Chapter 17

A Heroic Death

ludge Advocate Rafael Dominguez read the official notice of Dr.

Lnce Rizal's death penalty and execution to him. This occurred in the
early
morning, six o' Clock in the morning, of December 29, 1896. After hearing
his death sentence, Ki1Zal realized that, indeed, he was already doomed to
die. At seven o' clock in the
morning of the same date, Rizal was transferred
érom his prison cell to the prison chapel, where he stayed till six
the morning of the next day, December 30, 1896. thirty in
Rizal requested
that his former
professors at the Ateneo de Manila
asist him during the last hours of his life on earth.
were Fr. Miguel Saderra Mata (Rector of the
Among his Jesuit visitors
Ateneo Municipal), Fr. Luis
Viza, Fr. Antonio Rosell, Fr. Federico Faura who
foresaw his death
(Rizal) wrote the Noli Me Tangere, Fr. Jose Villaclara, Fr. Vicente when Fr. he
Estanislao March. Other visitors included were: Lt. Luis Taviel Balaguer,
de Andrade,
his defender at the Court Martial;
Heraldo de Madrid; Doña Teodora, his
Santiago Mataix, correspondent of El
mother;
Silvino Lopez Tuñon, the Dean of the Manila Trinidad,
his sister; Don
Castaño of the Royal Audencia; Juan del Fresno Cathedral;
Fiscal Gaspar
(Chief of the
Eloy Monre (Adjutant of the Plaza); Josefa and Narcisa Guard Detail);
and Josephine Bracken whom he Rizal, his sisters;
in the morning of December
married canonically about five o'clock
at
30, 1896, the day of his death. Fr.
officiated the said canonical Balaguer
marriage.
Rizal's last poem, Mi Ultimo Adios, was
written between twelve noon
and three thirty in the afternoon of
December 29, 1896. He managed to
insert and hide it inside an alcohol
cooking stove (a gift from Paz Pardo de
Tavera) which he gave to his sister Trinidad. As Trinidad
stove, he whispered "There is something in it." received the said

Other activities of Rizal, on his last two

of aretraction document renouncing
days were: the signing
masonry (which other
doubted); the writing of his last three letters: two letters dated historians
29, 1896 addressed to his brother Paciano and his best friend Dr. December
Ferdinand
Dlumentritt,
Ior
and another letter addressed to his father and
mother asking
forgiveness for the pain that they have experienced because of him; his
reading of the Acts of Faith, Hope and Charity from the
O,Aceptacion de la Muerte and signing the page 49 of the said Spanish prayer
US kneeling before the chapel altar, with a rosary in hand while prayer book;
ue scapular of the Immaculate Virgin Mary; he confessed to Fr. wearing a
ree times; his reading of Tomas à Kempis lmitacion de Cristo; hisVillaclara,
Wife Josephine, as wedding gift, the religious book Imitacion degiving to
Cristo,
h the following dedication: "To my dear and
ecember 30, 1896 Jose Rizal." unhappy wife, Josephine
113
 six thirty in the
morning of Decem
The Death March began at about its beginning at Fort Santiago,
30, 1896. A trumpet sound signaled
soldiers with drawn bayonets acted as advance guards, followed by
Rizal who was in-between his defender, Lt. Luis
Taviel de Andrada D
followed by more and
re gua
March and Villaclara). They
were
two priests (Fr. guards
as
they moved slowly.
Rizal wore an elegant black suit, black tie, white vest, black hat, hla
shoes. His arms, from elbow to elbow, were tied at his back; however. h. black
however, hi
arms had freedom of movement because the rope tying them was qui
loose. A black rosary dangled from his right arm.
People lined up the streets as they walked towards Bagumbavan
an
(Luneta). The sounds of drums could be heard.
Dr. Rizal managed to give some observations albout the beautiful dau
with its blue sky, about Corregidor, about the Cavite Mountains and the
Ateneo College towers to the two priests beside him.
Upon reaching the Bagumbayan field, Dr. Rizal saw the huge crowd
of curious people and soldiers waiting for them. Instructions were given
for Dr. Rizal to stand in a grassy lawn between two lamp posts. Then he
said goodbye to Fr. March, Fr. Villaclara and Lt. Taviel de Andrade. Final
blessings were given to him by one of the priests, as he kissed the crucifx
that was placed near his lips. Turning his head towards the Spanish captain
who approached them, Dr. Rizal requested that he be shot facing the firing
squad. The said request, however, was denied. Dr. Rizal was not afraid to
die, as evidenced by his normal pulse felt by Dr. Felipe Ruiz Castillo, a
military physician. The beating of the drums, followed by the command
"Fuegol" or "Fire!" preceded the firing of the guns. Dr. Rizal fell and at
exactly three minutes after seven o'clock that morning, he was pronounced
dead.
Dr. Rizal's death welcomed by the Spanish spectators, as they
was

shouted: Viva Espafña! or "Long Live Spain!" but the Filipinos, as expected.
were very sad and angry at the same time. Rizal, their defender,
died
martyr to Filipino freedom.

114 A HEROICc DEATH