06 December, 1896

TODAY IN PHILIPPINE HISTORY

The trial of Dr. Jose Rizal by a Spanish military court for sedition, rebellion and conspiracy, which would lead to his execution and martyrdom, began.

Rizal, who was imprisoned first in Barcelona and later in Fort Santiago, was implicated in the revolution which was launched in August 1896 by the Katipunan led by Andres Bonifacio, whose aim was to liberate the country from Spanish colonization. He pleaded his innocence but he was still convicted on all three charges of rebellion, sedition and conspiracy and sen tenced to death.

Earlier, Rizal was already considered as an enemy of the state by the Spanish authorities with the publication of his two great novels — Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo. Rizal was executed on December 30, 1896 in Bagumbayan (Luneta), which has been renamed Rizal Park in his memory.

(Ref: Philippine News Agency’; Photo from driftwoodjourneys.com/the-colorful-life-and-times-of-dr-jose-rizal/)