Rizal’s Exile in Dapitan

On July 6, 1892, Dr. Jose Rizal received a summon from Governor-General Despujol, directing him to Malacanang.
Upon his arrival, he was confronted with a leaflet entitled Pobres Frailes (Poor Friars) written by Fr. Jacinto (Rizal’s
pen name in the Hongkong telegraph) that inspectors allegedly found in the luggage of his sister, Lucia. With this
evidence at hand, the Governor-General ordered the arrest of Rizal. He was accompanied by Ramon Despujol, the
younger brother of the Governor at Fort Santiago, where he was placed in detention and declared as
“incommunicado.” 
His guards received the order to board Rizal at the S.S. Cebu bound for Dapitan. To explain Rizal’s exile to Dapitan
publicly, Governor-General Despujol published the following reasons why Rizal met such fate in the Gloria de Manila:

1. Publication of books and proclamations that manifested his disloyalty to Spain and were anti-Catholic
and anti-friar. 

2. The discovery of the pamphlet entitled “Poor Friars.” The patience and humble generosity of the
Filipinos were satirized. Accusations against the customs of the religious orders were also published
in this pamphlet. 

3. His last novel, El Filibusterismo, was dedicated to the three Filipino friars. 

4. His end goal in his efforts and writings was to tear the Filipinos’ holy Catholic faith. 
Fruitful Years in Dapitan

1. Physician – He rendered free medical services to the poor townsfolk of Dapitan. In his last two
years, he became a famed doctor.

2. Farmer – With the winnings in the lottery and other income, Jose Rizal purchased 16 hectares of
land in Talisay, Dapitan. 

3. Businessman – In business, Jose Rizal had several business partnerships, such as asking several
Spaniards to supply the town with fish in the market. He also had an agreement with Mariano Hamoy
from Dapitan about the buying and selling of abaca and copra. He also engaged in merchandising by
selling shoes and socks. 

4. Teacher – A part of the reform called by Jose Rizal from the Spanish government was a better
education for the Filipinos. In his capacity in Dapitan, Rizal opened a community school that started
from January 1894 to July 1896. 

5. Scientist  –  As a man of science, Jose Rizal collected specimens of flora and fauna found in
Dapitan and sent them to Ateneo de Manila and his friends in Europe. 

6. Inventor – Rizal invented the manual machine that could produce 6,000 bricks a day and discovered
a formula for making bakhaw paste.

7. Linguist – Despite his tight schedule in Dapitan, Rizal found time to study the Bisaya language and
compare Tagalog-Bisayan and Malayan languages. 

8. Artist – Rizal also manifested sculpture prowess. The statues he produced include (1) a wild boar,
(2) the bust of Captain Carnicero and his wife, (3) the reclaiming figure of Josephine Bracken, (4) St.
Paul holding on to a cross, (3) Dapitan girl cutting grass, (6) a mother’s revenge (mother dog biting a
crocodile), and (7) a head of a Dapitan girl.
 9. Public servant – Aside from giving free medical service and medicine to the poor people of Dapitan,
he took charge and initiative in the construction of a dam or water depository near the square house
to provide clean water to local folks living near his area. 

The Impending Revolution

Rizal did not know Dr. Pio Valenzuela from Manila, who told him about the impending Philippine Revolution when he
was visited on July 1, 1896. Rafael Palma, who was one of Rizal’s biographers, stated that "Rizal thought that fate
was playing a bad joke on him, but he resigned to it. He saw the revolution in the Philippines rising in the dark and
forebode that however far he was from it, he would be implicated if he remained in the country. Hence, he desired to
go far away, where responsibility for one drop of blood would not reach him.”
Before the outbreak of the Philippine Revolution, Dr. Pio Valenzuela, Andres Bonifacio, and Emilio Aguinaldo agreed
to consult Rizal on his position on the impending revolt and seek his advice on the matter. Immediately, the two
doctors conferred. Valenzuela informed Rizal about the existence of the Katipunan. To summarize the two doctors'
conversation in Dapitan, Rizal gave the following advice: 

1. He approved of the resolutions of the Katipunan, one of which is "to bring about the separation of the
Philippines by violent means." 

2. Rizal did not want to have a revolution without enough weapons and supplies (De Guzman, 2014).

3. He urged that they should prepare and be careful in order for the Katipunan to remain undiscovered
(De Guzman, 2014).

4. He also advised the Katipunan to convince Antonio Luna to direct the campaign.

5. The Katipunan should attract wealthy Filipinos; if they refused, then they should remain neutral. 

The Charges Against Rizal 

With the evidence against Rizal, he was formally arraigned on December 11, 1896. He chose First Lieutenant Luis
Taviel de Andrade as his council. The following were the charges as summarized and filed against Dr. Jose Rizal by
the Spanish authorities in the Philippines, which were then punishable by death: 

1. “The acts in question constituted the crimes of founding illegal associations and promoting or
inducing the commission of rebellion, the first being a necessary means for the execution of the
second” (De Guzman, 2014, p. 8).

2. “The accused, Dr. Jose Rizal, stood guilty of both crimes in the capacity of a principal-agent” (De
Guzman, 2014, p. 8).

3. “In the commission of these crimes, the criminal was a native (Filipino) must be considered an
aggravating circumstance, with no extenuating circumstances” (De Guzman, 2014, p. 8).

Rizal’s Defense
On the side of Rizal, he and his lawyer gave the following summary of defense to answer to the following charges: 
 1. “Concerning the rebellion. I have nothing to do with the political affairs from July 6, 1892, to June 1,
1896. In June 1896, after being told by Don Pio Valenzuela that an uprising was being contemplated,
I advised against it and made him sought amnesty from authorities. This is proof that I had no
dealings with anyone regarding political affairs.”

2. “They exploited my name cruelly and at the very last moment sought to take by surprise. Why did
they not get in touch with me earlier? Possibly because word had reached them that I was, if not
contented, at least resigned in my place of exile, for I had refused to entertain any of the various
proposals that many people made to get me out.” He added that he owned several vessels and was
permitted to take trips to surrounding villages and Muslim friends with vintas. Rizal had chances of
escape that he did not utilize because he was obedient to the Spanish government’s orders.

3. However, he admitted that he framed the statutes of the La Liga, whose aim was to promote the
commerce industry using cooperation. He added that La Liga was not a subversive organization, and
it died at an early stage. 

4. About his letters that carried bitter criticism, he did not deny them but asked the court the time they
were written. "They were written after we were stripped of our two residential houses, our
warehouses, our lands, and other properties, as well as when all my brothers-in-law and my elder
brother were exiled.”

His Impending Death 

At 6:30 a.m., a bucket of soldiers was formed. Rizal dressed in a black coat, hat, shoes, tie, and a white T-shirt. He
was also tied elbow to elbow and preceded in the march with a bugle and drum. At his side was Fr. Villaclara and
behind was his defender in the military court, Luis Taviel de Andrade, and an escort of artillery. 
The march of Rizal was filled with Filipino, and Spanish spectators as they passed by Paseo de Maria Cristina which
is now A. Bonifacio Avenue. While walking, Rizal told his companion “we are on the road to Calvary, I can well realize
now the passion of Christ; mine is so insignificant” (De Guzman, 2014, p.13). As Rizal proceeded to Bagumbayan, he
was serene; his body poised was erect, without affection and eyes that were glad and bright. 
While they were still on the march, Rizal stated to one of his companions, "What a beautiful morning! Some mornings
like this, I used to come here to spend with my sweetheart” (De Guzman, 2014, p.13). When they passed by the front
of Ateneo, Rizal asked for affirmation if it was the Ateneo to which his companions said yes. Rizal then told them that
he spent a few years in the school. Upon arriving at the area of execution, Rizal started to walk faster as if he was
about to miss something (De Guzman, 2014).
While standing, he asked for permission to be shot facing the firing line, but the Captain refused. Even at a dying
stage, Jose Rizal wanted to prove that he was not a traitor to Spain and the Philippines. Therefore, he needed to fall
facing the sky. Rizal had a request to the captain of the picket to shoot him at the back and spare his head. The
request was granted. He had a solid handshake to Lieutenant Luis Taviel, who defended him, and to the Jesuits that
gave him a crucifix to kiss. Then, the Spanish Military Doctor Ruiz Castillo approached him, took his pulse, and said,
“Your pulse is very good.” As informed by the doctor, Rizal was ready to meet his death.   

Rizal’s Death 
At the moment of fire, Rizal was indeed a man of science. He waited for the final word “Fuego!” (meaning “Fire!”), the
brilliant Rizal, before the soldiers of the 70th Regiment pulled the triggers of their guns, turned his back to the right.
When the bullets reached his body, the law of physics turned Rizal's dying body to fall, facing upward. 
Rizal was 35 years old when he died with 8 bullets in his heart at 7:03 in the morning. His body was hauled in a
wagon and buried in Paco Cemetery without due respect. Today, a marker stands between two acacia trees, which
were the only official witness when Rizal’s body was buried.

The Aftermath 
More and more provinces in the Philippines decided to fight. Rizal was the best reason that the Spaniards had
created in favor of the Philippine Revolution. After his death, other provinces decided to join the fight for freedom
aside from Manila, Bulacan, Cavite, Batangas, and Nueva Ecija. The province of Tarlac declared its Cry of Tagumpay
in January 1897 and attacked the Spaniards in the provincial capital. Afterward, Ilocano and Visayan provinces
followed.

Dr. Antonio Morga (November 29, 1559–July 21, 1636)

Source: https://taytaynijuan.me/relacion-de-las-costumbres-at-barangay/
Antonio Morga was a high-ranking Spanish official, soldier, lawyer, and historian who served in the Philippines for 43
years during the Spanish regime. He published the book Successos de las Islas Filipinas in 1609, which was
considered one of the most substantial works on Spain’s early colonial history in the Philippines. As a Deputy
Governor in the Philippines, Morga restored the audencia. He took over the function of a judge or oidor. He also took
command of the Spanish ships in a 1600 naval battle against Dutch corsairs but was defeated and barely survived. 
In August 1593, he was appointed as the Lieutenant to the Governor-General, Luis Pérez Dasmariñas, upon his
arrival in Manila. Morga held the second-most powerful position in the Philippines during those times. However,
Morga spent his time in the colony serving Francisco Tello de Guzman, the former governor-general's successor. 
In his account, Morga noted the miserable conditions of the Spanish/Mexican soldiers due to corruption and an
unfamiliar environment. It was noteworthy that Manila was not an ideal place for many Spanish and Mexican
immigrants, based on the reports of Morga. Also, many higher-ranking officials were leaving the colony after few
years. 
He issued regulations for administrative reform, which is known as the ordenzas. His reforms included the restoration
of the audencia. In 1598, Morga resigned as the lieutenant governor to assume the office of oidor or judge in the
newly re-established Audiencia of Manila. The position required his removal from the public’s eye
The Background of the Book
Morga suffered significantly from his military and political failures. But when we talk about his works as a historian, it
is a different story. His book, Successos de las Islas Filipinas (1609), was perhaps the best account of Spanish
colonialism in the Philippines written during that period. It was based partly on ethnographic research, keen
observation, and Morga’s personal involvement and knowledge.

Morga’s historical accounts cover the politics, economy, and Philippine society from 1493 to 1603. Interestingly,
Morga's official position allowed him access to many government documents. Morga ornamented Spain's legacy by
writing about its discovery, subjugation, and conversion of the Philippine archipelago. Meanwhile, Rizal argued that
the conversion and conquest were not as widespread as Dr. Morga portrayed because missionaries were only
successful in conquering a portion of the population in certain parts of the archipelago. 
Why Choose Morga’s Work
According to Ambeth Ocampo (1998), Rizal decided to transcribe Morga’s book for the following reasons:

1. The book is objective – Rizal felt that Morga was more objective than religious writers whose
accounts included many sacred and miraculous stories. 
 2. The book is sympathetic – Rizal also believed that Morga was more sympathetic to the Indios than
those who wrote religious chronicles. Morga was an eyewitness and a significant participant in the
events he narrated. 
3. The book is civil – Rizal also believed that the only civil account that was incorporated in a historical
book was the work of Morga because it opposed the religious or ecclesiastical way that was
prevalent during the colonial period of the Spaniards. 
4. The book is based on his experience – Rizal believed that the book is written based on the first-hand
experience of Morga that is why it is credible and valid. 

On Rizal’s Annotation 
Considering that Rizal was an earnest seeker of truth, which makes him a historian, he aimed to prove that the
Philippines has civilizations and a systematic way of learning even before the Spaniards came. Rizal’s primary aim is
to retell the Filipino story that, as he assumed, was described by Morga in a biased manner. 

 Jose Rizal Park at Wilhelmsfeld, Germany

Source: https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g1053578-d4801677-Reviews-
Jose_Rizal_Park_at_Wilhelmsfeld-Wilhelmsfeld_Baden_Wurttemberg.html
Objectives of Rizal 

1. Rizal has the following objectives why he had transcribed and annotated the work of Morga: 
2. To enlighten the consciousness of the Filipinos regarding their glorious pre-colonial culture.
3. To correct what had been distorted about the Philippines due to the Spanish conquest. 
4. To prove that the Filipinos are civilized even before the Spaniards came to the Philippines. 

The Theory of Rizal about the Philippines

Rizal theorized that the Philippines is a country with an economically self-sufficient and prosperous social structure.
Rizal also emphasized that the Spaniards' conquest and colonization significantly destroyed the Philippines' rich
tradition and culture. 
Corrections of Rizal 
 1. Early Government – Our forefathers in the pre-colonial Philippines already possessed a working
judicial and legislative system. 

2. High Literacy Rate – The Spanish missionaries exploited baybayin and used it to translate their own
goals. 

3. Early Artillery – Our ancestors were proficient in the art of war. In addition to hand weapons,
Filipinos know how to use fire guns and cannons. 

4. Smooth Foreign Relations – Precolonial Filipinos had already established trading and diplomatic
relations with countries as far as the Middle East. 

5. Self-Sufficient – The Philippines' natural resources during the pre-colonial period were abundant
and very sustainable. Our ancestors' ways of life are self-sustaining because they practiced direct
appropriation in gathering resources. In distributing food resources, they practiced egalitarianism.

6. Advanced Civilization – Contrary to the Spanish colonizers' perspective, ancient Filipinos did not
have an inferior civilization. As mentioned above, we had our indigenous writing system. We were
great boat builders and seafarers. Also, our ancestors had a defined political system and social
structure.      
Ferdinand Blumentritt’s Prologue
Ferdinand Blumentritt also wrote a preface emphasizing several salient points on the work of Morga. Ferdinand
Blumentritt highlighted here that Spaniards have to correct their erroneous conception of the Filipinos as children of
limited intelligence.

A Portrait of Ferdinand Blumentritt

Source: https://www.pinterest.ph/pin/344455071481631040/
Delusions of Spaniards about the Philippines 

1. Filipinos were an inferior race.

2. Filipinos were not ready for parliamentary representation and other reforms.
3. Denial of equal rights can be compensated by the strict dispensation of justice. 
Blumentritt Also Critiqued Rizal

1. He first observed that Rizal had committed the mistake of many modern historians who judged
events in the context of contemporary ideas and mores.
2. He perceived that Rizal overreached his denunciation of Catholicism. Rizal should confine his
critiques to the religious orders who spared no effort to suppress calls for reform.

Other Notes of Blumentritt 

He praised the work of Rizal as scholarly and well-thought-out. He also noted that Morga’s Successos de Las Islas
Filipinas was rare that the few libraries that have it guard it with the same solitude as if it was the treasure of the
Incas. 

Noli Me Tangere 
Noli Me Tangere is considered the masterpiece of Rizal and his most significant contribution to the Philippines and
the world. In this work, he was firm in his conviction about the distinction between the Spanish government and
Spanish religious order in the Philippines, which led to the suffering of the Filipinos to become an oppressed people. 

This novel was finished on February 21, 1887, and published in Germany by the publishing house, Berliner
Buchdruckerei-Action-Gessellschaft. The book has 63 chapters, which Rizal wrote in different countries.

As Rizal was dealing with financial constraints, his friend Maximo Viola lent him Php. 300 to print the book (2,000
copies). Rizal feared that the novel might not be printed and that it would remain unread. He nearly threw the
manuscript in the fire. The original manuscript was then given to Viola as a token of appreciation. 

Rizal entitled Noli Me Tangere from John 20:13–17, “Touch me not for I am not yet ascended to my Father.” An Eagle
Flight and The Social Cancer were used as titles in English translations (Summary of Noli Me Tangere, 2017).
However, these titles disregarded the symbolism of the title. Currently, modern translations use the original Latin title
(Symbols Used in Noli Me Tangere Essay - 481 Words, n.d.).
Noli Me Tangere and Les Miserables 
Noli Me Tangere was the answer of Rizal to Victor Hugo’s famous novel, Les Miserables. Both books discussed the
issues of oppression, corruption, failed uprising, doomed heroines, persecution, and betrayals. As Les Miserables is
written in French, historians believe that Noli Me Tangere may have been a greater success if Rizal wrote the novel in
French. Sadly, Rizal’s command of the French language was not enough to write the novel in French. 
Essential Characters in The Noli Me Tangere
1. Juan Crisostomo Ibarra y Magsalin – Crisostomo Ibarra was depicted as one of the Filipinos who managed to
finish his studies abroad. He was living abroad for seven years. Unlike his countrymen, he had a liberal mind and was
outspoken and idealistic.
Crisostomo Ibarra exemplified the vision that Jose Rizal had aimed for the youth of the Philippines during his time.
Others attribute Ibarra to Rizal’s reflection of himself (Rizal-Midterm-3.0.pptx-life works writings of Rizal, n.d.).

2. Maria Clara de los Santos – Maria Clara had eyes similar to her mother, with large black orbs and long lashes.
Her eyes also showed emotions openly. Her hair was light-colored, thick, curly, and was often ornated with flowers.
Her ears were small and were assumed to be inherited from her father, Capitan Tiago, and she had a straight nose.
She had dimples at the side of her mouth, and she had fair skin (Maria Clara, n.d.).  Her character relates to Leonor
Rivera, who was Jose Rizal’s childhood sweetheart. Maria Clara played the piano and harp and had a sweet voice
which were the characteristics of Leonor. Maria was also portrayed as a good friend, faithful sweetheart, and an
obedient daughter which are characteristics of the ideal woman at that time. She never imposed what she wants
except when she refused to marry Linares (Maria Clara, n.d.).
3. Elias – Elias was a former boatman who became one of the most wanted criminals in San Diego. He distrusted
human judgment and preferred God’s justice instead. He was acquainted with the tulisanes and other crooks, which
he used to his advantage in discerning the troubles of the town.
Elias represented ordinary Filipinos that were aware of the injustices that their countrymen faced and wanted to
liberate them from the oppression. In addition, Elias is said to be the personification of Andres Bonifacio (Who are the
main characters in Noli Me Tangere?, 2020)

4. Sisa – Sisa (Narcisa) was a typical native wife. She endured her husband’s beatings and irresponsibility. Sisa was
described as a mother who considered her sons her only treasure. She would often anticipate when they would return
home as she would prepare their favorite dishes. 
Sisa is thought to represent the motherland who was suffering because her character lost her children. The tragic
events that ruined her life represented the abuse that the motherland received from her colonizers.

5. Crispin – Crispin one of Sisa’s son. He was a sacristan who was accused of stealing two gold pieces by a senior
sacristan. Although he implored his older brother to pay the said amount, the latter refused as their mother would
have nothing to eat.
Crispin represented the innocents who had been wrongly accused of crimes they did not commit. The injustice they
suffered under the hands of the authorities during their time was silenced by their deaths and the cover-ups that
followed.

6. Basilio – He was Sisa’s 10-year-old son who was tasked to ring the Church bells to signal the Angelus. He faced
tragedy as he lost his younger brother and his mother descended into insanity. In the end of Noli Me Tangere, Basilio
was urged by Elias to bury and burn him in exchange for a chest of gold. Basilio plays a major role in El
Filibusterismo (Intellectual legacies in Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo, n.d.).

7. Pilosopo Tasyo – Seeking reforms from the government, he expressed his ideas in a paper written in a
cryptographic alphabet similar to hieroglyphs and Coptic figures in hopes the future generation may be able to
decode it and know the oppression they faced at the hands of the conquerors (43842486-Character-Analysis -
CHARACTER ANALYSIS Character .... , n.d.).
Tasyo came from a wealthy family. He was often a pessimist and untrusting of human altruism. He also did not
believe in the religious fanaticism that was in vogue during his time.
Tasyo was one of the characters in the novel that Rizal could relate to as he was patterned after Rizal’s older brother,
Paciano Rizal.
Tasyo symbolized the educated Filipinos who had once embraced the culture of the Spanish regime. They eventually
became disenchanted when they returned to the Philippines and observed the stark contrast their countrymen
received from their colonizers. The more they turned to learn, the more they became eccentric to the masses they
seek to enlighten.

8. Padre Damaso Verdolagas – He was a Franciscan friar and the former parish curate of San Diego. He was best
known as a notorious character who spoke with harsh words and had been a cruel priest during his stay in the town.
He was the birth father of María Clara and an enemy of Crisóstomo’s father, Rafael Ibarra. He symbolized the
Spanish friars of Rizal's time and is a comment on the Spanish control of the Philippines. 

9. Padre Salvi – He was a secret admirer of Maria Clara. In the later part of the story, he and Padre Damaso devised
a plan to break Ibarra and Maria Clara apart. He was also the head of the Church of San Diego and one of the most
influential people in the town. 
He symbolized the lustful actions of some of the Spanish Friars in the Philippines. 

10. Don Santiago de los Santos – Don Santiago de los Santos, also known by his nickname Tiago and political title
Capitán Tiago, was a Filipino businessman and the head of barangay of the town of San Diego. He was also the
known father of María Clara.
Capitan Tiago was a typical character during the time of Jose Rizal. He was a rich native-born Filipino who rubbed
elbows with the powers during that time.
He symbolized the rich Filipinos who oppressed their fellow countrymen in exchange for the influence and wealth that
they might gain from their associations with powerful individuals. (Capitan Tiago, n.d.) 
Modern but Same Old Problems 
In trying to find meaning and relevance between Rizal and the Filipinos 150 years after his birth, the problems are not
yet over. These problems were never gone; they have only been molecularly restructured into something barely
recognizable and generally acceptable. (Uckung, 2012)
History is a powerful tool for peace and progress because we can only justify social change by assessing history.
However, in discarding the lessons that come with history, one must be unapologetically critical. One must be similar
to Rizal.
The following are signs of a revived colonialism (Uckung, 2012): 

1. Silencing of the critics – Critics are silenced when they are killed, similar to Rizal’s fate. This is also
similar to the disappearance of activists or broadcasters who were shot and buried in Cotabato.

2. Social strata – Rizal certainly never experienced facing a problem that is defined by what happens
to the stock market or banks. When the two financial entities face issues and begin to collapse, then
this phenomenon is called a crisis. When large financial institutions collapse, more often than not,
they are bailed out by the government through the taxpayer’s money. “The rich, then, get richer, and
the poor get poorer” (Uckung, 2012, para. 11). 

3. Exploitation of the labor force – Advancements in technology has supplied the Filipinos multiple
kinds of work and opportunities that require technical knowledge, which is knowledge that enables
the use of information and communication at an instant. This phenomenon created organizations the
need many Filipino call center agents that are knowledgeable with computers which give the
impression that the country is providing computer wizards, and the country is revolutionary in terms
of labor employment. However, this is a myth as in reality they are low skill, low wage, and
nonunionized jobs.    

4. Education – At present, there is a lack in the quality of public education as it mostly transmits
knowledge that is useful to existing society rarely lets students acquire critical thinking and
transformative reaction.

5. Global Identity – Rizal was declared as the “national hero and protector of the Filipinos, but will he
be surprised with the program of globalization, which has the underlying assumption that nationalism
and protectionism are incompatible with social and economic development?” (Uckung, 2012, para.
15).

6. Inferiority Complex – People assume that Filipinos themselves are to be blamed for their sorry lot
because they are culturally inferior. Occasionally, this assumption is subtly accepted as encouraged
by schools. 

7. Language as a tool for oppression – Rizal knew that the colonizers needed to instill in the Filipinos
a negative attitude towards their own culture. Through promoting the idea that their culture was
inferior, the colonizers managed to encourage Filipinos to reject their culture. 
Contemplate
Rizal’s reformatory approach to social change was to exercise influence and bring change within established
institutions rather than fighting institution head on, but it did not work. A different strategy was used during the
American regime as legislation and court litigation was used to secure constitutional rights. Later on, direct action
techniques, such as utilizing the potential power of the masses along political and economic lines, are used. An
example of these techniques was mass civil disobedience, which “would create the kind of social dislocation that
would bring attention and remedial actions from the government.” (Uckung, 2012, para. 18).
A hero is a social anomaly. If there is a need for heroes, it means that the government is ineffective in solving the
problems of society. For example, during Rizal’s time, the government was both supporting the problems that the
people faced and at the same time profiting from them. 
In examining the Rizal’s accounts, especially his novels, “the reader will be pulled deeper into a different hidden plane
of philosophy that is unlike Rizal and more of the dark, brooding filibustero we have come to know as Simoun, whose
final purpose in life was to infiltrate the colonial authorities and spread the fire of revolution among his people”
(Uckung, 2012, para. 20).
People like Rizal are not favored by individuals and institutions who take advantage of people who are alienated or
impoverished and those who use and promote tactics that keep people submissive so that they may be easily
controlled.  
These individuals would do anything in their power to stop Jose Rizal even long after his death. Due to his immense
popularity as a national hero, they cannot stop him, but they can control the impact of his legacy. If these institutions
successfully make Rizal insignificant, he would only be a subject taught in school that would eventually be forgotten
in the modern age.