Chapter 11 Back to Calamba, 1887-88

After the publishing of Noli and the uproar it cause to anti Filipino elements, Rizal was warned by
Paciano, Silvestre Ubaldo, Chenggoy and the other friend not to return home.

There are four reasons why Rizal is eager to go home in the Philippines.

1. To operate his Mother eye

2. To serve his people who had long been oppressed by Spanish tyrant

3. To find out the effect of Noli

4. To find it why Leonor Rivera had remained silent

He also wrote Blumentritt why he need to go home in the Philippines.

“ I always like to return to the country of my birth”

Delightful trip to manila

Rizal left Rome by train for Marseilles, a French fort, which he reached without mishap.

On July 3, 1887- Rizal boarded the steamer Djemnah, the same steamer which brought him to Europe
five years ago.

Rizal was the only passenger who could speak many languages, so he acted as interpreter for his
companions.

The steamer was Enroute to the Orient via Suez Canal.

On the board, he played chess with fellow passenger and engaged in lively conversation in many
languages.

After leaving Aden, the weather became rough and some of Rizal book got wet.

At Saigon, on July 30, 1887, he transferred to another steamer Hayfong, which was manila bound.

Arrival in Manila

Rizal voyage from Saigon to Manila was pleasant. On August 3, 1887 the moon was full and he slept
soundly the whole night.

On August 6 he arrived in Manila. He disembarked shortly after nine o’clock that night.
He found Manila the same as when he left it five years ago. There were the same old churches and
buildings, the same hole in the roads, the same boat in the Pasig river, and the same hoary walls
surrounding the city.

HAPPY HOMECOMING

On August 8, two days after his arrival in Manila, he reached Calamba. His family welcomed him
affectionately, with plentiful tears of joy.

Rizal established a Medical clinic in Calamba. His first exploit as a physician was the successful operation
on his mother’s eye.

He removed the double contract from his Mother and the news spread far and wide.

They usually call Dr. Uliman because he came to Germany, who is busy attending his lucrative medical
practice.

He opened gymnasium, for young folk, where he introduce European sports

He tried to divert the interest of his town mates in cockfighting and gambling, introducing to them the
sport such as gymnastic, fencing and shooting.

But during his stay in Calamba. He failed to see his beloved Leonor Rivera. He tried to go in Dagupan but
his parent absolutely forbade him.

He was caught on the iron grip of the custom of time that marriage must be arranged by the parents of
bridegroom and bride.

STORM OVER NOLI

A few weeks after his arrival, a storm broke over his novel. He received a letter from Governor General
of Malacanan name Emilio Terrero informing him to report immediately in Malacanan, because
somebody has whispered to him that the novel contained subversive ideas.

Rizal went to Manila and reported to the office of Governor General Terrero in Malacanan. The
Governor General told to Rizal the charge, but Rizal denied it, explaining that the merely exposed the
truth, but he never advocate subversive ideas.

The Governor General asked the author for the copy of the Noli, but Rizal had no copy. Because the only
copy he brought home was given to a friend. He promise to secured one to the Governor General.

Rizal visited to Jesuit Father to ask for a copy he sent them, but they would not part with it.
His former professor namely Fr. Francisco Sanchez, Fr. Jose Bech and Fr. Federico Fauna were glad to see
him.

Rizal discuss with them about the Noli and Fr. Fauna ventured an opinion “ everything in it was the
truth, but you may lose your head for it”

Fortunately Rizal found a copy in the hand of a friend. He was able to get it and gave it to Governor
General Terrero.

The Governor General who was liberal minded, knew that Rizal’s life was in jeopardy because in the
friars were powerful.

For security measure, he signed a young Spanish lieutenant, Don Jose Taviel de Andrade, as bodyguard
of Rizal.

This lieutenant belonged to the noble family, cultured and knew painting and he could speak English,
French and Spanish.

Governor General read the Noli and found no wrong in it, but Rizal enemies were powerful.

Arch. of Manila Msgr. Pedro Payo (Dominican) sent a copy of the Noli to the rector of UST Fr. Gregorio
Echavarria for examination.

The committee which was composed of a Dominican Professors submitted it report to the Fr. Rector,
who immediately transmitted it to the Arch. Payo.

The Arch. in turn lost no time in forwarding to the Governor General

The report of UST professors stating that the Noli was “ heretical, impious and scandalous in the religion
order, and Anti patriotic, subversive of public order, injurious in the government of the Spain and its
function in the Philippine Island in the political order.”

Governor General Terrero was dissatisfied with the report of the Dominican, for knew that the
Dominican were prejudiced against Rizal.

He sent the novel to the Permanent Commission of Censorship which was composed of priest and
laymen.

The report of commission was drafted by its head Fr. Salvador Font, Augustinian cura of Tondo.

It found that the novel contain subversive idea against church and Spain, recommended “ that the
importation, reproduction, and circulation of pernicious book in the islands be absolutely prohibited.

The banning of Noli only served to make it popular. Everybody wanted to read it. News among the
books spread among the masses.
Despite it prohibition, and vigilance of the cruel Guardia Civil many Filipinos were able to get hold of
copies of the Noli which they read at night behind closed doors.

Thanks to Governor General Terrero, there were no mass execution of Filipinos.

ATTAKER OF NOLI

The battle of the Noli took form of a war of words. Father Font printed his report entitled Noli Me
Legere (read me not) and circulated its copies, believing that his critique of disputed novel would
discredit it.

Another Augustinian friar, Fr. Jose Rodriguez, published a pamphlet entitled Caiingat Cayo (beware)
which attacked the Noli and warned the readers that if they read it “ they commit mortal sins inasmuch
as the said book is full of heresy.

Another attacker of Noli was the Spanish writer, Vicente Barrantes, his bitter criticism of the novel was
published in a Madrid newspaper, la espana Moderna in January, 1890.

Repercussion of the storm over the Noli reached the session hall of the Spanish Cortes. Two Spanish
senator Vida and Pando, attaked the Noli during the parliamentary debates. A member of the lower
house of the Spanish Cortes General Salamanca also came against Noli.

DEFENDER OF NOLI

The much maligned Noli had its gallant defenders. The fighting editor of La solidaridad, MH del pilar,
writing under the pen name Dolores Manapat, published the pamphlet entitled Caiigat Cayo as an
answer to Fr. Rodriguez Caiingat Cayo.
The similarity of the title and the physical makeup of the pamphlet of Del pilar with that Fr. Rodriguez
enable Del Pilar work to enter even churches were Rodriguez opus was distributed to the church goers.

The title of Caiigat Cayo means (be a slippery as an Eel )

Father Francisco Sanchez, Rizal’s beloved Jesuit professor depended Noli in public.

The Spanish statesman, Don Segismundo Moret, former president of the council of minister, read and
like the book very much.

A brilliant defender of Noli came from unexpected source. It was Reverent Vicente Garcia writing under
the pen name Justo Desiderio Magalang , which circulated even Singapore.
ARGUMENTS OF VICENTE GARCIA TO THE WORK OF FR. RODRIGUEZ

Rizal cannot be “ignorant man” as Fr. Rodrigues alleged, because he was graduate of Spanish
Universities and was recipient of scholastic Honors.

Rizal does not attack the church and Spain, as Fr. Rodriguez claimed, because what Rizal attacked in the
Noli the bad Spanish official and not Spain, and the bad and corrupt friars and not he church.

Fr. Rodriguez that does who read the Noli Commit mortal sin: since he(Rodriguez) had read the novel he
commit in the mortal sin.

Later when Rizal learned of the brilliant defences of Fr. Garcia of his novel, he cried because his
gratitude was overwhelming.

Rizal also defended his novel against Barrantes ignorance of Philippine affairs and mental dishonesty
which is unworthy of an academician.

During the height of controversy, the prices who was originally five pesetas (1 peso) was rose to fifty
pesos per copy.

RIZAL AND ANDRADE

What marred Rizal’s happy days in calamba with Lt. Andrade were.

a. The death of his older Sister, Olympia.

b. The groundless tales circulate by his enemies that he was a “German Spy, a protestant, a mason, a
witch, a soul beyond salvation etc…

CALAMBA’S AGRARIAN TROUBLE

Governor General Terrero influenced by certain fact in Noli ordered a government investigation of the
friars estates remedy whatever inequalities might have been present in connection in land taxes and
with tenant relation.

In compliance with Governor General ordered, dated December 30, 1887, the civil Governor of laguna
Province directed the municipal authorities of Calamba to investigate the agrarian condition of their
locality.