Rizal in Dapitan

July 14, 1892

·         10:00 in the evening was Jose Rizal’s schedule to leave Fort Santiago.

·         1:00 in the morning Jose Rizal boarded the ferryboat “Cebu” bound to Dapitan.

o   The captain of the ship gave him prime cabin marked as “jefes” which means commanding officer.

July 17, 1892

·         The ferry boat “Cebu” arrived in Dapitan.

·         He met Ricardo Carnicero who offered him to live either in his house or at Jesuit Mission House.

Rizal carried a letter from the Superior of the Jesuit Society of the Philippines, Father Pablo Pastells.

The said letter is to be given to the Jesuit Parish Priest in Dapitan, Father Antonio Obach.

Father Pablo Pastells

Father Antonio Obach

In the letter, the superior said that Rizal could stay and live in the parish, BUT there are conditions provided:

1.       That Rizal publicly retract his errors concerning religion, 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.

Therefore, Rizal decided to stay at the place of Captain Ricardo Carnicero.

Captain Carnicero who is the warden that assigned to look after Rizal became good friends.

·         Jose Rizal decided to stay to stay at the house of Ricardo Carnicero where he was told to oversee his activities daily. He ordered his people to closely observe Rizal.

·         Rizal was given freedom to go anywhere and even permitted to cultivate the land near the plaza.

·         At least once a week, Rizal is reporting to the Captain.

·         the captain was delighted with Rizal's fine personality and quality as a person.

·         Rizal also admired the kind and generous Spanish Captain.

House of Captain Ricardo Carnicero

 

July 25, 1892

-          Rizal wrote to his mother in Hong Kong about his Exile in Dapitan.

"In these days of lack of communication, travel, and deportion, I'm greatly worried thinking of you, and for this reason I hasten to write to you to tell you that I am well here as if I were on a vacation in this politico- military district. I don't miss anything except my family and freedom."

 

August 26,1892

-          Rizal composed a poem for his commandant's birthday.

 

August 30,1892

-          Ricardo Carnicero informed Governor General Eulogio Despujol that Jose Rizal wanted reforms in the Philippines but does not want friars to be evicted.

 

September 21, 1892

-          Capt. Carcinero submitted another report to Gov. General Despujol informing him about reforms, these were freedom of religion and of the press.

 

September 21,1892

·         Rizal won in Manila Lottery.

·         Informant of the said event used the mail boat "Butuan" to reach Dapitan.

·         Lottery Ticket number 9736 won second prize amounting Twenty Thousand Pesos.

·         The lottery Ticket which was not owned by Rizal because it was jointly owned by him, Captain Carnicero and Franciso Equilor a resident of Dipolog.

·         Php 20,000 was divided to the 3 of them, so Php 6,200 was the amount given to each of them in which Rizal used to:

o   Gave the amount of Php 2,000 to his father who was still in Hong Kong.

o   Gave the amount of Php 200 to his friend Basa, who was based in Hong Kong.

o   The rest he invested thru purchasing a piece of land in Talisay to build his tree houses, one square type made of bamboo, another hexagonal type made of wood and the last was octagonal shape made of nipa.

 

January 1893, Jose Rizal Told Ricardo Carnicero to stay in his own house. Rizal's house was completed March where was able to cultivate lanzones, mango, macopa, langka, santol, mangosteen and cocoa trees.

Casa Redonda Piqueña is a replica of the hexagonal poultry of Rizal. Restored to its original hexagonal form with similar materials as the other huts, the poulty house is big enough to accommodate a few dozen chickens.

 

Rizal as a Teacher

Casa Cuadrada is a replica of the pupils’ classroom.

·         Rizal established in Dapitan a school. It began with 3 pupils who increased to 16 and eventually 21.

·         He didn't ask the students for payment but instead ask them to help in his projects, farms and garden.

·         He taught them Spanish, English, Mathematics and how to work.

·         His class started after lunch until 4:00 in the afternoon

In his letter to Blumentritt, he once said:

"One can judge their enthusiasm for study when, even though they have to work for me; they worked in order to study."

 

Rizal as a Physician

Casa Redonda is a replica of the octagonal clinic of Rizal. Reconstructed with similar materials as the main house, it now stands as a reminder of the numerous medications performed by Rizal during his exile in Dapitan. It was also here where he removed his mother's cataracts.

·         He practiced medicine in Dapitan and gave the people free medicines.

·         August 1893 - her mother, her sister Trinidad and his nephew Angelica arrived in Dapitan. They Lived with him for almost one and a half year.

·         He operated successfully the eyes of his mother.

·         He had many patients not only in Dapitan but from the neighbouring towns as well.

 

Casitas de Salud are replicas of the hospital houses of Rizal and composed of two little huts with a floor area of 70 square feet. Each hut, one for male and the other for female, could accommodate two patients.

·         There was a time when a wealthy englishman went to his clinic and removed his cataract where he was paid Php 500. The money he received was used to put up lamps in their streets.

·         When his mother left with Trinidad, his two sisters Maria and Narcisa together with his nephews arrived in Dapitan.

·         Unfortunately, his father could not travel to Dapitan because of his detoriating condition.

·         Rizal told Blumentritt in a letter that his father

"Was growing weaker and weaker by the day"

·         To his sister Josefa he said:

"Tell our father that I should like to see him; I hope we shall see one another very soon. Kiss him the hand for me."

 

Rizal as a Scientist

-          Rizal found Mindanao as a rich virgin field for collecting Specimens. Together with his students they explored on jungles and coasts to seek for some specimens which will be sent to Europe and in return the European Scientist will send them Scientific equipment.

-          During his 4-year stay in Dapitan, he was able to build up a rich collection of oncology which consists of 346 shells representing 203 species.

He was able to discover rare species named after him. These were the:

1.       flying dragon (DracoRizali)

2.       Small beetle (Apogonia Rizali)

3.       toad (Rachophorous Rizali)

 

Rizal as a Businessman

-          Rizal engaged in the business industry in partnership with Ramon Carreon.

-          The two made profitable business in fishing, copra, and hemp industries.

-          Hemp Industry was Rizal's most profitable business, he mentioned it on his letter to Blumentritt.