PARIS TO

BERLIN
(1885-1887)
Reporter: Menard D. Maranan
After completing his
studies in Madrid,
Rizal went to Paris and
Germany to specialize
in ophthalmology.
He particularly chose
this branch of
medicine because he
wanted to cure his
mother’s ailment.
He served as an
assistant to the
famous oculist of
Europe.
In Paris (1885-86)
Maximo Viola
A medical student from San Miguel, Bulacan.
Señor Eusebio Corominas
The editor in chief of the newspaper La
Publicidad.
Don Miguel Morayta
The owner of La Publicidad.
November 1885
Rizal was living in Paris, where hw sojourned for
about four months.
Dr. Louis de Weckert (1852-1906)
Leading French ophthalmologist where Rizal
worked as an assistant.
Outside of his working hours, Rizal relaxed by
visiting his friends, such as the family of the
Pardo de Taveras (Trinidad, Felix and Paz), Juan
Luna and Felix Resureccion Hidalgo.
Juan Luna
The great master of brush; Rizal
helped him by posing as model in
several paintings.

1. “The Death of Cleopatra”

Rizal posed as an Egyptian

Priest.

2. “The Blood Compact”

He posed as Sikatuna.
In Historic
Heidelberg
February 1, 1886 - Rizal left Paris for
Germany.
February 3, 1886 - He arrived in
Heidelberg.
Rizal was a good chess player, so the
students in University of Heidelberg made
him a member of the Chess Player’s Club.
Dr. Otto Becker - a distinguished German
ophthalmologist.
He worked at the University of Eye
Hospital.
With Pastor Ulmer at Wilhelmsfeld

 Rizal spent three-months in

Wilhelmsfeld, a mountainous village
near Heidelberg.
Dr. Karl Ulmer – a kind Protestant
pastor.

First Letter to Blumentritt

July 31, 1886
Rizal wrote his first letter in German
to Professor Ferdinand Blumentritt,
Director of the Ateneo of Leitmeritz,
Austria.
Rizal sent the book entitled
Aritmetica.
In Leipzig and Dresden

 August 9, 1886 - he boarded a train, visited

various cities of Germany.
August 14, 1886 - he arrived in Leipzig.
He attended some lectures at the University of
Leipzig on History and Psychology.
Professor Friedrich Ratzel - a famous German
historian.
Dr. Hans Meyer - German anthropologist.
In Leipzig
He stayed two months and a half in this
German city.
Rizal translated Schiller’s William Tell from
German
into Filipino. He also translated Hans
Christian Andersen’s Fairy Tales.
He worked as proof-reader in a publisher’s
firm.
October 29
He left Leipzig for Dresden.
He met Dr. Adolph B. Meyer, Director of the
Anthropological and Ethnological Museum.
Rizal Welcomed in Berlin’s Scientific
Circles
 Rizal was enchanted by Berlin because of its
scientific atmosphere and the absence of race
prejudice.
Dr. Feodor Jagor – German scientist traveller
and
author of Travels in the Philippines.
Dr. Rudolf Virchow - famous German
anthropologist.
Dr. W. Joest – German geographer.
Dr. Karl Ernest Schweigger – famous
ophthalmologist.
Rizal became a member of the Anthropological
Society, the Ethnological Society and the
Rizal’s Life in Berlin
He live in the famous capital of unified Germany
for five reasons:
1. To gain further knowledge of ophthalmology.
2. To further his studies of sciences and
languages.
3. To observe the economic had political
conditions od the German nations.
4. To associate with famous German scientist
and
scholars.
5. To publish his novel, Noli Me Tangere.

He took private lessons under Madame Lucie

Cerdole,
professor of French.
Rizal on German
Women
Rizal wrote a letter addressed to her sister, Trinidad,
expressing his high regard and admiration for
German womanhood.

✣ The ✣ The ✣ The Filipino

German Spanish Women
Women Women 1. More
1. Serious 1. Gossipy interested in
2. Frivolous how the
2. Diligent dressed than
3. Educated 3. Quarrelsom how much
e they know.
4. Friendly
2. Fine manners
3. Devotion
4. Hospitality
German Customs

He was delighted of the Germans’ Yuletide

custom.
-people take pine trees from the bushes and
adorned it with lanterns, paper, lights, dolls,
candies and fruits.
Self-introduction to strangers in a social
gatherings.
-according to German code of etiquette, it is
bad manners for a guest to remain aloof, and
wait for his host to make the proper
introduction.
Rizal’s Darkest
Winter
The winter of 1886
was his darkest winter.
He lived in poverty.
Rizal starved in Berlin
and
shivered with wintry
cold.