T R IA L A N D

E X E C U T IO N
THIS SECTION PRESENTS THE
JOURNEY OF JOSE RIZAL TO
BAGUMBAYAN FROM HIS LAST
HOMECOMING TO HIS TRIAL AND
DEATH.

Ged 103 – Life and Works of Rizal

A.Y. 2021-2022, First Semester,
Ms. Reallyn B. Villanueva, LPT
 TRIAL AND EXECUTION
1 3
THE ARREST OF RIZAL
2 EXECUTION OF RIZAL

THE PROCEEDINGS AND

TRIAL

4
RETRACTION
CONTROVERSY
Rizal was arranged to become a physician to Cuba
on behalf of Spain showing his “patriotic conduct”.
However, the Philippine Revolution would soon
break out in August 1896. which led him to be
imprisoned in Spain and returned immediately to
the Philippines.
The Governor General of the Philippines
Manila, 1 July I896
Mr. José Rizal

My dear Sir,
I have informed the government of your desire, and acceding to it, it has no objection to
your going to Cuba to render your services to our Army as Assistant Physician in the Corps
of Military Health. Therefore, if you still entertain that idea, the Politico-Military Commander
of that district will issue a pass to you to enable you to come to this Capital City where in my
turn I shall give you a passport to the Peninsula where the Minister of War will assign you to
the Army of Operations in Cuba as assistant in the Corps of Military health.

On this date I am writing to the Politico-Military Commander there and you can make the
trip immediately.

It has been a satisfaction for me to have been able to please you.

Your attentive servant who kisses your hand,

Ramon Blanco
 01
THE ARREST OF RIZAL
TIMELINE OF THE ARREST OF RIZAL
The Commander-in-Chief of the Army of the Philippines
Mr. José Rizal

My dear Sir,
Enclosed are two letters for the Ministers of War and Colonies which I think will be well
received.

I have no doubt that you will justify me before the Government by your future behavior not
only for your word of honor but because the present happenings must have shown you
palpably that certain actions which are the product of foolish ideas yield no other result but
hatred, destruction, tears, and blood.

May you be very happy is the wish of your attentive servant who kisses your hand,
Ramon Blanco

Manila, 30 August
The Captain General of the Philippines
Personal
Manila, 30 August 1896

Most Excellent Marcelo de Azcárraga

My esteemed General and distinguished Friend,

I recommend to you with genuine interest Dr. José Rizal who is departing fur the Peninsula at
the disposal of the Government, ever desirous of rendering his services as physician to the
Army in Cuba.

His conduct during the four years that he was an exile in Dapitan has been exemplary, and he
is, in my opinion, the more worthy of pardon and benevolence as he is in no way involved
either in the chimerical attempt that we are lamenting these days or in any conspiracy or
secret society, that they have been plotting.

With this object I have the pleasure to remain,

Your most affectionate friend and
colleague who kisses your hand,
Ramón Blanco
 02
THE PROCEEDINGS AND
THE TRIAL

November 3, 1896 - Rizal was
brought to Fort Santiago
Spanish authorities were
searching evidence against him.
 Oral testimonies were taken
and were used against Rizal
 Fifteen documents were also
used as evidence against Rizal
November 20, 1896: Preliminary
investigation began with the
presence of Colonel Francisco
Olive acting as the judge advocate;
the investigation lasted for 5
days.
After the preliminary investigation,
the judge advocate submitted the
following recommendations:
1. The accused be brought to trial
2. be imprisoned
3. order of attachment be issued
against his property as an
indemnity
4. be defended in court by an
army officer
• Lt. Luis Taviel de Andrade: the lawyer of Jose Rizal and
brother of his former bodyguard Jose Taviel de Andrade.

• December 13, 1896: the case was forwarded to Governor

General Camilo de Polavieja – he replaced Governor Blanco.

• December 15, 1896: Rizal issue his manifesto to certain

Filipinos calling to end the absurd rebellion and to fight for
liberties with education as a prerequisite.

• December 25, 1896: It is Dr. Rizal saddest Christmas ever,

away from family and friends.
• December 26, 1896: Rizal’s actual trial began and it was
held at the Hall of Banners of the Cuartel de España in
Fort Santiago.

• Rizal was charged with three crimes: rebellion, sedition

and formation of illegal associations.

• December 28, 1896: Governor General Polavieja signed

Rizal’s death warrant ordering him to be shot at 7:00
o’clock in the morning at Bagumbayan.
 03
EXECUTION OF RIZAL
 RIZAL'S LAST 24 HOURS
- During his last hours he was
visited by his family , friends, Jesuit
priests and wrote a letter to his
“second brother, Ferdinand
Blumentritt”

- Josephine Bracken visited Rizal in

the morning of December 30 and Rizal gave his
last gift, a religious book entitled “Imitation of
Christ” written by Father Tomas a Kempis.

- He also wrote his farewell poem

( Mi Ultimo Adios).
  30 December, 6:30am: Death march from Fort
Santiago to Bagumbayan begins.

 30 December, 7:03am: With the captain

shouting “Fuego”! Shouts rand out from the
guns of eight Indio soldiers.

 Rizal's last word, as that of

Jesus Christ, was
"Consummatum Est" —It is
finished.
04
RETRACTION
CONTROVERSY
A f t e r 39 years f r o m Rizal's death,
one significant issue t h a t came o u t
in 1935 was t h e argu ment about
Rizal's retraction of all his
s ta t e m e n t s against t h e Catholic
Church and t h e Spanish government
via a d o c u m e n t — a h a n d w r i t t e n
r e t r a c t i o n l e t t e r allegedly w r i t t e n
by Rizal. Up t o th is point, t h e
a u th e n ti c i ty o f t h e document has
been a subject o f debate.
 Rizal’s Retraction
1. Retraction was a condition for administering the
sacraments of Rizal.
2. Lengthy discussion held on matters of the Catholic
beliefs and correcting Rizal’s false understanding of
the faith.
3. The documentary was signed along witnesses by
11:30 pm of December 29, 1896.
Arguments against Rizal’s Retraction
1. Rizal’s body after the execution was not handled in a
Catholic manner.
2. The original letter was not shown to the public.
3. Errors in Balaguer account, specifically the failure to
mention about Rizal’s last poem.
Rizal was less a revolutionary than a writer who challenged the colonial status
quo. Although his death was ultimately attributed to his writing, his
dissenting works did have the effect of destroying Spain’s hold over the
Philippines. Two years after his death Spain lost control of the Philippines,
but it wasn’t until 1946 that independence was granted.
 “One only dies once,
and if one does not die
well, a good
opportunity is lost and
will not present itself
again.”
- José Rizal