DAY 10

The women who caught Rizal’s heart:

1. Segunda Katigbak - Segunda was the sister of Mariano Katigbak, Rizal's friend and classmate. She studied in La
Concordia College, where Rizal's sister Olympia also studied. She was the puppy love of Rizal.
2. Leonor Valenzuela – Leonor or "Orang" was his neighbor when he stayed in Intramuros while studying at the
University of Sto. Tomas.
3. Leonor Rivera – was the daughter of a cousin of Rizal's father, making her Rizal's cousin and his childhood
sweetheart.Their relationship was disapproved by Leonor Rivera’s mother. She later married her
mother’s choice, the Englishman Henry Kipping
4. Consuelo Ortiga y Rey – the daughter of Don Pablo Ortiga (former mayor of Manila) whom Rizal dedicated his A la
Señorita C. O. y R., which became one of his best poems
5. O Sei San (Seiko Usui) – a Japanese samurai’s daughter who worked at the Spanish Legation in Tokyo. She was 23
years old when she met the 27-year-old Rizal.
6. Gertrude Beckett – Nicknamed "Gettie" by Rizal, Beckett was the daughter of Charles Beckett, who was Rizal's landlord
when he stayed in London, England in May 1888.
7. Nellie Bousted - was the daughter of British businessman Eduardo Boustead and was half-Filipina. She almost got
Antonio Luna and Rizal into a duel.
8. Suzanne Jacoby – a Belgian woman who was the niece of the landladies of the boarding house where Rizal stayed in
Brussels in February 1890.
9. Josephine Bracken – Born in Hong Kong to Irish parents, Josephine was the wife of Rizal; he called her "dulce
extranjera."

The SAMURAI (or bushi) were the warriors of premodern Japan. They later made up the ruling
military class that eventually became the highest ranking social caste in 1603-1867.
(https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2127.html)

DAY 11
Who could have been Mrs. Jose Rizal?
IN JOSE RIZAL’S OWN WORDS, she was his dear wife. A few hours before his execution, they embraced for the
last time and he gave her a souvenir—a religious book with his dedication, “To my dear unhappy wife.
Josephine Bracken: Jose Rizal's Dear and Unhappy Wife
In the last days of February 1895, while still in Dapitan, Rizal met an 18-year old petite Irish girl, with bold blue
eyes, brown hair and a happy disposition. She was Josephine Bracken, the adopted daughter of George Taufer from Hong
Kong, who came to Dapitan to seek Rizal for eye treatment. Rizal was physically attracted to her. His loneliness and
boredom must have taken the measure of him and what could be a better diversion that to fall in love again. But the Rizal
sisters suspected Josephine as an agent of the friars and they considered her as a threat to Rizal’s security.
Rizal asked Josephine to marry him, but she was not yet ready to make a decision due to her responsibility to the
blind Taufer. Since Taufer’s blindness was untreatable, he left for Hong Kong on March 1895. Josephine stayed with
Rizal’s family in Manila. Upon her return to Dapitan, Rizal tried to arrange with Father Antonio Obach for their marriage.
However, the priest wanted a retraction as a precondition before marrying them. Rizal, upon the advice of his family and
friends and with Josephine’s consent, took her as his wife even without the Church blessings. Josephine later gave birth
prematurely to a stillborn baby, a result of some incidence, which might have shocked or frightened her.
O Sei San
Seiko Usui, also known as O Sei San, was 23 years old when she first met Rizal. He had moved to a Spanish
Legation in the Azabu district of Tokyo where she regularly worked. She served as his interpreter during his stay in Japan.
She also helped him to be accustomed to the Japanese culture, taught him how to read and write Nihonggo, and taught
him the Japanese art of painting, also known as su-mie. Together, they visited The Imperial Art Gallery, The Imperial
Library, various universities, the Shokubutsu-en (Botanical Garden), the Hibiya Park, and various shrines.
Rizal was almost tempted by her beauty and affection to stay in Japan. When Rizal left for the United States, he
told her in a note that he had spent a happy golden month with her and that he didn’t not know if he can have another.
Sacrificing his personal happiness, Rizal had to carry on his libertarian mission in Europe, accordingly, he assumed his
voyage, leaving behind the lovely O-Sei-San, whom he passionately loved.

GERTRUDE BECKETT: A CHISELED BEAUTY

Rizal stayed in London to finish the annotations of the Sucesos de las Islas Filipinas, he stayed in the Beckett family's
residence which was within walking distance from the British museum. Gertrude, the oldest of three Beckett girls, was a
buxom girl with blue-eyes, rosy cheeks and brown hair. She fell in love with Rizal as she helped him in doing paintings
and sculptures. Rizal suddenly realized that he could not marry Gertrude for he had a mission to fulfill in life. Before
leaving, he finished the carving of the Beckett sisters and gave it to Gertrude as a sign of their brief relationship.

NELLIE BOUSTEAD: A FAILED PROPOSAL

While in Paris, Rizal met thru Antonio Luna, Eduardo Boustead. He stayed as a guest in their residence and befriended
the two pretty daughters of Eduardo. After having lost Leonor Rivera, Rizal entertained the thought of courting other
ladies. Rizal and the ladies used to fence at the studio of Juan Luna.
Nellie was described to be a beautiful, lean, smart and very religious lady. She enjoyed playing sports. Antonio courted
Nellie although she admitted that she was deeply infatuated with Rizal. In a party held by Filipinos in Madrid, Antonio who
was under the influence of alcohol, uttered unsavory remarks against Nellie. This prompted Rizal to challenge him into a
duel. Fortunately, Antonio immediately apologized to him.
Their love affair however did not end in marriage since Rizal refused to be converted in Protestant faith which Nellie
demanded. Nellie's mother also did not want to have as son-in-law a physician like Rizal who did not have enough paying
clientele. Rizal and Nellie parted as good friends when he left Europe.
SUZANNE JACOBY: A LOVE UNANSWERED
In 1890, Rizal moved to Brussels due to the high cost of living in Paris. He stayed in the boarding house operated by the
Jacoby sisters. It wasn't long before he and Suzanne became lovers. Rizal however left Brussels and continued with his
journey. Although she cried when he left her, she continued sending him letters with hope that he will come back.
Rizal produced Suzanne's sculpture which he gave to Valentin Ventura.
Rizal’s Other Romances
LEONOR VALENZUELA: PRIVATE LETTER

When Rizal was a sophomore at the University of Santo Tomas and was boarding in the house of Dona Concha
Leyva in Intramuros he met Leonor "Orang" Valenzuela, his next-door neighbor and daughter of Capitan Juan and
Capitana Sanday Valenzuela. She was a tall girl who carried herself with grace and elegance. Rizal was always welcome at
the Valenzuela home. He eventually courted Leonor by sending her love notes, which he wrote in invisible ink made from
a mixture of water and table salt. He taught Leonor how to read his letters by heating them over a lamp or a candle to
allow the words to surface. Unfortunately, as with his first love, Jose failed to ask for the lady's hand in marriage.
LEONOR RIVERA: THE FIRST ENGAGEMENT

Leonor Rivera was a young lady from Camiling, and a cousin of Jose Rizal. Leonor's father had provided room
and board in Casa Tomasina, Intramuros for Rizal when the youth was still starting his third year at the university.The
young girl was then a student at La Concordia College where Soledad, Rizal's little sister was also studying. Leonor was
"tender as a budding flower with kindly, wistful eyes." She and Rizal eventually became engaged. In her letters, she
signed her name as "Taimis" in order to hide their intimate relationship from the girl's parents. In the autumn of 1890,
however, Rizal received a letter from Leonor telling him of her coming marriage to a man whom her mother chose to be
her mate -- an Englishman -- and begged for his forgiveness. This broke Rizal's heart deeply.
CONSUELO ORTIGA Y PEREZ: A SACRIFICE FOR FRIENDSHIP
In 1882, when Rizal was a student at the Universidad Central de Madrid, he frequented the home of Don Pablo
Ortiga y Rey, the former city mayor of Manila. He lived with his son Rafael and his daughter Consuelo. Rizal, though he
wasn't a handsome man, possessed a great deal of charisma and was gifted with many talents and a deeply noble
character. For this reason, it is of no surprise that Consuelo, the prettier of Don Pablo's daughters, was very taken with
him.
Being lonely and somewhat isolated in a foreign country, Rizal found comfort in Consuelo's vivacious company. He wrote
her a poem entitled A La Senorita C.O. y P. (To Miss C.O.y P.), in which he expressed his great admiration for the lady.
Rizal's romance with Consuelo did not turn into a serious affair; he decided to take a step back for two reasons: first, he
was still engaged to Leonor Rivera at that time; and second, he was aware of his friend's (Eduardo de Lete) affection for
the girl and he did not want to ruin their friendship over her.
The Three Women Who Influenced Rizal the Most
(How these three women influenced Jose Rizal by Anna Valmero)

It is said that behind every great man is a great woman. In the case of our national hero Dr. Jose Rizal, there were three
women who influenced him to become a great hero. The three most important and influential women in Rizal's life are his
mother Teodora Alonso, his first love Leonor Rivera, and his wife Josephine Bracken. They each shaped Rizal in different
ways and was essential in his forming of the idea and love of Inang Bayan or Motherland. The first woman to influence
and help shaped Rizal's values was his mother Teodora, a native of Biñan, Laguna. His son Jose, was the seventh among
11 children, all girls except the eldest Paciano.

She was a very strong woman, having raised a large brood while managing a family business. The young Rizal also
learned the importance of pursuing educational excellence from his mother. When the future hero was two years old, he
can already recite the alphabet from memory; Doña Teodora fully supported her son, sending him to top universities in
Manila and Europe.

She also sacrificed a lot when Rizal was tagged a filibustero or rebel by the Spaniards. She went to the Spanish governor
general to plead for her son's life, Rizal's life, and even spent time in jail.
“Teodora molded Rizal's character and provided him good foundations for personal values and introduced him to a close-
knit family”.

The next woman to influence Rizal is Leonor Rivera, his first love and inspiration for the character of Maria Clara in the
novel Noli Me Tangere. Rizal and Rivera were family friends and first cousins who knew each other at a very young age.
They were supposedly engaged to each other but events leading to Rizal being tagged a rebel prevented the love from
blossoming.

Rivera was heartbroken when Rizal left for Europe but the two became “lovers by correspondence” writing each other
letters for nine years, until Leonor's mother Silvestra urged his daughter to instead marry Henry Kipping, a British
engineer designing the Dagupan-Manila railway during the 1890s.

While they were not united during their lifetime, Javelosa said theirs was a love so pure and innocent. Leonor later
became his muse for Maria Clara, his novel's heroine who depicted his thoughts, longings and pain.

The third woman in Rizal's life is his wife Josephine Bracken, whom he met during his exile in Dapitan. Lonely and alone,
Josephine taught Rizal to love again and to share his life daily with a woman. Like Leonor, Josephine was good at singing
and playing the piano.

They had a stillborn child and sometime before he was martyred, Josephin wrote him letters of how much she loved him
forever and how she will never leave his side. After his death, Josephine stayed with Rizal's family but they did not get
well along so years after, she moved to Hongkong and remarried.
“These three women molded the man's heart and it molded Rizal's imagination and he later brought all these together in
one symbol which is Inang Bayan. Rizal's life in the end was about his love for country,”

DAY 12
Rizal had a strong female role models

Rizal grew up in a dominantly female household. His mother, Teodora Alonso, taught him at a young age
and was the one who “opened his eyes and heart to the world around him – with all its soul and poetry, as well
as bigotry and injustice.” She also imbibed onto him the virtue of obedience, self-reliance, and to value
education above all. But they did have a bit of a falling out when Rizal chose to become distant to the Catholic
faith due to the corruption that’s happening within the church at the time.

Nonetheless, Rizal seemed to have carried the lessons that his mother taught him throughout his life. He
even shared his insight on education to his sister Trinidad and how she deserved to have that privilege as a
woman living in the Philippines. “For this reason, now that you are still young and you have time to learn, it is
necessary that you study by reading and reading attentively. It is a pity that you allow yourself to be dominated
by laziness when it takes so little effort to shake it off. It is enough to form only the habit of study and later
everything goes by itself,” he wrote in a letter from Heidelberg, Germany.
Women and Education

 Picking up from the above point, Rizal’s letter to Trinidad showed his realization of how different it would be if
women, like his other sister María, would be educated in a liberal country like Germany.
 Rizal pointed out that if his sister María had been educated in Germany, she would have been notable, because
German women are active and somewhat masculine. They are not afraid of men.
 According to him, “German women are more concerned with the substance than with appearances. Until now I
have not heard women quarrelling, which in Madrid is the daily bread.”
 Reflection: The statement may give an idea that he is degrading how Filipinas are living at the time; that he
places German (maybe even European as a whole) womanhood on a pedestal.
 Given the historical context of the Philippines during Spanish rule, where Filipinos in general have been influenced
and became subversive to their colonizers, was his thought process valid?
 Was he making a fair comparison and emphasizing that Filipinas should stop being meek and unaware?
 Was he also taking into consideration the Filipinas who are in the lower class?
https://preen.ph/77063/how-did-jose-rizal-view-women-when-he-was-still-alive

Feminism
 is the belief in social, economic, and political equality of the sexes (Encyclopedia Britannica)
 Although largely emanating in the west, feminism is manifested worldwide and is
represented by various institutions committed to activity on behalf of women’s rights and
interests.
 is about all genders having equal rights and opportunities
 is about respecting diverse women’s experiences, identities, knowledge and strengths, and striving
to empower all women to realize their full rights
 is about leveling the playing field between genders, and ensuring that diverse women and girls
have the same opportunities in life available to boys and men.
Feminist
 is the one who believes in social, political, legal, and economic rights for women equal to those of
men.
Misogynist
 is a person who hates, dislikes, mistrusts, or mistreats women.

Why educating girls matters

The right to education for all has been an international goal for decades, but since the 1990s, women’s education
and empowerment have come into sharp focus. Several landmark conferences, including the 1994 International
Conference on Population and Development, held in Cairo, and the 1995 Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing,
placed these issues at the center of development efforts.
The Millennium Development Goals — agreed to by world leaders at the U.N. Millennium Summit in 2000 — call for
universal primary education and for closing the gender gap in secondary and higher education. These high-level
agreements spawned initiatives around the world to increase girls’ school enrolments. Changes since 1990 have been
remarkable, considering the barriers that had to be overcome in developing countries.
In many traditional societies, girls are prevented from attaining their full potential because of lower priority placed
on educating daughters (who marry and leave the family) and the lower status of girls and women in general. Families
may also have concerns about the school fees, girls being taught by male teachers and girls’ safety away from home.
Governments and communities have begun to break down these barriers, however, because of overwhelming evidence of
the benefits of educating girls.

Few investments have as large a payoff as girls’ education. Household surveys in developing countries have
consistently shown that women with more education have smaller, healthier and better-educated families. The linkages
are clear: Educated women are more likely to take care of their health, desire fewer children and educate them well,
which, in turn, makes it more likely their children will survive and thrive into adulthood.
Research by the World Bank and other organizations has shown that increasing girls’ schooling boosts women’s
wages and leads to faster economic growth than educating only boys. Moreover, when women earn more money, they
are more likely to invest it in their children and households, enhancing family wealth and well-being. Other benefits of
women’s education captured in studies include lower levels of HIV infection, domestic violence and harmful practices
toward women, such as female genital cutting and bride burning.
By Lori S. Ashford, in https://opentextbc.ca/womenintheworld/chapter/chapter-2-women-and-education/Retrieved

Rizal’s Letter to the Young Women of Malolos

 The letter was written by Rizal on the 17th of February, 1889 when he was in Europe.
 A long letter written in Tagalog to the young women of Malolos in compliance to Marcelo H. Del Pilar’s request
while Rizal was annotating Morga’s book.
 Addressed to 20 courageous young women of Malolos for their perseverance to pursue the establishment of a
night school where they can study Spanish.
 It is argued that the letter is a vindication of Filipino women’s rights during his time.

Based on accounts, on 12 December 1888, 20 young women from Malolos petitioned Governor-General Weyler for the
establishment of a “night school” to study Spanish under Teodoro Sandiko, a professor of Latin. However, Fr. Felipe
Garcia, the Spanish parish priest, objected to the petition, prompting the governor-general to dismiss the petition.
Untroubled, the young women continued with their clamor (for the establishment of the school) and eventually received
permission to open their school on certain conditions.

 First, the women were required to fund the school themselves since the government refused to.
 Second, their teacher would be Guadalupe Reye rather than Sandico, who had been blacklisted by the friar-curate
of Malolos.
 Third, the classes would have to be held in the day and not at night, probably due to the association of nighttime
gatherings with subversive meetings. The school remained open for three months and was closed down on May
10, 1889.”

 Rizal summarized the lessons he wanted to portray in his letter:

1. Some become treacherous because of the cowardice and negligence of others.

2. Lack of self-respect and excessive timidity invite scorn.
3. Ignorance is bondage, because like mind, like man. A man without a will of his own is a man without
personality. The blind that follows other’s opinion is like a beast led by a halter.
4. One who wants to help himself should help others, because, if he neglects others, he too will be
neglected by them.
5. If the Filipino woman will not change, she should not be entrusted with education of her children.
6. Men are born equal, naked and without chains.
7. Analyze carefully the kind of religion taught to you.

DAY 13
Doctor at Last!
On November 3, 1882, Rizal enrolled in Universidad Central de Madrid taking up two courses: Philosophy and
Letters and Medicine. On June 21, 1884, he conferred the degree of Licentiate in Medicine at the Universidad Central de
Madrid. The following academic year, he studied and passed all subjects leading to the degree of Doctor of Medicine.
Unfortunately, he was not able to submit the thesis required for graduation or paid the corresponding fees. With that, he
was not awarded his Doctor’s Diploma.
Filipino Champions!
To honor the victory of Juan Luna and Felix Hidalgo in the National Exposition of Fine Arts in Madrid in June 25,
1884, Jose Rizal delivered a toast together with his speech “The Brindis” – A Toast honouring Juan Luna and Felix
Hidalgo. Luna won first prize for his El Spoliarium, while Hidalgo won the second prize for his painting Virgenes Cristianas
Expuestas al Populacho.
In the Brindis speech, Rizal fearlessly exclaims the reason why they are gathered and that is to signify an
achievement that had shed light into what has turned out to be a dark society as the painting itself portrays. He also
gives hope to Hidalgo for illuminating the different ends of the globe and how high a respect he has for them.
He claims that change is coming as he used the metaphors such as the “illustrious achievements of Philippine’s
children are no longer consummated within the home.” This is a clear nod to the Filipino community in Madrid who
organized the event. Most of all Rizal gives praise to the youth that fires much enthusiasm and how their actions have
made a great difference and contributed to the glory that is the Philippines.
When he starts to talk about the Spoliarium itself, Rizal takes us deep on the reality that the canvass “is not mute”
despite all the darkness and shadow laid the mystery and horror of the slaves, and the sobs of the oppressed. Apparently
the friars at the time persecute anyone who threatens them with legal action.
He also acknowledges that the Philippines owes Spain in some way saying “Spain as a mother also teaches her
language to Filipinos” but then frowns bitter on the “midgets who secure their position.”
Apparently, he is making a jab at the elite who does everything they can in their power to stop the education of
Filipinos in fears that they may learn to defend themselves. This attitude backfired against them big time. The
innuendos in between lines spoke so deep that you are taken into a roller coaster ride of emotions starting from joy,
anger, grief and all ending up inspired.
 What is a Role Model?
 A role model is
 an individual who is looked up to and revered by someone else.
 someone whom other individuals aspire to be like, either in the present or in the
future.
 maybe someone you know and interact with on a regular basis, or may be someone whom
you’ve never met, such as a celebrity.

Jose Rizal in Present-Day Madrid (By Ralf G. Roldan and Raisa A. Mabayo)

04 January 2017 MADRID — Any person, whether Filipino or not, who has undergone a class on
Jose Rizal, or heard or read about him, would know that Madrid, the Spanish capital, played an important role in the life
of the Filipino hero.

It has been over 130 years since Rizal set foot in Spain, yet he left tangible reminders of his momentous stay in Madrid
and in Spain in general.

His monument in Madrid, a replica of the Luneta monument in Manila, stands proudly at the junction of Avenida de las
Islas Filipinas and Calle Santander. Built in 1996, the monument continues to be the venue of commemorations
associated with Rizal, such as the Commemoration of the Birth Anniversary of Rizal every June 19 and the Rizal Day
Celebration in December 30, participated in by the Filipino community in Madrid, the Knights of Rizal--Madrid Chapter,
and Philippine Embassy officials.

For any Filipino visiting Madrid, the tour of the Rizal Monument becomes an obligatory homage to one of the greatest
Filipinos to have lived in Spain. Of the innumerable connections that the Philippines has with Spain, it is Rizal that
endlessly connects Madrid to Filipino tourists.

“We receive many inquiries on Rizal from Filipino tourists, and we direct them to our `Rizal Guide’ which is downloadable
from the Embassy website,” says Philippine Ambassador to Spain, Philippe J. Lhuillier.

“We are amazed by the undying interest in Rizal from many Filipinos visiting Spain,” added Ambassador Lhuillier.

The “Rizal´s Madrid” tour as published on the website of the Philippine Embassy in Madrid details the places associated
with Jose Rizal.

An addition to Rizal landmarks in Madrid is a street named after him. What was formerly Calle de Algabeño in Barrio de
Hortaleza has now been renamed Calle de Jose Rizal on the basis of a Madrid City Hall resolution.

On 04 May 2017, the Governing Board of the City of Madrid approved changing the name of certain streets, squares and
crossings in Madrid, replacing them with alternatives contained in a report dated 24 April 2017 issued by the Commission
on Historical Memory, in application of the provisions of Law 52/2007 of December 26 (otherwise known as the Historical
Memory Law), which mandates the removal of coats of arms, insignias, plaques, and other objects or commemorative
mentions of the personal or collective exaltation of the military uprising, Civil War and the Franco dictatorial repression.

Consequently, fifty-two plazas and streets in Madrid were renamed. Rizal´s name was among the illustrious list of Spanish
and foreign historical figures and events that conformed with the critera set by the Commission. Rizal joins prominent
women leaders, notable educators, and literary figures among the new names for inclusion in the post-Franco Madrid
map.

In the document issued by the Commission, the justification it provided for renaming the street “Calle de Jose Rizal”
reads:

“Filipino intellectual, educated in Spain and other European countries, polyglot and author of two famous novels in
Spanish which were critical of the action of the clergy and colonial authorities in the archipelago. Concerned about the
future of his country, he advocated administrative reforms and economic progress for the same. According to his plan, his
country should become a Spanish province with full representation in the courts. There should also be an increase in the
participation of the native clergy in the ecclesiastical administration of the islands, and the establishment of freedom of
assembly and expression and equal legal status between the Filipino and Spanish populations. But Rizal never advocated
the armed insurrection against Spain that was launched by the Katipunan movement, which Rizal opposed until the
end. Despite this, in 1896, he was accused of being the inspirer of the revolt and shot by the Spanish authorities in 1896.
Today, he is the national hero of the Philippines.

While the physical street signs have not been changed yet, the new street names are now being used by the local
government and in many business addresses.
“We welcome the renaming of a street in Madrid to Calle de Jose Rizal. It goes to show that Rizal´s heroic deeds for his
country are recognized universally,” said Ambassador Lhuillier
DAY 14
Rizal’s BFF – Ferdinad Blumentritt

 Born in Prague, (then part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire) onSept. 10, 1853
 Studies History in Prague University
 Master teacher at Leitmeritz (today known as Litomerice in the Czech Republic) and had already published
scholarly writings on Philippine languages and ethnography.
  Had a daughter named Dolores, whom he sometimes affectionately called with the Tagalog nickname “Loleng”
(Tomas 2008, 15; Guerrero 2008, 157).

Friendship Begins
 Upon learning that Blumentritt was studying the Tagalog language, Rizal being proud of his race, was touched
by the latter’s interest in his native culture. (Guerrero 2008, 158)

 Rizal initiated what has become a lifelong correspondence.

In his letter, Rizal said, "Esteemed Sir: Having heard that Your Lordship is studying our language and that you
have already published some works on the subject, I take the liberty of sending you a valuable book written in
that language by a countryman of mine" (Rizal to Blumentritt, 31 July 1886, in National Historical Institute 1992,
1: 7).

 Blumentritt soon reciprocated with a gift of two books (Rizal to Blumentritt, 16 August 1886, summarized in
Ocampo 2011, 38).

 The two then continued to exchange letters about their scholarly endeavors. Books, manuscripts, maps were
gifted as well, one to the other.
With the letter, Rizal sent a book entitled Aritmetica (Arithmetic) and was published in two languages --- Spanish and
Tagalog --- by the University of Santo Tomas Press in 1868. The author was Rufino Baltazar Hernandez, a native of
Santa Cruz, Laguna. Rizal’s letter impressed Blumentritt, who reciprocated by sending Rizal a gift of two books. It
marked the beginning of their long and frequent correspondence, also of their friendship that lasted all their lives.
Blumentritt, became the best friend of Rizal.

First Meeting with Blumentritt

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. Professor Blumentritt, who had received their wire, was at the station. He was carrying a pencil sketch of
Rizal which the latter had previously sent him, so that he could identify his Filipino friend. He warmly received Rizal
and Viola.
 For the first time, the two great scholars --- Rizal and Blumentritt --- who came to know each other by letters,
met in person. They greeted each other in fluent German. Blumentritt was a kind-hearted, old Austrian
professor. Upon seeing the talented Rizal for the first time, he immediately took him into heart, loving him as
a son (Zaide, 2011).
 It is one of the fortunate accidents in life that a single letter to someone known only by reputation can turn
into a lifelong friendship. It is not often that a casual inquiry about a person’s research grows into brotherly
affection. But such was the case between our national hero Jose Rizal and Ferdinand Blumentritt, the
Austrian scholar and school teacher to whom Rizal first wrote in July 1886. Journalist John Nery traces the
evolution of this friendship by noting the gradual changes in the salutations that each used to address the
other in the over 200 existing letters that they exchanged during their ten-year correspondence.

 Nery notes that in their earliest letters, they addressed each other as “Esteemed Sir.” Five months into the
correspondence, they began their letters with “Esteemed Friend.” After Rizal’s visit with Blumentritt in May
1887, they addressed each other with the more personal “Dear Friend,” and by late 1889 until their
correspondence ended with Rizal’s death in December 1896, they affectionately addressed each other as
“Dear Brother” (Nery 2011, 238-9).

DAY 15
Rizal’s Darkest Winter
Rizal experienced many winters in Europe but the darkest and the coldest of these happened in Berlin in 1886.
During this time, Paciano was unable to send money from the Philippines because of bad weather and the short harvest
due to locust infestation. Rizal experienced hunger pains because he had no money to buy food. His health broke down
due to lack of proper nourishment. He was alone, sick and penniless at the height of winter in a far land. Rizal was
thinking of burning the book he was writing for it would make him warm at least. He was so frustrated and hopeless
when he received a telegram from Maximo Viola that he was coming to Berlin to see him.
Rizal was not able to meet Viola at the terminal because he could not move. When Maximo Viola came to see
Rizal in his worst health condition, he almost died. Viola was also a doctor, he at once checked and diagnosed Rizal but
he could not tell his illness. Viola had just graduated and probably Rizal was his first patient. Viola thought Rizal
developed tuberculosis due to improper nutrition and stress.
Viola’s arrival in Berlin was a great blessing for Rizal. Viola, who was a rich man, gladly agreed to finance the
printing cost of the novel. He also loaned Rizal some cash money to pay for his basic necessities. Rizal and Viola
celebrated Christmas of 1886 in Berlin. After Christmas season, Rizal put the finishing touches on his novel, he deleted
passages in the manuscript, including the whole chapter of “Elias and Salome” to save expenses on printing.
On February 21, 1887, Noli Me Tangere was finally finished and ready for printing. With Viola, Rizal went to the different
printing shops in Berlin to survey the cost of printing. After a few days of inquiries, they finally found a printing shop that
charged the lowest rate for the novel, which was three hundred pesos (P300.00) for two thousand (2,000) copies. This
shop was Berliner Buchdruckrei Action Gesselschaft.

In Defense of the Igorots

While Rizal was happily touring Europe, an Exposition of the Philippines was held in Madrid, Spain. Upon reaching
Geneva (Switzerland), he received sad news from his friend in Madrid of the deplorable conditions of the primitive Igorots
who were exhibited in this exposition, some of whom died, and whose scanty clothing (G-strings) and crude weapons
were objects of mockery and laughter by the Spanish people and press.Being a champion of human dignity, Rizal was
outraged by this degradation of his fellow countrymen the Igorots of Northern Luzon. In a letter to his friend, Blumentritt,
dated June 6, 1887, he said:
“My poor compatriots (Igorots) who are now being exhibited in Madrid are mocked by Spanish
newspapers, except El Liberal which says that it is not consistent with human dignity to be
exhibited side by side with animals and plants. I have done everything possible to prevent the
display of this degradation of men of my race, but I have not succeeded. Now one woman died of
pneumonia. The Igorots, were housed in barraca (rustic house made of bamboo, grass, and tree
branches). And El Resumen still makes mean joke about it. “
In another letter to Blumentritt, Rizal said he was in favor of holding an exposition, “but no an exhibition of odd
individuals, showing our countrymen as a curiosity to entertain the idle inhabitants of Madrid”. He emphatically reiterated:
“We want an industrial exposition, but not an exhibition of human beings who are compelled to live almost outdoors and
die of nostalgia and pneumonia or typhus!”
DAY 16
A novel is a literary genre. It is an imaginative prose, a narrative of some length, usually concerned with human
experience and social behaviour and normally cast in the form of connected story. The 19th century was the great
age of European novel in which the refinement of narrative and dramatic techniques went hand in hand with a
deeper interest in personality and behaviour with the structure of society such as the works of Dickens, Zola,
Kafka, and Joyce.Rizal wrote his book in the 19th century, it could be inferred that Rizal was also influenced by
this trend (Daquila, 2009).

A Filipino nationalist and medical doctor, Rizal conceived the idea of writing a novel that would expose
the ills of Philippine society after reading Harriet Beecher Stowe's Uncle Tom's Cabin. He preferred that the
prospective novel express the way Filipino culture was perceived to be backward, anti-progress, anti-intellectual,
and not conducive to the ideals of the Age of Enlightenment. He was then a student of medicine in
the Universidad Central de Madrid.
In a reunion of Filipinos at the house of his friend Pedro A. Paterno in Madrid on 2 January 1884, Rizal
proposed the writing of a novel about the Philippines written by a group of Filipinos. His proposal was
unanimously approved by the Filipinos present at the time, among whom were Pedro, Maximino Viola and
Antonio Paterno, Graciano López Jaena, Evaristo Aguirre, Eduardo de Lete, Julio Llorente and Valentin Ventura.
However, this project did not materialize. The people who agreed to help Rizal with the novel did not write
anything. Initially, the novel was planned to cover and describe all phases of Filipino life, but almost everybody
wanted to write about women. Rizal even saw his companions spend more time gambling and flirting with
Spanish women. Because of this, he pulled out of the plan of co-writing with others and decided to draft the
novel alone.

NOLI ME TANGERE
 Noli Me Tangere is a Latin phrase which means “Touch Me Not”, taken from the Gospel of St. John (Chapter
20:13-17)
 Berlin, Germany is where the novel was published.
 Maximo Viola is a friend of Rizal who funded its printing
 Contains 63 chapters and an epilogue

 Characters in Noli Me Tangere:

Crisostomo Ibarra Don Tiburcio
Maria Clara Dona Victorina
Pilosopo Tasyo Sisa
Padre Damaso Basilio
Capitan Tiago Crispin
Don Rafael Ibarra Dona Pia Alba

 Elias and Salome was the chapter entirely deleted in the Noli to save some printing cost
 Dedicated to Fatherland
EL FILIBUSTERISMO
Ghent, Belgium is where the second novel of Rizal was published.
Valentin Ventura was the one who funded for the printing of El Filibusterismo
 Contains 38 chapters
 Characters in El Filibusterismo:
Simoun Crispin
Maria Clara Basilio
Elias Cabesang Tales
Isagani Paulita Gomez

 Dedicated to GOMBURZA, the 3 martyr priests

Noli Me Tangere deals with the Filipinos’ customs and traditions: the people’s virtues and vices. The novel El
Filibusterismo is a reflection on revolution. It could be inferred that the author was in his most trying moments when he
was wrting.
 Noli is light reading, humorous, and a reflection of the author’s optimism and idealism, while Fili is pessimistic
and menacing. As a diptych, the two books have the same theme, “social cancer”, and its nucleus lies “greed for power”
(Daquila 2009).