THE END OF RIZAL’S EXILE

1874 – This was the year when Dr. Jose Rizal wrote to Governor General Ramon Blanco to wished for his
pardon because in spite of the freedom given to him by the Spanish government, he was not contented
due to the fact that he still not a free man.

1895 – Rizal wrote again to Governor General Ramon Blanco asking for his release and to reconsider his
case. And if he did not gain his desired approval, he wants to served as a surgeon in the Spanish Army
during the Cuban revolution.

July 30, 1896 – The Governor finally answered his request to be a surgeon. In the next day, he boarded
the ship ‘Espana’. After he arrived at Manila Bay, he then discovered that the boat going to Spain has left
the day before, so he was transferred to the Spanish cruiser “Castilla” and conducted Incommunicado
except to his family.

A month later, Rizal then boarded to a Spanish warship and set sail to Spain. He was not even surprised
when he read up in the newspapers about the outbreak of the Philippine Revolution.

A RACE WITH REVOLUTION

On two months before he writes the Blumentritt, Jose Rizal was being told by Valenzuela that the
Katipunan made already a decision to rise against the regime, and he was being picked or considered as
the titular leader of the new nation. He was being torn because if he refuses the appointment to the
Spanish armies in Cuba, the Katipunan’s Revolution will break out and he will be the main suspect in
leading it and that the Revolution was being made in his name. So, he decided to run a race with
Bonifacio’s Revolution.

August 06, 1896 – It was the date when he arrived in Manila. On the 19 th, a member of the Katipunan
named Teodoro Patiño revealed the whole conspiracy. On the 25 th, the constabulary had a minor
dispute with what seemed to be a band of dissidents. And in the 30 th, the Katipuneros attacked the
powder magazine at Marikina.

Rizal defended himself at the trial stating that he offered himself to serve to the Spanish army and will
do anything just to put down or to end the rebellion, but Governor General Blanco and the Spanish
public opinion in Manila did not accept it and suspected him that the reason for his applying for a post in
Cuba was only the front act and the main reason behind is for him to leave the Dapitan and being in
Manila at the same time for the insurrection.

He boarded to ‘Castilla’ and later on to the steamer Isla de Panay hoping that he will won the race. At
Singapore, Pedro Roxas (one of Rizal’s liberal friends) with his son went ashore and did not comeback.
The Filipino immigrants in the city visited him aboard and convinced him to do the same, as they tried to
sue for a writ of habeas corpus to set him free. However, to avoid any attempt to liberate him against
his will, he remained on ship.

September 25 – Rizal saw the Isla de Luzon leaving the Suez Canal on her way going to the Philippines.
On Sunday the 27th, He was told at dinner that Francisco Roxas, Genato and Osorio had been shot in
Manila, according to the latest telegram.
On the 28th, he recorded that he received some bad news and decided to wrote an agitated letter to
Blumentritt. However, his letter may have been smuggled ashore at Malta by his fellow passenger
because the enveloped that was received by Blumentritt was not Rizal’s hand writing.

On the 29th, he wrote in his journal that there are some passengers who libeled and made bizarre stories
about him.

On the 30th at four o’clock in the afternoon, he was being officially informed by the captain of the ship
that after eating dinner he should go back straight to his cabin and will stay there until further orders.
He was also told that the reason behind was some passengers who had said that he would try to go
ashore at Malta and will stay there.

October 01 – the ship left Malta and he stayed inside his cabin because someone wanted to steal his
papers.

On the 3rd of October, after 30 days of sailing, the ship arrived at Barcelona and Rizal was placed under
guard.

October 06 – At 3:00 am, he was awakened by the sergeant and instructed to pack his belongings. An
hour later, an officer took him ashore and he was taken to Fort Monjuich an ill-omened prison citadel of
Barcelona. He lost the race after all.

HIS LAST TRIP HOME

September 03, 1896 – Jose Rizal left for Barcelona on board the island. As the ship was near to Malta,
the captain of the ship notifies him that he was under arrest and should stay put in his cabin. He
perceived rumors that he was the one who should blame for the outbreak of the Philippine Revolution.

October 06, 1896 – the ship was docked at the Barcelona harbor, and after he stays at cell no 11 at
Montjulch Castle, he was brought to the SS ‘Colon’ which will bound for Manila carrying soldiers that will
fight against Filipino revolutionists. Along the sail, Rizal was able to record his activities and wrote an
accurate prediction.

November 1896 – The ‘SS Colon’ had arrived in Manila and he was directly brought to Fort Santiago
heavily guarded.

PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATION

On November 20 – the preliminary investigation had begun. Rizal was forced to classify persons as
“friendly”, “not suspicious” or hostile from a list of names. He was then subjected to a two-day
inquisitorial interrogation without the benefit of the counsel. He was not even allowed to meet those
who testify against him.

Upon in two short days, Rizal was forced to identify 27 faces who he did not know but testified in order
to convict him.
He was interrogated for several times, about his participation in various political activities, his relation to
some specific individuals. The investigators also submit certain organization of La Liga Filipina which the
Spaniards suspected to be the root of the revolt, his works such as his poems Talisay and Kundiman as
evidences against him.

Rizal was also being questioned about his membership in the Masonic lodges, the visit of Dr. Valenzuela
in Dapitan, his appointment as the titular leader of the Katipunan, about the picture of him going to the
secret room of the Katipuneros.

The fabricated evidences that they made up definitely did not proved that Rizal was guilty. Yet Captain
Olive tortured Paciano until he lost his consciousness. Paciano denied his brother’s guilt and bravely
endured the consecutive torture silently and up until he almost faced his death and the authorities
returned him home with stretcher. He was being paralyzed and speechless for several days.