RIZAL'S LIFE

EXILE, TRIAL & DEATH

JORIZAL BGE04

Alcera, Cepria, Gamban, Geronimo

Exile
Rizal's Arrest
Jose Rizal was arrested by the Spanish authorities on four grounds:

1. for publishing anti-Catholic and anti-friar books and articles;

2. for having in possession a bundle of handbills, the Pobres Frailes, in which

advocacies were in violation of the Spanish orders;

3. for dedicating his novel, El Filibusterismo to the three “traitors” (Gomez, Burgos and
Zamora) and for emphasizing on the novel's title page that “the only salvation for the
Philippines was separation from the mother country (referring to Spain)”; and

4. for simply criticizing the religion and aiming for its exclusion from the Filipino culture.

Exile in Dapitan
Dapitan
Upon his return to the Philippines in 1892, he was arrested by the Spanish government
for being a subversive and for his reported involvement in the rebellion. He was then
exiled to the island of the Dapitan in the southernmost island group of the Philippines,
Mindanao. There he established a school that taught English to young boys, he worked
on agricultural projects on abaca, a plant used for rope, and he continued to practice
medicine, eventually meeting one of the most famous women in his life, Josephine
Bracken.

Dapitan
(1892-1896)
Rizal's Life in Dapitan
St. James Church is located across the Relief Map of Mindanao, and used to be Rizal's
place of worship.

This cross, located across Rizal's landing site at Dapitan, marks the start of Catholicism
in the island.

This map of Mindanao made by Rizal in August of 1982 is an artistic manifestation of a

well-lived exile, based on the map done by Fr. Pedro Murillo Velarde, a French Jesuit in
1752.

Rizal's Life in Dapitan

In 1893, Rizal established a school which existed until the end of his exile in July 1896.
Instead of charging tuition fees, he made them work in his garden, fields, and
construction projects in the community. Rizal effected the construction of these houses
to accommodate the growing number of pupils in his Talisay School. The area
underneath the hut served as the workshop of his pupils.

Rizal's Life in Dapitan

Rizal met Josephine Bracken in 1895. They fell in love instantly, and in just one month
agreed to marry.

Father Obach, the priest of Dapitan, refused to marry them without the pemission of the
Bishop of Cebu. Since no priest would marry them, Rizal and Josephine Bracken
exchanged vows and got married on this rock.

Trial
Preliminary Investigation
(November 20, 1896)
This was Rizal's grueling five-day investigation.

He was informed of charges against him, he answered the questions asked by Judge
Advocate, Colonel Francisco Olive, but he was not permitted to confront those who
testified against .

Two kinds of evidence were presented to him - documentary and testimonial.

Evidences
Documentary Evidences
1.A letter of Antonio Luna to Mariano Ponce, dated Madrid, October 16, 1888, showing
Rizal’s connection with the Filipino reform campaign in Spain.

2. A letter of Rizal to his family, dated Madrid, August 20, 1890, stating that the
deportations are good for they will encourage the people to hate tyranny.

3. A letter from Marcelo H. del Pilar to Deodato Arellano, dated Madrid, January 7,
1889, implicating Rizal in the Propaganda campaign in Spain.

4. A poem entitled Kundiman, allegedly written by Rizal in Manila on September 12,

1891.

5. A letter of Carlos Oliver to an unidentified person, dated Barcelona, September 18,

1891, describing Rizal as the man to free the Philippines from Spanish oppression.

6. A Masonic document , dated Manila, February 9, 1892 honoring Rizal for his patriotic
services.

7. A letter signed Dimasalang to Tenluz (Juan Zulueta’s pseudonym), dated Hongkong,

dated May 24, 1892, stating that he was preparing a safe refuge for Filipinos who may
be persecuted by the Spanish authorities.

8. A letter of Dimasalang to an unidentified committee, dated Hongkong, June 1, 1892,

solicitating the aid of committee in the “patriotic work”.

9. An anonymous and undated letter to the Editor of Hongkong Telegraph, censuring

the banishment of Rizal to Dapitan.

Arraignment
He was charged with the crime of rebellion, and the formation of illegal associations.
Rizal’s Arraignment (December 11, 1896)

He then released a manifesto that he denounces the revolution and condemned

Katipunan for using his name without his permission
Rizal's Arraignment

Lt. Luis Taviel de Andrade

Defender
1st Lieutenant of the Artillery, brother of Jose Tavielde Andrade, was the bodyguard of
Rizal during his last days

Rizal's Actual Trial

Actual Trial
He was accused of 3 crimes: rebellion, sedition, illegal associations.

Penalty: Life imprisonment-death (December 26, 1896)

 As testified by Pio Valenzuela, Rizal was against rebellion.

 He had not written a letter addressed to the Katipunan comprising revolutionary
elements.
 Without his knowledge, his name was used by the Katipunan; if he really was
guilty, he could have escaped while he was in Singapore.
 If he was guilty, he should have left the country while in exile; he shouldn't have
built a home, bought a parcel of land or established a hospital in Dapitan.
 If he was really the leader of the revolution, the revolutionists should have
consulted him.
 He did not deny that he wrote the by-laws of the La Liga Filipina, but to make
things clear, the organization was a civic association, not a revolutionary society.
 After the first meeting of La Liga, the association banished because of his exile in
Dapitan, thus, did not last long.
 If the La Liga was reorganized nine months later, he had no idea about it.
 If the La Liga had a revolutionary purpose, then Katipunan should not have been
organized.
 If the Spanish authorities found his letters having bitter atmosphere, it was
because in 1890 his family was being persecuted resulting to their dispossession
of properties and deportation of all his brothers- in-law.
 He lived an exemplary life in Dapitan – the politico-military commanders and
missionary priests in the province could attest to that.
 If according to witnesses the speech he delivered at Doroteo Ongjunco's house
had inspired the revolution, then he want to confront these persons. If he really
was for the revolution, then why did the Katipunan sent an unfamiliar emissary to
him in Dapitan? It is so because all his friends were aware that he never
advocated violence.

Twelve-point Defense of Rizal

Rizal's

Twelve-point Defense

Governor-General Camilo de Polavieja (December 28, 1896)

Approval
He approved the decision of the court-martial and ordered Rizal to be shot at 7:00
o’clock in the morning of December 30 at Bagumbayan Field.

Death
The Aftermath of
Rizal's Death
Katipunan
The Katipunan won most of their battles. However, despite their success in battles, the
Katipunan was then divided into two factions - Magdalo and Magdiwang. This division
was caused by different political views from one another

Bonifacio was invited to intercede the rising bad blood between the two Katipunan
factions along with his brothers, wife, and men. Soon, a disagreement arose which
followed the assembly ending without anything getting fixed.

A following series of event followed which preceded Bonifacio's ill-fated destiny that
Emilio Aguinaldo orchestrated.

Tejeros Convention
The purpose of this convention was to decide about what type of government shall be
established which soon turned to be disorganized and unruly. This meeting also served
as to discuss the defense of Cavite. However, none of this was accomplished because
the assembled leaders decided to elect the officers of its revolutionary government
which also led to Bonifacio's infuriation.

As follows, these were the people who won the elections, Bonifacio obtaining the lowest
position granted.

President - Emilio Aguinaldo

Vice-President - Mariano Trias

Captain-General - Artemio Ricarte

Director of War - Emiliano Riego de Dios

Director of the Interior - Andres Bonifacio

Bonifacio then declared, "I, as chairman of this assembly and as President of the
Supreme Council of the Katipunan, as all of you do not deny, declare this assembly
dissolved, and I annul all that has been approved and resolved."

The next day, Acta de Tejeros was drew up - a document which invalidates what
happened the previous day because Bonifacio and his men felt there were anomalies
happening behind his back in regards to who won the highest position.

Tejeros
La Liga Filipina
La Liga Filipina
After Rizal's arrest which quickly followed by his execution; La Liga Filipina soon
dissolved and soon turned into a new reform - the Katipunan which was led by Andres
Bonifacio.