Martyrdom atBagumbayan

RIZAL’S LIFE, WORKS AND WRITINGS

© 2010 01

• After being court-martialed, Rizal returned to his cell in Fort Santiago to prepare his rendezvous with destiny.

• During his last 24 hours on earth – from 6:00 A.M. of Dec. 29 to 6:00 A.M. of Dec. 30, 1896 – he was busy meeting visitors which includes his family and friends.

• He was also able to write his last poem – his final contribution for the emancipation of the Filipino people.

INTRODUCTION 02Martyrdom at Bagumbayan

Rizal’s Prison Cell 03Martyrdom at Bagumbayan

• 6:00 A.M. – Captain Rafael Rodriguez read Rizal’s death sentence – he will be shot at the back by firing squad at 7:00 A.M. in Bagumbayan.

• 7:00 A.M. – Rizal was moved to the prison chapel where he spent his last moments. His first visitors were Jesuit priests.

• 7:15 A.M. – Rizal reminded Fr. Luis Viza the statuette of the Sacred Heart of Jesus whom he carved as a student in Ateneo.

Last Hours of Rizal 04Martyrdom at Bagumbayan

December 29, 1896

• 8:00 A.M. – Rizal had a breakfast with Fr. Antonio Rosell. After breakfast, his attorney, Lt. Luis Taviel de Andrade came.

• 9:00 A.M. – Fr. Frederico Faura arrived. Rizal reminded the priest of his earlier ‘prophecy’ about Rizal.

• 10:00 A.M. – More Jesuit priests had visited him. After then, he was interviewed by Santiago Mataix for the newspaper El Heraldo de Madrid.

Last Hours of Rizal 05Martyrdom at Bagumbayan

December 29, 1896

• 12:00 – 3:30 P.M. – Rizal was left alone in his cell. He took his lunch and continued writing his farewell poem which he hid in an alcohol cooking stove. He also wrote his last letter to Professor Blumentritt.

• 3:30 P.M. – Father Vicente Balaguer returned to his cell and discussed with Rizal his retraction letter.

Last Hours of Rizal 06Martyrdom at Bagumbayan

December 29, 1896

• 4:00 P.M. – Teodora Alonzo visited him. They had a very emotional encounter. Rizal gave the alcohol cooking stove to Trinidad which contains his farewell poem. Several priests have visited him afterwards.

• 6:00 P.M. – Don Silvino Lopez, dean of the Manila Cathedral visited him.

• 8:00 P.M. – Rizal had his last supper. He told Captain Dominguez that he forgave his enemies including the military judges.

Last Hours of Rizal 07Martyrdom at Bagumbayan

December 29, 1896

Mi Ultimo Adios 08Martyrdom at Bagumbayan

• 9:30 P.M. – Rizal was visited by Don Gaspar Cestano, fiscal of the Royal Audience de Manila.

• 10:00 P.M. – The draft of the retraction letter sent by the anti-Filipino Archbishop Bernardino Nozaleda was given by Fr. Balaguer to Rizal for his signature. He had rejected it.

Last Hours of Rizal 09Martyrdom at Bagumbayan

December 29, 1896

• Upon Rizal’s death, his supposedly ‘retraction letter’ became of one of the most controversial documents in our history.

• This ‘retraction letter’ allegedly contains his renunciation of the Masonry and his ‘anti-Catholic religious ideas.’

• Depending on whose side you are on, some Rizalists claims that it is fake while some believe it to be genuine.

• There had been some evidences but so far these had only heated up the debate between the two factions.

Retraction Letter 10Martyrdom at Bagumbayan

• 3:00 A.M. – Rizal heard Mass, confessed his sins and took Holy Communion.

• 5:30 A.M. – He took his last breakfast. After which he wrote his last letters for his family and his brother, Paciano.

Last Hours of Rizal 11Martyrdom at Bagumbayan

December 30, 1896

Letter to Paciano 12Martyrdom at Bagumbayan

Now I am about to die, and it is to you I dedicate my last lines, to tell you how sad I am to leave you alone in life, burdened with the weight of the family and our old parents.

“

”

• 5:30 A.M. – Josephine Bracken arrived together with Rizal’s sister, Josefa, with tears in her eyes, bade him farewell. Rizal embraced her for the last time, and before she left, Rizal gave her a last gift – a religious book, Imitation of Christ by Father Thomas Kempis.

Last Hours of Rizal 13Martyrdom at Bagumbayan

December 30, 1896

• 6:00 A.M. – As the soldiers were getting ready for the death march to Bagumbayan, Rizal wrote his last letter to his beloved parents.

Last Hours of Rizal 14Martyrdom at Bagumbayan

December 30, 1896

Letter to his Father 15Martyrdom at Bagumbayan

My beloved Father, pardon me for the pain with which I repay you, for sorrows and sacrifices for my education. I did not want it nor did I prefer it. Goodbye Father, goodbye.

“

”

Letter to his Mother 16Martyrdom at Bagumbayan

To my very dear Mother, Sra. Dona Teodora Alonso 6 o’oclock in the morning, December 30, 1896.

“

”

• At about 6:30 A.M., a trumpet sounded at Fort Santiago, a signal to begin the death march to Bagumbayan.

• Rizal walked calmly with his defense counsel and two Jesuit priests at his sides.

• He was dressed elegantly in a black suit, black derby hat, black shoes, white shirt and black tie. His arms were tied behind from elbow to elbow.

• There a lot of spectators lining the street from Fort Santiago to Bagumbayan.

Death March to Bagumbayan 17Martyrdom at Bagumbayan

• As he was going through the narrow Postigo Gate, Rizal looked at the sky and said to one of the priests: “How beautiful it is today, Father. What morning could be more serene! How clear is Corregidor and the mountains of Cavite! On mornings like this, I used to take a walk with my sweetheart.”

• While he was passing in front of the Ateneo, he saw the college towers above the walls. He asked: “Is that the Ateneo, Father?” “Yes”, replied the priest.

Death March to Bagumbayan 18Martyrdom at Bagumbayan

19Martyrdom at BagumbayanDeath March to Bagumbayan

• Rizal bade farewell to Fathers March and Vilaclara and to his defender, Lt. Luis Taviel de Andrade. Although his arms were tied, he had firmly clasped their hands in parting.

• One of the priests blessed him and offered him a crucifix to kiss.

• He requested the commander of the firing squad that he be shot facing them. His request was denied for the captain had implicit orders to shoot him at his back.

Martyrdom of a Hero 20Martyrdom at Bagumbayan

• A Spanish military physician, Dr. Felipe Ruiz Castillo, asked his permission to feel his pulse. He was amazed to find it normal, showing that Jose Rizal was not afraid to die.

• The death ruffles of the drums filled the air. Above the drum beats, the sharp command “Fire” was heard, and the guns of the firing squad barked. Rizal, with supreme effort, turned his bullet-riddled body to the right, and fell on the ground dead – with face upward facing the morning sun. It was exactly 7:03 in the morning – aged 35 years, 5 months and 11 days.

Martyrdom of a Hero 21Martyrdom at Bagumbayan

22Martyrdom at BagumbayanMartyrdom of a Hero

23Martyrdom at Bagumbayan

I die just when I see the dawn break, through the gloom of night, to herald the day; And if color is lacking my blood thou shalt take, pour’d out at need for thy sake, to dye with its crimson the waking ray.

“

”Martyrdom of a Hero

• It is interesting to know that 14 years before his execution, Rizal predicted that he would die on December 30th. He was then a medical student in Madrid, Spain.

24Martyrdom at BagumbayanMartyrdom of a Hero

26Martyrdom at Bagumbayan

There can be no tyrants

where there are no slaves.

“

”Jose Rizal

Taken from ‘El Filibusterismo’