His Family

According to Garcia & Cruz (2006), the Rizal family’s affluence was very evident on
the their stone house of adobe and hardwood, the family’s educational background, a home
library with various volumes of books, the presence of personal slaves in their home and
their ownership of carriage and horses which, at that time, were considered to be symbols of
social standing. Moreover, the family’s affluence can also be traced back on the ancestry of
Rizals. Don Francisco’s grandfather, Domingo Lamco was a Chinese merchant. He married
a rich Chinese mestiza named Ines Dela Rosa. Domingo assumed the surname of Mercado
in 1731 because of the gobernatorial decree issued by Narciso Claveria on the usage of
Spanish surnames in the Philippines by all subjects in the colony so that themselves and
their family will be liberated from prejudices kindred to a Chinese surname. From Manila,
Domingo and his wife migrated to Laguna and became tenants in Calamba. The couple had
a son named Juan Mercado, the gobernadorcillo of Biñan, Laguna, who married Chinese-
Filipino mestiza, Cirila Alejandrino. Cirila and Juan were soon blessed with fourteen (14)
children, one of which is Don Francisco Mercado, Jose Rizal’s Father.

On the contrary, according to Caburian et al. (2012), the great grandfather of Jose
Rizal on her mother side was a Chinese mestizo from Lingayen, Pangasinan named Manuel
de Quintos. He married Regina Ursua, who was a woman of Japanese ancestry. They had a
daughter named Brigida who wedded Lorenzo Alberto Alonso who were soon blessed with
five (5) children and one of them is Doña Teodora Alonzo. Doña Teodora grew up to be a
fine educated woman. She finished her studies at Colegio de Santa Rosa in Manila. Jose
Rizal described her mother as a “loving and prudent mother”. She was a disciplinarian,
smart, a woman of culture and religion and just like almost all mothers, has unconditional
love towards her children. Both parents of Rizal came from distinguished families that
secured their position in the society.

On the 28th of June, 1848, Don Francisco Mercado married Doña Teodora Alonzo.
They were blessed with eleven (11) children, nine (9) girls and two (2) boys.

 Their eldest named Saturnina (1850 – 1913) who married Manuel Timoteo
Hidalgo from Tanauan, Batangas;
 The second child and the only brother of the Rizal, Paciano (1851 – 1930) who
also later on, become an instigator of the Philippine Revolution;
 The second daughter and third sibling named Narcisa (1852 – 1939) who
became a teacher and a musician and she also later on, married a school
teacher named Antonio Lopez of Morong, Rizal;
 Olympia (1855 – 1877), the fourth child married Silvestre Ubaldo, a
telegraph operator. She died because of childbirth;
 Lucia (1857 – 1919), their fifth child, married Matriano Herbosa;

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  The sixth child was named Maria (1859 – 1945). She was married to Daniel
Faustino Cruz of Biñan, Laguna;
 Jose (1861 – 1896), their second son and seventh child. His nickname was
Pepe;
 Concepcion (1862 – 1865), their eighth child who died at the age of three;
 Josefa (1865 – 1945), the ninth child was an epileptic who later on died as a
unmarried woman;
 Trinidad (1868 – 1951), the tenth child and also died as an unmarried
woman;
 And lastly, their youngest daughter and the eleventh child was named
Soledad (1870 – 1929). She was married to Pantaleon Quintero.

Later on, the family adopted the surname Rizal which was given by a Spanish
Alcalde Mayor of Laguna who is also a closed family friend. It came from the Spanish word
“Ricial” that means “a field where wheat, cut while still green, sprouts again”. The
surname was chosen because of the family’s business during that time – farming.

Early Childhood

On June 19, 1861, within the golden luminescence of the moon on a Wednesday
between eleven and midnight, Jose Rizal was born in a lakeshore town in Calamba,
Laguna. He was baptized as Jose Rizal Mercado at the Catholic Church of Calamba by the
parish priest Rev. Rufino Collantes with the sponsor, Rev. Pedro Casañas on the 22nd of
June, 1861. At the age of three years old, her mother, Doña Teodora started teaching him
how to read and write and the prayers, as well. Doña Teodora was also the first person who
discovered his talent on poetry. He motivated Rizal’s imagination in writing poems through
relating stories that will also taught him good morals, she also did this to lighten the
monotony of learning the alphabet. One of these stories that his mother told him is the
fable entitled “The Moth and The Flame”. The story inspired the young Jose that nothing is
impossible as long as you have the will and courage to conquer unassailable odds and be a
martyr in reality but never an illusion. (Caburian et al., 2012)

Aside from the education from his mother, he was also taught by various tutors who
developed his skills and abilities. Among them was Maestro Celestino who was the first
tutor they have hired and the second is Maestro Lucas Padua. Later on, they hired Jose’s
Father’s former classmate, Leon Monroy. The old man taught him Latin and Spanish.
However, he didn’t live long and died five months later. Rizal was later on tutored by their
(other) family members such as Tio Jose Alberto who harnessed his artistic abilities, Tio
Manuel seeing Pepe’s frail body, taught his young nephew the art of wrestling. Aside from
the development of his body, he also taught Pepe the nature’s aesthetics. And there was

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also Tio Gregorio, a scholar, instilled Rizal his voracious love for education. These term of
events happened from 1865 – 1867.

Education

Rizal in Biñan

Due to Monroy’s death, the young Jose’s parents decided to send him to a private
school in Biñan, Laguna. In June 1869, accompanied by his older brother, Paciano, they left
Calamba for Biñan, Laguna. It was almost night time when they arrived at their aunt’s
house, where Jose was to lodge.

The next morning (Monday), Paciano brought his younger brother to the school of
Maestro Justiniano Aquino Cruz. The private school was located in a small nipa hut not far
from the house of Jose Rizal’s house. Paciano knew Maetro Justiniano because he was also
a former student of the latter. He introduced the young Jose to the Maestro and after that,
he immediately departed to return to Calamba. The young Jose was immediately assigned
his seat in the class. Once he was seated, his teacher asked him if you could speak fluently
Spanish and Latin, the young Rizal replied “A little, Sir.”. Because of this replies of Jose,
everybody laughed including the teacher’s son, Pedro. The teacher stopped all noises and
begun the lessons of the day. In the afternoon of the first day, while the Maestro is having
his siesta, Jose met his tormentor, Pedro. Jose was angry at Pedro because of laughing at
him during their class. The young Jose challenged Pedro to a fight. The latter readily
accepted the challenge because he thinks that he could easily beat Jose in a fight who was
smaller and younger. However, in the end, Rizal won.(Caburian et al., 2012)

In the succeeding days, multiple schoolmates of Rizal challenged him to a fight. The
young Jose was not quarrelsome in nature but he’ll never refuse a fight.

His Academic Performance in Biñan

Rizal’s intellectual performance surpassed his classmates. He excelled in Spanish,

Latin, and the rest of the subjects in the curriculum for elementary pupils. This triggered
the jealousy of his classmates towards Pepe which also result them in resorting to destroy
his reputation to the Maestro. He was then involved to many school brawls that then
caused him of getting punished. His punishment was to lie down on a bench to receive
many blows that he experience every day.

Meanwhile, while pursuing elementary schooling under Maestro Cruz, he was also
being taught by Old Juancho, the former’s father-in-law. The latter enhanced his skills in
painting and drawing. After some time, he became Old Juancho’s apprentice. (Caburian et
al., 2012)

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 His prowess in poetry was also very evident during this era, he wrote his very first
poem “Sa Aking Kabata” (To My Fellow Youth) which was calling on his fellow children to
love their native language. Rizal described Tagalog, as equal to Spanish, Latin and English
because like these languages, Tagalog has also its own alphabet and writing system.
Clearly, the poem is an evident that Rizal’s concept of nationalism has developed in a young
age. (Garcia & Cruz, 2005)

Rizal in Ateneo Municipal de Manila

During Rizal’s time, Ateneo Municipal de Manila was administered by Jesuits. Their
role on the Philippine education is important. They were considered to be the best
educators of Spain, and probably, around Europe. When the Jesuits were asked to convert
the natives of Mindanao, they were also requested to run the said school. By 1865, the
school was considered to be one of the finest schools in the Philippines because of the
scrupulous intellectual standards of the Jesuits.

Jose Rizal entered the school at the age of 11. Because of the melancholic experience
of his brother, Paciano in Colegio de San Jose, Don Francisco determined not to send Rizal
in the aforementioned school. Moreover, the mere mention of the school’s name triggers the
memory of the unjust death of Paciano’s mentor, Padre Burgos.

According to Zaide & Zaide (2003), before the admission for the school, an entrance
examination was commenced. Rizal passed the examination. However, his admission to the
school was hindered by the school’s registrar, Fr. Magin Fernando because of two reasons:
(1) for being a late registrant and (2) for being and undersized for his age. However, he was
later on admitted by the registrar because of the intervention of Manuel Burgos.

The young Jose did not use his first surname, Mercado and instead used Rizal as his
registered surname in the school. This was because their first surname was used by
Paciano when he was still studying and working under the deceased martyr friar, Padre
Burgos. This had resulted the Spanish authorities to come under suspicion of the surname,
Mercado, thus, the family changed their surname.

Rizal’s Life and Academic Performance in Ateneo

The first professor Rizal had was Fr. Jose Bech. Rizal described the teacher as “a
man of high stature”. He also decribed the professor’s personality of being some kind of
lunatic and possessing an uneven humor; sometimes he was strict and at other times, he
was gentle and playful like a child. Among the young Jose’s colleagues were Peninsulares (a
term that refers to those who were born in the Spanish peninsula) and sons of Peninsulares.

Rizal learned to systematize his work; he affixed a program of what-to-do during in

the twenty four hours of the day and did not in the least deviate from it. The said program

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disciplined Rizal’s will and was fixed through his command of reasons. (Caburian et al.,
2012)

As a newcomer, Rizal was first behind the class, but due to his intellectual abilities,
he was soon regarded as the “Emperor” of the class. At the end of the term, he attained the
marks of excellence in all subjects and in the examinations. He was so proud of his
achievements that he ran alone to see his mother in the prison and told her about the good
news during his vacation that year.

In 1871, Teodoro Alonzo was charged of attempted murder by her brother’s (Jose
Alberto) unfaithful wife. Upon the arrival of Jose Alberto in Biñan, Laguna, he discovered
his wife’s infidelity and decided to divorce her. However, Teodora advised his brother to
reconcile to his wife and start anew. The latter was persuaded and the divorce was
forfeited. Nonetheless, her brother’s wife conspired a scheme with the Spanish lieutenant of
the Guardia Civil, thus, she was arrested and made to walk a distance of fifty (50)
kilometres. (Garcia & Cruz, 2005)

According to Caburian e.t (2012), Jose Rizal while studying at Ateneo Municipal de
Manila in 1874, heard that her mother after being imprisoned for almost two and a half
years, was released. Elated from the news, the young Rizal wrote a poem for her mother as
a present on her birthday. The poem was written in Spanish and was entitled “Mi Primera
Inspiracion. Moreover, it was also evident in the poem that Rizal was inspired to write
again because the person who nurtured his talent is finally free and celebrating her
birthday with them

Rizal continued on showing his academic prowess until he finished his degree on
Bachiller en Artes in 1877 with the academic honors of sobrasaliente (Excellent). His
scholastic records were an evident that he excelled in in his academic studies during his
stay on Ateneo Municipal de Manila. Rizal also decided to apply gymnastics in the school.
He also engaged in other physical activities, such as fencing. After his baccalaureate, his
family was surprised when he shown his expertise in swordsmanship through having a
bout on the best swordsman in town. (Caburian et al., 2012)

Rizal in University of Santo Tomas (UST)

Despite of Rizal’s mother’s opposition of him getting higher education, Rizal pursued
his college in the Dominican University – University of Santo Tomas (UST). The decision
was determined by his father, Don Francisco.

Rizal at first, was uncertain of what course to take up, he then enrolled to the course
Philosophy and Letters during his freshman year at UST (1887 – 1888). Rizal while
pursuing the said course in UST, also enrolled surveying course in Ateneo. However, so
that he could her mother’s failing eyesight, Rizal decided to shift in Medicine.

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 The pursuit of education for Medicine was struggling for Rizal. His four years in the
course was not impressive. This was because his passion remained on the liberal arts.
Moreover, as stated by Pasigui and Cabalu (2006), Rizal did not like the the sciences. The
authors claimed that the school during that time emphasizes on Science and Rizal doesn’t
like this.

Aside from his dislike on Science, Rizal was also not in favor of the school’s teaching
method. In his novel, El Filibusterismo, he described their method as inefficient, poor and
antiquated. He also mentioned the unfair treatment of the instructors towards the Indios
(native Filipinos) because simply, they were Indios. It was then Rizal decided to pursue an
education in Spain.

Rizal’s Life in Spain

Garcia & Cruz (2005) stated that Jose Rizal decided to went to Europe not just to finish
his Medical studies but he has hidden agenda on the purposes of his voyage: (1) to promote
his self as a writer; (2) to observe and discern the European society; and (3) to prepare
himself the task of liberating the Filipino from the tyranny of Spaniards.

Rizal’s departure was kept as a secret to avoid catching the attention of the colonial
officers and the friars. His parents doesn’t even know that he was leaving. With the help of
his older brother, Paciano, his departure was ensured. He used a passport obtained by a
cousin named “Jose Mercado”.

Following his brother’s advise, Jose Rizal left Barcelona for Madrid in September, 1882.
During his year in Madrid, he joined the Filipino student organization named Circulo
Hispano-Filipino, which met regularly to exchange thoughts about political issues. The said
organization published a magazine sponsored by Juan Atayde, a Spaniard born in Manila
and a military officer. Atayde asked Rizal to contribute a few verses for the magazine.
However, during that time, Rizal has lost the great passion that once he has in writing but
probably, the loss of his passion became also his inspiration in writing the poem.

In this poem, he has reflected his longing for his country, for his family that he has left
while living and studying in Madrid. Mi Piden Versos also reflected Rizal’s frustration of
having the ability to capture people’s emotion through his poems but couldn’t express it into
his own Motherland because he was forced to keep his thoughts to himself.

The club, however, didn’t last long and was abolished because of the differences between
the young student expariates and retired colonials due to differences in age and youth.
(Garcia & Cruz, 2005)

Rizal’s Education in Madrid

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 Rizal enrolled at Universidad Central de Madrid. He pursued two courses, Medicine
and Philosophy. While juggling on the aforementioned courses, he also studied painting and
sculpture in the Academy of San Carlos, and drawing at Academia Bellas Artes de San
Fernando. Furthermore, Rizal also took lessons in French, German and English under a
private instructor and industriously enhanced his skills in fencing and shooting in the Hall
of Arms of Sanz y Carbonell. To harness his knowledge of music, he attended operas and
concerts and to broaden his cultural background, he visited art galleries and museums and
read various books about different subjects including military engineering.

On June 21, 1884, he was awarded the degree of Licentiate in Medicine by

Universidad Central de Madrid when he completed his medical course. In the year 1885, he
studied and passed all his subjects to the degree of Doctor of Medicine. However, probably
because of lack of money, time or interest, Rizal was not able to take the examination that
would qualified him for doctorate so technically speaking, he could not carry the academic
title “Dr.”. (Caburian et al, 2012)

Rizal, nevertheless, finished his studies in Philosophy and Letters. He was awarded
the degree of Licentiate in Philosophy and Letters by the Universidad Central de Madrid
on June 19, 1885 with the rating of “excellent” (Sobrasaliente).

Rizal in Paris, France

After finishing his degree on Medicine and Philosophy in Madrid, Rizal decided to go
to Paris so that he could broaden his knowledge in ophthalmology. He chose this field of
medicine because his desire of curing his mother’s eyes.

While staying in Paris for four months, Rizal worked as an assistant to Dr. Louis de
Wecker, leading French ophthalmologist. When he was not out working for Dr. Wecker, he
will went out to visit Pardo de Taveras or Juan Luna’s studio. According to Zaide & Zaide
(2003), Rizal helped Luna on his paintings by posing as model on his paintings. Some of
Luna’s paintings that Rizal has posed for were “The Death of Cleopatra” and “Tihe Blood
Compact”. In the former he posed as the Eyptian priest while he posed as Sikatuna for the
latter.

Rizal’s Vision in Action (Socio and Political Struggles of Rizal)

Rizal’s Return to the Philippines

In the evening of November 1, 1886, Rizal arrived at Berlin, Germany. According to

Zaide & Zaide (2003), Rizal decided to leave Leipzig and chose to lived in Berlin for five
reasons; (1) to broaden his knowledge on his field of expertise, ophthalmology; (2) to
continue his studies of science and languages; (3) to discern the conditions of the nation of
the Germans; (7) to form relationships and guidance with famous German scientists and

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scholars and (5) to finish his first novel Noli Me Tangere. The life in Berlin was part of the
dark days of Rizal especially during the winter season, he experienced poverty because he
was unable to receive money from Calamba due to crop failures. The extreme poverty that
Rizal has suffered almost driven him to burn the manuscript of his novel Noli Me Tangere
that he completed on 1887 and was also published the same year in Berlin, Germany
(Garcia & Cruz, 2003).

While Rizal was writing and studying at Europe, his family’s struggles state was
getting worse. The rental on Don Francisco’s land has kept on increasing that he could not
able to pay anymore. He appealed to the courts regarding his problem that at the end, he
sold his family’s assets. Moreover, Paciano was also exiled and banished to Mindoro. Later
on, twenty families including Rizal’s father were homeless.

On a letter sent by Jose Rizal to his father dated June 29, 1887, he declared that he
will finally return home. His reasons for returning were the following: (1) to operate on his
mother’s eyes; (2) to serve his people who has long been oppressed by Spanish tyranny; (3)
to know the impact of Noli and his other writings to his countrymen and the Spaniards in
the Philippines and lastly (4), to know why Leonor Rivera stopped sending him letters.
(Zaide & Zaide, 2003),

Rizal in Calamba, Laguna

He arrived on Calamba on August 08, 1887. In Calamba he established a medical

clinic and his first utilization of his expertise as a physician was the operation on his Doña
Teodora’s sightless eyes which at that time, was suffering from cataract. The operation was
successful and because of this, the clinic was soon flocked of patients from Manila and other
provinces who heard about the news. However, the peaceful life in Calamba wasn’t for long.
His enemies attacked his first novel, Noli Me Tangere. They argued that Rizal’s novel
contains insurgent ideology and they soon brought this report to the Governor-General
Emilio Terrero that wrote Rizal a letter to come to Malacañang.

Rizal appeared before the Governor-General at Malacañang. He cleared his name by

honestly stating that all that was written in the novel was true and later on, explained his
intention on writing the novel. Terrero was satisfied to Rizal’s explanation and later on, he
requested for a copy of the controversial novel so that he could read it. Rizal was able to get
a copy from his friend and gave it to Terrero. The Governor-General then appointed Lt.
Jose Taviel de Andrade as a bodyguard of Rizal because of the awareness that Rizal’s life
was in jeopardy and the friars has on overwhelming power of authority.

The novel stirred up conflict to the Catholic institutions in the country that resulted
an Augustinian friar name Fr. Jose Rodriguez to published in 1888, a pamphlet entitled
Caiingat Cayo. According to Zaide & Zaide (2003), the said pamphlet warned the people

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that if they read the novel, they are committing mortal sins for its contents were utter
hearsay which Fr. Francisco Sanchez, Rev. Vicente Garcia, and the editor Marcelo H. Del
Pilar defended in public. The issue was stirred because of the reason that (almost) the
content of the entire book was pertaining to the ill doings of the friars and Spanish officials
during that time and Rizal didn’t deny the fact that it was part of his intention to attacked
the friars especially the Dominicans and Franciscans when he wrote the novel. Rizal during
that time is actually already administering the second step towards his goals.

Rizal leaves Calamba

When the Governor-General Terrero ordered the government investigation of the

agrarian conditions of the Calamba Hacienda which the Dominicans owned since 1883, the
townsmen of Calamba seek Rizal’s help in garnering the facts and enlisting the people’s
grievances in the mismanagement of the Hacienda. Indeed, they made Rizal their
spokesperson. The Governor-General stirred by Rizal’s novel, requested the latter to write a
report regarding the situation. However, because of the power of authority of the friars over
the government, Rizal’s report was filed away by the Governor-General. Rizal was later on
advised by his family, relatives and the Governor-General to leave the country. (Caburian
et al, 2012)

Rizal’s Ventures in Abroad

Rizal in Hong Kong (February 3 – 22, 1888)

Rizal arrived in Hong Kong on February 08, 1888. He was welcomed by his foremost
friend, Jose Maria Basa in Hong Kong who also advanced Rizal’s money for his return on
the Philippines from Europe. According to Rizal on one of his letters to his friend and
publisher (dated February 16, 1888), he said he could freely express his thoughts in Hong
Kong without fear of censorship from Governor-General Weyler (the one who assumed
Terrero’s position). However, he was discreetly observed on by Jose Sinz de Varanda, a
former secretary of Governor-General Terrero. He was hired by Spanish authorities to spy
on Rizal. During his stay on Hong Kong, Rizal also studied the Chinese culture and
language. (Zaide & Zaide, 2003)

Rizal in Japan (February 28 – April 03, 1888)

On February 28, 1888, Rizal arrived in Yokohama, Japan. The next day, he went to
Tokyo. Shortly after he arrived on Tokyo, Juan Perez Caballero, the secretary of the
Spanish Legislation, invited him to live at the Spanish Legislation. In Tokyo, Rizal was
embarrassed because he could not speak the Japanese language, thus, he later on, he
learned the language. Aside from the language, he also studied the Japanese drama
(kabuki), arts, music and judo. Sometime in March 1888, Rizal met a beautiful Japanese
young lady named Seiko Usui on a store that he often visits. He and Seiko, then, became

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good friends. The young lady taught Rizal Japanese painting and helped in broadening his
knowledge on the Japanese language and literature.

Rizal then left Japan and went to the United States (U.S) and again left U.S, to
went to London. In London, he annotated Antonio Morgas Los Sucesos de las Islas Filipinas
which was according to Garcia & Cruz (2006), Rizal’s greatest contribution made in London.
Aside from the aforementioned writing of Rizal, he also wrote other writings such as “La
Vision del Fray Rodriguez”, “Letter to the Young Women of Malolos”, “Specimens of Tagal
Folklore”, “Two Eastern Fables” and “Los Agricultores Filipinos”.

During his stay in London, he had a romantic affair with Gertrude Beckett. The lady
was smaller than Rizal and was chubby. Garcia & Cruz (2006) described Gertrude as
inferior to Leonor Rivera when it comes to beauty. Realizing that their relationship was
becoming more serious, he got worried that their romance might cross a threshold of Rizal.
Rizal then decided to move to Paris so that Gertrude could forget him. He then left, Paris
and when to Brussels, Belgium wherein he mostly, spent his time writing and finishing his
second novel El Filibusterismo. After that, he again left the place and went to Madrid.
(Caburian et al., 2012)

Rizal’s Return to Madrid

When he was in Brussels, Rizal planned to return to the Philippines because of the
misfortunate events that his family’s experiencing and the bad news he received from
Calamba. No amount of advice convinced him to change his decision of going home.
However, Paciano’s written letter changed Rizal’s decision. Rizal learned from his brother
that the family lost the case against the Dominicans and the case was appealed to the
Audiencia Real in Madrid, Rizal then changed his mind and decided to go there to supervise
the handling of the case. He then wrote Marcelo H. Del Pilar a letter requesting for his
services as a lawyer.

Upon his arrival in Madrid, he immediately seek the help of the Assosacion Hispano-
Filipino and the liberal Spanish newspapers in securing justice for the oppressed Calamba
tenants, including his family. Accompanied by Del Pilar and Dr. Dominador Gomez
(secretary of the Assosacion), he called on the Minister of Colonies (Señor Fabie) to report
about the ill doings committed by Governor-General Weyler and the Dominican friars
against the people of Calamba. He also seek for the help of the former liberal statesmen of
Madrid. Unfortunately, he only got disappointed because what he got from them were
merely empty promises. (Zaide & Zaide, 2003)

His disappointment in the failure of getting justice for his family in Madrid was
aggravated by (1) the indulgence of his fellow reformers in vices like drinking, gambling
and their preoccupation with women; (2) the death of Jose Maria Panganiban; (3) the news

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about the marriage of Leonor Rivera; (4) the aborted duel with Antonio Luna and with
Wenceslao Retana; and (5) the rift between him and Marcelo H. Del Pilar. (Caburian et al,
2012)

Rizal in Hong Kong

After the publication of Jose Rizal’s El Filibusterismo, he left Europe for Hong Kong.
He arrived in Hong Kong on November 20, 1891. He was warmly welcomed by the Filipino
residents as well as his close friend, Jose Maria Basa. According to Zaide & Zaide (2003),
his Christmas in Hong Kong was the one of the most memorable and blissful event in Rizal
because his family also went to Hong Kong to celebrate the holiday with him.

In Hong Kong, Rizal met the Englishman, William Pryer. His meeting of Pryer gave
him the idea of establishing a Filipino colony in Sabah. Pryer was the founder of Sandakan
(now, called Sabah), which was the capital of North Borneo at that time. Rizal visited the
place and was welcomed warmly by the British colonial officials who were anxious to have a
rice-growing settlement in the place. They promised Rizal a 5 000 acres of rent-free land for
the first three years – if the Filipino colony agreed to plant rice.

Because of the said promise, Rizal wrote the current Governor-General Eulogio
Despujol a letter of request for a change in citizenship for the persecuted Calamba families
and for their safe, unhampered passage. Unfortunately, Rizal’s request was rejected
because Despujol think that a Filipino colony in Sandakan would bring embarrassment the
Spanish colonial administration. Rizal then decided to return to Manila to persuade the
Governor-General in accepting his request. He left Hong Kong for Manila on June 21, 1892.

Rizal’s Return to the Philippines

Rizal’s Exile in Dapitan

After a few years and his ventures in different countries, Rizal finally decided to
return to the country. On June 26, 1892, he seek an audience to the Governor-General in
Malacañang. The interviews that he had with Despujol, resulted on the return of his family
in Manila. Despujol, however, in the end, still stand on his decision to not accept Rizal’s
request.

On July 03, 1892, Rizal founded the La Liga Filipina in Calle Ilaya, Tondo in the
home of Doroteo Ongjungco. Three days after, Rizal went to Malacañang again. Despujol
asked Rizal about the found mat and pillows stored in his luggage, as there were also
questionable bills handbills in them. Rizal stated that the said items belonged to his sister,
Lucia. Despujol, therefore, ordered Rizal’s arrest and he was imprisoned on Fort Santiago.
A day after that, on July 07, 1892, a gubernatorial decree was issued ordering the
deportation of Rizal to Dapitan and on July 15, 1892, he left Manila for Dapitan.

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Rizal in Dapitan (During and After Dapitan)

During the early part of his exile in Dapitan, Rizal lived in the commandments’
residence. With his prize from the Manila lottery and his earnings as a farmer and a
merchant, he bought a piece of land near the shore of Talisay near Dapitan. He built three
houses on this land, all were made of bamboo, wood and nipa. This first house was his
home; the second house was the living quarters of his pupils and the third acts as a barn
where he kept his chickens. Rizal made a lot of great contributions in Dapitan, he
established a school, a hospital and a water supply system. He also improved the lighting
system of Dapitan and taught and engaged in farming and horticulture.

It was in the near end of Rizal’s exile when he met his patient’s stepdaughter,
Josephine Bracken. Jose and Josephine was unable to obtain an ecclesiastical marriage
because the former would not return to Catholicism. He had a child with Josephine but
their child who was named Francisco died instantly.

In 1896, Rizal wrote and sent a letter to Governor-General Ramon Blanco of a

request to be sent in Cuba as a medical aide. Rizal decided to go to Cuba as a physician to
avoid himself from being involved to the conspiring revolution. Before he left Dapitan, Rizal
wrote a manifesto wherein he stated his disapproval in revolution and stated that
Education of the Filipinos and their achievement of national identity were prerequisites to
freedom. However, Rizal before his arrival in Cuba was arrested and was returned back to
Manila. Rizal was then charged of sedition, rebellion and conspiracy. During his
imprisonment, he was unchained; no Spaniard laid a hand on him and he has also many
opportunities to escape but Rizal refused to do so. He was later on, convicted guilty of the
three charges and sentenced to death via execution. Blanco, who was sympathetic of him,
was replaced by Camilo de Polavieja, sealing Rizal’s fate.

He was sentenced to death via execution in Bagumbayan in the morning of

December 30, 1896. Before the day of his execution, Rizal was visited by her mother,
Teodora Alonzo together with her sisters, Lucia, Josefa, Trinidad, Narcisa and Maria with
his two nephews. Upon their leave, Rizal told her sister Trinidad in English that he put
something in the small alcohol stove (cocinilla). The stove was handed to Narcisa by one the
guards when she was about to board the carriage in the courtyard. The “something” that
Rizal put into the cocinilla was a poem written as his last farewell to his family, his
countrymen and to his beloved Motherland entitled Mi Ultimo Adios that he wrote while
still imprisoned in that year, 1896. (Caburian et al, 2012)

The Execution of Rizal

Before his execution by a firing squad of native infantry of the Spanish Army,
backed by an insurance force of Spanish troops, the Spanish surgeon general requested to

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take his pulse; it was deemed normal. Aware of this, the Spanish sergeant in-charge of the
backup force hushed his men into silence and sent out the orders. Rizal’s last word’s were
consummatum est” (it is finished).

Rizal was secretly buried in Paco Cemetery in Manila with no identification. His
sister, Narcisa ventured all gravesites to searched for his brother’s grave and end up,
finding a freshly turned earth at the cemetery with guards posted at the gate. Assuming
this could be the most likely spot, Rizal’s sister befriended the cemetery’s caretaker and
asked him to mark the site “RPJ” which was Rizal’s initial’s in reversed. (Caburian et al,
2012)

Rizal Fun Facts:

1. There is a Japanese manga about the life of Jose Rizal. It was published under
TORICO on 2018. According to reports, Matsui Takahiro who worked in the
Philippines before wrote the storyline while Ryo Konno was the illustrator of the
said manga.
2. There are three animals named after Rizal. These animals were what he collected
when he was exiled in Dapitan: abogonia rizalie, a type of small beetle; Drago
Rizalie, a specie of dragonfly and Racoforus Rizalie, a specie of toad.
3. When he was studying in Spain, Rizal had to pawn a ring owned by his sister
Saturnina just to pay for his exams.
4. Rizal was only five feet and three inches tall but had a waistline of 25-26 inches. He
also had a big head. His hats were 6 1/2 inches across and the interior measures
eight inches from front to back
5. Rizal stuffed unknown papers in his pockets and shoes on the eve of his execution.
He did this because he presumed that his corpse would be turned over to his family
after his execution. But as we all know, his body was dumped by Spanish officials in
an unmarked grave in Paco cemetery. The papers have since deteriorated and the
contents of which were never identified.
6. Rizal’s favorite fruits were lanzones and mango. On account of his former cook in
Dapitan, his meals consisted of three viands. His breakfast comprised of hot
chocolate, rice and tuyo.
7. Rizal had his third unfinished work or novel. Known by historians as “Maka-misa,”
this unfinished work was started by Rizal in 1892 in Hongkong. Maka-misa is not
actually a title of the novel but only a single chapter of the unfinished novel. He
began writing it in Tagalog but gave up and continued writing in Spanish
8. Rizal made humorous comics in Germany entitled “The Baptism of Two Brothers.”
He made the comic strip to entertain the children of his landlord. He used cuss in
that comic strip.

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9. While in Dapitan, Rizal wrote an extensive written discourse on witchcraft with
translation entitled the “Treatment and Cure of the Bewitched.” A part of it
explained that witches are not always old and ugly.
10. Rizal established a school while in Dapitan with 21 pupils who were never asked to
pay but was required by Rizal to work for the community.
11. As a polyglot, Rizal had the habit of switching from one language to another. His
biographers faced difficulty in translating his works because of his habit of switching
languages. He was conversant in 22 languages.
12. Rizal was a video game character. He appeared in the 1999 video game Medal of
Honour as a secret character in a multi-player mode alongside other historical
figures like William Shakespeare and Winston Churchill. Just recently, the popular
video game Tekken (martial arts), one of its fighter character was inspired by Rizal.
Although female, the character was Josie Rizal whose main armament was
arnis and kick boxing. Her outfit bore the colors of the Philippine flag and the
ornament in her waist is sampaguita.

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