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| Dr. Jose Rizal |
Incensed by his books Noli Me Tangere, El Filibusterismo and other printed manuscripts, the Spanish friars in the Philippines led by Manila's Archbishop, Msgr. Bernardino Nozaleda, clamored for Rizal's execution for his seditious writings. On June 21, 1892, having acquired a safe conduct pass issued by Spanish Governor-General Eulogio Despujol and accompanied by sister Lucia, he left his home in Hong Kong and travelled to Manila to organize the reformist-civic organization La Liga Filipina that was inaugurated on the eve of July 3, 1892, hosted by Doroteo Ongjunco in his house at No. 176 Ilaya Street, Tondo. This was the first time Rizal met the radicals Apolinario Mabini, Andres Bonifacio and numerous other patriots. After four days, he was arrested and sent on exile to Dapitan, Zamboanga Province - thus, sealing the end for a reformist transformation of the country.
About two months into his exile in August of that same year, Rizal, together with his Spanish military guard and another Spaniard-resident in Dapitan, won a lottery that they parted threesome among themselves. From the proceeds of 6,200 pesos, Rizal bought 16 hectares of land in nearby Talisay upon which his clinic, house and a small school were constructed. His mother, Doña Teodora Alonso, and some of his sisters came to live with him in Talisay. He sent 2000 pesos to his father in Laguna and 200 pesos to his friend Jose M. Basa in Hong Kong who had helped him set up clinic and reside there in the past and, more importantly, had been instrumental in smuggling copies of Rizal’s writings Noli and El Fili into the Philippines. It was also Basa, together with Julio Llorente, who recommended to their friend George Taufer to see Dr. Rizal for the former’s eye disease.
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| A young Josephine |
Desperate for a cure to his blindness, Taufer sold his real estate properties in Hong Kong from which he had been drawing rents, paid his debts and travelled, together with Josephine and Sarah, his natural daughter, to the Philippines on September 5, 1893. Arriving in Manila, they learned of Rizal's exile to far-away Dapitan. They stayed and lived in the capital for six months then continued on the journey to the south. Sarah begged to be left behind in Manila, having met a Filipino suitor on the ship from Hong Kong whom she eventually married. Josephine and her stepfather arrived in Dapitan March 14, 1894 and finally met-up with Dr. Rizal there. The surgeon operated on Taufer's eyes a week later.
Josephine was 18 years old by this time.
next page: Living Together
Josephine was 18 years old by this time.
next page: Living Together
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