RIZAL’S LIFE:

FAMILY, EDUCATION, TRAVELS, TRIAL AND DEATH LESSON 3

INFLUENCES IN HIS BOYHOOD

•Hereditary Influence
•Environmental influence
•Aid of divine providence
Rizal’s Life Abroad

• After finishing the 4th year of the medical course in the

University of Santo Tomas, Rizal decided to finish
studying in Spain; also, for a “secret mission”—which was
to observe keenly the life and culture, languages and
customs, industries and commerce, and government and
laws of the European nations in order to prepare in the
mighty task of liberating the oppressed fellow Filipinos
from Spanish tyranny . This secret mission was likewise
disclosed by Paciano, in the letter to younger brother
Rizal, dated May 20, 1892.
Rizal’s Life Abroad
• On 3 May 1882, Rizal left Philippines for the first time to Spain. Rizal
boarded the Salvadora using a passport of Jose Mercado, which was procured
uncle Antonio Rivera, father of Leonor Rivera. Rizal was accompanied to the
quay where the Salvadora was moored by Antonio Rivera, Vicente Gella, and
Mateo Evangelista.
• The life of Jose Rizal abroad was not that easy at all. There was even a time
to skip a meal because there has no money to spare. Nevertheless, the great
European countries of Spain, France, Germany, England, Belgium, and Italy
had given great impressions to Rizal who had fun and learned a lot from the
people who were scholars and experts in the likes of Dr. Feodor Jagor, who
was a famous writer,and Dr. Louis de Weckert (1852-1906), a leading French
ophthalmologist whom Rizal has worked with as an assistant from November
1885 to February 1886. During the travels, Rizal was also able to worked on
the two novels Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo which can not be freely
written in the Philippines during that time.
Rizal’s Life Abroad

Jose Rizal had delivered a speech entitled ‘Brindis’ as a

toast to the triumph of Juan Luna’s Spolarium and Felix
Hidalgo’s Las Virgenes Cristianas Expuestas al populacho in
their work of arts whose works illuminates two ends of the
globe: East and West (Spain and the Philippines). It’s about
the acknowledgement and thanking them for the pride and
glory they gave to the Filipinos. But most of all, Rizal gives
praise to those youth’s actions that can make a difference
and contribute to the glory of the Philippines.
Rizal’s Life Abroad

Jose Rizal's Brindis Speech: A Toast Honoring Juan Luna and

Felix Resurreccion Hidalgo
Juan Luna -winner of the gold medal for his painting, “El
Spoliarium,” and,
Felix Resurrección Hidalgo-winner of a silver medal, for his
painting “Virgenes Cristianas Expuestas al Populacho” at a
Exposición Nacional de Bellas Artes de Madrid
Rizal’s Life Abroad

While in Europe Rizal had witness various historical events.

One of this is the Igorot Human Exhibition. José Rizal was
touring Europe in 1887 when Spain still ruled the
Philippines. Rizal was infuriated about the news that a
group of Igorots was brought to Madrid for the Exposición
de las Islas Filipinas, held in the city’s Zoological Garden.
Rizal was outraged. In the letter exchange with Ferdinand
Blumentritt, Rizal expressed great concern:
Rizal’s Life Abroad
Rizal’s Life Abroad

• Another event that Rizal had witnessed was the students

demonstrations in defense to Professor Morayta. On November 20,
21, and 22, 1884, the serene city of Madrid exploded in bloody riots by
the students of the Central University. These student demonstrations
were caused by the address of Dr. Miguel Morayta, professor of
history, at the opening ceremonies of the academic year on November
20, in which Morayta proclaimed “the freedom of science and the
teacher”. The Rector, who also took the side of the students, was
forced to resign and was replaced by Doctor Creus, “a very unpopular
man, disliked by everybody”. Jose Rizal on November 26, 1884 wrote
the recounting tumultuous riots to the family.
Rizal’s Exile, Trial and Death

• Rizal firmly believed that the fight for Filipino liberties had
assumed a new phase: it must be fought in the Philippines not in
Spain. “The battlefield is in the Philippines,” Rizal told fellow
Filipinos in Europe, “There is where we should meet… There we
will help one another, there together we will suffer or triumph
perhaps.”
• On June 26, 1892, Sunday at 12:00 noon, Rizal and widowed sister
Lucia (wife of late Mariano Herbosa) arrived in Manila. Rizal
founded La Liga Filipina and also went to Malacaǹang to seek
audience with the Governor -General Eulogio Despujol.
Rizal’s Exile, Trial and Death

• On July 6, 1892, Wednesday, Rizal went to Malacañang Palace to

resume the series of interviews with governor general. The
evidence Pobres Frailles (Poor Friars), incriminatory leaflets which
allegedly found in Lucia’s pillow cases; it is under the authorship
of Fr. Jacinto and printed by the Imprenta de los Amigos del Pais,
Manila.
• Rizal was placed under arrest and escorted to Fort Santiago by
Ramon Despujol, nephew and aide of Governor General Despujol.
On July 7, 1892- the Gaceta de Manila published the story of
Rizal’s arrest which produced indignant commotion among the
Filipino people, particularly the members of the newly organized
Liga Filipina.
Rizal’s Exile, Trial and Death

• On July 14, 1892, shortly after midnight (that is 12:30 am of July

15, 1892), Rizal was brought under heavy guard to the steamer
Cebu which was sailing for Dapitan. This steamer under Captain
Delgras departed at 1:00 AM, July 15, sailing south, passing
Mindoro and Panay and reaching Dapitan on Sunday, the 17th of
July at 7:00 in the evening. Captain Ricardo Carnicero- Spanish
commandant of Dapitan whom Captain Delgras handed Rizal. In
July 17, 1892- July 31, 2896- Rizal began the exile in lonely
Dapitan, a period of four years.
 Rizal’s Exile, Trial and Death
• Exile in Dapitan. Rizal lived in exile far-away Dapitan, a remote town in Mindanao which
was under the missionary jurisdiction of the Jesuits, from 1892 to 1896. Rizal practiced
medicine, pursued scientific studies, continued artistic and literary works, widened the
knowledge of languages, established a school for boys, promoted developments projects,
invented a wooden machine for making bricks, and engaged in farming and commerce.
Rizal lived in the house of the commandant, Captain Carnicero. The mail boat Butuan
brought the happy tidings that the Lottery Ticket no. 9736 jointly owned by Captain
Carcinero, Dr. Jose Rizal, and Francisco Equilior (Spanish resident of Dipolog, a
neighboring town of Dapitan) won the second prize of P20,000 in the government-owned
Manila Lottery. Winning in the Manila Lottery reveals an aspect of Rizal’s lighter side.
Rizal never drank hard liquor and never smoked but was a lottery addict. During the exile
in Dapitan, Rizal had a long and scholarly debate with Father Pastells on religion. In all
the letters to Father Pastells, Rizal revealed anti-Catholic ideas acquired in Europe and
embitterment at Rizal’s persecution by the bad friars. According to Rizal, individual
judgment is a gift from God and everybody should use it like a lantern to show the way
and that self-esteem, if moderated by judgment, saves humans from unworthy acts.
 Rizal’s Exile, Trial and Death
• Pablo Mercado, friar’s spy and posing as a relative, secretly visited Rizal’s home
on the night of November 3, 1891. Pablo Mercado claimed to be a friend and
relative, showed a photo of Rizal and a pair of buttons with the initials “P.M.”
(Pablo Mercado) as evidence of kinship with the Rizal family. But Pablo was
actually Florencio Namanan who was hired by the Recollect friars to a secret
mission in Dapitan— to spy on Rizal’s activities, and to filch certain letters and
writings of Rizal which might incriminate Rizal in the revolutionary movement.

• As physician in Dapitan, Rizal had many patients, but most of them were poor who
has to be given free medicine. Rizal became interested in local medicine and in
the use of medicinal plants and studied the medicinal plants of the Philippines
and their curative values. On August 1893- Rizal’s mother and sister, Maria,
arrived in Dapitan and lived with there for one year and a half. Rizal operated
Doña Teodora right eye.
 Rizal’s Exile, Trial and Death
• Upon arrival in Dapitan, Rizal decided to improve
it, to the best of God-given talents and to awaken
the civic consciousness of its people. Some of
Rizal’s efforts were focused on (1) Constructing
the town’s first water system; (2) Draining the
marshes in order to get rid of malaria that
infested Dapitan ;(3) Equiping the town with its
lighting system—this lighting system consisted of
coconut oil lamps placed in the dark streets of
Dapitan; and (4) Beautification of Dapitan—
remodeled the town plaza in order to enhance its
beauty.
Dam created by Jose Rizal when he was in Dapitan.
Photo retrieved from https://xiaochua.net/2013/07/23/xiao-time
 Rizal’s Exile, Trial and Death

• While being exiled, Rizal was consulted by the

Katipunan’s plan of revolution. Rizal objected to
Bonifacio’s audacious project to plunge the country in
bloody revolution sincerely believing that it was
premature, for two reasons: (1) the people are not
ready for a revolution (2) arms and funds must first be
collected before raising the cry of revolution.
 Rizal’s Exile, Trial and Death
• The Arrest and Trial. On December 17, 1895, Rizal wrote to Governor General Ramon
Blanco, Despujol’s successor, offering services as military doctor in Cuba and this was
granted. The revolution broke out and Rizal was arrested while en route to Spain,
imprisoned in Barcelona and sent back later to Manila to stand trial. Rizal was
charged with being a traitor to Spain and the mastermind of the revolution. Though
before leaving from the exile in Dapitan for Manila and then for Spain, Rizal had
issued a manifesto disavowing the revolution and declaring that the education of
Filipinos and their achievement of a national identity were prerequisites to freedom.

• Rizal was forced to face the accusations against him, rebellion, sedition and
conspiracy in a court martial. Don Luis Taviel de Andrade, 1st Lieutenant of the
Artillery was chosen as Rizal’s lawyer. On December 26, 1896, at 8:00am, the court-
martial of Rizal started in the military building called Cuartel de España. Lt. Col.
Togores Arjona- considered the trial over. After a short deliberation, the military
court unanimously voted for the sentence of death. Two days after December 28,
1896, Polavieja approved the decision of the court-martial and ordered Rizal to be
shot at 7:00 in the morning of December 30 at Bagumbayan Field (Luneta). It was said
to be a show trial and the Spaniards had already planned to send Rizal to death.
Rizal’s Death
Rizal’s Death

Execution of Dr. Jose Rizal at Bagumbayan, a reproduction of an original photo taken during the execution of Dr. Jose Rizal .
Retrieved from https://kahimyang.com/kauswaan/articles
Rizal’s Death, its Relevance to Peace in the
Philippines today

• Rizal never advocated a bloody revolution instead pursued a

peaceful means to achieve the end. Through Rizal’s writings,
Filipino nationalism was awakened and paved the way for the
Philippine Revolution. Rizal proved that “pen is mightier than the
sword”.
• After Rizal’s death, Spanish friars were condemned, colonial
control in the country was challenged, and finally, the Philippines
declared its independence from Spain on June 12, 1898.
Rizal’s Death, its Relevance to Peace in the
Philippines today

• Dr. Rizal’s brilliance, compassion, courage, and patriotism and peaceful

way of fighting the Spanish tyranny are greatly remembered and
celebrated by the Filipino people. Colleges and universities in the
Philippines are mandated to offer a course which centers around the life
and works of Rizal. Every year, the Filipinos celebrate Rizal Day – every
December 30 – to commemorate the life and works of Rizal. Filipinos look
back at Rizal’s founding of La Liga Filipina and writing the two novels
which had an effect on the early beginnings of the Philippine Revolution.
The people also recognize Rizal’s advocacy to achieve liberty through
peaceful means as possible.
Rizal’s Death, its Relevance to Peace in the
Philippines today

In honor of Rizal, memorials and statues of

the national hero can be found not only
within the Philippines, but in selected cities
around the world. There are streets,
towns/cities, a university (Rizal University),
and a province named after Dr. Jose Rizal.
Three species have also been named after
Rizal – the Draco rizali (a small lizard,
known as a flying dragon), Apogania rizali (a
very rare kind of beetle with five horns) and
the Rhacophorus rizali (a peculiar frog
species).
Rizal’s Death, its Relevance to Peace in the
Philippines today

To commemorate what our Hero did for the country, the

Philippines built a memorial park for Dr. Rizal – now
referred to as Rizal Park, found in Manila. There lies a
monument which contains a standing bronze sculpture of
Dr. Jose Rizal, an obelisk, and a stone base said to
contain our Hero’s remains. The monument stands near
the place where Dr. Jose Rizal was executed in Luneta.