Rizal’s Life: Exile, Trial,

Execution, Martyrdom
JOSE P. RIZAL'S EXILE IN DAPITAN
Jose Rizal's arrival in Manila on June 26, 1892 had
become very sensational among the Filipinos. His
popularity feared the Spaniards, and as such, payed
careful attention to his every moves.

As he had planned, on July 3, 1892 he founded the La

Liga Filipina in the house of Doroteo
Ongjunco in Tondo, Manila.
 Four days after the civic organization's
foundation, Jose Rizal was arrested by the
Spanish authorities on four grounds:

1.  for publishing anti-Catholic and anti-friar books and articles;

2.  for having in possession a bundle of handbills, the Pobres Frailes, in which

advocacies were in violation of the Spanish orders;

3.  for dedicating his novel, El Filibusterismo to the three “traitors” (Gomez, Burgos
and Zamora) and for emphasizing on the novel's title page that “the only salvation for
the Philippines was separation from the mother country (referring to Spain)”; and

4.  for simply criticizing the religion and aiming for its exclusion from the Filipino
culture.
 Arrival in Dapitan

Aboard the steamer Cebu and under heavy guard, Rizal left Manila,

sailing to Mindoro and Panay, until he reached  Dapitan  at seven
o'clock in the evening of June 17.

From that day until July 31, 1896, Dapitan became the bare witness to
one of the most fruitful periods in Rizal's life. His stay in the province
was more than “he” living in exile – it was the period when Rizal had
been more focused on serving the people and the society through his
civic works, medical practices, land development and promotion of
education.
 Careers and Contributions
Rizal had maximized his stay in Dapitan by
devoting much of his time in improving his artistic
and literary skills; doing agricultural and civic projects;
engaging in business activities, and writing letters to
his friends in Europe, particularly to Ferdinand
Blumentritt and Reinhold Rost.
 RIZAL AS PHYSICIAN
Rizal provided free medicine to his patients, most of
them were underprivileged.
Don Ignacio Tumarong who gave Rizal 3000 pesos for
restoring his sight.
Aklanon haciendero, Don Francisco Azcarraga, who
paid him a cargo of sugar.
An Englishman who gave him 500 pesos.
 RIZAL AS AN ENGINEER
Rizal applied his knowledge through the waterworks
system he constructed in Dapitan.
From his practical knowledge as agrimensor, he
widened his knowledge by reading engineering-
related books.
As a result, despite the inadequacy of tools at hand, he
successfully provided a good water system in the
province.
 RIZAL AS AN EDUCATOR
 Rizal established a school in Dapitan which was attended by 16 young
boys from prominent families.
 He taught them reading, writing in English and Spanish, geography,
history, mathematics, industrial work, nature study, morals and
gymnastics.
 There was no formal room, like the typical classroom nowadays.
Classes were conducted from 2 p.m to 4 p.m. with the teacher sitting
on a hammock while the students sat on a long bamboo bench.
 RIZAL AS A SCIENTIST
Rizal shared his interest with nature to his students
With his boys, they explored the jungles and searched for
specimens which he sent to museums in Europe, particularly in
Dressed Museum.
He also made a bulk of other researches and studies in the fields
of ethnography, archaeology, geology, anthropology and
geography.
DISCOVERIES:
Draco rizali – flying dragon
Apogonia rizali – small beetle
Rhacophorus rizali – rare frog
As an agriculturist
As a businessman
As an inventor
As an artist
As a linguist
Romantic affair with Josephine Bracken
an Irish girl enlightened his rather gloomy heart.
This girl was the 18-year old Josephine Bracken.
From Hongkong, she arrived in Dapitan in February, 1895 with
his blind foster father, George Taufer, and a Filipina named
Manuela Orlac.
Rizal and Bracken instantly fell in love with each and in just
one month, they agreed to marry which appalled and
disturbed Taufer.
However, the parish priest of Dapitan, Father Pedro Obach,
refused to do so unless they be permitted by the Bishop of
Cebu.
Because no priest was willing to marry the two, the
couple exchanged their vows before God in their own
way, which scandalized Fr. Obach.
Rizal and Josephine Bracken exchanged vows on this
rock.
In 1896, their love bear its fruit – Josephine was pregnant.
Bracken gave birth to a one-month premature baby boy
who lived only for three hours.
The child was buried in Dapitan, bearing the name
Francisco.
 Katipunan  seek Rizal’s Advice
the Katipunan leader, Andres Bonifacio, seek the
advise of Jose Rizal.
In a secret meeting on May 2, 1896 at Bitukang
Manok river in Pasig, the group agreed to send Dr. Pio
Valenzuela as a representative to Dapitan who will
inform Rizal of their plan to launch a revolution
against the Spaniards.
Valenzuala left Manila on June 15, 1892 and in 6 days,
arrived at Dapitan with a blind companion, Raymundo
Mata.
 Rizal outspokenly objected Bonifacio's “premature” idea
for two reasons:
1.  the Filipinos were still unready for such bloody revolution; and

2.  the Katipunan lacked machinery – before plotting a revolution, there

must be sufficient arms and funds collected.

Valenzuela also told Rizal of their plan to rescue him in

Dapitan. But Jose Rizal disagreed because he had no plan
of breaking his word of honor to the Spanish authorities.
 Farewell in Dapitan
July 31, 1896, Jose Rizal left Dapitan on board the steamer
Espana.
On their way to Manila, Rizal successfully performed an
opthalmic operation to a merchant who paid him fifty
silver pesos.
On August 6, 1896, Espana arrived in Manila. Rizal
supposedly to board the Isla de Luzon for Spain, but left
ahead of time.
He was prohibited from leaving the vicinity but was
allowed to accepts visitors.
Rizal has now fallen to the critical/deadly Spanish Trap.
Rizal’s Life: Trial
 RIZAL’S ARREST
On September 30, 1896 Jose Rizal was in the Isla Panay
(Ship Name) had already sailed past port said in Egypt going
to the Mediterranean.
The ship received a telegram ordering Rizal to be place under
arrest.
Bernardino Nozaleda - archbishop who clamored for the
arrest Rizal and said to be the one who started the Philippine
revolution.
On October 3 1896, Isla Panay arrived at Barcelona, Spain
and Rizal was sent to be imprison and Rizal was interviewed
by Despujol and said to he would shipped back Rizal to
Manila.
On the same day (Oct. 3), as Rizal was taken aboard
the Colon (Ship Name) which was loaded by Spanish
troops.
Dr. Regidor and Sixto Lopez (Rizal’s Friends) -
exerted effort to find a lawyer in Singapore to help
Rizal. They picked Attorney Hugh Fort an English
lawyer in Singapore but unfortunately Chief Justice
Lionel denied the request.
On November 3, 1896 the colon arrived in manila bay
and Rizal was taken to Fort Santiago.
 Preliminary Innvestigation
On November 20, 1896
Rizal was brought before a Spanish military
tribunal headed by Colonel Francisco Olive
Rizal was questioned by Col. Olive but he was not
permitted to confront witnesses who testified
against him.
Two kinds of evidence presented against Rizal:
 Documentary
 Testimonial
 15 documents were used as evidence
against Rizal
1. A letter from Antonio Luna to Mariano Ponce dated Oct.
16, 1888, Madrid.
2. A letter of Rizal to his family dated Aug. 20, 1890, Madrid.
3. A letter from M.H. Del Pilar to Deodato Arellano dated
Jan 7, 1889, Madrid
4. A poem entitled “Kundiman” allegedly written by Rizal.
5. A letter of Carlos Oliver to an unidentified person, Sept.
18, 1891.
6. A Masonic document dated Feb. 9, 1892.
7. A letter signed “Dimasalang” to Ten Luz (Juan Zulueta)
dated May 24, 1892, H.K.
8. A letter signed Dimasalang to unidentified committee
dated June 1, 1892, Hong Kong.
9. An anonymous and undated letter to the Editor of the
Hong Kong Telegraph.
10. A letter of Ildefonso Laurel to Rizal, dated Sept. 3, 1892.
11. A letter of Rizal Segundo, dated Sept. 17, 1893.
12. A letter to M.H. Del Pilar to Juan A. Tenluz
13. A transcript of the speech of Pinkian (Emilio Jacinto)
in a meeting of the Katipunan on July 23, 1893. 14.
Transcript of a speech Tik-Tol (Jose Turiano Santiago)
during the same Katipunan meeting.
15. A poem by Laon Laan (Rizal) entitled A Talisay.
 Oral Testimonial Evidences was taken and used
to implicate Rizal in the Philippine revolution
1. Martin Constantino
2. Aguedo del Rosario
3. Jose Reyes
4. Moises Salvador
5. Jose Dizon
6. Pio Valenzuela
7. Ambrosio Savador
8. Francisco Quison
9. Timoteo Paez
10. Deodato Arellano
11. Pedro Serrano Laktaw
12. Antonio Salazar
13. Domingo Franco

After the Preliminary hearing, it was decided that there was Prima Facie evidence against
Rizal and Governor General appointed Capitan Rafael Dominquez to institute
charges against Rizal
 Judge Peña’s Recommendations:

Rizal must be immediately sent to trial

He must be held in prison under necessary security
His properties must be issued with order of
attachment, and as indemnity, Rizal had to pay one
million pesos
Instead of a civilian lawyer, only an army officer is
allowed to defend Rizal.
 Rizal’s Defender
Lt. Luis Taviel de Andrade - 1st Lieutenant of the Artillery,
brother of Jose Taviel de Andrade, the bodyguard of Rizal.
On December 11, 1896, Rizal was charged with the crime of
rebellion, sedition and the formation of illegal associations.
Rizal replied that:
He does not question the jurisdiction of the court
He has nothing to amend except that during his exile in
Dapitan in 1892, he had not dealt in political matters;
 He has nothing to admit on the charges against him
He had nothing to admit on the declarations of the
witnesses, he had not met nor knew, against him.
On December 13, 1896, While he was Detention, Rizal
released a manifesto that he denounces the revolution and
condemned Katipunan for using his name without his
permission.
On December 20, 1896, Rizal together with his counsel,
Lt. Taviel de Andrade of the Spanish Artillery, prepared for
his defense.
Five days later, on December 25, 1896 Christmas Day, Rizal
was informed that on the following day, at 10:00 am, the
Council of War would convene. Rizal wrote his counsel
Taviel, asking for a conference prior to appearing before the
Council. However, it was not known whether such pre-trial
conference between Rizal and his counsel took place.
 Actual Trial
December 26, 1896
@Hall of Banners of the Cuartel de España
He was accused of 3 crimes: rebellion, sedition,
illegal associations.
Penalty:
 Life imprisonment or death for rebellion and sedition
and…
 A correctional imprisonment and a fine of 325 to 3250
pesetas for illegal association.
In defending himself, Rizal presented 12 Arguments
 Twelve-point Defense of Rizal:
 As testified by Pio Valenzuela, Rizal was against rebellion
 He had not written a letter addressed to the Katipunan comprising
revolutionary elements
 Without his knowledge, his name was used by the Katipunan; if he
really was guilty, he could have escaped while he was in Singapore
 If he was guilty, he should have left the country while in exile; he
shouldn't have built a home, bought a parcel of land or established a
hospital in Dapitan.
 If he was really the leader of the revolution, the revolutionists should
have consulted him.
 He did not deny that he wrote the by-laws of the La Liga Filipina, but
to make things clear, the organization was a civic association, not a
revolutionary society.
After the first meeting of La Liga, the association banished because of
his exile in Dapitan, thus, did not last long.
 If the La Liga was reorganized nine months later, he had no idea about
it
 If the La Liga had a revolutionary purpose, then Katipunan should not
have been organized.
If the Spanish authorities found his letters having bitter atmosphere, it
was because in 1890 his family was being persecuted resulting to their
dispossession of properties and deportation of all his brothers- in-law.
He lived an exemplary life in Dapitan – the politico-military
commanders and missionary priests in the province could attest to that.
If according to witnesses the speech he delivered at Doroteo Ongjunco's
house had inspired the revolution, then he wants to confront these
persons. If he really was for the revolution, then why did the Katipunan
sent an unfamiliar emissary to him in Dapitan? It is so because all his
friends were aware that he never advocated violence.
 it was decided that Rizal will be executed by musketry,
Governor-General Camillo Polavieja confirmed the
sentence
Teodora Alonzo wrote the Governor-General asking for
clemency for her son.
At Malacañan Palace, Rizal’s sisters pleaded to Governor-
General Polavieja: stay Rizal’s execution
But the military court remained indifferent to the pleads
of Rizal.
The court judges Rizal guilty for the charges and voted
for the death penalty
On December 28, 1896

Governor General Polavieja approved the decision of

the court-martial and ordered Rizal to be shot at 7:00
o’clock in the morning of December 30 at Bagumbayan
Field
Rizal’s Life: Execution
At around 7 a.m. of December 29, Rizal
was transferred to his death cell in Fort
Santiago.
Rizal spent his last 24 hours in his death cell When his family came to
see him, he asked pardon from his mother and talked to his sisters as
they entered his cell one by one. He also wrote letters. He gave his
sister, Trinidad, an old petroleum lamp he told her that there is
something inside. It was Rizals famous farewell poem " Mi Ultimo
Adios" (Last Farewell).
A few minutes before seven on the morning of December 30, Dr.
Jose Rizal walked from Fort Santiago to Bagumbayan Field (now
the Luneta). His arms were tied behind his back. “His head was
erect, his conscience was clear, and there was a smile on his lips.”
Rizal, ready and calm, took his position opposite his
executioners. His last words were those of Jesus Christ:
“consummatum est”,--it is finished. Then Roll of drums and a
volley of artillery accompany the firing of the soldiers.
Rizal was secretly buried in Paco Cemetery in Manila
with no identification on his grave. His sister Narcisa
toured all possible gravesites and found freshly turned
earth at the cemetery with guards posted at the gate.
Assuming this could be the most likely spot, there
never having any ground burials, she made a gift to the
caretaker to mark the site "RPJ", Rizals initials in
reverse.
Rizal’s Life: Martyrdom
 How do we consider
someone as a martyr?
A martyr is someone who chooses to
sacrifice their life or face pain and
suffering instead of giving up
something they hold sacred.
Rizal could have saved his life, as he had
been warned by friends not to return to the
country. He could not be dissuaded; and
before returning to Manila he left a letter to
his friend in Hongkong, Dr. Marquez, to be
opened after his death, in which there is a
part of the letter that wrote:
“Gladly do I go to expose myself to peril, not as any
expiation of misdeeds, but to complete my work and
myself offer the example of which I have always
preached.
A man ought to die for duty and his principles. I hold
fast to every idea which I have advanced as to the
condition and future of our country, and shall willingly
die for it, and even willingly to procure for you justice
and peace.”
It is interesting to know that 14
years before his execution, Rizal
predicted that he would die in
December 30th. He was then a
medical student in Madrid Spain.
“ January 1, 1883,
Two nights ago, that is December 30, I had a
frightful nightmare. When I almost died. I
dreamed that, imitating an actor dying on
stage, I felt vividly that my breathe 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”.
“I die just when I see the dawn break,
through the gloom of night, to herald
the day; and if color is looking my
blood thou shalt take, pour’d out at
need for thy sake, to dye with its
crimson the waking ray”
3rd stanza, My last Farewell
Why is Rizal considered as a martyr?

He was martyred for defending the cause of

the nation and its people during the Spanish
occupation.
It is the heroism of Rizal in the face
of death that inspires many, and
what is really significant is not how
Jose Rizal died, but how he lived.
THANK YOU FOR LISTENING!!!