CHAPTER 16: IN BELGIAN BRUSSELS

I.

II.

III.

IV.

V.

VI.

INTRODUCTION
a. In the face of suffering which afflicted his family, Rizal decided to go home. He could not
stay in Brussels writing a book while his parents, relatives, and friends in distant
Philippines were in despair.
REASON FOR LEAVING PARIS
a. January 28, 1890 Rizal left Paris for Brussels, capital of Belgium.
i. In Brussels, Rizal was busy writing his second novel which was a continuation of
Noli. He was never idle even for an hour. Aside from writing its chapter he wrote
articles for La Solidaridad and letters to his family and friends.
Two reasons:
b. The cost of living in Paris was very high because of the Universal Exposition, and
c. The gay social life of the city hampered his literary works especially the writing of his
second novel El Filibusterismo.
LIFE IN BRUSSEL
a. Being a physician, he spent part of his time in the medical clinic. For recreation, he had
gymnastics at the gymnasium at target practice and fencing at the armory.
ARTICLES APPEARED IN LA SOLIDARIDAD
a. A La Defensa (To LA Defensa) reply to a Spanish author Patricio de la Escosura
b. La Verdad Para Todos (The Truth For All) defense against the Spanish charges that the
native local officials were ignorant anddepraved
c. Vicente Barrantes Teatro Tagalo- exposes Barrantes ignorance on the Tagalog theatrical
art
d. Una profanacion (A Profanation) a bitter attack against the friars for denying
Christian burial to Mariano Herbosa, husband of Lucia who died of cholera
e. Verdades Nueva (New Truths) a reply to Vicente Belloc Sanchez w/c asserts that the
granting of reforms in the Philippines would ruin the peaceful and maternal rule of the
friars.
f. Crueldad (Cruelty) defense of Blumentrittfrom the scurrilous attacks of his enemies
g. Diferencias (Differences) reply to biased article Old Truths w/s ridiculed those Filipinos
who asked for reforms
h. Inconsequencias (Inconsequences) defense of Antonio Luna against the attack of Pablo
Mir Deas in El Pueblo Soberano
i. Llanto y Risas (Tears and Laughters) Adenunciation of Spanish racial prejudice against
the brown Filipinos
j. Ingratitudes (Ingratitude) reply to Governor Valeriano Weyler who told to the people of
Calamba that they should not allow themselves to be deceived by the vain promises of
their ungrateful sons.
FILIPINOS FOR GAMBLING
a. In Brussels, Rizal received news from Juan Luna,and Valentin Ventura that the
Filipino in Spain weredestroying the good name of their nation by gambling too much.
b. Accordingly, Rizal wrote too M.H Del Pilar on May28, 1890 to remind the Filipinos in
Madrid that they did not come to Europe to gamble, but to work for their father lands
freedom.
c. The gambling Filipinos in Madrid were angry when they learned of Rizals moralizing.
Thereafter, they called RizalPapa (Pope) instead of Pepe.
BAD NEWS FROM HOME
1

a. Letters from home which Rizal receive in Brussels, worried him. The Calamba agrarian
trouble was getting worse. The management of the Dominican hacienda continually
raised the land rents until such time that Rizals father refused to pay his rent. Other
tenants, inspired by Don Franciscos courage, also refused to pay their rents.
Meanwhile, the tenants, including the Rizal family, were persecuted and ejected from
their lands.
b. The sad news from home depressed Rizal. His heart bled to know the sorrowful plight of
his parents, brother and brothers-in-law.
PRESENTATION OF DEATH
a. In his moment of despair, Rizal had bad dreams during the nights in Brussels when he
was restless because he was always thinking of his unhappy family in Calamba.
Although he was not superstitious, he feared that he would not live long. He was not
afraid to die, but he wanted to finish his second novel before he went to his grave.
This morbid presentiment of early death was divulged by him to M. h. del Pilar in a letter
from Brussels dated June 11, 1890, as follows:

VII.

CHAPTER 17: MISFORTUNE IN MADRID

I.

II.

III.

IV.

V.

ARRIVAL
a. Early in August, 1890, Rizal arrived in Madrid
b. Upon arrival in Madrid, Rizal immediately sought help of the Filipino colony, The
Association Hispano-Filipina, and the liberal Spanish newspaper in securing justice for
the oppressed Calamba tenants
NEWSPPAPER
a. El Resumen- a Madrid newspaper which sympathized with the Filipino cause, said: To
cover the ear, open the purse, and fold the armsthis is the Spanish colonial policy
b. La Epoca- an anti-Filipino newspaper in Madrid
1. Jose Ma. Panganiban, his talented co-worker in the Propaganda Movement, died in
Barcelona on August 19, 1890, after a lingering illness
RIZAL FOUGHT TWO DUELS
a. Antonio LunaLuna was bitter because of his frustrated romance with Nellie Boustead.
Deep in his heart, he was blaming Rizal for his failure to win her, although Rizal had
previously explained to him that he had nothing to do about it. Luna uttered certain
unsavory remarks about Nellie, Rizal heard him and angered by the slanderous
remarks, he challenged Luna, his friend, to a duel. Fortunately, Luna realized that he
had made a fool of himself during his drunken state, he apologized for his bad remarks
about the girl and Rizal accepted his apology and they became good friends again
b. Wenceslao E. Retana, his bitter enemy of the pen, a talented Spanish scholar, was then
a press agent of the friars in Spain. He used to attack the Filipinos in various
newspapers in Madrid and other cities in Spain. Retana wrote an article in La Epoca,
asserting that the family and friends of Rizal had not paid their rents so they were
ejected from their lands in Calamba by the Dominicans. Such as insult stirred Rizal to
action, immediately he sent his seconds to Retana with his challenge to a duel
IFIDELITY OF LEONOR RIVERA
a. Rizal received a letter from Leonor, announcing her coming marriage to an Englishman
(the choice of her mother) and asking his forgiveness
RIZAL-DEL PILAR RIVALRY
2

a. toward the closing days of 1890 arose an unfortunate rivalry between Rizal and M.H.
del Pilar for supremacy. Because of this, the Filipinos were divided ibto two hostile
campsthe Rizalistas and the Pilaristas. The situation was becoming explosive and
critical. Despite of winning the votes, Rizal graciously declined the coveted position
Rizal wrote a brief note thanking his compatriots for electing him as Responsible. It was the
last he saw Madrid

CHAPTER 19: EL FILIBUSTERISMO PUBLISHED IN GHENT

I.

II.

III.

IV.
V.
VI.

PRIVATIONS IN GHENT
a. Reasons for moving to Ghent
i. Cost of printing in Ghent was cheaper than in Brussels
ii. To escape from the enticing attraction of Petite Suzanne
PRINTING OF EL FILIBUSTERISMO
a. He pawned his jewels in order to pay the down payment and the early partial payments
during the printing of the novel
VENTURA, SAVIOR OF FILI
a. Valentine Ventura in Paris learned of Rizals predicament and immediately sent him the
necessary funds
b. With his financial aid, the printing of the Fili was resumed
THE FILI COMES OFF THE PRESS
DEDICATED TO GOM-BUR-ZA
SYNOPSIS OF EL FILIBUSTERISMO
a. This novel is a sequel to the Noli
i. It has little humor, less idealism, and less romance than the Noli Me Tangere
ii. It is more revolutionary, more tragic than the first novel
b. Simoun
i. The hero of the novel and is a rich jeweler
1. He was Ibarra of the Noli
ii. He fled to Cuba where he became rich and befriended many Spanish officials
1. He returns to the Philippines where he freely moved around
2. He is a powerful figure not only because he is a rich jeweler, but also
because he is a good friend and adviser of the governor-general.
iii. He is secretly cherishing a terrible revenge against the Spanish authorities
1. 2 magnificent obsessions are:
a. Rescue Maria Clara from the nunnery of Santa Clara
b. To foment a revolution against the hated Spanish Masters
iv. A man of wealth and mystery, is a very close friend and confidante of the
Spanish-Governor General.
1. Because of his great influence in Malacanang, he was called the Brown
Cardinal or the Black Eminence
2. By using his wealth and his political influence, he encourages corruption in
the government
a. Promotes the oppression of the masses
b. Hastens the moral degradation of the country so that the people
may become desperate and fight
3. He smuggles arms into the country with the help of a rich Chinese
merchant, Quiroga, who wants very much to be Chinese consul of Manila
3

VII.

VIII.

4. His first attempt to begin the armed uprising did not materialize because at
the last hour he hears the sad news that Maria Clara died in the nunnery
v. Simoun perfects his plan to overthrow the government
1. Beautiful lamp was given as wedding gift to Paulita Gomez and Julio
Pelaez
2. Only he and his confidential associate, Basilio, know that when the wick of
his lamp burns lower the nitroglycerine, will explode, destroying the house
where the wedding feast is going to be held and killing all the guests,
including the governor general, the friars, and the government officials.
3. Simultaneously, all the government buildings in Manila will be blown by
Simouns followers.
c. The story of El Fili begins on board the steamer, Tabo
d. Basilio
i. Medical student, whose medical education was financed by his patron, Capitan
Tiago
e. Isagani
i. Rejected by Paulita because of his liberal ideas
ii. Was watching outside the house
iii. Basilio, his friend, warns him to go away because the lighted lamp will soon
explode
iv. Realizes that Paulita was in grave danger
1. To save her life, he rushes into the house, seizes the lighted lamp, and
hurls into the river, where it explodes
f. Padre Florentino
i. Home refuge of Simoun when he escaped the soldiers who are in pursuit of him
ii. The Spanish authorities learns of his presence in the house
iii. Lt. Perez of the Guardia Civil informs the priest by letter that he would come to
arrest Simoun
g. Arrest was eluded by Simoun
i. Took a poison
ii. As he is dying, he confessed to Padre Florentino, revealing his true identity, his
dastardly plan to use his wealth to avenge himself, and his sinister aim to destroy
his friends and enemies
h. Cabesang Tales
i. Dispossessed of his land by the friars like that of Rizals father.
ii. In desperation, becomes a bandit chieftain named Matanglawin
NOLI AND FILI COMPARED
a. Noli
i. A romantic novel
ii. Work of the heart, a book of feeling
b. Fili
i. A political novel
1. Work of the head, a book of the thought
2. Contains bitterness, hatred, pain, violence, and sorrow
ii. The original intention of Rizal was to make the Fili longer than the Noli
1. Rizal had to cut the Fili drastically owing to lack of funds
iii. Rizal himself considered the Noli as superior to the Fili
RIZALS UNFINISHED THIRD NOVEL
a. Letter to Blumentritt
i. A novel in which politics will not find much space in it
4

IX.

ii. Ethics will play the principal role which deals mainly with the habits and customs
of the Filipinos
iii. Jose wishes to be there; he wishes to be humorous, satirical and witty, to laugh
and cry
b. While he was bound for Hong Kong:
i. He continued writing it but did not finish it
ii. To be written in Tagalog, intended for Tagalog readers
c. Story:
i. Sultan Zaide
1. with his royal family and retainers, was taken prisoner by the Spaniards
during the wars in the Moluccas and brought to Manila
2. The old sultan, his children, and followers were promised good treatment,
but the Spaniards forgot their promise and let them die one by one in
misery
ii. Kamandangan
1. The hero of the novel
2. Descendant of Lakandula, last king of Tondo
3. Plotted to regain the lost freedom of his fathers
iii. It is said that Rizal was fortunate not to have finished this novel, because it would
have caused greater scandal and more Spanish vengeance on him.
RIZALS OTHER UNFINISHED NOVEL
a. Makamisa
b. Dapitan
i. Wrote it during his exile in Dapitan to depict the town life and customs
c. A novel in Spanish about the life in Pili, a town in Laguna is also unfinished
d. Another unfinished novel of Rizal, also without a title, is about Cristobal, a youthful
Filipino student who was returned from Europe
e. A novel that describes the deplorable conditions of the Philippines

CHAPTER 20: OPHTHALMIC SURGEON IN HONG KONG

I.

II.

III.

FAREWELL TO EUROPE
a. Reasons for leaving Europe
i. Life was unbearable in Europe because of his political differences with M.H. del
Pilar and other Filipinos in Spain
ii. To be near his country
RIZAL AND THE GERMAN LADIES
a. The fast running steamer encountered a heavy squall and the door of the dining room
was blown open
i. Nobody among the passengers who were busy eating stood up to close the door
ii. A lady said to her companions in German: If this man in front of us were a
gentleman he would close the door
iii. Upon hearing her remark, Rizal, without saying a word, rose and closed the door
iv. He conversed with the German ladies in perfect German, and the ladies were
very much embarrassed
FAMILY REUNION IN HONG KONG
a. The Christmas in Hong Kong was one of the happiest Yuletide Celebrations in Rizals
life
i. He had a happy family reunion
5

IV.

V.

VI.

VII.

OPHTHALMIC SURGEON IN HONG KONG

a. To earn a living for himself and for himself, Rizal practiced medicine
b. A Portuguese physician, Dr. Lorenzo Marques, became his friend and helped him to
build a wide clientele
BORNEO COLONIZATION PROJECT
a. In the face of the bleak outlook of the Calamba folks under Governor Valeriano Weylers
terroristic regime, Rizal conceived the establishment of a Filipino colony in North Borneo
(Sabah)
i. He planned to move the landless Filipino families to that rich British-owned island
and carve out its virgin wildness a New Calamba.
ii. He went to Sandakan to negotiate with the British authorities for the
establishment of a Filipino colony.
iii. Bengkoka River in Maradu Bay
1. Was offered by the British Borneo Company
2. His mission was successful
iv. The British authorities of Borneo were willing to give the Filipino colonists 100,
000 acres of land, a beautiful harbor, and a good government for 999 years, free
of all charges.
b. Hidalgo (Rizals brother in law)
i. Objected to the colonization project
ii. Why should we go to a foreign land without first exhausting all means for the
welfare of the country which nurtured us from our cradles?
c. New trends of events in the Philippines gave Rizal a new hope for realizing his Borneo
project.
i. Weyler was relieved of his gubernatorial office
ii. Eulogio Despujol, the new governor, announced to the Filipino people a fine
program of government
1. In the belief that Governor Despujol was sincere in his beautiful promises
of a better government, Rizal sent him a letter of felicitation and offering
his cooperation.
2. The governor-general, violating the simple rule of Spanish courtesy, did
not even acknowledge receipt of his letter.
3. In his second letter, he requested the governor-general to permit the
landless Filipinos to establish themselves in Borneo
a. Despujol did not give Rizal the courtesy of a reply
b. Despujol notified the Spanish consul general in Hong Kong to tell
Rizal that he could not approve the Filipino immigration to Borneo,
alleging that the Philippines lacked laborers and it was not very
patriotic to go off and cultivate foreign soil
WRITINGS IN HONGKONG
a. Rizal wrote A Visit to Victoria Gaol
i. An account of his visit to the colonial prison in Hong Kong
ii. In this article he contrasted the cruel Spanish prison system with the moderm
and more humane British prison system
b. Constitution of the La Liga Filipina
i. Most important writing made in Hong Kong
DECISION TO RETURN TO MANILA
a. Reasons:
i. To confer with Governor Despujol regarding his Borneo colonization project
6

VIII.

IX.

ii. To establish the Liga Filipina in Manila

iii. To prove that Eduardo de Lete was wrong in attacking him in Madrid
1. Letes attack, which was printed in La Solidaridad, portrayed Rizal as
cowardly, egoistic, opportunistic a patriot in words only
2. Protest of Rizal to del Pilar:
a. Why did del Pilar permit Lete to write in the article?
b. It could harm more the interests of the whole country
LAST HONG KONG LETTERS
a. FIRST LETTER: ADDRESSED TO HIS PARENTS AND FRIENDS
i. I realized how much suffering I have caused you yet I do not regret what I have
done in pursuit of my duty
ii. Lived the examples he preached
iii. A man ought to die for duty and his principles
iv. To advance the future of the country, and shall willingly die for it, and even more
willingly sacrifice all to secure justice and peace for you
v. I risk life to save so many innocent persons
vi. There are many persons, filled with hope and ambition, who perhaps might be
happier if I were dead
vii. Should fate go against me, you will all understand that I shall die happy in the
thought that my death will end all your troubles.
b. SECOND LETTER: ADDRESSED TO THE FILIPINOS
i. I cannot live on seeing so many suffer unjust persecution on my account
ii. I prefer death and cheerfully shall relinquish life to free so many innocent persons
from such unjust persecution
iii. I appreciate the fact that at present the future of our country gravitates in some
degree around me, that at my death many will feel triumphant; many are wishing
for my fall
iv. I hold duties of conscience above all else
v. I am all my parents have, but our country has many more sons who can take my
place and even do my work better.
vi. Besides I wish to show those who deny us the boon of patriotism that we know
how to die for duty and principles
vii. What matters death, if one dies for what one loves, for native land and beings
held dear?
RIZAL FALLS INTO SPANISH TRAP
a. After Rizals departure from Hong Kong, the Spanish-consul general, who issued the
government guarantee of safety, sent a cablegram to Governor Despujol that the victim
is in trap.
i. A secret case was filed in Manila against Rizal and his followers for anti-religious
and anti-patriotic agitation.
b. The deceitful Despujol ordered his secretary, Luis de la Torre, to find out if Rizal was
naturalized as a German citizen, as was rumored, so that he might take proper action
against one who had the protection of a strong nation.

CHAPTER 21: SECOND HOMECOMING AND THE LIGA FILIPINA

I.

ARRIVAL IN MANILA WITH SISTER

a. Rizal and his widowed sister Lucia arrived in Manila
7

II.

III.

IV.

V.

b. Had an audience at Malacanang with Governor-General Despujol; Despujol agreed to

pardon his father but not the rest of his family.
FOUNDING OF THE LIGA FILIPINA
a. Rizal attended a meeting of the patriots at the home of the Chinese- Filipino, Doroteo
Ongjunco
b. Rizal explained the objectives of the Liga Filipina, a civic league of Filipinos
c. The patriots were favorably impressed and gladly approved the establishment of the
Liga
CONSTITUTION OF THE LIGA FILIPINA
a. To unite the whole archipelago into one compact and homogenous body
b. Mutual protection in every want and necessity
c. Defense against all violence and injustice
d. Encouragement of education, agriculture, and commerce
e. Study and application of reforms
f. Motto: One like All
RIZAL ARRESTED AND JAILED IN FORT SANTIAGO
a. Rizal resumes his series of interviews with the governor-general
b. During this interview, governor-general Despujol suddenly showed him some printed
leaflets which were allegedly found in Lucias pillow cases.
i. These incriminatory leaflets were entitled Pobres Frailes
ii. They were a satire against the rich Dominican friars who amassed fabulous
riches contrary to their monastic vow of poverty.
c. Rizal denied having those leaflets in either his or Lucias baggage, which had been
thoroughly searched upon their arrival from Hong Kong by the custom authorities who
found nothing.
i. Despite his denial and insistent demand for investigation in accordance with the
due process of law, he was placed under arrest and escorted to Fort Santiago
d. The following day, the Gaceta de Manila published the story of Rizals arrest which
produced indignant commotion among the Filipino people, particularly the members of
the newly organized Liga Filipina
ARBITRARY DEPORTATION TO DAPITAN
a. The same issue of the Gaceta contained Governor General Despujols decree deporting
Rizal to one of the islands in the South
b. The gubernatorial decree gave the reasons for Rizals deportation, as follows:
i. Rizal had published books and articles abroad which showed disloyalty to Spain
and which were frankly anti-catholic and imprudently anti-friar
ii. A few hours after his arrival in Manila there was found in one of the packages
a bundle of handbills entitled Pobres Frailes
iii. His novel El Filibusterismo was dedicated to the memory of three traitors (GomBur-Za), and on the title page he wrote that in view of the vices and errors of the
Spanish administration, the only salvation for the Philippines was separation
from the mother country.
iv. The end which he pursues in his efforts and writings is to tear from the loyal
Filipino breasts the treasures of our holy Catholic faith.
c. He was exiled in Dapitan for a period of 4 years.

CHAPTER 22: EXILE IN DAPITAN

I.

BEGINNING OF EXILE IN DAPITAN

8

II.

III.

IV.

V.

a. Dapitan, is a remote town in Mindanao which was under the missionary jurisdiction of
the Jesuits
b. Rizal could live at the parish convent on the following conditions:
i. That Rizal publicly retract his errors concerning religion, and make statements
that were clearly pro-Spanish and against revolution.
ii. That he perform the church rites and make a general confession of his past life.
iii. That he conduct himself in an exemplary manner as a Spanish subject and a
man of religion
c. Rizal did not agree with these conditions
i. Consequently, he lived in the house of the commandant; Captain Carnicero (the
warden) and Rizal (the prisoner) were warm and friendly.
WINS IN MANILA LOTTERY
a. The mail boat, Butuan, brought no Spanish official to Dapitan but the happy tidings that:
i. the Lottery Ticket No. 9736 jointly owned by Captain Carnicero, Rizal and
Francisco Eqiulor (Spanish resident of Dipolog) won the second prize of P20,000
b. Rizals share of the winning lottery ticket was P6,200
i. He gave P2,000 to his father and P200 to his friend Basa in Hong Kong
ii. The rest he invested well by purchasing agricultural lands along the coast of
Talisay
c. Rizal never drank liquor and never smoked but he was a lottery ticket addict.
RIZAL-PASTELLS DEBATE ON RELIGION
a. Father Pastells sent Rizal a book by Sarda, with advice that Rizal should desist from his
foolishness in viewing religion from the prism of individual judgment and self-esteem
b. Rizal revealed his anti-catholic ideas which he had acquired in Europe and
embitterment at his persecution by the bad friars
i. It is understandable why he was bitter against the friars who committed certain
abuses under the cloak of religion.
c. Rizals Catholicism requires enlightenment, like the Catholicism of Terilhard de Chardin
RIZAL CHALLENGES A FRENCHMAN TO A DUEL
a. Mr. Juan Lardet, a businessman, purchased many logs from the lands of Rizal.
i. It so happened that some of the logs were of poor quality
ii. Lardet , in a letter written to Antonio Miranda, a Dapitan merchant and friend of
Rizal,
1. expressed his disgust with the business deal
2. and stated that if Rizal was a truthful man, he would have told me that the
lumber not included in the account were bad.
b. Miranda indiscreetly forwarded Lardets letter to Rizal
i. Joses weakness: sensitivity
ii. When he read Lardets letter, he flared up in anger, regarding the Frenchmans
unsavory comment as an affront to his integrity
c. Carnicero told the Frenchman to apologize rather than accept the challenge
d. Rizal accepted the Frenchmans apology
RIZAL AND FATHER SANCHEZ
a. Father Pastells tried to persuade Rizal to discard his errors of religion
i. He assigned Father Francisco de Paula Sanchez, Rizals favorite teacher at
Ateneo
1. Sanchez is the only Spanish priest to defend Rizals Noli in public
2. Failed to persuade Rizal to discard his unorthodox views on the Catholic
Religion
9

VI.

VII.

VIII.

IX.

X.

XI.

XII.
XIII.

RIZALS ENCOUNTER WITH THE FRIARS SPY

a. Pablo Mercado posed as a relative, secretly visited Rizal at his house
i. Strange visitor offered his services as a confidential courier of Rizals letter and
writings for the patriots in Manila which might incriminate him in the revolutionary
movement
b. Rizal, being a man of prudence and keen perception became suspicious
i. Rizal went to the comandancia and denounced the impostor to Captain Juan
Sitges
1. As commandant of Dapitan, Sitges ordered the arrest of Pablo Mercado
and instructed Anastacio Adriatico to investigate him immediately
c. The real name of Pablo Mercado was Florencio Namanan
AS PHYSICIAN IN DAPITAN
a. Patients are poor; he gave them free medicine
b. Studied the medicinal plants and their curative values
i. To poor patients, who could not afford to buy imported medicine, he prescribed
the local medicinal plants.
WATER SYSTEM FOR DAPITAN
a. Rizal held the title of expert surveyor which he obtained from Ateneo
b. He applied his knowledge of engineering by constructing a system of waterworks in
order to furnish clean water to the townpeople.
i. Engineers marveled how Rizal could have built such a system of waterworks, for
he had inadequate tools and his finances are limited
ii. Without aid from the government, he succeeded in giving a good water system
c. Length of this aqueduct is several kilometers
COMMUNITY PROJECTS FOR DAPITAN
a. Aside from constructing the towns first water system, he spent many months draining
the marshes in order to get rid of malaria that infested Dapitan
b. The P500 which an Englishman patient paid him was used by Jose to equip the town
with its lighting system
i. This lighting system consisted of coconut oil lamps
ii. Electric lighting was unknown then in the Philippines
iii. It was not until 1894 when Manila saw the first electric lights
c. Another project was the beautification of Dapitan
i. He remodeled the town plaza to enhance its beauty
ii. He wanted it to have the same standards as Europe
RIZAL AS TEACHER
a. His exile in Dapitan gave him the opportunity to put into practice his educational ideas
b. Established a school; he applied the same system of education that he learned in
Ateneo in his school
i. Best is called the emperor and sat at the head of the bench
CONTRIBUTION TO SCIENCE
a. Was able to built a rich collection of concology
b. Among these:
i. Draco Rizali (a flying dragon)
ii. Apogonia Rizali (a small beetle)
iii. Rhacophorus Rizali (a rare frog)
ARTISTIC WORKS IN DAPITAN
a. Rizal made sketches of persons and things that attracted him in Dapitan
RIZAL AS FARMER
10

a. Rizal bought 16 hectares of land in Talisay, where he built his home, school, and
hospital, and planted cacao, coffee, sugarcane, coconuts and fruit trees.
b. He acquired more lands until his total holdings reached 70 hectares, containing 6,000
hemp plants 1,000 coconut trees, and numerous fruit trees, sugarcane, corn, coffee and
cacao.
c. Rizal introduced modern methods of agriculture which he had observed in Europe and
America.
d. He imported agricultural machinery from the U. S.
e. He invited his friends and family to come to his projected agricultural colony
i. Rizal wanted to establish a new Calamba in Dapitan
ii. This project did not materialize because he could not get the support of the
government.
XIV. RIZAL AS BUSINESSMAN
a. In partnership with Ramon Carreon, a Dapitan Merchant, he made profitable business
ventures in fishing, copra, and hemp industries, and lime manufacturing
b. The most profitable business of Rizal was in hemp industry
c. To break the Chinese monopoly on business in Dapitan, Rizal organized the
Cooperative Association of Dapitan Farmers
i. Helped the producers and workers by establishing a store wherein they can buy
prime commodities at moderate prices.
XV. RIZALS INVENTIVE ABILITY
a. While practicing medicine in Calamba, he invented a cigarette lighter which he sent as a
gift to Blumentritt
i. He called this sulpukan, which is made of wood
ii. Its mechanism is based on the principle of compressed air
b. He invited a machine for making bricks
i. This machine could manufacture about 6,000 bricks daily
XVI. MY RETREAT
a. Serene life as an exile in Dapitan
XVII. RIZAL & JOSEPHINE BRACKEN
a. The death of Leonor Rivera left a poignant void in Joses heart
b. Josephine Bracken
i. Came to Dapitan, an Irish, 18 y.o.
ii. Her mother died in childbirth and she was adopted by George Taufer, who later
became blind
1. No ophthalmic surgeon in Hong Kong could cure that is why they need to
go to Manila to seek the services of the famous ophthalmic surgeon
2. They heard in Hong Kong that Rizal was in Dapitan
c. Rizal and Josephine fell in love with each other at first sight
i. They agreed to marry after a month
ii. But Fr. Obach, the priest of Dapitan, refused to marry them without the
permission of the Bishop of Cebu
d. When Mr. Taufer heard of their projected marriage
i. He flared up in anger
ii. Unable to endure the thought of losing Josephine, he tried to commit suicide by
cutting of his throat with a razor
iii. Rizal, however, grabbed his wrists and prevented him from killing himself
iv. To avoid the tragedy, Josephine went with Taufer to Manila by the first available
steamer
11

1. The blind man went away uncured because his ailment was venereal in
nature, hence incurable
v. Mr. Taufer returned alone to Hong Kong, Josephine stayed in Manila with Rizals
family.
e. Since no priest would marry them, Rizal and Josephine held hands together and
married themselves before the eyes of God.
i. Fr. Obach was scandalized and gossips circulated around
f. Rizal was expecting a baby
i. Unfortunately, Jose played a prank on her, frightening her so that she
prematurely gave birth to an 8th month baby boy, who only lived for three hours
ii. This lost son of Rizal was named Francisco in honor of his father
XVIII. RIZAL AND THE KATIPUNAN
a. Andres Bonifacio, the Great Plebian, was sowing the seeds of an unarmed uprising
i. Founded the Katipunan, the secret revolutionary society
b. Dr. Pio Valenzuela was named emissary to Dapitan
i. To inform Rizal of the plan of the Katipunan to launch a revolution for freedoms
sake
ii. Dr. Valenzuela left Manila on board the steamer, Venus
iii. To camouflage his real mission, he brought with him a blind man named
Raymundo Mata
c. Rizal objected to Bonifacios audacious project to plunge the country in bloody
revolution
i. He was of the sincere belief that it was premature, for two reasons:
1. The people are not ready for revolution
2. Arms and funds must first be collected before raising the cry for revolution
ii. He also disapproved of the other plan of the Katipunan to rescue him
1. Because he had given his word of honor to the Spanish authorities
2. And he did not want to break it
XIX. VOLUNTEERS AS MILITARY DOCTOR IN CUBA
a. Months before the Katipunan contacted Jose, Rizal had offered his services as military
doctor in Cuba, which was then in the throes of a revolution and a raging yellow fever
epidemic.
i. There was a shortage of physicians to minister to the needs of the Spanish
troops and the Cuban people.
b. It was Blumentritt who told him of the deplorable health situation in war-ridden Cuba and
advised him to volunteer as army physician there
c. Rizal wrote to Gov.-Gen. Ramon Blanco, Despujols successor, offering his services as
military doctor in Cuba
i. Blanco notified him of the acceptance of his offer
XX. THE SONG OF THE TRAVELER
a. Great was Rizals joy in receiving the gladsome news
b. He knew that he was free and he can travel to Europe then Cuba

CHAPTER 23: LAST TRIP ABROAD (1896)

I.

RIZAL MISSES SHIP GOING TO SPAIN

a. Letter to Blumentritt
i. I did not catch the mail ship for Spain
12

II.

III.

IV.

V.

ii. Fearing that my stay in Manila for a month might bring me troubles I made known
to the governor general, while remaining on board, of my wish to be isolated from
everybody, except my family.
b. Rizal was transferred to another cruiser by the order of Ramon Blanco
i. Was given good accommodation
ii. He was treated not a prisoner, but a guest detained on board in order to avoid
difficulties from friends and enemies
c. Rizal stayed on the cruiser for about a month, pending the availability of a Spain-bound
steamer.
OUTBREAK OF THE PHILIPPINE REVOLUTION
a. The Katipunan plot to overthrow Spanish rule by means of revolution was discovered by
Fray Mariano Gil
b. This incident struck terror into the hearts of the Spanish officials and residents,
producing a hysteria of vindicative retaliation against the Filipino patriots.
c. The tumult produced by the discovery of the Katipunan plot was aggravated by the Cry
of Balintawak which was raised by Bonifacio and his valiant Katipuneros
i. The revolutionists led by Bonifacio and Jacinto attacked San Juan, but they were
repulsed with heavy losses
ii. After the Battle of San Juan, Governor General Blanco proclaimed a state of war
in the first eight provinces for rising in arms against Spain:
1. Manila, BUlacan, Cavite, Batangas, Laguna, Pampanga, Nueva Ecija, and
Tarlac
DEPARTURE FOR SPAIN
a. Rizal received from Governor General Blanco 2 letters of introduction for the Minister of
War and the Minister of Colonies, with a covering letter which absolved him from all
blame for the raging revolution
b. Letter by Blanco to the Minister of War:
i. His conduct during the 4 years that he was in exile in Dapitan has been
exemplary
ii. He is the more worthy of pardon and benevolence as he is in no way involved
either in the criminal attempt that we are lamenting these days or in any
conspiracy or secret society that they have been plotting.
c. Don Pedro Rozas and his son, Periquin
i. Fellow passenger of Rizal
RIZAL IN SINGAPORE
a. Don Pedro, with his son, disembarked at Singapore
i. He advised Rizal to stay too and take advantage of the protection of the British
Law
ii. Rizal did not heed his advice
b. Don Manuel Camus
i. Boarded the steamer, urging Jose to stay in Singapore to save his life
ii. Jose ignored their appeal because he had given his word of honor to Governor
General Blanco and he did not like to break it.
VICTIM OF SPANISH DUPLICITY
a. Without Joses knowledge, Gov. Gen. Blanco was secretly conspiring with the Ministers
of War and the Colonies for his destruction
b. One of Joses mistakes was to believe that Gov. Gen. Blanco was a man of honor and a
friend because:
13

VI.

VII.

i. He allowed him to go as a free man to Spain to become a physician-surgeon of

the Spanish army in Cuba, where a bloody revolution was raging
ii. Blanco gave him 2 letters of introduction addressed to the Spanish Ministers of
War
c. Blanco and the Ministers of War and the Colonies were exchanging coded telegrams
and confidential messages for his arrest upon reaching Barcelona
i. That Jose was a deportee and was being kept under surveillance
RIZAL ARRESTED BEFORE REACHING BARCELONA
a. A passenger told Rizal the bad news that he would be arrested by order of Gov. Gen.
Blanco and would be sent to prison in Ceuta (Spanish Morocco)
b. Rizal belatedly realized that he was duped by the unscrupulous Spanish officials,
particularly Blanco
c. Letter to Blumentritt:
i. I have offered to serve as a physician, risking life in the hazards of war and
abandoning all my business
ii. I am innocent and now in reward they are sending me to prison
iii. I am communicating to you this news that you may appraise my situation.
ARRIVAL IN BARCELONA AS A PRISONER (8 days)
a. The trip from Manila to Barcelona lasted exactly 30 days
b. Jose was kept under heavy guard in his cabin for three days
c. Rizal was escorted to the grim and infamous prison-fortress named Monjuich
i. He spent the whole morning in a cell
d. Joses interview with Despujol
i. Told Rizal that he would be shipped back to Manila
e. Rizal was taken aboard on a ship full of soldiers and officers

CHAPTER 24: LAST HOMECOMING AND TRIAL

I.

II.

A MARTYRS LAST HOMECOMING

a. Rizal knew he was facing the supreme test, which might mean the sacrifice of his life,
but he was unafraid.
b. He thanked God for giving him the chance to return in order to confront his slanderers
and to vindicate his name
c. Diary:
i. Either they do me justice and recognize my innocence and then I will be
rehabilitated or they sentence me to death
ii. Society will forgive me and later, without any doubt, justice will be done and I will
one martyr
iii. Instead of dying abroad, I will die in my country
iv. I believe that what is happening is the best that can happen to me Gods will be
done
CONFISCATION OF RIZALS DIARY
a. It was known to the Spanish authorities that Rizal was keeping track of the daily events
in his diary
i. They were curious as to what were recorded in his diary
ii. Their suspicion was aroused, for they feared that the diarist might be writing
something seditious or treasonable
b. Rizals diary was taken away and was critically scrutinized by the authorities
i. Nothing dangerous was found in its contents
ii. The diary was returned to him
14

III.

IV.

V.
VI.

VII.

VIII.

UNSUCESSFUL RESCUE IN SINGAPORE

a. News of Rizals predicament reached his friends in Europe and Singapore
b. They dispatched frantic telegrams to an English lawyer in Singapore named Hugh Fort
to rescue Rizal from the Spanish steamer when it reached Singapore by means of a writ
of habeas corpus
c. When the steamer arrived in Singapore,
i. Atty. Fort instituted proceedings at the Singapore Court for the removal of Rizal
from the steamer
ii. The crux of Mr. Forts legal contention was that Rizal was illegally detained on
the Spanish steamer
d. Chief Justice Loinel Cox denied the writ on the ground:
i. That the steamer (Colon) was carrying Spanish troops to the Philippines
ii. Hence it is a warship of a foreign power, which under international law was
beyond the jurisdiction of the Singapore authorities
ARRIVAL IN MANILA
a. Rizal was quietly transferred under heavy guard from the ship to Fort Santiago
b. Spanish authorities fished for evidence against Rizal
i. Many Filipino patriots were brutally tortured to implicate Rizal
ii. Rizals brother, Paciano, was arrested and cruelly tortured
PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATION
a. 2 kinds of evidence were presented against Rizal, namely documentary and testimonial
RIZAL CHOOSES HIS DEFENDER
a. The only right given to Rizal by the Spanish authorities was to choose his defense
counsel
b. This was highly restricted, for he had to choose only from a list submitted to him
c. Don Luis Taviel de Andrade
i. He name was familiar to Jose so that he chose the lieutenant to be his defender
in court
ii. The brother of Luis Taviel de Andrade, Rizals bodyguard in Calamba
READING OF INFORMATION OF CHARGES TO THE ACCUSED
a. Jose was accused of being the principal organizer and the living soul of the Filipino
insurrection, the founder of societies, periodicals and books dedicated to fomenting and
propagating ideas of rebellion
b. As the accused, Rizal raised no objection on the jurisdiction of the court, but pleaded
not guilty to the crime of rebellion.
i. He admitted that he wrote the Constitution of the Liga Filipina which was merely
a civic association
ii. He waived the right to amend or make further statements already made, except
that he had taken no part in politics since his exile to Dapitan.
c. The withdrawal of Blanco from the gubernatorial office sealed Rizals fate, for he was
more humane in character than the ruthless Polavieja
i. Blanco believed that Rizal was not a traitor to Spain
ii. Had he remained in longer in office, Rizal would not have been executed
RIZALS MANIFESTO TO HIS PEOPLE
a. Rizal wrote a manifesto to his people appealing to them to stop the necessary shedding
of blood and to achieve their liberties by means of education and liberty
b. Contents:
i. My name had been used as a war cry among some who were in arms
15

IX.

X.

ii. When I had news of what was being planned, I opposed it and demonstrated its
absolute impossibility
iii. I was convinced that the idea was highly absurd and would bring great suffering
iv. In spite of my counsels, the movement broke out
v. I spontaneously offered not only my services, but my life, and even my name so
that they might use them in the manner they saw fit to suppress the rebellion
vi. Liberty is desired by placing education as a premise by means of education
and of labor they might have a personality of their own and make themselves
worthy of liberties
vii. In my writings I have recommended redemption
viii. I have written that reforms, to be fruitful, have to come from above, that those
that come from below are irregular and unstable
ix. I condemn this absurd, savage uprising planned behind my back, which
dishonors us
x. I abhor its criminal methods and disclaim all participation therein.
c. Rizals manifesto was not issued to the people
i. Rizal was saved from the shame of his manifestos being misinterpreted and
disobeyed by the Filipinos in arms
THE TRIAL OF RIZAL
a. His case was prejudged; he was considered guilty before the actual trial
b. Rizal was not given the right (which any accused is entitled to have in a real court of
justice) to face the witnesses against him in open court
c. The prosecuting attorney urged the court to give the verdict of death to the accused
d. Rizal proved his innocence by twelve points:
i. He could not be guilty of rebellion, for he advised Dr. Pio Valenzuela in Dapitan
not to rise in revolution
ii. He did not correspond with the radical, revolutionary elements
iii. The revolutionists used his name without his knowledge. If he were guilty he
could have escaped Singapore
iv. If he had a hand in revolution, he could have escaped in a Moro vinta and would
not have built a home, a hospital, and bought lands in Dapitan
v. If he were the chief of revolution, why was he not consulted by the revolutionists?
vi. It was true that he wrote the by-laws of the Liga Filipina, but this is only a civic
association not a revolutionary society.
vii. The Liga Filipina did not live long, for after the first meeting he was banished to
Dapitan and it died out.
viii. If the La Liga was organized 9 months later, he did not know about it.
ix. The La Liga did not serve the purpose of the revolutionists, otherwise they would
not have supplanted it with the Katipunan.
x. If it were true that there were some bitter comments in Rizals letters, it was
because they were written in 1890 when his family was being persecuted
xi. His life in Dapitan had been exemplary as the politico-military commanders and
missionary priests could attest
xii. It was not true that the revolution was inspired by one of his speech at the house
of Doroteo Ongjunco, as alleged by witnesses whom he would like to confront.
His friends knew his opposition to armed rebellion. Why did the Katipunan send
an emissary to Dapitan who was unknown to him?
e. The military court unanimously voted for the sentence of death
POLAVIEJA SIGNS RIZALS EXECUTION
16

a. Polavieja approved the decision of the court-martial and ordered Rizal o be shot at 7am
of December 30 at Bagumbayan Field.

CHAPTER 25: MARTYRDOM IN BAGUMBAYAN

I.

II.

III.

LAST HOURS OF RIZAL

a. Rizal gave to Trinidad the alcohol cooking stove instructing her that there is something
inside
i. This something was Rizals farewell poem
b. 10PM 29 December 1896
i. Rizal wrote his retraction, in which he abjured Masonry and his religious ideas
which were anti-catholic
MARTYRDOM OF A HERO
a. He requested the commander of the firing squad, that he be shot facing the firing squad
i. His request was denied, for the captain had implicit orders to shot him in the back
b. Dr. Felipe Ruiz Castillo
i. A Spanish military physician asked his permission to feel his pulse
ii. Castillo was amazed to find it normal, showing that Rizal was not afraid to die
c. It was exactly 7:03 in the morning when he died in the bloom of manhood aged 35 y.
o.
AFTERMATH OF A HERO-MARTYRS DEATH
a. After the heros execution, the Spanish spectators shouted Viva Espana! Muerte a los
Traidores (Long live Spain! Death to the Traitors!)
b. He proved that the pen is mightier than the sword

17