Rizal Stopover in Dumaguete

 Rizal 18 hours visited

Jose Rizal kept a diary of his activities during his exile in Dapitan City in 1896 and even after leaving the place for Manila, passing by several key places in the Visayas in early August of that year.

 

On his trip and on his way back from exile in Dapitan, it was rumored that he first stepped foot on the shores of Dumaguete and praised it as a town of kind people. Since there isn't much time to search the archives on that subject, it is difficult to establish this at the moment. However, many Dumaguetenos will continue to tell people that Rizal is the author of the phrase. Land  of Gentle People.

 

At midnight of July 31, 1896, Rizal boarded the steamer SS España. He was accompanied by his sister, Narcisa, his beloved common law wife Josephine Bracken, his niece Angelica Mercado Lopez and three other nephews, and Capt. Ricardo Carnicero.

 

Another reason for his stopover is to meet Mariano Pinili and group of  Masonic at his  Farm house in Tacolobo , from whom I learned about many cases and things concerning provincial etiquette. It turned out that while he was going to visit a friend and former classmate Mr. Faustino Herrero Regidor

 

While in exile in Dapitan he wrote a letter to his business partner

 

Dapitan, 14 March 1895​

Mr. Mariano Pinili​

My dear Sir,​

 

I received your letter and I have the pleasure to inform you that I have already sent money to America about two months ago for the machine that you want.  As that country is far, I expect that the machine will be here within two months.​

Without anything more, command your attentive servant who kisses your hand.​

​

José Rizal

 

The following morning, the boat made its first stop in Dumaguete in Negros Oriental, which was already one of the most developed towns in the Visayas. Rizal recorded his observations in his journal, stating: "Dumaguete spreads out on the beach. There are large homes, some with roofing made of galvanized iron. The home of a lady whose name I can't recall was remarkable. We are discussing Natalia Moras' home. 

Along with his family, Rizal went ashore as the cargo was being loaded. He was escorted by Captain Carnicero because he was a prisoner but can move anywhere in town . He met Romana Ramos Gonzales and her husband Don Bruno Gomez, who took him to Don Ignacio Gonzales' home. Later, he sold  the house to his nephew Capt. Jose Gomez Longa.

house of Don Ignacio Gonzales

 

Before seeing his friend and old classmate Faustino Herrero Regidor, who had ophthalmia, Rizal paid the governor, Emilio Regal, a courtesy visit. Rizal, an ophthalmologist trained in Europe, operated on Regidor, Mariano Larena, and Clemente Gil Diago's eye condition that afternoon. He was accompanied by his sister Antonia Gil Garcia-Baena.

 

Vicente Locsin served Mexican Adobo Bisol for lunch. While there, he met the Prequit & Ybanez Familia, whose homes were just a few meters away.

Rizal reportedly saw other individuals, including a woman he referred to as "Mrs.Ybanez" Some classical music was playing in Rufina Ybanez's home, he remarked, "where, after four years, I heard the piano beautifully performed."

He made note of the people's love for "decorating their houses with plants and flowers" out of all the things he witnessed in Dumaguete.Packet Gardening

Dumaguete una pueblo con gente de encanto con un buen corazón (  Dumaguete  a town with charm people with a good heart & Soul   )

 

The SS España left that evening and arrived in Cebu in the early morning of Aug. 2, 1896.

 

Reasons why Rizal visited  Dumaguete
1. Rizal want to meet some Mason, Revolutionaries  and Political Leader in Negros ​

3. Rizal to meet his Business partner Mariano Pinili ​

4. Rizal to did an eye operation

5. Rizal hear about this beautiful coastal town.​