CHAPTER 4

TOPIC 3- IN SPAIN 1882-1885

After finishing the 4th year of the medical course in the University of Santo Tomas, Rizal
decided to complete his studies in Spain.
SECRET MISSION IN SPAIN
• to observe keenly the life and culture, languages and customs, industries and
commerce, and governments and laws of the European nations. In order to prepare
himself in the mighty task of liberating his oppressed people from Spanish tyranny.

RIZAL IN BARCELONA
• May 3, 1882- Rizal departed on
board the Spanish Steamer Salvadora
bound for Singapore. Rizal’s departure
for Spain was kept secret to avoid
detection by the Spanish authorities and
the friars
• June 16, 1882- Rizal finally
reached his destination—Barcelona.
ARTICLES WRITTEN BY RIZAL
• Amor Patrio (Love Of Country) -
a nationalistic essay written by Rizal
under his pen name Laong Laan which
urged his compatriots to love their
fatherland, the Philippines. Basilio Teodoro Moran- publisher of Diariong Tagalog. Other
written articles of Rizal: - Los Viajes (Travels)- second article - Revista de Madrid
(Review of Madrid)- returned to him because the Diariong Tagalog had ceased
publication for lack of funds.

RIZAL IN MADRID
• November 3, 1882- Rizal enrolled in Universidad Central de Madrid in two
courses- Medicine and Philosophy and Letters. Rizal led a Spartan life in Madrid.
• He also studied in Painting and Sculpture in the Academy of Fine Arts and took
lessons in French, German and English.
CIRCULO HISPANO-FILIPINO (HISPANO-PHILIPPINE CIRCLE)
• Shortly after his arrival, Rizal joined the Circulo Hispano-Filipino (Hispano-
Philippine Circle), a society of Spaniards and Filipinos.
• “They Ask Me For Verses” (Me Piden Versos) - a poem written by Rizal in
response to the request of the members of the society. It is a sad poem in which Rizal
poured out the cry of his agonizing heart.
RIZAL AS LOVER OF BOOKS
• Beecher Stowe’s Uncle Tom’s Cabin and Eugene Sue’s The Wandering Jew -
aroused the sympathy of Rizal to his oppressed and unfortunate people.
RIZAL AS A MASON
• March 1883- Rizal joined the Masonic Lodge Acacia in Madrid under his Masonic
name Dimasalang. Rizal‘s reasons of becoming a mason: 1. the bad friars in the
Philippines, by their abuses unworthy of their priestly habit or calling, drove Rizal to
desperation and Masonry; 2. he needed the help of the Masons to fight the bad friars in
the Philippines, for Masonry, to Rizal, was a shield to use in his fight against the evil
forces of tyranny.
RIZAL IN PARIS, CAPITAL CITY OF FRANCE
• June 17 1883, Rizal sojourn in Paris. He stayed at a cheaper hotel on 124 Rue
de Rennes in the Latin Quarter.
• Like all tourist, Rizal was attracted by the beautiful sights of Paris. He visited
important landmarks like the Place de la Concorde, Arch of Triumph, the Cathedral of
Notre Dame and others. Rizal improved his mind by observing closely the French way
of life. He spent his hours in museums, botanical garden and art galleries. According to
Rizal “Paris is the costliest capital in Europe.” Prices of food, drinks, theatre, laundry,
hotels and transportation were too high.
• Two hospitals where Rizal made some observations:
Laennec Hospital- where Rizal observed Dr. Nicaise treating his patients
Lariboisiere Hospital- where Rizal observed the examination of different diseases of
women.
• August 20, 1883 he returned to Madrid and continues with his studies.
RIZAL’S SALUTE TO LUNA AND HIDALGO.
• In the evening of June 25, 1884, a banquet was sponsored by the Filipino
community to celebrate the double victory of the Filipino artist in the National Exposition
of Fine Arts in Madrid - Luna’s Spoliarium winning the first prize and Hidalgo’s Christian
Virgins Exposed to the Populace second prize. Rizal was the guest speaker. It was a
magnificent speech of Rizal, he saluted Luna and Hidalgo being the two glories of Spain
and the Philippines. He also assailed with refined sarcasm the bigotry and blindness of
certain unworthy Spaniards who could not comprehend the universality of Genius.
STUDIES COMPLETED IN SPAIN
• June 21, 1884- conferred the degree of Licentiate in Medicine. He was not
awarded his Doctor‘s diploma due to the fact that he did not present the thesis required
for graduation nor paid the corresponding fees.
June 19, 1885- Licentiate in Philosophy and Letters with the rating of
“Excellent”(Sobresaliente).

TOPIC 4- CONTINUED STAY IN EUROPE 1885-1887

• Rizal went to Paris and Germany in order to specialize in Ophthalmology. He
travelled and observed European life and customs in Paris, Heidelberg, Leipzig, and
Berlin.

PARIS (1885-1886)
• He was 24 years old and already a physician, he went to Paris to obtain
knowledge in Ophthalmology. In November 1885, he worked for four months as an
assistant to Dr. Louis de Weckert, a leading French ophthalmologist.
• Outside of his working hours, he also found time to relax and be with his good
friends like the Pardo de Taveras, Juan Luna and Felix Resurreccion Hidalgo. At the
studio of Juan Luna, he improved his painting technique. He became a model to Juan
Luna’s several paintings. In the home of the Pardo de Tavera, Rizal played the flute, he
admitted that he had no natural aptitude for music.
GERMANY
IN HEIDELBERG
• In February 1886, Rizal left Paris and went to Germany. He arrived in
Heidelberg, a historic city in Germany famous for its old university and romantic
surroundings.
• He lived near the University of Heidelberg and worked as an assistant to Dr. Otto
Becker at the University Eye Hospital. Outside his apprenticing hours, he also listened
to lectures delivered by Dr. Becker and Prof. Wilhelm Kuchne.
• Rizal devoted his free time visiting Heidelberg Castle, Neckar River, the theatre
and some old churches found in the city. The Neckar River and the beautiful spring
flowers blooling along its banks reminded him of how dearly he missed Calamba.
• April 22, 1886, Rizal wrote a touching poem entitled To the Flowers of
Heidelberg.
IN WILHELMSFELD
• A mountainous village near Heidelberg where Rizal spent his summer vacation.
• Rizal lived with the family of Pastor Karl Ullmer, a Protestant pastor who became
his good friend and admirer. The pleasant personality and talents in languages and
sketching endeared him to the Ullmer’s family.
• For three months he enjoyed the hospitality and kindness of the family.
• June 25, 1886, he returned to Heidelberg.
FIRST LETTER TO BLUMENTRITT
• July 31, 1886 Rizal wrote his first letter in German to Professor Ferdinand
Blumentritt, Director of the Ateneo of Leitmeritz, Austria. Rizal wrote to him after
learning that this ethnologist was interested in the Tagalog language. He sent him a
book entitled Arithmetica. Published in 2 languages- Spanish and Tagalog. By UST
Press of 1868. Author was Rufino Baltazar Hernandez a native of Santa Cruz, Laguna.
Ferdinand reciprocated the thoughtful gesture of Rizal by sending him two books. The
exchanged marked the beginning of their long and beautiful friendship.
IN LEIPZIG
• In August 1886, Rizal arrived in Leipzig. He stayed here for two months doing a
lot of writing and translating.
• He very much liked what he saw, the magnificent buildings, wide and clean
streets and amiable people.
• William Tell- written by Schiller, Rizal translated it from German into Tagalog so
that Filipino might know the story of the champion of Swiss independence.
• Hans Andersen’s Fairy Tales - Rizal also translated this in Tagalog for his
nephews and nieces.
• Because of his knowledge of German, Spanish, and other European languages,
Rizal worked as proof-reader in a publishing firm.
• He attended some lectures on history and psychology at the University of Leipzig
and met Professor Friedrich Ratzel- a famous German historian and Dr. Hans Meyer-
German anthropologist. They had become his friends.
IN BERLIN
• In November 1886, Rizal arrived in Berlin. He was enchanted by this city
because of its scientific atmosphere and the absence of racial prejudice.
• Dr. Feodor Jagor - Rizal met for the first time this celebrated German scientist-
traveler and author of Travels in the Philippines, a book which Rizal read and admired
during his student days in Manila.
• Dr. Rudolf Virchow- a famous German anthropologist. (Dr. Jagor, introduced
Rizal to Dr. Virchow)
• Dr. Ernest Schweigger (1830-1905)- famous German ophthalmologist where
Rizal worked
• Rizal became a member of the Anthropological Society, the Ethnological Society,
and the Geographical Society of Berlin, upon the recommendation of Dr. Jagor and Dr.
Meyer
• Tagalische Verkunst (Tagalog Metrical Art)- Rizal wrote this scholarly paper in
German which he read before the society in April 1887. This paper was published by
the society in the same year, and elicited favorable comments from all scientific quarters
GERMAN WOMEN AND THEIR CUSTOMS
• Rizal wrote a letters addressed to his sister, Trinidad. He said that German
woman is serious, diligent, educated, and friendly. She is not gossipy, frivolous and
quarrelsome.
• Aside from women, Rizal admired the German customs. The Christmas custom
of the German delighted him most of his yuletide custom he wrote on Christmas eve.
Another interesting German custom observed by Rizal is self-introduction to strangers in
a social gathering.
NOLI ME TANGERE PUBLISHED IN BERLIN (1887)

• March 21, 1887- the Noli Me Tangere

came off the press. The title Noli Me
Tangere is a Latin phrase which means
“Touch Me Not”. “Noli Me Tangere, are
words taken from the Gospel of St. John
(Chapter 20 Verses 13 to 17).
Rizal dedicated his Noli Me Tangere to the
Philippines—“To My Fatherland”. It contains
63 chapters and an epilogue. Maximo Viola- The savior of Noli, he gave him the needed
funds to publish the novel.

GRAND TOUR FROM GERMANY TO ITALY

• May 11, 1887- Rizal and Viola left Berlin by train going to Dresden, one of the
best cities in Germany
• May 13- 16, 1887- Rizal and Viola went to Leitmeritz, Bohemia to visit Professor
Blumentritt. A kind-hearted, old Austrian professor who became a dear friend of Rizal.
• With Prof. Blumentritt as their guide, Rizal and Viola visited the churches, the
residence of the Bishop and other important buildings of the city.
• From May 20-30, 1887 -They visited other cities in Europe like, Prague, Vienna-
the "Queen of Danube", Lintz, Rheinfall, Munich and Nuremberg. They visited
museums, magnificent buildings, cathedrals and beautiful sights.

• June 2 to 3, 1887- stayed at

Schaffhausen, Switzerland. GENEVA- This
Swiss city is one of the most beautiful cities
in Europe, visited by world tourists every
year.
• June 19, 1887- Rizal treated Viola to a
blow-out. It was his 26th birthday. Rizal and
Viola spent fifteen delightful days in
Geneva.
• June 23, 1887- Viola and Rizal parted ways—Viola returned to Barcelona while
Rizal continued the tour to Italy
• June 27, 1887- Rizal reached Rome, the “Eternal City” and also called the “City
of the Caesars. After a week of wonderful sojourn in Rome, Rizal prepared to return to
the Philippines.