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Aboard the steamer, Isla de Panay, Rizal left Manila for Spain on September 2, 1896, not knowing that

this will be his last travel abroad. The night before his departure, he wrote a letter to Doa Teodora Alonzo telling her that his task required strength and dedication, and if he died, at least he had done something good for mankind.

By the eve of September 7, the steamer reached Singapore and on the 30th, while Isla de Panay was on its voyage along the Mediterranean Sea, a telegraphic message was received by Captain A. Alemany, the ship skipper, ordering him to arrest and confine Jose Rizal in his cabin until they arrive in Barcelona on the 3rd of October. Early morning of October 6, Rizal was transferred to Montjuich Castle where he was visited by Eulogio Despujol who was then the military Commander of Catalua. By 8 o'clock in the evening, aboard the steamer Colon, Rizal left Barcelona for Manila.

Such occurrences had already been known among Rizal's friends in Europe and Singapore. His friends from London, Dr. Antonio Ma. Regidor and Sixto Lopez had their efforts to find a lawyer in Singapore who could aid their in-need friend. They send a telegraph to a certain Atty. Hugh Fort whom they requested to do the task of rescuing Rizal by issuing writ of habeas corpus on the steamer Colon. Unfortunately, the judge,Chief Justice Loinel Cox , in Singapore denied Fort's request and contention that Rizal was illegally detained in the said steamer because the voyage cannot be delayed since it was, according to the judge, a warship carrying Spanish troops to Manila. Thus, on November 3, Colon arrived in Manila Jose Rizal, under heavy security, was brought immediately to Fort Santiago. During his stay, Spanish authorities were searching for evidences against him. In fact, Filipinos who had been recognized at his side were brutally tortured to implicate him. Some of them were as follows: Deodato Arellano, Dr. Pio Valenzuela, Moises Salvador, Jose Dizon, Domingo Franco and Timoteo Paez. Even his only brother, Paciano was arrested and inflicted with pains which the latter endured for his younger brother's sake. ---- November 20, 1896- preliminary investigation was conducted. - Rizal as the accused appeared before Judge Advocate, Colonel Francisco Olive. He was subjected to a 5 day investigation, Rizal was informed about his charges and been given the chance to answer the questions they have on him though he was never permitted to confront those people who testified against him.

- Two Evidences presented against him, namely documentary an d testimonial. Documentary Evidences: A letter from Antonio to Mariano Ponce dated Madrid October 16, 1888, showing Rizal connection with the Filipino reform campaign in Spain. A letter of Rizal to his family, dated Madrid, August 20, 1890, stating that the deportations are good for they will encourage the people to hate tyranny. A letter from Marcelo H. del Pilar to Deodato Arellano, dated Madrid, January 7, 1889, implicating Rizal in the propaganda movement campaign in Spain. A poem entitled Kundiman , allegedly written by Rizal in Manila on September 12, 1891 A letter from Carlos Oliver to an unidentified person, dated Barcelona, September 18, 1891, describing Rizal as the man to free the Philippines from Spanish oppression. A masonic lodge document, dated Manila, February 9, 1892, honoring Rizal for his patriotic services. A letter signed Dimasalang ( Rizals pseudonym) to Tenlunz (Juan Zuluetas pseudonym), dated Hongkong, May 24, 1892, stating that he was preparing a safe refuge for Filipinos who may persecuted by the Spanish authorities. A letter to Dimasalang to an unidentified committee, dated Hongkong, June 1, 1892, soliciting the aid of the committee in the patriotic work Am anonymous and undated letter to the Editor of Hongkong Telegraph, censuring the banishment of Rizal to Dapitan. A letter to Ildefonso Laurel to Rizal, dated Manila, informing an unidentified correspondent of the arrest and the banishment of Doroteo Cortes and Ambrosio Salvador. A letter to Marcelo H. del Pilar to Don Juan A. Tenluz (Juan Zulueta), dated Madrid, June 1, 1893 recommending the establishment of a special organization, independent of Masonry, to help the cause of the Filipino people. Transcript of a speech of Pingkian (Emilio Jacinto) in a reunion to a Katipunan on July 23, 1893, in which the following cry uttered Long Live the Philippines! Long Live Liberty!lOng live Dr. Rizal Unity! Transcript of speech of Tik-Tik (Jose Turiano Santiago) in the same Katipunan reunion where in the katipuneros shouted Long Live the eminent Dr. Jose Rizal! Death to the oppressor nation! A poem by Laong Laan (Jose Rizal) entitled Talisay, in which the author makes Dapitan schoolboys sing that they know how to fight of their rights. The testimonial evidence consisted of the oral testimonies of Martin Constantino, Aguedo del Rosario, Jose Reyes, Moises Salvador Jose Dizon, Domingo Franco, Deodato Arellano, Ambrosio Salvador, Pedro Serrano Laktaw, Dr. Pio Valenzuela, Antonio Salazar, Francisco Quison, and Temoteo Paez November 6, 1896- after the investigation, Col. Olive transmitted the records of the case to Gov. Gen. Ramon Blanco, and the letter appointed Capt. Rafael

Dominguez as special Judge advocate to institute the corresponding action against Rizal. Dominguez made a brief resume of the charges and returned the papers to the Governor General, who thereupon transmitted them to the Judge Advocate General Don Nicholas de la Pea for an opinion. Pea submitted the following reccomendations: The accused should be immediately brought to trial He should be kept in prison An order of attachment be issued against his property to the amount one million pesos as an indemnity, and He should be defended in court by an army officer, not by a civilian officer. Rizals defender: Rizal chooses a defense council which is the only right given to him by the Spanish authorities December 8, 1896 100 first and second lieutenants in the Spanish Army was presented to Rizal Lt. Taviel de Andrade chosen by Rizal to be his defense, he was the brother of Jose Taviel de Andrade his previous bodyguard. Charges to the accused He was accused of being the principal organizer and the living soul of the Filipino insurrection, the founder of societies, periodicals and books dedicated to fomenting and propagating ideas of rebellion He pleaded not guilty to the crime of rebellion Trial of Rizal Prosecution (Alcocer) asked for death sentence; if pardon, permanent disqualification and subjection to surveillance of authority, indemnity of 20, 000 pesos De Andrade in defense, delivered an impressive speech and claimed that the guilt of Rizal has not been legally established. Rizal supplemented his defenders points in detail ----Martyrdom at Bagumbayan Upon hearing the court's decision, Rizal already knew that there's no way that his destiny would be changed Rizal knew it was his end, and had accepted his fate. Captain Rafael Dominguez, at 6 o'clock in the morning of December 29, 1896, read before him the official notice of his execution, scheduled the next day. Rizal was immediately transferred to the prison chapel where he spent his last hours on earth. Inside the chapel, Rizal busied himself by writing correspondences to friends

and family, bidding everyone farewell; and conversing with his Jesuit priests friends. He had a lot of visitors, arriving one or two after the other: Fr. Miguel Saderra Mata the Rector of the Ateneo Municipal; arrived in the prison early in the morning. Fr. Luis Viza came with Fr. Mata; the priest to whom Rizal asked for the image of the Sacred Heart of Jesus which he made during his stay in Ateneo. Fr. Antonio Rosell another friend of Rizal who gladly eaten a fine breakfast with him; returned in the afternoon to resume his talk with Rizal. Lt. Taviel de Andrade Rizal extended his appreciation for Andrade's services as his defense counsel. Fr. Federico Faura had prophesied earlier rather comically that Rizal would lose his head for writing the Noli Me Tangere, and the latter congratulated the priest for being right. Fr. Jose Villaclara Rizal's former teacher in Ateneo; ate lunch with him. Fr. Vicente Balaguer accompanied Fr. Villaclara; ate luch with Rizal as well. Santiago Mataix contributor in the El Heraldo de Madrid Teodora Alonzo Rizal knelt before his beloved mother, begging for forgiveness and understanding; the mother and son were separated by the strong grip of the prison guard. Trinidad arrived when Teodora left the chapel; to her, Rizal handed down an alcohol cooking stove and whispered that something was inside it (turned out to be his last piece, the Mi Ultimo Adios, written in a small piece of paper). Gaspar Castao fiscal of the Royal Audiencia; had a good conversation with Rizal. Late at night, around 10 o'clock, a retraction letter prepared by Archbishop Bernardino Nozaleda was presented to Rizal, however, he rejected it for being too long. Fr. Balaguer, on the other hand, showed another draft from Fr. Pio Pi, which Rizal liked but wanted some parts of which be changed. By 11:30pm, Rizal wrote and signed the retraction letter in which he renounced the mason movement witnesses to this event were Juan del Fresno (Chief of the Guard Detail) and Eloy Moure (Assistant of the Plaza). Rizal then confessed to Fr. Villaclara, and after which, slept. Two hours later, he rose up and prayed and confessed again. Inside the chapel, he knelt before the altar and prayed with the rosary. He, for the third time, confessed to Fr. Villaclara and once finished, read Imitacon de Cristo by Tomas Kempis.

At 3:30 in the morning of December 30, 1896, Fr. Balaguer lead a mass Rizal, once again, made a confession and received Communion. At 5:00am, he ate his last breakfast and autographed some memorabilia including religious pictures and books which will be passed on to his mother, and her sister, Trinidad. Accompanied by his sister Narcisa, Josephine Bracken arrived and as requested by Rizal, the couple was canonically blessed as husband and wife by Fr. Balaguer. To Josephine, Rizal gave the Imitacon de Cristo as wedding gift. For the last time, he wrote a letter to his parents, Ferdinand Blumentritt and Paciano. By 6:30am, Rizal's march to Bagumbayan commenced. He in his black suit, black necktie, black hat, black shoes and white vest calmly walked from his prison cell in Fort Santiago to the execution site, with Lt. Taviel de Andrade on one side, and Fathers Estanislao March and Jose Villaclara, on the other side. They walked behind four advanced guards armed with bayonets. Jose Rizal was tied behind from elbow to elbow, although, still had the freedom to move his arms. In his right arm was a rosary which he kept on holding until his final breath. Meters before the execution place, a number of spectators awaited Rizal. During his long march, Rizal saw familiar faces and places; he spent his time reminiscing his childhood, the fun he had with his family and friends. In the Bagumbayan Field, Rizal shook the hands of the two priests and his defender, bidding them farewell. A priest blessed and offered him a crucifix which he gently kissed. Rizal had one request, that is, that he be shot facing the firing squad, however, in vain since the captain of the squad ordered a back shot. As such, Rizal had no choice but to turn his back. A physician by the name of Dr. Felipe Ruiz Castillo, was amazed that Rizal's vital signs were normal, particularly his pulse rate was Rizal really unafraid to die? The firing squad was commanded in unison with drumbeats. Upon the brisk command Fire!, the guns of the squad flared. Rizal, by his sheer effort and remaining energy, twisted his body around to face the firing squad, and so, fell on the ground with his face toward the blue sky, his head slightly inclined toward the rising sun in the east. What can be heard from the crowd of Spaniards was their loud, audible voice, shouting Long live Spain! Death to traitors! Jose Rizal died at exactly 7:03 in the morning of December 30.

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