A Simple and Prolific Life of Rizal in Dapitan

“Simple yet prolific”

prolific” is the best word that can describe the life of Rizal in Dapitan. It is simple in a

way that he lives like an ordinary people and prolific because when he was there, his time was not

wasted and made a lot of contribution not only to the place but also to the people.

In the first part of his exile, he lived in a commandant’s house but after winning the second prize

in the Manila Lottery and also from his savings being a merchant and farmer, he bought a land in Talisay.

In this place, he built three houses made of bamboo, wood and also nipa with different shapes. The first

house served as his home, the second house is for his students and lastly, the third house is for his

chickens.

Even though Rizal is in Dapitan, he continued to send a letter to Ferdinand Blumentritt that

described his life in Dapitan. The letter says that Rizal is waking up early in the morning to feed his

chickens and cook for their breakfast. After eating their breakfast, Rizal treats those patients who come

to his house and also those in towns. In the afternoon, after being a doctor in the morning, he

transformed into teacher to teach the young boys in their town. These young boys do not have any

tuition fee, but there is one condition, they have to work, especially in the farm, together with Rizal. And

Rizal ended the day in reading and writing.

After 4 years, he left Dapitan

Dapitan but Rizal’s presence remains there because he has a lot of 

contribution and also some projects that until now are running. One of his contributions is the good

waterworks system he constructed in the province. As you can remember Rizal studied surveying when

he was in Ateneo Municipal. Rizal also has a lot of contributions to the agricultural development, in his

multi hectare land; he planted crops and fruit-bearing trees together with his students. He also

introduced the modern methods and machineries in farming and also in fishing to many of our

Dapitenos.

By these many reasons,

reasons, we can’t deny that Rizal was truly loved by all Dapitenos. As you can

see, when Rizal left Dapitan, all of his students, their parents and also ordinary people together with a

band said their last goodbyes.