This document provides details about Jose Rizal's four year exile in Dapitan from 1892 to 1896. It describes how Rizal was initially not allowed to live at the parish convent due to refusing to retract his writings and profess faith in the Catholic church. He then lived with the friendly commandant Captain Carnicero. In Dapitan, Rizal was productive through practicing medicine, teaching, farming, and engaging in community projects. He corresponded extensively with family and scholars. The document also discusses Rizal's debates on religion with Father Pastells, his skills in languages, painting, and how he had a happy last Christmas in Dapitan with his wife Josephine.

1. Jose P. Rizal’s Exile
In Dapitan
Arvin Dominic B. Dela Cruz
Soc 700
Professor Salvador
February 5, 2015
Synoptic Paper

2. Beginning of Exile in Dapitan
The streamer Cebu which brought Rizal to Dapitan carried a letter from Father
Pablo Pastells, Superior of the Jesuits parish priest of Dapitan. In this letter, Father
Superior Pastells informed Father Obach that Rizal could live at the parish convent on
the following conditions:
1. "ThatRizal publicly retract his errors concerningreligion, and make statements that
were clearly pro-Spanish and against revolution".
2. "That he perform the church rites and make a general confession of his past life"
3. That henceforth he conduct himself in an exemplary manner as a Spanish subject
and a man of religion."
Rizal did not agree with these conditions. Consequently, he lived in the house
of the commandant, Captain Carnicero. The relations between Carnicero (the
warden) and Rizal (the prisoner) were warm and friendly. Carnicero came to know
that Rizal was not a common felon, much less a filibustero. He gave good reports on
his prisoner to Governor Despujol. He gave him complete freedom to go anywhere,
reporting only once a week at his office, and permitted Rizal, who was a good
equestrian, to ride his chestnut horse. Rizal on his part, admired the kind, generous
Spanish captain. He then wrote a poem, A Don Ricardo Carnicero, on August 26,
1892 on the occasion of the captain's birthday.
Rizal in Dapitan
Rizal lived in exile in far-away Dapitan, a remote town in Mindanao which was
under the missionary jurisdiction of the Jesuits, from 1892 to 1896. This four-year
inter regnum in his life was tediously unexciting, but was abundantly fruitful with
varied achievements.

3. He practiced medicine, pursued scientific studies, continued his artistic and
literary works, widened his knowledge of languages, established a school for boys,
promoted community development projects, inventeda wooden machine for making
bricks, and engaged in farming and commerce. Despite his multifurious activities, he
kept an extensive correspondence with his family, relatives, fellow reformists, and
eminent scientists and scholars of Europe, including Blumentritt, Reinhold Rost,
A. B. Meyer, W. Joest of Berlin, S. Knuttle of Stuttgart, and N.M. Keihl of Prague.
(Zaide, 2008)
Wins in Manila Lottery
On September 21, 1892 the mail boat Butuan was approaching the town of
Dapitan carrying a Lottery ticket No. 9736 jointly owned by Captain Carnicero, Dr.
Rizal and Francisco Equilior (Spanish resident of Dipolog, a neighboring town of
Dapitan) won the secondprize of P20,000in the government-ownedManila Lottery.
Rizal's share of the winning lottery ticket was P6,200, He gave P2,000 to his
father and P200 to his friend Basa in Hong Kong and the rest he invested well by
purchasing agricultural lands along the coast of Talisay about one kilometer away
from Dapitan.
Rizal’s winning in the Manila Lottery reveals an aspect of his lighter side. He
never drank hard liquor and never smoked but he was a lottery addict. "This was his
only vice,” commentedWenceslao E.Retana, his first Spanish biographer and former
enemy.

4. PeacefulLife in Dapitan
During the early part of his exile in Dapitan, Rizal lived at the commandant’s
residence. With his prize from the Manila Lottery and his earnings as a farmer and a
merchant, he bought a piece of land near the shore of Talisay near Dapitan. On this
land, he built three houses- all made of bamboo, wood, and nipa.The first house which
was square in shape was his home. The second house was the living quarters of his
pupils. And the third house was the barn where he kept his chickens. The second
house had eight sides, while the third had six sides.
Rizal's First Christmas in Dapitan
After a short time, Jose Rizal began to enjoy the simple life of Dapitan.
Rizal became prosperous. Aside from his lottery prize, Rizal earned more
money by practicing medicine. Some rich patients paid him well for curing their eye
ailments. He began to buy agricultural lands in Talisay, a barrio near Dapitan. He
planned to build his house in this scenic barrio by the seashore.
As Christmas came nearer,Rizal became more cheerful.Hissavings increased,
for the cost of living in Dapitan was cheaper than in Calamba. His health improved.
Many Dapitan folks, who were formerly indifferent to him, became his friends.
No wonder, Rizal enjoyed his first Christmas in Dapitan. He was one of the
guests of Captain Carnicero at a Christmas Eve dinner in the comandancia (house of
the commandant). The other guestswere three Spaniards from the neighboringtown
of Dipolog and a Frenchman named Jean Lardet. It was a merry feast. The guests
enjoyed the delicious dishes prepared by the commandant’s native cook. With the
exception of Rizal, they drank beer, for he disliked hard liquor. At midnight, Captain
Carnicero, Rizal, and other guests went to church to hear the Mass of the Noche
Buena.

5. Rizal-Pastells Debate on Religion
Duringhis exile in Dapitan, Rizal had a long and scholarly debate with Father
Pastells on religion which revealed Rizal's anti-Catholic ideas acquired in Europe
and the embitterment at his persecution by bad friars. It is understandable why he
was bitter against the friars who committed certain abuses under the cloak of
religion. As he wrote to Blumentritt from Paris on January 20,1890: "I want to hit
the friars, but only friars who utilized religion not only as a shield, but also as a
weapon, castle, fortress, armor, etc.; I was forced to attack their false and
superstitious religion in order to fight the enemy who hid himself behind it."
According to Rizal, individual judgmentis a gift from God and everybodyshould
use it like a lantern to show the way and that self-esteem,if moderated by judgment,
saves man from unworthy acts. He also argued that the pursuit of truth may lie in
different paths, and thus "religions may vary, but they all lead to the light."
Father Pastells tried his best to win back Rizal to the fold of Catholicism. Divine
faith, he told Rizal, supersedes everything, including reason, self-esteem, and
individual judgment. No matter how wise a man is, he argued, his intelligence is
limited, hence he needs the guidance of God. He refuted Rizal’s attacks on Catholic
dogmas as misconceptions of rationalism and naturalism, errors of misguided souls.

6. This interesting debate between two brilliant pole- micists ended
inconclusively. Rizal could not be convincedby Pastells arguments so that he lived in
Dapitan beyondthe pale ofhis MotherChurch but inspire oftheir religious differences
Rizal and Pastells remained good friends. Father Pastells gave Rizal a copy of the
Imitacion de Cristo (Imitation of Christ), a famous Catholic book by Father Thomas
a Kempis. And Rizal in grateful reciprotion gave his Jesuit opponent in debate a bust
of St. Paul which he had made.
Although Rizal did not subscribe to Pastells' religious interpretation of Catholic
dogmas, he continued to be Catholic. He hears mass at the Catholic Church of Dapitan
and celebrate Christmas and other religious fiestas in the Catholic way. His
Catholicism, however was the Catholicism that inquires and enlightens, the
“Catholicism of Renan and Teilhard de Chardin".
Rizal as a Farmer in Dapitan
To prove to his people that farming is a good a profession as medicine, Rizal
became a farmer in Dapitan. In a letter to his sister, Lucia, on February 12, 1896, he
said: "We cannot all be doctors; it is necessarythat there would be some to cultivate
the soil."
During the first year of his exile (1893), Rizal bought an abandoned farm in
Talisay, abarrio nearDapitan. Thisfarm had anarea ofsixteenhectaresand was rather
rocky. It lay beside a river that resembled the Calamba River-clear fresh water, wide
and swift current.In his letter to his sister Trinidad on January 15, 1896, Rizal said: "My
land is half an hour’s walk from the sea. The whole place is poetic and very
picturesque, better than Ilaya River, without comparison. At some points, it is wide
like the Pasig River and clear like the Pansol, and has some crocodiles in some parts.
There are dalag (fish) and pako (edible fern). If you and our parents come,I am going
to build a large house where we can all live together."

7. On this land in Talisay, Rizal actually built a permanenthome. With the help of
his pupils and some laborers, he cleared it and planted cacao, coffee, coconuts, and
fruit trees. Later, he bought more lands in other barrios of Dapitan. In due time, his
total land holdings reached 70 hectares. They contained 6,000 abaca plants, 1,000
coconut palms, many coffee and cacao plants and numerous kinds of fruit trees.
On his lands, Rizal introduced modern methods of agriculture which he had
observed during his travels in Europe and America. He encouraged the Dapitan
farmers to replace their primitive system of cultivation with these modern methods.
These modern methods of farming consisted of the use of fertilizers, the rotation of
crops, and the use of farm machines. Rizal actually imported some farm machines
from the United States.
Rizal dreamed of establishing an agricultural colony in the sitio of Ponot near
Sindangan Bay. This region contained plenty of water and good port facilities. He
believed that it could accommodate about 5,000 heads of cattle and 40,000 coconut
palms. It was also ideal for the cultivation of coffee,cacao,and sugar cane because of
its fertile soil and favorable climate.
He invited his relatives and friends in Luzon, especially those in Calamba, to
colonize the Sindangan Bay area. Unfortunately, his plan of founding an agricultural
colony in Sindangan Bay did not materialize, like that of his former project to colonize
North Borneo. He did not get the support of the Spanish government.
Before Rizal was exiled in Dapitan, he already knew many languages. These
languages were: Tagalog, Ilokano, Spanish, Latin, Greek, English, French, German,
Arabic, Hebrew, Sanskrit, Catalan, Dutch, Italian, Chinese, Japanese, Portuguese,
Swedish, and Russian-19 in all.

8. His knowledge of many languages was one aspect of Rizal’s amazing genius.
Few men in history were gifted by God with such ability to learn any language easily.
And one of these rare men was Rizal.
To learn a new language,Rizal memorized five root words every night before
going to bed. At the end of the year, he learned 1,825 new words. He never forget
these foreign words because of his retentive memory.
Rizal made a good use of his knowledge of many languages in his travels in
Europe and America,in communicating with foreign scholars and scientists, and in his
writings. Many times during his travels abroad, he acted as interpreter for his fellow
travellers who belonged to various nationalities-Americans, British, French, German,
Italians, Spaniards, Japanese and others.
During his exile in Dapitan, Rizal increased his knowledge of languages. He
studied three more languages-Malay,Bisayan andSubanun.On April 5,1896, he wrote
to his Austrian friend, Professor Blumentritt: "I know Bisayan already, and I speak it
quite well. It is necessary, however, to know other dialects."
Bythe endof his exile in Dapitan on July 31, 1896, Rizal had become one of the
world’s great linguists. He knew 22 languages, namely, Tagalog, Ilokano, Spanish,
Portuguese,Latin, Greek, Sanskrit, English, French,German, Arabic, Hebrew, Catalan,
Dutch, Italian, Chinese, Japanese, Swedish, Russian, Malay, Bisayan, and Subanun.

10. Rizal Challenges A Frenchman to a Duel
Rizal was involved in a quarrel with a French acquaintance in Dapitan, Mr.
Juan Lardet, a businessman. This man purchased many logs from the lands of Rizal
and it so happened that some of the logs were of poor quality.
Lardet, in a letter written to Antonio Miranda, a Dapitan merchant and
friend of Rizal, expressed his disgust with the business deal and stated that "if
he (Rizal -Z.)Were atruthful man,he would have told me that the lumbernot included
in the account were bad.
Miranda indiscreetly forwarded Lardet’s letter to Rizal. When he read Lardet's
letter, he flared up in anger, regarding the Frenchman’s unsavory comment as an
affront to his integrity. Immediately, he confronted Lardet and challenged him to a
duel. When commandant Carcinero heard the incident, he told the Frenchman to
apologize rather than acceptthe challenge, " My Friend, you have not a Chinaman's
chance in a fight with Rizal on a field of honor. Rizal is an expert in martial arts
particularly in fencing and pistol shooting.
Heeding the commandant's advice, Lardet wrote to Rizal in French, dated
Dapitan, March30,1893 apologizing for the insulting comment.Rizal, as a gentleman
and a well-versed in pun donor (Hispanic Chivalric Code) accepted the apology,
and good relations between him and the Frenchman were restore. It is interesting
to know that one of the hero's weaknesses is his sensitivity.
Rizal as a Painter in Dapitan
In Dapitan, Rizal demonstrated his talent for painting. Before the Holy Week
of 1894,Father Vicente Balaguer,a youngJesuitparish priest, was worried. He needed
a good backdrop (canvas oil painting behind the main altar) for the annual Lenten
celebration In his native city of Barcelona, Spain, a church had one that showed a
colonnaded court, viewed from a wide open gate- a scene depicting the court of
Pontius Pilate.

11. the court of Pontius Pilate.
Upon hearing ofRizal’s painting ability, Father Balaguer went to Talisay to talk
with the exiled doctor. He was accompanied by a convent helper named Leoncio
Sagario.
The following day, Rizal went to the Jesuit priest, bringing his own sketch
based on the latter’s ideas. Father Balaguer was satisfied and urged Rizal to beginthe
painting job at once.
The actual painting of the backdrop was a difficult task. Rizal obtained the
help of two assistants-Sister Agustina Montoya, a Filipina nun from Cavite who could
paint, and Francisco Almirol, a native painter of Dapitan.
The trio-Rizal, Sister Montoya,and Almirol- made the sacristy of the church as
their workshop. Rizal sketched in soft pencil the general outline of the picture, after
which his two assistants applied the oil colors.
Daily, Rizal supervised the work of his assistants. He himself put the finishing
touches. He was glad to note that he still had the skill in painting.
Father Balaguer was very much satisfied with the finished oil painting of the
backdrop. “Beautiful, very beautiful," he said. He warmly thanked Rizal and his two
assistants for the work well done.
The gorgeous backdrop became a precious possession of the Dapitan church-
Santiago Church. It was truly a masterpiece.
Senate President Manuel L. Quezon saw Rizal’s painting masterpiece during
his visit to Dapitan. He was deeply impressed by its majestic beauty. At one time
GeneralLeonard Wood, governor-generalofthe Philippines, saw it andsaid that it was
truly "a Rizalian legacy".

12. After the establishment of the Commonwealth of the Philippines, the
beautiful backdrop was sent to the Museumofthe Ateneode Manila for safekeeping.
Unfortunately, it was destroyedduring the SecondWorld War when fires and
bombs razed the city of Manila.
Rizal's Last Christmas in Dapitan
The Christmas of 1895 was one of the happiest events in Rizal’s life. It was
because of the presence of Josephine, who proved to be a loving wife and a good
housekeeper.
She was now used to living a simple rural life in the Philippines. She was
industrious and learned to cook all sorts of native dishes.
In his letter to his sister, Trinidad, on September25, 1895, Rizal praised Josephine,
thus: "She cooks, washes, takes care of the chickensand the house. In the absence
of miki for making pancit, she made some long macaroni noodles out of flour and
eggs,which servesthe purpose. If you could send me a little angkak, I should be
grateful to you, for she makes bagoong. She makes also chili miso, but it seems to
me that what we have will last for 10 years."
On December 25, 1895, Rizal and Josephine gave a Christmas party at their
home in Talisay. By a strange twist of fate, it proved to be Rizal’s last Christmas in
Dapitan.
Rizal roasted a small pig to golden brown over a slow fire. He also made
chickenbroth out of a fat hen.He invited all his neighbors. Theyall danced and made
merry until dawn.
Writing to his sister, Trinidad, on January 15, 1896, Rizal described his last
Christmas party in Dapitan. "We celebrated merrily, as almost always. We roasted a
small pig and hen. We invited our neighbors. There was dancing, and we laughed a
great deal until dawn."

13. Adios Dapitan
On the morning of July 31, 1896, his last day in Dapitan, Rizal busily packed his
things. He was scheduled to leave the town on board the España, which was sailing
back to Manila. He had sold his lands and other things he owned to his friend, mostly
natives of Dapitan.
At 5:30 in the afternoon, he and eight other companions embarked on the
steamer. His eight companions were Josephine; Narcisa (his sister); Angelica
(daughter of Narcisa); his three nephews, Mauricio (son of Maria Rizal), Estanislao
(son of Lucia Rizal), and Teodosio (another son of Lucia Rizal); and Mr. And Mrs.
Sunico.
Almost all Dapitan folks,young andold, were at the shore to see the departure
of their beloved doctor. The pupils of Rizal cried, for they could not accompany their
dear teacher. Captain Carnicero, in full regalia of a commandant’s uniform, was on
hand to say goodbye to his prisoner, whom he had come to admire and respect. The
town brass band played the music of the farewell ceremony.
At midnight, Friday, July 31, 1896, the steamer departed for Manila. The
Dapitan folks shouted "Adios,Dr.Rizal!"and threw their hats and handkerchiefsinthe
air. Captain Carnicero saluted his departing friend. As the steamer left the town, the
brass band played the sad music of Chopin’s Farewell March.
Rizal was in the upper deck, with tears in his eyes. He raised his hand in
farewell to the kind and hospitable people of Dapitan, saying: " Adios, Dapitan!" He
gazed at the crowded shore for the last time. His heart was filled with sorrow.
Whenhe could no longer see the dim shoreline, he turned sadly into his cabin.
He wrote in his diary: "I have beenin that district four years, thirteen days, and a few
hours."

14. Bibliography
Ancheta,Celedonio A. JoseRizal's Life and HisComplete Works.Diliman,
Quezon City: National Bookstore, Inc.,1977
"Jose Rizal: Persecution and Exile in Dapitan." - Wikipilipinas: The Hip 'n Free
Philippine Encyclopedia.AccessedFebruary 3, 2015.
http://en.wikipilipinas.org/index.php/Jose_Rizal:_Persecution_and_Exile_in_Dapitan
#Farewell_to_Dapi
"Jose Rizal [Rizal in Dapitan]." Jose Rizal [Rizal in Dapitan]. Accessed
February 3, 2015. http://www.joserizal.ph/dp07.html.
"Rizal in Dapitan." Rizal in Dapitan. Accessed February 3, 2015.
http://dipologcity.com/AttractionsRizal'sExile.htm.
Zaide,Gregorio F., and Sonia M,Zaide."Chapter 22:Exile in Dapitan, 1892-
96." In JoséRizal: Life,Works,and Writingsofa GeniusWriter,scientist andNational
Hero, 219-242.2nd ed.Manila: All Nations Publishing Co, 1957.