When Dr. Jose Rizal reported to Dapitan in Mindanao from 1892 to 1896 by the Spanish government, aside from spending some time in teaching the town folks, he also engaged in medical practice through which he was able to cure the eye ailment of Calixto Carreon. The story said that Calixto offered Dr. Rizal the 40-hectare land as a way to repay him. Dr. Rizal accepted Calixto's offer, but insisted on a payment of ₱200, which he had won in a lottery organized by the Spanish.[2] Rizal planted coconuts, hemp, sugar cane, and fruit trees on his farm.[2]
In order to keep the farm under proper management, Dr. Rizal designated one of his sisters, Trinidad, to look after the farm. After several years, Trinidad passed the farm's management to Fernando Eguía, one of Dr. Rizal's students. A marker was installed in the area by the National Historical Institute (NHI) which states that Trinidad sold the land to Crisostomo Eguía Sr., son of Fernando. It was agreed right there and then after the sale that the land would still be registered under the name of Dr. Rizal. Other siblings of Dr. Rizal also witnessed such agreement.
At present days, the farm is under the care of the children of Crisostomo Eguia Sr. On a positive note, Director Mary June Bugante of the Department of TourismRegion 9 said her office is constantly in touch with Eguia Family to encourage them to transform the farm into a duly recognized tourist destination.[3]
^ abLocsin, Teodoro M. (1996). Rizal. University of Michigan. p. 111. ISBN971-91399-2-7. OCLC36884621. [A] ticket he had in the Spanish lottery brought him 6,200 pesos. He bought more land [...] On these rich fields he planted coconut, hemp, sugar and fruit trees. He became a gentleman farmer.
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