Unearthing a new footprint of Jose Rizal in Dapitan

When Jose Rizal was deported to Dapitan, a sleepy town in Zamboanga del Norte facing the Sulu Sea, the Spanish colonizers might have expected that being exiled in a place completely opposite of the cities where La Liga Filipina lived and thrived with other members would break his will.

But Rizal had other plans.

Rather than accept defeat, he made his presence in Dapitan deeply felt by the local community.

According to historian Ambeth Ocampo, Rizal made the most of his exile by getting busy in Dapitan. He taught kids at a small school, founded a health clinic, created a relief map of Mindanao in front of the Baroque-styled St. James Church, assisted in the construction of a small dam, and, more significantly, formed close bonds with many of the inhabitants, including friendship with a certain Don Mariano Hamoy.

In 1893 Don Mariano Hamoy and his wife Doña Pilar Sagario built their residence in Dapitan. The Hamoy couple would occasionally entertain Rizal. It was Rizal, as doctor, who delivered Pablo, Don Mariano and Doña Pilar's firstborn child.

While the house would remain with the Hamoy family's direct descendants leading up to its current owners Peter Hamoy and his wife Kat Uyehara, it would take more than a century before it was added to the places associated with Rizal in Dapitan.

"From the moment the house was given by my parents Mariano Lastica Hamoy and Clariza Azcuna Adasa, we immediately planned to restore Balay Hamoy, but had to wait for the right time and enough funds to start the restoration," Peter Hamoy said.

While the issue of restoration funds remained a question, the right time came when the Hamoys' youngest daughter Hitomi approached her parents with a tearful eye and said: "Dad, Mom, I researched on my great, great grandfather Don Mariano Hamoy and the article said he was the forgotten friend of Dr Jose Rizal! Why was he forgotten?" Hitomi asked. "Something has to be done for people to remember him. His story and the story of his friendship with Dr. Jose Rizal must be shared."

She prodded her parents to have the old Balay Hamoy restored.

Despite limited resources and a business that had suffered from the pandemic, Peter and Kat proceeded to restore the old Balay Hamoy, fueled by a desire to tell their family's story and its connection to our history, as well as knowledge gained from years of research in house restoration.

Restored past now on display

As the country began to emerge from the grip of pandemic restrictions, Balay Hamoy gradually underwent restoration until, by the time the city celebrated Rizal's 130th anniversary of arrival in Dapitan, its doors were opened.

"Our main goal for the restoration and preservation was to tell a story of the rich history and heritage of Balay Hamoy and the Dapitanons who lived in those times," said Kat Hamoy. "We also want to share the untold stories of Rizal and Don Mariano Balsomo Hamoy's friendship and the legacies they left to Dapitan," she added.

Coinciding with the Kinabayo Festival and the Revisitamos Dapitan 1892, the commemoration of Rizal's 130th year anniversary of arrival in Dapitan, Balay Hamoy Museum opened to the public with a simple celebration attended by historian Ambeth Ocampo, former CCP VP Chris Millado, National Museum Deputy General Director Jorell Legaspi, National Artists for Music Ryan Cayabyab and Dance Alice Reyes, Dapitan City Mayor Seth Jalosjos and DoT Tourism Regional Director Krisma Rodriguez and a number of history and heritage advocates.

"Rizal has left a footprint on the Dapitanons. He spent four of the most productive years of his life in Dapitan," Mayor Jalosjos said.

The Balay Hamoy Museum, which houses old materials relevant to Rizal's time in Dapitan, as well as a diorama of the Hamoy's interactions with Jose Rizal, among many other interesting items, is a welcome addition to the Jose Rizal trail in Dapitan.

Balay Hamoy Museum is on Mi Retiro Street in Dapitan's heritage district, a three-minute walk from other Rizal landmarks such as St. James the Great Parish Church, Rizal's relief map of Mindanao, Rizal Monument, and Casa Real Marker.