THE TRIAL AND MARTYRDOM

Objectives: At the end of the chapter, students must able to;

1. Describe the justice system during the Spanish Period;

2. Identify the instigators of Rizal Trial and how they accused him;

3. Analyze the details of Rizal Trial and Execution;

4. Describe the ambiance of the place where Rizal was shot: and

5. Narrate the events during Rizal's final moments..

 The Trial of Dr. Jose Rizal

Upon the arrest of Rizal, the civil guards (Guardia Civil) escorted him
to Fort Santiago where he was detained as incommunicado. Some of
the members of the defunct La Liga Filipina were busy organizing a
revolution.
There were copies of the letters from Antonio Luna and Mariano Ponce
establishing campaign for reforms led by Rizal himself (Lopez and Paras, 2010),
aside from several letters of Rizal asking for reforms tantamount to a revolution.
The poem entitled "Kundiman" dated September 12, 1891 also instigated his
nationalistic views, and the copy of a discourse from Emilio Jacinto (Brains of
the Katipunan) involved Rizal's name as well as the speech of Jose Santiago
telling Rizal as the one of the leaders of the revolution.
With the trial and arraignment, possible charges led to Rizal's death penalty;

a.) He was guilty of illegal association which his name was one of the founder-
both the Katipunan organization as well as the La Liga Filipina;

b.) He was accused as the principal agent to the crime especially organizing
cause-oriented organization;
c.) His writings, declarations, letters, pamphlets and novels particularly Noli
Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo are against friar as well as against the
administration of the Spain in the Philippines; and

d.) He was the proponent of all rebellion activities because of his name
became one of the passwords of the secret organization like Katipunan.
 The Verdict Signed

There are several issues raised. One is if Governor-General Ramon

Blanco had been never replaced by Camilo de Polavieja then the
death sentence would not have been signed.
In the decision as penned by the Governor-General the following words were stated:

"Dr. José Rizal y Mercado Alonso, whom the smiles of fortune raised in past days to be the idol of
disloyal rebels, and whom the reverses of fortune brought to death without glory or honor; Rizal, a
student for his profession of natural sciences and physio-chemics; tireless and active beyond any of his
countrymen, an indefatigable traveler in Europe, master of several living tongues, admired by his less
cultured countrymen, and applauded by his teachers and friends without distinction of race, launched out
upon a course of moral sciences and sociological studies, that required much profound preparation; but
then he turned to the active propagation among the inhabitants of these Spanish regions, of ideas
disloyalty and treason, doctrines contrary to national unity.. Rizal has been the Word of revolt, the most
intelligent director of the separatists, the idol, in short, of the ignorant multitude; who have seen in the
ceaseless agitator a being supernatural, whom they called Supreme." This from his enemy!" (Source:
nhep.gov.ph)
 The Firing Squad

As Rizal served his death sentence, in Bagumbayan, seven o clock AM, he was
at the brink of the final hour of his execution. Before his death, he wrote letters
to Blumentritt (Austrian friend) and Paciano (his brother). In his letter with
Blumentritt he said the following:

"When you receive this letter, I shall be dead. Tomorrow at seven o clock I shall
be shot, but I am innocent of inciting the rebellion. I die with a tranquil
conscience. Farewell, my dearest and best friend, and think no evil of me"
(Quirino: 1997, p. 326)
In his execution, Rizal was wearing black (maybe it signifies death of the
justice system), a derby hat. Ropes were tied in his hands. A lot of
spectators were about to witness how an ignorant Indio would be executed
by an evil justice system that time. He was followed by priests as well as
eight native soldiers.
After two minute verbal tussel with the officer, Rizal had the last say "Very well,
then shoot me as you wish!". (Quirino: 1997, p. 334) His last breath was on
December 30, 1896. A firing squad shot him at the back though he pivoted his foot
to face the sky. He died at the age of 35. It is believed that his remains were
deposited at the Paco Park then transferred to Luneta which is now called as the
Rizal Monument.
 The Essence of Rizal's Death

With Rizal's death, it triggered the Philippine Revolution of 1896. His wife
Josephine as well as his brother Paciano joined with the revolutionaries.
Governor General Camilo de Polavieja wanted a peace truce with the rebels
stating his "policy of attraction", though it did materialize but Emilio
Aguinaldo (Revolutionary General and the First President of the Philippine
Republic) collaborated with the Americans (and the beginning of Uncle Sam's
Empire in the archipelago).
 Filipinos’ "Disillusionment“

After the execution of Dr. Jose Rizal in Bagumbayan, the Filipinos

went home to re-think the injustices committed by the Spanish
authorities. The revolutionaries were winning with the hearts of the
masses and most of them joined the revolutionary movement
THANK YOU!!!
Prepared by: Ms. Rovi Gjin Peralta