ALCERA, Vince

BSA 1-6

I.

Exports of rice, sugar, and abaca were the main factors in the economy during the time. However,
there was resistance between the haciendas and inquilinos over who would have the larger portion of land
for economic trade--both of agricultural and political intentions. Despite the economic affluence brought
by the colonizers, were incapable of governing problems, preventing further progress and lost
development over consistent policies from overseas colonies. Filipinos have lost positions formerly held
in the bureaucracy due to corruption of the Spaniards. There was no support for public work, school,
peace, and order under their governance as the Guardia Civil became an oppressive force. Spaniards
began taxing despite having no proof of using tax payer’s money for government funding. Rapid spread
of education which gave awareness of nationalism for not only the European-educated ilustrados but also
among the middle- and lower-middle class Filipinos. Catholicism became utmost priority for the
Spaniards in order to gain order over the people. Religion was heavily funded along with the friars. It had
a role in governing the people, thus changing how people should conform in the society.

II.

Early Life
 June 19, 1861 - Wednesday between eleven and midnight Jose Rizal was born in Calamba,
Laguna.
 was one of the distinguished stone houses in Calamba during the Spanish times
 The first teacher of Rizal was his mother, who was remarkable woman of good character and fine
culture his mother
 Rizal had private tutors in his early education in Biñan.
 Before June, 1872- Dona Teodora was suddenly arrested on a malicious charge that she and her
brother, Jose Alberto, tried to poison the latter’s treacherous wife

His Studies in Manila

 Rizal enrolled in Ateneo and was described as a “tall thin man, with a body slightly bent forward,
a harried walk, an ascetic face, severe and inspired, small deep-sunken eyes, a sharp nose that was
almost Greek, and thin lips forming an arc whose ends fell toward the chin
 To improve his Spanish, Rizal took private lessons in Santa Isabel College during the noon
recesses. He paid three pesos for those extra Spanish lessons.
 Rizal topped all his classmates in all subjects and won five medals at the end of the school term at
the age of fifteen.
 In returning to Calamba, his mother refused Rizal to go back, but Don Cicoy let him study
Philosophy in UST then Land Surveying in Ateneo.
 1 year later, he studied medicine after knowing that his mother was becoming blind. Here, he
found his first love named Segunda Katigbak although he pursued Leonora Rivera.
 After vacationing in Calamba, he forgot to salute a Guardia Civil. He reported it in Malacañang
yet they did not mind.
 He won a literary competition with a piece El Consejo de los Dioses (The Councils of the Gods
yet no one clapped.
 Rizal decided to complete his studies on medicine in Spain
Journey to Spain
  He first went to Manila to ask letters of recommendations from Pedro Paterno and other Jesuit
priests.
 His departure to Spain at 20 years old was kept secret to avoid detection by the Spanish
authorities and the friars
 Rizal reached NAPLES AND MARSEILLES where he then rode the train going to Barcelona,
Spain for a few months waiting for the next school year.
 He wrote articles for the Diariong Tagalog under M.H. del Pilar while waiting for universities to
resume.
 Rizal left Barcelona in the fall of 1882 and established himself in Madrid, the capital of Spain

Life in Madrid
 Rizal enrolled in the Universidad Central de Madrid (Central University of Madrid) in two
courses—Medicine and Philosophy and Letters
 Rizal met other Filipino Intellectuals such as Graciano Lopez Jaina, a former student of
Medicine, and Gregorio Santianco who wrote El Progreso de Filipinas.
 He was part of Circulo Hispano-Filipino (Hispano-Philippine Circle) - a society of Spaniards and
Filipinos which Rizal joined shortly after his arrival in Madrid in 1882 where they talked about
the situation in the Philippines and released revistas.
 As he got his license in medicine and thought of going back home. His family suggested not to
and told him to go to a clinic in Paris to specialize in ophthalmology.

Paris and Germany

 Rizal went to Paris and Germany in order to specialize in ophthalmology—Rizal chose this
branch of medicine because he wanted to cure his mother’s eye ailment. Dr. Louis de Weckert
(1852-1906)- leading French ophthalmologist wherein Rizal worked as an Assistant.
 Rizal was a usual guest by the Pardo de Tavera family, the family-in-law of Juan Luna. Luna lent
money to Rizal a few times. Rizal became a model in some of Luna’s paintings.
 He went here to work under Dr. Otto Becker in the University Eye Hospital. Here, he also studied
writing and speaking German.
 Rizal wrote his first letter in German (which he had improved after his stay with the Ullmers) to
Professor Blumentritt, Director of the Ateneo of Leitmeritz, Austria. This built their friendship.
Rizal brought a book written by a Filipino to Blumentritt, which he then introduced Rizal to many
scholars in Europe.
 Maximo Viola- Rizal’s friend from Bulacan, arrived in Berlin at the height of Rizal despondency
and loaned him the needed funds to publish the novel; savior of Noli. He even brought Rizal to a
doctor since he wasn’t eating. Because of him, Rizal was able to publish Noli.

Departure to the Philippines

 After 3 weeks, because of the publication of the Noli Me Tangere and the uproar it caused among
the friars, Rizal was warned by Paciano (his brother), Silvestre Ubaldo (his brother-in-law),
Chengoy (Jose M. Cecilio) and other friends not to return home. Regardless, Rizal came.
 Governor General Emilio Terrero requested Rizal to go to the Malacańang Palace. Don Jose
Taviel de Andrade-a young Spanish lieutenant assigned by Governor General Terrero to posed as
bodyguard of Rizal
 The friars asked Governor General Terrero to deport him from Calamba.
Rizal is Taken away from the Philippines
 Rizal then left and went to Hongkong, then Macao, then Japan.
 Rizal was favorably impressed by Japan. The things which favorably impressed Rizal in Japan
were the beauty of the country, the cleanliness, politeness, and industry of the Japanese
people.There were even very few thieves in Japan. He met O Sei San whom he wrote about her
acquaintance. Rizal then left and went to USA.
 After the U.S., Rizal left for England.

Europe
 He went to England where he met Dr. Reinhold Rozt who helped Rizal to have access to the
books of the British Museum.
 Rizal annotated Antonio Morga’s book, Sucesos de las Islas Filipinas (Historical Events of the
Philippine Islands) in order to disprove the Spaniard’s claims of having no civilization in the
Philippines before their arrival.
 Rizal wrote articles for La Solidaridad in defense of his oppressed people and to point out the
evils of Spanish rule in the Philippines.
 Paciano and his brothers-in-law were deported in Mindoro.
 Rizal was then elected as honorary president of the Propaganda Movement “La Solidaridad.”
However, he did not win the 2/3rds vote from the members despite having “won” the election.
Rizal left and stop writing for the organ.
 Rizal then received a letter from Leonor, announcing her coming marriage to an Englishman.
 Rizal then went to Biarritz in France in order to seek solace from the things that happened in
Madrid and in order to finish the manuscript of El Filibusterismo. He courted Nellie Boustead,
though was previously loved by Antonio Luna. Still, Luna encouraged Rizal to pursue her as
Rizal encouraged Luna to be the one. Rizal could not, however, pursue Nellie in order to dedicate
his life to his work.
 Rizal left Brussels for Ghent, a famous university city in Belgium in order to print the El
Filibusterismo. Rizal had no funds to print and it was suspended but he was then provided by
Valentin Ventura for printing. Jose Basa even lent money to Rizal to go to Hong Kong where he
could meet his family again.

Ventures in Hong Kong

 When the Spaniards knew Rizal was returning to Asia, they deported Paciano and his brothers-in-
law from Mindoro who were then able to escape to Hong Kong together with Don Cicoy.
 On the other hand, Doña Teodora was arrested for not using her real username. In four days, they
let her walk from Manila to Sta. Cruz, Laguna at 64-years of age on the street. The governor got
pity and allowed her to go to Hong Kong.
 Rizal met his family opened a clinic while his sisters were in charge of the house chores in Hong
Kong.
 Rizal made up his mind to return to the country and establish the La Liga Filipina to build a new
group sought to involve the people directly in the reform movement.

Return to the Philippines

  Rizal planned to move the landless Filipino families from North Borneo (Sabah) who were
deported from Calamba. Rizal showed this to the new governor—General Despujol, which he
also asked permission of his return to the country to continue his business.
 General Despujol allowed Rizal to enter the country although he did not guarantee his safety.
 Rizal was unfortunately exiled far-away in Dapitan, a remote town in Mindanao which was under
the missionary jurisdiction of the Jesuits, from 1892 to 1896. Rizal lived in a military
commandant’s residence. When Rizal won the second price in the lottery, he was able to buy his
own place.
 Rizal met Josephine Bracken who was under the care of Mr. George Taufer. Mr. Taufer then
became blind opposed the marriage of Josephine and Rizal. Despite the opposition, they were
able to go to Manila and return to Dapitan to get married. However, no priest allowed their
marriage in the church until Rizal would formally commit to the Catholic church.
 With Josephine’s consent, Rizal nonetheless took her as his wife even without the Catholic
blessings. The couple married themselves before the eyes of God by “holding hands in the
presence of two witnesses,” though Rizal’s family were ashamed of this.
 On July 30, 1896, Rizal received a letter from the governor sanctioning his petition to serve as
volunteer physician in Cuba. En route to Cuba, Rizal was then ordered to go back to the
Philippines and face trials regarding his involvement in the rebellion.
 In November, the preliminary investigation on Rizal began. He was brought and incarcerated at
Fort Santiago.
 In December, he was sentenced to death and the decision of the court-martial ordered Rizal to be
shot at 7:00 in the morning of December 30 at Bagumbayan Field (Luneta)

III.

Rizal was quite fortunate having to be born in an ilustrado family despite being an indio. His
education was ahead of many, even for those at the present. There is no denying that his childhood was
advanced even for our time knowing that Spanish and Latin aren’t even being taught anymore in most
schools. His maturity is what rarely comes by at such a young age. Jose’s excellency in academics is not
something to be reckoned with. His parents, Teodora Realonda and Francisco Mercado, knew the value of
their children’s education. They invested in it, knowing how beneficial it is for the family to do so.
Paciano, Jose’s brother, did his role as a relative who cared for him and knew his capabilities as a brother
should. The sacrifices he made absolutely altered Jose’s prospects under corrupt supremacy. His siblings
are noteworthy of how much they were concerned for him. As for Blumentritt, he knew the potential of
Rizal and thus never stopped writing for him. His contribution has led Jose to various opportunities one
would not easily find if he didn’t have connections. He and many scholars and nobles such as Valentin
Ventura and Maximo Viola helped weave Rizal’s choices that weren’t of unselfishness but of
righteousness and thought. These people contributed to the lives of many who were rebuked by the
system which exploited our nationality. It is only because of them, and those who were involved but
unmentioned, that we today hold the freedom to question the principles that govern the very land we dare
to step on.