CHAPTER 20 : OPTHALMIC SURGEON IN HONG KONG(1891-92)

 Rizal lived in Hong Kong from November, 1891to June, 1892Reasons for leaving Europe: Life was
unbearable in Europe because of his political differences with M.H. del Pilar and other Filipinos in
Spain2. To be near his idolized Philippines and family Before sailing for Hong Kong, he notified Del
Pilar that he was retiring from the political arena in Spain in order to preserve unity among the
compatriots and that despite their parting of ways, he had the highest regard for him.
 FAREWELL TO EUROPE
 October 3. 1891 (two weeks after the publication of the Fili) Rizal left Ghent for Paris, said goodbye
to the Lunas, the Pardo de Taveras, the Venturas, and other friends. October 18, 1891Boarded the
steamer Melbourne bound for Hong Kong. He brought with him a letter of recommendation by Juan
Luna for Manuel Camus, a compatriot living in Singapore.
 October 22, 1891Wrote to Blumenttrit wherein he said: Since we left Marseilles, we have had
magnificent weather. The sea is calm, placid like glass, the sky blue, the air fresh and invigorating.
Truly it isa HEAVENLY trip. There were over 80 first-class passengersmostly Europeans. Rizal was
the onlyAsian among themHe amazed hisfellow-passengers because ofhis knowledge of many
languages and his skill sketching.He befriended many missionaries (Italian Franciscans, French
Jesuits, Msgr. Velenteri, Father Fuchs, a Tyrolese, in which Rizal described as. . .fine fellow, a Father
Damaso without pride and malice.
 RIZAL AND THE GERMAN LADIESSuddenly, the door of the dining room was blown open, due to
a heavy squall encountered by the running steamer. Nobody stood up toclose the door.Alady saidto
her companions in German: If thisman in front ofus were a gentleman he would close the door. Upon
hearing, Rizal, Rizal without saying a word rose and closed the door, after which he resumed his seat.
He then conversed with the German ladies in fluent German. Of course, the ladies were very much
embarrassed, and thereafter they treated Rizal with admiration and
 ARRIVAL IN HONG KONG - November 20, 1891- Rizal arrived in Hong Kong. He was welcomed
by the Filipino residents especially hisoldfriend,JoseMa.Basa- He resided atNo. 5DAguilar Street
No.2 Rednaxela Terracewherehealso opened his medical clinic.December 1, 1891- Rizal wrote to his
parents asking permission to return home. On the same date, Hidalgo, his brother in law sent him a
letterrelatingthe sad news of the deportation of twenty-fivepersons from Calamba including father,
Neneng, Sisa, Lucia,Paciano and the rest of us.
 FAMILY REUNION IN HONG KONG- Before Christmas of 1891. Rizal was gladdened by the
arrival of his father, brother and Silvestre Ubaldo (brother-in-law) in Hong Kong. Not long afterwards
his mother and sisters Lucia, Josefaand Trinidad also arrived.- Rizals Motherwas then 65 years old
and was almost blind, suffered Spanish brutality and injustice(1890) wasarrested on the flimsy charge
that she was not usinghersurname Realondaand,despiteheradvancedage and blindness she was forced
to walk from Calamba to SantaCruz(capitalofLaguna) Fortunately, the Spanish governor ofLaguna
pitied her and kindly set her free.
 The Christmas of 1891 In Hong Kong was one of the happiest yuletide celebrations in Rizal s life, for
he had a happy family reunion.January 31, 1891Rizal wrote toBlumentritt, as follows:Here we are
allliving together, my parents, sisters, andbrother, in peace and far fromthe persecutions they suffered
in the Philippines. They are very much pleased witthe English government.
 OPTHALMIC SURGEON IN HONG KONGRizal practiced medicine in order to earn a living Dr.
Lorenzo P.Marques,aPortuguese physician, became Rizals friend and admirer and helped Rizal build a
wide clienteleDr. Rizal became a successful and well-known medical practitioner in the British colony
and had many patients (British, Chinese, Portuguese,and Americans). Writing to Blumentritt on
January 31, 1892,he said:Here I practiced as a doctor and I have . . .heremany sick ofinfluenza
because there is anepidemic. Through the newspapers I aminformed that this sickness is also causing
ravages in Europe. I hopeyou and your esteemed family will be spared. In our house, mymother, my
brother-in-law, and one of mysistersare sick. Thank God, they areout of danger.
 - Friends of Rizal from Europe gave him moral and substantial aid - From Biarritz, Mr. Boustead,
Nellies father, wrote to him on March 21,1892, praising him for practicing his medical profession. -
Dr. Ariston Bautista Lin, from Paris, sent hima congratulatory letter and a book on Diagnostic
Pathology (Dr. H.Virchow) and another entitled Traite Diagnostique by (Mesnichock) - Don Antonio
Vergel de Dios, also from Paris offered him his services for the purchase of medical books and
instruments.
 - Had Rizal devoted his lifetime to the practice of medicine he would have become one ofAsias
eminent ophthalmologist. In the words of Dr. Geminiano de Ocampo, (distinguished
Filipinoophthalmologist)He(Rizal) had all the qualities that would make an idealophthalmicsurgeon a
keen and analytical intellect, lightnessof touchand artistry of a painter, courageand imperturbability, a
broad anddeep knowledge of medicineand ophthalmology, andlast but not least, he had been properly
andadequately trained bymaster ophthalmic surgeons.BORNEO COLONIZATION PROJECTIn the
face of the bleak outlook of the Calamba folks under Governor Valeriano Weylers terroristic regime,
Rizal conceived the establishment of a Filipino colony in North Borneo (Sabah)
 Proposed settlement in Borneo.Rizal therefore made up his mind to visit his home once more. He still
cherished the plan of transferring those of his relatives and friends who were homeless through the
land troubles, or discontented with their future in the Philippines, to the district offered to him by the
British North Borneo Company
 He planned to move the landless Filipino families to that rich British-owned island and carve out of its
virgin wildness a New Calamba.March 7, 1892: Rizal went to Sandakan on board ship Menon to
negotiate with the British Colonies. He looked over the landup to the Bengkoka rive in Maradu
Bay.The British authorities were willing to give the Filipino colonists 100,00 acres of land, abeautiful
harbor, and a good government for 999 years, free of all chargesRizals friends in Europe: Juan and
Antonio Luna, Lopez Jaena, Blumentritt, Dr. Bautista Lin, etc. enthusiastically endorsed hisproject.
 One of Rizals brothers-in-law, Hidalgo, the brave Batangueno, objected to the colonization
project.GovernorWyler was relieved of his gubernatorial officeA new governor general Eulogio
Despujol. In the belief thatGovernor Despujol was sincere in his beautiful promises, Rizal sent him a
letterof felicitation and offering his cooperation.The governor general didnot even acknowledge
receipt ofhis letterRizal wrote a second letter dated March 21,1892 and gave it to aship captain to be
sure it would reach Governor Despujols hands.Once more Despujol did not give Rizal the courtesy of
reply.
 Instead, he notified the Spanish consul general in Hongkong totell Rizal thathe could not approve the
Filipino immigration to Borneo, alleging that the Philippines lacked laborers and it was not very
patriotic to go off and cultivate foreign soil.WRITINGS IN HONG KONGAng Mga Karapatan Nang
Tao, whichis a Tagalog translation of the Rights of Mans proclaimed by the French Revolution in
1789 Ala Nacion Espanola (Tothe Spanish Nation), which is an appeal to Spain to right the wrongs
done to the Calamba tenants (1891)Sa Mga Kababayan (To My Fellowmen) December 1891
 Rizal contributed articles to the Britishdaily newspaper, The Hong Kong Telegraph. Whose editor,
Mr. Frazier Smith, was his friend. Copies of thisnewspaper entered the Philippines so that Filipino
people were able to read Rizals articles. The vigilantSpanish censors soon discovered the spread
ofRizal side and immediately banned the Hong Kong newspaper.Constitution of the Liga FilipinaRizal
during his Hong Kong sojourn which was printed in Hong Kong, 1892. To deceive the Spanish
authorities, the printed copies carried the false information that the printing was done by the London
Printing Press, No. 25, Khulug Street London. The ideaof establishing theLiga Filipina (Philippine
League), an association ofpatriotic Filipinos for civicpurposes, was originally oncieved by Jose Ma.
Basa.
 May 1892Rizal made up his mind to return to Manila. The reasons: To confer withGovernor Despujol
regarding his Borneocolonizationproject.2. To establish the LigaFilipina in Manila.To prove to
Eduardo de Lete was wrong in attacking him in Madrid that Rizal,. being comfortable and safe in
Hong Kong, had abandoned the countrys cause Letes attack, which was printed in La Solidaridad
onApril 15,1892, portrayed Rizal as cowardly,egoistic. Opportunistic, patriot inwordsonly.
 Rizal vehemently protested to Del Pilar, the editor of La Solidaridad, saying:I am more convinced that
Lete,in writing his article,was too hasty, and you permitted yourself to be carried away. Friend or
enemy, if the article has harmed me, it would harmmore the interests of the Philippines. Who knows,
however, ifafter a long silence I enter the field anew . .. I am going toactivate the Propaganda again
and fortify the Liga.Relatives and friends of Rizalopposed his decision to return home because it was
like bearding the lions in their den.His sisterTrinidad tearfully warned him to desist, forhere they will
kill you June 19, 1892, he spent his 31st birthday in HK.
 June 20 he wrote two letters which he sealed inscribed on each envelope to be opened after my
death,and give it to Dr. Lorenzo P. Marquez.
 The first letter, addressed TO MY PARENTS, BRETHREN ANDFRIENDS, is as follows.The
affection that I have ever professed for you suggests .This step, and timealone can tell whether or notit
is sensible .The outcomejudges thingsaccording to the consequences but whether the result be
favorable orunfavorable, it may always be said thatduty urged me, so ifI die doing it, itwill not matter.
I realize how much suffering I have caused you yet Ido not Regret what I have done. Rather, ifI had to
beginover again I shoulddo justthe same, for what I have done hasbeen only in pursuitof my duty.
Gladly doI go to expose myself to peril, not as an expiation of misdeeds for thismatter I believe myself
guiltless of any, but to complete my work andso that,I,myself, may offer theexamples of whichI have
always preached. A man ought to die for duty and his principles. I hold fast to every idea which I
haveadvanced asto the condition andfuture of our country, and shall willingly die of it, and even more
willingly sacrifice all to securejustice and peace for you.
 With pleasure, then, I risk life to save so many innocent persons so many nieces and nephews, so
many children of friends, and children too ofothers whoare not evenfriends whoa are suffering on
myaccount.What am I? a bachelor, practically withouta family and sufficientlyundeceived asto life. I
have had many disappointments and the future beforeme isgloomy, and will be gloomy if light does
not illuminate it withthe dawn of a better day for my native land. On the other hand, there are
manypersons, filled with hope and ambition, who perhaps might be happier if weredead, and then
Ihope my enemies would be satisfied and stoppersecutingso many entirely innocent people. To a
certain extenttheirhatred is justifiableas to myself, and my parents and relatives.Should fate go against
me, you will allunderstand that I shalldie happy in the thought that my death will end all your troubles.
Return to our country andmay you be happy in it. Till the last moment of my life I shall be thinking
ofyou and wishing you all good fortune and happiness.
 The second letter, addressed TO THE FILIPINOS, isas follows:The step which I am taking, orrather
am about to take, is undoubtedly risky,and it is unnecessaryto say that I have considered it for some
time. I understandthat almost every oneopposed to it;but I know also that hardly anybody else
understands what is in my heart. Icannot live on seeingso many suffer unjust persecution on my
account; I cannot bearthe sight of my sisters and there numerous families treated like criminals.
Iprefer death and cheerfully shall relinquish life to free so many innocentpersons from such unjust
persecution. I appreciate the fact that at present the future of our countrygravitate sin some degree
around me, that at my death many will feel triumphant, and thus, many are now wishing for my fall.
But what of it? I hold duties ofconscience above all else.I have obligations to the familieswho suffer,
to my aged parents whose sight strikes me to the heart; Iknow that I alone, only with my death, can
make them happy, returning them to theirnative land to a peaceful life at home. I am all my parents
have, but our country has many more sons who can take my place and even do my work better.
 Besides I wish to show those who deny us the boon of patriotism that we know howto die for duty and
principles.What matters death, if one diesfor what one loves, for native land and beings held dear? If I
thought that I were the only resource for the consummation of a policy of progress in the
Philippinesand were I convinced that my countrymen were going to make use of my services, perhaps
I should hesitate about taking this step; but there are others who can take my place,who can do my
services that are not utilized,and I amreduced to in activity. Always have I loved our unhappy land,
and I am sure thatI shall continue loving it till my last moment, in case menprove unjust to me. My
career, my life, my happiness all I have sacrificed for love of it. Whatever my fate I shall die blessing
it and longingfor the dawn of its redemption.
 LAST HONG KONG LETTERSJune 21 1892 Rizal wroteanother letterto Governor Despujol, in
whichhe informed the governor general of his coming to Manila and placed himself under the
protection of the Spanish government.June 21: On the same date Rizal and his sister Lucia, widow of
Herbosa, left Hong Kong for Manila. They carried a special passport or safe-conduct issued by the
Spanish consul general in HongKong.
 RIZAL FALLS INTO SPANISH TRAP
After Rizals departure, the Spanish consul-general, who issued the government guarantee of safety,
sent a cablegram to Governor Despujol that the victim is in the trap
Facsimile of a part of Despujol's private inquiry of Executive Secretary de la Torre
 Case secretly filed against RizalJune 21, 1892 A secret case was filed in Manila against Rizal and his
followers foranti-religious and anti-patriotic agitation. The deceitful Despujol ordered his secretary,
Luis de la Torre, to findout ifRizal was naturalized as a German citizen, aswas rumored, so that he
mighttake proper action against one who had the protection of a strong nation
 A Landmark of Dr. Jose Rizal stay in Hongkong