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Rizal in Exile
"Beside a spacious beach of fine and delicate sand
and at the foot of a mountain greener than a leaf
I planted my humble hut beneath a pleasant orchard,
seeking in the still serenity of the woods
repose to my intellect and silence to my grief."
-from "Mi Retiro" by Dr. Jose Rizal (as translated by Nick Joaquin)
Dapitan's foremost claim to fame is that it hosted Dr. Jose Rizal, the Philippine national hero, during his four-year exile from 17 July 1892 until 31 July 1896 as decreed by the Spanish colonial administration. Rizal himself was captivated by the scenic landscape, quiet seclusion, and subdued charm of the sleepy town that he wrote one of his more famous poems "Mi Retiro" as an ode to his adopted hometown.
For the historical buff or the simply curious, the Rizal Shrine is situated just outside the poblacion, or town center. Within this historical enclave, the visitor can very well feel the spirit of Rizal as one walks through the expansive estate. Faithful replicas of the structures Rizal himself built out of locally available materials can be found here.
Another point of interest to be seen in this historical park is the rock where Rizal was said to have spent many an afternoon by himself, or with his beloved Josephine Bracken, perhaps to get lost in his thoughts or to enjoy the beautiful sunsets of Dapitan.
Below are some images with short descriptions of the structures that Rizal constructed during his exile in Dapitan.
Rizal's House
Balai ni Rizal
Within the shrine, you will find the main house on the estate that Rizal lived in together with family members who would come to visit him. Like the other structures, Rizal's house is a faithful replica of the original that was built by the national hero himself.
Casa Redonda
The Octagonal Hut
The Casa Redonda is an octagonal hut that served as the classroom where Rizal taught local school boys. It also served as a guest house and was later converted into the clinic where George Taufer, the foster father of Josephine Bracken, had his eyes operated on by Rizal, who was a German-trained opthalmologist.
Casa Redonda Pequeña
Rizal's Chicken Coop
This small hexagonal hut, which Rizal referred to as Casa Redonda Pequeña, was utilized as his chicken coop.
Getting There and Other Information
To get to the Rizal Shrine, you can book a sikad tour with Thad or Dang, or any of the Home Sweet Home staff.
Total estimated time to complete the sikad tour is 2 hours and 45 minutes albeit actual time spent would depend largely on the curiosity of the individual visitor.
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