Last Trip

Abroad, Trial
and Martyrdom
(1896)
Chapter 23 - 25

Dionisio, Justine
Bernadette
Fernandez, Mikaela Andrea
Matucad, Angela Louise
Nohay, Nicole Anne
Pablico, Ma. Leizyl
2A18
CHAPTER 23
Last Trip Abroad 1896
 HIGHLIGHTS
A. From Dapitan to Manila
1) Stopovers: Dumaguete, Cebu, Iloilo,
Capiz, Romblon

B. Rizal Misses Ship Going to

Spain
1) Outbreak of the Philippine Revolution

C. Departure for Spain

1) Rizal in Singapore
2) Victim of Spanish Duplicity
3) Rizal Arrested Before Reaching Barcelona
4) Arrival in Barcelona as a Prisoner
 A.Dapitan to
● Manila
Date and time of departure: July 31, 1896; midnight via España

STOPOVERS
(1896)
Romb
Dumag Iloilo
Aug 2 lon
uete

Aug 1 Aug 4
Cebu Capiz
STOPOVERS DURING TRIP FROM DAPITAN TO
MANILA
● Arrived at August 1, 1896 (Saturday); dawn
● Herrero Regidor
Dumague ○ Rizal’s friend and former classmate
te ○ Judge of the province of Negros Occidental at that time
● He also visited his other friends: Periquet and Rufina families

● Arrived at August 2, 1896 (Sunday); morning

● Met an old couple at Atty. Mateos house which he had knew at
Cebu Madrid
● Left at August 3, 1896 (morning)

Iloilo ● Arrived at August 4, 1896; morning

Capiz
Romblon ● Direct trip towards Manila
B. Rizal Misses Ship Going
to Spain
● Arrived in Manila Bay at August 6, 1896 (Thursday); early in
the morning via España
● Rizal was not able to catch Isla de Luzon Isla de
Luzon
○ Departed August 5, 1896
○ Mail ship that is heading towards Spain
● Wrote to Blumentritt – entitled “Unfortunately”
● Around midnight, Rizal was transferred to Castilla (a Spanish
cruiser)
○ Via order of Governor General Ramon Blanco
○ Accommodated by Captain Enrique Santalo

on
en Ram
Gov. G
Blanco

Castilla
 Outbreak of the
Philippine
August
●
19, Revolution
Katipunan plot to overthrow Spanish rule
1896 ○ Discovered by Fr.
Tondo)
Mariano Gil (Augustinian cura of

August 26, Fr. Mariano Gil

1896
● Cry of Balintawak
○ By Bonifacio and his valiant Katipuneros

August 30,
● During Sunrise
1896○ Bonifacio and
Emilio Jacinto
Juacinto led a revolution which repulsed with
heavy losses
● During Afternoon
○ Gov. Gen Blanco proclaimed a state of war Andres
Bonifacio
 Outbreak of the
Philippine Revolution
● RIZAL WAS WORRIED FOR TWO
REASONS
1. The violent revolution, which he
sincerely believed to be
premature and would only cause
much suffering and terrible loss
of human lives and property,
had started
2. The revolution would arouse
Spanish vengeance against all
Filipino patriots
 Aug. 30
C. Departure for
Sep. 3
1896 Spain
Sep. 2 1896
Received 2 letters
from Gov. Gen. 1896 Isla de Panay
● Has Blanco
a covering letter Wrote to his mother ● At the morning, the
which absolves him for
● He reassures his mother streamer left Manila Bay.
all the raging revolution
● One of the letters was that not all individuals Rizal left with his fellow
addressed to General who go to Cuba die, and passengers: Don Pedro
Marcelo de Azcarraga, even if they die, at least Roxas (rich Manila creole
Minister of War they die by doing industrialist and his
something good friend) and his son
● At the afternoon, Rizal named Periquin
was transferred to Isla
de Panay (streamer)
which was sailing for
Barcelona, Spain

Gen, Marcelo de
Azcarraga Isla de
Panay Don Pedro
Roxas
 Rizal in
Singapore
● Isla de Panay arrived at Singapore
at September 7, 1896 (evening)
● Don Pedro and his son already
disembarked and urged Rizal to
stay behind too and take
advantage of the protection of the
British law but Rizal didn’t listen
since he has given his word of
honor to Gov. Gen. Blanco and
didn’t like to break it.
Victim of Spanish Duplicity
Rizal believed that Governor General Blanco was his friend and that he was
a man of his words when the truth was that the Governor General, the
Ministers of War and the Colonies were secretly conspiring about his arrest
upon his arrival in Barcelona, Spain.

Rizal believed him because of the following reasons:

● He was permitted to go as a free man to Spain and be a physician-

surgeon of the Spanish army in Cuba during the revolutionary war
● He has received two letters of introduction addressed to the Spanish
Ministers of War and the Colonies.
 Rizal’s Arrest Before Reaching
A passenger told Rizal
Barcelona about the order of
Governor General Blanco
Rizal saw of arresting him and
Spanish troops sending him in prison in
on the streamer Ceuta (Spanish Morocco).
Isla de Luzon Hearing about this, he
leaving the immediately wrote a letter
Septem Suez Canal. Septembe to Blumentritt.
ber 8 r 27
At 1:00 pm,
Rizal was on
board on the He heard about
streamer Isla September the execution of Septemb
de Panay Francis Roxas,
25 er 28
going to Genato, and
The streamer Isla de Panay had left Port
Barcelona. Osorio.
Said (Mediterranean terminus of the Suez
Canal).
Letter Addressed To Blumentritt:

S.S. Isla de Panay, Mediterranean

September 28, 1896

My very dear Friend,

A passenger on board has just told me a news that I can hardly believe and
should it be true, would bring to an end the prestige of Philippine authorities.
I cannot believe for it would be the greatest injustice and the most abominable
infamy, unworthy not of a military official but of the last bandit. I have offered to
serve as a physician, risking life in the hazards of war and abandoning all my
business. I am innocent and now in reward they are sending me to prison!!
I cannot believe it! This is infamous, but if it turns out to be true, as everybody
assures me, I am communicating to you these news so that you may appraise my
situation.

Yours,
(Signed) Jose Rizal
Port Said
Isla d
e Pan
ay
 Rizal’s Arrest Before Reaching
Barcelona At 4:00 pm,
Captain Alemany
notified him that
he should stay in
Septembe his cabin as a
r 29 prisoner.
He wrote
about
gossipers in September 29: Diary Entry Septemb
his travel There are people on board er 30
diary. who do nothing but slander me
and invent fanciful stories
about me. I’m going to become
a legendary personage.
 Arrival in Barcelona
At 10:00 am, the streamer
arrived in Barcelona but he
was still heavily guarded in
his cabin. His jailor, Captain At 3:00 am, he was
Alemany, was replaced by awakened and
the Military Commander of escorted to
Barcelona, General Eulogio Monjuich, a grim
Septembe Despujol. October 4 prison-fortress.
r 30
At 6:25 pm, the
streamer was He noticed the
anchored at Malta October 3 celebration of the October
but he couldn’t visit feast of St. Francis 6
the famous island- of Assisii
fortress of Christian happening in the
crusaders. city.
 Fortress of
General Eulogio Monjuich
Despujol

Malta
 Arrival in Barcelona

At 8:00 pm, he
October 6 ship left
Barcelona.
At 2:00 pm, he was
brought to General Colon
Despujol’s
headquarters, October 6
interviewed, and was
taken aboard the
transport ship Colon
going back to Manila.
CHAPTER 24
Last Homecoming and Trial
 OCTOBER 1896
A Martyr’s
08
Last
Homecomin
g Diary
He was told by a friendly
officer that the Madrid
newspapers were full of
stories about the bloody
revolution in the Philippines
which were blamed on him.
He thanked God for giving
him a chance to return and
clear his name.
Confiscati
11
on of
Rizal’s
Before reaching Port
Said, Rizal’s diary was
confiscated and critically
examined by the
authorities. His cabin was
also searched thoroughly.
Yet, they did not find
anything dangerous.
October 8: Diary Entry

I believe that what God is doing to me is a blessing,

allowing me to go back to the Philippines in order to be able to
destroy such accusations. Because, either they do me justice
and recognize my innocence and then I will be rehabilitated or
they sentence me to death and thereby, before the eyes of
society, I atone for my supposed crime. Society will forgive me
and later, without any doubt, justice will be done me and I will
be one more martyr. At any rate, instead of dying abroad or in
the manigua (jungle in Cuba), I’ll die in my own country. I
believe that what is happening is the best that can happen to
me. Always let God’s will be done! I feel more calm with regard
to my future… I feel that peace has descended upon me, thank
 NOVEMBER 1896
02 X 03 20
Unsuccessful Arrival in
Return of Preliminary
Rescue in Manila
Rizal’s Diary After the Colon Investigation
Singapore arrived in
His diary was From London, Dr. Antonio Ma. Rizal was
returned to Regidor and Sixto Lopez Manila, Rizal
subjected to a
him. He wrote contacted Atty. Hugh Fort, an was transferred
five-day
about the English lawyer in Singapore, to to Fort Santiago.
investigation. He
events rescue Rizal by means of writ of was questioned by
happened habeas corpus. Unfortunately, Rizal’s brother,
Colonel Francisco
from October Chief Justice Loinel Cox denied Paciano, and
Olive, the Judge
12 to it because the Colon was a many Filipino
Advocate. He was
November 1. warship which was under patriots were
not allowed to
international law and beyond arrested and
confront those
their jurisdiction. brutally tortured
who testify against
to incriminate
him.
This attempt was unknown to Rizal.
November 2: Diary Entry

Monday, 2 November - Today, they returned to me this

notebook which they took away on the 11th of last month
before reaching Port Said. For this reason my diary was
interrupted. They searched me and inspected thoroughly my
luggage. They took away all my papers and afterward they put
me behind bars and they did not take me out until we reached
the Red Sea. That was what they did to me in 16 hours before
our arrival. Also twice they put me in four or six hours before
and they take me out when we are already in the high seas.
However, at Singapore they put me in 16 hours before our
arrival. Also twice they put handcuffs on me.
Dr. Antonio Ma. Sixto Lopez and Jose Colonel Francisco
Regidor Rizal Olive
Two kinds of evidences
presented against Rizal
1. Documentary Evidence

Letter of Antonio Luna Madrid October 16, 1888 Shows Rizal’s connection with the
to Mariano Ponce Filipino reform campaign in Spain

Letter of Rizal to his Madrid August 20, 1980 States that the deportations are good
family for they will encourage the people to
hate tyranny

A letter from Marcelo H. Madrid January 7, 1889 Implicates Rizal in the Propaganda
Del Pilar to Deodato campaign in Spain
Arellano

A poem entitled September 12,

Kundiman written by 1981
Rizal

A letter of Carlos Oliver Barcelona September 18, Describes Rizal as the man to free the
to an unidentified 1891 Philippines from Spanish oppression
person
Two kinds of evidences
presented against Rizal
A Masonic document Manila February 9, 1892 Honoring Rizal for his patriotic services

A letter signed Hongkong May 24, 1892 Stating that he was preparing a safe
Dimasalang (Rizal’s refuge for Filipinos who may be
pseudonym) to Tenluz persecuted by the Spanish authorities
(Juan Zulueta’s
pseudonym)

A letter of Dimasalang Hongkong June 1, 1892 Soliciting the aid of the committee in the
to an unidentified “patriotic work”
committee

An anonymous letter to Censuring the banishment of Rizal to

the Hongkong Telegraph Dapitan

A letter of Ildefonso Manila 1893 Informing an unidentified correspondent

Laurel to Rizal of the arrest and banishment of Doroteo
Cortes and Ambrosio Salvador
Transcript of a speech of July 23, 1893 The following cry was uttered, “Long
Pingkian (Emilio Jacinto) Love the Philippines! Long live Liberty!
in a reunion of the Long live Doctor Rizal! Unity!”
Katipunan

Transcript of a speech of July 23, 1893 “Long live the eminent Doctor Rizal!
Tik-Tik (Jose Turiano Death to the oppressor nation!”
Santiago) in the same
Katipunan Reunion

A poem by Laong Laan The author makes the Dapitan

(Rizal) entitled “A schoolboys sing that they know how to
Talisay” fight for their rights

A letter of Marcelo H. Madrid June 1, 1893 Recommending the establishment of a

Del Pilar to Don Juan A special organization, independent of
Tenluz (Juan Zulueta) Masonry, to help the cause of the Filipino
people

A letter of Marcelo H. Madrid June 1, 1893 Recommending the establishment of a

Del Pilar to Don Juan A special organization, independent of
Tenluz (Juan Zulueta) Masonry, to help the cause of the Filipino
people
2. Testimonial Evidence
Composed of the oral testimonies of the following :

1. Martin Constantino
2. Aguedo del Rosario
3. Jose Reyes Jose D
izon
4. Moises Salvador
d el
5. Jose Dizon Aguedo
Rosario
6. Domingo Franco
7. Deodato Arellano
8. Ambrosio Salvador Pedro Serrano
Laktaw
9. Pedro Serrano Laktaw
10. Dr. Pio Valenzuela
11. Antonio Salazar
12. Francisco Quison Deodato Domin
13. Timoteo Paez Arellano Franco
go
A m br
os
Salva io
November 26
❖ Colonel Olive transmitted the records of the case to Governor General Ramon Blanco
❖ The letter appointed Captain Rafael Dominguez as special Judge Advocate to
institute the corresponding action against Rizal

❖ Dominguez made a brief resume of the charges and returned the papers to Governor
General Blanco who transmitted them to the Judge Advocate General, Don Nicolas de la
Pena

Recommendations submitted by Pena:

1. The accused be immediately brought to trial

2. He should be kept in prison

3. An order of attachment be issued against his property to the amount of one million pesos as
indemnity

4. He should be defended in court by an army officer, not by a civilian lawyer

 RIZAL CHOOSES HIS DEFENDER
❖ The only right given to Rizal by Spanish authorities was to choose his defense
counsel
❖ He had to choose only from a list submitted to him
Donn Luis Taviel de Andrade
❖ First Lieutenant of the Artillery
❖ Chosen by Rizal to be his defender in court
❖ Brother of Lt. Jose Taviel de Andrade,
Rizal’s “bodyguard” in Calamba in 1887

e
n Lu is Taviel d
Don
Andrade

Lt. Jos
e Tavie
Andrad l de
e
READING OF INFORMATION OF CHARGES TO
THE ACCUSED
December 11
❖ Rizal was accused of being “The principal organizer and the living soul of the
Filipino insurrection, the founder of societies, periodicals and books dedicated
to fomenting and propagating ideas of rebellion.”
❖ Rizal raised no objection but pleaded not guilty to the crime of rebellion
❖ Rizal admitted that he wrote the Constitution of the Liga Filipina
❖ He waived the right to amend or make further statements already made, except that he
had taken no part in politics since his exile to Dapitan

December 13
❖ Dominguez forwarded the papers of Rizal case to Malacañan Palace
❖ General Camilo G. de Polavieja became Governor General of the Philippines
❖ The withdrawal of Blanco form gubernatorial office sealed Rizal’s fate
❖ Blanco firmly belived that Rizal was not a traitor to Spain
 RIZAL’S MANIFESTO TO HIS PEOPLE
December 15
❖ Rizal wrote a manifesto to his people appealing them to stop the necessary shedding of
blood and to achieve their liberties by means of education and industry
❖ The manifesto was written in his prison cell at Fort Santiago.
❖ Judge Advocate General Nicolas de la Pena recommended to Governor General Polavieja
that the manifesto be suppressed
❖ Rizal was saved from the “shame of his manifesto’s being misinterpreted and
disobeyed by the Filipinos in arms”
 RIZAL’S SADDEST
December 25, 1896 CHRISTMAS
❖ Rizal was alone and depressed in his prison cell
❖ He wrote a letter to Lt. Taviel de Andrade

Fort Santiago, December 25, 1896

My Very Distinguished Defender:
The Investigating Judge has informed me that tomorrow my case will be
heard before the court. I was waiting for you this morning to tell you of an
important matter, but undoubtedly the pressure of your work did not permit
you to come as expected by the Investigating Judge. If you have time, I should
like to speak to you before I appear before the court; I shall be grateful if you
come this afternoon, this evening, or tomorrow.

Wishing you “Merry Christmas,” I reiterate, Always your attentive and

affectionate servant and client,
 THE TRIAL OF RIZAL
❖ Eloquent proof of Spanish injustice and misrule
❖ Rizal’s case was prejudged; he was considered guilty before actual trial
❖ Rizal was not given the right to face the witnesses against him in open court

December 26, 1896 - 8:00 am

❖ Cuartel de España
❖ Seven members of the military court
present in the courtroom:
1. Lt. Col. Jose Togores Arjona (President)
2. Capt. Ricardo Muñoz Arias
3. Capt. Braulio Rodriguez Nuñez
4. Capt. Manuel Diaz Escribano
5. Capt. Fermin Perez Rodriguez
Silid Paglilitis
The room in Museo ni Jose Rizal Fort Santiago
replicates Rizal’s trial at the Cuartel de Espana
 THE TRIAL OF RIZAL
❖ Also present in the courtroom:
1. Dr. Jose Rizal (Accused)
2. Lt. Taviel de Andrade (Defense Counsel)
3. Capt. Rafael Dominguez (Judge Advocate)
4. Lt. Enrique de Alcocer (Prosecuting Attorney) “The judges
5. Josephine Bracken (Spectator) cannot be
6. Some newspapermen (Spectator) vindictive; the
7. Spaniards (Spectator)
judges can only
❖ The trial was opened by Judge Advocate Dominguez be just”
❖ Prosecuting Attorney Alcocer summarized the charges
Defense counsel Taviel de
against Rizal and urged the court to give the verdict of death. Andrade
❖ Defense Counsel Taviel de Andrade read his defense of
Rizal.
 THE TRIAL OF RIZAL
❖ Rizal read a supplement to his defense which he wrote in his cell
1. He can’t be guilty of rebellion, he advised Pio Valenzuela in Dapitan not to rise in
revolution.
2. He did not correspond with the radical, revolutionary elements.
3. The revolutionists used his name without his knowledge. He could have escaped
in Singapore if guilty.
4. If he had a hand in the revolution, he could have escaped in a Moro vinta instead
of building a home, hospital and bought lands in Dapitan.
5. If he were the chief of the revolution, why was he not consulted by the
revolutionists?
6. He did wrote the by-laws of the Liga Filipina, it’s only a civic association - not a
revolutionary society.
7. The Liga Filipina did not live long, for after the first meeting he was banished to
Dapitan and it died out.
8. If the Liga was reorganized nine months later, he did not know about it.
 THE TRIAL OF RIZAL
9. The Liga did not serve the purpose of the revolutionists, otherwise they would not
have supplanted it with the katipunan.
10. If it were true that Rizal’s letters in 1890 have bitter comment, this was because
his family was being persecuted, being dispossessed of houses, lands, etc. and
some some of his family were deported.
11. His Life in Dapitan had been exemplary as the politico-military commanders and
missionary priests could attest.
12. It was not true that the revolution was inspired by one speech at the house of
Doroteo Ongjunco. Why did the Katipunan send an emissary to Dapitan who was
unkown to him? Because those who knew him were aware that he would never
sanction any violent movement.

❖ The president, Lt. Col. Togores Arjona, considered the trial over.
❖ The military court unanimously voted for the sentence of death.
❖ The decision was submitted to Governor General Polavieja who sought the opinion
of Judge Advocate General Nicolas de la Pena which affirmed the death verdict.
 POLAVIEJA SIGNS RIZAL’S
December 28, 1896 EXECUTION
❖ Polavieja approved the decision of the court-martial.

Manila, December 28, 1896:

Conformably to the foregoing opinion. I approve the sentence

dictated by the Court Martial in the present case, by the virtue of
which the death penalty is imposed on the accused Jose Rizal
Mercado, which shall be executed by shooting him at 7:00 o’clock in
the morning of the 30th of this month in the field of Bagumbayan
For compliance and the rest that may correspond, let this be
returned to the Judge Advocate, Captain Don Rafael Dominguez.

Camilo G. de Polavieja
CHAPTER 25
Martyrdom at Bagumbayan
 Silid Piitan

Rizal’s actual prison cell with a life-

size wax effigy in the Museo ni Rizal
Fort Santiago
 LAST HOURS OF RIZAL
During the last 24 hours of Rizal - from 6:00 A.M. December 29 to 6:00 A.M.
December 30, 1896 - he was busy meeting visitors

December 29,
1896
6:00 A.M.
Captain Rafael Dominguez read the death sentence to Rizal – To be shot
at the back by a firing squad at 7:00 A.M.in Bagumbayan (Luneta)

7:00 A.M.
An hour after the reading of the death sentence, Rizal was moved to the
prison chapel. 1st visitor Father Miguel Saderra Mata (Rector of Ateneo
Municipal) and Father Luis Viza (Jesuit teacher)
7:15
A.M.
Rector Saderra left. Fr. Viza gave back the
statuette of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Rizal
carved back then.

8:00 A.M.
Fr. Antonio Rosell joined Rizal at breakfast. Lt.
Luis Taviel de Andrade (Rizal’s defense
counsel) came and Rizal thanked him for his
services.

9:00 A.M.
Fr. Federico Faura arrived. Rizal reminded him
that he said that (Rizal) would someday lose
his head for writing Noli. “Father, you are Sacred Heart of
indeed a prophet” Rizal said. Jesus
Displayed in Ateneo de Manila
University
10:00
A.M.
Fr. Jose Vilaclara (Rizal’s teacher in Ateneo) and Vicente Balaguer (Jesuit
missionary in Dapitan) visited. The Spanish journalist, Santiago Mataix,
interviewed Rizal for El Heraldo de Madrid newspaper.

12:00 P.M. to 3:30

P.M.
Rizal was left alone in his cell. This was probably the time he wrote his
farewell poem, Mi Ultimo Adios, which he stored inside his alcohol
cooking stove. He also wrote his last letter to Professor Blumentritt in
Germany.

3:30 P.M.
Father Balaguer discussed with Rizal about his retraction of the anti-
Catholic ideas and membership in Masonry.
Prof. Ferdinand Blumentritt:

My dear Brother:

When you receive this letter, I shall be

dead. Tomorrow at seven, I shall be shot; but I
am innocent of the crime of rebellion.
I am going to die with a tranquil
conscience.
Goodbye, my best, my dearest friend, and
never think ill of me.
Fort Santiago, December 29, 1896.

(Signed) Jose Rizal

Regards to the entire family, to Sra. Rosa,

Loleng, Conradito, and Federico.
I am leaving a book for you as a last
Last Letter to Blumentritt
remembrance of mine. “Mi Ultimo
4:00
P.M.
Dona Teodora, Rizal’s mother arrived. Rizal knelt
down before her and kissed her hands, begging her
to forgive him. Shortly, Trinidad entered to fetch her
mother. Rizal then gave Trinidad the alcohol cooking
stove and whispered in English “There is something
inside”. This was Rizal’s farewell poem which
became a priceless gem of Philippine literature.
Fathers Vilaclara and Estanislao March entered the
cell, followed by Father Rosell.

6:00 P.M.
Don Silvino Lopez Tunon, the Dean of the Manila
Cathedral, visited. Alcohol Cooking
Stove
Where Rizal hid his Mi Ultimo Adios
Displayed in Fort Santiago
8:00 P.M.
Rizal had his last supper. He informed Captain Domingues that he
forgave his enemies.

9:30 P.M.
Don Gaspar Cestano, the fiscal of the Royal Audiencia of Manila visited.

10:00 P.M,
The draft of the retraction sent by the anti-Filipino Archibishop
Bernardino Nozaleda (1890-1903) was submitted by Father Balaguer to
Rizal for signature, but Rizal rejected. Fr. Balaguer then showed Rizal a
shorter retraction prepared by Fr. Pio Pi, Superior of the Jesuit Society in
the Philippines, which was acceptable to Rizal. Rizal then wrote his
retraction, in which he abjured Masonry and his anti- catholic religious
ideas.
10:00 P.M,
Retraction is now a controversial
document. Rizalist scholars (masons or
anti-catholic) claim it to be forgery while,
Catholic Rizalist believe it to be genuine.
The debate is futile because there is no
sufficient evidence whether Rizal retracted
or not and irrelevant because it does not
matter to the greatness of rizal. He was
still the greatest filipino hero.

Another irrelevant issue was whether Rizal

married Josephine Bracken before the
execution or not.

Retraction Letter
3:00 A.M.
Rizal took mass, confessed his sins and took holy communion

5:30 A.M,
Rizal took breakfast and wrote two letters afterwards (to his family and
to his older brother Paciano)
Josephine Bracken accompanied by Josefa (sister of Rizal) arrived with
tears and said her farewell. Rizal embraced her for the last time and
gave her a last gift which is a religious book — Imitation of Christ by
Father Thomas a Kempis which he autographed.

6:00 A.M.
As the soldiers were getting ready for the death march, Rizal wrote his
last letter to his parents.
To My Family,
I ask you for forgiveness for the pain I cause
you, but some day I shall have to die and it is better
that I die now in the plentitude of my conscience.
Dear Parents, brother, and Sisters, Give thanks
to God that I may preserve my tranquility before my
death. I die resigned, hoping that with my death you
will be left in peace, Ah! It is better to die than to live
suffering. Console yourselves.
I enjoin you to forgive one another the little
meannesses of life and try to live united in peace and
good harmony. Treat you old parents as you would like
to be treated by you children later. Love them very
much in my memory.
Bury me in the ground. Place a stone and a
cross over it. My name, the date of my birth, and of
my death. Nothing more. If later you wish to surround
my grave with a fence, you can do so. No
anniversaries. I prefer Paang Bundok.
Have pity on poor Josephine.
Last Letter to Rizal’s
My dear Brother:
It has been four years and a half that we have
not seen each other nor have we communicated with
each other. I do not think it is due to lack of affection
on my part nor on yours, but because, knowing each
other so well, we do not need to talk to understand
each other.
Now I am about to die, and it is to you that I
dedicated my last lines, to tell you how sad I am to
leave you alone in life, burdened with the weight of
the family and our old parents.
I am thinking now how hard you have worked to
give me a career; I believe I have tried not to waste
my time. Brother of mine: if the fruit has been bitter, it
is not my fault of circumstances. I know that you have
suffered much on my account, and I am sorry.
I assure you, brother, that I die innocent of this
crime of rebellion. If my former writings have
contributed, I do not deny it absolutely; but then, I
thought I have expiated for the past with my
deportation.
Tell our father I remember him, and how! I
remember my whole childhood, of his affection and his
Last Letter to Paciano
love. Ask him to forgive me for the pain that I have
unwillingly caused him.
Your brother,
Josephine and Rizal’s
last gift My beloved Father,

Pardon me for the pain with which I

repay you for sorrows and sacrifices for my
education. I did not want not did I prefer it.
Goodbye, Father, goodbye….
Jose Rizal

To my very dear Mother,

Sra. Dna. Teodora Alonso

6 o’clock in the morning, December 30,
1986
Jose Rizal

Last Letter to Parents

About 6:30 A.M,
Death march to bagumbayan

Rizal was a few meters behind 4 soldiers with bayoneted rifles. He walked calmly
with his defense counsel (Lt. Luis Taviel de Andrade) on one side and two Jesuit
priests (Father March and Vilaclara) on the other. More well-armed soldiers
marched behind him.
Rizal was wearing a black
suit, black derby hat, black
shoes, white shirt, and black
tie. Arms were loosely tied
behind from elbow to elbow.
There were alot of spectators lining the street from Fort Santiago to the Plaza
del Palacio. Going through the narrow Postigo Gate, Rizal looked at the sky
and had a conversation with one of the priests
As they reached Bagumbayan Field, Rizal walked to the place where he was
told to stand and gave his farewell to the two Fathers and his defense counsel.

He requested that he be shot facing

the firing squad but was denied
because the captain had orders to
shoot him in the back.

Dr. Felipe Ruiz Castillo, a spanish

military physician, felt the pulse of
Rizal and was amazed to find it
normal showing that Rizal was not
afraid to die.
7:03 A.M.
As the guns fired, Rizal turned his body
to the right and fell on the ground with
his face upward facing the morning sun,
he died at the age of 35 years, five
months and 11 days.

Rizal died as he described in his

farewell poem.

“I die just when I see the dawn

break,
Through the gloom of night, to
herald the day;
And if color is lacking my blood
Farewell poem thou shalt take,
Pour’d out at need for thy dear
(third stanza) sake,

14 years ago, he also wrote in his diary
that he had a nightmare when he almost
died on December 30.
After the execution, Spanish spectators
shouted “Viva España!” and “Muerte a los
Traidores''. These Spaniards have no
vision.
The execution of Rizal presages the
foundation of an independent nation as he
has given ideas to others to stand up for
the nation.
The writings of the greatest Filipino epic
poet, Cecilio Apostol awakened Filipino
Nationalism and paved the way for the
Philippine Revolution and proved that
indeed that pen is mightier than the
swords.
January 1, 1883: Diary Entry
Two nights ago, that is 30
December, I had a frightful
nightmare when I almost died. I
dreamed that, imitating an actor
dying on stage, I felt vividly that my
breath was failing and I was rapidly
losing my strength. Then my vision
became dim and dense darkness
enveloped me – they are the pangs
of death.
“Rest in peace on the shadows of
oblivion,
Redeemer of a country in bondage!
In the mystery of the grave, do not
cry,
Heed not the momentary triumph of
the Spaniard
-Cecilio Apos
Because if a bullet destroyed your
“One only dies once, and if
one does not die well, a
good opportunity is lost and
will not present itself
again.”
- Jose Rizal