NAME: Palencia, Cindy

SECTION: BSE-2B
Course Code: GE9

MODULE 6
RIZAL’S LIFE: EXILE, TRIAL, AND DEATH

ACTIVITY
Constitution of the La Liga Filipina. Design a table (graphic organizer) with the
aims of La Liga Filipina in one column and examples of how these aims could be
attained in the next column.

LA LIGA FILIPINA
AIMS ATTAINMENT OF AIMS
 To unite the whole archipelago a. By unity of their Leaders.
into one compact, vigorous, and b. Creating a new reform that without
homogenous body. contradiction on their plan.

 Mutual protection in every want a. By being free from colonialism.

and necessity b. Being contented on what you have

 Defense against all violence and a. Learn how to fight your rights in a
injustice. good way.

 Encouragement of instruction, a. Don’t be afraid to talk about your

agriculture, and commerce. opinions

 Study and application of reforms a. Practice what is right and avoid evilso
that progress will

REFLECTION:
Answer the following questions based on the videos assigned as pre-class work.
You can answer in an easy format:

1. Describe the life of Jose Rizal as represented in the film

The movie is a mixture of flashbacks and real-time representation of Rizal’s life
when his case against the Spanish government and church was under investigation.
Although his life in jail were mostly the highlights being presented in the film, there
are also some relevant flashbacks of his life that were shown throughout the film.
Rizal’s life in jail seemed to be his days of contemplating and reflecting what has
happened to his life, works, and battles. It can be seen in his flashbacks that his family
is indeed in the principalia; there were servants shown, their big house, horse-drawn
carriage, library and all the other description of the families belonging to the middle-
class of the social and economic hierarchy during the time of the Spaniards. The joy of
his childhood days were also shown in the film, along with the happy Mercado family
that nourished Rizal.

Rizal’s life in the schools that he attended were also shown in the film, although
small important details were omitted to give the general message and emphasis on
Rizal’s “survival” in the educational institutions, racist Spanish classmates in the
Philippines, and Spanish friars who were his teachers. The instance where he was not
immediately accepted in Ateneo was not included in the movie, so were his literary
works and sculpture. The essence of Rizal exceling in his education and his classmates
where the highlights of his life at school; this was evidently shown during the scene
where he was continuing his studies in ophthalmology in Spain and he was able to
answer all the questions of the professor, verbally and even with the physical
demonstration of the muscles of the eye. His earlier education with his mother was
also show, but the highlight of it was the story of “The Moth and the Flame”, although
it was shown when Rizal was to leave with Paciano to Clamba, he was persistent to
stay under his mother’s tutoring and teachings. One of the significant scenes shown
during his earlier educations as well was when he was already in Calamba where the
punishments for students were not encouraging them to study harder, but only imposes
fear and culture of silence to the youth.

Rizal’s life in abroad was also shown in the film, although not much of it, just
the relevant scenes to showcase Rizal’s struggle in fighting for the freedom of the
Philippines. In Rizal’s very first travel outside of the country where he was to continue
his study in medicine and conduct his “secret mission”; it was shown in the film that
Rizal opposed the idea but his brother Paciano insisted on it, and in the end Rizal
obeyed. Rizal’s life abroad, as shown in the film, is something more revolutionary
because his intention was to observe and learn from the enemy through its origin. The
makings of Rizal’s famous novels were highlighted as they were made in Europe,
alongside the struggles in making his novels and the triumphant feeling after finishing
it, the hardships of Rizal being in a foreign country without financial stability was
showcased, his darkest winter was the confirmation. In abroad Rizal also did not only
had an encounter with the foreign enemies, but also, and most heart-breaking, with the
other Filipinos and elites who Rizal thought to be with him in fighting for the freedom
of the country, but were actually enjoying the privilege of having to be in Spain.
2. What is your assessment about the film’s representation of Jose Rizal?
I want to say the film’s representation of Rizal was justified and acceptable.
Books and films are both different kinds of arts and mediums of information that seek
to deliver messages in their own creative ways. Books were expected to provide
almost all the data of events or happenings in history in text form; films, on the other
hand and as I would like to say specially the films about history, are made for the
purpose of a less boring distribution or discussion of history, merely for entertainment
purpose. The contents of books and films will always differ even if the film is based
on a literary work or a life event because there is the entertainment function of films
that would override the real and true happenings to add drama or anything for the
entertainment factor. Nevertheless, the film about Jose Rizal had his representations
justified, although not everything, but those that were given emphasis were
reasonable.

In all of the readings for the class and in the class discussions, Rizal is always
and, if no one would oppose or petition in the future, will always be the Philippine
national hero. Although selected by the Americans in majority, the majority of
Filipinos also agreed on Rizal being the national hero, as the other candidates, even in
the absence or presence of Bonifacio, were all inferior in terms of education and
nationalistic writings. As represented in the movie, Rizal was also the very inspiration
of Bonifacio; evident from the scene where Rizal was giving a speech about his
homecoming despite the threats for his life, Rizal announced that his enemies are not
abroad but in the Philippines, he then added ideas, information and encouragements on
how to free the country and the people from the abusive maltreatments of Spain.
Bonifcaio, enthusiastically listening and, as shown in the movie, the only one
hopefully and devotedly responding to Rizal portrayed the image or idea that Jose
Rizal indeed was the eye opener for Bonifacio to start the Katipunan and influence and
wake up the Filipino masses, which comprise of the poor and weak individuals, to
revolt violently, physically, till death. Hence the film’s representation of Rizal as a
national hero was not only justified but proven, for his influence, according to the
film, is what sparked the Father of the Katipunan to establish the Kataas-taasang,
Kagalang-galangang Katipunan ng mga Anak ng Bayan.

Aside from being the national hero, I think the film also made a representation
of Rizal with respect to his professions and specialties. In the field of medicine, we
saw how dedicated Rizal was in helping the Filipinos by establishing a clinic despite
his exile in Dapitan; his specialty in ophthalmology was also showcased in a scene
where he was about to operate his mother’s eyes, she was originally the reason why
Rizal took up ophthalmology. There are lots of Rizal’s profession, but him being a
writer was given the most highlight because if not for his skills in writing, he would
have fought the enemies in a different battle, we all know that Rizal took it to his
novels his anger and cries justice with the abusive Spanish government that reigned
the Philippines in his times. The film showed Rizal’s struggles in pursuing his novels
like the financial instability, being far from home, the prohibition of his books with a
joined punishment for those who were caught in possession of it, and mixed emotions,
sometimes blaming his works, because of the bad news he received from home.
Despite all the disturbances, he still managed to turn his fears, worries, and pain into
the fuel that resulted in him finishing his novels.

3. What is the main question that the film seeks to answer?

The film is about Jose Rizal, which is obvious with the title. In the movie, we
saw his fights and struggles, which were all stressed throughout the film. Now to the
request, what is the main question that the film seeks to answer? I am considering a
lot, actually, but I wouldn’t like to consider the information given or provided by the
film as the film makers might have altered the real information to make the film more
interesting. Before I draw in to conclusion the ‘main’ question, I would like to share
my sentiments with the other question that I have pondered on.

These questions formulated in my mind were all based on the film’s delivery of
the events that happened in history, if ever the events were given or deducted details, I
am not aware so please pardon my arrogance. The questions that the film seeks to
answer, that I have contemplated on are as follows: 1) how or what is the life of the
Filipinos and the state of the Philippines during the reign of the Spaniards? 2) What
were the challenges that Rizal had to face in his fight with the Spaniards for the
freedom of the Philippines? And last but not the least 3) what made Rizal the national
hero?

The first 2 questions were already discussed in class so these questions were just like
clarifications that the film had put into action in a more dramatized way that a reader
can imagine. We have discussed the life of Filipinos in the earlier part of the semester,
and during the group reports the second question was or have already been answered.
These two questions were just formulated in my mind, although already answered
because in my opinion, these questions would be relevant to people who will receive
information about the Spanish regime and about Jose Rizal first-hand from the film.
The nature of the two questions were based on how the film made significant attention
on the manipulation and mishandling of the Spanish government to the Philippines. I
have also considered the highlights of Rizal’s novels being merged with the realities
and flashbacks of the film wherein it was all similar with the reality on Rizal’s life; the
violent and evil regime of the Spaniards.
The last question is the one that I would like to consider as my answer, what made
Rizal the national hero? In the first discussions about Rizal in line to the lesson about
the selection of the national hero, we were given comparison of Bonifacio and Rizal,
and then a question after that which, if I can remember clearly, goes something like
this “who do you prefer to be the national hero, Rizal or Bonifacio?” My answer
remains the same, I do not and I will not choose for them both fought and died for the
same purpose, as how the other unnamed Katipuneros and General Antonio Luna have
offered their life for the liberty of the country. However, with the magic of the film
industry, I was able to see how Rizal emerged to be the national hero that the Filipinos
acknowledge; it was because of his novels and his genius. Rizal’s way of fighting the
Spaniards through educating the Filipino people is something that is game-changing;
although he was knowledgeable that majority of the Filipinos belong to the lowest
class and they are not and will not be given proper and correct education, those who
were fortunate like Rizal were blinded by the safety that they enjoy, thus having to
leave the knowledge of revolt to the poor Filipino masses and interpreting it a s a
bloody revolution.

4. Describe the life of Jose Rizal as represented in the film

Dapitan became the bare witness in one of the most fruitful periods in Rizal’s
life, from June 17, 1892 to July 31, 1896. His stay in this province was more than just
living in exile, for it was in this period when Rizal had been intent on serving the
people and the society through his civic works, medical practices, land development,
promotion of education and course, coming across with his one true love, Josephine
Bracken. This exile helped strengthen his nationalism, love for his family and for the
people of Dapitan. It was also in those moments where he suffered, being harassed and
threatened by the Spaniards.

In the film, Rizal mostly seems content to live out a quiet existence in the
province. The people in Dapitan looked up to him, adored and respected him. The
youth had the passion to follow him, learn what he was willing to teach to them, and
follow what he had to instruct. Rizal wins my admiration for his skills in the medical
field back in that primitive era with limited tools and medicines, providing free
medicine to his patients as most of them were underprivileged. His community
projects, like the water system and lighting system, were also a big help to the
community. He became a farmer, a businessman, a scientist and inventor in Dapitan.
Everything was going well for Rizal for the most part, although there were still those
who sought to do him harm.

Things began to get complicated when a particular woman entered Rizal’s life,
the woman being Josephine Bracken, accompanying her blind, adopted father to seek
medical assistance from Rizal. Rizal and Bracken quickly hit it off, but Bracken’s
father got in the way. The father and daughter went back to Hong Kong, but after a
while, Bracken came back to seek a relationship with Rizal. They then got married in
their own personal ceremony without the consent of the Church, consummating their
marriage, and Bracken soon became pregnant. Rizal’s sister Maria doesn’t trust
Josephine, suspecting that she might be another one of the Church’s agents. Rizal
confronts Bracken about this, gets angry, and throws her to the ground. Bracken bears
a stillborn child, who Rizal tearfully buries on his grounds. It was in his moments with
Bracken that we could witness his weakened state, apart from his usually calm and
courageous behavior.

There are a couple of clever scenes here and there in the film, but for the most
part, Rizal’s life in Dapitan was pretty uneventful. The earlier parts find Rizal with
little conflict to deal with, so there’s no real hook to the narrative. Things got
interesting when Bracken came into the picture, but even that feels pretty weak. Rizal
also comes off as a bit too perfect, able to accomplish anything he sets his mind into
and completely beloved by the people around him. The cast has some good
performances, but there were some bad ones also. Amanda Page’s delivery felt terribly
off. Albert Martinez was fine enough, although the character he played doesn’t have a
lot of dimension. Much of Rizal’s life in Dapitan and the details of Josephine
Bracken’s life and intentions are still pretty murky, but there is a sense that this movie
really tried to get close to what actually happened, employing a pretty large team of
researchers and writers to make sure that they got things right, and for that alone, the
movie probably deserves admiration and respect.

5. What is your assessment about the film’s representation of Jose Rizal?

Rizal Sa Dapitan is a film adaptation of life of the Filipino national hero Dr.
Jose Rizal. It stars Albert Martinez as Jose Rizal and Amanda Page as Josephine
Bracken, Rizal's partner. It was directed by Tikoy Aguiluz. Jose Rizal was exiled in
Dapitan in 1892, and he began adapting to his new home. He helped the local residents
by offering free education to all children, befriending his student Jose Asiniero, and
rendering his services as a doctor, including treating his mother, Doña Teodora
Alonzo ,who visited him with his sisters Maria and Narcisa.

He met his fiancée Josephine Bracken who brought her blinded stepfather
George Taufer but later on she left him for her beloved Rizal. They decide to marry,
but are refused a Church wedding on political grounds. The couple settles for a
common-law marriage despite initial opposition from Rizal's family, and have a
stillborn son Rizal names Francisco.
The film ends with Rizal leaving Dapitan as the locals mourn him. An epilogue
explains Rizal's intent to work in Cuba and subsequent arrest, his execution and its
birthing the Philippine Revolution. The movie is about Rizal's exile in Dapitan. It tells
how he engaged in many activities as well as how he managed to develop the place he
stayed into a better one and lead it to progress with the use of his many abilities. One
may feel honored to see Philippines' national hero do a lot of things for the welfare of
his countrymen. It will definitely invoke a sense of pride and nationalism in one's
nation.

6. Identify the leadership traits portrayed by Rizal?

the five powerful leadership lessons every entrepreneur can learn from Dr. Jose
Rizal:
1| Taking risks and assuming responsibility to lead
The fear of losing may be the very thing that keeps you from succeeding. Successful
leaders know how to overcome fear and take calculated risks to face bigger
challenges.
2| Knowing your core values to grow and develop
Every leader in any organization makes hundreds of decisions every day. The way you
run your organization will reflect your personal values and beliefs.
3| Inspiring and motivating people to outperform
Effective leaders know how to inspire people to take risks, pursue big challenges and
innovate. When team members are inspired, they are self-driven and more committed
to deliver than those who are simply engaged to work and comply.
4| Encouraging and mentoring people to excel at work
One of the most important skills a leader must have is the ability to develop people to
become better decision makers and future leaders.
5| Leading by setting a deliberate example
Leadership is about influence. What makes you a great leader is not what you say, but
what you do.

7. What are the effects of the execution of Dr. Jose Rizal?

The Philippine independence struggle turned more violent after Rizal's death. It
was led first by Andres Bonifacio and later by Emilio Aguinaldo. Emilio Aguinaldo
was a peasant worker and an idealist young firebrand. Rizal's death filled the rebels
with new determination, but the Katipunan was becoming divided between supporters
of Bonifacio, who revealed himself to be an increasingly ineffective leader, and its
rising star, Aguinaldo. At a convention held at Tejeros, the Katipunan's headquarters
in March 1897, delegates elected Aguinaldo president and demoted Bonifacio to the
post of director of the interior. Bonifacio withdrew with his supporters and formed his
own government. After fighting broke out between Bonifacio's and Aguinaldo's
troops, Bonifacio was arrested, tried, and on May 10, 1897. Aguinaldo He extracted
some concessions from the Spaniards in 1897 and declared Philippines independence
on June, 12, 1898 from the balcony of his home in Cavite and established himself as
president of an ill-fated provisional Philippine Republic after Filipinos drove the
Spanish from most of the archipelago. Through their revolutionary proclamation,
Filipinos claim that the Philippines was the first democratic republic in Asia. In one
battle unarmed rebels on the island of Negros tricked the Spanish into retreating by
launching an attack with “cannons” made rolled-up palm-leaf mats painted black and
“bayonet rifles” constructed from bamboo.

As 1897 wore on, Aguinaldo himself suffered reverses at the hands of Spanish
troops, being forced from Cavite in June and retreating to Biak-na-Bato in Bulacan
Province. The futility of the struggle was becoming apparent on both sides. Although
Spanish troops were able to defeat insurgents on the battlefield, they could not
suppress guerrilla activity. In August armistice negotiations were opened between
Aguinaldo and a new Spanish governor. After three years of bloodshed, most of it
Filipino, a Spanish-Filipino peace pact was signed in Hong Kong in December, 1897.
According to the agreement the Spanish governor of the Philippines would pay
Aguinaldo the equivalent of US$800,000, and the rebel leader and his government
would go into exile. Aguinaldo established himself in Hong Kong, and the Spanish
bought themselves time. Within the year, however, their more than three centuries of
rule in the islands would come to an abrupt and unexpected end.

According to Lonely Planet: “Predictably, the pact's demands satisfied nobody.

Promises of reform by the Spanish were broken, as were promises by the Filipinos to
stop their revolutionary plotting. The Filipino cause attracted huge support from the
Japanese, who tried unsuccessfully to send money and two boatloads of weapons to
the exiled revolutionaries in Hong Kong. When the Spanish-American War broke out
in April 1898, Spain’s fleet was easily defeated at Manila. Aguinaldo returned, and his
12,000 troops kept the Spanish forces bottled up in Manila until U.S. troops landed.
The Spanish cause was doomed, but the Americans did nothing to accommodate the
inclusion of Aguinaldo in the succession. Fighting between American and Filipino
troops broke out almost as soon as the Spanish had been defeated. Aguinaldo issued a
declaration of independence on June 12, 1898. However, the Treaty of Paris, signed on
December 10, 1898, by the United States and Spain, ceded the Philippines, Guam, and
Puerto Rico to the United States, recognized Cuban independence, and gave US$20
million to Spain. A revolutionary congress convened at Malolos, north of Manila,
promulgated a constitution on January 21, 1899, and inaugurated Aguinaldo as
president of the new republic two days later. Hostilities broke out in February 1899,
and by March 1901 Aguinaldo had been captured and his forces defeated. Despite
Aguinaldo’s call to his compatriots to lay down their arms, insurgent resistance
continued until 1903. The Moros, suspicious of both the Christian Filipino insurgents
and the Americans, remained largely neutral, but eventually their own armed
resistance had to be subjugated, and Moro territory was placed under U.S. military
rule until 1914.