Updated Rizal Lecture Notes 2021

Life and Works of Jose Rizal Lecture Notes 2021
Life and Works of Jose Rizal "Attacked dogmas, beliefs and practices of the Church.
The assertion that Rizal limited himself to castigating
The Making of the National Hero undeserving priests and refrained from criticizing, ridiculing or
putting in doubt dogmas of the Catholic Church, is absolutely
Why is Rizal our Greatest National Hero? gratuitous and misleading."
1. Rizal is our greatest hero because, as a towering figure in the On May 12, 1956, a compromise inserted by
Propaganda Campaign, he took an “admirable part” in that Committee on Education chairman Laurel that accommodated
movement which roughly covered the period from 1882-1896. the objections of the Catholic Church was approved
unanimously. The bill specified that only college (university)
2. Rizal’s writings contributed tremendously to the formation of students would have the option of reading unexpurgated versions
Filipino nationality. of clerically-contested reading material, such as Noli Me Tangere
and El Filibusterismo. The bill was enacted on June 12, 1956,
3. Rizal becomes the greatest Filipino hero because no Filipino Flag Day.
has yet been born who could equal or surpass Rizal as “a person
of distinguished valor or enterprise in danger, or fortitude in Important Provisions of Rizal Law
suffering.”
Section 1. Courses on the life, works and writings of
4. Rizal is the greatest Filipino hero that ever lived because he is Jose Rizal, particularly his novels Noli Me Tangere and El
“a man honored after death by public worship, because of Filibusterismo, shall be included in the curricula of all schools,
exceptional service to mankind”. colleges and universities, public or private; Provided, That in the
collegiate courses, the original or unexpurgated editions of the
Who made Rizal the foremost National Hero of the Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo or their English
Philippines? translations shall be used as basic texts.
No single person or groups of persons were Section 2. It shall be obligatory on all schools, colleges
responsible for making the Greatest Malayan the Number One and universities to keep in their libraries an adequate number of
Hero of his people. Rizal himself, his own people, and the copies of the original and expurgated editions of the Noli Me
foreigners all together contributed to make him the greatest hero Tangere and El Filibusterismo, as well as Rizal's other works and
and martyr of his people. No amount of adulation and biography.
canonization by both Filipinos and foreigners could convert Rizal
into a great hero if he did not possess in himself what Palma calls Section 3. The board of National education shall cause
“excellent qualities and merits”. the translation of the Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo, as
well as other writings of Jose Rizal into English, Tagalog and the
Rizal Law principal Philippine dialects; cause them to be printed in cheap,
popular editions; and cause them to be distributed, free of
Republic Act No. 1425, known as the Rizal Law, charge, to persons desiring to read them, through the Purok
mandates all educational institutions in the Philippines to offer organizations and the Barrio Councils throughout the country.
courses about José Rizal. The full name of the law is An Act to
Include in the Curricula of All Public and Private Schools, Summary
Colleges and Universities Courses On the Life, Works and
Writings of Jose Rizal, Particularly His Novels Noli Me Tangere Section 1 mandated that the students were to read the
and El Filibusterismo, Authorizing the Printing and Distribution novels as they were written in Spanish, although a provision
Thereof, and for Other Purposes. ordered that the Board of National Education create rules on how
these should be applied. The last two sections were focused on
History making Rizal's works accessible to the general public: the
second section mandated the schools to have "an adequate
Senator Claro M. Recto was the main proponent of the number" of copies in their libraries, while the third ordered the
then Rizal Bill. He sought to sponsor the bill at Congress. board to publish the works in major Philippine languages.
However, this was met with stiff opposition from the Catholic
Church. During the 1955 Senate election, the church charged The works of Dr. Jose Rizal, especially the Noli Me
Recto with being a communist and an anti-Catholic. After Recto's Tangere and El Filibusterismo, are excellent inspiring sources of
election, the Church continued to oppose the bill mandating the nationalism or patriotism in which the Filipino youths should also
reading of Rizal's novels Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo, recognize and put into practice. Since also in school, the minds
claiming it would violate freedom of conscience and religion. of these youths are carefully molded with proper knowledge and
discipline. Therefore, in school, the enacted curricula, course or
The measure was strongly opposed by the Roman subject is also a way of teaching the youths of being a good
Catholic Church in the Philippines due to the anti-clerical themes Filipino citizen.
in Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo.
Clarence D. Verceles, JD, PhD

Faculty, Social Science Department 1
Pangasinan State University-Bayambang Campus
DR. JOSE PROTACIO MERCADO RIZAL ALONSO Y Doña Teodora Alonso Realonda (1826-1911)
REALONDA
He was born in Manila on November 8, 1826-educated
MEANING OF NAME at the College of Santa Rosa, a well-known college for girls in the
city-a remarkable woman, possessing refined culture, literary
Doctor - He completed his medical course in Spain and was talent, business ability, and the fortitude of Spartan women-is a
conferred the degree of Licentiate in Medicine by the Universidad woman of more than ordinary culture: she knows literature and
Central de Madrid. speaks Spanish (according to Rizal)-died in Manila on August 16,
1911 at the age of 85.
Jose - It was chosen by his mother who was a devotee
of the Christian saint San Jose (St. Joseph. THE RIZAL CHILDREN
Protacio - It came from Gervacio P. which came from a Christian Eleven children—two boys and nine girls.
calendar.
Saturnina (1850-1913)
Mercado - It was adopted in 1731 by Domingo Lamco, the
paternal great-great-grandfather of Jose Rizal, which the Spanish She is the oldest of the Rizal children-nicknamed
term mercado means “market” in English. Neneng and married to Manuel T. Hidalgo of Tanawan,
Batangas.
Rizal - It came from the word racial in Spanish means a field
where wheat, cut while still green, sprouts again. Paciano (1851-1930)
Alonso - It is the old surname of his mother.
He is the older brother and confident of Jose Rizal-was
Y - Means “and”. a second father to Rizal-immortalized him in Rizal’s first novel
Noli Me Tangere as the wise Pilosopo Tasio-Rizal regarded him
Realonda - It was used by Doña Teodora from as the “most noble of Filipinos”-became a combat general in the
the surname of her godmother based on the culture by that Philippine Revolution-died on April 13, 1930, an old bachelor
time. aged 79-had two children by his mistress (Severina Decena)—a
boy and a girl.
June 19, 1861 - moonlit of Wednesday between eleven and
midnight Jose Rizal was born in the lakeshore town of Calamba, Narcisa (1852-1939)
Laguna.
Her pet name was Sisa and married to Antonio Lopez
June 22, 1861 - aged three (3) days old, Rizal was baptized in (nephew of Father Leoncio Lopez), a school teacher of Morong.
the Catholic church.
Olimpia (1855-1887)
Father Rufino Collantes - a Batangueño, the parish priest who
baptized Rizal. Ypia was her pet name-married Silvestre Ubaldo, a
telegraph operator from Manila.
Father Pedro Casańas - Rizal’s godfather, native of Calamba
and close friend of the Rizal family. Lucia (1857-1919)
Lieutenant-General Jose Lemery – he is the governor general She was married to Mariano Herbosa of Calamba, who
of the Philippines when Rizal was born. was a nephew of Father Casanas-Herbosa died of cholera in
1889 and was denied Christian burial because he was a brother-
RIZAL’S PARENTS in-law of Dr. Rizal.
Don Francisco Mercado (1818-1898) Maria (1859-1945)
He was born in Biñan, Laguna on May 11, 1818- Biang was her nickname-married Daniel Faustino Cruz
studied Latin and Philosophy at the College of San Jose in of Biñan, Laguna.
Manila-became a tenant-farmer of the Dominican-owned
hacienda-a hardy and independent-minded man, who talked less Jose (1861-1896)
and worked more, and was strong in body and valiant in spirit-
died in Manila on January 5, 1898 at the age of 80-Rizal He is the greatest Filipino hero and peerless genius-
affectionately called him nickname was Pepe - lived with Josephine Bracken, Irish girl
“a model of fathers”. from Hong Kong-had a son but this baby-boy died a few hours
after birth; Rizal named him “Francisco” after his father and
buried him in Dapitan.

Concepcion (1862-1865) • The first memory of Rizal, in his infancy, was his
happy days in the family garden when he was three
Her pet name was Concha-died of sickness at the age years old.
of 3-her death was Rizal’s first sorrow in life.
• Another childhood memory was the daily Angelus prayer. By
Josefa (1865-1945) nightfall, Rizal related, his mother gathered all the children at the
house to pray the Angelus.
Her pet name was Panggoy-died an old maid at the
age of 80. • Another memory of Rizal’s infancy was the nocturnal walk in the
town, especially when there was a moon.
Trinidad (1868-1951)
•The death of little Concha brought Rizal his first sorrow.
Trining was her pet name-she died also an old maid in
1951 aged 83. •At the age of three (3), Rizal began to take a part in the family
prayers.
Soledad (1870-1929)
•When Rizal was five years old, he was able to read haltingly the
She is the youngest of the Rizal children-her pet name Spanish family bible.
was Choleng-married Pantaleon Quintero of Calamba
The Story of the Moth
• Rizal always called her sisters Doña or Señora (if married) and
Señorita (if single). The story made the profoundest impression on Rizal-
“died a martyr to its illusions”.
• Francisco Mercado and Teodora Alonso
Realonda married on June 28, 1848, after which •At the age of five (5), Rizal began to make sketches
they settled down in Calamba. with his pencil and to mould in clay and wax
objectswhich attracted his fancy
• The real surname of the Rizal family was
Mercado, which was adopted in 1731 by Domingo
Lamco (the paternal great-great grandfather of Jose Rizal), •Sa Aking Mga Kabata (To My Fellow Children)
who was a full blooded Chinese).
It Rizal’s first poem in native language at the age of eight-
• Rizal’s family acquired a second surname—Rizal—which was reveals Rizal’s earliest nationalist sentiment
given by a Spanish alcalde mayor (provincial governor) of
Laguna, who was a family friend. • At the age of eight (8), Rizal wrote his first dramatic work which
was a Tagalog comedy
THE RIZAL HOME
INFLUENCES ON THE HERO’S BOYHOOD
It was one of the distinguished stone houses in
Calamba during the Spanish times-it was a two-storey building, (1) Hereditary influence
rectangular in shape, built of adobe stones and hard-woods and (2) Environmental influence
roofed with red tiles-by day, it hummed with the noises of children (3) Aid of Divine Providence
at play and the songs of the birds in the garden; by night, it
echoed with the dulcet notes of family prayers. Tio Jose Alberto
• The Rizal family belonged to the principalia, a town aristocracy
in Spanish Philippines He studied for eleven years in British school in
Calcutta, India and had traveled in Europe inspired Rizal to
• The Rizal family had a simple, contented and happy life develop his artistic ability
CHILDHOOD YEARS IN CALAMBA Tio Manuel

Has a husky and athletic man, encouraged Rizal to
Calamba was named after a big native jar -Calamba develop his frail body by means of physical exercises
was a hacienda town which belonged to the Dominican Order,
which also owned all the lands around it Tio Gregorio
Un Recuerdo A Mi Pueblo (In Memory of My Town) He is a book-lover, intensified Rizal’s voracious reading
of good book
It is a poem about Rizal’s beloved town
written by Rizal in 1876 when he was 15 years old and was
student in the Ateneo de Manila.

Father Leoncio Lopez leadership of Lamadrid, Filipino sergeant,

rose in violent mutiny because of the abolition of
He is the old and learned parish priest of Calamba, their usual privileges.
foster Rizal’s love for scholarship and intellectual honesty.
• Fathers Mariano Gomez, Jose Burgos and Jacinto Zamora -
EARLY EDUCATION IN CALAMBA AND BIÑAN were executed at sunrise of February 17, 1872, by order of
Governor General Izquierdo.
• The first teacher of Rizal was his mother, who was remarkable
woman of good character and fine culture—her mother. • The martyrdom of Gom-Bur-Za in 1872 truly inspired
Rizal to fight the evils of Spanish tyranny and redeem
Maestro Celestino - Rizal’s first private tutor. his oppressed people.
Maestro Lucas Padua - Rizal’s second tutor. •Rizal dedicated his second novel, El Filibusterismo, to Gom-Bur-
Za.
Leon Monroy - a former classmate of Rizal’s father became
Rizal’s tutor that instructed Jose in Spanish and Latin. He died INJUSTICE TO HERO’S MOTHER
five months later.
• Before June, 1872 - D o ñ a T e o d o r a w a s
Sunday afternoon in June, 1869 - Rizal left Calamba for suddenly arrested on a malicious charge that
Biñan accompanied by Paciano. s h e a n d h e r brother, Jose Alberto, tried to poison the latter’s
perfidious wife.
• Maestro Justiniano Aquino Cruz - Rizal’s teacher in a private
school in Biñan-Rizal described his teacher as follows: • Antonio Vivencio del Rosario - Calamba’s gobernadorcillo,
He was thin, long-necked, with a sharp nose and a help arrest Doña Teodora.
body slightly bent forward.
• After arresting Doña Teodora, the sadistic Spanish lieutenant
• Pedro- the teacher’s son which Rizal challenged to a fight. forced her to walk from Calamba to Santa Cruz (capital of
Laguna province), a distance of 50 kilometers.
• Andres Salandanan- challenged Rizal to an arm-wrestling
match. • Doña Teodora was incarcerated at the provincial prison, where
she languished for two years and a half.
• Juancho - an old painter who was the father-in-law of
the school teacher; freely give Rizal lessons in drawing • Messrs. Francisco de Marcaida and Manuel Marzano - the
and painting. most famous lawyers of Manila that defended Doña Teodora.
• Jose Guevara - Rizal’s classmate, who also loved painting, SCHOLASTIC TRIUMPHS AT ATENEO DE MANILA (1872-1877)
became apprentices of the old painter.
• Ateneo Municipal - a college under the supervision of the
• “the favorite painters of the class”- because of his artistic Spanish Jesuits
talent.
• Escuela Pia (Charity School) - formerly name of Ateneo,
• Christmas in 1870 - Rizal received a letter from his a school for poor boys in Manila which was established
sister Saturnina, informing him of the arrival of the by the city government in 1817
steamer Talim which would take him from Biñan to Calamba.
• Saturday afternoon, December 17, 1870 - Rizal left Biñan • Escuela Pia--- Ateneo Municipal---Ateneo de Manila
after one year and a half of schooling.
• June 10, 1872- Rizal accompanied by Paciano went to Manila.
• Arturo Camps- a Frenchman friend of Rizal’s father who took
care of him on board. • Father Magin Ferrando - was the college registrar, refused to
admit Rizal in Ateneo for two reasons:
DAILY LIFE IN BIÑAN
(1) he was late for registration
Heard the four o’ clock mass then at ten o’ clock went (2) he was sickly and undersized for his age
home at once and went at school at two and came out at five-The
day was unusual when Rizal was not laid out on a bench and •Manuel Xerez Burgos-because of his intercession,
given five or six blows because of fighting. nephew of Father Burgos, Rizal was reluctantly
admitted at the Ateneo.
MARTYRDOM OF GOM-BUR-ZA
• Jose was the first of his family to adopt the surname
• Night of January 20, 1872- about 200 Filipino “Rizal”. He registered under this name at Ateneo
soldiers and workmen of the Cavite arsenal under the

because their family name “Mercado” had come under the • Dr. Feodor Jagor - a German scientist-traveler who
suspicion of the Spanish authorities visited the Philippines in 1859-1860 who wrote Travels
in the Philippines-Rizal was impressed in this book because of
• Rizal was first boarded in a house outside Intramuros, on
Caraballo Street. This was owned by a spinster named Titay who (1) Jagor’s keen observations of the defects of Spanish
owed the Rizal family the amount of 300 pesos. colonization and
(2) his prophecy that someday Spain would lose the Philippines
JESUIT SYSTEM OF EDUCATION and that America would come to succeed her as colonizer.
It trained the character of the student by rigid discipline THIRD YEAR IN ATENEO (1874-1875)
and religious instructions-Students were divided into two groups:
• Roman Empire- consisting of internos (boarders); red banner Rizal grades remained excellent in all subjects but he
• Carthaginian Empire- composed of the externos (non- won only one medal—in Latin-At the end of the school year
boarders); blue banner (March 1875), Rizal returned to Calamba for the summer
• Emperor- the best student in each “empire” vacation. He himself was not impressed by his scholastic work
• Tribune- the second best
• Decurion- the third best FOURTH YEAR IN ATENEO
• Centurion-the fourth best
• Stand-bearer- the fifth best • June 16, 1875 - Rizal became an interno in the Ateneo
• The Ateneo students in Rizal’s time wore a uniform which • Padre Francisco de Paula Sanchez - a great
consisted of “hemp-fabric trousers” and “striped cotton coat” The educator and scholar, one of Rizal’s professors who
coat material was called rayadillo. inspired him to study harder and to write poetry-Rizal described
this Jesuit professor as “model of uprightness, earnestness,
FIRST YEAR IN ATENEO (1872-1873) and love for the advancement of his pupils”.
• Father Jose Bech - Rizal’s first professor in Ateneo whom he • Rizal topped all his classmates in all subjects and won five
described as a “tall thin man, with a body slightly bent medals at the end of the school term
forward, a harried walk, an ascetic face, severe and
inspired, small deep-sunken eyes, a sharp nose that was LAST YEAR IN ATENEO (1876-1877)
almost Greek, and thin lips forming an arc whose ends fell toward
the chin. Rizal’s studies continued to fare well. As a matter-of-
fact, he excelled in all subjects. The most brilliant Atenean of his
• A Religious picture - Rizal’s first prize for being the brightest time, he was truly “the pride of the Jesuits”.
pupil in the whole class.
• March 23, 1877 - Commencement Day, Rizal, who
• To improve his Spanish, Rizal took private lessons in Santa was 16 years old, received from his Alma Mater,
Isabel College during the noon recesses. He paid three pesos Ateneo Municipal, the degree of Bachelor of Arts, with highest
for those extra Spanish lessons. honors.
• At the end of the school year in March, 1873, Rizal returned to • Marian Congregation - a religious society wherein Rizal
Calamba for summer vacation. was an active member and later became the secretary.
• When the summer vacation ended, Rizal returned to Manila for • Rizal cultivated his literary talent under the guidance of Father
his second year term in Ateneo. This time he boarded inside Sanchez.
Intramuros at No. 6 Magallanes Street. His landlady was an old
widow named Doña Pepay. • Father Jose Vilaclara - advised Rizal to stop communing with
the Muse and pay more attention to more practical studies.
SECOND YEAR IN ATENEO (1873-1874)
• Rizal studied painting under the famous Spanish painter,
At the end of the school year, Rizal received excellent Agustin Saez, and sculpture under Romualdo de Jesus, noted
grades in all subjects and a gold medal. Filipino sculptor.
• The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexander Dumas - the first • Rizal carved an image of the Virgin Mary on a piece of
favorite novel of Rizal which made a deep impression on him. batikuling (Philippine hardwood) with his pocket-knife.
• Universal History by Cesar Cantu - Rizal persuaded his • Father Lleonart - impressed by Rizal’s sculptural
father to buy him this set of historical work that was a great aid in talent, requested him to carve for him an image
his studies. of Sacred Heart of Jesus.

ANECDOTES ON RIZAL, THE ATENEAN victorious entry of King Ferdinand and Queen Isabel
into Granada, last Moorish stronghold in Spain
•Felix M. Roxas - one of Rizal’s contemporaries in the Ateneo,
related an incident of Rizal’s school days in Ateneo which A year later, in 1877, Rizal wrote more poems. It was
reveals hero’s resignation to pain and forgiveness. his last years in Ateneo. Among the poems written that year
“Neither bitterness nor rancor towards the guilty were:
party”
1. El Heroismo de Colon (The Heroism of Columbus)- this poem
• Manuel Xerez Burgos – This anecdotes illustrates Rizal’s praises Columbus, the discoverer of America;
predilection to help the helpless at the risk of his own life
2. Colon y Juan II (Columbus and John II) - this poem relates
POEMS WRITTEN IN ATENEO how King Kohn II of Portugal missed fame and richesby his
failure to finance the projected expedition of Columbus to the
It was Doña Teodora who was first discovered the New World;
poetic genius of her son, and it was also she who first
encouraged him to write poems. However it was Father Sanchez 3. Gran Consuelo en la Mayor Desdicha (Great Solace in Great
who inspired Rizal to make full use of his God-given gift in poetry Misfortune)- this is a legend in verse of the tragic lifeof
Columbus;
• Mi Primera Inspiracion (My First Inspiration), 1874- the first
poem Rizal probably wrote during his days in Ateneo which was 4. Un Dialogo Aluviso a la Despedida de los
dedicated to his mother on her birthday; Rizal wrote it before he Colegiales (A Farewell Dialogue of the Students) -
was 14 years old this was the last poem written by Rizal in Ateneo; it is a
poignant poem of farewell to his classmate.
In 1875, inspired by Father Sanchez, Rizal wrote more
poems, as such: • Al Niño Jesus (To the Child Jesus) - this poem was written in
1875 when Rizal was 14 years old; it was a brief ode
1. Felicitacion (Felicitationi);
2. El Embarque: Himno a la Flota de Magallanes (The Departure: • A La Virgen Maria (To the Virgin Mary) - another religious
Hymn to Magellan’s Fleet); poem which doesn’t have exact date when it was written
3. Y E s E s p a n o l ; E l c a n o , • San Eustacio, Martir (St. Eustace, the Martyr) - a drama

el Primero en dar la Vuelta al Mundo (A based on the prose story of St. Eustace whichhe wrote in poetic
n d H e i s S p a n i s h : E l c a n o , t h e F i r s t t o Circ verses during the summer vacation of 1876 and finished it on
umnavigate the World) June 2, 1876
4. El Combate: Urbiztondo, Terror de Jolo (The Battle: MEDICAL STUDIES AT THE UNIVERSITY OF SANTO TOMAS (1877-1882)
Urbiztondo, Terror of Jolo).
After finishing the first year of a course in Philosophy
In 1876, Rizal wrote poems on various topics - religion, and Letters (1877-1878), Rizal transferred to the medical course
education, childhood memories and war. They were as follows: - “Don’t send him to Manila again; he knows
enough. If he gets to know more, the Spaniards
1. Un Recuerdo a Mi Pueblo (In Memory of My Town) - a tender will cut off his head.”
poem in honor of Calamba, the hero’s natal town;
Doña Teodora, vigorously opposed the idea that Rizal
2. Alianza Intima Entre la Religion y la Buena Educacion pursue higher learning in the university
(Intimate Alliance between Religion and Good Education)-Rizal
showed the importance of religion in education; • April 1877 - Rizal who was then nearly 16 years old,
matriculated in the University of Santo Tomas, taking the course
3. Por la Educacion Recibe Lustre la Patria (Through Education on Philosophy and Letters because
the Country Receives Light) - Rizal believed in thesignificant role
which education plays in the progress and welfare of a nation; (1) his father like it
(2) he was “still uncertain as to what career to pursue”.
4. El Cautiverio y el Triunfo: Batalla de Lucena y Prision de
Boabdil (The Captivity and the Triumph: Battle of Lucenaand the • Father Pablo Ramon - R e c t o r o f A t e n e o , w h o
Imprisonment of Boabdil)- this martial poem describes the had been good to him during his student days
defeat and capture of Boabdil, last Moorish sultan of Granada; i n t h a t college, asking for advice on the choice of a career but
unfortunately he was in Mindanao.
5. La Entrada Triunfal de los Reyes Catolices en
Granada (The Triumphal Entry of the Catholic • It was during the following term (1878-1879) that
Monarchs into Granada)- this poem relates the Rizal, having received the Ateneo Rector’s advice to
study medicine.

• During Rizal’s first school term in the University of • Al M.R.P. Pablo Ramon - Rizal composed a poem in 1881, as
Santo Tomas (1877-1878), Rizal also studied in an expression of affection to Father Pablo Ramon, the Ateneo
Ateneo. He took the vocational course leading to the title of perito rector, who had been so kind and helpful to him.
agrimensor (expert surveyor).
• Vicenta Ybardolaza - a pretty girl colegiala who skillfully played
• Rizal excelled in all subjects in the surveying course in Ateneo, the harp at the Regalado home, whom Rizal was infatuated in
obtaining gold medals in agriculture and topography Pakil.
• November 25, 1881- the title was issued to Rizal for • Rizal mentioned Turumba (wherein the people dancing in the
passing the final examination in the surveying course. streets during the procession in honor of the miraculous
Birhen Maria de los Dolores) in Chapter VI of Noli Me
• Liceo Artistico-Literario (Artistic-Literary Lyceum) of Manila Tangere and Pagsanjan Falls in his travel diary (united
- a society of literary men and artists, held a literary States—Saturday, May 12, 1888), where he said that Niagara
contest in the year 1879. Falls was the “greatest cascades I ever saw” but “not so
beautiful nor fine as the falls at Los Baños, Pagsanjan”.
• A La Juventud Filipina (To the Filipino Youth) - Rizal, who
was then 18 years old, submitted this poem-is an inspiring poem • Compañerismo (Comradeship) - Rizal founded
of flawless form. Rizal beseeched the Filipino youth to rise from a secret society of Filipino students in University
lethargy, to let genius fly swifter than the wind and descend with of Santo Tomas in 1880.
art and science to break the chains that have long bound the
spirit of the people-this winning poem of Rizal is a classic • Companions of Jehu - members of the society whose after the
in Philippine literature for two reasons: valiant Hebrew general.
( 1 ) i t w a s t h e g r e a t p o e m i n Spanish written by a • Galicano Apacible -Rizal’s cousin from Batangas who is the
Filipino, whose merit was recognized by Spanish literary secretary of the society.
authorities;
UNHAPPY DAYS AT THE UST
(2) it expressed for the first time the nationalistic concept that the
Filipinos, and not the foreigners, were the “fair hope of the Rizal found the atmosphere at the University of Santo
Fatherland”; Tomas suffocating to his sensitive spirit. He was unhappy at this
Dominican institution of higher learning because
• The Board of Judges, composed of Spaniards, was impressed
by Rizal’s poem and gave it the first prize which consisted of a (1) the Dominican professors were hostile to him;
silver pen, feather-shaped and decorated with a gold ribbon (2) the Filipino students were racially discriminated against by the
Spaniards; and
• El Consejo de los Dioses (The Councils of the Gods) - an (3) the method of instruction was obsolete and repressive.
allegorical drama written by Rizal which he entered in the literary In Rizal’s novel, El Filibusterismo, he
contest of Artistic-Literary Lyceum in 1880 to commemorate the described how the Filipino students were humi
fourth centennial of the death of Cervantes-was a literary l i a t e d a n d i n s u l t e d b y t h e i r Dominican professors and
masterpiece based on the Greek classics how backward the method of instruction was, especially in the
teaching of the natural sciences. He related in Chapter XIII, “The
• The prize was awarded to Rizal, a gold ring on which was Class in Physics”.
engraved the bust of Cervantes.
IN SUNNY SPAIN (1882-1885)
• D.N. del Puzo - a Spanish writer, who won the second prize.
After finishing the 4th year of the medical course in the
• Junto al Pasig (Beside the Pasig) - a zarzuela which was University of Santo Tomas, Rizal decided to complete his studies
staged by the Ateneans on December 8, 1880, on the occasion in Spain.
of the annual celebration of the Feats Day of the Immaculate
Conception, Patroness of the Ateneo - Rizal wrote it as President Aside from completing his studies in Spain, Rizal has
of the Academy of Spanish Literature in Ateneo. his “secret mission”— was to observe keenly the life and
culture, languages and customs, industries and commerce, and
• A Filipinas - a sonnet written by Rizal for the album of the government and laws of the European nations in order to prepare
Society of Sculptors; in this sonnet, he urged all Filipino artists to himself in the mighty task of liberating his oppressed people from
glorify the Philippines. Spanish tyranny.
• Abd-el-Azis y Mahoma - Rizal composed a poem in 1879 This Rizalian secret mission was likewise disclosed by
which was declaimed by an Atenean, Manuel Fernandez, on the Paciano in his letter to his younger brother dated Manila, May 20,
night of December 8, 1879, in honor of the Ateneo’s Patroness. 1892.

Rizal’s departure for Spain was kept secret to avoid • Port Said- the Mediterranean terminal of the Suez Canal.
detection by the Spanish authorities and the friars.
NAPLES AND MARSEILLES
• Jose Mercado - Rizal used this name.
• June 11, 1882 - Rizal reached Naples-Rizal was pleased on
• May 3, 1882 - Rizal departed on board the Spanish streamer this Italian city because of its business activity, its lively people,
Salvadora bound for Singapore. and its panoramic beauty.
SINGAPORE • Night of June 12, 1882 - the steamer docked at the French
harbor of Marseilles.
• Donato Lecha - the ship captain from Asturias, Spain
befriended Rizal-Rizal described him as an affable man, “much • Rizal visited the famous Chateau d’If, where Dantes, hero of
more refined than his other countrymen and colleagues that the Count of Monte Cristo, was imprisoned.
I have met.”
• Rizal stayed two and a half days in Marseilles.
• Rizal played chess with his fellow passengers who were much
older than he BARCELONA
• May 8, 1882 - while the steamer was approaching Singapore, • Afternoon of May 15, 1882 - Rizal left Marseilles by train for
Rizal saw a beautiful island, fascinated by its scenic beauty, he the last lap of his trip to Spain
remembered “Talim Island with the Susong Dalaga”.
• Rizal crossed the Pyrenees and stopped for a day at the frontier
• May 9, 1882 - the Salvadora docked at Singapore. town of Port Bou.
• Hotel de la Paz - Rizal registered here and spent two days on a
sightseeing soiree of the city, which was a colony of England. • June 16, 1882 - Rizal finally reached his destination—
Barcelona.
FROM SINGAPORE TO COLOMBO
• Rizal’s first impression of Barcelona, the greatest city of
• In Singapore, Rizal transferred to another ship Cataluña and Spain’s second largest city, was unfavorable.
Djemnah, a French steamer, which left
Singapore for Europe on May 11, 1882. • Las Ramblas - the most famous street in Barcelona.
• Amor Patrio (Love of Country) - nationalistic essay, Rizal’s

• May 17, 1882 - Djemnah reached Point Galle, a seacoast town first article written on Spain’s soil-under his pen-name Laong
in southern Ceylon (now Sri Lanka). Laan, appeared in print in Diariong Tagalog on August 20, 1882 -
it was published in two texts—Spanish and Tagalog—the
• Rizal wrote on his travel diary: “The general appearance of Spanish text was the one originally written by Rizal in Barcelona,
Point Galle is picturesque but lonely and quiet and at the the Tagalog text was a Tagalog translation made by M.H.
same time sad”. del Pilar.
• Colombo - capital of Ceylon-Rizal was enamoured by Colombo • Basilio Teodoro Moran - a friend of Rizal in Manila and
because of its scenic beauty and elegant buildings- “Colombo is the publisher of Diariong Tagalog where Rizal sent this
more beautiful, smart and elegant than Singapore, Point article.
Galle and Manila”.
• Diariong Tagalog - the first Manila bilingual
• For the first time, Rizal sighted the barren coast of newspaper (Spanish and Tagalog).
Africa, which he called an “inhospitable land but
famous”. • Los Viajes (Travels) - Rizal’s second article for Diariong
Tagalog.
• Aden - city hotter than Manila where Rizal was amused to see
the camels, for the first time. • Revista de Madrid (Review of Madrid) - Rizal’s third article
written in Madrid on November 29, 1882 but returned to him
• City of Suez - the Red Sea terminal of the Suez Canal-Rizal because the Diariong Tagalog had ceased publication for lack of
was impressed in the beautiful moonlight which reminded him of funds.
Calamba and his family.
• Rizal received sad news about the cholera that was
• Suez Canal – the canal which built by ravaging Manila and the provinces according to
Ferdinand de Lesseps (French diplomat Paciano’s letter, dated September 15, 1882.
engineer) which was inaugurated on November
17, 1869. • Another sad news from the Philippines was the chatty letter of
Chengoy recounting the unhappiness of Leonor Rivera.

• In one of his letters (dated May 26, 1882), Paciano • June 17 to August 20, 1883 - Rizal sojourn in Paris.
advised his younger brother to finish the medical
course in Madrid. • Hotel de Paris - located on 37 Rue de Maubange wherein
Rizal billeted but later, he moved to a cheaper hotel on 124 Rue
• Rizal left Barcelona in the fall of 1882 and established himself in Madrid, the de Rennes in the Latin Quarter.
capital of Spain.
• Laennec Hospital - where Rizal observed Dr. Nicaise treating
LIFE IN MADRID his patients.
• November 3, 1882 - Rizal enrolled in the Universidad Central • Lariboisiere Hospital - where Rizal observed the examination
de Madrid (Central University of Madrid) in two courses— of different diseases of women.
Medicine and Philosophy and Letters.
• Rizal was impressed by the way the Spanish Mason openly and
• Academy of Fine Arts of San Fernando - Rizal studied freely criticized the government policies and lambasted the friars,
painting and sculpture. which could not be done in Philippines.
• Rizal’s only extravagance was investing a • March 1883 - Rizal joined the Masonic lodge called Acacia in
few pesetas for a lottery ticket in every draw of the Madrid.
Madrid Lottery. • Rizal’s reason for becoming a mason was to secure
Freemansory’s aid in his fight against the friars in the Philippines.
• Rizal spent his leisure time reading and writing at his boarding
house, attending the reunions of Filipino students at the house of • Lodge Solidaridad (Madrid) – Rizal transferred where
the Paterno brothers (Antonio, Maximo and Pedro) and practicing he became a Master Mason on November 15, 1890.
fencing and shooting at the gymnasium.
• February 15, 1892 - Rizal was awarded the diploma as Master
• Antigua Café de Levante - during the summer twilights, this is Mason by Le Grand Orient de France in Paris.
where Rizal sipped coffee and fraternized with the students from
Cuba, Mexico, Argentina, etc. • Science, Virtue and Labor - Rizal’s only Masonic writing; a
lecture which he delivered in 1889 at Lodge Solidaridad, Madrid.
• On Saturday evenings, Rizal visited the home of Don Pablo
Ortiga y Rey who lived with his son (Rafael) and daughter • After Rizal’s departure for Spain, things turned from bad to
(Consuelo). worse in Calamba:
• Circulo Hispano-Filipino (Hispano-Philippine Circle) - a (1) harvests of rice and sugarcane failed on account of
society of Spaniards and Filipinos which Rizal joined shortly after drought and locusts
his arrival in Madrid in 1882. (2) the manager of the Dominican-owned hacienda increased
the rentals of the lands
• Me Piden Versos (They Ask Me For Verses) - upon the (3) a dreadful pest killed most of the turkeys.
request of the members of this society, Rizal’s wrote this
poem which he personally declaimed during the New Due to hard times in Calamba, the monthly
Year’s Eve reception of the Madrid Filipinos held in the allowances of Rizal in Madrid were late in arrival and there were
evening of December 31, 1882-in this sad poem, Rizal poured times when they never arrived.
out the cry of his agonizing heart.
• June 24, 1884 - a touching incident in Rizal’s life in Madrid
• Rizal economized on his living expenses, and with wherein he was broke and was unable to take breakfast- Rizal
the money he saved, he purchased books from a attended his class at the university, participated in the contest in
second-hand book store owned by a certain Señor Roses. Greek language and won the gold medal.
• Beecher Stowe’s Uncle Tom’s Cabin and Eugene • Evening of June 25, 1884 - a banquet was sponsored by the
Sue’s The Wandering Jew - t h e s e t w o b o o k s Filipino community to celebrate the double victory of the Filipino
aroused Rizal’s sympathy for the oppressed and unfortunate artist in the National Exposition of Fine Arts in Madrid—Luna’s
people. Spoliarium winning the first prize and Hidalgo’s Christian Virgins
Exposed to the Populace (Virgenes Cristianas Expuestas al
FIRST VISIT TO PARIS (1883) Populacho), second prize.
-During his first summer vacation in Madrid, Rizal went to Paris, • November 20, 21, and 22, 1884 - the serene city of Madrid
gay capital of France-The prices of food, drinks, theatre, tickets, exploded in bloody riots by the students of the Central University.
laundry, hotel accommodations, and transportation were too high
for Rizal’s slender purse so that he commented in a letter to his • These student demonstrations were caused by the address of
family: “Paris is the costliest capital in Europe”. Dr. Miguel Morayta, professor of history, at the opening
ceremonies of the academic year on November 20, in which he • Paz Pardo de Tavera - was a pretty girl, who was engaged to
proclaimed “the freedom of science and the teacher”. Juan Luna.
• The Rector, who also took the side of the students, • At the studio of Luna, Rizal spent many happy hours.
was forced to resign and was replaced by Doctor Creus, Rizal helped Luna by posing as model in several
“a very unpopular man, disliked by everybody”. paintings.
• November 26, 1884 - Rizal wrote the recounting tumultuous • In Luna’s canvas “The Death of Cleopatra”, Rizal
riots to his family. posed as an Egyptian priest. In another of Luna’s great
paintings, “The Blood Compact,” he posed as Sikatuna, with
• June 21, 1884 - Rizal completed his medical course in Spain; Trinidad Pardo de Tavera taking the role of Legazpi.
he was conferred the degree of Licentiate in Medicine by the
Universidad Central de Madrid. • November 27, 1878 - Rizal told
E n r i q u e L e t e t h a t h e “learned the solfeggio, the
• The next academic year (1884- piano, the voiceculture in one month and a half”.
1885), Rizal studied and passed all subjects leading
to the degree of Doctor of Medicine but he did not present the • By sheer determination and constant practice, Rizal came to
thesis required for graduation nor paid the corresponding fees, play the flute fairly well. He was a flutist in various impromptu
he was not awarded his Doctor’s diploma. reunions of Filipinos in Paris.
• June 19, 1885 - on his 24th birthday, Rizal was awarded the • Alin Mang Lahi (Any Race) -a patriotic song written
degree of Licentiate in Philosophy and Letters by the Universidad by Rizal which asserts that any race aspires
Central de Madrid with the rating of “Excellent”: for freedom.
(Sobresaliente).
• La Deportacion (Deportation) - a sad danza which Rizal
• November 26, 1884 - a letter to Rizal’s family written in Madrid composed in Dapitan during his exile.
wherein he said “My doctorate is not of very much value to
me… because although it is useful to a university IN HISTORIC HEIDELBERG
professor, yet, I believe they (Dominican friars—Z) will
never appoint me as such in the College of Santo Tomas. I say • February 1, 1886 - Rizal reluctantly left gay Paris for Germany.
the same thing of philosophy and letters which may serve also for
a professorship, but I doubt if the Dominican fathers will grant it • February 3, 1886 - Rizal arrived in Heidelberg, a historic city in
to me.” Germany famous for its old university and romantic surroundings.
PARIS TO BERLIN (1885-1887) • Chess Player’s Club - a club wherein the students
made Rizal as a member because of being a good
Rizal went to Paris and Germany in order to specialize chess player.
in ophthalmology—Rizal chose this branch of medicine because
he wanted to cure his mother’s eye ailment. • Dr. Otto Becker - distinguished German ophthalmologist where
Rizal worked—University Eye Hospital.
IN GAY PARIS (1885-1886)
• April 22, 1886 - Rizal wrote a fine poem “A Las Flores de
•Maximo Viola - a medical student and a member of a rich family Heidelberg” (To the Flowers of Heidelberg).
of San Miguel, Bulacan, Rizal’s friend.
• In the spring of 1886, Rizal was fascinated by the
• Señor Eusebio Corominas - editor of the newspaper La blooming flowers along the cool banks of
Publicidad and made a crayon sketch of Don Miguel the Neckar River. Among them was his favorite flower—the
Morayta, owner of La Publicidad and a statesman. light blue “forget-me-not”.
• Rizal gave Editor Corominas and article on the Carolines • Wilhelmsfeld - a mountainous village near Heidelberg where
Question, then a controversial issue, for publication. Rizal spent a three-month summer vacation.
• November 1885, Rizal was living in Paris where he sojourned for about four •Dr. Karl Ullmer - a kind Protestant pastor where Rizal stayed,
months who became his good friend and admirer.
•D r . L o u i s d e W e c k e r t ( 1 8 5 2 - 1 9 0 6 ) – The • June 25, 1886 - Rizal ended his sojourn at Pastor Ullmer’s
leading French ophthalmologist wherein Rizal home.
as assistant from November 1885 to February
1886. • May 29, 1887- Rizal wrote from Munich (Muchen) to Friedrich
(Fritz), son of Pastor Ullmer.

• July 31, 1886 - Rizal wrote his first letter in German • Dr. Rudolf Virchow – he introduced to Rizal by Dr. Jagor;
(which he had improved after his stay with theUllmers) famous German anthropologist.
to Professor Blumentritt, Director of the Ateneo of Leitmeritz,
Austria. • Dr. Hans Virchow- son of Dr. Rudolf Virchow, professor of
Descriptive Anatomy.
• Aritmetica (Arithmetic) -Rizal
sent this book he mentioned and was • Dr. W. Joest - noted German geographer.
p u b l i s h e d i n t w o l a n g u a g e s — Spanish and Tagalog—
by the University of Santo Tomas Press in 1868. The author was • Dr. Ernest Schweigger (1830-1905) - famous German
Rufino Baltazar Hernandez, a native of Santa Cruz, Laguna. ophthalmologist where Rizal worked.
• August 6, 1886 - the famous University of Heidelberg held its • Rizal became a member of the Anthropological Society, the
fifth centenary celebration. Ethnological Society, and the Geographical Society of Berlin,
upon the recommendation of Dr. Jagor and Dr. Meyer.
IN LEIPZIG AND DRESDEN
• Tagalische Verkunst (Tagalog Metrical Art) - Rizal wrote this
• August 9, 1886 - Rizal left Heidelberg. scholarly paper in German which he read before the society in
April 1887-this paper was published by the society in
• August 14, 1886 - boarded by a train. Rizal arrived in Leipzig. the same year, and elicited favorable comments from
all scientific quarters.
• Professor Friedrich Ratzel - a famous German historian, Rizal
befriend with him. • Rizal lived in Berlin, famous capital of unified Germany for five
reasons:
• Dr. Hans Meyer - German anthropologist, a friend of Rizal
(1) to gain further knowledge of ophthalmology ;
• In Leipzig, Rizal translated Schiller’s William Tell from German (2) to further his studies of sciences and languages ;
into Tagalog so that Filipino might know the story of that (3) to observe the economic and political conditions of the
champion of Swiss independence. German nation; and
(4) to associate with famous German scientists and scholars
• Rizal also translated into Tagalog for his nephews and niece (5)to publish his novel, Noli Me Tangere.
Hans Andersen’s Fairy Tales.
• Madame Lucie Cerdole -Rizal’s professor of French in
• Rizal found out that the cost of living in Leipzig was cheapest in order to master the idiomatic intricacies of the French
Europe so that he stayed two months and a half. language.
• Because of his knowledge of German, Spanish, and other • Unter den Linden - the most popular boulevard of
European languages, Rizal worked as proof-reader in a Berlin wherein Rizal enjoyed promenading, sipping
publisher’s firm. beer in the city’s inns and talking with the friendly Berliners.
• October 29, 1886 - Rizal left Leipzig for Dresden • March 11, 1886 - one of Rizal’s important letters written while
where he met Dr. Adolph B. Meyer, Director of the he was in Germany that addressed to his sister, Trinidad-in this
Anthropological and Ethnological Museum. letter, Rizal expressed his high regard and admiration
for German womanhood-The German woman, said Rizal
• Rizal heard Mass in a Catholic church; evidently, this Mass to his sister, is serious, diligent, educated, and
impressed him very much, for he wrote on his diary: “ T r u l y I friendly. She is not gossipy, frivolous and quarrelsome.
have never in my life heard a Mass whose
m u s i c h a d g r e a t e r s u b l i m i t y a n d intonation.” • Aside from the German women, Rizal admired the German
customs which he observed well.
• Morning of November 1, 1886 - Rizal left Dresden by train
reaching Berlin in the evening. NOLI ME TANGERE PUBLISHED IN BERLIN (1887)
BERLIN The bleak winter of 1886 in Berlin was Rizal’s darkest

winter because no money arrived from Calamba and he was flat
• Rizal was enchanted by Berlin because of its scientific broke. The diamond ring which his sister, Saturnina, gave him
atmosphere and the absence of race prejudice. was in the pawnshop. It was memorable in the life of Riza lfor two
reasons:
• Rizal met for the first time Dr. Feodor Jagor, celebrated
German scientist-traveler and author of Travels in the (1) it was a painful episode for he was hungry, sick
Philippines, a book which Rizal read and admired during his and despondent in a strange city; and
student days in Manila.

(2) it brought him great joy after enduring so much sufferings,

because his first novel, Noli Me Tangere came off the press in • Rizal dedicated his Noli Me Tangere to the
March, 1887; Philippines—“To My Fatherland”.
• The cover of Noli Me Tangere was designed
• Harriet Beecher Stowe’s Uncle Tom’s Cabin - inspired Dr. b y R i z a l . I t i s s ketch of explicit symbols.
Rizal to prepare a novel that would depict the miseries of his A woman’s head atop a Maria Clara
people under the lash of Spanish tyrants. bodice represents the nation and the
w o m e n , v i c t i m s o f t h e social cancer. One of the
• January 2, 1884 - in a reunion of Filipinos in the Paterno causes of the cancer is symbolized in the friar’s feet,
residence in Madrid, Rizal proposed the writings of a novel about outsized in relation to the woman’s head. The other
the Philippines by a group of Filipinos. aggravating causes of oppression and discrimination
are shown in the guard’s helmet and the iron chains,
• Toward the end of 1884, Rizal began writing the novel in Madrid the
and finished about one-half of it. teacher’swhip and the alferez’s scourge. A slight cluster of bam
boo stands at the backdrop; these are the people, forever in the
• When Rizal went to Paris, in 1885, after completing background of their own country’s history. There
his studies in the Central University of Madrid, he are a cross, a maze, flowers and thorny plants,
continued writing the novel, finishing one half of the second half. a flame; these are indicative of the religious policy, the
misdirected ardor, the people strangled as a result of these all.
• Rizal finished the last fourth of the novel
in Germany. He wrote the last few chapters of • The novel Noli Me Tangere contains 63 chapters and an
t h e N o l i i n Wilhelmsfeld in April-June, 1886. epilogue.
• In Berlin during the winter days of February, 1886, Rizal made • Dr. Antonio Ma. Regidor - Filipino patriot and lawyer
the final revisions on the manuscript of the Noli. who had been exiled due to his complicity in the Cavite
Mutiny of 1872, read avidly the Noli and was very much
• Maximo Viola - Rizal’s friend from Bulacan, arrived impressed by its author.
in Berlin at the height of Rizal despondency and loaned
him the needed funds to publish the novel; savior of Noli. CHARACTERS OF NOLI
• After the Christmas season, Rizal put the finishing touches on • The Noli Me Tangere was a true story of the Philippine
his novel. To save printing expenses, he deleted conditions during the last decades of Spanish rule.
certain passages in his manuscript, including a whole chapter—
“Elias and Salome”. • Maria Clara - was Leonor Rivera, although in real life she
became unfaithful and married an Englishman.
• February 21, 1887 - the Noli was finally finished and ready for
printing. • Ibarra and Elias - represented Rizal himself.
• Berliner Buchdruckrei-Action-Gesselschaft - a printing • Tasio - the philosopher was Rizal’s elder brother Paciano.
shop which charged the lowest rate, that is, 300 pesos
for 2, 000 copies of the novel. • Padre Salvi - was identified by Rizalists as Padre Antonio
Piernavieja, the hated Augustinian friar in Cavite who was killed
• March 21, 1887- the Noli Me Tangere came off the press. by the patriots during the Revolution.
• March 29, 1887- Rizal, in token of his appreciation and • Capitan Tiago -was Captain Hilario Sunico of San Nicolas.
gratitude, gave Viola the galley proofs of the Noli carefully
rolled around the pen that he used in writing it and a • Doña Victorina - was Doña Agustina Medel.
complimentary copy, with the following inscription: “To
my dear friend, Maximo Viola, the first to read and • Basilio and Crispin - were the children of Sisa.
appreciate my work—Jose Rizal”.
• Padre Damaso – a typical of a domineering friar during the
• The title Noli Me Tangere days of Rizal, who was arrogant, immoral and anti-Filipino.
i s a L a t i n p h r a s e w h i c h m e a n s “Touch Me Not”.
It is not originally conceived by Rizal, for he admitted RIZAL’S GRAND TOUR OF EUROPE WITH VIOLA (1887)
taking it from the Bible.
• May 11, 1887 - Rizal and Viola left Berlin by train.
• Rizal, writing to Felix Hidalgo in French on March 5, 1887, said:
“Noli Me Tangere, words taken from the •Dresden- one of the best cities in Germany.
G o s p e l o f S t . L u k e , signify “do not touch me” but Rizal
made a mistake, it should be the Gospel of St. John (Chapter 20 • Prometheus Bound -painting wherein Rizal was deeply
Verses 13 to 17). impressed.

napkins were “more hygienic and economical than cloth

• Teschen (now Decin, Czechoslovakia) - next stopover after napkins”.
leaving Dresden.
FROM LINTZ TO RHEINFALL
LEITMERITZ
• Munich - where Rizal and Viola sojourned for a short time to
• At 1:30pm of May 13, 1887 - the train, with Rizal savor the famous Munich beer, reputed to be the best in
and Viola on board, arrived at the railroad station Germany.
of Leitmeritz, Bohemia-for the first time, the two great scholars—
Rizal and Blumentritt—met in person. • Nuremberg - one of the oldest cities of Germany.
• Professor Blumentritt - a kind-hearted, old Austrian professor. • The Cathedral of Ulm - the largest and tallest cathedral in all
Germany.
• May 13 to May 16, 1887 - Rizal and Viola stayed in Leitmeritz.
• From Ulm, they went to Stuttgart, Baden and then
• Burgomaster – the town mayor. Rheinfall (Cascade of the Rhine). At Rheinfall, they
saw the waterfall, “the most beautiful waterfall of Europe”.
• Tourist’s Club of Leitmeritz -which Blumentritt was
the secretary; Rizal spoke extemporaneously influent CROSSING THE FRONTIER TO SWITZERLAND
Germany to the officers and members.
• June 2 to 3, 1887- stayed at Schaffhausen, Switzerland.
• Dr. Carlos Czepelak - renowned scientist of Europe.
GENEVA
• Professor Robert Klutschak - an eminent naturalist.
• This Swiss city is one of the most beautiful cities in Europe,
• May 16, 1887 at 9:45 AM - Rizal and Viola left Leitmeritz by visited by world tourists every year.
train.
• June 19, 1887 - Rizal treated Viola to a blow-out. It was his
PRAGUE 26th birthday.
• Rizal and Viola spent fifteen delightful days in Geneva.
• Dr. Willkomm - professor of natural history in the University of
Prague. • June 23, 1887 - Viola and Rizal parted ways—Viola returned
to Barcelona while Rizal continued the tour to Italy.
• According to Viola, “nothing of importance happened” in this
city. • Exposition of the Philippines in Madrid, Spain - Rizal was
outraged by this degradation of his fellow countrymen
VIENNA the Igorots of Northern Luzon.
• May 20, 1887 - Rizal and Viola arrived in the beautiful city RIZAL IN ITALY
of Vienna, capital of Austria-Hungary.
• June 27, 1887 - Rizal reached Rome, the “Eternal City” and
• Vienna was truly the “Queen of Danube” because of its beautiful also called the “City of the Caesars”.
buildings, religious images, haunting waltzes and majestic charm.
• Rizal was thrilled by the sights and memories of the Eternal
• Norfentals - one of the greatest Austrian novelists was City. Describing to Blumentritt, the “grandeur that was Rome”,
favorably impressed by Rizal, and years later he spoke highly of he wrote on June 27, 1887.
Rizal, “whose genius he so much admired”.
• June 29, 1887- the Feast Day of St. Peter and St.
• Hotel Metropole - where Rizal and Viola stayed. Paul, Rizal visited for the first time the Vatican, the
“City of the Popes”and the capital of Christendom.
• In Vienna, Rizal received his lost diamond stick pin.
• Every night, after sightseeing the whole day, Rizal returned to
DANUBIAN VOYAGE TO LINTZ his hotel, very tired. “I am tired as a dog,” he wrote
to Blumentritt, “but I will sleep as a God”.
• May 24, 1887 - Rizal and Viola left Vienna on a river boat to
see the beautiful sights of the Danube River. • After a week of wonderful sojourn in Rome, Rizal prepared to
return to the Philippines. He had already written to his father that
• Rizal particularly noticed that the passengers on the he was coming home.
river boat were using paper napkins during the meals,
which was a novelty to him. Viola, commented that the paper

FIRST HOMECOMING (1887-1888)

STORM OVER THE NOLI
Because of the publication of the Noli Me
Tangere and the uproar it caused among the friars, • Governor General Emilio Terrero (1885-1888) -requesting
Rizal was warned by Paciano (his Rizal to come to Malacańang Palace.
brother), Silvestre Ubaldo (his brother-in-law),
Chengoy (Jose M. Cecilio) and other friends • Don Jose Taviel de Andrade -a young Spanish
not to return home.-Rizal was determined to return to the lieutenant assigned by Governor General Terrero to
Philippines for the following reasons: posed as bodyguard of Rizal.
(1) to operate on his mother’s eyes; • Msgr. Pedro Payo (a Dominican) - sent a copy of Noli to
(2) to serve his people who had long been oppressed Father Rector Gregorio Echavarria of the University of Sto.
by Spanish tyrants; Tomas for examination by a committee of the faculty.
(3) to find out for himself how Noli and his
other writings were affecting Filipinos and Spaniards in the • The report of the faculty members of University of
Philippines; and Santo Tomas stated that the Noli was “heretical,
(4) to inquire why Leonor Rivera remained silent. impious, and scandalous in the religious order and
anti-patriotic, subversive of public order injurious
• July 29, 1887- Rizal wrote to his father, announcing to the government of Spain and its function in the
his homecoming, “ o n t h e 1 5 th o f J u l y , I s h a l l Philippine Islands in the political order”.
embark for our country, so that from the 15th to the 30th of
August, we shall see each other”. • Permanent Commission of Censorship - a committee
composed of priest and laymen.
DELIGHTFUL TRIP TO MANILA
• Fr. Salvador Font - Augustinian cura of Tondo, head of the
Rizal left Rome by train for Marseilles, a French port, committee-
which he reached without mishap. found the novel to contain subversive ideas a
gainst the Church and Spain, and recommende
• July 3, 1887-Rizal boarded the steamer Djemnah, d “that the mportation, reproduction, and circulation of
the same streamer which brought him to Europe 5years this pernicious book in the islands be absolutely
ago. prohibited”.
• July 30, 1887 -at Saigon, Rizal transferred to another steamer, • Fr. Jose Rodriguez - Augustinian priest, published a series of
Haiphong, which was Manila-bounded. eight pamphlets under the general heading Cuestiones de
Sumo Interes (Questions of Supreme Interest) to blast the
• August 2, 1887 - the steamer left Saigon for Manila. Noli and other anti-Spanish writings.
ARRIVAL IN MANILA • Vicente Barrantes – Spanish acaademecian of

Madrid, who formerly criticized the Noli in an
• August 3, 1887 - the moon was full and Rizal slept soundly the article published in La Moderna, a newspaper of
whole night. The calm sea, illuminated by the silvery moonlight, Madrid, in January 1890.
was a magnificent sight to him.
• What marred Rizal’s happy days in Calamba with Lt.
• Near midnight of August 5, 1887, the Haiphong arrived in Manila. Andrade were?
HAPPY HOMECOMING (1) the death of his older sister, Olimpia; and
(2) the groundless tales circulated by his enemies that he was “a
• August 8, 1887 - Rizal returned to Calamba. German spy, an agent of Bismarck, a Protestant, a Mason,
a witch, a soul beyond salvation, etc.”
• In Calamba, Rizal established a medical clinic. His first patient
was his mother, who was almost blind. • Rev. Vicente Garcia - a Filipino Catholic priest-
scholar, a theologian of the Manila Cathedral and a
• Rizal, who came to be called “Doctor Uliman” because he Tagalog translator of the famous Imitation of Christ by Thomas A.
came from Germany, treated their ailments and soon he acquired Kempis-writing under the penname Justo Desiderio
a lucrative medical practice. Magalang, wrote a defense of the Noli which
was published in Singapore as an appendix to a pamphlet
• Rizal opened a gymnasium for young folks, where he dated July 18, 1888, he blasted the arguments of Fr. Rodriguez
introduced European sports.
• Rizal, himself defended his novel against Barrantes’
• Rizal suffered one failure during his six months of sojourn in attack, in a letter written in Brussels, Belgium in
Calamba—his failure to see Leonor Rivera. February 1880.

FAREWELL TO CALAMBA VISIT TO MACAO
• The friars asked Governor General Terrero to deport him, but Macao is a Portuguese colony near Hong Kong.-
latter refused because there was no valid charge against Rizal in According to Rizal, the city of Macao is small, low, and gloomy.
court. There are many junks, sampans, but few steamers. It looks sad
and is almost dead.
• Rizal was compelled to leave Calamba for two reasons:
• February 18, 1888 - Rizal, accompanied by Basa, boarded the
(1) his presence in Calamba was jeopardizing the safety and ferry steamer, Kiu-Kiang for Macao.
happiness of his family and friends; and
(2) he could fight better his enemies and serve hisc • Don Juan Francisco Lecaros - A Filipino gentleman married
ountry’s cause with greater efficacy by writing in foreign to a Portuguese lady-Rizal and Basa stayed at his home while in
countries. Macao.
•S h o r t l y b e f o r e R i z a l l e f t C a l a m b a i n 1 8 8 8 , h i s f • February 18, 1888 - Rizal witnessed a Catholic possession, in

riend from Lipa requested him to write which the devotees were dressed in blue and purple dresses and
a p o e m i n commemoration of the town’s elevation to a were carrying unlighted candles.
villa (city) by virtue of the Becerra Law of 1888.
• February 20, 1888 - Rizal and Basa returned to Hong Kong,
• Himno Al Trabajo (Hymn to Labor) - a poem written by Rizal again on board the ferry steamer Kiu Kiang.
dedicated to the industrious folks of Lipa.
DEPARTURE FROM HONG KONG
IN HONGKONG AND MACAO (1888)
• February 22, 1888 - Rizal left Hong Kong on board the
Hounded by powerful enemies, Rizal was forced to Oceanic, an American steamer, his destination was Japan.
leave his country for a second time in February 1888. He was
then a full-grown man of 27 years of age, a practicing physician, • Rizal’s cabin mate was a British Protestant missionary who
and a recognized man-of-letters. called Rizal “a good man”
THE TRIP TO HONGKONG ROMANTIC INTERLUDE IN JAPAN (1888)
• February 3, 1888 -Rizal left Manila for Hong Kong on board the One of the happiest interludes in the life of Rizal was
Zafiro. his sojourn in the Land of the Cherry Blossoms for one month
and a half (February 28-April 13, 1888)
• February 7, 1888 - Zafiro made a brief stopover at Amoy.
• February 28, 1888 - early in the morning of Tuesday,
• Rizal did not get off his ship at Amoy for three reasons: Rizal arrived in Yokohama. He registered at the Grand
Hotel
(1) he was not feeling well;
(2) it was raining hard; and • Tokyo Hotel - Rizal stayed here from March 2 to March 7
(3) he heard that the city was dirty.
• Rizal wrote to Professor Blumentritt: “Tokyo is more
• February 8, 1888 - Rizal arrived in Hong Kong. expensive than Paris. The walls are built in
cyclopean manner. The streets are large and wide.”
• Victoria Hotel - Rizal stayed while in Hong Kong. He was
welcomed by Filipino residents, including Jose • Juan Perez Caballero - secretary of the Spanish Legation, who
Maria Basa, Balbino Mauricio, and Manuel Yriarte visited Rizal at his hotel who latter invited him to live at the
(son of Francisco Yriarte, alcalde mayor of Laguna). Spanish Legation
• Jose Sainz de Varanda - a Spaniard, • Rizal accepted the invitation for two reasons:
who was a former
secretary of Governor General Terrero, (1) he could economize his living expenses by staying
shadowed Rizal’s movement in Hong Kong-it is believed that he at the legation; and
was commissioned by the Spanish authorities to spy on Rizal. (2) he had nothing to hide from the prying eyes of the Spanish
authorities
• “Hong Kong”, wrote Rizal to Blumentritt on February 16, 1888,
“is a small, but very clean city”. • March 7, 1888 - Rizal checked out of Tokyo Hotel and lived at
the Spanish Legation.
• Rizal was favorably impressed by Japan. The things which

favorably impressed Rizal in Japan were:

(1) the beauty of the country – its flowers, mountains, (1) the material progress of the country as shown in the great
streams and scenic panoramas; cities, huge farms, flourishing industries and busy factories;
(2) the cleanliness, politeness, and industry of the (2) the drive and energy of the American people ;
Japanese people; (3) the natural beauty of the land;
(3) the picturesque dress and simple charm of the (4) the high standard of living; and
Japanese women; (5) the opportunities for better life offered to poor immigrants.
(4) there were very few thieves in Japan so that the
houses remained open day and night, and in hotel room • One bad impression Rizal had of America was the
one could safely leave money on the table; and lack of racial equality: “America is the land
(5) beggars were rarely seen in the city, streets, unlike in Manila par excellence of freedom but only for the whites”.
and other cities.
RIZAL IN LONDON (1888-1889)
• Rickshaws - popular mode of transportation drawn by men that
Rizal did not like in Japan. After visiting the United States, Rizal lived in London
from May, 1888 to March, 1889 for three reasons:
• April 13, 1888 -Rizal left Japan and boarded the Belgic, an
English steamer, at Yokohama, bound for the United States. (1) to improve his knowledge of the English language;
(2) to study and annotate Morga’s Sucesos de las Islas Filipinas,
• Tetcho Suehiro - a fighting Japanese journalist, novelist and a rare copy of which he heard to be available in the British
champion of human rights, who was forced by the Japanese Museum; and
government to leave the country-passenger which Rizal (3) London was a safe place for him to carry on his fight against
befriended on board the Belgic. Spanish tyranny.
• April 13 to December 1, 1888 - eight (8) months of intimate TRIP ACROSS THE ATLANTIC
acquaintanceship of Rizal and Tetcho.
• The trans-Atlantic voyage of Rizal from New York to Liverpool
• December 1, 1888 - after a last warm handshake and was a pleasant one.
bidding each other “goodbye”, Rizal and Tetcho parted
ways—never to meet again. • Rizal entertained the American and European passengers with
his marvelous skills with the yo-yo as an offensive weapon.
RIZAL’S VISIT TO THE UNITED STATES (1888)
• Yoyo - is a small wooden disc attached to a string from the
• April 28, 1888 - the steamer Belgic, with Rizal on board, finger.
docked at San Francisco on Saturday morning.
• May 24, 1888 -Rizal arrived at Liverpool, England
• May 4, 1888 - Friday afternoon, the day Rizal was permitted to
go ashore. • Adelphi Hotel -Rizal spend the night here while staying for one
day in this port city.
• Palace Hotel - Rizal registered here which was then
considered a first-class hotel in the city. • According to Rizal, “Liverpool is a big and beautiful
city and its celebrated port is worthy of its great
• Rizal stayed in San Francisco for two days—May 4 to 6, 1888. fame. The entrance is magnificent and the customhouse is
quite good.”
• May 6, 1888 -Sunday, 4:30PM, Rizal left San Francisco for
Oakland. LIFE IN LONDON
• M a y 1 3 , 1 8 8 8 -Sunday morning, Rizal reached New • May 25, 1888 - a day after docking at Liverpool, Rizal went to
York, thus ending his trip across the American London
continent.
• Rizal stayed as guest at the home of Dr. Antonio Ma. Regidor,
• Rizal stayed three (3) days in this city, which he called the “big an exile of 1872 and a practicing lawyer in London. By the end of
town”. May, Rizal found a modest boarding place at No. 37 Chalcot
Crescent, Primrose Hill.
• May 16, 1888 - Rizal left New York for Liverpool
on board the City of Rome. According to Rizal, this • Dr. Reinhold Rost - librarian of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
steamer was “the second largest ship in the world, the and an authority on Malayan languages and customs. He was
largest being the Great Eastern”. impressed by Rizal’s learning and character and he gladly
recommended him to the authorities of the British Museum. He
• Rizal had good and bad impressions of the United States. The called Rizal “a pearl of a man” (una perla de hombre).
good impressions were:

• Both good and bad news from home reached Rizal • Its aims were as follows:
in London. Of the bad news, were the injustices
committed by the Spanish authorities on the Filipino people and (1) to work peacefully for political and social
the Rizal family. reforms;
( 2 ) t o p o r t r a y t h e deplorable conditions of the Philippines
• The greatest achievement of Rizal in London was the so that Spain may remedy them;
annotating of Morga’s book, Sucesos de las Islas (3) to oppose the evil forces of reaction and medievalism;
Filipinas (Historical Events of the Philippine Islands), which (4) to advocate liberal ideas and progress;
was published in Mexico, 1609. (5) to champion the legitimate aspirations and of the
Filipino people to life, democracy and happiness.
• September 1888 - Rizal visited Paris for a week in
order to search for more historical materials in the •
Bibliotheque Nationale. Los Agricultores Filipinos (The Filipino Far
mers)
• Rizal was entertained in this gay French metropolis by Juan
Luna and his wife (Pas Pardo de Tavera), who proudly showed Rizal’s first article which appeare
him their little son Andres, nicknamed Luling. d i n L a Solidaridad which is published on March 25, 1889,
six days after he left London for Paris
• December 11, 1888 - Rizal went to Spain, visiting Madrid
and Barcelona ARTICLES PUBLISHED IN LA SOLIDARIDAD
• Rizal met, for the first time, Marcelo H. del Pilar and Rizal wrote articles for La Solidaridad in defense of his
Mariano Ponce, two titans of the Propaganda oppressed people and to point out the evils of Spanish rule in the
Movement Philippines.
• December 24, 1888 - R i z a l r e t u r n e d t o L o n d o n 1. “A La Defensa” (To La Defensa), April 30, 1889-

and spent Christmas and New Year’s Day with this was a reply to an anti-Filipino writing of a
t h e Becketts. Spanish author Patricio de la Escosura which was published
by La Defensa on March 30, 1889.
• Rizal sent as Christmas gift to Blumentritt a bust of Emperador
Augustus and a bust of Julius Caesar to another friend, Dr. 2. “La Verdad Para Todos” (The Truth for All), May 31, 1889 -
Carlos Czepelak, a Polish scholar. Rizal’s defense against the Spanish charges that the native local
officials were ignorant and depraved.
• The Life and Adventures of Valentine Vox, the Ventriloquist
- a Christmas gift from Rizal’s landlady, Mrs Beckett. 3. “Vicente Barrantes’ Teatro Tagalo”, June 15, 1889 -
in this article, Rizal exposes Barrantes’ ignorance on
RIZAL BECOMES LEADER OF FILIPINOS IN EUROPE the Tagalog theatrical art.
• Asociacion La Solidaridad (Solidaridad 4. “Una Profanacion” (A Profanation), July 31, 1889 -

Association) - a patriotic society, which cooperates in a bitter attack against the friars for denying
the crusade for reforms, was Christian burial to Mariano Herbosa in Calamba because he
inaugurated on December 31, 1888, with the following was a brother-in-law of Rizal. Herbosa, husband of Lucia died of
officers: Galicano Apacible (President); Graciano Lopez cholera on May 23, 1889.
Jaena (Vice-president); Manuel Santa Maria (Secretary); Mariano
Ponce (Treasurer) and Jose Ma. Panganiban (accountant). 5. “Verdades Nuevas” (New Truths), July 31, 1889 - a reply to
Vicente Belloc Sanchez’ letter published in La Patria, Madrid
• By unanimous vote of all members, Rizal was chosen honorary newspaper, on July 4, 1889, which asserted that the
president. granting of reforms in the Philippines would ruin the
“peaceful and maternal rule” of the friars.
• January 28, 1889 - Rizal wrote a letter addressed to the
members of the Asociacion La Solidaridad. 6. “Crueldad” (Cruelty), August 15, 1889 - a brilliant defense of
Blumentritt from the scutrillous attack of his enemies.
RIZAL AND THE LA SOLIDARIDAD NEWSPAPER
7. “Diferencias’ (Differences), September 15, 1889 - a reply to a
• February 15, 1889 - Graciano Lopez Jaena founded biased article entitled “Old Truths” published in La Patria on
the patriotic newspaper called La Solidaridad in August 14, 1889, which ridiculed those Filipinos who asked
Barcelona. for reforms.
• La Solidadridad - fortnightly periodical which served as the 8. “Inconsequencias” (Inconsequences), November 30, 1889- a
organ of the Propaganda Movement. defense of Antonio Luna against the attack of PabloMir Deas in
the Barcelona newspaper El Puieblo Soberano.

(2) the Filipino mother should be glad, like the

9. “Llanto y Risas” (Tears and Laughter), November Spartan mother, to offer her sons in the defense of the
30, 1889- a denunciation of Spanish racial prejudice fatherland;
againstbrown Filipinos (3) a Filipino woman should know how to preserve her dignity
and honor;
1 0 . I n g r a t i t u d e s ” ( I n g r a t i t u d e (4) a Filipino woman should educate herself, aside from retaining
) , J a n u a r y 1 5 , 1 8 9 0 a her good racial virtues; and
r e p l y t o G o v e r n o r G e n e r a l V a (5) Faith is not merely reciting long prayers and wearing religious
l e r i a n o W e y l e r w h o , while visiting pictures, but rather it is living the real Christian way, with
Calamba, told the people that they “should not allow themselves good morals and good manners.
to be deceived by the vain promises of their ungrateful sons.”
• Dr Reinhold Rost, editor of Trubner’s Record,
• Simultaneous with Rizal retirement from the Propaganda a journal devoted to Asian studies, request Rizal to
Movement, Rizal ceased writing articles for La Solidaridad. contribute some articles. In response to his request, the latter
prepared two articles:
• August 7, 1891 - M.H. del Pilar wrote to Rizal
begging forgiveness for any resentment and (1) Specimens of Tagal Folklore, which published in the journal in
requesting Rizal to resume writing for the La Solidaridad. May, 1889; and
(2) Two Eastern Fables, published in June, 1889.
• Rizal stopped writing for La Solidaridad, it was because of
several reasons: • March 19, 1889 - Rizal bade goodbye to the kind Beckett
Family and left London for Paris
(1) Rizal needs to work on his book;
(2) He wanted other Filipinos to work also; RIZAL’S SECOND SOJOURN IN PARIS AND THE UNIVERSAL
(3) Rizal considered it very important to the party EXPOSITION IN 1889
that there be unity in the work; and
(4) Marcelo H. del Pilar is already at the top and Rizal also has In March, 1889, it was extremely difficult for a visitor to
his own ideas, it is better to leave del Pilar alone to direct the find living quarters in Paris
policy.
• Valentin Ventura - a f r i e n d o f R i z a l w h e r e h e
WRITINGS IN LONDON lived—No. 45 Rue Maubeuge, where he
p o l i s h e d h i s annotated edition of Morga’s book.
• While busy in research studies at the British Museum, Rizal
received news on Fray Rodriguez’ unabated attack on his Noli. • Rizal used most of his time in the reading room of the
Bibliotheque Nationale (National Library) checking up his
•L a V i s i o n d e l F r a y R o d r i g u e z ( T h e V i s i o n o f historical annotations on Morga’s book.
Fray Rodriguez)
• Rizal was a good friend of the three Pardo de Taveras—Dr.
It is a pamphlet wrote by Rizal which Trinidad H. Pardo de Tavera, a physician by vocation and
published in Barcelona under his nom-de-plume Dimas Alang in philologist by avocation, Dr. Felix Pardo de Tavera, also
order to defense his novel. physician by vocation and an artist and sculptor by avocation,
and Paz Pardo de Tavera, wife of Juan Luna.
In La Vision del Fray Rodriguez, Rizal demonstrated
two things: • June 24, 1889 - a baby girl was born to Juan Luna and Paz
Pardo de Tavera, she was their second child.
(1) his profound knowledge of religion; and
(2) his biting satire. •H e r b a p t i s m a l g o d f a t h e r w a s R i z a l , w h o
chose her name “Maria de la Paz, Blanc
• Letter to the Young Women of Malolos - a a , L a u r e a n a , Hermenegilda Juana Luna y Pardo de
famous letter wrote by Rizal on February 22, Tavera”.
1 8 8 9 i n Tagalog-this letter is to praise the young ladies of
Malolos for their courage to establish a school where they could • May 6, 1889 - opening of Universal Exposition of Paris.
learn Spanish, despite the opposition of Fr. Felipe Garcia,
a Spanish parish priest of Malolos • The greatest attraction of this exposition was the Eiffel Tower,
984 feet high, which was built by Alexander Eiffel, celebrated
• The main points of this letter were: French engineer.
(1) a Filipino mother should teach her children love of God,

fatherland,and mankind;

KIDLAT CLUB • It must be noted that Rizal was inspired by a famous

book entitled Max Havelaar (1860) written by Multatuli
• March 19, 1889 -the same day when he arrived in (pseudonym of E.D. Dekker, Dutch author)
Paris from London, Rizal organized his paisanos
(compatriots) into a society called Kidlat Club. ANNOTATED EDITION OF MORGA PUBLISHED
• Kidlat Club - purely a social society of a temporary nature- • Rizal’s outstanding achievement in Paris was the publication in
founded by Rizal simply to bring together 1890 of his annotated edition of Morga’s Sucesos, which
young Filipinos in the French capital so that they he wrote in the British Museum. It was printed
could enjoy their sojourn in the city during the duration of by Garnier Freres. The prologue was written by Professor
the Universal Exposition Blumentritt upon the request of Rizal.
INDIOS BRAVOS • Rizal dedicated his new edition of Morga to the Filipino people
so that they would know of their glorious past.
• Rizal was enchanted by the dignified and proud bearing of
the American Indians in a Buffalo Bull show • The title page of Rizal’s annotated edition of Morga
reads: “Paris, Liberia de Garnier Hermanos, 1890”.
• Indios Bravos (Brave Indians) - replaced the ephemeral Kidlat
Club, its members pledged to excel in intellectual and physical • The Philippines Within a Century - article written by Rizal
prowess in order to win the admiration of the foreigners-practiced which he expressed his views on the Spanish colonization in the
with great enthusiasm the use of the sword and pistol and Rizal Philippines and predicted with amazing accuracy the tragic end
taught them judo, an Asian art of self-defense, that he learned in of Spain’s sovereignty in Asia.
Japan
• The Indolence of the Filipinos - other essay of Rizal is also a
R.D.L.M SOCIETY prestigious work of historical scholarship. It is an able defense of
the alleged indolence of the Filipinos-Rizal made a critical study
• Sociedad R.D.L.M. (R.D.L.M Society) - of the causes why his people did not work hard during the
a mysterious society founded by Rizal Spanish regime. His main thesis was that the Filipinos are not by
i n P a r i s d u r i n g t h e Universal Exposition of 1889-its nature indolent.
existence and role in the crusade reforms are really enigmatic-Of
numerous letters written by Rizal and his fellow • International Association of
propagandists, only two mentioned this secret society, Filipinologists -
as follows: association proposed by Rizal to establish t
a k i n g advantage of world attention which was then
(1) Rizal’s Letter to Jose Maria Basa, Paris, September 21, 1889; focused at the Universal Exposition in 1889 in Paris
and and has its inaugural convention in the French capital.
(2) Rizal’s Letter to Marcelo H. del Pilar, Paris, November 4,
1889. • Project for Filipino College in Hong Kong -
another magnificent project of Rizal in Paris which
• According to Dr. Leoncio Lopez-Rizal, grandnephew of the also fizzled out was his plan to establish a modern college in
hero, the society has a symbol or counter sign represented by a Hong Kong
circle divided into three parts by two semi-circles having in the
center the interlocked letters I and B meaning Indios • Por Telefono
Bravos and the letter R.D.L.M. placed outside an
upper, lower, left and right sides of the circle. Another satirical work as a reply t
o a n o t h e r s l a n d e r e r , Fr. Salvador Font , w
• The letters R.D.L.M. are believed to be the initials of the h o masterminded the banning of his Noli, in the fall of 1889 - it
society’s secret name Redencion de los Malayos (Redemption of was published in booklet form in Barcelona, 1889.
the Malays)—Redemption of the Malay Race. This satirical pamphlet under the authorship of “Dimas
Alang” is a witty satire which ridicules Father Font.
• It was patterned after Freemasonry. It had various
degrees of membership, “with the members not • Shortly after New Year, Rizal made a brief visit to London. It
knowing each other.” may be due to two reasons:
• The aim of the secret society, as stated by Rizal, was “the (1) to check up his annotated edition of Morga’s Sucesos with the
propagation of all useful knowledge—scientific, artistic, and original copy in the British Museum; and
literary, etc.—in the Philippines”. Evidently, there was another (2) to see Gertrude Beckett for the last time.
aim that is, the redemption of the Malay race.

IN BELGIAN BRUSSELS (1890)

• July 29, 1890 - another letter to Ponce written at
January 28, 1890 Brussels by Rizal, he announced that he was leaving
Brussels at the beginning of the following month and would arrive
Rizal left Paris for Brussels, capital of Belgium-Two in Madrid about the 3rd or 4th (August).
reasons impelled Rizal to leave Paris, namely:
• “To my Muse’” (A Mi…) - 1890, Rizal wrote this pathetic
(1) the cost of living in Paris was very high because of the poem, it was against a background of mental anguish in
Universal Exposition; and Brussels, during those sad days when he was worried by family
(2) the gay social life of the city hampered his literary disasters.
works, especially the writing of his second novel,
El Filibusterismo. MISFORTUNES IN MADRID (1890-91)
LIFE IN BRUSSELS Early in August, 1890, Rizal arrived in Madrid-Upon

arrival in Madrid, Rizal immediately sought help of the Filipino
• Rizal was accompanied by Jose Albert when colony, The Asociacion Hispano-Filipina, and the liberal Spanish
he moved to Brussels. They lived in a modest newspaper in securing justice for the oppressed Calamba
boardinghouse on 38 Rue Philippe Champagne, which was run tenants.
by two Jacoby sisters (Suzanne and Marie). Later Albert, left the
city and was replaced by Jose Alejandro, an engineering student. • El Resumen - a Madrid newspaper which sympathized with the
Filipino cause, said: “To cover the ear, open the purse, and
• Rizal was the first to advocate the Filipinization of its fold the arms—this is the Spanish colonial policy.
orthography.
• La Epoca - an anti-Filipino newspaper in Madrid.
• Sobre la Nueva Ortografia de la Lengua Tagala (The New
Orthography of the Tagalog Language) 1. Jose Ma. Panganiban, his talented co-worker in the
Propaganda Movement, died in Barcelona on August19, 1890,
- was published in La Solidaridad on April 15, 1890-in after a lingering illness.
this article, he laid down the rules of the new Tagalog
orthography and with modesty and sincerity, he gave credit for 2. A b o r t e d D u e l w i t h A n t o n i o L u n a
the adoption of this new orthography to Dr. Trinidad
H. Pardo de Tavera, author of the celebrated work El Luna was bitter because of his frustrat
Sanscrito en la Lengua Tagala (Sanskrit in the Tagalog e d r o m a n c e w i t h N e l l i e Boustead. Deep in his heart, he
Language) which was published in Paris, 1884** “I put this on was blaming Rizal for his failure to win her, although Rizal had
record,” wrote Rizal, “so that when the history of this previously explained to him that he had nothing to do
orthography is traced, which is already being adopted by about it. Luna uttered certain unsavory remarks about
the enlightened Tagalists, that what is Caesar’s be Nellie, Rizal heard him endangered by the slanderous
given to Caesar. This innovation is due solely to remarks, he challenged Luna, his friend, to a duel. Fortunately,
Dr. Pardo de Tavera’s studies on Tagalismo. I was one of Luna realized that he had made a fool of himself during his
its zealous propagandists.”** drunken state, he apologized for his bad remarks about the girl
and Rizal accepted his apology and they became good friends
• Letters from home which Rizal received in Brussels worried him again.
were:
3. Rizal challenges Retana to Duel - Wenceslao E. Retana, his
(1) the Calamba agrarian trouble was getting worse; and bitter enemy of the pen, a talented Spanish scholar, was then a
(2) the Dominican Order filed a suit in court to dispossess the press agent of the friars in Spain. He used to attack the Filipinos
Rizal family of their lands in Calamba. in various newspapers in Madrid and other cities in Spain.
Retana wrote an article in La Epoca, asserting that the family and
• In his moment of despair, Rizal had bad dreams friends of Rizal had not paid their rents so they were ejected from
during the nights in Brussels when he was restless their lands in Calamba by the Dominicans. Such as insult stirred
because he was always thinking of his unhappy family in Rizal to action, immediately he sent his seconds to Retana with
Calamba. his challenge to a duel.
• Rizal feared that he would not live long. He was not afraid to 4. Infidelity of Leonor Rivera — Rizal received a letter from
die, but he wanted to finish his second novel before he went to Leonor, announcing her coming marriage to an Englishman (the
his grave. choice of her mother) and asking his forgiveness.
• In the face of the sufferings which afflicted his 5. Rizal-Del Pilar Rivalry —toward the closing days of 1890
family, Rizal planned to go home. He could not stay in where arose an unfortunate rivalry between Rizal and M.H. del
Brussels writing a book while his parents, relatives, and friends in Pilar for supremacy. Because of this, the Filipinos were divided
the distant Philippines were persecuted. into two hostile camps—the Rizalistas and the Pilaristas. The

situation was becoming explosive and critical. Despite of winning manuscript in Biarritz on March 29, 1891. It took him, therefore,
the votes, Rizal graciously declined the coveted position. three (3) years to write his second novel.
• July 5, 1891 - Rizal left Brussels for Ghent, a famous university
• Rizal wrote a brief note thanking his compatriots for electing city in Belgium.
him as Responsible. It was the last time he saw Madrid.
• Rizal reasons for moving to Ghent were:
BIARRITZ VACATION
(1) the cost of printing in Ghent was cheaper than in Brussels;
To seek solace for his disappointments in and
Madrid, Rizal took a vacation in the resort city of (2) to escape from the enticing attraction of Petite Suzanne.
Biarritz on the fabulous French Riviera. He was a guest of
the rich Boustead family at its winter residence — Villa Eliada. • Rizal met two
compatriots while in Ghent, Jose Alejandro
• February, 1891 - Rizal arrived in Biarritz. (from Pampanga) and Edilberto Evangelista (from
Manila), both studying engineering in the world-famed University
• Frustrated in romance, Rizal found consolation in writing. of Ghent.
Evidently, while wooing Nellie and enjoying so “many
magnificent moonlight nights” with her, he kept working on his • F. Meyer-Van Loo Press (No. 66 Viaanderen Street) - a
second novel which he began to write in Calamba 1887. printing shop that give Rizal the lowest quotation for the
publication of his novel, who was willing to print his book on
• March 29, 1891 - the eve of his installment basis.
departure from Biarritz to Paris, he finished
t h e m a n u s c r i p t o f E l Filibusterismo. • August 6, 1891 - the printing of his book had to be
suspended because Rizal could no longer give the
• March 30, 1891 - Rizal bade farewell to the hospitable and necessary funds to the printer.
friendly Bousteads and proceeded to Paris by train.
• Valentin Ventura - the savior of the Fili when Ventura learned
• April 4, 1891 - Rizal wrote to his friend, Jose Ma. Basa, in of Rizal’s predicament and immediately sent him the necessary
Hong Kong from Paris, expressing his desire to go to that British funds.
colony and practice ophthalmology in order to earn his living.
• September 18, 1891 - El Filibusterismo came off the press.
• Middle of April, 1891 - Rizal was back in Brussels. Rizal immediately sent on this date two printed copies to Hong
Kong—one for Basa and other for Sixto Lopez.
•S i n c e a b d i c a t i n g h i s l e a d e r s h i p i n M a d r i d i n J
anuary, 1891, owing to the intrigues • Rizal gratefully donated the original manuscript and an
o f h i s j e a l o u s compatriots, Rizal retired from the autographedprinted copy to Valentin Ventura.
Propaganda Movement or reform crusade.
• La Publicidad
•May 1, 1891 -Rizal notified the Propaganda
authorities in Manila to cancel his monthly allowance -
and devote the money to some better cause. a Barcelona newspaper, wherein it published a
tribute eulogizing the novel’s original style which “is
• Rizal’s notification was contained in a letter comparable only to the sublime Alexander Dumas”
addressed to Mr. A.L. Lorena (pseudonym of Deodato and may well be offered as “a model and a precious jewel
Arellano). in the now decadent literature of Spain”.
• May 30, 1891 -revision of the finished manuscript of • El Nuevo Regimen - the liberal Madrid newspaper
El Filibusterismo was mostly completed. that serialized the novel in its issues of October, 1891.
• June 13, 1891 -Rizal informed Basa that he was negotiating • Rizal dedicated El Filibusterismo to Gom-Bur-
with a printing firm. Za (Don Mariano G o m e z , 73 years old; Don
J o s e B u r g o s , 3 5 y e a r s o l d ; J a c i n t o Zamora, 37
EL FILIBUSTERISMO PUBLISHED IN GHENT (1891) years old).
Rizal was busy revising and polishing the manuscript of •T h e o r i g i n a l m a n u s c r i p t o f E l F i l i b u s t e

El Filibusterismo so that it could be ready for the press-Rizal had rismo in Rizal’sown handwriting in
begun writing it in October, 1887, while practicing medicine in now preserved in the Filipiana Division of
Calamba, the following year (1888), in London; he made some the Bureau of Public Libraries, Manila. It consists of 270
changes in the plot and corrected some chapters already written. pages of long sheets of paper.
He wrote more chapters in Paris and Madrid, and finished the

• Two features in the manuscript do not appear in Dapitan - another novel which Rizal started to write but it is
the printed book, namely: the FOREWORD and the unfinished, written in ironic Spanish. He wrote it during his
WARNING. These were not put into print to save printing cost. exile in Dapitan to depict the town life and customs.
The manuscript consists of 8 pages, 23 cm x 16 cm.
• The title page of El Filibusterismo contains an inscription written
by Ferdinand Blumentritt. • A novel in Spanish about the life in Pili, a town in Laguna, is
also unfinished. The manuscript consists of 147 pages, 8” x 6.5”,
• El Filibusterismo is a sequel to the Noli. It has little humor, less without title.
idealism and less romance than the NoliMe Tangere. It is more
revolutionary, more tragic than the first novel. • Another unfinished novel of Rizal, also without title is about
Cristobal, a youthful Filipino student who has returned from
• The characters in El Filibusterismo were drawn by Europe. The manuscript consist of 34 pages, 8 ½” x 6 ¼”.
Rizal from real life. Padre Florentino was Father Leoncio
Lopez, Rizal’s friend and priest of Calamba; Isagani , the poet • The beginnings of another novel are contained in two
was Vicente Ilustre, Batangueño friend of Rizal in Madrid and notebooks—the first notebook contains 31 written pages, 35.5
Paulita Gomez , the girl who loved Isagani but married Juanito cm x 22 cm and second 12 written pages, 22cm x
Pelaez, was Leonor Rivera. 17cm. this unfinished novel is written in Spanish and
style is ironic.
COMPARISON BETWEEN NOLI and FILI
OPHTHALMIC SURGEON IN HONG KONG (1891-1892)
Noli is a romantic novel, a “work of the heart”—a book
of feeling”, it has freshness, color, humor, lightness, and wit, and Rizal left Europe for Hong Kong, where he
it contains 64 chapters. lived from November, 1891 to June, 1892. His reasons
for leaving Europe were:
While, Fili is a political novel, a “work of the head”—a
book of the thought, it contains bitterness, hatred, pain, violence, (1) life was unbearable in Europe because of his political
and sorrow, and it contains 38 chapters. differences with M.H. del Pilar and other Filipinos in Spain; and
(2) to be near his idolized Philippines and family.
• The original intention of Rizal was to make the Fili longer than
the Noli. • October 3, 1891 - two weeks after the publication of Fili, Rizal
left Ghent for Paris, where he stayed a few d a y s t o s a y
• The friends of Rizal and our Rizalistas today differ in opinion goodbye to the Lunas, the Pardo de Taveras,
as to which is the superior novel—the Noli or the Fili. Rizal t h e V e n t u r a s a n d o t h e r f r i e n d s ; R i z a l proceeded
himself considered the Noli as superior to the Fili as a novel, by train to Marseilles.
thereby agreeing with M.H. del Pilar who had the same opinion.
• October 18, 1891- Rizal boarded the steamer Melbourne
• September 22, 1891 - four (4) days after the Fili came off the bound for Hong Kong.
press, Rizal wrote to Blumentritt: “I am thinking of writing a
third novel, a novel in the modern sense of the word, but this • Father Fuchs - a Tyrolese, Rizal enjoyed playing chess. Rizal
time politics will not find much space in it, but ethics will describe him to Blumentritt as “He is a fine fellow, A Father
play the principal role.” Damaso without pride and malice”.
• October 18, 1891 - Rizal boarded the steamer Melbourne in • November 20, 1891 - Rizal arrived in Hong Kong.
Marseilles bound for Hong Kong. During the voyage, Rizal began
writing the third novel in Tagalog, which he intended for Tagalog • Rizal established his residence at No. 5 D’ Aguilar
readers. Street No. 2 Rednaxola Terrace, where he also opened
his medical clinic.
• The unfinished novel has no title. It consists of 44
pages (33 cm x 21 cm) in Rizal’s handwriting, still in • December 1, 1891 - Rizal wrote his parents asking their
manuscript form; it is preserved in the National Library, Manila. permission to return home. O n t h e s a m e d a t e , h i s
The story of this unfinished novel begins with the solemn burial of brother -in-law, Manuel T. Hidalgo, sent him
Prince Tagulima. The hero of the novel was Kamandagan, a a l e t t e r r e l a t i n g t h e s a d n e w s o f t h e “deportation
descendant of Lakan-Dula, last king of Tondo. It is said that Rizal of twenty-five persons from Calamba, including father,
was fortunate not to have finished this novel, because it would Neneng, Sisa, Lucia, Paciano and the rest of us.”
have caused greater scandal and more Spanish vengeance on
him. • The Christmas of 1891 in Hong Kong was one of the happiest
• Makamisa - other unfinished novel of Rizal in Tagalog written in Yuletide celebrations in Rizal’s life: For he had a happy family
a light sarcastic style and is incomplete for only two chapters are reunion.
finished. The manuscript consists of 20 pages, 34.2 cm x 22 cm.
• January 31, 1892 - Rizal wrote to Blumentritt, recounting
pleasant life in Hong Kong.

• “Sa Mga Kababayan” (To my Countrymen) -

• To earn a living for himself and for his family, Rizal practiced another proclamation written in December, 18
medicine. 9 1 explaining the Calamba agrarian situation.
• Dr. Lorenzo P. Marques - a Portuguese physician, who • The Hong Kong Telegraph - a British daily
became Rizal’s friend and admirer, who helped him to build up a newspaper whose editor is Mr. Frazier Smith, a friend
wide clientele. In recognition of Rizal’s skill as an ophthalmic of Rizal-Rizal contributed articles to this newspaper.
surgeon, he turned over to him many of his eye cases.
• “Una Visita a la Victoria Gaol” (A Visit to Victoria Gaol) -
• Rizal successfully operated on his mother’s left eye so that she Rizal wrote on March 2, 1892, an account of his visit to the
was able to read and write again. colonial prison of Hong Kong. In this article, Rizal contrasted the
cruel Spanish prison system with the modern and more humane
BORNEO COLONIZATION PROJECT British prison system.
• Rizal planned to move the landless Filipino families to North • “Colonisation du British North Borneo, par de
Borneo (Sabah), rich British-owned island and carve out of its Familles de Iles Philippines” (Colonization
virgin wildness a “New Calamba”. of British North Borneo by Families from the
Philippine Islands)
• March 7, 1892 - Rizal went to Sandakan on board the ship
Menon to negotiate with the British authorities for the An article in French which Rizal elaborated on
establishment of a Filipino colony. the same idea in another article in Spanish, “Proyecto de
Colonizacion del British NorthBorneo por los Filipinos” (Project of
• Rizal looked over the land up the Bengkoka River in Maradu the Colonization of British North Borneo by the Filipinos).
Bay which was offered by the British North Borneo Company.
• “La Mano Roja” (The Red Hand) - Rizal wrote in June, 1892,
• April 20, 1892 - Rizal was back in Hong Kong. which was printed in sheet form in HongKong. It denounces the
frequent outbreaks of intentional fires in Manila.
• Hidalgo - Rizal’s brother-in-law, objected to the colonization
project. • Constitution of La Liga Filipina - the most
important writing made by Rizal during his Hong Kong
• Governor Valeriano Weyler - Cubans odiously called “The sojourn, which was printed in Hong Kong, 1892, to deceive the
Butcher”. Spanish authorities, the printed copies carried the false
information that the printing was done by the LONDON PRINTING
•Governor Eulogio Despujol - the Count of Caspe, a new PRESS.
governor general after Weyler.
• Domingo Franco - a friend of Rizal in Manila whom the copies
• December 23, 1891 - first letter of Rizal to Governor Despujol. of the printed Liga constitution were sent.
• March 21, 1892 - Rizal’s second letter and gave it to a DECISION TO RETURN TO MANILA
ship captain to be sure it would reach
Governor Despujol’s hand-in this second letter, he requested • May, 1892 - Rizal made up his mind to return to Manila.
the governor general to permit the landless Filipinos to establish
themselves in Borneo. • This decision was spurred by the following:
• Despujol could not approve the Filipino immigration (1) to confer with Governor Despujol regarding his Borneo
to Borneo, alleging that “the Philippines lackedlaborers” colonization project;
and “it was not very patriotic to go off and cultivate foreign (2) to establish the La Liga Filipina in Manila; and
soil.” (3) to prove that Eduardo de Lete was w r o n g i n a t t a c k i n g
him in Madrid that he (Rizal), being
WRITINGS IN HONG KONG comfortable and safe in Hong Kong,
h a d abandoned the country’s cause.
• “Ang Mga Karapatan Nang Tao - which is a Tagalog
translation of “The Rights of Man” proclaimed by the French • Lete’s attack, which was printed in La Solidaridad on
Revolution in 1789. April 15, 1892, portrayed Rizal as cowardly, egoistic,
opportunistic—a patriot in words only.
• “A la Nacion Española” (To the Spanish Nation) - Rizal
wrote in 1891, which is an appeal to Spain to right the wrongs • June 20, 1892 - Rizal wrote two letters which
done to the Calamba tenants. he sealed, inscribed on each envelope “to be opened
after my death” and gave them to his friend Dr. Marques for
safekeeping.

•T h e f i r s t l e t t e r , a d d r e s s e d T O M Y P A R E • Unus Instar Omnium (One Like All) - the motto of the Liga
NTS, BRETHREN, AND FRIENDS. The se Filipina.
c o n d l e t t e r , addressed TO THE FILIPINOS.
• The governing body of the league was the Supreme
• June 21, 1892 - Rizal penned another letter in Hong Kong Council which had jurisdiction over the whole country.
for Governor Despujol, incidentally his third letter to that It was composed of a president,
discourteous Spanish chief executive. a secretary, a treasurer, and a fiscal. There
was a Provincial Council in every province and a Popular
•I m m e d i a t e l y a f t e r R i z a l ’ s d e p a r t u r e f r o m H o Council in every town.
ng Kong, the Spanish consul general who i
s s u e d t h e government guarantee of safety, sent a cablegram • The duties of the Liga members are as follows:
to Governor Despujol that the victim “is in the trap”. On the
same day (June 21, 1892), a secret case was filed in Manila (1) obey the orders of the Supreme Council;
against Rizal and his followers “for anti-religious and anti- (2) to help in recruiting new members;
patriotic agitation”. (3) to keep in strictest secrecy the decisions of the Liga
authorities;
• Luis de la Torre - secretary of Despujol, ordered to find out if (4) to have symbolic name which he cannot change until
Rizal was naturalized as a German citizen. he becomes president of his council;
(5) to report to the fiscal anything that he may hear which
SECOND HOMECOMING AND THE LIGA FILIPINA affect the Liga;
(6) to behave well as befits a good Filipino;
Rizal’s bold return to Manila in June, 1892 was his (7) to help fellow members in all ways.
second homecoming-Rizal firmly believed that the fight for
Filipino liberties had assumed a new phase: it must be fought in RIZAL ARRESTED AND JAILED IN FORT SANTIAGO
the Philippines not in Spain. “The battlefield is in the
Philippines,” he told countrymen in Europe, “There is where • J u l y 6 , 1 8 9 2 - Wednesday, Rizal went to
we should meet…There we will help one another, there Malacañang Palace to resume his series of interviews
together we will suffer or triumph perhaps.” with governor general.
ARRIVAL IN MANILA WITH SISTER • Pobres Frailles (Poor Friars) - incriminatory leaflets which
allegedly found in Lucia’s pillow cases; it is under the authorship
• June 26, 1892 - Sunday at 12:00 noon, Rizal and his widowed of Fr. Jacinto and printed by the Imprenta de los Amigos del Pais,
sister Lucia (wife of late Mariano Herbosa) arrived in Manila. Manila.
• In the afternoon, at 4:00 o’clock, he went to • Rizal was placed under arrest and escorted to Fort
Malacañang Palace to seek audience with the Spanish Santiago by Ramon Despujol, nephew and aide
governor general, General Eulogio Despujol, Conde de Caspe. of Governor General Despujol.
• June 27, 1892 - at 6:00pm, Rizal boarded a train in • J u l y 7 , 1 8 9 2 - the Gaceta de Manila published
Tutuban Station and visited his friends in Malolos the story of Rizal’s arrest which produced indignant
(Bulacan), San Fernando (Pampanga), Tarlac (Tarlac), and commotion among the Filipino people, particularly the members
Bacolor (Pampanga). of the newly organized Liga Filipina
• Rizal returned by train to Manila on the next day, June 28, at 5 • The same issue of the Gaceta (july 7, 1892)
o’clock in the afternoon. contained Governor General Despujol’s decree
deporting Rizal to “one of the islands in the South”.
FOUNDING OF THE LIGA FILIPINA
• July 14, 1892, shortly after midnight (that is 12:30
• July 3, 1892 - on the evening of Sunday, following his morning am of July 15, 1892) – Rizal was brought under heavy
interview with Governor General Despujol, Rizal attended a guard to the steamer Cebu which was sailing
meeting with patriots at the home of the Chinese-Filipino mestizo, for Dapitan. This steamer under Captain Delgras
Doroteo Ongjunco, on Ylaya Street, Tondo, Manila. departed at 1:00 AM, July 15, sailing south,
passing Mindoro and Panay and reaching
• Rizal explained the objectives of the Liga Filipina, a civic league D a p i t a n o n Sunday, the 17th of July at 7:00 in the evening.
of Filipinos, which he desired to establish and its role in the
socio-economic life of the people. • Captain Ricardo Carnicero - Spanish commandant of
Dapitan whom Captain Delgras handed Rizal.
• The officers of the new league were elected, as follows:
Ambrosio Salvador (President); Deodato Arellano (Secretary); • July 17, 1892- July 31, 2896 - Rizal began his exile in lonely
Bonifacio Arevalo (Treasurer); and Agustin de la Rosa (Fiscal). Dapitan, a period of four (4) years.

EXILE IN DAPITAN (1892-1896) • Pablo Mercado - friar’s spy and posing as a relative,
secretly visited Rizal at his house on the night
Rizal lived in exile far-away Dapitan, of November 3, 1891; he introduced himself as a friend
a remote town in Mindanao which was under the and relative, showing a photo of Rizal and a pair of
missionary jurisdiction of the Jesuits, from 1892 to 1896. buttons with the initials “P.M.” (Pablo Mercado) as
Rizal practiced medicine, pursued scientific studies, continued evidence of his kinship with the Rizal family.
his artistic and literary works, widened his knowledge
of languages, established a school for boys, promoted • Captain Juan Sitges - who succeeded Captain
developments projects, invented a wooden machine Carnicero on May 4, 1893 as commandant of Dapitan,
for making bricks, and engaged in farming and commerce. Rizal denounced to him the impostor.
BEGINNING OF EXILE IN DAPITAN • Florencio Namanan - the real name of “Pablo Mercado”, a
native of Cagayan de Misamis, single and about 30 years old. He
• The steamer Cebu which brought Rizal to Dapitan carried a was hired by the Recollect friars to a secret mission in Dapitan; to
letter from Father Pablo Pastells, Superior of the Jesuit Society in introduce himself to Rizal as a friend and relative, to spy on
the Philippine, to Father Antonio Obach, Jesuit parish priest Rizal’s activities, and to filch certain letters and writings of Rizal
of Dapitan. which might incriminate him in the revolutionary movement.
• Rizal lived in the house of the commandant, Captain Carnicero. • As physician in Dapitan
• A Don Ricardo Carnicero - Rizal wrote a poem on Rizal practiced Medicine in Dapitan. He had many
August 26, 1892, on the occasion of the captain’s patients, but most of them were poor so that he even gave them
birthday. free medicine.-As a physician, Rizal
became interested in local medicine and in the use
• September 21, 18792 - the mail boat Butuan was approaching of medicinal plants. He studied the medicinal plants of the
the town, with colored pennants flying in the sea breezes. Philippines and their curative values.
• Butuan - the mail boat, brought the happy tidings that • August 1893 - Rizal’s mother and sister, Maria, arrived in
the Lottery Ticket No. 9736 jointly owned by Captain Dapitan and lived with him for one year and a half. Rizal operated
Carcinero, Dr. Jose Rizal, and Francisco Equilior on his mother’s right eye.
(Spanish resident of Dipolog, a neighboring town
of Dapitan) won the second prize of P20,000 in the government- • Rizal held the title of expert surveyor (perito agrimensor),
owned Manila Lottery. which obtained from the Ateneo. In Dapitan, Rizal applied his
knowledge of engineering by constructing a system of
• Rizal’s winning in the Manila Lottery reveals an aspect of his waterworks in order to furnish clean water to the townspeople.
lighter side. He never drank hard liquor and never smoked but he
was a lottery addict—this was his only vice. • Mr. H.F. Cameron - an American engineer who praised Rizal’s
• During his exile in Dapitan, Rizal had a long and scholarly engineering.
debate with Father Pastells on religion.
COMMUNITY PROJECTS FOR DAPITAN
• In all his letters to Father Pastells, Rizal revealed his anti-
Catholic ideas which he had acquired in Europe and • When Rizal arrived in Dapitan, he decided to
embitterment at his persecution by the bad friars. improve it, to the best of his God-given talents and to
• According to Rizal, individual judgment is a gift from awaken the civic consciousness of its people:
God and everybody should use it like a lantern to show
the way and that self-esteem, if moderated by judgment, saves (1) Constructing the town’s first water system;
man from unworthy acts. (2) Draining the marshes in order to get rid of malaria that
infested Dapitan;
• Imitacion de Cristo (Imitation of Christ) - a famous (3) Equip the town with its lighting system—this
Catholic book by Father Thomas a Kempis which lighting system consisted of coconut oil lamps placed
Father Pastells gave to Rizal. in the dark streets of Dapitan; and
(4) Beautification of Dapitan—remodeled the town plaza in order
• Mr. Juan Lardet - a businessman, a French acquaintance in to enhance its beauty.
Dapitan, Rizal challenge in a duel, this man purchased many logs • Rizal as Teacher
from the lands of Rizal.
Rizal exile to Dapitan gives him the opportunity to put
• Antonio Miranda - a Dapitan merchant and friend of Rizal. into practice his educational ideas. In 1893 he established a
school which existed until the end of his exile in July, 1896. Rizal
• Father Jose Vilaclara - cura of Dipolog. taught these boys reading, writing, languages (Spanish and
English), geography, history, mathematics (arithmetic and
geometry), industrial work, nature study, morals and

gymnastics. He trained them how to collect specimens profitable business venture of Rizal in Dapitan was in the hemp
of plants and animals, to love work and to “behave like men”. industry. May 14, 1893-Rizal formed a business partnership with
Ramon Carreon in lime manufacturing.
• Hymn to Talisay (Himno A Talisay) - Rizal wrote this poem in
honor of Talisay for his pupils to sing. • J a n u a r y 1 , 1 8 9 5 – Rizal organized Association of
Dapitan Framers to break the Chinese monopoly on business in
• Contributions to Science Dapitan.
During his fouryear exile in Dapitan, • Rizal’s Inventive Ability - Rizal invented a cigarette
R i z a l b u i l t u p a r i c h c o l l e c t i o n o f concology lighter which he sent as a gift to Blumentritt. He called
which consisted of 346 shells representing 203 species. Rizal it “sulpukan”. This unique cigarette lighter was made of wood.
also conducted anthropological, ethnographical, “Its mechanism”, said Rizal “is based on the principle of
archaeological, geological, and geographical studies, compressed air.” During his exile in Dapitan, he invited a
as revealed by his voluminous correspondence with his wooden machine for making bricks.
scientists friends in Europe.
• My Retreat (Mi Retiro) - Rizal wrote this beautiful poem about
• Linguistic Studies his serene life as an exile in Dapitan and sent it to her
mother on October 22, 1895, which acclaimed by
In Dapitan, he learned the Bisayan, Subanum, literary critics as one of the best ever penned by Rizal.
and Malay languages. He wrote
Tagalog grammar, made a comparative study RIZAL AND THE KATIPUNAN
of the Bisayan and Malayan
languages and studied Bisayan (Cebuan), and • Andres Bonifacio
Subanum languages. By this time, Rizal could rank with the
world’s great linguists. He knew 22 languages - Tagalog, Ilokano, The “Great Plebeian”, sowing the
Bisayan, Subanun, Spanish, Latin, Greek, English, seeds of an armed uprising—
French, German, Arabic, Malay, Hebrew, Sanskrit, t h e s e c r e t revolutionary society, called Katipunan, which
Dutch, Catalan, Italian, Chinese, Japanese, Portuguese, he founded on July 7, 1892.
Swedish, and Russian.
• May 2, 1896 - a secret meeting of the Katipunan at a little
• Artistic works in Dapitan river called Bitukang Manok near the town of Pasig, Dr. Pio
Valenzuela was named emissary to Dapitan, in order
Rizal continued his artistic pursuits in to inform Rizal of the plan of the Katipunan to launch a
Dapitan. Rizal made sketches of persons and things that revolution for freedom’s sake.
attracted him in Dapitan.
• June 15, 1896 - Valenzuela left Manila on board the steamer
• The Mother’s Revenge - a statuette made by Rizal Venus.
representing the mother-dog killing the crocodile, by way
of avenging her lost puppy-Other sculptural works of Rizal in • To camouflage Valenzuela’s real mission, he brought with him a
Dapitan were a bust of Father Guerrico (one of his Ateneo blind man Raymundo Mata and a guide, ostensibly going to
professors), a statue of a girl called “the Dapitan Girl”, a Dapitan to solicit Rizal’s expert medical advice.
woodcarving of Josephine Bracken (his wife) and a bust of St.
Paul which he gave to Father Pastells. • June 21, 1896 - evening, Dr. Pio Valenzuela arrived in Dapitan.
• Rizal as Farmer • Rizal objected to Bonifacio’s audacious project to plunge the

country in bloody revolution because he was of sincere belief that
In Dapitan, Rizal devoted much of his time to it was premature, for two reasons:
agriculture. Rizal introduced modern methods of
agriculture which he had observed in Europe and (1) the people are not ready for a revolution; and
America. He encouraged the Dapitan farmers to discard (2) arms and funds must first be collected before raising the cry
their primitive system of tillage and adopt the modern agricultural of revolution.
methods.
• Rizal had offered his services as military doctor in Cuba, which
• Rizal as Businessman was then in the throes of a revolution and a ranging yellow
fever epidemic. There was a shortage of physicians to
Rizal engaged in business in partnership with minister to the needs of the Spanish troops and the
Ramon Carreon, a Dapitan merchant, he made profitable Cubans people.
business ventures in fishing, copra, and hemp industries
• December 17, 1895 - Rizal wrote to Governor General Ramon
• January 19, 1893 - Rizal wrote a letter to Hidalgo expressing Blanco, Despujol’s successor, offering his services as military
his plan to improve the fishing industry of Dapitan. The most doctor in Cuba.

• July 30, 1896 - Rizal received the letter from Governor General • In the morning of Monday, August 3, 1896, Rizal
Blanco dated July 1, 1896 notifying him of acceptance of his left Cebu going to Iloilo. Rizal landed at Iloilo, went
offer. shopping in the city and visited Molo. From Iloilo,
Rizal’s ship sailed to Capiz. After a brief stopover, it
• “The Song of the Traveler” (El Canto del Viajero) -Rizal proceeded towards Manila via Romblon.
wrote this heart-warming poem because of his joy in receiving
the gladsome news from Malacañang. • August 6, 1896 - morning of Thursday, the España arrived in
Manila Bay.
• July 31, 1896 - Rizal’s four-year exile in Dapitan came to an
end-Midnight of that date, Rizal embarked on board the steamer • Rizal was not able to catch the mail ship Isla de Luzon for Spain
España. because it had departed the previous day at 5:00 P. M.
• As farewell music, the town brass band strangely played the • Near midnight of the same day, August 6, Rizal was transferred
dolorous Funeral March of Chopin. Rizal must have felt it to the Spanish cruiser Castilla, by order of Governor General
deeply, for with his presentment of death, it seemed an Ramon Blanco. He was given good accommodation by the
obsequy or a regimen. gallant captain, Enrique Santalo.
• Rizal wrote in his diary, “I have been in that district four • August 6 to September 2, 1896, Rizal stayed on the
years, thirteen days and a few hours”. cruiser pending the availability of Spain-bound
steamer.
LAST TRIP ABROAD (1896)
OUTBREAK OF PHILIPPINE REVOLUTION
No longer an exile, Rizal had a pleasant trip from
Dapitan to Manila, with delightful stopovers in Dumaguete, Cebu, •August 19, 1896 - the Katipunan plot to overthrow Spanish rule
Iloilo, Capiz and Romblon. by means of revolution was discovered by Fray Mariano Gil,
Augustinian cura of Tondo.
• Isla de Luzon -a regular steamer that Rizal missed
which sailed to Spain the day before he arrived in • August 26, 1896 – the “Cry of Balintawak” which raised
Manila Bay. by Bonifacio and his valiant Katipuneros.
• Castilla - a Spanish cruiser wherein Rizal was kept as a “guest” • August 30, 1896 - sunrise, the revolutionists led by Bonifacio
on board. and Jacinto attacked San Juan, near the city of Manila-in the
afternoon, after the Battle of San Juan, Governor General Blanco
• August 26, 1896 – Andres Bonifacio and the Katipunan raised proclaimed a state of war in the first eight provinces for rising in
the cry of revolution in the hills of Balintawak, a few miles north of arms against Spain—Manila (as a province), Bulacan, Cavite,
Manila. Batangas, Laguna, Pampanga, Nueva Ecija, and Tarlac.
• September 3, 1896 - Rizal left for Spain on the steamer Isla de • Rizal learned of the eruption of the revolution and raging battles
Panay. around Manila through the newspapers he read on the
Castilla. He was worried for two reasons:
• July 31, 1896 - Rizal left Dapitan at midnight on board the
España sailed northward. (1) the violent revolution which he sincerely believed
to be premature and would only cause much suffering
• August 1, 1896 - at dawn of Saturday, it anchored at and terrible loss of human lives and property had started;
Dumaguete, capital of Negros Oriental. and
(2) it would arouse Spanish vengeance against all Filipino
• “Dumaguete” - wrote Rizal in his travel diary patriots.
“spreads out on the beach. There are big houses,
some with galvanized iron roofing. Outstanding are • August 30, 1896 - Rizal received from
the house of a lady, whose name I have forgotten, Governor General Blanco two letters of introduction
which is occupied by the government and another one just for the Minister of War and Minister of Colonies, which a
begun with many ipil post.” covering letter which absolved him from all blame for the raging
revolution.
• Herrero Regidor - Rizal friend and former classmate, who was
the judge of the province, Dumaguete. • September 2, 1896 - the day before Rizal departure for Spain,
Rizal, on board the Castilla, wrote to his mother -At 6:00pm, Rizal
• The España left Dumaguete about 1:00pm and reached Cebu was transferred to the steamer Isla de Panay which was sailing
the following morning “In Cebu, R i z a l w r o t e i n h i s for Barcelona, Spain.
d i a r y , “I did two operations of strabotomy, one
operation on the ears and another of tumor.” • The next morning, September 3, this steamer left Manila Bay.

• Rizal was taken aboard the Colon, which was “full of soldiers
• The Isla de Panay arrived at Singapore in the evening of and officers and their families.”
September 7.
• October 6, 1896 - at 8:00 P. M., the ship left Barcelona with
• Don Pedro Roxas – rich Manila creole industrialist and Rizal’s Rizal on board.
friend that advised him to stay on Singapore and take advantage
of the protection of the British law. LAST HOMECOMING AND TRIAL
•Don Manuel Camus - headed several Filipino residents in Rizal’s homecoming in 1896, the last in his life, was his
Singapore, boarded the steamer, urging Rizalto stay in saddest return to his beloved native land. He knew he was facing
Singapore to save his life. the supreme test, which might mean the sacrifice of his life, but
he was unafraid. The trial that was held shortly after Rizal’s
• The Isla de Panay, with Rizal on board, left Singapore at homecoming was one of history’s mockeries of justice
1:00pm, September 8.
A MARTYR’S LAST HOMECOMING
• September 25, 1896 - Rizal saw the steamer Isla de
Luzon, leaving the Suez Canal, crammed with Spanish • October 6, 1896 - Tuesday, Rizal leaved Barcelona,
troops. Rizal conscientiously recorded the events on his diary.
• September 27, 1896 - Rizal heard from the passengers that a • October 8, 1896 - a friendly officer told Rizal that
telegram arrived from Manila reporting the execution of Francisco the Madrid newspaper were full of stories about the
Roxas, Genato and Osorio. bloody revolution in the Philippines and were blaming him for it.
• September 28, 1986 - a day after the steamer had left • October 11, 1896 - before reaching Port Said, Rizal’s diary was
Port Said (Mediterranean terminus of the Suez taken away and was critically scrutinized by the authorities.
Canal), a passenger told Rizal the bad news that he
would be arrested by order of Governor General Blanco • November 2, 1896 -the diary was returned to Rizal.
and would be sent to prison in Ceuta (Spanish Morocco),
opposite Gibraltar. • Attorney Hugh- Fort-an English lawyer in Singapore-his friends
(Dr. Antonio Ma. Regidor and Sixto Lopez) dispatched frantic
• September 29, 1896 - Rizal wrote in his travel diary: telegrams to Fort to rescue Rizal from the Spanish steamer when
There are people on board who do nothing but slander it reached Singapore by means of writ of habeas corpus.
me and invent fanciful stories about me. I’m going to become a
legendary personage. •Chief Justice Loinel Cox - denied the writ on the ground that
the Colon was carrying Spanish troops to the Philippines.
• September 30, 1896 - at 4:00 P. M., Rizal was officially notified
by Captain Alemany that he should stay in his cabin until further • November 3, 1896 - the Colon reached Manila, where it was
orders from Manila-about 6:25 P. M., the steamer anchored at greeted with wild rejoicings by the Spaniards and friars because
Malta. Being confined to his cabin, Rizal was not able to visit the it brought more reinforcements and military supplies.
famous island-fortress of the Christian crusaders.
• November 20, 1896 - the preliminary investigation on Rizal
• October 3, 1896 - at 10:00 A. M., the Isla de Panay arrived in began.
Barcelona, with Rizal, a prisoner on board.
• Colonel Francisco Olive -the judge advocate.
• The trip from Manila to Barcelona lasted exactly thirty (30) days.
Rizal was kept under heavy guard in his cabin for three (3) days. • Two (2) kinds of evidence were presented against Rizal,
namely documentary and testimonial. The documentary evidence
• General Eulogio Despujol - military commander of Barcelona consisted of fifteen (15) exhibits, as follows:
who ordered his banishment to Dapitan in July, 1892.
(1) A letter of Antonio Luna to Mariano Ponce, dated Madrid,
• October 6, 1896 - at 3:00 A. M., Rizal was awakened by the October 16, 1888, showing Rizal’s connection with the Filipino
guards and escorted to the grim and infamous prison-fortress reform campaign in Spain;
named Monjuich.
(2) A letter of Rizal to his family, dated Madrid,
• About 2:00 in the afternoon, Rizal was taken out of prison August 20, 1890, stating that the deportations are
by the guards and brought to the headquarters of General good for they will encourage the people to hate tyranny;
Despujol.
(3) A letter from Marcelo H. del Pilar to Deodato
• Colon - a transport ship back to Manila. Arellano, dated Madrid, January 7, 1889, implicating
Rizal in the Propaganda campaign in Spain;

(4) A poem entitled Kundiman, allegedly written by Rizal in • After studying the papers, Judge advocate General,
Manila on September 12, 1891; Don Nicolas de la Peña, submitted the following
recommendations:
(5) A letter of Carlos Oliver to an unidentified person dated
Barcelona, September 18, 1891, describing Rizal as the man to (1) the accused be immediately brought to trial;
free the Philippines from Spanish oppression; (2) he should be kept in prison;
(3) an order of attachment be issued against his property to the
(6) A Masonic document, dated Manila, February 9, 1892, amount of one million pesos as indemnity; and
honoring Rizal for his patriotic services; (4) he should be defended in court by an army officer, not by a
civilian lawyer.
(7) A letter signed Dimasalang (Rizal’s pseudonym) to Tenluz
(Juan Zulueta’s pseudonym), dated Hong Kong, May 24, 1892, • The only right given to Rizal by the Spanish authorities was to
stating that he was preparing a safe refuge for Filipinos who may choose his defense counsel.
be persecuted by the Spanish authorities;
• December 8, 1896 - Feast Day of the Immaculate Conception,
(8) A letter of Dimasalang to an unidentified a list of 100 first and second lieutenants in the Spanish Army was
committee, dated Hong Kong, June 1, 1892, soliciting presented to Rizal.
the aid of the committee in the “patriotic work”;
• Don Luis Taviel de Andrade- 1st Lieutenant of the Artillery,
(9) An anonymous and undated letter to the Editor of the Hong chosen by Rizal to defend him and brother of Lt. Jose Taviel de
Kong Telegraph, censuring the banishment of Rizal to Dapitan; Andrade, Rizal’s “bodyguard” in Calamba in 1887.
(10) A letter of Idefonso Laurel to Rizal, dated Manila, September • December 11, 1896 - the information of charges was
3, 1892, saying that the Filipino people look up to him(Rizal) as formally read to Rizal in his prison cell, with his
their savior; counsel present.
(11) A letter of Ildefonso Laurel to Rizal, dated Manila, • Rizal was accused of being “the principal organizer and the
September 17, 1893, informing an unidentified correspondent living soul of the Filipino insurrection, the founder of
of the arrest and banishment of Doroteo Cortes and Ambrosio societies, periodicals, and books dedicated to fomenting
Salvador; and propagating ideas of rebellion.”
(12) A letter of Marcelo H. del Pilar to Don Juan A. Tenluz (Juan • December 13, 1896 - Dominguez forwarded the papers of the
Zulueta), dated Madrid, June 1, 1893 recommending the Rizal case to Malacañang Palace.
establishment of a special organization, independent of Masonry,
to help the cause of the Filipino people; • December 15, 1896 - R i z a l w r o t e t h e Manifesto
to His People in his prison cell at Fort Santiago,
(13) Transcript of a speech of Pingkian (Emilio appealing to them to stop the necessary shedding of
Jacinto), in reunion of the Katipunan on July 23, 1893, blood and to achieve their liberties by means
in which the following cry was, uttered “Long Live the of education and industry.
Philippines! Long live Doctor Rizal! Unity!”;
• December 25, 1896 - a dark and cheerless
(14) Transcript of a speech of Tik-Tik (Jose Turiano Santiago) in Christmas for Rizal, his last on earth, was the saddest
the same Katipunan reunion, where in the katipuneros shouted: in Rizal’s life.
“Long live the eminent Doctor Rizal! Death to the oppressor
nation!” and • December 26, 1896 - at 8:00am, the court-martial of Rizal
started in the military building called Cuartel de España.
(15) A poem by Laong Laan (Rizal), entitled A Talisay in which
the author makes the Dapitan schoolboys sing that they know • Lt. Col. Togores Arjona - considered the trial over and ordered
how to fight their rights the hall cleared. After a short deliberation, the military court
• The testimonial evidence consisted of the oral testimonies of unanimously voted for the sentence of death.
Martin Constantino, Aguedo del Rosario, Jose Reyes, Moises
Salvador, Jose Dizon, Domingo Franco, Deodato • December 28, 1896 - Polavieja approved the decision of the
Arellano, Ambrosio Salvador, Pedro Serrano Laktaw, Dr. court-martial and ordered Rizal to be shot at7:00 in the morning
Pio Valenzuela, Antonio Salazar, Francisco Quison, and Timoteo of December 30 at Bagumbayan Field (Luneta).
Paez.
MARTYRDOM AT BAGUMBAYAN
• November 26, 1896 - after the preliminary investigation,
Colonel Olive transmitted the records of the case to Governor After the court-martial, Rizal returned to his cell in Fort
Dominguez as special Judge Advocate to institute the Santiago to prepare his rendezvous with destiny-During his last
corresponding action against Rizal. 24 hours on earth—from 6:00 A. M. December 29 to 6:00 A. M
December 30, 1896. Rizal was busy meeting visitors.

forgive him. Trinidad e n t e r e d t h e c e l l t o f e t c h h e r

• Santiago Mataix - Spanish newspaper correspondent. mother. As they were
leaving, Rizal gave to Trinidad
• Pearl of the Orient Sea - Rizal called the Philippines. t h e a l c o h o l c o o k i n g s t o v e whispering to her in
English; “There is something inside” This “something”
• Pearl of the Orient - Rizal’s last poem in an article entitled was Rizal’s farewell poem. After the departure of Doña
“Unfortunate Philippines” published in The Hong Kong Teodora and Trinidad, Fathers Vilaclara and Estanislao March
Telegraph on September 24, 1892. entered the cell, followed by Father Rosell.
LAST HOURS OF RIZAL • 6:00 P. M. - Rizal received a new visitor, Don Silvino
Lopez Tuñon, the Dean of the Manila Cathedral.
DECEMBER 29, 1896 Fathers Balaguer and March left, leaving Vilaclara with Rizal
and Don Silvino.
• 6:00 A. M. - Captain Rafael Dominguez, who was
designated by Governor General Camilo Polavieja to • 8:00 P. M. - Rizal had his last supper. He informed Captain
take charge of all arrangements for the execution of the Dominguez who was with him that he forgave his enemies,
condemned prisoner, read the death sentence to Rizal—to be including the military judges who condemned him to death.
shot at the back on December 30,1896 by a firing squad at 7:00
am in Bagumbayan (Luneta). • 9:30 P. M. - Rizal was visited by Don Gaspar Cestaño,
the fiscal of the Royal Audiencia of Manila. As a
• 7:00 A. M. - Rizal was moved to the prison chapel, gracious host, Rizal offered him the best chair in the cell.
where he spent his last moments. His first visitors After a pleasant conversation, the fiscal left with a good
were Father Miguel Saderra Mata (Rector of Ateneo impression of Rizal’s intelligence and noble character.
Municipal), and Father Luis Viza, Jesuit teacher.
• 10:00 P. M. - The draft of the retraction sent by the anti-Filipino
• 7:15 A. M. - Rizal, in a jovial mood, reminded Fr. Viza of the Archbishop Bernardino Nozaleda (1890-1903) was submitted by
statuette of the Sacred Heart of Jesus which he had carved with Father Balaguer to Rizal for signature, but the hero rejected it
his pen knife as an Ateneo student. Fr. Viza, got the because it was too long and he did not like it.
statuette from his pocket and gave it to Rizal. The
hero happily received it and placed it on his writing table. DECEMBER 30, 1896
• 8:00 A. M. - Fr. Antonio Rosell arrived to relieve • 3:00 A. M. - Rizal heard Mass, confessed his sins, and took
Father Viza. Rizal invited him to join him at breakfast, Holy Communion
which he did. After breakfast, Lt. Luis Taviel de Andrade
(Rizal’s defense counsel) came, and Rizal thanked him for his • 5:30 A. M. - Rizal took his last breakfast on earth. After this, he
gallant services. wrote two letters, the first addressed to his family and the second
to his older brother Paciano.
• 9:00 A. M. - Fr. Federico Faura arrived. Rizal reminded him that
he said that (Rizal) would someday lose his head for writing the Josephine Bracken, accompanied by a sister of Rizal
Noli. “Father”, Rizal remarked, “You are indeed a prophet.” (Josefa), arrived. Josephine, with tears in her eyes, bade him
farewell. Rizal embraced her for the last time and before she left,
• 10:00 A. M. - Father Jose Vilaclara (Rizal’s teacher at the Rizal gave her a last gift - a religious book, Imitation of Christ by
Ateneo) and Vicente Balaguer (Jesuit missionary in Dapitan who Father Thomas a Kempis.
had befriended Rizal during the latter’s exile) visited the hero.
After them came Spanish journalist, Santiago Mataix, who • 6:00 A. M. - As the soldiers were getting ready for the
interviewed Rizal for his newspaper El Heraldo de Madrid. death march to Bagumbayan, Rizal wrote his last
letter to his beloved parents.
• 12:00 Noon to 3:30 P. M. - Rizal was left alone in his cell. He
took lunch after which he was busy writing. It was probably • About 6:30 A. M. - a trumpet sounded at Fort Santiago,
during this time when he finished his farewell poem and hid it a signal to begin the death march to Bagumbayan, the
inside his alcohol cooking stove which was given to him as a gift designated place for the execution. Rizal was dressed elegantly
by Paz Pardo de Tavera (wife of Juan Luna) during his visit to in black suit, black derby hat, black shoes, white shirt and black
Paris in 1890. At the same time, he wrote his last letter to tie. His arms were tied behind from elbow to elbow. But the rope
Professor Blumentritt in German. was quite loose to give his arms freedom of movement.
• 3:30 P. M. - Father Balaguer returned to Fort Santiago and • Dr. Felipe Ruiz Castillo - a Spanish military physician, asked
discussed with Rizal about his retraction of the anti-Catholic Rizal permission to feel his pulse and was amazed to find it
ideas in his writings and membership in Masonry. normal showing that Rizal was not afraid to die.
• 4:00 P. M. - Rizal’s mother arrived. Rizal knelt down • 7:03am - Rizal died in the bloom of manhood - aged 35 years,
before her and kissed her hands, begging her to five months and 11 days.

• Immediately after Rizal’s execution the Spanish During Rizal sophomore year at the University of Santo
spectators shouted “Viva España!” “Muerte a Tomas, he boarded in the house of Doña Concha Leyva in
losTraidores’ (“Long Live Spain! “Death to the Intramuros wherein the next-door neighbors of Doña Concha
Traitors!”) and the Spanish Military Band, joining were Capitan Juan and Capitana Sanday Valenzuela, charming
the jubilance over Rizal’s death, played the gay Marcha de daughter of Capitan Juan and Capitana Sanday Valenzuela from
Cadiz. Pagsanjan, Laguna, a tall girl with a regal bearing-Rizal sent her
love notes written in invisible ink - consisted of common table salt
• Mi Ultimo Adios (Last Farewell) - f a r e w e l l p o e m and water—the secret of reading any note written in the invisible
of Rizal that originally was without title and ink by heating it over a candle or lamp so that the words may
w a s unsigned. appear . Orang was her pet name. Rizal stopped short of
proposing marriage to Orang.
• Father Mariano Dacanay - a Filipino priest-patriot, who gave
the title Ultimo Adios (Last Farewell) and under such title the • Leonor Rivera
poem was published for the first time in La Independencia
(General Antonio Luna’s newspaper) on September 25, 1898. Rizal’s cousin from Camiling, Tarlac. In 1879, at the
start of his junior year at the university, Rizal lived in “Casa
• By Rizal’s writings, which awakened Filipino nationalism and Tomasina” at No. 6 Calle Santo Tomas, Intramuros owned by his
paved the way for the Philippine Revolution, he proved that “pen uncle Antonio Rivera. A student at La Concordia College, where
is mightier than the sword” Soledad, youngest sister, was then studying-born in Camiling,
Tarlac on April 11, 1867. She was a frail, pretty girl “tender as a
ROMANCES OF RIZAL budding flower with kindly, wistful eyes.”
First romance—“that painful experience which In her letters to Rizal, she signed her name as
comes to nearly all adolescents” “Taimis” in order to camouflage their intimate relationship from
their parents and friends-died on August 28, 1893
• Julia -from Dampalit, Los Baños, Laguna
• Consuelo Ortiga y Perez
• Segunda Katigbak
A young woman in Madrid-prettier of Don Pablo Ortiga
Rizal first romance that was then sixteen years old, a y Rey’s daughters. Rizal was attracted by Consuelo’s beauty and
pretty fourteen-year old Batangueña from Lipa. In Rizal’s own vivacity. Rizal composed a lovely poem on August 22,
words: “She was rather short, with eyes that were eloquent 1883 dedicated to her, entitled A La Señorita
and ardent at times and languid at others, rosy-cheeked, C.O.y.P (to Miss C.O.y.P) expressing his admirations for her.
with an enchanting and provocative smile that revealed very Before Rizal romance with Consuelo could blossom into
beautiful teeth and the air of a sylph; her entire self-diffused a serious affair, he suddenly backed out for two reasons:
a mysterious charm.”
(1) he was still engaged to Leonor Rivera; and
She was the sister of Rizal’s friend, Mariano Katigbak, (2) his friends and co-worker in the Propaganda Movement,
close friend of Rizal’s sister Olimpia, was a boarding student in Eduardo de Lete, was madly in love with Consuelo and he
La Concordia College, engaged to be married to her town mate, had no wish to break their friendship because of a pretty girl.
Manuel Luz. The love of Rizal and Segunda was indeed “a
Love at first sight”. The last time they talked to each • Seiko Usui
other was one Thursday in December, 1877 when the
Christmas vacation was about to begin. Rizal returned Rizal affectionately called her O-Sei-San. A pretty Japanese girl
home, dazed and desolate, with his first romance “ruined by his that Rizal saw walking past the legation gate. Rizal was attracted
own shyness and reserve.” by her regal loveliness and charm-a lonely samurai’s daughter of
23 years old and had never yet experienced the ecstasy of true
• Miss L (Jacinta Ibardo Laza) love. Rizal saw in her the qualities of his ideal womanhood—
beauty, charm, modesty and intelligence. The beautiful romance
A young woman in Calamba. Rizal described her as between Rizal and O-Sei-San inevitably came to a dolorous
“fair with seductive and attractive eyes.” After visiting her ending. Sacrificing his personal happiness, Rizal had to carry on
in her house several times, Rizal suddenly stopped his libertarian mission in Europe, leaving behind the lovely O-Sei-
his wooing, and the romance died a natural death. San married Mr. Alfred Charlton, a British teacher of chemistry,
and was blessed by only one child—Yuriko-died on May 1, 1947
Rizal gave two reasons for his change of heart namely: at the age of 80.
(1) the sweet memory of Segunda was still fresh in his heart; and • Gertrude Beckett
(2) his father did not like the family of “Miss L”.
Oldest of the three Beckett sisters-called Gettie or
• Leonor Valenzuela Tottie by her friends-a buxom English girl with brown hair, blue

eyes, and rosy cheeks. Rizal affectionately called her “Gettie”, in in manipulating marionettes (puppet shows). In later years when
reciprocation; she fondly called him “Pettie”. Rizal suddenly he attained manhood, he continued his keen predilection for
realized that he could not marry Gettie for he had a mission to magic. He read many books on magic and attended the
fulfill in life. performances of the famous magicians in the world. In Chapter
XVII and XVIII of his second novel, El Filibusterismo (Treason),
• Petite Suzanne Jacoby he revealed his wide knowledge of magic.
Pretty niece of his landladies. Rizal found certain bliss RIZAL AS LOVER OF BOOKS
in the company of this pretty Belgian girl. Rizal might flirted with
Petite Suzanne, but he could not stoop low to a deceptive A favorite pastime of Rizal in Madrid was reading.
amorous relationship, she fell in love with Rizal and cried when Instead of gambling and flirting with women, as many young
Rizal left toward the end of July, 1890 for Madrid, stopping for a Filipino did in Spanish metropolis, he stayed at home and read
few days in Paris. voraciously until midnight. Since early childhood, he liked to read-
Rizal economized on his living expenses, and with the money he
• Nellie Boustead saved, he purchased books form a second-hand bookstore
owned by certain Señor Roses. He was able to build a fair-sized
The prettier and younger daughter of Eduardo private library-Rizal was deeply affected by Beecher
Boustead. Rizal found her to be a real Filipina, highly intelligent, Stowe’s Uncle Tom’s Cabin and Eugene Sue’s The
vivacious in temperament, and morally upright, also called Nelly. Wandering Jew. These books aroused his sympathy for the
Rizal wrote to his intimate friends, except Professor Blumentritt, oppressed and unfortunate people.
of his love for Nellie and his intention to propose marriage to her.
Rizal’s marriage proposal failed for two reasons: RIZAL AS A MASON
(1) he refused to give up his Catholic faith and be In Spain, Rizal came in close contact with
converted to Protestantism, as Nelly demanded; and prominent Spanish liberal and republican Spaniards,
(2) Nelly’s mother did not like Rizal as a son-in-law. who were mostly Mason. R i z a l w a s i m p r e s s e d b y
the way the Spanish
Masons openly and freely criticized the gover
• Josephine Bracken n - m e n t p o l i c i e s a n d lambasted the friars, which could not
be done in Philippines-Rizal’s reason for becoming a mason was
An Irish girl of sweet eighteen, “slender, a chestnut to secure Freemasonry’s aid in his fight against the friars in the
blond, with blue eyes, dressed with elegant simplicity, with Philippines. Since the friars used the Catholic religion as a shield
an atmosphere of light gayety.” Born in Hong Kong on to entrench themselves in power and wealth and to persecute the
October 3, 1876 of Irish parents—James Bracken, a Filipino patriots, he intended to utilize Freemasonry as his shield
corporal in the British garrison and Elizabeth Jane to combat them. As a mason, Rizal played a lukewarm role in
Macbride, she was adopted by Mr. George Taufer, who later Freemasonry.
became blind*Rizal and Josephine fell in love with each other at
first sight. After a whirlwind romance for one month, they agreed
to marry but Father Obach, the priest of Dapitan, refused to RIZAL AS MUSICIAN
marry them without the permission of the Bishop of Cebu.
Rizal had no natural aptitude for music, and this he
Since no priest would marry them, Rizal and Josephine admitted. But he studied music because many of his
held hands together and married themselves before the eyes of schoolmates at the Ateneo were taking music lessons. By sheer
God. They lived as man and wife in Dapitan. determination and constant practice, Rizal came to play flute
fairly well. He was a flutist in various impromptu reunions of
Rizal wrote a poem for Josephine. In the early part of Filipinos in Paris.
1896, Rizal was extremely happy because Josephine was
expecting a baby. Unfortunately, Rizal played a prank on her, RIZAL AS HISTORIAN
frightening her so that she prematurely gave birth to an eight-
month baby boy who lived only for three (3) hours. Rizal’s research studies in the British Museum
(London) and in Bibliotheque Nationale (Paris) enriched his
The lost son of Rizal was named “Francisco” in honor historical knowledge. His splendid annotations to Morga’s
of Don Francisco (hero’s father) and was buried in Dapitan. book showed his familiarity with the basic principles
of historiography. As Rizal once told Isabelo de los Reyes: “A
RIZAL AS BOY MAGICIAN historian ought to be rigorously imparted… I never assert
anything on my own authority. I cite texts and when I do, I
Since early manhood Rizal had been interested in have them before me.” His knowledge of foreign languages
magic. With his dexterous hands, he learned vicarious tricks, enabled Rizal to read historical documents and books in
such as making a coin appear or disappear in his fingers languages in which they were originally written.
and making handkerchief vanish in thin air. He entertained his
town folks with magic-lantern exhibitions. He also gained skill


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Life and Works of Jose Rizal Lecture Notes 2021

Clarence D. Verceles, JD, PhD

Don Francisco Mercado (1818-1898) Maria (1859-1945)

Clarence D. Verceles, JD, PhD

CHILDHOOD YEARS IN CALAMBA Tio Manuel

Clarence D. Verceles, JD, PhD

Father Leoncio Lopez leadership of Lamadrid, Filipino sergeant,

Clarence D. Verceles, JD, PhD

Clarence D. Verceles, JD, PhD

3. Y E s E s p a n o l ; E l c a n o , • San Eustacio, Martir (St. Eustace, the Martyr) - a drama

Clarence D. Verceles, JD, PhD

Clarence D. Verceles, JD, PhD

• Amor Patrio (Love of Country) - nationalistic essay, Rizal’s

Clarence D. Verceles, JD, PhD

Clarence D. Verceles, JD, PhD

BERLIN The bleak winter of 1886 in Berlin was Rizal’s darkest

Clarence D. Verceles, JD, PhD

(2) it brought him great joy after enduring so much sufferings,

Clarence D. Verceles, JD, PhD

napkins were “more hygienic and economical than cloth

Clarence D. Verceles, JD, PhD

FIRST HOMECOMING (1887-1888)

ARRIVAL IN MANILA • Vicente Barrantes – Spanish acaademecian of

Clarence D. Verceles, JD, PhD

FAREWELL TO CALAMBA VISIT TO MACAO

•S h o r t l y b e f o r e R i z a l l e f t C a l a m b a i n 1 8 8 8 , h i s f • February 18, 1888 - Rizal witnessed a Catholic possession, in

THE TRIP TO HONGKONG ROMANTIC INTERLUDE IN JAPAN (1888)

• Rizal was favorably impressed by Japan. The things which

Clarence D. Verceles, JD, PhD

Clarence D. Verceles, JD, PhD

• December 24, 1888 - R i z a l r e t u r n e d t o L o n d o n 1. “A La Defensa” (To La Defensa), April 30, 1889-

• Asociacion La Solidaridad (Solidaridad 4. “Una Profanacion” (A Profanation), July 31, 1889 -

Clarence D. Verceles, JD, PhD

(2) the Filipino mother should be glad, like the

(1) a Filipino mother should teach her children love of God,

Clarence D. Verceles, JD, PhD

KIDLAT CLUB • It must be noted that Rizal was inspired by a famous

Clarence D. Verceles, JD, PhD

IN BELGIAN BRUSSELS (1890)

LIFE IN BRUSSELS Early in August, 1890, Rizal arrived in Madrid-Upon

Clarence D. Verceles, JD, PhD

Rizal was busy revising and polishing the manuscript of •T h e o r i g i n a l m a n u s c r i p t o f E l F i l i b u s t e

Clarence D. Verceles, JD, PhD

Clarence D. Verceles, JD, PhD

• “Sa Mga Kababayan” (To my Countrymen) -

Clarence D. Verceles, JD, PhD

Clarence D. Verceles, JD, PhD

Clarence D. Verceles, JD, PhD

• Rizal as Farmer • Rizal objected to Bonifacio’s audacious project to plunge the

Clarence D. Verceles, JD, PhD

Clarence D. Verceles, JD, PhD

Clarence D. Verceles, JD, PhD

Clarence D. Verceles, JD, PhD

forgive him. Trinidad e n t e r e d t h e c e l l t o f e t c h h e r

Clarence D. Verceles, JD, PhD

Clarence D. Verceles, JD, PhD

Clarence D. Verceles, JD, PhD

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