HIS 007: REVIEWER (M1 – M8)  Carlos P.
Romulo, in 1969 ordered the course
Module 1 - Legal Basis of Rizal Course
What is the importance of studying Rizal’s life,
his writings and other heroes?
 It is important to study Rizal’s life and his
writings including other heroes because the
contribution they give to the country is
priceless. The youth know only the little
background of their lives and works and we are
already moved, what about if we dig deeper
into this?
 We will learn many lessons and
inspirations with their works
 The love they give for the country
especially Dr. Rizal, who is the mightiest
 The principle of pen is mightier than the
sword.
 The wounds made by verbal weapons won’t
be healed easily and creates more damage
to the personality of the tyrant Spaniards
that is why Rizal is haunted by them. If all
of the youth also inherit this kind of
concern and patriotism for the country, for
sure we will have a nonstop cycle of
dignified youths that soon will be leaders.
Why Study Rizal?
 It is of great importance that students
understand the rationale behind having to take
up a Rizal course in college.
 For high school students, the Noli Me Tangere
and the El Filibusterismo are injected into the
Filipino subject as part of the overall
curriculum.
 In tertiary education, Rizal is a subject
required of any course, in any college or
university in the Philippines.
A HERO is a person who is admired for having done
something very brave or having achieved something
great.
- Cambridge English Dictionary
Legislation of Rizal Law
 R.A. 1465 is Rizal Law
 Jose P. Laurel - is the father of Rizal Law.
 Former Vice President Salvador Laurel, son of
Jose Laurel facilitated the proper placement of
Rizal Law in the academe.
 Rizal died in 1896, and 60 years had pass
before Rizal Law was promulgated in 1956.
Rizal to be offered as a 3-unit course and as a
pre-requisite for graduation.
 Legal basis of Rizal course in college
 As mandated by Republic Act 1425, this
course covers the life and works of the
country’s national hero, Jose Rizal. Among
the topics covered are Rizal’s biography and
his writings, particularly the novels Noli Me
Tangere and El Filibusterismo, some of his
essays and various correspondences.
 Rizal Law requires the teaching of the
course Rizal in college and orders the
reproduction and reading of the uncut
version of his two novels.
 The law has made the reading of both
novels obligatory
Module 2 - A Hero is Born
Jose Protacio (Pepe)
- Jose Protacio Rizal Mercado y Alonzo
Realonda is the full name of the Philippine
national hero. Suggestive of his time, Rizal has 6
names. There are two given Christian names and
four surnames.
- He was simply Pepe to his family and friends;
Pepe Rizal to the family’s friar-friends; as a
medical practitioner, he was Dr. Jose Rizal; in the
academe he was Dr. Jose Rizal, Jose Rizal or
Rizal.
- He was Lolo Jose for his great grandchildren;
and he was Joe for his live-in partner, Josephine
Bracken.
- Rizal was born on June 19, 1861, the 7th child
of Don Francisco Mercado and Doña Teodora
Alonso.
- He was christened Jose Protacio, in honor of two
saints. His mother was a devotee of Saint Joseph
while Saint Protacio is the patron saint for June
19.
- In the book In Excelsis, writer Felice Prudente
Santa Maria explained how Rizal got the nickname
“Pepe.” Saint Joseph was the putative (commonly
accepted) father of Jesus Christ. In Latin, San
Jose’s name is always followed by the letters ‘P.P’
for pater putativus. In Spanish, the letter ‘P’ is
pronounced as ‘peh’ giving rise to the nickname
Pepe for Jose.”
Story about Pepe’s Big Head
Jose Rizal’s mother (Doña Teodora
Alonso) almost died during the delivery because of
his big head. As he recounted many years later in
his student memoirs: “I was born in Calamba on
June 19, 1861, between 11 o’clock and midnight,
a few days before full moon. It was Wednesday
and my coming out in this vale of tears would have
cost my mother her life had she not vowed to the
Virgin of Antipolo to take me to her sanctuary by
way of pilgrimage.” (Zaide, 1997).
Fr. Rufino Collantes
- who baptized Rizal, was impressed by the baby’s
big head, and told the members of the family who
were present: “Take care of this child, for someday
he will become a great man.” His words proved to
be prophetic, as confirmed by subsequent events.
(Zaide, 1997). And so, at the course of Rizal’s life,
his “big head” indeed contributed multifarious,
patriotic great events towards the shaping of the
Filipino nationhood.
Who chose Rizal for a family name?
Domingo Lamco
- The great grandfather of Jose Rizal was a
Chinese merchant Domingo Lamco, who later on
adopted the surname Mercado.
- In Laguna, many families adopted the family
name Mercado. So, to distinguish Lamco-
Mercado from other Mercados who are not related
to them, the alcalde mayor (their family friend)
suggested addition of another surname, Rizal.
- Domingo Lamco-Mercado was a merchant while
Francisco Mercado-Rizal was a farmer.
Accordingly, the family name Rizal could be traced
from the word ricial which means green fields.
This is a Spanish term which means “a field where
wheat stalks are cut still green, to sprout again.”
(Daquila 2009).
The Child Rizal
 Jose was the 7th among the 11 children of
Don Francisco and Dona Teodora.
 He was a frail, sickly and undersized child.
 He experienced his first sorrow when his
younger sister Concepcion died at age 3.
 He fears when his nanny threatened that
aswang, tikbalang and heavy-bearded
Bombay would take away if he would not eat
his supper.
 Rizal was afraid of ghosts-like Pepe, many
children grew up fearing mysterious creatures
 At age three (3), he learned the alphabet from
his mother
 Rizal was a happy student. Unlike some
students, Rizal loved school
 At age 8, he wrote his first poem entitled “Sa
Aking Mga Kababata”
 Rizal couldn’t carry out a tune. He admitted in
his memoirs that singing was not his cup of
tea.
 He was influenced by his three uncles – Jose,
Alberto, Gregorio, and Manuel.
Module 3 - Childhood days in Calamba and
Martial Law in the Philippines
Jose Rizal
- Jose Rizal, like many Filipino boys, had many
beautiful memories of childhood. His was a happy
home, filled with parental affection, impregnated
with family joys, and sanctified by prayers. In the
midst of such peaceful, refined, God-loving family,
he spent the early years of his childhood. The
beauties of Calamba impressed him as a growing
child and deeply influenced his mind and
character. The happiest period of his life was truly
his childhood days in his natal town.
Calamba
- “Craddle of a Genius.”
- The town of Calamba is situated on a verdant
plain by the rippling Laguna de Bay. A few
kilometers to the south loom the legendary Mt.
Makiling, and beyond this mountain lies the
coffee-producing Batangas.
-North of the town spreads the Laguna de Bay, “a
lake of poems and songs”, with many sailboats
gliding by the somnolent Talim Island and
numerous birds flying in the azure skies.
- Beyond the lake, to the far distance in the north,
is Antipolo, the famous mountain shrine of the
miraculous Lady of Peace and Good Voyage.
- Calamba, with its fertile fields of rice and
sugarcane, its evermore green meadows of
innumerable fruit trees and bananas, its singing
birds abounding in lake, river, and fields, its starry
nights “filled with the poetry of sadness,” it’s
lovely sunrises over lake and mountains, and its
charming panoramic views, is a fit place to nurture
a growing child. So it came to pass that it became
the “cradle of a genius”.
- Rizal loved Calamba with all his heart and soul.
In 1876, when he was 15 years old and was a
student in Ateneo, he remembered his beloved
town. Accordingly, he wrote a poem Un Recuerdo
A Mi Pueblo (In Memory of My Town)
Earliest Childhood Memories
 The first memory of Rizal, in his infancy, was
his happy days in the family garden when he
was three years old. Because he was a frail,
sickly, and undersized child, he was given the
tenderest care by his parents.
 His father built a little nipa cottage in the
garden for him to play in the daytime.
 A kind old woman was employed as an AYA
(maid) to look after his comfort.
 At times, he was left alone to muse on the
beauties of nature or to play by himself. In his
boyhood memoirs, he narrated how he at the
age of three, watched from his garden cottage
the
 culilan
 maya
 culae
 maria-capra
 martin
 pipit and other birds,
 listening “with wonder and joy” to their
twilight songs.
 Another childhood memory was the daily
Angelus Prayer. By nightfall, Rizal related, his
mother gathered all the children at the house
to pray the Angelus.
 With nostalgic feeling, he also remembered the
happy moonlit nights at the azotea after the
nightly rosary.
 The aya related to the Rizal children (including
Jose) many stories about the fairies; tales of
buried treasure and trees blooming with
diamonds, and other fabulous stories. The
imaginary tales told by the aya aroused in
Rizal an enduring interest in legends and
folklore. Sometimes when he did not like to
take his supper, the aya would threaten him
that the asuang, the nuno, the tigbalang, or a
terrible bearded and turbaned Bombay would
come to take him away if he would not eat his
supper.
 Another memory of his infancy was the
nocturnal walk-in town, especially when there
was a moon. The aya took him for a walk in
the moonlight by the river, where the trees cast
grotesque shadows on the bank. Recounting
this childhood experience, Rizal wrote: “Thus
my heart fed on somber and melancholy
thoughts so that even while still a child, I
already wandered on wings of fantasy in
the high regions of the unknown.”
First Sorrow
 The Rizal children were bound together by ties
of love and companionship. They were well-
bred, for their parents taught them to love one
another, to behave properly in the presence of
elders, to be truthful and religious, and to help
one another. They affectionately called their
father Tatay and their mother Nanay.
 Of his sisters, Jose loved most the little
Concha (Concepcion). He was one year older
than Concha. He played with her, and from
her he learned the sweetness of brotherly
love.
 Unfortunately, Concha died of sickness in
1865 when she was only three years old.
Jose, who was very fond of her, cried bitterly to
lose her. “When I was four years old,” he
said, “I lost my little sister Concha, and
then for the first timeI wept tears of love
and grief….” The death of little Concha
bought him his first sorrow.
Influence on Hero’s Boyhood
 Hereditary Influence
 Environmental Influence
 Aid of Divine Providence
Rizal’s Uncles Who Help Him A Lot in His
Development
Gregorio
- Was a lover of books. He instilled into the mind of
his precocious nephew*Jose) a great love for
books.
- He taught him to work hard, to think for himself,
and to observe life keenly.
Jose
- Who had been educated at Calcutta, India, was
the youngest brother of Doña Teodora.
- He encouraged his nephew to paint, sketch, and
sculpture.
Manuel
- Was a big, strong, and husky man. He looked
after the physical training of his sickly and weak
nephew.
- He encouraged young Rizal to learn swimming,
fencing, wrestling and other sports, so that in later
years of Rizal’s frail body acquired agility,
endurance and strength.
What Is Martial Law?
Martial law
- it is a law administered by the military rather
than a civilian government, typically to restore
order.
- it is declared in an emergency, in a response to a
crisis, or to control occupied territory.
- When martial law is declared, civil liberties, such
as the right to free movement, free speech,
protection from unreasonable searches and habeas
corpus laws may be suspended.
- Typically, the imposition of martial law
accompanies curfews, the suspension of civil law,
civil rights, habeas corpus, and the application or
extension of military law or military justice to
civilians. Civilians defying martial law may be
subjected to military tribunals (court-martial).
Fascism
- a way of organizing a society in which a
government ruled by a dictator controls the lives of
the people and in which people are not allowed to
disagree with the government.
Proclamation of Martial Law:
On Sept. 21, 1972, Pres. Ferdinand E.
Marcos placed the Philippines under Martial Law.
The declaration issued under Proclamation 1081
suspended the civil rights and imposed military
authority in the country. Marcos defended the
declaration stressing the need for extra powers to
quell the rising wave of violence allegedly caused
by communists. The emergency rule, according to
Marcos’ plan, was to lead the country into what he
calls a “New Society”.
What is the main intention of declaring Martial
Law?
 To control the uncontrollable movement of the
people. Basis of declaring Martial Law
 Rebellion
 Invasion
The Nightmare that was Martial Law
Jo-Ed K. Tirol / Ph.D / “Jo-Ed”
- is an Assistant Professor at the Department of
History of the Ateneo de Manila University. This
post was originally published in his personal
Facebook Account.
Martial Law was born six months before I
was. So if we were both students, so to speak, we
would probably have ended up as batch mates.
However, as much as I would like to think I know
who I am now, I doubt that Martial Law so long
ago would recognize what it has become today, to
have persisted beyond anyone’s expectations,
including its own.
The trouble with Martial Law is that
although it has only one true father, Ferdinand
Marcos, it has many godparents, in the form of
those who conspired to set it in motion, and later,
those who kept it growing stronger and more
terrible, encouraging it with hubris and
entitlement, and letting it gorge on the bodies of
the innocent and victimizing thousands more with
torture, rape, and trauma. And amidst the silence
and fear of the ordinary Filipino, Martial Law
became a weapon of abuse against the weak, an
opportunity for self-enrichment for the greedy, and
a channel of disinformation for those who wished
to keep their crimes hidden. But even when
Martial Law was nominally ended in 1981,
and more properly dismantled in 1986, Martial
Law has never quite left our midst. It is hard to
speak of the exile of the monster, much less the
slaying of the ghost, when the architects still
remain in our midst, and the beneficiaries
continue to live off the wealth that never rightly
belonged to them. In fact, over the last thirty
years the children and grandchildren of Martial
Law like to encourage lies about their father’s
history, inventing new lies, recreating and
rewriting narratives that never existed, yet easily
swallowed by the gullible, or by those desperate to
forget what really happened.
“This is why we beg the question if Martial
Law ever truly left, or remains lurking in our midst,
not just the bogeyman told to frighten children, but
a true beast waiting to be summoned by its
followers and high priests, to once more prey on the
unwary, and if we are all not careful, devour us all
for good.”
This is why we beg the question if ever truly
left, or remains lurking in our midst, not just the
bogeyman told to frighten children, but a true
beast waiting to be summoned by its followers and
high priests, to once more prey on the unwary, and
if we are all not careful, devour us all for good. The
tragedy facing us today is that we never
understood what Martial Law really did to us
thirty-one years ago, because we were too afraid
to really face the beast. Perhaps this is so because
we did not want to see the beast among us and
within us. Perhaps we were too afraid to
remember, and in so doing, if we are not careful,
allow it to creep back, in new subtle forms, taking
out one-by-one those who could prevent its return,
while convincing the majority that it had never
brought harm before, but only the facade of law
and order. What I fear the most, and the
anniversary has come upon us once more, is that
if Martial Law were to be unleashed upon us once
more, we will all be to blame the second time
around. For we refused to listen to the cries of
those we have lost, refused to learn to the stories
that needed to be told, refused to remember the
story of us, the nightmare that was Martial Law.
Module 4 - School days in Biñan
Rizal at three learned his ABC’s on the
knees of his mother. They were often seen kneeling
in prayer every morning and evening before
retiring to bed. To teach him writing, reading and
Latin, Rizal father engaged the services of an old
friend, Leon Monroy. Unfortunately, the man who
lodged with them for five months soon died.
In 1869, Don Francisco decided to send
Jose to Biñan, to continue his studies.
Accompanied by his brother, Paciano,
they reached Biñan after one-and-a-half hours
ride aboard a carromata.
The following morning (Monday) Paciano
took his brother to the house of Maestro
Justiniano Aquino Cruz, a nipa house about
thirty meters from the house of Jose’s aunt.
Paciano, a former pupil of the maestro,
introduced his brother and left. After Jose was
given his seat in the class, the teacher asked him:
“Do you know Spanish?” “A little, Sir,” replied Jose.
“Do you know Latin?” “A little, sir,” Because of
these answers,” he replied, “the teacher’s son who
was called Pedro, the naughtiest boy in the class,
afterwards made fun of me.”
Activities in Biñan
Rizal’s daily activities were systematic
and methodical. His manner of life was simple. He
said: “I heard the four o’clock mass, if there was
once; or I studied my lessons at the same hour and
heard mass afterwards. Upon returning, I looked
for a mabolo fruit in the grove and I ate it.
Afterwards I took my breakfast, which consisted of
a plate of boiled rice, and two fried sardines.
Then I went to class, which was over at ten. I went
home immediately.”
“If there was a particularly appetizing dish,
leandro and I were told to take it to the house of
my aunt’s sons (a thing which I never did at home,
and would never have done). I returned without
saying a word, ate with them, and then applied
myself to studies.”
“I went back to school at two, and was out
at five. I played for a while with some good
cousins before going home. There I studied my
lessons, doodled a little, afterward taking my
supper of one or two plates of boiled rice and an
ayungin. We said our prayers and then, if there
was a moon, my friends would call me out to play
in the street in the company of others. Thanks to
God, I never felt sick when away from my parents.”
Juancho
- Beside the house of Rizal’s teacher was the house
of an old painter.
- He was the father-in-law of his teacher. Every
time Jose was free from his daily chores in the
classroom he would rush out and watch the old
man paint.
- Old Juancho was so impressed by the extra
interest of the Calamba lad, and gave him lessons
in drawing and painting. In due time Jose Rizal,
together with Jose Guevarra, a classmate, became
the favorite class painter.
In the classroom Jose was without peer. He
surpassed all his classmates. In his own words, he
said: “I usually won the classroom contests; nobody
beat me; and as a result, I surpassed many in class
standing, but inspite of the reputation I had of being
a good boy, the day was unusual when I was not
laid out on a bench and given five or six blows.”
To Calamba
The lad from Calamba was extra-ordinarily
gifted. He learned fast and in due time Maestro
Justiniano instructed Jose to go home for he had
learned all there was to be taught at his place.
In December, 1871, his sister Saturnina
sent him a letter informing him of the arrival of the
steamship Talim which would take him to
Calamba. “It seems that I had a premonition,”
recalled Jose, “I would not be back, and I went
often to the chapel of our Lady of Peace. I went to
the river and collected pebbles for souvenirs. I cut
out paper fishes and made everything ready for
departure.”
“I said goodbye to my friends one by one, and to
my teacher, too, with deep respect, for even our
sufferings, when they have been frequent and
continuous, became so to speak, dear to the heart,
which feels certain regret upon leaving them
behind.”
At one o’clock on Saturday, December 17,
1871, Rizal boarded the steamer, Talim. He was
thrilled and excited because this was his first time
to see and ride on a steamer. Aboard the ship, he
was left to the charge of a Frenchman, Arturo
Camps an old friend of his father.
When steamer reached his hometown Jose
could not put in words his joy. He said: “At last we
arrived in Kalamba. What a joy it was to see the
shore! I wanted to jump immediately into the first
banca that I saw, but a cabin boy took me in his
arms and placed me in the captain’s boat. Then
came the Frenchman, and four sailors rowed us
ashore.”
Module 5 - Triumphs in the Ateneo
Ateneo Municipal
- a college under the super vision of the Spanin
Jesuits.
- formerly known as EscuelaPia, a charity school
for poor boys in Manila which was established by
the city gov’t in 1817 and later became Ateneo de
Manila.
Life and Studies at Ateneo
The Jesuits were considered the best
educators of Spain, and perhaps of Europe, and
so, when they were permitted to return to the
Philippines, although their power to administer
parishes was restricted except in the remote
regions of Mindanao, the privilege of founding
colleges, they had to apply to the City of Manila for
subsidies. That is why the college which began to
function in the year 1865, was called the Ateneo
Municipal.
Since Mercado, the first surname of the
family had come under suspicion of the authorities
because it was the name used by Paciano when he
was studying and working with Father Burgos, in
whose house he lived, Jose adopted the second
surname, Rizal.
Rizal enters Ateneo
Father Margin Fernando
- the College registrar refused to admit Jose Rizal
because:
1) he was late for registration
2) he was sickly and undersized for his age.
Because of the help of Manuel Xeres Burgos
(nephew of Fr. Burgos), Rizal was admitted to the
Ateneo.
Father Jose Bech
- The first teacher of Rizal in Ateneo.
Rizal had two (2) teachers he could not forget:
 Francisco de Paula Sanchez
- a young, upright, serious, and one who
rejoiced at the advancement of his students.
On the contrary,
 Fr. Jose Vilaclara
- a teacher in philosophy and sciences found
poetry useless.
- Trying to convince his students to follow what
he firmly believed in, he discouraged Rizal
from writing. Despite his resentment on the
remarks of Fr. Vilaclara, Rizal did not allow
criticisms to dampen his fascination in
literature.
- Rizal continued writing and secretly sent his
composition to Fr. Sanchez who likewise
corrected them enthusiastically.
Jesuit System of Education
Reasons why Jesuit System was advance than
other college:
1. It trained the character of students by rigid
discipline and religious instruction.
2. It promotes physical culture, humanities and
scientific studies.
3. Aside from academic courses leading to AB, it
offers vocational course in agriculture, commerce,
mechanics and
surveying.
4. They were given splendid professors.
5. They acquired prestige as an excellent college
for boys.
In the first two terms the classes were divided
into groups of interns and externs:
 Roman Empire
 Carthaginian Empire.
In each empire there were five dignitaries:
 Emperor
 Tribune
 Decurion
 Centurion
 Standard-Bearer
These dignities were won by means of
individual competitions in which it was necessary
to catch one’s adversary in error three times. The
empires considered themselves in perpetual
warfare, and when an individual of one empire
was caught in error by one belonging to the enemy
empire, a point was counted in favor of the latter.
At the end of each week or two, the points in favor
of each were added and the empire, which
obtained more point, was declared winner.
As a newcomer, Jose was at first put at the
tail of the class, but he was soon promoted and
kept on being promoted so that at the end of one
month he had attained to the rank of Emperor. At
the end of the term, he obtained marks of excellent
in all the subjects and in the examinations. He had
reason to feel proud of his advancement; and so,
when he went home on vacation that year, he ran
alone to see his mother in the prison and tell her
the happy news.
Second year in Ateneo (1873-1874)
 he again became an emperor
 he also received excellent grades in all subjects
and a gold medal.
 At March 1874, he returned to Calamba for
his vacation.
Third year in Ateneo (1874-1875)
 he only got 1 medal in his Latin subject
 then on March 1875 he returned to Calamba
Fourth year in Ateneo (1875-1876)
 he became an internee in the Ateneo
 One of his professors this time was Fr.
Francisco Sanchez whom inspired Rizal to
study harder and write poetry.
Last year in Ateneo (1876-1877)
 Rizal won 5 medals and topped in all subjects
 on March 1876 he returned to Calamba.
 Rizal became the pride of the Jesuits
 he obtained highest grades in all subjects
 He received the degree of Bachelor of Arts
with highest honors during commencement
exercise
First Romance of Rizal
Shortly after his graduation from the
Ateneo, Rizal, who was then 16 years old,
experience his first romance— “that painful
experience which comes to nearly all adolescent”.
Segunda Katigbak
- is the girl who stole Rizal’s heart, she is a pretty
14 years old Batangueña from Lipa.
- Rizal used to know Segunda because of his
friend Mariano Katigbak, brother of Segunda,
during weekends Rizal visit Segunda’s place—La
Concordia College and came to know her more
intimately.
- But this love story didn’t last long as Segunda
was already engaged to be married to her
townmate Manuel Luz.
The last time they talked to each other was
before the Christmas vacation on 1877 before they
both live and return to their hometown. “Well,
goodbye. Anyway—I’ll see when you pass
Calamba on your way to Lipa”, the last word
Rizal said to Segunda before they will apart
forever.
Module 6 - At the University of Santo Tomas
Fortunately, Rizal’s tragic first romance,
with its bitter disillusionment, did not adversely
affect his studies in the University of Santo
Tomas. His love for higher education proved to be
greater than his love for a pretty girl.
In April 1877, Rizal, who was then nearly
16 years old, matriculated in the University of
Santo Tomas, taking Philosophy and Letters.
Rizal enrolled in this course for two reasons:
1. His father liked it
2. He was still “Uncertain as to what career to
follow.”
Father Pablo Ramon
- He had written to the Father Pablo Ramon
- He is Rector of Ateneo, who had been good to him
during his student days in that college, asking for
advice on the choice of career.
- Unfortunately, the Father Rector was in the
Mindanao and during those days it took several
months for a letter to travel between Manila and
Mindanao.
Consequently, during his first-year term (1877-
79) in the UST, Rizal studied:
 Cosmology
 Metaphysics
 Theodicy
 History of Philosophy.
It was during the following school term (1878-
1879) that Rizal took up medicine, enrolling
simultaneously in the preparatory medical
course and the regular first year medical course.
The reasons why Rizal studied medicine were:
1. he wanted to be a physician so that he might
cure his mother’s failing eyesight.
2. the Father Pablo Ramon, Rector of Ateneo,
whom he consulted for a choice of career,
finally answered his letter, recommending
medicine.
Romances with Other Girls
Not with standing his academic studies in
the University of Santo Tomas and
extracurricular activities in the Ateneo, Rizal had
ample time for love. He was a romantic dreamer
who liked to sip the “nectar of love.” His sad
experience with his first love had made him wiser
in the ways of romance.
Shortly after losing Segunda Katigbak, he
paid court to a young woman in Calamba. In his
memoirs, he called her simply Miss L, describing
her as “fair with seductive and attractive eyes.”
After visiting her in her house several times, he
suddenly stopped his wooing, and the romance
died a natural death.
Several months later, during his sophomore
year at the University of Santo Tomas, he
boarded in the house of Doña Concha Leyva in
Intramuros.
Leonor Valenzuela
- charming girl and she was a tall girl, “almost as
tall as Jose himself,” and had a regal bearing.
- daughter of Capitan Juan and Capitana Sanday
Valenzuela, and Rizal’s next-door neighbors of
Doña Concha.
- Rizal courted Leonor Valenzuela.
Rizal, the medical student from Calamba,
was a welcomed visitor in the Valenzuela home,
where he was the life of the social parties because
of his clever sleight-of-hand tricks. He sent her
over love notes written in invisible ink. This ink
consisted of common table salt and water. It left no
trace on the paper. Rizal, who knew his chemistry,
taught Orang (pet name of Leonor Valenzuela)
the secret of reading any note written in the
invisible ink by heating it over a candle or lamp so
that the lettering may appear. But as with
Segunda, he stopped short of proposing marriage
to Orang.
Rizal’s next romance was with another
Leonor- Leonor Rivera- his cousin from
Camiling. In 1879, the start of his junior year at
the University, he lived in “Casa Tomasina,” a
boarding house managed by his Uncle Antonio
Rivera, at No. 6 Calle Santo Tomas, Intramuros.
His landlord-uncle had a pretty daughter,
Leonor, a student at La Concordia College, where
Soledad (Rizal’s younger sister) was then
studying. Leonor, born in Camiling, Tarlac, on
April 11, 1876, was a frail, beautiful, “tender as
a budding flower with kindly, wistful eyes.”
Leonor Rivera
- student at La Concordia College where Soledad
(Rizal’s younger sister) was then studying.
- Leonor’s father and Rizal’s landlord-uncle is
Antonio Rivera.
- born in Camiling, Tarlac, on April 11, 1876
- she was a frail, beautiful, “tender as a budding
flower with kindly, wistful eyes.”
- signed her name as “Taimis,” in order to hide
their intimate relationship from their parents and
friends in her letters to Rizal.
Between Jose and Leonor sprang a
tenderly beautiful romance. They became engaged.
Victim of Spanish Officer’s Brutality
When Rizal was a freshman medical
student at the University of Santo Tomas, he got
his first taste of Spanish brutality. One dark night
in Calamba, during his summer vacation in 1880,
he was walking in the street. He dimly perceived
the figure of a man while passing him. Not
knowing the person due to darkness, he did not
salute or say a courteous “Good Evening.” The
vague figure was a lieutenant of the Guardia
Civil. With a snarl, he turned upon Rizal, whipped
out a sword and brutally slashed the later on the
back.
The wound was not serious, but it was
painful. When he recovered, Rizal reported the
incident to General Primo de Rivera, the Spanish
Governor-General of the Philippines at that time.
But nothing came out of his complaint, because he
was an indio, and the abusive lieutenant was a
Spaniard. In a letter to Blumentritt, dated March
21, 1887, he related: “I went to the Captain
General but I could not obtain any Justice; my
wound lasted two weeks.”
General Primo de Rivera
- Spanish Governor-General of the Philippines 2) languages and customs
3) industries and commerce
- indio, and the abusive lieutenant was a Spaniard 4) Governments and laws of the European
Rizal, the Champion of Filipino Students nations.

 Rizal was the champion of the Filipino

students in their frequent fights against Departure for Spain
arrogant Spanish students, who insultingly call
their brown classmates, ”Indio, chongo!”. In Rizal’s departure was kept secret to avoid
retaliation, Filipinos call them ”Kastila, detection by the Spanish authorities and the
bangus!”. Hostility often exploded in angry friars. The kind Jesuit priests gave him letters of
street rumbles. recommendations to members of their Society in
Barcelona.
 Rizal participated in street brawls.
 In 1880, he founded a secret society of Filipino
students in UST called Compañerismo Rizal departed on May 3, 1882 boarded the
(Comradeship), members were called Salvadora with the following route:
”Companions of Jehu”.  Manila
 Rizal was the chief of the secret society and  Singapore
his cousin from Batangas, Galicano Apacible  Colombo
was the secretary.  through the Suez Canal
 There was a time in their fights, when Rizal  Naples
was wounded on the head, his friends brought  Marseiles
him in his boarding house and Leonor Rivera  Barcelona.
aided and washed his wound.

Only Uncle Antonio Rivera, Paciano, and his

Unhappy Days at the UST
Rizal was unhappy in the Dominican institution
because:
 The Dominican professors were hostile to him
 The Filipino students were racially
discriminated against by the Spaniards
 The method of instruction was obsolete and
repressive.
 He failed to win high scholastic honors due to
the attitude of his professors
Module 7 - In Sunny Spain
Decision to go to Spain
After finishing the fourth year of his
medical course, Rizal decided to go to study in
Spain. His elder brother readily approved his going
to Spain and so did his two sisters:
 Saturnina (Neneng)
 Lucia.
Rizal, however, did not seek his parents’
permission and blessings to go abroad, because he
knew that they, especially his mother, would
disapprove it.
sisters, and some close friends knew of his
departure. Paciano gave him P700, Saturnina
gave him a diamond ring. An allowance of P35 per
month was promised by Paciano through Uncle
Antonio. Rizal used a passport named Jose
Mercado.
Singapore
During his voyage he observed the people and
things around him and compared them with those
in the Philippines. He was the only Filipino on
board. Rizal saw Singapore and was impressed by
its progress and beautiful sights. He admired the
confidence of the natives of Singapore with their
government. Rizal stayed at Hotel de Paz during
the two days of his stop-over at Singapore.
Rizal spent most of his time visiting:
 historic places
 botanical garden
 temples,
 art galleries
 writing his diary and letters.
First trip to Suez Canal

Rizal boarded the Djemnah from

Rizal has a secret mission why he wants to go Singapore to Europe, a French steamer, it was
abroad to observe the following: larger and cleaner than the Salvadora. He tried to
1) life and culture in Europe speak French with some passengers, which he
learned it Ateneo, but unfortunately passengers
cannot understand him.
After a week he reached Point de Galle,
that afternoon they sailed and docked at Colombo
Ceylon. The steamer crossed the Indian Ocean to
Cafe Guardafui in Africa. The trip was difficult
because of a stormy weather. Rizal was sea sick.
On June 2 he arrived at the terminal of Suez
Canal, enjoyed and was thrilled by the historic
waterway.
Suez Canal
- is man-made waterway which constructed by the
Famous Frenchman.
On June 11, Rizal reached Naples. This
Italian City pleased him because of its business
activity, its lively people, and its panoramic
beauty. Night of June 12, the steamer docked at
the French harbor of Marsielles. He visited the
Chateau d’If, where Dantes, the hero in The
Count of Monte Cristo was imprisoned. He stayed
three days in Marseilles, enjoying every day of his
sojourn.
At Marseilles, Rizal took the train to
Barcelona. Rizal reached his destination –
Barcelona on June 16, 1882. Rizal found
Barcelona to be a great city, with an atmosphere
of freedom and liberalism, and its people were
open-hearted, hospitable and courageous. The
Filipinos in Barcelona, some of whom were his
schoolmates in Ateneo, welcomed Rizal. They
threw a party for Rizal at their favorite café in
Plaza de Cataluna.
Rizal Moves to Madrid
Rizal received a sad news about the cholera that
was ravaging Manila and the provinces. On a letter
he received from Paciano dated September 15,
1882, the Calamba folks were having afternoon
novenas and nocturnal procession, praying to
God to stop the dreadful epidemic. Another sad
news he received was from Chengoy (Jose M.
Cecilio) telling how Leonor Rivera was getting
thinner because of the absence of a love one.
Upon Paciano’s advise, Rizal left Barcelona in
the fall of 1882 and established himself in Madrid,
the capital of Spain.
At Madrid he enrolled at the Universidad
Central de Madrid (Central University of
Madrid) on November 3, 1882 there he took two
courses:
 Medicine
 Philosophy and Letters.
Aside from his studies, Rizal also took painting
and sculpture at the Academy of Fine Arts of
San Carlos. Rizal also took private lessons in
French, German, and English; Rizal led a
Spartan life in Madrid, he lived frugally, spending
his money only on food, clothing, lodging, and
books his only “vice” was taking part in the
Madrid Lottery. He spends his leisure time
reading and writing at his boarding house,
attending reunions with fellow Filipino students
and practicing fencing and shooting.
Consuelo Ortiga y Perez
During Rizal’s stay in Madrid, he would
frequently visit the home of Don Pablo Ortiga y
Rey.
Don Pablo Ortiga y Rey
- was a former city mayor of Manila during the
administration of the liberal governor general
Carlos Ma. De la Torre.
- lived with his son Rafael and daughter Consuelo
 Rizal was attracted by Consuelo’s beauty and
vivacity.
As he made a poem entitled A La Senorita C.O. y
P. to express his admiration for her. Rizal,
however, backed out from his romance with
Consuelo because:
 he was still engaged with Leonor Rivera
 his friend and co-worker in the Propaganda
Movement, Eduardo de Lete was madly in
love with Consuelo
Other activities of Rizal in Madrid
Shortly after arriving in Madrid in 1882,
Rizal joined the Circulo Hispano-Filipino.
Circulo Hispano-Filipino
- a society of liberal Spaniards and Filipinos.
As a member of this society Rizal wrote a
poem entitled “Me Piden Versos” (They ask me
for Verses).
Freemasonry / the Masons
- were a secret society composed of liberal and
republican Spaniards in Spain.
- Amongst them were prominent and intellectual
Spaniards.
 The Spanish Masons openly and freely
criticized the government policies and particularly
lambasted the friars. In March 1883, Rizal joined
the Masonic lodge called Acacia in Madrid. His
Masonic name was Dimasalang. Later he
transferred to Lodge Solidaridad where he became
a Master Mason.
2 reasons why he became a Mason:
➢ The bad friars in the Philippines unworthy of
their priestly habit or calling
➢ He needed the help of the Masons to fight the
bad friars in the Philippines. (it was a shield to
use in his fight against the evil forces of tyranny)
Completion of Studies
The academic year 1884-1885, Rizal
passed all subjects leading to the degree of Doctor
of Medicine. Rizal completed his medical course
in Spain. He was awarded the Degree of
Licentiate in Medicine by the Universidad
Central de Madrid on June 21, 1884.
The next academic year (1884-85) he
studied and passed all subjects leading to the
Degree of Doctor of Medicine. However, he was
not awarded his Doctors Diploma because he did
not present his thesis nor paid the corresponding
fees.
Rizal also finished his studies in
Philosophy and Letters and was awarded the
degree on June 19, 1885, his 24th birthday. By
obtaining a degree in Philosophy and Letters,
Rizal became qualified to be a professor of
humanities in any Spanish university. He did not
bother to secure the post-graduate degree of
Doctor of Medicine because it was also good only
for teaching. Rizal knew, however, that with his
brown color and Asian racial ancestry no friar-
owned university or college in the Philippines
would accept him in its faculty staff.
Module 8 - Paris to Berlin (1885-87)
Rizal went to Paris and Germany in order
to specialize in ophthalmology—Rizal chose this
branch of medicine because he wanted to cure
his mother’s eye ailment.
Rizal met and befriended several top German
scientists:
 Dr. Feodor Jagor
 Dr. Adolph B. Meyer
 Dr. Hans Meyer
 Dr. Rudolf Virchow.
In Gay Paris (1885-1886)
After his studies in Central University of
Madrid, Rizal, who was 24 years old and already
a physician, went to Paris in order to acquire
more knowledge in ophthalmology. On his way to
Paris, he stopped at Barcelona to visit his friend
Maximo Viola.
Maximo Viola
- a medical student and a member of a rich family
of San Miguel, Bulacan, Rizal’s friend.
He stayed at Señor Eusebio Corominas
house over the week, he was the editor of the
newspaper La Publicidad and made a crayon
sketch of Don Miguel Morayta.
Don Miguel Morayta
- owner of La Publicidad and a statesman.
On November 1885, Rizal was living in
Paris where he sojourned for about four months.
Rizal worked as an assistant from November
1885 to February 1886
Dr. Louis de Weckert (1852-1906)
- a leading French ophthalmologist.
At the studio of Juan Luna, Rizal spent
many happy hours. Rizal helped Luna by posing
as model in several paintings.
Juan Luna
- the great master of the brush
- In Luna’s canvas “The Death of Cleopatra” he
posed as an Egyptian priest.
- In another of Luna’s great paintings, “The Blood
Compact,” he posed as Sikatuna, with Trinidad
Pardo de Tavera taking the role of Legazpi.
- Luna was engaged to a pretty girl named Paz
Pardo de Tavera and later became his wife.
On November 27, 1878, Rizal told
Enrique Lete that he “learned the solfeggio, the
piano, the voice culture in one month and a
half”. By sheer determination and constant
practice, Rizal came to play the flute fairly well.
He was a flutist in various impromptu reunions
of Filipinos in Paris.
Alin Mang Lahi (Any Race)
- is a patriotic song written by Rizal which asserts
that any race aspires for freedom.
In Historic Heidelberg
On February 8, 1886, Rizal arrived in
Heidelberg.
Heidelberg
- a historic city in Germany famous for its old
university and romantics surroundings.
He became popular among the Germans
because they found out that he was a good chess
player. He worked at the University Eye Hospital
under the direction of Dr. Otto Becker.
Dr. Otto Becker
- distinguished German ophthalmologist.
On April 22, 1886, Rizal wrote a fine
poem entitled “A Las Flores de Heidelberg” (To
the Flowers of Heidelberg) because he was
fascinated by the blooming flowers along the
Neckar River, which is the light blue flower called
“forget-me-not”—his favorite flower. Rizal was
fortunate to witness the fifth centenary
celebration of University of Heidelberg on August
6, 1886.
First Letter to Blumentritt
On July 31, 1886, Rizal wrote his first
letter to Professor Ferdinand Blumentritt.
Professor Ferdinand Blumentritt
- who is the Director of the Ateneo of Leitmeritz,
Austria.
- is an Austrian ethnologist and he has an interest
in the Philippine language.
Rizal sent Aritmetica (Arithmetic) book
to Blumentritt which was published in 2
languages – Spanish and Tagalog – by the
University of Santo Tomas Press in 1868. The
author was Rufino Baltazar Hernandez.
Blumentritt became the best friend of Rizal. In
Leipzig and Dresden
On August 14, 1886, Rizal arrived in
Leipzig, there he attended some lectures at the
University of Leipzig on history and psychology.
He befriended Prof. Friedrich Ratzel.
Prof. Friedrich Ratzel
- a famous historian, and Dr. Hans Meyer, German
anthropologist.
Rizal found out that the cost of living in
Leipzig was the cheapest in Europe so he stayed
for 2 months and a half. On October 29, he went
to Dresden, where he met Dr. Adolph B. Meyer.
Dr. Adolph B. Meyer
- the Director of the Anthropological and
Ethnological Museum.
Rizal was enchanted by Berlin because of
its scientific atmosphere and the absence of race
prejudice.
In this city, he cam in contact with great
scientists:
 Dr. Feodor Jagor German
- scientist-traveler and author of Travels in the
Philippines
 Dr. Rudolf Virchow
- famous German anthropologist
 Dr. W. Joest
- German geographer
 Dr. Karl Ernest Schweigger
- a famous German ophthalmologist.
Rizal has five reasons why he stayed in Berlin:
(1) To gain further knowledge of ophthalmology
(2) To further his studies of science and
languages
(3) To observe the economic and political
conditions of the German nation
(4) To associate with famous German scientists
and scholars
(5) To publish his novel, Noli Me Tangere.
Rizal on German Women
Rizal sent a letter to his sister, Trinidad,
dated on March 11, 1886. In his letter, Rizal
expressed his high regard and admiration for
German womanhood. Rizal said that German
woman is serious, diligent, educated and friendly.
German women are not gossipy, and quarrelsome
like the Spanish women, they are not particular
about beautiful dresses and expensive jewelries,
though they could dress nicely like any other
woman in the world. Rizal regretted that in the
Philippines, the woman is more interested in how
they dress than how much they know. However, he
praised the delicacy of feeling, fine manners,
devotion, and hospitality of the Filipino women,
especially those in the province who are not yet
sophisticated.

Aside from German woman, some of the

following German customs were admired by
Rizal:

 on Christmas season, people will select a pine

tree from the bushes and adorned it with
lanterns, papers, lights, dolls, candies, fruits,
etc.
 another is the self-introduction to strangers
in a social gathering.

Rizal’s Darkest Winter

Rizal spent winters in many temperate

countries, but the winter of 1886 in Berlin was
his darkest winter. He lived in poverty because
no money arrived from Calamba and he was flat
broke. He could not pay his landlord and he was
eating only one meal a day. His clothes were old
and threadbare. His health broke down due to
lack of proper nourishment. This is one of the
most memorable days in the life of Rizal.