POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE OF TABACO

100, PANAL TABACO CITY

A.Y 2020-2021

COURSE CODE : Rizal Course

COURSE DESCRIPTION : Life and Works of Rizal
CREDIT/UNITS :3
SEMESTER : 1st Semester
INSTRUCTOR : Bermundo, Nelrose Mae B.
CONSULTATION TIME: : 3 hours
CONSULTATION VENUE : Google Meet
Level : College
Week 7
RIZAL IN BRUSSELS (1890)
• January 28, 1890
Rizal left Paris for Brussels, capital of Belgium for two reasons:
1.The cost of living in Paris was very high because of the international exposition
2. The gay social life of the city hampered his literary works especially the writing of his second novel El
Filibusterismo.
LIFE IN BRUSSELS In Brussels:
– Rizal was busy writing his second novel which was a continuation of Noli. He was never idle even for an hour
– Aside from writing its chapter he wrote articles for La Solidaridad and letters to his family and friends
– Being a physician, he spent part of his time in the medical clinic
– For recreation, he had gymnastics at the gymnasium at target practice and fencing at the armory.
RIZAL’S ARTICLES IN LA SOLADARIDAD
He used two pen names Dimasalang and Laonglaan.
RIZAL’S ARTICLES IN LA SOLIDARIDAD:
1. La Verdad Para Todos (The Truth for All)
2. VerdadesNuevas (New Truths)
3. UnaProfanacion (A Profanation)
4. Diferencias (Differences)
5. Filipinas dentro de ClenAños (The Philippines A Century Hence)
6. Ingratitudes
7. Sin Nombre (Without Name)
8. Sobre la Nueva Ortografia de la LenguaTagala (On the New Ortography of
9. the tagalog Language)
10. Cosas de Filipinas (Things about the Philippines)
11. Sobre la Indolencia de los Filipinos (On the Indolence of the Filipinos)

New Orthography of the Tagalog Language JPR advocate the Filipinization of Filipino language:
Example:
k-c w-o
salacot- salakot arao-araw
September of 1886- adopted the Filipinized Tagalog orthography in his:
1. Schiller’s Wilhelm Tell
2. Andersen’s Fairy Tales
3. Noli Me Tangere

RIZAL CRITICIZES MADRID FILIPINOS FOR GAMBLING

In Brussels, Rizal received news from Juan Luna, and Valentin Ventura that the Filipino in Spain were destroying the
good name of their nation by gambling too much. These two compatriots in Paris urged him to do something about
it. Accordingly, Rizal wrote too M.H Del Pilar on May28, 1890 to remind the Filipinos in Madrid that they did not
come to Europe to gamble, but to work for their father land’s freedom. The gambling Filipinos in Madrid were angry
when the learned of Rizal’s moralizing. Thereafter, they called Rizal “Papa” (Pope) instead of “Pepe”.
• BAD NEWS FROM HOME :Letters
- The Calamba agrarian trouble was getting worse.
- Tenants, including the Rizal family, were persecuted and ejected from their lands The sad news from home
depressed Rizal. His heart bled to know the sorrowful plight of his parents,

• PRESENTATION OF DEATH:
In his moment of despair, Rizal had bad dreams during the nights in Brussels when he was restless because he was
always thinking of his unhappy family in Calamba. Although he was not superstitious, he feared that he would not
live long. He was not afraid to die, but he wanted to finish his second novel before he went to his grave.

• PREPARATION TO GO HOME
Rizal decided to go home for:
-He could not stay in Brussels writing a book while his parents, relatives, and friends in distant Philippines were in
despair.
• Oppose with Graciano Lopez Jaena’s plan in going to Cuba. He said that Graciano should not go to Cuba to die of
yellow fever, instead he ought to go the Philippines to allow himself to be killed in defense of his ideals.

• ON TO MADRID, INSTEAD OF HOME

A letter from Paciano changed his mind. It was a letter which related that the loss the case against the Dominicans in
Manila, but they appealed it to the Supreme Court in Spain. Rizal wrote to M.H. Del Pilar on June 20, 1890, retaining
the latter’s services as lawyer. He was going to Madrid in order to supervise the handling of the case.
• “TO MY MUSE” (1890)
• A poem published in La Solidaridad using the pen name,Laong Laan.
• It was written by Jose Rizal in 15 December 1890.Rizal wrote To My Muse because of his disappointment over
the half-hearted attitude of the Filipino expatriates working for the reforms in Spain. This poem expressed his
bitterness over the troubles in Calamba.
E’en sometimes I must weep;
For he who love would keep
To My Muse Great pain has undergone.

Invoked no longer is the Muse, Fled are the days of ease,

The lyre is out of date; The days of Love’s delight;
The poets it no longer use, When flowers still would please
And youth its inspiration now imbues And give to suffering souls surcease
With other form and state. From pain and sorrow’s blight.

If today our fancies aught

Of verse would still require, One by one they have passed on,
Helicon’s hill remains unsought; All I loved and moved among;
And without heed we but inquire, Dead or married—from me gone,
Why the coffee is not brought. For all I place my heart upon
By fate adverse are stung.
In the place of thought sincere
That our hearts may feel,
Go thou, too, O Muse, depart,
We must seize a pen of steel,
Other regions fairer find;
And with verse and line severe
For my land but offers art
Fling abroad a jest and jeer.
For the laurel, chains that bind,
For a temple, prisons blind.
Muse, that in the past inspired me,
And with songs of love hast fired me;
Go thou now to dull repose, But before thou leavest me, speak:
For today in sordid prose Tell me with thy voice sublime,
I must earn the gold that hired me. Thou couldst ever from me seek
A song of sorrow for the weak,
Now must I ponder deep, Defiance to the tyrant’s crime.
Meditate, and struggle on;
ROMANCE WITH SUZANNE JACOBY
Two things brought some measure of cheer to the despondent Rizal as he was preparing for his trip to Madrid:
- The summertime festival of Belgium
- His romance with Suzanne
She cried when he left toward the end of July, 1890 for Madrid, stopping for a few days in Paris.

DISAPPOINTMENTS IN MADRID, 1890 - 91

• Early in August, 1890 – Rizal arrived in Madrid. He tried all legal means to seek justice for his family and the
Calamba tenants, but to no avail. He almost fought to duels – one with Antonio Luna and the other to Wenceslao E.
Retana. Leonor Rivera married a British Engineer (Henry Kipping)

• Rizal’s Misfortunes in Madrid:

- FAILURE TO GET JUSTICE FOR FAMILY

Asociacion Hispano – FilipinaLiberal Spanish newspapers (La Justicia, El Globo, La Republica, El resumen, etc).M. H.
Del Pilar – acted as his lawyer.Dr. Dominador Gomez – secretary of Asociacion Hispano – Filipina.Minister of Colonies
(SeñorFabie)Gen. ValerioWeyler & Dominicans-

MORE TERRIBLE NEWS REACHED RIZAL IN MADRID

From Silvestre Ubaldo, he received a copy of the ejectment order by the Dominicans against Francisco Rizal and
other Calamba tenants. From Saturnina, he learned of the deportation of Paciano, Antonio Lopez, Silvestre Ubaldo,
Teong, and Dandoy to Mindoro. His parents were forcibly ejected from their home and were then living in the house
of Narcisa.

RIZAL’S EULOGY TO PANGANIBAN

Jose Ma. Panganiban – his friend and his talented co-worker in the propaganda.August 19, 1890 – date of the death
of Jose Ma. Panganiban because of a lingering illness.

ABORTED DUEL WITH ANTONIO LUNA

End of August, 1890 – Rizal attended a social reunion of the Filipinos in Madrid. Antonio Luna became drunk. Luna
was bitter because of his frustrated romance with Nellie Boustead. He was blaming Rizal for his failure. Luna
uttered certain unsavory remarks for Nellie. Rizal heard him and challenge for a duel.
The Filipinos were shocked of the incident. they tried to pacify Rizal and Luna, pointing out to both that such a duel
would damage their cause in Spain. Luna, when he became sober, realized that he had made a fool and he
apologized to Rizal.

RIZAL CHALLENGES RETANA TO DUEL

Wenceslao E. Retana , the bitter enemy of Rizal in pen. Attacked Filipinos including Rizal, in various newspaper in
Madrid La Epoca – an anti- Filipino newspaper . He insulted Rizal’s family, so Rizal challenged to a duel. Retana at
once published a Retraction and apology in the newspaper. The incident silenced Retana’s pen against Rizal. Later on
he write the biography of the greatest Filipino hero, whose talents he came to recognize and whose martyrdom he
Glorified

INFIDELITY OF LEONOR RIVERA

Teatro Apollo
Rizal attended a play together with his friends and he lost his locket containing the picture of Leonor
December, 1890
Rizal received a letter from Leonor, announcing her coming married with an Englishman (Henry Kipping)
February 15, 1891
Blumentritt replied to the letter of Rizal and comforted Rizal when Rizal confide to him about his agony
and broken heart.
RIZAL – DEL PILAR RIVALRY 1890
There arise an unfortunate rivalry between Rizal and del Pilar for supremacy.
January 1, 1891 (New Year’s Day) the Filipinos of Madrid met to reorganize the Asociacion Hispano – Filipina
Responsable - a new leader who would act as a spokesman of the Filipino cause in Europe2/3 votes needed to be
declared as Responsible.

- RIZAL ABDICATES HIS LEADERSHIP

February 1891 – (1st week) election starts Filipinos were divided into two rival camps: Rizalistas - Pilaristas.
Paterno appealed to the members so that Rizal won the position.

Back to Brussels (February 1891)

- Left Madrid and proceeded to Biarritz, where he was a welcomed guest of the Boustead at their Villa Eliada.
- He wrote to Jose Ma. Basa, expressing his wish to live in Hongkong and practice medicine.
- Middle of April 1891 – Rizal returned to Brussels for one reason, to finish his second novel.

Jose Alejandrino, Rizal's roommate in Belgium and the first person who cleverly read the El Filibusterismo.

BIARRITZ VACATION
To seek solace for his disappointments in Madrid, Rizal took a vacation in the resort city of Biarritz on the
fabulous French Riviera. He was a guest of the rich Boustead family (Mr. Bousted, Adelina, Nelie and Aunt Isabel.
He was warmly welcomed by Mr. Bousted because of his talents. As a family guest he was treated with friendliness
and hospitality by this family.

Romance with Nelly Bousted

Rizal having lost Leonor, came to entertain considerable affection to Nellie, prettier and younger daughter of
the Mr. Boustead. He found Nellie to be a real Filipina, highly intelligent, vivacious in temperament and morally
upright. He told his friends about his love for Nelly except for Blumentritt, and his intention to propose to her.
Antonio Luna, who had previously loved and lost Nelly, encouraged Rizal to and marry her. He wrote a letter to Rizal,
saying good things about Nellie and congratulates him for being one of a kind to Nelly, encourage Rizal to woo and
marry her. With encourage of his friends Rizal courted Nelly who, in turn, reciprocated his affection. Unfortunately
his marriage proposal failed for two reasons:
1. he refused to give up his Catholic faith and be a converted to protestant as Nelly demand
2. Nelly's mother did not like Rizal as a son-in-law.
Although they did not get married, they parted as good friends.

El Filibusterismo finished in Biarritz

Frustrated in romance, Rizal found consolation in writing. Evidently, while wooing Nellie and enjoying so “many
magnificent moonlight nights” with her, he kept working on his second novel which he began to write in Calamba
1887 The eve of his departure from Biarritz to Paris, he finished the manuscript of El Filibusterismo.

To Paris and Back to Brussels

Rizal bade farewell to the hospitable and friendly Bousteads and proceeded to Paris by train. From Paris he
wrote to his friend, Jose Ma. Basa, expressing his desire to go to that British colony and practice ophthalmology in
order to earn his living. By The middle of April, Rizal was back in Brussels.

Retirement from the Propaganda Movement

Since abdicating his leadership in Madrid, owing to the intrigues of his jealous compatriots, Rizal retired from
the Propaganda Movement or reform crusade. Rizal notified the Propaganda authorities in Manila to cancel his
monthly allowance and devote the money to some better cause. Rizal’s notification was contained in a letter
addressed to Mr. A.L. Lorena (pseudonym of Deodato Arellano)

Rizal stopped writing for La Solidaridad

With his retirement from the Propaganda Movement, Rizal stopped writing articles for La Solidaridad.
Marcelo H. del PIlar realized that Rizal's collaboration was essentials because the reform was declining with that,
his help was very much needed because Rizal is one of the main contributors in LA SOLIDARIDAD. He wrote Rizal
a letter telling him to put aside any of his resentments and continue their reforms and mission. Rizal wrote back
to M.H del Pilar and told him 3 reason:
1. He need time to work on his Book.
2. He wanted others Filipino to work also.
3. It was better if del PIlar would be the only one who would lead the reform to direct the policy such as Del Pilar
understand it.

Revising the Fili for Publications

May 30, 1891-revision of the finished
manuscript of El Filibusterismo was mostly completed.
June 13, 1891-Rizal informed Basa that he was negotiating with a printing firm

QUESTIONS FOR
DISCUSSION

1. Instead of going home to Manila from Brussels, why did Rizal choose to go to Madrid?

2. Why did Rizal stopped writing for La Solidaridad?

3. Explain why Rizal’s marriage proposal to Nelly Bousted failed?