Module 6

RIZAL'S HEROISM, THE NATION, AND THE

WORLD
This module discusses how the greatness of Rizal continues to live on in the present. Section l, Life in Exile
gives an account of Rizal's life when he was captured and exiled by the Spanish authorities. Section 2, Trial
and Execution focuses on the details of Rizal's eventual death. Section 3, The Transcendental Hero
highlights the impact of Rizal on Philippine society.

Section 1
LIFE IN EXILE
This section focuses on the life of Jose Rizal while exiled in Dapitan. It narrates how Rizal, as an ilustrado,
perceives the nation through his experiences with the cultural minorities and a display of his unrelenting
nationalism. This section shows how Rizal valued life and his country.

INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES

At the end of this section, the students should be able to:
1. explain how Rizal spent "the most productive years of his life" in exile; and
2. evaluate Rizal's disposition about an armed rebellion for Philippine independence.

DIAGNOSTICS
Hypothetical Thinking
Even in exile, Rizal still embodied nationalism. He dedicated his time to helping other people. If you are
given just four years to live (similar to the number of years Rizal spent in exile), what are the things that
you would most likely do and with whom would you want to spend your remaining years?

Instructions: Present your answer in class in the most creative way, such as by a monologue, a short video,
or a diary entry.

The life of Jose Rizal has been narrated and talked about in countless academic works, from his early
childhood up to his life abroad. However, his experience as an exile in Dapitan is often overlooked.

When Rizal returned to Manila on June 26, 1892, he was already declared as an enemy of the state because
of his novels. His every move was monitored by the Spanish authorities, searching all houses he frequented
and interrogating the people he knew. Despite this, on July 3, 1892, Rizal and his friends were still able to
establish La Liga Filipina. The group's safehouse was the house of Doroteo Ongjunco located in Tondo,
Manila.

The La Liga Filipina, a social reformist group advocating social reforms through legal means, was
considered a threat by the Spanish authorities which led to Rizal's arrest on July 6, 1892. The then Gov.
Gen. Eulogio Despujol ordered the arrest as a political move to appease the friars. He publicized in Graceta
de Manila that the grounds for Rizal's arrest were his anti-Catholic and anti-friar stance which manifested
in his writings.

After his arrest, Rizal was deported to Dapitan, a province in Zamboanga, a place far from his family and
friends so that communication with them would be difficult. Further, the Spanish authorities believed
that sending Rizal to Dapitan would make his life miserable. However, Rizal proved them wrong. In
fact, being an exile was considered a very fruitful episode of his life.
While in Dapitan, Rizal focused on serving the people and society through his civic works, medical
practices, agricultural projects, and education. He also devoted his time to improving his artistic and literary
skills. Rizal, however, did not forget what he liked doing most—writing letters to his friends in Europe,
especially to Ferdinand Blumentritt and Reinhold Rost.

Rizal also became more interested in studying the lifestyle, values, and beliefs of the cultural
minorities. Since he was living within their community, he realized that they should not be excluded
from the narrative of the Philippine society. In his day to day interactions with them, Rizal
understood that they were important in the formation of a national consciousness.

In the course of his exile, the Spanish authorities offered to pardon him if he would retract his proclamations
against the Church. Rizal did not yield. He was still very vocal in his contempt toward the practices of the
Catholic Church. Jesuit priests put in a lot of effort so that Rizal would perform religious rites and submit
himself to confession. He engaged in scholarly debates about religion with Fray Pablo Pastells, the Superior
of the Jesuit mission in the Philippines. This exchange of heated arguments further revealed the anti-
Church Rizal—his disdain for the abuses committed by the friars. Just like the previous attempts of
other friars, Fray Pastells tried his best to make Rizal reconsider his stance against the Church but
it was all in vain.

It was during his exile that Rizal met Josephine Bracken. Bracken accompanied her blind foster father,
George Taufer, who came to seek Rizal's help about his cataract. Rizal and Bracken instantly fell in love.

Dr. Pio Valenzuela was sent as an emissary by Andres Bonifacio, the leader of the Katipunan, to seek
Rizal's opinion and approval of an armed rebellion against the Spanish authorities. Rizal was outrightly
opposed to the idea of an armed rebellion. For him, the Filipinos did not need to wage a bloody revolution
to gain independence. He believed that Filipinos were not yet united and fully educated, and that the
Katipunan lacked the machinery to defeat the Spaniards. At this point, Rizal was hoping for concessions
and reforms from Spain.

EXERCISE 6.1.1 Jose Rizal by Profession

Instructions: Watch the film Rizal sa Dapitan (1997). Afterwards, in pairs, identify the five different
professions that Rizal practiced while in exile. Explain how Rizal carried out these professions.

EXERCISE 6.1.2 The Turning Point

Andres Bonifacio, through Dr. Pio Valenzuela, sought Rizal's opinion and approval in launching an armed
rebellion against the Spanish administration. Rizal staunchly opposed the rebellion saying that the Filipinos
were not yet fully ready for independence.
Instructions: Write a 500-word essay about your opinion of Rizal's rejection of the Katipunan's intent to
stage an armed rebellion.

Section 2
TRIAL AND EXECUTION
This section presents the journey of Jose Rizal to Bagumbayan— from his last homecoming to his trial and
death.

INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES

At the end of this section, the students should be able to:
1. identify the accusations that led to Rizal's trial and execution;
2. analyze the effects of Rizal's execution on Spanish colonial rule and the Philippine revolution; and
3. debate on the issue of Rizal's alleged retraction letter.
DIAGNOSTICS
Instructions:
1. In groups of four members each, research on a famous celebrity or personality who faced a court trial.
2. Read and familiarize yourselves with the overview of the case and take note of the following information:
a. What case was filed?
b. Who was the legal counsel of the defendant and what pieces of evidence were presented in his or her
defense?
c. Who was the prosecuting lawyer and what pieces of evidence were presented to prove his or her guilt?
d. What was the verdict?

Jose Rizal is regarded as one of the martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the attainment of the rights of the
Filipinos and of Philippine freedom. Martyrs usually suffer due to their religious faith and beliefs. But a
martyr can also suffer persecution and death for advocating, renouncing, and refusing to advocate or
renounce a belief as demanded by an external party. Rizal is truly a martyr for demonstrating an unwavering
commitment to free the Filipinos from colonial bondage.

Rizal's death was considered as an impactful episode in Philippine history because it was not only the
death of a martyr but also the birth of reforms in society and the transformation of the lives of
Filipinos. Rizal was charged and put to death for what his enemies considered as "subversion." He
was also accused of forming an organization that posted a severe threat to the existing social order at
that time.

Even the supposed trial where Rizal could have defended himself was a hoax. There was allegedly a
preliminary investigation that ran for five days. After the investigation, Rizal was said to have been
informed of the charges against him before a judge advocate.

Rizal was presented with two kinds of evidence, documentary evidence and testimonials, which he could
not refute. The documentary evidence included but not limited to the following: the letters he wrote to the
propagandists and to his family, and the letters he received from them; the poem Kundiman; and a Masonic
document honoring Rizal's patriotic services. Also found as documentary evidence was a letter signed
by Dimasalang (pen name of Jose Rizal) which stated that he prepared a safe refuge for Filipinos who
suffered persecution from the Spanish authorities; an anonymous and undated letter to the editor of
a Hong Kong telegraph censuring the banishment of Rizal to Dapitan; a transcript of the speech of
Pingkian (pen name of Emilio Jacinto) in a reunion of the Katipunan; a transcript of the speech of
Tik-Tik (pen name of Jose Turiano Santiago); and a poem by Laong Laan (another pen name of Jose
Rizal) titled "Himno A Talisay."

Testimonies against Rizal were given by Martin Constantino, Aguedo del Rosario, Jose Reyes, Moises
Salvador, Jose Dizon, Domingo Franco, Deodato Arellano, Pio Valenzuela, Antonio Salazar, Francisco
Quison, and Timoteo Paez. Rizal, however, did not know or had not met most of the people included in the
list.

Rizal was immediately sent to trial and held in prison after the evidences were reviewed. Alongside his
incarceration, his properties were seized as indemnity and he had to pay one million pesos. Instead of a
civilian lawyer, an army officer, Luis Taviel de Andrade, represented Rizal in court.

During the trial, Rizal defended himself when he said that he did not question the jurisdiction of the
court, but he had nothing to admit on the charges against him as well as on the declarations of the
witnesses who testified against him. What he only needed to clarify was the charge that he dealt with
political matters while in exile. Despite all pleadings, the court voted for Rizal to be sentenced to
death.
Rizal spent his last 24 hours in his prison cell. During his last hours, he was visited by his family and
wrote a letter to his "second brother" Ferdinand Blumentritt. Then, in the morning of December 30,
1896, Rizal set on his walk from Fort Santiago to Bagumbayan square where he eventually faced his
death. Up to the last minute at Fort Santiago, Rizal defied orders from his captors as he was
instructed to face the sea and turn his back against the firing squad. But Rizal wanted to do otherwise.
Instead, he faced the firing squad to show his innocence of the charges thrown at him. But the Spanish
authorities forced him to face backwards and shot him at the back instead of the head. The shot at
the back allowed him to turn his body sideways and fell on the ground with his face upward. Rizal's
last word, as that of Jesus Christ, was "Consummatum Est" —It is finished.

After 39 years from Rizal's death, one significant issue that came out in 1935 was the argument about Rizal's
retraction of all his statements against the Catholic Church and the Spanish government via a document—
a handwritten retraction letter allegedly written by Rizal. Up to this point, the authenticity of the document
has been a subject of debate.

EXERCISE 6.2.1 What's in a Poem

Instructions: Read Rizal's poem, Mi Ültimo Adiös (My Last Farewell), written on the eve of his execution.
(A Tagalog translation of the poem by Andres Bonifacio is also provided for you.) Write an analysis of the
message Rizal wanted to convey through the literary piece. Consider the existing social circumstances when
it was written and determine its historical significance. Your analysis will be evaluated using the rubrics
provided.

EXERCISE 6.2.3 Did Rizal Retract?

Debate
The controversy on the retraction letter that Rizal allegedly wrote regarding his statements against the
Catholic Church and Spanish rule has not been resolved yet.
Instructions:
1. Debate on the following premise: Rizal retracted his statement against the Catholic Church and the
Spanish rule.
2. Form groups with four members each. (The teacher will choose one group to be the adjudicators and will
decide on which groups will oppose one another.) Then, through drawing lots, determine the groups which
will be on the affirmative side (Rizal retracted his statements) and the groups which will be on the negative
side (Rizal did not retract his statements).
3. Prepare for the debate by reading some materials and online resources that discuss both sides of the issue
on Rizal's retraction. Present the pieces of evidence that prove your group's side. (The debate will be
conducted in class and debaters will be evaluated using the rubrics to be provided by the teacher.)

Section 3
THE TRANSCENDENTAL HERO
This section discusses the impact of Rizal and his lasting contributions to Philippine society. It presents the
reasons why Rizal is considered a national hero.

INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES

At the end of this section, the students should be able to:
1. discuss the various representations of Rizal as a national hero; and
2. evaluate and demonstrate the relevance of Rizal as a national hero to the 21st-century Filipinos.

DIAGNOSTICS
Instructions:
1. Think of a person outside your family whom you consider a hero according to your own standards.
2. On a sheet of paper, list down the reasons why you consider this person a hero. Specify instances when
this person showcased heroic traits.

From what have been said about him in the previous chapters of this book, it is evident how great Jose Rizal
is. His greatness did not fade even after his death. More scholars from both the Philippines and the world
studied about him and his contributions to Filipino national consciousness. Whether those studies
compliment or criticize Rizal, the power of Rizal's character and influence that transcend geographical and
generational is unquestionable.

From the annals of history, it can be noted that despite his middle class status, he also struggled and suffered
because of the prevailing social conditions during those times. He was so talented and skilled that he always
had the advantage over his contemporaries, in terms of education and the fight against the excesses of the
friar-led Spanish colonial rule.

His leadership skills were also exceptional as he led the Propaganda Movement—the unwavering campaign
for political and social reforms. He showcased his writing skills when he wrote for the La Solidaridad to
translate the pleas of the propagandists.

Rizal's aspiration for what is ideal never ended. This aspiration took the form of fighting against injustice
in society. His fervid goal while growing up and being educated was the liberation of his fellow Filipinos
from the bondage of political tyranny and the corollaries, misery, and ignorance associate with it.

The First Filipino

Jose Rizal was the central figure of the revolutionary movement. He was a poet, novelist, ophthalmologist,
historian, doctor, polemical essayist, and moralist.

He was the "first Filipino" as evidenced by his novels, especially Noli Me Tangere. In this novel, Rizal
pictured the Philippines as a nation even though those who lived in it had no common name yet to refer to
themselves, apart from the pejorative terms indio and mestizo that the Spanish colonizers called them. Rizal
then was the first to imagine this social whole which explains why he is remembered today as the first
Filipino.

He was also the first one to use the term "Filipino." To prove that the Filipino natives had a culture of their
own prior to colonization, and that they were not inferior to the white man, he studied Philippine history.
His interest in this aspect of our nationhood was what compelled him to annotate Antonio de Morga's
Sucesos de las Islas Filipinas. Rizal shattered the myth of the indolence of the Filipinos because he
believed that the Filipino is a worthy race. He likewise intensively studied Tagalog and attempted to
produce a comprehensive Tagalog dictionary to slam the Filipinos who belittled their native tongue.
He still embraced the term indio despite all the negative connotations, and turned it to a term of
dignity and nobility.

It is also noteworthy to mention that Rizal's foremost dream was for the Philippines to be known as a nation
of writers and intellectuals. He aimed at making the Filipino race known in the world. Rizal's constant effort
to improve himself showed how much he valued his own education. He even took sculpting and painting
aside from the prescribed academic subjects. To further improve his craft, he learned other languages
including German, which enabled him to translate Friedrizh Schiller's Wilhelm Tell into Tagalog.
And finally, he constantly kept himself updated on the current trends in science and philosophy by
reading and attending scholarly dialogues. Rizal hoped that this achievements would influence all
Filipinos to build a legacy.

Ideals and Philosophies

Rizal's achievements secured him a status unparalleled by any other Filipino, not in his time and at
present. His greatness can be seen in the different ideals and philosophies he wanted his generation
and the future generations to live by. Listed below are some of his ideals and philosophies.
• His social philosophy deals with man in society, influential factors in human life, racial problems, social
conflicts, and social justice. This also includes poverty and wealth, social ideals, reforms, youth and
greatness, history and progress, and the future Philippines.
• Colonies should not be abused but instead trained for self- governance.
• Contrary to what the Spaniards taught, Rizal held that salvation was not only for the Catholics; that fasting
is not a sacrifice. He did not agree with the sale of religious items—cross, medals, rosaries, and the like.
• People should aim for the study of human behavior and the tendencies of being good and evil.
• The body of knowledge that a person should acquire includes the wisdom of humanhood developed
through people's experiences in society.
• Education was foremost for Rizal. He believed that education is vital in national development as itfrees
people from ignorance. Education can save the country from domination.

The Transcendental Hero

A hero is often defined as a prominent or central personage taking admirable part in any remarkable
action or event; a person of distinguished valor or enterprise in danger; and a person honored after
death by public worship because of their exceptional service to mankind. Having all the citations
about Jose Rizal, it is not anymore unthinkable that he was chosen as the national hero.

Rizal is the epitome of everything mentioned in the definitions of a hero. He is a towering figure of the
Propaganda Movement and in other affairs of the society. His works, achievements, and contributions in
various fields have been remarkably influential. Rizal, in the face of danger, was bold despite the odds. And
lastly, he was honored even more after his death because of the legacies he left behind.

No law, executive order, or proclamation has been enacted or issued that officially proclaims any Filipino
historical figure as a national hero (NHCP, 2012). Thus, Rizal's title is sometimes questioned. Accordingly,
the title that Rizal holds is more of a tribute to the continued veneration or acclamation of the people towards
him. In 1898, General Emilio Aguinaldo issued a decree that declares December 30 as a day of national
mourning for the heroes and victims of the Philippine Revolution, including Rizal. Then, in 1900, American
governor general and chairman of the 2nd Philippine Commission, William Howard Taft, suggested to
revere Rizal as a national hero. This is to recognize his contributions to the significant social transformations
that took place in the Philippines (NCCA, 2015). Instead of a single law hailing a national hero, laws and
proclamations were made in honor of all Filipino national heroes. In fact, 1996 was declared as the "Year
of the Filipino Heroes" in time for the centennial anniversary of the Philippine Revolution marked by the
Cry of Pugad Lawin in 1896. Then, August 30 was declared as the "National Heroes Day."

Despite the absence of an official declaration, Rizal has been a symbol of what the Filipinos lack as a
race. This is ironic though since Rizal was in search of a true Filipino identity which turned out to be
his own self. To date, Rizal is the most popular Filipino whose portraits and monuments are seen not
only in the Philippines but around the world.

Rizal is a Filipino hero because he embodied the qualities of a true hero and made Filipinos realize
the best of what they can be despite the difficult social conditions. Both his struggles and triumphs
inspired and ignited the Katipunan-led revolution, making the Philippines the first independent
republic in Asia. Up to this day, it is still what Rizal fought for that leads this generation to continue
realizing his dream of a nation where every Filipino is truly free.

EXERCISE 6.3.1 The Modern-Day Rizal

Instructions: Identify someone in the Philippines who can be regarded as the modern-day Rizal. Consider
the checklist of Rizal's values below to help you choose. Explain your choice.

Rizal's Values
 faith
 love
 hope
 peace
 patience
 temperance
 prudence
 resilience
 compassion
 mercy

EXERCISE 6.3.2 Making Use of Rizal's Ideologies

Instructions: Clip a short newspaper article dealing with any political issue. Write a problem-solution essay
with a critical application of an ideology which you deem the best in addressing the issue. Attach the cut-
out article at the back of this worksheet.
Ideologies of Rizal
a. Reform through non-violent means (passive means)
b. Reform through revolution (aggressive means)
c. Nationalism and patriotism