November 3, 1882, Rizal’s first arrived in Madrid, he studied at Universidad Central de Madrid

and took 2 courses – Medicine and Philosophy and Letter. Rizal doubled his effort in studying because
the lessons in abroad are more advance and difficult than here in the Philippines, aside from that he also
learned how to paint and sculpture in the Acadeny of Fine Arts of San Fernando and practiced fencing
and shooting in the Hall of Arms of Sanz y Carboneli and studied 3 languages – French, German and
English under private instructors. The life of Rizal in Madrid is not easy because he need to save money
because his family are facing hard situations so his brother Paciano can’t send him money anymore for
his allowance. Rizal met Felix Hidalgo, Graciano Lopez Jaena, Mariano Ponce and Marcelo Del Pilar. Rizal
was dedicated to finish study and prepared himself for his fatherland and to cure his beloved
mother.Rizal did not waste his time and money in gambling, wine and women instead he spent his
leisure time in reading and writing. Every Saturday evenings, Rizal will go to Don Pablo’s house, Don
Pablo had been a city mayor in Manila during the administration of the liberal governor general Carlos
de la Torre and was later promoted vice-president of the Council of the Philippine in the Ministry of
Colonies (Ultrammar).

Consuelo Ortiga y Perez, the daughter of Don Pablo Ortiga y Rey, is beautiful women and had a
lot of suitors. They met because Rizal was part of the society that Consuelos father made. Consuelo fell
in love to Rizal for the first time they met not because of Rizal’s good look but because of Rizal’s talent
and noble characters. Because of being lonely in Madrid, Rizal’s was attracted to Consuelo’s beauty and
vivacity. Rizal wrote a poem for Consuelo, titled A La Senorita C. O. y P., as he expressed his feelings to
her. Before his feelings to Consuelo became deep, he backed out in making a move and avoiding her
because of two reasons, he already promises his love to Leonor Rivera and also because his companion,
Eduardo de Lete, was madly in love to Consuelo and he don’t want to have a complicated relationship
with Eduard.

Rizal wrote a poem entitled “Me Piden Versos” (They Ask Me For Verse) as a request of the
members of society that he joined, the group called Circulo Hispano-Filipino (Hispano-Philippine Circle).
The poem is all about his agony in life, he