Rizal: Exile, Trial, and Death

• Module 2 Lesson 5 covers Rizal's exile, trial, and death

Arrival in Manila

• Rizal came back to Manila on June 28, 1892, along with his sister Lucia
• He believed the fight for reform had to be fought in the Philippines, not Spain
• Rizal met Governor-General Eulogio Despujol on the day he arrived
• Rizal took a train to see friends in Bulacan, Pampanga, and Tarlac the day after

Founding of La Liga Filipina

• On July 3, 1892, Rizal established La Liga Filipina or The Philippine League when he came back to the Philippines
• Andres Bonifacio was one of the organization's founders
• The Liga's goals in the constitution Rizal drafted include:
  • Combining the entire archipelago into a strong, unified body
  • Mutual protection in times of need
  • Defense against violence and injustice
  • Encouraging education, agriculture, commerce, and research
  • Implementing reforms
• On July 3, 1892, Rizal met patriots at Doroteo Ongjunco's house on Ylaya Street, Tondo, Manila, for La Liga Filipina
• The officers of La Liga Filipina were:
  • President: Ambrosio Salvador
  • Secretary: Deodato Arellano
  • Treasurer: Agustin de la Rosa
  • Fiscal: Bonifacio Arevalo
• "Unus Instar Omnium" (One Like All) is The Liga Filipina's motto
• The responsibilities of Liga Members included:
  • Obeying Supreme Council orders
  • Helping to recruit new members
  • Keeping Liga authorities' decisions confidential
  • Using a symbolic name that cannot change until becoming council president
  • Reporting anything heard affecting the Liga to the fiscal
  • Behaving well as befits a good Filipino
  • Helping fellow members in any way

Rizal's Meeting with Governor-General Despujol (1892)

• Rizal met with Governor-General Despujol in Manila to get approval for his colonization project

• Rizal explained that the settlement would be under British law, but it would not involve political rebellion against Spain

• Despujol rejected the proposal because he worried it would weaken Spanish control over Filipinos and inspire nationalist movements, despite Rizal's peaceful intentions

• Despujol saw the plan as a threat to Spanish colonial power, believing it could turn into a revolutionary base, even though Rizal did not intend for that to happen

• Graceta de Manila shared the story of Rizal's arrest

  • The gubernatorial decree declared Rizal's deportation was due to disloyalty to Spain in his books and articles abroad, which were "frankly anti-Catholic" and "prudently anti-friar"
  • A few hours after Rizal’s arrival there was found in his packages entitled "Pobres Frailes (Poor Friars)
  • His novel "El Filibusterismo" was to dedicated to the memory of the three traitors
  • Writings would tear Filipino away from Catholic faith

• July 6, 1892 – Rizal was arrested by Spanish authorities for inciting rebellion

• July 7, 1892 – La Liga Filipina weakened due to Rizal's exile, leading to a split

  • Cuerpo de Compromisarios continued peaceful reform efforts
  • Kataas-taasang Kagalang-galang na Katipunan ng mga Anak ng Bayan (KKK)- Led by Andrés Bonifacio, pushed for armed revolution

Exile in Dapitan

• Rizal was exiled in Dapitan, Zamboanga del Norte, from 1892-1896

Contributions in Community

• Education:
  • Established a school for young boys
  • Taught Spanish, English, Mathematics, Science, and Arts
  • Used practical, hands-on learning methods
• Public Health & Medicine:
  • Provided free treatment for eye diseases and other illnesses
  • Introduced modern medical practices
  • Performed surgeries and distributed medicine
• Infrastructure:
  • Water System for Dapitan
  • Relief map of Mindanao
• Innovations:
  • Sulpukan
  • Brick-making machine
• Agriculture:
  • Jose bought 70 hectares of land in Dapitan and had built, as well as plant fruit trees, corn, coffee, cacao, sugarcane and hemp.
  • Established the Cooperative Association of Dapitan Farmers
• Scientific & Artistic Contributions
  • Draco rizali- a flying dragon
  • Apogonia rizali- a small beetle
  • Rhacophorus rizali- a rare frog

Personal Life in Dapitan

• Rizal met Josephine Bracken, an Irish woman
• They lived together but were not officially married
• They experienced tragedy when their child died 3 hours after birth
• Rizal continued to write, study, and communicate with reformists
• Pio Valenzuela, one emissary of Andres Bonifacio, was given task of informing Rizal of their plans.
  • Rizal objected to the projected revolution, the revolutionaries must have enough arms and weapons

End of Exile

• December 17, 1895- Rizal requested to serve as a doctor in Cuba (under Spain)
• The Spanish government approved his request on July 30, 1896
• Rizal left Dapitan on July 31, 1896
• Rizal was arrested en route, accused of supporting the Philippine Revolution

Trial of Rizal

• August 26, 1896- Andres Bonifacio and his fearless Katipuneros cried out in the hills of Balintawak, a few miles north of Manila
• August 30, 1896- They attacked San Juan, a city near Manila, but were repulsed with heavy looses
• Governor General Blanco declared state of war in the eight provinces of Manila for their insurgency against Spain: (Manila, Bulacan, Cavite, Batangas, Laguna, Pampanga, Nueva Ecija, and Tarlac)
• Jose Rizal received two letters from Governor General Blanco exonerating him from the raging insurgency
• September 3, 1896- Jose's last trip abroad when he left for Spain
  • He was transferred to Isla de Panay which was sailing for Barcelona, Spain
• Jose Rizal was unlawfully detained as prisoner of a Spanish steamer
• Bernadino Nozaleda- archbishop of Manila clamored for the arrest of Rizal
• November 3, 1896- The ship colon greeted by spaniards upon arrival in Manila
• Rizal was transferred to Fort Santiago from the ship
• November 20, 1896- The preliminary investigation began
• Lt. Luis Taviel de Andrade- Rizal's defense attorney
• November 20, 1896-a five-day preliminary investigation was launched
• Captain Rafael Dominguez instituted charges against Rizal
• There were 15 exhibits of documentary evidences including:
  • Letter of Antonio Luna to Mariano Ponce
  • Letter of Rizal to his family
  • Letter from Marcelo H. del Pilar to Deodato
  • A poem titled Kundiman
  • Letter of Carlos Oliver to an unidentified person
  • Masonic document
  • Letter signed Dimasalang
  • Letter of Dimasalang to an unidentified committee with letter to the editor of the Hong Kong Telegraph
  • Letter of Ildefonso Laurel to Rizal
  • Letter of Rizal Segundo
  • Letter of Marcelo H. del Pilar to Don Juan A. Tenluz
  • Transcript of a speech of Pingkian
  • Transcript of a speech of Til-Tik
  • Poem of Loong Laan ("Himno A. Talsay)
• Judge Advocate General-Don Nicolas Dela Pena recommended that:
  • The accused be brought to trial immediately
  • Rizal be kept in prison
  • An order of attachment be issued against his property in the amount of one million pesos as indemnity
  • He be represented in court by an army officer rather than a civilian lawyer
• December 1, 1896- charges were read to Jose in his prison cell
• Three crimes: rebellion, sedition, and illegal association
• Rizal accused being "the principal organizer and the living soul of the Filipino insurgency, the founder of societies, periodicals, and books dedicated to fomenting and propagating ideas of rebellion."
• December 13, 1896- General Camilo G. de Polavieja received Jose's case
• December 26, 1896- the trial of Rizal took place
• 12 arguments of Jose Rizal during his trial:
  • He could not be a rebel because he advised Dr. Pio Valenzuela not to revolt
  • He did not share the radical, revolutionary elements
  • Revolutionaries used his names without permission, he would have fled if sound guilty
  • If involved in the revolution, he could have fled in a Moro vinta and not built a house, a hospital, or purchased land in Dapitan
  • If he were the revolution's commander-in-chief, why hasn't he been consulted by revolutionaries?
  • Liga Filipina's bylaws was a civic organization, not a revolutionary society
  • Liga Filipina did not last long, as he was exiled to Dapitan after the first meeting and it died out
  • He was unaware that the Liga had been reorganized nine months later
  • The Liga had served the revolutionaries' needs
  • Venomous remarks were due to Rizal's family being persecuted, with his family being evicted from their homes
  • His life in Dapitan has been exemplary
  • His one speech at Dorotea Ongjunco's house did not inspire the revolution
• Rizal’s appeal was dismissed and the military court sentenced him to death
• December 26, 1896- the decision was handed down to Governor General Camilo de Polavieja
• December 28, 1896- Governor General Camilo de Polavieja signed the decision to execute Jose Rizal on by shooting him on December 30, 1896
• Doña Teodora Alonzo wrote Governor-General de Polavieja asking for clemency for her son
• Rizal wrote letters including:
  • December 29, 1896 to his brother Paciano and best friend Dr. Ferdinand Blumentritt
  • Mi Ultimo Adios- Rizal's last poem December 29, 1896
  • A letter to his family on December 30, 1896 at 5:30 AM
  • A letter to his father on December 30, 1896 at 6 AM
• Rizal gave his wife Josephine, the letter says "To my dear and unhappy wife Josephine, dec 30th, 1896"

Execution and Death

• On December 30 1896; 6:30 AM, Rizal marched to his execution site in Bagumbayan wearing a black suit and hat
• Rizal was accompanied by Lt. Luis Taviel de Andrade and Jesuit priests, Fr. March and Fr. Vilaclara
• Many people lined the streets, waiting to see what would happen.
  • Onlookers' emotions were mixed, sympathizing with Rizal or wanting his death
• Eight Filipino soldiers formed the firing squad facing José Rizal as Spanish troops stood behind them, ready to kill any Filipino soldier who hesitated
• Rizal requested to face his executioners while unblindfolded, but the commander declined
• Rizal consented to turn, but asked to be shot in the back instead of the head which, the commander agreed
• A Spanish military doctor Dr. Felipe Ruiz Castillo checked Rizal's pulse and found it normal
• Rizal's last words was "Consummatum Est" (It is finished)
• After Rizal fell, a soldier approached and delivered a final 'tiro de gracia' or mercy shot to his head to ensure he was dead
• Died at 7:03 AM
• Rizal’s body transported to Paco Cemetery, Manila, after the execution
• Rizal was buried in secret, with guards to prevent Filipinos from stealing the body
• The grave was marked by a marble slab with the initials "J.P.R." in reverse order
• Rizal's death inspired many and cemented his role as a hero for Philippine independence