Back to Hong Kong

and the Philippines

GROUP 4 | BSCS
Imperial – Hernandez - Lita
Llacer – Lomibao - Llaguno
Life in Hong Kong
 October 18, 1891 - Rizal left Europe
(Marseilles, France) for Hong Kong via
steamer Melbourne.
 Reasons for leaving Europe:
1. Because of political differences with M.H. Del
Pilar other Filipino expatriates in Spain which
made his life miserable.
2. Desire to be with his family.
 He brought with him a letter of
recommendation by Juan Luna for Manuel
Camus, a compatriot living in Singapore,
and 600 copies of the El Fili.
 Set up office at No. 5 D’Aguilar Street and
No. 2 Rednaxola Terrace to earn a living as
an ophthalmologist. His patients increased
due to the referrals made by Dr. Lorenzo P.
Marquez, a Portuguese ophthalmologist in
Hong Kong.
 December 1, 1891 – his brother-in-law,
Manuel T. Hidalgo, sent him a letter,
relating the sad news of the deportation of
25 people from Calamba, including his
father, Neneng, Sisa, Lucia, Paciano. Also
stated in his letter that he was preparing a
letter to the Queen Regent of Spain
explaining the Calamba situation in order
to secure justice.
Family Reunion in Hong Kong
 Before Christmas of 1891, he was gladdened
by the arrival of his father, brother and
Silvestre Ubaldo (his brother-in-law) in Hong
Kong. Not long afterwards his mother and
sisters Lucia, Josefa, and Trinidad also arrived.
 January31, 1892 – he wrote to Blumentritt
recounting their pleasant life in Hong Kong.
Reawakening of Interest in Politics
 The letters he received from Europe had restored
his self-confidence, and re-awakened his interest in
politics. It also led him to re-examine his whole
political strategy.
 Luna and Evangelista suggested Rizal to re-examine
his political ideas for a separatist propaganda, a policy
of separation and independence.
•According to Luna, a separatist movement under the
guise of assimilation has to be started.
•According to Evangelista, the old corrupt generation
of principales had to be rejected.
 He considered the possibility of using force of arms to
effect change in the country. However, Blumentritt
disagreed since he believed that it would have the
least probability of success.
 Blumentritt gave Rizal four conditions necessary
for a revolution to succeed:
1. A part of the army and the navy should
rebel.
2. The metropolis should be at war with
another country.
3. There were money and munitions.
4. Some foreign country were to lend official
or secret support to the insurrection.
The Borneo Colonization Project
 Rizal conceived and planned the founding of a
Filipino colony in North Borneo or Sabah.
 Closer Look.
 Much Closer Look.
 March 7, 1892
Rizal went to Sandakan on board the ship Menon. He
negotiated with the British authorities in charge of
the North Borneo Company and was offered 100,000
acres of land free of charge for 999 years.
And the mission was a Success.

 Rizal friends in Europe (Jaena, Luna, Bautista,

Blumentritt and others) enthusiastically endorsed
his Borneo colonization project.
 However, his brother in law, Manuel Hidalgo, was
not in favor because he saw it as unnecessary to
leave the Philippines especially because of the
many sacrifices they had given for the country.
Hope for the Realization of the
North Borneo Project
 Governor Valeriano Weyler a.k.a. “The Butcher”
 Gov. Gen. Eulogio Despujol, the Count of Caspe – New
governor that replace Gov. Weyler from its terrific
regime and announced to the Filipino people a fine
program of government.
 This gave Rizal hope…
 December 23, 1891 - Rizal sent Despujol a letter of
felicitation and offering his cooperation, but instead
the governor did not even acknowledge receipt of his
letter.
 March 21, 1892 - Rizal wrote a second letter, in
this second letter, he requested the governor
general to permit the landless Filipinos to
establish themselves in Borneo.
 Despujol, did not give Rizal the “courtesy of a
reply” . Instead, he notified the Spanish consul
general in Hong Kong to tell Rizal that he could
not approve the Filipino immigration to Borneo,
alleging that, “the Philippines lacked laborers”
and “it was not very patriotic to go off and
cultivate foreign soil”
Writings in Hong Kong
 “Ang Mga Karapatan Nang Tao” - 1891
 “A la Nacion Española” (To the Spanish Nation) –
1891
 “Sa Mga Kababayan” (To the Countrymen) – 1891
 “The HongKong Telegraph” whose editor, Mr.
Frazier Smith, was his friend.
 “Una Visita a la Victoria Gaol” (A Visit to Victoria
Gaol) - March 2, 1892
 “Colonisastion du British North Borneo, par de
Familles de Iles Philippines ” (Colonization of
British North Borneo by Families from the
Philippine Islands).
 “Proyecto de Colonization del British North
Borneo por las Filipinos” (Project of the
Colonization of British North Borneo by Filipinos).
 “La Mona Roja” (The Red Hand) – June 1892
 Constitution of La Liga Filipina – Hong Kong, 1892
(LONDON PRINTING PRESS, No. 25 Khulug Street,
London.)
 The idea of establishing Liga Filipina originally
came from Jose Ma. Basa.
 Copies of printed Liga Constitution were sent to
Domingo Franco.
Last Hong Kong Letters
 June 19, 1892 - Rizal spent his 31st birthday in Hong Kong
 June 20, 1892 - He wrote two letters.
 To My Parents, Brethren and Friends.
 To The Filipinos.
 He gave it to his friend Dr. Marques for safekeeping.
 June 21, 1892 - wrote another letter for Gov. Despujol.
- left for Manila carrying a special passport.
Rizal lays down basis for La Liga
Filipina
 La Liga Filipina (The Philippine League) – a society he
established upon his return to the Philippines which aims:
1. The unification of the whole archipelago into a vigorous,
compact, body;
2. Mutual protection in every mutual want and necessity;
3. Defense against all forms of violence and injustice;
4. Stimulation of instruction, agriculture, and commerce;
and
5. The undertaking of study and application of reforms.
 Drafted the constitution with Jose Ma. Basa.
 Motto: Unus Instar Omnium (One Like All)
 There are three levels of the organizational councils, with
each consisting of a chief, fiscal, treasurer, secretary, and
members:
1. Popular

2. Provincial

3. Supreme

 There is also a SUPREME COUNCIL composed of chiefs of

the provincial councils who control the La Liga.
 Membership to the La Liga depends on passing
certain tests and unanimous endorsement by
the popular council of the town where he hails
from. When accepted, members shall pay a
monthly due of TEN CENTAVOS; be duty-bound,
giving preferential treatment to members of the
organization in all his actions; patronize the
stores of La Liga Members and give them
preferential treatment as well.
Decision to Return to the Philippines
 May 1892 – Rizal made up his mind and decided to
return to Manila.

 The following are reasons/objectives of Rizal:

1. To confer with Governor General Eulogio Despujol
regarding his Borneo colonization project.
2. To establish the Liga Filipina in Manila.
3. To prove that Eduardo de Lete was wrong in
attacking him in Madrid that he, being comfortable
and safe in Hong Kong, had abandoned his country’s
cause.
 Lete’s attack – portrayed Rizal as cowardly, egoistic,
opportunistic, a patriot in words only. Printed in La
Solidaridad on April 15, 1892.

 Rizal protested to M.H. del Pilar saying:

“I am more convinced that Lete, in writing the article,
was too hasty and you permitted yourself to be carried
away. Friend or enemy, if the article has harmed me, it
would harm more the interests of the Philippines. Who
knows, however, if after all it was for the best, it has
shaken me awake, and after a long silence I enter the
field anew. I am going to activate the Propaganda again
and fortify the Liga”.
 Rizal confided to Mariano Ponce on May 23, 1892:
“I am very sorry that del Pilar allowed the article
to be published because it will lead many to
believe that there is really a schism among us. I
believe that we can well have little
misunderstanding and personal differences among
ourselves, without exhibiting them in public. As for
myself, I always welcome criticisms because they
improve those who wish to be improve”.
Back to the Philippines
 June 21, 1892 – Rizal penned another letter in Hong Kong for Governor
Despujol. He informed the governor general of his coming to Manila and
placed himself under the protection of the Spanish government.
- Rizal and his sister Lucia left Hong Kong for Manila.
- A secret case was filed in Manila against Rizal and his followers
“for anti-religious and anti-patriotic agitation ”.
 June 26, 1892 – Second Homecoming. Arrival in Manila with his sister
Lucia.
 June 26, 1892 – Rizal returned to Malacanan and was able to confer with
Governor General Despujol who agreed to pardon his father but not the
rest of the family and told him to return on Wednesday(June 29).
 June 27, 1892 – Rizal boarded a train in Tutuban Station and visited his
friends in Malolos, San Fernando, Tarlac, and Bacolor.
Other Interviews with Governor General
Despujol
 June 29, 1892 - Rizal did not succeed to have the penalty
of exile lifted. But he gave him hope with regard to his
sisters.

 June 30, 1892 – They talked about the Borneo Colonization

Project. Despujol was very much opposed to it.

 July 3, 1892 – Rizal thanked Despujol for lifting the exile

of his sisters.
The Founding of La Liga Filipina
 From Manila, he went to Bulacan to visit his friends – Jose
Bautista, Manuel Crisostomo, and Vicente Gatmaitan – and
to inform them of his plan to organize the La Liga Filipina.
 From Bulacan, he went to San Fernando, Pampanga to
visit Hilario Tiburcio and Cecilio Hilariowho were active
members in the revolutionary movement in the province.
 After which, he departed to Tarlac, where he met
Villafuertes, the Punos and Tanedos who were convinced
that the La Liga Filipina should be organized.
 On June 28, 1892, he returned to Manila, back to Hotel Oriente
wherein he was met by numerous Filipino reformists and wherein he
expounded on his plan about the La Liga.
 On July 3, 1892, Rizal founded the La Liga Filipina in Calle Ilaya,
Tondo, in the home of Doroteo Ongjungco.

President: Ambrosio Salvador

Fiscal: Agustin de la Rosa
Treasurer: Bonifacio Arevalo
Secretary: Deodato Arellano
Members include Apolinatio Mabini, Andres Bonifacio, Deodate
Arellano, Timoteo Paez, Numeriano Adriano, Tomas Del Rosario and
Jose M. Dizon.
Rizal deported to Dapitan
 Governor General Despujol's decree had the same issue to the
Gaceta (July 7, 1892) deporting Rizal to "one of the islands in
the South“
 REASONS:
1. Publication and introduction of various anti-monastic books and
handbills.
2. Traveling through different provinces without permit from the
Governor-General.
3. Finding in his luggage the pamphlet Pobres Frailes or Poor
Friars, which mocked the religious orders
4. Dedication of the El Filibusterismo to the memory of Gomburza
5. Rizal attempts at de-Catholicizing and denationalizing the
Filipino people.
 Without due process, Despujol rendered his verdict on
Rizal.

 On midnight of July 4 (12:30 a.m of July 15, 1892) Rizal

was brought under heavy guard to the steamer Cebu
which was sailing to Dapitan under Captain Delgras.

 Rizal was detained in Fort Santiago for 9 days.

 On July 15, 1892, he left Manila for Dapitan.

 Reached Dapitan on Sunday, July 17 at 7:00 in the

evening.
 La Liga died its natural death and split into two
branches: the rightist (Cuerpo de Compromisarios;
and the leftists which later on came to be known as
the Katipunan or KKK.

 Capitan Delgras handed Rizal over to Captain Ricardo

Carnicero, Spanish commandment of Dapitan.

 That same night (July 17, 1892), Rizal began his exile
in lonely Dapitan which would last until July 31, 1896,
a period of four years.