rizal exile trial and death part 1
La Liga Filipina
Rizal's friends and relatives warned him against returning to the Philippines.
But despite their warnings, Rizal, firmly believing that the battlefield was in the Philippines, sailed to Manila on June 21, 1892, with his sister Lucia.
Together, they founded La Liga Filipina, which means "The Filipino League."
Liga's Masonic roots and secrecy are enough to arouse Spanish suspicion, even without seditious language in its constitution.
Historians have different perspectives on whether La Liga aimed for complete independence or merely sought to become a Spanish province.
Let's explore the two contrasting perspectives:
Many early historians believe that Rizal favored reforms over separation, aligning with the Propaganda Movement's goals.
Rizal's own socio-civic organization, La Liga Filipina, was also a reformist group, but this time, it sought to broaden the participation of Filipinos in the campaign for change.
It was a continuation of the assimilationist ideals of the Propaganda Movement, but now with a wider reach.
La Liga Filipina also appears to be a harmless and wholesome organization, akin to an NGO that seeks to empower Filipinos to help themselves.
According to Floro Quibuyen, Rizal's departure was a manifestation of his radical shift to separatism and his disillusionment with Spain.
In Floro's book "A Nation Aborted," he stated this is evident in the first point of Liga's constitution.
"The entire archipelago should be united to become one body."
WDYM by "body"? Another organization, or perhaps a nation? In Quibuyen's mind, Liga's ultimate goal was an independent Philippines, not a stepping stone to another organization.
The other points of the constitution also can no longer be considered responsibilities of a mere organization, but rather of a state.
"To study and implement reforms."
Quibuyen stated that the fifth point of Liga have been misconstrued,
"The term reformas in the context of the Liga referred to the radical changes that (would benefit the people) and lead to the development of the country independent of Spain."
To support his argument, Quibuyen quoted Rizal's essay "Philippines: A Cultural Hence", where the latter said that
palliative reforms are never good enough.
"We said, and once more we repeat, and will ever assert, that reforms which have a palliative character are not only ineffectual but even prejudicial, when the government is confronted with evils that must be cured radically"
We should also consider Rizal's state of mind at this time. As writer Floro Quibuyen explains, Rizal had just distanced himself from the rest of his peers.
"The reformists believed that they would then be able to lobby the Spanish government for democratic reforms. The key plank in this strategy is assimilation."
"For once the Philippines is incorporated as a province of Spain, the Filipinos will become Spanish citizens, and as such, will enjoy equal protection under the Constitution."
"Herein lies Rizal's major disagreement.
For Rizal had come to realize that the root problem was Spanish colonialism itself.
Once this became clear to Rizal, he began to insist that rather than trying to convince the Spaniards, who were not inclined to listen anyway, the Ilustrados should address the Filipinos in the Philippines, and work for their enlightenment there."
We could further see his detachment from the assimilationist cause in his letters to Blumentritt:
"La Solidaridad is no longer our battlefield; now it is a new struggle...the fight is no longer in Madrid."
"I have lost hope in Spain. For that reason, I shall not write one more word for La Solidaridad. It seems to me it is in vain. All of us are (voices crying in the wilderness where all are lost)."
"What did we obtain from the campaigns of La Solidaridad, except Weylerisms, the Law on Banditry, and the tragedy of Kalamba? It seems to me that to parley with the government is only a waste of time.”
Quibuyen further asserts that,
"(Since his North Borneo Project) did not materialize... Rizal concentrated on his foremost objective: returning to the Philippines to establish La Liga Filipina, which would pave the way for the formation of a Filipino national community, and therefore, national independence."
"Rizal was convinced that, however Spain responded to the new initiative, independence was inevitable. It was simply a question of how it would come, peacefully or through a revolution."
Finally, we'll end this part with this quote from the historian Xiao Chua. He wrote:
"Sa Liga naipakita ni Rizal na hindi lamang siya puro sulat, nais niyang isakatuparan ang nais niyang bansa."
"Naudlot man, ipinagpatuloy ng Liga member na si Bonifacio ang laban para sa pagkakaisa at pagkakapantay-pantay tulad ng sinasabi ng motto ng Liga, "Unus instar ómnium"-Ang isa ay tulad ng lahat. Sa pagbubuo ng bansang maginhawa, mahalaga ka kabayani."
While historians continue to debate Liga's motives, we can be sure that the organization did not last long.
Just three days after founding La Liga Filipina, Rizal faced arrest at Malacañang. The Spanish cited a prior, unrelated reason.
(Sunday)
June 26, 1892 Manila
Rizal and his sister were greeted by carabiniers and a major upon arrival in Manila.
Their luggage was inspected at the customs house.
After that, the officials let them pass without any issues.
A package of "seditious paper" satirizing wealthy Dominican friars was confiscated and brought to the attention of Governor-General Despujol.
Rizal denied that the leaflets belonged to him or his sister but was arrested anyway and escorted to Fort Santiago.
Manila newspapers published the Governor General's decree, outlining four charges that led to Rizal's exile.
The Gubernational Decree
"During his "voluntary exile," he had published books and proclamations of very doubtful loyalty to Spain, which are not only frankly anti-Catholic, but impudently anti-friar, and introduced these into the archipelago."
A few hours after his arrival in the Philippines, there was found in one of the packages belonging to the said subject a bundle of handbills entitled "The Poor Friars" in which the patient and humble generosity of the Filipinos was satirized and in which accusations were published against the customs of the religious orders.
His last book El Filibusterismo was dedicated to the memory of three traitors to their country (Gomes, Burgos, and Zamora), but extolled by him as martyrs, while in the epigraph of the title page of said book was the doctrine that because of the vices and errors of the Spanish administration, there was no other salvation for the Philippines than separation from the mother country.
The end which he pursued in his efforts writings tear from the loyal Filipino breasts the treasure of our holy Catholic faith.
Now that Rizal is gone, La Liga Filipina became inactive and began to fell apart.
II. The (Medyo) Bitter- Sweet Life in Dapitan
From 1892 to 1896, Rizal lived in exile in Dapitan, a remote town in Mindanao.
Why Dapitan? Well, it was inaccessible, underdeveloped, and under the control of the Jesuits, who hoped to reform his Catholic faith.
Sure, the island sounds like a paradise......but it was remote and unfamiliar, far from the civilization to which Rizal was accustomed.
Good thing, Rizal found a silver lining.
While they curbed his political rights, Spanish authorities still allowed him to move freely and participate in civic activities.
Their goal was to “tame" him so that he would be less likely to entertain ideas of "subversion."
Instead of losing hope in life, Rizal transformed his exile into a period of meaningful contribution.
Before we talk about his life in Dapitan, we should first talk about his lottery win.
Rizal was a teetotaler and non-smoker, but he had a fondness for the lottery.
Wenceslao Retana, called the lottery Rizal's "only vice."
Months after being exiled to Dapitan, Rizal, along with two other people, bought a lottery ticket, winning the second prize of P20,000.
Their combined winnings were divided, leaving Rizal with a substantial sum of P6,200.
Rizal spent a portion of his winnings on buying agricultural lands along the coast of Talisay.
On his purchased land, he built a house, established a farm, set up a school, and even opened a clinic.
Through these endeavors, he seamlessly embraced the roles of a farmer, a teacher, and a physician.
Rizal's upbringing as a member of an inquilino family instilled in him a deep connection to farming.
Rizal bought farmland in Dapitan, initially growing rice and corn. He later partnered with his brother-in-law to sell abaca, a profitable crop in Manila.
When Rizal found the locals' agriculture and fishing methods outdated, he helped them.
Rizal achieved notable success as a farmer in Dapitan.
"His total landholdings reached 70 hectares, comprising 6,000 hemp plants, 1,000 coconut trees, and an abundance of fruit trees, sugarcane,
corn, coffee, and cacao." (Zaide)
Rizal held the profession of farming in high esteem. He actively engaged in agricultural practices, not only to sustain himself but also to uplift the lives of the local community.
"We cannot all be doctors; someone has to till the soil.’’
In stark contrast to Rizal's admiration for farmers, modern society often holds a negative perception of this crucial occupation.
Rizal recognized the worth of farmers. It's time for us to do the same. Their dedication secures our plates and fuels our nation. Let's respect their toil and empower them to thrive.
In Talisay, he founded a school that emphasized school-based management and community-based education, defying 19th century norms.
As an agriculturist, Rizal incorporated nature study into his school's curriculum, fostering appreciation for the natural world.
Rizal and his students collected various flora and fauna, which he then sent to his academic friends in Europe in exchange of books.
Rizal also had a passion for conchology, the study and collection of shells.
Rizal also discovered new species of animals, which were named after him.
Draco rizali (Flying dragon), Apogonia rizali (Small beetle) Rhacophorus rizali (Flying lizard)
The influence of Rizal's education at Ateneo were also evident in his teaching methods during his exile in Dapitan.
To effectively manage his classroom, he divided his students into two groups based on their height: "grandes" (big) and "pequenos" (small).
Using his Ateneo-honed surveying skills, he also constructed a water system in Dapitan, providing clean water to homes lacking access before.
Rizal, with Ateneo professor Fr. Sanchez's help, created a significant relief map of Mindanao.
"Dapitan reminds us that Rizal is much more than a hero who wrote two novels for a nation that does not read and got shot for them. Dapitan reminds us of the promise of youth and education."
In Dapitan, Rizal continued his medical practice, offering free care to those in need.
He extended his reach by making house calls, ensuring that healthcare was accessible to the sick and infirm.
Even when paid for his services, Rizal found ways to channel his earnings for the betterment of Dapitan.
As Rizal's biographer and former enemy Wenceslao Retana recounts,
"There was a rich Englishman who came to consult him: Rizal removed his cataract and charged him 500 duros, which the Englishman gladly paid. Those 500 duros Rizal donated to Dapitan for public lighting which it did not have."
Rizal's medical profession also led to a remarkable encounter.
As the story goes, Rizal had become one of the most respected ophthalmologists in the Philippines.
Hoping for Rizal's healing touch, ailing George Taufer journeyed from Hong Kong to Dapitan with adopted daughter Josephine Bracken.
Josephine, an 18-year-old Irish woman, was likely captivated by Rizal's intellect, charm, and wit, and fell deeply in love with him.
Rizal, in turn, was smitten by Josephine's beauty and eagerness.
After just one month of romance, they expressed their desire to marry each other.
However, their relationship was met with disapproval from others.
Tauffer attempted suicide due to his strong disapproval of their planned marriage.
Rizal's family also disapproved, possibly because of conservative views on marriage and Rizal hinting at cohabitation with Josephine without marriage.
We can see this disapproval when Josephine lived with the Rizals. Josephine wrote to her dear Joe,
"Ah, my dear, I am suffering a great deal with them in Trozo (house of Teodora Alonso). They ought to be ashamed of me, as they say to my face and in the presence of Sra. Narcisa and their children, because I am not married to you."
Despite their opposition, Rizal and Josephine continued to be with each other and even had a child together who sadly passed away.
In a letter to his dear friend Ferdinand Blumentritt on December 19, 1893, Jose Rizal painted a vivid picture of his idyllic life in Dapitan.
Ikukuwento ko sa iyo kung paano kami nabubuhay dito.
Tatlo ang aking bahay: isang parisukat, isang hexagonal, at ang pangatlo, octagonal-at lahat ay yari sa kawayan, kahoy, at nipa.
Nakatira kami sa parisukat na bahay, kami ng aking ina,
kapatid na si Trinidad, at pamangkin.
Doon sa octagonal ang mga batang lalaki at ibang mabubuting kabataang tinuturuan ko ng aritmetika, wikang Espanyol at Ingles;
at sa hexagonal na bahay naman ang aking mga alagang manok.
Mula sa aking bahay ay maririnig mo ang bulong ng malinaw na sapang dumadaloy mula sa matataas na bato;
nakikita ko ang dalampasigan, ang dagat kung saan mayroon akong maliliit na bangka at dalawang baroto, gaya na rin ng tawag nila rito.
Marami akong puno rito, mangga, lansones, guyabano, baluno, langka, atbp. May alaga akong kuneho, aso, pusa, atbp.
Maaga akong magising - mga alas singko - para diligan ang aking mga tanim, pakainin ang mga manok, gisingin ang mga tao rito nang sila ma'y kumilos na rin.
Pagsapit ng alas siete y media, nag-aagahan kami ng tsaa, tinapay, keso, matamis, atbp.
Maya-maya, titingnan ko na ang aking mga pasyenteng dumayo pa rito sa aking lugar,
magbibihis at pupunta sa bayan sakay ng aking baroto, manggagamot ng mga tagaroon, babalik dito ng alas dose, na handa na ang aking tanghalian.
Pagkatapos ay tuturuan ko na ang mga batang lalaki hanggang alas kuwatro ng hapon, at ang natitirang oras ay ilalaan ko na sa pagtatanim.
Sa gabi, nagbabasa at nag-aaral ako.
Rizal's exile coincided with the burgeoning revolutionary movement.
While attempts were made to reorganize Rizal's organization, the La Liga Filipina ultimately split into two groups:
Conservatives (peaceful; advocate reforms)
Radicals (aaaaaahhhh!)
To inform Rizal of Katipunan's founding and planned revolution, Pio Valenzuela and Raymundo Mata visited him in Dapitan.
During their conversation, Valenzuela informed Rizal of the Katipunan's plans and their plan to help him escape.
However, Rizal declined the offer and stated that the people not ready for a revolution.
Rizal's meeting with Pio, where he refused to join the revolution,
is used by some to argue he wasn't for independence.
In the opening part of Rizal's Manifiesto, which references Valenzuela's visit to Dapitan, Rizal writes:
"I had no knowledge of what was being projected until the first or second of July of 18, when Pio Valenzuela came to tell me of an uprising. I told him that it was absurd, and so forth; and he answered me that they could suffer no more, I counseled that they should have patience, and so forth....
Besides, I added they need not think of me, but of the country which is the one going to suffer.... I have always been opposed to the rebellion not only on account of its absurdity and untimeliness, but also because I am hoping that Spain will soon grant us freedom."
According to the historian Zaide, Rizal objected to Bonifacio's project to plunge the country into a bloody revolution because of his "sincere belief that it was premature" and that "arms and funds must be collected first before raising the cry of revolution."
Another way to support the claim that Rizal was not against the Philippine Revolution is his letter to Blumentritt in 1887, in which he wrote:
"I assure you that I have no desire to take part in conspiracies which seem to me very premature and risky."
But if the government drives us to the brink, that is to say, when no other hope remains but seek our destruction in war, when the Filipinos would prefer to die rather than endure their misery any longer, then I will also become a partisan of violent means."
"The choice of peace or destruction is in the hands of Spain, because it is a clear fact, known to all, that we are patient, excessively patient and peaceful, mild, unfeeling, etc. But everything ends in this life, there is nothing eternal in the world and that refers also to our patience."
Valenzuela (who lived a long life!) also recorded Rizal's reaction to the revolution plans in his memoir.
"So the seed grows. The resolutions of the association are very just, patriotic, and above all, timely because now Spain is weakened by the revolution in Cuba."
During their meeting, Rizal suggested both obtaining support from Manila's wealthy and acquiring ships/weapons from Japan.
Some critics will disagree with this statement, pointing to Valenzuela's initial testimony where he claimed Rizal is not in favor of revolution.
A critic of Valenzuela also argue that memoirs written many years after the events they describe can be unreliable, as they may contain errors or be influenced by the author's perspective at the time of writing.
"(Critics needed) to be reminded that Valenzuela did make a current declaration - affirming his memoir over his prison declarations, and reiterating Rizal's support for the Philippine revolution - when Zaide interviewed him in 1931. At that time Valenzuela was an alert and healthy man in his early sixties."
"And Valenzuela is not alone in his later testimony - several colleagues of Rizal... also vouched for his separatist, prorevolutionary position in their memoirs."
"But more importantly, Valenzuela later admitted that, because of his fear that his prison testimony might harm Rizal and other Katipuneros, who were also at that time in prison, he deliberately avoided implicating them."
Dr. Blumentritt suggested that Rizal offer his services as a military doctor in Cuba in exchange for ending his exile.
This is because in Cuba, a revolution against Spain was unfolding alongside epidemic of yellow fever.
After months of waiting, a letter arrived from Governor-General Blanco: Rizal's offer was accepted.
Finally, after four years, Rizal was no longer in exile.
However, the Philippines was also experiencing its own revolution, spearheaded by Bonifacio and the Katipunan.
While Rizal was en route to Cuba, the ship he was on
received a telegram from the authorities ordering his arrest.
The Military Commander of Barcelona, Despujol, informed him that he would be taken back to Manila.
The reason? He was believed to be involved in the ongoing revolution.