Professional Documents
Culture Documents
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.
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).
Barcelona
On the afternoon of May 15, Rizal left Marseilles by train; he crossed the Pyrences and stopped for a day at Port Bou.
After the passport inspection at Port Bou, 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.
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.
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. Dueto 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.