Reaction Paper

Chapter 22: Exile in Dapitan depicts Rizal’s 4 year “interregnum” in Dapitan under
missionary jurisdiction from 1892-1896. Rizal, however, made good use of his time in
improving his intellectual repertoire as well as the community around him. In his stay, he
continued to practice medicine as a physician for the locals and pursued scientific
studies in conchology. He also had a healthy debate with Father Pablo Pastells on
religion. Rizal also continued his artistic and literary works – creating sculptures and
writing poems such as “Himno a Talisay.” As a polyglot, Rizal added Visayan, Subanon,
and Malay to the list of languages he can speak (22 in total). He also promoted
community development projects such as a water system, lighting system and the
beautification of Dapitan. Not to mention, Rizal won a lottery, challenged a Frenchman
to a duel, taught students and invented a machine for making bricks. Rizal also sought
as a farmer and as a businessman until his departure on July 31, 1896.

One of my reactions is that Rizal always had something to do. He wasted no time
because any waking moment could be his last with the Spanish on to him in Dapitan.
He did all the things he could do and made his life something to be remembered. And
maybe that is what most young people should do. To take more risks and make their
lives worth looking back to. In Rizal’s time, he made huge calculated risks so that the
Filipino could be liberated from Spanish oppression.

Something else about Rizal is that even though he was restrained to some degree by
the missionaries, he still strived in creating something worthwhile with his time. He was
productive to which it benefitted both himself and the community around him. I think that
should serve as an example in how young people should be doing as well. By
developing one’s skills and narrowing the gaps in our knowledge, we also improve our
surroundings and in extension, in a grander scale, contribute to our communities by
using productive time to use. Amongst other things, Rizal though was a genius during
that period in Philippine history and took to it to the extreme because not only did he
used his time to fight for the liberation of the Filipino but also his sacrifice paved the
path for revolutionaries to fight for (and ultimately, win) Philippine independence.

In conclusion, Rizal’s life and works are revered and studied to this day and Chapter 22:
Exile in Dapitan is a small but still insightful look on Rizal’s doings and achievements
while he was in exile.