Paris to Berlin

Rizal went to
Paris and Germany
in order to specialize in
OPHTHALMOLOGY
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Why OPHTHALMOLOGY?

Rizal chose this branch

because he wanted to
cure his mother’s eye ailment
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In Gay Paris (1885-1886)
▣Stopped at Barcelona to visit
Maximo Viola
(a medical student and a member of a rich
family in San Miguel, Bulacan)
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November 1885
▣Lived and stayed in Paris for about 4 months
▣Worked as an assistant to:

Dr. Louis de Weckert - leading French

ophthalmologist, from November 1885 to February
1886. 5
November 1885
Outside his working hours, he visited his friends, such as:
 Family of Pardo de Taveras (Trinidad, Felix and Paz)
● Paz Pardo de Taveras
- pretty girl engaged to Juan Luna
- On the album of this girl, Rizal drew a series of sketches on the
Story of “The Monkey and the Turtle.”
● Felix Resurreccion Hidalgo
● Juan Luna
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Friendship with Juan Luna

Rizal helped Luna by posing as model in several paintings:

● The Death of Cleopatra as Egyptian Priest
● The Blood Compact as Sikatuna
- with Trinidad Pardo de Tavera as Legaspi

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In Historic Heidelberg (Germany)

■ became a member in Chess Player’s Club

■ worked at University Eye Hospital under the direction of Dr. Otto Becker
■ attended lectures of:
○ Dr. Otto Becker and Prof. Wilhelm Kuehne
○ During week-ends, Rizal visited the scenic spots around Heidelberg.

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With Pastor Ullmer at Wilhelmsfeld

■ Rizal spent a three-month summer vacation at

Wilhelmsfeld where he stayed at the place of a Protestant
pastor, Dr. Karl Ullmer.
■ The pastor has a wife and two children named Etta and
Fritz.
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First Letter to Blumentritt
■ Ferdinand Blumentritt
- Best friend of Rizal
- Director of the Ateneo of Leitmeritz, Austria.
- Austrian ethnologist and he has an interest in the
Philippine language.
■ Rizal sent Aritmetica (Arithmetic) book to Blumentritt which
was published in 2 languages – Spanish and Tagalog – by
the University of Santo Tomas Press in 1868. The author
was Rufino Baltazar Hernandez.
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In Leipzig and Dresden (Germany)

■ August 14, 1886 – Rizal arrived in Leipzig

- attended some lectures at the University of Leipzig on history and
psychology.
- found out that the cost of living in Leipzig was the cheapest in Europe so
he stayed for 2 and a half months.

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In Leipzig and Dresden
■ Befriended:
○ Prof. Friedrich Ratzel (Famous German Historian)
○ Dr. Hans Meyer (German Anthropologist)

■ October 29, 1886 – Rizal went to Dresden

○ Dr. Adolph B. Meyer (Director of the Anthropological and
Ethnological Museum) he stayed two days in the City.
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 Rizal Welcomed in Berlin’s Scientific Circles (Germany)

Rizal was enchanted by Berlin because of its scientific

atmosphere and the absence of race prejudice.

Became a member of the Anthropological Society,

Ethnological Society, and Geographical Society of Berlin

1st Asian to be recognized by Europe’s scientists

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Rizal Welcomed in Berlin’s Scientific Circles

Some scientists Rizal met are:

● Dr. Feodor Jagor - German Anthropologist
● Dr. Rudolf Virchow - famous German Anthropologist
o Dr. Hans Virchow - prof of Descriptive Anatomy
● Dr. Karl Ernest Schweigger – famous German
ophthalmologist
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Rizal’s Life in Berlin
5 Reasons why Rizal stayed in Berlin
● To gain further knowledge of ophthalmology
● To further his studies of sciences and languages
● To observe the economic and political conditions of German
Nation
● To associate with famous German Scientists and Scholars
● To publish Noli Me Tangere

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Rizal’s Life in Berlin
■ In the morning he was assistant to Dr. Schweigger
■ At night, Rizal attended lectures in the University of Berlin
■ Took private lessons under a professor of French, Madame
Lucie Cerdole, to master the idiomatic intricacies of the French
Language.

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Rizal on German Women
■ On a letter to his sister Trinidad, dated March 11, 1886; Rizal
expressed his high regard and admiration for German
womanhood.
■ Rizal said that German women are serious, diligent, educated
and friendly unlike Spanish women who are gossipy, frivolous
and quarrelsome.
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Rizal on German Customs
Some of the German customs Rizal admired:
● On Yuletide (Christmas) Season, people will select a pine
tree from the bushes and adorned it with lanterns, papers,
lights, dolls, candies, fruits, etc.
● Self-introduction to strangers in a social gathering.

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Rizal’s Darkest Winter
● The winter of 1886 in Berlin was his darkest winter.
● He lived in poverty because no money arrived from Calamba and
he was flat broke.
● He could not pay his landlord and he was eating only one meal a
day.
● His clothes were old and threadbare.
● His health broke down due to lack of proper nourishment.

This is one of the most memorable days in the life of Rizal.

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