Lesson 5: Life of Rizal

Lesson Objectives:

At the end of the class, the students should be able to:

1. Point out important landmarks in the life of Rizal;

2. Analyze how these landmarks molded the mind and heart of Rizal; and
3. Using the definition of the word “hero” in the previous lessons, justify how these
definitions apply to Jose Rizal.

Family Background

Birth

1. Date: June 19, 1861

2. Place: Calamba, Laguna

Parents

1. Father: Francisco Mercado

2. Mother: Teodora Alonso y Realonda

Siblings

1. Saturnina (1850-1913), later married to Manuel T. Hidalgo of Tanauan, Batangas;

2. Paciano (1851-1930), During the Philippine Revolution, Paciano became a
revolutionary general and retired to farming after the conflict. Though he was
thought to be a bachelor during his life he actually had his own family;
3. Narcisa (1852-1939), married to Antonio Lopez, a teacher from Morong, Rizal;
4. Olimpia (1855-1857), married to Silvestre Ubaldo, a telegraph operator from
Manila;
5. Lucia (1857-1919), married to Mariano Herbosa of Calamba;
6. Maria (1859-1945), married to Daniel Faustino Cruz of Biñan, Laguna;
7. Concepcion (1862-1865), died at the age of 3;
8. Josefa (1865-1945), head of the women chapter of the Katipunan, died unmarried;
9. Trinidad (1868-1951), a member of Katipunan, unmarried; and
10. Soledad (1870-1929), married to Pantaleon Quintero of Calamba.

Jose came after Maria, he is the seventh child in the family.

Education
Early Childhood

1. First teachers hired by his father:

a. Lucas Padua
b. Leon Monroy

2. His mother, DoñaTeodora

a. Reader used: El Amigo de los Niños (The Children’s Friend)
b. Prominent lesson learned as a young boy was from “The story of the month”

Influence from Other Members of His Family

1. Uncle Gregorio taught him the value of hard work, to think for himself, and to observe
his surroundings keenly.
2. Uncle Jose encouraged him to sketch, paint, and make sculptures.
3. Uncle Manuel encouraged him to pursue his physical development. He taught the young
boy swimming, fencing, wrestling, and other sports.
4. His yaya (nanny) told stories of duwendes (dwarves), ghosts, and aswangs (evil spirits),
of the beautiful Mariang Makiling, and other tales on the beautiful surroundings of his
hometown, Calamba. Stories that awakened the imagination and creativity of the young
boy.

Artistic Endeavors

1. Poems written:
a. “Sa Aking Mga Kabata” (full poem on pages 37-38)
b. “Un Recuerdo de Mi Pueblo” (“A Memory of My Town,” a poem about Calamba)
2. He made sculptures out of mud.
3. He drew things surrounding their house like trees, flowers, birds, butterflies, and
anything he saw around him. He used charcoal and juices of leaves and flowers for
colors.

During His Secondary Education

1. Place: Laguna
a. Teacher: Justiniano Aquino Cruz
b. Process used in teaching: He was quick to discipline his students for any
infraction using a short, thin stick.
2. Injustice to the Rizal Family
 a. Doña Teodora was accused as an accomplice of Jose Alberto of trying to poison
his wife.
b. Doña Teodora tried to mediate between the spouses but she was accused of trying
to poison the wife.
c. Doña Teodora was thrown to jail.
3. As a student of Ateneo (1872-1877)
a. Jose Rizal entered Ateneo as an eleven-year-old.
b. His close friendship with Fr. Francisco de Paula Sanchez, S.J. inspired the young
student.
 Some poems written under the guidance of Fr. Sanchez:
- “The Tragedy of St. Eustace”
- “In the Memory of My Town”
- “Intimate Alliance Between Religion and Good Education”
- “Through Education Motherland Receives Enlightenment”

 He had excellent achievements and graduated highest in his class.

 Other activities while in Ateneo:
- He studied painting under Agustin Saez.
- He studied sculpture under Teodoro Romualdo de Jesus.
- He carved the image of the Blessed Virgin Mary on a batikuling wood.
- He carved the image of the Sacred Heart.
- He joined the organization Marian Congregation. His mentor was Fr.
Pablo Pastells, S.J.
- He was a member of Academy of Spanish Literature.
- He was a member of the Academy of Natural Sciences.
- Fr. Jose Villaclara, S.J. encouraged him to pay attention also to the
sciences and philosophy.
c. In S.Y. 1877-1878, he returned to Ateneo while studying at the University of
Santo Tomas. He took up a course on land surveying which was offered then as a
vocational course.
 He completed the surveyor’s course and was awarded the title perito
agrimensor.
 He passed the final examination for the course
 He could not practice the surveyor’s profession since he was still
underage when he passed the course.
 He was issued his certificate on November 25, 1881, at the age of 20.
4. As a student of the University of Santo Tomas:
a. He enrolled at the Faculty of Philosophy and Letters; majored in Philosophy,
1877-1878
 b. He pursued medicine at the University of Santo Tomas. Some of his grades were
still excellent but he also had lower grades.
c. He submitted an entry in the Liceo Artistico Literario de Manila in 1879, entitled
“A La Juventud Filipina” (To the Filipino Youth”). (See English translation on
pages 38-39.)
 He won first prize in the contest.
 He was awarded a silver quill.
 For the first time, he used the phrase “the youth, the fair hope of my
country” (“kabataan, pag-asa ng aking bayan”).
d. In 1880, a literary contest was held by Liceo Artistico Literario de Manila. Jose
Rizal submitted an entry entitled “El Consejo de los Dioses” (“Council of the
Gods”).

 This was held in commemoration of the 400th death anniversary of

Miguel de Cervantes, Spain’s national poet.
 This poem was in praise of Cervantes and made him coequal with
Homer and Virgil.
 He was awarded the grand prize.
 The award was a gold ring with an engraved bust of Cervantes.
5. Other literary works:
a. “Junto al Pasig” – This one-act play was requested by Jesuits on the feast day of
the Immaculate Conception. This was a satire showing the good elements and
bad elements. In the end, it was a victory for the good elements.
b. “A Filipinas”
6. He decided to continue his studies in Spain:
a. To widen his knowledge;
b. To avail of more conducive conditions in Europe; and
c. To learn a cure on the worsening eye condition of his mother.

First Trip to Europe

Jose Rizal left Manila on May 3, 1882

1. He left for Spain with the blessing of his brother Paciano and his uncle, Antonio
Rivera.
2. He decided not to seek his parents’ blessing knowing they would never approve of
his plan.
3. He secured endorsements from Pedro Paterno.
4. His first stop was in Singapore; Colombo in Sri Lanka; Aden in Yemen; and crossed
the entire length of the Suez Canal. They landed at Port Said, Egypt; Naples in Italy;
and disembarked in Marseilles, France.
Activities in Marsailles

1. Jose Rizal went to Château d'If, the venue of Alexandre Duma’s novel, The Count of
Monte Cristo.
2. He boarded in Portbou. He noticed the indifference of the Spanish immigration
officers compared to the courteous French counterparts.

Arrival in Spain
1. He first stopped in Barcelona, the capital of the Spanish province, Cataluña.
According to him, the people were different and he arrived during the summer
vacation of the students.
 In this city, he found out that the people of the city enjoyed freedom and
liberalism.
 He wrote essays for Diariong Tagalog.

 “Amor Patrio” (Love of Country)

 “Los Viajes” (Travels)
 “Revista de Madrid” (Review of Madrid)
 He met his classmates from Ateneo at the Plaza de Cataluña.
2. Madrid
 He enrolled at the Universidad Central de Madrid on November 3, 1882. He
enrolled in the following courses:
 Medicine
 Philosophy and Letters
 He took courses at the Academy of San Carlos
 Painting and sculpture
 Languages: French, German, and English
 He took private lessons at the hall of Sanz and Carbonell
 Shooting
 Fencing
d. Important people he met:
 Dr. Miguel Morayta, and advocate of freedom and self-determination.
Students from South America hailed Dr. Morayta as their champion. He
joined his students and other supporters to this end.
 Don Pablo Ortega y Rey, a Spanish liberal who used to live in
Philippines.
e. Jose Rizal joined the Circulo Hispano Filipino.
  It was a social organization where the members talked on the reforms
needed in the Philippines.
 This group was mostly made up of elder Filipinos who were the exiles
of 1872.
 It held informal programs which included poetry reading and debates.
f. Jose Rizal joined freemasonry.
 He became a member and his Masonic name was “Dimasalang”.
 Freemasonry was an organization outlawed by the Catholic Church
because its beliefs are contrary to the doctrines of the church.
 A mason’s view is that knowledge should be achieved by the light of the
reason and universal brotherhood of men. Rizal adopted the Masonic
view.
 Masonry attacked the church because they believe it promoted religious
superstition, hiding truth behind the veil of religion.
g. He was an avid book collector. He scrimped on food and clothes, and lived in
modest accommodations but he bought books. Important books collected:
 Uncle Tom’s Cabin written by Harriet Beecher Stowe
 works of Alexandre Dumas
 The Wandering Jew written by Eugene Sue
 Lives if the Presidents of the United States from George Washington to
Andrew Johnson
 The Complete Works of Horace (3 Volumes)
h. Events on June 25, 1884
 Juan Luna was awarded the top prize for his painting Spolarium while
Felix Resurrection Hidalgo took the second place for his painting
Virgines Christianas Expuestas al Populacho (Christian Virgins Exposed
to the Population)
 The Filipino painters joined the National Exposition of Fine Arts.
 Jose Rizal gave a speech in public audience saying that Luna and Hidalgo
were the pride of the Filipino people; that genius is not a monopoly of
any race and their prizes were products of both Philippines and Spain. He
voiced the hope that, someday, Spain will grant the reforms needed by
Filipinos.
 This speech was published in the newspaper El Liberal. this reached the
Philippines and there were elements in the Philippines who were not
pleased with this development.
i. Completion of His Studies
 He completed his Licenciado en Medicina on June 21, 1884. He did not
have his Doctorate in Medicine because he did not present the thesis
required for graduation. He can practice medicine with the acquisition of
this degree but he cannot teach medicine.
  He finished his studies in Philosophy and Letters and obtained the degree
Licenciado en Filosofia y Letras with the rating of sobresaliente.
j. He started writing the novel Noli Me Tangere when he was still a student at the
Central University of Madrid.
 He was inspired to write after reading Uncle Tom’s Cabin by Harriet
Beecher Stowe. This book is about the trial and hardship of the black
slaves and awakened in him his inherent love and concern for the
afflicted.
 On January 2, 1884, the Filipino expatriates had a meeting at the house of
Paterno brothers. It was during this meeting that the Filipinos who
attended agreed to write a novel about the Philippines. These were Pedro
Paterno, Maximo Paterno, Antonio Paterno, Graciano Lopez Jaena,
Evaristo Aguirre, and Eduardo de Lete.
 The plan did not materialize and Jose Rizal was left to write the novel. He
started writing in Madrid and he continued to write while he was in
France and Germany. Final revisions were made in Berlin.
 He could not afford the printing cost but was saved by his friend, Maximo
Viola. He lent Jose ₱5300, the needed amount for the first 2,000 copies
of the novel.
 On March 29, 1887, the novel was printed in Berlin. The first recipients
of the novel were Dr. Ferdinand Blumentritt, Dr. Antonio Ma. Regidor,
Graciano Lopez Jaena, Mariano Ponce, and Felix Resurreccion Hidalgo.
 As a way of showing appreciation, he gave the original manuscript of the
Noli Me Tangere and a complimentary copy to Maximo Viola.
 Jose Rizal explained the title “Noli Me Tangere” mean “Touch Me Not.”
This was from the bible, from the Gospel of St. John.
 The book was dedicated to the Philippines, his fatherland.

Paris, France
1. He arrived in Paris on November 1885.
2. He worked as an assistant to Dr. louis de Weckert.
3. He found time to be with his friend, Pardo de Taveras, Juan Luna, and Felix Resurrection
Hidalgo.
4. He posed for Juan Luna's paintings.
5. Composed songs: "Alin Mang Lahi" and "La Deportacion"

Germany
1. On February 1886, he arrived in Heidelberg, an old university town.
 a. He worked as an assistant to Dr. Otto Becker at the University Eye Hospital.
b. He listened to the lectures of Dr. Becker and Prof. Wilhelm Kuehne.
c. He wrote the poem, "To the Flowers of Heidelberg."
d. He spent his summer vacation jn 1886 in Wilhelmsfeld where he lived with Protestant
pastor Karl Ulmer to perfect his ability to speak german.
e. He started his correspondence with Prof. Ferdinand Blumentritt, Aritmertica by Rufino
Baltazar.

2. On August 1886, he arived in Leipzig.

a. He met Prof. Friedrich Ratzel and Dr. Hans Meyer who wrote a book on the
Philippines.
b. He translated Schiller's William Tell to Tagalog. The book narrates how the Swiss
attained their independence in a peaceful manner.
c. He translated Hans Christian Andersen's Fairy Tales to Tagalog for his nephew and
niece.

3. On October 29, 1886, he arrived in Dresden.

a. He saw the painting of Raphael, the Sistine Madonna.
b. At the Zoological, Anthropological and Ethnographic Museum, he saw the collection
on the Philippines.

4. Berlin
a. He met Dr. Feodor Jagor who wrote Travels in the Philippines.
b. He met Drs. Rudolf and his son, Hans Virchow, two known German Anthropologists;
Dr. W. Joest; and Dr. Ernest Schweigger, a known ophthalmologist.
c. He became a member of the Anthropological Society, the Ethnographic Society, and
the Geographic Society.
- His paper entitled "Tagalische Verkunst" was delivered before the members.
- He was accepted and became a very respected member.
d. He made the final revisions on the novel Noli Me Tangere. On March 29, 1887, the
novel was finally printed. (For the summary of the Noli Me Tangere, see pages 58-60.)

5. He went to Prague to visit the tomb of Nicolaus Copernicus.

Departure from Europe

1. In Geneva, Switzerland, Maximo Viola and Jose Rizal parted ways. Viola returned to Spain.
2. Rizal continued to Rome, Italy.
3. In Marseilles, France, he boarded Djemnah to Saigon, Vietnam and finally, Manila.
4. He arrived in Manila.

Jose Rizal Returned to Calamba

1. He established a clinic and his first patient was his mother.
2. He treated his mother's eyes.
3. He worked as a town physician.
4. He was called to Malacañang by Gov. Gen. Emilio Terrero due to the controversy
raised by Noli Me Tangere. The first copies had arrived in Manila.
5. Lt. Jose Taviel de Andrade was assigned to watch over Jose Rizal.
6. After a review of the Noli Me Tangere, it was found out that the book was heretic,
impious, unpatriotic, subversive and injurious to the government of Spain in the Philippines. It
was recommended that the importation, reproduction, and distribution of the book should be
prohibited.
7. Gov. Gen. Terrero requested Jose Rizal to leave the country.
8. Investigation on the Calamba problem.

The Protesta De Calamba

While Rizal was staying in Calamaba, Governor General Emilio Terrero ordered an
investigation of the friar landholdings. The colonial government suspected that the Calamba
estate might be evading the full payment of taxes, and the Public Treasury Department decided to
check on its returns by asking how much they were paying to tge administrators of the estate.

Rizal was involved in this investigation by helping to draft an informative report on the
agrarian situation in Calamba. The tenants reported that they were losing money to the advantage
of the Dominican administrators. They said that"... that The Dominican langholdings comprised
not only the lands around Calamba but the whole town including the houses of the people."
Secondly, Rizal alleged that the Dominicans increased their income by arbitrarily increasing the
rent of the tenants. According to them, the hacienda raised rent every year. Thirdly, it was said
that the hacienda owner, the Dominicans, did not contribute a single centavo for the town fiesta;
fourthly, the tenants who worked clearing the lands were dispossed of such lands; and lastly there
were high rates of interest changed for delayed payment of rentals and if the rentals could not be
paid, the management of the hacienda would confiscate the carabaos, tools, and homes of the
tenants.

The tenants' report was followed by a petition to the government questioning the
legitimacy of the landholdings of the Dominicans or at least parts of it.
 The allegations of the tenants were not entirely true. A study of the other side of the
controversy uncovers the truth. While it was true that the Dominicans controlled vast
landholdings not only in Calamba, they also controlled landholdings in the neighboring towns of
Biñan, San Pedro, and Santa Rosa, these lands were actually titled in the name of the Order.
Moreover, many lands were rent free for settlers for many years. The Calamba landholdings was
extended to Los Baños. In 1885, Paciano was allowed to clear and cultivate the land in Barrio
Pansol. Under the contract with the Dominican administrators, they will not receive payment
from Paciano for the next five years. During those years, it was reported that the land produced
bountiful harvests. In anticipation of Don Francisco Mercado’s death, the Dominican
administrators also allowed Rizal’s sisters to hold land leases under very favorable terms.

The income from the Dominican landholdings did not necessarily enrich the Dominican
Order as rent earned from these lands were used to maintain churches and institutions like the
University of Santo Tomas and The College of Letran. Since it was given the status of a royal
university, the University of Santo Tomas was prohibited from receiving any subsidy from the
government. Income from the landholdings also supported the Dominican seminary and
missionary works within and outside the country, especially in China.

The Dominicans contributed to the town fiesta and to other similar activities. Increases in
rent happened as costs increased. The increases in rent mentioned in legal’s novel were not
realistic as the increased charged were very low. The agricultural production on these lands was
abundant because of the work of the tenants and their sharecroppers and also because of the
investments made by the Dominicans. The Dominicans had to stop the tenants from neglecting
their land at the expense of their heirs. In many instances, the tenants lost their money not
because of poor harvests but because of gambling which takes place in the house of Rizal’s
sister, Lucia

In cases of failure to pay due to poor harvests and low prices of agricultural products, the
hacienda administrators actually provided generous grace periods that gave the tenants enough
time to pay their rents. After Rizal had left the Calamba in February 1888, the tenants to pay until
they were forced to file a case in court in 1889. An amicable settlement was agreed upon but this
eventually failed. The tenants won their case at the justice of the Peace of Calamba, but the
tenants lost when the case was appealed at the provincial court in Santa Cruz, Laguna, then at the
higher tribunal in Manila and ultimately at the Supreme Court in Madrid.

When the defiant tenants refused to obey the decision of the tribunal of Santa Cruz,
agents of the court, supported by a detachment of soldiers, evicted the families and destroyed
around 50 houses in the Hacienda de Calamba. The Rizal family was one of those affected by the
eviction. When the tenants began to return, Governor General Valenciano Weyler, who replaced
Governor General Terrero, sent more soldiers and ordered the deportation to Mindoro of 25
individuals including Paciano and Rizal’s brothe-in-law, Silvestre Ubaldo. Another brother-in-law
Manuel Hidalgo, was banished to Bohol.

Various author attributed the eviction of Rizal’s family and other tenants from Calamba to
the controversy over the Noli Me Tangere and their influence of the friars in the government. The
real cause of the eviction was that the tenants refused to pay the annual rent demanded by the
hacienda administrators. These situations were reflected in Rizal’s second El Filibusterismo in the
family of Cabesang Tales.

While still in Calamba, Rizal was seen as a troublemaker and a rabble-rouser. His family
received threats on his life. Word was spread that he was a mason and that he was a sorcerer, and a
spy of German Chancellor Otto von Bismarck. Rumors were spread against him, that he and Lt.
Taviel de Andrade raised a German flag atop Mt. Makiling and claimed the Philippines for
Germany.

Departure For Europe

His family was worried for his safety every time he leaves the house. Rizal took the
necessary precautions. Though invited to several banquets, he avoided them. People said that he
carried a special spoon which changes color whenever it was dipped in food because it was spiked
with poison. The friars exerted pressure on Governor General Terrero to have him arrested or
deported. The governor refused to act seeing that there was no valid cause to arrest Rizal. One day,
Terrero summoned Rizal to Malacañang advised hi to leave Philippines for his own good. His
continued presence caused undue anxiety on his family. While meeting with a seaman, Perfecto
Rufino Riego who later helped him in smuggling copies of the Noli Me Tangere into the colony,
Rizal confided to him that the friars offered him money that could be withdrawn anywhere abroad if
he only stopped attacking them. He refused the offer saying that he did not need their money.

Just before leaving Calamba, he composed a poem entitled “Himmo al Trabajo” (“Hymn
to Labor”) which commemorated the elevation of Lipa, Batangas into the status under the Bacerra
Law of 1888.

Second Trip to Europe

He Traveled through Asia

1. in Hong Kong
a. He was met by Jose Ma. Basa and other Filipino who were exiled due to the
secularization issue of 1872.
b. He studied the Chinese language, Chinese drama and theater, Chinese cultures, and
Chinese values.
c. He visited Macau, a Portuguese colony near Hong Kong.
 2. He visited Japan.
a. He stayed in Yokohama.
b. He studied the Japanese language, Japanese culture, theaters, martial arts, and he
visited shrines.
c. On the way to the United States, on board a ship, he met Tetcho Suehiro.
 Suehiro wrote the book Dead Traveler. In this book, he described his travel
from Japan to the U.S. and his association with Jose Rizal.
 He wrote another book, Storm Over the Southern Sea. This is said to be
similar to Rizal’s Nolo Me Tangere.

In the United States of America

1. The entire boat was quarantined when it docked in San Francisco on April 28, 1888.
The reason given was because the boat came from a land where cholera was rampant.
In reality, it was because the boat carried several Chinese coolies and laborers who
accepted cheap labor, displacing the American laborers. This situation was resolved and
the passengers were allowed to disembark safely.
2. He traveled westward trough Reno, Utah, Colorado, Nebraska, Chicago, Albany, and
Ney York City.
3. His comments on America:
a. The United States was a progressive and prosperous country.
b. There was lack of racial equality because there was racial prejudice against the
blacks.
c. America was a land of fairness and justice but only for the whites.

Liverpool, England

He reached Liverpool, England on May 24, 1888. Immediately after his arrival, he left
for London.

1. He was met by Dr. Antonio Ma. Regidor, also an exile of 1872. Dr. Regidor
practiced law in London.
2. Jose Rizal was introduced to Dr. Reinhold Rost, the librarian of the ministry of the
Foreign Affairs in England. He was also an authority on Malay languages and
customs.
3. His objectives for choosing to live in London were:
a. To do research on Philippine History; and
 b. To annotate Antonio Morga’s Sucesos de las islas Filipinas, a rare Philippine
history book available at the British Museum.

He transferred to Paris

1. He continued his research on Philippine history at the Bibliotheque Nationale or the

National Library in paris.
2. He continued to work on his annotation of Antonio Morga’s Sucesos de las islas
Filipinas. He publishe his annotated version.
3. He studied the French language.
4. He wrote a volume of French exercises that the students of French language may use as a
textbook or workbook.
5. He founded that the Filipinos could excel intellectually and physically.
6. He published Por Telefono, an answer to Fr. Salvation Font, a Spanish friar who attacked
the Noli Me Tangere.

Activities in Brussels

1. He continued to write El Filibusterismo, his second novel.

2. He wrote articles for the La Solidaridad.
a. “La Verdad Para Los Todos” or “The Trurth for All People” appeared on the May 31,
1889 issue.
b. “Verdades Nuevas” or “New Truths” was published on July 31, 1889
c. “Una Profanacion” or “A Profanation” which also appeared on the july 31, 1889
issue.
d. “Diferencias” or “Differences,” September 15, 1889
e. “Filipinas Deentro de Cien Años” or “The Philippines a Century Hence” published in
four series, September 30, October 31, December 15, 1889 and February 1, 1890.
f. “Ingratitudes” which also meant “ingratitudes” in the English language was published
on January 15, 1890.
g. “Sin Nombre” or “Without Name,” February 28, 1890.
h. “Sobre la Nueva Ortografia de la Langua Tagala” or “On the New Orthotagraphy of
the Tagalog language,” April 15, 1890.
i. “Cosas de Filipinos” or “Things about the Philippines,” April 30, 1890.
3. Publication of the El Filibusterismo. Like Noli Me Tangere, money was very scarce. It
was financed by Valentin Ventura.
4. He received the news that the members of his family were deported to different places.
They also lost the agrarian case in Calamba.
5. Publication of El Filibusterismo (For the summary, see pages 61-63.)

The Decision to Transfer to Madrid

 1. The case of Rizal was elevated to the Supreme Court in Madrid. Rizal wanted to pay
attention to the case. The Calamba residents were to leave the town, their houses were
burned, and more people were exiled, including the entire Rizal Family.
2. He wrote a poem entitled “A Mi Musa” (To My Muse)
3. Rivalry between Rizal and M.H. del Pilar
a. Another group of Filipinos was being formed in Madrid. This was composed of
disgruntled students who viewed that the members of the Circulo Hispano Filipino
were inclined to accommodation, moderation, and politeness toward the Spaniards
than actually fighting for reforms in the Philippines.
b. Another organization was formed, this was the Asosacion Hispano Filipino. It was
headed by Dr. Miguel Morayta, a Spanish professor and a Mason Grandmaster. In a
meeting to decide where the direction of Propaganda was going, the group started
with an election of the leader. There were 90 Filipino members. An election was held
and it was a contest between Jose Rizal and M.H. del Pilar. For two canvassings, del
Pilar lead the votes but there was no majority. Finally, on the third attempt, Jose Rizal
won nut Jose chose to leave than divide the Filipinos in Madrid.
4. Paciano, his elder brother, advised Jose not to returned to the Philippines but he
compromised that Jose can return to the East, near enough for his parents and relatives to
visit him but he cannot be disturbed by Spaniards. He left for Hong Kong.

Productive Life in Hong Kong

1. Jose Ma. Basa initially paid for his fare to Hong Kong.
2. With his undesirable experience in Madrid, he decided to leave the political life in Europe
and concentrate on his endeavors.
3. He applied for his license to practice medicine in Hong Kong and this was granted.
4. He had a reunion with his siblings and his parents. He supported them in Hong Kong.
5. His friendship with Dr. Lorenzo P. Marquez helped him start his practice in Hong Kong.
6. He went to Sandakan, Borneo to look for an alternative place for displaced Calamba
farmers.
7. Writings
a. He translated The Rights of Man written in French to Tagalog, Ang Mga Karapatan
ng Tao.
b. He was never idle as he stayed in one place. He had his lucrative practice, but he still
look time to write.
c. He tried to finish his third novel, Makamisa, in Tagalog but gave it up. Paciano
started translating the Noli ME Tangere in Tagalog.
d. He wrote “A la Nacion Española” (“To the Spanish Nation”), an appeal to Spain to
right the wrongs done to the Calamba tenants.
 8. Jose Ma. Basa thought the idea of an organized group of Filipinos toward the attainment
of the liberty of the people of the Philippines. This was later named La Liga.
9. Return to the Philippines
a. He wanted to face Gov. Gen. Eulogio Despujol on the fate of his North Borneo
project since the governor general remained silent on Jose Rizal’s petition.
b. Together with his sister Lucia, Rizal left Hong Kong and returned to Manila.

Years of Exile in Dapitan

1. On his arrival, he was met by Apolinario Mabini, Andres Bonifacio, Ambrosio Salvador,
Pedro Serrano Laktaw, Deodato Arellano, and other patriots. They met in Ilaya Street
and formed the La Liga Filipina (The Filipino League).
2. He took a train in Tutuban and visited Malolos, Bulacan; San Fernando, Pampanga;
Tarlac; and Bacolor, Pampanga.
3. Handbills were found in Lucia’s pillows entitled “Pobles Frailes”. Jose Rizal admitted
that those bills belonged to him. He was ordered arrested by Despujol.
4. He was ordered exiled to Dapitan, North Zamboanga.
a. The prisoner was handed over to Captain Ricardo Carnicero, the political military
governor of Dapitan, an isolated Spanish outpost in northern Mindanao.
b. One of the passengers was Fr. Pablo Pastells, S.J.
c. He won in a lottery with Captain Carnicero and Francisco Equilor. He bought land in
Talisay. He had a house, a clinic, and a school constructed on his land.
d. He continued to correspond and send various species of plants, animals, and insects to
other European scientists.
e. Animal species named after Jose Rizal:
 Rhacophorus rizali, a frog
 Apogonia rizali, a beetle
f. He constructed a huge relief map of Mindanao at the town plaza with the help of Fr.
Sanchez.
g. He helped in the livelihood of the people.
 He modeled an invention on a Belgian example of making bricks.
 He taught the people to run a cooperative to ensure they have an income from
buying and selling abaca and its products.
h. Poems written while he was in Dapitan:
 “El Canto del Viajero”
 “A Ricardo Carnicero”
i. He did an operation on his mother’s eyes.
j. He studied the native medicinal plants of Dapitan so he could prescribe these to his
patients.
k. Mr. George Tauffer was brought to him in Dapitan with Josephine Bracken.
 l. Dr. Pio Valenzuela arrived in Dapitan with a blind man, Raymundo Mata. Dr.
Valenzuela imparted to Jose Rizal the intents of the revolution.
m. Dr. Ferdinand Bluementritt updated Jose Rizal on world events. He suggested that
Rizal volunteer his services to the Spanish government and join forces as a doctor in
Cuba as a means to end his exile.
n. Gov. Gen. Ramos Blanco granted Jose Rizal’s request. On July 30, 1896, he was
granted a safe conduct pass. Rizal returned to Manila on board the streamer España.

The Final Chapter of His Life

1. While on board the steamer España, awaiting another ship that will transport him to
Spain and eventually to Cuba, Philippine Revolution broke out.
2. He was transferred to another ship that left for Spain.
3. He was arrested while cursing the Mediterranean Sea. He was imprisoned in Barcelona,
Spain and was immediately deported back to Manila.
4. In Manila, he was imprisoned in Fort Santiago. He was tried on the charges of rebellion,
sedition, and illegal association.
5. He was found guilty and was sentenced to death through a firing squad on December 30,
1896.