Raposa, Nicko A.

The Life and Works of Rizal

COC 2 – Free 1 TF 8:30am – 10:00am

Introduction

The Philippines is rich in history, made up of different events which gave color to the story
of the past. They are the people who are considered heroes today including our very own national
hero, Dr. Jose Rizal.

As part of our history subject, we were required to visit places where you can find historical
facts about Rizal. On October 2, 2019, my classmates and I went to Intramuros which is the oldest
district in Manila located near the river (Ilog Pasig). This area is historic because it was the first
city of Luzon to be built. The town of Intramuros is also a witness to Philippine history. One is the
Fort Santiago area (where Dr. Jose Rizal was taken into custody before being taken to
Bagumbayan) created in the Spanish period. Fort Santiago, a 16th century military defense
structure, stands witness to the valor and heroism of the Filipino through the centuries.

This paper will served as evidence that we conducted research in partial fulfillment of the
requirements in our subject “The Life and Work of Rizal”. Here are the following guidelines to
support this paper: 1.) “The selected artifacts about Rizal” 2.) “The importance of artifacts in
history” and the 3.) “Conclusion”.

Artifacts
The Prison Cell of Jose Rizal (Silid Piitan)
Rizal’s actual prison cell, which contains a
Life-size wax effigy of Rizal by National Artist for
Sculpture Guillermo Tolentino. In this cell Jose
Rizal was detained prisoner from November 3 to
the morning of December 29, 1896. Falsely charged with rebellion, sedition and illegal societies.
After the reading of the court sentence at 6:00am of December 29, he was kept in an improvised
chapel until his execution at 7:03am of December 30, 1896 on the Luneta, Bagumbayan Field,
Manila.
Rizal was imprisoned in this cell. Previously a cuarto de repuesto or storage for military supplies
and equipment, the room was converted to be Rizal’s cell. At the end of the room was a locked
door which was opened only after Rizal was read his death sentence on 29 December 1896. On
the same day, Rizal passed through that door to transfer to the adobe barracks where he awaited
execution.
In this room with a view, Rizal received his visitors and wrote his letters during incarceration.
Here, on 29 December 1896 at 6:00am, Captain Rafael Dominguez, the Special Judge Advocate
of the Council of War, read the death sentence to Rizal.

Noli me tangere
This book located inside the heritage room “Silid Pamana”.
Rizal wrote Noli me tangere from 1884 to 1886. His friend
Maximo Viola lent him 300 pesos to print 300 copies of the book.
It came out of the press in 1887. Noli me tangere means “Touch me not” in Latin. He dedicated
the book to the Philippines which he portrayed as stricken with a social cancer. He was inspired
by Harriet Beecher Stowe’s Uncle Tom’s Cabin, which exposed the cruelties of American slave-
owners.
El Filibusterismo
This book is also located inside the heritage room “Silid
Pamana”. Rizal began to write El Filibusterismo his second
novel and continuation of the Noli me tangere, when he was
in Calamba in October 1887. He continued writing in London,
Paris, Madrid until he finished it in Biarritz, France in 1889.
Rizal pawned all his jewels in order to publish the manuscript. With the help of proceeds from the
annotated edition of Sucesos de las Islas Filipinas by Morga and the money from Jose Ma. Basa
and Valentin Ventura, the publication of the novel was realized in 1891.
Rizal dedicated the novel in memory of the three priests Mariano Gomes, Jose Burgos, and Jacinto
Zamora. Rizal aimed to awaken the consciousness of Filipinos to their social conditions and to the
need for them to work for their own salvation.

Artifacts are important today because it provides information on ancient civilization, how
they flourished, what culture, events, and beliefs they had. Artifacts also reflect what kind of life
the ancient people had. It is a major contribution to the history of the world and served as a record
in ancient times. Just like those artifacts stated in this paper. Because of these artifacts we can
prove that Filipinos have their own culture, values and respect.

Conclusion

Studying history of Rizal is important because we can understand what happened

in the past. It will broadens our knowledge and understanding to enlighten us and deal with our
future without any doubt. Understanding Rizal's history, origin and events in the past time is
helping our progress today. What we are today has a great impact from our history. History is
important to study because we have to be aware on the incidents occur in the country at different
times. We will understand how it affects people’s lives during the time of Rizal.

Before I went to Fort Santiago, I was too excited because it was my first time to go there
and also to know more about Rizal. The happiness I feel before, was replaced by sadness because
when I’m inside the Fort Santiago (Museo ni Jose Rizal), I feel so hurt because I saw how Rizal
suffer from day one until his last day. If you were there you would really feel what happened
during Rizal's time. I realized that Fort Santiago is not just a quiet place today. This is not just a
place to stroll and relax. It's a place where you can pick up things you don't know, and most of it
is about Rizal.

A message conveyed by the Fort Santiago, is to remind and appreciate the

accomplishments of our hero. This place is very old but historical events in our country was
happened here. Students should be able to access it because we have so much to learn in this place.
We must also take care and maintain the place so that the next generation of young people can see
it, and recognize the person who fought for the people even in exchange for our National Hero's
life, Dr. Jose P. Rizal.

Documentation

This photo was taken last October 02, 2019 in Fort Santiago during our visit in
Museo ni Jose Rizal in Intramuros, Manila.

The “Silid Pagninilay, Silid Paglilitis, Kabayanihan, at Silid Pamana”.

This photo is taken inside the Museo ni Jose Rizal.