Chapter 6In Sunny Spain (1882-1885)

(Summary)
Introduction
Jose Rizal finished his medical course in the University of Santo Tomas. Then he decided to
complete his studies in Spain due to the radical prejudice of Dominican Professors against
Filipino Students. Aside from this ostensible reason, he had a “Secret Mission”, which was more
important than finishing his studies.

Rizal’s Secret Mission

The secret mission of Rizal is to observe keenly the life and culture, languages and customs,
industries and commerce, and government laws of European nation in order to prepare himself in
the mighty task of liberating his fellow-men.
His mission was approved by his older brother Paciano, Rizal leave without permission and
blessing from his parents.

Secret Departure for Spain

The departure of Rizal was kept secret to avoid the detection by the Spanish authorities and the
friars, even his own parents. Only selected person knows the secret departure of Rizal, including
his brother Paciano and the Ateneo Jesuit fathers. The Jesuit priests gave him letters of
recommendation to the members of their Society in Barcelona. On May3, 1882, Rizal departed
on board the Spanish steamer Salvadora bound for Singapore.

Singapore
During the voyage, Rizal observed the he is the only Filipino on the ship. The ship captain,
Donato Lecha, from Asturias, Spain, befriend him. On May 9,1882, the Ship docked at
Singapore. Rizal landed, registered at the Hotel de la Paz, and spent two days for sightseeing;
there he saw the statue of Sir Thomas Stanford Raffles (founder of Singapore).

From Singapore to Colombo

Rizal transferred to ship Djemnah, and he left to Europe on May 11. It was a French vessel
therefore French mostly spoken on board. On May 17, Djemnah reach Point Galle, a seacoast
town in southern Ceylon (now Sri Lanka).
The following day, Djemnah resume the voyage, after a few hours of sailing, they reach
Colombo, the capital of Ceylon on the same day.

First Trip through Suez Canal

From Colombo, Djemnah continued the voyage crossing the Indian Ocean to the Cape of
Guardafui, Africa, and then a stopover on Aden. From Aden Djemnah proceeded to the city of
Suez, the Red Sea terminal of the Suez Canal. It took five days to traverse the Suez Canal.
At Port Said, the Mediterranean terminal of the Suez Canal, Rizal landed and he was fascinated
to hear the multi-racial inhabitants speaking a babel of tongues.

Naples and Marseilles

From Port Said, the Djemnah proceeded on its way to Europe. On June 11,Rizal reached Naples.
On the night of June 12, the steamer docked at the French harbor of Marsielles. He stayed two
and a half day in Marsielles, he visited the famous Chateau d’lf, where Dantes, hero of The
Count of Monte Cristo.

Barcelona
On the afternoon of May 15, Rizal left Marseilles by train; he crossed thePyrences and stopped
for a day at Port Bou. After the passport inspection at PortBou, he contribute his journey, and he
reached Barcelona on June 16, 1882.
Rizal’s first impression of Barcelona was unfavorable; he found out that the
people were open-hearted, hospitable, and courageous. The Filipinos in Barcelona, some of
whom even his schoolmates on the Ateneo, welcome Rizal.

Amor Patria
Rizal wrote a nationalistic essay entitled “Amor Patria” (Love of Country), his first article
written on Spanish’s soil. He sent the article to Basilio Teodoro Moran, publisher of Diaryong
Tagalog, under his pen-name Laong Laan. Amor Patria appeared on the newspaper on August
20, 1882, with tagalong version translated by M.H.Del Pilar.
Rizal wrote again for Diaryong Tagalog; Los Viajes (Travels), Revisita de Madrid (Review of
Madrid), unfortunately Diaryong Tagalog had ceased publication for lack of funds.

Manila Moves to Madrid

Sad news, on September 15, 1882, Rizal received a letter from Paciano, according to the letter,
Philippines was ravaging by epidemic. Another sad news from Chengoy (Jose M. Cecilio,
intimate friend), Leonora Rivera was began to be unhappy because of the absence of Rizal.
In one of his letters (dated May 26, 1882) Paciano adviced Rizal to finish his medical course in
Madrid, therefore, Rizal establish himself to Madrid.

Life in Madrid
On November 3, 1882, Rizal enrolled in Universidad Central de Madrid (Central University of
Madrid) in two courses –Medical and Philosophy and Letters. Rizal is thirst for knowledge; he
studied a lot in Madrid and on his leisure times are reading and writing, sometimes he is
attending the reunions of Filipino Students.

Romance with Consuela Ortiga y Perez

Rizal, being a lonely young man in a foreign country, he was attracted by Consuelo’s beauty. On
August 22, 1883 he expresses his admiration; he made a poem entitled “A La Señiorita C.O. y
P.”. The Romance didn’t blossom because of two reasons:

- Engage to Leonora Rivera

- Eduardo de Lete (his friend) is madly in love with Consuelo.

They Ask me For Verses

Rizal joined the Circulo Hispano-Filipino (Hispano-Philippine Circle). Upon the request of the
members, Rizal wrote a poem entitled, Mi Piden Versos, he
declaimed it during New Year’s Eve, December 31, 1882
Rizal as Lover of Books
A favorite past time of Rizal in Madrid was reading. Rizal economized on his living expenses, he
purchase books from a second- hand book store. Rizal’s was deeply affected by Uncle Tom’s
Cabin and the Wandering Jew.

Rizal’s First Visit to Paris (1883)

His first summer vacation to Paris, France, June 17 to August 20, 1883 and he live at cheap hotel
on 124 Rue de Rennes in Latin Quarter. Like all tourist, Rizal was amazed on the beautiful
sceneries of Paris. Rizal is an unordinary tourist because he was observing the life and culture of
French; he was spending time on museums.

Rizal as a Mason
In Spain Rizal came close to with Masons including Miguel Morayta,Francisco Pi y Margal,
Manuel Bacerra, Emilio Junoy, and Juan Ruiz Zorilla. Rizal was impressed by the Spanish
Masons, and he joined Masonic lodge called Acacia in Madrid. Later he transferred to Lodge
Solidaridad (Madrid), were he became a Master Mason on November 15, 1890, he was awarded
the diploma of Master Mason on February 15, 1892.

Financial Worries
After Rizal’s departure to Spain, the things turned worse in Calamba. Due to hard time in
Calamba, the monthly allowances of Rizal in Madrid were late in arrival and there were times
they were never arrived. On June 24, 1884 , a touching incident to Rizal’s life; he was empty
stomach that day but he still attended to his classes and events.

Rizal’s Salute to Luna and Hidalgo

Banquet on June 25, 1884, Rizal salute to Luna and Hidalgo’s victory on the
National Exposition of Fine Arts in Madrid – Luna’s Spoliarium winning first prize and
Hidalgo’s Christian Virgins Exposed to the Populance, second price
.
Rizal Involved in Student Demonstration
On November 20, 21, and 22, 1884, a riot was exploded on the Central University due to
excommunicated of Dr, Morayta, The riot was participated by lots of students including Filipino
students.
The appointment of the new Rector intensified the fury of the student demonstrators. More
student demonstrations convulsed the city.

Studies Completed in Spain

Rizal completed his medical course in Spain in June 21, 1884. Due to not presenting the thesis
required and corresponding fees, he was not awarded his Doctor’s diploma. Rizal also finished
his studies in Philosophy and Letter. He was awarded the degree of Licentiate in Philosophy and
letters on June 19, 1885, with rating of Excellent.

Chapter 7 Paris to Berlin (1885-1887)

 Specializes his study in ophthalmology in Paris and Germany.

 Chose this branch of medicine for he wants to cure his mother’s eye ailment.
  Served as an assistant to the famous oculist in Europe.

 Continued his observations in Paris, Heidelberg, Leipzig and Berlin.

 Berlin – capital of unified Germany
 met and befriended top German Scientists
 Dr. Feodor Jagor
 Dr. Adolph B. Meyer
 Dr. Hans Meyer
 Rudolf Virchow
 Merits as scientist were recognized by the eminent scientists of Europe
 Gay Paris (1885-1886) – already 24 years old and physician
 Stopped at Barcelona to visit Maximo Viola (a medical student and a member of
rich family of san Miguel Bulacan)
 Stayed for week and befriended Senor Eusebio Corominas – editor of the
newspaper La Publicidad and made a Crayon sketch of Don Miguel Morayta
(owner of La Publicidad and a statesman)
 Gave Corominas an article on the Carolines Question, then a controversial
issue, for publication.
 November 1885 – living in Paris and sojourned for about four months
 Worked as an assistant to Dr. Louis D. Weckert (1852-1906) leading French
ophthalmologist, from November 1885 to February 1886.
 Outside his working hours, e visited his friends, such as:
 Family of Pardo de Taveras (Trinidad, Felix and Paz)
Paz Pardo de Taveras – pretty girl engaged to Juan Luna. On the
album of this girl, Rizal drew a series of sketches on the story of
“The monkey and the turtle”
 Juan Luna
 Felix Resurreccion Hidalgo
 Studio of Juan Luna – helped Luna by posing as a model in several paintings:
 The Death of Cleopatra as Egyptian Priest
 The Blood Compact as Sikatuna with Trinidad Pardo de Tavera as
Legaspi
 Rizal as Musician – kundimans and other Philippines melodies are played in all Filipino
reunions
 Reason for studying music: many of his schoolmates at the Ateneo were taking
music lessons
 November 27, 1878 letter to Enrique Lete
 Learned the solfeggio, the piano and voice culture in on month and a
half.
 Play the flute fairly well.
 Composed “alin mang lahi” (any race): a patriotic song which asserts that
any ace aspires for freedom.
 Sad Danza – “La Deportacion” (deportation): composed in Dapitan during
his exile.
 Historic Heidelberg – left Gay Paris on February 1, 1886 for Germany. Visited
Strasbourg (Capital of Alsace Lorraine)
  February 3, 1886 – he arrived in Heidelberg, a historic city in Germany, famous
for its old university and romantic surroundings.
 Became a member in Chess Player’s Club
 Worked at University Eye Hospital under the direction of Dr. Otto Becker
 Attended lectures of Dr. Otto Becker and Prof. Wilhelm Kuehne
 Weekends he visited: Heidelberg Castle , Neckar River, theatre and old
churches.
 Light Blue “forget-me-not” flower – Rizal’s favourite. Remembered the
blooming flowers at the garden of his home in Calamba.
April 22. 1886 wrote a poem “A Las Flores de Heidelberg” (to
the flowers of Heidelberg)
 With Pastor Ullmer at Wilhelmsfeld. Three months summer vacation at Wilhelmsfeld,
a mountainous village near Heidelberg.
 Stayed at vicarage of Protestant Pastor, Dr. Karl Ullmer
 His pleasing personality and talents in languages and sketching
endeared the pastor’s wife and 2 children, Etta and Fritz.
 Ended his sojourn June 25, 1886
 May 29, 1887 – wrote from Munich (Muchen) to Friedrich (Fritz)
 First letter to Ferdinand Blumentritt, director of the Ateneo de Leitmeritz, Austria
– July 31, 1886.
 Blumentritt (bestfriend of Rizal) – Austrian ethnologist and has interest in
Philippine Languages.
 sent with the book entitled “Aretmetica”: published in two languages – Spanish
and Tagalog – by the University of Santo Tomas Press in 1868. Author: Rufino
Baltazar Hernandez, a native of Sta. Cruz, Laguna.
 Impressed by Rizal’s letter, he gave Rizal two books.
 5th Centenary of Heidelberg University, August 6, 1886.
 3 days before his departure. Sad because he had come to love the beautiful city
and the hospitable people.
 Celebrated Festung in the morning. Bugmuller (famous student) dressed as
Frederick the Victorious. Lieberman as a gentleman in 17th century. Gregoire as a
wolf of Schwahen. Last night was Schlorsfest.
 In Leipzig and Dresden (August 9, 1886) boarded a train and visited many cities in
Germany.
 Arrived at Leipzig (August 14, 1886) attended lectures in history and psychology
at University of Leipzig
 Befriended Prof. Fiedrich Ratzel (famous German historian) and Dr. Hans Meyer
(German Anthropologist)
 Translated Schiller’s William Tell from German to Tagalog so that Filipinos
might know the story of the Champion of Swiss independence. Also translated
Hans Christians Andersen’s Fairy Tales for his nephews and nieces.
 October 29 left Leipzig for Dresden. Met Dr. Adolph B. Meyer – director of the
Anthropological and ethnological museum.
 Heard mass in a Catholic Church and was impressed
 November 1 left Dresden by train and reached Berlin in the evening.
  Rizal welcomed in Berlin’s scientific Circles
 Met for the first time Dr. Feodor Jagor. Had a letter of introduction by
Blumentritt for him.
 Was introduced to Dr. Rudolf Virchow (famous German Anthropologist), and his
son Dr. Hans Virchow (Prof. of descriptive Anatomy). Also met Dr. W. Joest
(German geographer)
 Worked in the clinic of Dr. Karl Ernest Schweigger (famous german
ophthalmologist) .
 Became member of the Anthropological Society, ethnological Society and
Geographical Society of Berlin.
 1st Asian to be recognized by Europe’s scientists.
 Invited to give lecture in response he wrote scholarly paper entitled tagalische
verkunst (tagalong metrical art)

 Rizal’s life in Berlin.

 Reasons for living in Berlin
 to gain further knowledge of ophthalmology
 to further his studies of sciences and languages
 to observe the economic had political conditions of German nation.
 To associate with famous German Scientists and Scholars
 To publish Noli Me Tangere
 In the morning as assistant to Dr. Schweigger and at night attended lectures in the
university of Berlin
 Took private lessons under a professor of French, Madame Lucie Cerdule, to
master the idiomatic intricacies of the French Language.
 Unter den Linden – most popular boulevard of Berlin. Rizal enjoyed
promenading.
 Rizal on German Women: letter to Trinidad (March 11, 1886). German woman
is serious, diligent, educated and friendly. Not gossipy, frivolous and quarrelsome
like Spanish woman.
 German customs: Christmas custom delighted him most. And self-introduction
of a German when nobody will introduce him.
 Rizal’s Darkest Winter: 1886 in Berlin. He lived in poverty because no money
arrived from Calamba and he was flat broke. The diamond ring which is sister,
Saturnina, gave him was in the pawnshop. He could no pay his landlord and had
to scrimp eating only one meal a day (bread and water or some cheap vegetable
soup).

CHAPTER 8
NOLI ME TANGERE PUBLISHED IN BERLIN (1887)

 Bleak winter was memorable because:

 It was a painful episode for he was hungry, sick and despondent in a strange city
 It brought him great joy, after enduring so much sufferings, because his first novel
Noli Me Tangere, came off the press in March 1887.
 Dr, Maximo Viola loaned him the needed funds to publish the novel
 Idea of writing a novel on the Philippines
 Beecher Stowe’s Uncle Tom’s Cabin – inspiration of Rizal in creating a novel
that would depict the miseries of is people under the lash of Spanish tyrants.
 January 2, 1884 – presented the novels to the group of Filipinos and
unanimously approved by those presents:
 Paternos (Pedro, Maximo and Antonio)
 Graciano Lopez Jaena
 Evaristo Aguirre
 Eduardo de Lete
 Julio Llorente
 Melecio Figueroa
 Valentin Ventura

 The writing of the Noli Me Tangere. Started in Madrid and finished half of it.
 Paris 1885 finished half of the second half
 Finished the last fourth in Germany
 Wrote the last few chapters in Wilhelmsfeld April-June 1886
 In Berlin, winter days, February 1886 – made final revisions
 He told Fernando Canon about his discouragement in publishing Noli Me Tangere