Chapter 22 25
Chapter 22 25
Chapter 22 25
From Dapitan to Manila (Dumaguete, Cebu, Iloilo, Molo, Capiz) Rizal board the
steamer España (July 31, 1896 – August 6, 1896)
He visited the Molo Church which he praised for the interior is painted by a lad
and are mostly copy of biblical scenes from Gustave Dore
España arrived at Manila Bay and Rizal misses the mail ship Isla de Panay, he
was later then transferred to the Spanish cruiser Castilla (Captain Enrique
Santalo) by the order of Gov Gen Ramon Blanco. (August 6, 1896)
Katipunan’s plot to overthrow Spanish rule by means of revolution was
discovered by Fray Mariano Gil, Agustinian cura of Tondo. (August 19, 1896)
The discovery of Katipunan’s plot aggravated the “Cry of Balintawak” which was
raised by Bonifacio and his valiant Katipuneros (August 26 1896)
The revolutionists led by Bonifacio and Jacinto attacked San Juan and Gov Gen
Blanco proclaimed a state of war in the first eight provinces for rising in arms
against Spain (MaBulCavBatLaPaNeTar) (August 30, 1896)
Rizal, on board the Castilla the day before his departure for Spain, he also wrote
to his mother Rizal and was later transferred to the steamer Isla de Panay which
was sailing to Barcelona, Spain. (September 2, 1896)
The Isla de Panay arrived (also on board Don Pedro Roxas and his son Periquin)
at Singapore and Rizal took shopping the day after. (September 7 – 8, 1896)
Blanco was Rizal’s implacable foe, who regarded him as a “dangerous Filipino”
who was responsible for the raging Philippine Revolution, and therefore plotted
his doom.
Isla de Panay, Rizal on board, left Singapore and arrived at Barcelona, Rizal now
as a prisoner. (September 8 – October 3 1896)
Rizal wrote to Blumentritt (September 28, 1896)
Rizal was imprisoned in Monjuich and was taken out and brought for an
interview to Gen Eulogio Despujol (Dapitan July 1892), he was later transferred
to Colon which later left Barcelona (October 6)
Chapter XXIV
Last Homecoming and Trial
Left Barcelona on October 6, 1896
Confiscation of Rizal’s diary (October 11) returned on November 2
Dr. Antonio Ma. Regidor and Sixto Lopez sent telegrams to lawyer Hugh Fort to
rescue Rizal by means of writ of habeas corpus, but failed since it was carrying
Spanish troops
Arrived in Manila on November 3
Deodato Arellao, Dr. Pio Valenzuela, Moises Saalvador, Jose Dizon, Domingo
Franco, Temoteo Paez, and Pedro Serrano Laktaw were tortured to implicate Rizal
Paciano was arrested and tortured
Appeared before Judege Advocate Colonel Francisco Olive
Documentary evidence (letters, poem entitled “Kundiman”, poem entitled “A
Talisay”)
Oral testimonies by Martin Constantino, Aguedo del Rosario, Jose Reyes, Moises
Salvador, Jose Dizon, Domingo Franco, Deodato Arellano, Ambrosio Salvador,
Pedro Serrano Laktaw, Dr Pio Valenzuela, ANtono Salazar, Francisco Quison,
Timoteo Paez
November 26, appointed Captain Rafael Dominguez as Judge Advocate
Judge Advocate General, Don Nicolas de la Peña
Peña’s recommendations: (1) accused immediately brought to trial, (2) kept in
prison, (3) attachment to property, (4) defended in court by an army officer
Don Luis Taviel de Andrade, brother of Lt. Jose Taviel de Andrade (bodyguard), as
defender
December 13, General Camilo G. de Polavieja became Governor General of the
Philippines
On December 15, Rizal wrote a manifesto to the people appealing to stop the
revolution but was not released
Rizal wrote a letter to Taviel on December 25, 1896
Trial on December 26 at military building called Cuartel de España
P 259
Chapter XXV
Rizal's martyrdom at bagumbayan
After being court-martialed, Rizal returned to his cell in Fort Santiago to prepare
his rendezvous with destiny. During his last 24 hours on earth – from 6:00 A.M. of
December 29 to 6:00 A.M. of December 30, 1896 – he was busy meeting visitors
which including Jesuit priests, Josephine Bracken and members of his family.
He was also able to write his last poem – his final contribution for the
emancipation of the Filipino people. As a Christian and a hero-martyr, he was serenely
regisned to die for his beloved country, which he called “Pearl of the Orient Sea” in his
last poem and “Pearl of the Orient’ in the article entitled “Unfortunate Philippines”
published in The Hongkong Telegraph on September 24, 1892.
3:00 A.M. – Rizal heard Mass, confessed his sins and took Holy Communion.
5:30 A.M. – He took his last breakfast. After which he wrote his last letters for
his family and his brother, Paciano.
5:30 A.M. – Josephine Bracken arrived together with Rizal’s sister, Josefa, with
tears in her eyes, bade him farewell. Rizal embraced her for the last time, and before
she left, Rizal gave her a last gift – a religious book, Imitation of Christ by Father
Thomas Kempis.
6:00 A.M. – As the soldiers were getting ready for the death march to
Bagumbayan, Rizal wrote his last letter to his beloved parents.
Death March to Bagumbayan
At about 6:30 A.M., a trumpet sounded at Fort Santiago, a signal to begin the
death march to Bagumbayan. Rizal walked calmly with his defense counsel and two
Jesuit priests at his sides. He was dressed elegantly in a black suit, black derby hat,
black shoes, white shirt and black tie. His arms were tied behind from elbow to elbow.
There a lot of spectators lining the street from Fort Santiago to Bagumbayan.
As he was going through the narrow Postigo Gate, Rizal looked at the sky and
said to one of the priests: “How beautiful it is today, Father. What morning could be
more serene! How clear is Corregidor and the mountains of Cavite! On mornings like
this, I used to take a walk with my sweetheart.” While he was passing in front of the
Ateneo, he saw the college towers above the walls. He asked: “Is that the Ateneo,
Father?” “Yes”, replied the priest.
Martyrdom of a Hero
At about 6:30 A.M., a trumpet sounded at Fort Santiago, a signal to begin the
death march to Bagumbayan.
• Rizal bade farewell to Fathers March and Vilaclara and to his defender, Lt.
Luis Taviel de Andrade.
• He requested the commander of the firing squad that he be shot facing
them.
A Spanish military physician, Dr. Felipe Ruiz Castillo, asked his permission to
feel his pulse.
The death ruffles of the drums filled the air. Above the drum beats, the sharp
command “Fire” was heard, and the guns of the firing squad barked. Rizal, with
supreme effort, turned his bullet-riddled body to the right, and fell on the ground dead
– with face upward facing the morning sun. It was exactly 7:03 in the morning – aged
35 years, 5 months and 11 days.
It is also interesting to note that fourteen years before his execution, Rizal
predicted that he would die on December 30th. He was then a medical student in
Madrid, Spain.