THE LIFE AND WORKS OF
the youth as well as all the people in the country
RIZAL
CHAPTER 1
Module 1
Introduction to the course: REPUBLIC ACT 1425
Learning outcomes:
1. Explain the history of the Rizal Law and
the important providence.
2. Critically assess the effectiveness of the
Rizal Course.
Why Study Rizal?
It is of great importance that students
understand the rationale behind having to take up a
Rizal course in college. For high school students,
the Noli Me Tangere and the El Filibusterismo are
injected into the Filipino subject as part of the
overall curriculum. In tertiary education, however,
Rizal is a subject required of any course, in any
college or university in the Philippines.
The answer to such questions can be summed up
in two points:
1. First and foremost, because it is
mandated by law.
2. Secondly, because of the lessons
contained within the course itself.
WHY STUDY RIZAL: BECAUSE IT IS
MANDATED BY LAW
The teaching of Jose Rizal’s life, works,
and writings is mandated by Republic Act 1425,
otherwise known as the Rizal Law. Senator Jose P.
Laurel, the person who sponsored the said law,
said that since Rizal was the founder of Philippine
nationalism and has contributed much to the
current standing of this nation, it is only right that
know about and learn to imbibe the great ideals for
which he died. The Rizal Law, enacted in 1956,
seeks to accomplish the following goals:
1. To rededicate the lives of youth to the
ideals of freedom and nationalism, for
which our heroes lived and died
2. To pay tribute to our national hero for
devoting his life and works in shaping the
Filipino character
3. To gain an inspiring source of patriotism
through the study of Rizal’s life, works,
and writings.
WHY STUDY RIZAL: BECAUSE OF THE
LESSONS CONTAINED WITHIN THE
COURSE
Aside from those mentioned above, there
are other reasons for teaching the Rizal course in
Philippine schools:
1. To recognize the importance of Rizal’s
ideals and teachings in relation to present
14
2. To encourage the application of such
ideals in current social and personal
problems and issues.
3. To develop an appreciation and deeper
understanding of all that Rizal fought and
died for.
4. To foster the development of the Filipino
youth in all aspects of citizenship
Republic Act 1425
1425. AN ACT TO INCLUDE IN THE
CURRICULA OF ALL PUBLIC AND PRIVATE
SCHOOLS, COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES
COURSES ON THE LIFE, WORKS AND
WRITINGS OF JOSE RIZAL, PARTICULARLY
HIS NOVELS NOLI ME TANGERE AND EL
FILIBUSTERISMO, AUTHORIZING THE
PRINTING AND DISTRIBUTION THEREOF,
AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.
 Since it is a mandate to include Rizal Life
and works in the curriculum, we should learn and
inculcate in our minds and heart the heroic deeds
of our heroes, Rizal in particular. There are series
of debates on why this subject is included. Some
students believed that this is not important. NO!!!
IT IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE MANY OF US
DO NOT REMEMBER THE CONTRIBUTIONS
OF OUR HEROES IN OUR PRESENT
INDEPENDENCE. The young are mostly
influence by western language, clothing and even
their way of thinking.
Assessment
A occurred in the 19th century.
1. Reflect on your secondary education.
Did your school comply with RA 1425?
2. How important and effective is the Rizal
Law in instilling patriotism among
secondary school students?
B ECONOMIC
1. Think of a recent novel or story that
you’ve read. How did you learn from the
story?
2. Apply this experience to Rizal’s writings.
How would reading Rizal’s novel impact
patriotism?
MODULE 2
19TH CENTURY PHILIPPINES AS RIZAL’S
CONTEXT
Learning outcomes:
1. Appraise the link between the individual
and the society.
2. Analyze the various social, political,
economic and cultural changes that
3. Understand Jose Rizal in the context of
his time.
The Philippines in the 19th century as Rizal’s
context
In his novel, “El Filibusterismo,” Jose
Rizal describes a well-attended party hosted by a
rich Chinese businessman in Binondo, in which
“several merchants … were complaining about the
state of business. Everything was going badly,
business was paralyzed, exchange rates with
Europe were exorbitant. They asked a jeweler,
Simoun, the principal character, for guidance.
Simoun hinted at a few ideas…. Every time [they]
proposed a solution, Simoun responded with a
brutally sarcastic smile. ‘Bah! Idiocy!’”
Until one exasperated man asked for his opinion.
“My opinion?” Simoun asked. “Study
nations that have indeed prospered and do what
they are doing.” It is clear that Rizal was speaking
through Simoun. Rizal, like Simoun, had traveled
to Japan, the United States, England, Germany and
France, then as now the leading industrial nations
of the world. He had studied them and learned
how the United States had copied England, its
mother country, and how Germany, France,
Belgium and other European nations had learned
from each other’s experiences the means through
which they could industrialize and become
powerful.
The Philippines, however, under both
colonial Spain and America followed no policy
model except that imposed by its mother countries,
which was to remain feudal and agricultural. After
independence, it was the same, the Philippines
adopting policies dictated by US development
agencies and the international financial institutions.
Among such policies are globalization,
liberalization, deregulation and dependence on
foreign aid and investments. These policies have
not worked for our people even after more than six
decades of independence.
Rizal’s advice on economic development
can be compared to that of Deng Xiaopeng, the
architect of China’s miraculous climb from the
bottom of the world’s economic ladder to No. 2.
Deng famously said, “It does not matter whether
the cat is black or white, so long as it catches
mice.” In short, pragmatism. When policies do not
work as expected, change them. For too long we
have followed policies recommended by
foreigners. It is time we follow not the path shown
to us by them, but the real path taken by
developing countries that have become rich—like
our neighbors Japan, Korea, China, Malaysia,
Singapore and Taiwan, which started from the
same level of poverty and backwardness.
In Rizal’s story, Simoun was further asked
by a persistent listener, “And why are they
prospering?,” referring to the rich nations. Simoun
replied with a shrug. Obvious ba?
The Galleon Trade
On September 14, 1815, the galleon trade
between the Philippines and Mexico ended a few
years before Mexico gained independence from
Spain in 1821. The Spanish Crown took direct
control of the country, and was governed directly
from Madrid. The opening of the Suez Canal and
the invention of steam ships, which reduced the
travel time from Spain to the Philippines to 40
days, made this more manageable.
Galleon trade became the fundamental
income-generating business for Spanish colonists
living in the Philippine Islands with a total of 110
Manila galleons set sail in the 250 years of the
Manila-Acapulco galleon trade (1565 to 1815).
(The Galeon Andalucia, a replica of the
th
17 Century vessels that sailed between Manila
and Acapulco during the galleon trade)
The Manila galleons or Manila-Acapulco galleons
sailed the Pacific for nearly three centuries,
bringing to Spain their cargoes of luxury goods,
economic benefits and cultural exchange.
However, galleon trade benefited only a
very small coterie of privilege Spaniards – the
Spanish governor, members of the consulado
(merchants with consular duties and rights)
usually insulares, and Spanish residents in Manila.
Positive results of the galleon trade were
the intercultural exchanges between the
Philippines and the Americans, symbolized by no
less than the Mexican-made Virgin of Antipolo,
chosen as the patroness of the sailors, who
protected them from the untold perils across the
Pacific.
The mango de Manila, tamarind and rice,
the carabao (known by 1737 in Mexico),
cockfighting, Chinese tea and textiles, fireworks
display, tuba (coconut wine) making came to
Mexico through the trans-Pacific trade.
In exchange, the return voyage brought
innumerable and valuable flora and fauna into the
Philippines: avocado, guava, papaya, pineapple,
horses and cattle.
The moro-moro, moriones festival, and the
image of the Black Nazarene of Quiapo, were also
of Mexican origins.
The Manila-Acapulco galleon trade began
when Andres de Urdaneta in convoy under Miguel
Lopez de Legaspi, discovered a return route from
Cebu City to Mexico in 1565.
How did the galleon trade end?
On September 14, 1815, the galleon trade between
the Philippines and Mexico ended a few years
before Mexico gained independence from Spain in
1821. … The opening of the Suez Canal and the
invention of steam ships, which reduced the travel
time from Spain to the Philippines to 40 days,
made this more manageable.
The Opening of the Suez Canal
The Suez Canal is a man-made waterway
connecting the Mediterranean Sea to the Indian
Ocean via the Red Sea. It enables a more direct
route for shipping between Europe and Asia,
effectively allowing for passage from the North
Atlantic to the Indian Ocean without having to
circumnavigate the African continent. The
waterway is vital for international trade and, as a
result, has been at the center of conflict since it
opened in 1869.
Where Is the Suez Canal?
The Suez Canal stretches 120 miles from
Port Said on the Mediterranean Sea in Egypt
southward to the city of Suez (located on the
northern shores of the Gulf of Suez). The canal
separates the bulk of Egypt from the Sinai
Peninsula. It took 10 years to build, and was
officially opened on November 17, 1869.
Owned and operated by the Suez Canal
Authority, the Suez Canal’s use is intended to be
open to ships of all countries, be it for purposes of
commerce or war—though that hasn’t always been
the case.
Construction of the Suez Canal
Interest in a marine route connecting the
Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea dates back to
ancient times. A series of small canals connecting
the Nile River (and, thus, by extension, the
Mediterranean) to the Red Sea were in use as early
as 2000 B.C.
However, a direct connection between the
Mediterranean and the Red Sea was considered
impossible over concerns that they sat at distinct
levels of altitude.
Therefore, various overland routes—using
horse-drawn vehicles and, later, trains—were
employed
Most notably by Great Britain, which
conducted significant trade with its colonies in
present-day India and Pakistan.
Linant de Bellefonds
The idea of a large canal providing a direct
route between the two bodies of water was first
discussed in the 1830s, thanks to the work of
French explorer and engineer Linant de Bellefonds,
who specialized in Egypt.
Bellefonds performed a survey of the
Isthmus of Suez and confirmed that the
Mediterranean and Red seas were, contrary to
popular belief, at the same level of altitude. This
meant a canal without locks could be built, making
construction significantly easier.
By the 1850s, seeing an opportunity for
Egypt and the Ottoman Empire, which governed
the country at the time, Khedive Said Pasha (who
oversaw Egypt and the Sudan for the Ottomans)
had granted French diplomat Ferdinand de
Lesseps permission to create a company to
construct a canal. That company eventually
became known as the Suez Canal Company, and it
was given a 99-year lease over the waterway and
surrounding area.
Lesseps’ first action was to create the
Commission Internationale pour le percement de
l’isthme des Suez—or International Commission
for the Piercing of the Isthmus of Suez. The
commission was made up of 13 experts from seven
countries, including, most notably, Alois Negrelli,
a leading civil engineer.
Negrelli effectively built upon the work of
Bellefonds and his original survey of the region
and took a leading role in developing the
architectural plans for the Suez Canal. The
commission’s final report was completed in 1856;
two years later, the Suez Canal Company was
formally established.
Construction of the Suez Canal
Construction began, at the northernmost
Port Said end of the canal, in early 1859. The
excavation work took 10 years, and an estimated
1.5 million people worked on the project.
Unfortunately, over the objections of many
British, French and American investors in the
canal, many of these were slave laborers, and it is
believed that tens of thousands died while working
on the Suez, from cholera and other causes.
Political turmoil in the region negatively
impacted the construction of the canal. Egypt was
ruled by Britain and France at the time, and there
were several rebellions against colonial rule.
This, coupled with the limitations of
construction technology at the time, caused the
total costs of building the Suez Canal to balloon to
$100 million, more than double the original
estimate.
Suez Canal Opens
Ismail Pasha, Khedive of Egypt and the
Sudan, formally opened the Suez Canal on
November 17, 1869.
Officially, the first ship to navigate through the
canal was the imperial yacht of French Empress
Eugenie, the L’Aigle, followed by the British
ocean liner Delta.
However, the HMS Newport, a British
navy ship, was actually the first to enter the
waterway, with its captain having navigated it to
the front of the line under the cover of darkness the
night before the ceremonial opening. The captain,
George Nares, was officially reprimanded for the
deed, but also secretly lauded by the British
government for his efforts in promoting the
country’s interests in the region.
The S.S. Dido, was the first vessel to pass
through the Suez Canal from South to North.
At least initially, only steamships were
able to use the canal, as sailing vessels still had
difficulty navigating the narrow channel in the
region’s tricky winds.
Although traffic was less than expected
during the canal’s first two years of operation, the
waterway had a profound impact on world trade
and played a key role in the colonization of Africa
by European powers. Still, the owners of the Suez
experienced financial troubles, and Ismail Pasha
and others were forced to sell their stock shares to
Great Britain in 1875.
France, however, was still the majority
shareholder in the canal.
Suez Canal During Wartime
In 1888, the Convention of Constantinople
decreed that the Suez Canal would operate as a
neutral zone, under the protection of the British,
who had by then assumed control of the
surrounding region, including Egypt and the
Sudan.
The British famously defended the canal
from attack by the Ottoman Empire in 1915 during
World War I.
The Anglo-Egyptian Treaty of 1936
reaffirmed Britain’s control over the important
waterway, which became vital during World War
II, when the Axis powers of Italy and German
attempted to capture it. Despite the supposedly
neutral status of the canal, Axis ships were
prohibited from accessing it for much of the war.
After the end of World War II, in 1951,
Egypt withdrew from the Anglo-Egyptian Treaty.
Gamal Abdel Nasser
Following years of negotiation, the British
withdrew their troops from the Suez Canal in 1956,
effectively handing control over to the Egyptian
government, under the leadership of President
Gamal Abdel Nasser.
Nasser quickly moved to nationalize the
canal’s operation, and did so by transferring
ownership to the Suez Canal Authority, a quasi-
government agency, in July 1956.
Both Great Britain and the United States
were angered by this move, as well as by the
Egyptian government’s efforts to establish
relations with Soviet Union at the time. Initially,
they withdrew promised financial support of
planned improvements to the Suez, including
construction of the Aswan Dam.
However, they along with other European
powers were further enraged by the Nasser
government’s decision to close the Straits of Tiran,
a body of water linking Israel with the Red Sea, to
all Israeli ships.
Suez Crisis
In response, in October 1956, troops from
Britain, France and Israel threatened to invade
Egypt, leading to the so-called Suez Crisis.
Fearing an escalation in the conflict,
Canadian Secretary of State for External Affairs
Lester B. Pearson recommended the establishment
of a United Nations peacekeeping force, the first
of its kind, to protect the canal and ensure access
to all. The U.N. ratified Pearson’s proposal on
November 4, 1956.
Although the Suez Canal Company
continued to operate the waterway, the U.N. force-
maintained access as well as peace in the nearby
Sinai Peninsula. This was not the last time the
Suez Canal would play a central role in
international conflict, however.
Arab-Israeli War
At the onset of the Six-Day War of 1967,
Nasser ordered the U.N. peacekeeping forces out
of the Sinai Peninsula.
Israel immediately sent troops into the
region, and ultimately took control of the east
bank of the Suez Canal. Not wanting Israeli ships
to have access to the waterway, Nasser imposed a
blockade on all maritime traffic.
Notably, 15 cargo ships that had already
entered the canal at the time of blockade’s
implementation remained trapped there for years.
U.S. and British minesweepers eventually
cleared the Suez and made it once again safe for
passage. New Egyptian President Anwar Sadat
reopened the canal in 1975, and led a convoy of
ships northbound to Port Said.
However, Israeli troops remained in the
Sinai Peninsula until 1981, when, as part of the
Egypt–Israel Peace Treaty of 1979, the so-called
Multinational Force and Observers was stationed
there to maintain order and protect the canal. They
remain in place to this day.
Suez Canal Today
Today, an average of 50 ships navigate the
canal daily, carrying more than 300 million tons of
goods per year.
In 2014, the Egyptian government oversaw
at $8 billion expansion project that widened the
Suez from 61 meters to 312 meters for a 21-mile
distance. The project took one year to complete
and, as a result, the canal can accommodate ships
to pass both directions simultaneously
Philippines in the 19th Century
Social Structure
The Filipinos in the 19th century had
suffered from feudalistic and master slave
relationship by the Spaniards. Their social
structure is ranked into three groups:
 Highest class – the people that belong in
this class include the Spaniards,
peninsulares and the friars. They have the
power and authority to rule over the
 Filipinos. They enjoyed their positions and
do what they want.
→ The Spanish officials
3. Manner of obtaining the position
→ The Peninsulares (Spaniards who were born in
Spain). They held the most important government
jobs, and made up the smallest number of the
population.
→ The Friars are members of any of certain
religious orders of men, especially the four
mendicant orders (Augustinians, Carmelites,
Dominicans, and Franciscans).
4. Term of office
 Middle Class – the people that belongs
into this class includes the natives,
mestizos and the criollos.
→ Natives – the pure Filipinos
5.
→ The Mestizos – are the Filipinos of mixed
indigenous Filipino or European or Chinese
ancestry
 Lowest class – this class includes the
Filipinos only.
→ The Indios are the poor people having pure
blood Filipino which ruled by the Spaniards.
2. There were too complicated functions to
the unions of the church and the state.
Through the power that the Spaniards
possess, they had the right to appoint the
different positions. The appointment of
positions is obtained by the highest bidder
which is the Governor-general of the
country.
Term of office or term in office is the
length of time a person (usually a politician)
serves in a particular office is dependent on
the desire of the King of the country.
Distance of the colony
The Spanish officials traveled to various
places and the needs of the Philippines
were ignored. They did not put too much
attention to the needs of the other people.
There were inadequate administrative
supervisions, they were unable to face and
solve the problems regarding to the
Philippines. There were also overlapping
of powers and privileges of officials which
made them competitive.

Political System and the Sources of Abuses in
the Administrative System
The Spaniards ruled the Filipinos in the
th
19 century. The Filipinos became the Spaniard’s
slave. The Spaniards claimed their taxes and they
worked under the power of the Spaniards. Sources
of Abuses in the Administrative System:
1. There was an appointment of officials with
inferior qualifications, without dedication
of duty and moral strength to resist
corruption for material advancement.
Through the power and authority the
Spaniards possess, they collected and
wasted the money of the Filipinos.
Educational System
6. Personal interest over the welfare of the
State
7. They were corrupt during the 19th
century and the Alcaldias/Alcalde is
considered as the most corrupt over the
other corrupts. The Alcaldias/Alcalde
includes the administrators, judges and
military commandants. They usually have
P25/mo liberal allowances and privileges
to take a certain percentage of money from
the total amount of taxes. There were also
monopoly trades or business practices
known as indulto para comerciar.
 There are lots of criticisms received in the
educational system of the Philippines in the late
19th century. Below are the following:
1. Overemphasis on religious matters
The power of religious orders remained one
of the great constants, over the centuries, of
Spanish colonial rule. The friars of the
Augustinian, Dominican, and Franciscan orders
conducted many of the executive and control
functions of government on the local level. They
were responsible for education and health
measures. These missionaries emphasized the
teachings of the Catholic religion starting from the
primary level to the tertiary level of education.
2. Obsolete teaching methods
Their methods are outdated.
3. Limited curriculum
The students in the primary level were taught
the Christian Doctrines, the reading of Spanish
books and a little of the natives’ language. Science
and Mathematics were not very much taught to the
students even in the universities. Aside from the
Christian Doctrines taught, Latin was also taught
to the students instead of Spanish.
4. Poor classroom facilities
5. Absence of teaching materials
6. Primary education was neglected
The absence of academic freedom in
Spain’s educational system was extended to the
schools that Spaniards established in the
Philippines. Learning in every level was largely by
rote. Students memorized and repeated the
contents of book which they did not understand. In
most cases knowledge was measured in the ability
of the students to memorize, largely hampering
intellectual progress.
7. Prejudice against Filipinos in the schools
of higher learning
In entirety, education during the Spanish
regime was privileged only to Spanish students.
The supposed Philippine education was only a
means to remain in the Philippines as colonizers.
For this reason, the Filipinos became followers to
the Spaniards in their own country. Even
auspicious Filipinos became cronies, to the extent
that even their life styles were patterned from the
Spaniards.
8. Friar control over the system
The friars controlled the educational system
during the Spanish times. They owned different
schools, ranging from the primary level to the
tertiary levels of education. The missionaries took
charge in teaching, controlling and maintaining the
rules and regulations imposed to the students.
Economic Development and the Rise of Filipino
Nationalism
The country was opened to foreign trade at
the end of the 18th century which resulted in the
rapid rise of foreign firms in Manila. This
stimulated agricultural production and export of
sugar, rice hemp and tobacco. The number of
families which prospered from foreign commerce
and trade were able to send their sons for an
education in Europe. Filipinos who were educated
abroad were able to absorb the intellectual
development in Europe.
Factors Contributed to the Development of
Filipino Nationalism:
 Opening of the Philippines to International
Trade and the Rise of the Middle Class
Manila was opened to foreign trade which
brought prosperity to the Filipinos and Chinese
mestizo resulting to the existence of middle class.
 Influx of European Liberalism
Connects Mediterranean and red sea;
shortened distance between Europe and Orient
Results:
(a) Philippines became closer to Europe and Spain
(b) encouraged European travelers to come to our
country
(c) exodus of literal ideas from Europe to the
Philippines
d) more educated and young Filipinos were able to
study abroad.
 Spanish Revolution of 1868 and the Liberal
Regime of Carlos Maria Dela Torre(1869-
1871)
Glorious September Revolution of 1868:
Queen Isabela II was overthrown resulting to the
rise of liberalism in Spain. Generals Juan Prim and
Francisco Serrano appointed dela Torre as the
governor-general in the Philippines (true
democrat). Most liberal governor-general walked
the streets in civilian clothes and dismissed his
alabaderos (halberdiers) – the governor’s security
guards – and went unescorted.
 Accomplishments:
(1) Abolished censorship of the press
and allowed unlimited discussions
of political problems and
proclaimed freedom of speech
(2) Abolished flogging as a
punishment
(3) Curtailed abuses particularly the
tribute and the polo
(4) Allowed secular priests to be
assigned to vacant parishes or
seminaries and created an office
which would prevent abuses by
members of the regular religious
orders
(5) Reformed the Royal Audiencia to
bring about speedier administration
of justice
(6) Decreed educational reforms,
ordered the setting up of medical,
pharmacy, and vocational schools
(7) Created the Council of the
Philippines on December 4, 1870
which was a consultative body to
study Philippine problems and
propose solutions to them.
 Rafael de Izquierdo (1871-1873), the
Cavite Mutiny of 1872 and the Execution
of GomBurZa (February 17, 1872)
Monarchy was restored in Spain (Prince
Amadeo of Savoy, son of Victor Emmanuel I)
ascended the throne in 1870.
April 4, 1871: Isquierdo became the
governor-general; “with crucifix in one hand and a
sword in the other” restored press censorship (b)
prohibited all talk on political matters and
secularization of the parishes (c) disapproved the
establishment of arts and trades in Manila (d)
dismissed natives and mestizos in the civil and
military service.
→ Cavite Mutiny (January 20, 1872)
About 200 Filipino soldiers and workers in
Fort San Felipe mutinied, under the leadership of
Sgt La Madrid; caused by Izquierdo’s abolition of
the exemption of the Filipino workers from polo
and paying tributes; mutineers were able to kill the
fort commander and some soldiers; mutiny leaders
and participants were arrested and shot to death
→ GomBurZa (fought for the Filipinization of
parishes and champions of liberalism and
humanitarianism)
They were charged of sedition and
rebellion due to the false testimony of Francisco
Zaldua (former Bicolano soldier and was bribed
by the Spanish prosecutors to implicate them as
the masterminds of the mutiny). Military Court:
three priests guilty and sentenced them to die by
garrote.
Originally, Rizal’s plan was to take up
priesthood and become a Jesuit father. When he
heard of the martyrdom of GomBurZa, he changed
his mind and swore to dedicate his life to vindicate
the victims of Spanish oppression

CHAPTER 2
ASSESSMENT
RIZAL’S LIFE, FAMILY, CHILDHOOD
REFLECTION PAPER AND EARLY EDUCATION
1. Describe the nineteenth century
Philippines based on the economic, social
and political aspect. Module 3
2. How will you compare it in the twentieth Learning outcomes:
century?
1. Evaluate the people and events that
influence on Rizal’s early education.
Send your reflection paper to 2. Appreciate and be motivated to pursue
legionpura929@gmail.com. Do not forget to education with dedication and
indicate your name and subject. perseverance.

THE PARENTS OF RIZAL

Francisco Mercado Rizal (1818-1898) is the
father of Rizal. He was 43 years old when Rizal
was born. He was a man of few words, dignified
and hospitable. He studied in the Colegio de san
Jose in manila to the degree of Latin and
Philosophy. He was born in May 11, 1818 at Binan,
Laguna and died in January 5, 1898 at Manila with
the age of 80.
Teodora Alonso Realonda (1826-1911) is
the mother of our national hero. Born in
November 8, 1826, and she studied in College of
Santa Potenciana. She had a good knowledge of
mathematics, she also knew how to appreciate
literature, and corrected her son’s verses and
guided him in his study of rhetoric. She died in
August 16, 1911 at Manila with the age of 85. And
she had 11 children (2 boys and 9 girls) together
with Francisco Mercado Rizal.
The Children of Teodora and Francisco
1. Saturnina (1850-1913) – Neneng is her
nickname, the oldest among the Rizal’s
children and married to Mannuel T.
Hidalgo. And died at the age of 63.
2. Paciano (1851-1930) – The only brother of
Jose, died as a bachelor, though he had a
common law-wife (Severina Decena). And
PATERNAL SIDE
he joined the revolution and became
general after the death of Rizal.
3. Narcisa (1852-1939) – She married Antonio
Lopez of Morong which is a musician. Her
nickname is Sisa and died at the age of 87.
4. Olympia (1855-1887) – Yepa is her
nickname. Married to Silvestre Ubaldo, a
telegraph operator from Manila. She died
of placenta previa in September 1887.
5. Lucia (1857-1919) – She married Mariano
Herbosa of Calamba and died at the age of
62 due to cholera.
6. Maria (1858-1945) – Her nickname is
Biang, and she married Daniel Faustino
Cruz of Binan, Laguna. She died at the age
of 86.
7. Jose (1861-1896) – The “lucky seven“ in
the family. Pepe is his nickname and he
married Josephine Bracken, a pretty Irish
from Hong-Kong. And Jose was executed
in December 30, 1896 and died at the age of
35.
8. Concepcion (1862-1865) – Her nickname is
Concha and she died at the age of 3.
9. Josefa (1865-1945) – Panggoy is her
nickname and died as an old maid at the
age of 80.
10. Trinidad (1868-1951) – At the age of 83
she died as an old maid just like Josefa.
And her nickname is Trining.
11. Soledad (1870-1929) – The youngest
among the Rizal’s. She married Pantaleon
Quintero Calamba. And she died at the age
of 59.
1. DOMINGO LAM-CO from the Fukien City
of Changchow around 1690 married Inez
dela Rosa (daughter of his friend, Agustin
Chinco, a Chinese merchant) blessed with
2 children Francisco Mercado and Josefa
Mercado ( lived for only 5 days) a leader
among the Chinese because he had some
degree of education friend of Friar
Francisco Marquez ( author of Chinese
grammar book) and Friar Juan Caballero
rich, highly intelligent, influential, and
protected by the Spaniards
2. FRANCISCO MERCADO was given the
surname Mercado (meaning market) to
free the child from prejudice to those with
Chinese names married Bernarda Monicha
(a Chinese mestizo) blessed with 2 sons
Juan and Clemente well off and became an
alcalde a popular figure in his town for he
had been godfather to many baptisms and
marriages.
3. JUAN MERCADO married Cirila
Alejandro and were blessed with 14
children was called “gobernadorcillo
Mercado” or “Capitan Juan” generous,
honest, and a leader in church activities
and hermano mayor in charitable
institutions listed his family as Filipinos
4. FRANCISCO MERCADO RIZAL married
Teodora's one of his sisters, Petrona (dress
gods merchant) settled in Calamba Used
Rizal ( from the word ricial meaning green
of young growth or the green of renewal or
green field or new pasture)

MATERNAL SIDE
1. CIPRIANO ALONZO a captain of Binan
and the paternal grandfather of Teodora
Alonso married Maria Florentina
2. LORENZO ALBERTO ALONSO an
engineer and married Brigida de Quintos
children were Narcisa, Teodora, Gregorio,
Manuel and Jose influences to Rizal.
3. TIO MANUEL has a great love for books;
taught Rizal to work hard, think for himself,
and to observe keenly.
4. TIO JOSE taught him to develop his
artistic ability
5. TIO GREGORIO: instilled to Rizal good
health and sports adopted the surname
Realonda
6. TEODORA ALONSO REALONDA
MERCADO Y QUINTOS married
Francisco Mercado
RIZAL’s CHILDHOOD MEMORIES
GOOD MEMORIES
 Happy and beautiful memories about his
childhood
 Spent his early childhood in the lake shore
town Calamba with its scenic beauties
anf=d the Majestic Mt. Makiling a few
kilometres away from home; inspired him
to write a poem entitled “Un Recuerdo A
Mi Pueblo” (In My Memory of My Town)
 Grow up with his loving parents,thoughtful
and caring brothers and sisters
 Enjoyed watching from his garden cottage
with different kinds of birds
 Pray the daily prayers and joined religious
activities
 His Happiest Moment was his First trip in
Manila, it is a journey with his father to
Antipolo in order to fulfil his mother’s vow
made on his birth after which they visited
his sister Saturnina who was studying at
the La Concordia College in Santa Ana.
 Endowed his artistic talent; spent much
time looking at the beauty of his
surroundings.
 Lover of literature like his mother; poetic
mind then started to write short verses on
sheets of paper and on the pages of
textbooks of his sisters.
 Enjoyed listening to her mother’s story
which is “The Story of the Moth”
 At the age of eight he wrote his first poem
in native language entitled “Sa Aking mga
Kababata” (To My Fellow Children)
BAD MEMORIES
 When he is 3 years old he was frail, sick,
and small of his age; he was given the
tenderest care by his fathers and mother.
 First sorrow when his sister Concha died
when he is four years old
 “All right laugh at me now, Someday when
I die, people will make monuments and
images of me”
RIZAL AS A STUDENT
Early Education in Calamba and Biñan
Rizal had his early education in Calamba
and Biñan. It was a typical schooling that a son of
an ilustrado family received during his time,
characterized by the four R’s- reading, writing,
arithmetic, and religion. Instruction was rigid and
strict. Knowledge was forced into the minds of the
pupils by means of the tedious memory method
aided by the teacher’s whip. Despite the defects of
the Spanish system of elementary education, Rizal
was able to acquire the necessary instruction
preparatory for college work in Manila. It may be
said that Rizal, who was born a physical weakling,
rose to become an intellectual giant not because of,
but rather in spite of, the outmoded and backward
system of instruction obtaining in the Philippines
during the last decades of Spanish regime.
 moonlight,” he recounted, “I remembered my
home town, my idolized mother, and my solicitous
The Hero’s First Teacher
sisters. Ah, how sweet to me was Calamba, my
The first teacher of Rizal was his mother, own town, in spite of the fact that was not as
who was a remarkable woman of good character wealthy as Biñan.”
and fine culture. On her lap, he learned at the age
First Day in Biñan School
of three the alphabet and the prayers. “My
mother,” wrote Rizal in his student memoirs, The next morning (Monday) Paciano
“taught me how to read and to say haltingly the brought his younger brother to the school of
humble prayers which I raised fervently to God.” Maestro Justiniano Aquino Cruz.
As tutor, Doña Teodora was patient, The school was in the house of the teacher,
conscientious, and understanding. It was she who which was a small nipa hut about 30 meters from
first discovered that her son had a talent for poetry. the home of Jose’s aunt.
Accordingly, she encouraged him to write poems.
Paciano knew the teacher quite well
To lighten the monotony of memorizing the
because he had been a pupil under him before. He
ABC’s and to stimulate her son’s imagination, she
introduced Jose to the teacher, after which he
related many stories.
departed to return to Calamba.Immediately, Jose
As Jose grew older, his parents employed was assigned his seat in the class. The teacher
private tutors to give him lessons at home. The asked him:
first was Maestro Celestino and the second,
“Do you know Spanish?”
Maestro Lucas Padua. Later, an old man named
Leon Monroy, a former classmate of Rizal’s father, “A little, sir,” replied the Calamba lad.
became the boy’s tutor. This old teacher lived at
“Do you know Latin?”
the Rizal home and instructed Jose in Spanish and
Latin. Unfortunately, he did not lived long. He “A little, sir.”
died five months later.
The boys in the class, especially Pedro, the
After Monroy’s death, the hero’s parents teacher’s son laughed at Jose’s answers.
decided to send their gifted son to a private school
The teacher sharply stopped all noises and
in Biñan.
begun the lessons of the day.
Jose described his teacher in Biñan as
Jose Goes to Biñan follows: “He was tall, thin, long-necked, with
sharp nose and a body slightly bent forward, and
One Sunday afternoon in June , 1869, Jose,
he used to wear a sinamay shirt, woven by the
after kissing the hands of his parents and a tearful
skilled hands of the women of Batangas. He knew
parting from his sister, left Calamba for Biñan. He
by the heart the grammars by Nebrija and Gainza.
was accompanied by Paciano , who acted as his
Add to this severity that in my judgement was
second father. The two brothers rode in a
exaggerated and you have a picture, perhaps vague,
carromata, reaching their destination after one and
that I have made of him, but I remember only
one-half hours’ drive. They proceeded to their
this.”
aunt’s house, where Jose was to lodge. It was
almost night when they arrived, and the moon was
about to rise.
First School Brawl
That same night, Jose, with his cousin
In the afternoon of his first day in school,
named Leandro, went sightseeing in the town.
when the teacher was having his siesta, Jose met
Instead of enjoying the sights, Jose became
the bully, Pedro. He was angry at this bully for
depressed because of homesickness. “In the
making fun of him during his conversation with him before the teacher’s eyes. Consequently, the
the teacher in the morning. teacher had to punish Jose.
Jose challenged Pedro to a fight. The latter
readily accepted, thinking that he could easily beat
the Calamba boy who was smaller and younger.
End of Binan Schooling
The two boys wrestled furiously in the
classroom, much to the glee of their classmates. Before the Christmas season in 1870, Jose
Jose, having learned the art of wrestling from his received a letter from his sister Saturnina,
athletic Tio Manuel, defeated the bigger boy. For informing him of the arrival of the steamer Talim
this feat, he became popular among his classmates. which would take him from Binan to Calamba.
Upon reading the letter, he had a premonition that
After the class in the afternoon, a classmate
he would not return to Binan, so that he became
named Andres Salandanan challenged him to an
sad. He prayed in the town church, collected
arm-wrestling match. They went to a sidewalk of a
pebbles in the river for souvenirs, and regretfully
house and wrestled with their arms. Jose, having
bade farewell to his teacher and classmates.
the weaker arm, lost and nearly cracked his head
on the sidewalk. He left Binan on Saturday afternoon.
December 17, 1870, after one year and a half of
In succeeding days he had other fights with
schooling in that town. He was thrilled to take
the boys of Biñan. He was not quarrelsome by
passage on the steamer, for it was the first time he
nature, but he never ran away from a fight.
ever rode on a steamer. On board was a
Frenchman named Arturo Camps, a friend of his
father, who took care of him.
Painting Lessons in Binan
Rizal is just an ordinary pupil then became
Near the school was the house of an old
a student but there is a drive in him to pursue his
painter, called Juancho, who was the father-in-law
ambition even if he experienced may trials as a
of the school teacher. Jose, lured his love for
classmate and as a student. His being small with
painting, spent many leisure hours at the painter’s
his age does not hinder to achieved excellence. For
studio. Old Juancho freely gave him lessons in
he beat all his classmates in all subject. How about
drawing and painting. He was impressed by the
your experience with your early education? Are
artistic talent of the Calamba lad.
you the type of pupil that needs a mother or a
Jose and his classmate, Jose Guevarra, who nanny to school? Do you experience bully in the
also loved painting, became apprentices of the old class? We all have our stories to tell and these
painter. They improved their art, so that in due stories made us smile, laugh and even giggles if
time they became “the favourite painters of the these memories crossed our minds. Right?
class”.
Let us always be reminded that If he (Rizal)
can make it, I know that you can also do the same
thing! Just believe in yourself, do your task, your
Best Student in School
assignments and you will attain your dreams with
In academic studies, Jose beat all Biñan excellence.
boys. He surpassed them all in Spanish, Latin, and
other subjects.
Some of his older classmates were jealous
of his intellectual superiority. They wickedly
squealed to the teacher whenever Jose had a fight
outside the school, and even told lies to discredit
Before we proceed to the next topic I want you do
a task.

Module 4
ASSESSMENT
Rizal’s Life, Higher Education and Life Abroad
WRITE A SHORT BIOGRAPHICAL ESSAY
ABOUT YOUR EARLY EDUCATION AND
COMPARE IT WITH RIZAL’S Learning outcomes:

 Explain the principle of assimilation

SEND IT TO legionpura929@gmail.com advocated by the Propaganda Movement.
 Appraise Rizal’s relationship with other
propaganda
Reference
https://dimasalanglaonglaan.wordpress.com/educa Rizal’s First Year in Ateneo
tion/
The first professor Jose had was Fr. Jose
Bech, whom he describes as a man of high stature;
lean body, bent forward; quick gait; ascetic
physiognomy, severe and inspired; small, sunken
eyes; sharp Grecian nose; thin lips forming an arch
with its sides directed toward the chin.” He was
somewhat of a lunatic and of an uneven humor;
sometimes he was hard and little tolerant and at
other times he was gay and playful as a child.
Among Jose’s classmates were Peninsulares and
sons of Peninsulares; Francisco G. Oliva, very
talented but not very studious; Joaquin Garrido,
endowed with a poor memory but with much
talent and industry; and Gonzalo Marzano, who
occupied the throne of Emperor.
From the first days Jose learned to
systematize his work; he fixed a program of what
he had to do in the twenty-four hours of the day
and did not in the least deviate from it. Thus he
disciplined his will and subjected it to the
commands of his reason.
As a newcomer, Jose was at first put at the
tail of the class, but he was soon promoted and
kept on being promoted so that at the end of one
month he had attained to the rank of Emperor. At
the end of the term he obtained marks of excellent
in all the subjects and in the examinations. He had
reason to feel proud of his advancement; and when
he went home on vacation that year, he ran alone
to see his mother in the prison and tell her the
happy news.
He must have uttered this exclamation on
learning from his mother that they had played her
a mean trick. The judge, who was a blind partisan
of the friars having been a domestic of theirs, told
her that if she confessed her culpability he would
release her at once. With the desire to see her
children again, she pleaded guilty; but the judge,
instead of releasing her, convicted her. In a few
months the judge asked her forgiveness for what
he had done because according to him his
conscience hurt him, but the case had no remedy
because it was already on appeal.
Second Year in Ateneo
The second year, Jose had the same
professor as in the previous year; but instead of
lodging outside the City, he resided at No. 6 Calle
Magallanes. At the end of the term he obtained a
medal, and upon returning to his town, he again
visited his mother in jail alone. This was three
months before her release.
The rejoicing that her release produced in
his spirit had much influence on the result of his
studies in the third year, for he began to win prizes
in the quarterly examinations.
About that time he devoted himself to
reading novels, and one of those he enjoyed most
was Dumas’ (father) The Count of Monte Cristo.
The sufferings of the hero of the twelve years. He
also asked his father to buy him a copy of The
Universal History by Cesar Cantanu, and
according to himself he profited much from its
perusal.
The family, who saw in Jose great aptitude
for study, decided to place him as intern or
boarding student in the college the following year.
In the corner of the dormitory facing the sea and
the pier Jose passed his two years of internship.
Third Year in Ateneo
In June 1874, Rizal returned to the Ateneo
for his junior year. Shortly, after the opening of
classes, his mother arrived and joyously told him
that she was released from prison, just as he had
predicted during his last visit to her prison cell in
Santa Cruz, Laguna. He was happy, of course, to
see his mother once more a free woman.
However, despite the family happiness,
Rizal did not make an excellent showing in his
studies as in the previous year. His grades
remained excellent in all subjects, but he won only
one medal- in Latin. He failed to win the medal in
Spanish because his spoken Spanish was not
fluently sonorous. He was beaten by a Spaniard
who, naturally, could speak Spanish with
influence and with right accentuation.At the end of
the school year, Rizal returned to Calamba for the
summer vacation. He himself was not impressed
by his scholastic work.
Fourth Year in Ateneo
In the fourth year of his course he had Fr.
Francisco Sanchez as professor. Jose describes
him as a model of rectitude, a solicitude, and love
for the student, and his studied mathematics,
rhetoric, and Greek, and he must have progressed
much, for at the end of the year he-obtained five
medals, which pleased him immensely because
with them I could repay my father somewhat for
his sacrifices.
His aptitude for poetry revealed itself early,
and from that time on he did not cease to cultivate
it.
An incident which demonstrates Jose’s
independence of character took place at this time.
Fr. Leoncio Lopez, parish priest of the town, who
was a great friend of his father, also liked Jose as a
little friend. He was cultured but at the same time
timid and tender. One day Jose’s mother showed
Father Lopez a poem of his young friend and that
the latter must have copied it from a book. Jose,
who heard this, answered the priest violently, for
which his mother reprehended him. Afterward
Father Lopez came to know from the Jesuits
themselves that Jose was a pupil who excelled in
poetry; and, in spite of his age, made a trip to Greek
Manila expressly to apologize to Jose. That 1 …………………………………………………
gesture of Father Lopez’ won him Jose’s esteem Excellent
and they became good friends again, lending each
other the books they had.
1873-1874
Latin
2 ……………………………….………………….
Last Year in Ateneo Excellent
Spanish
In the fifth years Jose had other professors:
2 …………………………….………..………
Frs. Vilaclara and Mineves. He studied philosophy,
Excellent
physics, chemistry, and natural history, but his
Greek
devotion to poetry was such that his professor in
2 …………………………………………………
philosophy advised him once to leave it, which
Excellent
made him cry. But in his rest hours he continued
Universal Geography …………………..……….
cultivating the Muses under the direction of his old
Excellent
professor, Father Sanchez. Jose had then written a
short story (leyenda), which was only slightly
corrected by his professor, and a dialogue, which
1874-1875
was enacted at the end of the course, alluding to
the collegians’ farewell. However, philosophy, Latin
just and serve, inquiring into the wherefores of 3 …………………………….….…………………
things, interested him as much as poetry; physics, Excellent
drawing back the veil that divine drama of nature Spanish
was enacted, natural history seemed to him 3 ………………………………………………
somewhat uninteresting although he much liked Excellent
the shells and sometimes imagined seeing a Greek
goddess in each shell he was on the shelf. 3 …………………………………………………
Excellent
Universal
Graduation with Highest Honors History …………………….……………
Excellent
Rizal graduated at the head of his class.
History of Spain and the Philippines …...…
His scholastic records at the Ateneo form 1872-
Excellent
1877 were as follows:
Arithmetic and Algebra …..………….…………
Excellent
1872-1873
Arithmetic ……………………………………… 1875-1876
……. Excellent
Rhetoric and Poetry ………………………………
Latin
Excellent
1 …………………………………………………..
French
Excellent
1 …………….…………………………………
Spanish
Excellent
1 ………………………………………………
Geometry & Trigonometry ……………………
Excellent
Excellent
 laws of the European nations in order to prepare
himself in the mighty task of liberating his
1876-1877
oppressed people from Spanish tyranny. Rizal’s
Philosophy departure for Spain was kept secret to avoid
1 …………………..….….….………… Excellent detection by the Spanish authorities and the friars.
Mineralogy & Chemistry ………….……………
He used the name Jose Mercado, a cousin
Excellent
from Binan.
Philosophy
2 ………………………….…….……… Excellent May 3, 1882: Rizal departed on board the Spanish
Physics ………………….……………………….. steamer Salvadora bound for Singapore
…… Excellent
Botany &
Zoology ………………………………… SINGAPORE
Excellent
During the voyage to Singapore, he
carefully observed the people and things on board
the steamer. There were sixteen passengers
Extra-Curricular Activities in Ateneo
including himself.
Jose was considered small of stature and he
May 9, 1882: The Salvador docked at Singapore.
tried to correct this defect by applying himself
In Singapore, Rizal transferred to another ship
regularly to gymnastics in the college. He also
Djemnah.
engaged in other physical exercises, such as
fencing. After his baccalaureate, he surprised his May 17, 1882: Djemnah reached Point Galle, and
family with his skill in handling the sword when he found this place lonely and Quiet.
he gave an exhibition bout with the best
The following day, the Djemnah reached Colombo,
swordsman of the town.
and he found this place “Beautiful, Smart, and
He also devoted time to painting and Elegant”
sculpture. In drawing and painting he was under
From Colombo, it continued the voyage crossing
the guidance and direction of the Ateneo professor,
the Indian Ocean to the cape of Guardafui, Africa.
the Peninsula Don Augustin Saez, who honored
Rizal sighted the barren coast of Africa and called
him with his affection and consideration because
it “inhospitable land but famous”.
of his progress. In sculpture his instructor was a
Filipino, Romualdo de Jesus, who felt proud in the Rizal had a stopover at Aden wherein he found the
last years of his life of having had such an city hotter than Manila.
excellent pupil.
From Aden, the Djemnah proceeded to the city of
Suez, the red sea terminal of the Suez Canal.
Dr. Rizal’s Travels and Homecomings
After finishing the 4th year of the medical NAPLES AND MARSEILLES
course in UST, Jose Rizal decided to complete his
From the port, the Djemnah proceeded on its way
studies in Spain. He decided to study in Spain for
to Europe.
the following reasons: a) He was disgusted with
the method of instruction of the Dominican-owned On June 11, 1882: Rizal reached Naples which
University and the racial prejudice of the really pleased him because of its business activity,
Dominican Professors against Filipino students, its lively people, and its panoramic beauty.
and b) Rizal’s secret mission was to observe
June 12, 1882: The steamer docked at the French
keenly the life and culture, languages, and customs,
Harbor of Marseilles.
industries and commerce, and governments, and
 In Spain, Rizal came in close contact with Spanish
liberal and republican Spaniards who were mostly
SPAIN
masons.
BARCELONA
March 1883, Rizal joined the Masonic lodge called
Rizal reached Barcelona on June 16, 1882. Acacia in Madrid. He became a mason so that he
could secure Freemasonry’s aid in his fight against
He thought of the city as ugly, with dirty little inns
the friars in the Philippines.
and inhospitable residents, because he happened to
stay upon his arrival at the “town’s most ugly Later on, he transferred to Lodge Solidaridad
side”. where he became a Master Mason.
Later on, he changed his bad impression and found He was awarded the diploma as a Master Mason
the city a great city, with an atmosphere of by Le Grand Orient de France in Paris.
freedom and liberalism, its people were open-
hearted, hospitable, and courageous.
GERMANY
In here, Rizal wrote a nationalistic essay entitled
“Amor Patrio” (Love of Country), his first article POSTDAM
written on Spain’s soil.
Companion: Dr. Maximo Viola
He sent this article to his friend in Manila, May 11, 1887: Spring Season
BasilioTeodoro Moran, publisher of Diariong Rizal’s luggage includes letters from his family
Tagalog, the first Manila bilingual newspaper. and friends.
Rizal’s “Amor Patrio” under his pen-name Laong
Laan, appeared in print in Diariong Tagalog.
DRESDEN
Aside from “Amor Patrio”, Rizal wrote his second
Regional Floral Exposition
article for Diariong Tagalog entitled “Los Viajes”
Visited Dr. Adolph B. Meyer (Museum of Art)
(Travels) and his third article was entitled “Revista
Met Dr. Jagor who advised them to wire
de Madrid” (Review of Madrid) which he wrote in
Blumentritt.
Madrid on November 29, 1882.
While he was at Barcelona, Rizal received a sad
news about the cholera that was ravaging Manila LEIMERITZ, BOHEMIA
and the provinces which caused a lot of people’s
Arrived on May 13, 1887 (1:30 p.m)
death. And so, Paciano advised Rizal to finish his
Meeting with Blumentritt– kind-hearted, old
medical course in Madrid.
Austrian professor who helped Rizal &Viola
during their stay in Leimeritz, greeted each other
in fluent German. They stayed from May 13 to
FRANCE
May 16.
PARIS
Enjoyed the hospitality of Blumentritt’s family:
During Rizal’s first summer vacation in Madrid, Rosa (wife), Children (Dora, Conrad and Fritz)
he went to Paris from June 17 to August 20, 1883.
He painted a portrait of Blumentritt and gave it to
Like all tourists, he enjoyed the attractive sights, him.
the historical places, etc. but unlike ordinary
Met a renowned scientist named Dr. Carlos
tourists, Rizal spent many hours in Museums,
Czelopak.
Botanical gardens, Libraries, Art galleries, and
Hospitals. May 16 (9:45 A.M) they left Leimeritz by train.
 Jose Sainz de Varanda – former secretary of
Governor General Terrero; believed to be a spy to
PRAGUE
Rizal
Carried letters of recommendation from Dr.
Willkomm
Visited the tomb of Copernicus, museum of MACAO
Natural History and the famous cave of San Juan
Rizal was accompanied by Basa
Nepomuceno.
Visited the theatre, casino, cathedral and churches,
pagodas, botanical garden and bazaars.
VIENNA
Feb.19 – he witnesses a procession
Rizal was fascinated by its beautiful buildings,
Feb.20 – returned to Hongkong
religious images, haunting waltzes and majestic
charm. Feb.22, 1888 – left for Japan

GENEVA JAPAN
June 19, 1887: Rizal treated Viola to a blowout on Feb.28-Apr.13: arrival in Japan
his 26th birthday
June 23, Viola and Rizal parted ways
*Viola-Barcelona YOKOHAMA
*Rizal-Italy
Visited by Juan Perez Caballero
Invited Rizal to live at the Spanish Legation
ITALY
Rizal accepted it for two reasons:
He went to Turin, Milan, Venice and Florence
1. He could economize his living expenses by
June 27, 1887: Rome
staying at the legation.
June 29- Feast day of St. Peter and St. Paul (visited
the Vatican City) 2. He had nothing to hide from the prying eyes of
the Spanish authorities.
On March 7, he checked out of Tokyo Hotel and
HONGKONG
lived at the Spanish Legation.
February 3,1888 (left Manila for Hongkong)
February 1888
*full-grown man of 27 years of age Rizal’s observation in Japan:
*practicing physician
→ Beauty of the country-flowers, mountains, and
*recognized man-of-letters
scenic panoramas.
*embittered victim of human iniquities
*disillusioned dreamer → The cleanliness, politeness and industry of the
*frustrated reformer Japanese people.
February 7(stopover at Amony)
→ Few thieves in Japan.
He heard that the city was dirty.
February 8, 1888 (arrival at Hongkong) →Beggars were rarely seen.
He was welcomed by Filipino residents, including
Jose Basa, Balbino Mauricio and Manuel Yriarte.
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
April 28, 1888: Rizal’s first time in America
First went to San Francisco riding the steamer
“Blegic”
All passengers of this ship was under quarantine
since there was a cholera epidemic but
Rizal knew that there was no cholera epidemic at
the Far East during that time; he then found out
that the reason why the ship he rode was placed
under quarantine was because of political
motivation.
This is where he witnessed discrimination of
Chinese and Japanese by the Americans
May 4, 1888: Rizal was allowed to go ashore
Rizal’s Good impression:
*Material progress. All the cities he went to were
flourishing.
*The drive and energy of the Americans
*The natural beauty of the land
*The high standard of living and the opportunities
of a better life
The only bad impression of Rizal was that there
was no racial equality in America
ENGLAND/UNITED KINGDOM
LONDON
Reasons why he chose this English city:
*To improve his knowledge of English language
*To study Morga’s Sucesos de las Islas
Filipinas(only available at the British Museum)
London was a safe place to continue his fight
against Spanish tyranny
Continued to write for La Solidaridad in defense
of his people against spain
Good and Bad news reached Rizal from home:
→ Persecution of Filipinos who signed the Anti-
Friar petition
→ Persecution of the Calamba tenants including
Rizal’s family and relatives
→ Furious attacks on Rizal by Spanish senators
→ Rizal’s brother in law was exiled to Bohol
→ A friend of Rizal was arrested and jailed in
Bilibid prison for keeping a copy of Noli.
→ The good news that reached Rizal was the
defense of Noli by Rev. Vicente Garcia against the
friars.
Annotating Morga’s book was considered his
greatest achievement during his stay in London
Rizal was entertained by Juan Luna and his wife
during his stay in London
December 1888: Rizal visited Barcelona and
Madrid
This was where Rizal first met Marcelo H Del
Pilar and Mariano Ponce(two titans of the
propaganda movement)
December 31, 1888: Asociacion La Solidaridad
was inaugurated. Rizal was chosen honorary
president
February 15, 1889: La Solidaridad in Barcelona
was founded by Graciano Lopez Jaena
March 25,1889: Rizal’s first article in the La
Solidaridad was entitles Los Agricultores Filipinos
was published.
Wrote the Tagalog version of The Women of
Malolos on Feb 22 1889. This letter was about the
Filipino woman and their rights
Before he left London Rizal finished four
sculptural works:
*Prometheus bound
*The triumph of death over life
*The triumph of science over death
A carving of the heads of the Beckett sisters
March 19, 1889: left London for Paris
FIRST HOMECOMING OF RIZAL
May 1892: Rizal made up his mind to return in
Manila. This decision surprised the ff.:
To confer with Governador Despujol regarding his general but suddenly showed him a printed leaflet
borneo colonization project. were entitled Pobres Frailes (Poor Friars) under
the authorship of Fr. Jacinto from Paris
To establish Liga Filipina in manila
To prove that Eduardo de Lete was wrong in
attacking him in Madrid LAST TRIP ABROAD
August 1887 was his first homecoming. He arrived Rizal travelled from Dapitan to Manila-He missed
in manila in June 26 1892 arrival in manila with his the regular steamer to Spain “Isla de Luzon”
sister, Lucia going to the Hotel de Oriente with a
Stayed on board Spanish cruiser “Castilla” -
major
August 26, 1896, Andres Bonifacio and Katipunan
Visiting friends in Central Luzon- Malolos start revolution in Balintawak
(Bulacan), San Fernando (Pampanga), Tarlac,
Rizal leaves for Spain aboard “Isla de Panay”,
Bacolor (Pampanga). On the next day he returned
upon leaving for Spain, Rizal receives 2 letters of
to Manila, the houses he visited were raid by the
introduction for the Minister of War and the
Guardia Civil who took some copies of Noli and
Minister of Colonies
El Fili and some subversive pamphlets.
Upon arriving in Singapore, Rizal was urged by
fellow Filipinos to stay. He refused as he had
SECOND HOMECOMING AND THE LIGA given his word to Gov. Gen. Blanco
FILIPINA
Upon arriving in Barcelona, Rizal was arrested
Other interview with Desoujol – after the arrival and taken to the fortress Monjuich
Rizal has been interviewed by Governor General
General Despujol sends Rizal back to Manila to be
Despujol. Founding of the Liga Filipina- a civic
tried by court
league of Filipinos, which he desired to
established and its role on the socio-economic life
of the people. Liga Filipina officers were
LAST HOMECOMING AND TRIAL
Ambrosio Salvador(President); Deodato
Arellano(Secretary); Bonifacio Arevola Agustin Rizal is kept under heavy guard while in transit
de la Rosa(Treasurer) from Barcelona to Manila
October 8: a friendly soldier tells Rizal that
newspapers are full of stories about him being
Fiscal Conditions of Liga Filipina
blamed for the revolution
To unite the archipelago into one compact and
October 11: Rizal’s diary is confiscated by
homogenous body
Spanish authorities
Mutual Protection in every want and Necessity
Upon arriving in Singapore, friends attempt to
Defense against all violence and injustice. rescue Rizal by means of inciting Habeus Corpus
Encourage of Education, agriculture and Unfortunately, the request is denied as the ship
commerce. bearing Rizal to Manila of classified as a warship
and as such is out of Singaporean jurisdiction
Study of application and reforms.
November 3: the “Colon” arrives in Manila-Rizal
Motto of Liga Filipina: ONE LIKE THEM (unus
transferred to Fort Santiago
instar omnium)
Rizal subjected to 5-day investigation by Judge
Rizal Arrested and Jailed in fort Santiago – July 6
Advocate Colonel Franciso Olive
he resumed his interview with the governor
Rizal chooses Don Luis Taviel de Andrade to
defend him in court
Rizal pleads “not guilty” to inciting rebellion
December 26, 1896: Rizal’s mock trial begins and
he was sentenced to death by the court
December 28: Polavieja (new Gov. Gen.)
approves Rizal’s execution by firing squad
The travel of Rizal opened his eyes in the reality of
the situation of our country and to us Filipinos.
Traveling was never been a leisure for Rizal for
studying and working abroad is not that easy but
he worked hard and study seriously because he has
plans for our country.
Being the youth of today, you must have plans not
just for yourself but the contribution you can give
to our country when the right time comes.
Rizal always considered education as a medicine
or something that could cure the problems of
Colonial Philippines. He believed in education that
is free from political and religious control. He
asserted that reform cannot be achieved if there is
no suitable education, a liberal one available to
Filipinos.
ASSESSMENT
Write a reaction paper about the following:
· What is the importance of education based on
the context of Rizal and compare it to the present
context of education?
· What motivation will you need to help yourself
and your family?
· Do you think our country is worth dying for?
Why?
Elaborate your thoughts and make
comprehensive. At least 3 pages or more
Send it to legionpura929@gmail.com
https://dimasalanglaonglaan.wordpress.com/dr-rizals-
travels-and-homecomings/
Module 5
Rizal’s Life, Exile, Trial and Death
Learning outcomes:
· Analyze the factors that lead to Rizal’s
execution.
· Analyze the effects of Rizal’s execution on
Spanish colonial rule and the Philippine
Revolution.
Rizal’s Exile
Rizal lived in exile in far-away Dapitan, a
remote town in Mindanao, which was under the
missionary jurisdiction of the Jesuits, from 1892 to
1896. This four-year interregnum in his life was
tediously unexciting, but was abundantly fruitful
with varied achievements. He practices medicine,
pursued scientific studies, continued his artistic
and literary works, widened his knowledge of
languages, established a school of boys, promoted
community development projects, invented a
wooden machine for making bricks, and engaged
in farming and commerce. Despite his multifarious
activities, he kept an extensive correspondence
with his family, relatives, fellow reformists, and
eminent scientists and scholars of Europe,
including Blumentritt. Reinhold Rost, A.B. Meyer,
W. Joest of Berlin, S. Knuttle of Stuttgart, and
N.M. Keight of Prague.
Beginning of Exile in Dapitan. The
steamer Cebu which brought Rizal to Dapitan
carried a letter from Father Pablo Pastells,
Superior of the Jesuit Society in the Philippines, to
Father Antonio Obach, Jesuit parish priest of
Dapitan. In this letter, Father Superior Pastells
informed Father Obach that Rizal could live at the
parish convent on the following conditions:
1. “That Rizal publicly retract his errors
it concerning religion, and make statements
that were clearly pro-Spanish and against
revolution.
2. “That he perform the church rites and
make a general confession of his past life.
 3. “That henceforth he conduct himself in an along the coast of Talisay, about one kilometer
exemplary manner as a Spanish subject away from Dapitan.
and a man of religion.”
Rizal’s winning in the Manila Lottery
reveals an aspect of his lighter side. He never
drank hard liquor and never smoked, but he was a
Rizal did not agree with these conditions.
lottery addict. During his first sojourn in Madrid
Consequently, he lived in the house of the
from 1882 to 1885 he always invested at least three
commandant, Captain Carnicero. The relations
pesetas every month in lottery tickets. “This was
between Carnicero (the warden) and Rizal (the
his only vice,” commented Wenceslao Retana, his
prisoner) were warm and friendWhy
first Spanish biographer and former enemy.
Carnicero was charmed by Rizal’s fine
Rizal-Pastells Debate on Religion. During
qualities and personality. They ate together at the
his exile in Dapitan Rizal had a long and scholarly
same table and had many friendly conversations.
debate with Father Pastells on religion. It started
Carnicero came to know that Rizal was not a
when Father Pastells sent him a book by Sarda,
common felon, much less a filibustero. He gave
with advice that the latter (Rizal) should desist
good reports on his prisoner to Governor Despujol.
from his majaderas (foolishness) in viewing
He gave him complete freedom to go anywhere,
religion from the prism of individual judgment and
reporting only once a week at his office, and
self-esteem.
permitted Rizal, who was a good equestrian, to
ride his chestnut horse. This interesting religious debate may be
read in four letters written by Rizal, as flows: (1)
Rizal, on his part, admired the kind,
September 1, 1892; (2) November 11, 1892; (3)
generous Spanish captain. As evidence of his
January 9, 1893; and (4) April 4, 1893; and in
esteem, he wrote a poem, A Don Ricardo
Father Pastells’ replies dated: (1) October 12, 1892,
Carnicero, on August 26, 1892, on the occasion of
(2) December 8, 1892, (3) February 2, 1893, and (4)
the Captain’s birthday.
April (no exact date), 1893.
Wins in Manila Lottery. On September 21,
In all his letters to Father Pastells, Rizal
1892, the sleepy town of Dapitan burst in hectic
revealed his anti-Catholic ideas, which he had
excitement. The mail boat Butuan was
acquired in Europe and embitterment at his
approaching the town, with colored pennants
persecution by the bad friars. It is understandable
flying in the sea breezes. Captain Carnicero,
why he was bitter against the friars who
thinking that a high Spanish official was coming,
committed certain abuses under the cloak of
hastily dressed in gala uniform, ordered the town
religion. As he wrote to Blumentritt from Paris on
folks to gather at the shore, and himself rushed
January 20, 1890: “I want to hit the friars, but only
there, bringing a brass band.
friars who utilized religion not only as a shield, but
The mail boat, Butuan, brought no Spanish also as a false and superstitious religion in order to
officials but the happy tidings that the Lottery fight the enemy who hid himself behind it.”
Ticket No. 9736 jointly owned by Captain
According to Rizal, individual judgment is
Carnicero, Dr. Rizal, and Francisco Equilor
a gift from God and everybody should use it like a
(Spanish resident of Dipolog, a neighboring town
lantern to show the way and that self-esteem, if
of Dapitan) won the second prize of P20, 000 in the
moderated by judgment, saves man from unworthy
government-owned Manila Lottery.
acts. He also argued that the pursuit of truth may
Rizal’s share of the winning lottery ticket lie in different paths, and thus “religious may vary,
was PHP6, 200.00. Upon receiving this sum, he but they all lead to the light.”
gave PHP2, 000.00 to his father and PHP200.00 to
Father Pastells tried his best to win back
his friend Basamin Hong Kong, and the rest he
Rizal to the fold of Catholicism. Divine faith, he
invested well by purchasing agricultural lands
told Rizal, supersedes everything, including
reason, self-esteem, and individual judgment. No
matter how wise a man is, he argued, his
intelligence is limited; hence he needs the
guidance of God. He refuted Rizal’s attacks on
Catholic dogmas as misconceptions of rationalism
and naturalism, errors of misguided souls.
This interesting debate between two
brilliant polemicists ended inconclusively. Rizal
could not be convinced by Pastells arguments so
that he lived in Dapitan beyond the pale of his
Mother Church.
In spite of their religious differences, Rizal
and Pastells remained good friends. Father Pastells
gave Rizal a copy of the Imitacion de Cristo
(Imitation of Christ), a famous Catholic book by
Father Thomas a Kempis. And Rizal, in grateful
reciprocation, gave his Jesuit opponent in debate a
bust of St. Paul, which he had made.
Although Rizal did not subscribe to
Pastells’ religious interpretation of Catholic
dogmas, he continued to be a Catholic, and
celebrate Christmas and other religious fiestas in
the Catholic way. His Catholicism, however, was
the Catholicism that inquires and enlightens, the
“Catholicism of Renan and Teilhard de Chardin.”
Rizal Challenges a Frenchman to a Duel.
While Rizal was still debating with Father Pastells
by means of exchange of letters, he became
involved in a quarrel with a French acquaintance
in Dapitan, Mr. Juan Lardet, a businessman. This
man purchased many logs from the lands of Rizal.
It so happened that some of the logs were of poor
quality.
Lardet, in a letter written to Antonio
Miranda, a Dapitan merchant and friend of Rizal,
expressed his disgust with the business deal and
stated that “if he (Rizal – Z) were a truthful man,
he would have told me that the lumber not
included in the account were bad.
Miranda indiscreetly forwarded Lardet’s
letter to Rizal. One of the hero’s weaknesses, it
should be noted was his sensitivity. When he read
Lardet’s letter, he flared up in anger, regarding the
Frenchman’s unsavory comment as an affront to
his integrity. Immediately, he confronted Lardet
and challenged him to a duel.
When the commandant heard of the
incident, Carnicero told the Frenchman to
apologize rather than accept the challenge. “My
friend, you have not a Chinaman’s chance in a
fight with Rizal on a field of honor. Rizal is an
expert in martial arts, particularly in fencing and
pistol shooting.”
Heeding the commandant’s advice, Lardet
wrote to Rizal in French, dated Dapitan, March 30,
1893, apologizing for the insulting comment. Rizal,
as a gentleman and well-versed in pundonor
(Hispanic chivalric code) accepted the apology,
and good relations between him and the
Frenchman were restored.
It is interesting to recall that twice before
his sensitivity caused him to challenge people to a
duel – Antonio Luna in 1890 and W.E. Retana in
the same year.
Rizal and Father Sanchez. Father Pastells,
aside from his personal efforts to persuade Rizal to
discard his “errors of religion,” instructed two
Jesuits in Mindanao – Father Obach, cura of
Dapitan, and Father Jose Villaclara, cura of
Dipolog – to try their best to bring back Rizal
within the Catholic fold. Furthermore, he assigned
Father Francisco de Paula Sanchez, Rizal’s
favorite teacher at the Ateneo de Manila, to
Dapitan.
Father Sanchez, since Rizal’s days at the
Ateneo, had spent three years in Europe and
returned to Manila in 1881 to resume teaching at
the Ateneo and to head its museum. He was the
only Spanish priest to defend Rizal’s Noli Me
Tangere in public.
Immediately, upon his arrival in Dapitan,
Father Sanchez lost no time in meeting his former
favorite student. Of all the Jesuits, he was the most
beloved and esteemed by Rizal. Almost daily they
carried theological arguments in a friendly manner.
But all efforts of Sanchez were in vain. For once,
his former beloved teacher could not convince
Rizal.
 Despite his failure to persuade Rizal to
discard his unorthodox views on the Catholic
religion, Father Sanchez enjoyed the latter’s
company. He assisted Rizal in beautifying the
town plaza. On his birthday, Rizal gave him a
precious birthday gift – a manuscript entitled
Estudios sobre la lengua tagala (Studies on the
Tagalog Language) – a Tagalog grammar which
Rizal wrote and which he dedicated to his beloved
former teacher.
Idyllic Life in Dapitan. In Dapitan, Rizal
had an exemplary life, idyllic in serenity. Since
August 1893, members of his family took turns in
visiting him in order to assuage his loneliness in
the isolated outpost of Spanish power in the
Moroland. Among them were his mother; sisters
Trinidad, Maria, Narcisa, and nephews Teodosio,
Estanislao, Mauricio, and Prudencio. He built his
house by the seashore of Talisay, surrounded by
fruit trees. He had also another house for his
schoolboys and a hospital for his patients.
Describing his life in Dapitan, Rizal wrote
to Blumentritt on December 19, 1893
I shall tell you how we live here. I have
three houses: one square, another hexagonal, and a
third octagonal, all of bamboo, wood, and nipa. In
the square house we live, my mother, sister
Trinidad, a nephew and I; in the octagonal live my
boys or some good youngsters whom I teach
arithmetic, Spanish and English; and in the
hexagonal live my chickens. From my house I
hear the murmur of a crystal, clear brook which
comes from the high rocks; I see the seashore, the
sea where I have many fruit trees, mangoes,
lanzones, guayabanos, baluno, ninja, etc. I have
rabbits, dogs, cats, etc. I raise early – at five – visit
my plants, feed the chickens, awaken my people
with tea, pastries, cheese, sweetmeats, etc. Later I
treat my poor patients who come to my land; I
dress, go to the town in my baroto, treat the people
there, and return at 12, when my luncheon awaits
me. Then I teach the boys until 4 P.M. and devote
the afternoon to agriculture. I spend the night
reading and studying.
Rizal’s Encounter with the Friar’s Spy.
During the early days of November 1893 Rizal was
living peacefully and happily at his house in
Talisay, a kilometer away from Dapitan. His
mother, sisters Narcisa and Trinidad, and some
nephews were then living with him. His blissful
life was then suddenly jolted by a strange incident
involving a spy of the friars. This spy with the
assumed name of “Pablo Mercado” and posing as
a relative, secretly visited Rizal at his house on the
night of November 3, 1893. He introduced himself
as a friend and relative, showing a photo of Rizal
and a pair of buttons with the initials “P.M.”
(Pablo Mercado) as evidences of his kinship with
the Rizal family.
In the course of their conversation the
strange visitor offered his services as a
confidential courier of Rizal’s letters and writing
for the patriots in Manila. Rizal, being a man of
prudence and keen perception became suspicious.
Irked by the impostor’s lies, he wanted to throw
him out of the house, but mindful of his duty as a
host and considering the late hour of the night and
the heavy rainfall, he hospitably invited the
unwanted visitor to stay at his house for the night.
And early the nest day, he sent him away.
After the departure of his bogus relative,
Rizal attended to his daily chores, forgetting the
incident of the previous night. Later he learned
that the rascal was still in Dapitan, telling people
that he was a beloved relative of Dr. Rizal. Losing
his cool, he went to the commandancia and
denounced the impostor to Captain Juan Sitges
(who succeeded Captain Carnicero on May 4, 1893
as commandant of Dapitan. Without much ado,
Sitges ordered the arrest of “Pablo Mercado” and
instructed Anastacio Adriatico, to investigate him
immediately.
The truth came out during this
investigation. The real name of “Pablo Mercado”
was Florencio Namanan. He was a native of
Cagayan de Misamis, single and about 30 years
old. He was hired by the Recollect friars to a secret
mission in Dapitan – to introduce himself to Rizal
as a friend and relative, to spy on Rizal’s activities,
and to filch certain letters and writings of Rizal,
which might incriminate him in the revolutionary
movement. Strangely, Commandant Sitges
suddenly quashed the investigation and released
the spy. He promptly forwarded the transcripts of
the investigation together with his official report to
Governor General Blanco who, in turn, kept these
documents as highly confidential. Rizal, who was
surprised at the turn of events, requested for a
copy of the proceedings of the investigation, but
Sitges denied his request. As now declassified and
preserved at the Biblioteca Nacional in Madrid,
these documents contain certain mysterious
deletions.
These available documents on the friars’ spy failed
mission have been quoted by three Rizalist
biographers, -Retana (1907), Palma (1949), and
Jose Baron Fernandez (1982). Not one of these
biographers quoted the text of another document
that is more reliable and valuable in clarifying the
whole incident. It is Rizal’s letter to his brother-in-
law, Manuel T. Hidalgo, written in Dapitan,
December 20, 1893, as follows:
Rizal’s Trial
Accustomed to share the merry season
with family, friends and relatives, the 1896
Christmas was indeed, Rizal’s saddest. Confined
in a dark, gloomy cell, Rizal was in despair and
had no idea of what his fate may be. Under this
delusion, he wrote a letter to Lt. Taviel de Andrade
requesting the latter to visit him before his trial for
there was a very important matter they need to
discuss. Likewise, Rizal greeted the lieutenant a
joyous Christmas.
The next day, December 26, about 8
o’clock in the morning, the court-martial of Rizal
commenced. The hearing was actually a kind of
moro-moro – a planned trial wherein Rizal, before
hearing his verdict, had already been prejudged.
Unlike other accused, Rizal had not been allowed
to know the people who witnessed against him.
The trial took place at Cuartel de España, a
military building, with a court composed of seven
military officers headed by Lt. Col. Jose
TogoresArjona. Present at the courtroom were
Jose Rizal, the six other officers in uniform (Capt.
Ricardo Muñoz Arias, Capt. Manuel Reguera,
Capt. Santiago Izquierdo Osorio, Capt. Braulio
Rodriguez Nuñez, Capt. Manuel Diaz Escribano,
and Capt. Fernando Perez Rodriguez), Lt. Taviel
de Andrade, Judge Advocate Capt. Rafael
Dominguez, Lt. Enrique de Alcocer (prosecuting
attorney) and a number of spectators, including
Josephine Bracken.
After Judge Advocate Dominguez opened
the trial, it was followed by Atty. Alcocer’s
reiteration of the charges against Rizal, urging the
court that the latter be punished with death.
Accordingly, the three crimes accused to him were
rebellion, sedition and illegal association – the
penalty for the first two being life imprisonment to
death, while the last, correctional imprisonment
and a charge of 325 to 3,250 pesetas.
Lt. Taviel de Andrade, on the other hand,
later took the floor reading his speech in defense
of Rizal. To supplement this, Rizal read his own
defense which he wrote in his cell in Fort Santiago.
According to Rizal, there are twelve points to
prove his innocence:
 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, found freshly turned earth at the cemetery with
then Katipunan should not have been guards posted at the gate. Assuming this could be
organized. the most likely spot, there never having any
 If the Spanish authorities found his letters ground burials, she made a gift to the caretaker to
having bitter atmosphere, it was because in mark the site “RPJ”, Rizal’s initials in reverse.
1890 his family was being persecuted
His undated poem, Mi último adiós
resulting to their dispossession of
believed to be written a few days before his
properties and deportation of all his
execution, was hidden in an alcohol stove, which
brothers-in-law.
was later handed to his family with his few
 He lived an exemplary life in Dapitan – the
remaining possessions, including the final letters
politico-military commanders and
and his last bequests. During their visit, Rizal
missionary priests in the province could
reminded his sisters in English, “There is
attest to that
something inside it“, referring to the alcohol stove
 If according to witnesses the speech he
given by the Pardo de Taveras which was to be
delivered at Doroteo Ongjunco’s house
returned after his execution, thereby emphasizing
had inspired the revolution, then he wanted
the importance of the poem. This instruction was
to confront these persons. If he really was
followed by another, “Look in my shoes “, in
for the revolution, then why did the
which another item was secreted. Exhumation of
Katipunan sent an unfamiliar emissary to
his remains in August 1898, under American rule,
him in Dapitan? It is so because all his
revealed he had been uncoffined, his burial not on
friends were aware that he never advocated
sanctified ground granted the ‘confessed’ faithful,
violence
and whatever was in his shoes had disintegrated.
But the military court remained indifferent
In his letter to his family he wrote: “Treat
to the pleads of Rizal. After a short deliberation,
our aged parents as you would wish to be
he was sentenced to be shot in musketry until
treated… Love them greatly in memory of me…
death at 7 o’clock in the morning of December 30,
December 30, 1896.” He gave his family
1896 at Bagumbayan. The decision was submitted
instructions for his burial: “Bury me in the ground.
to Gov. Polavieja who immediately sought the
Place a stone and a cross over it. My name, the
opinion of Nicolas de la Peña – the latter found the
date of my birth and of my death. Nothing more. If
verdict just and final. Two days later, the governor
later you wish to surround my grave with a fence,
general signed the court’s decision and ordered
you can do it. No anniversaries.”
Rizal’s execution.
In his final letter, to Blumentritt –
Moments before his execution on
Tomorrow at 7, I shall be shot; but I am innocent
December 30, 1896 by a squad of Filipino soldiers
of the crime of rebellion. I am going to die with a
of the Spanish Army, a backup force of regular
tranquil conscience. Rizal is believed to be the
Spanish Army troops stood ready to shoot the
first Filipino revolutionary whose death is
executioners should they fail to obey orders. The
attributed entirely to his work as a writer; and
Spanish Army Surgeon General requested to take
through dissent and civil disobedience enabled
his pulse: it was normal. Aware of this the
him to successfully destroy Spain’s moral primacy
Sergeant commanding the backup force hushed his
to rule. He also bequeathed a book personally
men to silence when they began raising “vivas”
bound by him in Dapitan to his ‘best and dearest
with the highly partisan crowd of Peninsular and
friend.’ When Blumentritt received it in his
Mestizo Spaniards. His last words were those of
hometown Litoměřice (Leitmeritz) he broke down
Jesus Christ: “consummatumest“,–it is finished.
and wept.
He was secretly buried in Pacò Cemetery
in Manila with no identification on his grave. His
sister Narcisa toured all possible gravesites and
Jose Rizal’s Martyrdom
An advocate of civil equality for Filipinos,
political activist José Rizal published a book
critical of Spanish colonial rule in the Philippines
in 1886, while he was studying in Europe. When
he returned to the Philippines, Rizal was exiled to
Mindanao. In 1896 Rizal was accused of sedition
and executed. He has become a national martyr of
the Philippines.
Rizal’s death was an emotional event in
our history as it produced in some form of social
change or transformation in lives of many people.
He was put to death for subversion by the
dominant political purpose. He represented a
sector of society which had begun to cause trouble
and therefore constituted a real threat to the
existing social order.
He was accused by the Spanish colonial
government two crimes, the founding of La Liga
Filipina, an illegal organization whose single aim
was to perpetrate the crime of rebellion; and a
rebellion which he promoted through his previous
activities.
His prosecution drew information from the
dossier on which detailed his subversive activities,
some are the following:
The writing and publication of Noli me
Tangere, the Annotations to Morga’s History of
the Philippines, El Filibusterismo, and the various
articles which criticized the friars and suggested
their expulsion in order to win independence. The
Fili was dedicated to the three-martyr priest who
were executed as traitors to the father land in 1872
because they were the moving spirits of the
uprising that year.
The establishment of masonic lodges
which became the propaganda and fun raising
center to support subversive activities and the
establishment of centers in Madrid, Hongkong and
Manila to propagate his ideas.
Rizal denied that he engaged in any
political activity between July 6, 1892 after the
founding of the La Liga Filipina to June 1, 1896
when Dr. Pio Valenzuela visited him at Dapitan to
inform him that uprising was being contemplated.
He told the court that in fact he advised
against it and he seemed to have convinced Don
Pio Valenzuela at the end of the interview, for
later on, instead of taking part in the rebellion , he
sought amnesty from the authorities. He claimed
that his name was merely exploited since he was
already contented and resigned in his place of
exile because of the opportunity it gave me o do
some writing and he even sought to go to Cuba as
a volunteer.
Rizal was heavily guarded and was
accompanied by the Jesuits as he walked from Fort
Santiago to Bagumbayan. He wore a black woolen
suit and a derby hat and his arms were tied behind
him. During the walk, he recalled his youth and
days at the Ateneo. In Bagumbayan itself, the
Spanish troops held back the crowd while the
artillery group stood on alert to prevent any
attempt to rescue Rizal.
A wagon from San Juan de Dios arrived
after one hour and picked up Rizal’s body. He was
laid to rest in his black suit and derby hat. His
remains were placed in a plain box and buried at
the Paco cemetery. No outsider was allowed to
witness the event and the exact burial site was kept
secret for fear that Filipinos may steal the body.
But some members of the burial staff who were
friends of the Rizal family placed a marker at the
site with the letters R.P.J. which stood for Rizal’s
initials, in reverse.
Aguinaldo government had become the
recognized political authority and was presumably
still in control before the Americans asserted their
ownership of the island by virtue of the treaty of
Paris concluded on December 10 ,1898.
General Emilio Aguinaldo, president of the
Philippine revolutionary Government proclaimed
December 30 as public holiday and a day of
mourning in an order issued on December 20 in
Malolos, Bulacan. The American government took
over this tradition and included December 30, as
one of the public holidays together with other
American holiday’ such as Washington day. On
December 30, 1905, William Jennings Byan
delivered the Rizal Day address. A monument was
also erected In Bagumbayan and Rizal was
declared a national hero.
How about us? Are we ready to defend our
country? What do you think you can give to our
countrymen?