Dr. Jose Rizal’s Final Walk

The Jose Rizal Monument in Rizal Park in Manila | Photo via Wikimedia Commons

Bounded by Muralla and General Luna Streets in the present-day Intramuros in Manila is a small university, the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (University of the City of Manila). It lies by the South Gate of the old walled city.

Intramuros, a virtual citadel, with Fort Santiago to the north along the Pasig River, and to the east were the shores of Manila Bay. It was a formidable-looking sight back in the day. Only Spaniards were allowed inside; Filipinos and Chinese were prohibited from entering. It was the heart of Spanish colonial times’ political, economic, military, religious, social, and educational life. It was Manila in a capsule when the Spanish Crown controlled the country through its military arms and religious orders.

An important historical event in the closing years of the Spanish colonial rule of the Philippines was the execution of Dr. Jose Rizal by the Spaniards on December 30, 1896, in Bagumbayan (now Rizal Park). He was accused and convicted by a military tribunal of sedition, rebellion, and conspiracy against Spain and sentenced to death by firing squad. He refused offers by sympathizers to whisk him out of the country to Cuba.

Before his death, he was incarcerated in Fort Santiago, where he spent his remaining days and the night of his death when he wrote the epic poem Mi Ultimo Adios (My Last Farewell), a haunting patriotic poem about his beloved country. It was a painful and sad chapter of Philippine history, and sadder still to think that his sacrifices and death and campaign for Filipino freedom were for naught in the context of the present state of Philippine politics and the social and economic life of millions of poor Filipinos.

For many of us who were students and graduates of Pamantasan, the university has not only been a source of hope for a better life, but within the walls of this storied learning institution in the hallowed grounds of Intramuros, we cultivated our passion not only for learning and service to others, but the pursuit of social justice, a cause that Pamantasan has always championed. From June 16 to 21st, 2025, Pamantasan will celebrate its 60th Founding Anniversary. And on June 19, Rizal’s birth anniversary, we will remember the great man who bravely gave his life in his quest for Philippine freedom.

Rizal was aroused in the early dawn on the day of his death and walked from Fort Santiago, flanked by soldiers in full regalia, to the place where he fell from the bullets of his executioners. A monument in his honor marks the spot where he died, reminding Filipinos why he was the national hero. A few feet from the gates of the Pamantasan campus, Rizal passed by on that fateful day and left the footprints of his final walk to his death. He was only 34 when his rich and whole life was abruptly taken.

The footprints he left on his final walk should serve as an inspiration for Filipinos to follow his dream of freedom from oppression and threats, both within and outside the country. We don’t want his last walk to leave only footprints in the wind.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR   Dr. Fernando B. Perfas is an addiction specialist who has written several books and articles on the subject. He currently provides training and consulting services to various government and non-government drug treatment agencies regarding drug treatment and prevention approaches. He can be reached at fbperfas@gmail.com.