by Albert Vincent F. Barretto
Museum Researcher II, Museo ni Jose Rizal Dapitan
On the Evening of Rizal’s Banishment
When Jose Rizal arrived in Dapitan on 17 July 1892, it not only marked the beginning of his exile but also the dawn of a fruitful chapter in his life.
Just days before his arrival in Dapitan on Wednesday, 6 July 1892, Jose Rizal found himself standing before the Spanish governor-general, Eulogio Despujol, at the Malacañang Palace in Manila. Rizal’s heart brimmed with delight and gratitude as the governor-general granted his plea to release his parents and siblings from legal charges, opening the path for their return to the Philippines from their asylum in Hong Kong. This act of mercy allowed the Rizal family, who had been expelled from Calamba, Laguna due to an agrarian dispute with the Dominican friars in 1890, to finally find refuge in their homeland once again.
The elation that Jose Rizal felt upon his family’s long-awaited return quickly turned into bitterness as the governor-general’s friendly conversation took a sudden investigative turn. Governor-general Despujol questioned Rizal about the presence of handbills in his luggage, to which he adamantly denied any knowledge. Rizal recounted this incident in his memoir, stating:
“After some conversation, he [Despujol] said that I had handbills in my luggage. I told him no. He asked me who could have been the owner of the pillows and mats. I said my sister. For this reason, he said he was sending me to the Fort Santiago.”
The handbills in question were printed leaflets bearing the title “Pobres Frailes” (Poor Friars), which the authorities deemed derogatory towards the religious orders. Following this discovery, Jose Rizal was escorted to the formidable stronghold of Fort Santiago by Ramon Despujol, the governor-general’s nephew and aide-de-camp. Upon his arrival, Rizal was received by Enrique Villamor, the individual responsible for overseeing the operations of the fort. Rizal was then confined to a room, which he further described as:
“…a fairly furnished room with a bed, a dozen chairs, one table, a wash basin, and a mirror. The room had three windows: one without grill which opens on a patio, another with grills which looks out on the city walls and the beach and another which was the door closed with a padlock. Two artillery men as sentinels guarded it.”
On the following day, July 7, 1892, the Gaceta de Manila, the official printer of government notices, published a decree issued by Governor-General Despujol. The decree cited legal actions against Jose Rizal, referring to his writings and alleged possessions that were deemed defamatory and subversive towards the Catholic Church and the Spanish government. The decree explicitly stated:
“…at the Customs there was found in one of the bundles belonging to the mentioned man a sheaf of printed leaflets with the title Pobres Frailes in which the patient and bountiful meekness of the Filipino people was satirized and the usual accusations were poured on the religious orders…
Whereas, also his last book El Filibusterismo (continuation of Noli me Tangere) is dedicated to the memory of the three traitors to the native land, condemned and executed after the Cavite happenings by virtue of competent authority and exalted to the rank of martyrs by him, besides making as his own in the epigraph on the title page of the book the doctrine that, in view of the defects and errors of the Spanish government, there was no other salvation for the Philippines but separation from the mother country…”
To conclude the decree, Governor-General Eulogio Despujol pronounced a sentence of banishment on Jose Rizal. He ordered:
“Mr. Jose will be banished to one of the islands in the South. His conduct on this occasion will be judged as it deserves by every patriotic and Catholic Filipino, by every righteous conscience, by every sensitive heart.”
Jose Rizal soon received the information regarding his place of banishment from the Spanish authorities. It was a secluded area in Mindanao referred to as Dapitan. On 14 July 1892, Rizal penned a farewell letter to his family, expressing his sentiments. He wrote:
“I am leaving this evening or tomorrow for Dapitan where I am going to be deported. I go contented, knowing that the General has accorded you liberty and because I believe that wherever I go I shall always be in the hands of God who in His hands the destinies of men.”
The situation for Jose Rizal was indeed miserable, as the very act of securing his family’s freedom had now placed him in dire need of his own. The anticipated reunion with his family, which seemed within reach, now appeared to be an unattainable dream.
Jose Rizal was accompanied by authorities as they made their way from Fort Santiago to the Malecon waterfront, where he boarded the steamer named Cebu. Departing Manila on 15 July 1892, at 1 o’clock in the morning, Rizal was assigned a decent cabin situated next to Captain Delgras, who led the expedition. During the voyage, Rizal received fair treatment from the ship’s crew, enjoying the same meals as the officers. He was even permitted to leave his cabin and take walks around the ship in the company of Captain Delgras. The steamer was also occupied by military personnel and their prisoners, heading to destinations beyond Rizal’s intended location. Along the journey, the ship passed by the northern coast of Mindoro and the west coast of Panay.
Arrival in Dapitan
After over two days of sailing, the steamer Cebu arrived at its destination, anchoring in a picturesque bay located at the northwesternmost point of Mindanao. Due to the shallow waters, the ship couldn’t dock directly at the shore. To reach the land, Jose Rizal, accompanied by Captain Delgras and three artillerymen, transferred to a small boat manned by approximately eight sailors.
Finally, on 17 July 1892, at 7:00 o’clock in the evening, Jose Rizal set foot in Dapitan, officially commencing his exile. Rizal recorded his arrival in his memoir, recalling:
“The sea was rough… The beach seemed to me very gloomy; it was dark, and our lantern lighted a path covered with grass.”
Upon their arrival, Jose Rizal and his companions proceeded on foot along the unpaved Calle Sta. Cruz until they reached the plaza, where the old Casa Real or government house stood. They were welcomed by Captain Ricardo Carnicero, the commandant of the Dapitan District, along with Antonio Macias, a former Spanish Deputy, and Mr. Cosme Borromeo, a paramedic. Captain Delgras formally handed over custody of Rizal to Captain Carnicero, who issued a receipt for the transfer. In the receipt, Carnicero wrote:
“I received through the Captain of the Line Regiment number 70, Don Alejandro Delgrás, the person of the deported civilian Don José Rizal, and two sealed official documents, all from Manila.
Dapitan 17 July 1892
The Politico-Military Commandant
Ricardo Carnicero”
The Spanish authorities and religious orders believed that exile would break Jose Rizal, forcing him to renounce his principles. However, they were unaware that Rizal was undergoing a profound transformation. Over the years of his exile in Dapitan, both the locals and the entire nation would witness Rizal’s astonishing ability to impart knowledge, introduce technological advancements, and promote the well-being of the community. He transformed a once somber and dreary town into an exemplary community that shone as an ideal for all Filipinos. Unbeknownst to the Spaniards, it was their very actions that inadvertently brought a beacon of light to Dapitan, and that light was none other than Jose Rizal.
The Enduring Legacy of Rizal’s Exile
In order to immortalize the place where Jose Rizal arrived, the National Historical Commission (now the National Historical Commission of the Philippines or NHCP) installed a historical marker, which was unveiled in 1979. Furthermore, in 1992, the Philippine Postal Corporation issued commemorative stamps to mark the centennial of Rizal’s arrival in Dapitan. The local government of Dapitan City also played a part in preserving the historical significance of the event. In 2009, they inaugurated a bronze monument depicting the scene of Rizal’s arrival, known locally as “Punto de Desembarco” or landing site. Additionally, the city government of Dapitan has recently organized an event called “Revisitamos Dapitan 1892,” which reenacts Rizal’s arrival in Dapitan, allowing locals and visitors to experience and appreciate the historical moment. These efforts collectively serve to honor and remember the impact of Jose Rizal’s arrival in Dapitan.
“Punto de Desembarco” monument inaugurated in 2009
Albert Vincent F. Barretto
Stamp commemorating the centennial of Rizal’s exile in Dapitan.
Albert Vincent F. Barretto
National Historical Marker dedicated to the arrival site of Rizal in Dapitan
Albert Vincent F. Barretto
Depiction of Rizal’s arrival in Dapitan from the book Stories of Rizal’s Exile in Dapitan by Diosdado Capino and Virginia Buenaflor
NHCP Diosdado Capino Collection
Facsimile of Captain Ricardo Carnicero’s receipt the arrival of Rizal in Dapitan. This is from the collection of Austin Craig
Rizal Library, Ateneo de Manila University
Gaceta De Manila containing the decree issued on 7 July 1892 by governor-general Eulogio Despujol ordering the banishment of Jose Rizal to “one of the islands in the South.”
Ministerio de Defensa de España
References:
__________, Letters Between Rizal and Family Members 1876 – 1896. Manila: National Historical Institute, 1993.
__________, Miscellaneous Correspondence of Dr. Jose Rizal. Manila: National Historical Institute, 1977.
One Hundred Letters of Jose Rizal to his Parents, Brother, Sisters Relatives. Manila: Philippine National Historical Society, 1959.
Noel G. Villaroman, Dapitanon. Quezon City: New Day Publisher, 2018.