ARREST AND TRIAL

The Making of Katipunan

Rizal had many visitors in Dapitan, one of whom Florencio Namaan who was a spy
for the friars. Namaan posed as his relative named Pablo Mercado. He was sent to spy
on Rizal. Another visitor was Pio Valenzuela, who came as an emissary of the Katipunan.
At that time Andres Bonifacio had already become the Supremo of the Katipunan. Dr. Pio
Valenzuela went to Dapitan upon the instruction of Andres Bonifacio and Emilio Aguinaldo who
had agreed to consult and seek the advice of Rizal as regards the impending revolution.

On June 15, 1896, Dr. Pio Valenzuela with his aide Rufino Magos boarded the ship
S.S Venus for Dapitan. Using the alias Procopio Bonifacio they came with a patient, a blind
man named Reymundo Mata. They were able to escape the prying eyes of Spanish authori-
ties and the three eventually sailed smoothly for their mission.

The steamship arrived in Dapitan on June 21, 1896 at about 5:30 p.m. The residence
of Rizal was only 500 meters away from the port. Valenzuela did not waste time. He immedi-
ately sought Rizal and informed him of the existence of the Katipunan and the impending
revolution.

The following are excerpts of the conversation between Rizal and Valenzuela:

1) Rizal did not approve of a revolution without enough arms.

2) He stressed that they take all necessary precautions to prevent the discovery of Ka-
tipunan.
3) He also advised Katipunan to convince Antonio Luna to direct the campaign.
4) The Katipunan should likewise recruit rich Filipinos, and that if they refused, precau-
tions should be taken that they (the rich) remain neutral.

The next day, June 22, 1896, their meeting ended when S.S. Venus whistled for
its departure to Manila. Upon his arrival in Manila on June 26, Dr. Pio Valenzuela imme-
diately relayed the contents of his meeting with Rizal to Andres Bonifacio.

The Brewing of the Revolution

The sudden arrest and deportation of Rizal to Dapitan gave birth to the Katipunan. It
was organized when all hopes for the new spirit under the La Liga Filipina were aborted.
Andres Bonifacio, an ardent follower of Rizal who was also a founding member of the Liga,
opted to push for the separation of Philippines from Spain through a revolution.
 One a fateful evening of July 7, 1892, Bonifacio, together with Jose Dizon, Teodoro
Plata, Valentin Diaz and Ladislao Diwa, launched the revolutionary group known as the Kati-
punan in the house of Deodato Arellano at 72 Azcarraga Street (now Claro M. Recto).

Its original roster of membership included radical members of the already defunct La
Liga Filipina. Many of them are intellectuals of the petty bourgeoisie like Bonifacio. Some
came from the traditionally-landed local elite like Dr. Pio Valenzuela. The Katipunan initially
counted only about 30 members and it remained dormant for a while. By June of 1896,
the Katipunan membership had reached 30,000.

The entry of Emilio Jacinto, the acknowledged “brains of the Katipunan,” jumpstarted
its revolutionary activities. A brilliant and young law student from San Juan de Letran,
he complemented Bonifacio's organizational leadership. Jacinto provided strategic plans and
was in charge of the dissemination of Katipunan's organ, Kalayaan. This attracted more mem-
bership for the group. Jacinto, known to be an ardent admirer of Rizal, is said to be next to
Rizal with a “Rizaline soul.” He is best known for his longest essay and work entitled, Liwanag at
Dilim— “Light and Darkness.”

He also provided moral prescriptions intended to serve as a cohesive bond among Filipi-
nos in their creation of a national community. These prescriptions were formulated in his
Kartilla which all the Katipuneros swore to uphold as their moral code of conduct (Majul, 1960).

Going to Cuba

When Ferdinand Blumentritt informed Rizal of the Cuban revolution, the raging yellow
fever epidemic, as well as the shortage of physicians to minister the needs of Spanish troops
and the Cubans, he immediately wrote Governor General Ramon Blanco on December 17, 1895
to signify his intention to volunteer as a military doctor in the war-torn country. On July 1,
1896, seven months later, Blanco approved Rizal’s request. He was exultant for he can travel
again to Europe, then to Cuba. From this, he wrote the heartwarming poem "El Canto del
Viajero" (The Song of the Traveler).

The nostalgic departure of Rizal on the midnight of July 31, 1896 boarded the steamer
España bound for Manila. He was accompanied by Josephine, Narcisa and Angelica (Narcisa's
daughter). His three nephews and six pupils accompanied him to Manila. While on board the
ship, looking at the dusk that covered the picturesque Dapitan, he wrote the following in his
diary:

 I have always loved my poor country and I am sure that I shall love her until death,
if by chance men were unjust to me; and I shall enjoy the happy life, contented in
the thought that all I have suffered, my past, my present and my future, my life,
my love, my pleasure, I have sacrificed all of these for love of her. Happen what
may, I shall die with her and desiring the dawn of her redemption.
 The España arrived in Manila on August 6, 1899. However, the ship Isla de Luzon
that was supposed to take him to Spain had already left earlier. He had to wait for the
next ship Isla de Panay that was to sail for Spain on September 3, 1896. Blanco sent a
lieutenant of constabulary to meet him in a tugboat with orders not to land. He was told
that he was detained but not imprisoned aboard ship to avoid embarrassment with friends
and enemies.

While the ship was anchored at the Manila Bay, the Katipuneros hatched a plan to
rescue Rizal. In executing the plot, Emilio Jacinto, Guillermo Masangkay and other Kati-
puneros disguised themselves as sailors. Using the boat named Caridad, the group was
able to go near the ship, confronted Rizal and informed him of their intention. Rizal de-
clined. He refused the idea of him getting rescued. He stated that he was aware of what
he was doing. He then told the group to leave the ship.

Rizal was later transferred to the steamer Castilla while waiting for the ship Isla de
Panay that would take him to Barcelona.

The Arrest

The discovery of Katipunan was a result of Teodoro Patiño’s disclosure of the or-
ganization's secrets to Fr. Mariano Gil on August 19, 1896. The Spanish authorities made
mass arrests of Katipuneros and their sympathizers in Manila. It prompted Bonifacio to
summon all leaders of the Katipunan. On August 23, 1896, the historic “Cry of
Pugadlawin” took place. Bonifacio asked the Katipuneros of their readiness to fight the
Spaniards for whatever cost. After cutting the telephone lines in the capital, Bonifacio and
the Katipuneros attacked Manila but was later forced to retreat to Balara (now Quezon
City). The province of Cavite was fearlessly attacked and captured by Emilio Aguinaldo
and Artemio Ricarte, while Maximo Viola and his men attacked government installations
in the province of Bulacan.

Although he was held incommunicado inside the steamer Castilla, Rizal learned
about the outbreak of the revolution including its skirmishes around Manila through the
newspapers. Governor General Blanco, in turn issued a decree declaring a state of war in
the provinces of Batangas, Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, Manila, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga and
Tarlac which are all placed under martial law.

Rizal was upset because he heard that he was being blamed for the disturbance
in Manila. On September 3, 1896, Rizal boarded Isla de Panay and sailed to Singapore.
Some of his companions like Manuel Camus persuaded Rizal to stay in Singapore to avoid
possible arrest in Spain due to the outbreak of the revolution. Rizal, however, humbly
refused the offer and told them of the safe conduct pass given by Governor General
Blanco. On September 27, 1896, the Isla de Panay resumed its voyage to the Mediterra-
nean Sea passing through Port Said via Colombo, Aden, and Suez Canal. On September
30, while the Isla de Panay was sailing in the Mediterranean, a telegraphic message was
received ordering that Rizal be placed under arrest. Elements in the Philippines, especially
Manila Archbishop Bernardino Nozaleda, clamored for the arrest of Rizal who was said to
be the spirit of the Philippine revolution. At around 4:00 p.m. that day Rizal willingly
obeyed the instruction of the ship captain that he stay in his cabin until new orders were
given. Rizal did not know why he was treated in such manner despite a safe conduct pass
from the Spanish Governor General in the Philippines.

On October 3, the Isla de Panay arrived in Barcelona. Rizal was sent to the Mont-
juich Castle to await the departure of the vessel Colon which was on its way to Manila.
In his diary dated October 6, he stated that escorted by Spanish guards, he was made to
walk to the Fort and was jailed in prison cell number 2. Later, his luggage was searched.
An hour later, Rizal was presented to General Roman Despujol who informed him of a
telegram from Madrid that he would be treated as a prisoner and would be sent back to
Manila. On the night of the same day, the Colon which was loaded with Spanish troops
sailed for Manila. Despite an attempt by Antonio Ma. Regidor and Sixto Lopez to secure
a writ of habeas corpus for Rizal in Singapore, he remained in Spanish custody. They
alleged that Rizal was illegally detained aboard the Colon. The judge in Singapore, Sir
Lionel Cox, ruled that the Spanish vessel was a ship of war and that the laws of the British
Empire who controlled the island colony cannot apply there. So on November 3, he arrived
in Manila.

The Trial

Upon his arrival, the civil guards brought and escorted him to Fort Santiago on
orders that he would be detained there and held incommunicado. On November 20, 1896,
Rizal was brought before a Spanish military tribunal headed by Colonel Francisco Olive.
Fifteen documents were used as evidence against him namely:

1. A letter from Antonio Luna to Mariano Ponce, dated October 16, 1888, Madrid show-
ings Rizal’s connection with the reform movement in Spain;

2. A letter of Rizal to his family, dated August 20, 1890, Madrid, stating that the depor-
tations are good and the people will grow to hate Spanish tyranny;

3. A letter from Marcelo H. Del Pilar to Deodato Arellano, dated January 7, 1889, from
Madrid implicating Rizal with the Propaganda movement in Spain;

4. A poem entitled Kundiman which was allegedly written by Rizal in which Spain is
alluded as a despot and the Philippines is its slave and it prays for someone who could
free her from bondage;

5. A letter of Carlos Oliver to an unidentified person, September 18, 1891, from Barce-
lona stating that Rizal was the man who could free the Philippines from the oppres-
sions of Spain;
6. A Masonic document, dated February 9, 1892, honoring Rizal’s patriotic achieve-
ments;

7. A letter signed “Dimasalang” (Rizal’s pseudonym), to Ten Luz (Juan Zulueta’s pseu-
donym), dated May 24, 1892, from Hong Kong stating that he was preparing for a
safe haven for Filipinos who may be deported by Spanish authorities;

8. A letter signed “Dimasalang” to an unidentified committee dated July 1, 1892, from

Hong Kong soliciting the aid of the committee for “patriotic works,”

9. An anonymous and undated letter to the editor of the Hong Kong Telegraph censuring
the banishment of Rizal to Dapitan;

10. A letter of Ildefonso Laurel to Rizal, dated September 17, 1893 saying that the Filipi-
nos look up to Rizal as their savior;

11. A letter of Rizal, dated September 17, 1893 informing an unidentified correspondent
of the arrest and deportation of Doroteo Cortes and Ambrosio Salvador;

12. A letter of Marcelo H. Del Pilar to Juan A. Tenluz (Juan Zulueta) recommending the
establishment of a special organization, independent of the Freemasonry to help the
Filipino people;

13. A transcript of the speech of “Pingkian” (Emilio Jacinto) in a meeting of the Katipunan
on July 23, 1893 in which the following cry was reportedly uttered “Long live the
Philippines! Long live Liberty! Long live Dr. Jose Rizal! Unity!”

14. Transcript of a speech of Tiktik (Jose Turiano Santiago) during the same Katipunan
meeting in which the Katipunan shouted “Long live the eminent Dr. Jose Rizal! Death
to the oppressor nation!”

15. A poem by “Laong-Laan” (Rizal) entitled A Talisay which he made the Dapitan school-
boys sing that they know how to fight for their rights.

The following Filipinos were made to give statements regarding Rizal’s activities
upon his arrival in Madrid, Hong Kong and Manila:

1. Aguedo Del Rosario Llamas, a native of Mindoro stated that Rizal was the honorary
president of Katipunan, at that his portrait hangs in the session hall of the society.

2. Martin Constantino, stated that the objectives of the association were to execute
Spaniards, declare the independence of the Philippines, and place Rizal as its supreme
leader.
3. Jose Reyes, declared the following in his statement; that Rizal was one of the Masons
who campaigned for the independence of the Philippines; that Moises Salvador ar-
rived from Spain following the directives of Rizal to establish La Liga Filipina; and that
the statutes of the society was already prepared by Rizal.

4. Moises Salvador, the founder and president of an association of Filipinos in Madrid

(the group that will supervise the revolutionary movement in the Philippines), stated
that Rizal and Marcelo H. Del Pilar were the leaders of La Liga Filipina. He added that
the La Liga was established to provide the means to secure the independence of the
islands. He also testified that when Rizal arrived in Manila in June 1892, he called for
a meeting in the house of Doroteo Ongjunco where Rizal explained the need for the
Liga with the final aim of attaining the separation of the Philippines from Spain.

5. Jose Dizon, stated that the La Liga was amassing funds for the expenses of the in-
surrection, and that the Katipunan and the Liga were one and the same society.

6. Domingo Franco, declared that Rizal was the one who called for a meeting at the
house of Doroteo Ongjunco. He likewise stated that Rizal discussed the need for set-
ting up La Liga for it to gather funds and to hasten the separation of the Philippines
from Spain.

7. Deodato Arellano, stated that La Liga was to carry out a subversive propaganda in
the island, and when Rizal was exiled in Dapitan, and that the Masonic Lodge collected
funds to arrange for his escape.

8. Ambrosio Salvador, testified that during the meeting at Ongjunco’s house, a proposal
was made to organize La Liga and that Rizal was elected president.

9. Pedro Serrano Laktaw, admitted that he made trips with Rizal in the town of Tarlac
and that he was present in the meeting at the house of Ongjunco.

10. Dr. Pio Valenzuela, stated that in a meeting in Pasig, some Filipinos agreed to take a
trip to Japan after consulting Jose Rizal.

11. Antonio Salazar, testified that Timoteo Paez, together with the sister of Rizal, have
arranged for a vessel that would be used by Rizal to escape to Japan, and that he
would be joined by Doroteo Cortes and Marcelo H. Del Pilar. He also added that there
was a collection of funds to help Rizal escape from Dapitan.

12. Francisco Quison, stated that there was an agreement among the leaders of Kati-
punan to send Dr. Pio Valenzuela to Dapitan and seek Rizal’s advises whom they
considered a supreme leader. He also stated that the members of the society decided
 to launch a revolution.

13. Timoteo Paez, stated that he attended the founding of La Liga in Ongjunco’s house
and that Moises Salvador received some copies of the by-laws of the organization.

These testimonies were used to implicate Rizal in the Philippine revolution. At the
conclusion of the preliminary hearing, it was decided that there was prima facie evidence
against Rizal. The Governor General appointed Captain Rafael Dominguez to institute
charges against Rizal. Dominguez made a report about the charges and sent them to
Governor General Blanco who forwarded the papers to the Judge Advocate General for
his opinion. The Judge Advocate General recommended that Rizal be immediately brought
to trial and that he be kept in prison. He also recommended that all of Rizal’s properties
be attached in favor of the state. Finally, he recommended that Rizal should be defended
in court by an army officer, not by a civilian lawyer.

Rizal was formally arraigned on December 11, 1896. He was charged with the
crime of rebellion and the formation of illegal associations. Rizal for his part did not chal-
lenge the jurisdiction of the court and did not admit the declaration of witnesses against
him. He was given the option to choose his council. He selected First Lieutenant Luis
Taviel de Andrade from the artillery corps who was incidentally the brother of Jose Taviel
de Andrade, his official bodyguard in 1887 in Calamba during his first homecoming.

On December 13, the case was forwarded to Governor General Camilo de Polavieja
who had just replaced Governor Blanco. They approved a trial by court martial for Rizal.
While in detention, Rizal released a manifesto denouncing the revolution and condemned
the Katipunan for using his name without his permission. The Spanish authorities however
suppressed this manifesto. It spared Rizal from the same of being misinterpreted and
disobeyed by the Filipinos who are now fighting Spain.

Rizal’s actual trial began on December 26, 1896. It was held at the Hall of Banners
of the Cuartel de España in Fort Santiago. It was presided over by Lt. Col. Togores Arjona
and Lt. Enrique Alcocer represented the prosecution. Judge Advocate Dominguez ex-
plained the charges against Rizal. The military court accepted all the charges and evi-
dences against Rizal, however it ignored arguments in his favor. Rizal was charges with
three crimes namely rebellion, sedition and illegal association. The first two crimes were
punishable by life imprisonment and fine of 325 to 3,250 pesetas.

The Arraignment

The following are the charges against Dr. Jose Rizal which were summarized and
filed by the Spanish authorities in the Philippines. The crimes were then punishable by
death because on October 25, 1896, Gov. Gen. Ramon Blanco issued a decree imposing
the death penalty by firing squad, after court martial proceedings, dispensing with all
formalities upon all who assist the rebels by: sabotage, giving of information, supplying
food or ammunition, or processing the desertion of Filipino soldiers. This decree affected
the trial of Rizal.

1. The acts in question constitute the crimes of founding illegal associations and of pro-
moting or inducing to the commission of rebellion, the first being a necessary means
for the execution of the second.

2. The accused, Dr. Jose Rizal, stands guilty to both crimes in his capacity as principal
agent.

3. In the commission of these crimes, the fact that the criminal is a native (Filipino) must
be considered an aggravating circumstance, there being no attenuating circum-
stances.

In defending himself Rizal presented twelve arguments. He said that he:

1. Could not be guilty of rebellion because they told the Katipunan emissary Dr. Valen-
zuela not to rise in revolt;

2. That he did not correspond with the revolutionists;

3. That the revolutionists used his name without his knowledge and that if he were guilty
he would have escaped in Singapore;

4. If he had a hand in the revolution he would have escaped with the help of the Moros
and he would not have built a home, a hospital, and bought lands in Dapitan;

5. If he was head of the revolution why was he not consulted by the revolutionists;

6. Rizal said that La Liga Filipina was not revolutionary organization but a civic organi-
zation;

7. La Liga Filipina did not last long after he was deported to Dapitan;

8. If La Liga was reorganized after his deportation he did not know about it;

9. La Liga did not serve the objectives of the revolutionists otherwise why the revolu-
tionists did replace it with the Katipunan;

10. If it was true that there were bitter contents in Rizal’s letter, it was because they were
written when his family was evicted from their lands and were persecuted by the
authorities;

11. His life in Dapitan was exemplary and the politico-military leaders and the missionaries
 can attest to that;

12. Finally, it was not true that the revolution was inspired by his speech in the house of
Doroteo Ongjungco. Rizal asked, why then did it send an emissary to him in Dapitan
someone who was unknown to him. The ones who knew him surely knew that he
would never sanction to any violent movement.

Despite these arguments, the military court judged Rizal guilty of the charges
against him and voted for the death penalty. Rizal challenged the Spanish government in
the Philippines that he would like to meet the leaders of the Katipunan to ask them to lay
down their arms and finally abort the revolution. Unfortunately this request was not
heeded by the Spanish government. On the same day the decision of the court was
forwarded to Governor General Polavieja who sought the opinion of Judge Advocate Gen-
eral Nicolas Pena who affirmed the decision of the court martial.

On December 28, Polavieja signed Rizal death warrant ordering him to be shot at
7:00 o’ clock in the morning at Bagumbayan. He maintained that he is innocent and
objected being labeled as a Chinese mestizo. He later signed the document realizing that
it was required by law. He then requested to have his family see him for the last time.

The Verdict

The following are portions of the translated decision of the Ordinary Court Martial
on December 26, 1896:

 The Ordinary Court Martial of the Post declares that it ought to condemn, that the
fact in question does constitute the crimes of founding illegal associations and of
promoting and inciting to the crime of Rebellion, the first being a necessary means
to the commission of the second, and that the accused Don Jose Rizal is guilty of
the said crimes in the capacity of principal agent.

 In virtue of which the Court decrees that it ought to condemn, and does, the said
Don Jose Rizal to death.

The sentence was submitted to Governor General Camilo G. De Polavieja who

confirmed the decision of the Court Martial through the following terms:

 In virtue of which the penalty of death is imposed on the prisoner Jose Rizal Mer-
cado. Sentence shall be carried out by means of execution by a firing squad at
seven o’clock in the morning of the 30th of the present month (December 1896) in
Bagumbayan.

After the announcement of heard his death sentence, Rizal was transferred to the
prison chapel. He requested that his former professors at the Ateneo join him during his
last moments. Among his visitors were Fr. Miguel Saderra Mata, Rector of the Ateneo
Municipal, and Fr. Luis Viza who brought with him image of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
which Rizal sculpted at the Ateneo. Other visitors who arrived in the morning were Fr.
Antonio Rosell who ate breakfast with Rizal. Lt. Taviel de Andrade also arrived and Rizal
thanked him for his gallant services. Other visitor who followed were Fr. Federico Faura
followed by Fr. Jose Villaclara and Fr. Vicente Balaguer. A reporter of the newspaper El
Heraldo de Madrid named Santiago Matrix arrived, Fr. Balaguer and Villaclara remained
with around noon. When he was not watched by his guards Rizal wrote his last poem.

The Retraction Controversy

The retraction controversy haunted Rizal up to his grave. It remains alive even
today (depending upon whose version you are reading). The retraction document was
published in newspapers and pamphlets in Spain. It alleged that Rizal retracted his past
deeds (such as the Noli Me Tangere, El Filibusterismo and his personal principles written
in his poems and essays) and returned to the Catholic fold on the last day of his life. The
question lies on the document. Until today, the Jesuits who were responsible for safe-
keeping the retraction documents have not presented the original copy as signed by Dr.
Jose Rizal.

At 7:00 a.m. on December 29, 1896, the decision of death by firing squad dated
30thDecember was formally announced to Rizal. The archbishop gave instructions to the
Jesuits to assist Rizal in his final moment. The following priests attended the spiritual
needs of Rizal:

 At 7:00 a.m., Fathers Miguel Saderra Mata and Luis Viza visited Rizal. Father Viza
intentionally brought the image of the Sacred Heart carved by Rizal while studying
in Ateneo.

 At 9:00 a.m., Fr. Rosell Antonio took turns at attending to Rizal’s needs. After-
wards, a newspaperman came and the three talked about studies, infancy and
childhood.

 At 10:00 a.m., Fathers Jose Villaclara and Vicente Balaguer relieved Father Rosell.
They said that Rizal wanted to confess but Fr. Balaguer did not accede due to this
notion that “Rizal’s thinking oscillated between Protestant religion and rationalist.”
They informed Rizal that before he could confess it was necessary for him to re-
tract his erroneous beliefs against the Catholic Church.

 At lunchtime, Fr. Federico Faura came with Don Manuel Luengo, Governor of Ma-
nila. This time Rizal told the priest, “Father, doesn’t your Reverence recall the last
time we talked and what you predicted would happen to me? You were a prophet;
I am going to die on the scaffold.” Rizal was consoled by Father Faura and asked
 him to pray in front of the sacred heart, that he carved during his young days in
Ateneo Municipal.

 At three o’clock in the afternoon, Fr. Balaguer returned and tried to persuade Rizal
to retract his Masonic beliefs but Rizal remained firm. According to Father Bala-
guer, he warned Rizal that his soul will go to hell if he will not rectify his past
mistakes against the Catholic Church, he said, “You take pride in being a sincere
man; so believe us that if by giving our blood and our lives we, the priest, could
achieve the salvation of your soul, right now, without hesitation we would give our
lives in lieu of yours.” After he left, Rizal’s mother and sister arrived.

 After his family left, Fathers Villaclara, March, and Balaguer again arrived to con-
vince him to retract. They were joined by Fr. Rosell and later by Don Silvio Lopez
Tanon, Dean of the Manila Cathedral. Fathers Balaguer and March later left leaving
Fr. Villaclara alone with Rizal. By eight in the evening, Fr. Balaguer returned with
Fr. Viza and again talked with Rizal on religious matters. At this point, they were
joined by Fiscal Gaspar Castano of the Royal Audiencia. At around 10:00, a draft
of retraction arrived from Archbishop Bernardino Nozaleda. Rizal rejected it be-
cause it was so too long. Fr. Balaguer showed him another draft which was done
by Fr. Pio Pi, the superior of the Jesuit Mission in the Philippines. He liked this draft
but he wanted some changes made and at 11:30 in the evening, Rizal signed his
retraction from the freemasonry. It was witnessed by Juan Del Fresno the chief of
the guard detail and the Adjutant of the Plaza Elroy Moure. After signing the re-
traction, Rizal had confession with Fr. Villaclara and rested afterwards. In this con-
versation at 11:30 p.m. of December 29, 1896, Rizal signed the formula of retrac-
tion after adding some insertions on his education and abomination of his being a
Mason.

The Jesuit Conspiracy

1. Up to this day historians and biographers of Rizal doubted his retraction. Fr. Bala-
guer’s account of Rizal’s last hours is the only source of this story. The authenticity
of the retraction document itself has been questioned for various reasons. For one
things, there was no mention on how and when the Chief Picket and Adjutant served
as witnesses, signed the retraction documents.

2. After Rizal’s death, his alleged retraction was published in the newspapers. The doc-
ument itself appeared only 35 years after the event. Rizal’s family claimed that his
signature on it was forged.
3. His family requested from the Spanish authorities the original copy of the retraction
and Rizal’s alleged marriage to Josephine Bracken. They failed to get any document
from the Spanish government or from the Catholic Church which further raised their
suspicion.

4. Also one of the bugging question surrounding this controversy is that, if Rizal really
retracted and returned to the Catholic fold, then why was his body was not given to
his family as requested nor was he given a decent Catholic burial? Why was he buried
in an unidentified location in Paco cemetery?

The Death of Rizal

The dramatic death of Rizal in Bagumbayan on December 30, 1896 was one of
the most captured moments in the history of the Philippines. He was the first historical
celebrity in the 19th century Philippines to be executed in public. Rizal's prophecy of his
death at the age of 30 was a miscalculation because he lived for five more years at the
age of 35. He was consoled by his family early morning of the day. They were more
melancholic than Rizal who was waiting his death sentence by firing squad.

While talking to Trinidad in Tagalog, Spanish and English in order to confuse the
guardia civil about the secret conversation, Rizal clandestinely instructed her that “there
is something inside that alcohol lamp,” the last letter of Rizal commonly known today as
Mi Ultimo Adios. It was a customary tradition to entrust all the personal belongings of
the prisoner to any relative present. The last poem ever written by Rizal is now being
immortalized by most Filipinos and this is even translated in 22 languages.

In one of the last letters poignantly written by Rizal to his family (especially to
Paciano) before his execution, he thanked his brother for the sacrifices he did for his
education. In the letter he wrote the following:

Dear Brother,

Ithas been four-and-a-half years that we have not seen each other, it is not be-
cause of any lack of affection on my part or yours, but because knowing each
other so well we did not need to talk to understand each other.

Now that I am about to die, it is to you that I dedicate my last line to tell you how
sorry I am to leave you alone in life, bearing all the burdens of the family and our
aged parents.

I think of how you have worked hard to give me a career; I believe that I tried not
to waste my time brother, if the fruit has been bitter, it has not been my fault but
the fault of circumstances. I know you have suffered so much in my account and
I am sorry.
 I assure you, my brother, that I die innocent of this crime of rebellion. I shall not
utterly deny that what I wrote in the past may have contributed to the revolution,
but I thought that the past would be expiated with my deportation.

Tell our father that I remember him. How I remember his affection and his love. I
ask him to forgive me for the pain which I unwillingly caused him.”

Your brother

At 1:30 in the morning Rizal woke up, prayed and confessed again, He would
confess four times that early morning. In between confession, Rizal prayed the rosary
and wore a blue scapular of the Immaculate Virgin. He read the act of Faith, Hope, and
Charity from the Spanish prayer book entitled Aceptacion de la Muerte (Acceptance of
Death). After confessing for the last time, Rizal heard the mass from Fr. Balaguer and
received a communion on bended knees.

At 5:00 a.m., Rizal had his last breakfast, autographed his remaining books which
became his last souvenirs. Josephine arrived together with Narcisa. Rizal requested that
he and Josephine be finally married. Fr. Balaguer performed the marriage rites and gave
to Josephine the book, Imitacion de Cristo by Thomas Kempis which he autographed.
Afterwards, he wrote three farewell letters, one to his father, another to his mother, one
to Dr. Blumentritt, and the last to Paciano.

At around 6:30, Rizal was taken from his cell. He was elegantly dressed in black
and his arms were tied from elbow to elbow. He had a small black rosary under his right
arm. He put on his chistera hat. He was pale from fatigue and unshaven. The march to
Bagumbayan began with four soldier with rifles and bayonets preceding Rizal who had
Lt. Taviel de Andrade on his side and Fr. March and Villaclara on the other side. Behind
him was a platoon of soldier rifles with fixed bayonets. The sound of muffled drums
accompanied the marchers.

There were spectators lining the route from Fort Santiago to Bagumbayan. As the
party moved passing Paseo de Maria Cristina (now A. Bonifacio Avenue) Rizal said to his
Jesuit companion, “We are on the road to Calvary, I can well realize now the passion of
Christ; mine is so insignificant.” As Rizal marched to Bagumbayan, he was serene and
tranquil, his body, poised and erect. His eyes were glad and bright. Still on the march,
Rizal stated to one of his companions, “What a beautiful morning! On mornings like this,
I used to walk here to spend time with my sweetheart.” Upon passing in front of Ateneo,
Rizal asked, “Is that the Ateneo?” “Yes,” his companions replied, and he continued, “I
spent many happy years there.” Spectators account stated that Rizal was laughing at
times and gazing at all as if looking for a known face among the crowd unfortunately, all
the persons who knew him were in hiding or fighting in the Philippine Revolution.
 Near the place of execution in Bagumbayan, Rizal’s plotters, the friars and Span-
iards, awaited. Governor General Camilo de Polavieja, however, stayed in Malacañang
Palace. He never felt any compassion for Rizal whose mother Doña Teodora had written
him a letter of appeal, who the day before the execution, begged on her knees to spare
Rizal’s life.

As Rizal approached the place of execution, he hastened his steps as if catching

the glory he might miss. While standing, he asked permission that he should be shot
facing the firing line, but the Captain refused.

Even at the last hour, Jose Rizal wanted to prove that he was not a traitor to Spain
and the Philippines, therefore he needed to fall down face-up, to the sky. Rizal then
requested the Captain of the picket to shoot him at the back and spare his head. The
request was granted. After a handshake with his defender, Lieutenant Luis Taviel de
Andrade and to the Jesuits who gave him a crucifix to kiss.

Nearby was a group of Filipino soldiers who comprised the firing squad. Behind
them were a group of peninsular soldiers who would do the execution in case the Filipino
refuses to obey their orders. Then the colonel who served as the Mayor de la Plaza made
an announcement to the spectator “In the name of the king anyone who raises his voice
in favor of the traitor will be executed.” It was a warning for those who would oppose
the execution of Rizal.

A colonel took Rizal to the site of his execution, between two lamp posts. The
drums were made ready to drown out his voice just in case Rizal would like to address
the crowd. He was actually spared from the additional humiliation of being shot kneeling
and blindfold like other people before him. Then a priest blessed him. A medical officer
Dr. Felipe Ruiz Castillo took his pulse and found to his surprise that it was normal. With
his right hand, Rizal took off his hat. The drums sounded out a roll and the commanding
officer ordered his men to aim by means of his saber. When the saber dropped there was
a simultaneous crack of gunfire and Jose Rizal made one last effort to drop on his back
with his face facing the sky. He intended not to die as a traitor. It was exactly 7:03 in the
morning. Then suddenly as if from nowhere small dog ran in circles around the body of
Rizal barking and whimpering. The witnesses especially those in the drum unit included
that it was a premonition of a coming misfortune.

The medical officer stepped forward and felt Rizal’s pulse. He was still alive and
he motioned to a member of the firing squad and gave Rizal a coup de grace at close
range. After it was confirmed that Rizal was really dead, the soldiers marched off and
ordered turn their heads towards the body. The Spanish spectators shouted Viva España!
And the military band played Marcha de Cadiz. The spectators left laughing and jovial.
Rizal was a traitor to Spain but Spain made him a martyr for the Filipinos.

Rizal’s body was secretly buried at the Paco Cemetery where later it traced by his
sister. Four days after Manila fell to the Americans on August 13, 1998. The Rizal’s family
requested the authorities to exhume his body. What remained were bones, the shoes,
hat, his silk handkerchief, and the rope that bound him. Whatever Rizal placed in his
shoes before he was executed apparently disintegrated after his death. The remains were
cleaned in Higino Mercado’s house in Binondo and were given to Dona Teodora.

Aftermath of Rizal’s Death

Wenceslao E. Retana who was once his rabid critic, had a change of heart and
wrote his story entitled The Biography of Rizal where he wrote that, “...the thread of
blood that sprang from Rizal’s heart to the sinister chords of the Marcha de Cadiz (the
music played after Rizal was executed), turned at that very moment into a surging Ama-
zon that forever - definitely forever - separated the Filipinos from the Spanish race.”

Prof. Ferdinand Blumentritt wrote to Wenceslao Retana in 1887 that he had in his
possession 73 clippings of anecdotes and personal accounts on Jose Rizal. These articles
came from New York, San Francisco, Hong Kong, France, Holland, London Switzerland,
United States, Shanghai, Macao, Singapore, Germany, and Latin America.

Many titles were given to Rizal in history. Rizal’s Austrian Friend, Professor Blu-
mentritt said in 1897 that Rizal is the “most prominent man of his own people but the
greatest man the Malayan has produced.” The American Governor General William Cam-
eron Forbes, called Rizal the “greatest Filipino patriot.” Don Vicente Barrantes called him
the “first among Filipinos.” His works catalyzed the 19th century colonial politics that led
to the overthrow of a colonial government. He became the soul and inspiration of the
revolution. His death became the source of political upheavals that led to radical changes.
It eventually led the country towards independence signaling the birth of the new repub-
lic. His Mi Ultimo Adios was translated in different languages such as Italian, Tagalog,
English, German, French and others.

After his death on December 30, 1896, other provinces decided to join the fight
for freedom. The province of Tarlac on January 1897 declared its Cry of Tagumpay and
attacked the Spaniards in the provincial capital. Later on, Ilocano and Visayan provinces
followed. Rizal was the best battle flag that the Spaniards had created in favor of the
Philippine Revolution after his execution in Bagumbayan.

MI ULTIMO ADIOS

According to Austin Coates (Rizal's British biographer), this poem is remarkable

for it achieves four separate purposes.

 It is a poem of farewell
 It is an appeal to the Filipinos not to forget him
 It is Rizal's last will and testament
  It is Rizal's autobiography

It was Andres Bonifacio who translated the poem in Tagalog. Mariano Ponce was
the first to use the title Mi Ultimo Pensamiento (My Last Thought). When it was published
in La Independencia, the title was changed to Mi Ultimo Adios which it is popularly known
today. The poem is translated into twenty-two languages across the globe.

The original manuscript that Rizal gave to his sister disappeared and was believed to
have been taken by Josephine Bracken when she returned to Hong Kong in 1897.

Reading between the lines, the poem reveals Rizal's spirit of fairness and justice de-
spite the oppression and injustice he had suffered. The poem itself is his farewell to his
native land which he calls the Pearl of the Orient Seas, Beloved Region of the Sun, and
his Lost Eden.

Rizal’s Wish after His Death

To My Family

I ask you for forgiveness for the pain I cause you, but someday I shall have to
die and it is better that I die now in the plentitude of my conscience.

Dear Parents and brothers: Give thanks to God that I may preserve my tranquil-
ity before my death I die resigned, hoping that with my death you will be left in
peace. Ah! It is better to die than to live suffering. Console yourselves.

I enjoin you to forgive one another the little meanness of life and try to live
united in peace and good harmony. Treat your old parents as you would like to
be treated by your children later. Love them very much in my memory.

Bury me in the ground. Place a stone and a cross over it. My name, the date of
my birth and of my death. Nothing more. If later you wish to surround my grave
with a fence, you can do it. No anniversaries. I prefer Paang Bundok (North
Cemetery, Manila).

Have pity on poor Josephine.

This was a letter given by the Spanish government to the Philippines government
on February 26, 1953. This work was written by Rizal upon knowing his fate while he was
in Fort Santiago. This letter was published in Ducomentos Rizalianos in the same year.
From this letter, Rizal never had any idea that he would become the greatest Philippine
Hero. He just want to die for his principles but not to become a hero.