CH APTER 5

RI Z AL I N FRANC EAND G ERM ANY

 France
 He first arrived t MARSEILLIES.
 During summer vacation, Rizal went to Paris and stayed there
from June 17 to August 20, 1883 to observed how medicine as
being practice there and returned to Madrid.
 After his studies in Madrid, he went back to Paris.
Rizal in Paris (the capital city of France) 1885-1886
 Rizal is 24 years old and full-fledged surgeon.
 He migrated into Paris by his intention to specialize in ophthalmology.
 Maximo Viola- medical student from San Miguel, Bulacan; help Rizal to
published the Noli Me Tangere
Rizal worked as an assistant and apprentice at the eye clinic of Dr. Louis
de Wecker for 4 months. Rizal learned the following from Dr. Wecker:
 actual performance of eye operation
 recent studies on the ailment of he eyes
 various techniques of eye operation
Rizal took time to visit his fellow Filipinos in the city and he frequented
the residences of Felix R. Hidalgo, Pardo De Tavera, and Juan Luna. For a
time he stayed with Juan in the latter's studio in Paris and became Luna's
model in the two of his historical canvasses:
 The Blood Compact (Sikatuna)
 Death of Cleopatra (Priest)
Before leaving the city, Rizal had completed ¼ of this first novel, the Noli
Me Tangere. Rizal continued his study on various languages and practiced
his artistic skills he finished two statues, "THE BEGGAR" and "THE MAID
WITH A BASKET".
He organized social club called "Kidlat Club" which brought together
young Filipinos residing in France. Soon the members of the said club
founded a new Filipino society- the INDIOS BRAVOS, an organization
which envisioned Filipinos being recognized by the Spain for being
excellent in various fields of knowledge.
GERMANY
 February 1, 1886 Rizal left for Germany.
 He left Paris due to its high cost of living which he could not cope
with.
RIZAL IN HEIDELBERG, GERMANY
 February 3, 1886 Rizal arrived in Heidelberg
 HEIDELBERG is famous for its University and romantic sorroundings.
Rizal became a member of chess players club of Heidelberg, Riza also
became popular in German students because in their drinking sprees.
After a few days, Rizal decided to transfer to a boardinghouse close to
the university of Heidelberg. He was privilege to work at the eye hospital
of the university, under the tutelage of Dr.Otto Becker. It was at this
university town where he perfect th techniques of diagnosing eye
ailments, which he learned under Dr. Louis De Wecker.
Rizal wrote letters to his sister's Maria and Trinidad. In his letters he
described:
 Germany- country of order and obedience
 German Students- affectionate, respectful , modest, and not boastful
 German women - tall stout and blonde(physical)
-serious, studios, simple, industrious, not afraid of men, concerned about
education , diligent.
Rizal write a poem entitled " A LOS FLORES DEL HEIDELBERG" ( to the flowers
of Heidelberg) on April 12,1886, he was inspired by the Neckar river teeming
with flowers. He maid this poem because of his mood of homesickness.
Poem of two greatest love of man on earth, poem of remembrance and
poem of the motherland ( FORGET-ME-NOTS)
SUMMER VACATION AT WILHELMSFELD
 WILHELMSFELD is a mountainous village at Heidelberg.
 Rizal met Dr. Karl Ulmer, a pastor of vicarage of WILHELMSFELD
 Pastor Ulmer's wife greatly admire Rizal.
 Return to Heidelberg at June 2, 1886 remembering the hospitality and
friendship accorded to him by the Ulmer's.
Rizal appreciated so much from his stay in German village- the religious
tolerance the people practice in the area. He observe the Pastor Ulmer
being able to get well with the catholic priest in the area which is not
possible in the Philippines at that time because of the dominant belief
that only the friars were the only true purveyors of the words of God.
FIRST CORRESPONDENCE WITH BLUEMENTRITT
 Rizal sent his first correspondence with Ferdinand bluementritt
( director of the ateneo of leimeritz), after his vacation in wilhelmfeld,
on July 31,1886.
 Reason: latter's interest in the ethnology and Philippines languages
 Accompanying his letter was a book entitled Aritmetica, authored by
Rufino Baltazar Hernandez and published by the UST Press in 1886 Rizal
first correspondence impressed Bluementritt, in return he sent Rizal two
books which marked as the beginning of the frequent communication
through medium of writing.
RIZAL TO LEIPZIG AND DRESDEN
 After attending the 5th centenary foundation day celebration of the University of
Heidelberg, Rizal visited other cities in Germany
 He arrived in Leipzig on August 14, 1886 on board a train. Part of his activities in this
city was attendance at the lectures given by German professors in history and
psychology.
 It was in the University of Heidelberg where Rizal came to know Prof. Friedrich Ratzel
( well known as German historian) and Dr. Han Meyer ( famous German anthropologist)
 Rizal translated Schiller's William Tell into tagalog for the Filipinos to be aware of the
story of the champion of Swiss Independence.
 Rizal worked as a pro-reader in a publishing company to augment his allowance. He
was fortunate enough to be accepted because of his knowledge of German, Spanish,
and other European languages
RIZAL IN BERLIN
 Rizal arrived in Berlin in the evening of November 1, 1886
Reasons:
 To supplement hi studies of languages and science
 To study and observe the political and economic conditions of Germany
 To join the circle of famous German scientists and scholars to complete and
published his novel Noli Me Tangere.
 Fortunate enough he met in person Dr. Feodor Jagor, author of the book Travels in
the Philippines
 Reason why he admired the book - it predicted the collapse of the Spanish regime
in the Philippines
It prophesied the coming of the Americans into the Philippines
 His acquaintance with Dr. Jagor, through a letter of introduction from
bluementritt, resulted into his friendship with numerous German
intellectuals like the ffg:
 Dr. Rudolf Virchow, a German anthropologist
 Dr. Hans Virchow, a German professor of descriptive anatomy
 Dr. Joest, a famous German geographer
 Dr. Karl Ernest Schweigger , a noted German ophthalmologist
 Life in Berlin was not easy for Rizal.
 Morning: worked as an assistant of Dr. Schweigger's Clinic
 Evening: attended lectures in the University of Berlin
 At boardinghouse: he continued his physical trimming
exercises and practice in speaking German, French and
Italian languages.
 Before resting in the evening: he took time writing and
completing his first novel.