Chapter 23
Last trip in Abroad ( 1896 )
Introduction No longer an exile, Rizal had a pleasant trip from Dapitan to Manila, withdelightful stopovers in Dumaguete, Cebu, Iloilo, Capiz, and Romblon. He missedthe regular steamer Isla de Luzon, which sailed to Spain the day before he arrived inManila Bay. While waiting for the next ship for Spain, he was kept as a “guest” onboard the Spanish cruiser Castilla. Meanwhile, on August 26, 1896, Andres Bonifacio and the Katipunan raised the cry of revolution in the hills of Baliontawak , a fewmiles north of Manila. Rizal, worried about the raging hostilities, left for Spain on thesteamer Isla de Panay on September 3, 1896. It was his last trip abroad. Contents
From Dapitan to Manila
Rizal Misses Ship Going to Spain
Outbreak of the Philippine Revolution
Departure for Spain
Rizal in Singapore
Victim of Spanish Duplicity
Rizal Arrested Before Reaching Barcelona
Arrival in Barcelona as a Prisoner
Summary
On July 31, 1896, the Espanya. with Rizal and party on board, sailed northward. On August 1, it anchored at Dumaguete. In Dumaguete, Rizal visited a friend and former classmate, Herrero Regidor, who was the judge of the province. The following morning the Espanya reached Cebu, which he considered as “beautiful”. In the morning of August 3, Rizal left Cebu going to Iloilo. In Iloilo Rizal went shopping in the city, and visited Molo. Of the Molo church. From Iloilo, Rizal's ship sailed to Capiz. After a brief stopover, it proceeded towards Manila via Romblon. Rizal arrived in Manila Bay early in the morning of Thursday, August 6, 1896. unfortunately, Rizal was not be able to catch the mail ship Isla de Luzon for Spain. On the same day, August 6, Rizal was transferred to the spanish cruiser Castilla, by order of Governor General Ramon Blanco. Rizal stayed at the cruiser for about a month, from August 6 to September 2, 1896.
on August 19, 1896, the Katipunan plot to overthrow Spanish rule by means of revolution was discovered by Fray Mariano Gil. On August 26, the “cry of balintawak” was raised by Bonifacio and his valiant Katipuneros and on August 30, revolutionist led by Bonifacio and Jacinto attacked San Juan. Rizal learned about the eruption of the revolution and was worried for two reasons: 1. the violent revolution which he sincerely believed to b premature and would only cause much suffering, 2. it would arouse Spanish vengeance against all Filipino patriots. On August 30, Rizal received from Gov. Gen. Blanco two letters of introduction for the ministers of War and Colonies, with cover latter which absolved him from all blame for the raging revolution. September 2, the day before his departure, he wrote to his mother, at 6:00 pmhe was transferred to the steamer Isla de Panay which was sailing for Barcelona and on September 3, the steamer left Mania Bay. The Isla de Panay arrived in Singapore in the evening of September 7. Several Filipino residents of Singapore, headed by Don Manuel Camus, boarded the steamer, urging Rizal to stay in Singapore to save his life. He also ignored their appeal because he had given his word of honor to Governor General Blanco and he did not like to break it. By refusing to break his word of honor in Singapore, Rizal sealed his own doom. For without his knowledge, Governor General Ramon Blancowas secretly conspiring with the Ministers of War and Colonies. On September 8, the Isla de Panay, with Rizal on board left Singapore at 1:00 pm. On September 25, he saw the steamer Isla de Luzon, leaving the Suez Canal, crammed with Spanish troops. September 27, a telegram arrived from Manila reporting the execution of Francisco Roxas, Genato and Osorio. On September 28, the steamer left port said (Mediterranean terminus of the Suez Canal). On September 30, Rizal was officially notified by Captain Alemany that he should stay in his cabin until further orders from Manila. On October 3, Isla de Panay arrived in Barcelona, with Rizal a prisoner on board, his jailor was no longer the ship captain but the Military Commander of Barcelona, who happened to be General Eulogio Despujol. At 3:00 am of October 6, Rizal was awakened by the guards and escorted to the grim and infamous prison fortress named Monjuich. Rizal spent the whole morning in a cell. About 2:00 in the afternoon, he was taken out of prison by the guards and brought to the headquarters of General Despujol. The Brusque General told Rizal that he would be shipped back to Manila on board the transport ship Colon. On October 6, at 8:00 pm the ship left Barcelona, with Rizal on board. Conclusion Rizal last trip abroad was on September 3, 1896, the same time left Rizal for Spain on the steamer Isla de Panay. He traveled from Dapitan to Manila, to Spain, to Singapore and to Barcelona. His last trips was complicated, he got his greatest mistake in his life and that mistake is to trust a friend who was secretly conspiring him. But Rizal also enjoyed his life.
