CHAPTER IX

RIZAL’S LIFE AND WORKS IN LONDON

(1888 – 1889)

OBJECTIVES

1. TO BE ABLE TO KNOW RIZAL’S REASON FOR STAYING IN LONDON AS HIS NEW HOME; AND
2. TO KNOW THE CIRCUMSTANCES IN LONDON WHY IT HAS BECOME A REFUGE AND
SANCTUARY FOR FILIPINOEXILES

TRIP ACROSS THE ATLANTIC

THE TRANS-ATLANTIC VOYAGE OF RIZAL FROM NEW YORK TO LIVERPOOL ENGLAND VIA
THE PALATIAL “CITY OF ROME”, KNOWN TO BE THE SECOND LARGEST STEAMER IN THE WORLD,
THE LARGEST BEING THE “GREAT EASTERN”, WAS A PLEASANT ONE.

HE WON MANY FRIENDS OF DIFFERENT NATIONALITIES BECAUSE OF HIS BEING A

LINGUIST. HE ALSO INTERTAINED THE AMERICANS AND EUROPEAN PASSENGERS ON BOARD
WITH HIS MARVELOUS SKILL IN PLAYING THE YO-YO AS A WEAPON OF OFFENSE TO THE GREAT
AMAZEMENT OF THE FOREIGNERS.

REASONS WHY HE CHOOSE LONDON TO BE HIS NEW HOME:

1. TO IMPROVE HIS KNOWLEDGE TO THE ENGLISH LANGUAGES
2. TO ANNOTATE MORGAS BOOK WHICH HE HEARD IS AVAILABLE AT THE BRITISH MUSEUM
3. LONDON WAS A SAFE PLACE FOR HIM.

MAY 25, 1888- HE WENT TO LONDON

DR. JOSE RIZAL MET:
ANTONIO MA. REGIDOR – A FIL. EXILED OF 1872 AND PRACTICING LAWYER
MR. BECKETT – ORGANIST OF ST. PAUL
GETRUDE – GETLIE OR TOTTIE, DAUGHTER OF MR. BECKETT

SOME BAD NEWS FROM THE PHIL.:

1. PERSECUTION OF THE FILIPINO PATRIOTS
2. PERSECUTION OF THE CALAMBA TENTANTS
3. FURIOUS ATTACKS BETWEEN JOSE SALAMANCA AND VIDA
4. DR. RIZAL BROTHER IN LAW MANUEL T. HIDALGO WAS EXILED IN BOHOL BY GOV.GEN.
VALERIANO WEYLER.
5. HIS FRIEND LAUREANO VIADO WAS ARRESTED AND JAILED IN PRISON.

Rizal’s Life, Works & Writings ©2015

HE MET THE TWO TITANS OF THE PROPAGANDA MOVEMENT:
1. MARCELO H. DEL PILAR
2. MARIANO PONCE

THE GIFTS WHICH HE GAVED TO HIS FRIENDS:

1. FERDINAND BLUMENTRITT –A BUST OF EMPEROR AUGUSTUS.
2. CARLOS CZEPELAC – A BUST OF JULUIS CAESAR
3. MRS. BECKETT – BOOK ENTITLED A LIFE AND ADVENTURES OF VALENTINE
4. BECKETT SISTERS – COMPOSITE HEADS OF BECKETT SISTERS
SOME OF HIS SCULPTURAL WORKS:
1. PROMETHEUS BOUND
2. TRIUMPH OF DEATH OVER THE LIFE
3. TRIUMPH OF SCIENCE OVER DEATH
4. COMPOSITE CURVING HEAD WITH BECKETT SISTERS

FEB. 15, 1888 – LA SOLIDARIDAD WAS INITIATED

- OFFICIAL ORGAN OF THE PROPAGANDA MOVT.
GRACIANO LOPEZ JAENA – FOUNDER OF THE LA SOLIDARIDAD

AIMS OF LA SOLIDARIDAD:
1. TO WORK PEACEFULLY POLITICAL AND SOCIAL REFORM
2. TO EXPOSE DEPLORABLE CONDITIONS OF PHIL
3. TO PORTRAY THE EVIL AND MEDIEVELISM
4. TO ADVOCATE LIBERAL IDEAS OF PROGRESS
5. TO CHAMPION THE ILLEGITIMATE ASPIRATION OF THE FILIPINO PEOPLE

PSEUDONYM OF RIZAL:
1. DIMASALANG 2. LAONG-LAAN

MARCH 15, 1889 – RIZAL LEFT LONDON AND WENT TO PARIS,

Rizal’s Life, Works & Writings ©2015