Lesson 1

REPUBLIC ACT NO. 1425

AN ACT TO INCLUDE IN THE CURRICULA OF ALL PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SCHOOLS, COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES
COURSES ON THE LIFE, WORKS AND WRITINGS OF JOSE RIZAL, PARTICULARLY HIS NOVELS NOLI ME TANGERE AND
EL FILIBUSTERISMO, AUTHORIZING THE PRINTING AND DISTRIBUTION THEREOF, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
 
WHEREAS, today, more than any other period of our history, there is a need for a re-dedication to the ideals of freedom and nationalism for which
our heroes lived and died;
WHEREAS, it is meet that in honoring them, particularly the national hero and patriot, Jose Rizal, we remember with special fondness and devotion
their lives and works that have shaped the national character;
WHEREAS, the life, works and writing of Jose Rizal, particularly his novels Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo, are a constant and inspiring
source of patriotism with which the minds of the youth, especially during their formative and decisive years in school, should be suffused;
WHEREAS, all educational institutions are under the supervision of, and subject to regulation by the State, and all schools are enjoined to develop
moral character, personal discipline, civic conscience and to teach the duties of citizenship; Now, therefore;
 
SECTION 1. Courses on the life, works and writings of Jose Rizal, particularly his novel Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo, shall be
included in the curricula of all schools, colleges and universities, public or private: Provided, that in the collegiate courses, the original or
unexpurgated editions of the Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo or their English translation shall be used as basic texts.
The Board of National Education is hereby authorized and directed to adopt forthwith measures to implement and carry out the provisions of
this Section, including the writing and printing of appropriate primers, readers and textbooks. The Board shall, within sixty (60) days from the
effectivity of this Act, promulgate rules and regulations, including those of a disciplinary nature, to carry out and enforce the provisions of
this Act. The Board shall promulgate rules and regulations providing for the exemption of students for reasons of religious belief stated in a
sworn written statement, from the requirement of the provision contained in the second part of the first paragraph of this section; but not from
taking the course provided for in the first part of said paragraph. Said rules and regulations shall take effect thirty (30) days after their
publication in the Official Gazette.
SECTION 2. It shall be obligatory on all schools, colleges and universities to keep in their libraries an adequate number of copies of the
original and unexpurgated editions of the Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo, as well as of Rizal’s other works and biography. The said
unexpurgated editions of the Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo or their translations in English as well as other writings of Rizal shall be
included in the list of approved books for required reading in all public or private schools, colleges and universities.
The Board of National Education shall determine the adequacy of the number of books, depending upon the enrollment of the school, college
or university.
SECTION 3. The Board of National Education shall cause the translation of the Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo, as well as other
writings of Jose Rizal into English, Tagalog and the principal Philippine dialects; cause them to be printed in cheap, popular editions; and
cause them to be distributed, free of charge, to persons desiring to read them, through the Purok organizations and Barrio Councils throughout
the country.
SECTION 4. Nothing in this Act shall be construed as amendment or repealing section nine hundred twenty-seven of the Administrative
Code, prohibiting the discussion of religious doctrines by public school teachers and other person engaged in any public school.
SECTION 5. The sum of three hundred thousand pesos is hereby authorized to be appropriated out of any fund not otherwise appropriated in
the National Treasury to carry out the purposes of this Act.
SECTION 6. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.
 
Approved: June 12, 1956
Published in the Official Gazette, Vol. 52, No. 6, p. 2971 in June 1956.
       By integrating Rizal in the curriculum, this would benefit the Filipino Youth as well as the whole nation to acquire the following traits:
incorruptible, confidence, direction, courage and determination, nationalism and patriotism.
 
Lesson 2
Criteria for choosing a National Hero
Dr. Otley H. Bayer, an anthropologist and technical member of the panel of the Philippine Commission recommended the following criteria choosing
the national hero.
1. The person must be a Filipino
2. The person is a peace-loving and pacifist.
3. The person must have a great sense of patriotism
4. The person must die for country as a martyr.
Reasons why Rizal was chosen and declared as the Philippine’s National Hero.
1. He was the first Filipino to unite and awaken the Filipino People to peacefully rise for independence,
2. He is a model for being a peacemaker by his complete self-denial, his complete abandonment of his personal interest and to think only of
his country and people,
3. He was a towering figure in the propaganda campaign from, 1882-1896.
4. He was a martyr at Bagumbayan where he willingly died for our country.
Rizal’s time was deemed to be the height of the maladministration of Spain and its decay that observed the Philippine skies. The Filipino people
suffered intensely beneath the bondage of Spanish misrule for they were ill-fated victims of the evils, injustice, prejudice and sudden collapse of
colonial power.
 
Among these beneficial features were the following:
 1. Instability of Colonial Administration
2. Corrupt Spanish Officials
3. No Philippine Representation to the Spanish Courts
4. Human Rights denied to the Filipinos
5. No Equality before the Law
6. Maladministration of justice
7. Racial Discrimination
8. Frailocracy and Secularization of Filipino Priest
9. Forced Labor and Excessive Taxes
10. Haciendas Owned by the Friars and Spanish Officials
11. The Abuses of the Guard Civil, Church Officials and Political Leaders
Dr. Jose Rizal’s writing summarizes his nationalistic and patriotic philosophy as well as his keen sense of awareness of the Filipino people’s need
for nation building.
A tribute to a man and hero should be our rationale, because we believe that Dr. Jose Rizal was an exponent of the roots of our nationhood.
The framers of the Rizal law envisioned that by studying his life, dissecting his teachings and literary works, the youth may gain inspiration
and might personally involve them in nation building. 
Dr. Jose P. Rizal was chosen as the Greatest Philippine National Hero
A hero is a person admired for achievements and noble qualities and a prominent or central personage taking an admirable action. Also, a
person of distinguished valor or enterprise in dagger and an individual honored after death by public worship because of laudable and
exceptional service to mankind.     
RIZAL AS A HERO
1. Performed outstanding deeds - used the pen to fight
2. Risked his very being for the sake of his countrymen - he waged a non-violent crusade against the oppressors of his countrymen
3. He is a victim - suffered political martyrdom
HONORS ACCORDED TO RIZAL AS THE PHILIPPINE NATIONAL HERO
1. The day of his birth and day of his execution are fittingly commemorated by all classes of people throughout the country and other Filipino
abroad.
2. No other Filipino hero can surpass Rizal in the number of monuments erected in his honor, in towns, barrios, and schools.
3. His name is a by-word in every home and his picture is printed and used in postage stamps.
4. The paper money/coins with his image have the widest circulation that the poorest of the poor can take hold.
5. Streets, boulevard, educational institutions and persons were named “Rizal”.
6. His noble thoughts and teachings had been frequently invoked and quoted by speakers.
7. The union of Manila and Morong to be a province was named after the illustration of hero thus Rizal province was established.
 
Lesson 3
THE HERO OF ANDRES BONIFACIO AND THE KATIPUNEROS

Jose P. Rizal had the great influence to Andres Bonifacio, through reading of Rizal's works, nationalistic sentiments of Bonifacio were
enhanced and the novels of Rizal gave Bonifacio an idea about the revolution. And we may consider Andres Bonifacio as the first hero who
recognized Jose Rizal as his hero. The fanaticism of Andres Bonifacio to Rizal was evident when Andres attended the founding of La Liga
Filipina on July 3, 1892. The La Liga Filipina is a civic organization founded by Jose Rizal which aimed for the reform in the society through
education and the unity of the whole archipelago. However, the organization did not attain its goal because Rizal was exiled to Dapitan and he
lived there for four years (July 1892-July 1896) and his exile pushed Andres Bonifacio and another six people to establish KKK
(Kataastaasang Katipunang mga Anak ng Bayan). KKK had different objective than the La Liga Filipina because it did not aim for reform but
independence from Spanish rule through revolution. The extent of influence of Rizal to Andres was also seen in some aspect of KKK, the
password of Bayani, the highest grade or group in KKK was Rizal. The photograph of Rizal was also hang in the headquarters of the KKK.
And the presence of Andres Bonifacio in founding of La Liga Filipina on July 3, 1892 was one of the evidences that the Spaniards used to
associate Rizal to Bonifacio and as the founder of KKK.
While Rizal was in Dapitan, Andres Bonifacio and the members of KKK had the opportunity to expand to the other provinces of the country,
from Manila to Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Bataan and other provinces which joined the uprising in 1896. The name Jose Rizal was used to
collect funds since during those time Jose Rizal was considered as a national figure. This action of the Katipuneros became part of the
evidence of the Spaniards that Jose Rizal was truly the leader of KKK and the uprisings in 1896.
In May 1896, the emissary of KKK (Dr. Pio Valenzuela) informed Jose Rizal about Rizal about the plan of the Revolutionists and sought
advice from him from him. However, Jose Rizal was against the revolution because he knew that the Filipinos were not yet ready for the
 revolution and they did not have a clear picture of good government that they should establish after the downfall of the Spanish government
in the Philippines. Aside from this, Rizal believed that the assistance of the Creoles and the lllustrados was very much important revolution
since they were educated.
In July 1896, Jose Rizal boarded a ship that would bring him to Singapore and from Singapore, he would travel to Spain because the
Governor Genera granted his request that he could be a volunteer doctor to Cuba. But upon his arrival in Madrid, he was not allowed to leave
the ship and for almost a month. He stayed in the ship and then returned to the Philippines as a prisoner in fort Santiago. This was because the
Spanish government already had the suspicion about the existence of KKK that Rizal was the founder of the secret society. 
On August 19, 1896, the existence of KKK was revealed to the Spanish government and on August 25, 1896, the uprising started and even
without concrete evidence, Rizal was accused as the leader of the uprising. The existence of KKK and the revolution were used by the friars
to execute Rizal. Thus, the idea of revolution that Rizal wrote on his novels also became the reason why he was executed on December 30,
1896.
 
THE HERO OF EMILIO AGUINALDO AND THE FIRST PHILIPPINE REPUBLIC

The death of Jose Rizal was the start of the real battle of the Filipinos against the Spaniards. His death intensified the hate feelings of the
Filipinos against the Spaniards. KKK continued their struggle against the Spaniards and the colonial government in the Philippines was near
to its end. However, because of the issue about leadership, the conflict between the two factions of KKK (Magdiwang-Magdalo) led to the
disunity of the katipuneros and the execution of Andres Bonifacio signed by Emilio Aguinaldo. The death of Andres Bonifacio was one of the
factors of the failure of the uprisings of the Filipino and on December 12-15, 1897, the Spaniards and the Filipino decided to end the hostility
and signed the Treaty of Biak na Bato.
However, the group of Emilio Aguinaldo had the opportunity to communicate to the Americans in Singapore and with their aid, the Spanish
colonial government in the Philippines ended. Upon the return of Emilio Aguinaldo from Hong Kong, he declared the independence of the
Philippines on June 12, 1898 and he became the first President. The administration of Aguinaldo on December 20, 1898, issued his first
proclamation wherein he declared December 30 as Rizal Day and ordered for the half mast of the Filipino flag from 12:00 noon on December
29 until 12:00 noon of December. (Zaide, 1994)
 
THE HERO OF THE OTHER NATIONALITIES
Jose P. Rizal was a well-travelled hero; he lived in Europe for eight years and was able to travel to Japan, America and North America.
During his travel, he spent his time inside the ship in conversation with other nationalities. Language was not a hindrance to him since he
knew 19 different languages. While he was in Europe, he attended different gatherings where intelligent and known people were involved. He
wrote different novels, essays and poem which were published in Europe and circulated in different parts of the world. And on his death, the
people who had the opportunity to witness his brilliance gave tribute to his greatness.
During the American colonization in the Philippines, Jose Rizal was formally recognized and the Americans gave importance to the
contributions of Rizal especially his idea about social reform. The Americans used education as a method of pacification and so with Jose
Rizal who viewed education as means of attaining reform. The first American civil governor in the Philippines, William Howard Taft
 approved the Act No. 137 which organized the politico- military district of Morong into the province of Rizal. Taft's action was in line with
their custom of naming the important localities in the memory of the person who had a great influence in the community and in the country.
The naming of the district of Morong after Rizal was the first official recognition of Americans to our hero. It was also William Howard Taft
who first expressed the need to choose a national hero to the members of the Philippine Assembly. In discussion of the commission resulted
to the list of the following heroes from Gen. Antonio Luna, Emilio Jacinto and Andres Bonifacio and among the list it was Jose P. Rizal who
was chosen as the National hero because of his contribution in building the sense of nationh0od and because of the extent of the influence of
his writings to the Filipinos.
 
THE HERO FOR THE FILIPINO YOUTH

The worth of a hero could not be known to different generations if the people did not have a clear understanding of his life, struggles and writings.
The life of Dr. Jose P. Rizal was well documented since he left numerous numbers of writings, a diary and a lot of correspondence to his family and
friends.
In July 1956, Jose P. Laurel, Claro M. Recto, Jose B. Laurel Jr., Jacobo Gonzales, Lorenzo Tañada and other lawmakers sponsored the
Republic Act 1425 that would enforce the teaching of the life and works of Jose P. Rizal in all public and private schools, colleges and
universities. 

Lesson 4 - Spain and Philippines in the 19th Century

SPAIN AND THE PHILIPPINES IN THE 19TH CENTURY
Political Instability in Spain
 After the death of Ferdinand VII, Spain went through a downward spiral as a world power.
 A struggle for the thrown followed between the forces loyal to Ferdinand’s daughter Isabella and his brother Charles. The ensuing struggle
would be known as the Carlist Wars.
 The forces loyal to Isabella defeated the Carlists allowing her to defy tradition to become the sole female monarch of Spain.
 There were frequent changes of governments in Spain which prevailed event after Isabella’s overthrow in 1868.
 The 19th century was a turbulent century of politics in Spanish history. It was a period of political instability owing to the frequent rise and
fall of ministries and constitutions.
 The Spanish crown worked out the canovite system or rotativism – the liberals and conservatives in Spain took turns in administering the
affairs of the country
 The political instability in Spain affected the Philippines adversely -there were frequent changes in the top colonial administration in the
Philippines.
 The Philippines became a dumping ground for the relatives and favorites of Spanish politicians in Madrid.
 
Abandonment of Mercantilism
 Before the 19th century, European practiced mercantilism – the country’s wealth and power can be measured in its stock of gold and silver.
 It also means that all trade should be conducted within a certain country and its colonies.
 Trade was dictated by the monarch and wealth should flow toward the center of imperial power.
 The Philippines was prohibited from trading with other European countries.
 By 18th and 19th centuries, there was a shift towards laissez faire or free market trade – countries and their colonies began trading with
one another.
 With the uselessness of mercantilism, the Philippines was officially opened to foreign trade by 1834.
 Before, only the Spaniards benefitted from the Galleon Trade; with free trade, the growers and traders of Philippine products gained
wealth.
 Greater participation in trade created a new middle class in the colony.
 Middle class families were able to send their children to acquire higher education.
 The opening of Suez Canal in 1869 brought Europe closer to the Philippines and the enlightenment ideas became more prevalent among
middle class – became known as the illustrados or the “enlightened ones”
 
The Philippines during Rizal’s time
 The Spanish colonial government in the Philippines ran indirectly through the viceroy of the Spain in Mexico.
 The Governor-General, appointed by the Spanish monarch, was the head of the Spanish colonial government in the country.
 He was the Vice Royal Patron – he could nominate priests for administration of the parishes.
 He was the commander in chief of the colonial army.
 Laws enacted by the Governor-General were called actos acordados.
 The Governor-General had the power of cumplase – the power to decide which law or royal decree should be implemented or disregarded
in the colony.
 Below the national government were the local government units, namely: provinces; towns; cities and barrios.
 The provinces during the Spanish regime were called alcaldias – each province was headed by an Alcalde Mayor or Provincial Governor,
who exercised executive and judicial functions.
 The provincial government was the most corrupt unit in local government then, because of indulto de commercio – a right given to Alcalde
Mayor to engage in trading.
 The alcaldias or provinces were divided into towns or pueblos. Each pueblo was headed by a gobernadorcillo or town mayor.
 At first, he was elected by all married males.
 In the 19th century, he was voted by 13 electors, chaired by the outgoing gobernadorcillo.
 His principal responsibility was tax collection.
 Each town was divided into barrios or barangays. Each barangay was headed by a cabeza de barangay
 His main function was the maintenance of peace & order and collection of taxes & tributes in the barangay.
 The city government during the Spanish regime was called ayuntamiento. It was governed by a cabildo or city council.
 A key figure in the local administrative set-up was the Spanish friar. This was because of the union of the church and state in the
Philippines.
 The Spanish friar was the supervising representative of the Spanish government for all local affairs. His approval was necessary on almost
all acts of the local officials.
 His approval was required in census lists, tax lists, list of army conscripts, and register of births, deaths and marriages.
 The friars became more powerful and influential that even civil authorities feared them. This situation was what Graciano Lopez Jaena
termed as frailocracia.
 They remained in colony every time a governor-general was removed from office, their advice on the proper management of governmental
affairs was sought by every new governor-general.
 Another institution feared in the Philippines then was the Guardia Civil. The guardia-civil was organized in 1867, as a corps of native
police under the leadership of Spanish officers for the purpose of dealing with outlaws and renegades.
 In 1880, it was the most feared instrument of summary arrests of individuals identified by the friars as filibusteros or enemies of the
government and erehes or enemies of the Catholic Church.
 Judicial power of the government was vested on the Royal Audiencia – the Supreme Court during those times.
 As the highest court in the Philippines, the Royal Audiencia did not only adjudicate appeals for civil and criminal cases.
 It also served as a forum for settling important issues on governance and an auditing agency of the finances of Spanish colonial
administration in the country.
 There was no legislature in the Philippines before the country was taken over by the United States in 1898.
 Philippine representation in the Spanish Cortes or lawmaking body was abolished in 1837.
 Spanish colonial administration was corrupt and inefficient.
 The Governor-General exercised absolute powers. He could reward positions in the bureaucracy to his favorites who were unqualified and
unfit for government service.
 Visitador - visited the country to check the administration of the Governor General.
 Residencia - lived in the Philippines to observe the Governor General.
 Another source of weakness and abuse of Spanish government was the widespread selling of lower positions to highest budders. Many
government officials in the country were appointed not on the basis of merit but ability to buy the position.

Lesson 5 - The Social Structure of Filipinos

THE SOCIAL STRUCTURE OF FILIPINO
Society
o The Filipinos were treated as slaves by the Spanish conquerors. They imposed and collected all forms of taxes and tributes from the
Filipinos and even required the natives to render polo y Servicio or forced labor to the government and the Catholic Church.
o The social structure implemented by Spain was pyramidal due to the colonizers’ adherence to the doctrine of liempieza de sangre or purity
of blood.
o Peninsulares – the highest class, Spanish born in Spain and live in the Philippines
o Insulares - Spanish born in the Philippines
o Creoles - the third class, they are the mix blood or combination of Spanish, Chinese and Filipino
 Illustrado – the well-educated Filipino
 Principalia – the ruling class of native elites
o Indios – the last class, the unfortunate and discriminated class in the society
o Social tensions were created between and among the classes, where the lower classes victimized by the upper classes.
o High positions in government were opened only to the pure-blooded Spaniards.
Educational System
o Up to the middle of 19th century, schools were under the control of the friars.
o Primary education was not given attention despite the establishment of parochial schools in many towns.
o Instruction at these schools centered on teaching of fear of God and obedience to the friars.
o Children in these schools were taught that they were of inferior intelligence and were suited only for manual work.
o Students’ learning was measured in terms of how well they can parrot the contents of a book even without comprehension.
o Filipino children were not able to develop self-confidence in their ability to learn.
o Native children developed severe inferiority complex. The culture of silence came to be instilled in the minds of the Filipino learners.
o By the end of the 19th century, only the University of Santo Tomas (UST) was the existing higher education institution in the Philippines.
o UST, founded by the Dominicans in 1611, was the only university, which offered courses in medicine, pharmacy, theology and philosophy.
o At the beginning of its operation, most of those seeking admission into its various programs were Spaniards and mestizos. Nevertheless, the
doors were opened to the Filipinos during the last half of the 19th century.
o The Spaniards also opened secondary schools for boys during this period. Notable among these schools were the Colegio de Santo Tomas
and de San Juan de Letran in Manila, under the Dominicans, as well as the Ateneo Municipal, run by the Jesuits.
o Secondary education for girls were provided by the following schools in Manila: La Concordia, Santa Rosa; and Santa Catalina.
o Students seeking admission into the secondary schools were required to take examination.
o The Educational Decree of 1863 was implemented, which required the establishment of one elementary school for boys and one
elementary school for girls in each town in the Philippines.
o The same decree provided for the establishment of a school for the training of teachers with a mastery of the Spanish language, under the
direction of the Jesuits, as Spanish shall be the medium of instruction in all schools.
o The friars resisted the teaching of Spanish language to the Filipinos. The opined that knowledge of the language would lead to the
development of political and social awareness among the natives. It could trigger in them the desire to work for freedom and independence.
o Although the Spanish government exerted efforts to educate the Filipinos in the 19 th century, the educational system implemented in the
country serious weaknesses.
 Over-emphasis on religion;
 Limited and irrelevant curriculum;
 Obsolete classroom facilities;
 Inadequate instructional materials;
 Absence of academic freedom; and
 Racial prejudice against the Filipinos in school.
 Economic Situation
o The country was opened to foreign trade in 1834, which resulted in the rapid rise of foreign firms in Manila.
o The presence of these foreign traders stimulated agricultural production and export of sugar, rice, hemp and tobacco.
o The growing prosperity of the Philippines in the 19th century had significant consequences. Opportunities for trade, increased Filipino
contacts with foreigners and peninsular Spaniards.
o Families who prospered from foreign trade were able to send their children for an education in Europe.
o Filipinos, who were educated abroad, were able to absorb the intellectual developments in Europe.
o Reduccion - This policy was implemented so that the government and parish priest could easily monitor the natives and for the easy
conversion to Catholicism.
o Bandala - The natives are obliged to sell their products to the Spaniards.
o Polo y Servicios - The forced labor of all Filipino males from 16 to 60 years old for 40-day periods. The only way to avoid being forced to
do polo y servicio was to pay the falla.
o Taxation
 Cedula – male and female 18 years old and above will pay every year for the cedula
 Sanctorum – tax for the church
 Tribute – it may be paid in cash or in kind
o Miguel Lopez de Legazpi was first to order the payment of tribute.  The tribute or buwis was collected from the natives both in cash (gold
or money) and in kind (e.g., rice, cloth, chicken, coconut oil, abaca, etc.)
o Galleon Trade - This trading policy changed the system of free trading in the Philippines where in the other nationalities like the Chinese
are free to exchange their goods with the Filipinos who had extra goods.
o Boletas – the ticket for the Galleon trade
 
Lesson 7 - Rizal's Family
RIZAL’S LIFE: FAMILY, CHILDHOOD, AND EARLY EDUCATION
The life and times of Rizal, thought short, is an endeavor that scholars and scientists alike find worthy to study and analyze. What is it
about the union of Francisco Mercado and Teodora Alonzo (Rizal’s parents) that produce Jose Rizal? As well-known Rizalist, Dr.
Austin Craig was the first to trace Rizal’s family roots and discover his Chinese ancestry.
Jose Rizal was a 9th generation patrilineal descendant of Chinese immigrant and business tycoon Don Domingo Lamco of Laguna
was the great-great grandfather of Jose Rizal. Lamco is originally from Amoy, China who came to the Philippines in the mid-
17th century. This is where he met his wife, Inez de la Rosa daughter of Agustin Chino an immigrant trader from Chuanchow.
To prevent conflict and hostility with the Spanish authorities, he decided to drop the name Lamco and adapted a Spanish surname. As
merchants, they choose the name “Mercado” because it means market. Lamco started the businesses of the Mercado clan. He was a
successful entrepreneur in spite of the discrimination experienced by Chinese traders from the Spaniards.
In June 1697, Lamco was baptized in the Catholic Church of Manila and moved to Biñan, Laguna. He was 35 years old at that time.
His financial state improved in Biñan and he became a Chinese community leader. Lamco’s son Francisco Mercado and
grandson Juan Mercado married Chinese mestizas and both served as distinguished mayors of Binan for five terms.
Juan’s wife, Cirila Alejandra, was the daughter of an immigrant trader. They are the parents of Rizal’s father. When Rizal’s father
was born, the family transferred to Calamba. The house they built was the first stone house in the whole town.
 Jose Rizal’s brother, Paciano was identified with one of the martyred priest, Jose Burgos so the family changed their surname
from Mercado to Rizal.
Recent genealogical findings revealed that Rizal also had Spanish, Japanese and Negrito ancestry. Teodora (Rizal’s Mother) great
grandfather, Eugenio Ursua was a descendant of Japanese settlers. 
Ursua married a Filipina named Benigna and their union produced Regina Ursua. Atty. Manuel de Quintos, a mestizo from
Pangasinan married Regina and their daughter is named Brigida. Brigida married Lorenzo Alberto Alonzo. They are the parents of
Teodora and Rizal’s grandparents.

JOSE RIZAL’S FAMILY

By frugal living, hard and honest work, Rizal’s parents were able to live well. From the farms, which were rented from the Dominican
Order, they harvested rice, corn and sugarcane. They raised pigs, chickens and turkeys in their backyard. In addition, Dona Teodora
managed a grocery store and operated a small flour mill.
Rizal’s parents were able to build a large stone house which was situated near the church. They owned a carriage which was a status
symbol of the illustrados in the Philippines and a private library consisting of the 1,000 volumes.
Their children were studying in the colleges in Manila. They participated in all social and religious affairs in the community. They
were gracious and hospitable to all visitors and guests during the town fiesta and other holidays.
The Rizal family had a simple, contented and happy life and was intimately close. Don Francisco and Dona Teodora loved their
children, but they never spoiled them. They were strict parents and they trained their children to loved God, to behave well, to be
obedient and to respect people especially the old folks.
 
The Hero’s Father
Don Francisco Mercado Rizal - Jose Rizal’s father, was born in Biñan, Laguna. He studied Latin and Philosophy at the College of
San Jose in Manila. After their parent’s death, Francisco and two of his sisters moved to Calamba. He became a tenant farmer of the
Dominican owned hacienda. He was hardworking, and independent-minded who talked less but worked more and valiant spirit.
The Hero’s Mother
Dona Teodora Alonso Y Realonda - She was born on Meisik, Sta. Cruz, Manila. She studied at Colegio de Sta. Rosa in Manila. She
was a woman of refined culture and character, with exemplary literary talents and with business ability, she manages their store.
Both parents greatly influenced Rizal as shown in his character. “From his father he inherited a profound sense of dignity and self-
respect, seriousness and from his mother the dreamer and bravery for sacrifices and her literary prowness.”
Don Francisco Mercado Rizal and Dona Teodora Alonso Y Realonda were blessed with eleven (11) children: two (2) boys
and nine (9) girls. They were as follows in the order of their birth.
RIZAL SIBLINGS
1. Saturnina (1850-1913) - Eldest child of the Rizal-Alonzo marriage. Married Manuel Timoteo Hidalgo of Tanauan, Batangas.
2. Paciano (1851-1930) - Only brother of Jose Rizal and the second child. Studied at San Jose College in Manila; became a farmer.
3. Narcisa (1852-1939) - Narcisa "Sisa" was a school teacher.  She married Antonio Lopez, the nephew of Fr. Leoncio Lopez.
4. Olympia (1855-1887) - Olympia "Ypia," the fourth of the Rizal children, married Silvestre Ubaldo, a telegraph operator who hailed from
Manila.
5. Lucia (1857-1919) - Lucia married Mariano Herbosa, who was the nephew of Fr. Casanas, Jose Rizal's godfather.  When her husband died
of cholera he wasn't given the honor of a Christian burial because he was Rizal's brother-in-law.
6. Maria (1859-1945) - Maria "Biang" married a man from Laguna, Daniel Faustino Cruz.
7. Jose Protacio Mercado Y Realonda (1861-1896) - His name was “Pepe”, the greatest Filipino hero, and peerless genius. He was a
Filipino nationalist and polymath during the tail end of the Spanish period of the Philippines. An ophthalmologist by profession, Rizal
became a writer and a key member of the Filipino propaganda movement which advocated political reforms for the colony under Spain.
8. Concepion (1862-1865) - Concepcion "Concha," Jose's younger sister, died at the age of 3 when she fell severely ill.  Her death was Rizal's
first sorrow in life.
9. Josefa (1865-1945) - Her nickname was "Panggoy". She was epileptic and died spinster at the age of 80. She became a member of
Katipunan.
10. Trinidad (1868-1951) - Her nickname was “Trining”. She was the last of the Rizal children to survive and died as spinster too and died at
the age of 83. She also became a member of Katipunan and she was the caretaker of “Mi Ultimo Adios”.
11. Soledad (1870-1929) - Soledad "Choleng" was the youngest of the Rizal children.  Her husband, Pantaleon Quintero, hailed from Calamba.
         
THE BIRTH OF RIZAL 
Jose P. Rizal, the 7th child of the Rizal family, was born on June 19, 1861, Wednesday, Between 11:00 and 12:00 midnight in the
town of Calamba, Province of Laguna, Philippines. His mother almost died during her delivery because Jose’s head was big. As he
recounted in his student memories:
 “My coming out in this vale of tears would have cost my mother her life, had she not vowed to the Virgin of Antipolo to take me to her
sanctuary by way of pilgrimage”.
He was baptized in the Catholic Church in Calamba on June 22, 1861 by the parish priest, Father Rufino Collantes. His Godfather
was Father Pedro Casanas, a close friend of the Rizal family. Father Collantes was impressed by the big head of baby Jose. He told
them “Take good care of this child, for someday he will become a great man.” The name “Jose” was chosen by his mother in honor
of San Jose (St. Joseph) whose feast was March 19.
His complete name was JOSE PROTACIO RIZAL MERCADO Y ALONSO REALONDA. The name “Protacio” was taken from
the Catholic calendar which was a practice during the Spanish time, that when a child is born, he/she is named after the saint of the
day. The surname Mercado which means market in English was adopted in 1731 by his paternal great-grandfather, Domingo Lamco,
a full-blooded Chinese merchant.
Added surname Rizal was given by Don Francisco which is closer to the Spanish word Racial which means luntiang bukirin related
to his work as hacienda owner/farmer. Alonzo was the surname of Rizal’s mother and Realonda was used by Dona Teodora which is
the surname of her godmother.
 
Lesson 8 - Rizal's Childhood Years
JOSE RIZAL’S CHILDHOOD YEARS
Jose Rizal, as a young boy had beautiful, fruitful and pleasant memories as well as sorrow. He grew up in a happy home. He could
remember the tenderest care of his parents because he was frail, sickly and undersized boy. His father built a nipa hut in the garden for
him to play in the daytime. At the age of three, he enjoyed watching in the garden the insects, the maya, culiawan, maria capra, pipit,
the martin and other birds. He listened “with excitement and wonder” to their twilight songs and sounds.
Another childhood memory was the daily praying of Angelus of 6:00pm in their altar as all of them gathered for prayers.
At the azotea (rooftop) on a moonlight night, the aya (nursemaid) would tell stories about fairies, legends, tales of buried treasures,
and other fabulous stories. Sometimes if he did not like to eat his supper, the aya would threaten him that asuwang, tikbalang or nuno
will come to take him away. 
He is brought for a walk for the relief-giving breeze, to see the fruit bearing trees, flowers, birds. The scenic beauty of his hometown
Calamba, the legendary Mt. Makiling and the distant Antipolo with the shrine of the miraculous Lady of Peace and Good Voyage.  
At the age of three, he began to join religious processions, novena in the church and at the age of five, he was able to read the Spanish
Bible with the help of his mother. When Rizal was nearly 7 years old, his father took him for a pilgrimage to Antipolo in order to
fulfill his mother’s vows which was made when Jose was born. Dona Teodora could not accompany them because he had given birth
to Trinidad. It was the first trip of Rizal across Laguna de Bay and his first pilgrimage to Antipolo.
After praying at the shrine of the Virgin of Antipolo, they went to Manila, to visit his sister Saturnina at the La Concordia College in
Santa Ana.
THE HERO’S FIRST SORROW
The Rizal children were bound together by the ties of love and care. Jose loved most his little sister Concha (Concepcion) who was
next to him. Unfortunately, Concha died at the age of three and for the first time he shed tears for love and grief, which is said to be
his first sorrow.
THE STORY OF THE MOTH
Of all the stories told by Dona Teodora to Jose, the story of the moth made the profoundest imprint on him which he recalled after
some years…
“My mother was teaching me how to read in Spanish “the Children’s Friends (El Amigo de Los Ninos). This first rare book and old
copy. This night, my mother became impatient with hearing me read so poorly. I did not understand Spanish and so I could not read
with expression. She took the book and read it to me but I was watching the flame with some little moths around the flame. Soon as my
mother noticed that I was interested. She stopped and said to me, “I am going to read to you a very pretty story. I once opened my
eyes on hearing the word story. She told me “The story of the moth”.
 RIZAL’S MENTORS
Dona Teodora, Rizal’s mother was his first teacher. Barely three years old, had Rizal learned the alphabet from his mother. He was
taught how to read and write Spanish.
As he grew older, his parents employed private tutors to give him lessons at home. The first was Maestro Celestino and the
second, Maestro Lucas Padua. Later, and old man named Leon Monroy, a former classmate of Rizal’s father, became the boy’s
tutor. This old teacher lived at the Rizal home and instructed Jose in Spanish and Latin. Unfortunately, he did not live long. He died
five months later.
After Monroy’s death, the hero’s parents decided to send their gifted son to a private school in Binan.
At about this time, two of his mother’s cousin frequented Calamba. Uncle Manuel Alberto, seeing Rizal frail in body, concerned
himself with the physical development of his young nephew and taught the latter love for the open air and developed in him a great
admiration for the beauty of nature, while Uncle Gregorio, a scholar, instilled in to the mind of the boy love for education. He advised
Rizal: “Work hard and perform every task very carefully; learn to be swift as well as thorough; be independent in thinking and make
visual pictures of everything.”
Rizal possessed a God-given talent for literature. His mother who was a lover of literature noticed his poetic inclination; hence, she
encouraged him to write poetry. 
Since childhood, Rizal showed an unusual talent in art and literature. His mother, who was a lover of literature, noticed his son’s
inclination and gift for writing poetry. At the age of eight years old, Rizal wrote his first poem in the native language entitled, “Sa
Aking Mga Kabata" – To my Fellow Children
At an early age, Rizal was already exposed to the injustices and brutalities of Spanish authority in the Philippines particularly the
Guardia Civil who were supposed to protect the people from harm. Rizal wondered why these abuses were happening especially to the
poor. 
Jose Rizal  loved his sisters that usually wrote letters to them while in the Philippines and foreign countries. He emphasized his ideas
about women and their righteous place in the society. He also compared the Filipina to European women as to their dignity. 
Lesson 9 - Rizal's Higher Education
 

FORMAL SEARCH FOR KNOWLEDGE AT ATENEO MUNICIPAL

 Rizal entered Ateneo Municipal when he was barely 11 years old, four months after the execution of Gomburza.
 His father decided not to send him at the Colegio de San Jose because of the unhappy experience his brother Paciano had in the said
school. Don Francisco remember the unjust execution of Father Burgos, Paciano’s mentor.
 His father wanted to send Rizal to Colegio de San Juan de Letran but later decided to have him enrolled at Ateneo Municipal, formerly
known as Escuela Pia. Besides, Ateneo at that time was the most prestigious school for boys owing to its great teachers.
 

Enrollment at Ateneo
 Rizal took the entrance examination at the Colegio de San Juan de Letran on June 10, 1872. Paciano accompanied Rizal, when he took the
said examination.
 Exams for incoming freshmen in the different schools for boys were administered at the Colegio de San de Letran since the Dominicans
exercised the power of inspection and regulation over Ateneo at that time.
 After passing the qualifying examination, Rizal sought admission at the Ateneo Municipal.
 Rizal was refused to be admitted in this institution for two reasons: late registrant and frail and undersized for his age.
 Father Magin Fernando, the college registrar, was at first very firm in denying Rizal admission. Nonetheless, due to the intervention
of Manuel Burgos, the college registrar finally admitted the young Jose.
 Jose did not use the surname Mercado when he enrolled at Ateneo. He registered as Jose Rizal because his original surname had rung a
bell to the ears of the authorities then due to Paciano’s association with one of the leaders of secularization movement, Father Burgos.
 The Atenean System of Education
 Ateneo prided itself in offering the best secondary education for boys. This was because it trained the character of every student through
rigid discipline and religious instruction. Students were required to hear masses in the morning before the start of the classes. Classes were
usually began and ended with prayers.
 To stimulate the spirit of competition among the students for excellence in academics, Atenean teachers enforced a program of dividing a
class into two competing empires: the Romans and the Carthaginians.
 Students who belonged to the Roman Empire were the boarding students at Ateneo, while those at the Carthaginian Empire were non-
boarding students.
 Both empires had their ranks and dignities, namely: emperor, tribune, decurion, centurion and standard bearer.
 These two empires competed as teams through questions and answers.
 Rizal understood the seriousness and severity of his studies. In order to excel he made himself follow a daily timetable, which he rigidly
observed.
 At start, Rizal lagged behind his classmates. But in a month’s time. He emerged as the emperor in his class, a title given to the brightest in
the class.
 Atenean education at that time, pursued one aim – Ad majorem Dei gloriam or For the greater glory of God. Thus, the ultimate task of
Jesuit teachers was to make lifelong Catholics.
 Academic Performance at Ateneo
 Rizal studied at Ateneo from 1872 to 1877. He graduated with the degree, Bachiller en Artes, with the highest academic honors. Rizal
excelled in his academic studies during the entire duration of his stay at Ateneo.
 According to Guerrero, Rizal’s academic triumph at Ateneo can be attributed to three factors, namely: racial pride, monastic discipline and
seclusion of boarding school life.
 Owing to racial jealousy, he exerted extraordinary efforts to prove to his Spanish classmates that the Filipino students can compete with
them academically.
 The monastic discipline of competition inside the classroom triggered in him the motivation to outdo his classmates in the daily learning
activities designed to test students’ memory and understanding of their lessons in the various curriculum areas.
 Moreover, owing to the seclusion of his boarding school life, he was able to devote more time to his studies.
Extra-curricular Activities at Ateneo
 Rizal did not only devote his time to academic excellence, he became actively involved in extra-curricular activities. He became a member
of and eventually an officer in the religious confraternities at Ateneo – Sodality of Our Lady; and Apostleship of Prayer. These religious
confraternities were opened to students who demonstrated the highest degree of scholarship and leadership.
 He also joined the Academy of Spanish Literature and the Academy of Natural Sciences. These two academic societies were elite
organizations for students who excelled in literature and the sciences.
  In addition to membership in religious confraternities and exclusive academic societies, Rizal honed his talent in literature. Through the
guidance of Father Francisco Paula de Sanchez, he succeeded in developing his skills in poetry writing.
 To develop proficiency in Spanish, Rizal took special lessons at the Convent School of Santa Isabel.
 He also took time to sharpen his skills in painting and sculpture. During his free time, Rizal took painting lessons under Agustin Saez, and
sculpture lessons under Romualdo de Jesus. As a result of the talent he had in fine arts, Rizal was able to carve the image of the Virgin
Mary and the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
 He also sustained the physical fitness training he started under his Tio Manuel. It was thru his uncle that Rizal was able to learn
gymnastics and fencing, which greatly helped him develop his weak and frail body.
Literary Works at Ateneo
 Owing to the perfection of his skill in literature, Rizal was able to produce a number of poems.
 The first poem he wrote as a student was entitled Mi Primera Inspiracion (My First Inspiration). This poem was dedicated by Rizal to his
mother on the occasion of the latter’s natal day.
 Another poem written by Rizal when he was a student at Ateneo was the poem entitled Un Cuerdo de Mi Pueblo (In Memory of My
Town). This poem was his way of paying homage to his birthplace, Calamba. From his literary piece, it can be noted that Rizal never forgot
the beauty and tranquility of his hometown, which in effect had inspired him to love nature and to have trust and confidence in the
Almighty God.
 The immersion of Rizal into the Atenean system of education became evident in the poems on religion and education he wrote. Notable
among these poems were the following:
  Al Niño Jesus (To the Child Jesus)
The poem Al Niño Jesus was an ode written by Rizal during his student days, when he was 14 years old. This poem was his
expression of his devotion to Catholicism, which his mother implanted in his heart and was strengthened by his schooling at
Ateneo.
 
 Por La Educacion Recibe Lustre la Patria (Through Education The Country Receives Light)
Rizal compared education to a lighthouse, considering that it can guide people in their behaviors and actions. Rizal singled out
the benefits that a country and its people can reap from a wise or prudent education. He believed that through education the
country could have a pool of educated youth who can steer it to progress.
 
 La Alianza Intima Entre Religion y La Buena Educacion (The Intimate Alliance Between Religion and Good Education)
From the poem, it can be gleaned the influence of the Catholic education Rizal had at Ateneo. Rizal stressed the importance of
religion to education. For Rizal, education not centered on God cannot be considered true education. As implied from the
poem, religion serves as a guide and nourishment to true education.
 
Influences of Schooling at Ateneo on Rizal
 Rizal was conferred the degree of Bachiller en Artes on March 23, 1867. From being a boy, Rizal was transformed into a mature
individual – an individual basically Jesuit in form and orientation.
 For five years, Rizal was able to imbibe the Jesuit values of fairness, justice and reason. As a consequence, his internalization of the
aforementioned values of the Jesuit school, the quest of justice, equality and dignity became his lifetime work.

 Rizal’s completion of the Bachiller en Artes at Ateneo Municipal entitled him for admission to higher studies at a university. Although
Doña Teodora was opposed to Rizal’s pursuit of higher education for fear of what might happen to him due to the martyrdom of
Gomburza, Don Francisco decided to send him to UST.
Enrollment at the University of Santo Tomas
  At first, Rizal was not certain of what course to pursue after graduating with honors at Ateneo. He was quite uncertain as to what career to
pursue. His former Jesuit mentors were suggesting that Rizal should take either priesthood or farming.
 Rizal considered going into literature, law or medicine. His brother Paciano discouraged him to pursue law, owing to his belief that Rizal
will not be able to practice the profession later due to the political conditions in the country during those times.
 Uncertain of what to take up, the sixteen-year-old Rizal enrolled the course Philosophy and Letters, during his freshman year at UST.
 In the first place, the said course was what his father wanted him to pursue. Secondly, his decision to enroll in the said academic program
could also be attributed to his failure to solicit the advice of Father Ramon Pablo, the rector of Ateneo, who was then in Mindanao at that
time. He, therefore, found himself taking up courses in Cosmology, Metaphysics, Theodicy, and History of Philosophy.
 It was also during this term that Rizal enrolled surveying course, at Ateneo. As expected, Rizal performed outstandingly in the
aforementioned vocational course.
 After his freshman year, Rizal shifted his course from philosophy and letters to medicine. This was brought about by two factors. He was
advised by Father Ramon to pursue the course. Owing to his mother's failing eyesight, Rizal felt that he should finish medicine so that he
could cure his mother's physical ailment.
Academic Performance At UST
  Rizal's academic performance at UST was not comparable with how he fared in Ateneo.
 Why then did the brilliant Rizal perform poorly at UST? In the first place, Rizal did not enjoy his schooling here. His unhappiness at UST
can be traced to three factors, namely: the hostility of Dominican professors to Rizal; racial discrimination against Filipino students; and
obsolete and repressive method of instruction at UST.
  From Rizal's scholastic records, it was obvious that he was not a good material for a medical course. His grades in most of his medical
subjects were generally average, indicating that medicine was not his real vocation but in the arts.
 He was not also satisfied with the system of education at UST. This might probably be due to the Jesuit discipline he went through, where
professors were encouraging and understanding which, in effect, provided him the motivation to develop his talents. This dissatisfaction
with the Dominican system could also be due to the obsolete and repressive method of teaching utilized by the Dominican professors. Rizal
stressed this in his novel, El Filibusterismo, thru Father Millon, the professor in Physics and Placido Penitente, one of the Filipino students
in the aforementioned subject. In the Fili, Rizal thru Placido deplored how instruction in science was done in the university and how
Spanish professors treated Filipino students who had the potential to excel in class. This is no longer true today, considering that UST is
one of the best higher education institutions in the country.
 In addition, Rizal's unsatisfactory performance can also be attributed to the exciting distractions of youth he experienced as a student in
Manila. Rizal became fascinated with women during his student days at UST.
 At first, he became infatuated with Segundina Katigbak of Batangas, whom he visited often in her boarding house frequently. When he
learned that Segundina was to be married, he turned his eyes on other women. In fact, at the time that he was courting Leonor or Orang
Valenzuela and Leonor Rivera. After learning that Orang was already engaged with another man, Rizal concentrated his efforts on
Leonor Rivera.
 From these, we could infer that Rizal became very busy with other things, which probably reduced the time he could spend with his
medical studies. He joined parties, took part in gang fights and even cut classes. No wonder his academic performance was affected.
Liberalism and Filipino Students at UST
 Liberal ideas came to be felt in Manila than in any place in the Philippines. The influx of liberal ideas can be attributed to the opening of
the Suez Canal, and the opening of the Philippines to world trade.
 Filipino students in Manila came to be affected by the entry of these liberal ideas in the country. They desired to understand and explain
everything.
 Rizal and his colleagues were cognizant of all these developments. Thus, they desired to reap scientific and artistic achievement. Inasmuch
as there was virtually no opportunity for intellectual pursuit in the realm of science, the cultivation of literature and the arts was taken
seriously.
 To encourage the production of literary works in Manila, the Liceo Artistico Literario de Manila, an organization of art lovers in the city,
conducted regular competition in literary writing. Rizal joined the contests sponsored by this association in 1879 and 1880. His entries, A
La Juventud Filipina (To the Filipino Youth) and El Consejo de los Dioses (The Council of the Gods) were adjudged as the best entry
in the said competition. He joined the competition to prove one thing that the Filipinos can equal and even surpass the Spaniards in literary
prowess.
Important Literary Works as a University Student
 Best literary works written by Rizal as a university student were the following: A La Juventud Filipina; El Consejo de los Dioses; A
Filipinas, and Junto Al Pasig.
 A La Juventud Filipina. 
This poem was Rizal's entry in the 1879 literary contest conducted by the Liceo Artistico Literario de Manila. A poem written
by Rizal when he was 18 years old.
 
As already pointed out, this poem was Rizal's entry to the 1879 literary contest of Liceo Artistico de Manila. It won the grand
prize in the competition, with Rizal receiving a silver quill for demonstrating his prowess in poetry. As pointed out by Zaide
and Zaide (1999), A La Juventud Filipina was a classic in Philippine literature for two reasons. First, it was the first great poem
in Spanish written by a Filipino, recognized by the Spanish authorities. Second, it was the first expression of the nationalistic
concept that the Filipinos were the fair hope of the motherland.
 
In essence, the poem can be considered Rizal's first testimony of his nationalism. In this literary piece, he clearly referred to the
Philippines as his motherland, Mi Patria. Rizal, therefore, was the First Filipino, considering that he was the first to call the
country his motherland.
 
Another important point that Rizal stressed in the poem relates to the role of the youth in nation building. From the poem, he
called the youth, THE FAIR HOPE OF THE MOTHERLAND. For the youth to really be the fair hope of the motherland,
Rizal challenged the youth of his day to do three things: to cultivate their talents in the arts; to develop their knowledge of the
sciences; and to look forward and break their chain of bondage
 
 El Consejo de los Dioses.
This play was Rizal's entry in the literary Contest of 1880. It was an allegory in praise of Cervantes as a co-equal of Homer and
Virgil. The entry was judged the best entry in the competition that year. The jury, however, upon discovering that its author
was a Filipino decided to confer the grand prize to a Spaniard. Although Rizal was not able to receive the much-coveted
award, he was able to disprove the alleged superiority of the Spaniards over the Filipinos and to prove that the Filipinos can
compete with other races in a fair play.
 
 Junto al Pasig.
It is a one-act play, written by Rizal at the request of the Jesuits and was staged at Ateneo, in connection with the celebration of
the Feast Day of Immaculate Conception. This play can be interpreted in several ways. The play can be considered as a
prophecy of 50 years of revolution, invasion after invasion, defeat, subjugation and civil tumult. It can also be read as a
continuation of Rizal's appeal for the Filipino youth to chide alien people for causing them misery. It can also be interpreted as
a purely religious allegory.
 
  A Filipinas.
This sonnet was written by Rizal in 1880 to not only to praise the Philippines for its beauty but to encourage Filipino artists to
glorify the country through their art works.
 
Student Activism at UST
 Rizal displayed his leadership in student activism when he was pursuing philosophy and medicine at UST. He espoused the cause of
brown-skinned Filipino students against the Spanish and mestizo students. As both the Spanish and mestizo students labeled the
Filipinos indio or chongo, Rizal and his peers retaliated by calling them kastila or bangus.
 Bitter hostility existed between these two groups of students at UST. This hostility, motivated by racial animosity, often erupted in student
rumbles in the university campus and even in the streets of Manila. Being the leader of his fellow Filipino students, Rizal figured
prominently in these brawls owing to his skill in fencing and wresting, coupled with his resolute courage. In order to show their Spanish
detractors that Filipino students were united, Rizal organized a secret society of Filipino students. This society came to be
called Compañerismo. The members called themselves Companions of Jehu, the patriot general of the Jews. Rizal naturally became the
president of this secret society, with Galicano Apacible as secretary.
 Rizal's activism was also expressed in his bold criticism of the defective and outmoded university education of his time. He criticized the
humiliating treatment of brown Filipino students, who were often insulted by their Dominican mentors. He also condemned the archaic
method of instruction at UST. He described comically the teaching of Physics devoid of laboratory experiments. Students could not even
touch the different laboratory apparatus and equipment as they were always kept inside display cabinets. Moreover, favoritism and skin
color, not meritocracy and intellectual brilliance, were the criteria for judging the actual academic performance of students.
First Taste of Spanish Brutality
 Rizal had his first taste of Spanish brutality during his first summer vacation at Calamba after his freshman year at UST. While he was
walking in the street, he failed to see the man passing by owing to the darkness of the night. Because he was not able to recognize the man,
who happened to be lieutenant of the Guardia Civil, Rizal did not bother to salute nor greet him Buenas noches. Since, the lieutenant was
expecting that he be treated with respect and courtesy by everybody in the town, what he did was to whip out his sword and slashed it at
Rizal's back.
 Rizal was wounded. He sent a written complaint to Governor-General Primo de Rivera about the incident. Nothing positive came out from
his complaint, considering that he was an Indio. This incident left a deep impression on Rizal. Cognizant of his dignity, and of his ability to
compete with a Spaniard on equal terms, he found that as an Indio, he was not accorded equality with a Spaniard before the bar of justice.
Decision to Go to Europe
 After completing his fourth year in the medical course, Rizal decided to leave the country for Europe. This was due in part by his
disappointment with his schooling at the University of Santo Tomas. While obviously, Rizal was to leave the country to complete his
medical course in Barcelona, Spain, this was not the real reason for his sudden departure.
 Rizal was going to Europe not just to complete his medical studies there. There were hidden purposes for his voyage to a new world. It can
be inferred from Paciano's letter to Rizal that the following were the real purposes of Rizal's voyage to Europe: to make a name for himself
in the realm of journalism; to observe and study European society; and to prepare himself for the task of liberating the Filipinos from
Spanish tyranny.
 
Lesson 11 - Rizal's Exile and Second Trip Abroad
RIZAL’S EXILE
 Jose Rizal’s arrival in Manila on June 26, 1892 had become very sensational among the Filipinos. His popularity feared the Spaniards, and
such paid careful attention to his every move – 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.
 Four days after the civic organization’s foundation, Jose Rizal was arrested by the Spanish authorities on four ground:
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.
Rizal could live at Parish Convent on the following conditions:
1. “that Rizal publicly retract his errors concerning religion and make statements that were clearly pro-Spanish against revolution”
2. “that he performs the church rites and make a general confession of his past life”
3. “that henceforth he conducts himself in an exemplary manner as a Spanish subject and a man of religion”
Beginning of Exile in Dapitan
A Don Ricardo Carnicero – a poem which Rizla wrote for Captain Carnicero on the occasion of Captain’s birthday, August 26, 1892
 
Wins in Manila Lottery
Butuan – mail boat which brought the news about Rizal’s winning in the lottery
Lottery Ticket No. 9736
 P20, 000 – lottery prize
 P6,200 of it was given to Rizal
 P2,000 of his share he gave to his father and
 P2,000 to Basa in Hong Kong
 The rest he invested thru purchasing agricultural lands from the coast of Talisay about kilometer away from Dapitan
  Three (3) pesetas – the amount which Rizal allotted for lottery tickets every month
 “This was his first Vice” – commented Wenceslao E. Retana, his first Spanish biographer and former enemy
Rizal – Pastells Debate on Religion
 The debate started when Pastells sent Rizal a book by Sarda along with an advice that Rizal should desist from his majaderas (foolishness)
in viewing religion from the perspective of individual judgment and self-esteem
 The debate can be read in four (4) letters
 Rizal was bitter against the friars because they commit abuses under the cloak of religion
 Father Pastells tried to bring back Rizal to Catholicism by telling him that human intelligence is limited, thus he needs the guidance of the
God
 Behind the debate, Pastells and Rizal were friends as evidently pictured when
1. Pastells gave Rizal a copy of Imitacion de Cristo by Fr. Thomas a Kempis
2. Rizal gave Pastells a bust if St. Paul which he made. Rizal continued to hear mass and celebrate religious events
 Rizal Challenges a Frenchman to a duel. Mr. Juan Lardet – a French businessman whom Rizal had a conflict
 Rizal and Father Sanchez
In his aspiration to reconcile Rizal with the Church, Father Pastells sent to Dapitan:
1.    Fr. Obach – Cura of Dapitan
2.    Fr. Jose Vilaclara – Cura of Dipolog
3.    Fr. Francisco Paula de Sanchez – Rizal’s favorite teacher at Ateneo de Manila
 
 Estudios sobre la lengua tagala (Study of the Tagalog Language) – manuscript which Rizal gave to Sanchez on his birthday
 Idyllic Life in Dapitan
 Among his family members who visited Rizal were: his mother, his sisters: Trinidad, Maria and Narcisa, his nephews: Teodosio,
Estanislao, Mauricio and Prudencio
 Rizal built a house by the seashore of Talisay surrounded by fruit trees, a school for boys and a hospital for his patients.
Rizal’s Encounter with the Friar’s Spy
 Pablo Mercado – assumed name of the spy who visited Rizal at his house and pretended to be a relative by showing a photo of Rizal and a
pair of buttons with the initials P.M. as evidence of kinship. The spy offered to be Rizal’s courier of letters for the patriots in Manila. Rizal
became suspicious and wanted to throw the spy outside but considering his values and late hour of the night, he offered the spy to spend the
night at his house. The next day, he sent the spy away.
 The spy stayed in Dapitan and spread talks among the people that he was a relative to Rizal
 Rizal went to the comandancia and reported the impostor to Captain Juan Sitges (successor of Carnicero)
 Sitges ordered Pablo Mercado’s arrest and told Anastacio Adriatico to investigate him immediately.
 Florencio Namaan a.k.a Pablo Mercado, a single and about 30 years old spy who was hired by the Recollect friars to spy on Rizal’s
activities in Dapitan.
 The secret mission of Pablo Mercado was not an assassination attempt but espionage only.
As Physician in Dapitan
 Doña Teodora and Maria lived with Rizal for a year and a half. It is here when Rizal operated his mother’s right eye. Though the operation
was successful, his mother had a wound infection after ignoring Rizal’s instruction of not removing the bandages. However, the infection
was immediately treated.
 Don Ignacio Tumarong – Rizal’s patient who was able to see again after his operation. He paid Rizal P3,000.00
 Don Florencio Azcarraga – a rich haciendero of Aklan who was cured of eye ailment, in turn he gave Rizal a cargo of sugar.
 Rizal prescribed medicinal plants to his poor patients
Water System for Dapitan
 As a perito agrimensor (expert surveyor), Rizal applied his engineering knowledge by constructing a system of waterworks to furnish clean
water to the townspeople.
 Mr. Cameron – American engineer who praised Rizal for his engineering ingenuity.
Community Projects for Dapitan
Rizal had:
 drained the marshes to get rid of malaria that was infecting Dapitan
 equipped the town with lighting system using P500 paid by one of his patients. The lighting system consisted of a coconut oil lamps
 beautified the town of Dapitan by remodeling the town plaza and making a huge relief map of Mindanao
Rizal as a Teacher
 Rizal established in Dapitan a school. It began with 3 students who increased to 16 and eventually 21.
 16 of his students did not pay tuition. Instead of charging them fees, Rizla made them work in his gardens and construction projects.
 Formal classes were between 2:00 pm and 4:00 pm. He also applied the “emperor” system like that of Ateneo
 During recess, students built fires to drive away insects, pruned fruit trees and manured the soil.
 Outside classroom hours, students had gymnastics, boxing, wrestling, stone-throwing, swimming, arnis and boating
 Hymn to Talisay – a poem which Rizal wrote in honor of Talisay which made his students sing
Contributions to Science
 Rizal sent specimens he found to the museum of Europe especially the Dresden Museum. In turn, he received scientific books and surgical
instruments.
Linguistic Studies
  He knew by that time 22 languages as follows: Tagalog, Malay, Ilokano, Hebrew, Bisayan, Sanskrit, Subanum, Dutch, Spanish, Catalan,
Latin, Italian, Greek, Chinese, English, Japanese, French, Portuguese, German, Swedish, Arabic and Russian
Artistic Works in Dapitan
To pursue his artistic activities, Rizal
1. Contributed paintings to the Sisters of Charity who were preparing the sanctuary of the Holy Virgin
2. Made sketches of persons and things that attracted him in Dapitan
3. Modeled a statuette called “The Mother’s Revenge” to stress the moral of the incident where a puppy of his dog, Syria was eaten by a
crocodile.
4. Constructed a statue of a girl called “The Dapitan Girl”, a woodcarving of Josephine Bracken (Rizal’s wife)
5. Made a bust of St. Paul for Father Pastells
Rizal as Farmer
 Rizal acquired total land holdings of 70 hectares where 6,000 hemp plants, 1,000 coconut trees and numerous fruit trees, sugarcane, corn,
coffee and cacao were planted.
 He planned to establish an agricultural colony in Sitio Panot because it was ideal for raising cacao, coffee, coconuts and cattle. However,
this did not materialize due to lack of support from the government.
Rizal as Businessman
 Ramon Carreon – Rizal’s business partner in Dapitan. Rizal made profitable business ventures in fishing, copra and hemp industries.
 Hemp Industry – Rizal’s most profitable business
 Once he shipped 150 bales of hemp to manila. He purchased hemp in Dapitan and he sold it to Manila
 Rizal also engaged in the lime manufacturing. Their lime burner had a monthly capacity of more than 400 bags of lime
 He organized the Cooperative Association of Dapitan Farmers to break Chinese monopoly
Rizal’s Inventive Ability
Among Rizal’s inventions were:
1. Cigarette lighter which he sent as a gift to Blumentritt called “sulpukan”
2. A wooden machine for making bricks
My Retreat
 Upon restoring her eyesight, Dona Teodora returned to Manila and requested Rizal to write poetry. As a response, Rizal wrote “Mi Retiro”
relating his serene life as an exile in Dapitan
Rizal and Josephine Bracken
 The death of Leonor Rivera left a poignant void in Rizal’s heart. In his loneliness, he met Josephine
 Josephine Bracken – an Irish girl of sweet eighteen, who was born in Hong Kong
 James Bracken and Elizabeth Jane MacBride – Josephine’s parents who are both Irish in citizenship
 Mr. George Taufer – man who adopted Josephine after her mother died of childbirth
 Mr. Taufer became blind so he sought for an ophthalmologic specialist. This is how Josephine and Rizal met.
 Manuela Orlac – A Filipina who was said to be in connection with the Spaniards who accompanied Josephine Bracken and George Taufer
to Dapitan
 Rizal and Josephine decided to get married but Father Obach refused to marry them without the permission of Bishop of Cebu
 Hearing of the planned marriage and unable to endure the thought of losing Josephine, Mr. Taufer tried to commit suicide by cutting off his
throat with a razor but Rizal was able to prevent this. To avoid a tragedy, Josephine accompanied Mr. Taufer back to Manila. Mr. Taufer
returned to Hong Kong alone while Josephine stayed with Rizal in Manila.
 Having no priests to marry them, Rizal and Josephine married themselves before the eyes of God.
 The two were happy for they were expecting for a baby. However, Josephine gave birth to an eight-month baby boy. The baby lived for
only three hours. He was named “Francisco” in honor of Rizal’s father.
Rizal and the Katipunan
 Pio Valenzuela – the emissary to Dapitan in order to inform Rizal of the plan of Katipunan during the meeting at a little river called
Bitukang Manok.
 Venus – steamer that Valenzuela boarded to reach Dapitan
 Raymundo Mata – blind man who came with Valenzuela to a camouflage his mission
 Rizal objected Bonifacio’s project because:
1. The Filipino people are not ready for a revolution
2. Arms and funds must first be collected before raising the revolution
 Volunteers as Military Doctor in Cuba
 When Cuba was under revolution and raging yellow fever epidemic, Rizal wrote to Governor General Ramon Blanco offering his service
as a military doctor.
 Governor Blanco later notified Rizla of the acceptance of the offer. The notification came along with an instruction of acquiring first a pass
for Manila from the politico-military commander of Dapitan.
 Upon receiving the acceptance of his offer to go to Europe then to Cuba to help in the curing of the patients suffering yellow fever, he
wrote a poem “El Canto del Viajero”
Adios, Dapitan
 España – steamer which brought Rizal to Manila from Dapitan
 Rizal was accompanied by Josephine, Narcisa, Angelica (Narcisa’s daughter), his three nephews and six students
 As farewell, the town brass of Dapitan played the dolorous Funeral March of Chopin
 He stayed in Dapitan for four years, thirteen days and a few hours.
 
RIZAL’S LAST TRIP ABROAD
 Rizal’s four-year exile in Dapitan came to an end
 July 31, 1896 – he left for Dapitan on board the “España” for Manila with delightful stopovers in Dumaguete, Cebu, Iloilo, Capiz and
Romblon. “I have been in that district four years, thirteen days and a few hours,” he wrote in his diary.
FROM DAPITAN TO MANILA
 Dumaguete – Rizal visited a friend and former classmate, Herrero Regidor, who was the judge of the province. He also visited other
friends, the Periquet and Rufina families.
 Cebu – The España left Dumaguete about 1:00 pm and reached Cebu the following morning. Rizal was fascinated by the entrance to Cebu
which he considered “beautiful.” He met an old couple whom he had known in Madrid.
 In the morning of Monday, August 3, Rizal left Cebu going to Iloilo. He saw Mactan, “an island infamous for what happened to Magellan.”
 Iloilo – Arrived at Iloilo, he went shopping in the city, and visited “Molo.” Of the church, he commented: “The church pretty outside and
the interior is not bad, considering that it had been painted by a lad. The paintings are mostly copies of biblical scenes by Gustave Dore.”
 From Iloilo, the ship sailed to Capiz. After a brief stopover, it proceeded towards Manila via Romblon.
 August 6, 1896 – The España arrived at the Manila Bay early morning. Unfortunately, Rizal was not able to catch the mail ship Isla de
Luzon because it had departed the previous day at 5:00 pm.
 He was transferred to a Spanish cruiser “Castilla” by order of Governor General Ramon Blanco. The gallant captain, Enrique Santalo,
told him that he was not a prisoner, but a guest detained on board in order to avoid difficulties from friends and enemies.
 He stayed on the cruiser for about a month, from August 6 to September 2, 1896, pending the availability of Spain bound steamer.
OUTBREAK OF THE PHILIPPINE REVOLUTION
 August 19, 1896 – the Katipunan plot to overthrow the Spanish rule by means of revolution. It was discovered by Mariano Gil,
Augustinian cura of Tondo after Teodoro Patino’s disclosure of organization’s secrets.
 August 26, 1896 – Bonifacio and Katipunan raised the Cry of Revolution (Sigaw sa Pugadlawin) in the hills of Balintawak, a few miles
North of Manila.
 In the afternoon, Governor General Blanco proclaimed a state of war in the first eight provinces for rising in arms against Spain: Manila –
Bulacan – Cavite – Batangas – Laguna – Pampanga – Nueva Ecija -Tarlac
 Rizal was worried for two reasons: (1) the violent revolution which he sincerely believed to be premature and would cause only much
suffering and terrible loss of human lives and properties had started and (2) it would arouse Spanish vengeance against all Filipino patriots.
DEPARTURE FOR SPAIN
 The same day when the state of war was proclaimed in the eight provinces, Rizal received from Governor General Blanco two letters of
introduction for the Minister of war and Minister of Colonies, with a covering letter which absolved him from all blame for the raging
revolution. The two letters of introduction were identical.
 September 2, 1896 – the day before his departure for Spain, he wrote to his mother.
“As promised, I am addressing you a few lines before leaving, to let you know about the condition of my health. I am well thank God, I am only
concerned as so what will happen or shall have happened to you in these days of upheaval and disorder. Do not worry about anything; we are all in
the hands of Divine Providence. Not all those who go to Cuba die, and in the end, one has to die; at least die doing something good.”
 He transferred to Isla de Panay which was sailing for Barcelona, Spain. The next morning, this steamer left Manila Bay. At last, his last
trip to Spain began. Don Pedro Roxas, rich Manila creole industrialist and friend, and his son, Periquin were among his fellow
passengers.
Rizal in Singapore
 Don Pedro/Don Manuel Camus – they advise Rizal to stay and take advantage of the protection of the British Law. Rizal had given his
word of honor to Governor General Blanco.
Victim of Spanish Duplicity
 Blanco and the Ministers of War and the Colonies were exchanging coded telegrams and confidential messages for his arrest upon reaching
Barcelona.
Rizal arrested before reaching Barcelona
 September 8, Rizal board the Isla de Panay and left Singapore at 1:00 pm. Not knowing the Spanish duplicity, he happily continued the
voyage towards Barcelona.
 September 25, he saw the steamer Isla de Luzon, leaving the Suez Canal, crammed with Spanish troops. Two days later, he heard from the
passengers that a telegram arrived from Manila reporting the execution of Francisco Roxas, Genato and Osorio.
 September 28, a passenger told Rizal the bad news that he would be arrested by order of Governor General Blanco and would be sent to
prison in Cueta (Spanish Morocco), Gibraltar. Shocked by the news, he realized that he was fooled by the Spanish officials. That made him
to write a letter to his best friend.
 September 30, the steamer anchored at Malta. He was officially notified by Captain Alemany that he should stay in his cabin until further
orders from Manila.
Arrival in Barcelona as Prisoner (8 days)
 Rizal was escorted to the grim and infamous prison-fortress named Monjuich. Jose’s interview with Despujol, he would be shipped back
to Manila.After the interview, Rizal was taken aboard the Colon which was “full of soldiers.” At 8:00 pm, the ship left Barcelona with
Rizal on board.
 October 3, 1896 – at 10:00 am, the Isla de Panay arrived in Barcelona, with Rizal, a prisoner on board. The trip from Manila to Barcelona
lasted exactly 30 days. Rizal was kept under heavy guard in his cabin for three days.
 October 6, 1896 – at 3:00 am, Rizal was awakened by the guards and escorted to the grim and infamous prison-fortress named Monjuich.
About 2:00 pm, Rizal was taken out of prison by the guards and brought to the headquarters of General Despujol. On the same date, at 8:00
pm, Rizal left Barcelona through the ship Colon “full of soldiers, guards and their families.”
  October 8, 1896 – a friendly officer told Rizal that the Madrid newspaper were full of stories about the bloody revolution in the Philippines
and were blaming him for it.
 October 11, 1896 – before reaching Port Said, Rizal’s diary was taken away and was critically scrutinized by the authorities.
 November 2, 1896 – the diary was returned to Rizal.
 Attorney Hugh Fort – an English lawyer in Singapore – his friends (Dr. Antonio Ma. Regidor and Sixto Lopez) dispatched frantic
telegrams to Fort to rescue Rizal from the Spanish steamer when it reached Singapore by means of Writ of Habeas Corpus.
 Chief Justice Lionel – denied the writ on the ground that the Colon was carrying Spanish troops to the Philippines.
 November 3, 1896 – the Colon reached Manila, where it was greeted with wild rejoicings by the Spaniards and friars because it brought
more reinforcements and military supplies.
 
Lesson 12 - Rizal's Trial and Execution
RIZAL’S TRIAL AND EXECUTION
Preliminary Investigations
o The trial began 40 days before his execution with Preliminary Investigation on November 20, 1896.
o The investigator or Juez De Instruccion was Colonel Francisco Olive.
o In the legal preliminaries, he gave his name Jose Rizal Mercado Y Alonzo, native of Calamba Laguna, his age, single and never before
subjected to Criminal Prosecution
o The questions on the first day of investigation was:
1. whether he knew some individuals and what is his relations to them
2. his subversive activities in Madrid and in the Philippines
o The first name was Pio Valenzuela, and Rizal was asked what is his connection with him. Rizal mentioned that he only brought
him a patient with an eye problem.
o Rizal was asked about 21 other names, asking the same questions and majority of those names were unfamiliar for Rizal whom
he never met before.
o Another name that was asked to Rizal was if he knew Apolinario Mabini which he said he did not know and did not heard before.
o With all the names that was asked to him, he’s only familiar with 6 persons:
 
1. Moises Salvador – his friend he met in Madrid
2. Arcadio del Rosario – a fellow Filipino whom he also met in Madrid
3. Deodato Arellano – a person who congratulated him for his Noli but later telling him that he deserved to be deported to Dapitan
4. Pedro Serrano – used to be his friend but eventually became hostile to him
5. Timoteo Paez – introduced by Pedro Serrano to Rizal who also became hostile to him
6. Pio Valenzuela
o Rizal clearly did not condemn any revolution. What he pointed out was if there will be an attempt from the people who were unready, it
will just lead to a disaster.
THE TRIAL OF RIZAL
o Two kinds of evidence presented against Rizal, namely: (1) Documentary (2) Testimonial
o The documentary evidence consisted of fifteen exhibits as follows:
1. A letter of Antonio Luna to Mariano Ponce, dated October 16, 1888 in Madrid, showing Rizal’s connection with the Filipino reform
campaign in Spain
2. A letter of Rizal to his family, dated August 20, 1890 in Madrid, stating that the deportations are good for they will encourage the people to
hate tyranny.
3. A letter from Marcelo H. del Pilar to Deodato Arellano, dated January 7, 1889 in Madrid, implicating Rizal in the Propaganda Campaign in
Spain
4. A poem entitled Kundiman, allegedly written by Rizal in Manila on September 12, 1891
5. A letter of Carlos Oliver to an unidentified person in Barcelona on September 18, 1891, describing Rizal as the man to free the Philippines
from Spanish oppression
6. A masonic document in Manila on February 9, 1982, honoring Rizal for his patriotic services
7. A letter signed Dimasalang (Rizal’s pseudonym) to Tenluz (Juan Zulueta’s pseudonym) in Hong Kong on May 24, 1892, stating that he
was preparing a safe refuge for Filipinos who may be persecuted by the Spanish authorities
8. A letter of Dimasalang to an unidentified committee in Hong Kong on June 1, 1892, soliciting the aid of the committee in the patriotic
work
9. An anonymous and underrated letter to the Editor of the Hong Kong Telegraph, censuring the banishment of Rizal to Dapitan
10. A letter of Idefonso Laurel to Rizal in Manila on September 3, 1892, saying that the Filipino people look up to him (Rizal) as their savior
11. A letter of Idefonso Laurel to Rizal in Manila on September 17, 1893 informing an unidentified correspondent of the arrest and banishment
of Doroteo Cortes and Ambrosio Salvador
12. A letter of Marcelo H. del Pilar to Don Juan A. Tenluz
13. Transcript of a speech of Pingkian
14. Transcript of a speech of Tik-Tik
15. A poem by Laong Laan
o The testimonial evidence consists of the oral testimonies of: (1) Martin Constantino (2) Aguedo del Rosario (3) Jose Reyes (4) Moises
Salvador (5) Jose Dizon (6) Domingo Franco (7) Deodato Arellano (8) Ambrosio Salvador (9) Pedro Serrano Laktaw (10) Dr. Pio
Valenzuela (11) Antonio Salazar (12) Francisco Quison (13) Timoteo Paez
 o Colonel Olive - transmitted the records of the case.
o Governor Ramon Blanco - appointed Captain Rafael Dominguez as the Judge Advocate to institute the corresponding action against
Rizal.
o Don Nicolas de la Pena - Judge Advocate General, whom General Blanco transmitted the papers for an opinion.
o After studying the papers, Pena submitted the following recommendations:
16. The accused be immediately brought to trial.
17. He should be kept in prison.
18. An order of attachment be issued against his properties to the amount of one million pesos as indemnity.
19. He should be defended in court by an army officer, not by a civilian lawyer.
o Rizal chooses his defender Don Luis Taviel de Andrade - 1st Lieutenant of the Artillery, brother of Jose Taviel de Andrade, the
bodyguard of Rizal.
 CHARGES READ TO RIZAL
o December 11, the charges were read to Rizal in the presence of his counsel to questions asked, Rizal replied:
1. He did not question the jurisdiction of the court.
2. He had nothing to amend, except that since his deportation to Dapitan in 1892 he had not engaged in politics.
3. He did not admit the charges preferred against him.
4. He did not admit the declarations of the witness against him.
RIZAL MANIFESTO TO HIS PEOPLE
o On December 15, Rizal wrote a manifesto to his people appealing to them to stop the unnecessary shedding of blood and to achieve their
liberties by means of education and industry.
RIZAL SADDEST CHRISTMAS
o December 25, 1896 was Christmas. On that day all Christendom joyously celebrated the birthday of Christ who was born to redeem
mankind from injustice. He wrote a letter to Lt. Taviel de Andrade.
THE TRIAL OF RIZAL
o December 26, 1896 - the court martial of Rizal.
o Cuartel de Espana- military building.
o Seven Members of the Military Court: (1) Lt. Col. Jose Togores Arjona (President) (2) Capt. Ricardo Munoz Arias (3) Capt. Manuel
Reguera (4) Capt. Santiago Izquierdo Osorio (5) Capt. Braulio Rodriguez Nunez (6) Capt. Manuel Diaz Escribano (7) Capt. Fernando
Perez Rodriguez
o Also present in the courtroom were: Dr. Jose Rizal (the accused) Lt. Taviel de Andrade (his defense council) Capt. Rafael Dominguez
(Judge Advocate) Lt. Enrique de Alcocer (prosecuting Attorney) The Spectators -Josephine Bracken - sisters of Rizal -some newspapermen
- many Spaniards
o Prosecuting Attorney Alcocer arose and delivered a long and bitter speech summarizing the charges against Rizal and urged the court to
give the verdict of death to the accused. The Spanish spectators applauded noisily Alcocer’s petition for the sentence of death.
o Rizal was accused of three crimes: Rebellion, Sedition and Illegal Association
o Penalty
o Rebellion and Sedition- was from life imprisonment to death.
o Illegal Association- was correctional imprisonment and a fine of 325 to 3,250 pesetas.
o In his supplementary defense he further proved his innocence by twelve points:
1. He could not be guilty of rebellion, for he advised Dr. Pio Valenzuela in Dapitan not to rise in revolution.
2. He did not correspond with the radical, revolutionary elements.
3. The revolutionists used his name without his knowledge. If he were guilty, he could have escaped in Singapore.
4. If he had a hand in the revolution, he could have escaped in a Moro vinta and would not have built a home, a hospital, and bought lands in
Dapitan.
5. If he were the chief of the revolution, why was he not consulted by the revolutionists?
6. It was true he wrote the by-laws of the Liga-Filipina, but this is only a civic association – not a revolutionary society.
7. The Liga Filipina did not live long, for after the first meeting he was banished to Dapitan and it died out. If the Liga was reorganized nine
months later, he did not know about it.
8. The Liga did not serve the purpose of the revolutionists, otherwise they would not have supplanted it with the Katipunan.
9. If it were true that there were some bitter comments in Rizal’s letters, it was because they were written in 1890 when his family was being
persecuted, being dispossessed of houses, warehouses, lands, etc. and his brother and brother-in-law were deported.
10. His life in Dapitan had been exemplary as the politico-military commanders and missionary priests could attest.
11. It was not true that the revolution was inspired by his one speech at the house of Doroteo Ongjunco, as alleged by witnesses whom he
would like to confront. His friends knew his opposition to armed rebellion. Why did the Katipunan send an emissary to Dapitan who was
unknown to him? Because those who knew him were aware that he would never sanction any violent movement.
12. Lt. Col. Togores Arjona – considered the trial over and ordered the hall cleared.
REMAINING HOURS OF RIZAL
December 29, 1896
6:00-7:00 am
 Captain Rafael Dominguez reads before Rizal his death sentence
7:00-8:00 am
 Rizal is transferred to his death cell in Fort Santiago
 Fr. Saderra talks briefly with Rizal
 Fr. Viza presents statue of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and medal of Mary, and Rizal rejects the letter, saying, “I’m little of a Marian, Father.”
  Rizal persisted in his error’s contrary to the Catholic faith. However, at the last hour, Rizal abjured, in writing, his religious errors. In other
words, Rizal, a Mason, was said to have recanted his statements against the Church and to have returned to the Catholic faith. (The
controversy of Rizal’s retraction has not been settled)
8:00-9:00 am
 Rizal shares his milk and coffee with Fr. Rosell
 Lt. Andrade and chief of Artillery come to visit Rizal who thanks each of them
 Rizal scribbles a note inviting his family to visit him
9:00-10:00 am
 Sr. Mataix, defying stringent regulation, enters death cell and interviews Rizal in the presence of Fr. Rosell. Later, Governor Luengo drops
in to join the conversation
10:00-11:00 am
 Fr. Faura persuades Rizal to put down his rancor’s and order to marry Josephine canonically. A heated discussion on religion occurs
between them on the hearing of Fr. Rosell
11:00-12:00 noon
 Rizal talks on “various topics” in a long conversation with Fr. Vilaclara who will later conclude (with Fr. Balaguer, who is not allowed to
enter the death cell) that Rizal is not either to Protestant or rationalist who speaks in “a very cold and calculated manner” with a mixture of
a “strange piety.” No debate or discussion on religion is recorded to have taken place between the Fathers mentioned and Rizal.
12:00-1:00 pm
 Rizal reads Bible and Imitation of Christ by Kempis, then meditates
 Fr. Balaguer reports to the Archbishop that only a little hope remains that Rizal is going to retract for Rizal was heard saying that he is
going to appear tranquilly before God
2:00-3:00 pm
 Rizal confers with Fr. March and Fr. Vilaclara
3:00-4:00 pm
 Rizal reads verses which he had underlined in Eggers German Reader, a book which he is going to hand over to his sisters to be sent to Dr.
Blumentritt through F. Stahl
 He “writes several letters …, with his last dedications.” Then he “rest for a short.”
4:00-5:30 pm
 Captain Dominguez is moved with compassion at the sight of Rizal’s kneeling before his mother and asking pardon
 Fr. Rosell hears Rizal’s farewell to his sister and his address to those presents eulogizing the cleverness of his nephew. The other sisters
come in one by one after the other and to each Rizal’s give promises to give a book, an alcohol burner, his pair of shoes, an instruction,
something to remember.
5:30-6:00 pm
 The Dean of the Cathedral, admitted on account of his dignity, comes to exchange views with Rizal. Fr. Rosell hears an order given to
certain “gentlemen” and “two friars” to leave the chapel at once. Fr. Balaguer leaves Fort Santiago
6:00-7:00 pm
 Fr. Rosell leaves Fort Santiago and sees Josephine Bracken
 Rizal calls for Josephine and then they speak to each for the last time
7:00-8:00 pm
 Fr. Faura returns to console Rizal and persuades him once more to trust him and the other professors at the Ateneo. Rizal is emotion-filled
and after remaining some moments in silence, confesses to Fr. Faura
10:00-11:00 pm
 Rizal manifests strange reaction, asks guards for paper and pen. From rough drafts and copies of his poem recovered in his shoes, the
Spaniards come to know that Rizal is writing a poem
11:00-12:00 midnight
 Rizal takes time to hide his poem inside the alcohol burner. It has to be done during night rather than during daytime because he is watched
very carefully. He then writes his last letter to brother Paciano
12:00-4:00 am
 Rizal sleeps restfully because his confidence in the goodness of God and the justness of his cause gives him astounding serenity and
unusual calmness
December 30, 1896
4:00-5:00 am
 Rizal picks up Imitacion of Christ, reads, meditates and then writes in Kempis’ book a dedication to his wife Josephine and by this very act
in itself he gives to their only certificate of marriage
5:00-6:15 am
 Writes a letter to his parents. Read Bible and meditates. Josephine is prohibited by the Spanish officers from seeing Rizal
6:15-7:00 am
 Rizal walks to the place of execution between Fr. March and Fr. Vilaclara with whom he converses. Keeps looking around as if seeking or
expecting to see someone.
 The Spanish Army Surgeon General requested to take his pulse; it was normal. Dr. Felipe Ruiz Castillo, who took Rizal’s vital signs and
pulse rate before the execution was amazed to find that Rizal was calm and unafraid.
 Squad of Filipino soldiers of the Spanish Army were the executioners but a backup force of regular Spanish Army troops stood ready to
shoot the executioners if they fail to obey orders
 Holding a rosary in his right hand, Rizal was tied at the elbows as his group walked behind four advance guards armed with bayonets
7:00-7:03 am
 Sounds of guns, Rizal vacillates, turns hallway around, falls down backwards and lies on the ground facing the sun. His last word, said in a
loud voice: “consummatum est”/it is finished. Silence. Shouts of vivas for Spain
THE BURIAL
 He was secretly buried in Paco Cemetery in Manila with no identification on his grave. His sister Narcisa toured all possible gravesites and
found freshly turned earth at the cemetery with guards posted at the gate. Assuming this could be the most likely spot, there never having
any ground burials, she made a gift to the caretaker to mark the site “RPJ”, Rizal’s initials in reverse.
 Exhumation of his remains in August 1898, under American rule, revealed he had been uncoffined, his burial not on sanctified ground
granted the ‘confessed’ faithful, and whatever was in his shoes had disintegrated. And now he is buried in Rizal Monument in Manila.
 
  Lesson 14 - The Characters and Summary of the Novel
THE NOVEL: NOLI ME TANGERE
 As a man obsessed with freedom and liberty for the Filipino people, Rizal proposed a book writing project to the Filipino members of the
Circulo Hispano-Filipino. The book would deal on the socio-cultural and political aspects of life in the Philippines. When details were
discussed during the meeting, most of the member wanted to write about the characters and activities of the Filipino women. Most of them
were not interested in Rizal’s proposed project. With this Rizal decided to write the book by himself. He did not lose hope, using his talent
and writing skills he started to write his masterpiece the, “Noli me Tangere”. He joined the brotherhood of Masons for more mature
contacts and enlightenment in complete the book.
 He managed to finish the first half of the Noli me Tangere in Madrid. He continued writing in Paris where he was inspired through the
immortal declaration of the rights of man, that had been passed and being implemented. He finished it in Germany where scientific
research and philosophy were free from the church and state control.
 The Noli Me Tangere was printed in Berlin because Rizal was short of funds. He was charged P300.00 for 2000 copies. His friend Maximo
Viola offered to pay the amount and the book was finally released in March 1887.
 Rizal studied Hebrew to enable him to interpret the Bible in its original text and be better prepared to defend any controversial religious
issues that Noli Me Tangere might arise. He had translated some passage from the Bible that he used in his book.
 “Noli Me Tangere” is a Latin phrase that Rizal took from the Bible, meaning “Touch Me Not” in John 20:17, the newly-risen Christ says
to Mary Magdalene: “Touch me not; I am not yet ascended to my Father, but go to my brethren, and say unto them I ascend undo my
Father and your Father, and to my God and your God.”
 Noli Me Tangere (The Social Cancer as the alternative English title) is a Spanish-language novel written by Dr. Jose P. Rizal that is
credited with the awakening of nationalism among the Filipinos of Rizal’s time. It was published in 1887 in Berlin. The novel is commonly
referred to by its shortened name Noli. The English translation of Charles Derbyshire was titled The Social Cancer, although some other
translation retains the original Latin.
Summary of Noli Me Tangere
Having completed his studies in Europe, young Juan Crisostomo Ibarra came back to the Philippines after a 7-year absence. In his
honor, Captain Tiago threw a get-together party, which was attended by friars and other prominent figures. In an unfortunate incident,
former curate Father Damaso belittled and slandered Ibarra. But Ibarra brushed off the insult and took no offense, he instead politely
excused himself and left the party because of an allegedly important task.
The day after the humble party, Ibarra went to see Maria Clara, his love interest, a beautiful daughter of Captain Tiago and an affluent
resident of Binondo, Manila. Their long-standing love was clearly manifested in this meeting, and Maria Clara cannot help but reread the
letters her sweetheart had written to her before he went to Europe. Before Ibarra left for San Diego, Lieutenant Guevarra, a Guardia Civil,
revealed to him the incidents preceding the death of his father, Don Rafael Ibarra, a rich haciendero of the town.
According to the Lieutenant, Don Rafael was unjustly accused of being a heretic. In addition to being a filibuster-an allegation brought forth
by Father Damaso because of Don Rafael’s non-participation in the Sacraments, such as Confession and Mass. Father Damaso’s animosity
against Ibarra’s father was aggravated by another incident when Don Rafael helped out on a fight between a tax collector and a student
fighting, and the former’s death was blamed on him, although it was not deliberate. Suddenly, all of those who thought ill of him surfaced
with additional complaints. He was imprisoned, and just when the matter was almost settled, he got sick and died in jail. Still not content with
what he had done, Father Damaso arranged for Don Rafael’s corpse to be dug up and transferred from the Catholic cemetery to the Chinese
cemetery, because he thought it inappropriate to allow a heretic such as Don Rafael a Catholic burial ground. Unfortunately, it was raining
and because of the bothersome weight of the cadaver, the men in charge of the burial decided to throw the corpse into lake.
Revenge was not in Ibarra’s plans; instead he carried thought his father’s plan of putting up a school, since he believed that education would
pave the way to his country’s progress (all over the novel the author refers to both Spain and the Philippines as two different countries which
form part of a same nation or family, being Spain the mother and the Philippines the daughter). During the inauguration of the school, Ibarra
would have been killed in a sabotage had Elias - a mysterious man who had warned Ibarra earlier of a plot to assassinate him - not saved him.
Instead the hired killer met an unfortunate incident and died. The sequence of events proved to be too traumatic for Maria Clara who got
seriously ill but was luckily cured by the medicine Ibarra sent her.
After the inauguration, Ibarra hosted a luncheon during which Father Damaso, uninvited and gate-crashing the luncheon, again insulted him.
Ibarra ignored the priest’s insolence, but when the latter slandered the memory of his dead father, he was no longer able to restrain himself
and lunged at Father Damaso, prepared to stab the latter for his imprudence. As a consequence, Father Damaso excommunicated Ibarra.
Father Damaso took this opportunity to persuade the already-hesitant father of Maria Clara to forbid his daughter from marrying Ibarra. The
friar wished to marry a Peninsular named Linares who has arrived from Spain.
With the help of Captain-General, Ibarra’s excommunication was nullified and the Archbishop decided to accept him as a member of the
Church once again. But, as fate would have it, some incident of which Ibarra had known nothing about nothing was blamed on him, and he
was wrongly arrested and imprisoned. But the accusation against him was overruled because during the litigation that followed, nobody could
testify that he was indeed involved. Unfortunately, his letter to Maria Clara somehow got into the hands of the jury and was manipulated such
that it then became evidence against him.
 Meanwhile, in Captain Tiago’s residence, a party was being held to announce the upcoming wedding of Maria Clara and Linares. Ibarra, with
the help of Elias, took this opportunity and escaped from prison. But before leaving, Ibarra talked to Maria Clara and accused her for
betraying him, thinking that she gave the letter to wrote her to the jury. Maria Clara explained to Ibarra that she will never conspire against
him but that she was forced to surrender Ibarra’s letter to her in exchange for the letters written by her mother even before she, Maria Clara,
was born. The child and that she, Maria Clara, was therefore not the daughter of Captain Tiago, but of Father Damaso.
Afterwards, Ibarra and Elias bounded a boat and left the palace. Elias instructed Ibarra to lie down and the former covered the latter with grass
to conceal the latter’s presence. As luck would have it, they were spotted by their enemies. Elias thought he could outsmart them and jumped
into the water. The guards rain shots on the person in the water, all the while not knowing that they were aiming at the wrong man.
Maria Clara, thinking that Ibarra has been killed in the shooting incident, was greatly overcome with grief. Robbed of hope and severe
disillusion, she asked Father Damaso to confine her into a nunnery. Father Damaso reluctantly agreed when Maria Clara threatened to take
her own life, demanding, “the nunnery or death!” Unbeknown to her, Ibarra is still alive and able to escape. It was Elias who had taken the
shots. It was Christmas Eve when Elias woke up in the forest, gravely wounded and barely alive. It was in the forest that Elias
found Basilio and his lifeless mother, Sisa.
 Noli Me Tangere was Rizal’s first novel. He was 26 at its publication. This book was historically significant and was instrumental in
establishing the Filipino’s sense of national identity. The book indirectly influenced a revolution although the author, Jose Rizal, actually
advocated for direct representation to the Spanish government and larger role of the Philippines inside the Spanish political affairs. The
novel was written in Spanish, the language of the educated at a time when Filipinos were markedly segregated by diverse native languages
and regional.
 The novel created so much controversy that only a few days after his arrival, Governor-General Emilio Terrero summoned him to the
Malacañang Palace and told him of the charges saying that his Noli Me Tangere was full of subversive ideas. After a discussion, the liberal
Governor General was appeased; but he mentioned that he was unable to offer resistance against the pressure of the Church to act against
the book. The persecution can be discerned from Rizal’s letter to Ferdinand Blumentritt in Leitmeritz. “My book made a lot of noise:
everywhere. I am asked about it. They wanted to excommunicate me because of it… I am considered a German spy, an agent of Bismarck,
they say I am a Protestant, a freemason, a sorcerer, a denied soul and evil. It is whispered that I want to draw plans, that I have a foreign
reason and that I wander through the streets by night…”
 The book was instrumental in creating a unified Filipino national identity and consciousness, as many Filipinos previously identified with
their respective regions to the advantage of the Spanish authorities. It lampooned, caricatured and exposed various elements in the colonial
society.
CHARACTERS OF NOLI ME TANGERE
Rizal included around 30 characters in the novel. Below are some of the major characters of the story that represents conditions of the Philippines.
1. Crisostomo Ibarra – also known in his full name as Juan Crisostomo Ibarra y Magsalin, a Filipino who studied in Europe for 7 years,
the love interest of Maria Clara. Son of the deceased Don Rafael Ibarra; Crisostomo changed his surname from Eibarramendia to Ibarra,
from his ancestor’s surname. The main and most important character in the novel manifesting in him the Filipino who acquired European
idea through his education in Europe. In the novel, Ibarra’s personality will result in the disagreements of liberal idealism in education and
conservatism represented by the Catholic Church.
2. Elias – Ibarra’s mysterious friend, a master boater, also a fugitive. He was referred to at one point as “the pilot”. He wants to revolutionize
his country. In the past, Ibarra’s grandfather condemned his grandfather of burning a warehouse, making Elias the fugitive he is. The
character that Rizal placed to represent the Filipino masses who suffered from Spanish brutalities and abuse due to their powerlessness in
the novel and in real Philippines social situation of that time.
3. Maria Clara – Maria Clara de los Santos, Ibarra’s sweetheart; the illegitimate daughter of Father Damaso and Pia Alba. In her, Ibarra has
fallen in-love, she also mirrored the Filipino woman of religious upbringing and orientation, and through her love to Ibarra, and she
represents true fidelity and religiosity of the woman in real Filipino society.
4. Father Damaso – also known in his full name as Damaso Verdoglagas, a friar and Maria Clara’s biological father. An antagonist in
character and represents the in Christian works for the Catholic friars who are in the church.
5. Sisa – the mother of Basilio and Crispin who became insane after losing his sons. She represented in the novel a mad plight of the Filipina
mothers losing her two sons; Basilio and Crispin. In the novel, Sisa loses her sanity.
6. Captain Tiago – also known in his full name as Don Santiago de los Santos, the known father of Maria Clara but not the real one, lives in
Binondo. An illegal opium leader who subsequently was a landlord. He represented a different where in religion and thus, more of a
businessman who used his money to work for him even in religious life and obligations.
7. Pilosopong Tasyo – also known as Don Anastacio, portrayed in the novel as pessimistic cynic, and mad by his neighbors. He portrays the
role of a Philosopher who was completely misunderstood in many aspects, he argues with the belief of the Catholic Church and social
changes and concerns in the novel.
8. Dona Victorina – Victorina de los Reyes de De Espadana, a woman who poses herself as a Peninsulares. Wife of Don Tiburcio de
Espadana, known in the novel as a trying hard rich woman who abhors anything that is Filipino and clings for Spanish way of life. This
kind of character was manifested on some Filipinos of that time.
9. Pedro – abusive husband of Sisa who loved cockfighting.
10. Don Rafael Ibarra – known in the plot as a concerned citizen and property owner who was a father of Crisostomo Ibarra. Padre Damaso
who played an antagonist role called him a heretic and rebel due to his view on relating to liberalism in society.
11. The School Master – A teacher at San Diego who’s view in the novel represented the weak and useless education in the Philippines. He
attributes the problem from facilities and methods of learning that the friars implemented in the country.
12. Tandang Pablo – The leader of the rebels, whose family was destroyed because of the Spaniards.
13. Basilio – the elder son of Sisa.
14. Crispin – the younger son of Sisa who died from the punishment of the soldiers from the false accusation of stealing an amount of money.
15. Padre Sibyla – Hernando de la Sibyla, a Filipino friar. He is described as short and has fair skin.\
16. Padre Salvi – also known in his full name as Bernardo Salvi, a secret admirer of Maria Clara.
17. The Alferez – chief of the Guardia Civil, mortal enemy of the priests for power in San Diego.
18. Don Tiburcio – Spanish husband of Donya Victorina who was limp and submissive to his wife; he also pretended to be a doctor.
 19. Dona Consolacion – wife of the alferez, another woman who passed herself as a Peninsular; best remembered for her abusive treatment of
Sisa.
20. Captain General (no specific name) – The most powerful official in the Philippines; a hater of secular priests and corrupt officials; and a
friend of Ibarra.
THE FIRST HOMECOMING
 With all beautiful memories of his live years of travel in foreign lands. Rizal could never forget the Philippines. His Motherhood during the
time he was abroad, he studied, acquired knowledge and learned the language foreign nations, enjoyed the friendship of many great men of
Western world, but he remained at heart a true Filipino with an enduring love for the Philippine and very strong determination to serve and
die in the land of his birth the Philippines. He decided to return to Calamba for such reasons to operate on his mother’s eyes: to help his
family and the Filipino people, to find out for himself have the Noli Me Tangere and his other writings were affecting the Filipinos and
Spaniards in the Philippines. Last but not the least: he wanted to find out why Leonora Rivera remained silent while he was in Rome. On
June 29, 1887, Rizal wrote to his father about his homecoming. He expected to be in the Philippines by the 15 th to 30th of August 1887.
 Rizal boarded the steamer Djemnah on July 3, 1887, the same ship which brought him to Europe 5 years ago. Rizal was the only Filipino
among the passengers (Englishmen, German, Chinese, Frenchmen and also Japanese) who could speak many languages, so he had a good
time acting as interpreter for his companions. He also got along well with the other passengers by playing chess.
 Reaching Saigon, he transferred to another steamer Haiphong which was bound for Manila on August 2, 1887. He reached Manila on
August 6, and was welcomed heartily by his parents, relatives and friends. He found Manila the same as when he left it 5 years ago. He
stayed in the city for a short time to visit his friends. He returned to Calamba on August 8. He wrote to Blumentritt. “I had a pleasant
voyage. I found my family enjoying good health and happiness. It was great seeing each other again. They shed tears of joy and I had to
answer their thousands of questions of the same time”.
 Amidst the happy and peaceful aura of his arrival, his family was worried for his safety. Thus, Paciano did not leave him to protect him
from any enemy assault. His own father would not let him go out alone for something else might happen.
TROUBLE IN NOLI ME TANGERE
 A few weeks after his stay in Calamba, he received a letter from the Governor-General Emilio Terrero requesting him to come to 
Malacañang Palace to explain about the subversive ideas contained in the Noli Me Tangere. Rizal went to see the Governor General. He
denied the charges and explained that he merely exposed the truth but he did not advocate subversion. Pleased by his explanation and
curious about the controversial book, the Governor General asked for a copy. Rizal promised to give him one. The Governor General
minded Spaniard and knew that Rizal’s life was in danger because the friars were powerful, he assigned a cultured, Spanish lieutenant
named Don Jose Taviel de Andrade as his bodyguard. Governor General read the Noli Me Tangere and found nothing wrong with it.
Nonetheless, he had it banned when the reports were submitted to him by the Commission of Censorship calling for its outright censorship.
The banning of the Noli Me Tangere made it more popular; causing everybody among the masses to read the novel at night secretly.

Lesson 15 - The Characters and Summary of the Novel

EL FILIBUSTERISMO
 Jose Rizal wrote his second novel which is a continuation of the Noli Me Tangere in Brussels and he finished it in Biarritz Madrid,
inspired by the magnificent place and his romance with Nellie Boustead. On March 29, 1891 before his departure from Biarritz to Paris, he
finished the manuscript of El Filibusterismo and he completed the revision on May 30,1891, ready for printing. He searched for a cheaper
printing shop and he did find a publisher F. Meyer-Van Loo Press, No. 66 Viaanderen Street that published his books in an installment
basis. He pawned his jewels in order to pay the down payment and early partial payment during the printing of the novel. He had received
some funds from Basa and Rodriguez Arias.
 But printing was suspended because of insufficient funds and then Valentin Ventura in Paris helped him because he learned about Rizal’s
predicament. He immediately sent the necessary funds for printing.
 On September 18,1891, the novel came off the press in Ghent. He immediately sent copies to Basa to Sixto Lopez in Hong Kong, to, to
his friends Valentin S. Ventura in Paris and to his friends in the Philippines.
 The novel was praised to the skies by Filipino patriots in foreign lands and in the Philippines. The members of the Filipino colony of
Barcelona published a tribute in La Publicidad, a Barcelona newspaper, eulogizing the novel’s original style which is comparable only to
sublime Alexander Dumas and may well be offered as “a model, a precious jewel in the decadent literature of Spain”.
 The liberal Madrid newspaper, El Nuevo Regimen, serialized the novel in its issues of October 1891.
 Rizal dedicated El Filibusterismo to the martyrs, Father Gomez, Father Burgos and Father Zamora. Their martyrdom, which Paciano
related to him when he was a boy in Calamba was never forgotten.
SUMMARY OF EL FILIBUSTERISMO
Thirteen years after Jose Rizal left the Philippines, Juan Crisostomo Ibarra (the main character from Noli Me Tangere) returned as Simoun, a
rich jeweler sporting a beard and blue-tinted glasses, and a confidant of the Governor-General of the Philippines Captain-General.
Abandoning his idealism, he became a cynical saboteur, the titular filibuster, seeking revenge against the Spanish Philippines system
responsible for his misfortune by plotting a revolution. Simoun mingled himself into Manila high society and influenced every decision of the
Captain-General to mismanage the country’s affairs so that a revolution will break out. He cynically sided with the upper classes, encouraging
them to commit abuses against the masses so that the latter would be encourage to revolt against the oppressive Spanish colonial regime. This
time, he did not attempt to fight the authorities through legal means, but through violent revolution using the masses.
Simoun had reasons for instigating a revolution. First is to rescue Maria Clara from the convent and second, to get rid of ills and evils of
Philippine society. His true identity is discovered by a now grown-up Basilio while visiting the grave of his mother, Sisa as Simoun was
digging near the grave site for his buried treasures, Simoun spared Basilio’s life and asked him to join in his planned revolution against the
government, up the tragic misfortunes of the latter’s family. Basilio declined the offers as he still hopes that the country’s condition will
improve.
Basilio, at this point, is a graduating student of medicine at the Ateneo Municipal de Manila. After the death of his mother, Sisa and the
disappearance of his younger brother, Crispin, Basilio heeded the advice of the dying boatman, Elias and traveled to Manila to study. Basilio
was adopted by Captain Tiago after Maria Clara entered the convent. With Captain Tiago’s help, Basilio was able to go Colegio de San Juan
de Letran where, at first, he is frowned upon by his peers and teachers not only because of the color of his skin but also because of his shabby
 appearance which he also experienced at Ateneo. Captain Tiago’s confessor, Father Irene was making Captain Tiago’s health worse by
giving him opium even as Basilio tried hard to prevent Captain Tiago from smoking it. He and other students wanted to establish a Spanish
Language Academy so that they can learn to speak and write Spanish language in the Philippines despite the opposition from the Dominican
friars of the University of Santo Tomas. With the help of a reluctant Father Irene as their mediator and Don Custodio’s decision, the academy
was established; however, they will only serve as a caretaker of the school not as the teachers. Dejected and defeated, they hold a mock
celebration at a panciteria while a spy for the friars witnesses the proceedings.
Simoun, for his part, kept in close contact with the bandit group of Kabesang Tales, a former Cabeza de Barangay who suffered misfortunes
at the hands of the friars. Once a former owning a prosperous sugarcane plantation and a Cabeza de Barangay (Barangay Head), he was
forced to give everything to the greedy and unscrupulous Spanish friars. His son, Tano, who became a civil guard was captured by bandits;
his daughter Juli had to work as a maid to get enough ransom money for his freedom; and his father, Tandang Selo, suffered a stroke and
became mute. Before joining the bandits, Tales took Simoun’s revolver while Simoun was staying at his house for the night. As payment,
Tales left a locket that once belonged to Maria Clara. To further strengthen the revolution, Simoun has Quiroga, a Chinese man hoping to be
appointed consul to the Philippines, smuggled weapons into the country using Quiroga’s bazaar as a front. Simoun wished to attack during a
stage play with all his enemies in attendance. He, however, abruptly aborted the attack when he learned from Basilio that Maria Clara had
died earlier that day in the convent.
A few days after the mock celebration by the students, the people were agitated when disturbing posters were found displayed around the city.
The authorities accused the students present at the panciteria of agitation and disturbing peace and had them arrested. Basilio, although not
present at the mock celebration, was also arrested. Captain Tiago died after learning of the incident and as stated in his will-forged by Father
Irene, all his possessions were given to the Church, leaving nothing for Basilio. Basilio was left in prison as the other students were released.
A high official tried to interview for the release of Basilio but the Captain- General, bearing grudges against the high official, coerced him to
tender his resignation. Juli, Basilio’s girlfriend and the daughter of Kabesang Tales, tried to ask Father Camorra’s help upon the advice of an
elder woman. Instead of helping however, father Camorra tried to rape her as he had long-hidden desires for Juli. Juli, rather than submits to
the will of the friar, jumped over the balcony to her death.
Basilio was soon released with the help of Simoun. Basilio, now a changed man, and the after hearing about Juli’s suicide, finally joined
Simoun’s revolution. Simoun then told Basilio his plan at the wedding of Paulita Gomez and Juanito, Basilio’s hunch-backed classmate. His
plan was to conceal an explosive inside a pomegranate-styled Kerosene lamp that Simoun will give to the newlyweds as a gift during the
wedding reception. The reception will take place at the former home of the late Captain Tiago, which was now filled with explosives planted
by Simoun. According to Simoun, the lamp will stay lighted for only 20 minutes before it flickers; if someone attempts to turn the wick, it
will explode and kill everyone- important members of civil society and the Roman Catholic Church in the Philippines Church hierarchy-
inside the house. Basilio had a change of heart and attempts to warm the people inside, including Isagani, his friend and the former boyfriend
of Paulita. Simoun left the reception early as planned and left a note to behind. 
 
“The Writing on the Wall | “Mene Thecel Phares”
Juan Crisostomo Ibarra
Initially thinking that it was simply a bad joke by those left behind, Father Salvi recognized the handwriting and confirmed that it was indeed
Ibarra’s. As people began to panic, the lamp flickered. Father Irene tried to turn the wick up when Isagani, due to his undying love for Paulita,
burst in the room and threw the lamp into the river, sabotaging Simoun’s plans. He escaped by diving into the river as guards chased after
him. He later regretted his impulsive action because he had contradicted his own belief that he loved his nation more than Paulita and that the
explosion and revolution could have fulfilled his ideals for Filipino society.
Simoun, now unmasked as the perpetrator of the attempted arson and failed revolution, became a fugitive. Wounds and exhausted after he
was shot by the pursuing Guardia Civil soldiers, he sought shelter at the home of Father Florentino, Isagani’s uncle, and came under the care
of Doctor Tiburcio de Espadana, the husband of Doña Victorina, who was also hiding at the house. Simoun took poison in order for him not
to be captured alive by the authorities. Before he died, he revealed his real identity to Father Florentino while they exchanged thoughts about
the failure of his revolution and why God forsook him. Father Florentino greater good but for personal gain. Simoun, finally accepting Father
Florentino’s explanation, squeezed his hand and died. Father Florentino then took Simoun’s remaining jewels and threw them into the sea,
hoping that they would not be used by the greedy, and that when the time comes that it would be used for the greater good, when the nation
would be finally deserving liberty for themselves, the sea would reveal the treasures.
CHARACTERS OF EL FILIBUSTERISMO
Below are some of the major characters in the novel:
1. Simoun - The continuation of the character of Crisostomo Ibarra disguised as a wealthy. jeweler, bent on starting a revolution. Using his
wealth, he encouraged the people who experienced abuse to join him in his rebellion against the church and the government.
2. Basilio - Sisa's son and was adopted by Kapitan Tiago, boyfriend of Juli and an aspiring doctor.
3. Isagani - poet and Basilio's best friend; portrayed as emotional and reactive student leader; Paulita Gómez' boyfriend before being dumped
for fellow student Juanito Pelaez.
4. Kabesang Tales - Telesforo Juan de Dios, a former Cabeza de Barangay (Barangay Head) who resurfaced as the feared Luzon bandit
Matanglawin (Tagalog for "Hawkeye"); his father, Tandang Selo, died eventually after his own son Tano, who became a guardia civil,
unknowingly shot his grandfather in an encounter.
5. Don Custodio - Custodio de Salazar y Sánchez de Monteredondo, a famous "journalist" who was asked by the students about his decision
for the Academia de Castellano. In reality, he was quite an ordinary fellow who married a rich woman in order to be a member of Manila's
high society.
6. Paulita Gomez - The girlfriend of Isagani and the niece of Doña Victorina, the old India who passing (racial identity) passes herself off as
a Peninsulares | Peninsular, who was the wife of the quack doctor Tiburcio de Espadaña. In the end, she and Juanito Peláez were wed, and
she dumped Isagani, believing that she will have no future if she marries him.
7. Father Florentino - Isagani's godfather, and a secular priest; was engaged to be married but chose to be a priest after being pressured by
his mother, the story hinting at the ambivalence of his decision as he chose an assignment to a remote place, living in solitude near the sea.
8. Juli - Juliana de Dios, the girlfriend of Basilio, and the youngest daughter of Kabesang Tales.
9. Ben Zayb - Abraham Ibañez is his real name. He is a journalist who thought he was the "only" one thinking in the Philippines.
 10. Placido Penitente - a student of the University of Santo Tomas who was very intelligent and wise but did not want, if not only by his
mother's plea, to pursue his studies. He also controls his temper against his Physics teacher, Father Millon.
11. Quiroga - a Chinese businessman who dreamt of being a consul of a "Consulate of China" in the Philippines. He kept Simoun's weapons
inside his house.
12. Tandang Selo - father of Kabesang Tales. He raised the sick and young Basilio after his mother Sisa had died.
13. Father Fernandez - the priest-friend of Isagani. He promised Isagani that he and the other priests will give in to the students' demands.
14. Attorney Pasta - one of the great lawyers of mid-Hispanic Manila.
15. Captain-General (no specific name) - the powerful highest official in the Philippines.
16. Padre Sibyla - Hernando de la Sibyla, a Filipino friar and now vice-rector of the University of Santo Tomas.

Comparison of Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo

 
THE COMPARISON OF    
THE TWO NOVELS OF
DR. JOSE P. RIZAL
FEATURES/ASPECT NOLI ME TANGERE EL FILIBUSTERISMO
DATE & PLACE March 21, 1887 September 18,1891
PUBLISHED Berlin, Germany Ghent, Belgium
SPANISH (LANGUAGE) “Noli Me Tangere” “El Filibusterismo”
ENGLISH (LANGUAGE) “Touch Me Not” “The Reign of Greed”
Social Cancer
FILIPINO (LANGUAGE) “Huwag mo akong salingin” “Ang Paghahari ng Kasakiman”
GENRE Romantic Novel, a story exposing the real Political Novel, a story of revenge and
situation in the Philippines revolution.
CONCEPT To work pacifist, choosing peaceful To revenge the sufferings of the family and
reforms through education of the youth, countrymen resulting from bitter and
colonial discrimination an idealist traumatic experiences, failure of the
introducing reforms revolution planned by Simoun
DEDICATION Motherland Fathers Gomez, Burgos, and Zamora
(GOMBURZA)
LENGTH 64 chapters 38 Chapters
INFLUENCE & SAVED BY Influenced by the novel entitled “Uncle Saved by Valentin Ventura
Tom’s Cabin”
 
Lesson 17 - The Opening of the Philippines to the World
Commerce in 1834
 
Between 1834 and 1873, several ports were opened in the Philippines. The opening of modern methods of agriculture and the improved means of
transportation and communication promoted economic progress. As a result, the Filipino Middle Class emerged. These were the Filipinos who
participated when country was opened to world trade. They did not only acquire material wealth but also improved their social influence and
standings. With this prosperity, they clamored for social and political equality with their colonial masters. From their ranks includes the initial
propagators of the reform movement Jose P. Rizal, Graciano Lopez Jaena, Marcelo H. del Pilar, Antonio and Juan Luna, and others) who actually
became the Pillars of the Propaganda.
THE INFLUX OF LIBERAL IDEAS
 In 1868, a liberal democratic revolution ousted Queen Isabela II from Spanish throne. The revolutionist established Spanish Republic
replacing monarchial system. The victory of liberals and democrats in Spain brought significant changes in the landscape of politics in the
Philippines.
 The liberal regime in Spain sent to colony Carlos Ma. De la Torre, the most liberal Spanish Governor-General the Philippines had. He put
into practice his liberal and democratic ways by encouraging freedom of speech and avoiding luxury.
 The opening of the Suez Canal in 1869 further stimulated the Philippine progress. It shortens the distance of travel between Europe and
Asia
  The Illustrado's or educated Filipino who had imbibed liberality during their stint abroad directly brought liberal ideas of Europe and
America into the country. Furthermore, books containing American and French Revolution and reading materials with political theme
entered the country.
FUTILE SPANISH ATTEMPT TO INITIATE REFORMS
 Spanish Governor-General Maria Carlos Dela Torre was sent to the Philippines by the liberal government established after the successful
revolution of 1868. Dela Torre proved to be true liberal. He implemented liberal reforms: abolished censorship of the press, encouraged
freedom of speech, and allowed the native priest to campaign for the Filipinization of the parishes and other democratic reforms. He
allowed the Filipino patriots to form an organization called Committee of Reformers (Comite de Reformadores) with section - clergy,
laymen and students.
 The youth were not spared from the increase of nationalistic passion. Daring students at the University of Santo Tomas organized Juventud
Escolar Liberal (Liberal Young Students) led by Felipe Buencamino. Through anonymous leaflets scattered within the campus, the students
asked for the appointment of better professor, and the expansion of education as in Spain, and the secularization of higher education. The
demands were legitimate but the Spanish government branded them as subversive and ordered the arrest of Buencamino and others who
were not involved.
 The liberal republic Spain did not last long. In 1871, the monarchies restored and dela Torre's democratic regime in the Philippines ended
too. On March 1872, de la Torre wrote to Madrid concerning his decision to get relieved from his post. He was succeeded by Governor-
General Rafael de Izquierdo, whom was described as the opposite of his liberal-mindedness.
 General Rafael de Izquierdo, a conservative leader, assumed the governorship. His first act was to disapproved the founding of a school of
arts and trade which Filipinos wanted so much. His objection was based on the suspicion that the school might be used as a political club.
With support of the friars, he restored the censorship of the press and the curtailment of speech. However, what made Izquierdo's
administration a negative standout was the tragic effect of his abolition of certain privileges long enjoyed by the Filipino workers in the
Cavite arsenals.
 One night of January 20, 1872, the Filipino soldiers in the Fort of San Felipe in Cavite rose in mutiny under the leadership of Sgt. La
Madrid. The reason was abolition of soldiers' exemption from tribute (tax payment) and forced labor (polo y servicios). The Spaniards
easily suppressed the mutiny. Many of the mutineers, including La Madrid, were killed in the fighting. The mutiny was magnified by the
Spaniard into a revolt and implicated in Filipino priest identified with the secularization of the parishes, with the friars charged with having
tormented uprising.
 At the sunrise of 17 February 1872, the three priests GOMBURZA were executed. The Filipinos were stunned by the execution because
they knew that they were innocent and that they were killed because they championed the rights of the Filipino. Thus, they regard the
executed priest as true martyrs of the fatherland. Thus, secularization was born.
THE SECULARIZATION CONTROVERSY
 Two congregation of priests served the Catholic Church in the Philippines. These were the regulars and the seculars. Regular priests
belonged to religious orders. Their main task was to spread Christianity. The examples were the Franciscans, Recollects, Dominicans and
Augustinians. Secular priests did not belong to any religious order. They were trained specifically to run the parishes and were under the
supervision or the bishops.
 Conflict began when the bishops insisted on visiting the parishes that were being run by regular priests. It was their duty, to check on the
administration of these parishes. But the regular priests refused the visits, saying that they were not under the bishop's jurisdiction. They
threatened to abandon their parishes if the bishops persisted.
 In 1774, Archbishop Basilio Santa Justa decided to uphold the diocese's authority over the parishes and accepted the resignations of the
regular priests. He assigned secular priests to take their place. Since there were not enough seculars to fill all the vacancies the Archbishop
hastened the ordination of Filipino seculars. A royal decree was also issued on November 9, 1774, which provided for the secularization of
all parishes or the transfer of parochial administration from the regular friars to the secular priests.
 The regulars resented the move because they considered the Filipinos unfit for the priesthood. Among other reasons they cited the Filipinos'
brown skin, lack of education, and inadequate experience.
 The controversy became more intense when the Jesuits returned to the Philippines. They had been exiled from the country because of
certain policies of the order that the Spanish authorities did not like. The issue soon took on a racial slant. The Spaniards were clearly
favored their own regular priest over Filipino priests.
 Monsignor Pedro Pelaez, ecclesiastical governor of the Church, sided with the Filipinos. Unfortunately, he died in an earthquake that
destroyed the Manila Cathedral in 1863. After his death, other priests took his place in fighting for the secularization movement. Among
them were Fathers Mariano Gomez, Jose Burgos and Jacinto Zamora.
THE CAVITE MUTINY
 The Cavite Mutiny of 1872 was an uprising of Filipino military personnel of Fort San Felipe, the Spanish arsenal in Cavite, Philippine
Islands on January 20, 1872. Around 200 locally recruited colonial troops and laborers rose up in the belief that it would elevate to a
national uprising. The mutiny was unsuccessful, and government soldiers executed many of the participants and began to crack down on a
burgeoning Philippines nationalist movement. Many scholars believe that the Cavite Mutiny of 1872 was the beginning of Filipino
nationalism that would eventually lead to the Philippine Revolution.
 The primary cause of the mutiny is believed to be an order from Governor General Rafael de Izquierdo to subject the soldiers of the
Engineering and Artillery Corps to personal taxes, from which they were previously exempt. The taxes required them to pay a monetary
sum as well as to perform forced labor called, polo y servicios. The mutiny was sparked on January 20, when the laborers received their pay
and realized the taxes as well as the falla, the fine one paid to be exempt from forced labor, had been deducted from their salaries.
 Their leader was Fernando La Madrid, a mestizo sergeant with his second in command Jaerel Brent Pedro, a moreno. They seized Fort
San Felipe and killed eleven Spanish officers. The mutineers thought that fellow Filipino indigenous soldiers in Manila would join them in
a concerted uprising, the signal begins with the firing of rockets from the city walls on that night. Unfortunately, what they thought to be
the signal was actually a burst of fireworks in celebration of the feast of Our Lady of Loreto, the patron of Sampaloc. News of the mutiny
reached Manila, the Spanish authorities feared for a massive Filipino uprising. The next day, a regiment led by General Felipe Ginoves
besieged the fort until the mutineers surrendered. Ginoves then ordered his troops to fire at those who surrendered, including La Madrid. 
  In the immediate aftermath of the mutiny, some Filipino soldiers were disarmed and later sent into exile on the southern island of
Mindanao. Those suspected of directly supporting the mutineers were arrested and executed. The mutiny was used by the colonial
government and Spanish friars to implicate three secular priests, Mariano Gomez, Jose Burgos, and Jacinto Zamora, collectively known
as Gomburza. They were executed by garrote on the Luneta field, also known in the Tagalog language as Bagumbayan, on 17th February
1872. These executions, particularly those of the Gomburza, were to have a significant effect on people because of the shadowy nature of
the trials. Jose Rizal, whose brother Paciano was a close friend of Burgos, dedicated his work, El Filibusterismo, to these three priests.
 On January 27, 1872, Governor-General Rafael Izquierdo approved the death sentences on forty-one of the mutineers. On February 6,
eleven more were sentenced to death, but these were later commuted to life imprisonment. Others were exiled to Guam, Mariana Islands,
including the father of Pedro Paterno, Maximo Paterno, Antonio M. Regidor y Jurado, and Jose Maria Basa. The most important group
created a colony of Filipino expatriates in Europe, particularly in the Spanish capital of Madrid and Barcelona, where they were able to
create small insurgent associations and print publications that were to advance the claims of the seeding Philippine Revolution.
THE TRIAL
 During the short trial, the captured mutineers testified against Jose Burgos. The state witness, Francisco Zaldua, declared that he had been
told by one of the Basa brothers that the government of Father Burgos would bring a navy fleet or the United States would assist a
revolution with which Ramon Maurente, was financing with 50,000 pesos. The heads of the friar orders held a conference and decided to
dispose Burgos by implicating him to a plot. The senior friars convince Governor-General Rafael de Izquierdo that Burgos was the
mastermind of the coup. Gomez and Zamora were close associates of Burgos, so they too were included in the allegations. This action led
to the movement of propagandist.
THE EXECUTION OF FATHERS GOMEZ, BURGOS, AND ZAMORA
 When Governor-General Izquierdo abolished the exemption of Filipino workers to forced labor and tributes in 1872, about 200 Filipino
soldiers and workers in the Cavite arsenal mutinied.
 The mutiny gave Izquierdo a justification to persecute the leaders of the Secularization movement and liberal oriented Filipino patriots. It
was magnified by the Spaniards as a full-blown conspiracy against Spanish authority instigated by Fathers Jose Burgos, Mariano Gomez
and Jacinto Zamora.
 On February 17, 1872, the three priests were escorted from Fort Santiago to Bagumbayan (Luneta). To instill fear and stoke error into the
hearts and minds of people, the execution was done in public. They were garroted one by one while the bells were tolling as tribute to their
martyrdom.
 That fatal day, national consciousness among Filipinos emerged. They felt great anger and indignation. They began to forget their regional
hostilities and ethnic differences and that it was necessary to unite for a common cause. "Remember GomBurZa" became the battle cry
of the Propaganda Movement. Jose Rizal dedicated his second novel El Filibusterismo to their memory.
THE PROPAGANDA MOVEMENT
 The Propaganda Movement was a period of time when native Filipinos were calling for reforms, lasting approximately from 1880 to 1886.
 Propaganda is the dissemination of information—facts, arguments, rumor's, half-truths, or lies—to influence public opinion. The word was
used by the Filipino group that sent Marcelo H. del Pilar to Spain to continue the "propaganda" on behalf of the Philippines. It was
essentially a campaign of information, as well as a bid for sympathy. Dr. Domingo Abella, the Director of the National Archives, has made
the suggestion that the so-called Propaganda Movement was misnamed. It should have been called the Counterpropaganda
Movement because its essential task was to counteract the campaign of misinformation that certain Spanish groups were disseminating in
Spain and later in Rome.
 Prominent members included Jose Rizal, author of Noli Me Tangere (novel) and El Filibusterismo, Graciano Lopez Jaena, publisher of La
Solidaridad, the movement's principal organ, Mariano Ponce, the organization's secretary and Marcelo H. del Pilar.
 Many Filipinos took refuge in Europe and initiated in Spain a crusade for reforms in the Philippines. The emergence of more Filipino
illustrado's gave birth to a unified nationalist movement. This campaign was known in our history as the Propaganda Movement.
 The aim of the Propaganda Movement was peaceful assimilation, referring to the transition of the Philippines from being a colony to a
province of Spain. The propagandists believed that it would be enjoying the same rights and privileges or the latter. Its adherents did not
seek independence from Spain but reforms. These reforms were as follows:
1. Equality of Filipinos and Spaniards.
2. Restoration of the Philippine representation in the Spanish Courts.
3. Secularization of the Philippine Parishes and the expulsion of the friars.
4. Human rights for Filipinos: freedom of speech, freedom of the press and freedom to meet and petition for redress of grievances.
5. Creation of a public-school system independent of Catholic friars.
6. Abolition of polo y servicios (labor service), the bandala (forced sale of local products to the government) and guarantee of basic freedoms
and equal opportunity for Filipinos and Spanish to enter government service.
La Solidaridad
 La Solidaridad (The Solidarity) was an organization created in Spain on December 13, 1888. Composed of Filipino liberals exiled in 1872
and students attending Europe's universities, the organization aimed to increase Spanish awareness of the needs of its colony, the
Philippines, and to propagate a closer relationship between the colony and Spain.
 Headed by Jose Rizal's cousin, Galicano Apacible, it also issued a newspaper of the same name which was published in Barcelona, Spain
on February 15, 1889. It was edited by Graciano Lopez Jaena and later on by Marcelo H. del Pilar. The social, cultural, and economic
conditions of the colonial Philippines was published in La Solidaridad. Speeches of the Spanish liberals about the Philippines was also
featured in the newspaper.
La Liga Filipina
 La Liga Filipina (The Philippine League) was a progressive organization created by Dr. Jose Rizal in the Philippines in the house of
Doroteo Ongjunco at Ilaya Street, Tondo, Manila in 1892.
 The organization derived from La Solidaridad and the Propaganda movement. The purpose of La Liga Filipina is to build a new group
sought to involve the people directly in the reform movement. The aim of La Liga is to unite the whole archipelago into one vigorous and
 homogenous organization; mutual protection in every want and necessity; defense against all violence and injustice, encouragement of
instruction, agriculture, and commerce and study the application of reforms.
 The league was to be a sort of mutual aid and self-help society dispensing scholarship funds and legal aid, loaning capital and setting up
cooperatives, the league became a threat to Spanish authorities that they arrested Rizal on July 6, 1892 on Dapitan.
 During the exile of Rizal, the organization became inactive, through the efforts of Domingo Franco and Andres Bonifacio, it was
reorganized. The organization decided to declare its support for La Solidaridad and the reforms it advocated, raise funds for the paper, and
defray the expenses of deputies advocating reforms for the country before the Spanish Cortes. Eventually after some disarray in the
leadership of the group, the Supreme Council of the League dissolved the society.
 The Liga membership split into two groups when it is about to be revealed: the conservatives formed the Cuerpo de Compromisarios which
pledged to continue supporting the La Solidaridad while the radicals led by Bonifacio who devoted themselves to a new and secret society,
the Katipunan (KKK).
 
Lesson 18 - The Philippine Revolution
THE PHILIPPINE REVOLUTION

 After Rizal's deportation to Dapitan, the conservative members of the Liga like Apolinario Mabini, Ambrosio Rianzares Bautista, Domingo
Franco organized themselves into a group called Los Compromisarios. They pledged to give financial support to Marcelo H. del Pilar in
Madrid for the continuous publication of the La Solidaridad. Ultimately, the members of this group stopped sending funds to the reformists
in Spain. The campaign for reforms ended in failure.
 Andres Bonifacio of plebeian roots and a member of the radical wing of the Liga did not join the conservative intellectuals that composed
the compromisarios. He firmly believed that social and political changes could not be achieved by peaceful means but by the use of force or
violent revolution.
THE FOUNDING AND SPREAD OF KATIPUNAN

 On the night of July 7, 1892, Bonifacio and his radical members met in the house of Deodato Arellano's at #72 Azcarraga Street (now
Claro M. Recto) near Elcano St. Tondo, Manila. He formed a secret revolutionary society called the Katipunan or "Kataas-taasang,
 Kagalanggalangang Katipunan ng mga Anak ng Bayan" (KKK) (Highest and Most Respected Society, the Sons of the Country). The
main objective of the Katipunan was to unite the Filipino people and struggle for separation from Spain through a revolution. The people
wanted the abolition of Spanish rule. The organization of the Katipunan was a clear rejection by the lower middle classes led by Bonifacio.
THE POLITICAL STRUCTURE OF THE KATIPUNAN
 Jose P. Rizal's influence on Andres Bonifacio manifested itself when the Katipunan copied the organizational structure of the Liga Filipina.
The Katipunan had also a Supreme Council (Kataastaasang Sanggunian) composed of the President or Supremo, a Fiscal, a Secretary, and
a Treasurer. The Supreme Council was the Central Organ of the Katipunan. A Provincial Council (Sangguniang Bayan) in each province
and a Popular Council (Sangguniang Balangay) in each town were also established as provided by the constitution of the society.
 Deodato Arellano, the brother-in-law of Marcelo H. del Pilar became the first President or Supremo of the Katipunan. But in a meeting in
February 1893, Andres Bonifacio disgusted over Arellano's weak leadership, deposed him and put Roman Basa in his place as President or
Supremo. It was only 1895, when Andres Bonifacio himself assumed the position of Supremo, when he also deposed Basa due to the
latter's ineffective leadership.
Katipunan or KKK Membership
 The first members of the society were recruited by means of the "triangle system". Andres Bonifacio, Teodoro Plata and Ladislaw Diwa
formed the first triangle. The initiator of the triangle knew the two new recruits, but the latter did not know each other. The recruitment
through the triangle system proved to be slow and complicated, thus, it was replaced by a faster and simpler system: the use of secret rites
copied from Masonry. A successful beginner who passed the test on his courage and love for country swore to guard and defend the secrets
of the Katipunan, and be then signed his name in the society's roster in his own blood (Sanduguan). The new members then adopted a
Katipunan name.

The list of the Supreme Council Officers was chosen during the first election.
President: Deodato Arelleano
Comptroller: Andres Bonifacio
Fiscal: Ladislao Diwa
Secretary: Teodoro Plata
Treasurer: Valentin Diaz
 To ensure the secrecy of the association, trusted women secured the secrets documents of the KKK. Some women members of the KKK
who participated were the wives, daughters, or sisters of the KKK male members. Some of the women members were Gregoria de Jesus
(wife of Andres Bonifacio), the Lakambini of the KKK; Benita Rodriguez (wife of Katipunero Restituto Javier); and Josefa and Trinidad
Rizal (sisters of Jose P. Rizal).
ANDRES BONIFACIO
  Andres Bonifacio, the "Great Plebeian" (working class) was born in Tondo, Manila on November 30, 1863. His formal education was
limited, he supplemented this by self-study. His own library included books on the two novels of Dr. Jose P. Rizal: Noli Me Tangere and El
Filibusterismo, the lives of United States Presidents, the History of the French Revolution, Victor Hugo's Les Misérables, Eugene Sue's
Wandering Jew, and the Penal and Civil Codes and various collection of La Solidaridad.
 Bonifacio had the insight to organize a revolutionary movement for he knew that Spain would never bulge an inch in granting reforms. It
was Bonifacio who correctly pointed out the necessity of armed struggle to force the issue on the Spaniards.
 Andres Bonifacio wrote a Decalogue or Ten Commandments entitled Katungkulang Gagawin ng mga Anak ng Bayan (Duties to be
Observed by the Sons of the Country) to lay down the guidelines for good citizenship. The rules include love of God, love of country and
one’s fellowmen; diligence in word; sharing of one’s means with the poor; punishment of scoundrels and traitors; and the guarding of the
mandates and aims of the Katipunan movement.
THE TEACHINGS OF THE KATIPUNAN
 To guide the Katipuneros, Andres Bonifacio wrote a Decalogue or known as The Commandments titled "Duties to be Observed by the
Sons of the Country" ("Katungkulang Gagawin ng mga Anak ng Bayan"). The rules include love of God, country, and ones' fellowmen:
diligence in work; sharing of blessings win the poor, punishments of scoundrels and traitors; and the guarding of the mandates and
objectives of the K.K.K.
"Duties to be Observed by the Sons of the Country”
("Katungkulang Gagawin ng mga Anak ng Bayan")
1. Love God with all your heart.
2. Bear always in mind that the love of God is also love of Country, and this, too, is love of one's fellowmen.
3. Engrave in your heart that the true measure of honor and happiness is to die for the freedom of your country.
4. All your good wishes will be crowned with success if you have serenity, constancy, reason, and faith in your acts and endeavor.
5. Guard the mandates and aims of the K.K.K. as your honor.
6. It is the duty of all to defend, at the risk of their own lives and wealth, anyone who runs great risks in the performance of his duty.
7. Our responsibility to ourselves and the performance of our duties will be the example set for our fellowmen to follow.
8. Insofar as it is within your power, share your means with the poor and the unfortunate.
9. Diligence in the work that gives sustenance to you is the true basis of love – love for your own self, for your wife and children, and for your
brothers and countrymen.
10. Punish any scoundrel and traitor and praise all good work. Believe, likewise, that the aims of KKK are God-given, for the will of the people
is also the will of God.
EMILIO JACINTO
  The "Brain of the Katipunan" was born in Tondo on December 15, 1875. His parents were Mariano Jacinto, a bookkeeper and Josefa
Dizon, a midwife. He studied law in University of Sto. Tomas (UST) and when the revolution broke out, he was one of those who were
first initiated into the Katipunan. He was the youngest member of the revolutionary society at the age of eighteen.
 Jacinto was designated as commander of the revolutionary forces in Majayjay, Laguna in April 16, 1899, during the Filipino-American
War; he was wounded in battle which eventually caused his death at the early age of twenty-three years old.
 Emilio Jacinto became the editor of the "Kalayaan", the organ of the Society. He authored the "Kartilla ng Katipunan" (The Primer of
the Katipunan). The Kartilla spread the revolutionary principles that successfully motivated the Katipunan members.
APOLINARIO MABINI

 Apolinario Mabini was born of poor parents, Inocencio Mabini and Dionisia Maranan, in Barrio Talaga, Tanauan, and Batangas in 1864.
He finished his law degree at UST in 1894. The "Sublime Paralytic” joined Rizal's civic organization the La Liga Filipina where he
worked for reforms in the administration of government. In 1898, Aguinaldo recruited him as his private counselor for the Revolutionary
Government. His detractors called him "The Black Chamber of Aguinaldo" while his admirers called him the "Brains of the
Revolution".
 When Aguinaldo reorganized his Cabinet on January 2, 1899, he appointed Mabini as President of the Cabinet and Secretary of Foreign
Affairs. 
 Among his best-known writings were the True Decalogue, the Constitutional Program of the Philippine Republic, and the Philippine
Revolution.
  In 1901, Mabini, together with the 57 "irreconcilable's" was deported to Guam on orders of General Arthur Mac Arthur. While under
deportation he wrote memoirs including one which is entitled "The Rise and Fall of the Philippine Republic" which constitutes one of the
most valuable historical documents about the Philippine Revolution.
THE UPRISING IN 1896
 The violent struggle of the Filipinos against the Spaniards started in 1896. In August, the members of the KKK from the eight provinces of
the country, Manila, Cavite, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Tarlac, Batangas, Laguna and Pampanga joined the uprisings against the Spaniards.
THE START OF THE UPRISINGS
 In August 19, 1896, Father Mariano Gil was able to know the information about KKK because of the confession of Honoria. She is the
sister of Teodoro Patino, a member of KKK who revealed the secret of the organization because he had the conflict with the other
members of KKK. But according to other sources, the Spanish government already had the idea about KKK since May, 1896 and it is
confirmed when they discovered copy of Kalayaan in one printing house. The discovery of KKK leads to the imprisonment of Dr. Jose
Rizal because the Spaniards accused him as the founder of KKK and the imprisonment of all suspected members of KKK.
 The leadership of KKK met in the cave in Bitukang Manok (Pasig) to plan the start of their uprising even the organization is not yet ready
to launch the attack because the Spaniards were doing the mass arrest on the suspected members of KKK.
 In August 21, 1896, the Katipuneros went to Kangkong as their meeting place and when they arrived in the house of Melchora Aquino,
known as the Mother of the Katipuneros, Andres Bonifacio asked the Katipuneros if they are willing to fight the Spaniards until the end of
their lives and most of the Katipuneros answered yes. And then he asked them to put out their cedula and tear it as the sign of the end of the
Spanish dominance over them. This event is known as the Cry of Pugad Lawin, however the real date and place of the event is still under
research because the primary sources have different date and venue for the said event.
 In the succeeding days of battle from August 25 until August 30, 1896, Andres Bonifacio together with the other Katipuneros suffered in a
big loss because of the inferior weapons and lack of military tactics since the discovery of KKK happened in the time that the group is not
yet ready for the battle. In fact, in the battle in San Juan del Monte, the Spanish forces are weak and outnumbered but because they use the
delaying tactics in war, while waiting for the reinforcements and again the group of Andres Bonifacio had no choice but to retreat.
 In the month of September, the uprisings spread out in Manila and other provinces and so Governor General Ramon Blanco declared
Martial Law in eight provinces who participate in the uprising. The suspected members of KKK can be executed without due process and
numerous numbers of people were imprison and tortured. Those people who could not bear the pain will shout the names of the members
of KKK or even the name of those who do not have connection to KKKK just to avoid the torture. The other Katipuneros were imprisoned
in Fort Santiago and experience suffocation and torture while others were exile to Carolinas. The wealthy families who did not support the
KKK and had no connection to the group became also the victim of extortion from the Spaniards.
 In September 12, 1896, the Governor General Ramon Blanco ordered the execution of thirteen people from Cavite as warning for the
public that they should not join the uprising. The thirteen people are known as the Trece Martirez. In December 30, 1896 Dr. Jose P. Rizal
was executed in Bagumbayan (Luneta).
 In December 31, 1896, Andres Bonifacio went to Cavite to resolve the conflict between the Magdiwang and the Magdalo group however
he was not able to resolve the problem since the issue is about the leadership.
 In February 17, 1897, the bloodiest encounter between the Spanish and Filipino forces happened in the Battle of Zapote Bridge. The
Magdiwang group led by Edilberto Evangelista prevents the passage of the Spanish reinforcement in Cavite. Because Evangelista is an
engineer, they planted dynamites in the bridge so that the Spanish forces could not pass the bridge however, Evangelista was shot during
the battle because he had the poor eyesight and was not able to see the Spaniard that will shot him.
 
Lesson 19 - Rizal's Concept of Nation Building
The Reforms Needed by the Philippines According to Rizal as Stated in His Works
Rizal's Blueprint in Nation Building
 Despite political inhibitions, Rizal aimed at the restoration of his people's dignity and the recognition of their natural rights. He gained a
better perspective of his country's problems.
 He began to understand that the prolonged subjugation of his people was caused primarily by two factors, namely: the absence of national
consciousness and the education of the people.
 His blueprint for nation building includes the importance of education, instilling racial pride and dignity among the people, the promotion
of national consciousness, the re-orientation of values and attitudes, and the willingness to sacrifice for the country.
 Rizal looked upon education as a prerequisite to the realization of a people's freedom. It is through education that people obtain knowledge
of themselves as individuals and as members of a nation.
 The long period of colonial domination and the constant humiliations and discrimination experienced by the Filipino people from their
colonial masters produced a feeling of inferiority and a lack of racial pride and dignity.
 He wanted his people to dedicate their thoughts, words and actions not solely to themselves as individuals but to themselves as citizens of a
nation. National consciousness is a key to the attainment of a better society.
 Rizal emphasized that the task of nation building is accompanied by hardships and sufferings which the people must inevitably experience
to bolster their courage.
 The paramount problem during Rizal's time was the development of a national consciousness, that is, the creation of the spirit of
nationhood in the minds of the people. It was important that the people realized the sordid facts of their existence, the cause of their
oppression, and the sacrifices they must endure to be freed from colonial domination.
RIZAL'S PROGRAM OF ACTIONS
His program of action consisted of a plan to:
1. Organize a group of Filipino students in Madrid that would use their varied talents to work for solutions to the Philippine problems.
 2. Proposed to them the writing of a book similar to Harriet Beecher Stowe's Uncle Tom's Cabin and Eugene Sue's The Wandering Jew which
would deal with the various aspects of Filipino life. The book would be the project of the Circulo Hispano-Filipino with each member
contributing a chapter. (This book was entitled Noli me Tangere, 1887)
3.  From the records in the vast Filipiniana collection of the British Museum, Rizal had pieced together the past history of the Philippines
which revealed that even before the coming of the Spaniards; the Filipinos already had a developed culture. And of these records, he chose
to annotate Morga's Sucesos de las Islas Filipinas.
4. He wrote "The Indolence of the Filipinos" which came out as a series of articles in La Solidaridad from 15 July to 15 September, 1899.
5.  Feared the possibility of the Filipinos resort to arms as a desperate means to fight, he wrote El Filibusterismo to show his countrymen the
price they should be willing to pay and the problems they would have solve first before plunging the country to revolution. He warned his
countrymen to consider seriously its decision to revolt against Spain if no reforms were granted.
6.  He thought of showing the people how to organize themselves into a compact homogeneous body in the Philippines. Rizal's major plan of
organization was the establishment of La Liga Filipina (Philippine League).
7.  When he was deported to Dapitan he had already accomplished a major part of a self-imposed mission of redeeming the Filipinos from
medieval colonialism. His exile demonstrated the hero's untiring efforts at continuing the program of action that he relentlessly pursued for
the realization of his blueprint of nation building. Establishment of a school and a clinic therein, the community development projects he
undertook.
 
RIZAL'S PROGRAM OF REFORMS
The nationalism he taught his people did not end with the attainment of independence. He looked beyond independence to the progressive
development of a new nation in politics, economics, technology and education. His writings conveyed concepts that are applicable for all time
especially to the present in all major areas of political, socio-economic and educational reforms and his moral teachings and principles convey the
essence of national awareness.
Political and Economic Reforms
 According to Jose Rizal governments are established for the welfare of the people..."- he wanted to inflict the following of rights,
1. Magna Carta protecting the life, liberty and property of Filipinos
2. Restoration of Filipino representation in the Spanish Cortes
3. Freedom of the press, of association, of religion and equality before the law; and
4. Freedom assimilation of the Philippines
EDUCATIONAL REFORM
 Rizal insisted that education is necessary condition to a free society. Education should liberate Filipinos from ignorance because education
is as important ingredient in the task of nation building.
 He believed in education that is free from political and religious control. He asserted that reform cannot be achieved if there is no suitable
education, a liberal one available to Filipinos.
 He left the UST to pursue his studies at the Madrid Central University was in conformity with the ideas of Fr. Jose Burgos, one of the three
martyred priests of 1872. Fr. Burgos strongly advocated that Filipinos should study abroad because overseas education was considered an
essential step to achieving reform. And this thinking he shared with his only brother, Paciano Rizal.
 He wrote in 1890 which described the education of the masses under the Spanish regime. Rizal said the education of the Filipinos from
birth until the grave is brutalizing, depressing, and anti-human
 It is through this scenario that we could better understand why Rizal was clamoring for a different education, a new idea of teaching the
Filipino youth. Rizal believed that even modest education, no matter how rudimentary it might be, if it is the right education for the people,
the result would be enough to awaken their ideas of perfection and progress and eventually, change would follow.
 In brief, Rizal's idea or concept of education is determined by the following requirements:
1. The curriculum of a modern liberal education should include either: religion, hygiene, mathematics, the physical, natural and social
sciences, literature (Spanish, rhetoric and poetry), languages (Spanish, English, French, German, Chinese and Tagalog), physical culture,
and the arts.
2. There should be a weekly accounting by teachers of student progress and conduct, the well-behaved ones to be rewarded with a posting of
their names, and parents should be informed monthly of the progress, conduct, and health of their children.
3. The school should insist on accuracy and punctuality.
4. Teachers ware to be employed on passing an admission examination on a competitive basis if there are several applicants.
5. There is to be no racial discrimination in the admission of students.
6. Gymnastics and swimming are obligatory.
7. Classes would be six hours a day including a total of two hours of physical culture and the arts.
8. Human relations between teachers and pupils should not be ignored. The teacher should work with the students and be their leader and co-
workers as well as their mentor.
9. Instruction should be practical and should stimulate thinking' rather than be a parrot like reproduction of book learning. Students should
learn by participation in a natural situation. Field work has its place in effective instruction.
10. Education should receive substantial aid to make instruction effective. It is not sufficient that there are students to be taught. There must be
proper accommodation and equipment conducive to learning.
11. The teacher should have prestige, reputation, moral strength and some freedom of action on Socio-Economic Reforms