1st Semester, A.

Y 2023-24
Life, Works, and Writings of Jose P. Rizal
Final Period
Module 12
Exile in Dapitan

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Lesson Objectives:
At the end of this module, students should be able to:
 Describe how Rizal showed community leadership, and
 Illustrate how Rizal manifested moral and intellectual leadership.

Discussion
Exile in Dapitan

Rizal was deported to Dapitan by virtue of Gover-General Eulogio Despujols gubernatorial decree of 1892.
His deporatation was based on the following charges against hm:

1. Publication and introduction of various anti-monastic books and handbills.

2. Travelling through different provinces without permit from the Governor-general
3. Finding in his luggage the pamphlet Pobres Frailes or Poor Frairs, which mocked the religious
orders.
4. Dedication of the El Fili to the memory of GOMBURZA
5. Rizal’s attempts at de-Catholicizing and denationalizing the Filipino people.

With his deportation to Dapitan, the Liga Filipina died its natural death. It split into two branches: the rightist,
Cuerpos de Compromisarios, and the leftists, which later came to be known as the Katipunan or KKK, a
society whose aim was to overthrow colonial rule in the Philippines.

In the four years of Rizal’s banishment to dapitan (1892-1896). Rizal demonstrated practical nationalism by
living out what he had preached to his countrymen and fellow reformers.

Rizal and Captain Carnicero

Through a letter of Father Pable Pastells, the Superior of the society of Jesuits in the Philippines, Rizal was
ordered to stay at the Jesuits Mission House under Father Antonio Obach, the parish priest of Dapitan.
However, Rizal opted not to stay with the Jesuits because of the following conditions stated in Father
Pastell’s letter which he had to comply with. Namely:

1. To make public retraction of his religious errors,

2. To issue public statements unmistakably pro-Spanish,
3. To undergo the spiritual exercises of St. Ignatius,
4. To make a general confession of his past life, and
5. To lead a model and pro-Spanish life.
Since Rizal was not willing to comply with the said conditions, he stayed in the house of Captain Carnicero,
the politico-commander of the island who became his guardian and friend. In the frequent exchange of
views between the two, Rizal communicated to Carnicero his political beliefs at the time of his exile in
Dapitan (Guerrero, 1998). For Rizal, the Philippines would become the happiest country in the world should
Spain grant her the following reforms:

1. Representation in the Spanish Cortes,

2. Securization of the parishes,
3. Reformation of the administration in all its branches,
4. Encouragement of primary instruction and elimination of friar intervention,
5. Granting teachers of both sexes better salaries,
6. Division of government jobs equally between the Spaniards and Filipinos,
7. Making the administration moral,
8. Creation of schools of arts and trades in provincial capitals,
9. Freedom of the speech and press, and
10. Freedom of Religion.

Community Leadership in Dapitan

Rizal’s four years stay in Dapitan was marked by multifarious activities. It was in Dapitan, particularly
Talisay, where Rizal used his talents and skills to be of service to his compatriots. He practiced varied
professions as a doctor, businessperson, scientist, a farmer, a teacher, engineer, inventor, and community
developer. He also found time to study Malayan and other Philippine dialects and continued his artistic and
literary pursuits. These activities of Rizal eventually won the respect and recognition of Captain Carnicero
and the people of Dapitan. The following are the contributions of Rizal in Dapitan, which generally
enhanced his concept of practical leadership and nationalism;

1. Construction of water system,

2. Construction of a huge relief map of Mindanao out of stones, earth, and grass,
3. Beautification of Talisay by facilitating the putting up of lampposts at every corner of the town,
4. Building of school and taught pupils for academic and vocational training,
5. Training pupils in boxing, swimming, and arnis,
6. Offering free medical services to his poor country folks,
7. Organizing an association of farmers to improve farm production and generate higher incomes,
8. Training fishermen in Dapitan the making and use of fishnets in fishing,
9. Engaging in abaca and copra trading,
10. Invention of brick-making machine, and
11. Built-up a rich collection of Conchology.

As a physician, Rizal practiced Ophthalmology in Dapitan. He performed a successful operation on his

mother’s eye. Since his fame as an eye doctor, he became well known even in Hong Kong. Even while on
exile in Dapitan, he was visited by a few foreign clients for treatment. M. George Taufer came to Dapitan for
his medical services. His adopted daughter, Josephine Bracken, who accompanied him, later became
Rizal’s wife.

As historical accounts could attest (Resurreccion, 1982), Rizal in Dapitan has become; the first to introduce
social and environmental engineering, the firs rural doctor, the first professional to engage in business, the
first practitioner of town planning and beautification, the first to introduce the principles of livelihood and
self-reliance programs, the first to show the way to community development, the first ophthalmic surgeon
sought by patients abroad, the first to set up a precursor of the modern community school with himself as
the first community teacher, the first systematic collector of Philippine shells, butterflies, reptiles, and other
fauna and flora in Mindanao, the first in sanitary engineering and public health work, and the first Filipino
doctor with a social conscience, who charged fees according to the patient’s ability to pay.

Rizal’s Encountered with Friar’s Spy

The spy with the assumed name of “Pablo Mercado” and posing as a relative. Confidential courier of Rizal’s
letter and writings for the patriots in Manila. Invited the unwanted visitor to stay at his house. Sitges ordered
the arrest of “Pablo Mercado”. Real name of “Pablo Mercado” was Florencio Namanan, forwarded the
transcripts of the investigation to Governor-General Blanco. Rizal’s letter to his brother-in-law, Manuel T.
Hidalgo written in Dapitan, December 20, 1893.

Artistic Works in Dapitan

1. The three Rare Species
2. Fishes Caught in Dapitan
3. The Mother’s revenge
4. Bust of Fr. Guerico
5. The Dapitan Girl
6. Josephine Bracken
7. Bust of St. Paul

Rizal and Josephine Bracken

Rizal and Josephine fell in love with each other. Fr. Obach refused the wedding of Rizal and Bracken,
George Taufer committed suicide, and they married themselves before the eyes of God. Rizal was
extremely happy because Josephine was expecting a baby. This lost son of Rizal was named “Francisco”
in honor of Don Francisco and was buried in Dapitan.

Rizal and the Katipunan

On June 21, 1986, Dr. Pio Valenzuela, Bonifacio’s emissary, visited Rizal in Dapitan and informed of the
plan of the Katipunan to launch a revolution. Rizal objected to Bonifacio’s bold project stating that such
would be a veritable suicide. Valenzuela, however, warned Rizal that the revolution would break out if the
Katipunan would be discovered. Rizal instructed Vaelenzuela that it would be for the best interests of the
Katipunan to get first the support of the rich and influential people of Manila to strengthen their cause. Rizal
lamented the possible consequences of the planned armed rebellion. Rizal said, “To die to conquer is
pleasant, but to die and be conquered is pitiful”.

Rizal also disapproved of the plan of the Katipunan to rescue him from his exile for he had given his word
to the Spanish authorities that he would never escape from Dapitan. Moreover, he informed Valenzuela of
his pending application as a volunteer doctor for the Spanish troops fighting in the Cuban Revolution.

On July 30, 1896, Governor-General Ramon Blanco approved Rizal’s petition to go to Cuba. The next day
he left for manila on board steamer España.

Activity # 12

Talking points

Imagine that you are going to deliver a speech praising Rizal’s contribution to the society. Include in your
speech information about Rizal’s important accomplishments and praiseworthy qualities. Submit the written
output on our google classroom with your voice record about your speech on time. Your output shall be
assessed based on the following criteria: research (15%), supporting details (5%), logical Organization of
Ideas (10%).

Assessment # 12
Analyze the reforms that Rizal wants to institute in the country at the time of his exile in Dapitan and answer
the following questions comprehensively:

1. What are Rizal’s revolutionary ideas? Are they valid? Why?

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2. Why was Rizal against the planned revolution of the Katipunan?

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3. Why is fortitude significant in Rizal’s campaign for reforms?

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Prepared by: Checked and Noted by: Approved by:

LORETA A. MANUEL DR. RAYMOND A. CLARO EVELYN A. TOMBOC, DBA

Instructor-CJE Dean/Program Head-CJE University President