ACTIVITY NO 3: FIRST TRAVEL OF RIZAL

Q1. When did Rizal left for the first time and what was his purpose/mission?

On May 3, 1882, Rizal left the Philippines to study in Spain. Aside from completing his studies in Spain,
Rizal’s "secret mission” was to observe keenly the life and the culture, languages and customs, industries,
commerce and government and laws of the European nations in order to prepare himself in the mighty task of
liberating his oppressed people from Spanish tyranny.

Q2. What name did he used in his travel and why?

Rizal boarded the Salvadora using a passport name of Jose Mercado, which was procured for him by his
uncle Antonio Rivera, father of Leonor Rivera. He used this name due to not so good publicity of their family
name to protect himself because the Spanish government has a conflict to the Rizal Family.

Q3. What were his observation/impression of the ff. places :

A. Singapore

 Rizal was impressed by the progress and beauty of this English colony.

B. Colombo

 He observed the backwardness of the city: sleepy and without much progress.

C. Suez Canal

 Rizal was reminded of the beautiful sights of Calamba, Laguna during the night.

D. Naples

 Rizal was pleased on this Italian City because of its business activity, its lively people ad its
panoramic beauty

E. Marseilles

 He visited the famous city landmark Chateau d’ If where Dantes, the hero of the “Count of Monte
Cristo” was imprisoned.
Q4. What were the articles that he wrote while in Barcelona and describe them briefly.

His first essay on Spanish soil was Amor Patrio (Love of Country). He had sent a piece to his friend
Basilio Teodoro Moran, publisher of Diariong Tagalog, the first Manila bilingual newspaper (Spanish and
Tagalog), and his pen name was Laong Laan, and the Spanish text was Rizal's original Barcelona version. M.H.
Del pilar's translation of the tagalog text had been used. Because of its nationalistic nature, the piece sparked
controversy among Philippine readers. In his prize-winning "Juventud Filipina," Rizal inspired his compatriots to
love their fatherland, the Philippines, in his "Amor Patrio”. Publisher Basilio Teodoro Moran was deeply
impressed by “Amor Patrio” congratulated Rizal and requested for more articles.

In response to his request Rizal wrote the second article for diariong tagalong entitled “Los Viajes”
(Travels). published in La Solidaridad on 15 May 1889, Rizal shared his thoughts on travel and the many great
things that come with it.

Q5. What were the courses that he took up in Madrid and discuss his scholastic performance in
Universidad Central de Madrid.

 November 3, 1882 - Rizal enrolled at the Universidad Central de Madrid

 He earned a Licentiate in Medicine, where he also took courses in philosophy and literature.

 He also studied painting and sculpture

Q6. Who are the great people that he met while in Paris and Berlin and how did they influence him. Name
at least five.

Gay, Paris:

1. Maximo Viola – A medical student from San Miguel, Bulacan.

2. Señor Eusebio Corominas – The editor chief of the newspaper La Pubilicidad.

3. Don Miguel Morayta – The owner of La Pubilicidad

4. Dr. Louis de Weekert – Leading French ophthalmologist where rizal worked as an assistant.
  Because of the influence of the people Rizal met in Paris he became patriotic which ignited him to
Publish Noli Me Tangere with the assistance of Maximo Viola.

Berlin, Germany:

1. Dr. Feodor Jagor - German scientist traveler and author of Travels in the Philippines.
2. Dr. Rudolf Virchow - famous German anthropologist.
3. Dr. W. Joest-German geographer.
4. Dr. Karl Ernest Schweigger-famous ophthalmologist.

 These people influenced Rizal became a member of the Anthropological Society, the Ethnological Society
and the Geographical Society in Berlin.

Q7. In a letter that he wrote to Trinidad, Rizal showed his great admiration for the German ladies. Why
do you think so?

Rizal is a traveler. He visited a lot of countries resulting to observation of people and even learning their
culture, traditions and language. By this, he can tell the difference of the women in Germany and other women in
different countries like; Spain and Philippines. He mentioned that German Women are Serious, Diligent,
Educated, and Friendly. As Rizal observed to Spanish women that they have a lot of comparison to each other
because Spanish Women are Gossipy, Frivolous, and Quarrelsome. Because of this, Rizal admired the women in
Germany.

Q8. Why did Rizal considered 1886 his darkest winter?

The winter of 1886 in Berlin was Rizal’s darkest winter because he was starved and shivered with wintry
cold. He lived in poverty because there is no money that arrived from Calamba. Because of this, he couldn’t pay
his landlord, his clothes were scruffy and old, and he only eats one meal a day.

Q9. Who was Maximo Viola and what was his role in Rizal's life?

Maximo S. Viola was a Filipino propagandist, writer, revolutionary leader, and physician. In Europe, he
is known as Jose Rizal's best friend. They collaborated on projects, went to museums, art galleries, restaurants,
and stayed in hotels to work in Europe. He'll always be known as the man who preserved the Noli Me Tangere
for future generations. He realized Rizal needed money to produce the Noli Me Tangere while traveling with him
in Europe. In 1887, he done to support Rizal, and 2,000 copies were made. He also helped the Filipino people by
assisting Dr. Jose Rizal in his crusade for nationalism, which ignited the Philippine Revolution.

Q10. Describe briefly his Grand Tour of Europe.

After the publication of Noli, Rizal planned to visit the important places in Europe. Viola agreed to be his
traveling companion First, he and Viola visited Potsdam, a city near Berlin.

Dresden

The tour Begins when Rizal and Viola, left Berlin by train At the dawn of May 11, 1887. Their destination
was in Dresden. After arriving in Dresden, They visited Dr. Adolph B. Meyer. Rizal was impressed by painting
the of "Prometheus Bound". They also meet Dr. Jagor. He advice to visit Blumentritt because the old professor
might be shock of their visit.

Leitmeritz

Arriving in Leitmeritz, Professor Blumentritt was at the station carrying a pencil sketch of Rizal which he
sent to identify his friend. Blumentritt, helped the two by getting a room at Hotel Krebs which they stayed for 2
days. They enjoyed hospitality of Blumentritt family. The professor's wife. Rosa, was a good cook.

Prague

Rizal and Viola visited the city of Prague. They carried letters of recommendation from Blumentritt to Dr.
Wellkomm, professor in University of Prague. Rizal and Viola visited the "Tomb of Copernicus"

Vienna

On May 20 they arrived at Vienn and went to “The Queen of Danube”. They met Norfenfals, one of
the greatest Novelist during that time. They stayed at Hotel Metropole. They also meet two good friends of
Blumentritt which are Masner and Nordman, Austrian scholars.

Danubian Voyage to Lintz

On May 24, Rizal and Viola left Vienna to see the beautiful sights of the Danube River. Rizal observed
keenly the passenger use paper napkin. The river voyage ended in Lintz.
Lintz to Rheinfall

They traveled overland to Salzburg and from there to Munich where they savor the famous Munich beer,
reputed to be the best in Germany. After that they went to the One of the oldest City in Germany, Numberg and
went to Ulm which is a Cathedral.

Crossing the Frontier to Switzerland

From Rheinfall, they crossed the frontier to Schaffhausen, Switzerland. They stayed in this city from June
2 to 3 1887. They continued their tour to Basel (Bale), Bern and Lausanne.

Geneva

Rizal and Viola left on a little boat, crossing the foggy Leman Lake to Geneva. The people of Geneva
were linguists speaking French, German and Italian. Rizal conversed with them in these three languages. Also,
On June 19, 1887 Rizal treated Viola in his 26th Birthday.

Madrid exposition of Igorots

Upon reaching Geneva (Switzerland), he received sad news from his friends in Madrid of the deplorable
conditions of the primitive Igorots who were exhibited in this exposition, some of whom died and whose scanty
clothing.

Italy

Rizal and Viola went to Italy. He visited turn, Milan, Venice and Florence. On June 27, 1887, he reached
Rome, the "Eternal City" and also called the "City of the Caesars". June 29th, Feast Day of St. Peter and St. Paul.
He visited Vatican, "city of Popes". And the capital of Christendom. After that, Rizal back to his hotel, he wrote
to Blumentritt, “I am tired as a dog, but I will sleep as a God" After a wonderful sojourn in Rome, Rizal prepared
to return to the Philippines.