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TO AVENGE HER HUSBAND; The
Widow of Dr. Rizal Here to Secure Aid for the Patriots in the Philippines.
HER WORK IN PHILADELPHIA Arrangements Made for Expeditions and Supplies and
an Agreement for Mutual Assistance Concluded with the Cuban Junta. This was on the front pages of
several US Newspaper on September 22,
1897, Wednesday including
the NYTimes PHILADELPHIA, Sept. 21. -- Marina Comenol Orbi
Hozae Rizal, the widow of Dr Hozae Rizal, who was butchered by Gen Polaviejo
on Dec 6, 1896 is now in Philadelphia. Dr Rizal was the acknowledged leader
and instigator of the revolution in the Philippines, which had been
smoldering since 1894.As the president of Manila University; he was honored
and revered by the residents of the island. Religious persuasion and the
atrocities list of tyrannies that are familiar to Cuban and Philippine
historians finally were too grave for Dr Rizal to bear. He was instrumental
in gathering together the patriots, and took to the field. Marina Comenol
Orbi had been a student in the university. An attachment has sprung up between
her and the President, and on Dec 4 she went into the thick of the battle to
meet her lover, and the President, and they were married, with a band of
patriots as the only witnesses. Marina returned to Manila and two days later
the young husband was captured. The Spanish General visited the prisoner, and
offered him life, liberty, and passports for himself and wife if he would
persuade the insurgents to yield. Rizal courageously and patriotically
refused to buy his freedom at such a price. On Dec 6 he was led to a stone
wall, compelled to knell, and was shot to death by a file of Spaniards under
command of Gen Polaviejo. Mrs Rizal then
made up her mind to devote he life to the cause and avenge he husband. She
first went to Japan, and there found sympathy and substantial encouragement.
Mrs Rizal is now stopping in the northwestern part of this city, where she is
the guest of a family thoroughly in sympathy manifests itself in her shrewd,
secret work. Many cases of arms and ammunition have been shipped over the
trunk lines to Canada, where they will be forwarded to Japan and ultimately
to the patriots in the Philippines. One of the most important steps yet taken
by the Philippine patriots has been their resolution to join forces with
Cuba. It is said that Mrs Rizal has been mainly instrumental in drawing up an
agreement by which the Cuban Junta and the Philippine patriots will act in
unison. She has been in consultation with the most influential Cubans, and
the result will likely be a bond which will mean much for their advancement.
Spain has a foe in Mrs Rizal who is capable of doing much for the cause of liberty. The Remington
Arms Company is said to be have sent thousands fo rifles and is at work
competing more for the same purpose. A band of recruits will be send from
America as soon as they can be collected. The work has been done so quietly
that the presence of Mrs Rizal in this city has been known only to two or
three of her most trusted friends. She has been here in month and not a
moment of idleness. Mrs Rizal will
go from here to Japan and it is her intention to head the troops in person
when she returns to the island. The patriots have been stirred deeply by the
heroism of this woman, who is willing to give her life for the cause for
which her husband died. The Philippine
insurgents have been fighting at a great disadvantage for want of troops and
supplies. With renewed courage and abundant supplies under the inspired
leadership of Mrs. Rizal, they expect long to gain their liberty and force
Spain to grant practically the same reform that Cuba is struggling for. Japan
is lending much aid to their cause, and is said to be looking with envious
eyes upon the island. The expedition
which Mrs Rizal will soon lead from America is the first organized in United
States, but a permanent organization has been formed which will act in
conjunction with the Cuban Junta in supplying troops, war ammunitions, and
counsel to the forces in the field.(end
of the last paragraph) The above
article was published by NY times, LA Times, Deseret News, and other
newspapers in the United States in Sept 22/23, 1897. Another part of that paper was about
Theodore Roosevelt’s declaration that the US is on the verge of war with
Spain. What was more startling was it was coming for the Assistant Secretary
of the Navy. The same month when the Navy Secretary Long was on vacation and Commodore
Dewey got his appointment from Roosevelt to head the Asiatic fleet. Was this the start
of what was known as the yellow journalism? It is not the Yellow fever
prevalent in Cuba but the fever of the Hearst publishing. Dramatizing events
to sell not only newspapers but also swaying public opinion for America's
first world involvement in war and warning the Spanish forces out of the
American continent and the Pacific. By stirring up prejudice and newspaper
accounts of Spain's brutal treatment of Cubans and Filipinos, the Americans
sympathized with the growing rebellion. I am still puzzled. Who is this Mrs
Rizal? The sounding name of Hozae? Note that Gov Polaviejo relieved Blanco
around the first week of December 1896. The report used butcher to describe
the action of the Spanish Governor. Another Governor, Valeriano Weyler was
branded Butcher of Cuban by Cuban expatriates in New York to gather sympathy
of the American population to their cause. Weyler, the butcher repeated by yellow
journalists like William Heartst. I sat on this article when I first
discovered it. I suspect that some of the facts were not valid of what we
know now based on history. I therefore, would not completely dismiss it. Was
this Josephine Bracken? After Rizal martyrdom on Dec 30, 1896ed, she joined
the Katipunan that Dr Rizal always denied supporting ever. On May 1897 she
was transported back to Hong Kong onboard. She did it reluctantly or under
the direct treat of Gov Polaviejo . The article indicated that she was in
Philadelphia around Sept 1897 giving her on 5 months to steam to Philadelphia
crossing the Delaware. Probable? Her husband celebrated the Chinese New Year
in Hong Kong in 1888 took various steamers and arrived in New York City May
13, 1888 with a brief stopover in Japan. The window of opportunity was
enough? Another speculation but unlikely, could this be Marina Dizon? The
cousin of Emilio Jacinto and head of the women Katipunan brigade. Her
husband, happen to be Jose Santiago who was exiled in Hong Kong during the Biak
Na Bato aftermath. Marina or Josephine were never mentioned being in the US
in their life. The other discrepancies might be attributed that she was
working on secret operations. The
worst scenario could be that it was just scam operation rather than to call
the American people to support the fight against Spain. My other speculation
that this was another woman assuming the pseudo role. By using the cover of
an avenging angel coming out of a great love story and martyrdom. , she would
reinforce the revolution. Or, She was just created by the media with the US
secretly behind to help in providing arms, ammunition, and troops in the name
of freedom and liberty. The US public opinion to support the intervention
easily won as the American was already demanding action before 1898. If the New York
Times was right, what happen to Mrs Rizal? Marina was never mentioned again.
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