"Martyrs are rare stars in the vast firmament of humanity ... Every instance of martyrdom is distinct in magnitude and direction. Indeed, martyrs are the meteors of history - they flash across the sky and light the world and in the process consume themselves leaving an impression in the conscience of mortal men." 1

A centennial celebration is an important milestone in a nation's life. It allows the present generation to look back at what transpired in its history to make possible the birth and growth of a nation. It provides a good time to reassess the lessons that we have learned from the past and in the process of reflection, to be able to understand ourselves and our collective consciousness as a people. This paper intends to reflect on the martyrdom of Jose Rizal whose centennial we celebrate today, anal yze its impact on history and offer some explanations about our behavior as a people.

Rizal's death was an emotional event in our history as it produced a "martyr" and resulted in some form of social change or transformation in our lives as a people. Webster defines a "martyr" as a person who is put to death or made to suffer greatly b ecause of religion or other beliefs. Other elements of martyrdom are usefulness of life and dedication to a high purpose.2 Rizal was put to death for "subversion" by the dominant political forces. He represented a sector of society which had begun to c ause trouble and therefore constituted a real threat to the existing social order.

The Trial of Jose Rizal

The Spanish colonial government accused Rizal of two crimes: (a) the founding of La Liga Filipina, an "illegal organization" whose single aim was to "perpetrate the crime of rebellion;" (b) rebellion which he promoted through his previous activities.3 The prosecution drew information from the dossier on Rizal which detailed his "subversive activities" some of which were the following:

1. The writing and publication of "Noli me Tangere," the Annotations to Morga's History of the Philippines, "El Filibusterismo," and the various articles which criticized the friars and suggested their expulsion in order to win independence. The Fili was dedicated to the three martyr priests "who were executed as traitors to the Fatherland in 1872 because they were the moving spirits of the uprising of that year."

2. The establishment of masonic lodges which became the propaganda and fund raising center to support subversive activities and the establishment of centers in Madrid, Hongkong and Manila to propagate his ideas.4

Rizal, in his defense, denied that he engaged in any political activity between July 6, 1892 after the founding of the La Liga Filipina, to June 1, 1896 when Dr. Pio Valenzuela visited him at Dapitan to inform him "that an uprising was being contemplat ed." He told the court that in fact he "advised against it" and he seemed "to have convinced Don Pio Valenzuela at the end of the interview, for later on, instead of taking part in the rebellion, he sought amnesty from the authorities." He claimed that his name was merely "exploited' since he was already "contented" and "resigned" in his place of exile "because of the opportunity it gave me to do some writing" and he even" sought to go to Cuba as a volunteer. 5

On the La Liga, he claimed that it "died stillborn" since he was exiled to Dapitan shortly after its founding. He denied that it was a subversive organization since some members "had to abandon it in order to organize the Katipunan. "He denied the ac cusations of those who have testified against him since the founders of La Liga were not the same founders of the Katipunan. In fact, the persons who visited him in Dapitan were "persons totally unknown" to him. 6

The Spanish martial court found him guilty of "the crimes of founding illegal associations and of promoting and inciting to the crime of rebellion" and sentenced him to death. He was to be executed at Bagumbayan on December 30, 1896.

The Execution of Rizal

Rizal was heavily guarded and was accompanied by the Jesuits as he walked from Fort Santiago to Bagumbayan. He wore a black woolen suit and a derby hat and his arms were tied behind him. During the walk, he recalled his youth and his student days at the Ateneo. And in Bagumbayan itself, the Spanish troops held back the crowd while the artillery group stood on alert to prevent any attempt to rescue Rizal. His brother Paciano who had joined the revolutionary forces was said to have discouraged group s who might want to save Rizal since they would not be able to match Spanish firepower. The firing squad was made up of Filipinos but behind them were Spanish soldiers who would make sure that the death order was carried out just in case the Filipino sol diers reneged on their duty. Austin Craig who wrote a biography of Rizal published in 1913 described the hero's execution.

"His request to be allowed to face his executioners was denied as being out of the power of the commanding officer to grant, though Rizal declared that he did not deserve such a death, for he was no traitor to Spain. But it was promised that his head would be respected and as unblindfolded and erect Rizal turned his back to receive their bullets, he twisted a hand to indicate under the shoulder where the soldiers should aim as to reach his heart. Then as the volley came, with a last supreme effort of will power, he turned and fell face upwards, thus receiving the subsequent shots of grace which ended his life, so that in form as well as fact he did not die a traitor's death ..."

"The troops defiled past the dead body, as though reviewed by it, for the most commanding figure of all was that which lay lifeless, but the center of all eyes. An officer, realizing the decency due to death, drew his handkerchief from the dead man's pocket and spread the silk over the calm face ..."7

Sir Hugh Clifford who became Governor of Ceylon described the reaction of the onlookers in Blackwood's Magazine:

"It was early morning, December 30, 1896 and the bright sunshine of the tropics streamed down upon the open space, casting hard fantastic shadows, and drenching with its splendor two crowds of sightseers. The one was composed of Filipinos, cowed, mela ncholy, sullen, gazing through hopeless eyes at the final scene in the life of their great countryman - the man who had dared to champion their cause, and to tell the world the story of their miseries; the other was blithe of air, gay with the uniforms of officers and the bright dresses of Spanish ladies, the men jesting and laughing, the women shamelessly applauding with waving handkerchiefs and clapping palms, all alike triumphing openly in the death of that hated 'Indian' the `brother of the water-buff alo' whose indolence had wounded their pride."8

A wagon from San Juan de Dios arrived after one hour and picked up Rizal's body. He was laid to rest in his black suit and derby hat. His remains were placed in a plain box and buried at the Paco cemetery. No outsider was allowed to witness the eve nt and the exact burial site was kept secret for fear that Filipinos might steal the body. But some members of the burial staff who were friends of the Rizal family placed a marker at the site with the letters R.P.J. which stood for Rizal's initials, fo r Jose Protacio Rizal in the reverse.9

Commemoration of Rizal's Death

Henceforth, his death anniversary became an event that had to be commemorated. In 1897, on the first anniversary of his death, Spaniards were still in control and they desecrated his grave while Filipinos brought flowers with Tagalog dedication to ne arby graves.10 His second death annniversary in 1898 was celebrated under more auspicious circumstances since the Aguinaldo government had become the recognized political authority and was presumably still in control before the Americans asserted their o wnership of the islands by virtue of the Treaty of Paris concluded on December 10, 1898.

General Emilio Aguinaldo, president of the Philippine Revolutionary Government proclaimed December 30 as a public holiday and a day of mourning in an order issued on December 20 in Malolos, Bulacan. The flag was raised at half-mast from noon of Decem ber 29 to noon of December 30. La Independencia in its December 31, 1898 issue reported the details of the musical literary program held at the Club Filipino on Calle Alix to commemorate Rizal's death anniversary. A bust of Rizal was unveiled for the o ccasion and a crown of laurel leaves was placed on its head. Rafael Palma recited a poem, Epifanio de los Santos played the guitar while Aguinaldo, Pedro Paterno and Paciano Rizal sent telegrams which were read during the program.

The American colonial government took over this tradition and included December 30 as one of the public holidays together with other American holidays such as Washington Day. On December 30, 1905, Willian Jennings Bryan delivered the Rizal Day addres s. A monument was also erected in Bagumbayan and Rizal was declared a national hero.