 Our Hero: Jose Rizal

 1st Think like Rizal!

 JOSE RIZAL'S VIDEOS

JOSE PROTASIO RIZAL

MERCADO Y ALONZO
REALONDA
"OUR HERO"

CHAPTER Eight: JOSE P. RIZAL'S EXILE IN DAPITAN (1892-

1896)
24/7/2014

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Jose Rizal's arrival in Manila on June 26, 1892 had become very sensational among the Filipinos. His popularity feared the

Spaniards, and as such, payed careful attention to his every moves – all houses where he had been were searched and the

Filipinos seen in his company were suspected. As he had planned, on July 3, 1892 he founded the La Liga Filipina in the house

of Doroteo Ongjunco in Tondo, Manila. (For a more comprehensive discussion on the La Liga Filipina, click here).

Four days after the civic organization's foundation, Jose Rizal was arrested by the Spanish authorities on four grounds:

1. for publishing anti-Catholic and anti-friar books and articles;

2. for having in possession a bundle of handbills, the Pobres Frailes, in which advocacies were in violation of the Spanish

orders;

3. for dedicating his novel, El Filibusterismo to the three “traitors” (Gomez, Burgos and Zamora) and for emphasizing on the
novel's title page that “the only salvation for the Philippines was separation from the mother country (referring to Spain)”; and

4. for simply criticizing the religion and aiming for its exclusion from the Filipino culture.

Arrival in Dapitan

Aboard the steamer Cebu and under heavy guard, Rizal left Manila, sailing to Mindoro and Panay, until he reached Dapitan at

seven o'clock in the evening of June 17. From that day until July 31, 1896, Dapitan became the bare witness to one of the most

fruitful periods in Rizal's life. His stay in the province was more than “he” living in exile – it was the period when Rizal had been

more focused on serving the people and the society through his civic works, medical practices, land development and

promotion of education.

Challenging the Religion

In Dapitan, Rizal had a scholarly debate with Father Pablo Pastells regarding religion. This exchange of heated arguments

revealed the anti-Christian Rizal – his bitterness on the abuses performed by friars, doing such under the name of the sacred

religion. Father Pastells tried his best to win Rizal back to the faith but fortunately or unfortunately, in vain. These series of

debate ended inconclusively in which neither of them convinced the other of his judgments/arguments.

Careers and Contributions

Rizal had maximized his stay in Dapitan by devoting much of his time in improving his artistic and literary skills; doing

agricultural and civic projects; engaging in business activities, and writing letters to his friends in Europe, particularly

to Ferdinand Blumentritt and Reinhold Rost. His careers and achievements in different fields were as follows:

§ As a physician, Rizal provided free medicine to his patients, most of them were underprivileged. However, he also had
wealthy patients who paid him well enough for his excellent surgical skill. Among them were Don Ignacio Tumarong who gave

Rizal 3000 pesos for restoring his sight, an Englishman who gave him 500 pesos, and Aklanon haciendero, DonFrancisco

Azcarraga, who paid him a cargo of sugar. His skill was put into test in August 1893 when his mother, Doña Teodora Alonzo,

was placed under opthalmic surgery for the third time. The operation was a success, however, Alonzo, ignored her son's

instructions and removed the bandages in her eyes which lead to irritation and infection.

§ As an engineer, Rizal applied his knowledge through the waterworks system he constructed in Dapitan. Going back to his

academic life, Rizal obtained the title of expert surveyor (perito agrimensor) from the Ateneo Municipal. From his practical

knowledge as agrimensor, he widened his knowledge by reading engineering-related books. As a result, despite the

inadequacy of tools at hand, he successfully provided a good water system in the province.

§ As an educator, Rizal established a school in Dapitan which was attended by 16 young boys from prominent families.

Instead of charging them for the matriculation, he made the students do community projects for him like maintaining his

garden and field. He taught them reading, writing in English and Spanish, geography, history, mathematics, industrial work,

nature study, morals and gymnastics. He encouraged his students to engage in sports activities to strengthen their bodies as

well. There was no formal room, like the typical classroom nowadays. Classes were conducted from 2 p.m to 4 p.m. with the

teacher sitting on a hammock while the students sat on a long bamboo bench.

§ As an agriculturist, Rizal devoted time in planting important crops and fruit-bearing trees in his 16-hectare land (later,

reaching as large as 70 hectares). He planted cacao, coffee,sugarcane, and coconuts, among many others. He even invested

part of his earnings from being a medical practitioner and his 6000-peso winnings from a lottery on lands. From the United

States, he imported agricultural machinery and introduced to the native farmers of Dapitan the modern agricultural methods.

Rizal also visualized of having an agricultural colony in Sitio Ponot, within the Sindañgan Bay. He believed that the area was

suitable for cattle-raising and for cash-crops as the area had abundant water. Unfortunately, this plan did not materialized.

§ As a businessman, the adventurous Rizal, with his partner, Ramon Carreon, tried his luck in the fishing, hemp and copra
industries. In a letter to his brother-in-law, Manuel T. Hidalgo, he pointed out the potential of the fishing industry in the

province (as the area was abundant with fish and good beach). He also requested that two good Calamba fishermen be sent to

Dapitan to teach the fisher folks of the new fishing methods, using a big net called pukutan. But the industry in which Rizal

became more successful was in hemp, shipping the said product to a foreign firm in Manila.

§ As an inventor, little was known of Rizal. In 1887, during his medical practice in Calamba, he invented a special type of

lighter called sulpukan which he sent to Blumentritt as a gift. According to Rizal, the wooden lighter's mechanism was based

on the principle of compressed air. Another of his inventions was the wooden brick-maker can manufacture about 6,000

bricks a day.

§ As an artist, he had contributed his talent in the Sisters of Charity who were preparing for the arrival of the image of the

Holy Virgin. Rizal was actually the person who modeled the image's right foot and other details. He also conceptualize its

curtain, which was oil-painted by a Sister under his instruction. He also made sketches of anything which attracted him in

Dapitan. Among his collections were the three rare fauna species that he discovered (dragon/lizard, frog and beetle) and the

fishes he caught. He also sculptured the statuette called “The Mother's Revenge” which represented his dog, Syria, avenging

her puppy to a crocodile which killed it.

§ As a linguist, Rizal was interested in the languages used in Dapitan, thus, studied and made comparisons of the Bisayan and

Malayan languages existing in the region. In fact, Rizal had knowledge in 22 languages: Tagalog, Ilocano, Bisayan, Subanun,

Spanish, Latin, Greek, English, French, German, Arabic, Malayan, Hebrew, Sanskrit, Dutch, Catalan, Italian, Chinese, Japanes,

Portuguese, Swedish and Russian.

§ As a scientist, Rizal shared his interest with nature to his students. With his boys, they explored the jungles and searched for

specimens which he sent to museums in Europe, particularly in Dressed Museum. In return, scientific books and surgical

instruments were delivered to him from the European scientists. He also made a bulk of other researches and studies in the

fields of ethnography, archaeology, geology, anthropology and geography. However, Rizal's most significant contribution in
the scientific world was his discovery of three species:

§ Draco rizali – flying dragon

§ Apogonia rizali – small beetle

§ Rhacophorus rizali – rare frog

§ Rizal also partakes in civic works in Dapitan. Upon arriving in the province, he noticed its poor condition. He drained the

marshes of Dapitan to get rid of malaria-carrying mosquitoes. He also provided lighting system – coconut oil lamps posted in

dark streets – in the province out of what he earned from being a physician. He beautified Dapitan by remodelling the town

plaza, with the aid of his Jesuit teacher, Fr. Francisco Sanchez, and created a relief map of Mindanao (footnote: using stones,

soil and grass) right in front the church.

Romantic affair with Josephine Bracken

Rizal had always been missing his family and their happy moments together in Calamba and his despair doubled upon the

announcement of Leonor Rivera's death. Not soon, to his surprise, an Irish girl enlightened his rather gloomy heart. This girl

was the 18-year old Josephine Bracken who, to Wenceslao Retana's words, was “slender, a chestnut blond, with blue eyes,

dressed with elegant simplicity, with an atmosphere of light (gaiety).”

From Hongkong, she arrived in Dapitan in February, 1895 with his blind foster father, George Taufer, and a Filipina named

Manuela Orlac. Rizal's fame as an opthalmic surgeon reached overseas, and one of Rizal's friends, Julio Llorente referred the

group to Rizal. Rizal and Bracken instantly fell in love with each and in just one month, they agreed to marry which appalled

and disturbed Taufer. However, the parish priest of Dapitan, Father Pedro Obach, refused to do so unless they be permitted

by the Bishop of Cebu.

On the other hand, Taufer returned to Hongkong uncured. Because no priest was willing to marry the two, the couple

exchanged their vows before God in their own way, which scandalized Fr. Obach. In 1896, their love bear its fruit – Josephine

was pregnant. Unfortunately, Bracken gave birth to a one-month premature baby boy who lived only for three hours. The

child was buried in Dapitan, bearing the name Francisco, after Rizal's father.

Katipunan seek Rizal’s Advice

Prior to the outbreak of the revolution, the Katipunan leader, Andres Bonifacio, seek the advise of Jose Rizal. In a secret

meeting on May 2, 1896 at Bitukang Manok river in Pasig, the group agreed to send Dr. Pio Valenzuela as a representative to

Dapitan who will inform Rizal of their plan to launch a revolution against the Spaniards. On board the steamer Venus,

Valenzuala left Manila on June 15, 1892 and in 6 days, arrived at Dapitan with a blind companion, Raymundo Mata. At night,

Rizal and Valenzuela had a talk in the former's garden. There, Valenzuela told him of the Katipunan's plan. Regarding this, Rizal

outspokenly objected Bonifacio's “premature” idea for two reasons:

1. the Filipinos were still unready for such bloody revolution; and

2. the Katipunan lacked machinery – before plotting a revolution, there must be sufficient arms and funds collected.

Valenzuela also told Rizal of their plan to rescue him in Dapitan. Again, the exiled hero disagreed because he had no plan of

breaking his word of honor to the Spanish authorities.

As a Volunteer in Cuba

During the peak of the Cuban revolution, Rizal offered his services as a military doctor to compromise with the shortage of

physicians in the said country. It was his friend Ferdinand Blumentritt who informed him of the situation in Cuba and
suggested that he volunteer himself as army doctor. On December 17, 1895, Rizal sent a letter to Governor General Ramon

Blanco rendering his service for Cuba. But for months Rizal awaited in vain for the governor's reply, and loss hope that his

request will be granted. It was only on July 30, 1896 when Rizal received a letter from Governor Blanco, dated July 2, 1896,

accepting his offer. The letter also stated that Rizal will be given a pass so that he can go to Manila, then to Spain where its

Minister of War will assign shim to the Army of Operations in Cuba.

Farewell in Dapitan

At midnight of July 31, 1896, Jose Rizal left Dapitan on board the steamer España, together with Narcisa, Josephine, Angelica

(Narcisa's daughter), three nephews and six of his students. Many were saddened as the adopted son of Dapitan left.

In Cebu, on their way to Manila, Rizal successfully performed an opthalmic operation to a merchant who paid him fifty silver

pesos. After almost a week, on August 6, 1896, España arrived in Manila. Rizal was supposedly to board the Isla de Luzon for

Spain, but unfortunately, left ahead of time. Instead, he was transferred to the Spanish cruiser Castilla to stay and wait for the

next mail boat that woul sail for Spain next month. He was prohibited from leaving the vicinity but was allowed to accept

visitors so long as they were his immediate family. Of course, all these delays were part of the drama – Rizal has now fallen to

the critical/deadly Spanish trap.

Rizal lived in exile in far-away Dapitan, a remote town in Mindanao which was under the missionary jurisdiction of the Jesuits,

from 1892 to 1896. This four-year interregnum in his life was tediously unexciting, but was abundantly fruitful with varied

achievements (Zaide, 2008).

"...wherever I go I would always be in the hands of God who has in
His hands the destinies of man." -Jose Rizal
This monumental work of art is a tribute to all Dapitanons and to those who, in heart and in mind, silently share the same

vision of Dr. Jose Rizal for the greater glory of Dapitan. This serves as a reminder to all - that Dapitan was once blessed with

the distinct privilege and opportunity to shelter the greatest Filipino martyr who lived here on exile for four years, thirteen

days and a few hours...sharing his noble life, works, and teachings. The realization of this historical landmark was made

possible through the sustainable development efforts and and initiatives of former Cong. Romeo "Nonong" G. Jalosjos, and

the City Government of Dapitan concretized by the artistic touch and technical expertise of the following

personalities: Antonio Tuviera (concept and production), Nilo Ajo. Ferraren (architect), Manuel Tolentino (sculptor), and

Ronel Roces (installation and bronnzing). This monument was unveiled during the 4th Handuraw Celebration on December

28, 2009. -Inscription

This cross, located across Rizal's landing site at Dapitan, marks
the start of Catholicism in the island.
In front of the church, Rizal and Father Sanchez made a huge relief map of Mindanao out of earth, stones and grass. This map

still adorns the town plaza of Dapitan (Zaide, 2008). This artistic manifestation of a well-lived exile was made by Dr. Jose P.

Rizal on August 1892 based on the map done by Fr. Pedro Murillo Velarde, a French Jesuit in 1752. He was assisted by Fr.

Francisco Paula de Sanchez, S.J., his favorite teacher at the Ateneo de Manila where he studied in 1872-1877. Rizal used this

map as a motivating device in teaching geography and history to his pupils during his lonely but productive banishment in

Dapitan from July 17, 1892 to July 31, 1896 (Inscription).

St. James Church is located across the Relief Map of Mindanao, and used to be Rizal's place of worship. The hero used to pray

in a corner at the back of the church to avoid the eyes of the judgmental friars who constantly hinted at him during their

sermons.
Standing in the spot where Rizal used to stand during masses, one can behold this view inside the church. "On this spot of

Saint James Church constructed by the Jesuits in 1871, Jose Rizal stood while hearing mass every Sunday during his exile in

Dapitan in 1892-1896." (Inscription)

Casa Cuadrada (Replica of the Pupils' Dormitory and Workshop)

Rizal effected the construction of the house to accommodate the growing number of pupils in his Talisay School. The area

underneath the hut served as the workshop of his pupils (Inscription). His exile to Dapitan gave Rizal the opportunity to put

into practice his educational ideas. In 1893 he established a school which existed until the end of his exile in July 1896. It

began with three pupils and in the course of time the enrolment increased to 16 and later to 21. Instead of charging tuition

fees, he made them work in his garden, fields, and construction projects in the community (Zaide 2008).
Casa Redonda (Replica of the Octagonal Clinic of Rizal)

The octagonal hut served as Rizal's clinic and as dormitory of some of his pupils. Reconstructed with similar materials as the

main house, it now stands as a reminder of the numerous medications performed by Rizal during his exile in Dapitan

(Inscription).
"From my house I hear the murmur of a crystal brook which comes from the high rocks; I see the seashore... In the square

house we live, my mother, sister Trinidad, a nephew and I" - Rizal (Zaide, 2008).
Constructed by Rizal in 1895 with the help of his pupils, the water system provided adequate year-round water supply for

Rizal's farm and household needs (Inscription). An American engineer, Mr. H.F. Cameron, praised Rizal's engineering feat in

the following words: "Another famous and well-known water supply is that of Dapitan, Mindanao, designed and constructed

by Dr. Rizal during his banishment in that municipality by the Spanish authorities... This supply comes from a little mountain

stream across the river from Dapitan and follows the contour of the country for the whole distance. When one considers that

Doctor Rizal had no explosives with which to blast the hard rocks and no resources save his own ingenuity, one cannot help

but honor a man, who against adverse conditions, had the courage and tenacity to construct the aqueduct which had for its

bottom the flutted tiles from the house roofs, and was covered with concrete made from lime burned from the sea coral. The

length of this aqueduct is several kilometers, and it winds in and out among the rocks and is carried across gullies in bamboo

pipes upheld by rocks or brick piers to the distribution reservoir" (Zaide, 2008).
Because they could not be married in a church, Rizal and Josephine Bracken exchanged vows on this rock. Rizal and Josephine

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

the priest of Dapitan, refused to marry them without the pemission of the Bishop of Cebu. Since no priest would marry them,

Rizal and Josephine held hands together and married themselves before the eyes of God (Zaide, 2008).
 Josephine (A Josefina)

Who to these shores have come

Looking for a nest, a home,

Like a wandering swallow;

If your fate is taking you

To Japan, China or Shanghai,

Don't forget on these shores

A heart for you beats high.

-Jose Rizal
Like to a leaf that is fallen and withered,

Tossed by the tempest from pole unto pole ;

hus roams the pilgrim abroad without purpose,

Roams without love, without country or soul.

Following anxiously treacherous fortune,

Fortune which e 'en as he grasps at it flees ;

Vain though the hopes that his yearning is seeking,

Yet does the pilgrim embark on the seas !

Ever impelled by the invisible power,

Destined to roam from the East to the West ;

Oft he remembers the faces of loved ones,

Dreams of the day when he, too, was at rest.

Chance may assign him a tomb on the desert,

Grant him a final asylum of peace ;

Soon by the world and his country forgotten,

God rest his soul when his wanderings cease !

Often the sorrowing pilgrim is envied,

Circling the globe like a sea-gull above ;

Little, ah, little they know what a void

Saddens his soul by the absence of love.

Home may the pilgrim return in the future,

Back to his loved ones his footsteps he bends ;

Naught wìll he find but the snow and the ruins,

Ashes of love and the tomb of his friends,

Pilgrim, begone ! Nor return more hereafter,

Stranger thou art in the land of thy birth ;

Others may sing of their love while rejoicing,

Thou once again must roam o'er the earth.

Pilgrim, begone ! Nor return more hereafter,

Dry are the tears that a while for thee ran ;

 Pilgrim, begone ! And forget thine affliction,

Loud laughs the world at the sorrows of man.

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May-an Manalo

26/10/2019 04:04:36 am

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 Our Hero: Jose Rizal

 1st Think like Rizal!
 JOSE RIZAL'S VIDEOS

JOSE PROTASIO RIZAL

MERCADO Y ALONZO
REALONDA
"OUR HERO"