Jose Rizal’s First Journey

to his conqueror’s land:

Rizal in Spain
(1882-1885)
A Report excerpted from
Chapter 6: In Sunny Spain
Jose Rizal: Life, Works and Writings of a Genius, Writer,
Scientist and National Hero
by G. Zaide and S. Zaide
Characters
• Paciano – Brother of Rizal who conspired with him in his plans of
going to Spain
• People who knew about his departure to Spain:
1. Antonio Rivera,
2. Neneng Rizal
3. Lucia Rizal
4. Valenzuela Family ( Juan, Sanday and Orang)
5. Pedro A. Paterno
6. Mateo Evangelista
7. the Ateneo Jesuit Fathers
8. Jose “Chengoy” M. Cecilio
• Donato Lecha – ship captain of of Salvadora who befriended Rizal
• Companions in Djemnah:Mr. and Mrs. Salazar and Mr. Vicente
Pardo
Characters
• Basilio Teodoro Moran – Publisher of Diariong Tagalog, the
first bilingual newspaper (Spanish and Tagalog); published
Amor Patrio (Love of Country)
• Marcelo H. Del Pilar – Translated Amor Patrio into Tagalog
• Don Pablo Ortiga y Rey – had a son named Rafael and a
daughter named Consuelo; city mayor of Manila during the
time of Carlos Ma. De la Torre ; promoted as vice president of
the Council of the Philippines in the Ministry of Colonies
(Ultramar)
• Consuelo Ortiga y Perez – a girl whom Rizal admired and
dedicated a poem entitled A La Señorita C. O. y P. (To Miss C.
O. y P.)
Characters
• Masons who Rizal met in Spain:
• Miguel Morayta – statesman, professor, historian and writer;
excommunicated and caused the student demonstration at
Central University
• Francisco Pi y Margal – journalist, statesman; former president,
First Spanish Republic
• Manuel Becerra – Minister of Ultramar (Colonies)
• Emilio Junoy – journalist and member of the Spanish Cortes
• Juan Ruiz Zorilla – parliamentarian; head, Republican Progressive
Party in Madrid
• Marcelo H. Del Pilar
• Graciano Lopez Jaena
• Mariano Ponce
Characters
• Juan Luna – won 1st prize for his painting called the Spolarium
• Felix Resurreccion Hidalgo – won 2nd place for his painting
Christian Virgins Exposed to Populace
• Doctor Creus – replaced the Rector and described as a very
unpopular man, disliked by everybody
Body of the Report
Jose Rizal finished his 4th year of medical course in the
University of Sto. Tomas yet he was very much disgusted due to
out-dated instruction and racial prejudice to Filipino Students.
Since Spain was in constitutional monarchy, this
encouraged him to continue his study in Spain. Yet unknown to
most people, Rizal has a SECRET MISSION!
Rizal’s Secret Mission
Rizal conceived the secret
mission, with the blessing of his
brother Paciano was to do the
following:
Observe keenly the life and
culture, languages and customs,
industries and commerce and
governments and laws of the
European nations in order to prepare
himself for the task of liberating his
people from Spanish Tyranny.
Highlights
• When Jose Rizal becomes Jose Mercado
• Due to the popularity of the surname and perhaps the kind Jesuit priest
who gave him letters of recommendation for their Society in Barcelona –
he was claimed as a cousin
• Secret Departure to Spain
• May 3, 1882
• Salvadora, a steamer bound for Singapore
• Donato Lecha
• 16 passengers
• May 8, 1882 – Talim Island with Susong Dalaga
• Hotel de la Paz
Highlights
• From Singapore to Colombo, Ceylon
• May 11, 1882
• Djemnah, a French Steamer
• May 17, 1882: Arrival at Point Galle
• May 18, 1882: Arrival at Colombo, Ceylon
• First Trip Through Suez Canal
• From Indian Ocean to Cape Guardafui, Africa then to Aden
• Stop over at City of Suez, stop over at the Red Sea terminal of the
Suez Canal
• It took 5 days to traverse Suez Canal
• Port Said, the Mediterranean terminal of the Suez Canal
Highlights
• Naples and Marseilles
• Naples, Italy: reached by Rizal on June 11, 1882
• Marseilles, France: Rizal arrived on June 12, 1882
• Arrival at Barcelona
• June 16, 1882 by rail from Port Bou
• First impression was ugly but begun to like the city
• First Publication
• Amor Patrio (Love of Country) by the pen name Laong Laan in
Diariong Tagalog
Highlights
• Life in Madrid
• November 3, 1882: enrolled at Universidad Central de Madrid
( Central University of Madrid)
• Two courses: Medicine and Philosophy and Letters
• Academy of Fine Arts of San Fernando: Painting and Sculpture
• Hall of Arms of Sanz y Carbonell: fencing and shooting
• Romance with Consuelo Ortiga y Perez
• Did not blossom to a serious relationship due to his
engagement to Leonor Rivera and friendship to Eduardo de
Lete - a friend madly in love with Consuelo
Consuelo Ortiga y Perez
Highlights
• Membership of Circulo Hispano-Filipino and wrote “Mi Piden
Versus” ( They Ask Me For Verses) and declaimed it on New
Year’s Eve of December 31, 1882
• Rizal Love of Books
• Led him to encounter the following texts which aroused his
sympathy:
• Uncle Tom’s Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe
• The Wandering Jew by Eugene Sue
Circulo Hispano-Filipino
Highlights
• Rizal as a Mason (Master Mason)
• Due to close interaction with liberals and republicans
• Spanish Masons: openly criticized the government policies and
lambasted the friars
• Lodge Acacia to Lodge Solidaridad
• Reason for joining: to have the support of free masonry to fight
the friars
• Pertinent lecture : Science, Virtue and Labor
Highlights
• Rizal’s Salute to Luna and Hidalgo
• June 25, 1884
• Saved Rizal for a meal
• Delivered a speech, which garnered wild ovations from the
Spanish listeners
• Rizal’s involvement in Student Demonstrations
• November 20-22, 1884
• Rizal was not hurt
Juan Luna
Felix Ressureccion Hidalgo
Highlights
• Rizal Completed his studies
• June 21, 1884, conferred by Universidad Central de Madrid with
the degree of Licentiate in Medicine
• Studied and passed all the subjects leading to Doctor of Medicine
but failed to submit his thesis and to pay the fees, he was not
awarded with his Doctor’s Diploma
• June 19, 1885, conferred by Universidad Central de Madrid with
the degree of Licentiate in Philosophy and Letters with the award
Sobresaliente (Excellent)