CHAPTER 11

In Hong Kong and Macao 1888

The Trip to Hong Kong. On February 3, 1888, after a short stay of six months in his beloved
Calamba, Rizal left Manila for Hong Kong on board the Zafiro. He was sick and sad during the
crossing of the choppy China Sea. He did not get off his ship when he made brief stopover at
Amoy on February 7. For three reasons: (1) he was not feeling well, (2) it was raining hard, (3)
he heard that the city was dirty. He arrived in Hong Kong on February 8.
During his stay in Hong Kong, a British colony, Rizal wrote a letter to Blumentritt, dated
February 16, 1888, expressing his bitterness.
In Hong Kong, Rizal stayed at Victoria Hotel. He was welcomed by the Filipino
residents, including Jose Maria Basa, Balbino Mauricio, and Manuel Yriarte (son of Fraoncisco
Yriarte, alcalde mayor of Laguna).
Visit to Macao. On February 18, Rizal, accompanied by Basa, boarded the ferry steamer Kiu-
kiang for Macao. He was surprised to see among the passengers a familiar figure – Sainz de
Varanda.
Macao is a Portuguese colony near Hong Kong. “The city of Macao,” wrote Rizal, in his
diary, “is small, low, and gloomy. There are many junks, sampans, but few steamers. It looks sad
and is almost dead.”
In Macao, Rizal and Basa stayed at the home of Don Juan Francisco Lecaros, a filipino
gentleman married to a Portuguese lady. He was rich and spent his days cultivating plants and
flowers, many of which came from the Philippines.
During his two-day sojourn in Macao, Rizal visited the Theatre, Casino, Cathedral and
Churches, Pagodas, Botanical garden, and Bazaars. He also saw the famous Grotto of Camoens,
Portugal’s national Pet. In the evening of February 19, he witnessed a Catholic procession, in
which the devotees were dressed in blue and purple dresses and were carrying unlighted candles.
Departure from Hong Kong. On February 22, 1888, Rizal left Hong Kong on Board the
Oceanic, an American steamer. His destination was Japan. He did not like the meals on board,
but he liked the ship because it was clean and efficiently managed. His cabin mate was a British
Protestant missionary who had lived in China for 27 years and knew the Chinese language very
well. Rizal called him “a good man”

Chapter Test
Question: What are the different experiences of Rizal in visiting Macao and Hongkong? If you
were be Rizal how do relate this in your own life ? 15 points