Roel Victor L.

Damian BS-Criminology 2-1

SUMMARY
Rizal’s second homecoming was on June 1892. Rizal believed that the fight for Filipino liberties
had assumed a new phase; it must be fought in the Philippines and not in Spain. As he told countrymen
in Europe that the battlefield is in the Philippines, there is where they should meet, there they will help
one another, and there together they will suffer or triumph.

Rizal and his widowed sister Lucia arrived in Manila on June 26, 1892. He met by many
carabineers headed by a major, a captain and a sergeant of the Veteran Civil Guard. Rizal went to
Malacañan Palace to talk to Spanish Governor General Eulogio Despujol, Conde De Caspe who
agreed to pardon his father but not the rest of his family. After his brief interview with the governor
general, he visited his sisters Narcisa and Saturnina.

Rizal boarded a train in Tutuban Station and visited his friends in Malolos, San Fernando, Tarlac
and Bacolor. He was welcomed and entertained. These friends were good patriots, who were his
supporters in the reform crusade and he took the opportunity to greet them personally and discussed
the problems affecting their people. When Rizal returned to Manila, he was shadowed by government
spies who watched carefully his every movement. The homes he had visited were raided by the
Guardia Civil which seized some copies of the Noli and Fili and some subversive pamphlets.

After Rizal’s visit to his friends, he had other interviews with Governor General Despujol about
sundry things and for having lifted the exile of his sisters.

Rizal attended a meeting of the patriots at the home of the Chinese-Filipino mestizo, Doroteo
Ongjunco on July 3, 1892 among those present were Pedro Serrano Laktaw, Domingo Franco, Jose A.
Ramos, Ambrosio, Salvador Bonifacio Arevalo, Deodato Arellano, Ambrosio, Agustin de la Rosa,
Moises Salvador, Luis Villareal, Faustino Villaruel, Mariano, Numeriano Adriano, Estanislao Legaspi,
Teodoro Plata, Andres Bonifacio, Apolinario Mabini, Juan Zulueta. Rizal explained the objectives of the
Liga Filipina, a civic league of Filipinos, which he desired to establish and its role in the socio-economic
life of the people. He presented the Constitution of the Liga which he had written in Hong Kong and
discussed its provisions. The patriots were favorably impressed and gladly approved the establishment
of the Liga.

The aims of the Liga Filipina, as embodied in its Constitution, were to unite the whole
archipelago into one compact and homogenous body. Mutual protection in every want and necessity.
Defense against all violence and injustice. Encouragement of education, agriculture, and commerce.
Study and application of reforms. The motto of the Liga Filipina was: Unus Instar Omnium (One Like
All).

The governing body of the league was the Supreme Council which had jurisdiction over the
whole country. It was composed of a president, secretary, a treasurer, and a fiscal. There was a
Provincial Council in every province and a Popular Council in every town.

Rizal went to Malacañan Palace on July 6 to resume his series of interviews with the governor
general. During this interview Governor General Despujol suddenly show him some printed leaflets
which were entitled “Pobres Frailes (Poor Friars)” under the authorship of Fr. Jacinto and printed by the
Imprenta de los Amigos del Pais, Manila. They were a satire against the rich Dominican friars who
amassed fabulous riches contrary to their monastic vow of poverty.

Rizal vigorously denied having those leaflets in either his or Lucia’s baggage, which had been
thoroughly searched upon their arrival from Hong Kong by the custom authorities who found nothing.
Despite his denial and insistent demand for investigation in accordance with the due process of law, he
was placed under arrest and escorted to Fort Santiago by Ramon Despujol.
 The gubernatorial decree gave the reasons for Rizal’s deportation. Rizal was brought under
heavy guard to the steamer Cebu which was sailing for Dapitan. This steamer under Captain Delgras
departed on July 15, sailing south, passing Mindoro and Panay, and reaching Dapitan on July 17.
Captain Delgras went to ashore and handed Rizal over to Captain Ricardo Carnicero, Spanish
commandant of Dapitan. That same night Rizal began his exile in lonely Dapitan which would last until
July 31, 1896, a period of four years.

Rizal lived in exile in faraway Dapitan, a remote town in Mindanao which was under the
missionary jurisdiction of the Jesuits, from 1892 to 1896. This four – year interregnum in his life was
tediously unexciting, but was abundantly fruitful with varied achievements.

The steamer Cebu which brought Rizal to Dapitan carried a letter from Father Pablo Pastells to
Father Antonio Obach. In this letter, Father Pastells informed Father Obach that Rizal could live at the
Parish convent but have conditions that Rizal publicly retracts his errors concerning religion and make
statements that were clearly pro-Spanish and against revolution. That he perform the churchy rites and
make a general confession of his past life. That henceforth he conducts himself in an exemplary
manner as a Spanish subject and a man of religion. Rizal, on his part, admired the kind, generous
Spanish captain. As evidence of his esteem, he wrote a poem, A Don Ricardo Carnicero, On August
26, 1892, on the occasion of captain’s birthday.

On September 21, 1892, the sleepy town of Dapitan burst in hectic excitement. The mail boat
butuan was approaching the town, with colored pennants flying in the sea breezes. The mail boat,
Butuan, brought no Spanish officials but the happy tidings that the Lottery Ticket No. 9736 jointly owned
by Captain Carnicero, Dr. Rizal, and Francisco Equilior won the second prize of P20,000 in the
Government-owned Manila Lottery. Rizal’s share of the winning lottery ticket and the rest he invested
through purchasing agricultural lands from the coast of Talisay about kilometer away from Dapitan.
Rizal was a lottery addict.

The debate started when Pastells sent Rizal a book by Sarda along with an advice that Rizal
should desist from his foolishness in viewing religion from the perspective of individual judgment and
self-esteem.

During Rizal-Pastells debate on religion, Rizal was bitter against the friars because they commit
abuses ender the cloak of religion. Father Patells tried to bring back to Catholicism Rizal by telling him
that human intelligence is limit, thus he needs the guidance of God. Behind the debate, Pastells and
Rizal were friends as evidently pictured when Pastels gave Rizal a copy of Imitacion de Cristo and
Rizal gave Pastells a bust of St.Paul which he had made Rizal continued to hear mass and celebrate
religious events.

While Rizal was still debating with Father Pastells by means of exchange of letters, he became
involved in a quarrel with a French acquaintance in Dapitan. This man purchased many logs. Rizal
flared up in anger and confronted Lardet and challenged him for a duel.

Father Pastells, aside from his personal efforts to persuade Rizal to discard his “errors of
religion”, instructed two Jesuits in Mindanao who were Father Obach and Father Jose Viclara to try
their best to bring back Rizal within the Catholic fold. Furthermore, he assigned Father Francisco de
Paula Sanchez. Father Sanchez was the only Spanish priest to defend Rizal’s Noli Me Tangere in
public. They argued theologically in a friendly manner but all the efforts of Sanchez were in vain. Fr.
Sanchez enjoyed the latter’s company and he even assisted Rizal in beautifying the town plaza.

In Dapitan, Rizal had an exemplary life, idyllic in serenity. August, 1893, members of his family
took turns in visiting him in order to assuage his loneliness in the isolated outpost of Spanish power
in the Moroland.

Rizal built a house by the seashore of Talisay surrounded by fruit trees, a school for boys, and a
hospital for his patients. December 19, 1893 Rizal wrote to Blumentritt for describing his life in Dapitan.

Pablo Mercado- assumed name of the spy who visited Rizal at his house and pretended to be a
relative by showing a photo of Rizal and a pair of buttons with the initials P.M as evidence of kinship.
The spy offered to be Rizal’s courier of letters for the patriots in Manila. Rizal became suspicious and
wanted to throw the spy outside but considering his values and late hour of the night, he offered the spy
to spend the night at his house. The next day, he sent the spy away. The spy stayed in Dapitan
and spread talks among the people that he was a relative to Rizal. Rizal went to the commandancia
and reported the impostor to Captain Juan Sitges. Sitges ordered Pablo Mercado’s arrest and told
Anastacio Adriatico to investigate him immediately. The secret mission of Pablo Mercado was not
an assassination attempt but espionage only plot concocted by the friars.

Dona Teodora and Maria lived with Rizal for a year and a half. It is here when Rizal operated his
mother’s right eye. Though the operation was successful, his mother had a wound infection after
ignoring Rizal’s instruction of not removing the bandages. However the infection was immediately
treated. He had many patients came from Luzon, Bohol, Cebu, Panay, Negros and Mindanao and even
from Hong Kong. Rizal became interested in the local medicine. Rizal prescribed medicinal plants to his
poor patients.

As an expert surveyor, Rizal applied his engineering knowledge by constructing a system of

waterworks to furnish clean water to the towns people. Mr. H.F Cameron an American engineer who
praised Rizal for his engineering ingenuity.

When Rizal arrived in Dapitan, he decided to improve it, to the best of his God-given talents,
and to awaken the civic consciousness of its people. Rizal had drained the marshes to get rid of
malaria that was infesting Dapitan. Equipped the town with lighting system using P500 one of his
patients paid him. The lighting system consisted of coconut oil lamps. Beautified the town of Dapitan by
remodeling the town plaza and making a huge relief map of Mindanao out of earth, stones and grass.

Rizal established in Dapitan a school. It began with 3 pupils who increased to 16 and eventually
21. 16 of his pupils did not pay tuition, instead of charging them fees; Rizal made them works in his
gardens and construction projects. Formal classes were between 2:00p.m and 4:00p.m. He also
applied the “emperor” system like that of Ateneo. During recess, pupils built fires to drive away insects,
pruned fruit trees and manured the soil. Outside class hours, students had gymnastics, boxing,
wrestling, stone throwing, swimming and boating.

Rizal conducted his school at his home in Talisay, near Dapitan, where he had his farm and
hospital after which the place was named. A poem Rizal wrote in honor of Talisay which he made his
pupil’s sing.

Rizal found Mindanao a rich virgin filed for collecting specimens. With his sailboat and
accompanied by his pupils, he explored the jungles and coast, seeking of specimens and plants. Rizal
sent specimens he found to the museum of Europe especially the Dresden Museum. In turn, he
received scientific books and surgical instruments. He conducted anthropological, ethnographical,
archaeological, geological and geographical studies. Rizal continued his study of languages learned in
Dapitan. He knew by that time 22 languages.

Rizal pursues his artistic activities in Dapitan. He contributed paintings to the Sisters of Charity
who were preparing the sanctuary of the Holy Virgin. He made sketches of persons and things that
attracted him in Dapitan. He modeled a statuette called “The Mothers Revenge” to stress the moral
of the incident where a puppy of his dog, Syria, was eaten by a crocodile. He constructed a statute of a
girl called “The Dapitan Girl”. A woodcarving of Josephine Bracken. He made a bust of St. Paul for
Father Pastells.

In Dapitan Rizal devoted much of his time to agriculture. He bought 16 hectares of land in
Talisay, where he built his home, school and hospital and planted cacao, coffee, sugarcane, coconuts
and fruit trees. Rizal acquired total holdings of 70 hectares where 6,000 hemp plants, 1000 coconut
trees and numerous fruit trees, sugarcane, corn, coffee and cacao were planted.

Ramon Carreon-Rizal’s businessman partner in Dapitan Rizal made profitable business

ventures in fishing, copra and hemp industries .On January 1, 1895- He organized the
Cooperative Association of Dapitan Farmers to break Chinese monopoly. According to its constitution,
which he had drafted, its purposes were to improve the farm products, obtain better outlets for them,
collect fund for their purchases and help the producers and workers by establishing a store wherein
they can buy prime commodities at moderate prices.

Rizal is also an inventor. He invented a cigarette lighter which he sent as a gift to Blimentritt
called “sulpukan” was made of wood. Its mechanism is based on the principle of compressed air.
He invented a machine for making bricks. This machine could manufacture about 6,000 bricks daily.

In February, 1895 Doňa Teodora, with her eyesight fully restored, returned to Manila. Seeing
how busy Rizal is, she regretted neglecting her muses. She requested Rizal to write poetry. As a
response Rizal wrote “Mi Retiro” on October 22, 1895 relating his serene life as an exile in Dapitan.

The death of Leonora Rivera left a poignant void in Rizal’s heart. In his loneliness, he met
Josephine. Josephine Bracken an Irish girl of sweet eighteen who was born on Hongkong. Mr.
Taufer became blind so he sought for an ophthalmic specialist. This is how Josephine and Rizal met.
Manuela Orlac a Filipina companion who accompanied Josephine Bracken to Dapitan. Rizal and
Josephine Bracken decided to get married but Father Obach refused to marry them without the
permission of Bishop of Cebu. Hearing of the planned marriage and unable to endure the thought of
losing Josephine, Mr. Taufer tried to commit suicide by cutting off his throat with a razor but Rizal was
able to prevent this. To avoid strategy, Josephine accompanied Mr. Taufer returned to HongKong alone
while Josephine stayed with the Rizal in Manila. Having no priests to marry them, Rizal and Josephine
married themselves before the eyes of God. The two were happy for the were expecting for a baby.
However, Rizal played a prank on Josephine making her give birth to an eight- month baby boy. The
baby lived for only 3hours. He was named “Francisco” in honor of Rizal’s father. Rizal wrote a poem
which entitled Josephine, Josephine.

While Rizal was mourning the loss of his son, ominous clouds of revolution gradually darkened
the Philippine skies, Andres Bonifacio the Great Plebeian was sowing the seeds of an armed uprising.
The secret revolutionary society, called Katipunan, which he founded on July 7, 1892, was gaining
more and more adherents. Pio Valenzuela an emissary to Dapitan in order to inform Rizal of the plan of
Katipunan during the meeting at a little river called Bitukang Manok.

When Cuba is under revolution and raging yellow fever epidemic, Rizal wrote to Governor
General Ramon Blanco offering his services ass military doctor. On July 1, 1896 Governor Blanco later
notified Rizal of the acceptance of the offer. The notification came along of acquiring first as pass for
Manila from the politico-military commander of Dapitan. Upon receiving the acceptance of his offer to
go to Europe then to Cuba to help in the curing of patients suffering yellow fever, he wrote a poem “El
Canto del Viajero”.

July 31, 1896, Rizal’s four years in Exile in Dapitan came to an end. Rizal was accompanied by
Josephine, Narcisa, Angelica, his three nephews and six pupils. As farewell, the town brass of Dapitan
played the dolorous Funeral March of Chapin. He stayed in Dapitan for 4 years, 13 days and a few
hours.

On July 31, 1896 he left for Dapitan on board the ‘’Espana’’ for Manila with delightful stopovers
in Dumaguete, Cebu, Iloilo, Capiz and Romblon. On August 26, 1896 - Rizal arrived in Manila on. From
the steamer that ferried him Dapitan, he was transferred to the Spanish cruiser Castilla, where he
stayed for almost a month, pending availability of a vessel bound for Spain

On August 26, 1896 - Bonifacio and the Katipunan raised the cry of revolution (Sigaw sa
Pugadlawin) in the hills of Balintawak, a few miles North of Manila. Rizal, worried about the raging
hostilities, left for Spain on the steamer ‘’Isla de Panay’’ on September 3, 1896. It was his last trip
abroad.

Rizal visited a friend and former classmate, Herrero Regidor, who the judge of the
Province. He also visited other friends; the Periquet and Rufina families.The España left Dumaguete
and reached Cebu the following morning. Rizal was fascinated by the entrance to Cebu which he
considered "beautiful". He met an old couple whom he had known in Madrid. In the morning of Monday,
August 3, Rizal left Cebu going to Iloilo. He saw Mactan, an island famous for what happened to
Magellan. Arrived at Iloilo he went shopping in the city, and visited 'Molo'. From Iloilo, the ship sailed to
Capiz. After a brief stopover, it proceeded towards Manila via Romblon.

On August 6, 1896 The España arrived at the Manila bay early morning. Unfortunately Rizal
was not able to catch the mail ship Isla de Luzon because it had departed the previous day. He was
transferred to a Spanish cruiser ‘’Castilla’’ by order of Governor General Ramon Blanco. The gallant
captain, Enrique Santalo, told him that he was not a prisoner, but a guest detained on board in order to
avoid difficulties from friends and enemies. He stayed on the cruiser for about a month, from August 6
to September 2, 1896, pending the availability of Spain-bound steamer.

On August 19, 1896, the Katipunan plot to overthrow the Spanish rule by means of revolution was
discovered by Fray Mariano Gil, Augustinian Cura of Tondo after Teodoro Patino’s disclosure of
organization’s secrets. In the afternoon, Gov. Gen. Blanco proclaimed a state of war in the first eight
provinces for rising in arms against Spain- Manila, Bulacan, Cavite, Batangas, Laguna, Pampanga,
Nueva Ecija and Tarlac. He was worried for two reasons; the violent revolution which he sincerely
believed to be premature and would cause only much suffering and terrible loss of human lives and
properties had started and it would arouse Spanish vengeance against all Filipino patriots.

The same day when the state of war was proclaimed in the eight provinces, Rizal received from
Gov. Gen. Blanco two letters of introduction for the Minister of War and Minister of Colonies, with a
covering letter which absolved him from all blame for the raging revolution.
He transferred to Isla de Panay which was sailing for Barcelona, Spain. The next morning, this steamer
left Manila Bay. At last, his last trip to Spain began. Don Pedro Roxas, rich Manila creoles industrialist
and friend, and his son, Periquin were among his fellow passengers.
Don Pedro/ Don Manuel Camus advised Rizal to stay and take advantage of the protection of the
British Law. Rizal had given his word of honor to Governor General Blanco. Blanco and the Ministers of
War and the Colonies were exchanging coded telegrams and confidential messages for his arrest upon
reaching Barcelona. On September 8 Rizal on board the Isla de Panay left Singapore not knowing the
Spanish duplicity, he happily continued the voyage towards Barcelona.

He saw the steamer Isla de Luzon, leaving the Suez Canal, crammed with Spanish troops. Two
days later he heard from the passengers that a telegram arrived from Manila reporting the execution of
Francisco Roxas, Genato and Osorio.

On Sept. 28, a passenger told Rizal the bad news that he would be arrested by order Gov. Gen.
Blanco and would be sent to prison in Ceuta, Gibraltar. Shocked by the news, he realized that he was
fooled by the Spanish officials. That made him to write a letter to his best friend.
He was officially notified by the captain Alemany that he should stay in his cabin until further orders
from Manila. Rizal was escorted to the grim and infamous prison-fortress named Monjuich Jose’s
interview with Despujol he would be shipped back to Manila.

Jose Rizal is a very intelligent person. He always thinks in a positive way. 1896 was the year
that he went back to Manila and considered his last trip abroad. Concluding on his messages to his
family and his best friend regarding his presumed death, he knew that it was his last trip and that he
accepted the possibility to perish anytime during the trip. He was so brave not just physically but
emotionally as well that he thoroughly decided every step to take. However, Rizal is also just a man
who commits blunders. During this last trip, he did one of his greatest mistakes in his life. That mistake
was to trust a friend who was secretly conspiring against him. His last trip abroad was the saddest part.
He knew his death was near, yet he still went home. Therefore, with the love of his country and his
countrymen he chose to die, than to be safe abroad while his country suffers cruelty of other country.
Nevertheless, he released the Philippines from captivity and freed us through his peaceful and heroic
way of revolution.