Contribution to Science

Rizal found Mindanao a rich virgin field for collecting specimens. T

he specimens he found were sent to the museum of Europe, especially the Dresden Museum.

In payment for these specimens, the European scientists sent him scientific books and surgical
instruments.

He also discovered some rare species twhich were named in his honor by the scientists. Among these
are Draco rizali, Apogonia Rizali, etc.

As revealed by his scientist friends in Europe, there was no limit to his scientific versatility.

Linguistic Studies

He was born a linguist. In Dapitan, he wrote a Tagalog grammar and made a comparative study of the
Bisayan and Malayan languages, and studied the Bisayan and Subanum languages.

On April 5, 1896, he wrote to Blumentritt that he already know Bisayan and that he speak it quite well.

By this time, Rizal could rank with the world's great linguists since he knew 22 languages.

Artistic Works in Dapitan

He contributed his painting skill to the Sisters of Charity who were preparing the sanctuary of the Holy
Virgin in their private chapel. For the sake of economy, the head of the image was "procured from
abroad".

Rizal made sketches of persons and things that attracted him in Dapitan.

One day in 1894, some of his pupils secretly went to Dapitan, Rizal's dog tried to follow but was
devoured by a crocodile. He modeled a statuette the mother-dog killing the crocodile, by way of
avenging her lost puppy, and called it 'The Mother's Revenge'.

Other sculptural works of Rizal in Dapitan were a bust of Father Guerrico (one of his Ateneo professors),
a statue of a girl called "The Dapital Girl", a woodcarving of Josephine Bracken (his wife), and others.

Rizal as a Farmer

In Dapitan, Rizal devoted much of his time in agriculture. Rizal had a total holdings of 70 hectares. On his
farms, Rizal introduced modern methods of agriculture which he had observed in Europe and America.
He also imported agricultural machinery from the United States.

Rizal dreamed of establishing an agricultural colony in the Sitio of Ponot near Sindagan Bay, where there
was plenty of water and good port facilities. Unfortunately this colony did not materialize because he
could not get the support of the government.

Rizal as Businessman

He made profitable business ventures in fishing, copra, and hemp industries.

The most profitable business venture of Rizal in Dapitan was in the hemp industry.
 In his letter to Blumentritt on July 31, 1894, he said: "To kill time and also to help the people of this
town, I have become a merchant."

To break the Chinese Monopoly on business in Dapitan, Rizal organized in January 1, 1895, the
Cooperative Association of Dapitan Farmers.

Rizal's Inventive Ability

Rizal wrote to Blumentritt on November 20, 1895 about the wooden machine for making bricks.

My Retreat

In February 1895, Doña Teodora, with her eyesight fully restored, returned to Manila. Before that, she
requested Rizal to write poetry again.

In response to her request, Rizal wrote a very beautiful poem about his serene life in exile in Dapitan
and sent it to her on October 22, 1895.

This poem was "Mi Retiro" (My Retreat), which is acclaimed by literary critics as one of the best ever
penned by Rizal.

Rizal and Josephine Bracken

When Leonora Rivera died, it left him a poignant void in his heart. He needed somebody to cheer him up
in his lonely exile. This somebody came to Dapitan. She was Josephine Bracken, an 18 years old Irish girl.

They fell in love with each other at first sight. After a whirlwind of romance in one month, they agreed
to marry.

Since no priest would marry them, Rizal and Josephine held hands together and married themselves
before the eyes of God. Rizal and Josephine lived happily in Dapitan. He was no longer lonely. Dapitan
had become for him a heaven of bliss.

Rizal also wrote a poem for her entitled "Josephine, Josephine".

In the early part of 1896, Rizal was extremely happy because Josephine was expecting a baby.
Unfortunately, he played a prank of her, frightening her so that she prematurely gave birth to an eight-
month old baby boy, who lived only for 3 hours.

The lost son of Rizal was named Francisco in honor of his father.

Rizal and the Katipunan

While Rizal was mourning the loss of his son, a revolution gradually darkened the Philippine skies.

In a secret meeting of the Katipunan at a little river called Bitukang Manok on May 2, 1896, Dr. Pio
Valenzuela was named emmisary to Dapitan, in order to inform Rizal of the plan of the Katipunan to
launch a revolution in freedom's sake.

On June 15, Dr. Valenzuela left Manila and to camouflage his real mission, he brought with him a blind
man named Raymundo Mata and a guide, to solicit Rizal's expert medical advise.
They arrived in Dapitan in the evening of June 21, 1896. Rizal welcomed him and the two had a heart-to-
heart- talk. Valenzuela told him of the Katipunan plan and the necessity of his support

Rizal objected to Bonifacio's project to plunge the country in bloody revolution. He was of a sincere
belief that it was premature, for two reasons: 1) The people are not ready for revolution, 2) arms and
funds must first be collected before raising the cry of revolution.

He also disapproved of the plan of Katipunan to rescue him becauae he had given his word of honor to
Spanish authorities and he did not want to break them.

Volunteer as Military Doctor in Cuba

Months before Katipunan contacted him, Rizal offered his services as military doctor in Cuba. There was
a shortage of physicians to minister to the needs of the Spanish troops and Cuban people.

It was Blumentritt who advised him to volunteer as army physician there. Acting upon Blumentritt's
advice, he wrote to Governor General Ramon Blanco, on December 17, 1895, offering his services as
milotary doctor in Cuba.

When he least expected it, a letter from Governon Blanco dated July 1896, arrived in Dapitan, notifying
him of acceptance of his offer.

This letter which reached him on July 30th also stated that the politico-military commander of Dapitan
would give him a pass so that he could come to Manila.

The Song of the Traveler

Rizal was joyful when he recieved the gladsome news from Malacañang. At last he was free, once more
he was going to travel in Europe then to Cuba. Because of that, he wrote another poem, "El Ciento del
Viajero" (The Song of the Traveler).

Adios, Dapitan

On July 31, 1896, Rizal's four-year exile in Dapitan came to an end. At midnight of that date, he
embarked on board the steamer España. He was accompanied by Josephine, Narcissa, Angelica
(Narcissa's daughter), his three nephews, and six pupils.

Almost all Dapital folks, young and old, were at the shore to bid him goodbye. Many wept as the
steamer sialed away, especially his other pupils who were too poor to accompany their beloved teacher
to Manila.

As farewell music, the town brass band strangely played the dolorous "Funeral March" of Chopin.

When he could no longer see the dim shoreline of Dapitan, he sadly went to his cabin and wrote in his
diary, "I have been in that district four years, thirteen days, and a few hours."