Sojourn 1

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RIZAL’S SECOND SOJOURN IN PARIS

AND THE UNIVERSAL EXPOSITION OF 1889

Paris in the spring of 1889 was bursting with gaiety and excitement because of the Universal
Exposition. Rizal published his annotated edition of Morga’s Sucesos; founded three Filipino
societies, the Kidlat Club, the Indios Bravos, and the R.D.L.M.; and wrote Por Telefono, a satire
against Fr. Salvador Font.
Difficulty of Finding Quarters
o In March 1889, it was extremely difficult for a visitor to find living quarters in Paris.
o Rizal lived in the house of his friend Valentin Ventura, at No. 45 Rue Maubeuge, where
he polished his annotated edition of Morga’s book.
o He lived in a little room, together with two other Filipinos – Capitan Justo Trinidad
(former gobernadorcillo of Santa Ana, Manila) and Jose Albert (young student from
Manila).
Life in Paris
o Although life in Paris was gay, with sparkling merriment and joyous social parties, Rizal
continued to be busy in his serious pursuits.
o In his spare hours, Rizal used to dine at the homes of his friends, such as the Pardo de
Taveras, the Venturas, the Bousted, the Lunas, etc.
o He was a good friend of the three Pardo de Taveras
- Dr. Trinidad H. Pardo de Tavera (physician and philologist by vocation)
- Dr. Felix Pardo de Tavera (physician and an artist and sculptor by vocation)
- Paz Pardo de Tavera (wife of Juan Luna)
o On June 24, 1889, a baby girl was born to Juan Luna and Paz Pardo de Tavera (second
child). Her baptismal godfather was Rizal, who chose her name “Maria de la Paz
Blanca Laureana Hermenegilda Juana Luna y Pardo de Tavera”
Rizal and Paris Exposition of 1889
o The greatest attraction of this exposition was the Eiffel Tower, 984 feet high, which was
built by Alexander Eiffel, celebrated French engineer.
o One of the features of the Exposition was the international art competition, in which Felix
R. Hidalgo, Juan Luna, Felix Pardo de Tavera, and Rizal participated.
Kidlat Club
o On March 19, 1889, the same day when he arrived in Paris from London, Rizal organized
his paisanos (compatriots) into a society called Kidlat Club.
Members:
- Antonio Luna - Juan Luna - Gregorio Aguilera
- Fernando Canon - Lauro Dimayuga - Julio Llorente
- Guillermo Puatu - Baldomero Roxas
o The Kidlat Club “lightning” was purely a social society of a temporary nature. It was
founded by Rizal simply to bring together the young Filipinos in the French capital so
that they could enjoy their sojourn in the city during the duration of the Universal
Exposition.
Indios Bravos
o In their sightseeing tour of the exposition grounds, Rizal and the members of the Kidlat
Club were amazed to see the Buffalo Bull show which featured the American Indians.
o Rizal was enchanted by the dignified and proud bearing of the American Indians. He told
his friends; “Why should we resent being called Indios by the Spaniards? Look at those
Indios from North America – they are not ashamed of their name. Let us be like them.
Let us be proud of the name Indio and make our Spanish enemies revise their conception
of the term. WE SHALL BE INDIOS BRAVOS!”
o It replaced the ephemeral Kidlat Club. Its members pledged to excel in intellectual and
physical prowess in order to win the admiration of the foreigners, particularly the
Spaniards.
R.D.L.M. Society
o Another society founded by Rizal in Paris during the Universal Exposition of 1889 was
the mysterious Sociedad (R.D.L.M Society).
o The letters are believed to be the initials of the society’s secret name Redencion de los
Malayos (Redemption of the Malays).
o Only a few of Rizal’s trusted friends became members of the R.D.L.M., namely,
- Gregorio Aguilera - Mariano Ponce
- Jose Ma. Basa - Baldomero Roxas
- Julio Llorente - Father Jose Maria Changco
- Marcelo H. del Pilar
o The aim of the secret society, as stated by Rizal was “the propagation of all useful
knowledge – scientific, artistic, literary, etc. – in the Philippines.” Evidently, there was
another aim that is, the redemption of the Malay race. It must be noted that Rizal was
inspired by a famous book entitled Max Havelaar (1860). This book exposed the
miserable conditions of the oppressed Malay inhabitants of the Netherlands East Indies
under Dutch rule.
o The Redemption of the Malay Race
o Rizal writing to Blumentritt from Hong Kong on February 23, 1892 revealed his
intention to be a leader of freedom, if not the Philippines, then in other lands “Borneo”;
”I shall not be a planter (plantador) but the leader (caudillo) of the planters who are
thinking of emigrating there with me. I feel flattered by the idea that I can still serve my
country with my pen. You know very well that always, at all times, I am ready to serve my
fatherland would demand this sacrifice. But as I see that I am getting old, my ideals and
dreams are fading; if it is impossible for me to give freedom to my country, at least I
should like to give it to these noble compatriots in other lands.”
o Moreover, the contract for his Bornean colonization included such provision as the right
of the colonists to buy the lands, the free use of the seashores, and the unusual long term
of lease for 999 years, “a period of time long enough for many generations to form a
nation and to consolidate its status and to realize Rizal’s dream of redeeming the Malay
race.
Annotated Edition of Morga Published
o Rizal’s outstanding achievement in Paris was the publication in 1890 of his annotated
edition of Morga’s Sucesos, which he wrote in the British Museum. It was printed by
Garnier Freres. The prologue was written by Professor Blumentritt, upon the request
of Rizal.
o In his Prologue, Blumentritt commended Rizal for his fine historical scholarship.
However, he frankly censured Rizal for two things which revealed Rizal’s errors, namely;
1. Rizal commits the error od many historians in appraising the events of the past in
the light of present standards, and
2. Rizal’s attacks on the Church were unfair and unjustified because the abuses of
the friars should not be construed to mean that Catholicism is bad.
Comment on Morga’s Publication Date
o The title page of Rizal’s annotated edition of Morga reads: “Paris, Libreria de Garnier
Hermanos, 1890.”
o On October 12, 1889, Blumentritt wrote to Rizal from Leitmeritz, saying: “I have just
received magnificient edition of Morga. This edition with your erudite notes will glorify
your name.”
o From Barcelona, Mariano Ponce wrote to Rizal on December 31, 1889, saying: “I have
read only Blumentritt’s prologue. Truly excellent. Please send me immediately about ten
copiesthat I can send to the Philippines by the first mail that is going there.”
Rizal as Historian
o Rizal’s research studies in the British Museum (London) and in the Bibliotheque
Nationale (Paris) enriched his historical knowledge. His splendid annotations to Morga’s
book showed his familiarity with the basic principles of historiography.
o Rizal read Pigafetta’s famous First Voyage Around the World in Italian; the historical
works of Marsden, Raffles, Lord Stanley, and Wallace in English; the writings of
Blumentritt, Jagor, and Virchow in German; the books of M. Jacquet, J. Mallat, and
A. Marche in French; and the works of T.H. Pardo de Tavera, Pedro A. Paterno,
Miguel Morayta, and Pi y Margall in Spanish.
o Aside from his excellent annotations on Morga’s book, Rizal wrote other works which
qualify him to be a real historian. Among them were the two historical commentaries
written in London;
 Ma-yi (December 6, 1888)
 Tawalisi of Ibn Batuta (January 7, 1889)
 Filipinas dentro de Cien Anos (The Philippines Within a Century), published in
La Solidaridad in four issues on September 30, October 31, December 15, 1889
and February 15, 1890.
 Sobre la Indolencia de los Filipinos (The Indolence of the Filipinos), published
in La Solidaridad in five successive issues on July 15, July 31, August 1, August
31, and September 1, 1890.
 La Politica Colonial on Filipinas (Colonial Policy in the Philippines), no date.
 Manila en el mes de Diciembre, 1872 (Manila in the Month of December, 1872),
no date.
 Historia de la Familia Rizal de Calamba (History of the Rizal family of
Calamba, no date.
 Los Pueblos del Archiepielago Indico (The Peoples of the Indian Archipelago),
no date.

The Philippines Within a Century

o In this article, Rizal expressed his views on the Spanish colonization in the Philippines
and predicted with amazing accuracy the tragic end of Spain’s sovereignty in Asia.
o Beginning – portrayed the glorious past of the Filipino people, then described their
economic stagnation and unhappiness under the harsh and bungling Spanish rule.
o Last paragraphs – Rizal peered into the future and warned Spain of what would happen to
her colonial empire in Asia if she would not adopt a more liberal and enlightened policy
toward the Philippines.

The Indolence of the Filipinos

o This other essay of Rizal is also a prestigious work of historical scholarship. It is an able
defense of the alleged indolence of the Filipinos.
o In the spirit of a real scholar, Rizal made a critical study of the causes why his people did
not work hard during the Spanish regime. His main thesis was that the Filipinos are not
by nature indolent.
o Long before the coming of the Spaniards he pointed out, the Filipinos were industrious
and hard-working: they were very active in agriculture, industries, and commerce. The
Spanish conquest of the country brought about a decline in economic activities because
the Filipinos had abandoned their Pre-Spanish industries and worked less than their
ancestors.
o Such decline in economic life was due to certain causes;
1) The native revolts and other internal disorders which followed the establishment
of Spanish rule;
2) The wars which the Filipinos fought for Spain against the Dutch, Portuguese,
English, and other enemies;
3) The frightful raids on the coastal towns and village of Christian Philippines by the
Muslim pirates of Mindanao and Sulu;
4) The forced labor which compelled thousands of Filipino laborers to work in
shipyards, roads, bridges, and other public works, resulting in the abandonment of
industry, commerce, and agriculture;
5) Lack of stimulus to work harder because the people could not enjoy the fruits of
their labor;
6) Government neglect and indifference to agriculture, industry, and commerce;
7) The bad example shown by the Spaniards in despising manual labor;
8) The teaching of Spanish missionaries that it is easier for a poor man to enter
heaven than for a rich man, hence the Filipinos prefer not to work and be poor so
that they could easily enter heaven after they die;
9) Encouragement and propagation of gambling by the Spanish authorities; and
10) System of Spanish education did not promote economic enterprise and activity,
for, as Rizal asserted, the education of the native was “from his birth until he
sinks into his grave . . . is brutalizing, depressive and anti-human” and “deprives
him of his dignity”.

International Association of Filipinologists

o Taking advantage of world attention which was then focused at the Universal Exposition
of 1889 in Paris, Rizal proposed to establish an “International Association of
Filipinologists” and have its inaugural convention in the French capital.
o According to his prospectus, the aim of the association is “to study the Philippines from
the scientific and historical point of view.”
o The officers were as follows:

President ------------------------- Dr. Ferdinand Blumentritt (Austrian)


Vice-President -------------------Mr. Edmund Plauchut (French)
Counsellor-------------------------Dr. Reinhold Rost (Anglo-German)
Counsellor-------------------------Dr. Antonio Ma. Regidor (Filipino-Spanish)
Secretary--------------------------Dr. Jose Rizal (Filipino)

Project for Filipino College in Hong Kong


o Another magnificent project of Rizal in Paris which also fizzled out was his plan to
establish a modern college in Hong Kong.
o The college aims “to train and educate men of good family and financial means in
accordance with the demands of modern times and circumstances”.
o A rich Filipino resident in Paris, Mr. Mariano Cunanan, from Mexico, Pampanga,
promised to help him raise P40,000 as initial capital for the college.
o The curriculum consisted of the following subjects:
Ethics – Study of Religion – Natural Law – Civil Law – Deportment –
Hygiene
Mathematics – Physics and Chemistry – Natural History – Geography –
Political Economy
Universal History – Philippines History – Logic, Rhetoric, and Poetics
Spanish – English – French – German – Chinese – Tagalog
Gymnastics – Equitation – Fencing – Swimming – Music – Drawing –
Dancing
o Unfortunately, this project of Rizal to establish a modern college did not materialize.

Por Telefono

o It was mentioned before that Rizal defended his Noli from the slanderous attack of Fray
Jose Rodriguez by penning a satirical booklet entitled La Vision del Fray Rodriguez. In
the fall of 1889 he wrote another satirical work entitled Por Telefono as a reply to
another slanderer, Fr. Salvador Font, who masterminded the banning of his Noli.
o Por Telefono was published in booklet form in Barcelona, 1889.
o This satirical pamphlet under the authorship of Dimas Alang is a witty satire which
ridicules Father Font.
o By the opening paragraph, Rizal predicted much ahead of his times that people could
carry on overseas telephonic conversations. It is amazing how he could have foreseen this
phenomenon, which we enjoy now.

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