LESSON 08

Paris to Berlin (1885-1887)

- Rizal went to Paris and Germany in order to specialize in ophthalmology.

- He met and befriended several top German scientists, Dr. Feodor Jagor, Dr. Adolph B. Meyer, Dr. Hans
Meyer and Dr. Rudolf Virchow

● IN GAY PARIS (1885-1886):

- After CUM, Rizal who was 24 yrs.old and already a physician went to Paris in order to acquire more
knowledge in ophthalmology.
- On his way to Paris, he stopped at Barcelona to visit his friend Maximo Viola.
- Maximo Viola is a medical student and a member of a rich family of San Miguel, Bulacan.
- He stayed at Senor Eusebio Corominas's house over a week
- Senor Eusebio Corominas is the editor of the newspaper “La Publicidad” and made a crayon sketch of Don
Miguel Marayta
- Don Miguel Marayta is the owner of La Publicidad and a statesman
- In November 1885, Rizal was living in Paris where he sojourned for about 4 months.
- Rizal worked as an assistant from November 1885 to February 1886 of Dr. Louis de Weckert, the leading
French ophthalmologist. (1852-1906)
- On November 27, 1878, Rizla told Enrique Lete that he “learned the solfeggio, piano, voice culture in one
month and a half”
- Because of determination and constant practice, Rizal came to play the flute fairly well
- Rizal became a flutist in various impromptu reunions of Filipinos in Paris
- Alin Mang Lahi (Any race) is a patriotic song written by Rizal which aspires that any race can have
freedom
- He spent many hours to Juan Luna’s studio.
- Juan Luna is called the “Great master of brush”

● JUAN LUNA’S CANVASES/PAINTINGS THAT RIZAL IS THE MODEL:

(1) The Death of Cleopatra - Rizal posted as an Egyptian priest.
(2) The Blood Compact - Rizal posted as Sikatuna, with Trinidad Pardo de Tavera as Legaspi
- Juan Luna was engaged Paz Pardo de Tavera and later became his wife.

● IN HISTORIC HEIDELBERG:
- On February 8, 1886, Rizal arrived in Heidelberg
- Heidelberg is a historic city on Germany, famous for its old university and romantic surroundings
- Rizal became popular among the Germans because they found out that he was a good chess player
- Rizal worked at the Univeristy Eye Hospital under the direction of Dr. Otto Becker
- Dr. Otto Becker is a distinguished German ophthalmologist
- On April 22, 1886, Rizal wrote a fine poem entitled “A Las Flores de Heidelberg” (To the flowers of
Heidelberg) because he was fascinated by the blooming flowers along the Neckar River
- Rizal’s favorite flower is the light blue flower is also called “forget-me-not”
- On August 6, 1886, Rizal was fortunate to witness the 5th centenary celebration of the University of
Heidelberg

Stephanie B.
● FIRST LETTER TO BLUMENTRITT:
- July 31, 1886, Rizal wrote his first lette rto Professor Ferdinand Blumentritt
- Rizal sent Aritmetica (Arithmetic) book to Blumentritt which was published in 2 languages (Spanish and
Tagalog) by UST Press in 1868
- Aritmetica’s author was Rufino Baltazar Hernandez
- Blumentritt became a friend of Jose Rizal

● FERDINAND BLUMENTRITT:
- Director of the Ateneo of Leitmeritz, Austria
- Austrian ethnologist
- Has an interest in the Philippine language

● LEIPZIG AND DRESDEN: Two Saxon Cities of the World. Architecture, art, historical places: Saxony is
Germany's number one cultural travel destination, with hotspots including Little Venice and Elbflorenz, aka
Leipzig and Dresden.

● IN LEIPZIG AND DRESDEN:

- August 14, 1886, Rizal arrived at Leipzig to attend the University of Leipzig on history and psychology
- Rizal befriended Prof. Friedrich Ratzel and Dr. Hans Meyer
- Prof. Friedrich Ratzel is a famous historian
- Dr. Hans Meyer is a German anthropologist
- Rizal found out that Leipzig cost of living was the cheapest in Europe so he stayed 2 months and a half
- October 29, 1886, Rizal went to Dresden, where he met Dr. Adolph B. Meyer
- Dr. Adolph B. Meyer is the Director of the Anthropological and Ethnological Museum
- Rizal was enchanted by Berlin because of their scientific atmosphere and the absence of race prejudice
- Rizal encounter the great scientist, Dr. Feodor Jagor, Dr. Rudolf Virchow, Dr. W. Joest, Dr. Karl Ernest
Schweigger

● THE SCIENTISTS RIZAL ENCOUNTERED:

(1) Dr. Feodor Jagor - a German scientist-traveler and author of “Travels in the Philippines
(2) Dr. Rudolf Virchow - famous German Anthropologist
(3) Dr. W. Joest - a German Geographer
(4) Dr. Karl Ernest Schweigger - famous German Ophthalmologist

● 5 REASONS OF RIZAL WHY HE STAYED IN BERLIN:

(1) To gain further knowledge about his profession Ophthalmology
(2) To expand his studies of science and languages
(3) To observe economic and political conditions of German nation
(4) To associate with famous German scientist and scholars
(5) To publish his novel, “Noli Me Tangere”

● RIZAL ON GERMAN WOMEN:

- March 11, 1886, Jose Rizal sent a letter to his younger sister Trinidad that expressed his high regard and
admiration for German womanhood

Stephanie B.
- In the letter, Jose Rizal said that German woman is serious, diligent, educated and friendly
- German women were not fond of gossip and quarrels unlike the Spanish women
- German women are not particular about beautiful dresses and expensive jewelries but they can dress nicely like
any other girls in the world
- Jose Rizal regretted that in the Philippines, women care more to their dress than their knowledge
- Jose Rizal praised the delicacy of feeling, fine manners, devotion, and hospitality of Filipino women,
especially those in provinces

● GERMAN CUSTOMS THAT RIZAL ADMIRED:

(1) In Christmas season people will select a pine tree from the bushes and adorned with lanterns, papers,
lights, dolls, candies, fruits, etc.
(2) Self-Introduction to strangers in social gatherings

● RIZAL’S DARKEST WINTER:

- 1886 winter in Berlin was his darkest winter
- Rizal lived in poverty because no money arrived from Calamba and he was flat and broke
- Rizal can’t afford to pay his landlord and he was only eating one meal a day
- His clothes were old and threadbare
- His health broke down due to lack of proper nourishment
- But this one of the most memorable days in life of Jose Rizal

● ADDITIONAL:
- CASCO is the flat bottomed boat with roof, which Jose Rizal and his father rode on their way to
pilgrimage in Antipolo.
- “Liberalism” is a worldview founded on ideas of “freedom and equality”
- 19th Century is commonly depicted as the birth of modern life as well as the birth of many nation-
states around the globe

Stephanie B.
 LESSON 10
Noli Me Tangere

● RIZAL’S DARKEST WINTER:

- Winter of 1886 in Berlin was Jose Rizal’s darkest winter because no money arrived from Calamba and he was
flat broke.
- The diamond ring Saturnina gave him was in the pawnshop.
- Although it was sad, it was memorable for Jose Rizal for two reasons:
(1) It was a painful episode for he was hungry, sick and despondent in strange city
(2) It brought him great joy after enduring so much sufferings, because his first novel, Noli Me Tangere came off
the press in March 1887

● THE WRITING OF NOLI ME TANGERE:

- Harriet Beecher Stowe’s “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” inspired Jose Rizal to prepare a noble that would depict the
miseries of his people under the last of Spanish tyrants.
- January 2, 1884 in Paterno Residence, Madrid, Filipinos had a reunion and Rizal proposed the writings
of a novel about the Philippines by a group of Filipinos.
- Toward the end of 1884, Rizal began writing the novel in Madrid an finished about one-half of it.
- Rizal went to Paris in 1885 after completing his studies in CUM, he continued writing the novel,
finishing the second half.
- Rizal finished the last fourth of the novel in Germany.
- He wrote the last few chapters of the Noli Me Tangere in Wilhemsfeld in April-June 1886
- In Berlin during winter days of February 1886, Rizal made the final revisions on the manuscript of the Noli
Me Tangere

● THE MAN WHO SAVED “NOLI”

- Maximo Viola is Rizal’s friend from Bulacan who arrived in Berlin at the height of Rizal despondency and
loaned him the needed funds to publish the novel.
- After the christmas season, Rizal put the finishing touches on his novel.
- To save printing expenses, he deleted certain passages in his manuscript, including a whole chapter “Elias and
Salome”
- February 21, 1887, the Noli Me Tangere was finally finished and ready for printing.
- The novel was printed in “Berliner Buchdruckerei-Action-Gesselschaft”, a printing shop which charged the
lowest rate of 300 pesos for 2,000 copies.
- March 29,1887 when Noli came off the press
- In token of Rizal’s appreciation and gratitude, he gave Maximo Viola the galley proofs of the Noli carefully
rolled around the pen that he used in writing in and a complimentary copy, with the following inscription: “To
my dear friend, Maximo Viola, the first to read and appreciate my work - Jose Rizal.”

● THE TITLE OF THE NOVEL:

- Noli Me Tangere is a Latin phrase which means “Touch Me Not”
- The title is not originally conceived by Rizal, for he admitted taking it from the Bible.
- He wrote to Felix Hidalgo in French on March 5, 1887 said that the Noli Me Tangere was taken from the
Gospel of St. Luke, signify “do not touch me” but it was a mistake, it should be the Gospel of St. John
(Chapter 20 Verses 13-17)
- Rizal dedicated his noble to the Philippines “To my country”

Stephanie B.
- The cover of Noli Me Tangere was designed by himself.
- The cover has many explicit symbols like:
(1) Woman head atop a Maria Clara bodice represents the nation and the women, victims of social
cancer.
(2) One of the cause of cancer is symbolized in the friar’s feet, outsized in relation to the
women’s head.
(3) The other aggravating causes of oppression and discrimination are shown in the guard’s helmet
and iron chains, the teachers whip and the alferez’s scrouge.
(4) The slight cluster of bamboo stand at the backdrop are the people forever in the background of their
own country’s history.
(5) The cross, maze, flowers, and thorny pants, and flame, is the indicative of the religious policy,
the misdirected ardor, the people strangled as a result of these all.
- The Noli Me Tangere has a total of 63 chapters and an epilogue.
- Dr. Antonio Ma. Regidor, a Filipino patriot and lawyer who had veen exiled due to his complicity in the Cavite
Mutiny of 1872, read avily the novel and was very much impressed by the author.

● CHARACTERS OF NOLI:
- Noli Me Tangere was true story of the Philippine conditions during the last decades of Spanish rule.
(1) Maria Clara - She was inspired by Leonor Rivera, although in real life, she became unfaithful and married
an Englishman.
(2) Crisostomo Ibarra and Elias - represented Jose Rizal himself
(3) Pilosopo Tasio - the philosopher was Rizal’s elder brother Paciano
(4) Padre Salvi - was identified by Rizalists as Padre Antonio Piernavieja, the hated Augustinian friar in Cavite
who was killed by the patriots during the revolution
(5) Capitan Tiago - was Captain Hilario Sunico of San Nicolas
(6) Donya Victorina - was Donya Augustina Medel
(7) Basilio and Crispin - They were Crisostomo brothers of Hagonoy
(8) Padre Damaso - He was the typical of a domineering friar during the days of Rizal, who was
arrogant, immoral and anti-Filipino

● ADDITIONAL:
- Noli Me Tangere is attributed to deal with the “social cancer” during Rizal’s time.
- The following is the social cancer showed in the novel:
(1) The absence of a meaningful governance
(2) The abuse of church power
(3) Lack of nationalism and lost identity of indios (Filipinos)

Stephanie B.
 LESSON 11
Rizal’s Tour of Europe with Viola 1887

● RIZAL AND VIOLA:

- Dawn of May 11, 1887, Rizal and Viola, two brown-skinned doctors left Berlin by train.
- They headed to Dresden, one of the best cities in Germany.
- Their visit to the city coincided with the regional floral exposition.
- Rizal who was interested in botany, studied numerous plants varieties of extraordinary beauty and size.
- In Museum of Art, Rizal was deeply impressed by a painting of “Prometheus Bound”

● FIRST MEETING WITH BLUMENTRITT:

- At 1:30 PM of May 13, 1887, Rizal and Viola arrived at the railroad station of Leitmeritz Bohemia by the
train.
- There, for the first time, Jose Rizal and Blumentritt met for the first time.
- Professor Blumentritt is a kind-hearted, old Austrian professor.
- Upon seeing Rizal for the first time, Blumentritt immediately took him into his heart, loving him as his own
son.
- Rizal and Viola stayed in Leitmeritz from May 13-17, 1887

● BEAUTIFUL MEMORIES OF LEITMERITZ:

- Rizal enjoyed the warm hospitality of the Blumentritt family.
- Blumentritt himself serve as the tourist guide of Rizal.
- One afternoon, Blumentritt invited Rizal to a beer garden where a group of men were having a
discussion and one of the man in the group was “Burgomaster” or the town mayor.
- Burgomaster was amazed by Rizal as he can speak fluently in German which he studied for only “11 months”
- Another afternoon, they visited the Tourist’s Club of Leitmeritz which Blumentritt was the secretary.
- Rizal spoke extemporaneously in fluent German to the officers and members.
- Rizal also met scientists of Europe:
(1) Dr. Carlos Czepelak - a renowned scientist
(2) Professor Robert Klutschak - an eminent naturalist.
- May 17, 1887 at 9:45 AM, Rizal and Viola left Leitmeritz by train.

● PRAGUE AND VIENNA:

- After Leitmeritz, Rizal and Viola visited the historic city of Prague and they met Dr. Wellkomm.
- Dr. Wellkomm is a professor of natural history in the University of Prague.
- According to Viola, “nothing of importance happened” in Prague.
- May 20, 1887, Rizal and Viola arrived in Vienna, the capital of Austria-Hungary.
- Vienna was truly the “Queen of Danube” because of its beautiful buildings, religious images, haunting waltez,
and majestic charm.
- Rizal and Viola met the one of the greatest Austrian novelists names “Norfentals” who was favorably
impressed by Rizal.
- Norfentals spoke highly of Rizal years after they met, “whose genius he so much admired.”

Stephanie B.
● DANUBIAN VOYAGE TO LINTZ:
- May 25, 1887, Rizal and Viola left Vienna on a river boart to see the beautiful sight of Danube River.
- Rizal particularly noticed that the passengers on the river boat were using paper napkins during the meals,
which was a novelty to him.
- Viola commented that the paper napkins were “more hygienic and economical than cloth napkins.”

● LINTZ TO RHEINFALL:
- Rizal and Viola stayed for a short time in Munich to savor the famous Munich beer, reputed to be the best in
Germany.
- From Munich, they went to Nuremberg.
- Nuremberg is one of the oldest cities of Germany.
- After Munich, they visited the Cathedral of Ulm, the largest and tallest cathedral in all Germany.
- From Ulm, they went to Struttgart, Baden and Rheinfall (Cascade of the Rhine)
- At Rheinfall, they saw the most beautiful waterfall of Europe.

● GENEVA:
- Geneva is a Swiss city and one of the most beautiful cities in Europe.
- Geneva is visited by world tourists every year.
- On June 19, 1887, Rizal treated Viola to a blow-out for it was his friend’s 26th birthday.
- Rizla and Viola spent fifteen delightful days in Geneva.
- On June 23, 1887, Rizal and Viola parted ways.
- Viola returned to Barcelona and Rizal continued the tour in Italy.
- After a week of wonderful stayed in Rome, Rizal prepared to return to Philippines.
- Rizal wrote a letter to his father that he was coming home.

● IN DEFENSE OF IGOROTS:
- While Rizal is happily touring in Europe, there was an Exposition of te Philippines held in Madrid, Spain.
- Upon reaching Geneva (Switzerland), he received sad news from his friend in Madrid of the
deplorable conditions of the primitive Igorot who were exhibited in this exposition.
- In the exhibit, some of the Igorots died, has scanty clothing (G-Strings), and crude weapons were objects
of mockery and laughter by the Spanish people and press.
- Being champion of human dignity, Rizal was outraged by this degradation of his fellow countrymen, the
Igorots of Northern Luzon.
- He wrote a letter to Blumentritt on June 6, 1887 said “My poor compatriots (Igorots) who are noe being
exhibited in Madrid are moved by Spanish newspapers, except El Liberal which says that it is not
consistent with human dignity to be exhibited side by side with animals and plants. I have done
everything possible to prevent the display of this degradation of men of my race, but I have not
succeeded. Now one woman died in pneumonia. The Igorots, were housed in barraca (rustic house
made of bamboo, grass, and tree branches). And El Resumen still makes mean joke about it.”
- In another letter to Blumentritt, Rizal said that he was in favor of holding an exposition “but no an
exhibition of odd individuals, showing our countrymen as a curiosity to entertain the idle inhibitions
of Madrid.”
- Rizal emphatically reiterated: “We want an industrial exposition, but not an exhibition of human beings
who are compelled to live almost outdoors and die of nostalgia and pneumonia or typhus!”

Stephanie B.
 LESSON 12
Back to Calamba (887-1888)

● RIZAL GOING HOME TO CALAMBA:

- Because of the publication of Noli Me Tangere and the uproar it caused among the friars, Rizal was warned
not to return home by:
(1) Paciano (his brother)
(2) Silvestre Ubaldo (his brother-in-law)
(3) Chengoy (Jose M. Cecilio)
(4) His other friends
- Rizal was determined to return home for the following reasons:
(1) To operate his mother’s falling eyesight.
(2) To serve his people who has long been oppressed by Spanish tyrants.
(3) To find out for himself how Noli and his other writings were affecting Filipinos and Spaniards.
(4) To inquire why Leonor Rivera remained silent.
- June 29, 1887 Rizal wrote to his father, announcing of his homecoming.
- “On the 15th of July, I shall embark for our country, so that from 15th to 30th of August, we shall
see each other.”

● DELIGHTFUL TRIP TO MANILA:

- Rizal left Rome by train and safely arrived to Marseilles, a French port.
- July 3, 1887 when Rizal boarded the steamer Djemnah which is the same steamer that brought him to Europe 5
years ago.
- July 30, 1887 at Saigon, Rizal transferred to another steamer, Haiphong.
- Haiphong was a Manila-bounded
- August 2, 1887 that the Haigon left Saigon for Manila.

● HAPPY HOMECOMING:
- August 8, 1887 Rizal returned to Calamba.
- Rizal established his own medical clinic and his first patient is his mother who was almost blind.
- Rizal came to be called “Doctor Uliman” because he came from Germany, treated their ailments.
- Soon he acquired a lucrative medical practice.
- Rizal opened a gymnasium for young folks, where he introduced European sports.
- Rizal suffered one failure during his six months of sojourn in Calamba– to see Leonor Rivera.

● STORM OVER NOLI:

- A few weeks after his arrival, a storm broke over his novel.
- Rizal received a letter from Governor-General Emilio Terrero to come to Malacañang.
- The reason why he was called is because somebody said to the governador’s ear that his novel contained
subversive ideas.
- Rizal denied that his novel contains subversive ideas.
- To prove his innocence about the gossip, he find a copy of his novel and fortunately, the
governor-general is ‘liberal-minded’ and he believed Rizal.

Stephanie B.
● FAREWELL TO CALAMBA:
- The friars asked Governor-General Terrero to deport Jose Rizal, but the latter refused because there was no
valid charge against him in court.
- Rizal was compelled to leave or the reasons:
(1) His presence in CalamCalamba fba was jeopardizing the safety and happiness of his family and
friends.
(2) He could fight better his enemies and serve his country’s cause with greater efficacy by writing
in foreign countries.
- Shortly before Rizal left Calamba in 1888
- His friend from Lipa requested him to write a poem in commemoration of the town’s elevation to a vill a (city)
by virtue of Becerra Law of 1888- Himno Al Trabajo (Hymn to Labor) is the poem Rizal written for industrious
folks of Lipa.

Stephanie B.
 LESSON 13
Hongkong, Macao, and Japan 1888

● IN HONGKONG AND MACAO 1888:

- Hounded by powerful enemies, Rizal was forced to leave his country for second time in February 1888
- He was then a full-grown man of 27 years of age.
- He was also then a practicing physician and a recognized man-of-letters.

● THE TRIP TO HONGKONG:

- February 3, 1888 when Rizal left Manila for Hongkong on board the Zafiro.
- February 7, 1888 when the Zafiro made a brief stopover at Amoy (China)
- Rizal did not get off the ship at Amoy because of three reasons:
(1) He was not feeling well.
(2) It was raining hard.
(3) He heard that the city was dirty.
- February 8, 1888 when Rizal arrived in Hongkong.
- Rizal was welcomed by Filipino residents, including:
(1) Jose Maria Basa
(2) Balbino Mauricio
(3) Manuel Yriarte (son of Francisco Yriarte, alcalde Mayor of Laguna)
- Jose Sainz de Varanda, a Spaniard who was former secretary of Governor-General Terrero,
shadowed Rizal’s movement in Hongkong.
- Jose Sainz de Varanda believed that he is commissioned by the Spanish authorities to spy on Rizal.
- February 16, 1888 Rizal wrote to Blumentritt saying that Hongkong is “a small but very clean city.”

● VISIT TO MACAO:
- The city is called Macao or Macau
- Macao is a Portuguese colony near Hongkong.
- According to Rizal, the city of Macao is “small, low and gloomy.”
- There are many junks, sampans, but few steamers.
- The city is sad and almost dead.
- February 18, 1888 whe Rizal accompanied by Basa, boarded the ferry steamer, Kiu-Kiang for Macao.
- Rizal and Basa stayed at Don Juan Francisco Lecaros.
- Don Juan Francisco Lecaros is a Filipino gentlemen married to a Portiguese lady, home while in Macao.
- February 18, 1888 when Rizal witnessed a Catholic possession, in which the devotees were dressed in blue
and purple dresses and were carrying unlighted candles.
- February 20, 1888 when Rizal and Basa returned to Hongkong, again on board of Kiu-Kiang.
- Rizal left Hongkong on board of Oceanic, an American steamer that brought him to Japan.
- Rizal’s cabin mate in the Oceanic was a British Protestant missionary who called Rizal “a good man.”

● ROMANTIC INTERLUDE IN JAPAN 1888:

- One of the happiest interludes in life of Rizal was his sojourn in the Land of the Cherry Blossoms (Japan)
for 1 month and a half (February 28 to April 13, 1888)
- February 28,1888 early in the morning of Tuesday when Rizal arrived in Yokohama.

Stephanie B.
- Rizal registered at the Grand Hotel where he stayed from March 2-7, 1888
- Rizal wrote to Blumentritt “Tokyo is more expensive than Paris. The walls are built in cyclopean
manner. The streets are large and wide.”
- Juan Perez Cabllero is a secretary of Spanish Legation who visited Rizal at his hotel who latter invited him to
live at the Spanish Legation.
- Rizal accepted the invitation of Cabellero for 2 reasons:
(1) He could economize his living expenses by staying at the legation.
(2) He had nothing to hide from the prying eyes of the Spanish authorities.
- The things favorably impressed Rizal in Japan were:
(1) The beauty of the country: flowers, mountains, streams and scenic panoramas.
(2) The cleanliness, politeness and industry of the Japanese people.
(3) The picturesque dress and simple charm of the Japanese women
(4) There were very few thieves that you can leave your house door open day and night, and in hotel
room could safely leave money on the table.
(5) Beggars were rarely seen in the city, streets, unlike in Manila and other cities.
- Rizal did not like Japan’s “Rickshaws” a popular mode of transportation drawn by men.

● ROMANTIC WITH O-SEI-SAN:

- O-Sei-San is a lovely young woman who is fluent in three languages:
(1) Japanese
(2) French
(3) English
- Rizal was glad to converse with her in English and French.
- Rizal was impressed by the girl’s cameo-like beauty.
- O-Sei-San has a charming tenderness, and with high intelligence.
- In succeeding days, Rizal made almost visit to O-Sei-San.
- In due time, their friendship bloomed into romance.
- Rizal and O-Sei-San spent a happy month with:
(1) Visiting old temples
(2) Going to art galleries
(3) Walking along the cool meadows in the moonlight and many more.
- Rizal almost tempted to settle down in Japan because of O-Sei-San.
- Rizal didn’t settle in Japan because the World in general and Philippines would lose a Rizal.
- April 13, 1888 when Rizal left Japan and boarded the Belgic, an English steamer at Yokohama bounded
for the United States.
- Rizal met Tetcho Suehiro and befriended on board.
- Tetcho Suehiro is a fighting Japanese journalist, novelist and champion of human rights, who was forced
by the Japanese government to leave the country.
- April 13 to December 1, 1888 is an 8 months of intimate acquaintanceship between Rizal and Tetcho.
- Tetcho and Rizal parted ways and they never met again.

Stephanie B.
 LESSON 14
Rizal in America (1888) and Life and Works in London (1888-
1889)

● RIZAL VISIT TO THE UNITED STATES (1888):

- April 28, 1888 when the steamer Belgic docked at San Fransisco on Saturday morning.
- Palace Hotel is where Rizal registered which was then considered a first-class hotel in the city.
- Rizal stayed in San Fransisco for 2 Days (March 4 to 6, 1888)
- May 13, 1888, Sunday, 4:30 PM, Rizal left San Fransisco for Oakland.
- May 13, 1888, Sunday morning, Rizal reached New York, thus ending his trip across American
continent.
- Rizal stayed three days in New York which he called “the big town”
- May 16, 1888 when Rizal left NY for Liverpool on board the steamer, City of Rome.
- City of Rome steamer was “the 2ND largest ship in the world, largest being the Great Eastern.”
- Rizal had good and bad impressions of the United States.
- The good impressions were:
(1) The material progress of the country as shown in the great cities, huge farms, flourishing
industries and busy factories.
(2) The drive and energy of the American people.
(3)The natural beauty of the land.
(4) The high standard of living.
(5) The opportunities for better life offered to poor immigrants.
- The only bad impression of Rizal on America was the lack of racial equality: “America is the land of
excellence of freedom but only for the whites.”

● RIZAL IN LONDON (1888-1889):

- After visiting US, Rizal lived in London from May 1888 to March 1889 for 3 reasons:
(1) To improve his knowledge of the English language.
(2) To study and annotate Morga’s Sucesos de las Islas Filipinas, a rare copy of which he heard to be available
in the British Museum.
(3) London was a safe place for him to carry his fight against Spanish tyranny.

● TRIP ACROSS THE ATLANTIC:

- The trans-Atlantic voyage of Rizal from NY to Liverpool was a pleasant one.
- Rizal entertained the American and European passengers with his marvelous skills with the yo-yo as an
offensive weapon.
- Yoyo is a small wooden disc attached to a string from the finger.
- May 24, 1888 Rizal arrived at Liverpool, England.
- Adelphi Hotel is where Rizal spend his night staying for one day in port city.
- According to Rizal: “Liverpool is a big and beautiful city and its celebrated port is worthy of its great fame.
The entrance is magnificent and the customhouse is quite good.” (Life in London)
- May 25, 1888 is the day after docking at Liverpool, Rizal went to London.
- Rizal stayed as guest at DR. Antonio Ma. Regidor’s house, an exile of 1872 and practicing lawyer in London.
- By the end of May, Rizal found a modest boarding place at No. 37 Chalcot Cresent, Primrose Hill
- DR. Reinhold Rozt is a librarian of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and an authority on Malayan
languages and customs.

Stephanie B.
- DR. Rost was impressed by Rizal’s learning and character and he gladly recommended him to the
authorities of the British Museum. He also called Rizal “a pearl of a man” (una perla de hombre)
- Both good and bad news from home reached Rizal in London.
- The bad news were the injustices committed by the Spanish authorities on the Filipino people and the Rizal
family.
- The greatest achievement of Rizal in London was the annotating of Morga’s book, “Sucesos de las Islas
Filipinas (Historical Events of the Philippine Islands).
- The book was published in Mexico, 1609
- September 1888 Rizal visited Paris for week in order to search for more historical materials in the
Bibliotheque Nationale.
- Rizal was entertained in this gay French metropolis by Juan Luna and his wife (Pas Pardo de Tavera), who
proudly showed him their little son Andres (nickname: Luling)
- December 11, 1888 when Rizal went to visit Madrid and Barcelona, Spain.
- Rizal met, for the first time, Marcelo H. Del Pilar and Mariano Ponce, two titans of the Propaganda
Movement.
- December 24, 1888 when Rizal returned to London and spent Christmas and New Year’s Day with the Becketts.
-Rizal sent as Christmas gift to Blumentritt a bust of Emperador Augustus and bust of Julius Caesar to another
friend, Dr. Carlos Czepelak (Polish Leader)
- The life and adventure of Valentine Vox, the Ventriloquist is the Christmas gift Rizal received from his
landlady, Mrs. Beckett.

● RIZAL BECOMES LEADER OF FILIPINOS IN EUROPE:

- Asociacion la Solidaridad (Solidaridad Assocation) is a patriotic society which cooperate in the crusade
for reforms
- Sol.Ass. was inaugurated on December 31, 1888 with the following officers:
(1) Galicano Apacible (President)
(2) Graciano Lopez Jaena (Vice Pres.)
(3) Manuel Santa Maria (Secretary)
(4) Mariano Ponce (Treasurer)
(5) Jose Ma. Panganiban (Accountant)
- By unanimous vote of all members, Rizal was chosen honorary president.
- January 28, 1889 when Rizal wrote a letter addressed to the members of the Asociacion La
Solidaridad.

● RIZAL AND THE LA SOLIDARIDAD NEWSPAPER:

- February 25, 1889 when Gaciano Lopez Jaena founded the patriotic newspaper called La Solidaridad in
Barcelona.
- La Solidaridad-fortnightly periodical which served as the organ of the Propaganda Movement.
- La Solidaridad aims as follows:
(1) To work peacefully for political and social reforms.
(2) To portray the deplorable conditions of the Philippines so that Spain ay remedy them.
(3) To oppose the evil forces of reaction and medievalism.
(4) To adicate liberal ideas and progress.
(5) To champion the legitimate aspirations of the Filipino people to life, democracy and
happiness.

Stephanie B.
- Los Agricultores Filipinos (The Filipino Farmers) is Rizal’s first article which appeared in La
Solidaridad which published on March 25, 1889, six days after he left London to Paris.

● WRITINGS IN LONDON:
- While busy in research studies in the British Museum.
- La Vision del Fray Rodriguez (The Vision of Fray Rodriguez) is a pamphlet wrote by Rizal which
published in Barcelona under his nom-de-plume Dimas Alang in order to defense his novel.
- In “La Vision del Fray Rodriguez, Rizal demonstrated two things:
(1) His profound knowledge of religion.
(2) His biting satire.
- The “Letter to the Young Women of Malolos” is a famous letter wrote by Rizal on February 22, 1889 in
Tagalog.
- Letter to the Young Women of Malolos is to praise the young ladies of Malolos for their courage to
establish a school where they could learn Spanish, despite the opposition of Fr. Felipe Garcia.
- FR. Felipe Garcia is a Spanish parish priest of Malolos.
- The main points of “Letter to the Young Women of Malolos”:
(1) A Filipino mother should teach her children love of God, fatherland, and mankind.
(2) The Filipino mother should be glad, like the Spartan mother, to offer her sons in the defense of the
fatherland.
(3) A Filipino woman should know how to preserve her identity and honor.
(4) A Filipino woman should educate herself, aside from retaining her good racial virtues.
(5) Faith is not merely reciting long prayers and wearing religious pictures, but rather it is living the
real Christian way, with good morals and good manners.
- DR. Reinfold Rost, editor of Trubner’s Record (a journal devoted to Asian studies), request Rizal to
contribute some articles.
- In response to DR. Rost, Rizal prepared two articles:
(1) Specimens of Tagalog Folklore, which published in the journal in May 1889
(2) Two Eastern Fables, published in June 1889
- March 19, 1889 when Rizal bade goodbye to the kind Beckett Family and left London for Paris.

Stephanie B.
 LESSON 15
Rizal’s Second Sojourn in Paris

RIZAL’S SECOND SOJOURN IN PARIS AND THE UNIVERSAL EXPOSITION IN 1889:

- March 1889 when it was extremely difficult for a visitor to find living quarters in Paris.
- For a short time, Rizal live in Valentin Ventura’s house at No. 45 Rue Maubeuge, where he polished his
annotated edition of Morga’s book.
- Rizal used most of his time in the reading room of the Bibliotheque Nationale (National Library)
checking up his historical annotations on Morga’s book.
- Rizal was a good friend of the three Pardo de Taveras.
- The Pardo de Taveras were:
(1) DR. Trinidad H. Pardo de Tavera - Physician by vocation and Philologist.
(2) DR. Felix Pardo de Tavera - Physician by vocation and an artist and sculptor by avocation.
(3) Paz Pardo de Tavera - Wife of Juan Luna
- May 6, 1889 is the opening of Universal Exposition of Paris, the greatest attraction of this exposition was the
Eiffel Tower.
- Eiffel tower is 984 feet high, which was built by Alexander Eiffel, celebrated French engineer.

KIDLAT CLUB & INDIOS BRAVOS:

- March 19, 1889 is the same day Rizal arrived in Paris from London.
- Upon the arrival, Rizal organized his paisanos (compatriots) into a society called Kidlat Club.
- Kidlat Club purely a social society of a temporary nature founded by Rizal simply to bring together young
Filipinos in the French capital so that they could enjoy their sojourn in the city during the duration of the
Universal Exposition.
- Rizal was enchanted by the dignified and proud bearing of the American Indians in a Buffalo Bull show.
- Indios Bravos (Brave Indians) replaced the ephemeral Kidlat Club its members pledged to excel in
intellectual and physical prowess in order to win the admiration of the foreigner.
- Practiced with great enthusiasm the use of the sword and pistol and Rizal taught them judo, an Asian art of
self-defense that he learned from Japan.

ANNOTATED EDITION OF MORGA PUBLISHED:

- Rizal’s outstanding achievement in Paris was the publication in 1890 of his annotated editions of Morga’s
Sucesos, which he wrote in the British Museum.
- Rizal’s annotated edition of Morga’s Sucesos was printed by Garnier Freres.
- The prologue was written by Professor Blumentritt upon the request of Rizal.
- He dedicated his new edition of Morga to the Filipino people so that they would know of their glorious past.
- The title page of Rizal’s annotated edition of Morga’s reads was “Paris, Liberia de Garnier Hermanos, 1890”
- Rizal emphasizes that Morga was the evidence and primary source of history in the Philippines.
- Rizal argued that Filipinos before has their own culture, and did not require a new religion of
civilization from Spain.

Stephanie B.
THE PHILIPPINES WITHIN A CENTURY:
- It is an article written by Rizal which he expressed his views on the Spanish colonzation in the
Philippines and predicted with amazing accuracy the tragic end of Spanish sovereignty in Asia.

THE INDOLENCE OF THE FILIPINOS:

- It is an essay of Rizal that also a prestigious work of historical scholarship.
- It is an able defense of the alleged indolence of the Filipinos.
- Rizal made a critical study of the causes why his people did not work hard during the Spanish regime.
- His main thesis was that the Filipinos are not by nature, indolent.

INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF FILIPINOLOGISTS:

- It is an association proposed by Rizal to establish taking advantage of world attention which was then focused
at the Universal Exposition in 1889 in Paris and have inaugural convention in the French Capital.

PROJECT FOR FILIPINO COLLEGE IN HONGKONG:

- Another magnificent project of Rizal in Paris which also fizzled out was his plan to establish a modern college
in Hongkong.

POR TELEFONO:
- Another satirical work as a reply to another slanderer, Fr. Salvador Font, who is the mastermind the banning
of his Noli in the fall of 1889.
- It was published in a booklet form in Barcelona on 1889.
- This satirical pamphlet under the authorship of “Dimas Alang” is a witty satire which ridicules Father Font.

ADDITIONAL:
- Shortly after New Year, Rizal made a brief visit to London.
- The visit was due to 2 reasons:
(1) To check-up his annotated edition of Morga’s Sucesos with the original copy in the British Museum.
(2) To see Gertrude Beckett for the last time.

Stephanie B.
 LESSON 16
Rizal in Brussels 1890, Madrid in 1890-1891

● IN BELGIAN BRUSSELS (1890):

- January 28, 1890 when Rizal left Paris for Brussels, the capital of Belgium.
- 2 reasons impelled Rizal to leave Paris, namely:
(1) The cost of living in Paris was very high because of the Universal Exposition.
(2) The gay social life of the city hampered his literary works,especially the writing of his second novel,
El Filibusterismo.

● LIFE IN BRUSSELS:
- Rizal was accompanied by Jose Albert when he moved to Brussels.
- They lived in a modest boarding house on 38 Rue Philippine Champagne, which was run by two Jacoby
sisters, Suzanne and Marie.
- Later, Albert left the city and was replaced by Jose Alejandro, an engineering student.
- Rizal was the first to advocate the Filipinization of its orthography “Sobre la Nueva Ortografia de la Lengua
Tagala” (The New Orthography of the Tagalog Language)
- The article was published in La Solidaridad on April 15, 1890.
- In the article, he laid down the rules of the new Tagalog orthography, and with modesty and sincerity, he gave
credit for the adoption of this new orthography to DR. Trinidad H. Pardo de Tavera.
- DR. Trinidad H. Pardo de Tavera is the author of the celebrated work “El Sanscrito en la Lengua Tagala”
(Sanskrit in the Tagalog language) which was published in Paris, in 1884.
- Rizal received letters from home which worried him in Brussels:
(1)The Calamba agrarian trouble was getting worse.
(2) The Dominican Order filed a suit in court to dispossess the Rizal family of their lands in Calamba.
- In his moment of despair, Rizal had bad dreams during the nights in Brussels when he was restless because
he was always thinking of his unhappy family in Calamba.
- Rizal feared that he would not live long.
- He was not afraid to die, but he wanted to finish his second novel before he went to his grave.
- In the face of the sufferings which afflicted his family, Rizal planned to go home.
- He could not stay in Brussels writing a book while his parents, relatives and friends in Philippines were
persecuted.
- July 29, 1890 when another letter to Ponce written at Brussels by Rizal, he announced that he was leaving
Brussels at the beginning of the following month and would arrive in Madrid about 3rd of 4th of August.
- “To my Muse” (A Mi…) was a pathetic poem written by Rizal that was against a background of mental anguish
in Brussels, during those sad days when he was worried by family disasters.

● MISFORTUNES IN MADRID (1890-1891):

- Rizal wrote a brief not thanking his compatriots for electing him as Responsible. It was the last time he saw
Madrid.
- Early in August 1890 when Rizal arrived in Madrid.
- Upon arrival in Madrid, Rizal immediately sought help of the Filipino colony, the Asociacion Hispano-
Filipina, and the liberal Spanish newspaper in securing justice for the oppressed Calamba tenants

Stephanie B.
 (a) El Resumen - a Madrid newspaper which symphatized with the Filipino cause said: “To cover
the ear, open the purse, and hold the arms– this is the Spanish colonial policy.”
(b) La Epoca - an anti-Filipino newspaper in Madrid.
(1) Jose Ma. Panganiban - Rizal’s talented co-worker in the Propaganda Movement, died in Barcelona on
August 19, 1890 after lingering illness.

(2) Aborted Duel with Antonio Luna - Luna was bitter because of his frustrated romance with Nellie Boustead.
Deep in his heart, he was blaming Rizal for his failure to win her, although Rizal had previously explained to him
that he had nothing to do about it. Luna uttered certain unsavory remarks about Nellie, and Rizal heard him
angered by the slanderous remarks. Rizal challenged Luna to a duel. Fortunately, Luna realized that he made a
fool of himself during his drunken state. Luna apologized for his bad remarks about the girl and Rizal accepted
his apology and they became good friends again.

(3) Rizal challenges Retana to Duel - Wenceslao E. Retana, his bitter enemy of the pen, a talented Spanish
scholar, was then a press agent of the friars in Spain. He used to attack Filipinos in various newspapers in Madrid
and other cities in Spain. Retana wrote an article in La Epoca, asserting that the family and friends of Rizal had
not paid their rent so they were ejected from their lands in Calamba by the Domincans. Such as insult stirred Rizal
to action, immediately he sent his second to Retana with his challenge to a duel.

(4) Infidelity of Leonor Rivera - Rizal received a letter from Leonor, announcing her coming marriage to an
Englishman (the choice of her mother) and asking his forgiveness.

(5) Rizal and Del Pilar Rivalry - Toward the closing days of 1890 there arose an unfortunate rivalry between
Rizal and M.H. Del Pilar for supremacy. Because of this, the Filipinos were divided into two hostile camps:
The Rizalistas and the Pilaristas. The situation was becoming explosive and critical. Despite of winning the
votes, Rizal graciously declined the coveted position.

● BIARRITZ VACATION:
- To seek solace for his disappointments in Madrid, Rizal took a vacation in the resort city of Biarritz on the
fabulous French Riviera.
- Rizal was a guest of the rich Boustead family at its winter residence: Villa Eliada.
- Frustrated in romance, Rizal found consolation in writing.
- Evidently, while wooing Nellie and enjoying so “many magnificent moonlight nights” with her, he kept
working on his second novel which he began to write in Calamba on 1887.
- March 29, 1891 in the eve of his departure from Biarritz to Paris, he finished the manuscript of El Fili.
- March 30, 1891 when Rizal bade goodbye to the hospitable and friendly Bousteads and proceeded to Paris by
train.
- April 4, 1891 whe Rizal wrote to his friend, Jose Ma. Basa, in Hongkong from Paris, expressed his desire to
go to that British colony and practice ophthalmology in order to earn his living.
- Since abdicating his leadership in Madrid in January 1891, owing to the intrigues of his jealous
compatriots, Rizal retired from the Propaganda Movement of reform crusade.
- May 1, 1891 when Rizal was notified by the Propaganda authorities in Manila to cancel his monthly
allowance and devote the money to some better cause.
- Rizal’s notification was contained in a letter of the finished manuscript of El Fili was mostly completed.

Stephanie B.