accused." He moved tho Rel e pushed by death and if this semen sete that Ril would be subjected: perpetual nate of the Revolution, the most intelligent leader ofthe separatist movement, che iol in short, of the ignorant rabble.ho sae inthis profesional agitator a superhuman being wor: thy tos called the Supreme, Lets return ta the Constantino esay and its assertion that Rial was an American-sponsored hero, rom the trial of Rizal we see that he was considered aero even ins lifetime His name was a password of the Katipunan. His name was a rallying cry ofthe Katipunan. His picture was prominenly di played in the Katipunan mceting hall. The Karpunerss even had to consult Rial before che outbreak of the revolution. ‘Reza did noe tear his cud, he was not at Ralincawalein ‘August 1896 but was in Mana Bay (Apropos o ths, was Cary p20 Tap 3 Aquino at Eds). Unlike Borfcio, Rizal did not fire a gun ot ‘ise and wield ab. He might not have participated a the start ofthe revolution hur then he typed the revolition. Hews, the very wordsofthe prosecute the living soul ofthe revelion “The key to Rial’s views on revolunion s the Mandest, bout che this documene can be ead in xno ways—that he was ‘against revolution por se ot that Rizal wa ageinst the revue ‘lon of August 1896 because it was premature; that he wanted people to wair and prepare for sine sccess, But = plosophers of language wil ase what exactly da you mean? They will then ‘ede the Manifesto to xan y and using a truth cable, deter- mine whether Rial was for or against revolution. A hscovian des wot have suet an abject tool as a eruth table and has co ‘eal with Rizal's confusing embivalence. ‘We chen tur ro Pio Valenzuela who consulted Rizal in Dapicana the Katipunan emissary. (might aonote here that the question of the Rial sistersTrnidad and Josefe-being atipunerasisfar rom an escablished “fo.” They never claimed to be Katipuneras aftr the revolution. Besides, why would Bonifacio have co risk a high-ranking Katipunero ike Pio Valenzuela to consult Rizal in Dapstan when Riss sisters eg- larly went to Dapitan and could act a emissares with less sus- Picion and danger!) The man who was athe root of the eon ‘eovessy over Balintawak and Pagad Lawin gave three conflict Ing versions of bis meeting with Rizal. ‘To suppor the contention that Rial was against the revolution ii customary to cite, aside from the Manifesto, ‘Valenzuela’ fith statement to the Spanish military in Septem her 1996. Rizal according 0 Valenzuela, "was tenaciously ep rsed [to the ea and with] bad humour an dsgusting at age fat thae.” Although he planned to spend 9 month in DDapitan, be wok the same beac back to Mena the following 2»: Uponbis arrival in Manila, he notified Bnicio that Rizal was aginst the revolution and thae ehe Supreme few into a rage, called Risa coward and ordered Valerauela ep quiet avon the coaference"To save his own skin with the Spanish, Valenzuela ad rmisted holding the same views ay Rizal that he was agains he ‘ebellion® leis interesting to note that when he was interro- fated agnin in October 6, 1896 Valenzuela gave basically the ‘ne deposition fut with more detail. He even quoted Rial’ action to the revolution, "No, 80, no, a thousand times no!” “This time there was no mention of Rizal's tantrums. He also ‘mentioned Bonifacie's impatient and disappointed response: The Supremo begen to insult Rel, called him a cowatd and other injurious names." * ‘The Marfeso and che two 1896 Valenzuela testimonies suc to showin lack and white, that Rial was eine against the revolucinn, Bu then in 1917 Vienzuela stated that his 1896 satements were extracted under dures and were thus tainted, He reversed his 1896 testimonies on two occasions In Seprember 1917 Valenzuela says that Rial od hi: “ein a fw words, that iit weve pose sible thee shouldbe no upeising unt they were provided with arms, but when they bad arms wo raise he people when he oppertunity cccurred, tnd that we should not lose that opporeunicy. Buc that they [the Katipunan] should wait the coming of sms." He auld that Rizal wanted the Katipunan to get the aid of the moneyed and intellectual clas. He suggested hat they comtact Antonio Luna. Ifthe nich did not want co support the revolution then they should be neutralized. This explains the pare of che Manifeso thaesteses chat “change to he ful fal must come from above” ® ‘SWE. Rea. Acie dele Bf Fino 5 vols (Mad, 1895-1905), ‘Ao Il, De, 39 (9.348-38, * Minas fhe Kapa, pp 227228 © Nines ofthe Kapa, ce Much of the 1917 testimony is embellished in \Valenzvelas 1935 Memaias. The question tha confonts us at this juncture i, wich Valeosuels i eling the erth) Before sve go any farther, [et us see what Rizal himself had to say. In ‘the intrsiow ermaiced on 20 November 1896, Rizal was asked torelate the Valencucla vst to Dapitan and to state what was discussed. The court stenogeagher vote: “Don Po told the prisoner hat there was to be an upeising and that dey were wortied abouc what would happen to [Rizal] in Daptun ‘Thepisoner told him that it was hardy the time ‘embark on such foolhardy ventares as there seas no unityamong the various classes of Flipt- os, nor did they have ams no ships, nor edu ‘cation, nor any requirements for a eesstance ‘movement Let chem lear fom what was hap- peningin Cuba, where the people, although pos- sessing abundant means and the hacking of a ‘great power and being schooled in war are pow- ‘erless to achieve their objectives. Moceover, whatever may be the issue of thar sugges vallbe to Spain's advantage to grant coacesions to the Philippines; for this reason it was the prisoners opinion that hey ought to wait."* Tr is clear from che shove that Rizal advised the Katipunan eo wai, ut we have secondary evidence ta suppemt the contention that Rizal wasfor au agains revolution In many cases histoianscan atleast agree on facts-dtes, names, paces, ‘te but dhe are merely asl pot ofa lege hisrry that i mposed of judgments of people, evens, and situations. In Rizal's case i is difficule co agree on facts, or much les, uments De tacont (e) Op ap 81‘As each generation wes its own bisory, Rit is e- ther aheto or ant-heto depending not on fies, but mere on jdgmene, explanations, and inepzetation all tuluenced, of maybe dependent, on the politics and ideological bet of the times. Real's atc and complicity nthe revolution of 1896 aco be glee with certain fom. both the primary and supplementary sources. Our only cetinty, tthe mament, $ that he was of wo minds concerning the revolution. He 2p peared sila for apninst, and neutral Peshaps he wasa ence “The more important point L want tobring out as con cle chispopersthar cognizant of Rizal's ambivalence ward evolition and other matter, we ate able to se how he has ‘been used overtime by both the Spaniatds Guba painted hi 6 a revolutions) nd the Americans (win pints hia asa pace ist}-and Intel by Flipinos at opposite endsof the pot and ldeologkal spectrum using Rizal or hei wr ends rom these two contrasting eeadings of the sources, people can construct two Riel to use on separate occasions and contexts doe for revolution the other agus revolution. ‘Truth it seems means diferen things co diferene men. Teuth changes shape and colar overtime. Rial ial things toallmen— because of his ambivalence. Teay, very few people can read ‘eral che erginal Spanish, French or Geran, We ae sepe- sated by Rizal andthe her herces ofthe evlurion because of Janguage. Unfortunately history, to paraphrase Robert Frost, sahat often losin ransltion. Perhaps | musta dat going ‘hough the trial of Rial and ics related documents shows that ‘story i aoe onl lst in wansaton, but history abo what lost imnterpretation Fras logis we make Risin our image and likeness, we will never get che uh, tha i theres such a thing a istrial tut,