When the friar prepared to strike Rizal, the latter caught his arm and twisted it, saying, "That is what you do not know, Meanwhile, the family was very happy. The over-all situation was felicitous and the prospects bright. They were all together; they enjoyed liberty; Jose earned good money, and Paciano found a little house for them from which they could enjoy a panoramic view of the bay.
The streets increased in altitude as they wound around the city in the form of terraces — hence, most of them were named "Terrace. The women of the family, mean while, had changed their religious concepts. Rizal expressed his pain over this change in a letter to Blumentritt, with the remark that, as a consequence of the conduct of the Dominicans, his mother, who earlier was a very devout Catholic, had lost a good part of her faith.
Her religious beliefs were now reduced to her faith in God and the Blessed Virgin Mary. Her daughters had followed suit. On the political scene, the lack of unity that exited among the Filipino propagandists was a disheartening sight. The fractionalism had reached ridiculous heights, resulting in great inefficiency. During the first two months of the propaganda campaign was in disarray. Del Pilar, in Madrid, abandoned by all except his brother-in-law Lopez-Jaena.
Meanwhile, from Paris came the news of the creation of a revolutionary organization called Katipunan. Rizal, on his own account, founded La Liga Filipina, which surpprisingly bore the same name as the one organized earlier by Lopez-Jaena. On the 23rd of December, Rizal, who had transmitted to La Propaganda his decision to practice his profession in Hongkong for some years in order to gain financial stability and thus be able to resume with greater energy the campaign for independence.
He wrote a disturbing letter to Despujol, the new Governor General of the Archipelago, offering his collaboration.
This is another of the vacillations of our hero. All these developments are very significant, indeed, and they call for a study of the organs of the struggle. Despite their scant ideological background, the propagandists trod on political grounds. In the year , the movement had lost a good part of its potential efficacy, hampered, as it was petty personal squabbles, which dominated the political arena. Katipunan Andres Bonifacio founded the Katipunan, the first revolutionary organization, on The 7th of July , in Manila.
It appears thus in the records of all biographers and historians. However, the latest number of the Epistolario contain data, not known previously, to the effect that around the end of January , the program of the Katipunan was already circulating in Paris. The name Katipunan is the Tagalog word for association. The complete name of this organization was "Sovereign and Very Venerable Association of the sons of the People. Its first president was Deodato Arellano, a clerk at the navy yard.
Andres Bonifacio, the man of action, was a humble warehouseman. The members of the Katipunan were all townsfolk. There were no wealthy persons among its affiliates, and if some of them had an academic title, it was an exceptional case. There is evidence here of a nationalistic position inspired by Rizal's annotations on the Morga.
The need for secrecy called for the adoption of Masonic procedures in the organization, for it was easier to adopt the methods of a secret society already established than to invent new ones. They did not, however, follow Masonic formulas to the letter; they simplified and adapted them to the limited educational background of the neophytes.
To make the ceremony of inductions more dramatic, the neophyte was made to sign his name with his own blood, drawn from an incision in the arm, an evocation of ancient marriage ceremonies in which the bridge and groom went through the so- called "blood compact".
Isabelo de los Reyes avers that this practice was later eliminated owing to its sanguinary nature; it was substituted with the simple ceremony of drinking from the same glass of wine, symbolizing the blood of both.
The aims of the Katipunan were to work for the welfare of the natives in three aspects: 1. Political — the expulsion of the friars and the granting of political rights. If these were not granted, the plan was to resort to secessionsm or separatism.
Civic and social — mutual aid, help for the sick and the disabled as well as financial aid in case of death. Moral — the teaching of democratic principles, good manners, hygienne as well as the elimination of religious fanaticism, obscurantism and effeminacy. As a complement to these three objectives, the members were given practical combat exercices.
It is to be stressed that at the moment the Katipunan did not ask for independence, and that their program did not have any socialistic principles, although Marx's Communist Manifesto had been published as early as It is not known who conceived the idea of founding the Katipunan. It is said that Marcelo H. The statutes of La Liga, drafted by Rizal, reveal the great differences. The ideas were excellent, but they reveal certain ingenuousness on the part of Rizal.
The Spanish authorities would not tolerate such an association. Furthermore, it was not viable — the loans to the farmers and the consumers' cooperatives could not have been possible with a monthly membership fee of 10 centavos and an entrance fee of two pesos. Aside from being Utopian, the La Liga was not relevant to the political phase to which the Filipinos had advanced — a time of nationalistic awakening, due in part to the impact of the Noli and further spurred by El Filibusterismo.
As a beginning of the long, hard fight for the liberation of the Filipinos, the Liga offered nothing more than a outline for the implementation of reforms. That is why Lopez-Jaena wrote Rizal from Barcelona that the Liga founded by him was, on the contrary, dominantly political. On the hand, Rizal's Liga appeared to be a likeness or copy of the Rizalist party.
While the Katipunan was popular, active and fighting organization, the Liga was one for unity, mutual assistance and peace, and would enlist businessmen, university students, proprietors and the middle class in general. The program of the Liga, aside from not being in keeping with the ideological climate obtaining in the archipelago, was also contrary to the personal ideology that Rizal then professed.
He was more radical than before, due to the events in Calamba, the persecution of his family and the repression of the Weyler administration.
The concrete manifestation of this change of ideology to a leftist in El Filibusterismo itself, and this is supported by the verbal testimony of General Alejandrino on the innermost thoughts of Rizal, as we have cited in the footnote of the previous chapter. Beautiful words of a man who overflowed with humanitarianism, who, with his love for his fellowmen, would, as time prove, never have any intention of insurrection! Returning to Honkong, we find the family of Rizal installed in a house of Rednaxela Terrace which Paciano, with help of his sisters, had beautified.
The neighborhood was middle class, peopled mostly by Portuguese families from Macao, the nearby Portuguese colony. Here, Rizal met a good neighbor, Dr. Lorenzo Pereyra Marquez, a Portuguese born in Macao, of British nationality, who had studied in Dublin, Ireland and had subsequently, settled in Hongkong. At that time, Pereyra was the official doctor of the Victoria Prison.
A relentless adventurer, with great curiosity and a striking personality, he was a republican of great humanitarian sentiments although lacking in a definite political ideology.
We shall return to Pereyra when we deal with that mission which Rizal subsequently confided to him. Borneo During the trip from Marseilles to Hongkong, Rizal had discussed the idea of colonization with the Englishman, Mr.
Pryer, with his wife, was on their way to North Borneo. Rizal was attracted to this territory, a place discovered by Magellan in and later colonized by Legazpi. Spain, Germany and England recognized this transfer in exchange for Spanish sovereignty over the island of Jolo. It is very fertile land, with good inlets and coves for shelter, and a warm and regular temperature. Rizal had been mulling over his conversation with Pryer, from which arose the idea of establishing a Philippine colony in English territory.
Rizal's idea was to organize a community of Filipino emigrants who would devote themselves to agriculture, whith him as leader. His concept was: "If I cannot give liberty to my country, at least I would like to give it to these noble compatriots in other lands. This was not a bad idea, for although it would not be a stepping stone to the Philippines, it could be considered a base of operations, given the proximity of North Borneo Sandakan to Mindanao Zamboanga , a distance of only kilometers between them.
Besides, it would be a place of refuge in the event that the need for retreat arose. All this could been part of a strategy in the course of a possible revolution, although it is evident that these thoughts never entered the mind of Rizal. Otherwise, he would not have requested authorization from Governor General Despujol for the establishment of the colony.
Some biographers are of the belief that Rizal in effect thought of creating a base, which could serve either as refuge or as launching pad of operation, but there is no known documentary proof to support the belief. Nor would the English government have tolerated a hostile base against Spain in an enclave within its territory.
When the S. Melbourne arrived at Singapore, Rizal bade goodbye to Mr. Pryer, who proceeded to Sandakan, the small port of British North Borneo, which was practically founded by pryer. As the good-byes were said, the matter of the possible establishment of the colony was left pending. It was not Rizal alone who was interested. Pryer, in his position as manager of British North Borneo, was also quite eager about the project, since the flourishing of a territory necessitated its settlement first.
By January of , Rizal had already prepared the agreement, which was to govern the settlement of the Filipino colony in its relations with North Borneo. This was composed of 14 specific points premised by a lengthy introduction. On the 13th of January, Ada, the wife of Pryer, whom Rizal describes as energetic, authoritarian and with a certain degree of masculinity, wrote him, expressing her enthusiasm over the project and for his plan to visit Borneo on the next trip of the Memnon.
On the strength of this invitation Rizal decided to go to Sandakan, but before he did that he wrote Despujol a letter, dated March He begins the letter by reminding Despujol that about the end of he wrote him, offering his services, but that he had not received a reply.
To somewhat cushion the effect of this blunt statement, Rizal adds that he does not doubt the urbanity and courteousness of the general, remarking that whatever answer there was, must have been lost. He further says that in his letter he had made plain the Filipinos' belief that he Despujol headed the progressive movement in the Philippines.
In order that he could govern the country in peace and tranquility, Rizal was considering the idea of establishing a colony in North Borneo. Further on, he says: "… If it is believed that my presence and that of my friends and relatives if prejudicial to the peace in the Philippines, so much so that they are constrained to take violent and often unjust measures such as deportation and exile.
We have no objection to exiling ourselves forever, accepting the offer to the English State. In this case I beg your Excellency to grant us the permissions to change our nationality, collect the few possessions left us, after so many adversities and to guarantee our emigration. In this way nobody will feel in their conscience the responsibility for unjust exiles, and the government can say to the people: The doors are open.
The letter must have hit Despujol like a dart. It was well written, composed in faultless exposition, but in between the respectful lines he had referred to the Governor's failure to reply to his letter, insinuated that the procedure of illegal deportation was unjust and that, whoever decreed them, carried the burden of responsibility on his conscience.
Never before had a native told a Governor General such truths, hard and bitter, notwithstanding the beauty of the language in which they were clothed. Nobody with a realistic sense of politics could have expected Despujol to answer favorably Rizal's request; apart from the reasons given above, it would gave made known to the entire world that a people had been forced into self-exile in order to find liberty.
To renounce Spanish nationality was an evident offense, and for Despujol to enter into agreement with a foreign power could bring on a chain of diplomatic incidents.
Finally, given the proximity of Borneo to the Philippines, it was possible that the colony would be converted into a base from which to launch the revolution. From the moment Despujol received the letter, the Borneo project was doomed, this from the point of view of the Governor General of the Philippines. Upon his arrival there, he started negotiations with Pryer. He made it a condition that all offers should be made in writing.
All these, of course, were subject to the laws of B. British North Borneo. The company offered to undertake the construction of buildings and planting of orchards, all payable in three years. In the absence of the governor, who was on leave at the time, Rizal entered negotiations with he acting Secretary of the Government, Mister Cook, who also had to specify in writing the conditions of the settlement.
These were, in general, along the same lines as drafted by Pryer. But Rizal noticed that Pryer and Cook was not quite compatible for which reasons, he arranged an interview with Cook alone. On the 6th of April, the governor received him, and on the following day he left for Hongkong on the Memnon. On the 29th of April, however, Rizal received word that the governor of north Borneo had not confirmed the offer of Cook, but that, in any case, the price would be P3 per acre.
Twenty days later, Pryer wrote him again, informing him that he had sent the terms of negotiations to London for study by the company. Rizal was disappointed. Upon his arrival in Hongkong, he was notified that the Spanish Consul wished to have an interview with him. Despujol had not wanted to answer Rizal's letters in writing for fear of compromising himself, or to give publicity to the aspirations of the would-be settlers as well as their intention to renounce their Spanish nationality.
The consul, through whom Despujol coursed, informed Rizal that the Governor General received his letter but that he considered the Borneo project anti-patriotic and that he strongly rejected it. He also insinuated to Rizal that it would be wise for him to return to the Philippines, but when Rizal asked him what guarantees he could offer him as a citizen, the consul's reply was a vague one. The Rizal family was happy in Hongkong, in spite of the past vicissitudes.
Her son had removed Teodora's cataract on the left eye in a successful operation. By the middle of May , she could read and write perfectly. Jose had earlier received the title of licenciate, but it had been lost. Baldomero Roxas sent him a duplicate of the title. The Noli had been sold out, and the novel was about to be translated into English and Tagalog. In spite of their apparent contentment, however, Rizal, in his innermost heart was not happy. Like the needle of a compass that constantly seeks the north, he was irresistibly drawn towards his beloved country.
At this time, Antonio Lopez, husband of Narcisa, wrote him not to go to Manila, as it might engender great misfortunes.
They already knew that Despujol had passed a circular to the governors ordering them to have certain suspects watched. Among of them were Doroteo Cortes, Alberto and Poblete. Subsequently, on the strength of such circular, the houses of the suspects were searched. Lete A year had passed since that schism in Madrid.
However, the wounds he suffered from the personal differences were slow to heal. In April , Lete wrote an article in La Solidaridad, entitled "The Illusive One", in which he described a certain type of revolutionary who had neither the material means nor resources to effectively carry out a revolution.
Rizal, still smarting from old grudges, felt alluded to and wasted no time in writing to Del Pilar about "the article that Lete has written against me…" He concludes by saying, "who knows whether this is a blessing in disguise? The article woke me up, and after a long silence I resume the campaign…" He decided to strengthen the Liga and activate political propaganda.
He also wrote Ponce, Zulueta and Del Pilar, regarding the same matter. Finally, Lete, the author of the article, wrote him, expressing regret that while Rizal had written to all others that he had made an exception of him. And Lete adds: "Is it that your way and procedures are those described in the article?
Are you among those who believe that with a paltry sum one can finance a movement? If, without any such intention on my part, you feel alluded to, it is not my fault. With your incessant suspiciousness you see shadows where there are none. Why should we attack you when you yourself said that you have the field to others?
Subsequently, in a letter to Del Pilar, Rizal declared that the dispute had been settled. In any event, Lete's posture was in general invariably in opposition to that of Rizal. In the letter he had previously written to Rizal, there is a statement which is quite inconsistent: "The curious thing is that none of the illusive ones perhaps only one , felt alluded to…" Rizal, Path of Sacrifices During the last part of his stay in Hongkong Rizal maintained contacts with the Filipinos residing there.
In his writings, however, there is no mention of the Asociacion de Filipinos founded by Graciano Lopez-Jaena in Hongkong on his return to Europe. Rizal also cultivated relations with some Portuguese the most prominent among whom were Dr. Carvalho and Dr. Lorenzo Pereyra Marquez. The latter helped Rizal by referring some of his own patients to him. Beginning June 19, , many important events took place. With only two more days before his departure, and conscious of his historic responsibility to his people, of his duties towards his family, and anticipating the inevitable brush with the Spanish authorities, Rizal wrote a number of letters.
These letters reveal his overwhelming feeling that he was returning home to give his life for his country. In Hongkong, he wrote on June 20, , the first letter addressed to "His beloved parents and friends". The importance of the letter, as well as the shortness of time, made him decide not to mail it. Instead, he gave the letter to Dr. Lorenzo Pereyra Marquez, closed and sealed, for safekeeping, with the instruction that upon his death he gives it to the addressees.
The letter, and the one following it, which bore the same date and addressed to his countrymen, constitutes what has been called Rizal's "Political Testament".
Because of their importance, the two letters are herein reproduced in their entirety. The success of an act is judged according to its consequences. Whether this step ends up favorably or unfavorably, it shall be said that I was dictated by my sense of duty, and if I perish in fulfilling it, it does not matter. I know that I have caused you much suffering; but I am not sorry for what I have done, and if I had to begin all over again I would do the same thing, because it is my duty.
Gladly, I go to expose myself to danger, not to expiate my faults for up to this point I do not believe I have committed any but to crown and to attest with my example what I have always taught: Man should be willing to die for his duty and for his convictions. To this moment I hold on to all the ideas I have expressed relative to the state and the future of my country, and I shall gladly die for her and, more than that, to obtain justice and peace for you. Gladly, I risk my life in order to save many innocent people, so many nephews and children of friends and strangers who suffer because of me.
What I am? A man alone, almost without family, quite frustrated in life. Since there are many persons, full of hopes and dreams, which will perhaps rejoice at my demise, I hope that my enemies will be satisfied and cease to persecute so many innocent ones. Their hatred for me is, to a certain point justified, but not with respect to my parents and relatives. If my fate is adverse then let it be known by all that I shall die happy in the thought that with my death I have gained for them the end of all sorrows.
Go back to our country, and may you be happy in her bosom. Up to the last minute of my life I shall think of you and shall wish you all happiness. This declaration serves as an example for his people as well as for all humanity, for despite the passing of the years, if we today examine the multifarious aspects of Rizal's ideas we see that they have transcended time. The Spaniard Miguel Servet, the Filipino Father Gomez, who preferred death, rather than renounce his ideals, and the Italian Galileo, also offered their lives to the service of their convictions.
It appears that man needs to be reminded from time to time, through the examples of extraordinary men, so that this virtue of fidelity to duty and conviction may stay ever vigorous through the ages. In the case of Rizal, he was overly confident that upon his death the persecution of his family and friends would automatically cease. In truth, the moral and spiritual suffering that his death was to inflict on them was greater than those they would have felt had he lived on.
The only explanation for this part of Rizal's letter is his ever ingenious and trusting nature. The second letter overflows with patriotism and love for his compatriots. He repeats the idea that with his death he would spare many innocent persons of unjust persecution. The reader will perceive the allusion to the division among his collaborators, which reveals that Lete's letter reopened the old wound. The final words of the letter constitute the poetic quintessence of his patriotism.
I know that almost everybody is against it; but I also know that very few are conscious of what lies in my heart. I cannot live on knowing that because of me many are suffering persecution; I cannot live on seeing my brothers and their numerous families persecuted like criminals.
I prefer to face death and gladly give my life if only to free so many innocent people from such unjust persecution. I know at this point that the future of my country hinges partly on my actuations; I know that with my death many will triumph and that therefore many are wishing for my perdition. But what can one do? I have my duties of conscience, first of all with the families that suffer with my aged parents, whose sighs reach my innermost heart; I know that I alone can make them happy, even with my death, in order that they may return to their native land and to the peace of their homes.
I have no one but my parents, but my country has many more sons who can take my place and who are now taking my place to advantage. Furthermore, I want to show those who deny us patriotism that we know how to die for our duties and for our convictions. What matters death if one dies for what one holds dearest; for one's country and for the people one loves?
If I were sure that I am the only support of the political situation in the Philippines, if I were sure that the Filipinos would utilize my services, I would hesitate in taking this step.
There are some who consider me unnecessary, and who think that my services are not needed; hence, they have rendered me inactive… I have always loved my unfortune motherland… Whatever be my fate, I shall die blessing her and wishing for the dawn of her redemption.
Let these letters be published after my death. The text of that letter is as follows: "Your Excellency: This is to inform you that on this mail boat I am returning to my country; first, to be at your disposal and, secondly, to attend to some private matters of mine.
Both friends and strangers have tried to dissuade me from taking this step, pointing out the dangers to which I am exposing myself. But I have confidence in your Excellency's justice.
Which protects all the Spanish subjects in the Philippines. I have confidence in the justness of my cause and my conscience is at peace; God and the law shall guard me from petfalls. For some time now my aged parents, relatives, friends as well as persons unknown to me, have been cruelly persecuted because of me, they say.
For many years copies of the Fili were smuggled into the Philippines after it was condemned as subversive by the Spanish authorities. Through them the colonial milieu is expanded—its officialdom, education, legal system, power plays, social patterns—and seen anew as context for conflict and insight. Translator Soledad Lacson-Locsin is the first to have worked from facsimile editions of the original manuscripts.
The result is the most authoritative and faithful English translation to date, one which attempts to preserve in English the cadence and color of the original. In spite of the fact that, contrary to his usual custom, he had made the announcement only that afternoon, it was already the sole topic of conversation in Binondo and adjacent districts, and even in the Walled City, for at that time Capitan Tiago was considered one of the most hospitable of men, and it was well known that his house, like his country, shut its doors against nothing except commerce and all new or bold ideas.
Like an electric shock the announcement ran through the world of parasites, bores, and hangers-on, whom God in His infinite bounty creates and so kindly multiplies in Manila. Some looked at once for shoe-polish, others for buttons and cravats, but all were especially concerned about how to greet the master of the house in the most familiar tone, in order to create an atmosphere of ancient friendship or, if occasion should arise, to excuse a late arrival. This book may have occasional imperfections such as missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc.
We believe this work is culturally important, and despite the imperfections, have elected to bring it back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide. We appreciate your understanding of the imperfections in the preservation process, and hope you enjoy this valuable book. Popular Books. Jeroen Hellingman.
Jeroen, thanks for the comments. Yes, Gutenberg Project has a good collection of ebooks which I also featured in my latest post.
Hi there! Thanks for the links I was able to find my assignment in Filipino subject. It was such a relief for a working student like who doesn't have much time to visit the library Now what I have to do is to write down the summary on a bond paper Nyways, so long and thanks really Thanks Noel for the visit and Im happy that my journal helped you in your assignment. Good luck! The site will give you the instruction on how you download the files, depending on your reading applications software.
Hello Reymos, Here are the links to some of my books. Thank You, Norbert. The epic offers a critical and satirical critique on Spanish colonialism in the Philippines. Its publication was banned by colonial authorities as it helped to ferment nationalist sentiment during an insurgency against Spain which would culminate in the Philippine Revolution. He has been dismissed from his place as Ateneo Professor of Philosophy for sedition and arrested by the authorities.
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