Chapter 18: Back to Hong Kong and the Philippines Rizal left Europe for Hong Kong
Because of the political differences with Marcelo del Pilar and other Filipino expatriates in Spain which made his life miserable.
Because of his desire to be with his family.
Life in Hong Kong
He left Europe through MARSEILLES, FRANCE on the steamer MELBOURNE.
There, he set up office at No. 5 D’Aguilar Street and No. 2 Rednaxola Terrace to earn a living. His patients increased due to the referrals made by Dr. Lorenzo P. Marquez, a Portugese ophthalmologist in Hong Kong.
He then wrote a letter to his parents for permission for his return to the country on December 1, 1891. On the same day, he received news from his brother-in-law that DON FRANCISCO, NENENG, SIS, and PACIANO along with other Calambenos were rusticated.
During the Christmas of 1891, he was overjoyed by the arrival of his family in Hong Kong.
Lorenzo Miclat congratulated Rizal for starting anew and pledged support in all his undertakings.
Alejandrino informed him of his plans to counter-act Del Pilar’s lamentable policy, with Rizal as leader.
Linares Rivas promised Rizal that he would seek an audience with the Minister of Colonies in Madrid on the agrarian problems of Calamba.
He also received letters of sympathy from the Govantes and Boustead families for what had happened to him in Madrid.
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.
Re-examination of his political strategy may have been caused by the radical ideas propounded by Luna and Evangelista of the need for a separatist movement and a policy of separation and independence (patterned after Cuban strategy).
In his letter to Blumentritt, he had said that he had lost his hope in Spain and La Solidaridad, and thus he said that nothing can be expected from the peaceful advocacy of reforms.
In Hong Kong, 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; and 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, thus in March 7, 1892, 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 99 years.
Jaena, Luna, Bautista, Blumentritt and his other friends in Europe were delighted upon hearing the new; 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. o Settling in North Borneo should be their last recourse only when all efforts at securing the welfare of the country had been consummated but proved futile.
Hope for the Realization of the North Borneo Project
GOVERNOR EULOGIO DESPUJOL replaced Valeriano Weyler.
This gave Rizal hope and thus he wrote letters to the Governor-General. However, the General did not reply because Rizal’s request for him was unacceptable for two reasons: o The colony lacked workers; and o Leaving the country and cultivating a foreign soil would mean becoming unpatriotic to Spain.
Writings in Hong Kong
In Hong Kong, he continued writing articles which were published by Hong Kong Telegraph, edited by Frazier Smith. o Ang Mga Karapatan Nang Tao – Rizal’s version of the rights of man, a historical document proclaimed by the French Revolution. o A La Nacion Espanola (Top The Spanish Nation) – his appeal to Spain to rectify the wrongs done to the landless peasants of Calamba. o Sa Mga Kababayan (To My Countrymen) – Rizal’s exposition on the Calamba Agrarian Problem.
Rizal Lays Down the Basis of the La Liga Filipina
La Liga Filipina (The Philippine League) – a society he established upon his return to the Philippines which aims: o The unification of the whole archipelago into a vigorous, compact, body; o Mutual protection in every mutual want and necessity; o Defense against all forms of violence and injustice; o Stimulation of instruction, agriculture, and commerce; and o 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: o Popular
o Provincial o 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.
The Decision to Return to the Philippines
Despujol’s rejection of the project led Rizal to choose between Borneo (peaceful emigration) and Cuba (eventual revolution); and thus he returned to the Philippines.
He celebrated his 31st birthday with some of his friends and wrote two letters (one for his family, and one for his countrymen), with the instruction that these letters should only be opened and published after his death.
According to his letters, his return then was prompted by these reasons: 1. To obtain justice and peace for the country 2. To shoulder the burden of all persecutions against his family; 3. To do what his conscience tells him to do; and 4. To prove that reviled Filipinos could die for their conviction.
Before departing, he wrote another letter (3rd) for Governor Despujol informing him of his return and that he is placing himself under the protection of the Spanish colonial government. Upon his return, without his knowledge, the trap had been set up for him by Despujol and the Spanish consul-general in Hong Kong.
Back to the Philippines
They arrived in Manila in June 26, 1892.
Lucia stayed with his sisters, while Rizal stayed in Hotel Oriente in Binondo.
He then requested an usdience with Governor Despujol in Malacanang to ask his permission for the return of his parents and sisters to Manila. The governor then reiterated his disapproval of Rizal’s North Borneo Colonization Project.
The Founding of the 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. o President: Ambrosio Salvador o Fiscal: Agustin de la Rosa o Treasurer: Bonifacio Arevalo o Secretary: Deodato Arellano o Members include Apolinatio Mabini, Andres Bonifacio, Deodate Arellano, Timoteo Paez, Numeriano Adriano, Tomas Del Rosario and Jose M. Dizon.
Rizal Deported to Dapitan
Three days after the founding of La Liga Filipina, he went to Malacanang again for an audience with the Govenor. There he was questioned about his intentions to return to Hong Kong (he responded positively), about the owner of the pillows and mats in his luggage (as there were questionable handbills in them, and to which he answered that it
belonged to Lucia). After that, Despujol ordered his aide-de-camp to arrest Rizal and incarcerate him at Fort Santiago.
On July 7, 1892, Despujol then ordered the deportation of Rizal to Dapitan based on the following charges: o Publication and introduction of various anti-monastic books and handbills; o Traveling through the provinces without permit from the Governor-General; o Finding in his luggage the pamphlet Pobres Frailes (Poor Friars) which mocked religious orders; o Dedication of the El Filibusterismo to the memory of the GOMBURZA; and o His attempts at de-Catholicizing and denationalizing the Filipino people.
He was detained in Fort Santiago for 9 days. On July 15, 1892, he was moved to Dapitan where he found himself spending the next four years of his life.
Due to his deportation, the Liga dies its natural death and it split into two branches: o CUERPO DE COMPROMISARIOS – the rightists o KATIPUNAN or KKK – the leftists
