Chapter 7:
Paris to Berlin
(1885-87)
Prepared by:
Cheryle R. Sagayoc
Mary Joy J. Quiacao
In Gay Paris (1885-86)
After studying at the Central University of Madrid, Rizal, who
was then 24 yrs old, went to Paris to acquire more knowledge
in ophthalmology.
Maximo Viola – a medical student and a
member of a rich family of San Miguel,
Bulacan
Señor Eusebio Corominas – editor of
La Publicidad
Don Miguel Morayta – owner of La
Publicidad and a statesman
Rizal gave Editor Corominas (an article on the
Carolines Question)
November 1885 – Rizal was living in Paris
He worked as an assistant to Dr.
Louis de Weckert, a leading French
ophthalmologist.
Juan Luna – great master of the brush;
Rizal helped him by posing as model in
Luna’s paintings.
“The Blood Compact” – Rizal posed
as Sikatuna
“The Death of Cleopatra” – where
Rizal posed as an Egyptian priest
Rizal as Musician
Rizal had no natural aptitude for
music, and this he admitted. He
studied music only because many of
his schoolmates at Ateneo were
taking music lessons.
He told Enrique Lete that he “learned the
solfeggio, piano, and voice culture in one
month and a half”.
He is also a flutist
Some of his compositions are:
• Alin Mang Lahi (Any Race) – a pariotic song which asserts that any
race aspires for freedom
• La Deportacion (Deportation) – a sad danza, composed in Dapitan
In Historic Heidelberg
February 3, 1886 – Rizal arrived in
Heidelberg, a historic city in
Germany famous for its old
university and romantics
surroundings.
He became popular among the
Germans because they found out
that he was a good chess player.
He worked at the University Eye
Hospital under the direction of Dr.
Otto Becker, distinguished German
ophthalmologist.
“To the Flowers of Heidelberg”
April 22, 1886 – Rizal wrote a fine
poem entitled “A Las Flores de
Heidelberg” (To the Flowers of
Heidelberg) because he was
fascinated by the blooming flowers
along the Neckar River, which is
the light blue flower called “forget-
me-not”.
With Pastor Ullmer at Wilhelmsfeld
Rizal spent a three-month summer vacation at Wilhelmsfeld where
he stayed at the place of a Protestant pastor, Dr. Karl Ullmer. The
pastor has a wife and two children named Etta and Fritz.
Blumentritt is an Austrian ethnologist
and he has an interest in the
Philippine language.
First Letter to Blumentritt
July 31, 1886 – Rizal wrote his first letter to Professor Ferdinand
Blumentritt who is the Director of the Ateneo of Leitmeritz, Austria.
Rizal sent Aritmetica (Arithmetic) book to Blumentritt which was
published in 2 languages – Spanish and Tagalog – by the University of
Santo Tomas Press in 1868. The author was Rufino Baltazar
Hernandez.
Blumentritt became the best friend of Rizal
Fifth Centenary of Heidelberg
University
The famous University of Heidelberg
held its fifth centenary celebration
on August 6, 1886 where Rizal had
witnessed the said celebration.
In Leipzig and Dresden
August 14, 1886 – Rizal arrived in
Leipzig
He attended some lectures at the University of
Leipzig on history and psychology.
He befriended Prof. Friedrich Ratzel,
a famous historian
and Dr. Hans Meyer, German
anthropologist.
Rizal found out that the cost of living in Leipzig was the
cheapest in Europe so he stayed for 2 months and a half.
On October 29, he went to
Dresden, where he met Dr.
Adolph B. Meyer, the
Director of the
Anthropological and
Ethnological Museum.
Rizal Welcomed in Berlin’s Scientific Circles
Rizal was enchanted by Berlin because of its scientific atmosphere
and the absence of race prejudice.
Some scientists Rizal met are:
Dr. Feodor Jagor – German scientist-traveler and author of
Travels in the Philippines
Dr. Rudolf Virchow – famous German anthropologist
Dr. W. Joest – German geographer
Dr. Karl Ernest Schweigger – famous German
ophthalmologist
Rizal’s Life in Berlin
Five reasons why Rizal stayed in Berlin:
• To gain further knowledge of ophthalmology
• To further his studies of science and languages
• To observe the economic and political conditions of
the German nation
• To associate with famous German scientists and scholars
• To publish his novel, Noli Me Tangere
Rizal worked as an assistant in the clinic of Dr. Scweigger, and at
night, he attended lectures in the University of Berlin.
He also took private lessons in French under Madame Lucie
Cerdole.
Rizal on German Women
Rizal sent a letter to his sister, Trinidad, dated on March
11, 1886. In his letter, Rizal expressed his high regard and
admiration for German womanhood. Rizal said that
German woman is serious, diligent, educated and friendly.
German Customs
Some of the German customs Rizal admired:
• On Yuletide season, people will select a pine tree from
the bushes and adorned it with lanterns, papers, lights,
dolls, candies, fruits, etc.
• Self-introduction to strangers in a social gathering.
Rizal’s Darkest Winter
The winter of 1886 in Berlin was his darkest winter.
He lived in poverty because no money arrived from Calamba and
he was flat broke.
He could not pay his landlord and he was eating only one meal a
day.
His clothes were old and threadbare.
His health broke down due to lack of proper nourishment.
This is one of the most memorable days in the life of Rizal.
The End...
