INTRODUCTION BY
JAMES ALEXANDER ROBERTSON, L.H.D. MANILA
1913
DEDICATION
To the Philippine Youth
The subject of Doctor Rizal's first prize-winning poem was The
Philippine Youth, and its theme was "Growth." Except in the case of some few men of great genius, those who are
accustomed to absolutism cannot comprehend democracy. This was Rizal's own idea, for
he said, through the old philosopher in "Noli me Tangere," that he
was not writing for his own generation but for a coming, instructed
generation that would understand his hidden meaning. As a study for the youth of the
Philippines, I believe this life of Rizal will be productive of good
results. One object of the author, I should say, has been
to show how both Philippine history and world history helped shape
Rizal's character. Thus the
book is not only a biography, it is a history as well. JAMES A. ROBERTSON. MANILA, P. I. CONTENTS
Dedication. Rizal's Chinese Ancestry
III. Rizal's Early Childhood
V. Jagor's Prophecy
VI. Despujol's Duplicity
IX. Portrait Group
Rizal at thirteen. Rizal at eighteen. Rizal in London. The portrait
on the postage stamp. Portrait Group
1. In Luna's home. 2. In 1890. 3. The portrait on the paper
money. 4. In 1891. 5. In 1892. Mother of Rizal
Portrait. Birthplace of José Rizal
From a photograph. Rizal's Uncle, José Alberto
From a photograph. Sir John Bowring, K.C.B. From an old print. The Very Rev. James Burgos, D.D. From a photograph. Gen. F. T. Ward
From a photograph. Monument to the "Ever-Victorious" Army, Shanghai
From a photograph. Bilibid Prison
From an old print. Books from Rizal's Library
From a photograph. Bust of Father Guerrico, S. J. From a photograph. Oil Painting of Rizal's Sister, Saturnina
Photograph from the painting. Sketches: 1. 2. 3. Aden, May 28, 1882
From Rizal's sketch book. Dr. Rudolf Virchow
From a photograph. José T. De Andrade, Rizal's Bodyguard
From an old print. Dr. Reinhold Rost
From a photograph. Staff of "La Solidaridad"
From a photograph. Statuette Modeled by Rizal
From a photograph. Luis De La Torre, Secretary to Despujol
From an old print. Statuette by Rizal, The Mother's Revenge
From a photograph. Father Sanchez, S. J. From a photograph. The Blind Mr. Taufer
From a photograph. Letter to His Nephew by Rizal
Facsimile. Ethnographical Material Collected by Rizal
From a print. Cell in which Rizal was Imprisoned
From a photograph. Cuartel De España
From a photograph. Luis T. De Andrade
From an old print. Interior of Cell
From a photograph. The Wife of José Rizal
From a photograph. Execution of Rizal
From a photograph. Grave of Rizal in Paco Cemetery, Manila
From a photograph. W. J. Bryan as a Rizal Day Orator
From a photograph. Though they are in the Orient, the Filipinos are not of it. In one form or another, this contention was the basis of Rizal's
campaign. And it was the
system to which Rizal was opposed. England, the United States and the Philippines are each composed
of widely diverse elements. They even kept the new world day, one day behind Europe,
for a third of a century longer. The name
"English" was early known. He pretended to be a physician, and
practiced as a doctor in Manila. As the early Spanish historian, Morga,
wrote of it: "Then only the English nation disturbed the Spanish
dominion in that Orient. Furthermore,
they understood that, even if they were freed from foreign rule, the
change would be merely to another tyranny unless the darkness of the
whole people were dispelled. It was at first evolutionary, but
later a section became dissatisfied and started another society. The
original brotherhood, however, kept on trying to educate its
members. Pagan or Christian, a Chinaman's life in Manila then was not an
enviable one, though the Christians were slightly more secure. They had
their own headmen, their own magistrates and their own prison, and no
outsiders were permitted among them. "),
for this Chinese had a Chinese godfather and was not married till
many years later. One of his church records
indicates his home more definitely, for it specifies Siongque, near
the great city, an agricultural community, and in China cultivation
of the soil is considered the most honorable employment. Lam-co's age was given in the record as thirty-five years,
and the names of his parents were given as Siang-co and Zun-nio. The priest, not understanding the significance of either in
that form, wrote down the two together as a single word. He was married to Jacinta Rafaela, a Chinese
mestiza of the Parian, as soon after his baptism as the banns could
be published. This was wisdom,
for seldom are men who are ashamed of their ancestry any credit to it. The family history has to be gleaned from partially preserved parochial
registers of births, marriages and deaths, incomplete court records,
the scanty papers of the estates, a few land transfers, and some stray
writings that accidentally have been preserved with the latter. There
was a coffin, a niche in which to put it, chanting of the service and
special prayers. Its details and merits
are no longer remembered, and they are not important. At first it was intended to execute all the Spanish Freemasons, but
the Queen's favorite violinist secretly sympathized with them. The priests in Biñan were Filipinos and were usually leaders among
the secular clergy, for the parish was desirable beyond most in the
archdiocese because of its nearness to Manila, its excellent climate,
its well-to-do parishioners and the great variety of its useful and
ornamental plants and trees. Sometimes, too, some of the missionaries from China
and other Dominican notables would be seen in Biñan. So the people
not only had more of the luxuries and the pomp of life than most
Filipinos, but they had a broader outlook upon it. While these charges were often complained of, it was the poorer
people (some of whom were in receipt of charity) who suffered. Mr. and Mrs. Francisco Mercado had two children, both boys, Juan and
Clemente. During their youth the people of the Philippines were greatly
interested in the struggles going on between England, the old enemy
of Spain, and the rebellious English-American colonies. In 1783 he was alcalde, or chief officer of the
town, and he lived till 1801. Juan Mercado was three times the chief officer of Biñan--in 1808, 1813
and 1823. During the little while that the
Philippines profited by the first constitution of Spain, Mercado was
one of the two alcaldes. During the next twenty-five years the history of the connection of the
Philippines with Spain is mainly a record of the breaking and renewing
of the King's oaths to the constitution, and of the Philippines
electing delegates who would find the Cortes dissolved by the time
they could get to Madrid, until in the final constitution that did
last Philippine representation was left out altogether. Then came
the French Revolution, which appalled the civilized world. The circumstances of the sale were hardly creditable to the
vendor, for it was under compulsion. Its story is part of Spanish history. Secretly there began
to be, among the stouter-hearted Filipinos, some who cherished a
corollary to the Monroe Doctrine, the Philippines for the Filipinos. Most gobernadorcillos
found ways to reimburse themselves, but not Mercado. His wife was equally benevolent,
as the records show. Mr. and Mrs. Mercado did not neglect their family, which was rather
numerous. There she later married, and shortly after was
widowed. Her thrifty
management of the home, too, was sadly missed. He had a brother who was
a priest, and a sister, Isabel, who was quite wealthy; he himself
was also well to do. Lorenzo Alberto was municipal captain of Biñan in 1824, as had been his
father, Captain Cipriano Alonzo (died 18O5), in 1797. The family story is that he became acquainted with Brigida de Quintos,
Mrs. Rizal's mother, while he was a student in Manila, and that she,
being unusually well educated for a girl of those days, helped him
with his mathematics. The nobleman
was charmed. Then the
signers risked certainly great annoyance, sometimes imprisonment,
and not infrequently death. The home of Quintos had been in San Pedro Macati at the time of Captain
Novales's uprising, the so-called "American revolt" in protest against
the Peninsulars sent out to supersede the Mexican officers who had
remained loyal to Spain when the colony of their birth separated
itself from the mother country. Felix
Florentino, an uncle, was the first clerk of the Nueva Segovia
(Vigan) court. The priest of Rosario,
Vicar of Batangas Province, Father Leyva, was a half-blood relation,
and another priestly relative was Mrs. Rizal's paternal uncle,
Father Alonzo. He was a typical Filipino, for few persons in this land of mixed
blood could boast a greater mixture than his. Practically all
the ethnic elements, perhaps even the Negrito in the far past,
combined in his blood. The house was destroyed before its usefulness had
ceased, by the vindictiveness of those who hated the man-child that
was born there. Rufino Collantes, Rev. José Rizal's earliest training recalls the education of William
and Alexander von Humboldt, those two nineteenth century Germans
whose achievements for the prosperity of their fatherland and the
advancement of humanity have caused them to be spoken of as the most
remarkable pair of brothers that ever lived. The youngest, José, a teacher, looked after the regular
lessons. Sometimes José would draw a bird flying without lifting pencil from the
paper till the picture was finished. Clay at first, then wax, was his favorite play material. This
was the beginning of his nature study. Did they,
too, he questioned, suffer injustice as the people of his home town
did? Here was the scene of the earliest Spanish missionary
activity. It was found in his library,
with Mrs. Rizal's name on the flyleaf. His parents were both religious, but in a different way. The Bible,
too, played a large part in the home. José was nine years old when he was sent to study in Biñan. This was
in the Christmas vacation of 1871. Lorenzo Alberto, the grandfather, himself
spoke English and had English associations. Here Rizal first heard of Morga, the historian, whose
book he in after years made accessible to his countrymen. Religious troubles, too, were rife. Naturally
there was discontent. Father Gomez, an old man, noted for
charity, was another, and the third was Father Zamora. The whole affair had an ugly look, and the way it was
hushed up did not add to the confidence of the people in the justice
of the proceedings. Until his fourth
year Rizal was an externe, as those residing outside of the school
dormitory were then called. The Ateneo was very popular and so great
was the eagerness to enter it that the waiting list was long and two
or three years' delay was not at all uncommon. His opportunity for revenge soon came, and
was not overlooked. Anxious to get his hands on
money, he instituted a charge of theft against her, under his power of
attorney and acting in the name of his principal. In this way,
which recalls the customs of primitive nations, Mrs. Rizal finally
was enabled to return to her home. Rizal's uncle, José Alberto, had played a considerable part in his
political education. France, with whom the Bourbons wished to be allied,
was a competitor along Spain's own lines. During the earlier disturbances in Spain a party of Carlists were
sent to the Philippine Islands; they were welcomed by the reactionary
Spaniards, for devotion to King Carlos had been their characteristic
ever since the days when Queen Isabel had taken the throne that in
their opinion belonged to the heir in the male line. |
By F. Jagor. | 1875." With regard to permanence,
the Spanish system cannot for a moment be compared with that of
America. They have, in truth, dreamed away
their best days." The Ateneo course of study was a good deal like that of our present
high school, though not so thorough nor so advanced. The
winner was Rizal with the following verses, "Al Juventud Filipino"
(To the Philippine Youth). The prize was a silver pen, feather-shaped
and with a gold ribbon running through it. Day, O happy day,
Fair Filipinas, for thy land! Rizal's poem was an allegory, "The Council of the Gods"--"El consejo de
los Dioses." It was an exceedingly artistic appreciation of the chief
figure in Spanish literature. It turned out
that the large body was a lieutenant of the Civil Guard, and, without
warning or word of any kind, he drew his sword and wounded Rizal in the
back. There Rizal saw a modern city for the first time. Then there were the magnificent
boulevards, the handsome dwellings, the interest which the citizens
took in adorning their city and the pride in the results, and above
all, the disgust at all things Spanish and the loyalty to Catalonia,
rather than to the "mother-fatherland." Later, another "History of the
Presidents," to Cleveland, was added to his library. The young men were constantly holding meetings to revive it, but
never arrived at any effective conclusions. Their admiration gave him great prestige, but
his popularity did not arise from comradeship, as he had but very
few intimates. It was Eugene Sue's "The Wandering
Jew," that work which transformed the France of the nineteenth
century. It seemed to him that such a
presentation of Philippine conditions would certainly arouse Spain,
but his modesty forbade his saying that he was going to write a book
like the French masterpiece. At this time few Filipinos in
Spain had joined the institution, and those were mostly men much more
mature than himself. German, too,
he had started to study, but had not advanced far with it. It seemed to Rizal almost like
being in Don Quixote's land, so many were the figures who might have
been the characters in the book. But though, O flowers, you come unto that land,
And still perchance your colors hold;
So far from this heroic strand,
Whose soil first bade your life unfold,
Still here your fragrance will expand;
Your soul that never quits the earth
Whose light smiled on you at your birth. This probably accounts for the advanced views held by Rizal,
who was thoroughly abreast of the new psychology. Then there was Doctor Rudolf Virchow, head of
the Anthropological Society and one of the greatest scientists in the
world. B. Meyer, the Director of the Royal Saxony
Ethnographical Institute. He was an authority upon Philippine matters,
for some years before he had visited the Islands to make a study of
the people. The
young men soon became fast friends, as they had artistic and other
tastes in common. Rizal himself prepared the report, which
is an excellent presentation of the grievances of the people of his
town. There he was hospitably entertained, and a like courtesy
was shown him in the Spanish minister's home in Tokio. This offer, however, was
declined. Doctor Regidor was formerly an official in the
Philippines, and later proved his innocence of any complicity in the
troubles of '72. The new member was a favorite
with all the family, which consisted of three daughters besides the
father and mother. One of his own purchases was "Modern Magic,"
the frontispiece of which is the sphinx that figures in the story of
"El Filibusterismo." His
family sometimes formed an orchestra, at other times a glee club, and
furnished all the necessary parts from its own members. While resting he would converse with the father,
or chat with the daughters of the home. Then Rizal's brow would clear as
he quoted his favorite proverb, "To understand all is to forgive all." Ang lakí sa layaw karaniwa 'y hubad, A petted child is generally naked
(i.e. poor). Hampasng magulang ay nakatabã, Parents' punishment makes one fat. Ibang hari ibang ugail, New king, new fashion. Ang nagsasabing tapus ay siyang kinakapus, He who finishes his words
finds himself wanting. Nangangakõ habang napapakõ, Man promises while in need. Labis sa salitã, kapus sa gawã, Too many words, too little work. Hipong tulog ay nadadalá ng ánod, The sleeping shrimp is carried away
by the current. Sa bibig nahuhuli ang isda, The fish is caught through the mouth. When the bridge is made of
one bamboo only, it is difficult to pass over; but when it is made
of two or more, it is very easy. Dalá akó niya, dalá ko siya, He carries me, I carry him.--The shoes. But that weakling statesman, more liberal in words than in
actions, did nothing. Besides, though he never lapsed into
such disregard for his feminine friends as the low Spanish standard
had made too common among the Filipino students in Madrid, Rizal was
ever on his guard against himself. Rizal now went to Paris, where he was glad to be again with his friend
Valentin Ventura, a wealthy Pampangan who had been trained for the
law. There Rizal's reprint of Morga's rare history was made, at
a greater cost but also in better form than his first novel. When Rizal returned to London to correct the proofsheets, the old
original book was in use and the copy could not be checked. On Sundays Rizal fenced at Juan Luna's house with his distinguished
artist-countryman, or, while the latter was engaged with Ventura,
watched their play. This
study received considerable attention from other ethnologists, and
was among the topics at an ethnological conference. At times his antagonist was Miss Nellie Baustead, who had great
skill with the foils. In a rage the agent insisted, and when that proved
unavailing, threats followed. But Francisco Mercado was not a man to be moved by threats, and
when the next rent day came round he was notified that his rent had
been doubled. This is the proceeding in which Retana suggests
that the governor-general and the landlords were legally within their
rights. If so, Spanish law was a disgrace to the nation. During the Kalamba discussion in Spain, Retana, until 1899 always
scurrilously anti-Filipino, made the mistake of his life, for he
charged Rizal's family with not paying their rent, which was not
true. After the Spanish custom,
his seconds immediately called upon the author of the libel. Now out of office,
the ex-minister was again bold in words, but Rizal for one was not
again to be deceived by them. Besides, the article is impolitic
in the extreme and prejudicial to the Philippines. During most of the year Rizal's residence was in Ghent, where he had
gathered around him a number of Filipinos. The offense was having buried a child, who
had died of cholera, without church ceremonies. A trap to get Rizal into the hands of the government by playing
upon his affection for his mother was planned at this time, but it
failed. As when Mrs. Rizal
had been a prisoner before, the humane guards disobeyed their orders
and the elderly lady was carried in a hammock. The family understood
the plans of their persecutors, and Rizal was told by his parents
not to come to Manila. One
of these, against the Jesuits, figures in the case against Rizal
and bears some minor corrections in his handwriting. He was a merchant, too, and agent for the
British North Borneo Company, which had recently secured a charter
as a semi-independent colony for the extensive cession which had
originally been made to the American Trading Company and later
transferred to them. As an oldtime missionary had left his books to the
library, the collection was rich in writings of the fathers of the
early Church, as well as in philology and travel. Rizal therefore made up his mind to visit his home once more. "I realize how much suffering I have caused you, still I do not
regret what I have done. Rather, if I had to begin over again, still
I should do just the same, for it has been only duty. "A man ought to die for duty and his principles. Return
to our country and may you be happy in it. I
am all my parents have, but our country has many, many more sons who
can take my place and even do my work better. Furthermore, there are
perchance those who hold me unneeded and my services are not utilized,
resulting that I am reduced to inactivity. My career, my life, my happiness, all have I sacrificed for
love of it. These, crumpled up,
were tucked into the case of the pillow which Mrs. Hervosa used on
board. His
visit was made at about the time of which we are writing, and the
object, he says, was to keep out anti friar publications. Ostensibly this was to see the country,
but it was not for a pleasure trip. In
spite of the precautions of the officials, Rizal soon learned of this,
and those whom they visited were warned of what to expect. Their host was a man of little
education but great hospitality, and the party were most pleasantly
entertained. During the conversation he spoke of Rizal, but did not
seem to know that his hero had come back to the Philippines. Like most facts, this version runs a middle course between the extreme
stories which have been current. On the other hand,
the circular was the merest pretext, and Despujol did not act in good
faith, as many claim that he did. Hay que creerlos
pues cuando, para cubrirse, dicen que son de los huérfanos y de las
viudas. Fr. Jacinto. It is apology, argument, and attack
all in one and was published in the Official Gazette, where it occupied
most of an entire issue. Therefore, no one who had justifiably been
prosecuted for any infamous crime was eligible to membership in the
new organization. The sacrifice for country and for family had been made,
but it was not to cost him life, and he was human enough to wish to
live. I
do not believe that way any more." Soon he built
a house and moved into it, gathering a number of boy assistants about
him, and before long he had a school. The school, including the house servants, numbered about twenty and
was taught without books by Rizal, who conducted his recitations
from a hammock. Sometimes the rewards were
cartidges, and those who had accumulated enough were permitted to
accompany him in his hunting expeditions. The sea, ah, the sea! The home of the Sisters had a private chapel, for which the teachers
were preparing an image of the Virgin. Both curtain and
image, twenty years after their making, are still in use. On Sundays, Father Sanchez and Rizal conducted a school for the people
after mass. He was a man of bravery, for he held a diploma for helping
to rescue five Spaniards from a shipwreck in Hongkong harbor. So with the two
girls and his wife, Mr. Taufer set out for Mindanao. The priest was asked to perform the ceremony, but said the Bishop
of Cebu must give his consent, and offered to write him. This document, inclosed with the priest's letter, was ready for the
mail when Rizal came hurrying in to reclaim it. The marriage was off,
for Mr. Taufer had taken his family and gone to Manila. Any marriage so bought
would be just as little a sacrament as an absolutely civil marriage,
and the latter was free from hypocrisy. Josefina must remain a mystery to us as she was to Rizal. Angry because one of her children ventured to
dispute her, she replied: "You are an undutiful son. Their marriage
took place, and when Rizal returned to the Philippines she learned
how she had been deceived. During all this time Rizal had repeated chances to escape, and persons
high in authority seem to have urged flight upon him. Either
of these schemes would have been feasible, but he refused both. Yet in spite
of this Rizal stayed in the town. Another proposal was to appoint Rizal district health officer for
Dapitan, but this was merely a covert government bribe. But though
the interview was successfully secured in this way, its results were
far from satisfactory. Education, he
declared, was first necessary, and in his opinion general enlightenment
was the only road to progress. But the truth
leaked out, and there was a falling away in Katipunan membership. I told him that it was absurd,
etc., etc., and he answered me that they could bear no more. I advised
him that they should have patience, etc., etc. This was Rizal's second temptation to engage in politics, the first
having been a trap laid by his enemies. Further prosecution, of course,
ceased at once. The minister of war of that time,
General Azcarraga, was Philippine born. Pilgrim, begone! Nor return more hereafter. Pilgrim, begone! Nor return more hereafter,
Dry are the tears that a while for thee ran;
Pilgrim, begone! And forget thy affliction,
Loud laughs the world at the sorrows of man. The journey was not an uneventful one; at Dumaguete Rizal was the
guest of a Spanish judge at dinner; in Cebu he operated successfully
upon the eyes of a foreign merchant; and in Iloilo the local newspaper
made much of his presence. A
Tondo curate, with an eye to promotion, professed to have discovered
a gigantic conspiracy. So his promotion was bought, it is said, to get one Polavieja,
a willing tool, in his place. Thus as a prisoner he completed his journey. Rizal demurred, and said such flight would be considered
confession of guilt, but he was not fully satisfied in his mind that
he was safe. No
one was willing to deny that this condition made the ship floating
Spanish territory, and the judge declined to issue the writ. Three days of this maltreatment made him so ill
that there was no possibility of his signing anything, and he was
carted home. From the very beginning, when I first had notice of what was being
planned, I opposed it, fought it, and demonstrated its absolute
impossibility. This is the fact, and witnesses to my words are now
living. I was convinced that the scheme was utterly absurd, and,
what was worse, would bring great suffering. I did even more. This equally
is of record. I
have recommended in my writings the study of the civic virtues,
without which there is no redemption. José Rizal. Fort Santiago, December 15, 1896. Finally a court-martial was convened for Rizal's trial, in the
Cuartel de España. To this Rizal demurred, but after a vain protest, affixed
his signature. He was at once transferred to the Fort chapel, there to pass the last
twenty-four hours of his life in preparing for death. Then he added
quickly, in English, so that the listening guard would not understand,
"There is something inside." In the main their narrative is to be accepted,
but the possibility of unconscious coloring should not be disregarded. They say that Rizal objected only to a disavowal
of Freemasonry, stating that in England, where he held his membership,
the Masonic institution was not hostile to the Church. He took breakfast with the Spanish officers,
who now regarded him very differently. Mention is
made of Rizal having in an access of devotion signed in a devotionary
all the acts of faith, and it is said that this book was given to one
of his sisters. As to the anti-Masonic arguments,
these appear to be from a work by Monsignor Dupanloup and therefore
were not new to Rizal; furthermore, the book was in his own library. The retraction itself appears in two versions, with slight
differences. Furthermore, his work for a tranquil future for his family would be
unfulfilled were he to die outside the Church. The journey from the Fort to the place of execution, then Bagumbayan
Field, now called the Luneta, was on foot. His arms were tied tightly
behind his back, and he was surrounded by a heavy guard. The route was along the Malecon Drive where as a college student he
had walked with his fiancée, Leonora. The
beats were steady and showed neither excitement nor fear, was the
report made later. A plain
box inclosed the remains thus dressed, for even the hat was picked
up and encoffined. The day of Rizal's execution, the day of his birth and the day of
his first leaving his native land was a Wednesday. Through Despujol they seem to have worked for an opportunity
for influencing him, yet his death was certainly not in their plans. With nothing divine about
them, since they had not forgotten, they did not forgive. Here was the
Spanish shortcoming, for these were the defects which made possible
so strange a story as this biography unfolds. Whether reforms were pledged is disputed, but if any were,
they never were put into effect. J." His example is worth
much to the people of these Islands, to the child who reads of him,
to the young and old." NOTES
[1] -- I take the liberty, here, of citing an instance of this.