LESSON 8: RIZAL’S LIFE AS AN EXILE IN DAPITAN
EXILE IN DAPITAN (1892-1896) August 26,
J. Rizal lived in exile in far-away Dapitan, a
remote town in Mindanao under the
jurisdiction of the Jesuits. The four-year
interregnum in his life was tediously
unexciting but was abundantly fruitful with
varied achievements. He practiced medicine,
pursued scientific studies, continued his
artistic and literary works, widened his
knowledge of languages, established a school
for boys, promoted community development
projects, invented a wooden machine for
making bricks, and engaged in farming and
commerce.
Beginning of Exile in Dapitan
The steamer Cebu which brought Rizal to
Dapitan carried a letter from Fr. Pablo
Pastells (Superior of the Jesuit Society in the
Philippines) to Fr. Antonio Obach (Jesuit
Parish Priest of Dapitan). The content of the
letter were the following:
- Rizal’s public retraction of his error
concerning religion and making
statements that are pro-Spanish and
against revolution
- Perform church rites and make a
general confession of his past life
- Rizal should conduct himself in an
exemplary manner as a Spanish
subject and a man of religion
Rizal did not agree with these conditions. He
lived in the house of the commandant,
Captain Carnicero. Their relationship was
warm and friendly. Capt. Carnicero was
charmed by Rizal’s fine qualities and
personality. He gave good reports to Rizal’s
prisoner, Gov. Despujol. Carnicero had given
Rizal complete freedom to go anywhere,
report only once a week on his office and
allowed him to ride his chestnut horse.
Rizal admired the kind and generous Spanish
captain. He had even written a poem about
him entitled “A Don Ricardo Carnicero” on
1892 during the captain’s
birthday.
Wins in Manila Lottery
On September 21, 1892, the mail boat Butuan
brought the winning lottery ticket no. 9736
jointly owned by Carnicero, Rizal and
Francisco Equilior (Spanish resident of
Dipolog). The lottery ticket won second prize
amounting P20,000 in the government-owned
Manila lottery.
Rizal’s share was P6,200 on which he had
given the P2,000 to his father and P200 to his
friend Basa who was then in Hong Kong. The
remaining money was invested in purchasing
agricultural lands along the coast of Talisay.
Rizal’s Encounter with the Friar’s Spy
J. Rizal was peacefully and happily living in
Talisay with his family. A strange incident
happened when someone secretly visited his
home on November 3, 1892. The person who
visited him introduced himself as Pablo
Mercado and imposed that he was a relative.
He brought a photo of Rizal and two buttons
with P.M as initials as evidence of his kinship
on Rizal’s family.
The said Pablo Mercado offered to become
Rizal’s courier of letters and writings to his
compatriots in Manila. He immediately
became suspicious on the act of the
unwanted visitor. He wanted to throw him
out of the house that night but he considered
the weather and the time of the night. He let
the unwanted visitor to stay that night and
sent him away the next day.
He learned that Pablo Mercado was still in
Dapitan spreading that they were relatives.
He immediately reported the impostor to
Capt. Juan Sitges. The impostor was captured
and investigated. It turned out that the
impostor was Florencio Namanan. He was
hired to spy on Rizal’s activities and to
intrude with his letters.
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 LESSON 8: RIZAL’S LIFE AS AN EXILE IN DAPITAN
Rizal as a Physician in Dapitan
He practiced medicine in Dapitan and had
many patients. Most of his patients are poor
resulting him to give free medicines. His
mother and sister Maria came and lived with
him. He had successfully operated on his
mother’s right eye. Teodora ignored her son’s
instruction and got her eye infected.
Fortunately, Rizal was able to cure the
infection and his mother’s eyesight were
restored.
He became popular as an eye specialist.
Patients from different parts of the
Philippines visited him. A rich Filipino
patient, Don Ignacio Tumarong was able to
see again because of his ophthalmic skills. He
was paid P3,000 for this. Another rich patient
was an Englishman who paid him P500. Don
Florencio Azacarraga was a rich haciendero of
Aklan was also cured of eye ailment and paid
him a cargo of sugar.
As a physician, he became interested in local
medicine and in the use of medicinal plants.
He studied the medicinal plants in the
Philippines and their curative values for the
poor patients who cannot afford to buy
imported medicines.
Water System for Dapitan
Rizal put to action his expert surveyor title by
constructing a system of waterworks to
furnish clean water to the townspeople. He
succeeded in giving a good water system to
Dapitan without any government aid and
despite of the inadequate tools.
Community Projects for Dapitan
Aside from the water system, he spent many
months draining the marshes to get rid of
malaria that infested Dapitan. He equipped
his town with lighting system that consisted
of coconut oil lamps from the P500 that he
earned as a physician. He also focused on the
beautification of Dapitan. He remodelled the
town plaza and together with Fr. Sanchez,
they made a huge relief map of Mindanao in
front of the church.
Rizal as a Teacher
His exile to Dapitan gave him the opportunity
to put into practice his educational ideas. He
established a school in 1893 that existed until
the end of his exile in July 1896.
Contributions to Science
He found Mindanao a rich virgin field for
collecting specimens. Accompanied by his
students, they explored the jungles and the
coasts seeking specimens of insects, birds,
snakes, lizards, frogs, shells, and plants. He
sent the specimen to Europe and in return,
the European scientists sent him scientific
books and surgical instruments.
He was able to build a rich collection of
concology which consisted of 346 shells
representing 203 species. He discovered some
rare specimens which were named in his
honor by the scientists. Among these were
the following:
- draco rizali (flying dragon)
- apogonia rizali (small beetle)
- Rhacophorus rizali (rare frog)
The Mother’s Revenge
The modelled statuette that represent the
mother dog killing the crocodile who killed
her puppy.
The story behind this work was when his
puppy died because his pupils secretly went
to Dapitan. The puppy followed and was
devoured by a crocodile. He reprimanded his
students. He blamed them why the puppy
died and why the mother dog was not spared
from the sorrow of losing her offspring.
Mi Retiro (My Retreat)
This was the poem requested by his mother
which became one of his best masterpieces.
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 LESSON 8: RIZAL’S LIFE AS AN EXILE IN DAPITAN
Rizal and Josephine Bracken
Rizal was always sad because he missed his family and because of Leonor Rivera’s death. He needed
somebody to cheer him up on his lonely life. In God’s timing, that “somebody” came to Dapitan. She
was Josephine Bracken, an Irish girl of sweet eighteen. She was born in Hong Kong. Her mother died
in childbirth and she was adopted by Mr. George Taufer who later became blind. No one can cure
her foster father’s eyes and learned about Rizal. They immediately flew to the Philippines and met
Rizal.

They fell in love with each other at first sight. After a whirlwind romance of one month, they agreed
to marry. But Fr. Obach refused to marry them without the permission of the Bishop of Cebu.

When Mr. Taufer heard about their projected marriage, he flared up in violent rage. Unable to endure
the thought of losing Josephine, he committed suicide by cutting off his throat with a razor. But Rizal
was able to prevent him from doing so. To avoid a tragedy, Josephine went with Taufer to Manila.
The blind man went away uncured because his ailment was incurable.

Mr. Taufer returned to Hong Kong alone. Josephine stayed in Manila with Rizal’s family then returned
to Manila. Since no priest would marry them, they married themselves before the eyes of God and
lived as man and wife. They lived happily in Dapitan.

In the early part of 1896, Rizal was extremely happy because Josephine was expecting a baby.
Unfortunately, he played a prank on her, frightening her. She prematurely gave birth to an eight-
month baby boy who lived only for three hours. The lost son was named Francisco in honor of Don
Francisco and was buried in Dapitan.

Goodbye, Dapitan
Blumentritt informed Rizal that the revolution-ridden Cuba, a nation colonized by Spain, was stricken
by a yellow-fever epidemic. There was shortage of physicians to attend to war victims and disease-
stricken people. Rizal wrote in 1895 to Gov. Gen. Ramon Blanco to volunteer in providing medical
services in Cuba. It was only in 1896 when the Gov. Gen. contacted him regarding this matter. He
immediately prepared for the Cuba medical mission.

He travelled with Josephine, Narcisa, a niece, three nephews and three of his students. Many
Dapitan folks came to see their beloved doctor for the last time. Cordially bidding him goodbye,
they shouted, “Adios, Dr. Rizal!” as some of his students even cried. With sorrowing heart, he
waved his hand in farewell to the generous and loving Dapitan folks saying, “Adios, Dapitan!”. The
steamer departed for Manila with tears in his eyes.

LAST TRIP ABROAD (1896)

Rizal left Dapitan on July 31, 1896 for España. He arrived in Manila Bay on August 6, 1896 after his
side trips. Unfortunately, he wasn’t able to catch the mail ship because it had already departed the
previous day. He stayed in the cruiser for a month waiting for the next steamer to bound. He left
Manila for Spain on September 3, 1896. He arrived in Singapore on September 7. He left Singapore
on September 8. Unaware of the duplicity of Gov. Gen. Blanco, he happily continued his voyage. He
was notified of his arrest on September 30. He arrived in Barcelona on October 3 as a prisoner. He
was awakened and escorted by the guards on October 6 for an interview. He was informed that he
will be shipped back to Manila. After the interview, Rizal boarded and the ship left Barcelona on the
evening of October 6.

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