Chapter 18 | Locating the Garden of Eden
In the Philippines
“My Last Farwell” (“Mi Ultimo Adios”) “Farewell, my adored Land, region of the sun caressed, Pearl of the Orient Sea, our Eden lost, With gladness I give you my Life, sad and repressed; And were it more brilliant, more fresh and at its best, I would still give it to you for your welfare at most.” – Dr. Jose Rizal, December 30, 1896 (Eve of his execution). Original in Spanish. English translation by Encarnacion Alzona & Isidro Escare Abeto. [296]
Did Dr. Jose Rizal know more about the Philippines than we are told? On the eve of his execution, he wrote this poem in which he referred to the Philippines as the “region of the sun” which is important in identifying the land of Chryse/Ophir, “Pearl of the Orient Sea” which is crucial in revealing the land of Ancient Havilah next to the Garden of Eden and “our Eden lost” as if he knew this was in fact the long lost location of the Garden of Eden perhaps. One must wonder if Rizal had other writings which may have been smuggled out of his prison of exile but no such speculation is needed to locate the Garden of Eden which has actually been recorded since very ancient times and exact directions even. We will delve into this realm though we were hesitant at first. Can we really find the Garden of Eden in the Philippines? When we first started researching Ophir, we received correspondence from many Filipinos who told us that not only was the Philippines Ophir but it was the location of the Garden of Eden. Knowing the ramifications 296
