HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF RIZAL‘S FAMILY

Jose Rizal Family

The Jose Rizal family was a wealthy family in Calamba, Laguna and considered one of the
largest families in those times. The 13 member of Jose Rizal family consisted of his father
Francisco Mercado II and his mother Teodora Alonso Realonda. Jose Rizal had nine sisters and
one brother. The Jose Rizal family‘s paternal ascendant was Domingo Lam-co, a full-blooded
Chinese who lived inAmoy,China and arrived in the Philippines in the closing years of the 17th
century. Domingo Lam-co was married to a Chinese half-breed named Ines de la Rosa. The
Mercado-Rizal family had also Japanese, Spanish, Malay and Negrito blood aside from their
Chinese blood.

Jose Rizal‘s father was the youngest of 13 children of Juan and Cirila Mercado. He was born in
Binan, Laguna, studied in San Jose College of Manila and died in Manila. The mother of Jose
Rizal was a business -minded, religious and hard working individual who was born in Santa
Cruz,Manila on November 14, 1827 and died in Manila in 1913. She studied at the Colegio de
Santa Rosa and was the second child of Brijida de Quintos and Lorenzo Alonso.

Saturnina Rizal was the eldest of the offsprings of Francisco Mercado and Teodora Alonso
Realonda. She married Manuel Hidalgo who hailed from Tanauan, Batangas. The only brother of
Jose Rizal was Paciano Rizal and was the second child. Paciano studied at the San Jose College
in Manila and worked as a farmer and later as a general of the Philippine Revolution. The other
sisters of Jose Rizal were Narcisa,Olympia, Lucia, Maria, Concepcion, Josefa, Trinidad and
Soledad. Soledad was the youngest child and later was married to Pantaleon Quintero.

The parents of Jose Rizal were both farmers who were granted by the Dominicans with the lease
of a hacienda together with a rice farm. The mother of Jose Rizal, Teodora, had Spanish and
Japanese ancestors while the father of Teodora was a half Spaniard engineer known as Lorenzo
Alberto Alonzo.

The Rizal surname was obtained by Francisco Mercado as suggested to him by a provincial
governor after the Governor General of the Philippines, Narciso Claveria, issued a decree in
1849 by which native Filipino and immigrant families were to adopt Spanish surnames from a
list of Spanish family names. Jose Rizal also obtained the surname Rizal after dropping three
other names that made up his full name. Jose Rizal also retained Protacio as his other family
name. His family never actually recognized his Rizal surname but Jose Rizal was forced to use it
so that he can travel freely and disassociate him from his brother who was known to be notorious
due to Paciano‘s links with native priests who were executed after they were found to be
subversives.

The Rizals is considered one of the biggest families during their time. Domingo Lam-co, the
family's paternal ascendant was a full-blooded Chinese who came to the Philippines from Amoy,
China in the closing years of the 17th century and married a Chinese half-breed by the name of
Ines de la Rosa.

Researchers revealed that the Mercado-Rizal family had also traces of Japanese, Spanish, Malay
and Even Negrito blood aside from Chinese.

Jose Rizal came from a 13-member family consisting of his parents, Francisco Mercado II and
Teodora Alonso Realonda, and nine sisters and one brother.

The Mercado - Rizal Family

FRANCISCO MERCADO (1818-1898)

Father of Jose Rizal who was the youngest of 13 offsprings of Juan and Cirila Mercado. Born in
Biñan, Laguna on April 18, 1818; studied in San Jose College, Manila; and died in Manila.

TEODORA ALONSO (1827-1913)

Mother of Jose Rizal who was the second child of Lorenzo Alonso and Brijida de Quintos. She
studied at the Colegio de Santa Rosa. She was a business-minded woman, courteous, religious,
hard-working and well-read. She was born in Santa Cruz, Manila on November 14, 1827 and
died in 1913 in Manila.

SATURNINA RIZAL (1850-1913)

Eldest child of the Rizal-Alonzo marriage. Married Manuel Timoteo Hidalgo of Tanauan,
Batangas.

PACIANO RIZAL (1851-1930)

Only brother of Jose Rizal and the second child. Studied at San Jose College in Manila; became a
farmer and later a general of the Philippine Revolution.

NARCISA RIZAL (1852-1939)

The third child. married Antonio Lopez at Morong, Rizal; a teacher and musician.

OLYMPIA RIZAL (1855-1887)

The fourth child. Married Silvestre Ubaldo; died in 1887 from childbirth.

LUCIA RIZAL (1857-1919)

The fifth child. Married Matriano Herbosa.
MARIA RIZAL (1859-1945)
The sixth child. Married Daniel Faustino Cruz of Biñan, Laguna.

JOSE RIZAL (1861-1896)

The second son and the seventh child. He was executed by the Spaniards on December 30,1896.

CONCEPCION RIZAL (1862-1865)

The eight child. Died at the age of three.

JOSEFA RIZAL (1865-1945)

The ninth child. An epileptic, died a spinster.

TRINIDAD RIZAL (1868-1951)

The tenth child. Died a spinster and the last of the family to die.

SOLEDAD RIZAL (1870-1929)

The youngest child married Pantaleon Quintero.

Paternal Ancestors

Domingo Lam-Co, the family root, arrived from Amoy, China in 1660s and changed his name to
Mercado in 1697. He married late in life.

Francisco Mercado y Chinco, the first son of Domingo Lam-co.

Juan Mercado y Monica, youngest son of Francisco Mercado y Chinco, a captain in the Spanish
army

Petrona, Potenciana and Francisco Mercado, Sr., children of Juan Mercado. The youngest
Francisco Mercado, Sr. was the father of Jose Rizal, Francisco Mercado (Junior).

Influential Relatives

Jose‘s relatives who influenced him greatly mostly consisted of his mother‘s brothers: Tio Jose,
Tio Manuel, and Tio Gregorio.

Tio Jose - He is the youngest among the siblings of Teodora, and was schooled in Calcutta,
India. He was Jose Rizal‘s inspiration as he sketches and paints. Tio Jose encouraged him to
engage in sculpturing.

Tio Manuel - Known to be big and strong, he influenced Jose to visit the outdoors, do long walks
with his pet black dog, Usman, and even go horseback riding with his horse, castaño.
Tio Gregorio - Through his Tio Gregorio, Jose learned the value of hard work, careful
observation of life, as well as independent thinking. Through him, Jose likewise became
interested in the printed page.
 CHILDHOOD DAYS IN CALAMBA
Jose Rizal, just like Filipino boys, had many beautiful memories of childhood. • He have a happy
home, filled with parental affection, impregnated with family joys, and sanctified by prayers. • In
the midst of such peaceful, refined, God-loving family, he spent the early years of his childhood.

Dominican Order. • It is a picturesque town nestling on a verdant plain covered with irrigated
rice fields and sugar-lands. • A few kilometers to the south looms is the legendary Mount
Makiling in somnolent grandeur.

In the middle lake towers is the storied island of Talim and beyond it towards north is the distant
Antipolo, famous mountain shrine of the miraculous Lady of Peace and Good Voyage.

his beloved town. •He wrote a poem Un Recuerdo A Mi Pueblo (In Memory of My Town).
EarliEst Childhood mEmoriEs. • The first memory of Rizal, in his infancy, was his happy days
in the family garden. • Because he was frail, sickly, and undersized child, he was given the most
tender care by his parents.
• His father built a nipa cottage in the garden for him to play in the daytime. • Another childhood
memory was the daily Angelus prayer. • By nightfall, Rizal related, his mother gathered all the
children at the house to pray the Angelus.
• With nostalgic feeling, he also remembered the happy moonlit nights at the azotea after the
rosary. • The aya related stories to Rizal children many stories about fairies; tales of buried
treasure and trees with blooming diamonds, and other fabulous stories.
• Sometimes, when he did not like to take his supper, the aya would treaten him that the aswang,
the nuno, the tigbalang, or a terrible bearded Bombay would come to take him away if he would
not eat his supper. • Another memory of his infancy was the nocturnal walk in the town,
especially when there was a moon.
• Recounting this childhood experience, Rizal wrote: ―Thus my heart fed on sombre and
melancholy thoughts so that even still a child, I already wandered on wings of fantasy in the high
regions of the unknown.
The Hero‘s First Sorrow • The Rizal children were bound together by the ties of love and
companionship. • Their parents taught them to love one another, to behave properly in front of
elders, to be truthful and religious, and to help one another.
• They affectionately called their father Tatay, and mother Nanay. • Jose was jokingly called Ute
by his brother and sisters. The people in Calamba knew him as Pepe or Pepito. • Of his sisters,
Jose loved most little Concha (Concepcion).
• He was one year older than Concha. • He played with her, and from her, he learned the
sweetness of brotherly love. • Unfortunately, Concha died of sickness in 1865 when he was 3
years old. • Jose, who was very fond of her, cried bitterly to lose her.
Devoted Son of Church •Young Rizal was a religious boy. •A scion of a Catholic clan, born and
bred in a wholesome atmosphere of Catholicism, and possessed of an inborn spirit, Rizal grew
up a good Catholic.
•At the age of 3, he began to take part in the family prayers. •When he was five years old, he was
able to read haltingly the family bible. •He loved to go to church to pray, to take part in novenas,
and to join the religious processions.
•It is said that he was so seriously devout that he was laughingly called Manong Jose by the
Hermanos and Hermanas Terceras. •One of the men he esteemed and respected in Calamba
during his boyhood was the scholarly Father Leoncio Lopez, the town priest.
Father Leoncio Lopez
Pilgrimage to Antipolo•On June 6, 1868, Jose and his father left for Calamba to go on a
pilgrimage to Antipolo, in order to fulfill his mother‘s vow which was made when Rizal was
born. •It was the first trip of Jose across Laguna de Bay and his pilgrimage to Antipolo
• He was thrilled, as a typical boy should, by his first lake voyage. • He did not sleep the whole
night as the casco sailed towards the Pasig River because he was awed by ― the magnificence of
the watery expanse and the silence of the night. • After praying at the shrine of the Virgin of
Antipolo, Jose and his father went to Manila.
First Education from Mother • Jose‘s first teacher was his mother. • At the age of 3, Jose learned
the alphabet and prayers from her. • Seeing Rizal had a talent for poetry, she encouraged him to
write poems. She gave her all her love and all that she learned in college.
The Story of the Moth • Of the story told by Dona Teodora to Jose, it was that of the young moth
made the profoundest impression on him. • The tragic fate of the young moth, which died a
martyr to its illusions, left a deep impress on Rizal‘s mind.
Rizal‘s Three Uncles • There were 3 uncles, brothers of his mother, who played a great part in
the early education of Rizal.
• Uncle Gregorio was a lover of books. • He instilled into the mind of his nephew a great love for
books. • He taught him to work hard, to think for himself, and to observe life keenly.
• Uncle Jose, who had been educated at Calcutta, India, was the youngest brother of Dona
Teodora. • He encouraged his nephew to paint, sketch, and sculpture.
• Uncle Manuel was a big, strong, and husky man. • He looked after the physical training of his
sickly and weak nephew. • He encourage Rizal to learn swimming, fencing, wrestling, and other
sports, so that in later years Rizal‘s frail body acquired agility, endurance, and strength.
Artistic Talents • Since early childhood Rizal revealed his god-given talents for the arts
. • He drew sketches and pictures on his books of his sisters, for which reason he was scolded by
his mother.
• He carved figures of animals and persons out of wood. • Even before he learned to read, he
could already sketch pictures of birds, flowers, fruits, rivers, mountains, animals and persons. •
Jose had a soul of a genuine artist.
• Rather an introvert child, with a skinny physique and sad dark eyes, he found great joy looking
at the blooming flowers, the ripening fruits, the dancing waves of the lake, and the milky clouds
in the sky; and the listening to the songs of the birds, the chirpings of the cicadas, and the
murmurings of the breezes.
• He loved to ride on a spirited pony ( which his father bought for him) or take long walks in the
meadows for him) or take long walks in the meadows and lakeshore with his big black dog
named Usman.
• In his room, he kept many statuettes which he made out of clay and wax. • At one time, his
sisters teased him: ―Ute, what are you doing with so many statuettes?‖ He replied: ― Don‘t you
know that people will erect monument and statues in my honor for the future?‖
Prodigy of the Pen• Not only was little Jose skilled in brush, chisel, and pen-knife, but also in
pen.
• He was born poet. • His mother encouraged him to write poetry.
• At an early age when children usually begin to learn ABC, he was already writing poems. • The
first known poem that he wrote was a Tagalog poem entitled Sa Aking Mga Kababata (To My
Fellow Children).
• Before he was eight years old, he wrote a Tagalog drama. • This drama was stages in Calamba
in connection with the town fiesta.
Lakeshore Reveries • During the twilight hours of summertime, Rizal, accompanied by his dog,
used to meditate at the shore of Laguna de Bay on the sad conditions of his oppressed people.
• Young that he was, he grieved deeply over the unhappy situation of his beloved fatherland. •
The Spanish misdeeds awakened in his boyish heart a great determination to fight tyranny.
Influences on Hero‘s Boyhood • In the lives of all men there are influences which cause some to
be great and others not. In the case of Rizal, he had all favorable influences, which no other child
in our country enjoyed.
Hereditary Influence • According to biological science there are inherent qualities which a
person inherits from ancestors and parents.
•From Malayan ancestors, Rizal evidently, inherited his love for freedom, his innate desire to
travel and his indomitable courage. •From Chinese ancestors he derived his serious nature,
frugality, patience and love for children.
• From Spanish ancestors he got his elegance of bearing, sensitivity to insult and gallantry to
ladies. • From his father he inherited a profound sense of self-respect, the love for work and the
habit of independent thinking. • And from his mother his religious nature, the spirit of self-
sacrifice and the passion for arts and literature
EnvironmEntal influEncE • According to psychologist, environment as well as heredity affects
the nature of a person. • It includes places, associates and events. • The beautiful scenic of
Calamba and the beautiful garden of the Rizal family stimulated the inborn artistic and literary
talents of Jose Rizal.
• The religious atmosphere at his home fortified his religious nature. • His brother Paciano
instilled in his mind the love for freedom and justice. • From sisters he learned to be courteous
and kind to women. • The fairy tales told by his aya awakened his interest in folklore and
legends.
Father Leoncio Lopez a parish priest in Calamba fostered Rizal‘s love for scholarship and
intellectual honesty. • The sorrows in his family such as death of Concha in 1865 and the
imprisonment of his mother in 187-74 contributed to strengthen his character, enabling him to
resist blows adversity in later years.
The Spanish abuses and cruelties which he witnessed in his boyhood such as brutal acts if the
lieutenant of the Guardia Civil and the alcalde, the unjust tortures inflicted on innocent Filipinos
and the execution of Fathers Gomez, Burgos and Zamora in 1872 awakened his spirit of
patriotism and inspired him to consecrate his life and talents to redeem his oppressed people.
Aid of Divine Providence • Greater than heredity and environment in the fate of man is the aid of
Divine Providence.
• A person may have everything in life brains, wealth, and power but without the aid of Divine
Providence ne cannot attain greatness in the annals of the nation. • Rizal was providentially
destined to be the pride and glory of his nation. • God had endowed him with the versatile gifts
of a genius, the vibrant spirit of a nationalist and the valiant heart to sacrifice for a noble cause.
 RIZAL YEARS IN ATENEO

The Jesuits were considered the best educators of Spain, and perhaps of Europe, and so, when
they were permitted to return to the Philippines, although their power to administer parishes was
restricted except in the remote regions of Mindanao, the privilege of founding colleges, they had
to apply to the City of Manila for subsidies. That is why the college which began to function in
the year 1865, was called the Ateneo Municipal.

To enter the Ateneo a candidate was subjected to an entrance examination on Christian doctrine,
reading, writing, grammar, and elementary arithmetic. Jose did not take his entrance
examinations Jose did not remain in Manila but returned first to his town to celebrate the fiesta
of its patron saint; it was then that his father changed his mind and decided to send him to the
Ateneo instead.

Since Mercado, the first surname of the family, had come under suspicion of the authorities
because it was the name used by Paciano when he was studying and working with Father
Burgos, in whose house he lived, Jose adopted the second surname, Rizal.

Paciano who accompanied Jose, found him a house in Walled City, but Intramuros looked
gloomy to Jose, and he later found lodging outside, in the house of a spinster situated on Calle
Carballo, district of Santa Cruz. As if chance would furnish him data for his future campaigns, he
became acquainted in that house with various mestizos, begotten by friars.

The Jesuitical system of instruction was considered more advanced than that of other colleges in
that epoch. Its discipline was rigid and its methods less mechanical. It introduced physical
culture as part of its program as well as the cultivation of the arts, such as music, drawing, and
painting. It also establishes vocational courses in agriculture, commerce, and mechanics as a
religious institute, its principal purpose was to mold the character and the will of the boys to
comply more easily with the percepts of the Church. The students heard mass before the
beginning of the class, which was opened and closed with prayers.

In the first two terms the classes were divided into groups of interns and externs: the first
constituted the Roman Empire and the second, the Carthaginian Empire. In each empire there
were five dignitaries: Emperor, Tribune, Decurion, Centurion, and Standard-Bearer. These
dignities were won by means of individual competitions in which it was necessary to catch one‘s
adversary in error three times. The empires considered themselves in perpetual warfare, and
when an individual of one empire was caught in error by one belonging to the enemy empire, a
point was counted in favor of the latter. At the end of each week or two, the points in favor of
each were added and the empire, which obtained more point, was declared winner.

There was a fraternity of Mary and Saint Louis Gonzaga, to which only those who distinguished
themselves in the class for their piety and diligence could belong. This fraternity met on Sundays
and after mass held public programs in which poems were recited or debates were held. With all
these inducements it was only natural that should be a spirit of emulation, a striving to surpass
ones colleagues found in the Ateneo.
The first professor Jose had was Fr. Jose Bech, whom he describes as a man of high stature; lean
body, bent forward; quick gait; ascetic physiognomy, severe and inspired; small, sunken eyes;
sharp Grecian nose; thin lips forming an arch with its sides directed toward the chin." He was
somewhat of a lunatic and of an uneven humor; sometimes he was hard and little tolerant and at
other times he was gay and playful as a child. Among Jose‘s classmates were Peninsulares and
sons of Peninsulares; Francisco G. Oliva, very talented but not very studious; Joaquin Garrido,
endowed with a poor memory but with much talent and industry; and Gonzalo Marzano, who
occupied the throne of Emperor.

From the first days Jose learned to systematize his work; he fixed a program of what he had to do
in the twenty-four hours of the day and did not in the least deviate from it. Thus he disciplined
his will and subjected it to the commands of his reason.

As a newcomer, Jose was at first put at the tail of the class, but he was soon promoted and kept
on being promoted so that at the end of one month he had attained to the rank of Emperor. At the
end of the term he obtained marks of excellent in all the subjects and in the examinations. He had
reason to feel proud of his advancement; and so when he went home on vacation that year, he ran
alone to see his mother in the prison and tell her the happy news.

He must have uttered this exclamation on learning from his mother that they had played her a
mean trick. The judge, who was a blind partisan of the friars having been a domestic of theirs,
told her that if she confessed her culpability he would release her at once. With the desire to see
her children again, she pleaded guilty; but the judge, instead of releasing her, convicted her. In a
few months the judge asked her forgiveness for what he had done because according to him his
conscience hurt him, but the case had no remedy because it was already on appeal.

The second year, Jose had the same professor as in the previous year; but instead of lodging
outside the City, he resided at No. 6 Calle Magallanes. At the end of the term he obtained a
medal, and upon returning to his town, he again visited his mother in jail alone. This was three
months before her release.

The rejoicing that her release produced in his spirit had much influence on the result of his
studies in the third year, for he began to win prizes in the quarterly examinations.

About that time he devoted himself to reading novels, and one of those he enjoyed most was
Dumas‘ (father) The Count of Monte Cristo. The sufferings of the hero of the twelve years. He
also asked his father to buy him a copy of The Universal History by Cesar Cantanu, and
according to himself he profited much from its perusal.

The family, who saw in Jose great aptitude for study, decided to place him as intern or boarding
student in the college the following year. In the corner of the dormitory facing the sea and the
pier Jose passed his two years of internship.

In the fourth year of his course he had Fr. Francisco Sanchez as professor. Jose describes him as
a model of rectitude, a solicitude, and love for the student, and his studied mathematics, rhetoric,
and Greek, and he must have progressed much, for at the end of the year he-obtained five
medals, which pleased him immensely because with them I could repay my father somewhat for
his sacrifices.

His aptitude for poetry revealed itself early, and from that time on he did not cease to cultivate it.

An incident which demonstrates Jose‘s independence of character took place at this time. Fr.
Leoncio Lopez, parish priest of the town, who was a great friend of his father, also liked Jose as
a little friend. He was cultured but at the same time timid and tender. One day Jose‘s mother
showed Father Lopez a poem of his young friend and that the latter must have copied it from a
book. Jose, who heard this, answered the priest violently, for which his mother reprehended him.
Afterward Father Lopez came to know from the Jesuits themselves that Jose was a pupil who
excelled in poetry; and, in spite of his age, made a trip to Manila expressly to apologize to Jose.
That gesture of Father Lopez‘ won him Jose‘s esteem and they became good friends again,
lending each other the books they had.

In the fifth years Jose had other professors: Frs. Vilaclara and Mineves. He studied philosophy,
physics, chemistry, and natural history, but his devotion to poetry was such that his professor in
philosophy advised him once to leave it, which made him cry. But in his rest hours he continued
cultivating the Muses under the direction of his old professor, Father Sanchez. Jose had then
written a short story (leyenda), which was only slightly corrected by his professor, and a
dialogue, which was enacted at the end of the course, alluding to the collegians‘ farewell.
However, philosophy, just and serve, inquiring into the wherefores of things, interested him as
much as poetry; physics, drawing back the veil that divine drama of nature was enacted, natural
history seemed to him somewhat uninteresting although he much liked the shells and sometimes
imagined seeing a goddess in each shell he was on the shelf.

Jose was considered small of stature and he tried to correct this defect by applying himself
regularly to gymnastics in the college. He also engaged in other physical exercises, such as
fencing. After his baccalaureate, he surprised his family with his skill in handling the sword
when he gave an exhibition bout with the best swordsman of the town.

He also devoted time to painting and sculpture. In drawing and painting he was under the
guidance and direction of the Ateneo professor, the Peninsula Don Augustin Saez, who honored
him with his affection and consideration because of his progress. In sculpture his instructor was a
Filipino, Romualdo de Jesus, who felt proud in the last years of his life of having had such an
excellent pupil.
 RELIGIOUS PHILOSOPHY OF RIZAL

Rizal's Religious Views Rizal's Religious Uprbringing Rizal grew up nurtured by a closely-knit Catholic
family.
He was educated in the foremost Catholic schools in the period in the elementary, secondary and college
levels. ON RIZAL'S VIEW: "He must not be held responsible for everything spoken by his character but
only for what he said in his own name." A philosophy of a different Catholic practice intertwined with the
use of TRUTH and REASON. However, he developed a life of philosophy of a different nature. Why the
change? 1. Ideas of Modernism
2. Enlightenment Ideas
3. Principles of Deism, Rationalism and Masonry Deism: "natural selection" - the acceptance of a certain
by religious knowledge that is inborn to every person or that can be acquired by the use of reason with
rejection of supernatural revelation. Rationalism "there are truths that the intellect can grasp directly."
Masonry Three core principles of Brotherly love, relief and truth... With these principles, Rizal became
more hostile to the friars in the Philippines who: 1. Misuse the name of religion for a few pesos.
2. cry religion to enrich their haciendas
3. use religion to seduce simple young women
4. use religion to free themselves from an enemy
5. Use religion to disturb the peace of a married couple and of a family. Deistic Theology Roman Catholic
Theology Rizal - Pastel's Correspondence 1. Religious belief is reduced to God's existence and the
immortality of the soul. 2. Religious practice is reduced to mere ethical behavior 3. The role of the church
and her ministers is reduced to mere moral guides in matters pertaining to private life. 4. Supernatural
revelation is not possible. 5. Scripture is a mere classical writing. 6. Miracles are mere figments of the
imagination 1. Religious practice is an important dimension of man's belief in God. 2. Religious practice
is not merely an ethical behavior but God's way of guiding his people. 3. The Church and her ministers
are true instruments of God in guiding his people 4. Supernatural revelation is true. 5. Scripture is not just
like any other classical literary work but a book written according to the inspiration of God. 6. Miracles
are truly God's work. "The judgment of conscience is the supreme and final authority in the decision
regarding moral conduct and religious belief. God himself has equipped each one with the 'lamp' of
intelligence as personal guide.

The person may or must have recourse to the opinion and judgment of others, to extrinsic authority; but,
in the end, the decision rests on judgment made in the light of one's own God-given conscience." 1.
Rizal's conscience is culpably erroneous, blinded as it has been by pride and disorderly affections. On
Rizal's View: "Reason alone knows how to get up every time it falls as perforce it must in its long
pilgrimage here on earth." 2. Reason is not autonomous but must be guided by extrinsic authority and
objective norms, principally, the doctrines of the Church. Roman Catholic View: "Pastells believed that
Rizal had advocated autonomous reason.... which is the destruction of all knowledge and science." Rizal's
View: "It is up to my judgment afterwards.. to decide whether to follow it or not, for in this matter one
has to bear the responsibility for his own actions." Pastells admonished Rizal to "stop his nonsense of
wanting to look at his affairs through the prism of his own judgment and self-love.." inasmuch as "no one
sits in judgement in his own case." "No one can pass judgment on the beliefs of others using his own
beliefs as a norm." Rizal believed that religion is:
"to make men not enemies of one another but brothers and good brothers at that." On Private Judgment
Eugene Hessell - enumerated the works of Rizal that contains religious thoughts. 1. Noli me tangere 2. El
filibusterismo 3. Rizal's annotations of Antonio de Morga's Sucesos de las Islas Filipinas Fr. Pablo
Pastells - Jesuit priest - former subperfect of the boarders - former director of a religious association
REASON AND SELF-ESTEEM AND IT MUST BE FOR SOME PURPOSE... "masterpiece of creation,
perfect within his limitations." "God will have his own way." " We can never be so wise as to have no
need of the knowledge of others..." - Fr. Pastells "to be ignorant of the german people, their character and
pursuits." No German had heard of his book before it was published. He was influenced by the cool
German environment and the free hardworking, studious, well-governed German people - full of hope in
their future and master of their own destinies. Rizal denies being a protestant. Bousted family of France
whose daughter Nellie, willing to marry Rizal only if he could embrace Protestantism.. Rizal concluded
two things:

1.An idea sincerely conceived and practiced, no matter how opposite it is to one's own convictions
deserves a deep respect.

2. Religions, whatever they may be ought to make men not enemies of one another but brothers. On the
Problem of God Rizal's view on
Religion:
was based on pure intelligence and he preferred to see God in a more practical and realistic view rather
than believing for the sake of faith. Basically, he derived his belief through Reason and Necessity, not
through Faith. Pastells -
"God is the unchangeable spiritual substance, infinite, and subsisting by itself in a most simple act." The
Roman Catholic View:
They argued that man can know God both by Reason and by Faith at the same time, for faith and reason
are but two paths leading to the same truth that is God. Rizal - "How can I doubt God's existence when I
am so convinced of my own? Whoever recognizes the effect recognizes the cause. To doubt God's
existence would be to doubt one's own self-awareness (consientia) and consequently everything." Rizals
view Roman Catholic view Rizal believed in revelation, but for him it means ―revelation of nature,‖ not
the revelation according to Christian theology.
Rizal denied the Roman Catholic notion of divine positive revelation for four reasons:
Pastels depended on the teaching of Vatican I concerning divine revelation. Revelation is defined as a
body of truths and moral doctrines tradition, which god had tradition, which god had promulgated through
the prophets and Christ, and entrusted to the infallible teaching office of the church. On Revelation 1. It
fails to satisfy the rationalists criterion of clarity. 2. It is not universal because language is of the
scriptures is not understood by all. 3.The bible, which is the record of the insights of men and women, is
unreliable because it contains, errors, inconsistencies, and contradictions, and it admits of conflicting
interpretations. 4.Miracles cannot be taken as true to authenticate revelation, since they contradict nature
and are therefore impossible. Rizal rather believed in the kind of revelation through the mediation of
nature, or natural revelation and conscience Rizal spoke of natural revelation as something that ―speaks to
us and penetrates our being from the day we are born to the day we die.‖ Rizal further asserted that ―the
best religions are those that are simplest, most in conformity with nature, most in harmony with the
aspiration and needs of men here les the excellence of Christ‘s doctrine.‖
As to the universality of divine revelation, pastels said that it is not necessary to know all of scripture;
what is need is to make a general confession of faith in Christ in all that the church teaches. And God
would go so far as to make a miracle in order to reveal to the ―homo in silvis‖ the fundamental truths
necessary for salvation Faith, according to Pastells, is something that fives assent to higher order, the
truths revealed by God. Pastels argued that revelation is possible: ―God has actually revealed truths
inaccessible to us by the light of reasons: ad the reality of revelation is attested to by extrinsic motives of
credibility‖. For pastels, the religion of Christ remains the absolute religion. All other religions are false
When Catholics interpret God‘s will, their interpretations are always good, some being better that others
when protestants do so, their interpretations can neither be food or nor better, bit can only be bad some
worse than others. Fr. Pastells reputation of Rizal‘s religious views might have been mixed with some
other reasons. He might have refuted Rizal not only in behalf of religion but also in behalf of politics, the
kingdom of Spain. For Fr. Pastels also had his political assertions
 RIZAL LIFE IN BARCELONA
On the afternoon of May 15, Rizal left Marseilles to proceed to Spain via train. He
crossed the Pyrenees and stopped for a day at the frontier town of Port Bou. After the passport
inspection at Port Bou, Rizal continued his trip by rail, finally reaching Barcelona on June 16,
1882. His first impression of Barcelona was unfavorable. He thought of it as an ugly, dirty and
its residents are inhospitable. Later, he changed his impression and liked the city. He found it as
a great city, with an atmosphere of freedom and liberalism. He also found its people were open-
hearted, hospitable, and courageous. He enjoyed promenading along Las Ramblas which was the
famous street in Barcelona. Filipinos in Barcelona were some of his classmates in Ateneo,
welcomed him. They gave him a party at café Plaza de Cataluña. After toasts, Rizal in turn gave
them the latest news and gossips in the Philippines. In Barcelona, Rizal wrote a nationalistic
essay entitled ―Amor Patrio‖ which was his first written article on Spain‘s soil. He then sent his
article to Basilio Teodoro Moran, publisher of Diariong Tagalog. Basilio was deeply impressed
by the article congratulated Rizal and asked Rizal to publish more articles. While living in
Barcelona, Rizal received bad news about the cholera outbreak ravaging Manila and the
provinces. Many people died and more were dying daily. Sad news was that his beloved Leonor
Rivera was getting thinner because of the absence of her loved one. Also, Paciano advised Rizal
to continue his medical course in Madrid. Heeding his advice, Rizal left Barcelona in the fall of
1882 and proceeded to Madrid.

16 June 1882
At 12:00 noon, Rizal arrived at Barcelona and boarded in the Fonda De España.
23 June 1882
In a letter, Rizal related to his parents his experiences during his trip from Port Said to
Barcelona. In the same Letter, he requested them to send him a birth certificate and statement
showing that he had parents in the Philippines.
18 August 1882
P. Leoncio Lopez of Calamba issued a certified copy of Rizal‘s birth certificate.
20 August 1882
His article "Amor Patrio" was published in the Diarong Tagalog, a Manila newspaper edited by
Basilio Teodoro. This was the First article he wrote abroad.

Jose Rizal's Arrival in Barcelona

Rizal in Barcelona, Spain
16 June 1882
At 12:00 noon, Rizal arrived at Barcelona and boarded in the Fonda De España.
23 June 1882
In a letter, Rizal related to his parents his experiences during his trip from Port Said to
Barcelona. In the same Letter, he requested them to send him a birth certificate and statement
showing that he had parents in the Philippines.
18 August 1882
P. Leoncio Lopez of Calamba issued a certified copy of Rizal‘s birth certificate.
20 August 1882
His article "Amor Patrio" was published in the Diarong Tagalog, a Manila newspaper edited by
Basilio Teodoro. This was the First article he wrote abroad.
Rizal in Madrid, Spain
2 September 1882
Rizal matriculated at the Universidad Central de Madrid. He took the following subjects: medical
clinic, surgical clinic, legal medicine and obstetrical clinic.
2 October 1882
He attended his regular classes which stared in all earnest.
4 October 1882
Asked to deliver a poem by the members of Circulo Hispano-Filipino, there together in the effort
to save the association from disintegration, Rizal recited "Me piden versus." The meeting was
held at the house of Pablo Ortiga y Rey.
7 October 1882
He attended again of the Circulo Hisfano-Filipino held in house of Mr. Ortiga.
2 November 1882
He wrote the article "Revista de Madrid" which was in intended for publication in the Diarong
Tagalog in Manila, but was not published because the newspaper stops its circulation.
7 November 1882
Rizal wrote an article entitled "Las Dudas". The article was signed Laong - Laan.
30 December 1882
In a letter, Rizal revealed to Paciano his plan of going to Paris or Rome in June. He wanted to
practice French in Paris and Italian in Rome and to observe the customs of people in those cities.
- In the evening, Rizal dreamed he was an actor dying in the scene, feeling intensely the shortage
of his breath, the weakening of his strength, and darkening of his sight. He woke up tired and
breathless.
1 January 1883
Rizal felt sad in the morning. He recollected the terrible dream he had the previous night.
15 January 1883
He attended the birthday of Pablo Ortiga with some of the Filipinos.
16 January 1883
He attended the masquerade ball in Alhambra with some of his countrymen.
13 February 1883
In a letter Rizal appraised his brother Paciano of his activities in Madrid, his impressions of the
city and his meeting with his friends in gathering. In part he said: "The Tuesday of the Carnival
we had a Filipino luncheon and dinner in the house of the Pateros, each one contributing one
duro. We ate with our hands, boiled rice, chicken adobo, fried fish and roast pig.
Rizal in Paris, France
17 June 1883
Rizal arrived at Paris. He spent the whole day walking around and observing the beautiful cities.
18 June 1883
With Felipe Zamora and Cunanan, He visited the Leannec Hospital to observe how Dr, Nicaise
treated his patients. He was stunned to see the advanced facilities in the accommodation in the
said hospital.
19 June 1883
He again visited Dr. Nicaise who showed the technique of operation. Later he went to see
dupytren Museum.

BARCELONA • Afternoon of May 15, 1882 – Rizal left Merseilles by train for the last lap of his
trip to Spain • Rizal crossed the Pyreness and stopped for a day at the frontier town of Port Bou •
June 16, 1882 – Rizal finally reached his destination – Barcelona • Rizal‘s first impression of
Barcelona, the greatest city of Cataluña and Spain‘s second largest city was unfavorable
 RIZAL‘S EUROPEAN SOJOURN

It is very clear that rizal was going to Europe not just to compete 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; & to prepare himself
for the task of liberating the Filipinos from spanish tyranny.

After the publication of Noli, Rizal planned to visit the important places in Europe. Rizal
received his money from Paciano worth 1,000 pesos. He immediately paid viola the sum of 300
pesos from his kind loan. At dawn of May 11, 1887, Rizal and Viola left Berlin by train. Spring
was in the air and Europe is blooming with flowers. Their destination was Dresden, ―One of the
best cities in Germany‖

Rizal and Viola spent some time in Dresden. Their visit coincided with the regional floral
exposition. Rizal studied different plants because he was interested in botany. They visited Dr.
Adolph B. Meyer, who was overjoyed to see them. They also visited the Museum of Art and
Rizal was deeply impressed by the painting of ―Prometheus Bound‖, a Greek mythological
tragedy. While strolling at the scene of the Floral Exposition, they met Dr. Jagor. Dr. Jagor
advised them to wire Blumentritt of their coming because the old professor was of a nervous
disposition and he might suffer a shock at their sudden visit. Their next stopover was Teschen.
Rizal and Viola sent a wire to Blumentritt, as suggested by Dr. Jagor.

At 1:30 p.m. of May 13, 1887, the train with Rizal and Viola on board arrived at the railroad
station of Leitmeritz, Bohemia. Professor Blumentritt waited for them in the station after he
received the wire. He was carrying a pencil sketch of Rizal which the letter had previously sent
him, so that he could identify his Filipino friend. He warmly welcomed Rizal and Viola. For the
first time, Rizal and Blumentritt met each other. They greeted each other in fluent German. Upon
seeing the talented Rizal, the old professor immediately took him into heart, loving him as a son.
Rizal had beautiful memories of his visit to Leitmeritz. He enjoyed the warm hospitality and
enjoyed the cooking of the professor‘s wife Rosa. Blumentritt‘s children were Dolores, Conrad,
and Fritz. Blumentritt showed the scenic sights and historical spots of Leitmeritz. One afternoon
he invited them to a beer garden where the best beer of Bohemia was served. At the beer garden,
they met the burgomaster or the town mayor. Blumentritt introduced the two to the burgomaster.
Rizal talked in fluent German, for which the burgomaster and his friends were amazed. On
another afternoon, Rizal and Viola were invited to a meeting o the Tourists‘ Club of Leitmeritz,
of Blumentritt was secretary. The members of the society were amazed by the fluency of Rizal in
German. Rizal painted a portrait of the kind professor and gave it to him as a commemoration of
his happy hours at the professor‘s home. Rizal also met another renowned scientist of Europe
namely, Dr. Carlos Czepelak. Rizal had a nice conversation with the Polish scholar. Blumentritt
also introduced Rizal to Professor Robert Klutschak, an eminent naturalist. On their last night in
Leitmeritz, Rizal and Viola, reciprocated Blumentritt‘s hospitality with a banquet. On May 16, at
9:45 A.M., Rizal and Viola left Leitmeritz by train. Blumentritt and his family were at the
railroad station to see them off, and they all shed tears in parting as the train departed. Rizal
carried with him all the beautiful memories of his visit to Leitmeritz.

After their stay at Leitmeritz, Rizal together with Viola visited the city of Prague. They carried
recommendation letters from Blumentritt to Dr. Willkomm, a professor of natural history in the
University of Prague. The kind-hearted professor together with his wife and daughters welcomed
them and showed them the city‘s historic spots. Rizal and Viola visited the tomb of Copernicus,
the museum of natural history, the bacteriological laboratories, the famous cave where San Juan
Nepomuceno was imprisoned, and the bridge from which the saint was hurled into the river.
After their stay at the home of the Willkomms, Rizal and Viola left Prague and went to Brunn.

On May 20, Rizal and Viola arrived in the beautiful Vienna. Famous in songs and story, this city
very much fascinated Rizal because of its beautiful buildings, religions images and charm. Rizal
and Viola presented a letter of recommendation, from Blumentritt, to Norfenfals, one of the
greatest novelists in Europe during that time. The great novelist was impressed by Rizal‘s genius.
Later he spoke highly of Rizal. Also in Vienna, Rizal received his lost diamond stickpin. It was
found by a main in Hotel Krebs and was given to Blumentritt who, in turn, forwarded it to
Rizal. The two stayed at Hotel Metropole. They visited the city‘s interesting places, such as
churches, museums, art galleries, theaters and parks.

On May 24, Rizal and Viola left Vienna on a river boat to see the beautiful sights of the Danube
Rivera. As they both travel with boat, Rizal observed the different sights like the barges loaded
with products, the flowers and plants growing along the river banks, the boats with families
living on them, and the quaint villages on the riversides. They also noticed that the passengers
were using paper napkins during meals.

On June 1883, Rizal left Madrid to visit Paris. He stayed at the Hotel de Paris but then moved
to a cheaper hotel. Like all tourists, Rizal was charmingly titillated by the attractive scenery of
Paris such as the beautiful boulevards, the Opera House, the Place de la Concorde, the Arch of
Triumph, the Bois de Boulogne, the Madelaine Church, the Cathedral of Notre Dame, the
Column of Vendome, the Invalides, and the Versailes. Rizal closely observed the French way of
life and spending many hours at the museums. In Spain, he became close with prominent
Spanish liberal and republican Spaniards, who were mostly Masons. Rizal was impressed by the
way the Spanish Masons openly and freely criticized the government policies and lambasted the
friars. In March 1883, he joined the Masonic lodge called Acacia in Madrid. His reason for
joining was to secure Freemasonry‘s aid in his fight against the friars in the Philippines. Later he
was transferred to Lodge Solidaridad where he became a Master Mason on November 15, 1890.
Still later, he was awarded the diploma as Master Mason by Le Grand Orient de France in Paris.
After departure for Spain, things turned from bad to worse in Calamba. Harvests failed on
account of drought and locusts. Also the Dominican-owned hacienda increased the rentals of the
lands cultivated by the Rizal family. Due to these crises, allowances of Rizal were many times
late or sometimes never arrived, causing too much suffering to him. And on November 20, 21
and 22, 1884, Rizal was involved in student demonstrations. They were fighting for Dr. Miguel
Morayta who proclaimed that ―the freedom of science and the teacher‖. Such liberal view was
condemned by the Catholic bishops of Spain. On June 21, 1884 Rizal completed his medical
course in Spain. He was conferred the degree of Licentiate in Medicine by the Universidad
Central de Madrid. In the next academic year, he studied and passed al subjects leading to the
degree of Doctor of Medicine. Rizal also finished his studies in Philosophy and Letters with
excellent ratings.
 RIZAL‘S PEACEFUL LIFE IN DAPITAN
During the early part of his exile in Dapitan, Rizal lived at the commandant‘s residence. With his
prize from the Manila Lottery and his earnings as a farmer and a merchant, he bought a piece of
land near the shore of Talisay near Dapitan. On this land, he built three houses- all made of
bamboo, wood, and nipa. The first house which was square in shape was his home. The second
house was the living quarters of his pupils. And the third house was the barn where he kept his
chickens. The second house had eight sides, while the third had six sides.
"I shall tell you how we lived here. I have three houses-one square, another hexagonal, and the
third octagonal. All these houses are made of bamboo, wood, and nipa. I live in the square house,
together with my mother, my sister, Trinidad, and my nephew. In the octagonal house live some
young boys who are my pupils. The hexagonal house is my barn where I keep my chickens.
"From my house, I hear the murmur of a clear brook which comes from the high rocks. I see the
seashore where I keep two boats, which are called barotos here.
"I have many fruit trees, such as mangoes, lanzones, guayabanos, baluno, nangka, etc. I have
rabbits, dogs, cats, and other animals.
"I rise early in the morning-at five-visit my plants, feed the chickens, awaken my people, and
prepare our breakfast. At half-past seven, we eat our breakfast, which consists of tea, bread,
cheese, sweets, and other things.
"After breakfast, I treat the poor patients who come to my house. Then I dress and go to Dapitan
in my baroto. I am busy the whole morning, attending to my patients in town.
"At noon, I return home to Talisay for lunch. Then, from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m., I am busy as a
teacher. I teach the young boys.
"I spend the rest of the afternoon in farming. My pupils help me in watering the plants, pruning
the fruits, and planting many kinds of trees. We stop at 6:00 p.m. for the Angelus
"I spend the night reading and writing."

During his exile, Rizal practiced medicine, taught some pupils, and engaged in farming and
horticulture. He grew many fruit trees (like coconut, mango, lanzones, makopa, santol,
mangosteen, jackfruit, guayabanos, baluno, and nanka) and domesticated some animals (like
rabbits, dogs, cats, and chickens). The school he founded in 1893 started with only three pupils,
and had about more than 20 students at the time his exile ended.

Rizal would rise at five in the morning to see his plants, feed his animals, and prepare
breakfast. Having taken his morning meal, he would treat the patients who had come to his
house. Paddling his boat called ‗baroto‘ (he had two of them), he would then proceed to Dapitan
town to attend to his other patients there the whole morning.

Rizal would return to Talisay to take his lunch. Teaching his pupils would begin at about 2
pm and would end at 4 or 5 in the afternoon. With the help of his pupils, Rizal would spend the
rest of the afternoon in farming—planting trees, watering the plants, and pruning the fruits. Rizal
then would spend the night reading and writing.
Rizal provided significant community services in Dapitan like improving the town‘s drainage
and constructing better water system using empty bottles and bamboo joints. He also taught the
town folks about health and sanitation so as to avoid the spread of diseases. With his Jesuit priest
friend Sanchez, Rizal made a huge relief map of Mindanao in Dapitan plaza. Also, he bettered
their forest by providing evident trails, stairs, and some benches. He invented a wooden machine
for mass production of bricks. Using the bricks he produced, Rizal built a water dam for the
community with the help of his students.

As the town‘s doctor, Rizal equally treated all patients regardless of their economic and
social status. He accepted as ‗fees‘ things like poultry and crops, and at times, even gave his
services to poor folks for free. His specialization was ophthalmology but he also offered
treatments to almost all kinds of diseases like fever, sprain, broken bones, typhoid, and hernia.

Rizal also helped in the livelihood of the abaca farmers in Dapitan by trading their crops in
Manila. He also gave them lessons in abaca-weaving to produce hammocks. Noticing that the
fishing method by the locals was inefficient, he taught them better techniques like weaving and
using better fishing nets.

Rizal was in Dapitan when he learned that his true love Leonor Rivera had died. What somewhat
consoled his desolate heart was the visits of his mother and some sisters.

In August 1893, Doña Teodora, along with daughter Trinidad, joined Rizal in Dapitan and
resided with him in his ‗casa cuadrada’ (square house). The son successfully operated on his
mother‘s cataract.

At distinct times, Jose‘s sisters Maria and Narcisa also visited him. Three of Jose‘s
nephews also went to Dapitan and had their early education under their uncle: Maria‘s son
Mauricio (Moris) and Lucia‘s sons Teodosio (Osio) and Estanislao (Tan). Jose‘s nieceAngelica,
Narcisa‘s daughter, also had experience living for some time with her exiled uncle in Mindanao.

In 1895, Doña Teodora left Dapitan for Manila to be with Don Francisco who was getting
weaker. Shortly after the mother left, Josephine Bracken came to Jose‘s life. Josephine was an
orphan with Irish blood and the stepdaughter of Jose‘s patient from Hongkong. Rizal and
Bracken were unable to obtain a church wedding because Jose would not retract his anti-Catholic
views. He nonetheless took Josephine as his common-law wife who kept him company and kept
house for him. Before the year ended in 1895, the couple had a child who was born prematurely.
The son who was named after Rizal‘s father (Francisco) died a few hours after birth. (For
detailed discussion on Rizal-Bracken relationship, look for the section ―Josephine Bracken‖
under ―Rizal‘s love life‖.

Not just once did Rizal learn that his ‗enemies‘ sent spies to gather incriminating proofs that
Rizal was a separatist and an insurgent. Perhaps disturbed by his conscience, a physician named
Matias Arrieta revealed his covert mission and asked for forgiveness after he was cured by Rizal
(Bantug, p. 115).

In March 1895, a man introduced himself to Rizal as Pablo Mercado. Claiming to be

Rizal‘s relative, this stranger eagerly volunteered to bring Rizal‘s letters to certain persons in
Manila. Made suspicious by the visitor‘s insistence, Rizal interrogated him and it turned out that
his real name was Florencio Nanaman of Cagayan de Misamis, paid as secret agent by the
Recollect friars. But because it was raining that evening, the kind Rizal did not command
Nanaman out of his house but even let the spy spend the rainy night in his place.

In July the next year, a different kind of emissary was sent to Rizal. Doctor Pio Valenzuela
was sent to Dapitan by Andres Bonifacio—the Katipunan leader who believed that carrying out
revolt had to be sanctioned first by Rizal. Disguised as a mere companion of a blind patient
seeking treatment from Rizal, Valenzuela was able to discreetly deliver the Katipunan‘s message
for Rizal. But Rizal politely refused to approve the uprising, suggesting that peaceful means was
far better than violent ways in obtaining freedom. Rizal further believed that a revolution would
be unsuccessful without arms and monetary support from wealthy Filipinos. He thus
recommended that if the Katipunan was to start a revolution, it had to ask for the support of rich
and educated Filipinos, like Antonio Luna who was an expert on military strategy (Bantug, p.
133)

In 1895, Blumentritt informed Rizal that the revolution-ridden Cuba, another nation colonized by
Spain, was raged by yellow fever epidemic. Because there was a shortage of physicians to attend
to war victims and disease-stricken people, Rizal in December 1895 wrote to the then Governor
General Ramon Blanco, volunteering to provide medical services in Cuba. Receiving no reply
from Blanco, Rizal lost interest in his request.

But on July 30, 1896, Rizal received a letter from the governor general sanctioning his
petition to serve as volunteer physician in Cuba. Rizal made immediate preparations to leave,
selling and giving as souvenirs to friends and students his various properties.

In the late afternoon of July 31, Rizal got on the ‗España‘ with Josephine, Narcisa, a niece,
three nephews, and three of his students. Many Dapitan folks, especially Rizal‘s students, came
to see their beloved doctor for the last time. Cordially bidding him goodbye, they shouted
―Adios, Dr. Rizal!‖ and some of his students even cried. With sorrowing heart, He waved his
hand in farewell to the generous and loving Dapitan folks, saying, ―Adios, Dapitan!‖

The steamer departed for Manila at midnight of July 31, 1896. With tears in his eyes, Rizal
later wrote in his diary onboard the ship, ―I have been in that district four years, thirteen days,
and a few hours.
 Condition of the Philippines in 19th century

By the late 18th century, political and economic changes in Europe were finally beginning to
affect Spain and, thus, the Philippines. Important as a stimulus to trade was the gradual
elimination of the monopoly enjoyed by the galleon to Acapulco. The last galleon arrived
in Manila in 1815, and by the mid-1830s Manila was open to foreign merchants almost without
restriction. The demand for Philippine sugar and abaca (hemp) grew apace, and the volume of
exports to Europe expanded even further after the completion of the Suez Canal in 1869.
The growth of commercial agriculture resulted in the appearance of a new class. Alongside the
landholdings of the church and the rice estates of the pre-Spanish nobility there arose haciendas
of coffee, hemp, and sugar, often the property of enterprising Chinese-Filipino mestizos. Some
of the families that gained prominence in the 19th century have continued to play an important
role in Philippine economics and politics.

Not until 1863 was there public education in the Philippines, and even then the church controlled
the curriculum. Less than one-fifth of those who went to school could read and write Spanish,
and far fewer could speak it properly. The limited higher education in the colony was entirely
under clerical direction, but by the 1880s many sons of the wealthy were sent to Europe to study.
There, nationalism and a passion for reform blossomed in the liberal atmosphere. Out of this
talented group of overseas Filipino students arose what came to be known as the Propaganda
Movement. Magazines, poetry, and pamphleteering flourished. José Rizal, this movement‘s most
brilliant figure, produced two political novels—Noli me tangere (1886; Touch Me Not) and El
filibusterismo (1891; The Reign of Greed)—which had a wide impact in the Philippines. In 1892
Rizal returned home and formed the Liga Filipina, a modest reform-minded society, loyal to
Spain, that breathed no word of independence. But Rizal was quickly arrested by the overly
fearful Spanish, exiled to a remote island in the south, and finally executed in 1896. Meanwhile,
within the Philippines there had developed a firm commitment to independence among a
somewhat less privileged class.

Shocked by the arrest of Rizal in 1892, these activists quickly formed the Katipunan under the
leadership of Andres Bonifacio, a self-educated warehouseman. The Katipunan was dedicated to
the expulsion of the Spanish from the islands, and preparations were made for armed revolt.
Filipino rebels had been numerous in the history of Spanish rule, but now for the first time they
were inspired by nationalist ambitions and possessed the education needed to make success a real
possibility.
The Philippine Revolution
In August 1896, Spanish friars uncovered evidence of the Katipunan‘s plans, and its leaders were
forced into premature action. Revolts broke out in several provinces around Manila. After
months of fighting, severe Spanish retaliation forced the revolutionary armies to retreat to the
hills. In December 1897 a truce was concluded with the Spanish. Emilio Aguinaldo, a municipal
mayor and commander of the rebel forces, was paid a large sum and was allowed to go to Hong
Kong with other leaders; the Spanish promised reforms as well. But reforms were slow in
coming, and small bands of rebels, distrustful of Spanish promises, kept their arms; clashes grew
more frequent.

Emilio Aguinaldo.Brown Brothers

Meanwhile, war had broken out between Spain and the United States (the Spanish-American
War). After the U.S. naval victory in the Battle of Manila Bay in May 1898, Aguinaldo and his
entourage returned to the Philippines with the help of Adm. George Dewey. Confident of U.S.
support, Aguinaldo reorganized his forces and soon liberated several towns south of Manila.
Independence was declared on June 12 (now celebrated as Independence Day). In September
a constitutional congress met in Malolos, north of Manila, which drew up a fundamental law
derived from European and Latin American precedents. A government was formed on the basis
of that constitution in January 1899, with Aguinaldo as president of the new country, popularly
known as the ―Malolos Republic.‖
Meanwhile, U.S. troops had landed in Manila and, with important Filipino help, forced the
capitulation in August 1898 of the Spanish commander there. The Americans, however, would
not let Filipino forces enter the city. It was soon apparent to Aguinaldo and his advisers that
earlier expressions of sympathy for Filipino independence by Dewey and U.S. consular officials
in Hong Kong had little significance. They felt betrayed.

U.S. soldiers in a trench near Manila, Phil., during the Spanish-American War, 1898.Hulton
Archive/Getty Images

U.S. commissioners to the peace negotiations in Paris had been instructed to demand from Spain
the cession of the Philippines to the United States; such cession was confirmed with the signing
of the Treaty of Paris on December 10, 1898. Ratification followed in the U.S. Senate in
February 1899, but with only one vote more than the required two-thirds. Arguments of
―manifest destiny‖ could not overwhelm a determined anti-imperialist minority.
By the time the treaty was ratified, hostilities had already broken out between U.S. and Filipino
forces. Since Filipino leaders did not recognize U.S. sovereignty over the islands and U.S.
commanders gave no weight to Filipino claims of independence, the conflict was inevitable. It
took two years of counterinsurgency warfare and some wise conciliatory moves in the political
arena to break the back of the nationalist resistance. Aguinaldo was captured in March 1901 and
shortly thereafter appealed to his countrymen to accept U.S. rule.