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Chapter 1

ADVENT OF A NATIONAL HERO

I. Jose Protacio Rizal Mercado Y Allonzo Realonda

Full name of Jose Rizal and his real surname is “Mercado”
II. June 19, 1861
The date of birth of Jose Rizal in the lakeshore of Calamba, Laguna Province, Philippines
III. Father Pedro Casanas
A native of Calamba and close friend of theRizal family, was the Godfather
His mother almost died during thedelivery because of his big head
His name “Jose” was chosen by hismother who was a devoted of theChristian Saint San Jose, (St.
Joseph)
IV. Leutenant General Jose Lemery
A former senator of Spain was thegovernor general of the Philippineswhen Rizal was born.
V. Leonore Valenzuela
First love of Rizal
VI. Leon Monroy
Former classmate of Rizal’s father, became the boy’stutor

Chapter 2

CHILDHOOD YEARS IN CALAMBA

Jose Rizal grew up in a happy home, ruled by good parents, bubbling with joy, and sanctified by
God’s blessings.
Calamba was a hacienda town which belonged to the Dominican Order, which also owned all the
lands around it.
The first memory of Rizal, in his infancy, was his happy days in the family garden when he was three
years old.
Because he was sick child, he was given the tenderest care by his parents. His father built a little nipa
cottage in the garden for him to play in the day time.
Another childhood memory was the daily Angelus prayer. By nightfall, his mother gathered all the
children at the house to pray Angelus.
Another memory of his infancy was the nocturnal walk in the town. The maid took him for a walk in
the moonlight by the river.
I. THE HERO’S FIRST SORROW
Jose loved most the little Concha (CONCEPCION). He was a year older than concha. He played with
her and from her he learned the sweetness of a sisterly love.

Unfortunately, Concha died of sickness in 1865 when she three years old. Jose, who was very fond of
her. He cried bitterly at losing her. “When I was four years old, I lost my little sister Concha, and then
for the first time I shed tears caused by love and grief.”

II. DEVOTED SON OF THE CHURCH

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At the age of three (3), he began to take part in the family prayers, His mother was a devout Catholic,
taught him the Catholic prayers, when he was years old, he was able to read haltingly the Spanish
family Bible.

FATHER LEONCIO LOPEZ is the town priest. Jose Rizal used to visit him and listen to his
stimulating opinions on current events and sound philosophy of life.
III. PILGRIMAGE TO ANTIPOLO
JUNE 6 1868 Jose and his father left Calamba to go on a pilgrimage to Antipolo, in order to fulfill his
mother’s vow which was made when Jose was born.

It was the first trip of Jose across Laguna de Bay. After praying at the shrine of the Virgin of Antipolo,
Jose and his father went to manila. It was the first time Jose saw Manila. They visited Saturnina who
was then a boarding student at La Concordia College in Sta. Ana.
a. STORY OF THE MOTH stories told by Dona Teodora to her favorite son.
b. ARTISTIC TALENTS since early childhood Rizal revealed his God-given talent for art. at the age of
five, he began to make sketches with his pencil and to mold in clay and wax objects.
IV. FIRST POEM BY RIZAL
At the age of eight (8), Rizal wrote his first poem in the native language entitled sa Aking mga
Kababata (To My Fellow Children).
V. FIRST DRAMA BY RIZAL
Rizal, who was eight years old, wrote his first dramatic work which was in tagalog comedy. It is said
that it was staged in a Calamba festival and was delightfully applauded by the audience.
VI. RIZAL AS BOY MAGICIAN
Since early manhood Rizal had been interested in magic. With his dexterous hands, he learned various
tricks. He entertained his town folks with magic-lantern exhibitions.
VII. INFLUENCE ON THE HERO’S BOYHOOD
1. Heredity Influence
2. Environmental Influence
3. Aid of divine Providence

Chapter 3

EARLY EDUCATION IN CALAMBA AND BINAN

I. CALAMBA and BINAN

Rizal had his early education
IIUSTRADO FAMILY characterized by the four R’s READING, WRITING, ARITHMETIC, And
RELIGION.
II. THE HEROES FIRST TEACHER
His Mother, who was a remarkable woman of good character and fine culture.
At the age of three (3) he learned THE ALPHABET AND THE PRAYERS.
III. PRIVATE TUTORS OF RIZAL
MAESTRO CELESTINO jose first private tutor.
MAESTRO LUCAS PADUA was the second private tutor.
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MAESTRO LEON MONROY former classmate of Rizal’s father. Became the heroes tutor in Spanish
and latin.
IV. THE UNCLES OF RIZAL
UNCLE JOSE ALBERTO gave wise direction in the studies of Rizal.
UNCLE GREGORIO instilled into the mind of jose the love for education.
V. JOSE GOES TO BINAN
Don Leon died five months later and jose was sent to a private school in Binan.
JUNE 1869 Jose goes to binan eith his Brother Paciano.
CARROMATA the mode of transportation.
AUNT’S HOUSE where jose lodged.
VI. FIRST DAY IN BINAN SCHOOL
MAESTRO JUSTINIANO AQUINO CRUZ formal teacher
Rizal described Maestro Justiniano as tall, thin, long-necked, with a body slightly bend forward and he
used to wear a sinamy shirt.
The school was Justiniano’s house
VII. FIRST SCHOOL BRAWL
ANDRES SALANDANAN challenged him to an arm wrestling match.
PEDRO (teacher’s son) fight for wrestling.
VIII. PAINTING LESSONS IN BINAN
OLD JUANCHO freely gave Jose painting lessons
Jose and his classmate JOSE GUEVARRA became apprentices of old Juancho
IX. DAILY LIFE IN BINAN
Jose’s daily routine:
Rizal led methodological in Binan. Hears mass at 4 a.m or studies lesson before going to massgoes to
orchard to look for mabolo to eat. Eat breakfast. Goes to class at 10:a.m their lunch break prays with
cousinsstudies lessons, then draws a little. Has supper and pray again play’s in the street if moon is
bright and sleeps.
X. BEST STUDENT IN SCHOOL
Jose surpassed his classmates in Spanish, Latin, and other subjects
His older classmates were jealous and squealed to the teacher whenever he had fights
Jose usually received five or six blows while laid out on a bench.
XI. END OF BINAN SCHOOLING
December 17, 1870 Jose left Binan
TALIM the steamer that Jose rode
ARTURO CAMPS a Frenchman and a friend of Don Francisco, he took care of Jose during the trip.
XII. MARTYRDOM OF GOMBURZA
FEBRUARY 17, 1872 father’s MARIANO GOMEZ, JOSE BURGOS AND JACINTO ZAMORA,
WERE IMPLICATED AND EXECUTED.
The GOMBURZA were leaders of the SECULARIZATION MOVEMENT.
The martyrdom of the three priests inspired Rizal to fight the evils of Spanish Tyranny
In 1891, Rizal dedicated his second novel EL FILIBUSTERISMO to GOMBURZA.

XIII. INJUSTICE TO THE HERO’S MOTHER

In 1872, DONA TEODORA was arrested on maliscious charge that she aided his brother JOSE
ALBERTO to trying to poison his wife.
Fifty (50) Kilometres Dona Teodora was made to walk from Calamba to the provincial prison in Santa
Cruz.
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Don Francisco de Marcaida & Don Manuel Mazano most famous lawyers of Manila,
defended Dona Teodora in court . After 2 1/2 years the Royal Audiencia acquitted Dona Teodora.

Chapter 4
Scholastic Triumphs at Ateneo de Manila (1872-1877)

Jose was sent to Manila four months after the Martyrdom of GomBurZa and with Dona
Teodora still in prison. He studied in the Ateneo Municipal, a college under the supervision of the
Spanish Jesuits.
I. Ateneo Municipal
a. Bitter rival of the Dominican-owned College of San Juan de Letran.
b. Formerly the Escuela Pia (Charity School) – for poor boys in Manila established in 1817.
c. In 1859, name was changed to Ateneo Municipal by the Jesuits and later became the
Ateneo de Manila.
II. Jesuit System of Education
Jesuit trained the character of the student by rigid discipline, humanities, and religious
instruction.

Students were divided into two groups: Roman Empire – consisting of the internos (boarders)
with red banners; and Carthaginian Empire – composed of the externos (non-boarders) with
blue banners.

Each of these empires had its rank. Students fought for positions. Any student could challenge
any officer in his “empire” to answer questions on the day’s lesson. With 3 mistakes,
opponents could lose his position.
1st best: EMPEROR
2nd best: TRIBUNE
3rd best: DECURION
4th best: CENTURION
5th best: STANDARD-BEARER
III. Rizal’s First Year in Ateneo (1872-73)
June 1872 – first day of class in Ateneo.
Fr. Jose Bech – first professor of Rizal.
Took private lessons in Santa Isabel College and paid 3 pesos for extra Spanish lessons.
Placed 2nd at the end of the year, although all his grades were still marked Excellent.
IV. Summer Vacation (1873)
March 1873 – Rizal returned to Calamba for summer vacation.
His sister Neneng (Saturnina) brought him to Tanawan to cheer him up.
Visited his mother in prison at Santa Cruz without telling his father.
After vacation, he returned to Manila for his 2nd year term in Ateneo.
Boarded inside Intramuros at No. 8 Magallanes Street.
Dona Pepay – landlady and old widow with a widowed daughter and four sons.
V. Second Year in Ateneo (1873-74)
Rizal lost the leadership but he repented and even studied harder, once more he became
emperor.
He received excellent grades in all subjects and a gold medal.
He had 3 classmates from Binan who had also been his classmates in the school of Maestro
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Justiniano.
VI. Prophecy of Mother’s Release
Dona Teodora told her son of her dream the previous night. Rizal, interpreting the dream, told
her that she would be released from prison in 3 months time. It became true.
Dona Teodora likened his son to the youthful Joseph in the Bible in his ability to interpret
dreams.
VII. Teenage Interest in Reading
The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexander Dumas – Jose Rizal’s first favorite novel.
Also read non-fiction, Cesar Cantu’s historical work Universal History.
VIII. Third Year in Ateneo (1874-75)
Shortly after the opening of classes, his mother was released from prison.
Rizal did not make an excellent showing in his studies.
He failed to win the medal in Spanish because his spoken was not fluently sonorous.
IX. Fourth Year in Ateneo (1875-76)
June 16, 1875 – he became an inferno in Ateneo.
Fr. Francisco de Paula Sanchez – inspired him to study harder and write poetry. Rizal
described him as “model of uprightness, earnestness, and love for the advancement of his
pupils”.
He returned to Calamba with 5 medals and excellent ratings.
X. Last Year in Ateneo (1876-77)
June 1876 – last year of Rizal in Ateneo.
The most brilliant Atenean of his time, “the pride of the Jesuits”.
Obtained highest grades in all subjects.
XI. Graduation with Highest Honors
Excellent scholastic records from 1872-1877.
March 23, 1877 – Commencement Day. 16 year old Rizal received from his Alma Mater the
degree of Bachelor of Arts with highest honors.
XII. Sculptural Works in Ateneo
Carved an image of The Virgin Mary on a piece of batikuling (Philippine hardwood).
Father Lleonart requested him to carve an image of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Ateneo students
placed the image on the door of the dormitory and remained there for many years.
XIII. Anecdotes on Rizal, The Atenean
Felix M. Ramos – one of Rizal’s contemporaries in Ateneo.
Manuel Xeres Burgos – whose house Rizal boarded shortly before he became an inferno.
XIV. Poems Written in Ateneo
Mi Primera Inspiracion (My First Inspiration) – first poem he wrote for his mother’s birthday.
In 1875, inspired by Father Sanchez, he wrote more poems such as: Filicitacion (Felicitation),
El Embarque: Himno a la Flota de Magallanes (The Departure Hymn to Magellan’s fleet), Y
Es Espanol: Elcano, the first to circumnavigate the world), and El Combate: Urbiztondo
Terror de Jolo (The Battle: Urbiztondo, Terror of Jolo).
XV. Rizal’s Religious Poems
Al Nino Jesus (To the Child Jesus) – a brief ode; written in 1875 when he was 14 years old.
A La Virgen Maria (To the Virgin Mary).
XVI. First Romance of Rizal
16 years old - Rizal experienced his first romance.
Segunda Katigba - a pretty 14 years old Batanguena from Lipa; sister of his friend Mariano
Katigbak.
Segunda was already engaged to Manuel Luz. His first romance was ruined by his own
shyness and reserve.
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Segunda returned to Lipa and later married Manuel Luz. Rizal remained in Calamba, a
frustrated lover, cherishing nostalgic memories of lost love.

Chapter 5

Medical Studies at the University of Santo Tomas (1877-1882)

I. Mother’s Opposition to Higher Education

Dona Teodora opposed the idea of sending Rizal to UST to pursue higher education because
she knew what happened to Gom-Bur-Za and the Spaniards might cut off his head if he gets
to know more. Rizal was surprised by his mother’s opposition, who was a woman of
education and culture. Despite his mother’s tears, Don Francisco told Paciano to accompany
Rizal to Manila.
II. Rizal Enters the University
April 1877 – Rizal matriculated in the University of Santo Tomas.
He enrolled in UST taking up Philosophy and Letter for two reasons: (1) his father liked it and
(2) he was “still uncertain as to what career to pursue”.
He asked the advice of Father Pablo Ramon (Rector of the Ateneo) on what career to choose
but Father Recto was in Mindanao so he was unable to advice Rizal.
Ateneo Rector’s advice – study medicine; reason: to be able to cure his mother’s growing
blindness.
III. Finishes Surveying Course in Ateneo (1878)
While Rizal was studying at UST, he also studied in Ateneo. He took the vocational course
leading to the title of “perito agrimensor” (expert surveyor).
At the age of 17, he passed the final examination in the surveying course.
November 25, 1881 – he was granted the title as surveyor.
He was president of the Academy of Spanish Literature and secretary of the Academy of
Natural Sciences.
IV. Romances with Other Girls
 Miss L
Romance died a natural death.
2 Reasons for his change of heart: (1) the sweet memory of Segunda was still fresh in his
heart and (2) his father did not like the family of “Miss L”.
 Leonor Valenzuela
Daughter of the next-door neighbors of Dona Concha Leyva (her house is where Rizal
boarded).
Rizal sent her love notes written in invisible ink. This ink consisted of common table salt and
water. He taught Orang the secret of reading any note written in the invisible ink by heating it
over a candle or lamp so that the words may appear.
 Leonor Rivera
Rizal’s cousin from Camiling.
A student of La Concordia College where Rizal’s youngest sister, Soledad was then studying.
In her letters to Rizal, Leonor signed her name as “Taimis”, in order to camouflage their
intimate relationship from their parents and friends.
V. “To the Filipino Youth” (1879)
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Liceo Artisco-Literano (Artistic-Literary Lyceum) of Manila – society of literary men and

artists; held a literary contest.
The Board of Judges – composed of Spaniards; gave the first prize to Rizal which consisted of
a silver pen, feather-shaped and decorated with a gold ribbon.
VI. “The Council of the Gods” (1880)
Artistic-Literary Lyceum – opened another literary contest for both Filipino and Spaniards to
commemorate the fourth centennial of the death of Cervantes, Spain’s glorified man-of-letters
and famous author of Don Quixote.
VII. Rizal’s Visit to Pakil and Pagsanjan
Summer of May 1881 - Rizal went to a pilgrimage to the town of pakil, famous shrine of the
Birhen Maria de los Dolores.
Reasons why Rizal and his company made side trip to the neighboring town of Pagsanjan: (1)
it was the native town of Leonor Valenzuela and (2) to see the world famed Pagsanjan Falls.
VIII. Champion of Filipino Students
Rizal was the champion of the Filipino students in their fights against the arrogant Spanish
students, who insultingly called their brown classmates “Indio, chongo!” In retaliation, the
Filipino students called them “Kastila, bangus!”.
IX. Unhappy Days at the UST
He was unhappy at this Dominican institution of higher learning because (1) the Dominican
professors were hostile to him; (2) the Filipino students were racially discriminated against by
the Spaniards, and (3) the method of instruction was obsolete and repressive.
X. Decision to Study Abroad
After finishing the fourth year of his medical course, Rizal decided to study in Spain. He
could no longer endure the rampant bigotry, discrimination, and hostility in the University of
Santo Tomas.
He did not seek his parent’s permission and blessings to go abroad; and even his beloved
Leonor.

Chapter 6
In Sunny Spain (1882-1885)

I.Rizal’s Secret Mission

To observe keenly the life and culture, languages and customs, industries, commerce and
government and laws of the Europian Nations in order to prepare himself in the mighty task
of liberating of oppressed people from Spanish tyranny.
II.Secret Departure for Spain
May 3, 1882 - Rizal departed on board the Spanish streamer Salvadora bound for Singapore.
III. Singapore
May 08, 1882 - he saw a beautiful island; he remembered “Talim Island with the Susong
Dalaga”
May 09 - the Salvadora docked at Singapore.
Hotel de la Paz – Rizal registered here and spent two days on sightseeing on a soiree of the
city.
IV. From Singapore to Colombo
May 11 - Rizal transferred to another ship Djemnah, a French streamer.
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May 17- the Djemnah reached Point Galle, a seacoast town in southern Ceylon (now Sri
Lanka).
Rizal was unimpressed by this town; he said it is “picturesque but lonely and quiet and at the
same time sad”.
Colombo - the capital of Ceylon; Rizal wrote on his diary “Colombo is more beautiful, smart
and elegant than Singapore, Point Galle and Manila”.
V. First Trip Through Suez Canal
From Colombo, Djemnah continued the voyage crossing the Indian Ocean to the Cape of
Guardafui, Africa, and then a stopover on Aden. From Aden, Djemnah proceeded to the city
of Suez, the Red Sea terminal of the Suez Canal. It took five days to traverse the Suez Canal.
At Port Said, the Mediterranean terminal of the Suez Canal, Rizal landed and he was
fascinated to hear the multi-racial inhabitants speaking a babel of tongues – Arabic, Egyptian,
Greek, French, Italian, Spanish, etc.
VI. Naples and Marseilles
June 11 – Rizal reached Naples.
June 12 – the steamer docked at the French harbor of Marseilles. He visited the famous
Chateau d’lf, where Dantes, hero of The Count of Monte Cristo, was imprisoned.
VII. Barcelona
May 15 – Rizal left Marseilles.
June 16, 1882 – Rizal reached Barcelona, the greatest city of Cataluna and Spain’s 2nd largest
city.
Rizal’s first impression on Barcelona: ugly, with dirty little inns and inhospitable residents.
Second impression: a great city, with an atmosphere of freedom and liberalism, and its people
were open-hearted, hospitable, and courageous.
Las Ramdas - most Famous street in Barcelona
VIII. “Amor Patrio”
“Amor Patrio” (Love of Country) – nationalistic essay; his first article written on Spain’s soil.
Basilio Teodoro Moran – publisher of Diariong Tagalog, first Manila bilingual newspaper
Spanish and Tagalog.
“Los Viajes” (Travels) – second article for Diariong Tagalog
“Revista de Madrid” (Review of Madrid) – third article; wrote in Madrid on November 29,
1882; returned to him because the Diariong Tagalog had ceased publication due to lack of
funds.
IX. Manila Moves to Madrid
September 15, 1882 - Rizal received a letter from Paciano. According to the letter, cholera
was ravaging Manila and the provinces.
In one of his letters (dated May 26, 1882) Paciano advised Rizal to finish his medical course
in Madrid, therefore, Rizal establish himself to Madrid.
X. Life in Madrid
November 3, 1882 – Rizal enrolled in the Universidad Central de Madrid (Central University
of Madrid in 2 courses: Medicine and Philiosophy and Letters.
XI. Romance with Consuelo Ortiga y Perez
Consuelo – prettiest daughter of Don Pablo fell in love with Rizal.
He backed out into a serious affair because (1) he was still engaged to Leonor Rivera and (2)
his friend and co-worker in the Propaganda Movement, Eduardo de Lete, was madly in love
with Consuelo.
XII. Rizal as a Mason
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March 1883 – joined the Masonic lodge called “Acacia” in Madrid.

Reason for becoming a mason: to secure Freemasonry’s aid in his fight against the friars in
the Philippines.
XIII. Rizal Involved in Student Demonstrations
November 20, 21, and 22, 1884 – Madrid exploded in bloody riots by the students of the
Central University.
Dr. Miguel Morayta – professor of history; these student demonstrations were caused by his
address “the freedom of science and the teacher”.
XIV. Studies Completed in Spain
June 21, 1884 - degree of Licentiate in Medicine by the Universidad Central de Madrid.
Did not present the thesis required for graduation nor paid the corresponding fees, he was not
awarded his Doctor’s diploma.
June 19, 1885 (his 24th birthday) – degree of Licentiate in Philosophy and Letters by the
Universidad Central de Madrid.

Chapter 7

PARIS TO BERLIN (1885 – 1887)

I. Ophthalmology in Paris and Germany.

Chose this branch of medicine for he wants to cure his mother’s eye ailment.
Served as an assistant to the famous oculist in Europe.
Continued his observations in Paris, Heidelberg, Leipzig and Berlin.
II. Berlin
Capital of unified Germany
Met and befriended top German Scientists:
Dr. Feodor Jagor
Dr. Adolph B. Meyer
Dr. Hans Meyer
Dr. Rudolf Virchow
Merits as scientist were recognized by the eminent scientists of Europe
III. Gay, Paris(1885-86)
Stopped at Barcelona to visit Maximo Viola (a medical student and a member of rich family of san
Miguel, Bulacan)
Stayed for a week and befriended Senor Eusebio Corominas – editor of the newspaper La Publicidad
and made a crayon sketch of Don Miguel Morayta (owner of La Publicidad and a statesman)
November 1885 – living in Paris and sojourned for about four months
Worked as an assistant to Dr. Louis de Weckert (1852-1906), leading French ophthalmologist, from
November 1885 to February 1886.
IV. Rizal as musician
kundimans and other Philippine melodies are played in all Filipino reunions
November 27, 1878 letter to Enrique Lete
Learned the solfeggio, the piano and voice culture in one month and a half. Play the flute fairly well.
Composed “alin mang lahi’ (any race): a patriotic song which asserts that any race aspires for
freedom.
Sad Danza- “La Deportacion” (deportation): composed in Dapitan during his exile.
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V. Historic Heidelberg
left Gay Paris on February 1, 1886 for Germany. Visited Strasbourg (Capital of Alsace Lorraine)
February 3, 1886 – he arrived in Heidelberg, a historic city in Germany, famous for its old university
and romantic surroundings.
April 22, 1886 wrote a poem “A Las Flores de Heidelberg” (to the flowers of Heidelberg)
VI. With Pastor Ullmer at Wilhelmsfeld
3 months Summer Vacation at Wilhelmsfeld, a mountainous village near Heidelberg.
Stayed at vicarage of Protestant pastor, Dr. Karl Ullmer.

His pleasing personality and talents in languages and sketching endeared the pastor’s wife and 2
children, Etta and Fritz.

Ended his sojourn June 25, 1886

May 29, 1887 - wrote from Munich (Muchen) to Friedrich (Fritz)
VII. First letter to Ferdinand Blumentritt, director of the Ateneo de Leitmeritz, Austria – July 31,
1886.

Blumentritt (best friend of Rizal) - Austrian ethnologist and has interest in Philippine Languages.

Sent with the book entitled “Aritmetica”: published in 2 languages – Spanish and Tagalog – by the
University of Santo Tomas Press in 1868. Author: Rufino Baltazar Hernandez, a native of Santa Cruz,
Laguna Impressed by Rizal’s letter, he gave Rizal 2 books

VIII. 5th Centenary of Heidelberg University, August 6, 1886.

3 days before his departure. Sad because he had come to love the beautiful city and the hospitable
people.

Celebrated Festung in the morning. Bugmuller (famous student) dressed as Frederick the Victorious.
Lieberman as a gentleman in 17th century. Gregoire as wolf of Schwahen. Last night was Schlorsfest.

IX. In Leipzig and Dresden (August 9, 1886)

Arrived at Leipzig (August 14, 1886) attended lectures in History and psychology at University of
Leipzig.
Befriended Prof. Friedrich Ratzel (famous German historian) and Dr. Hans Meyer (German
Anthropologist)
X. Rizal welcomed in Berlin’s scientific Circles

Met for the first time Dr. Feodor Jagor. Had a letter of introduction by Blumentritt for him.
Was introduced to Dr. Rudolf Virchow (famous German Anthropologist), and his son Dr. Hans
Virchow (prof of Descriptive Anatomy). Also met Dr. W. Joest (German geographer)
Worked in the clinic of Dr. Karl Ernest Schweigger (famous German ophthalmologist.
Became member of the Anthropological Society, ethnological Society, and Geographical Society of
Berlin
XI. Rizal’s life in Berlin.

Reasons for living in berlin:

To gain further knowledge of ophthalmology
To further his studies of sciences and languages
To observe the economic had political conditions of German Nation
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To associate w/ famous German Scientists and Scholars

To publish Noli Me Tangere
Unter den Linden – most popular boulevard of Berlin. Rizal enjoyed promenading.
Rizal on German Women: letter to Trinidad (march 11, 1886). German woman is serious, diligent,
educated and friendly. Not gossipy, frivolous and quarrelsome like Spanish woman
German Customs: Christmas custom delighted him most. And self-introduction of a German when
nobody will introduce him.
XII. Rizal’s darkest winter

1886 in Berlin. He lived in poverty because no money arrived from Calamba and he was flat broke.
The diamond ring which his sister, Saturnina, gave him was in the pawnshop. He could not pay his
landlord and had to scrimp eating only one meal a day (bread and water or some cheap vegetable
soup).

Chapter 8

Noli me Tangere Published in Berlin (1887)

I. Idea of Writing a Novel on the Philippines

January 2, 1884- in a reunion of Filipinos in the Paterno residence in Madrid, Rizal proposed
the writings of a novel about the Philippines by a group of Filipinos. His proposals were approved by
PATERNOS (Pedro, Maximo and Antonio), Graciano Lopez JAENA, Evaristo AGUIRRE, Eduardo
DE LETE, Julio LLORENTE, Melecio FIGUEROA and Valentin VENTURA.
II. The Writing of the Noli
Toward the end of 1884, Rizal began writing the novel in Madrid and finished about one-half
of it.
When Rizal went to Paris, in 1885, after completing his studies in the Central University of
Madrid, he continued writing the novel, finishing one half of the second half.
Rizal finished the last fourth of the novel in Germany. He wrote the last few chapters of the
Noli in Wilhelmsfeld in April-June, 1886.
In Berlin during the winter days of February, 1886, Rizal made the final revisions on the
manuscript of the Noli.
III. Viola, Savior of the Noli
Dr. Maximo Viola- Rizal’s rich friend from Bulacan, arrived in Berlin at the height of
Rizal despondency and loaned him the needed funds to publish the novel; Viola was shocked
to find RIZAL in a dirty place, just not to waste money for the printing of NOLI ME
TANGERE.
February 21, 1887- the Noli was finally finished and ready for printing.
Berliner Buchdruckrei-Action-Gesselschaft- a printing shop which charged the lowest rate,
that is, 300 pesos for 2,00 copies of the novel.
IV. Rizal Suspected as French Spy.
RIZAL in fluent GERMAN explained to the police, that he was a Filipino ethnologist, who
visits rural areas to observe customs and lifestyles of their simple inhabitants. The chief
impressed and fascinated on RIZAL’s explanation, allowed him to stay freely in GERMANY.
V. Printing of the Noli Finished
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Every day, Rizal and Viola were always at the printing shop proof reading the printed pages.
March 21, 1887- the Noli Me Tangere came off the press, RIZAL immediately sent the first
copies to BLUMENTRITT, DR. ANTONIO REGIDOR, G. LOPEZ JAENA, MARIANO
PONCE, and FELIX R. HIDALGO.
March 29, 1887- Rizal, in token of his appreciation and gratitude, gave Viola the galley
proofs of the Noli carefully rolled around the pen that he used in writing it and a
complimentary copy, with the following inscription: “To my dear friend, Maximo Viola, the
first to read and appreciate my work—Jose Rizal”
VI. The Title of the Novel
The title Noli Me Tangere is a Latin phrase which means “Touch Me Not”. It is not originally
conceived by Rizal, for he admitted taking it from the Bible.
Rizal, writing to Felix Hidalgo in French on March 5, 1887, said: “Noli Me Tangere, words
taken from the Gospel of St. Luke, signify “do not touch me” but Rizal made a mistake, it
should be the Gospel of St. John (Chapter 20 Verses 13 to 17).
Rizal dedicated his Noli Me Tangere to the Philippines—“To My Fatherland”.

Chapter 9

RIZALS GRAND TOUR OF EUROPE WITH MAXIMO VIOLA (1887)

After the publication of Noli, Rizal planned to visit the important places in Europe. Dr. Maximo Viola
agreed to be his travelling companion. Rizal receives Paciano’s remi ttance of One thousand pesos which
forwarded by Juan Luna from Paris and immediately paid his debt to Viola which he loaned so that the Noli
could be printed. First he and Viola visited Potsdan, a city near berlin.

I.Tour Begins

At the dawn of May, 11, 1887 R izal and viola two browned skinned doctors on a roaming spree, left
Berlin by train. Spring was an ideal for season for travel. Their destination was in Dresden, one of the
best cities in Germany.

II. Dresden

Rizal and Viola tarried for sometimes in Dresden. They visited Dr. Adolph B. Meyer who was
overjoyed to see them, In the museum of art Rizal wad deeply impressed by painting of “Prometheus
Bound”. They also met Dr. Jagor and heard the plan about Leitmeritz in order to see Blumentritt. He
advice wire Blumentritt because the old professor might be shock of their visit.

III. First Meeting with Blumentritt

At 1.30 of May 15, 1887 the train arrived at the railroad station of Leitmeritz. Professor Blumentritt
was at the station carrying a pencil sketch of Rizal which he sent to identify his friend. Blumentritt get
a room at the hotel krebs, after which he brought them to his hiuse and stayed Leitmeritz May 13 to
14, 1887.

IV. Beautiful Memories at Leitmeritz

They enjoyed hospitality of Blumentritt family. The professors wife Rosa was a good cook. She
prepared Australian dishes which Rizal’s like very much, Blumentritt proved to be a great tourist as
 13

well as hospitable host. He showed the scenic and historical spots at Leitmetitz to his visitor. The
Burgomaster (town of mayor) was also amazed by Rizals privilege talent.

V. Prague

Rizal and Viola visited the historic city of Prague. They carried letters of recommendation from
Blumentritt to Dr. Wilkom, professor in the University of Prague. Rizal and Viola visited the “Thomb
of Copernicus”.

VI. Vienna

May 20 they arrived at Vienna capital of Australia Hungary. They met Norfenfals, one of the greatest
novelist in that time. They stayed at Hotel Metropole. They also met two good friends of Blumentritt
Masner and Nordman, Australian Scholars.

VII. Danubian Voyage to Lintz

May 24, Rizal and Viola left Vienna on a river boat to see beautiful sights of Danube river. As they
travelled along the famous river, Rizal observed keenly river sights.

VIII. From Lintz to Rheinfall

The river voyage ended in Lintz. They travelled overland to Salsburg, and from there to Munich
where the sojourned for a short time to savor the famous Munich Beer.

IX. Crossing the Frontier to Reinfall

They stayed from june2 to 3, 1887 and continued to tour to Basel (Bale) Bern and Laussane.

X. Geneva

Rizal and viola left Laussane in a little boat crossing the foggy Leman Lake to Geneva.
June 19, 1887, his 26th birthday, Rizal treated viola to a blow-out. Rizal and viola spent fifteen days in
Geneva.
June 23, they parted ways. Viola decided to return to Barcelona while Rizal continued his tour to Italy.
XI. Rizal Resents Exhibition of Igorots in 188Madrid Exposition.

Rizal received sad news from his friends in Madrid of deplorable conditions of the primitive igorots
who wer exhibited in this exposition. Some of these igorots died. Rizal was outraged by the degration
of his fellow countrymen.

XII. Rizal in Italy

He visited Turin, Milan, Venice and Florence.

June 27, 1887 he reached Rome. He was thrilled by the sights and memories of the eternal City –
Rome.
June 29th, Rizal visited for the first time the vacation city, the” city of Popes” and the capital of
Christendom. After a week of staying in Rome, he prepared to return to Philippines.
He had already written to his father that he was comming home .
 14

Chapter 10

RIZAL’S FIRST HOME COMING

I.Rizal’s Plan of Coming Back Home

As early as 1884, Rizal wanted to go back to the Philippines for the following reasons:

-Financial difficulties in Calamba.

-Dissatisfaction with his studies in Madrid.
-Desire to prove that there is no reason to fear going home.
-His belief that the Spanish regime will not punish the innocent.

II. Decision to Return Home

After five years of his memorable sojourn in Europe, Rizal returned to the Philippines.
However, Rizal was warned by the following not to return to the Philippines because his Noli Me Tangere
angered the friars:
-Paciano Mercado-Rizal’s adviser and only brother
-Silvestre Ubaldo-Rizal’s brother-in-law, husband of Olimpia
-Jose Ma. Cecilio (Chengoy)-one of Rizal’s closest friends
Rizal was determined to come back to the Philippines for the following reasons:

-To operate his mother’s eyes.

-To serve his people who had long been oppressed by the Spanish tyrants.
-To find out for himself how the Noli Me Tangere and his other writings were affecting Filipinos and
Spaniards.
-To inquire why Leonor Rivera remained silent.
II. Rizal Arrives in Manila

Rizal left Rome by train to Marseilles, a French port and boarded Djemnah, the same steamer that
brought him to Europe five years ago.
There were 50 passengers:4 Englishmen,2 Germans,3 Chinese,2 Japanese,40 Frenchmen and 1
Filipino(Rizal).
When the ship reached Aden, the weather became rough and some of Rizal’s book got wet.
In Saigon (Ho Chi Minh), Vietnam-he transferred to another steamer, Haiphong, that brought him to
Manila.
III. Happy Home Coming
When Rizal arrived in Calamba, rumors spread that he was a German spy, an agent of Otto Von
Bismarck-the liberator of Germany, a protestant, a mason and a soul halfway to damnation.
Paciano did not leave him during the first days after the arrival to protect him from any enemy assault.
IV. In Calamba

Rizal established a medical clinic.

Dona Teodora was Rizal’s first patient.
Doctor Uliman- Rizal was called this name because he came from Germany.
He opened gymnasium for the young people.
He introduced European sports fencing and shooting to discourage them from cockfighting and
gambling.
V. Sad Moments While Rizal was in Calamba
 15

Leonor Rivera- Rizal tried to visit her in Tarlac but his parents forbade him to go because Leonor’s
mother do not want him for son-in-law.
Olimpia Mercado-Ubaldo died because of child birth.
VI. Storm Over the Noli Me Tangere

As Rizal was peacefully living in Calamba, his enemies plotted his doom.
Governor General Emilio Terrero wrote to Rizal requesting to come to Malacañang Palace. Somebody
has whispered to his ear that the Noli contains subversive ideas. He asked for a copy of the novel.
VII. Rizal Visited the Jesuits

Rizal visited the Jesuits fathers to ask for their feedback on the novel. He was gladly welcomed by the
following friars:
-Fr. Francisco de Paula Sanchez
-Fr. Jose Bech
-Fr. Federico Faura- told Rizal that everything in the novel was the truth and warned him that he may
lose his head because of it.
Governor General Emilio Terrero- a liberal minded Spaniard who knew that Rizal’s life was in
jeopardy because the friars were powerful, because of this he gave Rizal bodyguard to protect him.
VIII. Jose Taviel de Andrade

A young Spanish lieutenant who came from a noble family.

IX. Attackers of the Noli

The report of the faculty members from UST about the Noli states that the novel was:

Heretical, impious and scandalous in the religious orders and anti-patriotic, subversive of public order,
injurious to the government of Spain and its function in the Philippine Islands in the political order.

The group found that the novel contains subversive ideas against the church and Spain and
recommended that the importation, reproduction and circulation of the pernicious book in the islands
be absolutely prohibited.

X. Noli Me Tangere in Spain

The novel was fiercely attacked in the session hall of the Senate of the Spanish Cortes. Senators:
General Jose de Salamanca, General Luis de Pando, Sr. Fernando Vida.

Vicente Barantes- Spanish academician of Madrid who formerly occupied high government position
in the Philippines bitterly criticized the novel in an article published in the Madrid newspaper, La
España Moderna.

XI. Defenders of the Noli Me Tangere

 Propagandists such as Marcelo H. del Pilar, Graciano Lopez Jaena, Antonio Ma. Regidor, Mariano
Ponce rushed to uphold the truths of the Noli.
 Fr. Francisco de Paula Sanchez- Rizal’s favorite teacher in Ateneo defended and praised the novel in
public.
 Don Segismundo Moret- former minister of the crown
 Prof. Miguel Morayta- historian and stateman
 16

 Prof. Ferdinand Blumentritt- Rizal’s best friend

 Rev. Fr. Vicente Garcia- a Filipino Catholic priest scholar, theologian of the famous Imitation of
Christ by Thomas Kempis.
XII. Agrarian Problem in Calamba

Influenced by the novel, Governor General Emilio Terrero ordered a government investigation of the
friar estates to remedy whatever inequities might have been present in connection with land taxes and
with tenant relations.

XIII. Rizal’s Reasons for Leaving the Philippines

 His presence in Calamba was jeopardizing the safety and happiness of his family and friends.
 He could fight better his enemies and serve his country’s cause with greater efficacy by writing in
foreign countries.
XIV. Himno Al Trabajo

 A poem for Lipa- shortly before Rizal left in 1888, he was asked by a friend to write a poem in
commemoration of the town’s cityhood.
 Himno al Trabajo- title of the poem dedicated to the industrious people of Lipa.
XV. Farewell Philippines

 On February 3, 1888, Rizal left his country with a heavy heart but this is for his own good and the
safety of his family and friends.

Chapter 11

RIZAL TRIP IN HONGKONG AND MACAU

Hounded by the powerful enemies, Rizal was forced to leave the country for the second time in 1888.
He was 27 years old, a practicing physician and a recognized man of letter.
After a short stay of six months in his beloved Calamba, Rizal left manila for Hongkong.
ZAFIRO- ship bound in Hongkong.
AMOY- first stop over of the ship.
Rizal did not get off to the ship for 3 reason:
1.He was not feeling well,
2.It was raining hard, and
3.He heard that the city is dirty.
I. IN HONGKONG
- A British colony
- Rizal stayed at Victoria Hotel.
- He was welcomed by the Filipino resident including: Jose Maria Basa, Balbino Mauricio, Manuel
Yriarte.
February 16,1888
- Rizal wrote a letter to blumentritt expressing his bitterness.
- according to Rizal in his letter to blumentritt he described Hongkong “as a small but a very clean
city.
 17

Jose Sainz De Varanda

- A Spaniard, who shadowed Rizal’s movement in Hongkong. It is believed that he was commissioned
by the Spanish authorities to spy Rizal.
II. IN MACAU

- A Portuguese colony near Hongkong.

February 18, 1888- Rizal accompanied by Basa they left Hongkong to Macau.

KIU-KIANG – steamer used from Macau.

- Rizal and Basa stayed at the home of Don Juan Francisco Lecaros. A filipino gentleman married to a
Portuguese lady.
- During the two days sojourn, Rizal visited the theatre, Casino, cathedral and churches, pagodas,
botanical garden and bazaars. He also saw a famous GROTTO OF CAMOERS, Portugal’s national
poet.
- He witnessed a catholic procession in which the devotees were dressed in blue and purple dresses and
were carrying unlighted candles.

III. February 20, 1888

- Rizal and Basa returned to Hongkong , again on board the ferry steamer KIU-KIANG.

IV. February 22, 1888

- Rizal left Hongkong .

OCEANIC- an American steamer, his destination was Japan. He did not like the meal on board, but he liked
the ship because it was clean and efficiently manage.

Chapter 12

ROMANTIC INTERLUDE IN JAPAN (1888)

I. Rizal Arrives at Yokohama

February 28, 1888 Tuesday, Rizal arrived at Yokohama. He registered at the Grand Hotel.
He was impressed by the city of Tokyo. He wrote to Professor Blumentritt: “ Tokyo is more expensive
than Paris. The walls are built in cyclopean manner. The streets are large and wide.
II. Rizal in Tokyo

Juan Perez Cabellero, secretary of Spanish legation visited Rizal in his hotel and invited him to live in
Spanish legation.
Rizal accepted the invitation of the Spanish secretary for two (2) reasons:
1. He could economize the living expenses by staying at the legation;
2. He had nothing to hide from the prying eyes of the Spanish authorities.
III. Rizal’s Impression of Japan

Rizal was a keen observer and the things which favourably impressed him in Japan were:
 18

1. The beauty of the country – its flowers, mountains, streams, and scenic panoramas.
2. The cleanliness, politeness, and industry of Japanese people.
3. The picturesque dress and simple charm of the Japanese women.
4. There were very few thieves in Japan so that the houses remained open day and night, and
in the hotel room one could safely leave money on the table.
5. Beggars were rarely seen in the city streets, unlike in Manila and other cities.
There is one thing which frustrated Rizal in Japan which is the popular mode of transportation by
means of rickshaws drawn by men. Humans work like horses, pulling the carts called rickshaw. He
felt disgusted at the way a human being was employed like a horse.
IV. Romance with O-Sei-San

One spring afternoon, a few days after he had moved to the Spanish Legation in the Azabu district of
Tokyo, Rizal saw a pretty Japanese girl walking past the legation gate. As a man with an eye of
feminine beauty, he was attracted by her regal loveliness and charm. He craved to meet her.
Rizal made inquiries among the legation employees and learned from a gardener that she was Seiko
Usui, who lived in her parents’ home and that she used to pass by the legation during her daily
afternoon walk.

Since the first meeting they met almost daily. Both found happiness in each other’s company. Rizal
saw in lovely O-Sei-San the qualities of ideal womanhood – beauty, charm, modesty, and intelligence.
O-Sei-San reciprocated his affection, for it was the first time her heart palpitated with joys to see a
man of gallantry, dignity, courtesy, and versatile talents.

O-Sei-San helped Rizal in many ways. More than a sweetheart, she was his guide, interpreter, and
tutor. Her beauty and affection almost tempted Rizal to settle down in Japan. At the same time, he was
offered a good job of the Spanish Legation. If he was a man of lesser heroic, in general, and the
Philippines, in particular, would have lost a Rizal.
V. Rizal and Tetcho

Tetcho Suehiro, a fighting Japanese journalist, novelist, and champion of human rights was forced to
leave his country just like Rizal did.
Rizal and Tetcho were both valiant patriots, implacable foes of injustice and tyranny. Both were men
of peace using their trenchant pens as formidable weapons to fight for their people’s welfare and happiness.
Tetcho came to admire Rizal, whose patriotism and magnificent talent influenced him to fortify his
own crusade for human rights in his own country.
Chapter 13

RIZAL’S VISIT TO THE UNITED STATES

 April 28, 1888- Rizal first saw America.

 His arrival in his great country was marred by racial prejudice.
 He saw the discriminatory treatment of the Chinese and the Negros by the white Americans.
I. ARRIVAL IN SAN FRANCISCO
Saturday, April 28, 1888- The steamer Belgic docked at San Francisco.
American health authorities did not let the passengers to land for one week because of the rumored
cholera epidemic.
Rizal knew there was not cholera epidemic that time and he protest with other passengers the
unjustifiable actions of American authorities.
 19

He soon discovered that it was motivated by politics and the ship was carrying 643 Chinese coolies.
II. RIZAL IN SAN FRANCISCO
 May 4, 1888- The day he was permitted to go ashore and registered at the Palace Hotel which was
then considered a first-class hotel in the city.
 May 4 to 6, 1888- Rizal stayed in San Francisco.
III. ACROSS THE AMERICAN CONTINENT
 May 6, 1888- It was Sunday, 4:30 P.M, Rizal left San Francisco for Oakland, nine miles across San
Francisco Bay, by ferry boat.
 May 7, 1888- it was morning, Rizal awoke and had a good breakfast at Reno, Nevada, now
glamorized by American high-pressure propaganda as “The Biggest Little City in the World.”
 From May 7 to May 13, Rizal wrote his diary the beautiful memories from Nevada, Chicago until he
reached Albany.
IV. RIZAL IN NEW YORK
 May 13, 1888- It was Sunday morning when Rizal reached New York. He stayed three days in this
city, which he called the “big town.”
 May 16, 1888- Rizal left New York for Liverpool on board the City of Rome.
 Rizal saw the Statue of Liberty on Bedloe Island.
V. RIZAL’S IMPRESSION OF AMERICA
The good impressions were:
1. The material progress of the country as shown in the great cities, huge farms, flourishing industries,
and busy factories;
2. The drive and the energy of the American people;
3. The natural beauty of the land;
4. The high standard living;
5. The opportunities for better life offered to poor immigrant;

The bad impression Rizal had of America was the lack of racial equality.

 1890- two years after Rizal’s visit to the United States, Jose Alejandro, who was then studying
engineering in Belgium, roomed with him.
 Rizal’s impression of America “is the land par excellence of freedom but only for the whites”.

CHAPTER 14

RIZAL IN LONDON (1888-89)

After visiting the United States, Rizal lived in London from May, 1888 to March, 1889 for three
reasons: (1) to improve his knowledge of the English language (2) to study and annotate Morga’s Sucessos de
las Islas Filipinas, a rare copy of which he heard to be available in the British Museum (3) London was a safe
place for him to carry on his fight against Spanish tyranny.

I.TRIP ACROSS THE ATLANTIC

 The trans-Atlantic voyage of Rizal from New York to Liverpool was a pleasant one.
 20

 Rizal entertained the American and European passengers with his marvelous skills with the yo-yo as
an offensive weapon.
 Yoyo is a small wooden disc attached to a string from the finger.
 May 24, 1888- Rizal arrived at Liverpool, England
 Adelphi Hotel- Rizal spend the night here while staying for one day in this port city
 According to Rizal, “Liverpool is a big and beautiful city and its celebrated port is worthy of its great
fame. The entrance is magnificent and the customhouse is quite good.
II. LIFE IN LONDON
 May 25, 1888- a day after docking at Liverpool, Rizal went to London
 Rizal stayed as guest at the home of Dr. Antonio Ma. Regidor, an exile of 1872 and a practicing
lawyer in London. By the end of May, Rizal found a modest boarding place at No. 37 Chalcot
Crescent, Primrose Hill
 Dr. Reinhold Rozt- librarian of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and an authority on Malayan languages
and customs
 He was impressed by Rizal’s learning and character and authorities of the British Museum. He called
Rizal “a pearl of a man” (una perla de hombre)
 Both good and bad news from home reached Rizal in London. Of the bad news, were the injustices
committed by the Spanish authorities on the Filipino people and the Rizal family
 The greatest achievement of Rizal in London was the annotating of Morga’s book, Sucesos de las Islas
Filipinas (Historical Events of the Philippines Islands), which was published in Mexico, 1609.
 September 1888- Rizal visited Paris for a week in order to search for more historical materials in the
Bibliotheque Nationale
-Rizal was entertained in this gay French metropolis by Juan Luna and his wife (Pa Pardo de Tavera),
who proudly showed him their son Andres (nickname Luling)
 December 11, 1888- Rizal went to Spain, visiting Madrid and Barcelona.
 Rizal met, for the first time, Marcelo H. del Pilar and Mariano Ponce, two titans of the Propaganda
Movement 19
 December 24, 1888- Rizal returned to London and spent Christmas and New Year’s Day with the
Becketts
 Rizal sent as Christmas gift to Bluementritt a bust of Emperador Augustus and a bust of Julius Ceasar
to another friend, Dr. Carlos Czepelak (Polish Scholar)
 The life and Adventures of Valentine Vox, the Ventriloquist-a Christmas gift from Rizal’s landlady,
Mrs. Beckett.

Chapter 15

RIZAL’S SECOND SOJOURN IN PARIS AND THE UNIVERSAL EXPOSITION OF 1889

I. DIFFICUULTY OF FINDING QUARTERS

March 1889 was extremely difficult to find for a visitor to find living quarters in Paris
because of the approaching of the Universal Expositon of 1889.
II. LIFE IN PARIS
Hours were too precious to Rizal to waste so he used most of his time in the reading room of
the Bibliotheque Nationale (National Library) checking up his historical annotations on
Morga’s book.
III. KIDLAT CLUB
 21

March 19, 1889 when Rizal founded the society he called the kidlat club and the purpose of
this society was purely a social society of temporary nature.
IV. INDIOS BRAVIOS
In one incident, Rizal was enchanted by the dignified and proud bearing of the American
Indians. So they decided the kidlat club to Indios Bravos and pledge to excel in intellectual
and physical prowess.
V. R.D.L.M. SOCIETY
Another society founded by Jose Rizal in Paris during the Universal Exposition of 1889. So
much mystery surrounded the R.D.L.M. because Rizal rigidly guarded its secret existence.
The aim of the secret society, as stated by Rizal was “the propagation of all usefull knowledge
– scientific, artistic, literary, etc.

Chapter 16

IN BELGIAN BRUSSELS

I. LIFE IN BRUSSELS
a. Two reasons impelled Rizal to leave Paris:
i. The cost of living in Paris was very high because of the Universal Exposition
ii. The gay social life of the city hampered his literary works
b. Rizal was busy writing his second novel and writing articles for La Solidaridad
II. NEW ORTOGRAPHY OF TAGALOG LANGUAGE
a. The tagalong letters k and w should be used instead of the Spanish c and o.
i. Salacot = salakot/ arao = araw
III. RIZAL CRITICIZES MADRID FILIPINOS FOR GAMBLING
a. Rizal’s letter to del Pilar:
i. Luna in Paris complains of the gambling of the Filipinos in Madrid
ii. We are serving the friars’ scheme
iii. Filipinos do not come to Europe to gamble and to amuse himself but to work for his
liberty and for the dignity of his race
iv. We in whom the poor people place their modest hopes.
b. The gambling Filipinos in Madrid were angry when they learned of Rizal’s moralizing
i. They derisively called him “Papa” (Pope) instead of “Pepe”
IV. BAD NEWS FROM HOME
a. The Calamba agrarian trouble was getting worse.
b. The management of the Dominican Hacienda continually raised the land rents until such time
that Rizal’s father refused to pay his rent.
i. The Dominican Order filed a suit in court to dispossess the Rizal family of their lands
in Calamba.
ii. Tenants were persecuted
c. Jose’s letter to Soledad
i. I have caused much harm to our family, but at least there remains to us the
consolation of knowing that the motive is not disgraceful nor does it humiliate any
body
 22

ii. It raises us up and gives us more dignity in the eyes of our enemies themselves; to fall
with the head high and the brow serene is not to fall, it is to triumph
iii. The sad thing is to fall with the stain of dishonor
V. PRESENTIMENT OF DEATH
a. He feared that we would not live long
b. He was not afraid to die, but he wanted to finish his second novel before he went to his grave
c. Letter to del Pilar:
i. In my childhood I had a strange belief that I would not reach 30 years of age.
ii. I am preparing myself for death and for any eventuality. Laong Laan (Ever Ready) is
my true name.
VI. PREPARATION TO GO HOME
a. In the face of the sufferings which afflicted his family, Rizal planned to go home.
b. He could not stay in Brussels writing a book while his family are persecuted
c. Letter to Ponce:
i. Graciano Lopez Jaena shold not got to Cuba but to our country to allow himself to be
killed in defense of his ideals
1. We have only once to die, and if we do not die well, we lose an opportunity
which will not again be presented to us.
ii. I want to go back to the Philippines
1. We are not making any progress by following prudence
VII. DECISION TO GO TO MADRID
a. Rizal ignored the dire warning of his friends to return to the Philippines. No threat of danger
could change his plan
b. Something happened that suddenly made him change his plan.
i. It was a letter from Paciano which related that they lost the case against the
Dominicans in Manila, but they appealed it to the Supreme Court in Spain
ii. A lawyer was needed to handle it in Madrid
c. Rizal wrote to del Pilar retaining the latter’s services as lawyer.
i. Jose informed del Pilar that he was going to Madrid to supervise the handling of the
case
VIII. TO MY MUSE
a. A poem that represents Jose’s worries on the disasters experienced by his family
IX. ROMANCE WITH PETITE JACOBY
a. Two things brought some measure of cheer to the despondent Rizal, as he was preparing for
his trip to Madrid
i. FIRST: summertime festival in Belgium, which was celebrated in carnival style
ii. SECOND: romance with Petite Jacoby, niece of his landladies

Chapter 17

MISFORTUNES IN MADRID

I. FAILURE TO GET JUSTICE FOR FAMILY

 23

a. Upon arrival in Madrid, Rizal sought the help of the Filipino colony, The Associacion
Hispano-Filipina, and Liberal Spanish Newspapers in securing justice for the oppressed
Calamba tenants and his family
i. Together with del Pilar (his lawyer) and Dr. Dominador Gomez (secretary of the
Asociacion Hispano-Filipina):
1. Jose called on the Minister of Colonies (Señor Fabie) in order to protest the
injustices committed by Gov.- Gen. Valeriano Weyler and the Dominicans
against the Calamba Folks.
2. Nothing came out of Rizal’s interview with Minister Fabie
ii. El Resumen (Spanish Newspaper)
1. Sympathized with the Filipino cause
2. Said: “To cover the ears, open the purse, and fold the arms – this is the
Spanish colonial policy.”
b. More terrible news:
i. Ejectment order by the Dominicans against Francisco Rizal and other Calamba tenants
1. Their parents had been forcibly ejected from their home
ii. Deportation of some of his family members, including Paciano to Mindoro
c. Rizal sought the aid of the liberal Spanish statesmen
i. Jose was disappointed – the statesmen merely gave him honeyed words of sympathy
and nothing else
d. Blumentritt urged Jose to see Queen Regent Maria Cristina
i. But Jose doesn’t have powerful friends to bring him to her nor gold to grease the
palms of influential courtiers
II. ABORTED DUEL WITH ANTONIO LUNA
a. Luna was drunk in one of the social reunions of Filipinos in Madrid.
b. Luna was bitter because of his frustrated romance with Nellie Boustead
i. He was blaming Rizal for his failure to win her
ii. Although Rizal had previously explained to him that he had nothing to do about it
iii. Because of jealousy and the effects of alcohol, Luna uttered certain unsavory remarks
about Nellie
c. Rizal, with high sense of chivalry, could not tolerate any slur against the honor of any woman
i. Angered by the slanderous remarks, he challenged Luna to a duel.
ii. Rizal was a better pistol shot than Luna and Luna was a superior swordsman
1. Luna, as the challenged party, had the choice of weapons
2. Logically, he would have to choose the sword; in which case, Rizal’s life
would be in jeopardy
iii. Filipinos tried to pacify them pointing out that such a duel would damage their cause
in Spain
d. When Luna became sober
i. He realized that he had made a fool of himself and apologized for his bad remarks
ii. Rizal accepted the apology
III. RIZAL CHALLENGES RETANA TO DUEL
a. Wenceslao Retana:
i. A talented Spanish scholar, was then a press agent of the friars in Spain
ii. Used to attack the Filipinos, including Rizal in various newspapers in Madrid
1. He wrote that the family and friends of Rizal had not paid their rents so that
they were ejected from their lands
 24

b. Rizal
i. Was insulted and challenged him to a duel
ii. Retana apologized in the newspapers for he believed that discretion is better part of
valor, and, more so, to save his skin
1. He knew that he had no chance against Rizal on a field of honor
2. Because of the incident, Retana developed a deep admiration for Jose
a. Years afterward, Retana wrote Jose’s biography and martyrdom
IV. INFIDELITY OF LEONOR RIVERA
a. One night he and some friends attended a play at Teatro Apolo
i. Jose lost his gold watch chain with a locket containing the picture of Leonor Rivera
ii. The loss of the locket proved to be a bad omen
b. Rizal received a letter from Leonor, announcing her coming marriage to an Englishman (the
choice of her mother) and asking his forgiveness
V. RIZAL-DEL PILAR RIVALRY
a. Rizal tried to imbue his compatriots with his own idealism for
i. He believed that to gain prestige for the Propaganda Movement and to win the respect
of the Spanish people they must possess high standards of morality, dignity, and spirit
of sacrifice
ii. Unfortunately, his idealism was not shared by others who loved wine, women, and
cards
iii. Rizal’s leadership declined
1. They resented Jose’s interference in their private lives
2. They became supporters of del Pilar
b. To prevent the break-up between Rizal and M.H. del Pilar
i. Filipinos decided that a leader called “Responsable” be voted
1. to direct the affairs of the Filipino community and to determine the editorial
policy of the La Solidaridad
2. To patch up their differences and to intensify the campaign for reform
ii. Del Pilar opposed the proposition
1. That the periodical be placed under the control of the Responsible on the
ground that it was a private enterprise
2. However, he was willing to publish articles that would express the aspirations
and demands of the Filipino people.
VI. RIZAL ABDICATES HIS LEADERSHIP
a. The Filipinos were divided into two hostile camps: the Rizalistas and the Pilaristas
i. Jose obtained the necessary 2/3 vote and became the Responsible
b. But Jose graciously declined the coveted position
i. He was a man of dignity and did not relish being a leader of a divided people
ii. He preferred to abdicate his leadership rather than be the cause of disunity and
bitterness among his countrymen
VII. ADIOS, MADRID
a. First stay in Madrid: happy
b. Second stay in Madrid: unhappy/ last time he saw Madrid

Chapter 18
 25

BIARRITZ VACATION AND ROMANCE WITH NELLY BOUSTEAD

I. ROMANCE WITH NELLIE BOUSTEAD

a. To seek solace for his disappointments in Madrid, Rizal took a vacation in the resort city of
Biarritz on the fabulous French Riviera
i. Jose was a guest of the rich Boustead Family at its winter Residence – Villa Eliada
ii. It was in Biarritz where he had a serious romance with Nellie and finished the last
chapter of his 2nd novel, El Filibusterismo
b. Jose proposed marriage to Nellie (rebound love from Leonor)
i. Del Pilar:
1. Teased him about changing the “o” in Noli to an “e” (Noli to Neli)
ii. Tomas Arejola
1. By marrying her, I fear that instead of happiness, you would only find
bitterness and trouble
iii. Antonio Luna:
1. Who had previously loved and lost Nelly , encouraged Rizal to woo and
marry Nellie
c. Rizal’s marriage proposal failed for two reasons:
i. He refused to give up his catholic faith and be converted to Protestantism, as Nelly
demanded
ii. Nelly’s mother did not like Rizal as son-in-law
1. Nelly’s mother , like the mother of Leonor Rivera, had no wish to entrust her
daughter’s happiness to a man who was poor in material things,
2. a physician without a paying clientele,
3. a writer who earned nothing from his pen,
4. and a reformer who was persecuted by the friars and government officials in
his own country
II. EL FILIBUSTERISMO FINISHED IN BIARRITZ
a. Frustrated in romance, Rizal found consolation in writing
b. The eve of his departure from Biarritz to Paris, he finished the manuscript of El Filibusterismo
III. RETIREMENT FROM THE PROPAGANDA MOVEMENT
a. Owing to the intrigues of his jealous compatriots, Rizal retired from the Propaganda
Movement, or reform crusade
b. He notified the Propaganda authorities in Manila to cancel his monthly allowance and devote
the money to some better cause, such as the education of a young Filipino student in Europe
IV. RIZAL STOPPED WRITING FOR LA SOLIDARIDAD
a. Simultaneous with his retirement from the Propaganda Movement, Rizal ceased writing
articles for La Solidaridad
b. Del Pilar himself realized the need for Rizal’s collaboration in both the Propaganda
Movement and in the La Solidaridad newspaper
i. because the enthusiasm for the reform crusade in Spain was declining
ii. he wrote to Rizal begging forgiveness for any resentment and requesting him to
resume writing for the La Solidaridad
c. Jose’s reply to del Pilar:
i. Rizal denied any resentment
ii. Reasons of Rizal:
1. More time to work on his novel
2. He wanted other Filipinos to work also
 26

3. He considered it very important to the party that there be unity in the work
4. It is better for del Pilar to leave him alone to direct the policy such as he
understands it and Jose doesn’t want to meddle with it (they have their own
personal ideas)

Chapter 19

EL FILIBUSTERISMO PUBLISHED IN GHENT

I. PRIVATIONS IN GHENT
a. Reasons for moving to Ghent
i. Cost of printing in Ghent was cheaper than in Brussels
ii. To escape from the enticing attraction of Petite Suzanne
II. PRINTING OF EL FILIBUSTERISMO
a. He pawned his jewels in order to pay the down payment and the early partial payments during
the printing of the novel
III. VENTURA, SAVIOR OF FILI
a. Valentine Ventura in Paris learned of Rizal’s predicament and immediately sent him the
necessary funds
b. With his financial aid, the printing of the Fili was resumed
IV. THE FILI COMES OFF THE PRESS
V. DEDICATED TO GOM-BUR-ZA
VI. SYNOPSIS OF EL FILIBUSTERISMO
a. This novel is a sequel to the Noli
i. It has little humor, less idealism, and less romance than the Noli Me Tangere
ii. It is more revolutionary, more tragic than the first novel
b. Simoun
i. The hero of the novel and is a rich jeweler
1. He was Ibarra of the Noli
ii. He fled to Cuba where he became rich and befriended many Spanish officials
1. He returns to the Philippines where he freely moved around
2. He is a powerful figure not only because he is a rich jeweler, but also because
he is a good friend and adviser of the governor-general.
iii. He is secretly cherishing a terrible revenge against the Spanish authorities
1. 2 magnificent obsessions are:
a. Rescue Maria Clara from the nunnery of Santa Clara
b. To foment a revolution against the hated Spanish Masters
iv. A man of wealth and mystery, is a very close friend and confidante of the Spanish-
Governor General.
1. Because of his great influence in Malacanang, he was called the “Brown
Cardinal” or the “Black Eminence”
2. By using his wealth and his political influence, he encourages corruption in
the government
a. Promotes the oppression of the masses
 27

b. Hastens the moral degradation of the country so that the people may
become desperate and fight
3. He smuggles arms into the country with the help of a rich Chinese merchant,
Quiroga, who wants very much to be Chinese consul of Manila
4. His first attempt to begin the armed uprising did not materialize because at the
last hour he hears the sad news that Maria Clara died in the nunnery
v. Simoun perfects his plan to overthrow the government
1. Beautiful lamp was given as wedding gift to Paulita Gomez and Julio Pelaez
2. Only he and his confidential associate, Basilio, know that when the wick of
his lamp burns lower the nitroglycerine, will explode, destroying the house
where the wedding feast is going to be held and killing all the guests,
including the governor general, the friars, and the government officials.
3. Simultaneously, all the government buildings in Manila will be blown by
Simoun’s followers.
c. The story of El Fili begins on board the steamer, Tabo
d. Basilio
i. Medical student, whose medical education was financed by his patron, Capitan Tiago
e. Isagani
i. Rejected by Paulita because of his liberal ideas
ii. Was watching outside the house
iii. Basilio, his friend, warns him to go away because the lighted lamp will soon explode
iv. Realizes that Paulita was in grave danger
1. To save her life, he rushes into the house, seizes the lighted lamp, and hurls
into the river, where it explodes
f. Padre Florentino
i. Home refuge of Simoun when he escaped the soldiers who are in pursuit of him
ii. The Spanish authorities learns of his presence in the house
iii. Lt. Perez of the Guardia Civil informs the priest by letter that he would come to arrest
Simoun
g. Arrest was eluded by Simoun
i. Took a poison
ii. As he is dying, he confessed to Padre Florentino, revealing his true identity, his
dastardly plan to use his wealth to avenge himself, and his sinister aim to destroy his
friends and enemies
h. Cabesang Tales
i. Dispossessed of his land by the friars like that of Rizal’s father.
ii. In desperation, becomes a bandit chieftain named Matanglawin
VII. NOLI AND FILI COMPARED
a. Noli
i. A romantic novel
ii. Work of the heart, a book of feeling
b. Fili
i. A political novel
1. Work of the head, a book of the thought
2. Contains bitterness, hatred, pain, violence, and sorrow
ii. The original intention of Rizal was to make the Fili longer than the Noli
1. Rizal had to cut the Fili drastically owing to lack of funds
 28

iii. Rizal himself considered the Noli as superior to the Fili

VIII. RIZAL’S UNFINISHED THIRD NOVEL
a. Letter to Blumentritt
i. A novel in which politics will not find much space in it
ii. Ethics will play the principal role which deals mainly with the habits and customs of
the Filipinos
iii. Jose wishes to be there; he wishes to be humorous, satirical and witty, to laugh and
cry
b. While he was bound for Hong Kong:
i. He continued writing it but did not finish it
ii. To be written in Tagalog, intended for Tagalog readers
c. Story:
i. Sultan Zaide
1. with his royal family and retainers, was taken prisoner by the Spaniards
during the wars in the Moluccas and brought to Manila
2. The old sultan, his children, and followers were promised good treatment, but
the Spaniards forgot their promise and let them die one by one in misery
ii. Kamandangan
1. The hero of the novel
2. Descendant of Lakandula, last king of Tondo
3. Plotted to regain the lost freedom of his fathers
iii. It is said that Rizal was fortunate not to have finished this novel, because it would
have caused greater scandal and more Spanish vengeance on him.
IX. RIZAL’S OTHER UNFINISHED NOVEL
a. “Makamisa”
b. “Dapitan”
i. Wrote it during his exile in Dapitan to depict the town life and customs
c. A novel in Spanish about the life in Pili, a town in Laguna is also unfinished
d. Another unfinished novel of Rizal, also without a title, is about Cristobal, a youthful Filipino
student who was returned from Europe
e. A novel that describes the deplorable conditions of the Philippines

Chapter 20

OPHTHALMIC SURGEON IN HONG KONG

I. FAREWELL TO EUROPE
a. Reasons for leaving Europe
i. Life was unbearable in Europe because of his political differences with M.H. del Pilar
and other Filipinos in Spain
ii. To be near his country
II. RIZAL AND THE GERMAN LADIES
a. The fast running steamer encountered a heavy squall and the door of the dining room was
blown open
 29

i. Nobody among the passengers who were busy eating stood up to close the door
ii. A lady said to her companions in German: “If this man in front of us were a
gentleman he would close the door
iii. Upon hearing her remark, Rizal, without saying a word, rose and closed the door
iv. He conversed with the German ladies in perfect German, and the ladies were very
much embarrassed
III. FAMILY REUNION IN HONG KONG
a. The Christmas in Hong Kong was one of the happiest Yuletide Celebrations in Rizal’s life
i. He had a happy family reunion
IV. OPHTHALMIC SURGEON IN HONG KONG
a. To earn a living for himself and for himself, Rizal practiced medicine
b. A Portuguese physician, Dr. Lorenzo Marques, became his friend and helped him to build a
wide clientele
V. BORNEO COLONIZATION PROJECT
a. In the face of the bleak outlook of the Calamba folks under Governor Valeriano Weyler’s
terroristic regime, Rizal conceived the establishment of a Filipino colony in North Borneo
(Sabah)
i. He planned to move the landless Filipino families to that rich British-owned island
and carve out its virgin wildness a “New Calamba.”
ii. He went to Sandakan to negotiate with the British authorities for the establishment of
a Filipino colony.
iii. Bengkoka River in Maradu Bay
1. Was offered by the British Borneo Company
2. His mission was successful
iv. The British authorities of Borneo were willing to give the Filipino colonists 100, 000
acres of land, a beautiful harbor, and a good government for 999 years, free of all
charges.
b. Hidalgo (Rizal’s brother in law)
i. Objected to the colonization project
ii. Why should we go to a foreign land without first exhausting all means for the welfare
of the country which nurtured us from our cradles?
c. New trends of events in the Philippines gave Rizal a new hope for realizing his Borneo
project.
i. Weyler was relieved of his gubernatorial office
ii. Eulogio Despujol, the new governor, announced to the Filipino people a fine program
of government
1. In the belief that Governor Despujol was sincere in his beautiful promises of a
better government, Rizal sent him a letter of felicitation and offering his
cooperation.
2. The governor-general, violating the simple rule of Spanish courtesy, did not
even acknowledge receipt of his letter.
3. In his second letter, he requested the governor-general to permit the landless
Filipinos to establish themselves in Borneo
a. Despujol did not give Rizal the courtesy of a reply
b. Despujol notified the Spanish consul general in Hong Kong to tell
Rizal that he could not approve the Filipino immigration to Borneo,
 30

alleging that the Philippines lacked laborers and it was not very
patriotic to go off and cultivate foreign soil
VI. WRITINGS IN HONGKONG
a. Rizal wrote “A Visit to Victoria Gaol”
i. An account of his visit to the colonial prison in Hong Kong
ii. In this article he contrasted the cruel Spanish prison system with the moderm and
more humane British prison system
b. Constitution of the La Liga Filipina
i. Most important writing made in Hong Kong
VII. DECISION TO RETURN TO MANILA
a. Reasons:
i. To confer with Governor Despujol regarding his Borneo colonization project
ii. To establish the Liga Filipina in Manila
iii. To prove that Eduardo de Lete was wrong in attacking him in Madrid
1. Lete’s attack, which was printed in La Solidaridad, portrayed Rizal as
cowardly, egoistic, opportunistic – a patriot in words only
2. Protest of Rizal to del Pilar:
a. Why did del Pilar permit Lete to write in the article?
b. It could harm more the interests of the whole country
VIII. LAST HONG KONG LETTERS
a. FIRST LETTER: ADDRESSED TO HIS PARENTS AND FRIENDS
i. I realized how much suffering I have caused you yet I do not regret what I have done
in pursuit of my duty
ii. Lived the examples he preached
iii. A man ought to die for duty and his principles
iv. To advance the future of the country, and shall willingly die for it, and even more
willingly sacrifice all to secure justice and peace for you
v. I risk life to save so many innocent persons
vi. There are many persons, filled with hope and ambition, who perhaps might be happier
if I were dead
vii. Should fate go against me, you will all understand that I shall die happy in the thought
that my death will end all your troubles.
b. SECOND LETTER: ADDRESSED TO THE FILIPINOS
i. I cannot live on seeing so many suffer unjust persecution on my account
ii. I prefer death and cheerfully shall relinquish life to free so many innocent persons
from such unjust persecution
iii. I appreciate the fact that at present the future of our country gravitates in some degree
around me, that at my death many will feel triumphant; many are wishing for my fall
iv. I hold duties of conscience above all else
v. I am all my parents have, but our country has many more sons who can take my place
and even do my work better.
vi. Besides I wish to show those who deny us the boon of patriotism that we know how to
die for duty and principles
vii. What matters death, if one dies for what one loves, for native land and beings held
dear?
IX. RIZAL FALLS INTO SPANISH TRAP
 31

a. After Rizal’s departure from Hong Kong, the Spanish-consul general, who issued the
government guarantee of safety, sent a cablegram to Governor Despujol that the victim “is in
trap.”
i. A secret case was filed in Manila against Rizal and his followers “for anti-religious
and anti-patriotic agitation.”
b. The deceitful Despujol ordered his secretary, Luis de la Torre, to find out if Rizal was
naturalized as a German citizen, as was rumored, so that he might take proper action against
one “who had the protection of a strong nation.”

Chapter 21

SECOND HOMECOMING AND THE LIGA FILIPINA

I. ARRIVAL IN MANILA WITH SISTER

a. Rizal and his widowed sister Lucia arrived in Manila
b. Had an audience at Malacanang with Governor-General Despujol; Despujol agreed to pardon
his father but not the rest of his family.
II. FOUNDING OF THE LIGA FILIPINA
a. Rizal attended a meeting of the patriots at the home of the Chinese- Filipino, Doroteo
Ongjunco
b. Rizal explained the objectives of the Liga Filipina, a civic league of Filipinos
c. The patriots were favorably impressed and gladly approved the establishment of the Liga
III. CONSTITUTION OF THE LIGA FILIPINA
a. To unite the whole archipelago into one compact and homogenous body
b. Mutual protection in every want and necessity
c. Defense against all violence and injustice
d. Encouragement of education, agriculture, and commerce
e. Study and application of reforms
f. Motto: One like All
IV. RIZAL ARRESTED AND JAILED IN FORT SANTIAGO
a. Rizal resumes his series of interviews with the governor-general
b. During this interview, governor-general Despujol suddenly showed him some printed leaflets
which were allegedly found in Lucia’s pillow cases.
i. These incriminatory leaflets were entitled Pobres Frailes
ii. They were a satire against the rich Dominican friars who amassed fabulous riches
contrary to their monastic vow of poverty.
c. Rizal denied having those leaflets in either his or Lucia’s baggage, which had been thoroughly
searched upon their arrival from Hong Kong by the custom authorities who found nothing.
i. Despite his denial and insistent demand for investigation in accordance with the due
process of law, he was placed under arrest and escorted to Fort Santiago
d. The following day, the Gaceta de Manila published the story of Rizal’s arrest which produced
indignant commotion among the Filipino people, particularly the members of the newly
organized Liga Filipina
V. ARBITRARY DEPORTATION TO DAPITAN
 32

a. The same issue of the Gaceta contained Governor General Despujol’s decree deporting Rizal
to one of the islands in the South
b. The gubernatorial decree gave the reasons for Rizal’s deportation, as follows:
i. Rizal had published books and articles abroad which showed disloyalty to Spain and
which were “frankly anti-catholic” and “imprudently anti-friar”
ii. A few hours after his arrival in Manila “there was found in one of the packages… a
bundle of handbills entitled Pobres Frailes”
iii. His novel El Filibusterismo was dedicated to the memory of three traitors (Gom-Bur-
Za), and on the title page he wrote that in view of the vices and errors of the Spanish
administration, “the only salvation for the Philippines was separation from the mother
country.”
iv. The end which he pursues in his efforts and writings is to tear from the loyal Filipino
breasts the treasures of our holy Catholic faith.
c. He was exiled in Dapitan for a period of 4 years.

Chapter 22

EXILE IN DAPITAN

I. BEGINNING OF EXILE IN DAPITAN

a. Dapitan, is a remote town in Mindanao which was under the missionary jurisdiction of the
Jesuits
b. Rizal could live at the parish convent on the following conditions:
i. That Rizal publicly retract his errors concerning religion, and make statements that
were clearly pro-Spanish and against revolution.
ii. That he perform the church rites and make a general confession of his past life.
iii. That he conduct himself in an exemplary manner as a Spanish subject and a man of
religion
c. Rizal did not agree with these conditions
i. Consequently, he lived in the house of the commandant; Captain Carnicero (the
warden) and Rizal (the prisoner) were warm and friendly.
II. WINS IN MANILA LOTTERY
a. The mail boat, Butuan, brought no Spanish official to Dapitan but the happy tidings that:
i. the Lottery Ticket No. 9736 jointly owned by Captain Carnicero, Rizal and Francisco
Eqiulor (Spanish resident of Dipolog) won the second prize of P20,000
b. Rizal’s share of the winning lottery ticket was P6,200
i. He gave P2,000 to his father and P200 to his friend Basa in Hong Kong
ii. The rest he invested well by purchasing agricultural lands along the coast of Talisay
c. Rizal never drank liquor and never smoked but he was a lottery ticket addict.
III. RIZAL-PASTELLS DEBATE ON RELIGION
a. Father Pastells sent Rizal a book by Sarda, with advice that Rizal should desist from his
foolishness in viewing religion from the prism of individual judgment and self-esteem
b. Rizal revealed his anti-catholic ideas which he had acquired in Europe and embitterment at his
persecution by the bad friars
 33

i. It is understandable why he was bitter against the friars who committed certain abuses
under the cloak of religion.
c. Rizal’s Catholicism requires enlightenment, like the Catholicism of Terilhard de Chardin
IV. RIZAL CHALLENGES A FRENCHMAN TO A DUEL
a. Mr. Juan Lardet, a businessman, purchased many logs from the lands of Rizal.
i. It so happened that some of the logs were of poor quality
ii. Lardet , in a letter written to Antonio Miranda, a Dapitan merchant and friend of
Rizal,
1. expressed his disgust with the business deal
2. and stated that “if Rizal was a truthful man, he would have told me that the
lumber not included in the account were bad.
b. Miranda indiscreetly forwarded Lardet’s letter to Rizal
i. Jose’s weakness: sensitivity
ii. When he read Lardet’s letter, he flared up in anger, regarding the Frenchman’s
unsavory comment as an affront to his integrity
c. Carnicero told the Frenchman to apologize rather than accept the challenge
d. Rizal accepted the Frenchman’s apology
V. RIZAL AND FATHER SANCHEZ
a. Father Pastells tried to persuade Rizal to discard his errors of religion
i. He assigned Father Francisco de Paula Sanchez, Rizal’s favorite teacher at Ateneo
1. Sanchez is the only Spanish priest to defend Rizal’s Noli in public
2. Failed to persuade Rizal to discard his unorthodox views on the Catholic
Religion
VI. RIZAL’S ENCOUNTER WITH THE FRIAR’S SPY
a. Pablo Mercado posed as a relative, secretly visited Rizal at his house
i. Strange visitor offered his services as a confidential courier of Rizal’s letter and
writings for the patriots in Manila which might incriminate him in the revolutionary
movement
b. Rizal, being a man of prudence and keen perception became suspicious
i. Rizal went to the comandancia and denounced the impostor to Captain Juan Sitges
1. As commandant of Dapitan, Sitges ordered the arrest of Pablo Mercado and
instructed Anastacio Adriatico to investigate him immediately
c. The real name of Pablo Mercado was Florencio Namanan
VII. AS PHYSICIAN IN DAPITAN
a. Patients are poor; he gave them free medicine
b. Studied the medicinal plants and their curative values
i. To poor patients, who could not afford to buy imported medicine, he prescribed the
local medicinal plants.
VIII. WATER SYSTEM FOR DAPITAN
a. Rizal held the title of expert surveyor which he obtained from Ateneo
b. He applied his knowledge of engineering by constructing a system of waterworks in order to
furnish clean water to the townpeople.
i. Engineers marveled how Rizal could have built such a system of waterworks, for he
had inadequate tools and his finances are limited
ii. Without aid from the government, he succeeded in giving a good water system
c. Length of this aqueduct is several kilometers
IX. COMMUNITY PROJECTS FOR DAPITAN
 34

a. Aside from constructing the town’s first water system, he spent many months draining the
marshes in order to get rid of malaria that infested Dapitan
b. The P500 which an Englishman patient paid him was used by Jose to equip the town with its
lighting system
i. This lighting system consisted of coconut oil lamps
ii. Electric lighting was unknown then in the Philippines
iii. It was not until 1894 when Manila saw the first electric lights
c. Another project was the beautification of Dapitan
i. He remodeled the town plaza to enhance its beauty
ii. He wanted it to have the same standards as Europe
X. RIZAL AS TEACHER
a. His exile in Dapitan gave him the opportunity to put into practice his educational ideas
b. Established a school; he applied the same system of education that he learned in Ateneo in his
school
i. Best is called the emperor and sat at the head of the bench
XI. CONTRIBUTION TO SCIENCE
a. Was able to built a rich collection of concology
b. Among these:
i. Draco Rizali (a flying dragon)
ii. Apogonia Rizali (a small beetle)
iii. Rhacophorus Rizali (a rare frog)
XII. ARTISTIC WORKS IN DAPITAN
a. Rizal made sketches of persons and things that attracted him in Dapitan
XIII. RIZAL AS FARMER
a. Rizal bought 16 hectares of land in Talisay, where he built his home, school, and hospital, and
planted cacao, coffee, sugarcane, coconuts and fruit trees.
b. He acquired more lands until his total holdings reached 70 hectares, containing 6,000 hemp
plants 1,000 coconut trees, and numerous fruit trees, sugarcane, corn, coffee and cacao.
c. Rizal introduced modern methods of agriculture which he had observed in Europe and
America.
d. He imported agricultural machinery from the U. S.
e. He invited his friends and family to come to his projected agricultural colony
i. Rizal wanted to establish a new Calamba in Dapitan
ii. This project did not materialize because he could not get the support of the
government.
XIV. RIZAL AS BUSINESSMAN
a. In partnership with Ramon Carreon, a Dapitan Merchant, he made profitable business ventures
in fishing, copra, and hemp industries, and lime manufacturing
b. The most profitable business of Rizal was in hemp industry
c. To break the Chinese monopoly on business in Dapitan, Rizal organized the Cooperative
Association of Dapitan Farmers
i. Helped the producers and workers by establishing a store wherein they can buy prime
commodities at moderate prices.
XV. RIZAL’S INVENTIVE ABILITY
a. While practicing medicine in Calamba, he invented a cigarette lighter which he sent as a gift
to Blumentritt
i. He called this sulpukan, which is made of wood
 35

ii. Its mechanism is based on the principle of compressed air

b. He invited a machine for making bricks
i. This machine could manufacture about 6,000 bricks daily
XVI. “MY RETREAT”
a. Serene life as an exile in Dapitan
XVII. RIZAL & JOSEPHINE BRACKEN
a. The death of Leonor Rivera left a poignant void in Jose’s heart
b. Josephine Bracken
i. Came to Dapitan, an Irish, 18 y.o.
ii. Her mother died in childbirth and she was adopted by George Taufer, who later
became blind
1. No ophthalmic surgeon in Hong Kong could cure that is why they need to go
to Manila to seek the services of the famous ophthalmic surgeon
2. They heard in Hong Kong that Rizal was in Dapitan
c. Rizal and Josephine fell in love with each other at first sight
i. They agreed to marry after a month
ii. But Fr. Obach, the priest of Dapitan, refused to marry them without the permission of
the Bishop of Cebu
d. When Mr. Taufer heard of their projected marriage
i. He flared up in anger
ii. Unable to endure the thought of losing Josephine, he tried to commit suicide by
cutting of his throat with a razor
iii. Rizal, however, grabbed his wrists and prevented him from killing himself
iv. To avoid the tragedy, Josephine went with Taufer to Manila by the first available
steamer
1. The blind man went away uncured because his ailment was venereal in nature,
hence incurable
v. Mr. Taufer returned alone to Hong Kong, Josephine stayed in Manila with Rizal’s
family.
e. Since no priest would marry them, Rizal and Josephine held hands together and married
themselves before the eyes of God.
i. Fr. Obach was scandalized and gossips circulated around
f. Rizal was expecting a baby
i. Unfortunately, Jose played a prank on her, frightening her so that she prematurely
gave birth to an 8th month baby boy, who only lived for three hours
ii. This lost son of Rizal was named “Francisco” in honor of his father
XVIII. RIZAL AND THE KATIPUNAN
a. Andres Bonifacio, the “Great Plebian,” was sowing the seeds of an unarmed uprising
i. Founded the Katipunan, the secret revolutionary society
b. Dr. Pio Valenzuela was named emissary to Dapitan
i. To inform Rizal of the plan of the Katipunan to launch a revolution for freedom’s sake
ii. Dr. Valenzuela left Manila on board the steamer, Venus
iii. To camouflage his real mission, he brought with him a blind man named Raymundo
Mata
c. Rizal objected to Bonifacio’s audacious project to plunge the country in bloody revolution
i. He was of the sincere belief that it was premature, for two reasons:
1. The people are not ready for revolution
 36

2. Arms and funds must first be collected before raising the cry for revolution
ii. He also disapproved of the other plan of the Katipunan to rescue him
1. Because he had given his word of honor to the Spanish authorities
2. And he did not want to break it
XIX. VOLUNTEERS AS MILITARY DOCTOR IN CUBA
a. Months before the Katipunan contacted Jose, Rizal had offered his services as military doctor
in Cuba, which was then in the throes of a revolution and a raging yellow fever epidemic.
i. There was a shortage of physicians to minister to the needs of the Spanish troops and
the Cuban people.
b. It was Blumentritt who told him of the deplorable health situation in war-ridden Cuba and
advised him to volunteer as army physician there
c. Rizal wrote to Gov.-Gen. Ramon Blanco, Despujol’s successor, offering his services as
military doctor in Cuba
i. Blanco notified him of the acceptance of his offer
XX. “THE SONG OF THE TRAVELER”
a. Great was Rizal’s joy in receiving the gladsome news
b. He knew that he was free and he can travel to Europe then Cuba

Chapter 23

LAST TRIP ABROAD (1896)

I. RIZAL MISSES SHIP GOING TO SPAIN

a. Letter to Blumentritt
i. I did not catch the mail ship for Spain
ii. Fearing that my stay in Manila for a month might bring me troubles I made known to
the governor general, while remaining on board, of my wish to be isolated from
everybody, except my family.
b. Rizal was transferred to another cruiser by the order of Ramon Blanco
i. Was given good accommodation
ii. He was treated not a prisoner, but a guest detained on board in order to avoid
difficulties from friends and enemies
c. Rizal stayed on the cruiser for about a month, pending the availability of a Spain-bound
steamer.
II. OUTBREAK OF THE PHILIPPINE REVOLUTION
a. The Katipunan plot to overthrow Spanish rule by means of revolution was discovered by Fray
Mariano Gil
b. This incident struck terror into the hearts of the Spanish officials and residents, producing a
hysteria of vindicative retaliation against the Filipino patriots.
c. The tumult produced by the discovery of the Katipunan plot was aggravated by the Cry of
Balintawak which was raised by Bonifacio and his valiant Katipuneros
i. The revolutionists led by Bonifacio and Jacinto attacked San Juan, but they were
repulsed with heavy losses
ii. After the Battle of San Juan, Governor General Blanco proclaimed a state of war in
the first eight provinces for rising in arms against Spain:
 37

1. Manila, BUlacan, Cavite, Batangas, Laguna, Pampanga, Nueva Ecija, and

Tarlac
III. DEPARTURE FOR SPAIN
a. Rizal received from Governor General Blanco 2 letters of introduction for the Minister of War
and the Minister of Colonies, with a covering letter which absolved him from all blame for the
raging revolution
b. Letter by Blanco to the Minister of War:
i. His conduct during the 4 years that he was in exile in Dapitan has been exemplary
ii. He is the more worthy of pardon and benevolence as he is in no way involved either in
the criminal attempt that we are lamenting these days or in any conspiracy or secret
society that they have been plotting.
c. Don Pedro Rozas and his son, Periquin
i. Fellow passenger of Rizal
IV. RIZAL IN SINGAPORE
a. Don Pedro, with his son, disembarked at Singapore
i. He advised Rizal to stay too and take advantage of the protection of the British Law
ii. Rizal did not heed his advice
b. Don Manuel Camus
i. Boarded the steamer, urging Jose to stay in Singapore to save his life
ii. Jose ignored their appeal because he had given his word of honor to Governor General
Blanco and he did not like to break it.
V. VICTIM OF SPANISH DUPLICITY
a. Without Jose’s knowledge, Gov. Gen. Blanco was secretly conspiring with the Ministers of
War and the Colonies for his destruction
b. One of Jose’s mistakes was to believe that Gov. Gen. Blanco was a man of honor and a friend
because:
i. He allowed him to go as a free man to Spain to become a physician-surgeon of the
Spanish army in Cuba, where a bloody revolution was raging
ii. Blanco gave him 2 letters of introduction addressed to the Spanish Ministers of War
c. Blanco and the Ministers of War and the Colonies were exchanging coded telegrams and
confidential messages for his arrest upon reaching Barcelona
i. That Jose was a deportee and was being kept under surveillance
VI. RIZAL ARRESTED BEFORE REACHING BARCELONA
a. A passenger told Rizal the bad news that he would be arrested by order of Gov. Gen. Blanco
and would be sent to prison in Ceuta (Spanish Morocco)
b. Rizal belatedly realized that he was duped by the unscrupulous Spanish officials, particularly
Blanco
c. Letter to Blumentritt:
i. I have offered to serve as a physician, risking life in the hazards of war and
abandoning all my business
ii. I am innocent and now in reward they are sending me to prison
iii. I am communicating to you this news that you may appraise my situation.
VII. ARRIVAL IN BARCELONA AS A PRISONER (8 days)
a. The trip from Manila to Barcelona lasted exactly 30 days
b. Jose was kept under heavy guard in his cabin for three days
c. Rizal was escorted to the grim and infamous prison-fortress named Monjuich
i. He spent the whole morning in a cell
 38

d. Jose’s interview with Despujol

i. Told Rizal that he would be shipped back to Manila
e. Rizal was taken aboard on a ship full of soldiers and officers

Chapter 24

LAST HOMECOMING AND TRIAL

I. A MARTYR’S LAST HOMECOMING

a. Rizal knew he was facing the supreme test, which might mean the sacrifice of his life, but he
was unafraid.
b. He thanked God for giving him the chance to return in order to confront his slanderers and to
vindicate his name
c. Diary:
i. Either they do me justice and recognize my innocence and then I will be rehabilitated
or they sentence me to death
ii. Society will forgive me and later, without any doubt, justice will be done and I will
one martyr
iii. Instead of dying abroad, I will die in my country
iv. I believe that what is happening is the best that can happen to me – God’s will be done
II. CONFISCATION OF RIZAL’S DIARY
a. It was known to the Spanish authorities that Rizal was keeping track of the daily events in his
diary
i. They were curious as to what were recorded in his diary
ii. Their suspicion was aroused, for they feared that the diarist might be writing
something seditious or treasonable
b. Rizal’s diary was taken away and was critically scrutinized by the authorities
i. Nothing dangerous was found in its contents
ii. The diary was returned to him
III. UNSUCESSFUL RESCUE IN SINGAPORE
a. News of Rizal’s predicament reached his friends in Europe and Singapore
b. They dispatched frantic telegrams to an English lawyer in Singapore named Hugh Fort to
rescue Rizal from the Spanish steamer when it reached Singapore by means of a writ of
habeas corpus
c. When the steamer arrived in Singapore,
i. Atty. Fort instituted proceedings at the Singapore Court for the removal of Rizal from
the steamer
ii. The crux of Mr. Fort’s legal contention was that Rizal was illegally detained on the
Spanish steamer
d. Chief Justice Loinel Cox denied the writ on the ground:
i. That the steamer (Colon) was carrying Spanish troops to the Philippines
ii. Hence it is a warship of a foreign power, which under international law was beyond
the jurisdiction of the Singapore authorities
IV. ARRIVAL IN MANILA
a. Rizal was quietly transferred under heavy guard from the ship to Fort Santiago
 39

b. Spanish authorities fished for evidence against Rizal

i. Many Filipino patriots were brutally tortured to implicate Rizal
ii. Rizal’s brother, Paciano, was arrested and cruelly tortured
V. PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATION
a. 2 kinds of evidence were presented against Rizal, namely documentary and testimonial
VI. RIZAL CHOOSES HIS DEFENDER
a. The only right given to Rizal by the Spanish authorities was to choose his defense counsel
b. This was highly restricted, for he had to choose only from a list submitted to him
c. Don Luis Taviel de Andrade
i. He name was familiar to Jose so that he chose the lieutenant to be his defender in
court
ii. The brother of Luis Taviel de Andrade, Rizal’s bodyguard in Calamba
VII. READING OF INFORMATION OF CHARGES TO THE ACCUSED
a. Jose was accused of being the principal organizer and the living soul of the Filipino
insurrection, the founder of societies, periodicals and books dedicated to fomenting and
propagating ideas of rebellion
b. As the accused, Rizal raised no objection on the jurisdiction of the court, but pleaded not
guilty to the crime of rebellion.
i. He admitted that he wrote the Constitution of the Liga Filipina which was merely a
civic association
ii. He waived the right to amend or make further statements already made, except that he
had taken no part in politics since his exile to Dapitan.
c. The withdrawal of Blanco from the gubernatorial office sealed Rizal’s fate, for he was more
humane in character than the ruthless Polavieja
i. Blanco believed that Rizal was not a traitor to Spain
ii. Had he remained in longer in office, Rizal would not have been executed
VIII. RIZAL’S MANIFESTO TO HIS PEOPLE
a. Rizal wrote a manifesto to his people appealing to them to stop the necessary shedding of
blood and to achieve their liberties by means of education and liberty
b. Contents:
i. My name had been used as a war cry among some who were in arms
ii. When I had news of what was being planned, I opposed it and demonstrated its
absolute impossibility
iii. I was convinced that the idea was highly absurd and would bring great suffering
iv. In spite of my counsels, the movement broke out
v. I spontaneously offered not only my services, but my life, and even my name so that
they might use them in the manner they saw fit to suppress the rebellion
vi. Liberty is desired by placing education as a premise – by means of education and of
labor they might have a personality of their own and make themselves worthy of
liberties
vii. In my writings I have recommended redemption
viii. I have written that reforms, to be fruitful, have to come from above, that those that
come from below are irregular and unstable
ix. I condemn this absurd, savage uprising planned behind my back, which dishonors us
x. I abhor its criminal methods and disclaim all participation therein.
c. Rizal’s manifesto was not issued to the people
 40

i. Rizal was saved from the shame of his manifesto’s being misinterpreted and
disobeyed by the Filipinos in arms
IX. THE TRIAL OF RIZAL
a. His case was prejudged; he was considered guilty before the actual trial
b. Rizal was not given the right (which any accused is entitled to have in a real court of justice)
to face the witnesses against him in open court
c. The prosecuting attorney urged the court to give the verdict of death to the accused
d. Rizal proved his innocence by twelve points:
i. He could not be guilty of rebellion, for he advised Dr. Pio Valenzuela in Dapitan not
to rise in revolution
ii. He did not correspond with the radical, revolutionary elements
iii. The revolutionists used his name without his knowledge. If he were guilty he could
have escaped Singapore
iv. If he had a hand in revolution, he could have escaped in a Moro vinta and would not
have built a home, a hospital, and bought lands in Dapitan
v. If he were the chief of revolution, why was he not consulted by the revolutionists?
vi. It was true that he wrote the by-laws of the Liga Filipina, but this is only a civic
association – not a revolutionary society.
vii. The Liga Filipina did not live long, for after the first meeting he was banished to
Dapitan and it died out.
viii. If the La Liga was organized 9 months later, he did not know about it.
ix. The La Liga did not serve the purpose of the revolutionists, otherwise they would not
have supplanted it with the Katipunan.
x. If it were true that there were some bitter comments in Rizal’s letters, it was because
they were written in 1890 when his family was being persecuted
xi. His life in Dapitan had been exemplary as the politico-military commanders and
missionary priests could attest
xii. It was not true that the revolution was inspired by one of his speech at the house of
Doroteo Ongjunco, as alleged by witnesses whom he would like to confront. His
friends knew his opposition to armed rebellion. Why did the Katipunan send an
emissary to Dapitan who was unknown to him?
e. The military court unanimously voted for the sentence of death
X. POLAVIEJA SIGNS RIZAL’S EXECUTION
a. Polavieja approved the decision of the court-martial and ordered Rizal o be shot at 7am of
December 30 at Bagumbayan Field.

Chapter 25

MARTYRDOM IN BAGUMBAYAN

I. LAST HOURS OF RIZAL

a. Rizal gave to Trinidad the alcohol cooking stove instructing her that there is something inside
i. This “something” was Rizal’s farewell poem
b. 10PM 29 December 1896
i. Rizal wrote his retraction, in which he abjured Masonry and his religious ideas which
were anti-catholic
 41

II. MARTYRDOM OF A HERO

a. He requested the commander of the firing squad, that he be shot facing the firing squad
i. His request was denied, for the captain had implicit orders to shot him in the back
b. Dr. Felipe Ruiz Castillo
i. A Spanish military physician asked his permission to feel his pulse
ii. Castillo was amazed to find it normal, showing that Rizal was not afraid to die
c. It was exactly 7:03 in the morning when he died in the bloom of manhood – aged 35 y. o.
III. AFTERMATH OF A HERO-MARTYR’S DEATH
a. After the hero’s execution, the Spanish spectators shouted “Viva Espana!” “Muerte a los
Traidores” (Long live Spain! Death to the Traitors!)
b. He proved that the pen is mightier than the sword