Published in diariong tagalog, the first manila bilingual newspaper-Spanish and Tagalog.

The Tagalog
translation was been made by marcelo H del Pilar . The message of this article argued to love their
fatherland, the Philippines.

He continues “Love of country is the purest, most heroic and mostsublime human sentiment, it is
gratitude, it is affection for everything that reminds us of something of the first days of our life; it is the
land where our ancestors are sleeping. Love of country is never wipe out once it has penetrated the
heart, because it carries with it a divine stapm which renders it eternal and imperishable. Of all loves,
that the country is the greatest, the most heroic and most disinterested. Some have sacrificed for her
their have died, bequeathing to their Motherland an immense future, liberty and glory.”

This idea of dying for the country is reflected in rizal wrtings. In a letter to mariano ponce, he declared:

“If one has to die, at least one must die in his own country, by his country”. Jose Rizal wrote his second -
article for diariong tagalog entitled “Los Viajes” and his third article entitled “ Revistas de Madrid” ,
which he wrote in Madrid on November 29, 1882, but it was returned to him because of lack of funds.

After a few months he moved to madrid because medical education was reportedly cheaper there. He
followed a systematic and well organized schedule of study because he wanted to learn so much within
short time. He enrolled at the central universityof madrid on November 3, 1882 for the licentiate in
medicine. To further acquire wisdom and culture, he enrolled in philosophy and letters and to enhance
his artistic talents, he also lessons in painting and sculpture at the academia de bellas artes de san
Fernando and also lessons in German and French at the Ateneo de madrid. During his free hours, he
attended lectures and frequented the theater.

Rizal acquired wisdom in various fields of learning in two years. By June 21, 1884, he completed the
course for the licentiate in medicine . the next year he proceeded to doctor in medicine was not able
submit his thesis because of lack of funds.

In June 19, 1885, he received his licentiatein philosophy and letters which entitled him a university
professorship.

On his way to paris, rizal stopped at Barcelona to visit his friend for a week, maximo viola, a medical
student and member of a rich family of san Miguel, Bulacan. He also studied French language to a well
known teacher in paris. Madame Lucille cerdolle, the French teacher of the imperial family.

He went to paris for advanced studies in ophthalmology, together with other foreigners. He worked as
an assistant in the clinic of dr. louis de wecker, learned the medical techniques of an eye operation.after
his working hours at dr. wecker`s clinic, rizal spent many hours at the studio of juan luna, a great
painter. In luna’s canvas,``the death of cleopatra” rizal posed as an Egyptian priest and a great painting
“the blood compact”, rizal posed as sikatuna, with Trinidad pardo de tavera who posed as legazpi.

He left paris and went to Germany where the cost of living was cheaper. He practiced in a hospital og
Heidelberg under the supervision of the hospital director himself Dr.Otto becker, a distinguished
german ophthalmologist.

During weekends, rizal visited the scenic spots around Heidelberg, including the famous Heidelberg
castle, the romantic neckar river, the theater and old churches. This river, with its roman bridge,had
been maintained throughout the centuries as a historic link and as the gate to the oldest university of
Germany, founded in 1386.

When spring came, he went to the left bank of the neckar, from where he contemplated the beauty of
the river and fascinated by the blooming flowers, among them was his favorite flower, the light blue
“forget-me-not”.

While watching this scenery that the beautiful poem entitled “ to the flowers of Heidelberg” sprang
from his heart on April 22, 1886. The message of the poem show that rizal`s love`s nature and of his
native land.

Rizal in Germany

After writing “To the flowers of Heidelberg” jose spent three months summer vacation at wilhelmsfeid.
He stayed at the vicarage of a kind protestant pastor, Dr. Karl ullmer, who became his good friend.

Three days after the fifth centenary celebration of the university of Heidelberg Rizal went to Leipzig,
attended some lectures on history and psychology, he befriended Professor Friedrich ratzel, a famous
german historian and Dr. Hans Meyer, German anthropologist.

For Dresden he met Dr. Adolph B. Meyer, Director of the anthropological and ethnological.

In berlin, early 1887, Rizal met Dr. Feodor Jagor, German scientist traveler and author of Travels in the
Philippines whose works had inspired him when he was still a student at the Ateneo Dr. Jagor invited
him to attend a meeting of the geographic society, where he was introduced to Dr. Rudolf Virchow
German anthropolist and a statesman of intense democratic ideals. He also met Dr. Hans Virchow,

Professor of descriptive anatomy, Dr. W . Joest, noted German Geographer and Dr.Karl Ernest
Schweigger.

Rizal later became a member of the geographical and ethnologicalsociety, an organization composed of
scholars of different nationalities. Membership was granted to an applicant only after presentation of an
original work. Rizal submitted “Tagalische Verskunst”, (Tagalog Metrical art), written in German.

The reasons wht rizal lived berlin:

*To gain further knowledge in ophthalmology.

*To Further his studies of sciences and languages.

*to observe the economic had political conditions of the german nation.

*To associate with german scientist and scholars.

*To publish his novel, Noli Me Tangere.