Chapter 18

CHAPTER 18

BACK TO HONG KONG

AND
THE PHILIPPINES
 After publishing his sequel to the Noli, Rizal left Europe
for Hong Kong. Because of his political differences with
Marcelo del Pilar and other Filipino expatriates Spain, life
has become miserable for Rizal. Another reason for this
decision was his desire to be with his family, as disclosed in
his letter to Blumentritt on September 22, 1891 (Epistolario
Rizalino, Vol.5). Nonetheless, before proceeding to Hong
Kong, Rizal took time to inform Marcelo del Pilar of his
retirement from the reform movement to preserve the unity
of his fellow Filipinos in Spain.
LIFE IN HONG KONG
 Rizal left Europe via Marseilles, France on October 18, 1891
on board the steamer Melbourne. And arrived in Hong Kong on
November 20,1891. Filipino residents welcomed Rizal, especially
his friend Jose Ma. Basa. After setting office at No.5 D’Aguilar
Street, and No.2 Rednaxola Terrace, Rizal opened a medical
clinic in order to earn a living. At first he had only a few patients
but because of the referrals made by Dr. Lorenzo P. Marquez, a
Portuguese ophthalmologist in Hong Kong, he was able to have
numerous clients. Soon, Rizal was able to establish a name in
curing eye diseases, while he was in Hong Kong.
 On December 1, 1891, Rizal wrote to his parents asking them
permission for his return to the country. And on the same date, he
receive news from his brother-in-law that Don Francisco, Neneng,
Sisa , and Paciano and other Calambeños were rusticated. Before
Christmas of 1891, his family arrived in Hong Kong. Being able to
see the difference life in the Philippines and Hong Kong, Don
Francisco expressed to Rizal his desire to stay permanently in this
crown colony of Britain.
 Rizal medical practice in Hong Kong came to the attention of
his friends in Europe. Letters stat pouring to him from Spain.
Lorenzo Miclat congratulated him for starting anew and pledged
support in all his undertaking. Alejandro informed him of his plan
to establish an organization to counter-act Del Pilar’s lamentable
policy, with Rizal as leader. Linares Rivas promised Rizal that he
would seek an audience with the Minister of Colonies in Madrid on
the agrarian problem of Calamba. He also received letters of
sympathy from the Govantes and Boustead families, for what had
happened to him in Madrid.
REAWAKENING OF INTEREST IN POLITICS
The numerous correspondences form Europe that Rizal received
while he was in Hong Kong affected him in three ways (Guerrero,
1998)
• Rizal’s self-confidence was restored

• Rizal re-awakened his interest in politics

• Rizal re-examine his whole political strategy.

 Due to the radical ideas propounded by Luna and Evangelista of the
need for a separation and independence, Rizal re-examine his political
strategy. This strategy as suggested by Luna and Evangelista was patterned
after that of the Cuban strategy. According to Evangelista, the old corrupt
generations of principals had to be rejected. For Luna, a separatist
movement under the guise of assimilation has to be started. Thus, in Rizal’s
letter to Blumentritt, he said that he had lost his hope in Spain and La
Solidaridad. And came to the realization that nothing can be expected from
the peaceful advocacy of reforms.
 While he was in Hong Kong, Rizal considered the possibility
using force of arms to effect change in the country. He consulted his
best friend Blumentritt about this, but Blumentritt warned Rizal to not
be involved in a revolutionary movement for “whoever begins a
revolution should have at least the probability of success.”
Nonetheless, Blumentritt cited four conditions necessary for a revolution to
succeed (Guerrero, 1998).
1. A part of the army and the navy should rebel;

2. The metropolis should be at war with another country;

3. There were money and munitions; and

4. Some foreign country were to lend official or secret support to the

insurrection.
THE BORNEO COLONIZATION PROJECT
 Rizal felt that the tenants of Calamba and other town mates were
hopeless in improving the quality of their life. He therefore, conceived and
planned the founding of a Filipino colony in North Borneo or Sabah. He
visited the place on March 7, 1892 and negotiated with the British authorities
in charge of the North Borneo Company (National Heroes Commission, 1964).
His mission was a success as the British authorities offered him 100,000 aces
of land free of charges for 99 years.
Jaena, Luna, Bautista, Blumentritt and his other friends in Europe were
delighted upon hearing the plan and expressed their support to his endeavor.
On the other hand Manuel Hidalgo, Rizal’s brother-in-law was not in favor of
the project. For him, there was no need to leave the Philippines considering
the sacrifices they had given for the country.
A HOPE FOR THE REALIZATION OF THE
NORTH BORNEO PROJECT
 While Rizal was busy making preparation for the relocation of his
family to North Borneo, Governor Eulogio Despujol replaced Governor-
General Valeriano Weyler. With this assumption, a new ray of hope shone
on Rizal due to the program of good government pledge by the new
governor-general.

Rizal wrote a congratulatory letter to Despujol with an offer of

cooperation with his leadership in the country on December 23, 1892.
However, Despujol did not reply to Rizal’s correspondence. But Rizal sent
another letter to the governor-general to allow the landless Filipinos to
establish a colony in North Borneo. Rizal was informed by the Consul-
General in Hong Kong that his request was not acceptable.
Two Reasons Why Rizal’s Request Was Not Acceptable According to the
Governor-General

• the colony lacked workers; and

• That leaving the country and cultivating a foreign soil would mean
becoming unpatriotic to Spain
WRITINGS IN HONGKONG
Rizal continue writing articles, which were published by Hong Kong Telegraph
edited by Frazier Smith. Some of these are:

• Ang Mga Karapatan Nang Tao – This was Rizal’s version of the Rights of
Man, a historic document proclaimed by the French Revolution of 1789.

• A la Nacion Española (To The Spanish Nation) – This article was Rizal’s
appeal to Spain to rectify the wrongs done to the landless peasants of
Calamba.
• Sa Mga Kababayan (To My Countrymen) – This article was Rizal’s
exposition on the Calamba agrarian problem.
RIZAL LAYS DOWN THE BASIS OF THE
LA LIGA FILIPINA
 While in Hong Kong, Rizal laid down the basis of the La Liga Filipina or
The Philippine League, which he would establish in the Philippines upon his
return. He drafted the constitution of it with the assistance of Jose Ma. Basa.
Based on the constitution of the organization, the La Liga Filipina sought to
achieve the following aims:

• The unification of the whole archipelago into a vigorous, compact body;

• Mutual protection in every want and necessity;
• Defense against all forms of violence and injustice;

• Stimulation of instruction, agriculture, and commerce; and

• The undertaking of study and application of reforms.

 MOTTO:
Unus Instar Omnium or One Like All
Three Level of Organizational Councils in the La Liga Filipina

Popular Provincial Supreme

Each council shall consist of:

Chief Fiscal Treasurer

Secretary Members
Members of the La Liga Filipina shall pay a monthly due of 10 centavos.
However members entitles the following privileges:
• Financial, material and moral assistance from his council ang the
organization;
• An assurance that fellow members shall support him in his business or
profession as long as does the same to others;

• Full support from the Liga in case of trouble or injustice; and

• Financial assistance in any business undertaking when funds are

available
Projects of The Organization Using Their Funds:
• Supporting a member or his son who had no financial means but studious
and with remarkable aptitude for study;
• Helping members who are in dire poverty;

• Lending funds to a member who needs financial support for his farm
or industrial venture;
• Supporting a member in defense of his right; and

• Opening stores to cater to the needs of the members at reduced prices.

THE DECISION TO RETURN TO
THE PHILIPPINES
 Because of the rejection of his request to Despujol, Rizal decided to
return to the Philippines. Before leaving Hong Kong, he celebrated his 31st
birthday with some of his friends and wrote two letters. The First letter was
addressed to his family and the second, to his countrymen.
Rizal’s homecoming was prompted by the following reasons:
• To obtain justice and peace fore the country;
• To shoulder the burden of all persecutions against his family;
• To do what his conscience tells him to do; and
• To prove that reviled Filipinos could die for their conviction

Before Departing for the Philippines, Rizal wrote his third letter to
Governor Despujol, informing him that he is returning to the country and
that he is placing himself under the protection of the Spanish colonial
government.
BACK TO THE PHILIPPINES
 Rizal and his sister arrived Manila on June 26, 1892. Soon, he
sought an audience with Governor Despujol in Malacañang. The
interviews that he had with Despujol, resulted to the securing of
permission for the return of his parents and sisters to Manila and
the disapproval of Rizal’s North Borneo Colonization Project.
THE FOUNDING OF THE LA LIGA FILIPINA
 From Manila, he proceeded to Bulacan to visit his friends – Jose
Bautista, Manuel Crisostomo and Vicente Gatmaitan. And informed about the
details of his plan of organizing the La Liga Filipina. Then he traveled to San
Fernando, Pampanga to visit Hilario Tiburcio and Cecilio Hilario, two
Pampangeños, who became very active members of the revolutionary
movement in the province. Then he went to Tarlac where he met the
Villafuertes, the Punos and Tañedos who were convinced that it should be
organized.
 Rizal returned to Manila on June 28,1892 after he travel the Central
Luzon. He was met at Hotel Oriente by numerous reformists. In one dinner
tendered for him by Doroteo Ongjuco, he was able to secure the
agreement of Apolinario Mabini, Andres Bonifacio, Deodato Arellano,
Timoteo Paez, Arcadio del Rosario, Juan Zulueta, Pedro Serrano Laktaw,
Moises Salvador and Ambrosio Reinzares Bautista on the urgency of
establishing the La Liga.

On July 3, 1892, Rizal founded the La Liga Filipina in Calle Ilaya, Tondo in
the home of Doroteo Ongjungco.
PRESIDENT: Ambrosio Salvador
Fiscal: Agustin de la Rosa

Treasurer: Bonifacio Arevalo

Secretary: Deodato Arellano
Noted members: Apolinario Mabini
Andres Bonifacio
Deodato Arellano
Timoteo Paez
Numeriano Adriano
Tomas Del Rosario
Jose M. Dizon
RIZAL DEPORTED TO DAPITAN
 After founding the Liga, Rizal went to Malacañang again. The governor
asked him if he has intension of going back to Hong Kong. Rizal replied
positively to the query. After a while, the governor proceeded to ask him the
owner of the pillows and the mats in his luggage, as there were questionable
handbills in them. Rizal answer was that they belong to his sister Lucia.
Despujol ordered his aide-de-camp to arrest Rizal and incarcerate him at Fort
Santiago.
After July 7,1892, Despujol released his gubernatorialdecree ordering the
deportation of Rizal to Dapitan. His deportation was based on the
following charges against him;

• Publication and introduction of various anti-monastic books and

handbills;
• Traveling through different provinces without permit from the Governor-
General;
• Finding in his luggage the pamphlet Pobres Frailes or Poor Friars, which
mocked the religious orders;
• Dedication of the El Filibusterismo to the memory of Gomburza; and
• Rizal’s attempts at de-Catholicizing and denationalizing the Filipino
people
 Rizal was detained in Fort Santiago for 9days. On July 15, 1892, he
left Manila for Dapitan, where he would be spending the next four years of
life. With his deportation to Dapitan, the Liga died its natural death. It split
into two branches: the rightist, which came to be called Cuerpo de
Compromisarios; and the leftists, which later on came to be known as the
Katipunan or KKK (Agoncillo, 1990)