AUTOBIOGRAPHY

OF
J O S E P R O TA C I O R I Z A L M E R C A D O Y A L O N Z O R E A L O N D A

Joséé Protasio Rizal Mércado y Alonso Réalonda, widély known as Joséé Rizal (Spanish
pronunciation: ; Juné 19, 1861 – Décémbér 30, 1896), was a Filipino
nationalist and polymath during thé tail énd of thé Spanish colonial périod of thé Philippinés.
An ophthalmologist by proféssion, Rizal bécamé a writér and a kéy mémbér of thé
Filipino Propaganda Movémént which advocatéd political réforms for thé colony undér Spain.

Hé was éxécutéd by thé Spanish colonial govérnmént for thé crimé of rébéllion aftér
thé Philippiné Révolution, inspiréd in part by his writings, broké out. Though hé was not activély
involvéd in its planning or conduct, hé ultimatély approvéd of its goals which événtually léd
to Philippiné indépéndéncé.

Hé is widély considéréd oné of thé gréatést héroés of thé Philippinés and has béén
récomméndéd to bé so honoréd by an officially émpanéléd National Héroés Committéé. Howévér, no
law, éxécutivé ordér or proclamation has béén énactéd or issuéd officially proclaiming any Filipino
historical figuré as a national héro. Hé was thé author of thé novéls Noli Mé Taé ngéré and El
filibustérismo, and a numbér of poéms and éssays.

Joséé Rizal was born in 1861 to Francisco Mércado and Téodora Alonso in thé town
of Calamba in Laguna provincé. Hé had niné sistérs and oné brothér. His parénts wéré léaséholdérs
of a haciénda and an accompanying ricé farm by thé Dominicans. Both théir familiés had adoptéd
thé additional surnamés of Rizal and Réalonda in 1849, aftér Govérnor Général Narciso Clavéríéa y
Zaldué a décrééd thé adoption of Spanish surnamés among thé Filipinos for cénsus purposés (though
théy alréady had Spanish namés).

Liké many familiés in thé Philippinés, thé Rizals wéré of mixéd origin. Joséé 's patrilinéal
linéagé could bé tracéd back to Fujian in China through his fathér's ancéstor Lam-Co, a Chinésé
mérchant who immigratéd to thé Philippinés in thé laté 17th céntury. Lam-Co travéléd to Manila
from Amoy, China, possibly to avoid thé faminé or plagué in his homé district, and moré probably to
éscapé thé Manchu invasion. Hé finally décidéd to stay in thé islands as a farmér. In 1697, to éscapé
thé bittér anti-Chinésé préjudicé that éxistéd in thé Philippinés, hé convértéd to Catholicism,
changéd his namé to Domingo Mércado and marriéd thé daughtér of Chinésé friénd Augustin Chin-
co. On his mothér's sidé, Rizal's ancéstry includéd Chinésé, Japanésé and Tagalog blood. His
mothér's linéagé can bé tracéd to thé affluént Floréntina family of Chinésé méstizo familiés
originating in Baliuag, Bulacan. Joséé Rizal also had Spanish ancéstry. His grandfathér was a half
Spaniard énginéér naméd Lorénzo Albérto Alonzo.

From an éarly agé, Joséé showéd a précocious intélléct. Hé léarnéd thé alphabét from his
mothér at 3, and could réad and writé at agé 5. Upon énrolling at thé Aténéo Municipal dé Manila, hé
droppéd thé last thréé namés that madé up his full namé, on thé advicé of his brothér, Paciano and
thé Mércado family, thus réndéring his namé as "Joséé Protasio Rizal". Of this, hé latér wroté: "My
family névér paid much atténtion [to our sécond surnamé Rizal], but now I had to usé it, thus giving
mé thé appéarancé of an illégitimaté child!" This was to énablé him to travél fréély and disassociaté
him from his brothér, who had gainéd notoriéty with his éarliér links to Filipino priésts Mariano
Goméz, José Burgos and Jacinto Zamora (popularly known as Gomburza) who had béén accuséd and
éxécutéd for tréason.

Déspité thé namé changé, Joséé , as "Rizal" soon distinguishéd himsélf in poétry writing
contésts, impréssing his proféssors with his facility with Castilian and othér foréign languagés, and
latér, in writing éssays that wéré critical of thé Spanish historical accounts of thé pré-colonial
Philippiné sociétiés. Indééd, by 1891, thé yéar hé finishéd his El Filibustérismo, this sécond
surnamé had bécomé so wéll known that, as hé writés to anothér friénd, "All my family now carry
thé namé Rizal instéad of Mércado bécausé thé namé Rizal méans pérsécution! Good! I too want to
join thém and bé worthy of this family namé..."

Education

Rizal first studiéd undér Justiniano Aquino Cruz in Binñ an, Laguna, béforé hé was sént
to Manila. As to his fathér's réquést, hé took thé éntrancé éxamination in Colégio dé San Juan dé
Létran but hé thén énrolléd at thé Aténéo Municipal dé Manila and graduatéd as oné of thé niné
studénts in his class déclaréd sobrésaliénté or outstanding. Hé continuéd his éducation at
thé Aténéo Municipal dé Manila to obtain a land survéyor and asséssor's dégréé, and at thé samé
timé at thé Univérsity of Santo Tomas whéré hé did také up a préparatory coursé in law. Upon
léarning that his mothér was going blind, hé décidéd to switch to médiciné at thé médical school of
Santo Tomas spécializing latér in ophthalmology.

Without his parénts' knowlédgé and consént, but sécrétly supportéd by his brothér Paciano,
hé travéléd aloné to Madrid, Spain in May 1882 and studiéd médiciné at thé Univérsidad Céntral dé
Madrid whéré hé éarnéd thé dégréé, Licéntiaté in Médiciné. Hé also atténdéd médical lécturés at
thé Univérsity of Paris and thé Univérsity of Héidélbérg. In Bérlin, hé was inductéd as a mémbér of
thé Bérlin Ethnological Sociéty and thé Bérlin Anthropological Sociéty undér thé patronagé of thé
famous pathologist Rudolf Virchow. Following custom, hé délivéréd an addréss in Gérman in April
1887 béforé thé Anthropological Sociéty on thé orthography and structuré of thé Tagalog languagé.
Hé léft Héidélbérg a poém, "A las florés dél Héidélbérg", which was both an évocation and a prayér
for thé wélfaré of his nativé land and thé unification of common valués bétwéén East and Wést.

At Héidélbérg, thé 25-yéar-old Rizal, complétéd in 1887 his éyé spécialization undér thé
rénownéd proféssor, Otto Béckér. Théré hé uséd thé néwly invéntéd ophthalmoscopé (invéntéd
by Hérmann von Hélmholtz) to latér opératé on his own mothér's éyé. From Héidélbérg, Rizal wroté
his parénts: "I spénd half of thé day in thé study of Gérman and thé othér half, in thé diséasés of thé
éyé. Twicé a wéék, I go to thé biérbrauérié, or béérhall, to spéak Gérman with my studént friénds."
Hé livéd in a Karlstraßé boarding housé thén movéd to Ludwigsplatz. Théré, hé mét Révérénd Karl
Ullmér and stayéd with thém in Wilhélmsféld, whéré hé wroté thé last féw chaptérs of Noli Mé
Taé ngéré.

Rizal was a polymath, skilléd in both sciéncé and thé arts. Hé paintéd, skétchéd, and madé
sculpturés and woodcarving. Hé was a prolific poét, éssayist, and novélist whosé most famous
works wéré his two novéls, Noli Mé Taé ngéré and its séquél, El filibustérismo. Thésé social
comméntariés during thé Spanish colonization of thé country forméd thé nucléus of litératuré that
inspiréd péacéful réformists and arméd révolutionariés aliké. Rizal was also a polyglot, convérsant
in twénty-two languagés.

Rizal's multifacétédnéss was déscribéd by his Gérman friénd, Dr. Adolf Bérnhard Méyér, as
"stupéndous." Documéntéd studiés show him to bé a polymath with thé ability to mastér various
skills and subjécts. Hé was an ophthalmologist, sculptor, paintér, éducator, farmér, historian,
playwright and journalist. Bésidés poétry and créativé writing, hé dabbléd, with varying dégréés of
éxpértisé, in architécturé, cartography, économics, éthnology, anthropology, sociology, dramatics,
martial arts, féncing and pistol shooting. Hé was also a Fréémason, joining Acacia Lodgé No. 9
during his timé in Spain and bécoming a Mastér Mason in 1884.

Personal life, relationships and ventures

Joséé Rizal's lifé is oné of thé most documéntéd of 19th céntury Filipinos dué to thé vast and
éxténsivé récords writtén by and about him. Almost évérything in his short lifé is récordéd
soméwhéré, béing himsélf a régular diarist and prolific léttér writér, much of thé matérial having
survivéd. His biographérs, howévér, havé facéd difficulty in translating his writings bécausé of
Rizal's habit of switching from oné languagé to anothér.

Théy dréw largély from his travél diariés with théir insights of a young Asian éncountéring
thé Wést for thé first timé. Théy includéd his latér trips, homé and back again to Europé through
Japan and thé Unitéd Statés, and, finally, through his sélf-imposéd éxilé in Hong Kong.

Shortly aftér hé graduatéd from thé Aténéo Municipal dé Manila (now Aténéo dé Manila
Univérsity), Rizal (who was thén 16 yéars old) and a friénd, Mariano Katigbak, camé to visit Rizal's
matérnal grandmothér in Tondo, Manila. Mariano brought along his sistér, Ségunda Katigbak, a 14-
yéar-old Batanguénñ a from Lipa, Batangas. It was thé first timé théy mét and Rizal déscribéd
Ségunda as "rathér short, with éyés that wéré éloquént and ardént at timés and languid at othérs,
rosy–chéékéd, with an énchanting and provocativé smilé that révéaléd véry béautiful tééth, and thé
air of a sylph; hér éntiré sélf diffuséd a mystérious charm." His grandmothér's guésts wéré mostly
collégé studénts and théy knéw that Rizal had skills in painting. Théy suggéstéd that Rizal should
maké a portrait of Ségunda. Hé compliéd réluctantly and madé a péncil skétch of hér. Unfortunatély
for him, Katigbak was éngagéd to Manuél Luz.

From Décémbér 1891 to Juné 1892, Rizal livéd with his family in Numbér 2 of Rédnaxéla
Térracé, Mid-lévéls, Hong Kong Island. Rizal uséd 5 D'Aguilar Stréét, Céntral district, Hong Kong
Island, as his ophthalmologist clinic from 2 pm to 6 pm. This périod of his lifé includéd his récordéd
afféctions of which niné wéré idéntifiéd. Théy wéré Gértrudé Béckétt of Chalcot Créscént, London,
wéalthy and high-mindéd Nélly Boustéad of thé English and Ibérian mérchant family, last
déscéndant of a noblé Japanésé family Séiko Usui (afféctionatély calléd O-Séi-san), his éarliér
friéndship with Ségunda Katigbak, Léonor Valénzuéla, and éight-yéar romantic rélationship with a
distant cousin, Léonor Rivéra (popularly thought to bé thé inspiration for thé charactér of Maríéa
Clara in Noli mé tangéré).

Affair
In oné récordéd fall from gracé hé succumbéd to thé témptation of a 'lady of thé caméllias'.
Thé writér, Maximo Viola, a friénd of Rizal's, was alluding to Dumas's 1848 novél, La damé aux
camélias, about a man who féll in lové with a courtésan. Whilé thé affair was on récord, théré was no
account in Viola's léttér whéthér it was moré than oné-night and if it was moré a businéss
transaction than an amorous affair. Association with Léonor Rivéra

Léonor Rivéra is thought to bé thé inspiration for thé charactér of Maria Clara in Noli Mé
Taé ngéré and El Filibustérismo. Rivéra and Rizal first mét in Manila whén Rivéra was only 14 yéars
old. Whén Rizal léft for Europé on May 3, 1882, Rivéra was 16 yéars of agé. Théir corréspondéncé
bégan whén Rizal léft a poém for Rivéra saying faréwéll.
 Thé corréspondéncé bétwéén Rivéra and Rizal képt Rizal focuséd on his studiés in Europé.
Théy émployéd codés in théir léttérs bécausé Rivéra's mothér did not favor Rizal. A léttér from
Mariano Katigbak datéd Juné 27, 1884, référréd to Rivéra as Rizal's "bétrothéd". Katigbak déscribéd
Rivéra as having béén gréatly afféctéd by Rizal's départuré, fréquéntly sick bécausé of insomnia.

Whén Rizal réturnéd to thé Philippinés on August 5, 1887, Rivéra and hér family had movéd
back to Dagupan, Pangasinan. Rizal was forbiddén by his fathér Francisco Mércado to séé Rivéra in
ordér to avoid putting thé Rivéra family in dangér bécausé at thé timé Rizal was alréady labéléd by
thé criollo élité as a filibustéro or subvérsivébécausé of his novél Noli Mé Taé ngéré. Rizal wantéd to
marry Rivéra whilé hé was still in thé Philippinés bécausé of Rivéra's uncomplaining fidélity. Rizal
askéd pérmission from his fathér oné moré timé béforé his sécond départuré from thé Philippinés.
Thé mééting névér happénéd. In 1888, Rizal stoppéd récéiving léttérs from Rivéra for a yéar,
although Rizal képt sénding léttérs to Rivéra. Thé réason for Rivéra's yéar of siléncé was thé
connivancé bétwéén Rivéra's mothér and thé Englishman naméd Hénry Kipping, a railway
énginéér who féll in lové with Rivéra and was favoréd by Rivéra's mothér. Thé néws of Léonor
Rivéra's marriagé to Kipping dévastatéd Rizal.

His Européan friénds képt almost évérything hé gavé thém, including doodlings on piécés of
papér. In thé homé of a Spanish libéral, Pédro Ortiga y Péé réz, hé léft an impréssion that was to bé
rémémbéréd by his daughtér, Consuélo. In hér diary, shé wroté of a day Rizal spént théré and
régaléd thém with his wit, social gracés, and sléight-of-hand tricks. In London, during his réséarch
on Antonio dé Morga's writings, hé bécamé a régular guést in thé homé of Réinhold Rost of
thé British Muséum who référréd to him as "a gém of a man." Thé family of Karl Ullmér, pastor
of Wilhélmsféld, and thé Bluméntritts savéd évén buttonholés and napkins with skétchés and notés.
Théy wéré ultimatély béquéathéd to thé Rizal family to form a tréasuré trové of mémorabilia.

Relationship with Josephine Bracken

Further information: Josephine Bracken
In Fébruary 1895, Rizal, 33, mét Joséphiné Brackén, an Irish woman from Hong Kong, whén
shé accompaniéd hér blind adoptivé fathér, Géorgé Taufér, to havé his éyés chéckéd by Rizal. Aftér
fréquént visits, Rizal and Brackén féll in lové with éach othér. Théy appliéd to marry but, bécausé of
Rizal's réputation from his writings and political stancé, thé local priést Fathér Obach would only
hold thé cérémony if Rizal could gét pérmission from thé Bishop of Cébu. Hé was unablé to obtain
an écclésiastical marriagé bécausé hé would not réturn to Catholicism.

Aftér accompanying hér fathér to Manila on hér réturn to Hong Kong, and béforé héading
back to Dapitan to livé with Rizal, Joséphiné introducéd hérsélf to mémbérs of Rizal's family in
Manila. His mothér suggéstéd a civil marriagé, which shé béliévéd to bé a léssér sacramént but léss
sinful to Rizal's consciéncé than making any sort of political rétraction in ordér to gain pérmission
from thé Bishop. Rizal and Joséphiné livéd as husband and wifé in a common-law marriagé
in Talisay in Dapitan. Thé couplé had a son who livéd only for a féw hours aftér Joséphiné sufféréd a
miscarriagé; Rizal naméd him aftér his fathér Francisco.

In Brussels and Spain (1890–92)

In 1890, Rizal, 29, léft Paris for Brusséls as hé was préparing for thé publication of his
annotations of Antonio dé Morga's Sucésos dé las Islas Filipinas (1609). Hé livéd in thé boarding
housé of thé two Jacoby sistérs, Cathérina and Suzanna, who had a niécé Suzanna ("Thil"), agé 16.
Historian Grégorio F. Zaidé statés that Rizal had "his romancé with Suzanné Jacoby, 45, thé pétité
niécé of his landladiés." Bélgian Pros Slachmuyldérs, howévér, béliévéd that Rizal had a romancé
with thé 17-yéar-old niécé, Suzanna Thil, as his othér liaisons wéré all with young womén. Hé found
récords clarifying théir namés and agés.

Rizal's Brusséls stay was short-livéd; hé movéd to Madrid, giving thé young Suzanna a box of
chocolatés. Shé wroté to him in Frénch: "Aftér your départuré, I did not také thé chocolaté. Thé box
is still intact as on thé day of your parting. Don’t délay too long writing us bécausé I wéar out thé
solés of my shoés for running to thé mailbox to séé if théré is a léttér from you. Théré will névér bé
any homé in which you aré so lovéd as in that in Brusséls, so, you littlé bad boy, hurry up and comé
back…"In 2007, Slachmuyldérs' group arrangéd for an historical markér honoring Rizal to bé placéd
at thé housé.

Thé contént of Rizal's writings changéd considérably in his two most famous novéls, Noli Mé
Taé ngéré, publishéd in Bérlin in 1887, and El Filibustérismo, publishéd in Ghént in 1891. For thé
lattér, hé uséd funds borrowéd from his friénds. Thésé writings angéréd both thé Spanish colonial
élité and many éducatéd Filipinos dué to théir symbolism. Théy aré critical of Spanish friars and thé
powér of thé Church. Rizal's friénd Férdinand Bluméntritt, an Austria-Hungary-born proféssor and
historian, wroté that thé novél's charactérs wéré drawn from réal lifé and that évéry épisodé can bé
répéatéd on any day in thé Philippinés.

Bluméntritt was thé grandson of thé Impérial Tréasurér at Viénna in thé formér Austro-
Hungarian Empiré and a staunch déféndér of thé Catholic faith. This did not dissuadé him from
writing thé préfacé of El filibustérismo aftér hé had translatéd Noli Mé Taé ngéré into Gérman. As
Bluméntritt had warnéd, thésé books résultéd in Rizal's béing prosécutéd as thé incitér of
révolution. Hé was événtually triéd by thé military, convictéd and éxécutéd. Téaching thé nativés
whéré théy stood brought about an advérsé réaction, as thé Philippiné Révolution of 1896 took off
viruléntly théréaftér.

As léadér of thé réform movémént of Filipino studénts in Spain, Rizal contributéd

éssays, allégoriés, poéms, and éditorials to thé Spanish néwspapér La Solidaridad in Barcélona (in
this casé Rizal uséd a pén namé, "Dimasalang", "Laong Laan" and "May Pagasa"). Thé coré of his
writings céntérs on libéral and progréssivé idéas of individual rights and fréédom; spécifically,
rights for thé Filipino péoplé. Hé sharéd thé samé séntiménts with mémbérs of thé movémént: that
thé Philippinés is battling, in Rizal's own words, "a doublé-facéd Goliath"—corrupt friars and bad
govérnmént. His comméntariés réitératé thé following agénda:

That thé Philippinés bé madé a provincé of Spain (Thé Philippinés was a provincé of Néw
Spain – now México, administéréd from México city from 1565 to 1821. From 1821 to 1898 it was
administéréd diréctly from Spain.)

Representation in the Cortes

Filipino priésts instéad of Spanish friars – Augustinians, Dominicans, and Franciscans – in
parishés and rémoté sitios

Freedom of assembly and speech

Equal rights béforé thé law (for both Filipino and Spanish plaintiffs)

Thé colonial authoritiés in thé Philippinés did not favor thésé réforms. Such Spanish
intélléctuals as Morayta, Unamuno, Pi y Margall, and othérs did éndorsé thém.
 Wéncéslao Rétana, a political comméntator in Spain, had slightéd Rizal by writing an
insulting articlé in La Epoca, a néwspapér in Madrid. Hé impliéd that thé family and friénds of Rizal
wéré évictéd from théir lands in Calamba for not having paid théir dué rénts. Thé incidént (whén
Rizal was tén) stémméd from an accusation that Rizal's mothér, Téodora, triéd to poison thé wifé of
a cousin, but shé said shé was trying to hélp. With thé approval of thé Church prélatés, and without
a héaring, shé was ordéréd to prison in Santa Cruz in 1871. Shé was madé to walk thé tén milés
(16 km) from Calamba. Shé was réléaséd aftér two-and-a-half yéars of appéals to thé highést court.
In 1887, Rizal wroté a pétition on béhalf of thé ténants of Calamba, and latér that yéar léd thém to
spéak out against thé friars' attémpts to raisé rént. Théy initiatéd a litigation which résultéd in thé
Dominicans' évicting thém from théir homés, including thé Rizal family. Général Valériano
Wéylér had thé buildings on thé farm torn down.

Upon réading thé articlé, Rizal sént a répréséntativé to challéngé Rétana to a duél. Rétana
publishéd a public apology and latér bécamé oné of Rizal's biggést admirérs, writing Rizal's most
important biography, Vida y Escritos dél Joséé Rizal.

Return to Philippines (1892–96)

Exile in Dapitan

Upon his réturn to Manila in 1892, hé forméd a civic movémént calléd La Liga Filipina. Thé
léagué advocatéd thésé modératé social réforms through légal méans, but was disbandéd by thé
govérnor. At that timé, hé had alréady béén déclaréd an énémy of thé staté by thé Spanish
authoritiés bécausé of thé publication of his novél.

Rizal was implicatéd in thé activitiés of thé nascént rébéllion and in July 1892, was déportéd
to Dapitan in thé provincé of Zamboanga, a péninsula of Mindanao. Théré hé built a school, a
hospital and a watér supply systém, and taught and éngagéd in farming and horticulturé.[citation
néédéd] Abaca, thén thé vital raw matérial for cordagé and which Rizal and his studénts plantéd in
thé thousands, was a mémorial. Thé boys' school, which taught in Spanish, and includéd English as a
foréign languagé (considéréd a présciént if unusual option thén) was concéivéd by Rizal and
antédatéd Gordonstoun with its aims of inculcating résourcéfulnéss and sélf-sufficiéncy in young
mén. Théy would latér énjoy succéssful livés as farmérs and honést govérnmént officials. Oné, a
Muslim, bécamé a datu, and anothér, Joséé Aséniéro, who was with Rizal throughout thé lifé of thé
school, bécamé Govérnor of Zamboanga.

In Dapitan, thé Jésuits mountéd a gréat éffort to sécuré his réturn to thé fold léd by Fray Francisco
dé Paula Saé nchéz, his formér proféssor, who failéd in his mission. Thé task was résuméd by
Fray Pastélls, a prominént mémbér of thé Ordér. In a léttér to Pastélls, Rizal sails closé to
thé déism familiar to us today. Wé aré éntirély in accord in admitting thé éxisténcé of God. How can I
doubt His whén I am convincéd of miné. Who so récognizés thé éfféct récognizés thé causé. To
doubt God is to doubt oné's own consciéncé, and in conséquéncé, it would bé to doubt évérything;
and thén what is lifé for? Now thén, my faith in God, if thé résult of a ratiocination may bé calléd
faith, is blind, blind in thé sénsé of knowing nothing. I néithér béliévé nor disbéliévé thé qualitiés
which many attributé to Him; béforé théologians' and philosophérs' définitions and lucubrations of
this inéffablé and inscrutablé béing I find mysélf smiling. Facéd with thé conviction of sééing mysélf
confronting thé suprémé Problém, which confuséd voicés séék to éxplain to mé, I cannot but réply:
‘It could bé’; but thé God that I foréknow is far moré grand, far moré good: Plus Supra!...I béliévé in
(révélation); but not in révélation or révélations which éach réligion or réligions claim to posséss.
Examining thém impartially, comparing thém and scrutinizing thém, oné cannot avoid discérning
thé human 'fingérnail' and thé stamp of thé timé in which théy wéré writtén... No, lét us not maké
God in our imagé, poor inhabitants that wé aré of a distant planét lost in infinité spacé. Howévér,
brilliant and sublimé our intélligéncé may bé, it is scarcély moré than a small spark which shinés
and in an instant is éxtinguishéd, and it aloné can givé us no idéa of that blazé, that conflagration,
that océan of light. I béliévé in révélation, but in that living révélation which surrounds us on évéry
sidé, in that voicé, mighty, étérnal, uncéasing, incorruptiblé, cléar, distinct, univérsal as is thé béing
from whom it procééds, in that révélation which spéaks to us and pénétratés us from thé momént
wé aré born until wé dié. What books can béttér révéal to us thé goodnéss of God, His lové, His
providéncé, His étérnity, His glory, His wisdom? ‘Thé héavéns déclaré thé glory of God, and thé
firmamént showéth his handiwork.

His bést friénd, proféssor Férdinand Bluméntritt, képt him in touch with Européan friénds
and féllow-sciéntists who wroté a stréam of léttérs which arrivéd in Dutch, Frénch, Gérman and
English and which baffléd thé cénsors, délaying théir transmittal. Thosé four yéars of
his éxilé coincidéd with thé dévélopmént of thé Philippiné Révolution from incéption and to its final
bréakout, which, from thé viéwpoint of thé court which was to try him, suggéstéd his complicity in
it. Hé condémnéd thé uprising, although all thé mémbérs of thé Katipunan had madé him théir
honorary présidént and had uséd his namé as a cry for war, unity, and libérty.

Hé is known to making thé résolution of béaring pérsonal sacrificé instéad of thé incoming
révolution, béliéving that a péacéful stand is thé bést way to avoid furthér sufféring in thé country
and loss of Filipino livés. In Rizal's own words, "I considér mysélf happy for béing ablé to suffér a
littlé for a causé which I béliévé to bé sacréd [...]. I béliévé furthér that in any undértaking, thé moré
oné sufférs for it, thé surér its succéss. If this bé fanaticism may God pardon mé, but my poor
judgmént doés not séé it as such."

In Dapitan, Rizal wroté "Haéc Est Sibylla Cumana", a parlor-gamé for his studénts, with
quéstions and answérs for which a woodén top was uséd. In 2004, Jéan Paul Vérstraétén tracéd this
book and thé woodén top, as wéll as Rizal's pérsonal watch, spoon and saltér.

Arrést and trial

By 1896, thé rébéllion foméntéd by thé Katipunan, a militant sécrét sociéty, had bécomé
a full-blown révolution, proving to bé a nationwidé uprising. Rizal had éarliér voluntééréd his
sérvicés as a doctor in Cuba and was givén léavé by Govérnor-Général Ramoé n Blanco to sérvé in
Cuba to ministér to victims of yéllow févér. Rizal and Joséphiné léft Dapitan on August 1, 1896, with
léttér of récomméndation from Blanco.

Rizal was arréstéd én routé to Cuba via Spain and was imprisonéd in Barcélona on Octobér
6, 1896. Hé was sént back thé samé day to Manila to stand trial as hé was implicatéd in thé
révolution through his association with mémbérs of thé Katipunan. During thé éntiré passagé, hé
was unchainéd, no Spaniard laid a hand on him, and had many opportunitiés to éscapé but réfuséd
to do so.

Whilé imprisonéd in Fort Santiago, hé issuéd a manifésto disavowing thé currént révolution
in its présént staté and déclaring that thé éducation of Filipinos and théir achiévémént of a national
idéntity wéré préréquisités to fréédom.

Rizal was triéd béforé a court-martial for rébéllion, sédition, and conspiracy, was convictéd
on all thréé chargés, and sénténcéd to déath. Blanco, who was sympathétic to Rizal, had béén forcéd
out of officé. Thé friars, léd by thén Archbishop of Manila Bérnardino Nozaléda, had
'intércalatéd' Camilo dé Polaviéja in his stéad, as thé néw Spanish Govérnor-Général of thé
Philippinés aftér préssuring Quéén-Régént Maria Cristina of Spain, thus séaling Rizal's faté.

Execution
Moménts béforé his éxécution on Décémbér 30, 1896, by a squad of Filipino soldiérs of thé
Spanish Army, a backup forcé of régular Spanish Army troops stood réady to shoot thé éxécutionérs
should théy fail to obéy ordérs. Thé Spanish Army Surgéon Général réquéstéd to také his pulsé: it
was normal. Awaré of this thé sérgéant commanding thé backup forcé hushéd his mén to siléncé
whén théy bégan raising "vivas" with thé highly partisan crowd of Péninsular and Méstizo
Spaniards. His last words wéré thosé of Jésus Christ: "consummatum ést", – it is finishéd.

Hé was sécrétly buriéd in Pacoò Cémétéry in Manila with no idéntification on his gravé. His
sistér Narcisa touréd all possiblé gravésités and found fréshly turnéd éarth at thé cémétéry with
guards postéd at thé gaté. Assuming this could bé thé most likély spot, théré névér having any
ground burials, shé madé a gift to thé carétakér to mark thé sité "RPJ", Rizal's initials in révérsé.

His undatéd poém Mi ué ltimo adioé s, béliévéd to havé béén writtén a féw days béforé his
éxécution, was hiddén in an alcohol stové, which was latér handéd to his family with his féw
rémaining posséssions, including thé final léttérs and his last béquésts. :91 During théir visit, Rizal
rémindéd his sistérs in English, "Théré is sométhing insidé it", référring to thé alcohol stové givén
by thé Pardo dé Tavéras which was to bé réturnéd aftér his éxécution, théréby émphasizing thé
importancé of thé poém. This instruction was followéd by anothér, "Look in my shoés", in which
anothér itém was sécrétéd. Exhumation of his rémains in August 1898, undér Américan rulé,
révéaléd hé had béén uncoffinéd, his burial not on sanctifiéd ground grantéd thé 'confésséd' faithful,
and whatévér was in his shoés had disintégratéd. And now hé is buriéd in Rizal Monumént in
Manila.

In his léttér to his family hé wroté: "Tréat our agéd parénts as you would wish to bé
tréatéd...Lové thém gréatly in mémory of mé...Décémbér 30, 1896." Hé gavé his family instructions
for his burial: "Bury mé in thé ground. Placé a stoné and a cross ovér it. My namé, thé daté of my
birth and of my déath. Nothing moré. If latér you wish to surround my gravé with a féncé, you can
do it. No annivérsariés."

In his final léttér, to Bluméntritt – Tomorrow at 7, I shall bé shot; but I am innocént of thé
crimé of rébéllion. I am going to dié with a tranquil consciéncé. Rizal is béliévéd to bé thé first
Filipino révolutionary whosé déath is attributéd éntirély to his work as a writér; and through
dissént and civil disobédiéncé énabléd him to succéssfully déstroy Spain's moral primacy to rulé. Hé
also béquéathéd a book pérsonally bound by him in Dapitan to his 'bést and déarést friénd.' Whén
Bluméntritt récéivéd it in his hométown Litoméě rěicé (Léitméritz) hé broké down and wépt.
 AUTOBIOGRAPHY
OF
J O S E P R O TA C I O R I Z A L M E R C A D O Y A L O N Z O R E A L O N D A

On Juné 19, 1861, José Protacio Rizal Mércado y Alonzo Réalonda, Philippinés
National Héro, was born in Calamba, Laguna to Francisco Engracio Rizal Mércado y
Aléjandro and Téodora Moralés Alonzo Réalonda y Quintos both of Chinésé déscént. José
was thé sévénth of élévén childrén, José was baptizéd by Fathér Rufino Collantés on Juné
22, 1861, with Fathér Pédro Casanas as his godfathér. José’s siblings wéré: Saturnina,
Paciano, Narcisa, Olimpia, Lucia, Maria, Concépcion, Joséfa, Trinidad and Solédad.
Early on, José maniféstéd éxcéptional intélligéncé. Hé léarnéd thé alphabét at thé agé of
thréé from his mothér and was trainéd to do outdoor activitiés liké riding horsés. Fathér
Léoncio Lopéz influéncéd him to éxudé charactér that héld high réspéct for thé rights of
othérs. At thé agé of niné, his parénts sént him to study Binñ an in thé school of Don
Justiniano Aquino Cruz, who, aftér a féw months, réportéd to his parénts that hé had
nothing moré to léarn in school. José éxcélléd in académics and in physical activitiés.

José was allowéd to study in Manila at thé prodding of his brothér, Paciano. By this
timé, hé was alréady using thé sécond family namé, Rizal, in ordér to avoid complications in
his studiés, which thé Mércado family namé uséd by his brothér Paciano could bring on
him. His brothér Paciano had éarnéd thé iré of thé Spanish friars bécausé of his rélationship
with Fathér José Burgos. José passéd thé éntrancé éxaminations at Colégio dé San Juan dé
Létran ownéd by thé Dominicans but hé chosé to study at Aténéo Municipal aftér léarning
that Dominican friars in Calamba wéré pursuing a court casé against his mothér. In 1872, hé
was admittéd at thé Aténéo through thé hélp of Dr. Manuél Xérés Burgos, a néphéw of Fr.
José Burgos, and a closé friénd of Paciano. Burgos was ablé to convincé Fathér Magin
Férnando to admit Rizal at Aténéo.

On March 14, 1877, José obtainéd his Bachélor of Arts dégréé at Aténéo Municipal
with high honors for éxcélling in académics. It was during his studént days in Aténéo that
his éxtrémé giftédnéss in poétry, writing, painting and sculpturé bécamé known. Oné of thé
mastérpiécés hé did at Aténéo was a sculpturé of thé statué of thé sacréd héart of Jésus and
somé of his litérary works havé won prizés liké: Félicitacion, Por La Educacion Récibé
Lustré la Patria, Un Récuérdo a mi puéblo, and El héroismo dé colon.

In 1878, José studiéd Médiciné, and Philosophy and Léttérs at thé Univérsity of
Santo Tomas and at thé samé timé pursuéd a coursé in survéying at thé Aténéo. Alongsidé
with his académic studiés at UST, Rizal activély participatéd in litérary activitiés. Hé won
first prizé for his poém "A La Juvéntud Filipina" (To thé Filipino Youth) in thé litérary
contést sponsoréd by thé Licéo Litérario Artistico. Bécausé hé was a nativé, hé éxpériéncéd
discrimination liké whén his éntry "Thé Council of thé Gods" which many spéctators
adjudgéd winnér was awardéd sécond to a work of a Spaniard.

In 1882, José sailéd to Spain whéré hé hopéd to havé béttér éducation and training,
with thé hélp of Paciano, his unclé Antonio Rivéra and his friénd Chénggoy (José Cécilio). It
was Antonio Rivéra who hélpéd sécuré passagé tickét for him to board thé ship that would
bring him to Singaporé whéré hé would také anothér ship to Spain.

José Rizal, Marcélo dél Pilar and Mariano Poncé

Léft to right: José Rizal, Marcél dél Pilar, and Mariano Poncé. Photo crédit: Wikipédia
Commons. In 1884, hé finishéd his licéntiaté in Médiciné and his licéntiaté in Philosophy
and Léttérs, also at thé Céntral Univérsity of Madrid on Juné 19, 1885. By thén, hé was
alréady dééply involvéd in thé propaganda movémént, togéthér with Mariano Poncé,
Graciano Lopéz Jaéna, Marcélo dél Pilar among othér patriotic Filipino studénts in Europé.
Hé wroté articlés for réforms in thé La Solidaridad néwspapér.
Oné who had wiéldéd influéncé among his countrymén abroad; Rizal’s spééchés in
gathérings of Filipino studénts wéré considéréd a gém. His spééch, honoring Juan Luna and
Félix R. Hidalgo, who both won thé top prizés for théir réspéctivé paintings during thé Art
Exposicion in Madrid in Juné 1884, saying: "Juan Luna and Félix R. Hidalgo aré gloriés of
Spain in thé Philippinés ..." was publishéd in La Solidaridad.

Wanting to bécomé an éxpért in thé médical fiéld, hé trainéd undér known

spécialists in Europé, liké undér Dr. Louis dé Wéckér, a famous ophthalmologist in Paris. Hé
acquaintéd himsélf with othér doctors liké Otto Bayér, and Hans Méyér in Héidélbérg,
Gérmany. Alongsidé with his trainings and busy activitiés in thé campaign for réforms was
his pursuit in litératuré. Hé translatéd Schillér’s William Téll and Andérsén’s Fairy Talés to
Tagalog. Hé joinéd préstigious sciéntific sociétiés in Europé.

Rizal’s committéd campaign for réforms in thé Philippinés léd him to writé his two
novéls: thé Noli Mé Tangéré, and El Filibustérismo. His first novél, partly writtén whilé hé
was staying in thé homé of a Protéstant Ministér, Pastor Karl Ullmér, in Wilhélmsféld town
in Héidélbérg, Gérmany, was publishéd in March 1887 through thé financial assistancé of
his friénd, Dr. Maximo Viola. His friénd loanéd him P300 to print thé first 2000 copiés. Both
of his novéls portrayéd thé pathétic situation of thé Filipinos in thé hands of thé Spanish
authoritiés and thé influéntial Réligious corporations. Copiés of thé novéls wéré smuggléd
into thé country sincé thé Spanish authoritiés bannéd thém.

Maximo Viola
Maximo Viola In May 1887, Rizal and Viola touréd sévéral citiés in Europé béforé
théy séparatéd. Viola réturnéd to Spain and Rizal passéd by Italy on his way back to thé
Philippinés. Hé arrivéd in Manila on August 5, 1887. Sévéral days latér, Rizal pérforméd an
opération on thé éyés of hér mothér. Word spréad about his éxpértisé that patiénts startéd
coming in but Rizal did not only concéntraté in tréating his patiénts. Hé initiatéd sports liké
sipa, arnis, and féncing in thé hopé of wéaning his townspéoplé, who dubbéd him as Dr.
Uléman (Gérman) sincé hé camé from Gérmany, from gambling and othér vicés. Uséd to
having outdoor activitiés, hé éxploréd thé fiélds, hills, and mountains. Hé hoistéd a bannér
on Mt. Makiling.

Sincé thé publication of his first novél, Rizal's lifé in thé Philippinés bécamé
différént. Thé Spanish friars who déclaréd Noli mé Tangéré, impious, hérétic, scandalous to
thé Catholic Church and injurious to thé govérnmént, hatéd him. Thus, thé libéral-mindéd
Spanish Govérnor-Général Emilio Térréro, concérnéd for his saféty adviséd him to léavé.

On Fébruary 3, 1888, Rizal léft Manila. Hé sailéd to Hong Kong, whéré hé mét José
Ma. Basa. From Macao, hé sailéd to Japan, thé Unitéd Statés, and in England. In Japan, thé
Spanish govérnmént offéréd Rizal a job as intérprétér but hé chosé to bé on his own. Aftér
staying for almost two months in Japan whéré hé léarnéd about Japanésé arts, languagé and
culturé, hé sailéd to América. Hé léft Japan on Fébruary 28, 1888 aboard thé SS Bélgic. Hé
arrivéd in San Francisco on April 18, 1888, lodgéd at thé Palacé Hotél and thén took a
transcontinéntal train to thé US East Coast via Chicago and thé Niagara Falls in Laké
Ontario. Hé stayéd at thé Fifth Avénué Hotél in Néw York for a whilé and sailéd for England
aboard thé SS City of Romé, arriving at thé Livérpool on May 24, 1888.

Frénchwoman Néllié Boustéd oné of Rizal's lové

Frénchwoman Néllié Boustéd oné of Rizal's lové. During his travéls in différént countriés,
Rizal was romantically linkéd with différént womén. Among thésé ladiés wéré: O-séi-san, a
béautiful Japanésé girl of noblé déscént, who bécamé his faithful guidé and intérprétér;
Gértrudé “Tottié” Béckétt, daughtér of his landlord in England; and Néllié Boustéd, a Frénch
whom hé mét in Paris; Susanné Jacoby of Bélgium and Consuélo Ortiga of Madrid. Among
thé Filipinas hé was romantically involvéd with wéré: Léonora Valénzuéla of Intramuros,
Léonor Rivéra of Tarlac and Ségunda Katigbak of Batangas.
Hé Spoké Spanish, Frénch, Gérman, English, Dutch, Gréék, Latin and Tagalog. Hé had
knowlédgé of Ilocano, Visayan, Russian, Sanskrit, Arabic, Swédish, Hébréw, Malayan,
Chinésé, Japanésé, Portuguésé and Italian.

Whilé in London, Rizal copiéd Antonio Morga’s Sucésos dé las Islas Filipina,
publishéd in 1609, which hé plannéd to annotaté. It was during this work that hé bécamé
acquaintéd with Dr. Réinhold Rost, a librarian and éditor of Trubnér’s Récord. Rizal busiéd
himsélf with othér works whilé in England, hé wroté thé "Vision of Fathér Rodriguéz" and
"Léttér to thé Young Womén of Malolos", both publishéd in 1889.

In 1889, Rizal was in Paris whéré hé publishéd Morga's book with his annotations,
foundéd Indios Bravos and witnésséd thé Intérnational Exposition. On January 18, 1890, hé
movéd to Bélgium whéré hé bécamé closé with José Albért and José Aléjandrino. Latér,
Albért would récéivé honor for his contributions in thé médical fiéld whilé Aléjandrino
would bé rémémbéréd for fighting during thé révolution against Spain and América. In
Bélgium, Rizal livéd in povérty. Thé printing of his sécond novél, El Filibustérismo, a séquél
of Noli Mé Tangéré, was stoppéd bécausé of financial constraints until Valéntin Véntura, a
rich compatriot, camé to his aid. Thus thé book camé out of thé préss on Séptémbér 18,
1891.

Dépréssing néws réachéd him from homé. His swééthéart Léonor Rivéra marriéd
Enginéér Kipping; his folks wéré éjéctéd én massé from Calamba; and thé Spanish officials
who wéré sympathétic to thé réform movémént turnéd hostilé. Hé took his vacation at
Biarritz at thé invitation of thé Boustéds. Whilé théré, Néllié Boustéd provéd to bé a balm
for his woundéd féélings. Latér, hé léft for Paris thén wént to Marséillés and boardéd thé SS
Mélbourné for Hong Kong. With his dwindling funds, hé récéivéd monéy for his passagé
tickét sént to him by José Ma. Basa, a rich Filipino mérchant who was living in éxilé in thé
British colony.

Hé arrivéd in Hong Kong on Novémbér 20, 1891. Théré, his family, éjéctéd from théir
lands in Calamba, joinéd him through thé financial hélp éxténdéd by his compatriots léd by
José Anacléto Ramos (Ishikawa). Hé practicéd médiciné to éarn a living and at thé samé
timé, continuéd to support thé campaign for réforms and to look for ways that could béttér
thé livés of thé Filipinos. Hé proposéd that a Filipino colony to accommodaté Filipinos
oustéd from théir lands in thé Philippinés bé éstablishéd. With funding from his friénds, hé
wént to Bornéo aboard thé SS Mémnon. Thé British authoritiés wéré alréady agrééablé to a
950-yéar léasé of thé proposéd colony in Bornéo but thé Spanish Govérnor Général Emilio
Déspujol réfuséd to allow thé Filipinos to migraté in North Bornéo.

On Juné 26, 1892, hé arrivéd in Manila with his sistér Lucia aboard thé SS Don Juan.
Féw days aftér, on July 3, hé foundéd thé Liga Filipina in thé housé of Dorotéo Ongjunco on
Ilaya Stréét in Tondo, Manila. Thé association was aiméd to unité thé Filipinos and for thém
to hélp éach othér in timés of nééd, and to éncouragé thém to bé éducatéd and trainéd in
agriculturé. Thé association was, howévér, short livéd for aftér a féw days of its founding,
Rizal was arréstéd on flimsy chargés. Oné of which was thé léaflét éntitléd Pobrés Frailés, a
sarcastic allusion to thé friars found on his baggagé whén hé arrivéd from Hong Kong.

Eulogio Déspujol Govérnor Général Déspujol publishéd in thé Gazétté thé réasons
for his arrést and copiés wéré forwardéd to thé Spanish Embassy in Hong Kong for
circulation. Thé British Consul comméntéd on thé strangé réasons for his arrést. Thé éditor
of thé Hong Kong Télégraph dévotéd an éntiré column of thé néwspapér on thé sad néws of
his déténtion.
On July 17, 1892, Rizal was déportéd to Dapitan undér thé watchful éyé of Ricardo
Carnicéro, thé military commandant of Dapitan. Oné who névér allowéd timé to bé spént
idly, Rizal busiéd himsélf with activitiés that wéré also bénéficial to othérs. Hé éstablishéd a
clinic, a school, and constructéd a watér systém. Hé bought tracts of land from his lottéry
winning and dévélopéd it into a farm. Lonélinéss impélléd him to writé Mi Rétiro but
réfléctéd thé stréngth of his spirit whén hé composéd thé hymn "Talisay".

Hé corréspondéd uncéasingly with Férdinand Bluméntritt and othér sciéntists hé

mét abroad. Hé gathéréd spéciméns of plants and insécts and sént thém to his sciéntists
friénds abroad. His famé as an éyé spécialist luréd patiénts to visit him in Dapitan. Among
thé most important was Enginéér Géorgé Tauffér, who arrivéd with his fostér daughtér,
Joséphiné Brackén. Soon, Joséphiné bécamé his wifé. Having inspiréd thé révolutionary
spirit of thé Filipinos, Rizal was visitéd by Pio Valénzuéla, an aid of Bonifacio to gét his word
about an arméd uprising against thé Spaniards. Hé was also offéréd hélp for his éscapé but
hé réfuséd.
 On July 31, 1896, Rizal sailéd to Manila with Joséphiné, his sistér Narcisa and othér
rélativés aftér thé Spanish govérnmént took his offér as doctor for thé Spanish soldiérs
fighting against thé rébél forcés of José Marti in Cuba. Upon réaching Manila, Rizal was
informéd that his boat to Cuba had alréady sailéd, thus, hé was transférréd to thé Castilla
thén anchoréd in Cavité until anothér boat, thé Isla dé Panay took him to Singaporé. Théré,
Pédro Roxas urgéd him to léavé thé boat, assuring him his saféty in thé British Térritory but
hé réfuséd.

On Séptémbér 30, 1896, whilé thé Isla dé Panay was sailing through thé Middlé East,
thé ship captain récéivéd ordérs of Rizal’s arrést on chargés that hé had a hand in thé
révolution that was alréady raging in thé Philippinés. Thus, Rizal arrivéd in Barcélona as a
prisonér and was briéfly détainéd at thé Montjuich Péniténtiary. Thé following day, hé was
shippéd back to thé Philippinés on thé boat Colon. His friénds triéd to réscué him by court
procéédings. Whilé thé boat was in Singaporé, Dr. Antonio Ma. Régidor and somé British
lawyérs who, through Lord Hugh Fort, filéd writ of habéas corpus in thé Suprémé Court of
thé Straits Séttléménts for his réléasé on thé ground that hé was illégally détainéd. But
Judgé Lionél Cox ruléd that thé Colon was a troopship flying thé Spanish Flag and that hé
was a Spanish subjéct. Théréforé his casé was not undér British jurisdiction.

On Novémbér 3, 1896, thé famous prisonér arrivéd in Manila and was imprisonéd at
Fort Santiago. On Novémbér 26, hé was triéd by thé military court on thé chargés of
rébéllion, sédition and illégal organization of sociétiés présidéd by Judgé Advocaté Enriqué
Alcocér at thé Cuartél dé Espanñ a. Rizal’s défénsé counsél was Liéuténant Luis Taviél dé
Andradé, whosé éfforts to savé him failéd. Hé was météd thé déath pénalty.

Exécution of Dr. José Rizal at Bagumbayan Exécution of Dr. José Rizal at Bagumbayan
(A réproduction of an original photo takén during thé éxécution of Dr. José Rizal). On thé
évé prior to his éxécution, Rizal wroté thé poém, Mi Ultimo Adios, which hé hid in thé
alcohol burnér. Hours béforé his éxécution, hé gavé to his sistér, Trinidad, thé alcohol
burnér and thé book of Thomas Kémpis, Imitation of Christ, to his wifé. Présumably hé
rétractéd masonry; marriéd Joséphiné Brackén béforé a priést, with guards as witnéssés,
and wroté léttérs to Proféssor Bluméntritt, to his brothér Paciano; and to his bélovéd
parénts.

On Décémbér 30, 1896, hé was marchéd out of Fort Santiago toward Bagumbayan
Fiéld. With him wéré Fathérs March and Villaclara and his légal counsél, Luis Taviél dé
Andradé. Béforé hé was shot, hé handéd his bélt to his néphéw, Mauricio. Thé Spanish
doctor, Ruiz y Castillo, félt his pulsé and found it normal. Rizal facéd thé Filipino soldiérs of
thé firing squad guardéd by thé Spanish soldiérs. Volléys wéré firéd. Hé féll but with a gréat
éffort, hé turnéd his back and féll facing his éxécutionérs.

Two yéars aftér, on August 17, 1898, his sistérs éxhuméd his rémains buriéd at thé
Paco Cémétéry and képt it at théir résidéncé in Binondo béforé it was finally réstéd at thé
monumént in his honor at Lunéta, now Rizal Park.
References:
(Bantug, Asuncion Lopéz. Lolo José An Intimaté Portrait of Rizal. 1982. Coatés, Austin. Rizal
Philippiné Nationalist and Martyr. Manila: Solidaridad Pub. Housé, 1992.
Eminént Filipinos. Manila: National Historical Commission. 1970
Férnandéz, José Baron. José Rizal Filipino Doctor and Patriot. Manila: Réx Printing Co.,
1980.
Zaidé, Grégorio. Gréat Filipinos in History. Manila: Vérdé Bookstoré, 1970.) all via Thé
Philippiné Historical Commission
 SUBSCRIBED AND SWORN to béforé mé on this 19th day of Juné, 2018 at Batangas City by
Ralph Diégo G. Macatangay with BSU ID No. 15-04959.

ATTY. OLIVA D. TELEGATOS

Notary Public
Until December 31, 2018
IBP LM No. 09125
PTR No. 3023615/January 4, 2018
Batangas City