RIZAL’S EXILE IN
DAPITAN
17 July 1892 - 31 July 1896
Intended Learning Outcomes :
a. Evaluate critically on how the writings of Rizal resulted in his
mischief fate at Bagumbayan thus giving us Filipinos the freedom we
are all enjoying at this very moment;
b. Adopt to oneself the value of fighting for one’s principle that will
benefit most;
c. Demonstrate an understanding of the importance of love of country
and countrymen
d. Analyze that it is not necessary to take arms in order to show love for
freedom, but a noble belief that there could be change in all aspects
of life.
Exile in Dapitan
July 17, 1892 – Rizal left Manila sailing through the Islands of Mindoro and Panay.
He reached Dapitan – a remote town in Mindanao which was under the missionary
jurisdiction of the Jesuits. July 31, 1896 – Dapitan became the solitary witness. His
stay in the town was more than a life in exile.
He lived in the residence of Capt. Carnicero because he did not agree with the
conditions of Fr. Pablo Pastells – a superior of Jesuit Priests.
The ff. are the conditions:
1. Rizal must retract his errors concerning religion
2. Rizal must perform the church rites and make confession of his past life
3. Rizal must present himself in an exemplary manner as a spanish subject and a
man of religion
The commandant came to realize that Rizal was like any other culprit, Gov.
Gen. Despujol gave Rizal complete freedom to roam anywhere in Dapitan in
return he wrote a poem entitled “ A DON RICARDO CARCINERO on Aug.
26, 1892
Rizal had a scholarly debate with Fr. Pastells ragarding religion which
revealed a anticlerical Rizal. They both have religious differences and
remained good friends. Fr. Pastells gave Rizal a famous Catholic book by Fr.
Thomas “IMITACION DE CRISTO”
The Awakening of Dapitan
In July 1892, Rizal reached Dapitan as a prisoner, he found it as sleepy little
town, but soon became awake
His stay improved his artisitic and literacy skills, doing agricultural and civic
projects engaging in business activities, his careers and achievements in different
fields.
Architectural and Engineering Works
1. The Doctor is “In”
2. Rivaling the Best in Europe
3. From Lot to Lot; Farmer to Trader
4. Once a Poet, Always a Poet
5. A Polyglot
6. Inventions and Scientific Works
7. Tree of Knowledge
8. The “Sweet Foreigner”
9. A Talk in the Garden
10. “Nails in the Coffin”
11. The Trap is Laid
Architectural and Engineering works
When Rizal obtained the title Perito agrimensor from ateneo
municipal, he already had practical knowledge in surveying. He
widened his knowledge by reading engineering books. He
successfully provided a sound water system in the province by
directing it and following the contour of a valley and crossing
several gullies with bamboo tubes “ I want to do all I can for this
town” a letter for Fr. Pastells
The Doctor is “IN”
Rizal provided free medicine to his patients and most are
underprivileged. He had wealthy patients like Don Ignacio who paid
him 300 for restoring his sight, an Englishman who gave him 500 and
Aklanon haciendero Don Francisco Azcorraga who paid him a cargo od
sugar. August 1893 – his skill was put to test when Doña Teodora
ignored her son’s instructions and removed the bandages causing
infections.
Rivaling the best in Europe
Together with his friend Fr. Francisco Sanchez he helped remake the
plaza which he jokingly said “must rival the best in europe”. They
helped the citizens place lampposts at every corner for Dapitan’s first
lighting system. Commandant Carcinero sent for the new plaza twenty-
four iron benches and twenty-six hundred meters of wire.
From Lot to Lot; Farmer to Trader
Rizal devoted time in planting important crops and fruit bearing trees in
his 16 hectare land. He bought the land along the bay a few hundred
meters east of the town of Dapitan and built himself a small little house.
He imported agricultural machinery and introduced native farmers of
Dapitan the modern agricultural methods. Rizal also visualized having an
agricultural colony in Sitio Ponot within Sindangan Bay
The adventurous Rizal with his partner, Ramon Carreon, tried his luck in
the fishing, hemp and copra industries He requested the two good
fishermen be sent to Dapitan. To teach the fisher folks new fishing
methods using the big net called Pukutan.
Once a Poet, Always a poet
It will be recalled that when Rizal left Hong Kong for Manila in 1892,
only his sister Lucia had gone with him. The rest of his family remained
at Hong Kong. August 26, 1893 – Trinidad and Doña Teodora left
Hongkong and proceeded to where Rizal was. Rizal wrote another poem
in response to a request from his mother , who had all his life inspired
his poetry, Oct. 22 1895 – he sent the poem “ Mi Ritero”
A Polyglot
Rizal studied and made comparisons in the Bisayan and Malayan
languages, existing in the region. Rizal knew 22 languages. Tagalog,
Ilocano, Bisayan, Subanun, Spanish, Latin, Greek, English, French,
German, Arabic, Malayan, Hebrew, Sanskrit, Dutch, Catalan, Italian,
Chinese, Japanese, Portuguese, Swedish and Russian.
Inventions & Scientific Works
Sulpukan- a particular type of lighter he invented during his medical
practice in Calamba. Sent to Blumentritt as a gift . Its mechanism is
based on principle of compressed air. Wooden brick maker- 6000 bricks
a day. They explored jungles and searched for specimens, which are
sent to museums in Europe, ex. Dresden Museum.
Researches and studies in fields of
ethnography, archaeology, geology,
anthropology, and geography
Three species Rizal discovered:
• Draco rizali, a flying dragon
• Apogonia rizali, a small beetle
• Rhacophorus rizali, a rare frog
Tree of knowledge
Talisay, near Dapitan, he established a school with his farm and hospital,
Sixteen boys attended class. And instead for charging them, he made them
do community projects. Reading, writing in English, Spanish, geography,
history, mathematics, technical work, nature study, morals, gymnastics and
sports.
No formal room, conducted from 2:00 to 4:00 pm, hammock, long bamboo
bench under Talisay tree
Himno a Talisay- honor for talisay, his student sing
The Sweet Foreigner
• Josephine Bracken- slender, blond, blue eyes, well-dressed and
light countenance.
• From Hongkong to Dapitan in February 1895 with his foster father
, George Taufer and Manuela Orlac , mistress of someone in
Manila Cathedral.
• Julio Llorente – Rizal’s friend who recommended him to his
group.
He tried to bridge this gap between his relatives and Miss B. March 14
1895 – as letter to Dona Teodora,” Please treat Josephine as a person
whom I esteem and much appreciated, and I would not like to see
exposed and abandoned.” Decided to marry each other Returned to
Dapitan to marry but Fr. Pedro refused. Bracken, she gave birth to a
premature baby boy who lived only for three hours. Named Francisco
A Talk in the Garden
• Andres Bonifacio seek advice from Rizal
• May 2, 1896 - at Bitukang Manok River in Pasig, a secret meeting
happened with Pio Valenzuela as representative of the group to be sent
to Dapitan. He used the name Procorpio Bonifacio.
• Aboard steamship Venus, he arrived at bay in June 21, 1896., Together
with him is Josephine Bracken, Narcissa and Angelica Lopez.
• Valenzuela together with Raymundo Mata, and Rufino Magnos.
• He told him of their plans but Rizal objected for two reasons
• Filipinos were still unprepared for a bloody revolution
• The Katipunan lacked machinery
Rizal also advised to attract all wealthy and influential persons of Manila
with the help of Antonio Luna. Valenzuela on the other hand told their
plan to save Rizal but he disagreed because of his word
“Nails in the Coffin”
• Rizal offered his services as military doctor to the Cuban revolution
informed by Ferdinand Blumentritt, saying yellow fever spread out.
• Dec. 17, 1895- Rizal sent letter to Governor General Ramon Blanco,
about rendering service to Cuba but not until July 30, 1896, when he
received a letter dated July 1, 1896.
• Rizal’s life can be compared to the young moth allured by the flame of
the oil lamp. His burning desire to help and leave for Cuba would not
mean triumph for the enemies’ doubt but actually nails to his coffin.
