Letter #211: Rizal, Fort Santiago, Manila, 29 December 1896

Farewell of the Martyr to his favorite friend

Prof. Fernando Blumentritt

My dear Brother,

When you receive this letter, I shall be dead by then.

Tomorrow at seven, I shall be shot; but I am innocent of the crime of rebellion.
I am going to die with a tranquil conscience.
Adieu, my best, my dearest friend, and never think ill of me!
Fort Santiago, 29 December 1896

José Rizal
Regards to the whole family, to Sra. Rosa, Lolena, Conradito, and Federico.
I leave a book for you as my remembrance.
Letter #210: Rizal, en route to Spain, 28 September 1896
Rizal en route to Spain to join the army in Cuba is arrested in his cabin for alleged
complicity in the Philippine insurrection - Will be returned to Manila for trial - Tells
Blumentritt what happened to him.
S. S. Isla de Panay, Mediterranean
28 September 1896
My very dear Friend,
A passenger on board has just told me a news that I can hardly believe and should it be
true, would bring to an end the prestige of Philippine authorities.
You will remember that last year you notified me that physicians were lacking in Cuba,
that many soldiers were dying without medical assistance. Instantly I presented myself to
the authorities applying for the post of temporary physician for the duration of the
campaign. Months and months elapsed and in view of the fact that I did not receive any
reply, I started to build a wooden house and a hospital and thus earn my livelihood in
Dapitan. On 30 July I received a letter from the governor general of the folowing tenor:
The Governor General of the Philippines
Manila, 1 July I896
Mr. José Rizal
My dear Sir,
I have informed the government of your desire, and acceding to it, it has no objection to your
going to Cuba to render your services to our Army as Assistant Physician in the Corps of Military
Health. Therefore, if you still entertain that idea, the Politico-Military Commander of that district
will issue a pass to you to enable you to come to this Capital City where in my turn I shall give
you a passport to the Peninsula where the Minister of War will assign you to the Army of
Operations in Cuba as assistant in the Corps of Military health.
On this date I am writing to the Politico-Military Commander there and you can make the trip
immediately.
It has been a satisfaction for me to have been able to please you.
Your attentive servant who kisses your hand,
Ramon Blanco

This letter upset my plans, for I was not thinking of going anymore to Cuba in view of the
fact that more than six months had already elapsed since I filed my application; but
fearing that they might attribute to something else if I should now refuse to go, I decided
to abandon everything and depart immediately. I went then to Manila with my entire
family, leaving behind all my business. Unfortunately, I did not overtake the mail boat for
Spain and fearing that my stay in Manila for one month might bring me troubles, I made
known to the governor general my desire to be isolated from evervbody except my
family while I was waiting on board. Whether due to this or something else the governor
general sent me to the cruiser Castilla where I stayed incommunicado except with my
family. During this interval, serious disturbances occur in Manila - disturbances that I regret
- but which serve to show that I am not the one, as they believe, who stirs things. My
absolute innocence has been demonstrated as can be seen in the two letters of
introduction in his own writing to the ministers of war and colonies that the governor has
given me as well as the accompanying letter which says:
The Commander-in-Chief of the Army oF the Philippines
Mr. José Rizal
My dear Sir,
Enclosed are two letters for the Ministers of War and Colonies which I think will be well
received.
I have no doubt that you will justify me before the Government by your future behavior
not only for your word of honor but because the present happenings must have shown
you palpably that certain actions which are the product of foolish ideas yield no other
result but hatred, destruction, tears, and blood.
May you be very happy is the wish of your attentive servant who kisses your hand,
Ramon Blanco
Manila, 30 August

The texts of the two letters of introduction are identical and I shall copy only one:
The Captain General of the Philippines
Personal
Manila, 30 August 1896
Most Excellent Marcelo de Azcárraga
My esteemed General and distinguished Friend,
I recommend to you with genuine interest Dr. José Rizal who is departing fur the Peninsula at the
disposal of the Government, ever desirous of rendering his services as physician to the Army in
Cuba.
His conduct during the four years that he was an exile in Dapitan has been exemplary, and he is,
in my opinion, the more worthy of pardon and benevolence as he is in no way involved either in
the chimerical attempt that we are lamenting these days or in any conspiracy or secret society,
that they have been plotting.
With this object I have the pleasure to remain,
Your most affectionate friend and colleague who kisses your hand,
Ramón Blanco

The letter of recommendation to the Minister of Colonies is identical.

With these two letters I have come, confident that I would go to Cuba to win a name
and undo calumnies. Now they tell me that they are sending me to Ceuta!!(1)
I cannot believe this for it would be the greatest injustice and the most abominable
infamy, unworthy not of a military official but of the last bandit. I have offered to serve as
a physician, risking life in the hazards of war and abandoning all my business. I am
innocent and now in reward they are sending me to prison!!!
I cannot believe it! This is infamous, but if it turns out to be true, as everybody assures me,
I am communicating to you these news so that you may appraise my situation.
Yours,
José Rizal
My Retreat by Dr. José Rizal
(English version of “Mi Retiro”)

By the spreading beach where the sands are soft and fine,
At the foot of the mount in its mantle of green
I have built my hut in the pleasant grove's confine;
From the forest seeking peace and a calmness divine,
Rest for the weary brain and silence to my sorrow keen.

Its roof of the frail palm leaf and its floor the cane.
Its beams and posts of the unhewn wood;
Little there is of value in this hut so plain,
And better by far in the lap of the mount to have lain,
By the song and the murmur of the high sea's flood.

A purling brook from the woodland glade

Drops down o'er the stones and around it sweeps,
Whence a fresh stream is a drawn by the rough cane's aid;
That in the still night its' murmur has made,
And in the day's heat a crystal fountain leaps.

When the sky is serene how gently it flows,

And its zither unseen ceaselessly plays;
But when the rains fall a torrent it goes
Boiling and foaming through the rocky close,
Roaring uncheck'd to the sea's wide ways.

The howl of the dog and the song of the bird,

And only the kalao's hoarse call resound;
Nor is the voice of vain man to be heard;
My mind to harass or my steps to begird;
The woodlands alone and the sea wrap me round.

The sea, ah, the sea! for me it is all,

And it massively sweeps from the world's apart;
Its smile in the morn to my soul is a call,
And when in the evening my faith seems to pall,
It breathes with its sadness an echo to my heart.
Ang Kinaligpitan Ko ni Dr. José Rizal
(Tagalog version of “Mi Retiro”)

Sa may kalawakan ng pampang ng tanak, lambuting buhangin,

Sa paa ng bundok na balot ng kulay na lunti sa tingin,
Ang hamak kong kubo’y doon itinayo, sa maayang lilim
Niyong kakahuyan upang sa gubat ngang payapa’y hanapin
Ang pamahinga niyaring isipan, tighaw sa panimdim.

Ang atip ng bubong ay hamak na pawid, sahig ay kawayan,

Magaspang na kahoy ang mga haligi, pingga at tahilan,
Sa kubo kong ito ay walang bahaging may kahalagahan,
Lalong mabuti pa ang doon humilig sa lunting damuhan
Na abot ng bulong at awit ng dagat sa dalampasigan.

Doon ay may batis na umaawit pa habang naglalagos

Sa may batuhan magmula sa gubat sa may dakong likod;
Batis ay nagsanga sa tulong ng isang magaspang na tungkod,
Kung gabing tahimik ay may bulong siyang nakapag-aantok,
At kung araw naman ang langit ay parang ibig na maabot.

Kung ang kalangita’y payapang-payapa, agos ay banayad,

Panay ang taginting ng kanyang sitarang hindi namamalas,
Pagbagsak ng ulan, ang tulin ng agos ay walang katulad,
Humahagunot pa sa nangaghambalang na batong malapad,
Sa di mapipigil na kanyang pagtakbong patungo sa dagat.

Palahaw ng aso at awit ng ibon, at sigaw ng kalaw,

Ang ingay na tanging siyang bumabasag sa katahimikan;
Doo’y di kilala ang tinig ng taong palalo’t mayabang
Na susunud-sunod sa nasang guluhin ang aking isipan;
Ako’y naliligid ng katabing dagat at ng gubat lamang.

Ang dagat, ah, ito ay siya nang lahat kung para sa akin,
Kung dumadaluhong magmula sa mga malayong pampangin;
Sa akin, ang kanyang ngiti kung umaga’y anyayang magiliw,
At kung dapit-hapong ang pananalig ko’y parang nagmamaliw,
Siya ay may bulong na inihahatid sa akin ng hangin.

Pagdating ng gabi: dakilang palabas ng kahiwagaan,

Malaking liwanag ng mumunting kislap na hindi mabilang
Ang doon sa langit ay nakalaganap sa kaitaasan;
Ikinukuwento ng along may hapis sa hanging malumay
Kasaysayang sadyang nawawala’t sukat sa gabing karimlan.
Huling Paalam ni Dr. Jose Rizal
(Isinalin ni Andres Bonifacio)

Pinipintuho kong Bayan ay paalam,

Lupang iniirog ng sikat ng araw,
mutyang mahalaga sa dagat Silangan,
kaluwalhatiang sa ami’y pumanaw.
Masayang sa iyo’y aking idudulot
ang lanta kong buhay na lubhang malungkot;
maging maringal man at labis ang alindog
sa kagalingan mo ay akin ding handog.

Sa pakikidigma at pamimiyapis
ang alay ng iba’y ang buhay na kipkip,
walang agam-agam, maluwag sa dibdib,
matamis sa puso at di ikahahapis.

Saan man mautas ay di kailangan,

cipres o laurel, lirio ma’y patungan
pakikipaghamok, at ang bibitayan,
yaon ay gayon din kung hiling ng Bayan.

Ako’y mamamatay, ngayong namamalas

na sa Silanganan ay namamanaag
yaong maligayang araw na sisikat
sa likod ng luksang nagtabing na ulap.

Ang kulay na pula kung kinakailangan

na maitina sa iyong liwayway,
dugo ko’y isaboy at siyang ikikinang
ng kislap ng iyong maningning na ilaw.

Ang aking adhika sapul magkaisip

noong kasalukuyang bata pang maliit,
ay ang tanghaling ka at minsang masilip
sa dagat Silangan hiyas na marikit.

Natuyo ang luhang sa mata’y nunukal,

taas na ang noo’t walang kapootan,
walang bakas kunot ng kapighatian
gabahid man dungis niyong kahihiyan.

Sa kabuhayan ko ang laging gunita

maningas na aking ninanasa-nasa
ay guminhawa ka ang hiyas ng diwa
paghingang papanaw ngayong biglang-bigla.

Ikaw’y guminhawa laking kagandahang

akoy malugmok, at ikaw ay matanghal,
hininga’y malagot, mabuhay ka lamang
bangkay ko’y maisilong sa iyong Kalangitan.

Kung sa libingan ko’y tumubong mamalas

sa malagong damo mahinhing bulaklak,
sa mga labi mo’y mangyayaring ilapat,
sa kaluluwa ko halik ay igawad.

At sa aking noo nawa’y iparamdam,

sa lamig ng lupa ng aking libingan,
ang init ng iyong paghingang dalisay
at simoy ng iyong paggiliw na tunay.

Bayaang ang buwan sa aki’y ititig

ang liwanag niyang lamlam at tahimik,
liwayway bayaang sa aki’y ihatid
magalaw na sinag at hanging hagibis.

Kung sakasakaling bumabang humantong

sa krus ko’y dumapo kahit isang ibon,
doon ay bayaan humuning hinahon
at dalitin niya payapang panahon.

Bayaan ang ningas ng sikat ng araw

ula’y pasingawin noong kainitan,
magbalik sa langit ng buong dalisay
kalakip ng aking pagdaing na hiyaw.

Bayaang sino man sa katotong giliw

tangisang maagang sa buhay pagkitil;
kung tungkol sa akin ay may manalangin
idalangin, Bayan, yaring pagkahimbing.

Idalanging lahat yaong nangamatay,

Nangag-tiis hirap na walang kapantay;
mga ina naming walang kapalaran
na inihihibik ay kapighatian.

Ang mga balo’t pinapangulila,

ang mga bilanggong nagsisipagdusa;
dalanginin namang kanilang makita
ang kalayaan mong ikagiginhawa.

At kung ang madilim na gabing mapanglaw

ay lumaganap na doon sa libinga’t
tanging mga patay ang nangaglalamay,
huwag bagabagin ang katahimikan.
Ang kanyang hiwaga’y huwag gambalain;
kaipala’y marinig doon ang taginting,
tunog ng gitara’t salterio’y magsaliw,
ako, Bayan yao’t kita’y aawitan.

Kung ang libingan ko’y limot na ng lahat

at wala ng kurus at batong mabakas,
bayaang linangin ng taong masipag,
lupa’y asarolin at kahuya’y ikalat.

Ang mga buto ko ay bago matunaw,

mauwi sa wala at kusang maparam,
alabok na iyong latag ay bayaang
siya ang babalang doo’y makipisan.

Kung magkagayon ma’y, alintanahin

na ako sa limot iyong ihabilin,
pagka’t himpapawid at ang panganorin,
mga lansangan mo’y aking lilibutin.

Matining na tunog ako sa dinig mo,

ilaw, mga kulay, masamyong pabango,
ang ugong at awit, paghibik ko sa iyo,
pag-asang dalisay ng pananalig ko.

Bayang iniirog, sakit niyaring hirap,

Katagalugan kong pinakaliliyag,
dinggin mo ang aking pagpapahimakas;
diya’y iiwan ko sa iyo ang lahat.

Ako’y patutungo sa walang busabos,

walang umiinis at berdugong hayop;
pananalig doo’y di nakasasalot,
si Bathala lamang doo’y haring lubos.

Paalam, magulang at mga kapatid

kapilas ng aking kaluluwa’t dibdib
mga kaibigan, bata pang maliit,
sa aking tahanan di na masisilip.

Pag-papasalamat at napahinga rin,

paalam estranherang kasuyo ko’t aliw,
paalam sa inyo, mga ginigiliw;
mamatay ay siyang pagkakagupiling!