The step that I ha ve taken, or am ab out to take, is undou btedly v ery risky , and it is u nnecessary to say that I hav e pondered on it a great deal. I know that eve ryone is op posed to it but I realize al so that no one knows what goes on in my heart. I can not live knowing t hat many are suffering unjust persec ution because of me; I can not live seeing my brothers [hermanos] and their large families persecuted like criminals. I pr efe r to fa ce death and gladly giv e my lif e to fre e so many innocent persons from this unjust persecution. I know that, at present, t he future of my country gravitates in part around me ; that with my death, many would rejoi ce, and that, cons equently , many are longing for my e nd. But wha t am I to do? I hav e dut ies of cons equence above al l else; I hav e moral obligati ons toward the fa mili es who suffer , toward my ag ed pare nts whose sighs pierce my hear t; I know that I alone, even my de ath, can make t hem hap py by return ing them to their country and the tranquilities of their home. My parents are all that I hav e, but my country has many sons still who can take it to advantage. Moreo ver, I w ish to show t hose who deny us patriotis m t hat w e k now how to die for our duty and for our convictions. What matters death if one dies for what one loves, for one’s country and for those whom he loves? If I know that I w ere the only pill ar of Philippine poli tic s and if I were c onvinced that my countrymen were going to make us e of my serv ices, perh aps I would hesitate to take this step, but there are stil l others who can take my place, who can take my pla ce to adv antage. Furthermore, there are those wh o find me superf luous and in no n eed of my serv ices, thus they reduce me to inaction. I hav e always loved my poor country and I am sure that I shall love her until my last moment. Perhaps some peop le will be unjust to me; well, my future, my life, my joys , e v erything, I ha v e sacrificed for lov e of her. Whatever my fate will be, I shall die blessing my country and wishing her the dawn of her redemption. (Letter written on December 31, 1989) Picture: (From left to right) Juan Luna, Jose Rizal, and Valentin Ventura fencing outside Luna’s studio in Paris, circa 1889 (In Excelsis: t he M iss ion of Jose Riz al: Human ist and Philippine National Hero, b y Fe lice Pruden te Sta. M aria.Studio 5 D esigns, Inc., 1996 .) Source: Amb eth R . Oc ampo. Rizal Wit hout the Over coat. Anvil Publi shing Inc., reprinted as an expa nded edition in 2000. (10-12) -

3rizal (not mine)

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knows what goes on in my heart. I can not live knowing that many are suffering unjust persecutionbecause of me; I can not live seeing my brothers [hermanos] and their large families persecuted likecriminals. I prefer to face death and gladly give my life to free so many innocent persons from this unjustpersecution.

I know that, at present, the future of my country gravitates in part around me; that with my death, manywould rejoice, and that, consequently, many are longing for my end. But what am I to do? I have duties ofconsequence above all else; I have moral obligations toward the families who suffer, toward my aged

parents whose sighs pierce my heart; I know that I alone, even my death, can make them happy byreturning them to their country and the tranquilities of their home. My parents are all that I have, but mycountry has many sons still who can take it to advantage.

Moreover, I wish to show those who deny us patriotism that we know how to die for our duty and for our

convictions. What matters death if one dies for what one loves, for one’s country and for those whom heloves?

If I know that I were the only pillar of Philippine politics and if I were convinced that my countrymen were

going to make use of my services, perhaps I would hesitate to take this step, but there are stil l others whocan take my place, who can take my place to advantage. Furthermore, there are those who find mesuperfluous and in no need of my services, thus they reduce me to inaction.

I have always loved my poor country and I am sure that I shall love her until my last moment. Perhapssome people will be unjust to me; well, my future, my life, my joys, everything, I have sacrificed for love of

her. Whatever my fate will be, I shall die blessing my country and wishing her the dawn of herredemption.

(Letter written on December 31, 1989)

Picture: (From left to right) Juan Luna, Jose Rizal, and Valentin Ventura fencing outside Luna’s studio in

Paris, circa 1889 (In Excelsis: the Mission of Jose Rizal: Humanist and Philippine National Hero, by Felice

Prudente Sta. Maria.Studio 5 Designs, Inc., 1996.)

Source: Ambeth R. Ocampo. Rizal Without the Overcoat. Anvil Publishing Inc., reprinted as an expandededition in 2000. (10-12)