Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Chapter 1 2 3 of Jose Rizal S Life Works and Writings
Chapter 1 2 3 of Jose Rizal S Life Works and Writings
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4. Brown Filipinos and white Spaniards may be equal before God, but not before the law and certainly
not in practice.
vi. MALADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE
1. Justice was costly, partial, and slow. Poor Filipinos had no access to the courts because they could
not afford the heavy expenses of litigation.
2. Wealth, social, prestige, and color of skin were preponderant factors in winning a case in court.
3. Justice delayed is justice denied: Juan de la Cruz (1886-1898) – 12 yrs
a. Suspect for murder without preliminary investigation and proper trial
b. Jailed in Cavite for 12 years. In 1898, the Americans came and found him in jail still
awaiting trial.
vii. RACIAL DISCRIMINATION
1. Spaniards called the brown-skinned and flat-nosed Filipinos “INDIOS” (Indians)
2. Filipinos dubbed the Spaniards as “BANGUS” (Milkfish)
3. A Spaniard, no matter how stupid he was, always enjoyed political and social prestige and
superiority.
4. Fr. Jose Burgos:
a. complained the Spanish misconception that a man’s merit depended on the pigment of
his skin
b. complained of the lack of opportunities for educated young Filipinos to rise in the
service of God and country
viii. FRAILOCRACY
1. Spanish political philosophy: union of Church and State
2. “government of friars”
3. Augustinians, Dominicans, Franciscans controlled the religious and educational life of the
Philippines: they acquire tremendous political power, influence, and riches.
4. A friar’s recommendation is heard by the governor general and provincial officials. He could send a
patriotic Filipino to jailor denounce him as a filibustero (traitor)
5. These friars were portrayed by Rizal in his novels as Padre Damaso and Padre Salvi
ix. FORCED LABOR
1. “POLO:” forced labor imposed on Filipinos in the construction of infrastructures and public works
2. “Falla:” sum of money paid to government to be exempted from the polo.
3. ABUSES:
a. FIRST: Spanish residents, contrary to law, were not recruited for “polo”
b. SECOND: Laborers received only a part of their supposed original stipend. Worse, they
got nothing.
i. People who pay taxes are compelled to work gratis.
c. THIRD: this caused inconvenience and suffering because common laborers are disturbed
from their work in farms, shops, and labors are far from homes and towns.
x. HACIENDAS OWNED BY THE FRIARS
1. Spanish friars were the richest landlords for they owned the best haciendas (agricultural lands) in
the Philippines.
2. The rural folks became tenants.
a. They resented the loss of their lands which belonged to their ancestors since pre-
Spanish times
b. The friars were recognized as legal owners of said lands because they obtained royal
titles of ownership from the Spanish Crown.
c. Rizal, whose family and relatives were tenants of a land, tried to initiate agrarian reform.
d. Rizal’s advocacy ignited the wrath of the friars, who retaliated by raising rentals of the
lands.
3. Friar ownership of the productive lands contributed to the economic stagnation of the Philippines.
a. Essay of Rizal: “INDOLENCE (lack of concern) OF FILIPINOS”: Deceptions made by friars
making the local folks believe that plantations are prospering because they were under
their care.
xi. GUARDIA CIVIL (Constabulary)
1. Supposed to maintain peace and order in the society
a. Service: to suppress bandits in the provinces
b. They don’t observe their duty: maltreating innocent people, looting their livelihoods,
raping women
2. Rizal directed his stinging satire against the hatred Guardia Civil, through Elias in Noli Me Tangere.
a. Exposed Guardia Civil as ruthless: disturbing peace & persecuting honest men
b. He proposed to improve the military organization by having it composed of good men
who have good education and principles; men who are conscious of the limitations of
authority and power.
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c. Baptized in the Catholic Church; His name “Jose” was chosen by his mother who was a devotee of the Christian Saint San
Jose. (St. Joseph)
III. RIZAL’S PARENTS:
a. Jose was the 7th of the 11 children of Francisco Mercado Rizal & Teodora Alonso Realonda
IV. THE RIZAL CHILDREN: (2 boys and 9 girls)
a. SATURNINA (1850 – 1913) – eldest/ nickname: Neneng
b. PACIANO (1851-1930) – older brother
i. Second father to Jose
ii. He immortalized him in Noli Me Tangere as Pilosopong Tasyo
c. NARCISA (1852-1939) – nickname: SIsa/ School Teacher
d. OLIMPIA (1855-1887) – nickname: Ypia
e. LUCIA (1857-1919) –her husband was denied of Christian burial because of Rizal
f. MARIA (1859-1945) – nickname: Biang
g. JOSE (1861-1896)– nickname: Pepe
h. CONCEPCION (1862-1865) – nickname: Concha/ died of sickness at the age of 3
i. JOSEFA (1865-1945) – nickname: Panggoy/ died an old maid at the age of 80
j. TRINIDAD (1868-1951) – nickname: Trining/ died an old maid at the age of 83
k. SOLEDAD (1870-1929) – nickname: Choleng
l. Doña or Señora (if married) & Señorita (if single)
V. RIZAL’S ANCESTRY
a. Domingo Lameo
i. Rizal’s great-great grandfather on his father side: Chinese Immigrant
ii. Married a Chinese Christian Girl: Ines de la Rosa
iii. Assumed the surname “Mercado” because he was a merchant
1. Francisco Mercado: their son
a. Married a Chinese-Filipino: Cirila Bernacha
i. Juan Mercado: their son/ Rizal’s grandfather
1. Married a Chinese-Filipino: Cirila Alejandro
2. Had 13 children
a. Francisco Mercado: youngest/ Rizal’s father
VI. THE SURNAME RIZAL
a. The real surname of Rizal was Mercado
b. “Rizal”, was given by a Spanish alcalde mayor (provincial governor) of Laguna, who was a family friend.
c. Rizal in Spanish: “a field where wheat, cut while still green, sprouts again”
VII. THE RIZAL HOME
a. Was one of the distinguished stone houses in Calamba during Spanish times.
b. By day, it hummed with the noises of children at play and the songs of the birds in the garden.
c. By night, it echoed with the dulcet notes of family prayers.
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a. Jose was closely attached to Concha (Concepcion)
b. Jose was a year older than Concha. He learned the sweetness of sisterly love from her.
c. Unfortunately, Concha died of sickness when he was only 3 years old. He cried for the first time: caused by love and grief.
d. This was Jose’s first sorrow.
IV. DEVOTED SON OF THE CHURCH
a. 5 y.o.: was able to read the family’s Spanish Bible
b. Fr. Leoncio Lopez: a Filipino priest. Jose listens to his stimulating opinions on current events and sound philosophy of life.
V. PILGRAMAGE TO ANTIPOLO: 7 y.o.
a. To fulfill his mother’s vow when Jose was born
b. Crossed Laguna de Bay: first lake voyage
c. Did not sleep the whole night: awed by the Pasig River and the silence of the night. Experienced his first sunrise
d. Went to Manila afterwards to visit: Saturnina, eldest sister. Jose’ first glimpse of Manila.
VI. THE STORY OF THE MOTH: fable of the young moth and the old one
a. Story told by her Mother: Made the profoundest impression on him
b. She was teaching Jose to read in Spanish: El Amigo de los Ninos (The Children’s Friend) when everyone was asleep.
c. She was her ultimate critique in his poetical compositions.
d. Jose marveled how her mother sounded good in reading her Spanish phrases.
e. Jose watched a cheerful flame and moths encircling it when he paid little attention to reading.
f. Mother told Jose a story when she noticed that he was not interested anymore in reading.
g. The word ‘story’ promised something new and wonderful on Jose. Jose was full of curiosity and wonder.
h. Warning of the old moth. Jose did not notice how her mother’s story ended he was fixated on how the moth died
because of its attraction to the flame. For Jose, it died a martyr to its illusions.
i. Mother’s advice: don’t behave like the young moth. Don’t be disobedient, or you may get burnt as it did.
j. For Jose: Moths know how to warn younger moths. They advised like her mother. The light for Rizal seemed to be more
beautiful.
k. Noble death: sacrificing one’s life for the light. It is something worthwhile.
VII. ARTISTIC TALENTS
a. 5 y.o. : sketches with his pencil/ molding of clay and wax objects that attracted his fancy
b. Painted in oil colors a new banner for the town fiesta: better than the original
c. Spending so much time making images in clay and wax rather than participating in games: “laugh at me now, someday
when I die, people will make monuments and images of me.”
VIII. FIRST POEM: “to my fellow children”
a. Gift for literature
b. Poem is about loving the mother tongue : age of Jose was 8
c. Earliest nationalist sentiment
d. People who truly love their native language will surely strive for liberty like the bird which soars to freer space above.
e. Tagalog is equal to Latin, English, Spanish, and any other Language.
IX. FIRST DRAMA
a. A Tagalog Comedy, written after his first poem was done: bought by a gobernadorcillo from Paete and staged it in his
town fiesta.
X. AS BOY MAGICIAN/ PERFORMER
a. Making a coin appear or disappear in his fingers and making a handkerchief vanish in thin air
b. Magic lantern exhibitions: lamp casting its shadow on a white screen. He twisted his fingers into fantastic shapes, making
their enlarged shadows on the screen resemble certain animals and persons.
c. Puppet shows: manipulating marionettes
XI. LAKESHORE REVERIES
a. “meditations” at the shore of Laguna with his dog (Usman) on the sad conditions of his oppressed people
b. Guardia Civil: everyday in his town, unarmed villagers are always injured. Villager’s only fault: not taking his hat off and
not bowing.
c. There was no restraint put upon brutality
d. He always asks himself: if people live the same way across the lake
e. Jose grieved deeply over the unhappy situation of his beloved fatherland.
f. The Spanish misdeeds awakened in his boyish heart a great determination to fight tyranny.
g. With these injustices, Jose made a vow dedicating himself in studies to avenge the many victims of his hometown. (same
idea was written to his friend, Mariano Ponce)
XII. INFLUENCES ON THE HERO’S BOYHOOD
a. HEREDITARY
i. Malayan Ancestors: love for freedom, desire to travel, and courage.
ii. Chinese Ancestors: serious nature, frugality, patience, and love for children.
iii. Spanish Ancestors: elegance of bearing, sensitivity to insult, and gallantry to ladies.
iv. Father: profound sense of self-respect, love for work, habit of independent thinking.
v. Mother: religious nature, spirit of self-sacrifice, and passion for arts and literature.
b. ENVIRONMENTAL
i. Scenic beauties of Calamba and the beautiful garden of the Rizal family stimulated the inborn artistic and
literary talents of Jose.
ii. The religious atmosphere at his home fortified his religious nature.
iii. Paciano: love for freedom and justice
iv. Sisters: courteous and kind to women
v. Fairy tales told by his aya: awakened his interest in folklore and legends.
vi. Tio Jose Alberto: who had studied for 11 years in a British School in Calcutta, India, and had travelled in Europe
inspired him to develop his artistic ability.
vii. Tio Manuel: a husky and atheletic man, encouraged him to develop his frail body by means of physical
exercises, including horse riding, walking, and wrestling.
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viii.Tio Gregorio: a book lover, intensified his voracious reading of good books.
ix. Fr. Leoncio Lopez, fostered Rizal’s love for scholarship and intellectual honesty.
x. Sorrows:
1. Death of Concha and the imprisonment of his mother, contributed to strengthen his character,
enabling him to resist blows of adversity in later years.
2. Spanish abuses and cruelties, the brutal acts of the Guardia Civil and the alcalde, the unjust
tortures inflicted on innocent Filipinos, and the Execution of the Gom-Bur-Za, awakened his spirit of
patriotism and inspired him to consecrate his life and talents to redeem his oppressed people.
c. DIVINE PROVIDENCE
i. A person may have everything in life – brains, wealth, and power – but, without the aid of Divine Providence,
he cannot attain greatness in the annals of the nation.
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a. Dona Teodora was arrested on a malicious charge that she and her brother, Jose Alberto, tried to poision the latter’s
perfidious wife.
b. Jose Alberto, a rich Binan ilustrado, had just returned from a business trip in Europe.
i. During his absence his wife abandoned their home and children.
ii. When he arrived in Binan, he found her living with another man.
iii. Infuriated by her infidelity, he planned to divorce her.
iv. Dona Teodora, to avert family scandal, persuaded him to forgive his wife.
v. The family trouble was amicably settled, and Jose Alberto lived again with his wife.
c. However, the wife of Jose Alberto, with the connivance of the Spanish lieutenant (had been friends of the Rizals and was
treated as their honored guest in their home) of the Guardia Civil, filed a case in court accusing her husband and Dona
Teodora of attempting to poison her.
d. This lieutenant happened to have an ax to grind against the Rizal family, because at one time Don Francisco (Rizal’s
father) refused to give him fodder for his horse. Taking the opportunity to avenge himself, he arrested Dona Teodora.
e. After arresting Dona Teodora, the Spanish Lieutenant forced her to walk from Calamba to Santa Cruz, a distance of 50
kilometers.
f. After arrival to Santa Cruz, Dona Teodora was incarcerated at the provincial prison, where she languished for 2 and ½
years and was later on acquitted.
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c. Later Rizal read ‘Travels in the Philippines’ by Dr. Feodor Jagor, a german scientist-traveler who visited the Philippines.
Rizal was impressed on this book because of:
i. Jagor’s keen observations of the defects of Spanish colonization
ii. His prophecy that someday Spain would lose the Philippines
iii. America would come to succeed her as colonizer.
VIII. THIRD YEAR IN ATENEO
a. Won only one medal --- in Latin.
b. He failed to win the medal in Spanish because his spoken Spanish was not fluently sonorous.
IX. FOURTH YEAR IN ATENEO
a. Became an interno
b. Rizal had the highest affection and respect for Father Sanchez, whom he considered his best professor
c. He topped all his classmates in all subjects and won 5 medals at the end of the school term
d. He was able to repay his father for his sacrifices
X. LAST YEAR IN ATENEO
a. Most brilliant Atenean of his time, he was truly “the pride of the Jesuits.”
XI. GRADUATION IN HIGHEST HONORS
a. At 16: received the degree of Bachelor of Arts, with highest honors.
b. Commencement Day was a time of bitter sweetness.
c. Prayed to the Virgin: “when I should step into that world, which inspired me with so much terror, she would protect me.”
XII. EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES IN ATENEO
a. Was a campus leader outside the classroom
b. Became a secretary of a Marian Congregation because of his devotion to Our Lady Immaculate Conception --- College
Patroness.
c. Member of the Academy of Spanish Literature and the Academy of Natural Sciences.
d. Aside from writing poetry, he devoted his spare time to fine arts. He studied painting and sculpture.
e. To develop his weak body, he engaged in gymnastics and fencing.
XIII. SCULPTURAL WORKS IN ATENEO
a. Carved the image of the Virgin Mary on a piece of Batikuling (Philippine Hardwood) with his pocket knife.
b. Fr. Lleonart, impressed by Rizal’s sculptural talent, requested him to carve for him an image of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
XIV. ANECDOTES ON RIZAL, THE ATENEAN
a. Felix Roxas (contemporary of Rizal)
i. Related Jose’s resignation to pain and forgiveness
ii. Jose was hit in the face by one of the thrown books from two quarreling students.
iii. He did not raise a cry of protest, although his wounded face was bleeding.
b. Manuel Xeres Burgos:
i. Rizal’s predilection to help the helpless at the risk of his own life.
ii. Jose courageously climbed the high cathedral tower and retrieved the kite of his board mate.
XV. POEMS WRITTEN IN ATENEO
a. 1st poem written by Rizal: “My first Inspiration”
i. Dedicated to her mother on her birthday
ii. Jose was 14
XVI. RIZAL’S POEMS ON EDUCATION
a. Believed in the significant role which education plays in the progress and welfare of a nation: “Through Education, Our
Motherland receives Light”
i. Education instills power
ii. Education may lift the country to its highest station
iii. It gives security and peace to lands
iv. Education breaks the neck of vice and its deceit
v. Education knows how to tame barbarous nations --- from savages create heroic fame
b. Education without God is not true Education: “The Intimate Alliance Between Religion and Good Education.”
XVII. RIZAL’S RELIGIOUS POEMS
a. “To the Child Jesus” --- Jose was 14
i. A Celestial King would rather choose to be a shepherd for his sheep than to be sovereign
b. “To the Virgin Mary”
i. Jose was close to her mother
ii. Mary was her spiritual fortitude/ sustenance
iii. His anguish from death is set free because of his faith with her
XVIII. DRAMATIC WORK IN ATENEO
a. His favorite teacher, Fr. Sanchez, requested him to write a drama based on the prose story of St. Eustace the Martyr.
XIX. FIRST ROMANCE OF RIZAL
a. After his graduation, Jose experience his first romance --- “that painful experience which comes to nearly all adolescents”
b. The girl was Segunda Katigbak, a pretty 14 y.o. Batanguena from Lipa.
c. When he reached his grandmother’s house, he saw other guests. One of whom was an attractive girl, who mysteriously
caused his heart to palpitate with strange ecstasy. She was the sister of his friend Mariano.
d. His grandmother’s guests urged him to draw Segunda’s portrait. Jose was blushing every time that she was looking at
him.
e. Rizal came to know Segunda more intimately during his weekly visits to La Concordia College, where his sister Olimpia
was a boarding student. Olimpia was a close friend of Segunda.
f. Their love was hopeless because Segunda was already engaged to be married to her townmate, Manuel Luz.
g. Rizal, for allhis artistic and intellectual prowess, was a shy and timid lover. Segunda had manifested, by insinuation and
deeds, her affection for him, but timidly failed to propose.
h. Her mother is developing eye blindness and barely recognized him when he returned home.
i. His first romance was ruined by his own shyness and reserve: he was tongue-tied twice when he met Segunda
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i. He visited La Concordia to say goodbye
ii. She waved and smiled at him while her carriage passed by him when her steamer docked in Binan.
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ii. It expressed for the first time the nationalistic concept that the Filipinos, and not the foreigners, were the fair
hope of the fatherland.
VII. THE COUNCIL OF THE GODS
a. The following year, the Artistic-Literary Lyceum opened another literary contest to commemorate the 4 th centennial
death of Cervantes, Spain’s glorified man-of-letters and famous author of Don Quixote.
i. The contest was opened to both Filipinos and Spaniards.
ii. Rizal, inspired by his poetical triumph the previous year, submitted an allegorical drama entitled “The Council
of the Gods”
iii. Many professional writers and scholars joined the contest.
b. The Spanish community in Manila, spear-headed by the Spanish press, howled in great indignation against the decision
because the winning author was an Indio.
i. The prize was awarded to Rizal, a gold ring on which was engraved the bust of Cervantes.
ii. For the first time in history, an Indio --- a 19 y.o. Filipino medical student at that --- excelled in a national
literary contest defeating several Spanish writers.
iii. Rizal was particularly happy, for he proved the fallacy of the alleged Spanish superiority over the Filipinos and
revealed that the Filipino could hold his own in fair competition against all races.
c. The allegory established a parallel among Homer, Virgil, and Cervantes.
i. The gods discuss the comparative merits of these great writers
ii. They decide to give the trumpet to Homer, lyre to Virgil, and the laurel to Cervantes.
iii. The allegory gloriously closes with the naiads, nymphs, satyrs, and other mythological characters dancing and
gathering laurels for Cervantes.
VIII. RIZAL’S VISIT TO PAKIL AND PAGSANJAN
a. Rizal went on a pilgrimage to the town of Pakil, famous shrine of the Birhen Maria de los Dolores.
b. In Pakil, Rizal was infatuated by a pretty girl colegiala: Vicenta Ybardolaza, who skillfully played the harp.
c. From Pakil, Rizal and his party made a side trip to the neighboring town of Pagsanjan for 2 reasons:
i. It was the native town of Leonor Valenzuela
ii. To see the Pagsanjan Falls
IX. CHAMPION OF FILIPINO STUDENTS
a. In their frequent fights against the arrogant Spanish students, who were often surpassed by the Filipinos in class work and
who insultingly called their brown classmates: “Indio, chongo!”
b. Filipino students called them “Kastila, bangus!”
c. Hostility between these 2 groups of students often exploded in angry street rumbles.
i. Rizal participated in these brawls
ii. Owing to his skills in fencing, his prowess in wrestling, and his indomitable courage
d. Jose founded a secret society of Filipino Students: Companerismo (Comradeship)
i. Members were called “Companions of Jehu” --- after the valiant Hebrew general who fought the Armaeans
and ruled the Kingdom of Israel for 28 years.
ii. Led the members in street fights.
X. UNHAPPY DAYS AT THE UST
a. Jose was unhappy at this Dominican institution because:
i. The Dominican professors were hostile to him
ii. The Filipino students were racially discriminated against by the Spaniards
iii. Method of instruction was obsolete and repressive
b. The class in Physics was taught without laboratory experiments.
i. Laboratory apparatuses were kept inside the showcases to be seen by visitors and the students could not
touch them.
XI. DECISION TO STUDY ABROAD
a. After finishing the 4th year of his medical course, Rizal decided to study in Spain:
i. He could no longer endure the rampant bigotry, discrimination, and hostility in UST.
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b. Rizal was thrilled because it was his first trip through this canal
V. NAPLES AND MARSEILLES
a. Naples: (Italy)
i. This Italian city pleased him because of its business activity, its lively people, and its panoramic beauty.
b. Marseilles (France)
i. Visited the famous Chateau d’lf, where Dantes, hero of The Count of Monte Cristo, was imprisoned.
c. First impression on Barcelona, Spain’s 2nd largest city:
i. Was unfavorable
ii. Jose thought it was ugly, with dirty little inns and inhospitable residents
iii. Because he happened to stay upon his arrival at a dingy inn situated on an unimpressive narrow street in the
town’s most ugly side.
iv. BUT: Jose found it to be really a great city, with an atmosphere of freedom and liberalism. Its people were
open-hearted, hospitable, and courageous.
v. The Filipinos in Barcelona, some of whom were his schoolmates in Ateneo, welcomed Rizal.
VI. AMOR PATRIO (Love of Country)
a. In progressive Barcelona, Rizal wrote a nationalistic essay entitled “Love of Country” --- first article written on Spain’s soil
b. Jose sent this article to his friend in Manila, Basilio Teodoro Moran, publisher of Diariong Tagalog, the first Manila
bilingual newspaper (Spanish and Tagalog)
c. This appeared in Diariong Tagalog under Jose’s pen-name Laong Laan.
i. The article caused quite a sensation among readers in the Philippines because of its nationalistic flavor.
ii. Urged his compatriots to love their fatherland.
VII. MANILA MOVES TO MADRID
a. Jose received the sad news about the cholera that was killing many people
b. Another sad news: unhappiness of Leonora Rivera, who was getting thinner because of the absence of a loved one.
VIII. LIFE IN MADRID
a. Rizal enrolled in the Central University of Madrid in 2 courses --- Medicine & Philosophy and Letters
b. He also studied painting and sculpture in the Academy of Fine Arts of San Fernando
c. He took lesson in French, German, and English under private instructors
d. Practices fencing and shooting in the Hall of Arms of Sanz y Carbonell
e. His thirst for knowledge of music, he visited the art galleries and museums and read all subjects under the sun including
military engineering
f. He lived frugally. His only extravagance was investing on a lottery ticket
IX. ROMANCE WITH CONSUELO ORTIGA Y PEREZ
a. Rizal was not a handsome man. He’s only 5’3”
i. But he possessed an aura of charisma due to his many talents and noble character which made him more
attractive to romantic women.
ii. Consuelo fell in love with him
b. But he backed out for two reasons:
i. He was engaged to Leonor Rivera
ii. His friend and co-worker in the Propaganda movement, Eduardo de Lete, was madly in love with Consuelo and
he had no wish to break their friendship because of a pretty girl.
X. THEY ASK ME FOR VERSES
a. Rizal joined the Hispano-Philippine Circle, a society of Spaniards and Filipinos
b. He wrote a poem entitled “They ask me for Verses”
c. He poured out the cry of his agonizing heart
d. Sad isolation: memories of happy friendship
XI. RIZAL AS LOVER OF BOOKS
a. He stayed at home and read voraciously until midnight
b. He purchased books from a second-hand book store and was able to build a fair-sized private library.
c. Rizal was deeply affected by Beecher Stowe’s Uncle Tom’s Cabin and Eugene Sue’s The Wandering Jew.
i. These 2 books aroused his sympathy for the oppressed and unfortunate people.
XII. RIZAL’S FIRST VISIT TO PARIS
a. During his first summer vacation in Madrid, Rizal went to Paris, capital of France
b. Rizal improved his mind by observing closely the French way of life and spending many hours at the museums, the world
famous Louvre
c. The botanical gardens, Luxembourg
d. Libraries and art galleries
e. Laennec Hospital, where he observed Dr. Nicaise treating his patients
f. Lariboisiere Hospital, where he observed the examination of different diseases of women
g. Rizal was mistaken by the Parisians as a Japanese
h. For Jose, Paris was the costliest capital in Europe
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i. The duty of modern man is to work for the redemption of humanity, because once man is dignified there
would be less unfortunate and more happy men that is possible in this life.
ii. Humanity cannot be redeemed so long as there are oppressed people.
iii. Humanity cannot be redeemed while reason is not free, while faith would want to impose on facts, while
whims are laws, and while there are nations who subjugate others.
iv. For humanity to be able to attain the lofty destiny toward which God guides it, it is necessary that within its
fold there should be no dissensions nor tyranny
XIV. FINANCIAL WORRIES
a. After Jose’s departure for Spain, things turned from bad to worse in Calamba.
i. The harvests of rice and sugarcane failed on account of drought and locusts.
b. The Manager of the Dominican-owned hacienda increased the rentals of lands cultivated by the Rizal family.
i. The hacienda manager, a frequent guest at the Rizal home, used to ask for a turkey from Don Francisco (Jose’s
father), who was a good raiser of turkeys.
ii. Dreadful pest killed most of the turkeys.
iii. When the manager requested for a turkey, Don Francisco had to deny him because he needed the few
surviving turkeys for breeding purposes.
iv. Enraged by his failure to receive a turkey, the vindictive manager arbitrarily increased the rentals of the lands
leased by Don Francisco and Paciano.
c. Due to hard times in Calamba, the monthly allowances of Rizal in Madrid were late in arrival and there were times when
they never arrived. Causing much suffering to him.
d. June 24, 1884:
i. Because he was broke, he was unable to take breakfast that day.
ii. With an empty stomach, he attended his class at the university, participated in the contest in Greek language
and won the gold medal.
iii. In the evening of the same day, he was able to eat dinner, for he was a guest speaker in a banquet held in
honor of Juan Luna and Felix Resurreccion Hidalgo
XV. RIZAL’S SALUTE TO LUNA AND HIDALGO
a. To celebrate the double victory of the Filipino artist in the National Exposition of Fine Arts in Madrid
i. First prize: Luna’s Spolarium
ii. Second Prize: Hidalgo’s Christian Virgins Exposed to the Populace
b. Artistic achievements transcended geographical frontiers and racial origins, for genius is universal --- “genius knows no
country, genius sprouts everywhere
c. Jose also assailed with refined sarcasm the bigotry and blindness of certain unworthy Spaniards (bad friars in the
Philippines) who could not comprehend the universality of genius.
d. Text:
i. In the history of nations there are names that by themselves signify an achievement, that recall passion and
greatness.
ii. That race, fallen into lethargy during the historic night while the sun illumines other continents, again
awakens, moved by the electric impact that contact the western peoples produces, and she demands light…
confirming the eternal laws of constant evolution, of change, of periodicy, of progress.
iii. In Spolarium:
1. The canvas is not mute, can be heard the tumult of the multitude, the shouting of the slaves
2. With such vigor and realism
3. Shadow and mystery
iv. Hidalgo:
1. Light, colorful, harmony
v. Both coincide at bottom in spite of notable differences
vi. Both express our social, moral, and political life; mankind subjected to harsh test
vii. Reason and aspiration in an open struggle with preoccupations, fanaticism, and injustices, because sentiments
and opinions cut passage through the thickest walls, because to them all bodies have pores, all are
transparent, and if they lack pen, if the press does not help them, the palette and brushes will not only delight
the eye but will also be eloquent tributes.
viii. Spain, as mother, teaches also her language to the Philippines in spite of the opposition of those myopic men
and pigmies, who, desiring to insure the present, do not see the future, do not weigh the consequences.
ix. This banquet: to give form to the mutual embrace of two races that love one another, so that they may form
in the future one single nation in spirit, in their duties, in their views, in their privileges.
x. I drink to the health of the Filipino youth, sacred hope of my native land.
xi. The furrow is ready and the ground is not sterile.
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f. New Rector: treated persons without dignity. Students want to reinstate the old Rector
XVII. STUDIES COMPLETED IN SPAIN
a. He was conferred the degree of Licentiate in Medicine by the Universidad Central de Madrid
b. He did not present the thesis required for graduation nor paid the corresponding fees, he was not awarded his Doctor’s
diploma
c. He was awarded the degree of Licentiate in Philosophy and Letters on his 24 th birthday with the rating of excellent
(sobresaliente)
d. He became qualified to be a professor of humanities in any Spanish university
e. By receiving his degree of Licentiate in Medicine, he became a full-pledge physician, qualified to practice medicine
f. He did not bother to secure the post-graduate degree of Doctor in Medicine because it was, together with the licentiate
in philosophy and letters, good only for teching purposes.
g. He knew that with his brown color and asian racial ancestry no friar-owned university or college in the Philippines would
accept him in its faculty staff.
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