Rizal

• The family of Rizal came from Calamba, Laguna.
• Jose Protacio Mercado y Alonso Realonda Rizal is the full name of Jose Rizal.
• Rizal was born on June 19, 1861.
• The trial of Dr. Jose Rizal by a Spanish military court for sedition, rebellion and conspiracy, began


  December 6, 1896
• This leads to his execution and martyrdom
• Rizal


  Imprisoned first in Barcelona and later in Fort Santiago, was implicated in the revolution which was launched in August 1896 by the Katipunan led by Andres Bonifacio, whose aim was to liberate the country from Spanish colonization
• At the time of his arrest, Rizal was supposed to leave for Cuba after he was allowed by Spanish Governor-General Ramon Blanco, who was sympathetic to him, to serve as a military surgeon in Cuba, where there was also a revolution against Spain
• Before he left from his exile in Dapitan for Manila and then for Spain, Rizal had issued a manifesto disavowing the revolution and declaring that the education of Filipinos and their achievement of a national identity were prerequisites to freedom
• Rizal was arrested while in route to Spain, imprisoned in Barcelona and sent back later to Manila to stand trial
• He was charged with being a traitor to Spain and the mastermind of the revolution. He pleaded his innocence but he was still convicted on all three charges of rebellion, sedition and conspiracy and sentenced to death
• Earlier, Rizal was already considered as an enemy of the state by the Spanish authorities with the publication of his two great novels Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo
• Rizal was executed in Bagumbayan (Luneta), which has been renamed Rizal Park in his memory


  December 30, 1896
• Martyr


  A person who is put to death or made to suffer greatly for religion or other beliefs
• Martyrdom


  • Usefulness of life
  • Dedication to a high purpose
• Rizal's death was an emotional event in our history as it produced A "martyr" and resulted in some form of social change or transformation in our lives as a people.
• Rizal was put to death for "subversion" by the dominant political forces.
• The Trial of Dr. Jose Rizal


  The Spanish colonial government accused Rizal of three crimes
• Crimes Rizal was accused of

  • The founding of La Liga Filipina, an "illegal organization" whose single aim was to "Perpetrate the crime of rebellion"
  • Rebellion which he promoted through his previous activities
  • Illegal association
• Penalty for the accusations


  Life imprisonment to death and correctional imprisonment and a charge of 325 to 3,250 Pesetas
• Subversive activities detailed in the prosecution's dossier on Rizal

  • The writing and publication of "Noli me Tangere", the Annotations to Morga's History of the Philippines, "El Filibusterismo", and the various articles which criticized the friars and suggested their expulsion in order to win independence
  • The El Filibusterismo was dedicated to the three martyr priests who were executed as traitors to the Fatherland in 1872 because they were the moving spirit of the uprising of that year
  • The establishment of masonic lodges which became the propaganda and fund raising center to support subversive activities and the establishment of centers in Madrid ,Hongkong and Manila to propagate his ideas
• The preliminary on Rizal began

  November 20, 1896
• Preliminary on Rizal


  Rizal was informed of the charges against him before Judge advocate Colonel Francisco Olive
• Evidences Endorsed By Colonel Olive to Governor Ramon Blanco


  • Documentary: fifteen exhibits
  • Testimonial: Provide by Martin Constantino, Aguedo del Rosario, Jose Reyes, Moises Salvador, Jose Dizon,Domingo Franco, Deodato Arellano, Pio Valenzuela , Antonio Salazar, Francisco Quison, and Timoteo Paez
• Pena's recommendations


  • Rizal must be immediately sent to trial
  • He must be held in prison under necessary security
  • His properties must be issued with order of attachment
  • Rizal had to pay one million pesos instead of a civilian lawyer, only an army officer is allowed to defend Rizal
• Rizal's lawyer


  Lt. Luis Taviel de Andrade, Brother of Lt. Jose Traviel de Andrade who worked as Rizal's personal body guard in Calamba in 1887
• In the presence of his Spanish Counsel on December 11, 1896, charges against Rizal were read
• When they asked regarding his sentiments or reaction on the charges, Rizal replied that in his defense
• Rizal does not question the jurisdiction of the court
• Rizal had not dealt in political matters during his exile in Dapitan in 1892
• Rizal had nothing to admit on the charges against him and had nothing to admit on the declarations of the witnesses, he had not met nor new, against him
• Rizal was executed


  December 30 1896
• Rizal's execution


  1. Rizal was heavily guarded and accompanied by Jesuits as he walked from Fort Santiago to Bagumbayan

  2. Spanish troops held back the crowd while artillery group stood on alert to prevent any attempt to rescue Rizal

  3. Captain instructed Rizal where to position himself, to turn his back against the squad and face the sea

  4. Rizal requested to face the firing squad as he was not a traitor

  5. Rizal asked to be shot at the back instead of the head so he could turn and fall with his face upward

  6. Rizal refused to kneel or be blindfolded

  7. Jesuit priest asked Rizal to kiss the crucifix, which Rizal turned his back on

  8. Rizal was ready for the execution
• Despite all valid pleadings, the military court, vindictive as it was, unanimously voted for the sentence of death
• Polavieja affirmed the decision of the court martial and ordered Rizal to be shot at 7:00 in the morning
• Rizal's brother Paciano, who had joined the Revolution forces, discouraged groups who might want to save Rizal since they would not be able to match Spanish firepower
• The captain in charge of the execution could not do anything as he was only following orders
• Rizal wore a black woolen suit and a derby hat, and his arms were tied behind him
• During the walk, Rizal recalled his youth and his student days at the Ateneo
• Rizal's last day


  1. Spent 24 hours in death cell

  2. Received family members

  3. Wrote letter to Ferdinand Blumentritt

  4. Gave sisters petroleum lamp with something inside

  5. Wrote "Ultimo Adios" (Last Farewell) poem
• Rizal was said to have married his Irish girlfriend according to Catholic rites in the very last hours of his life, after living with her for some time in Dapitan. They were previously married civilly.