MUAMAR KIAN A.

ULANGKAYA BSCE 2 – B

Chapter 13: Rizal’s Visit to the United States (1888)

Rizal first saw America on April 28,1888. His arrival in this great country
was marred by racial prejudice, for he saw the discriminatory treatment of the
Chinese and the negroes by the white Americans. Rizal was a man of truth,
that’s why he wrote what he had seen and experienced.
Arrival in San Francisco the steamer Belgic, with Rizal on board, docked at
San Francisco on Saturday morning. All of them are not able to land because
of the American health authorities. The whole ship was quarantine. He
noticed that contrary to that 700 bales of valuable Chinese silk were landed
without fumigation. After a week Rizal were permitted to land.
Rizal in San Francisco. On Friday afternoon, May 4, 1888. The day he was
permitted to go ashore. He was registered to the Palace Hotel. Rizal stayed in
San Francisco for two days, the president of the United States at that time
was Grover Cleveland.
Across the American Continent. On May 6,1888 -Sunday. Rizal left San
Francisco for Oakland, 9 miles across San Francisco Bay, just by a ferry boat.
In Oakland, he boarded the train for his trip across the continent. He took his
supper at Sacramento and slept at his coach. Early the following morning
(May 7) he had a breakfast at Reno, Nevada.
May 10,1888 Nebraska is a plain country. Rizal reached the Omaha, the
biggest City. Missouri river is twice of the Pasig River. May 11,1888 What
Rizal observe about Chicago is that every tobacco Store has an Indian and
everyone is different. Omaha in 1800 Omaha as of now. Missouri River Pasig
River. May 12,1888. Rizal in Canada. They saw the Niagara Falls. They
stood several hours to examine the most beautiful points. He stood among the
rocks and certainly it was the grandest cascade he had ever seen. The
mysterious sound that pervading everywhere. May 13,1888. They woke up
near Albany, a big city. The Hudson River which runs along carries many
boats. It is wide and beautiful. Niagara Falls Hudson River
On Sunday morning, May 13, Rizal reached New York. He stayed in this
city, which he called the "big town." He visited the scenic and historical
places. He was awed and inspired by the memorial to George Washington. Of
this great American, he wrote to Ponce: "He is a great man who, I think, has
no equal In this country. On May 16, he left New York for Liverpool on
board the City of Rome. According to Rizal, this steamer was" the second
largest ship in the world. He saw the colossal Statue of Liberty on Bedloe
Island. He went City of Rome. Rizal had good and bad impressions of the
United States. 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 energy of the American people; 3. the natural
beauty of the land; 4. the high standard of living; and 5. the opportunities for
better life offered to poor immigrants. One bad impression Rizal had of
America was the lack of racial equality. "America is the land par excellence
of freedom but only for the whites."

PART :2

The lesson that I’ve learned in life and story of Rizal in Chapter 14, Rizal in
America 1888
This period Rizal visited the United States April 8,1888 on Saturday
morning. He stayed in San Francisco to Oakland and reached New York. 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. There he had a good and bad impressions of the US. One bad
impression is just that "America is the land for excellence of freedom but
only for the whites". America,” he answered, “is the land par excellence of
freedom but only for the whites.” “Do not the liberation of the slaves and the
founding of the Liberian Republic, which is the first and only Republic of
colored people founded by whites, prove the altruism of the Americans?”.
Rizal impression on America (Good) Material progress of the country as
shown in its cities, farms, and industries The drive and energy of the
Americans The natural beauty of the land The high standard of living The
opportunities for better life offered to poor immigrants. Rizal impression on
America (Bad) Non-existence of true civil liberty, as Negro cannot marry an
American and vice versa. The existence of racial prejudice as shown in their
hatred of the Chinese, Japanese and Negroes. The valuing of money over
human life Lack of racial equality. After visiting US, he lived in London then
trip again a cross the Atlantic. Rizal is very a good kind of person to be a
travel buddy because he keeps on traveling and he almost travelled th3 whole
world I think. How I wish to be like him.