The Cornetin Player in Rizal's Execution

 



On that fateful morning of December 30, 1896, Blas Hizon was up early, fulfilling his usual duty of playing military signal tunes. However, this time, he would be part of the 'peloton' (the squad) assigned to the most important task of the day. The first call was for 'firmes,' signaling the squad to stand at attention. The second call was 'fuego,' followed by the voice command to fire. Blas Hizon, the cornetin player from the 70th Infantry Regiment of the Spanish Army in the Philippines—composed of native conscripts—was a member of the unit that executed Rizal via musketry. He was from Binagonan. This is Blas Hizon's story.
Blas Hizon was 19 when he participated in the unit tasked to execute Rizal. Despite understanding the circumstances that led Rizal to Bagumbayan that day, as a conscript of the colonial forces and a cornetist, he had no choice but to follow orders. Two days after the execution, Blas Hizon deserted, leaving his quartel quietly with some of his possessions, including a revolver and the cornet issued to him. Upon reaching Binangonan, Hizon buried it in the ground.
The discovery of Blas Hizon, who was then living quietly as a farmer, was purely coincidental. In 1934, a tall middle-aged Filipino businessman searching for property in Binangonan approached Hizon, inquiring about available lands for sale. Their conversation extended into personal backgrounds until Blas Hizon revealed his story and produced the cornet. Some may question the authenticity of Hizon's tale and inquire about the nature and character of the businessman who dealt with him.
The businessman was none other than Gen. Guillermo Masangkay, an early member of the Katipunan and a friend of Bonifacio. Masangkay retold the story of Hizon, his cornet, and Rizal's execution. The Manila press obtained Masangkay's narratives and those of Hizon. Years later, the cornet player from Binangonan died in a Laguna Bay mishap when his banca was struck by a larger boat, leading to his drowning.
Masangkay continued to recount stories of the revolution, collecting not only data and research but also paraphernalia about Jose Rizal and Andres Bonifacio. To this day, there is no detailed study of how extensive Masangkay's papers and collection were, if they still exist. Another Filipino hero whose memory is consigned to the dustbin of history.








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