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Life and Works of Rizal Module 1

Rizal'S Life & Works (Adamson University)

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Republic of the Philippines

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Chapter 9. Rizal’s Grand Tour of Europe with Viola

After the publication of the Noli, Rizal planned to visit the important places in Europe. Dr.
Maximo Viola agreed to be his traveling companion.

At dawn of May 11, 1887, Rizal and Viola, two brown-skinned doctors on a roaming spree,
left Berlin by train. Their destination was Dresden, “one of the best cities in Germany”. Their visit
coincided with the regional floral exposition. While strolling at the scene of the Floral Expedition,
they met Dr. Jagor. At 1:30 p.m. of May 13, 1887, the train, with Rizal and Viola on board, arrived
at the railroad station of Leitmeritz, Bohemia.

After Leitmeritz, Rizal and Viola visited the historic city of Prague. They carried letters of
recommendation from Blumentritt to Dr. Willkomm, professor of natural history in the University
of Prague. The good professor and his charming wife and daughters welcomed them and showed
them the city’s historic spots.

On May 20, Rizal and Viola arrived in the beautiful city of Vienna, capital of Austria-
Hungary. Vienna was truly the “Queen of the Danube”.

On May 24, Rizal and Viola left Vienna on a river boat to see the beautiful sights of the
Danube River. The river voyage ended in Lintz. They traveled overland to Salzburg, and from
there to Munich where they sojourned for a short time to savor the famous Munich beer, reputed
to be the best in Germany.

From Munich, they want to Nuremberg, one of the oldest cities in Germany. After Munich,
they visited Ulm. The cathedral of this city was “the largest and tallest in all Germany”.

From Ulm, they went to Stuttgart, Baden, and then Rheinfall. At Rheinfall, they saw “the
most beautiful waterfull of Europe”. From Rheinfall, they crossed the frontier to Schaffhausen,

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Switzerland. After sightseeing in Lausanne, Rizal and Viola left on a little boat, crossing the foggy
Leman Lake to Geneva. This Swiss city is one of the most beautiful cities in Europe, visited by
world tourists every year.

From Geneva, Rizal went to Italy. He visited Turin, Milan, Venice, Florence. On June 27,
1887, he reached Rome, the “Eternal City” and also called the “City of the Ceasars”.

On June 29th, the Feast Day of St. Peter and St. Paul, Rizal visited for the first time in
Vatican, the “City of the Popes” and the capital of Christendom. After a week of wonderful sojourn
in Rome, he prepared to return to the Philippines.

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Learning Activity Find and write the terms that are significant to the Rizal’s Grand Tour in
Europe. Explain/Describe each term.

T H A P E K S K S L G B C M R J S A V J

U L L A F N I E H R D N A Z T N I L T G

L E M B O I A S R N X Z S H C S E A O B

K A L O I V R D A D U D B A Q F E W L O

J O K E L A C Q B N L R S J T G S U J M

C N O L I M E T A N G E R E E A M W Z R

S Z E F G T E B M A X T Y H W E O P X Z

T A L S D G M C W S H N T Z N B A R C V

E D G T W V N E Y H X K S T A O R A F T

S D W E V T H D R W C B R N M Z A G E T

C R M O P Y J F B I S I Q J E R Y U N M

H C A S W E Z C R V T N N K E V J E B R

E Z A S E R H E A T O Z P U U T F U C H

N E D S E R D A S V A B B E M T Y A E F

N P M F E E F W S V F E G O U T M F D M

A E H J R R V Y E N A S R E H U T Y F L

C L S F B I R N L I D L S I P E B V Z U

I A O R E T E N Z T P O T S D A M B A Y

T K A N I G C O V I D N I N E T E I N S

A I N T E N S T U T T G A R D A D Y A A

V A E M O R O K C A H C S T U L K R D P

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Chapter 10. Fist Homecoming

Because of the publication of the Noli Me Tangere and the uproar it caused among the
friars, Rizal was warned not to return to the Philippines. But he did not heed their warning. He was
determined to return home for the following reasons: to operate on his mother’s eyes, to serve his
people who had been oppressed by Spanish tyrants, to find out for himself how the Noli and his
other writings were affecting Filipinos and Spaniards in the Philippines and to inquire why Leonor
Rivera remained silent.

Rizal left Rome by train for Marseilles, a French port, which he reached without mishap.
On July 3, 1887, he boarded the steamer Djemnah, the same steamer which brought him to Europe
five years ago. At Saigon, on July 30, he transferred to another steamer Haiphong which was
Manila-bound. On August 2, this steamer left Saigon for Manila.

Near midnight of August 5, the Haiphong arrived in Manila. On August 8 th, he returned to
Calamba. In Calamba, Rizal established a medical clinic. His first patient was his mother, who was
almost blind. He treated her eyes, but could not perform any surgical operation because her eye
cataracts were not yet ripe.

Rizal suffered one failure during his six months of sojourn in Calamba – his failure to see
Leonor Rivera.

A week after his arrival, a storm broke over his novel. One day Rizal received a letter from
Governor General Emilio Terrero requesting him to come to Malacanang Palace. Rizal went to
Manila and appeared at Malacanang. When he was informed by Governor General Terrero of the
charge he denied it, explaining that he merely exposed the truth, but he did not advocate subversive
ideas. Pleased by his explanation and curious about the controversial book, the governor general
asked a copy of the Nolu so he could read it. Rizal had no copy then because the only copy he
brought home was given to a friend. However, he promised to secure on the governor general.

Fortunately, Rizal found a copy in the hands of a friend. He was able to get it and gave to
Governor General Terrero. The governor general read the Noli and found nothing wrong with it.

The battle over the Noli took the form of a virulent war of words. Fr. Jose Rodriguez, Prior
of Guadalope, published a series of eight pamphlets under the genera heading Cuestiones de Sumo
Interes to blast the Noli and other anti-Spanish writings. Copies of the anti-Rizal pamphlets were
sold daily in the churches after Mass. Repercussions of the storm over the Noli reached Spain. It
was fiercely attacked on the session hall of the Senate of the Spanish Cortes by various senators.

Rizal’s exposure of the deplorable conditions of tenancy in Calamba infuriated further his
enemies. Governor General Terrero summoned Rizal and “advised” him to leave the Philippines
for his own good.

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This time Rizal had to go. He could not very well disobey the governor general’s veiled
orders. But he was not running like a coward from a fight. He was courageous a fact which his
worst enemies could not deny. A valiant hero that he was, he was not afraid of any man and neither
was he afraid to die. He was compelled to leave Calamba because his presence in Calamba was
jeopardizing the safety and happiness of his family and friends and he could not fight better his
enemies and serve his country’s cause with greater efficacy by writing in foreign countries.

Learning Activity
Answer the following questions: (5pts each)

1. Why does Rizal determined to return to the Philippines?

2. Why was Rizal’s family worried in his homecoming?

3. Why did the Catholic church go against the Noli?

4. What does Noli Me Tangere means literally and conceptually?

5. Discuss what are the pros and cons of the novel Noli Me Tangere?

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