Last Days of Dr.

Jose Rizal
Geotina, Ma. Christine Danica T.
Pascasio, Alliah Carl Manuelle F.
Pascual, Francesca B.
Quintero, Julia Ysabel T.
Reyes, Jhoana Patricia J.
Rivera, Christian Jay D.
Soller, Gian Francis D.
Tubeza, Stacy B.
2A8
 Contents
Controversy about the
1. The Trial 4. Retraction

Examining Rizal’s
The Day before the
2. Execution
5. Historical and Social
Context

3. The Execution 6. Mi Ultimo Adios

01
The Trial of
Jose Rizal
 The case was Rizal choose his
Arrest of Rizal November December 8
opened defense counsel
20-21 1896 1896

Preliminary
November 3 Investigation December 3 Prosecutor was December 10
1896 1896 Appointed 1896
Timeline of Events

Denied for
Judges was confrontation and
Court Martial December 25 December 12 confiscation of assets
1896 appointed 1896

December 26 List of Judges December 24 Case was ready December 11

1896 was shown 1896 for trial 1896

Death Sentence was December 28

for approval 1896

Death Sentence was

December 27
approved, details were
1896 specified
What happened during
the trial of Rizal?
Meticulous Compliance
● Transcript of the questions
and answers
● He was defended by counsel
of his won choice.
● Verdicts were recorded in
writing
● Governor never acted without
first consulting the appropriate
official

Haste
● The Case proceeded even on Festive Days
 Hidden Injustices
Right to Confront his
Accusers Unpublished Manifesto

Defense Counsel Assumed Guilty Prior

to Trial

Court Martial
02
The Day
before the
Execution
(Dec. 29, 1896 - Early Morning
of Dec. 30, 1896)
 SUMMARY OF EVENTS
Reading of
Death Friar Visits Family Visit
Sentence

Rizal receives
Meeting with
Retraction? the
Josephine?
sacraments
FRIAR VISITS

Reason
To attend to Rizal’s
spiritual needs during his Friar In-Charge
last hours
Fr. Pio Pi

Who ordered?
Manila Archbishop
Bernardino Nozaleda

IMAGE SOURCE: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:1904-Bernardino-Nozaleda.jpg

 MORNING OF DECEMBER 29,1896
Fr. Mata and Fr. Viza
Fr. Miguel Saddera Mata
- Rector of Ateneo Municipal
Fr. Luis Viza
- Jesuit teacher
- “Statuette of the Sacred Heart”
- Medal of Mary; “I’m littler of a Marian,
father.” - Jose RIzal
Breakfast
- Fr. Antonio Rosell
- Lt. Andrade
Fr. Vilaclara and
Fr. Balaguer
Fr. Vilaclara
- Rizal’s professor in Ateneo
Fr. Balaguer
- He met Rizal in Dapitan during Rizal’s
exile
- He later came back in the afternoon
to discuss Rizal’s retraction
Fr. Faura
- Prophesied Rizal’s fate for writing Noli
Me Tangere
- “Father, you are indeed a prophet” -
Jose Rizal
 LUNCH
Probably the time when he finished
his farewell poem
shot; but I am innocent of the crime of rebellion.
- He put it in an ALCOHOL
COOKING STOVE (not a lamp)
My dear Brother,
When you receive this letter, I shall be
dead by then. Tomorrow at seven, I shall be
I am going to die with a tranquil
conscience.
Adieu, my best, my dearest friend, and
never think ill of me!
Fort Santiago, 29 December 1896
- José Rizal.
Regards to the whole family, to Sra.
Rosa, Loleng, Conradito, and Federico.
I leave a book for you as my
remembrance.
Wrote his letter to
Blumentritt
 FAMILY VISIT
Teodora
Alonzo
- JR knelt before his mother and
asked for pardon
- Teodora and JR were not
allowed to embrace but JR
managed to kiss her on the hand
Rizal’s earthly possessions to his
family
● Narcisa - wicker chair
● Angelica, niece - Handkerchief
● Mauricio, nephew - belt, watch,
and chain
● Trinidad - alcohol burner /
cooking stove with Mi Ultimo
Adios
 CONTROVERSIAL RETRACTION
The first draft was rejected - it was too long and does not reflect JR’s personality

The second was shorter but had an uncomfortable statement for JR

A. “I abominate masonry as a society reprobated by the Church.”

B. Rizal defended Masonry
a. There was no renouncement of faith
b. Masonry not hostile to Catholicism

The priest allowed JR to edit the shorter retraction letter

EARLY MORNING OF THE 30TH
Rizal heard mass,
Had breakfast and
confessed, and received
proceeded to write his
the Holy Communion
final letters to his family
(Zaide)

Rizal did not eat

his 3 hard-boiled “This is for the
eggs breakfast,
which he left in a
rats; let them have
corner for the rats fiesta too”
(Ambeth Ocampo)
JOSEPHINE
Rizal and Josephine saw each other for
the last time and Rizal gave her his last
gift
- A religious book, Imitation of Christ by Fr.
Thomas à Kempis with the autograph “To my dear,
unhappy wife, Josephine. December 30th, 1896”

However, according to Josephine’s

testimony to R. Wildman in 1899,
Josephine was prohibited by the IMAGE SOURCE:
https://twitter.com/natmuseumph/status/1210383211055874
Spanish officers from seeing Rizal 048?s=20
03
The Execution
(Dec. 30, 1896)
DEATH MARCH
● 1.5km from Fort Santiago to
Bagumbayan via now Bonifacio
Drive (seaside)
With him were Lt. Andrade, Fr.
March and Fr. Villaclara
Rizal was calm and was praising
how beautiful the day was when
they were outside the walls
He was tied by the elbow but was
quite loose Image source:
http://malacanang.gov.ph/last-days-of-rizal-and-his-burial/
 WAS THERE A LAST ATTEMPT BY THE
KATIPUNEROS TO HELP RIZAL ESCAPE?
❏ No account specifically says that there was
a plan by the Katipuneros to save Rizal from
being killed.

❏ “Others noticed his eyes dart quickly from

left to right, and some believed that
members of his family or the Katipuneros
would make a last-ditch effort to save him
from death. Was Rizal waiting for help that
never came? And perhaps for an opportunity
to spurn that help? Had he expected to see
his family by the roadside? We will never
know more than the fact that he was walking
to his destiny.” -Ocampo
DID RIZAL KISS THE CRUCIFIX?

Rizal
reverently Rizal turned
bowed his away his head
head and -Ocampo
kissed the
crucifix.
-Zaide
 FIRING SQUAD

8 Filipino Another line of

Soldiers Spanish soldiers
➔ Ready to shoot them should
they not fire or intentionally
miss their shot
 RIZAL REQUESTED THAT HE BE SHOT
FACING THE FIRING SQUAD

Rizal refused to be shot in the

back, saying he had not been a
traitor to the country or to
Spain but it was denied because
of the orders given to the
Captain in charge.
RIZAL’S REQUESTS

He be shot at
He be shot facing
the back near
the firing squad 2
his heart

He not be
1 blindfolded and 3
kneel
RIZAL WAS NOT AFRAID TO DIE
His pulse was perfectly normal.

Why? Could he have retracted?

Did he believe in the graciousness
of God? Or is it because he had a
clear conscience?
DID RIZAL FACE THE FIRING SQUAD?

According to the book of Zaide,

Rizal only turned after being shot, “Consummatum est.”
leading him to hit the ground facing - Rizal’s last words
the sky.

The execution was over by 7:03 a.m

of December 30, 1896
AFTER EXECUTION
His body was brought to San Juan de Dios
hospital and was later buried at Paco cemetery
in an unmarked grave without a coffin in
utmost secrecy.

Narcisa later searched for this grave and put

JR’s initial backwards (R.P.J.)

His remains were later exhumed and was put in their

family house in Binondo to be later buried in Luneta
park.
04
Controversy
about the
Retraction
“ I retract with all my heart whatever in my
words, writings, publications and conduct
have been contrary to my character as a son
of the Catholic Church”
—Rizal in the supposed
retraction document
Reasons for a Retraction

For Family For Love

To rid of the harassments To let Josephine
his family members were Bracken be his legal
facing wife

For the Country For the Church

To secure reforms To help the Church be
from the Spanish rid of the disease that
Government harmed her
 Different Versions of the Retraction

December 31, 1896 May 18, 1935

La Vos Ezspanola La Juventud
& Diaro de Manila 2 Magazine 4

Fr. Manuel
1 El Imparcial 3
Garcia
December 30, 1896 February 14, 1897
 Differences
“Original”and
Newspapers Version Jesuits’ Version

1. “Mi calidad” 1. “Mi cualidad”

2. Has the word “Catolica” after the
first “Iglesias”
3. “misma “ cannot be found in
these texts
4. Second paragraph starts
immediately with the second
sentence
5. Has only four commas
6. Has the names of the witnesses
2. Omits“Catolica” after the first
“Iglesias”
3. Adds “misma “ before the third
“Iglesias”
4. Second paragraph starts with the
fifth sentence
5. Has eleven commas
6. Does not have the witnesses’
names
“ … and the other exact copy of the retraction
written and signed by RIzal, The handwriting
of this copy I do not know nor do I remember
whose it is, and I even suspect that it might
have been written by Rizal himself”

- Fr. Pio Pi
05
Examining Rizal’s
Historical and Social
Context
Add-On
 The 19th Century: The Century of Rizal

Period where industrial revolution

was fueled by commercial revolution

Before 19th century, procurement of

goods were achieved through cheap
labor

Advancements of science led to

invention of machines
 Change in Political Thinking
Absolute rules were giving way to
governments with representation
from their people

Was influenced by the earlier Age of

Enlightenment

Men have God-given rights which cannot be

taken away unless it was necessary
 Rise of the Middle class
● Opening of Manila to the global trade.

● Many natives became wealthy because of trade in agricultural

products.

● The new rich and middle class joined the principales and had titles

Don and Doña.

● New middle class can now attend parochial schools and universities.

Sources:
UST logo: http://www.ust.edu.ph/
Middle class filipinos: http://www.seasite.niu.edu/Tagalog/Tagalog_Homepage99/impacts_of_spanish_rule_in_the_p.htm
Philippine trade map: asianstudies.org/publications/eaa/archives/the-philippines-an-overview-of-the-colonial-era/
 Obstacles of the Middle Class

Spaniards
Around 10% if the
population during the time.
● Limpieza De Sangre: Purity of Blood.
● There were only 30,000 Spaniards in the Philippines.
Filipinos ● Discrimination against indios and mestizos.
Around 3,000,000 - 4,000,000
Filipinos
● Philippines was an Anglo American Chinese colony under Spanish
Flag.
Sources:
Country flags: wikipedia.com
Social classes: http://revistamito.com/describing-the-indios-during-the-spanish-colonial-period-a-literary-strategy-of-colonization-and-
decolonization/
 THE INTELLECTUAL SHIFT:
From Religion to Science
Science was highlighted over
Religion

Rise of Freemasonry in Europe

Introduction of Freemasonry in the

Philippines by the Europeans
THE SPANISH EMPIRE IN RIZAL’S TIME

Latin American wars undermined

Spain as a “World Power”

The Philippines was represented

in the “Ministerio de Ultramar”

Secularization was
prominent in Spain
THE SOBERANIA MONACAL MONASTIC
SUPREMACY

Political and The church

Economic became
influence of abusive after
the Church some time
06
Mi Ultimo
Adios
Literary
Background

● Originally written without a title

14-stanza poem about undying
love and nationalism
Given to his family hidden inside
an alcohol stove
Another mysterious poem inside
Rizal’s shoes
 Actual Pictures in Dr. Jose Rizal’s handwriting

Page 1 Page 2

Source:https://pinoystalgia.com/poem-mi-ultimo-adios-last-farewell-by-jose-rizal/#poem-image
 Gist
The poem My Last Farewell by Jose Rizal is the last
literary piece he created in prison before his conviction on
December 30, 1896. It is dedicated to his country– the
Philippines. He expressed his love, delight, and grief with
regards to his homeland during the last bits of his life. It
inspired Filipinos hearts to ignite with their fiery passion
and to fight against their colonizers.
 3 Stanzas
On the field of battle, ‘mid the frenzy of fight,
Others have given their lives, without doubt or heed;
The place matters not-cypress or laurel or lily white,
Scaffold or open plain, combat or martyrdom’s plight,
‘Tis ever the same, to serve our home and country’s need.
Dream of my life, my living and burning desire,
All hail ! cries the soul that is now to take flight;
All hail ! And sweet it is for thee to expire ;
To die for thy sake, that thou mayst aspire;
And sleep in thy bosom eternity’s long night..

. And even my grave is remembered no more

Unmark’d by never a cross nor a stone
Let the plow sweep through it, the spade turn it
o’er
That my ashes may carpet earthly floor,
Before into nothingness at last they are blown.

Source: https://www.univie.ac.at/Voelkerkunde/apsis/aufi/rizal/rzpoem2.htm
Overall Message

★ Unconditional Love for our

Country

★ Attainment of Freedom
Thank you for
listening!
 References
Bernad, M. S. (1998). The Trial of Rizal. Philippine Studies, 46(1), 46-72.

Escalante, R. (n.d.). Vol. 8, No. 3, Rene ESCALANTE. Southeast Asian Studies. https://englishkyoto-seas.org/2019/12/vol-8-no-3-rene-escalante/

Jose Rizal University. (n.d.). Jose Rizal [Rizal's last Hours]. Jose Rizal University. http://www.joserizal.ph/lh01.html

Platino, J. (n.d.). Mi Ultimo Adios. WritingsOfRizal. http://writingsofrizal.weebly.com/mi-ultimo-adios.html

Rizal, J. P. (1998, March 20). My Last Farewell (Translated by Charles Derbyshire). My Last Farewell. https://www.univie.ac.at/Voelkerkunde/apsis/aufi/rizal/rzpoem2.htm

Ron. (2015, February 1). Poem: Mi Ultimo Adios by Jose Rizal. Pinoystalgia. https://pinoystalgia.com/poem-mi-ultimo-adios-last-farewell-by-jose-rizal/#english-vs

Taga-Calamba. (n.d.). HISTORY: The Last Days of Jose P. Rizal. Calamba.

https://tagacalamba.wixsite.com/calamba/single-post/2016-1-31-history-the-last-days-of-jose-p-rizal#:~:text=of%20Jose%20P.-,Rizal,Camillo%20Polavieja%20confirm

ed%20the%20sentence
Viana, A. V. (2019). Laon-Laan. Mandaluyong City: Books Atbp Publishing Corporation.

Zaide, G. F. (1992). Jose Rizal Life, Works and Writings. National Book Store