Module 4 Higher Education and Life Abroad

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0 10-July-2020
Study Guide in GE 8:THE LIFE AND WORKS OF RIZAL Module No. 4
STUDY GUIDE FOR MODULE NO. 4
Rizal’s Life: Higher Education and Life Abroad
MODULE OVERVIEW
In this module you will learn about Rizal’s higher education and his life abroad. Rizal enrolled
at the Universidad Central De Madrid. He took the following subjects: Medical Clinic, Surgical
Clinic, legal medicine, and obstetrical clinic. He also studied painting and sculpture in the Academy
of Fine Arts of San. Fernando and took lessons in French, German and English under private teachers.
The travel and adventure of Jose Rizal are an important surface of his education and mission
for the Philippines. Because of his broad knowledge of different culture he learned from his journey,
it became his inspiration for Reform. Upon his travel Jose Rizal experience struggle that lead reform
to the Philippines
MODULE LEARNING OBJECTIVES
On His Higher Education:

1. Analyze the system of education during Rizal’s formal education in UST;
2. Identify the remarkable events that happened during that period; and
3. Identify the persons and their contributions to Rizal’s choice of education and his character
formation.
On His Life in Europe:

1. Explain Rizal’s reasons for leaving the Philippines, especially those that are in connection with
his secret mission;
2. Revisit Rizal’s life abroad with the focus on the different organizations and groups he got
involved with, touching on the following:
a. Propaganda Movement
b. La Solidaridad
c. La Liga Filipina
3. Discuss the different historical events Rizal has witnessed while he was in Europe and analyze
his responses and reactions, with emphasis to the:
a. Igorot Human exhibition
b. Students demonstrations in defense to Professor Morayta
MODULE CONTENT
Rizal’s Life: Higher Education and Life Abroad
MEDICAL STUDIES AT THE UNIVERSITY OF SANTO TOMAS (1877-1882)
Jose Rizal, who had completed his Bachiller en Artes (Bachelor of Arts) at the Ateneo Municipal,
was now eligiblefor higher education at a university. His mother, Doña Teodora, had second thoughts
about sending her son toschool because of the previous incident involving the execution of friars:
Gomez, Burgos and Zamora. However, it was Don Francisco who decided to send his son to the
University of Santo Tomas, a prestigious institution run by the Dominican order.
PANGASINAN STATE UNIVERSITY 1

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Rizal, upon entering the university, was not certain which course of study he wanted to pursue. The
Jesuit priestswho had been his former mentors had advised him to take up farming, or to join the
order and be a man of the cloth. However, his tastes went towards law, literature, or medicine. In the
end, he decided to sign up for Philosophy and Letters during his freshman year because of the
following reasons:
1. It was what his father would have wanted for him; and
2. He had failed to seek the advice of the rector of the Ateneo, Father Ramon Pablo.
As part of the course, he had to complete units in the subjects - Cosmology and Metaphysics,
Theodicy, and History of Philosophy. His report card showed excellent remarks on all the subjects
taken which was very impressive. He passed the course brilliantly with the highest grades in spite of
his initial indifference to philosophy and his youthful distractions throughout the year.
Although Doña Teodora vigorously opposed the idea of Rizal pursuing higher learning in a
university and who would prophetically say, “Don’t send him to Manila again; he knows enough. If
he gets to know more, the Spaniards will cut off his head.”, Rizal continued his journey after his one-
year of learning Philosophy and Letters (1877-1878) and then later on transferred to the medical
course.
During Rizal’s first school term in the University of Santo Tomas (1877-1878), he also took
vocational courses on surveying in Ateneo. Unsurprisingly, he excelled in all subjects and received
gold medals in agriculture and topography. On November 25, 1881, the title, perito agrimensor
(expert surveyor), was issued to Rizal after passing the final examination in the surveying course.
Rizal’s excellent performance in Ateneo was later compared with his performance in the UST. It has
been said by several biographers that Rizal was discriminated and was treated poorly by the
Dominicans which has led to a not so excellent performance and grades during the period of his
study of Medicine in the said university. According to Zaide (1999), Rizal found the atmosphere at
the University of Santo Tomas suffocating to his sensitive spirit. And that he was unhappy at this
Dominican institution of higher learning because (1) the Dominican professors were
hostile to him; (2) the Filipino students were racially discriminated against by the Spaniards; and (3)
the method of instruction was obsolete and repressive which he has related in his novel, El
Filibusterismo, where he described how the Filipino students were humiliated and insulted by their
Dominican professors and how backward the method of instruction was, especially in the teaching of
the natural sciences.
Some historians questioned, “How could Rizal, after a perfect record of “Excellent” in high school
(Ateneo) now receive such “low” grades at UST?” These critics had to look for an explanation, and
since they did not find fault in Rizal, then they had to blame the Dominicans and the UST. Quite a
long line of Filipino biographers (with some exceptions) only portray the same repeated lamentation
that every schoolchild must now learn in the textbooks: that Rizal was “below his usual standards”,
and for the extremely serious charge that the “Dominican professors
were hostile to him” and “the Filipino students were racially discriminated” (Zaide), and that there
was “excessive harping on the alleged intellectual superiority of the Spanish to the Filipino, a brown
man, and Indio (JM Hernandez), and so on.”

Upon further study of academicians, more particularly, Fr. Fidel Villaroel, it wasn’t all true that he
was discriminated and that these discrimination issues affected his grades while he was in the
university, as how it was falsely put into writing by several historians.
According to the study of Fr. Villaroel, a year after Rizal entered UST in 1877, he took
simultaneously the Pre- Medical Course and the First Year of Medicine; this was supposed to be
against the rules, but Rizal was favored with a dispensation. Had Rizal been discriminated or treated
shabbily by the Dominicans he would not have been granted the rare privilege of studying
simultaneously the Preparatory Course while taking up the First Year of Medicine.
In his courses of medicine, Rizal was a good student, above-average, though not excellent; but none
of his classmates were excellent either. Summing up, in the 21 subjects taken in UST, Rizal obtained
one aprobado (passing grade), eight bueno (good), six notable (very good), and six sobresaliente
(excellent). The majority of students in Rizal’s time, or at any time, would have been satisfied with
the above grades. It is possible that Rizal was not, but it is a fact that he never complained about his
grades, there is not a single word in his works showing displeasure at the unfairness of UST.
How could Rizal, after a perfect record of “Excellent” in high school (Ateneo) now receive such
“low” grades at UST? Was Rizal “far below his usual standards”? What standards, in the first place?
If by usual standards we mean the grades of his Ateneo high school studies, the comparison is unfair.
Nobody places elementary or high school standards against college or university standards. They
belong to different levels. At Ateneo municipal, Rizal was excellent, though not the only excellent
student. At the UST, none of his classmates ever got near to keeping a straight record of Excellent.
And this was because Medicine was a different kind of stuff altogether. Therefore, if we are to arrive
at a just appreciation of Rizal’s performance at the UST, we should compare, not his
grades in the high school with those in the university, but Rizal’s grades in Medicine against those of
his classmates.
In the first year of medicine, Rizal’s class was made up of 24 students, but due to academic failures,
seventeen of them were left by the roadside before they reached the fourth year, when only seven
took the final examinations. And in his fourth and last year, he landed in second place behind
Cornelio Mapa. A persecuted Rizal would have probably ended by the same roadside as the
seventeen “debarred” classmates or would have never boasted of being second when he left for Spain
in 1882.
His performance in the university may also be linked with his inclinations and abilities. While he
was undoubtedly inclined to, and remarkably fitted for, the arts and letters, he was not much attracted
to Medicine. “Perhaps – says Leon Ma. Guerrero – Medicine was not his real vocation”. Medicine
was a convenient career taken up in consideration of the poor health of Rizal’s mother, whom he
wanted to help, and eventually helped as a physician.
The Literary Works of Rizal While in UST
In the year 1879, Liceo Artistico-Literario (Artistic-Literary Lyceum) of Manila, a society of literary
men and artists, held a literary contest. Rizal, who was then 18 years old, submitted “A La Juventud
Filipina (To the Filipino Youth)” , an inspiring poem of flawless form. In his poem, Rizal beseeched
the Filipino youth to rise from lethargy, to let genius fly swifter than the wind and descend with art
and science to break the chains that have long bound the spirit of the people. This winning piece of
Rizal is a classic in the Philippine literature for two reasons: (1) it was a great poem in Spanish

written by a Filipino, whose merit was recognized by Spanish literary authorities; and (2) it
expressed for the first time the nationalistic concept that the Filipinos, and not the foreigners, were
the “fair hope of the Fatherland”. The Board of Judges, composed of Spaniards, was impressed by
Rizal’s poem and awarded him the first prize - a silver, feather-shaped pen, decorated with a gold
ribbon.
In the same year, Rizal also composed a poem entitled, “Abd-el-Azis y Mahoma” . It was declaimed
by an Atenean, Manuel Fernandez, on the night of December 8, 1879, in honor of the Ateneo’s
Patroness.
In the year 1880, Rizal wrote an allegorical drama, “El Consejo de los Dioses (The Councils
of the Gods)” , which he entered in the literary contest of Artistic-Literary Lyceum to commemorate
the fourth centennial of the death of Cervantes.
Rizal also wrote a zarzuela, “Junto al Pasig (Beside the Pasig)” , which was staged by the
Ateneans on December 8, 1880, in honor of their patroness, Immaculate Conception, on the occasion
of the annual celebration of her Feast Day. Rizal wrote it when he has served as the President of the
Academy of Spanish Literature in Ateneo.
In the same year, 1880, Rizal founded a secret society of Filipino students in University of
Santo Tomas. Members of the society were called Companions of Jehu after the valiant Hebrew
general. Rizal’s cousin, Galicano Apacible, hailed from Batangas was the secretary of the society.
A sonnet entitled “A Filipinas” was written by Rizal for the album of the Society of
Sculptors; in this sonnet, he urged all Filipino artists to glorify the Philippines. The poem “Al M.R.P.
Pablo Ramon” composed by Rizal in 1881 was written as an expression of affection to Father Pablo
Ramon, the Ateneo rector, who had been so kind and helpful to him.
Rizal’s romances when he was still a student of Medicine in UST
1. Miss L – The romance with “Miss L” died a natural death because the sweet memory of Segunda
Katigbak was still fresh in Jose’s heart and his father didn’t like the woman’s family.
2. Leonor Valenzuela – Orang, her petname, was the daughter of Capitan Juan and Capitana Sanday
Valenzuela, who were from Pagsanjan, Laguna. Rizal sent notes to her made with invisible ink (salt
solution).
3. Leonor Rivera – She was born in Camiling, Tarlac on April 11, 1867. She was a student at La
Concordia College, also the school of Soledad, Jose’s youngest sister. She was the daughter of
Rizal’s landlord-uncle, Antonio Rivera, when he lodged at the house located at No. 6 Calle Santo
Tomas, Intramuros. She used the name “Taimis” in her letters to Rizal.
Rizal’s visit to Pakil and Pagsanjan (1881)
In May 1881, Jose, along with his sisters Saturnina, Maria, and Trinidad and female friends
went on a pilgrimage to Pakil, the famous shrine of the Birhen Maria de los Dolores.

They boarded a casco (a flat-bottom sailing vessel) from Calamba to Pakil, Laguna. They stayed at
the home of Mr. and Mrs. Manuel Regalado, parents of Nicolas, Rizal’s friend in Manila. The
company witnessed the famous turumba, the people dancing in honor of the miraculous Birhen
Maria de los Dolores. Rizal was then infatuated by Vicenta Ybardolaza who was skillful in playing
the harp at the Regalado home. Rizal and his party went to Pagsanjan for two reasons: (1) It was the
native town of Leonor Valenzuela; and (2) To see the world-famed Pagsanjan Falls.
LIFE ABROAD
Rizal’s Departure for Spain (1882)
After finishing his 4th year of medical course in the UST, Rizal decided to complete his studies in
Spain. Aside from his studies, Rizal has his secret mission–to observe keenly the life and culture,
languages and customs, industries and commerce, and the government laws of the European nations
to prepare himself in the mighty task of liberating his oppressed people from Spanish tyranny. This
Rizalian “secret mission” was likewise disclosed by Paciano in his letter to his younger brother dated
May 20, 1892.
Rizal’s departure for Spain was kept secret to avoid detection by the Spanish authorities and the
friars. But beforehis departure, he wrote a farewell letter to his parents and sweetheart, Leonor
Rivera, which was delivered to them after he sailed away.
There are only a few people who knew of the departure of Rizal. Among those are Paciano; Antonio
Rivera, his uncle and the father of Leonor Rivera; Neneng and Lucia, his sisters; Valenzuela Family
(Captain Juan and Capitana Sunday and their daughter Orang); Pedro A. Paterno; Mateo Evangelista,
his compadre; The Ateneo Jesuit Priests; some intimate friends, including Chengoy, whose real name
- Jose M. Cecilio.
May 3, 1882
Aboard the Spanish steamer, Salvadora, Rizal departed for Spain using the name Jose Mercado on
his travelndocuments. His main reason for leaving the Philippines was to transfer to the Universidad
Central De Madrid in Spain to finish his medicine course.
May 8, 1882
They had a two-day stopover in Singapore. He reached a beautiful island, fascinated by its natural
beauty, he remembered “Talim Island with the Susong Dalaga”. The following day, Rizal booked a
hotel at Hotel de la Paz and spent two-day sightseeing the soiree of the city. He saw the Botanical
Garden, the Famous Buddhist Temple and the statue of the founder of Singapore, Sir Thomas
Stanford Raffles.
May 11, 1882

When he left Singapore for Europe, Rizal was aboard the steamer Djemnah, a French steamer, much
larger and cleaner than Salvadora. Most people in the vessel were British, French, Dutch, Spaniards,
Malays, Siamese, and Filipinos. French was mostly spoken on board.
May 17, 1882

Rizal arrived at the Point Galle, a seacoast town in southern Ceylon (now Sri Lanka). According to
him, the town was lovely, quiet and sad at the same time.
May 18, 1882
He had a stopover at Colombo, the capital of Ceylon. A place is more beautiful, smart, elegant than
Singapore, Point Galle, and Manila.
May 28, 1882

Djemnah continued its voyage across the Indian Ocean until he reached the Cape of Guardafui,
Africa. Rizal described the land as inhospitable but famous. Then, he reached Aden, a city hotter than
Manila where he saw camels for the first time.
June 2, 1882
Aboard Djemnah, Rizal proceeded to Suez Canal. It took 5 days to travel Suez. He disembarked for
sightseeing and was then fascinated to hear the multiracial inhabitants speaking a babel of tongues –
Arabic, Egyptians, Greek, Italian and Spanish.
June 11, 1882

The steamer proceeded to Europe and reached Naple City, Italy. Rizal was captivated by Mount
Vesuvius, the Castle of St. Telmo, and the historic sights of the city. The city was busy because of its
business activities, lively people, and panoramic beauty.
June 12, 1882

The steamer docked at the French harbor of Marseilles. Rizal disembarked to visit the famous
Chateau d‘if where Dantes, the hero in the book The Count of Monte Cristo was jailed. He stayed at
Marseilles for two and a half days.
June 15, 1882

The steamer left Mersailles for its last trip, Spain. The steamer reached Pyrenees and stopped for a
day at Port Bou. In this place, Rizal saw the indifference accorded to tourists in comparison to the
courtesy accorded by the French immigration officers.
June 16, 1883
From Port Bou, Rizal continued his trip for the last lap by train and finally reached his destination,
Barcelona, Spain. Rizal stayed in Hotel de España then boarded a house in San Severo Street. Rizal’s
first impression of Barcelona, the greatest city of Cataluña and Spain’s second-largest city, was
unfavorable. He visited Ronda de la Universidad of Barcelona – ugly, dirty little inns, inhospitable
people – because he happened to stay upon his arrival in a stingy inn. Later, he changed his mind and
came to like the city. A great city with an atmosphere of freedom, liberalism and openhearted,
hospitable and courageous people. He enjoyed promenading along Las Rambles, the famous
Barcelona Street.
Life in Barcelona, Spain (1882)
Rizal was welcomed by the Filipinos in Barcelona, some of them were his classmates in Ateneo.
They gave him a party at their favorite café – Plaza de Cataluña. They exchanged toast and they
introduced to him the attractions and customs of the people in Barcelona. Rizal, in turn, gave news

and gossips in the Philippines. While in Barcelona, Rizal received two bad news: (1) the cholera
outbreak that ravaged Manila and the provinces; and (2) the chatty letter of Chengoy recounting the
unhappiness of Leonor Rivera, who was getting thinner due to the absence of a loved one.
Literary works while in Barcelona
“Amor Patrio (Love of Country)” was Rizal’s first article written on Spain’s soil, under his pen-name
Laong Laan. It appeared in print in Diariong Tagalog on August 20, 1882.
The nationalistic essay was published in two texts—Spanish and Tagalog. The Spanish text
was originally written by Rizal in Barcelona and the other one was a Tagalog translation made by
M.H. del Pilar. Diariong Tagalog is the first Manila bilingual newspaper (written in Spanish and
Tagalog) whose publisher, Basilio Teodoro Moran, is a friend of Rizal in Manila. Rizal’s second
article for Diariong Tagalog was “ Los Viajes (Travel)” with “Revista de
Madrid (Review of Madrid)” as his third article whom he had written in Madrid on November 29,
1882, but was later returned to him by the publishing company which had ceased publication due to
lack of funds. Rizal left Barcelona in the fall of 1882 and established himself in Madrid, he took
Paciano’s advice to finish his schooling in the capital of Spain.
Life in Madrid (1882 – 1885)
On November 3, 1882, Rizal enrolled in the Universidad Central de Madrid (Central University of
Madrid) in two courses — Medicine and Philosophy and Letters. At the same time, he studied
painting and sculpture in the Academy of Fine Arts of San Fernando, took lessons in different
languages–French, German, and English–under private tutors. He also took time for sports and
rigidly practiced fencing and shooting in the Hall of Arms of Sanz y Carbonell. Moreover, he
followed his desire to learn more about music and other subjects. During vacant times, he visited
galleries and museums and read books of different subjects including military engineering.
Rizal lived frugally, budgeting his money wisely. Although he used to buy a ticket in every draw of
the Madrid Lottery, he never wasted his money for other types of gambling, wine, and women. Rizal
spent his leisure time reading and writing at his boarding house, attending the reunions of Filipino
students at the house of the Paterno brothers (Antonio, Maximo, and Pedro) and practicing fencing
and shooting at the gymnasium. He also reached out and fraternized with other students at the
Antigua Café de Levante. Other evenings, he visited the home of Don Pablo Ortiga y Rey who was
once a city mayor of Manila during the years 1869-1871, and who later became the Vice President of
the Council of the Philippines of the Ministry of Colonies.
Shortly after his arrival in Madrid in 1882, he joined Circulo Hispano-Filipino (Hispano-
Philippine Circle), a society of Spaniards and Filipinos. “Me Piden Versos (They Ask Me for
Verses)” was written by Rizal upon the request of the members of this society which he personally
declaimed during the New Year’s Eve reception held in the evening of December 31, 1882. In that
sad poem, Rizal poured out the cry of his agonizing heart. Instead of gallivanting as the other
Filipinos were inclined to do, he spent his extra money on books and was able to build a library of
his own. Among all his collections, he gave special attention to Hariet Beecher Stowe’s “Uncle
Tom’s Cabin” and Eugene Sue’s “Wandering Jew” which were stories of oppressed and suffering
people. These two books aroused Rizal’s sympathy for the oppressed and unfortunate people.
First Visit to Paris (1883)

During his first summer vacation in Madrid, Rizal went to Paris. Being mistaken for a Japanese,
prices of food, drinks, theatre, tickets, laundry, hotel accommodations, and transportation were
jacked-up and were too high for Rizal’s slender purse. As a result, in a letter he wrote to his family,
he described Paris as the “costliest capital in Europe.” Rizal stayed for a period of more than 60 days
in Paris. He initially stayed in Hotel de Paris located on 37 Rue de Maubange but later moved to a
cheaper hotel on 124 Rue de Rennes in the Latin Quarter.
Like any other tourist, he was impressed by the beautiful Paris, but what interested him the most in
the city was the presence of liberal reforms. The Spanish Masons criticized the government policies
and lambasted the friars, which evidently could not be done in the Philippines. In March 1883, he
joined the Masonic lodge called Acacia in Madrid with the thought that the Freemasonry would aid
him in his fight against the friars in the Philippines. The friars used religion to do what they want
such as enriching themselves in power and prosecuting the Filipino patriots, he had in mind likewise
to use the masonry “as his shield to combat them.” He became a Master Mason
on November 15, 1890 and three months later, he was awarded the diploma of Master Mason by
Le Grand Orient de France in Paris. However, he did not play an active role as a Mason, unlike the
other Filipino patriots such as M.H. del Pilar, G. Lopez Jaena and Mariano Ponce. He wrote only
one lecture for the association entitled “Science, Virtue, and Labor”.
Back in Madrid
Rizal had financial problems after his two years stay in Spain for things had been bad in the
Philippines. There were droughts and locusts which destroyed the farm and the harvests of rice and
sugar cane failed. Conflict also arose between his father and the hacienda manager causing the
raise of the rentals of the land as Don Francisco refused to give his only enduring turkey as it was
the only turkey left for breeding. Consequently, Rizal’s monthly allowances were late and there
even times that they did not arrive at all, so that there were meals that he missed during the day.
Evening of June 25, 1884, a banquet was sponsored by the Filipino community to celebrate the
double victory of the Filipino artists in the National Exposition of Fine Arts in Madrid—Luna’s
Spoliarium winning the first prize and Hidalgo’s Christian Virgins Exposed to the Populace
(Virgenes Cristianas Expuestas al Populacho) the second prize. This was also one occasion where
the dinner he had there was the only meal that he had eaten that day.
Rizal also participated in the student demonstrations, on November 20, 21, and 22, 1884, at
Central University. These student demonstrations were caused by the address of Dr. Miguel
Morayta, professor of history, at the opening ceremonies of the academic year on November 20, in
which he proclaimed “the freedom of science and the teacher”. His speech angered the university
students that induced several demonstrations that ended in a bloody riot where many civilians were
hurt. Rizal wrote to his family and told them of his escape with a friend, Ventura, from police
arrest.
Despite all the problems he encountered, Rizal was able to complete his studies and on June 21,
1884, he received the degree of Licentiate in Medicine and continued working for the degree of
Doctor of Medicine. He failed to get the degree as he wasn’t able to present a thesis and failed to
pay the corresponding fees. Nevertheless, he showed excellent grades in Legal Medicine and
Normal Histology and was rated “very good” in Surgical Clinic. Aside from these, he also finished
his studies in Philosophy and Letters, likewise with excellent ratings.

Finishing the degree of Licentiate in Philosophy and Letters entitled him to teach Humanities in
any Spanish University. The degree of Licentiate in Medicine qualified him to become a full-
fledged physician, licensed to practice medicine. At last, he had completed his studies. However,
he found no use to obtain a Doctorate in Medicine, which would be useful for a university
professor, because he was sure that he would not be appointed in the College of Santo Tomas,
anyway.
TRAVELS IN EUROPE
After completing his studies at the Universidad Central de Madrid, he left for Paris and Germany
to specialize in ophthalmology; having in his mind his mother’s eye ailment and serving as an
assistant to a famous European oculist. Later, he traveled to various places in Europe continuing
his “secret mission.”
In Paris (1885 – 1886)
On his way to Paris, he stopped at Barcelona to meet old acquaintances, especially, Maximo Viola,
his friend hailed from Bulacan who helped him in the publication of the Noli, and likewise had the
pleasure of meeting Señor Eusebio Corominas- editor of the newspaper La Solidaridad. In his four
months stay in Paris, he worked from November 1885 to February 1886 as an assistant to Dr.
Louis de Weckert, a leading French ophthalmologist.
During his off-hours, he socialized by visiting friends such as Pardo de Taveras, the artists Juan
Luna (Pardo de Taveras fiancé), and Félix Resurrección Hidalgo, and oftentimes stayed with Luna
in his studio. At the studio of Luna, Rizal spent many happy hours helping Luna by posing as a
model in several paintings. In Luna’s canvas “The Death of Cleopatra’”, Rizal posed as an
Egyptian priest. In another great painting “The Blood Compact'' , he posed as Sikatuna, with
Trinidad Pardo de Tavera taking the role of Legazpi.
In Heidelberg (1886)
Rizal arrived in Heidelberg, a historic city in Germany, on February 3, 1886. The land was famous
for its old university and romantic surroundings. While in Heidelberg, he worked at the University
Eye Hospital as an assistant to Dr. Otto Becker, a distinguished German ophthalmologist.
It was here in Heidelberg where he wrote his fine poem “A Las Flores de Heidelberg” (To the
Flowers of Heidelberg), inspired by the blooming flowers along the cool banks of the Neckar
River, which reminded him of the flowers at home in Calamba. Among them was his favorite
flower —the light blue “forget-me-not”. He also spent a three-month summer vacation at
Wilhelmsfeld, a mountainous village near Heidelberg and stayed with a protestant pastor, Dr. Karl
Ullmer, who became his good friend.
On July 31, 1886, Rizal wrote his first letter in German (which he had improved after his stay with
the Ullmers) to Professor Ferdinand Blumentritt, Director of the Ateneo of Leitmeritz, Austria,
who was to become his best friend and who had the interest in Philippine Languages. He then sent
Arithmetica (Arithmetic), a book written by Rufino Hernandez, published in two languages—
Spanish and Tagalog—by the University of Santo Tomas Press in 1868.

On August 6, 1886, Rizal left for Leipzig on the eve of the 5th anniversary celebration of the
University of Heidelberg.
In Leipzig and Dresden (1886)
Aboard a train, Rizal arrived in Leipzig on August 14, 1886. There he met the famous German
anthropologist, Dr. Hans Beyer and Professor Friedrich Ratzel, a German historian.
He did a lot of writing during his stay in this place, he went translating Schiller’s William Tell
from German into Tagalog so Filipino might know the story of the Swiss independence. Rizal also
translated into Tagalog Hans Andersen’s Fairy Tales for his nephews and nieces. Rizal found out
that the cost of living in Leipzig was the cheapest, so he stayed here for two months and a half
working as a proofreader in a publisher’s firm because of his knowledge in German, Spanish, and
other European languages.
Morning of November 1, 1886, Rizal left Dresden by train reaching Berlin in the evening.
In Berlin
Rizal was enchanted by Berlin because of its scientific atmosphere and the absence of racial
prejudice. Here he met for the first time Dr. Feodor Jagor, a celebrated German scientist-traveler
and author of the book Travels in the Philippines, a book which Rizal read and admired during his
student days in Manila. Through Dr. Jagor, he met a few acquaintances including Dr. Ernest
Schweigger, a famous German ophthalmologist, where he worked for a considerable period of
time.
Rizal became a member of the Anthropological Society, the Ethnological Society, and the
Geographical Society of Berlin, upon the recommendation of his German friends. Rizal wrote a
scholarly paper in German entitled Tagalische Verkunst (Tagalog Metrical Art) which he read
before the society in April 1887. this paper was published by the society in the same year and
elicited favorable comments from all scientific quarters. Rizal lived in Berlin, famous capital of
unified Germany for five reasons:
· to gain further knowledge of ophthalmology;

· to further his studies of sciences and languages;
· to observe the economic and political conditions of the German nation;
· to associate with famous German scientists and scholars; and
· to publish his novel, Noli Me Tangere (to be discussed in Chapter 7).
Rizal’s stay in Berlin was one of the most difficult in his life: he had no money; he was flat broke,
and his health was failing. It was also one of the most memorable for it was during this time that
his first novel, the Noli Me Tangere, was published and came off press. After the printing of the
novel, Rizal received financial help from home. With the money in his pocket after paying Php 300
to Dr. Maximo Viola which he owed for loaning him the needed funds to publish the novel, he
decided to see Europe once more before going home to the Philippines.
RIZAL’S GRAND TOUR OF EUROPE WITH VIOLA (1887)

On May 11, 1887, Rizal and Viola left Berlin by train. His first destination was Dresden–“one of
the best cities in Germany”, followed by Decin in Czechoslovakia, Vienna in Austria, and other
places.
In Dresden, he visited Dr. Adolph B. Meyer and met Dr. Jagor and told the latter of his plans to
visit Blumentritt in Leitmeritz (now Litemerice). Rizal would be seeing Blumentritt for the first
time so he was prevailed upon by Dr. Jagor informing Blumentritt of his coming.
First meeting with Blumentritt
At 1:30 pm of May 13, 1887, Rizal and Viola arrived at the railroad station of Leitmeritz, and for
the first time, the two great scholars—Rizal and Blumentritt—met in person, since the professor
was there at the station to meet them. While in Leitmeritz, Blumentritt brought them to various
places, historical spots, and to a conference at the Tourist Club where Blumentritt was the
secretary; Rizal in response spoke extemporaneously in fluent Germany while he delivered a
speech to the officers and members. It was also during his travel that he met Dr. Carlos Czepelak,
another renowned scientist of Europe, and Professor Robert Klutschak, an eminent naturalist.
Rizal and Viola stayed there for four days and left Leitmeritz by train on May 16, 1887, at 9:45
AM. He then proceeded to Prague where nothing of importance happened. After Prague, the
continued their journey to Vienna, the capital of Austria – Hungary at that time – and saw the
“beautiful blue Danube”, churches, museums, art galleries, theaters, and public parks. From here,
he and Dr. Viola proceeded to Lintz and then to Rheinfall, to other beautiful cities in Germany
such as Munich and Nuremberg. They crossed the frontier and proceeded to Switzerland, visiting
Bern, Lussane, and Geneva.
His happy tour of Europe was marred by news from his friends in Madrid that in an Exposition of
the Philippines held in Spain in the year 1887, there were Igorots exhibited, and because of the
deplorable conditions that they were in, some had died. With scanty clothing on, they were
ridiculed, laughed at, and were the objects of mockery not only by the people but also by the press.
This angered Rizal very much, with which he could not do anything about, but his indignation was
revealed in the letter he wrote to Blumentritt dated June 6, 1887, which reads thus:
“My poor compatriots (Igorots – Z) who are now being exhibited in Madrid are
mocked by Spanish newspapers, except El Liberal which says that it is not
consistent with human dignity to be exhibited side by side with animals and
plants. I have done everything possible to prevent the display of this degradation
of men of my race, but I have not succeeded. Now one woman died of
pneumonia. The Igorots were housed in a barraca. And El Resumen still makes
mean jokes about it.”
He ended his tour in Italy and visited the Vatican, called the “City of the Popes” and the capital of
Christendom, where he was deeply impressed by the majestic and magnificent buildings and its
religious atmosphere. After his long journey of five years in Europe and in a foreign land, he
prepared for his trip back home to the Philippines.
FIRST HOMECOMING (1887 – 1888)

The publication of the Noli Me Tangere caused an uproar among the friars, and for that reason,
Paciano (his brother), Silvestre Ubaldo (his brother-in-law), Chengoy and other friends warned
Rizal not to return home but he was so determined to return to the Philippines for the following
reasons:
(1) to operate on his mother’s eyes;

(2) to assuage his loneliness for his parents and brothers and sisters;
(3) to serve his people who had long been oppressed by Spanish tyrants;
(4) to find out for himself how Noli and his other writings were affecting Filipinos
and Spaniards in the Philippines; and
(5) to determine the source of Leonor Rivera’s silence.
Announcing his homecoming, Rizal wrote to his father on July 29, 1887, “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”.
Arrival in Manila
Rizal boarded the steamer Djemnah when he left Europe but was later transferred to another
steamer, Haiphong. On 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. At near
midnight on August 5, 1887, the Haiphong arrived in Manila.
It was on August 8, 1887, that he finally returned to Calamba. In there, he established a medical
clinic. His first patient was his mother, who was almost blind. Rizal, who came to be called
“Doctor Uliman” because he came from Germany, treated their ailments and soon acquired a
lucrative medical practice. Rizal opened a gymnasium for young folks, where he introduced
European sports. However, Rizal suffered one failure during his six months of sojourn in Calamba
—he failed to see Leonor Rivera.
But he saw the answer to the effects brought about by his novel on the Spanish government. A few
weeks after his arrival, Rizal was invited to Malacañang to answer questions regarding the
“subversive ideas” in his novel, an instigation coming from his enemies. He denied the charges and
his only defense was that he was only telling the truth. The Governor-General requested a copy,
and Rizal had procured one after a long and difficult search.
Storm over Noli
 Governo-General Emilio Terrero (1885-1888) read the novel and found no subversive ideas
in it.
 Msgr. Pedro Payo (a Dominican) sent a copy of Noli to Father Rector Gregorio Echavarria
of the University of Sto. Tomas for examination by a committee of the faculty. The report
of the faculty members of University of Santo Tomas stated that the Noli was “heretical,
impious, and scandalous in the religious order and anti-patriotic, subversive of public order,
injurious to the government of Spain and its function in the Philippine Islands in the
political order.”
 Governor-General Terrero was not satisfied with the assessment and for further verification
sent the novel to the committee head of Permanent Commission of Censorship, Fr.
Salvador Font, who found the novel to contain subversive ideas against the Church and

Spain, and recommended: “that the importation, reproduction, and circulation of this
pernicious book in the islands be absolutely prohibited.”
 Fr. Jose Rodriguez, an Augustinian priest, published a series of eight pamphlets under the
general heading Cuestiones de Sumo Interes (Questions of Supreme Interest) to blast the
Noli and other anti-Spanish writings.
 Vicente Barrantes, Spanish academician of Madrid, who criticized the Noli in an article
published in La Espańa Moderna (a newspaper of Madrid) in January, 1890.
The action of the government, however, made the book more popular, and all copies were sold,
reaching a price of Php 50 per copy. But this made Rizal and his friends apprehensive and uneasy,
although there were no massive arrests. The novel was not only controversial but popular, it
reached Spain and was the subject of debate in the Senate of the Spanish Cortes.
On the other hand, the Noli was gallantly defended by Filipino reformists including Marcelo H.
del Pilar, Dr. Antonio Ma. Regidor, Graciano Lopez-Jaena, Mariano Ponce; and other Spaniards
such as Fr. Sanchez, his favorite teacher at Ateneo; Don Segismundo Moret; Dr. Miguel Morayta;
and Professor Blumentritt. The best defense of Noli came from Rev. Vicente Garcia, a Filipino
Catholic priest, a scholar, a theologian of the Manila Cathedral and a Tagalog translator of the
famous Imitation of Christ by Thomas A. Kempis , writing under the penname Justo Desiderio
Magalang, wrote a defense of the Noli which was published in Singapore as an appendix to a
pamphlet dated July 18, 1888. In there, he blasted the arguments of Fr. Rodriguez. Rizal, himself
defended his novel against Barrantes’ attack, in a letter written in Brussels, Belgium.
In spite of the storm brewing over the novel, Rizal was not arrested and for his safety, the
Governor-General assigned him a bodyguard, Lt. Jose Taviel Andrade, who will later play an
important part of his life during his trial for treason. What marred Rizal’s happy days in Calamba
with Lt. Andrade were (1) the death of his older sister, Olympia; and (2) the groundless tales
circulated by his enemies that he was “a German spy, an agent of Bismarck, a Protestant, a
Mason, a witch, a soul beyond salvation, etc.”
The friars asked Governor General Terrero to deport him, but the latter refused because there was
no valid charge against Rizal in court. Rizal was compelled to leave Calamba for two reasons: (1)
his presence in Calamba was jeopardizing the safety and happiness of his family and friends; and
(2) he could fight his enemies better and serve his country’s cause with greater efficacy by writing
in foreign countries.
Shortly before Rizal left Calamba in 1888, his friend from Lipa requested him to write a poem in
commemoration of the town’s elevation to a villa (city) by virtue of the Becerra Law of 1888. In
response, he wrote, “ Himno Al Trabajo” (Hymn to Labor), a poem dedicated to the industrious
folks of Lipa.
SECOND TRIP AWAY FROM THE COUNTRY
Hounded by powerful enemies, Rizal was forced to leave his country for a second time in February
1888. He was then a full-grown man, 27 years of age, a practicing physician, and a recognized
man-of-letters.

Hongkong
It was on February 8, 1888, that he arrived in Hongkong on board the ship, Zafiro. He stayed at the
Victoria Hotel and was welcomed by Filipino residents, including Jose Maria Basa, Balbino
Mauricio, and Manuel Yriarte (son of Francisco Yriarte, alcalde mayor of Laguna). “Hong Kong”,
wrote Rizal to Blumentritt on February 16, 1888, “is a small, but a very clean city.”
A Spaniard named, Jose Sainz de Varanda, who was a former secretary of Governor-General
Terrero, shadowed Rizal.’s movement in Hong Kong. It is believed that he was commissioned by
the Spanish authorities to spy on Rizal.
He also visited Macao on February 18, 1888, the city according to him was “… small, low, and
gloomy. It looks sad and its almost dead.” He stayed at the home of Don Juan Francisco Lecaros, a
Filipino gentleman who married a Portuguese lady. During his stay, he enjoyed visiting casinos,
theaters, cathedrals, and church while studying Chinese, their lifestyle and customs.
Japan
He left Hongkong for Japan. It is said that one of the happiest moments of Rizal was his visit to the
Land of the Cherry Blossoms, where he stayed for a month and a half and the place where he fell
in love with in spite of Leonor Rivera.
He arrived in Yokohoma on February 28, 1888, but left for Tokyo the next day and visited a friend,
Juan Perez Caballero, the secretary of the Spanish Legation. And although wary, that his
movements in Japan were monitored by the Spanish authorities, he, nevertheless accepted the
invitation to stay at the Spanish Legation for the economy and furthermore, to show proof of his
innocence.
Rizal in his memoirs was impressed by Japan, by their customs and culture, as well as the
attractive and beautiful sights. In spite of the beauty of Japanese sceneries, customs, and culture,
there was one aspect he did not like: he felt disgusted at the way a human being was employed as
an animal.
One day, he saw a pretty Japanese woman passing through the Legation and fell in love with her.
He could have stayed in Japan, married the girl, and probably lived happily ever after, but he had a
mission.
He left Yokohama on April 13, 1888, bound for the United States. On the ship, he met a Japanese
journalist, who was to become an important person in his life. Tetcho Suehiro was a fighting
journalist, novelist, and champion of human rights. Both became very good friends, shared
sentiments on injustice and tyranny. They shared each other’s company in their travel through San
Francisco, across the US and New York, made the travel pleasant and short, and then bade each
other “goodbye” each to his own destination in London.
The United States

On April 28, 1888, the steamer Belgic, docked at San Francisco on Saturday morning. At that time,
the country was in turmoil over the issues of racial prejudice and slavery. So, the ship carrying 643
passengers was prevented from deboarding.
After a week, on Friday afternoon of May 4, 1888, Rizal and the other first-class passengers were
permitted to deboard and go ashore. He stayed in the Palace Hotel while in San Francisco for two
days, then, left San Francisco for Oakland by ferryboat on May 6, 1888. On Sunday morning of
May 13, 1888, Rizal reached New
York, thus ending his trip across the American continent. Rizal stayed three days in this city, which
he called the “big town” then left New York for Liverpool on May 24, 1888.
Rizal had good and bad impressions of the United States. The good impressions were (1) the
material progress of the country as shown in the great cities, huge farms, flourishing industries,
and busy factories; (2) the drive and energy of the American people; (3) the natural beauty of the
land; (4) the high standard of living; and (5) the opportunities for better life offered to poor
immigrants. One bad impression Rizal had of America was the lack of racial equality: “America is
the land par excellence of freedom but only for the whites”.
LIFE IN EUROPE
Onboard the City of Rome, the second largest ship in the world – the largest being the Great
Eastern, he arrived in Liverpool on May 24, 1888, after his sojourn across the American Continent.
He stayed in the city for only one day and then proceeded to London.
Rizal lived in London from May 1888 to March 1889 for three reasons: (1) to improve his
knowledge of the English language; (2) to study and annotate Morga’s Sucesos de las Islas
Filipinas, a rare copy of which he heard to be available in the British Museum; and (3) London was
a safe place for him to carry on his fight against Spanish tyranny.
While in London, he stayed as a guest at the home of Dr. Antonio Ma. Regidor, an exile of 1872
and a practicing lawyer in London. By the end of May, Rizal found a modest boarding place at No.
37 Chalcot Crescent, Primrose Hill. The place was conveniently located near the public parks and
the British Museum where he did plenty of research work. He gained the acquaintance of Dr.
Reinhold Rozt, librarian of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and an authority on Malayan
languages and customs. He was impressed by Rizal’s learning and character and he gladly
recommended him to the authorities of the British Museum. It is here where he spent a lot of time
reading the pages of Antonio Morga’s book and other historical works concerning the Philippines.
The greatest achievement of Rizal in London was the annotating of Morga’s book entitled Sucesos
de las Islas Filipinas (Historical Events of the Philippine Islands), which was published in Mexico
in 1609.
But the bad news overweighed the good news which was as follows:
 Persecution of the Filipino patriots who signed the “Anti-Friar Petition of 1888” which was
presented by Doroteo Cortes, a prominent Mason and lawyer, to Jose Centeno, the civil
governor of the Province of Manila on March 1, 1888. This petition was signed by about
800 patriots and was actually written by M.H. del Pilar. It was addressed to the Queen

Regent of Spain requesting the expulsion of the friars, including Archbishop Pedro Payo, a
Dominican.
 Persecution of the Calamba tenants, including Rizal’s family and relatives, for their
courage to petition the government for agrarian reforms.
 Furious attacks on Rizal by Senators Salamanca and Vida in the Spanish Cortes and by
Desengaños (Wenceslao Retana) and Quioquiap (Pablo Feced) in Spanish newspapers
 Rizal’s brother-in-law, Manuel T. Hidalgo, husband of Saturnina, was exiled by Governor
Weyler to Bohol without due process of law.
 Laureano Vida, Rizal’s friend and a medical student at the University of Sto. Tomas was
arrested and jailed in Bilibid Prison because copies of the Noli was found in his house.
Rizal stayed in London for ten months and then visited Paris for a week in order to search for more
historical materials in the Bibliotheque Nationale. He was entertained in this gay French
metropolis by Juan Luna and his wife (Pas Pardo de Tavera), who proudly showed him their little
son Andres (nickname Luling). He, thenceforth, proceeded to Spain in the second week of
December 1888 to determine the country’s political situation relevant to the agitation of reforms
for the Philippines. There he met Marcelo H. del Pilar and for the first time Mariano Ponce, and
they exchanged ideas and plans in their fight for reforms.
On December 24, 1888, he went back to London and spent Christmas and New Year’s Day with
the Becketts, the owners of the house where he lodged. Rizal sent as Christmas gift to Blumentritt
a bust of Emperador Augustus and a bust of Julius Caesar to another friend, Dr. Carlos Czepelak
(Polish scholar). It was a joyous holiday where he has gifted a book entitled, “The Life and
Adventures of Valentine Vox, the Ventriloquist” from his landlady, Mrs. Beckett.
It was also at this time that he fell in love again, with his landlady’s daughter, Gertrude Beckett,
but as usual, he did not let his emotions overcome his “obsession” of fulfilling his “mission” to
institute reforms in his country, reasons that made him leave London for Paris on May 19, 1889.
Before his departure, he was able to finish four sculptural works namely, (1) Prometheus Bound,
(2) The Triumph of Death Over Life, (3) The Triumph of Science over Death, which he sent to
Blumentritt, together with the second one, and (4) a composite carving of the heads of the Beckett
sisters - this one he gave to the Beckett family as a farewell gift.
The Propaganda Movement: Rizal became a Leader of Filipinos in Europe (while still in
London, 1888)
While he was still in London, Asociacion La Solidaridad (Solidaridad Association), a patriotic

society, which cooperate in the crusade for reforms, was inaugurated on December 31, 1888, with
the following officers:
· President: Galicano Apacible
· Vice President: Graciano Lopez Jaena
· Secretary: Manuel Santa Maria
· Treasurer: Mariano Ponce
· Accountant: Jose Ma. Panganiban
And by a unanimous vote of all members, Rizal was chosen as the honorary president.

Rizal’s adherence to the founding of the La Solidaridad Association jibed with Graciano Lopez-
Jaena’s founding of the patriotic newspaper called La Solidaridad in Barcelona where he was
residing. This served as the organ of the propaganda movement. Its aims were as follows:
(1) to work peacefully for political and social reforms;

(2) to portray the deplorable conditions of the Philippines so that Spain may remedy them; (3) to
oppose the evil forces of reaction and medievalism;
(4) to advocate liberal ideas and progress; and
(5) to champion the legitimate aspirations of the Filipino people to life, democracy, and happiness.
“Los Agricultores Filipinos (The Filipino Farmers)” was Rizal’s first article which
appeared/published in La Solidaridad on March 25, 1889, six days after he left London for Paris.
Articles Published in La Solidaridad
Rizal wrote articles for La Solidaridad in defense of his oppressed people and to point out the evils
of Spanish rule in the Philippines and those are the following:
1. “A La Defensa” (To La Defensa), April 30, 1889 - this was a reply to an anti-Filipino writing of
a Spanish author Patricio de la Escosura which was published by La Defensa on March 30, 1889
2. “La Verdad Para Todos” (The Truth For All), May 31, 1889 - Rizal’s defense against the
Spanish charges that the native local officials were ignorant and depraved
3. “Vicente Barrantes’ Teatro Tagalo”, June 15, 1889 - in this article, Rizal exposes Barrabtes’
ignorance on the Tagalog theatrical art
4. “Una Profanacion” (A Profanation), July 31, 1889 - a bitter attack against the friars for denying
Christian burial to Mariano Herbosa in Calamba because he was a brother-in-law of Rizal.
Herbosa, husband of Lucia died of cholera on May 23, 1889
5. “Verdades Nuevas” (New Truths), July 31, 1889 - a reply to Vicente Belloc Sanchez’ letter
published in La Patria, Madrid newspaper, on July 4, 1889, which asserted that the granting of
reforms in the Philippines would ruin the “peaceful and maternal rule” of the friars.
6. “Crueldad” (Cruelty), August 15, 1889 - a brilliant defense of Blumentritt from the scurrilous
attack of his enemies
7. “Diferencias’ (Differences), September 15, 1889- a reply to a biased article entitled “Old
Truths” published in La Patria on August 14, 1889, which ridiculed those Filipinos who asked for
reforms.
8. “Inconsequencias” (Inconsequences), November 30, 1889 - a defense of Antonio Luna against
the attack of Pablo Mir Deas in the Barcelona newspaper El Puieblo Soberano
9. “Llanto y Risas” (Tears and Laughter), November 30, 1889 - a denunciation of Spanish racial
prejudice against brown Filipinos
10. “Ingratitudes” (Ingratitude), January 15, 1890 - a reply to Governor General Valeriano Weyler
who, while visiting Calamba, told the people that they “should not allow themselves to be deceived
by the vain promises of their ungrateful sons.”
Second Trip to Paris

After his stay in London, he left for Paris. It was his second time to visit the place in March 1889.
At this time of the year, with the coming of the Universal Exposition, thousands of tourists and
visitors flooded the city, thus, not
only were accommodations completely taken but also were expensive especially that the landlords
took advantage of the situation.
As a consequence, his life in Paris was a transient one, moving from one place to another,
although upon his arrival, he lived with his friend Valentin Ventura for a while, where he polished
his annotated edition of Morga’s book.
Life in Paris was full of excitement and merrymaking, but Rizal kept his emotions to himself and
worked seriously on annotating Morga’s book, polishing and perfecting his work. In free times, he
wrote to his family and visited his friends, such as the Pardo de Taveras, the Venturas, the
Bousteds, the Lunas, and others. In a letter dated May 16, 1889, he described his life in Paris as
follows:
“My daily life in Paris is spent in the following manner: one or two hours in
the gymnasium and in fencing, three or four hours in the library, the rest is used
up in writing and visiting friends. I am invited to eat at Luna’s house, on
Sundays at Ms. Juliana’s and on Fridays, I visit the family of Bousted (also a
Filipino) where sometimes I take a tea.”
In another letter, he revealed that sometimes, he and his Filipino friends gather four times a week
and sing the kundiman or Philippine songs, eat Philippine foods sotanghon, adobo, and others, to
erase their loneliness. There was one happy event that he wrote about and that was the birth of a
baby girl born to the Lunas. Juan Luna married the daughter of Don Joaquin Pardo de Tavera, Paz
de Tavera who was an exile of 1872, left the Philippines through the Marianas and lived in France.
The Exposition
He arrived in Paris from London on March 19, 1889, and upon his arrival formed a club called the
Kidlat Club, whose members were Filipino patriots namely, Antonio and Juan Luna, Gregorio
Aguillera, Fernando Canon, Laura Dimayuga, Julio Lorrente, Guillermo Pautu, and Baldomero
Roxas. It was temporary in nature, and their major purpose was to form a comradeship and to
enjoy their stay in Paris especially during the Universal Exposition. Kidlat means “lightning” and
it is in the light of this meaning that the club was formed and disbanded.
The Universal Exposition opened in Paris on May 6, 1889. Like any other tourist, he was
fascinated with the exhibitions. Most favored by him was the Eiffel Tower, which was 984 ft. high,
built by Alexander Eiffel, a celebrated Franch Engineer. He was able to attend the opening
ceremonies of the cutting of the ribbons by President Sadi Carnot of the third French Republic.
Filipinos participated in the art contest and among them were: Felix R. Hidalgo, Juan Luna, Felix
Pardo de Tavera, and Rizal. Hidalgo’s painting won second prize, the paintings of Juan Luna and F.
Pardo de Tavera, each obtained the third prize while Rizal’s entry, a bust, which he modeled got no
prize. The bust was “one to qualify for the exhibition, but not good enough to win an international
prize.”

In one of their visits to the Exposition, he saw American Indians. From them he gained an idea that
if they were not ashamed of being called Indios from North America, there was no reason why the
Filipinos should not be proud being called Indios and from this, he initiated the idea of forming a
brave new society called “Indios Bravos” in place of the Kidlat Club. The members pledged to
excel in intellectual and physical strength to win the admiration and respect of foreigners including
the Spaniards, especially in the field of sports in judo, which he learned from Japan, the sword, and
the pistol.
The Sociedad R.D.L.M.
He also formed another society, the Sociedad R.D.L.M. which on the outside had the principal aim
of “the propagation of all useful knowledge – scientific, artistic, and literary in the Philippines”;
but its major and secret aim was the “redemption of the Malays”. It is quite possible that this was
inspired by the book entitled Max Havelaar written by Multatuli (the pen name of E.D. Dekker, a
Dutch author), which also exposed the deplorable conditions of the oppressed Malay inhabitants
of the Netherlands East Indies under the Dutch rule.
The Publication of the Annotated Edition of Morga’s Sucesos
Rizal’s outstanding achievement in Paris was the publication of his annotated edition of Morga’s
Sucesos in the year 1890, which he wrote in the British Museum and was printed by Garner Feres.
The prologue was written by Professor Blumentritt upon the request of Rizal. He dedicated this
new edition of Morga to the Filipino people so that they would know of their glorious past. The
title page of Rizal’s annotated edition of Morga reads: “Paris, Liberia de Garnier Hermanos, 1890”.
Other Works of Rizal during His Stay in Paris
“The Philippines Within a Century” was an article written by Rizal which he expressed his views
on the Spanish colonization in the Philippines and predicted with amazing accuracy the tragic end
of Spain’s sovereignty in Asia.
Another essay of Rizal, “The Indolence of the Filipinos” is a prestigious work of historical
scholarship. It is an able defense of the alleged indolence of the Filipinos. Rizal made a critical
study of the causes why his people did not work hard during the Spanish regime. His main
hypothesis was that the Filipinos are not by nature indolent. According to him, the natives were
very active in agriculture, commerce, and industries long before the coming of the Spaniards, but
due to the Spanish form of government and system of education, they lost interest in productive
activity. Moreover, the natives did not have to work hard because nature provided them with
abundant natural resources by which they could live, without working as much as those in the
temperate countries.
Projects that Failed
During the Universal Exposition, Rizal proposed to form an International Association of

Filipinologists, with the major purpose of studying the Philippines from the scientific and
historical point of view. They had planned to hold the inauguration of their organization in Paris in
August 1889 but were prevailed upon by a government’s regulation discouraging holding of
conferences of private organizations during the duration of the exposition. Consequently, the
project fizzled out.

Another project that did not materialize was the establishment of a Filipino College in Hong Kong
which aims to train and educate men of good family and financial means. It was during this time
that he wrote Por Telefono, another satirical work as a reply to another slanderer, Fr. Salvador
Font, who masterminded the banning of his Noli, in the fall of 1889. It was published in booklet
form in Barcelona, 1889. This satirical pamphlet under the authorship of “Dimas Alang” is a witty
satire that ridicules Father Font.
Shortly after New Year, Rizal made a brief visit to London. It may be due to two reasons: (1) to
check up his annotated edition of Morga’s Sucesos with the original copy in the British Museum
(2) to see Gertrude Beckett for
the last time.
In Belgian Brussels (1890)
On January 28, 1890, Rizal left Paris for Brussels, capital of Belgium. There were two reasons
which impelled Rizal to leave Paris, namely: (1) the cost of living in Paris was very high because
of the Universal Exposition; and (2) the gay social life of the city hampered his literary works. He
wanted a quieter and conducive atmosphere by which he could continue his work on the second
novel El Filibusterismo which he had started in Calamba prior to his departure for the United
States.
Life in Brussels
Rizal was accompanied by Jose Albert when he moved to Brussels. They lived in a modest
boarding house on 38 Rue Philippe Champagne, which was run by two Jacoby sisters (Suzanne
and Marie). Later, Albert left the city and was replaced by Jose Alejandro, an engineering student.
Here in Brussels, he never had a free moment. Aside from concentrating on his second novel,
which was virtually a sequel of the Noli, he wrote articles for La Solidaridad, he wrote letters to
his family, and opened a medical clinic. It is worthwhile mentioning that in his love for the Filipino
language, he advocated for the Filipinization of its orthography and that Spanish c and o should be
replaced by k and w. For example, the word salacot may be changed to “salakot” and arao to
“araw”.
In his article, Sobre la Nueva Ortografia de la Lengua Tagala (The New Orthography of the
Tagalog Language) was published in La Solidaridad on April 15, 1890. There he laid down the
rules of the new Tagalog orthography and with modesty and sincerity, he gave credit for the
adoption of this new orthography to Dr. Trinidad H. Pardo de Tavera, author of the celebrated work
El Sanscrito en la Lengua Tagala (Sanskrit in the tagalog Language) which was published in Paris,
1884.
In Brussels, reports reached him through Juan Luna and Valentin Ventura that the Filipinos in
Spain were gambling and this did not portray a good image of his country. He wrote his
disappointment to Marcelo H. del Pilar in a letter which runs as follows:

“Luna complains of the gambling of the Filipinos in Madrid, so does Ventura. They
say that according to them, the parents are very much disgusted. If we who are
called upon to do something, if we in whom the poor people place their modest
hopes, spend our time in these things precisely when the years of youth should be
employed in something more noble and lofty for the very reason that youth is noble
and lofty. I fear that we are fighting for a useless illusion and that instead of being
worthy of liberty, we are worthy of slavery.”
I appeal to the patriotism of all Filipinos to give the Spanish people proof that we are superior to
our misfortune and that neither are we capable of being brutalized nor can noble sentiments be
deafened with the corruption of customs.”
The letter produced adverse effects and angered the gambling Filipinos and called him “Papa”
instead of his real nickname “Pepe”.
Meanwhile, the agrarian trouble had flared once again and Rizal was worried about the safety of
his family. As usual, the Dominican friars were making it difficult for the tenant people and
continually raised land rents to the point that Rizal’s father refused to pay. Others followed suit.
This resulted in the filing of a case in court by the Dominican Order to dispossess the Rizal family
of their lands in Calamba. The Dominicans won the case, but the Rizal family appealed to the
Supreme Court in Spain. This prevented the departure of Rizal to the Philippines, but in the
meantime, Paciano and brothers-in-law Antonio Lopez (husband of Narcissa) and Silvestre Ubaldo
(husband of Olympia) were deported to Mindoro. Another brother-in-law, Mariano T. Hidalgo
(husband of Saturnina) was banished for the second time to Bohol. Rizal received the news with
anguish and deep sorrow, he was worried about the safety of his family.
It was also in these moments of anguish and despair, that Rizal had dreams of his impending death.
This premonition of death was made known to M.H. Del Pilar. He wrote:
“Sad presentiments assault me though I do not give them entire credence. In my childhood, I had a
strange belief that I would not reach thirty years of age. …There were two months during which
every night I had no other dream that my friends and relatives were dead. …Although I do not
believe in these things and although my body is strong and I have no illness and have no fear, I am
preparing myself for death and for any eventuality.”
He signed the letter with his pen name Laong Laan, meaning “ever ready,” his rule in life. His
being ready for any eventuality could have been the reason why on the day of execution, he was
calm and his pulse beat was normal.
The dream inspired him to finish the novel for as he says: “For this reason, I want to finish at all
costs the second volume of the Noli and if it is possible, I do not want to leave, unfinished what
nobody else could continue.”
Because of the events happening in the Philippines and the persecution of his family and other
patriots, Rizal decided to go home. He divulged his plan to Ponce in a letter dated July 18, 1890.
His friends, especially Blumentritt, Basa, and Ponce were shocked at his decision and warned him
of the dangers of his decision. His planned return, however, was aborted, as this was the time that
he received a letter from Paciano informing him of losing their case to the Dominican but,
nevertheless, they appealed to the Supreme Court in Spain. This prompted Rizal to write to his

friend, M.H. del Pilar, and hired his services to handle the case while on appeal. At the same time,
he wrote to Ponce that he was leaving Brussels and would be arriving in Madrid on the 3 rd or the
4th of August. And as he departed, he brought with him, the memories of his days in Brussels,
leaving it at the time of festivities to celebrate the summertime festival and his short romance with
Pettie Jacoby, the pretty niece of his landladies.
Life in Madrid (1890-1891)
Rizal’s important mission and motive in going to Madrid was to seek help and support of his
Filipino friends or the members of the so-called Asociacion Hispano – Filipina in his fight for
justice for his family and the oppressed Calamba tenants. Together with the secretary of the
association, Dr. Dominador Gomez and M.H. del Pilar who acted as his lawyer, he called on the
Minister of Colonies Señor Fabie in order to plead the case but nothing came out of it.
 Rizal enrolled in the Universidad Central de Madrid in two courses- Medicine and
Philosophy and Letters.
 He also studied painting and sculpture in the Academy of Fine Arts of San Fernando and
took lessons in French, German, and English under private instructors.
 His thirst for knowledge of music, he visited the art galleries and museums and read books
on all subjects in order to broaden his cultural background.
 He spent his leisure time reading and writing at his boarding house, practicing fencing,
shooting at the gymnasium.
 Rizal joined the Circulo Hispano-Filipino (Hispano-Philippine Circle) and wrote a poem
entitled “Me Piden Versos” (They ask me for Verses)
Duel with Luna
Luna was bitter because of his frustrated romance with Nellie Boustead. Deep in his heart, he was
blaming Rizal for his failure to win her, although Rizal had previously explained to him that he had
nothing to do about it. Luna uttered certain unsavory remarks about Nellie, Rizal heard him and
angered by the slanderous remarks, he challenged Luna, his friend, to a duel. Fortunately, Luna
realized that he had made a fool of himself during his drunken state, he apologized for his bad
remarks about the girl and Rizal accepted his apology and they became good friends again.
Duel with Retana
Wenceslao E. Retana, his bitter enemy of the pen, a talented Spanish scholar, was then a press
agent of the friars in Spain. He used to attack the Filipinos in various newspapers in Madrid and
other cities in Spain. Retana wrote an article in La Epoca , asserting that the family and friends of
Rizal had not paid their rents so they were ejected from their lands in Calamba by the Dominicans.
Such insult stirred Rizal to action, immediately he sent his seconds to Retana with his challenge to
a duel and that only “Retana’s blood or apology could vindicate the good name of Rizal’s family
and friends.”
Retana was warned by friends that he had no chance against Rizal, the latter being an expert in
both pistol and sword. Retana chose to apologize and printed his apology in newpapers. It was this

incident that stopped Retana from attacking the Filipinos again. Retana in the later years, showed
his admiration for Rizal by writing a book- length biography about the hero, describing his talents
and glorifying his martyrdom.
The Marriage of Leonor Rivera
Adding to his already confused life, was the letter of Leonor Rivera, his sweetheart for eleven
years, telling him of her forthcoming marriage to an Englishman, whom her mother favored, and
asking his forgiveness. It was the stroke that broke the camel’s back and Rizal broke down in
tears. He surmised that the loss of a gold watch chain given to him by Leonor containing her
picture while watching a play at Teatro Apolo was indeed a bad omen.
Del Pilar – Rizal Rivalry
His rivalry with Marcelo H. del Pilar was the final reason that made him decide to leave Madrid.
He decided to forego his personal interests for the welfare of the propaganda movement by
abdicating his leadership. Rizal, the most talented, was the undisputed leader among the Filipinos
in Europe at this time. Towards the end of 1890, M.H. del Pilar, a fearless lawyer-journalist, came
into view and rose towards the same light.
It was their friction over the management of the La Solidaridad that added more to the already
deteriorating relationship between the two leaders. The management favored an editorial policy in
politics contrary to that embraced by Rizal and his friends. Furthermore, there was also the issue of
morality. In this sense, Rizal was a moralist, a way of life contradicted by other Filipinos who
showed their love for life by drinking, gambling, and enjoying women; that he lost some friends
who shifted their loyalty to del Pilar.
Because of this, the Filipinos were divided into two hostile camps—the Rizalistas and the
Pilaristas. The decision was to elect a leader called “Responsible” who would direct the affairs of
La Solidaridad. Although opposed by del Pilar, an election by two-thirds vote of the Filipino
community was held . The situation was becoming explosive and critical until after the election
was over. Rizal won the position and the votes of the two-thirds of the community.
It was, however, strange that despite winning the votes, Rizal graciously declined the coveted
position. Rizal wrote a brief note thanking his compatriots for electing him as Responsible. It could
have been his noble belief that he could not be a leader of a divided people, knowing fully well
that he was disliked by many Pilaristas. He then packed his things and boarded a train bound for
Biarritz.
Rizal retired from the Propaganda Movement and ceased writing articles for La Solidaridad. On
August 7, 1891. M.H. del Pilar wrote to Rizal begging forgiveness for any resentment and
requesting Rizal to resume writing for the La Solidaridad but Rizal refused to fulfil his request and
denied that there ever was resentment. He was firm with his decision to stop writing for La
Solidaridad for the following reasons:
(1) He needed to work on his book, the El Filibusterismo (to be discussed in Chapter 8);
(2) He wanted other Filipinos to work also;
(3) He considered it very important that there be unity in the work; and

(4) Marcelo H. del Pilar is already at the top and Rizal also have his own ideas, it is better to leave
del Pilar alone to direct the policy.
Biarritz Vacation
To seek solace for his disappointments in Madrid, Rizal took a vacation in the resort, City of
Biarritz on the fabulous French Riviera. He was a guest of the rich Boustead family at its winter
residence—Villa Eliada.
He arrived in Biarritz on February, 1891. Frustrated in romance, Rizal found consolation in

writing. Evidently, while wooing Nellie and enjoying so “many magnificent moonlight nights”
with her, he kept working on his second novel.
On March 29, 1891, the eve of his departure from Biarritz to Paris, he finished the manuscript of
El Filibusterismo and on the following day, Rizal bade farewell to the hospitable and friendly
Bousteads and proceeded to Paris by train.
It was on April 4, 1891 that Rizal wrote to his friend, Jose Ma. Basa, in Hong Kong from Paris,
expressing his desire to go to that British colony and practice ophthalmology in order to earn his
living. In the middle of April, 1891. Rizal was back in Brussels. Since abdicating his leadership in
Madrid in January, 1891, owing to the intrigues of his jealous compatriots, Rizal retired from the
Propaganda Movement or reform crusade and notified the Propaganda authorities in Manila to
cancel his monthly allowance and devote the money to some better cause. Rizal’s notification was
contained in a letter addressed to Mr. A.L. Lorena (pseudonym of Deodato
Arellano).
The El Fili
Rizal had begun writing it in October, 1887, while practicing medicine in Calamba. Int the
following year (1888), in London, he made some changes in the plot and corrected some chapters
already written. He wrote more chapters in Paris and Madrid, and finished the manuscript in
Biarritz on March 29, 1891. It took him, therefore, three years to write his second novel.
From Brussels to Ghent
On July 5, 1891, Rizal left Brussels for Ghent, a famous university city in Belgium. Rizal’s reasons
for moving to Ghent were: (1) the cost of printing in Ghent was cheaper than in Brussels; and (2)
to escape from the enticing attraction of Petite Suzanne. The said novel was published in Ghent,
where he stayed for almost five months for that purpose, and came off press on September 18,
1891.
His Departure from Europe and Life in Hong Kong
Rizal left Europe for Hong Kong, where he lived from November, 1891 to June, 1892. His reasons
for leaving Europe were: (1) life was unbearable in Europe because of his political differences with
M.H. del Pilar and other Filipinos in Spain; (2) to be near his idolized Philippines and family.

On October 3, 1891, two weeks after the publication of El Fili, Rizal left Ghent for Paris, where he
stayed a few days to say goodbye to the Lunas, the Pardo de Taveras, the Venturas and other
friends; Rizal proceeded by train to Marseilles.
October 18, 1891, he boarded the steamer Melbourne bound for Hong Kong. While on his trip, he
met Father Fuchs, a Tyrolese, whom Rizal enjoyed playing chess with. Rizal describe him to
Blumentritt as “… a fine fellow, a Father Damaso without pride and malice.”
Rizal arrived in Hong Kong on November 20, 1891. He established his residence at No. 5 D
Aguilar Street No. 2 Rednaxola Terrace, where he also opened his medical clinic. On the 1 st day
of December, 1891, Rizal wrote to his parents asking their permission to return home. On the same
date, his brother-in-law, Manuel T. Hidalgo, sent him a letter relating the sad news of the
deportation of twenty-five persons from Calamba, including his father, Neneng, Sisa, Lucia,
Paciano and the rest of the Rizal family.
Before Christmas in 1891, after the deportation of his family, he was gladdened by the arrival of
his father and his brothers – Paciano and Silvestre Ubaldo (Olympia’s husband). Later his mother
and sisters Lucia, Josefa, and Trinidad. Rizal though happy felt sad, that his mother, 65 years of
age, showed manifestations of Spanish brutality and was almost blind. He operated her left eye so
she can regain her sight, the reason she was able to read and write again. The Christmas in Hong
Kong was one of the happiest Yuletide celebrations in Rizal’s life. On January 31, 1892, he wrote
to Blumentritt, recounting pleasant life in Hong Kong.
To earn a living for himself and for his family, Rizal practiced medicine and became an ophthalmic
surgeon in Hong Kong. Dr. Lorenzo Margues, a Portuguese physician became Rizal’s friend and
admirer who helped him build up a wide clientele. In recognition of Rizal’s skill as an ophthalmic
surgeon, he turned over to him many of his eye cases and clients.
Borneo Colonization Project
Rizal planned to move the landless Filipino families to North Borneo (Sabah), rich British-owned
island and carve out of its virgin wildness a “New Calamba”. On March 7, 1892, Rizal went to
Sandakan on board the ship Menon, to negotiate with the British authorities for the establishment
of a Filipino colony. His mission was successful, and the British North Borneo Company
established the land up to the Bengkoka River in Maradu Bay consisting of 100,000 acres of land
area for such project. Aside from these, they were offered a beautiful harbor and a good
government free of all charges.
A month later, specifically April 20 of the same year, Rizal was back in Hong Kong, bringing the
good news. Hidalgo, Rizal’s brother-in-law, objected to the colonization project, because he cannot
accept the idea of leaving the Philippines and moreover was concerned with what people would
say. But Rizal thought the idea was good, and upon taking into consideration the political events in
the Philippines, he thought the change was better.
Governor Valeriano Weyler, Cubans odiously called “The Butcher”, was replaced by Governor
Eulogio Despujol, the Count of Caspe. Consequently, Rizal wrote the new governor-general, a
letter congratulating him of his new position and offering his cooperation but he received no
response. On March 21, 1892, Rizal wrote his second letter and gave it to a ship captain to be sure

it would reach Governor Despujol’s hand. In this second letter, he requested the governor general
to permit the landless Filipinos to establish themselves in Borneo.
Rizal waited three months for the reply and for the meantime occupied his time by writing on
different topics but mostly on nationalistic issues. However, during this lull, what he considered as
an accomplishment was the preparation of the constitution of La Liga Filipina, an association of
Filipino patriots in Hong Kong. This was born out of the idea conceived by Jose Ma. Basa, which
was realized after its establishment by Rizal.
It was on April 15, 1892, that La Solidaridad published an article written by Eduardo de Lete
portraying Rizal as “Cowardly, egoistic, opportunistic – a patriot in words only,” seeking the
comforts and safety in Hong Kong. Rizal, protested to del Pilar about the article and described it as
“too hasty” while commenting on del Pilar “you permitted yourself to be carried away” and then
described the effects it would have on the reform movement. However, he remarked that the
article awakened in him the interest of the reform movement and that he was going to activate the
propaganda movement in Hong Kong by strengthening the newly founded association – Liga
Filipina.
He confided his bitterness to Mariano Ponce in a letter dated May 23, 1892 when he wrote: “I am
very sorry that del Pilar allowed the article to be published because it will lead many to believe
that there is really schism among us. I believe that we can well have little misunderstanding and
personal differences among ourselves, without exhibiting them in public.”
As to his letter to Despujol, the governor-general frowned upon the idea, he could not approve the
Filipino immigration to Borneo, alleging that “the Philippines lacked laborers” and “it was not
very patriotic to go off and cultivate foreign soil.”
Despujol’s refusal forced him to make a decision to return to Manila and also for the following
reasons:
1. To confer personally with the Governor about his request;

2. To establish La Liga Filipina in Manila; and
3. To prove that Lete was wrong that being safe and comfortable in Hong Kong, he had
abandoned the country’s cause.
He spent his birthday in Hong Kong and the next day, June 20, spent the day writing letters. Two
letters were sealed and given to Dr. Marquez, with instructions not to open them but only after his
death. One letter was for his “parents, brethren, and friends,” while the other was for the
“Filipinos.” This showed that Rizal knew what was going to happen to him.
On June 21, he wrote Governor Despujol another letter with the message that he was coming home
and places himself under the protection of the Spanish Government. On that very same day, Rizal,
together with Lucia, left for the Philippines unaware of the Governor’s duplicity; of the things that
were planned for him or of the sinister trap that was laid, with the secret filing of “anti-religious
and anti-patriotic agitation” charges not only against Rizal but also of his followers.

ACTIVITY 1
Instructions: Create an artistic and creative travelogue. Paste or draw pictures (the
country/countries) inside the box the places you want and dream to visit. What will you do when you
reach this place? What good things are there in this place? What is there in this place, that is not in
your country. Write your answers in the space provided.
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________

SUMMARY
Disillusioned with how Filipinos in the Philippines were regarded as second-class citizens in
institutions of learning and elsewhere, the National Hero Jose Rizal left the country in May 1882 to
pursue further studies abroad. He enrolled in a course in medicine at the Universidad Central de
Madrid in Spain. In June 1883, he traveled to France to observe how medicine was being practiced
there.
Rizal earned a Licentiate in Medicine at the Universidad Central de Madrid, where he also took
courses in Philosophy and Literature. He was also said to have had the ability to master various
skills, subjects, and languages. Our national hero was also a doctor, farmer, naturalist (he discovered
the Draco rizali , a small lizard;
Apogania rizali, a beetle; and the Rhacophorus rizali , a frog), writer, visual artist, athlete (martial
arts, fencing, and pistol shooting), musician, and social scientist.
After his three-month sojourn in France, Rizal returned to Madrid and thought about publishing a
book that exposed the colonial relationship of Spain and the Philippines. This idea was realized in
March 1887, with the
publication of the nove entitled Noli Me Tangere in Germany. It was in Madrid that he conceived
writing of Noli Me Tangere.

Rizal was actively involved in the Propaganda movement, composed of Filipinos in Spain who
sought to direct the attention of Spaniards to the concerns of the Spanish colony in the Philippines.
He wrote articles for publications in Manila and abroad; convened with overseas Filipinos to discuss
their duty to the country; and called on Spanish authorities to institute reforms in the Philippines,
such as granting freedom of the press and Filipino representation in the Spanish Cortes.
Rizal returned to Manila in August 1887, after five years in Europe. However, his homecoming was
met by the friars’ furor over Noli Me Tangere. The Archbishop of Manila issued an order banning the
possession and reading of the novel, an order that was later reinforced by the governor-general. Six
months later, pressured by the Spanish authorities as well as by his family and friends to leave the
country and avoid further persecution, Rizal left Manila for Hong Kong.
From Hong Kong, Rizal traveled to Macau and Japan before going to America. Entering San
Francisco, California, in April 1888, he visited the states of Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Nebraska,
Illinois, and New York. He
jotted down his observations of the landscape in his diary.
Rizal arrived in England in May 1888. In August, he was admitted to the British Museum, where he
copied Antonio de Morga’s massive study of the Philippines, Sucesos de las Islas Filipinas, which
Rizal later annotated for publication “as a gift to the Filipinos.” In the museum, he devoted his time
reading all the sources on Philippine history that he could find. He kept up his correspondence with
various people, including his family, who were being oppressed by the Spanish religious landowners;
the Filipino patriots in Spain; and his Austrian friend, Ferdinand Blumentritt, with whom he planned
to form an association of Philippine scholars. From 1888 to 1890 he
shuttled between London and Paris, where he wrote ethnographic and history-related studies, as well
as political articles. He also frequently visited Spain, where he met with fellow Filipino intellectuals
like Marcelo H. del Pilar, Mariano Ponce, and Graciano Lopez-Jaena.
In March 1891, Rizal finished writing his second novel, El Filibusterismo, in France. He planned to
publish the book in Belgium but was financially hard up. His brother’s support from back home was
delayed in coming, and he was scrimping on meals and expenses. Finally, in September 1890, El
Filibusterismo was published in Ghent using donations from Rizal’s friends.
Meanwhile, a rivalry had ensued between Rizal and del Pilar over the leadership of the Asociación
Hispano Filipino in Spain. Rizal decided to leave Europe to avoid the worsening rift between the
Rizalistas and Pilaristas and to help maintain unity among Filipino expatriates. After staying for
some time in Hong Kong, where he practiced medicine and planned to build a “New Calamba” by
relocating landless Filipinos to Borneo, Rizal came home to the Philippines in June 1892.
ACTIVITY 2
Directions: Read and understand each of the following questions carefully. Answer the following
questions in the space provided.
Questions:
1. Describe Dr. Jose Rizal as a student of higher education at UST

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___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
2. Why did Dr. Jose Rizal decide to go and travel to Europe?

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___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
3. After five years of travel in Europe, why is Dr. Jose Rizal so determined to return home?
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
4. What is the main reason why the La Solidaridad newspaper was put up?
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
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___________________________________________________________________________
5. With not less than and not more than three paragraphs, reflect on the travel and life of Dr.
Jose Rizal abroad.
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
REFERENCES
Acibo, L. & Adanza, E. (2006). Jose P. Rizal: His Life Works, and Role in the Philippine Revolution.
Sampaloc, Manila: Rex Book Store. Inc.
A Philippine Institution 10 Experience with the Philippines and Dr. Jose Rizal: A brief history. P.
Jacinto Blog. Retrieved from
Estrallado, J. (2019). Rizal’s Life, Works and Writing. Retrieved from www.scribd.com
M. Casupanan (2018). 10 reasons why you should study Rizal. The Ugly Writers. Retrieved from
https://uglywriters.com/2018/03/12/10-reasons-why-you-should-study-rizal-hugot-version/

Philippines in the 19th Century. Dimasalang Laong Laan. Retrieved from

https://dimasalanglaonglaan.wordpress.com/philippines-in-the-19th-century/
Republic Act 1425. Official Gazette, Vol. 52, No. 6, p. 2971. Retrieved from
https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/1956/06/12/republic-act-no-1425/
Rizal and His Times (19th Century). The Ven Ballano Blog. Retrieved from
http://vballano.blogspot.com/2009/06/rizal-and-his-times-19th-century.html
Rizal in Focus: Early Childhood (2004). Retrieved from www.joserizal.ph Rizal Law. Wikipedia.
Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rizal_Law

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Study Guide in GE 8:THE LIFE AND WORKS OF RIZAL Module No. 4

STUDY GUIDE FOR MODULE NO. 4

Rizal’s Life: Higher Education and Life Abroad

On His Higher Education:

On His Life in Europe:

Rizal’s Life: Higher Education and Life Abroad

MEDICAL STUDIES AT THE UNIVERSITY OF SANTO TOMAS (1877-1882)

PANGASINAN STATE UNIVERSITY 1

Study Guide in GE 8:THE LIFE AND WORKS OF RIZAL Module No. 4

PANGASINAN STATE UNIVERSITY 2

Study Guide in GE 8:THE LIFE AND WORKS OF RIZAL Module No. 4

The Literary Works of Rizal While in UST

PANGASINAN STATE UNIVERSITY 3

Study Guide in GE 8:THE LIFE AND WORKS OF RIZAL Module No. 4

Rizal’s romances when he was still a student of Medicine in UST

Rizal’s visit to Pakil and Pagsanjan (1881)

PANGASINAN STATE UNIVERSITY 4

Study Guide in GE 8:THE LIFE AND WORKS OF RIZAL Module No. 4

Rizal’s Departure for Spain (1882)

May 11, 1882

May 17, 1882

PANGASINAN STATE UNIVERSITY 5

Study Guide in GE 8:THE LIFE AND WORKS OF RIZAL Module No. 4

May 18, 1882

May 28, 1882

June 11, 1882

June 12, 1882

June 15, 1882

June 16, 1883

Life in Barcelona, Spain (1882)

PANGASINAN STATE UNIVERSITY 6

Study Guide in GE 8:THE LIFE AND WORKS OF RIZAL Module No. 4

Literary works while in Barcelona

Life in Madrid (1882 – 1885)

First Visit to Paris (1883)

PANGASINAN STATE UNIVERSITY 7

Study Guide in GE 8:THE LIFE AND WORKS OF RIZAL Module No. 4

PANGASINAN STATE UNIVERSITY 8

Study Guide in GE 8:THE LIFE AND WORKS OF RIZAL Module No. 4

In Paris (1885 – 1886)

PANGASINAN STATE UNIVERSITY 9

Study Guide in GE 8:THE LIFE AND WORKS OF RIZAL Module No. 4

In Leipzig and Dresden (1886)

· to gain further knowledge of ophthalmology;

RIZAL’S GRAND TOUR OF EUROPE WITH VIOLA (1887)

PANGASINAN STATE UNIVERSITY 10

Study Guide in GE 8:THE LIFE AND WORKS OF RIZAL Module No. 4

First meeting with Blumentritt

FIRST HOMECOMING (1887 – 1888)

PANGASINAN STATE UNIVERSITY 11

Study Guide in GE 8:THE LIFE AND WORKS OF RIZAL Module No. 4

(1) to operate on his mother’s eyes;

Storm over Noli

PANGASINAN STATE UNIVERSITY 12

Study Guide in GE 8:THE LIFE AND WORKS OF RIZAL Module No. 4

SECOND TRIP AWAY FROM THE COUNTRY

PANGASINAN STATE UNIVERSITY 13

Study Guide in GE 8:THE LIFE AND WORKS OF RIZAL Module No. 4

The United States

PANGASINAN STATE UNIVERSITY 14

Study Guide in GE 8:THE LIFE AND WORKS OF RIZAL Module No. 4