CHAPTER 5

RIZAL’S EXILE, ARREST AND EXECUTION

Rizal’s Exile in Dapitan

Life in Talisay

July 17, 1892 – Rizal, together with his guard Captain Ricardo Carnicero,
arrived in Dapitan.
Rizal was given the choice to live in the house of the parish priest, Fr. Antonio
Obach or at Carnicero’s house.
He could live in the priest’s quarter only if:
He publicly retracted his Masonic and antichurch beliefs.
He regularly participate in church rites.
He conduct himself as a good Spanish subject and a man of religion.
Rizal made him a bust and composed a poem in his honor A Don Ricardo
Carnicero on his birthday on August 26, 1892.
Both men betted on the lottery and won 20,000 pesos
Lottery Ticket Number: 9736
He used his money to build an octagonal house made up of bamboo and nipa
in Talisay.
Rizal built a school and accepted students with no tuition.
The other part was used for his eye clinic.
He also built a house for the ladies in his family who were free to visit him in
Dapitan.
Carnicero also wrote a letter to Governor General to allow his mother and sisters
to join him in Dapitan.
May 4, 1893 – Carnicero was replaced by Captain Juan Sitges
He did not want living with a deportee.
He assigned Rizal to live in a house near the headquarters.
The Jesuits sent his old professor at the Ateneo, Fr. Francisco de Paula
Sanchez – to entice him back to the Church.
He helped clean up the plaza of Dapitan and lit it up at night with coconut oil
lamps.
Rizal fell in love with the eighteen-year old Josephine Bracken.
Rizal and Josephine tried to have themselves married in Catholic rites but Fr.
Obach required that Rizal retract his beliefs.
Rizal’s relatives and friends looked at Josephine with suspicion and
condenscension.
 Pablo Mercado – a spy of the friars who posed as Rizal’s relatives (Florencio
Namaan – his true name)
Pio Valenzuela – an emissary of Andres Bonifacio.
He was asking for advice on how to launch a revolution.
He offered to have the Katipunan assist him in escaping from Dapitan.
Rizal objected to the projected revolution, the revolutionaries must have
enough arms and weapons.

The End of the Dapitan Exile

When Rizal heard the new that Spain is need of physicians who would serve in
Cuba, which was then fighting for its independence, Rizal volunteered in 1895.
Governor General Ramon Blanco – he approved the request of Rizal on July
1, 1896.
At the midnight of that day, he left aboard the steamer .
The townspeople of Dapitan wept because they considered Rizal as a good son
and neighbor.
August 6, 1896 – upon arriving in Manila Bay, Rizal was not able to leave
immediately for Spain since the vessel Isla de Luzon already left.
He was transferred to Spanish cruiser Castilla and stayed there for a month from
August 6 to September 2, 1896.
August 19, 1896 – the Katipunan plot to overthrow the Spanish rule by means
of revolution, it was discovered by Fr. Mariano Gil after Teodoro Patino’s
disclosure of organization’s secrets.
At that time, Katipunan was already discovered and the Philippine Revolution
was already raging.
In the afternoon, Governor General Blanco proclaimed a state of war in the first
eight provinces for rising arms against Spain.
Nueva Ecija
Pampanga
Manila
Cavite
Bulacan
Batangas
Laguna
Tarlac
Rizal received letters from Governor General Blanco which absolved him from
all the blame for the raging revolution.
He transferred to Isla de Panay which was sailing for Barcelona, Spain.
 Don Pedro Roxas advised Rizal to stay and take advantage of the protection
of British Law.

Arrest and Trial

September 30 – the Isla de Panay had already sailed past Port Said in Egypt
and was now sailing in the Mediterranean.
A telegraphic message was received ordering that Rizal be placed under arrest.
Bernardino Nozaleda – Archbishop of Manila who clamored for the arrest of
Rizal who was said to be the spirit of Philippine Revolution.
October 3 – the Isla de Panay arrived in Barcelona and Rizal was sent to a prison-
fortress, Montjuich Catle
Rizal’s interview with Despujol he would be shipped back to Manila.
On the night of the same day, after the interview, Rizal was taken aboard the
Colon which was loaded with Spanish troops sailed for Manila.
Dr. Antonio Ma. Regidor and Sixto Lopez – they exerted all their efforts to find
a lawyer in Singapore who could aid their friend.
Attorney Hugh Fort – an English lawyer in Singapore
Unfortunately, Chief Justice Lionel, the judge in Singapore denied the request
November 3, 1896 – the Colon arrived in Manila Bay and Rizal was taken to
Fort Santiago
November 21, 1896 – Rizal was brought before a Spanish military tribunal
headed by Colonel Francisco Olive
Fifteen documents were used as evidence against him
Oral testimonies were taken and were used to implicate Rizal in the Philippine
Revolution
It was decided that there was prima facie evidence against Rizal
Governor General appointed Captain Rafael Dominguez to institute charges
against Rizal
Lt. Luis Taviel de Andrade – the lawyer of Jose Rizal and brother of his former
bodyguard Jose Taviel de Andrade
December 13 – the case was forwarded to Governor General Camilo de
Polavieja – replacement of Governor Blanco
Rizal’s actual trial began on December 26, 1896 and it was held at the Hall of
Banners of the Cuartel de España in Fort Santiago
Rizal was charged with three crimes: rebellion, sedition and formation of
illegal associations
In defending himself, Rizal presented twelve arguments
The court judged Rizal guilty for the charges and voted for the death penalty
 December 28, 1896 – Governor General Polavieja signed Rizal’s death warrant
ordering him to be shot at 7:00 o’clock in the morning at Bagumbayan
Rizal signed it saying that he was innocent.

Rizal’s Final Days

Rizal was transferred to the prison chapel

Fr. Miguel Saderra Mata, Rector of the Ateneo Municipal and Fr. Luis Viza
Fr. Viza brought the image of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
Fr. Antonio Rosell – he ate breakfast with Rizal
Lt. Taviel de Andrade – also arrived and Rizal thanked him for his gallant
services.
Fr. Balaguer – he remained with Rizal around noon
At the three o’clock in the afternoon, Fr. Balaguer returned and tried to
persuade Rizal to retract his Masonic beliefs but Rizal remained firm
After he left, Rizal’s mother and sisters arrived.
Rizal gave an alcohol stove to Trinidad which was a gift from Pardo de Tavera
and whispered to her in English “There is something inside.”
He also told her to look inside his shoes after he is executed.
After his family left, Fathers Vilaclara and Balaguer again arrived to convince
Rizal to retract.
By eight in the evening, Fr. Balaguer returned with Fr. Viza and again talked
with Rizal on religious matters. At this point, they were joined by Fiscal Gaspar
Castaño of the Royal Audiencia
At around 10:00, a draft of retraction arrived from Archbishop Bernandino
Nozaleda
Another draft of retraction was made by Fr. Pio Pi – the superior of the Jesuit
Mission in the Philippines
At 11:30, Rizal signed his retraction from the Freemasonry and it was witnessed
by Juan del Fresno – the Chief of the guard detail and the adjutant of the Plaza
Elroy Moure
After signing, Rizal had confession with Fr. Vilaclara and rested afterwards
At 5:00 am, Rizal had his last breakfast, authographed his remaining books
which became his last souvenirs
Fr. Balaguer – he performed the marriage rites of Rizal and Josephine
Rizal gave a book to Josephine, Imitacion de Cristo by Thomas Kempis which
he autographed
Afterwards, he wrote three farewell letters to: Parents, Dr. Blumentritt and
Paciano
At around 6:30, Rizal was taken from cell and the march to Bagumbayan began.
A colonel took Rizal to the site of his execution.
Rizal had requested the firing squad to spare his head which was granted.
He also requested to be shot at his from, but it was denied.
Dr. Felipe Ruiz Castillo took Rizal’s pulse and found that it was normal.
The commanding officer ordered his men to aim by means of his saber and
there was a simultaneous crack of gunfire and Jose Rizal made one last effort to
drop on his back with his face facing the sun.
The Spanish spectators shouted Viva España!
The military band played Marcha de Cadiz
Rizal’s body was secretly buried at Paco Cemetery where later it was traced by
his sister.
The remains of Rizal’s were cleaned in Higino Mercado’s house in Binondo and
were given to Doña Teodora.
His remains were laid to rest inside the Rizal monument in Luneta.