Chapter 5: Jose Rizal's Exile, Trial, and Death PDF

**CHAPTER 5** **JOSE RIZAL'S LIFE: EXILE, TRIAL AND DEATH** **Jose Rizal's Exile (1892-96)** Jose dwelled as exile in Dapitan, Zamboanga Del Norte, a far-removed town in Mindanao from 1892 to 1896. This four-year interregnum in Jose's life was summed up by Zaide and Zaide (2104) as: In Dapitan,...

**CHAPTER 5** **JOSE RIZAL'S LIFE: EXILE, TRIAL AND DEATH** **Jose Rizal's Exile (1892-96)** Jose dwelled as exile in Dapitan, Zamboanga Del Norte, a far-removed town in Mindanao from 1892 to 1896. This four-year interregnum in Jose's life was summed up by Zaide and Zaide (2104) as: In Dapitan, Jose had a very peaceful, happy, and enjoyable life and the way he lived it was extremely good and deserving to be admired and copied. He made sure his stay in Dapitan would be fruitful, so he engaged in manifold activities. His excellent skill in the science of medicine spread like wild fire in Dapitan. His medical practice attracted many patients who were mostly poor. He put to good use the curative values of the Philippines medicinal plants which he studied and doled them out to his poor patients who could not afford to buy imported medicine. He welcomed both affluent and indigent patients. He normally undercharged them if not for free and accepted any payments in kind from those who had little or no money.  With the assistance of Father Francisco Sanchez, his former Jesuit teacher, Jose buckled down to work. He enhanced the town plaza and accentuated it with a huge relief map of Mindanao, which can still be viewed today. One of the impressive projects of Jose was the water system he designed and constructed in order that people of Dapitan can have access to clean water. In spite of lack of funds, exiguous resources and no government assistance, he was able to build it, armed only with his training in Ateneo, readings of engineering books, sheer determination and ingenuity. To reduce the occurrence of malaria, he drained the marshes where mosquitos thrived. Utilizing the 500 pesos he received from an English patient, he introduced a lighting system made up of coconut oil lamps in glass protectors which lighted up dark areas in the town. Imbued with the value of education since childhood, Jose realized his dream to establish his own school in which he applied the educational system he learned abroad. The school opened with three pupils which increased to 16 and later to 21. His lessons constituted of reading, writing languages (Spanish and English), geography, history, mathematics (arithmetic and geometry), industrial work, study of nature, and morals. He also trained and exposed them to gymnastics, boxing, wrestling, stone-throwing, swimming, arnis (native frencing), and boating for physical development and discipline. He did not charge his pupils for sharing his knowledge, instead, he encouraged them to help him in his garden, farm, and construction projects in the community. Jose conducted scientific studies in the rich virgin field if Dapitan and collected specimens of animals and plants. He forwarded these specimens to the Dresden museum of Europe and he received scientific books and surgical instruments as payment. He has an impressive assemblage of his study of 346 shells from 203 species. He obtained knowledge on some rare specimens which were named in his honor by European scientists such as Draco rizali (a flying dragon), Apogonia rizali (a small beetle), and Rhacophorus rizali (a rare frog). While in Dapitan, Jose studied the Bisayan, Subanum, and Malayan languages and wrote a Tagalog grammar. He wrote poems entitled: A Don Ricardo Carnicero, Himno A Talisay (Hymn to the Talisay Tree) Mi Retiro (My Retreat), El Canto del Viajero (The Song of the Traveler) and Josephine. He also made some drawings and sculptures of people and things that captivated him. Jose acquired lands in Dapitan which reached total holdings of 70 hectares, where he constructed his house, school, hospital, and planted in his farm many fruit trees, corn, coffee, cacao, sugarcane, and hemp. He also introduced and encouraged the use of modern European and American methods of agriculture. He, however, did not realize his dream of transforming Dapitan into an agricultural colony because he did not get the acceptance and permission of the government. In collaboration with Ramon Carreon, a Dapitan merchant, Jose was successful in his business ventures in fishing, copra, and hemp industries. He established the Cooperative Association of Dapitan Farmers to break the Chinese business in monopoly in Dapitan. The confederation, according to *Jose Rizal's Political and Historical Writings* (1964) aimed "to improve the farm products, obtain better outlets for them, collect funds for their purchases, and help the producers and workers by establishing a store wherein they can buy prime commodities at moderate prices." He devised an unusual "*sulpukan*", a cigarette lighter made of wood which employed the principle of compressed air. Subsequently, it was received by Blumentritt as a gift. He also formed an idea of a machine for making bricks. Patterned after a Belgian example, Jose's version could produce about 6,000 bricks daily. In spite of his achievements in Dapitan, Jose felt empty. He missed his family, relatives, and friends. He felt he needed somebody to rejuvenate him. Expressed in *Letters between Rizal and Family Members* (1964), Jose found his answer in Josephine Bracken: Jose and Josephine fell inlove with each other and decided to seal their relationship with marriage but no priest would marry them. Even without the blessing of the church, Jose and Josephine joyfully shared each other's life in Dapitan. His happiness doubled when he learned that Josephine was expecting a baby. By twist of fate, the baby, only lived for three hours. He named his baby boy "Francisco" in honor to his father. In 1876, Andres Bonifacio and his *Katipunan* (revolutionary society he founded on July 7, 1892) organized an armed rebellion. They assigned Dr. Pio Valenzuela to notify Jose Rizal about their plan. To conceal his assignment, Dr. Pio was accompanied by Raymundo Mata, a blind man to consult Jose's medical advised. Jose opposed the *Katipuneros* very bold and shocking uprising. He firmly believed that they are not ready for a revolution. He added that they do not have adequate arms and funds. He also declined the offer of *Katipuneros* to rescue him. Several months before the Katipuneros communicated with Jose, Blumentritt revealed to him the pitiful health situation (yellow fever epidemic) in war-ridden Cuba and admonished him to volunteer as an army doctor there to end his exile. On December 17, 1895, acting upon his friend's counsel, Jose sent Governor General Ramon Blanco a letter, offering his medical services in Cuba. He almost gave up hope when he did not get a response after months had passed. However, on July 30, 1896, when he least expected it, a letter from the Spanish Governor arrived informing him of his proposal. This letter also expressed that he would be given a pass so that he could travel in Manila, where he would given a safe-conduct to Spain and subsequently to Cuba. July 31, 1896 marked Jose Rizal's emotionally charged departure from a town he learned to love. Many teary-eyed Dapitan folks were at the shore to bid goodbye to a person who unselfishly did all he can for their town. With weeping heart brimming with tears of nostalgic memories, Jose gestured his farewell salute to the town's devoted and friendly folks.