CHAPTER 5 MEDICAL STUDIES AT THE UNIVERSITY OF SANTO TOMAS

Rizal first saw America on April 28, 1888. His arrival in this great country was marred by
racial prejudice. He saw the discriminatory treatment of the Chinese and the Negros by
the white Americans.
ARRIVAL IN SAN FRANCISCO
April 28, 1888- Steamer Belgic

The steamer Belgic docked at San Francisco. American health authorities did not
let the passengers to land for one week because of the rumored cholera

epidemic.
Rizal knew there was no cholera epidemic that time and he protest with other
passengers the unjustifiable actions of American authorities. He soon discovered
that it was motivated by politics and the ship was carrying 643 Chinese coolies.

RIZAL IN SAN FRANCISCO

May 4, 1888
The day he was permitted to go ashore and registered at the Palace Hotel which

was then considered a first- class hotel in the city.

May 4 to 6, 1888 Rizal stayed in San Francisco

ACROSS THE AMERICAN CONTINENT

May 6, 1888

Sunday, 4:30 P.M., Rizal left San Francisco for Oakland, nine miles across San
Francisco Bay, by ferry boat.
May 7, 1888

Rizal awoke and had a good breakfast at Reno, Nevada, now glamorized by
American high-pressure propaganda as The Biggest Little City in the World.

From May 7 to May 13, Rizal wrote in his diary the beautiful memories from Nevada,
Chicago until he reached Albany.
RIZAL IN NEW YORK
May 13, 1888

Sunday morning when Rizal reached New York. He stayed three days in this city,
which he called the big town.
May 16, 1888

Rizal left New York for Liverpool on board the City of Rome. Rizal saw the
Statue of Liberty on Bedloe Island.

RIZALS IMPRESSIONS OF AMERICA

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 the 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 bad impression Rizal had of America was the lack of racial equality.
In 1890

Two years after Rizals visit to the United States, Jose Alejandro, who was then
studying engineering in Belgium, roomed with him. Rizals impression of America
is the land par excellence of freedom but only for the whites.

REFERENCES
Zaide GF, Zaide SM. 1994. Jose Rizal Life, Works and Writings of a Genius, Writer,
Scientist and National Hero