EXILE, TRIAL & DEATH

Exile, trial, and death are the parts where Filipinos' information lacks. There are a lot of tales that we have heard from our parents, grandparents, teachers, neighbors, and friends. But what is the truth about Rizal's exile, trial, and death? Did he really do something wrong against the Spaniards?

Rizal was exiled to Dapitan on July 17, 1892. However, it does not look like he was exiled because of his experience back then. He lived freely under the house of a Civil Guard, Carnicero. He lived like an ordinary person wherein he also got the chance to build his own house, eye clinic, and a guest house for his mother and siblings. Aside from that, he also won the lotto with ticket number “9736.”

This also became the bridge between him and Josephine Bracken to know each other. Meanwhile, the katipuneros also offered help to escape from being an exile, but he rejected it. His exile ended when he chose to help the pandemic in Cuba which was approved by Governor-General Ramon Blanco.

On his way to Cuba, he was arrested and imprisoned for the meantime in Barcelona before going to Fort Santiago. His prosecuting attorney was Captain Rafael Dominquez while his lawyer was Lt. Luis Taviel de Andrade and later on was passed on to others. He was accused of three crimes; rebellion, sedition and founder of a movement that was against the government.

On the day of his death, he still got the chance to pray at 3 a.m., while his last breakfast was 3 hard-boiled eggs. At 6:30 in the morning, he already started to walk to Bagumbayan together with his lawyer and spokesperson. He requested not to shoot him at the back for he did not betray the country, however the Spaniards did not fulfill it and gave him "Tira de Gracia." He died on December 30, 1896, at Bagumbayan, which is now known as Rizal Park and his last words are “Consummatum Est!”