FIRST HOMECOMING (1887-1888)

Due to the publication of Noli Me Tangere and the uproar it caused among the friars, Rizal was
warned by Paciano (his brother), Silvestre Ubaldo (his brother-in-law), Chengoy (Jose M. Cecilio)
and other friends not to return home.

Rizal was determined to return to the Philippines for the following reasons:
1. to conduct a surgery on his mother’s eyes
2. to serve his people who had long been oppressed by Spanish tyrants
3. to find out for himself how Noli and his other writings were affecting Filipinos and Spaniards
in the Philippines , and
4. to inquire why Leonor Rivera remained silent.

July 29, 1887- Rizal wrote to his father, announcing his homecoming, “on the 15th of July, I shall
embark for our country, so that from the 15th to the 30th of August, we shall see each other”

DELIGHTFUL TRIP TO MANILA

Rizal left Rome by train for Marseilles, a French port, which he reached without mishap.
July 3, 1887- Rizal boarded the steamer Djemnah, the same streamer which brought him to
Europe five years ago
July 30, 1887- at Saigon, Rizal transferred to another steamer, Haiphong, which was Manila-
bound
August 2, 1887- the steamer left Saigon for Manila

ARRIVAL IN MANILA

August 3, 1887- the moon was full and Rizal slept soundly the whole night. The calm sea,
illuminated by the silvery moonlight, was a magnificent sight to him.
Near midnight of August 5, 1887, the Haiphong arrived in Manila.
Rizal found Manila the same as he left it.

THE HOMECOMING

August 8, 1887- Rizal returned to Calamba

Rizal was welcomed affectionately.
Worried about his safety, Paciano did not leave Rizal on his first day of arrival.
Don Francisco did not let him go out alone.
Rizal established a medical clinic. His first patient was his mother who was almost blind.
He could not perform the surgery because her eye cataracts were not ripe.
Rizal, who came to be called “Doctor Uliman” because he came from Germany, treated the
town folk ailments.
He profited a lot from his medical practice.
Rizal opened a gymnasium where he introduced European sports such as fencing and shooting
to the youth to discourage cockfighting and gambling.
Governor General Emilio Terrero asked Rizal to report to Malacañang to explain about the Noli
which was said to contain subversive ideas. Rizal denied the accusation.
Due to the threats to Rizal’s life, Terrero assigned him Lt. Jose Taviel de Andrade as his
bodyguard. Andrade was described by Rizal as a cultured man who knew painting and spoke
Spanish, French, and English.
Rizal and Andrade climbed Mt. Makiling. Rizal’s enemies concocted the rumor that he hoisted
the German flag on the summit of Mt. Makiling.
His sister Olympia died.
He wrote stories about the legend of Mariang Makiling based on interviews among the
residents of the mountain.
He translated German poems of Von Wildernath to Tagalog.
He wrote a report on the agrarian situation and the dispute in Calamba.
Lipa’s elevation from a town to a villa (city) made Rizal write the poem Hymn to Labor.
Rizal suffered one failure during his six months of sojourn in Calamba— he failed to see Leonor
Rivera. He tried to go to Dagupan to see her but Leonor’s parents forbid him.
Friars exerted pressure on Malacañang to eliminate Rizal and asked Terrero to deport him
despite not having valid charges in court.
Anonymous death threats were received by his parents.
He was advised by his parents, relatives, & friends including Andrade to leave the country.
Terrero summoned Rizal and advised him to leave the country for his own good.

Reasons that made Rizal leave the country again:

1. His presence jeopardizes the safety and happiness of his family & friends
2. He could fight better his enemies & serve his country’s cause with greater efficacy by writing
in foreign countries.