Chapters.

6 In Sunny Spain (1882-1885)

After finishing the 4th year of the medical course in the University of Santo Tomas. Jose Rizal, being
disgusted with the antiquated method of instruction in this Dominican owned University and racial
prejudice of Dominican professors against Filipino students, decided to complete his studies in Spain. At
that time the government of Spain was a constitutional monarchy under a written constitution which
granted human rights to the people, particularly freedom of assembly. Aside from this ostensible
reason, he had another reason, which was more important than merely completing his studies in Spain.
This was his “secret mission”, which many Rizal list biographers (including Austin Craig and Wenceslao E
Retana) never mention in their writings.

Rizal's Secret Mission. This mission which Rizal conceived with the approval of his older brother Paciano
was to observe keenly the life and culture, languages and customs, industries and commerce, and
governments and laws of the European nation’s in order to prepare himself in the mighty task of
liberating his oppressed people from Spanish tyranny. This was evidenced in his farewell letter which
was delivered to his parents shortly after his departure for Spain.

Aside from begging his parents forgiveness for leaving the Philippines without their permission and
blessings, he said in this letter:

But as good has not made anything useless on this world, as all beings fulfill obligations or role in the
sublime drama of creation, I cannot exempt myself from this duty, and small though it be, I too have a
mission to fill, as for example.

Secret Departure for Spain. Rizal's departure for Spain was kept secret to accept to avoid detection by
the Spanish authorities and the friars. Even his own parents did not know because he knew they
especially his mother would not allow him to go. Only his older brother ( Paciano), his uncle ( Antonio
Rivera ,father of Leonor Rivera), his sister’s ( neneng and lucia), the Valenzuela family ( Capitan Juan and
Capitana Sunday and their daughter orang) Pedro paterno, his compadre Mateo Evangelista, the Ateneo
Jesuit father’s and some intimate friends, including chengoy ( Jose M Cecilio) the kind Jesuit priests gave
him letters of recommendation to the members of their society in Barcelona. He used the name of Jose
Mercado, a cousin in Biñan. Before his secret departure, he wrote a farewell letter for his beloved
parents and another one for his sweetheart Leonor Rivera-both delivered shortly after he sailed away.

On May 3, 1882 Rizal departed on board the Spanish steamer Salvadora bound for Singapore. With tears
in his eyes and gloom in his heart, he gazed at the receding skyline of Manila. He hastly took paper and
pencil and sketched it as it vanished in view.
Singapore. During the voyage to Singapore he carefully observed the people and the things on board the
steamer. There were sixteen passengers, including himself – “five or six ladies, many children, and the
rest gentleman. He was the only Filipino, the rest were Spaniards, British, and Indian negroes.

On May 8, 1882, while the steamer was approaching Singapore, Rizal saw a beautiful island. Fascinated
by it’s scenic beauty, he remembered “ Talim island with the Susong Dalaga”.

The following day (may 9) the Salvadora docked at Singapore. Rizal landed, registered at hotel de la Paz,
and we spent two England. He saw the famous botanical garden, the beautiful Buddhist temples, the
busy shopping district, and the statue of sir Thomas Stanford raffles(founder of Singapore).

From Singapore to Colombo. In Singapore Rizal transferred to another ship djemnah, a French steamer,
which left Singapore for Europe on May 11. It was a larger and cleaner vessel which carried more
passengers. Among these passengers were British, French, Dutch, Spaniards, Malays, Siamese, and
Filipinos (Mr. And Mrs. Salazar, Mr. Vicente Pardo, and Jose Rizal).

On May 17, the djemnah reached point galle, a seacoast town in southern Ceylon (now Sri Lanka ). Rizal
was unimpressed by his town. On his travel diary, he wrote: “The general appearance of Point Galle is
picturesque but lonely and quiet and at the same time sad.”

First trip through Suez canal. From Colombo, the djemnah continued the voyage crossing the Indian
ocean to the cape of guardafui, Africa. For the first time, Rizal sighted the barren coast of Africa, which
he called an “inhospitable land but famous “.

Naples and Marseilles. From Port said, the djemnah proceeded on it’s way to Europe. On June 11, Rizal
reached Naples. This Italian city pleased him because of it’s business activity, it’s lively people, and it’s
panoranic beauty. He was fascinated by Mount Vesuvius, the Castle of St. Telmo, and other historic
sights of the city.

On the night of June 12 steamer docked at the French harbor of marseilleles. Rizal after bidding farewell
to his fellow passengers, disembarked. He visited the famous chateau d'lf where Dante’s hero of the
count of Monte cristo was insprisoned he had enjoyed reading this novel of Alexander Dumas when he
was a student at the Ateneo he stayed two and half days in Marseilles, enjoying every day of his
sojourn.

Barcelona. On the afternoon of may 15 Rizal left Marseilles by train for the last lap of his trip to Spain.
He crossed the Pyrenees and stopped for a day at the frontier town of port Bou. Here he noticed the
indifference accorded by the Spanish immigration officers to tourist in direct contrast with the courtesy
of the Of the French immigration officers.

Amor Patrio on progressive Barcelona Rizal wrote a nationalistic essay entitled Amor Patrio ( love of
country), his first article written on Spain soils. He sent this article to his friend on Manila basilio
Teodoro Moran publisher of Diaryong Tagalog the first Manila bilingual newspaper ( Spanish and
Tagalog )

Manila moves to Madrid while sojourning in Barcelona, Rizal received sad news about the cholera that
was ravaging Manila and the provinces. Many people had died and more were dying daily. According to
paciano. Letter dated September 15, 1882, Calamba folks were having afternoon novenas to San Roque
and nocturnal processions and prayers so that God may stop the dreatful epidemic, the Spanish health
authorities were impotent to check.

Life in Madrid on November 3 1882 Rizal enrolled in the Universidad central de Madrid ( central
University of Madrid) in two courses- medicine and philosophy and Etters aside from his heavy studies in
the University he studied painting and sculpture In the academy of fine arts of San Fernando took
lessons in French German and English under private instructions and assiduously practised fencing and
shooting in the hall of arms of sanz y carbonell. And museums and read books on all subjects under the
tosun including military engineering in order to broader his cultural background.

Romance with Consuelo Ortina y Perez, Rizal was not a handsome man. In physique, he was neither
dashing nor imposibling for the was a shy small man- a few inches above five feet in the height. But he
possessed an aura charisma due to his many splendored talents and noble character which made him
attractive to romantic young women. No wonder the prettier of don Pablo's daughters ( Consuelo) fell in
love with him.

They ask me for verses in 1882 shortly after his arrival in Madrid Rizal joined the Circulo
Hispano_Filipino (Hispano – Philippine circle) a society of Spaniards and Filipinos upon the request of the
members of this society, he wrote a poem entided me piden versos ( they ask me for verses) which he
personally declaimed during the new year’s Eve reception of the Madrid Filipinos held in the evening of
December 31, 1882. In the sad poem he poured out the cry of his agonizing heart as fallows.
Rizal’s Darkest Winter. Rizal spent winter’s in many temperate countries. The winter of 1886 in
Berlin was his darkest winter. During this bleak winter, he lived in poverty because no money
arrived from Calamba and he was flat broke. The diamond ring his sister, Saturnina, gave him
was in the pawnshop. He could not pay his landlord. He had to scrimp, of bread and water or
some cheap vegetable soup. His clothes were old and threadbare. He washed them himself
because he could not-afford to pay the laundry.

Chapters. 6 In Sunny Spain (1882-1885)

After finishing the 4th year of the medical course in the University of Santo Tomas. Jose Rizal, being
disgusted with the antiquated method of instruction in this Dominican owned University and racial
prejudice of Dominican professors against Filipino students, decided to complete his studies in Spain. At
that time the government of Spain was a constitutional monarchy under a written constitution which
granted human rights to the people, particularly freedom of assembly. Aside from this ostensible
reason, he had another reason, which was more important than merely completing his studies in Spain.
This was his “secret mission”, which many Rizal list biographers (including Austin Craig and Wenceslao E
Retana) never mention in their writings.

Rizal's Secret Mission. This mission which Rizal conceived with the approval of his older brother Paciano
was to observe keenly the life and culture, languages and customs, industries and commerce, and
governments and laws of the European nation’s in order to prepare himself in the mighty task of
liberating his oppressed people from Spanish tyranny. This was evidenced in his farewell letter which
was delivered to his parents shortly after his departure for Spain.

Aside from begging his parents forgiveness for leaving the Philippines without their permission and
blessings, he said in this letter:

But as good has not made anything useless on this world, as all beings fulfill obligations or role in the
sublime drama of creation, I cannot exempt myself from this duty, and small though it be, I too have a
mission to fill, as for example.

Secret Departure for Spain. Rizal's departure for Spain was kept secret to accept to avoid detection by
the Spanish authorities and the friars. Even his own parents did not know because he knew they
especially his mother would not allow him to go. Only his older brother ( Paciano), his uncle ( Antonio
Rivera ,father of Leonor Rivera), his sister’s ( neneng and lucia), the Valenzuela family ( Capitan Juan and
Capitana Sunday and their daughter orang) Pedro paterno, his compadre Mateo Evangelista, the Ateneo
Jesuit father’s and some intimate friends, including chengoy ( Jose M Cecilio) the kind Jesuit priests gave
him letters of recommendation to the members of their society in Barcelona. He used the name of Jose
Mercado, a cousin in Biñan. Before his secret departure, he wrote a farewell letter for his beloved
parents and another one for his sweetheart Leonor Rivera-both delivered shortly after he sailed away.

On May 3, 1882 Rizal departed on board the Spanish steamer Salvadora bound for Singapore. With tears
in his eyes and gloom in his heart, he gazed at the receding skyline of Manila. He hastly took paper and
pencil and sketched it as it vanished in view.

Singapore. During the voyage to Singapore he carefully observed the people and the things on board the
steamer. There were sixteen passengers, including himself – “five or six ladies, many children, and the
rest gentleman. He was the only Filipino, the rest were Spaniards, British, and Indian negroes.

On May 8, 1882, while the steamer was approaching Singapore, Rizal saw a beautiful island. Fascinated
by it’s scenic beauty, he remembered “ Talim island with the Susong Dalaga”.

The following day (may 9) the Salvadora docked at Singapore. Rizal landed, registered at hotel de la Paz,
and we spent two England. He saw the famous botanical garden, the beautiful Buddhist temples, the
busy shopping district, and the statue of sir Thomas Stanford raffles(founder of Singapore).

From Singapore to Colombo. In Singapore Rizal transferred to another ship djemnah, a French steamer,
which left Singapore for Europe on May 11. It was a larger and cleaner vessel which carried more
passengers. Among these passengers were British, French, Dutch, Spaniards, Malays, Siamese, and
Filipinos (Mr. And Mrs. Salazar, Mr. Vicente Pardo, and Jose Rizal).

On May 17, the djemnah reached point galle, a seacoast town in southern Ceylon (now Sri Lanka ). Rizal
was unimpressed by his town. On his travel diary, he wrote: “The general appearance of Point Galle is
picturesque but lonely and quiet and at the same time sad.”

First trip through Suez canal. From Colombo, the djemnah continued the voyage crossing the Indian
ocean to the cape of guardafui, Africa. For the first time, Rizal sighted the barren coast of Africa, which
he called an “inhospitable land but famous “.

Naples and Marseilles. From Port said, the djemnah proceeded on it’s way to Europe. On June 11, Rizal
reached Naples. This Italian city pleased him because of it’s business activity, it’s lively people, and it’s
panoranic beauty. He was fascinated by Mount Vesuvius, the Castle of St. Telmo, and other historic
sights of the city.

On the night of June 12 steamer docked at the French harbor of marseilleles. Rizal after bidding farewell
to his fellow passengers, disembarked. He visited the famous chateau d'lf where Dante’s hero of the
count of Monte cristo was insprisoned he had enjoyed reading this novel of Alexander Dumas when he
was a student at the Ateneo he stayed two and half days in Marseilles, enjoying every day of his
sojourn.

Barcelona. On the afternoon of may 15 Rizal left Marseilles by train for the last lap of his trip to Spain.
He crossed the Pyrenees and stopped for a day at the frontier town of port Bou. Here he noticed the
indifference accorded by the Spanish immigration officers to tourist in direct contrast with the courtesy
of the Of the French immigration officers.
Amor Patrio on progressive Barcelona Rizal wrote a nationalistic essay entitled Amor Patrio ( love of
country), his first article written on Spain soils. He sent this article to his friend on Manila basilio
Teodoro Moran publisher of Diaryong Tagalog the first Manila bilingual newspaper ( Spanish and
Tagalog )

Manila moves to Madrid while sojourning in Barcelona, Rizal received sad news about the cholera that
was ravaging Manila and the provinces. Many people had died and more were dying daily. According to
paciano. Letter dated September 15, 1882, Calamba folks were having afternoon novenas to San Roque
and nocturnal processions and prayers so that God may stop the dreatful epidemic, the Spanish health
authorities were impotent to check.

Life in Madrid on November 3 1882 Rizal enrolled in the Universidad central de Madrid ( central
University of Madrid) in two courses- medicine and philosophy and Etters aside from his heavy studies in
the University he studied painting and sculpture In the academy of fine arts of San Fernando took
lessons in French German and English under private instructions and assiduously practised fencing and
shooting in the hall of arms of sanz y carbonell. And museums and read books on all subjects under the
tosun including military engineering in order to broader his cultural background.

Romance with Consuelo Ortina y Perez, Rizal was not a handsome man. In physique, he was neither
dashing nor imposibling for the was a shy small man- a few inches above five feet in the height. But he
possessed an aura charisma due to his many splendored talents and noble character which made him
attractive to romantic young women. No wonder the prettier of don Pablo's daughters ( Consuelo) fell in
love with him.

They ask me for verses in 1882 shortly after his arrival in Madrid Rizal joined the Circulo
Hispano_Filipino (Hispano – Philippine circle) a society of Spaniards and Filipinos upon the request of the
members of this society, he wrote a poem entided me piden versos ( they ask me for verses) which he
personally declaimed during the new year’s Eve reception of the Madrid Filipinos held in the evening of
December 31, 1882. In the sad poem he poured out the cry of his agonizing heart as fallows.

Chapter 7 Paris to Berlin (1885-87)

After completing his studies in Madrid Rizal went to Paris and Germany in order to specialize in
ophthalmology he particularly chose this branch of medicine because he wanted to cure his mother's
eye ailment,. He also continued his travel and observations of European life and customs go,
government and laws in Paris Heidelberg, Leipzig and Berlin in Berlin capital of then unified Germany he
met and befriended sever top German scientists Dr. Feodor Jagor Dr. Adolph b Meyer Dr. Hans Meyer
and Dr Rudolf Virchor. His merits as a scientist we’re recognized by eminent scientist of Europe.

In gay Paris (1885-86) . Shortly after terminating his studies at the Central University of Madrid, Rizal
who was then 24 years old and already a phycisian, went to Paris in order to aquire more knowledge in
ophthalmology.

On his way to Paris, he stopped at Barcelona to visit his friend, Maximo viola, a medical student and a
member of a rich family of San Miguel, Bulacan. He stayed for a week, during which time
hebefriendedSeñor Eusebio Corominas, editor of the newspaper La Publicidad and made a crayon
sketch of Don Miguel Morayta, owner of La Publicidad and a statesman.

Rizal as a musician. Music played an important part in all Filipino reunions in Barcelona, Madrid, Paris,
and other cities of Europe. The Filipino contemporaries of Rizal could either play an instrument or sing.
Especially, in the home of the Pardo de Taveras and in the Luna studio, every reunion was enlivened
with the playing or singing of the kundimans and other Philippine melodies.

Rizal had no natural aptitude for music and this he admitted. But he studied music because many of
schoolmates at the Ateneo were taking music lessons. In a letter dated November 27, 1878, he told
Enrique Lete that he “learned the solfeggio, the piano, and voice culture in one month and half” in
historic Heidelberg. After acquiring enough experience as an ophthalmologist in Dr. Weekert's clinic.
Rizal reluctantly left guy Paris on February 1.1886 for Germany.

He visited Strasbourg and other German border towns. To the flowers of Heidelberg. In the spring of
1886.rizal was fascinated by the blooming flowers along the cool banks of the Neckar river. Among them
was his favorite flower the light blue “forget me not”. The beautiful spring flowers reminded him of the
blooming flowers at the garden of his home in Calamba. In his mood of homesickness. He wrote on April
22.1886.a fine poem “A Las Flores de Heidelberg”. With pastor Ullmer at wilhelmsfeld. After writing to
the flowers of Heidelberg.

Rizal spent a three-month summer vacation at wilhelmsfeld. A mountainous village near Heidelberg he
stayed at the vecarage of a kind protestant pastor. Dr. Karl Ullmer, who become his good friend and
admirer. His pleasant personality and talents in languages and sketching endeared him to the pastor’s
wife, who was the good cook, and two children, Etta and fritz.

Fifth centenary of Heidelberg University. Rizal was fortunate to be sojourning in Heidelberg when the
famous university of Heidelberg held it’s fifth centenary celebration on August 6, 1886. It was three days
before his departure, and he was sad because he had come to love the beautiful city and it’s hospitable
people.

In Leipzig and Dresden. On August 9, 1886, three days after the fifth centenary celebration of the
university of Heidelberg, Rizal left the city. He boarded a train, visited various cities of Germany, and
arrived in Leipzig on August 14, 1886. He attended some lectures at the University of Leipzig on history
and psychology. He befriended professor Friedrich ratzel, a famous German historian, and Dr. Hans
Meyer, German Anthropologist.

On October 29, he left Leipzig for Dresden, where he met dr. Adolph B. Meyer, director of the
Anthropological and ethnological museum. He stayed two days in the city. He heard mass in a Catholic
church. Evidently, this mass impressed him very much, for he wrote on his diary: “Truly I have never in
my life heard a mass whose music had greater sublimity and intonation. “

Rizal welcomed in Berlin's Scientific Circles. Rizal was enchanted by Berlin because of it’s scientific
atmosphere and the absence of race prejudice. In this city he came in contact with great scientists. He
met for the first time Dr. Rudolf Jagor, celebrated German scientist-traveler and author of travels in the
Philippines, a book which Rizal read and admired during his student days in Manila. Dr. Jagor visited in
the Philippines in 1859-60, when Rizal was a boy. In this book (published in Berlin in 1873),he foretold
the downfall of Spanish rule in the Philippines and the coming of America to Philippine shores. Rizal had
a letter of introduction by Blumentritt for him.

Rizal’s life in Berlin. In Berlin, Rizal was not a mere student or a curious tourist. He lived in this famous
capital of unified Germany for five reasons: (1) to gain further knowledge of ophthalmology, (2) to
further his studies of sciences and languages, (3) to observe the economic had political conditions of the
German nation, (4) to associate with famous German and scientist and scholars, and (5) to publish his
novel, Noli Me Tangere.

Rizal in German Women. One of his important letters written while he was in Germany was that
addressed to his sister, Trinidad, dated March 11, 1886. In this letter, Rizal expressed his high regard and
admiration for German womanhood.

Rizal regretted that in the Philippines, the women are more interested in how they dress than in how
much they know. He praised, however, the delicacy of feeling, the fine manners, devotion, and
hospitality of the Filipino women, especially those in the provinces who are not yet sophisticated. If only
they can cultivate their intellect by education and by taking more interest in worldly affairs, remarked
Rizal, they can command the respect of all men.

German Costums. Aside from the German women, Rizal admired the German customs which he
observed well. It must be noted that he was a keen observer of the customs of the people’s in all the
countries he visited.

Another interesting German custom observed by Rizal is self-introduction to straingers in a

social gathering. In Germany, when a man attends a social function and finds that there is
nobody to introduce him to the other guests, he bows his head to the guests, introduces
himself and shakes the hands of everyone in the room. According to the German code of
etiquette, it is bad manners for a guest to remain aloof, and wait for his host or hostess to make
the proper introduction.
Rizal’s Darkest Winter. Rizal spent winter’s in many temperate countries. The winter of 1886 in
Berlin was his darkest winter. During this bleak winter, he lived in poverty because no money
arrived from Calamba and he was flat broke. The diamond ring his sister, Saturnina, gave him
was in the pawnshop. He could not pay his landlord. He had to scrimp, of bread and water or
some cheap vegetable soup. His clothes were old and threadbare. He washed them himself
because he could not-afford to pay the laundry.
Chapter 8
Noli Me Tangere Published in Berlin (1887)
The bleak winter of 1886 was memorable in the life of Rizal for two reasons: first, it was a
painful w
Chapter 8
Noli Me Tangere Published in Berlin (1887)
The bleak winter of 1886 was memorable in the life of Rizal for two reasons: first, it was a
painful w