Jose rizal – death return to the Philippines in

1887 was cut short when he was

- While living in Europe, José
targeted by police.
Rizal wrote about the - Rizal returned to Europe and
discrimination that accompanied continued to write, releasing his
Spain's colonial rule of his
follow-up novel, El
country. He returned to the Filibusterismo (The Reign of
Philippines in 1892 but was Greed) in 1891. He also
exiled due to his desire for
published articles in La
reform. Although he supported Solidaridad, a paper aligned
peaceful change, Rizal was
with the Propaganda Movement.
convicted of sedition and
The reforms Rizal advocated
executed on December 30, for did not include
1896, at age 35.
independence—he called for
- On June 19, 1861, José Protasio
equal treatment of Filipinos,
Rizal Mercado y Alonso limiting the power of Spanish
Realonda was born in Calamba in
friars and representation for
the Philippines' Laguna Province.
the Philippines in the Spanish
A brilliant student who became Cortes (Spain's parliament).
proficient in multiple languages,
- Rizal returned to the
José Rizal studied medicine in Philippines in 1892, feeling he
Manila. In 1882, he traveled to needed to be in the country to
Spain to complete his medical
effect change. Although the
degree. reform society he founded, the
- While in Europe, José Rizal
Liga Filipino (Philippine League),
became part of the Propaganda
supported non-violent action,
Movement, connecting with Rizal was still exiled to Dapitan,
other Filipinos who wanted
on the island of Mindanao.
reform. He also wrote his first
During the four years Rizal was
novel, Noli Me Tangere (Touch in exile, he practiced medicine
Me Not/The Social Cancer), a
and took on students.
work that detailed the dark
aspects of Spain's colonial rule
in the Philippines, with
particular focus on the role of
Catholic friars. The book was
banned in the Philippines,
though copies were smuggled in.
Because of this novel, Rizal's

1|Page
 - In 1895, Rizal asked for
permission to travel to Cuba as
an army doctor. His request was
approved, but in August 1896,
Katipunan, a nationalist Filipino
society founded by Andres
Bonifacio, revolted. Though he
had no ties to the group and
disapproved of its violent
methods, Rizal was arrested
shortly thereafter. After a
show trial, Rizal was convicted
of sedition and sentenced to
death by firing squad. Rizal's
public execution was carried
out in Manila on December 30,
1896, when he was 35 years old.
His execution created more
opposition to Spanish rule.
- Name: Jose Protasio Rizal
Mercado Y Alonso Realonda
(Jose Rizal)
- June 19, 1861 [ Calamba,
Laguna] – December 30, 1896
[Bagumbayan(now the Luneta
Park), Manila] (Died at 35 years
old)
- On the eve of his execution,
while confined in Fort Santiago,
Rizal wrote “Último adiós”
(“Last Farewell”), a masterpiece
of 19th-century Spanish verse.
- He said on the eve of his death:
"A victim is sought and I am the
one who is chosen to bear the
whole blame. I am innocent of
the crime of rebellion. I am
2|Page
going to die with a tranquil
conscience."
- In 1901, when the Americans
took control of the country,
Governor-general William
Howard Taft named Rizal as the
Philippine national hero. A year
later, on February 1, 1902, the
Philippine Commission enacted
Act No. 345, which made
December 30, a public holiday,
Dr. Jose P. Rizal day.
- On 29th December, 1896 when
Rizal was notified of the Report
(sentence by the Council of
War), he refused to sign it
stating that he was innocent of
the charges against him and
that he was not a Chinese
mestizo as stated in the Report
but an Indio.
- It was a firing squad composed
of eight native (Filipino)
soldiers who shot Rizal at
Babumbayan field, and he was
not only shot once but twice.
- A dog (mascot) ran around the
lifeless body of Rizal, whining.
- Rizal was buried at Paco
Cemetery without a coffin. And
it was only in 1911 during the
American Occupation of the
Philippines that Rizal’s remains
where transferred to where a
monument now stands in his
honor.
 - On 20th December, 1896, Rizal
together with his counsel, Lt.
Taviel de Andrade of the
Spanish Artillery, prepared for
his defense.
- Five days later, on 25th
December, Christmas Day, Rizal
was informed that on the
following day, at 10:00 am, the
Council of War would convene.
Rizal wrote his counsel Taviel,
asking for a conference prior to
appearing before the Council.
However, it was not known
whether such pre-trial
conference between Rizal and
his counsel took place and on
the 26th of December, at the
Cuartel General de Espana, a
soldier’s dormitory was
converted into an improvised
courtroom.
- The trial proceeded with the
reading of the accusations
against Rizal “as principal
organizer” and “moving spirit of
the Philippine insurrection,
founder of societies, of
newspapers and [who] has
written books designed to
foment and propagate ideas of
rebellion and sedition among
the people, as well as the
principal leader of the anti-
government in the country.”
Taviel de Andrade, Rizal’s
defense counsel, argued that in
3|Page
the law applying the Penal Code
of Spain in the Philippines, none
exists to establish the guilt of
the accused; he likewise
challenged the veracity and
impartiality of those who had
given statements incriminating
Rizal; he closed his defense
requesting the court to reject
the images of war, for they
could only provoke ideas of
vengeance, and that judges
should not be vengeful but fair
and just. After giving Rizal an
opportunity to speak in his
defense, the Court after
deliberations rendered its
decision finding Rizal the
author of rebellion and
sentenced him to death.
- On 28th December, Governor
General Polavieja approved the
sentence of the Council of War
after knowing that none of the
members of the Council of
Authorities recommended the
commutation of the sentence
against Rizal. The next day,
29th of December, Judge
Dominguez went to Fort
Santiago to notify Rizal
officially of the sentence. Rizal
read the report or verdict but
refused to sign it, stating that
he was innocent. He also
alleged that he was not a
Chinese mestizo as stated by
the auditor in the report but a
 pure Indio. Rizal was informed
that no modifications were
allowed in the text of the
judgment. In the morning of 30
December, 1896, Rizal was
executed at Bagumbayan field
by musketry.
- Eight native soldiers composed
the firing squad. Behind them
were eight Spanish soldiers
with Mauser rifles, ready to
shoot the native soldiers if
they refused to shoot Rizal.
- At 6:30 a.m. on 30 December
1896, Jose Rizal, bound elbow-
to-elbow, left Fort Santiago by
foot for Bagumbayan field,
accompanied by a bugler, a
drummer and two Jesuit
priests, Fr. Estanislao March
and Fr. Jose Villaclara. They
took the Paseo de Maria
Cristina, now called Bonifacio
Drive. Behind Rizal was his
defense counsel Lt. Luis Taviel
de Andrade. A squad of
soldiers surrounded them as
they walked slowly. Upon
reaching Bagumbayan field,
Rizal placed himself in the
middle of the square, filled
with 400 men, with a band
playing.
- Rizal refused to be shot in the
back, saying he had not been a
traitor to the country or to
Spain. But the Spanish captain
in charge of the execution told
4|Page
him that he had orders to shoot
him in the back. Rizal
reluctantly agreed, but he
firmly refused to kneel or be
blindfolded. One last request
of Rizal was that the soldiers
spare his head and instead
shoot him in the back near the
heart. The captain agreed.
Rizal then shook hands with his
defense counsel, Lt. Taviel de
Andrade and thanked him for
his efforts in defending him. A
military doctor came to take his
pulse; it was normal. The
Jesuits raised a crucifix for
him to kiss, but Rizal had
already turned away silently and
prepared himself for death.
- The order to fire was given.
Before the shots rang out, Rizal
shouted,“Consumatum est!” (It
is finished!). When the bullets
hit their mark, Rizal made a last
effort to turn around, thus,
falling lifeless with his back on
the ground, his face to the sky.
Another soldier gave the body a
“tiro de gracia” -- one last shot
to make sure Rizal was dead.
Shouts of “Viva Espana!” rent
the air. The band of the
regiment struck the first
chords of “Marcha de Cadiz.”
By 7:03 a.m. the execution was
over.
 [ Rizal buried without a coffin]
- After the execution of Rizal his
body was placed in a van and
with utmost secrecy buried in
the old Paco Cemetery. Sra.
Teodora, the mother of Rizal,
wanted to comply with the last
wish of her son, that the family
take charge of his remains.
After several objections on the
part of some Spanish officials,
Civil Governor Manuel Luengo
agreed to her petition.
However, when the funeral
coach left, they had already
secretly taken the body away,
and Rizal's sister, Narcisa,
went to all the cemeteries of
Manila looking for the remains
in vain.
- On the way back, she saw,
through the open gate of the
Paco Cemetery, some guardia
civiles. This gave her a hint.
She entered the cemetery and
after much searching found a
freshly dug grave covered with
earth. She gave the
gravedigger some money and
placed a plaque with the initials
of her brother in reverse,
R.P.J., which means Rizal,
Protacio Jose. (Jose Rizal,
Filipino Doctor and Patriot, by
Jose Baron Fernandez, Paragon
Printing Corporation, Manila,
1992, pp 370-371).
5|Page
- A few days after the
Americans occupied Manila in
August 1898, Rizal's sister
Narcisa asked permission from
the new authorities to exhume
the remains of Rizal. Permission
was granted. When the body
was exhumed, it was discovered
that Rizal's body had not even
been placed in a coffin. The
shoes were identified, but
whatever had been hidden
inside them had already
disintegrated (Fernandez, p.
393).
- In 1911, Rizal’s remains were
transferred from the Paco
Cemetery to the base of the
monument which had earlier
been erected at the Luneta
(now Rizal Park). His aged,
beloved mother was still able to
attend the ceremonies of the
transfer. A few weeks later
Sra. Teodora Alonso Quintos
died. It appears she made the
effort to survive her son, to go
on living until such time that
her son’s memory would be
officially vindicated.
 - By 6:30 of the morning of Dec.
30, Rizal, dressed in a black
suit with white vest, began his
march to the field of his
execution in Bagumbayan, now
the Luneta, from his prison cell
in Fort Santiago. He was
accompanied by his military
appointed counsel Lt. Taviel de
Andrade, and Fathers
Estanislao March and Jose
Villaclara.
- Holding a rosary in his right
hand, Rizal was tied at the
elbows as his group walked
behind four advance guards
armed with bayonets. Historical
accounts showed that six to
eight Filipino volunteer troops
composed the firing squad
designated by Spanish
authorities to execute Rizal.
A descendant of one of the
executioners, Adolfo Pastor
Quetcuti, related that only one
of the rifles was loaded with a
live bullet while the rest were
blanks. This is to ease the guilt
of Rizal’s executioners who
knew he was innocent, he
explained.
- Dr. Felipe Ruiz Castillo, who
took Rizal’s vital signs and pulse
rate before the execution, was
amazed to find that the
national hero was calm and
unafraid. Upon hearing the
squad commander’s shout of
6|Page
“Fuego (Fire),” Rizal turned to
face the firing squad.
- Rizal fell face up and was able
to see the dawn breaking
before he uttered in his final
breath: “Consummatum est (It
is finished).” In 1898, the first
Philippine President Emilio
Aguinaldo issued his first
decree marking Rizal’s death
anniversary on Dec. 30 rather
than his birthday on June 19 to
commemorate his heroism and
sacrifice for the country.
- The death of Jose Rizal on
December 30, 1896 came right
after a kangaroo trial convicted
him on all three charges of
rebellion, sedition and
conspiracy.
- December 30th is the death
anniversary of Dr. Jose Rizal.
The death of Jose Rizal came
right after a kangaroo trial
convicted him on all three
charges of rebellion, sedition
and conspiracy. He was guided
to his cell in Fort Santiago
where he spent his last 24
hours right after the
conviction. At 6:00 AM of
December 29, 1896, Captain
Rafael Dominguez read Jose
Rizal’s death sentence and
declared that he will be shot at
7:00 AM of the next day in
Bagumbayan. At 8:00 PM of the
same day, Jose Rizal had his
 last supper and informed
Captain Dominguez that he had
forgiven his enemies including
the military judges that
condemned him to die. Rizal
heard mass at 3:00 in the
morning of December 30, 1896,
had confession before taking
the Holy Communion. He took
his last breakfast at 5:30 AM
of December 30, 1896 and even
had the time to write two
letters one for his family while
the other letter was for his
brother Paciano. This was also
the time when his wife,
Josephine Bracken and his
sister Josefa arrived and bade
farewell to Rizal.
- Rizal who was dressed in a black
suit was a few meters behind
his advance guards while moving
to his slaughter place and was
accompanied by Lt. Luis Taviel
de Andrade, two Jesuit priests
and more soldiers behind him.
The atmosphere was just like
any execution by musketry by
which the sound of the drums
occupied the air. Rizal looked at
the sky while walking and
mentioned how beautiful that
day was.
- Rizal was told to stand on a
grassy lawn between two lam
posts in the Bagumbayan field,
looking towards the Manila Bay.
He requested the firing squad
7|Page
commander to shoot him facing
the firing squad but was
ordered to turn his back
against the squad of Filipino
soldiers of the Spanish army. A
backup force of regular Spanish
Army troops were on standby
to shoot the executioners
should they fail to obey the
orders of the commander.
- Jose Rizal’s execution was
carried out when the command
“Fuego” was heard and Rizal
made an effort to face the
firing squad but his bullet
riddled body turned to the
right and his face directed to
the morning sun. Rizal exactly
died at 7:03 AM and his last
words before he died were
those said by Jesus Christ:
“consummatum est,” which
means, “It is finished.”
- Jose Rizal was secretly buried
in Paco Cemetery in Manila but
no identification was placed in
his grave. His sister Narcisa
tried to look in every grave site
and found freshly turned soil at
the Paco cemetery, assuming
the burial site as the area
where Rizal was buried. She
gave a gift to the site
caretaker so as to mark the
grave with RPJ — the initials of
Rizal in reverse.
- José Protasio Rizal Mercado Y
Alonso Realonda was born on
 June 19, 1861 to Francisco
Mercado and Teodora Alonzo in
the town of Calamba in the
province of Laguna. He had nine
sisters and one brother. At the
early age of three, the future
political leader had already
learned the English alphabet.
And, by the age of five, José
could already read and write.
- In 1896, Rizal was granted
leave by then Governor-General
Blanco, after volunteering to
travel to Cuba to serve as
doctor to yellow fever victims.
But at that time, the Katipunan
had a full-blown revolution and
Rizal was accused of being
associated with the secret
militant society. On his way to
Cuba, he was arrested in
Barcelona and sent back to
Manila to stand for trial before
the court martial. Rizal was
charged with sedition,
conspiracy, and rebellion – and
therefore, sentenced to death
by firing squad. Days before his
execution, Rizal bid farewell to
his motherland and countrymen
through one of his final letters,
entitled Mi último adiós or My
Last Farewell. Dr. José Rizal
was executed on the morning of
December 30, 1896, in what
was then called Bagumbayan
(now referred to as Luneta).
Upon hearing the command to
8|Page
shoot him, he faced the squad
and uttered in his final breath:
“Consummatum est” (It is
finished). According to
historical accounts, only one
bullet ended the life of the
Filipino martyr and hero.
[ Last days of Rizal and his burial]
- December 26, 1896 – A Spanish
court martial found Jose Rizal
guilty for sedition and
sentenced him to death.
- December 28, 1896 – It was
decided that Rizal will be
executed by musketry,
Governor-General Camillo
Polavieja confirmed the
sentence.
- December 28, 1896 – Teodora
Alonzo wrote the Governor-
General asking for clemency
[mercy] for her son.
- December 28, 1896 – At
Malacañan Palace, Rizal’s sisters
pleaded to Governor-General
Polavieja: stay Rizal’s execution.
- December 29, 1896 – Rizal was
read his death sentence.
- December 29, 1896 – Rizal was
visited by several priests
including Fr. Faura, S.J.
- Decemeber 29, 1896 – Rizal
wrote his last letter to
Ferdinand Blumentritt which
read: “My dear Brother, When
 you receive this letter, I shall
be dead by then. Tomorrow at
seven, I shall be shot; but I am
innocent of the crime of
rebellion. I am going to die with
a tranquil conscience. Adieu, my
best, my dearest friend, and
never think ill of me! Fort
Santiago, 29 December 1896
José Rizal Regards to the whole
family, to Sra. Rosa, Loleng,
Conradito, and Federico. I leave
a book for you as my
remembrance.”
- December 29, 1896 – Teodora
Alonzo paid her final visit to
Rizal. She was accompanied by
her daughter, Trinidad
Mercado.
- December 29, 1896 – Rizal’s
sisters were allowed to pay him
visits. He gave them his worldly
possessions:
Narcisa – Wicker Chair
Angelica, niece – Handkerchief
Mauricio, nephew – Belt, watch,
and chain
Trinidad – Alcohol Burner with
Mi Ultimo Adios
- December 30, 1896, 6:30am –
Rizal was brought to the
execution site from Fort
Santiago.
- December 30, 1896, 7:03 a.m. –
Rizal was executed by
musketry.
- December 30, 1896 – After the
execution, Rizal’s body was
9|Page
brought to San Juan de Dios
Hospital.
- December 30, 1896 – Rizal’s
remains were buried in the Paco
Cemetery in an unmarked grave.
- Last December 30, 2019 was
Jose Rizal’s 123rd death
anniversary.
[ Rizal’s Death Wishes]
- “Dear parents, brothers,
sisters: Give thanks to God who
has kept me tranquil, before my
death … Bury me in the earth,
put a stone on top, and a cross.
My name, the date of my birth,
and that of my death. Nothing
more. If later you should wish
to surround my grave with a
fence, you can do it. No
anniversary celebrations! I
prefer ‘Paang Bundok, which was
the cemetery north of Manila,
now known as North Cemetery.
[ Rizal’s Last Hours]
- Dec. 29, 1896. 6:00 – 7:00 a.m.:
Sr. S. Mataix asks Rizal’s
permission to interview him.
Capt. Dominguez reads death
sentence to Rizal. Source of
information: cablegram of
Mataix to EL Heraldo De
Madrid, "Notes" of Capt.
Dominguez and Testimony of Lt.
Gallegos.
 - 7:00 – 8:00 a.m.: Rizal is
transferred to his death cell.
Fr. Saderra talks briefly with
Rizal. Fr. Viza presents statue
of the Sacred hearth of Jesus
and medal of Mary. Rizal
rejects the letter, saying , "Im
little of a Marian, Father."
Source: Fr. Viza.
- Fathers mentioned and Rizal.
- 8:00 – 9:00 a.m.: Rizal is 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 it visit him. Sources: Fr.
Rosell and letter of Invitation.
- 9:00 – 10:00 a.m.: Sr. Mataix,
defying stringent regulation,
enters death cell and interviews
Rizal in the presence of Fr.
Rosell. Later, Gov. Luengo drops
in to join the conversation.
Sources: Letter of Mataix ti
Retana Testimony of Fr. Rosell.
- 10:00 – 11:00 a.m.: Fr. Faura
persuades Rizal to put down his
rancours and order to marry
josephine canonically. a heated
discussion on religion occurs
between them ion the hearing
of Fr. Rosell. Sources: El
Imparcial and 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.
10 | P a g e
Balaguer, who is not allowed to
enter the death cell) that Rizal
is either to Prostestant 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
Sources: El Imarcial and Rizal y
su Obra.
- 12:00 – 1:00 p.m.: 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.
Sources: Rizal’s habits and Rizal
y su Obra.
- 1:00 – 2:00 p.m.: Rizal denies
(probably, he is allowed to
attend to his personal
necessities). Source: "Notes" of
Capt. Dominguez.
- 2:00 – 3:00 p.m.: Rizal confers
with Fr. March and Fr.
Vilaclara. Sources: "Notes" of
Capt. Dominguez in conjunction
with the testimonies of Fr. Pi
and Fr. Balaguer.
- 3:00 – 4:00 p.m.: 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." Sources: F. Stahl and
F. Blumentritt, Cavana (1956) –
Appendix 13, and the "Notes"
of Capt. Dominguez.
- 4:00 – 5:30 p.m.: Capt.
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 gives promises to give a
book, an alcohol burner, his pair
of shoes, an instruction,
something to remember.
Sources "notes" of Capt.
Dominguez and Fr. Rosell, Diaro
de Manila.
- 5:30 – 6:00 p.m: 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. Sources: Rev. Silvino
11 | P a g e
Lopez-Tuñon, Fr. Rosell, Fr.
Serapio Tamayo, and Sworn
Statement of Fr. Balaguer.
- 6:00 – 7:00 p.m.: Fr. Rosell
leaves Fort Santiago and sees
Josephine Bracken. Rizal calls
for Josephine and then they
speak to each for the last time.
Sources: Fr. Rosell, El
Imparcial, and Testimony of
Josephine to R. Wildman in
1899.
- 7:00 – 8:00 p.m.: 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.
Sources: El Imparcial.
- 8:00 – 9:00 p.m.: Rizal rakes
supper (and, most probably,
attends to his personal needs).
Then, he receives Bro. Titllot
with whom he had a very
"tender" (Fr. Balaguer) or
"useful" (Fr. Pi) interview.
Sources: Separate testimonies
of Fr. Balaguer and Fr. Pi on the
report of Bro. Titllot; Fisal
Castaño.
- 9:00 – 10:00 p.m: Fiscal Castaño
exchanges views with Rizal
regarding their respective
professors. Sources: Fiscal
Castaño.
 - 10:00 – 11:00 p.m.: Rizal meditates. Josephine is
manifests strange reaction, prohibited by the Spanish
asks guards for paper and pen. officers from seeing Rizal,
From rough drafts and copies according to Josephine’s
of his poem recovered in his testimony to R. Wildman in
shoes, the Spaniards come to 1899.
know that Rizal is writing a - 6:15 – 7:00: Rizal walks to the
poem. Sources: El Imparcial and place of execution between Fr.
Ultimo Adios; probably, Fiscal March and Fr. Vilaclara with
Castaño. whom he converses. Keeps
- 11:00 – 12:00 midnight: Rizal looking around as if seeking or
takes time to his hide his poem expecting to see someone. His
inside the alcohol burner. It has last word, said in a loud voice:
to be done during night rather "It is finished"
than during daytime because he - 7:00 – 7:03: Sounds of guns.
is watched very carefully. He Rizal vacillates, turns halfway
then writes his last letter to around, falls down backwards
brother Paciano. Sources: and lies on the ground facing
Testimonies and circumstantial the sun. Silence. Shouts of
evidence. vivas for Spain.
- 12:00 – 4:00 a.m.: Rizal sleeps
restfully because his
confidence in the goodness of
God and the justness of his
cause gives him astounding
serenity and unusual calmness.
- Dec. 30, 1986. 4:00 – 5:00 a.m.:
Rizal picks up Imitation of
Christ, reads, meditates and
then writes in Kempis’ book a
dectation to his wife Josephine
and by this very act in itself he
gives to her their only
certificate of marriage.
- 5:00 – 6:15: Rizal washes up,
takes breakfast, attends to his
personal needs. Writes a letter
to his parents. Reads Bible and

12 | P a g e