LIGAO COMMUNITY COLLEGE

Ligao City
 LIGAO COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Ligao City
EDUCATION DEPARTMENT

WEEK 12

Student’s Contact No.

Name:
Section: Date Date
Received: Retrieved:

TOPIC: In Hong Kong

I. Overview
Hi everyone! How are you doing with the previous module? I hope you are doing great. Last
week, we have discussed about another novel of Rizal – the El Filibusterismo. Our topic for this week will
be Rizal’s trip to Hong Kong.

II. Learning Outcome

At the end of the course, you will be able to:

 Explain the reason why Rizal lived in Hong Kong for the second time.

III. Discussion and Self

- Assessment Activities

Shortly after the publication of the El Filibusterismo, Rizal left Europe and lived in Hong Kong – from
November 1891 to June 1892. His reasons for leaving Europe were as follows: (1) life was unbearable in
Europe due to his political differences with M. H. del Pilar and other Filipinos in Spain; (2) to lead the
Propaganda Movement in Hong Kong; and (3) to be near his beloved Philippines and family.

Borneo Colonization Project. In the face of the bleak outlook of the Calamba folk under Governor
Valeriano Weyler’s terroristic regime, Rizal conceived the establishment of a Filipino colony in Borneo.
He planned to move the landless Filipinofamilies to that rich British-owned island and carve out of its
virgin wilderness a “New Calamba.” In April 1892, he went to Borneo to negotiate with the British
authorities for the establishment of a Filipino colony. He looked over the land up the Bengkoka River in
Maradu Bay which was offered by the British North Borneo Company. His mission was successful. The
British authorities of Borneo were willing to give the Filipino colonists 100,000 acres of land, a beautiful
harbour, and a good government for 999 years, free of all charges.

Writing in Hong Kong. Notwithstanding the pressure of his medical practice and his Borneo colonization
project, Rizal continued his writings. First of all, he tried to finish his third novel in Tagalog, but later gave
it up because of his poor command of literacy Tagalog. He wrote Ang Mga Karapatan Nang Tao (The
Rights of Man), A la Nacion Espanola (To the Spanish Nation), Sa Mga Kababayan (To my Countrymen),
Una Visita a la Victoria Goal (A Visit to Victoria Goal), Colonization du British North Borneo, par des
Familles de Iles Philippines (Colonization of British North Borneo by Families from the Philippine Islands)
and La Mano Roja (The Red Hand). The most important writing made by Rizal during his Hong Kong
sojourn was the Constitution and By-Laws of the Liga Filipina, which was printed in Hong Kong, 1892.

Decision to Return to Manila. By May 1892, Rizal made up his mind to return to Manila. The decision
was spurred by the following: (1) to confer with Governor Despujol regarding his Borneo colonization
project, (2) to establish the Liga Filipina in Manila, and (3) to prove that Eduardo de Lete was wrong in
attacking him in Madrid that he (Rizal), being comfortable and safe in Hong Kong, had abandoned the
country’s cause. Lete’s attack, which was printed in La Solidaridad on April 15, 1892, portrayed Rizal as
cowardly, egoistic, opportunistic – a patriot in words only.

Rizal falls into Spanish trap. Immediately after Rizal’s departure from Hong Kong, the Spanish
consulgenral, who issued the government guarantee of safety, sent a cablegram to Governor Despujol
that the victim “is in the trap.” On the same day, June 21, 1892, a secret case was filed in Manila against
Rizal and his followers “for anti-religious and anti-patriotic agitation.”

The deceitful Despujol ordered his secretary, Luis de la Torre, to find out if Rizal was naturalized as a
German citizen, as was rumoured, so that he might take proper action against one “who had the
protection of a strong nation.”

Meanwhile, Rizal and his sister were peacefully crossing the China Sea. They were fully unaware of
Spanish duplicity.

IV. Summary/Key Points

 On October 18, 1891, Rizal, after a brief sojourn in Paris from Ghent, left Marseilles for Hong
Kong on board the S.S Melbourne.
 In Hong Kong, he wrote a lot and there he created the Constitution and By-laws of the Liga
Filipina.

V. End of Module Assessment

(1 – 3) Reasons for leaving Europe.

(4 – 6) Reasons for returning to Manila

7. The date when a secret case was filed against Rizal.

8. Name of the Governor who “trapped” Rizal in his bait and filed case against him and his followers.

9. The most important writing Rizal made in Hong Kong.

10. Why did Rizal planned the Borneo Colonization project?

VI. Looking Ahead

Read about Rizal’s Exile in Dapitan.

VII. Self and Module Evaluation

How was your experience? Tell me about it.
Self-Evaluation (Write your response below)

4 - I learned a lot from this module

3 - I learned just right.

2 - I still need guidance on certain topics.

1 - I don’t understand anything discussed.

Your Answer -

VIII. Reference

 Zaide, G. F. (1970). Jose Rizal Life, Works and Writings. Manila, Philippines: Villanueva Book
Store