Rizal’s Travel in Ghent, Belgium

The Birthplace of El-Filibusterismo

 In July 5, 1891 Rizal left Brussels for Ghent .

Reasons:
-The cost of living was lower.
-The cost of printing in Ghent was cheaper than in Brussels.
-To escape from the enticing attraction of Petite Suzanne.
-Owing to his limited funds Rizal lived in a cheap boarding house, with Jose Alejandro
as roommate.

 They lived frugally in Ghent for 3 months form July to September.

 To economize further on their living expenses, they prepared their own breakfast.

Timeline
DATE AND YEAR Events took place
3 July 1891 Rizal received from Jose Ma. Basa the amount he was borrowing for
his trip to Hong Kong from Marseilles, as well as the letter for the
Director of the Messageries Maritimes. He was boarding at 9 Rue de
Hinaut.

5 July 1891 Rizal went to Ghent in July 1891 because the cost of printing in the
place was cheaper. He lived in a low-cost boarding house where he had
as roommate Jose Alejandro, an engineering student in the University
of Ghent. He was financially hard up. He did not receive for three
months up to this date any pension from home. He was living in the
most difficult situation. He had already pawned all his jewels.
Tightening their belts, they rented a room exclusive of breakfast. They
bought a box of biscuit, counted the contents, and computed for their
daily ration for a month. In just 15 days, Alejandro had eaten up all his
shares whereas Rizal frugally limited himself to his daily allocation.
29 July 1891 Rizal informed Eduardo Lete about the details of the two agricultural
colonies in Belgium, telling the latter that the Hoogstragen colony is for
men and that of Brujas, for women. To know the details about this
request of Lete, Rizal personally went to Brussels.
4 August 1891 In a letter, he thanked Prof. Blumemtritt for the two books: the first
volume of I El Sacerdocio and the beautiful treaties of Mal Epos. He
planned to write articles about these but the El Filibusterismo
 consumed his time.
6 August 1891 He told Juan Zulueta that it was never his habit to provoke conflicts;
that the idea which precipitated the conflict among the members of the
Colony in Madrid did not come from him but from other persons, and
that he never had the desire under his leadership to subordinate neither
the La Solidaridad nor its director.

Printing of El Filibusterismo had suspended.

23 August 1891 In a letter, Rizal informed Blumentritt that Padre Leoncio Lopez, the
old parish priest of Calamba who wanted to see and shake hands with
him again in Calamba before eternally leaving the valley of tears, but
who died before the publication of the Noli, is described in the Fili as
Padre Florentino.

24 August 1891 Rizal wrote a letter to Mariano Ponce in Madrid informing the latter
that he was deeply hurt by the false accusations coming from Manila.
However, he reiterated his adherence to the cause of the movement.
26 August 1891 In a letter, he informed Basa in Hong Kong that the Fili was coming out
in September.
16 September 1891 The El Filibusterismo was about to come off the press of F. Meyer, Van
Loo at No. 66 Vlanderestraat. He was elated, together with Jose
Alejandro who was staying with him at No. 32 Vlanderestraat, near the
printing press.

18 September 1891
22 September 1891
The Fili came off the press and Rizal sent to Hong Kong two copies:
one for Jose Ma. Basa and the other for Sixto Lopez.
He sent one copy of his El Filibusterismo to Marcelo H. del Pilar. He
informed the latter at the same time that he was completely retiring
from politics since he said he was going home. Likewise, he sent a
copy to Antonio M. Regidor, one of his countrymen living in London.

25 September 1891
He planned of writing the third novel during his travel back home. He
wanted to write about the customs and usages of the Filipinos in a
humorous and satirical style.
Valentin Ventura sent to Rizal in Ghent 200 francs for the publication
expenses of the Fili.

People that Rizal have met in Ghent, Belgium

 Jose Alejandro(Pampanga) and

Edilberto Evangelista(Manila) -
compatriots met in Ghent which
where both studying engineering.
Rizal lived in cheap boarding house
with Jose Alejandro as room-mate.
- Years later, Jose Alejandro
became a general during the
Filipino-American War and an
engineer, recounted in his
memoirs their hard life in Ghent.
  F. MEYER VAN LOO PRESS,
No. 66 Viaanderen St. - publishing house
where it printed El Filibusterismo and offered
installment basis. Rizal pawned his jewelry to
pay down payment and early partial payments
during the printing.

 Valentin Ventura - he was from Paris and

manuscript and an autograph printed
heard Rizal’s predicament which he sent
immediately the needed money to continue
the printing of El Fili. (Savior of El
Filibusterismo).
To give thanks, the original
copy was given to Valentin Ventura.

Achievements during his stay in Ghent, Belgium

 Upon arriving in Ghent, Belgium, Rizal elected to work on a sequel to Noli Me Tangere,
replacing the hopeful undertones with something darker and more cynical. 
 Jose Rizal had successfully published his novel work “El-Filibusterismo”

Significant Places in Ghent for Dr. Jose Rizal

 Van Loo Printing Press at No. 66

Vlanderestraat - The El Fili came
off the printing press at Van Loo at
No. 66 Vlanderestraat and Rizal sent
to Hong Kong two copies: one for
Jose Ma. Basa and the other for Sixto
Lopez.

 9 Rue de Hinaut -On July 3, 1891

Rizal received from Jose Ma. Basa
the amount he was borrowing for his
trip to Hong Kong from Marseilles,
as well as the letter for the Director of
the Messageries Maritimes. He was
boarding at 9 Rue de Hinaut.
  Rizal Marker in Ghent -  A
descendant of Rizal's eldest sister
Saturnina, Mrs. Malou Villaroman,
went to Ghent and saw this Rizal
marker.

About El-Filibusterismo

Complimentary copies was sent to:

1. Blumentritt
2. Mariano ponce
3. G. Lopez Jaena
4. T. H. Pardo De Tavera
5. Antonio and Juan Luna
6. And other friends

Newspaper which gives tribute to El Fili are :

 La Publicidad - Barcelona Newspaper
 El Nuevo Regimen - Madrid Newspaper

 El Filibusterismo was dedicated to the 3 friars (Padre Gomez, Padre Burgos and Padre
Zamora)

Rizal’s mistaken the correct date of martyrdom and age of GomBurZa which printed on
the book:
Date of execution:
Wrong: February 28, 1892
Correct: February 17, 1892
Wrong Correct
Padre Gomez 85 y/o 73 y/o
Padre Burgos 30 y/o 35 y/o
Padre Zamora 35 y/o 37 y/o

 Filipiana Division of the Bureau of Public Libraries, Manila - where the original
manuscript is preserved. It had been acquired from Ventura for P10,000. Consisting of
279 pages of long sheets of paper.

2 Features of in manuscript which not appeared in printed book.

 FOREWORD
 WARNING
 the book printed in Ghent have inscription of Ferdinand Blumentritt with the title of the
book.

Comparison between Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo:

Noli Me Tangere El Filibusterismp

 1.) Romantic Novel  1.) Political Novel
-work of the heart -work of the head
-book of feelings -book of thought
 2.) 38 chapters  2.) 64 chapters

Reference
http://www.joserizal.ph/tr45.html
https://www.scribd.com/doc/82260595/Rizal-in-Ghent
https://www.slideshare.net/sheleylovin/ghent-belgium
https://www.slideshare.net/Ralph_MD/chapter-19-16543315