CHAPTER 25: MATYRDOM AT BAGUMBAYAN

NARRATOR: After the court-martial, Rizal returned to his cell in Fort Santiago to
prepare his rendezvous with destiny. During his last 24 hours on earth –from 6am of
29 th December to 6am of the 30 t h –Rizal was busy meeting visitors, including Jesuit
Priest, Josephine Bracken and members of his family. As a Christian and a hero-
martyr, he was severely resigned to die for his beloved country, which he called
“Pearl of the Orient Sea”.

(DIZON) CAPT’N RAFAEL DOMINGUEZ: At 6am of 29 t h December of 1896. I,

Captain Rafael Dominguez, am designated by Governor General Camilo Polavieja to
take charge of all arrangements for the execution of the condemned prisoner...

[Reads the death sentence to Rizal]

...Jose Protacio Rizal Mercado Alonso y Realonda shall be condemned to be shot at

the back by a firing squad at 7am in Bagumbayan.

NARRATOR: At 7am, an hour after reading the death sentence, Rizal was moved to
the prison chapel where he spent his last moments. He was then visited by his first
visitors , (ARMAS) Fr. Miguel Saderra Mata And (ULEP) Fr. Luis Viza.

(CONEL)RIZAL: Fr. Saderra [hug]... Fr. Luis [hug]

NARRATOR: The three talked for a while until 7:15am.

(ARMAS) FR. SADERRA: It’s time to leave now Jose. Bye for now... [ Tap Rizal’s
shoulder –then he left]

[Jose in a jovial mood talking to Fr. Viza]

(CONEL)RIZAL: Fr. Viza, I still remember the statue of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
which I carved with my pen knife.

(ULEP)FR. VIZA: Oh that was an brilliant thing you did as an Ateneo Student .

NARRATOR: Anticipating such reminiscence...

(ULEP)FR. VIZA: [Got the statue from his pocket]... Oh here it is!
(CONEL)RIZAL: Wow thank you! I will place it on my writing table.

NARRATOR: At 8am, (CARIGA) Fr. Antonio Rosell arrived to relive Fr. Viza.

(CONEL)RIZAL: Oh! Fr. Rosell! Come join me for breakfast.

NARRATOR: After breakfast, (VISCARRA) Lt. Luis Taviel de Andrade , Rizal’s

defense counsel came.

(CONEL)RIZAL TO (VISCARRA) Lt. ANDRADE : Thank you for your gallant

services.

NARRATOR: At 9am, (URABA) Fr.Federico Faura arrived . Rizal was reminded of

what Fr. Faura told him that someday, he would lose his writing the Noli.

[Fr. Faura meet Rizal]

(CONEL)RIZAL: “Father, you are indeed a prophet.”

NARRATOR: At 10am, (PALATTAO) Fr. Jose Vilaclara –Rizal’s teacher in Ataneo

and (TIMBOL) Fr. Vicente Balagner –the Jesuit missionary in Dapitan whi had
befriended Rizal during the latters’s exile –visited the hero.

[Fr. Jose Vilaclara and Fr. Vicente Balagner meet Rizal]

NARRATOR: After them came the Spanish Journalist.

(URABA)SANTIAGO MATAIX TO (CONEL)RIZAL: I would like to interview you

about your newspaper “El Heraldo de Madrid”.

NARRATOR: From 12am to 3a:30pm, Rizal was left alone in his cell. He took his
lunch, after which he was busy writing. He finished his farewell poem and hid it
inside his alcohol cooking stove. At the same time, he wrote his letter to Prof.
Blumentritt.

[Rizal writing...]

My dear brother:

When you receive this letter, I shall be dead. Tomorrow at seven, I shall be shot;
but I am innocent of the crime of rebellion. I am going to die with a tranquil
conscience.

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

Fort Santiago, December 29, 1896.

(Signed) Jose Rizal

Regardless to the entire family, to Sra. Rosa, Loleng, Conradito and Federico.

I am living a book for you as a last remembrance of me.

NARRATOR: At 3:30pm, (TIMBOL) Fr.Balagner returned to Fort Santiago to

discussed about something with Rizal.

(TIMBOL)FR. BALAGNER: I need to discuss with you about your retraction of the
anti-Catholic ideas in your writings and membership in Masonry.

[Rizal and Fr. Balagner discussing...]

NARRATOR: At 4pm, Rizal’s mother arrived.

(CARIGA)DONA THEODORA: Why does these things happened to you?! [in tears]

(CONEL)RIZAL: [Knelt down before her and kissed her hands] ... I beg you mother!
Please forgive me. And as they take my life away on the morrow, I ask of you to
take my lifeless body with you, for they might throw it at the river. Please mother!

(CARIGA)DONA THEODORA: And I shall do it as you say my child...

[both we’re crying...then the guards enters the cell]

GUARD: Stop it now! It’s time for you to leave!

NARRATOR: And as the guard separates Rizal with his mother Trinidad enters the
cell the fetch her. And as they were leaving, Rizal gave to Trinidad the alcohol
cooking stove and whispered something to her.

(CONEL)RIZAL: Wait Trinidad, kindly get this alcohol cooking stove ... [whisper]
There is something inside.

NARRATOR: Trinidad clearly understood that this ”something” is what the latter’s
farewell poem. And after the departure of Dona Theodara and Trinidad,
(PALATTAO) Fr. Jose Vilaclara and (TIMBOL) Fr. March entered the cell followed
by (CARIGA) Fr. Antonio Rosell...[act]

At 6pm, Rizal received a new visitor, Don Silvino Lopez Tunon, the Dean of the
Manila Cathedral. Fathers Balagner and March left, leaving Vilaclara with Rizal and
Don Salvino.

At 8pm, Rizal had his last supper. He informed (DIZON) Captain Dominguez who
was with him that...

(CONEL)RIZAL: Captain Dominguez, I just want to tell you that I forgive my

enemies, including the military judges who condemned me to death.

(DIZON) CAPT’N RAFAEL DOMINGUEZ: Is that all?

At 9:30pm, Rizal was visited by Don Gasper Casteno, The fiscal of the Royal
Audiencia of Manila. As a gracious host, Rizal offered him the best chair in the cell.
After a pleasant conversation, the fiscal left with a good impression of Rizal’s
intelligence and noble character.

NARRATOR: At 10 of the night of the 29 t h of December, Fr. Balagner went to Rizal.

(TIMBOL)FR. BALAGNER: Rizal, I need your signature for the draft of the
retraction sent by the anti-Filipino Archbishop Bernadino Nozalde.

(CONEL)RIZAL: I’m sorry Fr. Balagner but I shall reject, it’s too long and I don’t like
it.

NARRATOR: As Rizal rejected it. Fr. Balagner then testified that according to him,
he showed Rizal a shorter retraction which was prepared by Fr. Pio Pi. Superior of
the Jesuit Society in the Philippines, which was accepted to Rizal. After making
some changes, Rizal then wrote his retraction, in which he abjured Masonry and his
religious ideas which were anti-Catholic.

RIZALIST SCHOLARS: This retraction of Rizal was a forgery!

CATHOLIC RIZALIST: No. This retraction of Rizal was genuine.

NARRATOR: This debate between two hostile groups of Rizalist is futile and
irrelevant. As a famous saying goes by:

“ For those who believe –no justification is necessary; for the sceptics; whose
criterion for belief is not in their minds but in their wills –no justification is possible!
It is likewise irrelevant because it does not matter to all to the greatness of Rizal.
Whether he retracted ot not, the fact remains that Rizal was the greatest Filipino
hero –a hero-martyr.

NARRATOR: At 3 in the morning of December 30, 1986, Rizal heard Mass,

confessed his sins, and took Holy Communion.

At 5:30 am, he took his last breakfast on earth. After he wrote two letters, the first
addressed to his family and second to his older brother Paciano. The letter to his
sisters as follows...

(CONEL)RIZAL:

To My Family,

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

Dear Parents, brother and sisters. Give thanks to God that I may preserve my
tranquillity before my death. I die resigned, hoping that my death you will be left in
peace. Ah! It is better to die than live suffering. Console yourselves.
 I enjoin you to forgive one another he little meannesses of life and try to live
united in peace and good harmony. Treat your old parents as you would like to be
treated by your children later. Love them very much in my memory.

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

Have pity on poor Josephine.

Rizal’s letter to Paciano as follows...

My Dear Brother,

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

Now I am about to die, and it is to you that I dedicate my last lines, to tell you
how sad I am to leave you alone in my life, burdened with the weight of the family
and our old parents.

I am thinking now how hard you have worked to give me a career, I believe I have
tried not to waste my time. Brother of mine; if the fruit has been bitter, it is not my
fault, but the fault of circumstances. I know that you have suffered much on my
account and I am sorry.

I assure you, brother, that I’ll die innocent of this crime of rebellion. If my former
writings have contributed, I do not deny it absolutely; but then, I thought I have
explained for the past with my deportation.

Tell our father I remember him and how I remember my whole childhood of his
affection and his love. Ask him to forgive me for the pain I have unwillingly caused
him.

Your brother,

(Signed) Jose Rizal

NARRATOR: At 5:30 am, (AGCAOILI, E)Josephine Bracken, accompanied by
Josefa, arrived.

(AGCAOILI, E) JOSEPHINE: Oh my Dear Rizal. I have to come to bid you farewell,

but always remember that I love you. Goodbye my dear!

(CONEL)RIZAL: Wait my love, take this religious book with you. I autographed it for
you my dear unhappy wife, Josephine. May you remember this day of 30 th of
December 1896. And that I love you. Goodbye.

NARRATOR: At 6 am, as the soldiers were getting ready for the death march to
Bagumbayan, Rizal wrote his last letter to his beloved parents.

(CONEL)RIZAL:

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, goodbye.

Jose Rizal

To my very dear Mother,

Sra. Dna. Teodora Alonso,6 o’clock in the morning, December 30,1896.

Jose Rizal

NARRATOR: At 6:30am, a trumpet sounded at Fort Santiago, a signal to begin the

death march to Bagumbyan, the designated place for the execution. The advanced
guard of four soldiers (TABANIAG, DIZON, ARMAS & ULEP) with bayoneted rifles
moved. And a few meters behind Rizal walked calmly, with his defense counsel –
(VISCARRA) Lt. Luis Taviel de Andrade –on one side and two Jesuit priests –
( TIMBOL &PALATTAO) Fathers March and Vilaclara—on the other.

Rizal was dressed elegantly in a black suit, black derby hat, black shoes, white shirt
and black tie. His arms were tied behind from elbow to elbow but the rope was quite
loose to give his arm freedom of movement.

[sounds of muffled drums]

NARRATOR: There was a handful of spectators lining the street. From Fort
Santiago to the Plaza del Palacio in front of the Manila Cathedral. Everybody
seemed to be waiting to see how a martyr dies.
NARRATOR: Going through the narrow Postigo Gate, one of the gates of the city
wall, the cavalcade reach the Malecon. Rizal looked at the sky and said to one of
the priests...

(CONEL)RIZAL: How beautiful it is today, Father. What morning could be more

serene! How clear is Corregidor and the mountains of Cavite! On mornings like this,
I used to take a walk with my sweetheart.

NARRATOR: While Rizal is passing in front of Ateneo, he saw the college towers
above the walls. He asked.

(CONEL)RIZAL: Is that Ateneo, Father?

(PALATTAO) FR. VILACLARA: Yes it is.

NARRATOR: They reached Bagumbayan Field. The spectators crowded a huge

square formed by soldiers. The cavalcade entered this square. Rizal walked
serenely to the place, where he was told to stand. It was a grassy lawn by the shore
of Manila Bay, between two lamp posts.

SOLDIER: Quick! Stand up you beloved hero!

[Rizal stands up while his arms are tied]

(TIMBOL) FR. MARCH: I am sorry my son. This is unfair! This is mania!

(CONEL)RIZAL: It’s okay Reverent, this is my price for fighting for our country and I
never regretted the things that I did

(PALATTAO) FR. VILACLARA: Son, the Lord is always be with you. He will save
your soul in this damnation.

(CONEL)RIZAL: I know Father, this is not for me. They will only kill my body but my
legacy will stay in the hearts of the Filipinoes.

(VISCARRA) Lt. ANDRADE : The sun will shine again brother, I am sorry for being
not so potent in defending your side.

[Did the handshake with them]

(TIMBOL) FR. MARCH: Son, take this crucifix.

[Rizal reverently bowed his head and kissed it]

(PALATTAO) FR. VILACLARA: May God Bless you to your next journey son.
(DIZON) COMMANDER: Reverents, Lieutenant, it’s time.

(CONEL)RIZAL: Senior, can I request to face the firing squad?

(DIZON) COMMANDER: I’m afraid you can’t. We have a strict order from the
captain that we should shoot you at your back.

(CONEL)RIZAL: Understood Senior.

NARRATOR: Relucantly, Rizal turned his back to the firing squad and faced the
sea. Then a Spanish military physician, Dr. Felipe Ruiz Castillo, went to Rizal to
check his pulse.

(TABANIAG)DR. FELIPE CASTILLO: Can I have your permission to check on your

pulse senior?

(CONEL)RIZAL: Ofcourse Doctor, you may.

NARRATOR: Dr. Castillo was amazed to find it normal, showing that Rizal is not
afraid to die. As Dr. Castillo left. The death ruffles of the drums filled the air. Above
the drum – beats the sharp command...

(DIZON) COMMANDER: FIRE!

NARRATOR: As the guns of the firing squad bark. Rizal, with supreme effort, turned
his bullet-riddled body to the right, and fell on the ground dead—with face facing
upward facing the morning sun. It was exactly 7:03 in the morning when he died in
the bloom of manhood—aged 35 years, five months and 11 days. Rizal died as he
described in his farewell poem, third stanza...

“I die just when I see the dawn break,

Through the gloom of night, to herald the day,

And if color is lacking my blood thou shalt take

Pour’d out at need for thy dear sake,

To dye with its crimson the waking ray.”

NARRATOR: It is also interesting to note that fourteen years before his execution,
Rizal predicted that he would die on December 30. He was then a medical student
in Madrid, Spain. The entry in the diary reads as follows:

January 1,1883

Two nights ago, that is 30 th of December, I had a frightful nightmare when I almost
died. I dreamed that, imitating and actor dying on stage. I felt vividly that my breath
was failing and I was rapidly losing my strength. Then my vision became dim and
dense darkness enveloped me—they are the pangs of death.

At the time when the bullets of Spain’s firing squad killed Dr. Jose Rizal, the
Spaniards—residents, friars excluding the Jesuits, corrupt officials exulted with
sadistic joy, for Rizal, formidable champion of Filipino freedom, was gone.

SPANIARDS: Viva espana!! Muerte a los Traidores!!

NARRATOR: Spaniards shouted, means, “Long live Spain! Death to the traitors!”
with the Spanish military band, they joined the jubilance of Rizal’s death with the
gay “Marcha de Cadiz”.

Poor bigoted Spaniards of no vision! They were fully unaware of history’s inexorable
tides. For the execution of Rizal presaged the foundation of an independent nation.
True that the Spanish bullets which killed Rizal killed his brain, but the libertarian
ideas spawned by his brain destroyed the Spanish rule in the Philippines. As
Cecilio Apostol, greatest Filipino epic poet in Spanish, aptly rhapsodized:

“Rest in peace in the shadows of oblivion,

Redeemer of a country in bondage!

In the mystery of the grave, do not cry,

Heed not the momentary triumph of the Spaniard

Because if a bullet destroyed your cranium,

Likewise your idea destroyed an empire!

By his writings, which awakened Filipino nationalism and paved the way for the
Philippine Revolution, he proved that “the pen is mightier than the sword”. As a
many-splendored genius, writer, scientist, and political martyr, he richly deserves
history’s salute as the national hero of the Philippines.