Republic of the Philippines

ISABELA STATE UNIVERSITY

Echague, Isabela

1. Title of the Module

Chapter 4: Rizal’s life: Higher Education and Life Abroad
2. Introduction
This chapter deals with an analysis and evaluation of Jose Rizal's life: his
quest for higher education and struggles and challenges in his life abroad. He was not
only busy academically but he spent much of his time in self-improvement via self-
education. In his spare time he also learned sculpture, painting, languages and kept up
with the latest research in philosophy and science. It will also examine the contributions
of Rizal as the leader of the propaganda movement that awakened the Filipino people
from the abuses of the Spanish colonizers.an unwavering campaign for political and
social freedoms. In this module, students are initiated to a reflective study about the
aspects of Rizal’s life, a genius with many talents and most importantly his good traits
and virtues that are worthy to be emulated.
3. Learning Outcomes
At the end of this module, the students should be able to:
a. Analyse and evaluate the important events in the life Rizal abroad;
b. Reflect on the importance of Higher Education to the life of Jose Rizal;
c. Explain the principles of assimilation advocated by the propaganda movement;
d. Appraise Rizal’s relationship with other propagandists;
e. Examine Rizal’s growth as a propagandist and disavowal of assimilation.
4. Learning Content
Now, let us discuss important ideas and information regarding Rizal’s life: Higher
Education and Life Abroad.
 Republic of the Philippines
ISABELA STATE UNIVERSITY
Echague, Isabela

TOPIC 1- A STUDENT AT THE ATENEO (1872-1877)

Introduction:
Jose was sent to Manila four months after the
martyrdom of Gom-Bur-Za and with Dona
Teodora still in prison. He studied in the
Ateneo Municipal - a college under the
supervision of the Spanish Jesuits. Ateneo
Municipal, a bitter rival of the Dominican-owned
College of San Juan de Letran formerly the
Escuela Pia (Charity School)- for poor boys in
Manila established in 1817, In 1859- name was
changed to Ateneo Municipal by the Jesuits and
later became the Ateneo de Manila.
RIZAL ENTERS ATENEO
• June 10, 1872- Jose, accompanied by
Paciano, went to Manila to take the entrance
examinations on Christian Doctrine, arithmetic,
and reading at the College of San Juan de
Letran, and passed them. His father was the first one who wished him to study at
Letran but he changed his mind and decided to send Jose at Ateneo instead. Father
Margin Fernando, college registrar of Ateneo Municipal, refused to admit Jose because:
He was late for registration and; He was sickly and undersized for his age (11 years
old). Upon the intercession of Manuel Xeres Burgos, nephew of Father Burgos, he was
admitted at Ateneo. Jose adopted the surname Rizal at the Ateneo because their family
name Mercado had come under suspicion of the Spanish authorities. Ateneo was
located in Intramuros, within the walls of Manila. He boarded in a house on Caraballo
Street, 25 min walk from the college. The boarding house was owned by Titay, who
owed Rizal family P300. Jose boarded there to collect part of the debt.
JESUITS SYSTEM OF EDUCATION
• Jesuits trained the character of the student by rigid discipline, humanities and
religious instruction. They heard Mass early in the morning before the beginning of daily
class. Classes were opened and closed with prayers. Students were divided into two
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ISABELA STATE UNIVERSITY
Echague, Isabela

groups: Roman Empire- consisting of the internos (boarders) with red banners. Second
group, Carthaginian Empire- composed of the externos (non-boarders) with blue
banners each of these empires had its rank. Students fought for positions. With 3
mistakes, opponent‘s position could lose his position. - 1st best: emperor - 2nd best:
tribune - 3rd best: decurion - 4th best: centurion - 5th best: standard-bearer. Ateneo
students‘ uniform is consisted of hemp-fabric trousers´ and striped cotton coat. The coat
was called Rayadillo and was adopted as the uniform for Filipino troops during the days
of the First Philippine Republic.
RIZAL’S FIRST YEAR IN ATENEO (1872-1873)
• Rizal‘s first professor in Ateneo was Fr. Jose Bech. Rizal was placed at the
bottom of the class since he was a newcomer and knows little Spanish. He was an
externo (Carthaginians), occupying the end of the line. But at the end of the month, he
becomes emperor´ of his Empire. He was the brightest pupil in the whole class, and he
was awarded a prize, a religious prize. Rizal took private lessons in Santa Isabel
College during noon recesses to improve his Spanish language paying three pesos for
those extra lessons. He placed second at the end of the year, although all his grades
were still marked Excellent´
SUMMER VACATION (1873)
• Rizal didn‘t enjoy his summer because his mother was in prison so Neneng
(Saturnina) brought him to Tanawan. But without telling his father, he went to Santa
Cruz to visit her mother in prison. He told her of his brilliant grades. After summer, he
returned to Manila and now boarded inside Intramuros at No. 6 Magallanes Street.
Dona Pepay, who had a widowed daughter and 4 sons, was his landlady.
PROPHECY OF MOTHER’S RELEASE
• Dona Teodora told her son of her dream the previous night. Rizal, interpreting
the dream, told her that she would be released from prison in 3 months‘ time. It became
true. Dona Teodora likened his son to the youthful Joseph in the Bible in his ability to
interpret dreams.
• Teenage Interest in Reading. The first favorite novel of Rizal was The Count of
Monte Cristo by Alexander Dumas. His boyish imagination was stirred by the sufferings
of Edmond Dantes (the hero) in prison, his spectacular escape from the dungeon of
Chateau de If, his finding a buried treasure in the rocky island of Monte Cristo, and his
dramatic revenge on his enemies who had wronged him. Rizal also read non-fiction.
He persuaded his father to buy a costly set of Cesar Cantu‘s historical work entitled
Universal History. He also read Travels in the Philippines by Dr. Feodor Jagor, a
German scientist-traveler who visited Phil in 1859-60.He was impressed by: Jagor‘s
keen observations of the defects of Spanish colonization; and his prophecy that
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ISABELA STATE UNIVERSITY
Echague, Isabela

someday Spain would lose the Philippines and that America would come to succeed her
as colonizer.
THIRD YEAR IN ATENEO (1875-76)
• June 16, 1875- He became an interno in Ateneo. Fr. Francisco de Paula
Sanchez, one of his professors, inspired him to study harder and write poetry. Rizal‘s
best professor in Ateneo. Rizal described him as model of uprightness, earnestness,
and love for the advancement of his pupils. He returned to Calamba with 5 medals and
excellent ratings.

FOURTH YEAR IN ATENEO

• March 23, 1877- Rizal, 16 years old, received from his Alma Mater, Ateneo
Municipal, the degree of Bachelor of Arts, with highest honors. Rizal was the highest in
all subjects and won five medals at the end of the school term. He excelled in all his
subjects and was the most brilliant Atenean, he was truly “the pride of the Jesuits”
EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES IN ATENEO
• He was an active member, later secretary, of Marian Congregation - a religious
society. He was accepted because of his academic brilliance and devotion to Our Lady
of Immaculate Conception, the college patroness. He is also a member of the Academy
of Spanish Literature and the Academy of Natural Sciences. He studied painting under
Agustin Saez, a famous painter, and sculpture under Romualdo de Jesus. He continued
his physical training under hi sports-minded Tio Manuel.
SCULPTURAL WORKS IN ATENEO
• He carved an image of The Virgin Mary on a piece of batikuling (Philippine
hardwood) with his pocketknife. The Jesuits fathers were amazed. Father Lleonart
requested him to carve for him an image of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. He intended to
take the image with him in Spain but forgot to do so. So the Ateneo boarders placed it
on the door of their dormitory. It plays a significant part in Rizal‘s last hours at Fort
Santiago.
POEMS WRITTEN IN ATENEO
• Mi Primera Inspiracion (My First Inspiration) - first written poem of Rizal, which
was dedicated to his mother on her birthday. He wrote it when he was 14 years old. El
Embarque: Himno a la Flota de Magallanes ( The Departure: Hymn to Magellan‘s
Fleet). Y Es Espanol: Elcano, el Primero en dar la Vuelta al Mundo (And He is Spanish:
Elcano, the Fist to Circumnavigate the World). El Combate: Urbiztondo, Terror de Jolo
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ISABELA STATE UNIVERSITY
Echague, Isabela

(The Battle: Urbiztondo, Terror of Jolo) In 1876, he wrote poems on religion, education
memories and war. (e.g. In Memory of my Town)

RIZAL’S POEM ON EDUCATION

•Through Education Our Motherland Receives Light- education plays in the progress
and welfare of a nation.
•The Intimate Alliance Between Religion and Good Education- showed that Education
without God is not true education
RIZAL’S RELIGIOUS POEM
•Al Nino Jesus (To the Child Jesus)- written when he was 14 years old, expressing his
Catholic faith devotion.
•A La Virgen Maria (To the Virgin Mary)

MOTHER’S OPPOSITION TO HIGHER EDUCATION

• Both Don Francisco and Paciano wanted Jose to pursue higher learning in the
university. But Dona Teodora who is a woman of education and culture objects to Rizal
desire for University education. She knew what happened to the Gom-Bur-ZA, and told
her husband “ Don’t send him to Manila again, he knows enough. If he gets to know
more the Spaniards will cut off his head”.

TOPIC 2- THE UNIVERSITY OF STO. TOMAS (1877- 1882)

RIZAL ENTERS THE UNIVERSITY

• Rizal took the course on Philosophy and
Letters. Two reasons why Rizal enrolled in
these course: His father like it; and He was
still uncertain as to what career to pursue.
It was the following term (1878-1879)
RIZAL TOOK UP THE MEDICAL COURSE
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ISABELA STATE UNIVERSITY
Echague, Isabela

• Two reasons: He received the advice of Father Pablo Ramon, Ateneo’s Rector
to study medicine and to be able to cure his mother’s growing blindness.
• He excelled in all subjects in the surveying course in Ateneo.
• He obtained gold medals in agriculture and topography
FINISHES SURVEYING COURSE IN ATENEO
• 1877-1878 Rizal took the vocational course leading to the title of ―perito
agrimensor” (expert surveyor). He passed the final examination in the surveying course
on November 25, 1881. He remained loyal to Ateneo.
LITERARY WORKS (1879)
• Liceo-Artistico-Literario (Artistic-Literary Lyceum) of Manila, a society of literary
men and artists, held a literary contest.
1. A La Juventud Filipino (to the Filipino youth)- a poem written by Rizal, it was the
first prize winner. Two reasons why Rizal‘s poem is a classic in the Philippine
literature: 1. It was the first great poem in Spanish written by the Filipino,
whose merit was recognized by Spanish literary authorities. 2. It expressed for
the first time the nationalistic concept that the Filipino, and not the foreigners,
was the ―fair hope of the fatherland.

2. THE COUNCIL OF THE GODS (1880)

An allegorical drama written by Rizal which he entered in the literary contest of Artistic-
Literary Lyceum in 1880 to commemorate the fourth centennial of the death of
Cervantes. It was a literary masterpiece based on the Greek classics. The prize was
awarded to Rizal, a gold ring on which was engraved the bust (figure) of Cervantes.
3. Junto al Pasig (Beside the Pasig)
a zarzuela, written by Rizal. It was staged by the Ateneans on December 8, 1880,on the
occasion of the annual celebration of the Feats Day of the Immaculate Conception,
Patroness of the Ateneo.
CHAMPION OF THE FILIPINO STUDENTS
• Rizal was the champion of the Filipino students. In 1880. Rizal founded a secret
society of Filipino students. He became the chief of the secrete students society.

UNHAPPY DAYS AT THE UST

• Rizal found the atmosphere at the University of Santo Tomas suffocating to his
sensitive spirit. He was unhappy at this Dominican institution of higher learning
because:
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ISABELA STATE UNIVERSITY
Echague, Isabela

(1) the Dominican professors were hostile to him

(2) the Filipino students were racially discriminated by the Spaniards
(3) the method of instruction was obsolete and repressive

TOPIC 3- IN SPAIN 1882-1885

After finishing the 4th year of the medical course in the University of Santo Tomas, Rizal
decided to complete his studies in Spain.
SECRET MISSION IN SPAIN
• to observe keenly the life and culture, languages and customs, industries and
commerce, and governments and laws of the European nations. In order to prepare
himself in the mighty task of liberating his oppressed people from Spanish tyranny.

RIZAL IN BARCELONA
• May 3, 1882- Rizal departed on
board the Spanish Steamer Salvadora
bound for Singapore. Rizal’s departure
for Spain was kept secret to avoid
detection by the Spanish authorities and
the friars
• June 16, 1882- Rizal finally
reached his destination—Barcelona.
ARTICLES WRITTEN BY RIZAL
• Amor Patrio (Love Of Country) -
a nationalistic essay written by Rizal
under his pen name Laong Laan which
urged his compatriots to love their
fatherland, the Philippines. Basilio Teodoro Moran- publisher of Diariong Tagalog. Other
written articles of Rizal: - Los Viajes (Travels)- second article - Revista de Madrid
(Review of Madrid)- returned to him because the Diariong Tagalog had ceased
publication for lack of funds.
 Republic of the Philippines
ISABELA STATE UNIVERSITY
Echague, Isabela

RIZAL IN MADRID
• November 3, 1882- Rizal enrolled in Universidad Central de Madrid in two
courses- Medicine and Philosophy and Letters. Rizal led a Spartan life in Madrid.
• He also studied in Pain
ting and Sculpture in the Academy of Fine Arts and took lessons in French, German and
English.
CIRCULO HISPANO-FILIPINO (HISPANO-PHILIPPINE CIRCLE)
• Shortly after his arrival, Rizal joined the Circulo Hispano-Filipino (Hispano-
Philippine Circle), a society of Spaniards and Filipinos.
• “They Ask Me For Verses” (Me Piden Versos) - a poem written by Rizal in
response to the request of the members of the society. It is a sad poem in which Rizal
poured out the cry of his agonizing heart.
RIZAL AS LOVER OF BOOKS
• Beecher Stowe’s Uncle Tom’s Cabin and Eugene Sue’s The Wandering Jew -
aroused the sympathy of Rizal to his oppressed and unfortunate people.
RIZAL AS A MASON
• March 1883- Rizal joined the Masonic Lodge Acacia in Madrid under his Masonic
name Dimasalang. Rizal‘s reasons of becoming a mason: 1. the bad friars in the
Philippines, by their abuses unworthy of their priestly habit or calling, drove Rizal to
desperation and Masonry; 2. he needed the help of the Masons to fight the bad friars in
the Philippines, for Masonry, to Rizal, was a shield to use in his fight against the evil
forces of tyranny.
RIZAL IN PARIS, CAPITAL CITY OF FRANCE
• June 17 1883, Rizal sojourn in Paris. He stayed at a cheaper hotel on 124 Rue
de Rennes in the Latin Quarter.
• Like all tourist, Rizal was attracted by the beautiful sights of Paris. He visited
important landmarks like the Place de la Concorde, Arch of Triumph, the Cathedral of
Notre Dame and others. Rizal improved his mind by observing closely the French way
of life. He spent his hours in museums, botanical garden and art galleries. According to
Rizal “Paris is the costliest capital in Europe.” Prices of food, drinks, theatre, laundry,
hotels and transportation were too high.
• Two hospitals where Rizal made some observations:
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ISABELA STATE UNIVERSITY
Echague, Isabela

Laennec Hospital- where Rizal observed Dr. Nicaise treating his patients
Lariboisiere Hospital- where Rizal observed the examination of different diseases of
women.
• August 20, 1883 he returned to Madrid and continues with his studies.
RIZAL’S SALUTE TO LUNA AND HIDALGO.
• In the evening of June 25, 1884, a banquet was sponsored by the Filipino
community to celebrate the double victory of the Filipino artist in the National Exposition
of Fine Arts in Madrid - Luna’s Spoliarium winning the first prize and Hidalgo’s Christian
Virgins Exposed to the Populace second prize. Rizal was the guest speaker. It was a
magnificent speech of Rizal, he saluted Luna and Hidalgo being the two glories of Spain
and the Philippines. He also assailed with refined sarcasm the bigotry and blindness of
certain unworthy Spaniards who could not comprehend the universality of Genius.
STUDIES COMPLETED IN SPAIN
• June 21, 1884- conferred the degree of Licentiate in Medicine. He was not
awarded his Doctor‘s diploma due to the fact that he did not present the thesis required
for graduation nor paid the corresponding fees.
June 19, 1885- Licentiate in Philosophy and Letters with the rating of
“Excellent”(Sobresaliente).

TOPIC 4- CONTINUED STAY IN EUROPE 1885-1887

• Rizal went to Paris and Germany in order to specialize in Ophthalmology. He
travelled and observed European life and customs in Paris, Heidelberg, Leipzig, and
Berlin.

PARIS (1885-1886)
• He was 24 years old and already a physician, he went to Paris to obtain
knowledge in Ophthalmology. In November 1885, he worked for four months as an
assistant to Dr. Louis de Weckert, a leading French ophthalmologist.
• Outside of his working hours, he also found time to relax and be with his good
friends like the Pardo de Taveras, Juan Luna and Felix Resurreccion Hidalgo. At the
studio of Juan Luna, he improved his painting technique. He became a model to Juan
Luna’s several paintings. In the home of the Pardo de Tavera, Rizal played the flute, he
admitted that he had no natural aptitude for music.
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ISABELA STATE UNIVERSITY
Echague, Isabela

GERMANY
IN HEIDELBERG
• In February 1886, Rizal left Paris and went to Germany. He arrived in
Heidelberg, a historic city in Germany famous for its old university and romantic
surroundings.
• He lived near the University of Heidelberg and worked as an assistant to Dr. Otto
Becker at the University Eye Hospital. Outside his apprenticing hours, he also listened
to lectures delivered by Dr. Becker and Prof. Wilhelm Kuchne.
• Rizal devoted his free time visiting Heidelberg Castle, Neckar River, the theatre
and some old churches found in the city. The Neckar River and the beautiful spring
flowers blooling along its banks reminded him of how dearly he missed Calamba.
• April 22, 1886, Rizal wrote a touching poem entitled To the Flowers of
Heidelberg.
IN WILHELMSFELD
• A mountainous village near Heidelberg where Rizal spent his summer vacation.
• Rizal lived with the family of Pastor Karl Ullmer, a Protestant pastor who became
his good friend and admirer. The pleasant personality and talents in languages and
sketching endeared him to the Ullmer’s family.
• For three months he enjoyed the hospitality and kindness of the family.
• June 25, 1886, he returned to Heidelberg.
FIRST LETTER TO BLUMENTRITT
• July 31, 1886 Rizal wrote his first letter in German to Professor Ferdinand
Blumentritt, Director of the Ateneo of Leitmeritz, Austria. Rizal wrote to him after
learning that this ethnologist was interested in the Tagalog language. He sent him a
book entitled Arithmetica. Published in 2 languages- Spanish and Tagalog. By UST
Press of 1868. Author was Rufino Baltazar Hernandez a native of Santa Cruz, Laguna.
Ferdinand reciprocated the thoughtful gesture of Rizal by sending him two books. The
exchanged marked the beginning of their long and beautiful friendship.
IN LEIPZIG
• In August 1886, Rizal arrived in Leipzig. He stayed here for two months doing a
lot of writing and translating.
• He very much liked what he saw, the magnificent buildings, wide and clean
streets and amiable people.
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ISABELA STATE UNIVERSITY
Echague, Isabela

• William Tell- written by Schiller, Rizal translated it from German into Tagalog so
that Filipino might know the story of the champion of Swiss independence.
• Hans Andersen’s Fairy Tales - Rizal also translated this in Tagalog for his
nephews and nieces.
• Because of his knowledge of German, Spanish, and other European languages,
Rizal worked as proof-reader in a publishing firm.
• He attended some lectures on history and psychology at the University of Leipzig
and met Professor Friedrich Ratzel- a famous German historian and Dr. Hans Meyer-
German anthropologist. They had become his friends.
IN BERLIN
• In November 1886, Rizal arrived in Berlin. He was enchanted by this city
because of its scientific atmosphere and the absence of racial prejudice.
• Dr. Feodor Jagor - Rizal met for the first time this celebrated German scientist-
traveler and author of Travels in the Philippines, a book which Rizal read and admired
during his student days in Manila.
• Dr. Rudolf Virchow- a famous German anthropologist. (Dr. Jagor, introduced
Rizal to Dr. Virchow)
• Dr. Ernest Schweigger (1830-1905)- famous German ophthalmologist where
Rizal worked
• Rizal became a member of the Anthropological Society, the Ethnological Society,
and the Geographical Society of Berlin, upon the recommendation of Dr. Jagor and Dr.
Meyer
• Tagalische Verkunst (Tagalog Metrical Art)- Rizal wrote this scholarly paper in
German which he read before the society in April 1887. This paper was published by
the society in the same year, and elicited favorable comments from all scientific quarters
GERMAN WOMEN AND THEIR CUSTOMS
• Rizal wrote a letters addressed to his sister, Trinidad. He said that German
woman is serious, diligent, educated, and friendly. She is not gossipy, frivolous and
quarrelsome.
• Aside from women, Rizal admired the German customs. The Christmas custom
of the German delighted him most of his yuletide custom he wrote on Christmas eve.
Another interesting German custom observed by Rizal is self-introduction to strangers in
a social gathering.
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ISABELA STATE UNIVERSITY
Echague, Isabela

NOLI ME TANGERE PUBLISHED IN BERLIN (1887)

• March 21, 1887- the Noli Me Tangere

came off the press. The title Noli Me
Tangere is a Latin phrase which means
“Touch Me Not”. “Noli Me Tangere, are
words taken from the Gospel of St. John
(Chapter 20 Verses 13 to 17).
Rizal dedicated his Noli Me Tangere to the
Philippines—“To My Fatherland”. It contains
63 chapters and an epilogue. Maximo Viola-
The savior of Noli, he gave him the needed
funds to publish the novel.

GRAND TOUR FROM GERMANY TO ITALY

• May 11, 1887- Rizal and Viola left Berlin by train going to Dresden, one of the
best cities in Germany
• May 13- 16, 1887- Rizal and Viola went to Leitmeritz, Bohemia to visit Professor
Blumentritt. A kind-hearted, old Austrian professor who became a dear friend of Rizal.
• With Prof. Blumentritt as their guide, Rizal and Viola visited the churches, the
residence of the Bishop and other important buildings of the city.
• From May 20-30, 1887 -They visited other cities in Europe like, Prague, Vienna-
the "Queen of Danube", Lintz, Rheinfall, Munich and Nuremberg. They visited
museums, magnificent buildings, cathedrals and beautiful sights.

• June 2 to 3, 1887- stayed at

Schaffhausen, Switzerland. GENEVA- This
Swiss city is one of the most beautiful cities
in Europe, visited by world tourists every
year.
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Echague, Isabela

• June 19, 1887- Rizal treated Viola to a blow-out. It was his 26th birthday. Rizal
and Viola spent fifteen delightful days in Geneva.
• June 23, 1887- Viola and Rizal parted ways—Viola returned to Barcelona while
Rizal continued the tour to Italy
• June 27, 1887- Rizal reached Rome, the “Eternal City” and also called the “City
of the Caesars. After a week of wonderful sojourn in Rome, Rizal prepared to return to
the Philippines.
TOPIC 5- FIRST RETURN TO THE PHILIPPINES 1887-1888
TRAVEL TO THE PHILIPPINES
The stunning beauty of the European lands did not stop Rizal from continuously adoring
his native land. After the Noli Me Tangere was published, he decided to return to
Calamba despite the many warning he received from friends and relatives alike.
• He had four reasons for returning to the Philippines:
a) To perform an operation on Dona Teodora’s eyes;
b) To defend his oppressed countrymen more effectively than doing so in a foreign
land;
c) To find out how his Noli was received by the Filipinos and Spaniards; and
d) To know the reason for Leonor Rivera’s long silence.

• July 3, 1887, Rizal left Marseilles (France), it was his first return to the Philippines
after leaving it to study in Spain five years ago.
• August 6, 1887, he arrived in Manila and visited some friends.
AT HIS HOMETOWN
• August 8, 1887, he reached Calamba. He opened a medical clinic and restored
his mother’s vision. Such “miraculous” news spread throughout the community like wild
fire, thus, his clinic was flocked by people aspiring for a better eyesight. Newly arrived
from Germany, he began to be known as “ Doctor Uliman” (from the word Aleman) and
soon he acquired a lucrative medical practice. He earned $900 from his services as
physician.
• Rizal opened a gymnasium for young folks, where he introduced European
sports to discourage his town mates from idleness and gambling.
• He also took part in Calamba’s civic affairs and on his spare time made paintings
of the towns landscapes and translated the German poems of Von Wildernath into
Tagalog.
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• His happy days at Calamba was marred with the death of his older sister,
Olimpia, and to see Leonor Rivera. His family begged him not to see her at her
hometown in Camiling because of increasing concerns about his safety. Also Leonor’s
mother objected to their relationship.
THE CONTROVERSY OVER THE NOLI
• Copies of the Noli Me Tangere had arrived at the Philippines weeks before
Rizal’s return to the Philippines. Some of copies of his book fell into the hands of the
Spaniards especially the friars. They found the novel “heretical, impious, and
scandalous in the religious order and anti-patriotic, subversive of public order, injurious
to the government of Spain and its function in the Philippine Islands in the political
order”.
• The controversy over the novel had reached the office of Governor General
Emilio Terrero. He requested Rizal to come to Malacańang Palace. Rizal met Governor
General Emilio Terrero who informed him of the charges against him. As a defense,
Rizal told Terrero that Noli only expose reality. Not having read the book yet and out of
curiosity, the governor general asked for a copy of the controversial novel, which he
later confessed that he enjoyed reading. He saw no problem on the book, yet to protect
Rizal’s life which was then in danger, he assigned Jose Taviel de Andrade, a young
Spanish lieutenant, as Rizal’s personal bodyguard. The friars asked Governor General
Terrero to deport him, but the latter refused because there was no valid charge against
Rizal in court.
• While still in Calamba, Rizal was seen as a troublemaker. There are groundless
tales circulated by his enemies that he was “a German spy, an agent of Bismarck, a
Protestant, a Mason, a witch, a soul beyond salvation, etc.” Realizing that his family’s
and friend’s safety were risked; and that his fight against the Spaniards have better
chance of winning if he’d stay abroad, Rizal, six months after, finally decided to sail
back to Europe. His plan was to return to Europe via Hong Kong, Macao, Japan and the
United States
TOPIC 6- TRAVELS IN ASIA ( HONG KONG, MACAU AND JAPAN) AND THE U.S.
FIRST TRIP TO HONG KONG AND MACAU
• On February 3, 1888, with a heavy heart, Rizal left Manila for Hong Kong. His
powerful enemies refused to give him peace and quiet. Anonymous letters with threats
on his life were sent to his parents’ house in Calamba.
• On February 8, 1888- Rizal arrived in Hong Kong and he was welcomed by
Filipino residents.
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• Jose Sainz de Varranda, Terrero’s former secretary, followed Rizal in the said
British colony, and was believed to be commissioned by the Spanish authorities to spy
on the hero.
• While in Hong Kong, Rizal engaged in cultural activities. Among the experiences
while he observed were:
a) The Chinese way of celebrating their New Year, which included making noise
and exploding firecrackers to drive away evil spirits;
b) Chinese lauriat parties, where they served many different types of dishes;
c) Chinese theatres which used symbolisms and noisy music to entertain an equally
noise audience;
d) He also managed to visit different churches and cemeteries that were owned by
Catholics, Protestants, and Muslims.
• On February 18-21, 1888, Rizal also visited Macau, a Portuguese colony near
Hong Kong. He was invited to stay at the residence of Don Juan Francisco Lecaros,
who was a former Filipino delegate to the Spanish Cortes. For two days, Rizal enjoyed
being a tourist and visited different cultural places which included churches, botanical
gardens, theaters and the Macao Casino.
• February 22, 1888- Rizal left Hong Kong, his destination was Japan.
IN JAPAN
• February 28, 1888- Rizal arrived in Yokohama, the next day he went to Tokyo
and stayed at Tokyo Hotel for six days.
• Shortly after his arrival, Juan Perez Caballero-secretary of the Spanish Legation,
visited Rizal at his hotel who latter invited him to live at the Spanish Legation. Rizal
being an intelligent man, realized that the Spanish diplomatic authorities were instructed
from Manila to keep track of his activities. Since it was economical to stay at the
legation and he believed that he had nothing to hide, he accepted it.
• March 7, 1888- Rizal checked out of Tokyo Hotel and lived at the Spanish
Legation
• Rizal was impressed by the scenic Japan and had keenly observed the life,
customs, and culture of the people. The things which favourably impressed Rizal in
Japan were: the beauty of the country; the cleanliness, politeness, and industry of the
Japanese people; the picturesque dress and simple charm of the Japanese women;
there were very few thieves in Japan; beggars were rarely seen in the city, streets,
unlike in Manila and other cities.
• April 13, 1888, Rizal left Japan and boarded the Belgic, bound for the United
States.
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RIZAL’S VISIT TO THE UNITED STATES (April- May 1888)

• April 28, 1888, Rizal arrived in San Francisco, California. The ship was held
under quarantine by the American health authorities, reasoning that there was a cholera
epidemic in the Far East where their ship come from. Rizal and other first class
passenger of the ship were released from quarantine and allowed to land after seven
days.
• On May 4, 1888, Rizal arrived in San Francisco and registered at the Palace
Hotel and stayed for two days. May 6, 1888, he was in Oakland, he boarded the train for
his grand transcontinental trip to the American continent. He was able to see places
such as Sacramento, Reno, (Nevada), Colorado, Nebraska, Chicago, Albany and on
May 13 he reached New York. He stayed in this city for three days, he visited the scenic
and historic places.
RIZAL’S IMPRESSIONS OF AMERICA
• Good impressions
a) the material progress of the country as shown in the great cities, huge farms,
flourishing industries and busy factories;
b) the drive and energy of the American People
c) the natural beauty of the land
d) the high standard of living;
e) the opportunities for better life offered to poor immigrants.
• Bad impression
a) the lack of racial equality: “America is the land par excellence of freedom but only
for the whites”
• May 16, 1888- Rizal left New York for Liverpool, England.
TOPIC 7- REFORMIST WORKS IN EUROPE (1889-1981)
IN LONDON
• May 25, 1888 to mid-March 1889- Rizal decided to stay in London because he
could improve his English, study and do an annotation of Antonio Morga’s Sucecos de
las Islas Filipinas and perceived it was a place for him to carry on the reforms he
wanted for the Philippines.
ANNOTATING MORGA’S BOOK
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• May 1888-March 1889- He spent ten months (10) in the reading room of the
British Museum deeply immersed in his historical studies in London. This was the
greatest achievement of Rizal in London, the annotating of Morga’s book, Sucesos de
las Islas Filipinas (Historical Events of the Philippine Islands), which was published in
Mexico, 1609.

RIZAL AND THE LA SOLIDARIDAD

• December 31, 1888- inauguration of Asociacion La Solidaridad (Solidaridad
Association), a patriotic society. They crusade for reforms in the Philippine Government.
By unanimous vote of all members, Rizal was chosen honorary president. This was a
recognition of his leadership among all Filipino patriots in Europe.
• February 15, 1889- Graciano Lopez Jaena founded the patriotic newspaper
called La Solidaridad in Barcelona. A fortnightly periodical which served as the organ of
the Propaganda Movement.
• Its aims were as follows: to
work peacefully for political and
social reforms; to portray the
deplorable conditions of the
Philippines so that Spain may
remedy them; to oppose the
evil forces of reaction and
medievalism; to advocate
liberal ideas and progress; to
champion the legitimate
aspirations of the Filipino
people to life, democracy and
happiness. During his stay in
London, Rizal also made used
of his time in writing essays
and articles for La Solidaridad.
He also wrote La Vision del
Fray Rodriguez (The Vision of
Fray Rodriguez)-pamphlet which published in Barcelona under his nom-de-plume
Dimas Alang in order to defense his novel.
• In London, Rizal received both good news and bad news from news. The good
news that Rev. Vicente Garcia was defending his Noli from the attacks of the friars. On
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the other hand, the bad news were that the Filipino signatories of the “ Petition of 1888”
and the tenants of the Calamba agrarian trouble were facing persecution; that his
brothers-in-law Manuel T. HIdalgo and Mariano Herbosa, were exiled to Bohol and was
denied Christian burial, respectively; and his friend, Laureno Viadoa, a UST medical
student, was imprisoned for possessing some copies of his Noli.
IN PARIS
• It was mid-March 1899, Rizal decided to move to Paris. He noticed that Parisian
life was different from the life he experienced in London. It was a city bursting with
merriment, exciting events, and unending social gathering. The cost of living was also
very high.
• Rizal never lost his focus although life in Paris was gay, he continued to spend
long hours at the National library in Paris. There, he went on reviewing and rewriting his
historical annotations on De Morga’s Sucesos de las Islas Filipinas. It was published on
January 1890. He also wrote a satirical booklet entitled Por Telefono, in answer to Fr.
Salvation Fort, a Spanish friar who hurled attacks on the Noli Me Tangere and caused
its banning.
• He continued his study on various languages especially the French language,
which he was able to perfect during his 10 months stay at the French capital city.
• He organized a social club called Kidlat Club , a social club which brought
together young Filipinos residing in Paris. Soon, the members of the said club founded
a new Filipino society - the Indios Bravos, an organization which envisioned Filipinos
being recognized by Spain for being excellent in various fields of knowledge.
• In between his more serious activities, Rizal also had leisurely activities like
socializing with friends in their homes. Among those he frequently visited were the
homes of the Pardo de Taveras, the Venturas, the Lunas, the Bousteads and others.
• Although Rizal lived a frugal life, he prepared a sumptuous Christmas dinner for
some of his friends. Shortly after New Year, he visited London for the last time
In BRUSSELS
• January 28, 1890, left Paris for Brussels. He left the extravagant and gay social
life in Paris and stayed in a boarding house owned by the Jacoby sisters in Brussels.
• From 1889- 1890, Rizal continued contributing for La Solidaridad under the
pseudonyms Dimas Alang and Laong Laan. Among the 10 articles he had contributed
below were some of the most famous and important articles:
a) The Philippines Within a Century-article written by Rizal which he expressed his
views on the Spanish colonization in the Philippines.
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b) The Indolence of the Filipinos- It is an able defence of the alleged indolence of

the Filipinos.
c) the Sobre la Nueva Ortografia de la Lengua Tagala (The New Orthography of the
Tagalog Language) In this article, he laid down the rules of the new Tagalog
orthography
• From Calamba, Rizal received letters telling that the agrarian trouble in the
province was getting worse, and as such, he decided to go home. But instead of going
home, a letter from Paciano told him that they already lost the case against the
Dominicans and they were in need of a lawyer who would defend their family and the
families in Calamba from Madrid.
• Rizal wrote a letter to Ponce, he announced that he was leaving Brussels and
decided to go to Madrid because this case must be presented to the Supreme Court
and he needs to pay close attention to the developments of the case.

MISFORTUNES IN MADRID (1890-1891)

• August, 1890, Rizal arrived in Madrid. Upon arrival in Madrid. Rizal immediately
sought help of the Filipino colony, The Asociacion Hispano-Filipina, and the liberal
Spanish newspaper in securing justice for the oppressed Calamba tenants. Nothing
came out of this, several newspapers were sympathetic to the plight of the Calamba
tenants but this did not translate to any form of action. By this time, Francisco Rizal and
other tenants were already forcibly evicted from Calamba by Governor General
Valeriano Weyler. Their houses were burned and more people were exiled regardless
of their gender.
• August 1890, Rizal attended a social reunion of the Filipinos in Madrid. After
drinking so many glasses the guests became more talkative. One of them, Antonio Luna
became drunk. Rizal challenged Antonio Luna, it was about the latter’s frustration with
his unsuccessful “love affair” with Nellie Boustead, and so gave negative remarks on the
lady which Rizal did not tolerated. The Filipinos tried to pacify them, pointing out that
such a duel would damage their cause in Spain. Fortunately, Luna, realized his
mistakes he apologized and Rizal immediately accepted his apology and became good
friends again.
• Rizal challenged Wenceslao Retana in a duel. Retana had insulted Rizal and his
family by writing in La Epoca, an anti-Filipino newspaper, that the Rizal family in
Calamba was ejected from their lands because they did not pay their rents. Rizal was,
by nature neither hot-tempered but when the honor of his people, family, women or
friends was besmirched, he never hesitated to fight even if he were risking his own life.
Retana at once published a retraction and an apology, he knew that Rizal was superior
in both pistol and sword.
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• December 1890, Rizal received a letter from Leonor Rivera announcing her
coming marriage to Henry Kipping, an Englishman (the choice of her mother).This was
a big blow for him and his heart broke.
• Another marked event in Madrid was the Marcelo H. del Pilar-Jose Rizal rivalry
for leadership in the Asociacion Hispano Filipino. A fraction emerged from the Filipinos
in Madrid, the Rizalistas and Pilaristas. The group decided that the leader must be
elected by two-thirds vote. Rizal won the election, he was offered the appointment but
he did not want to see the Filipinos in Madrid divided so he thought it best to leave the
city.
• Rizal took a vacation in the resort city of Biarritz on the fabulous French Riviera.
He was a guest of the rich Boustead family at its winter residence—Villa Eliada. The
one month vacation in this city worked wonders for Rizal. This is where he was able to
finish his second novel El Filibusterismo.
• March 30, 1891, Rizal bade farewell to the hospitable and friendly Bousteads and
proceeded to Paris by Train. He stayed at the home of his friend Valentin Ventura.

RETIREMENT FROM THE PROPAGANDA MOVEMENT

• April 1891, Rizal was back to Brussels where he became busy revising and
polishing the manuscript of El Filibusterismo.
• Rizal retired from the Propaganda Movement. He notified the Propaganda
authorities in Manila to cancel his monthly allowance and devote the money to some
better cause, such as the education of a young Filipino student in Europe. He desired to
publish his second novel, to practice his medical profession, and later when he became
financially independent, he expected to make a more vigorous campaign for his
country’s redemption.
• Simultaneously with his retirement from the Propaganda Movement, Rizal
ceased writing articles for La Solidaridad. Many of his friends in Spain urged him to
continue writing because his articles always attracted considerable attention in
European countries.
• M.H. Del Pilar himself realized the need for Rizal’s collaboration in both the
Propaganda Movement and in the La Solidaridad newspaper because the enthusiasm
for the reform crusade was declining. He wrote to Rizal begging for forgiveness for any
resentment and requesting him to resume writing for the La Solidaridad.
• Rizal replied to Del Pilar’s letter, he wrote denying any resentment and explaining
why he stopped writing. Below are reasons why Rizal stopped writing for La Solidaridad:
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a) Rizal need to work on his book ;

b) He wanted other Filipinos to work also;
c) Rizal considered it very important to the party that there be unity in the work ;
d) Marcelo H. Del Pilar is already at the top and Rizal also have his own ideas it is
better to leave del Pilar alone to direct the policy.

THE PRINTING OF THE EL FILIBUSTERISMO

• July 5, 1891- Rizal left Brussels for Ghent, a famous university city in Belgium
because the cost of printing in Ghent was cheaper than in Brussels. F. Meyer-Van Loo
Press-a printing shop that give Rizal the lowest quotation for the publication of his novel.
• August 6, 1891-the printing of his book had to be suspended because Rizal could
no longer give the necessary funds to the printer. Valentin Ventura- the savior of the Fili,
when he learned of Rizal’s predicament he sent him the necessary funds.
• September 18, 1891- El Filibusterismo came off the press. Rizal gratefully
donated the original manuscript and an autographed printed copy to Valentin Ventura

TOPIC 8- BACK IN HONGKONG

• On October 18, 1891, after the Fili’ was published, Rizal left Europe. Aboard the
S.S Melbourne, he sailed to Hongkong where he lived for seven months. His reasons
for venturing to Hongkong were the following:
a) To leave his rivalry with del PIlar
b) To facilitate a Propaganda Movement in Hongkong; and
c) To be proximate to his family in the Philippines
• On November 20, 1891, Rizal arrived in Hongkong and was cordially welcomed
by the Filipino residents in the city, particularly, his friend Jose Ma. Basa.

• December 1, 1891- Rizal wrote his parents asking their permission to return
home. Rizal had a continued correspondence with his family in Calamba and had been
aware of the unsettled agrarian problem. On the same date, his brother-in-law, Manuel
T. Hidalgo, sent him a letter relating the sad news of the “deportation of twenty-five
persons from Calamba, including father, Neneng, Sisa, Lucia, Paciano and the rest of
us.”
FAMILY REUNION IN HONG KONG
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• The Christmas of 1891 in Hong Kong was one of the happiest Yuletide
celebrations in Rizal’s life, he had a happy family reunion.
• While in Hongkong, Rizal practiced his medical career. With the help of his
friend, Dr Lorenzo P. Marquez, they built a large clientele and opened a medical clinic
where he was recognized as an excellent eye surgeon. He was equally supported and
aided both morally and financially by his family and friends with his chosen career.
• Another marked event during Rizal’s stay in Hongkong was his plan to move the
landless Filipino to Borneo and transform the said wilderness into a “New Calamba”
through the so-called Borneo Colonization Project.
• In April 1802, he visited Borneo and negotiated with the British authorities who
are willing to provide 100,000 acres of land for the Filipinos. Many Filipino patriots found
this project amusing, thus, promoted the said project. However, there were a number
who objected it, one of which was Rizal’s brother-in-law, Hidalgo.
• Twice did Rizal wrote a letter addressed to Governor General Eulogio Despujol
informing his Borneo colonization project, with whom he received no response. Instead,
Despujol commanded the Spanish consul-general in Hongkong to notify Rizal that such
project was very unpatriotic, and by immigrating Filipinos to Borneo, the Philippines will
surely be lacking of laborers.
• Despite the many oppositions from friends and relatives, he decided to return to
Manila on the following reasons:

a) To discuss with Governor General Despujol his Borneo colonization

project;
b) To form the La Liga Filipina in the Philippines; and
c) To prove that Eduardo de Lete’s allegations on him and his family in
Calamba were wrong.
• Before his departure, he wrote three more letters- the first addressed to his
parents and friends; the second one, to Filipinos; and the last Governor General Eulogio
Despujol.
• Instead of having the protection he desired, Rizal and his sister, Lucia fell into the
Spanish trap - a case was secretly filed against Rizal, and Despujol ordered his
secretary, Luis de la Torre, to verify whether the patriot had neutralized himself as
German citizen or not. And so, the siblings sailed across the China Sea without prior
knowledge of what awaits then in the Philippines.

TOPIC 9- RIZAL’S GREAT LOVES

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1) Second Love: Leonor Valenzuela (1878)

Leonor “Orang” Valenzuela, Rizal’s second
object of affection, is literally the girl-next-door. They
met when Rizal was a sophomore medical student at
the University of Santo Tomas, during which time he
also lived at Doña Concha Leyva’s boarding house in
Intramuros, Manila. Orang, who was then 14 years
old, was his neighbour. During the courtship, Rizal
was said to have sent Leonor private and secret love
letters, which he wrote using invisible ink made with
water and salt—he was adept in chemistry, too. To
read the letters, Orang had to heat the letter over a
candle or a lamp. Rizal also frequented the
Valenzuelas’ home, which was a hang out place of
the students in the area. There are, however,
documents that may serve as proof that Rizal’s efforts
were not effective. Some accounts say he was
courting Leonor Valenzuela and his second cousin
Leonor Rivera at the same time—thus the need for invisible letters. (Still, we need to
appreciate the effort that went with it.) Rivera apparently knew of this and gave way to
Rivera’s attraction for Rizal. When Rizal left for Spain in 1882, it was said that he did
say goodbye to Orang, but kept in touch with the help of Rizal’s close friend, Jose
“Chenggoy” Cecilio.

2) Third Love: Leonor Rivera, Age 15, (1878-1890)

Jose Rizal was never the preferred choice of
Leonor Rivera’s mother, who confiscated all the
correspondences between Leonor and Rizal till it
frittered down to zero. Rizal was 18 going on 21 and
was devoted to Leonor. But he was just then opening
his eyes to Europe’s Enlightenment, where the
women were pleasing and the men were gallant.
Rizal really was in love with Leonor Rivera. He even
invented a coded alphabet so that they could write
sweet nothings to each other. But soon, Leonor faded
in memory. Why? Because in Europe, Rizal
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conveniently romanced other girls and forgot he was engaged to her. Eventually the
Leonor Rivera-Rizal engagement did not survive the long-distance romance. In the end,
it turned into an idealized one (reflected as Maria Clara in Rizal’s novel, Noli me
Tangere), a painful love match doomed to fail from the very start. Yes, count this one as
real love. As an engaged couple, they showed real affection for each other while it
lasted.

3) Fourth Love: Consuelo Ortiga Y Reyes, (1884)

In Madrid, Rizal courted Consuelo Ortiga, age

18, the daughter of Señor Pablo Ortiga y Rey, who
was once mayor of Manila and who owned the
apartment where the Circulo Hispano Filipino met
regularly. Rizal, age 23, was then acquiring and
developing his charming ways with women. He
treated them with special consideration and with
gallant courteousness. All the young Filipino
expatriates courted Consuelo, and she in turn
encouraged every one including José Rizal, Eduardo
Lete, the Paterno brothers (Pedro, Antonino,
Maximiano), Julio Llorente, Evangelista, Evaristo
Esguerra, Fernando Canon and others. Rizal gave
Consuelo gifts: sinamay cloth, embroidered piña
handkerchiefs, chinelas (slippers) -- all ordered
through his sisters in Calamba (see his letters).
Consuelo accepted all the swains’ regalos but played
Eduardo Lete against Rizal. She finally rejected
Rizal’s attention in favor of Eduardo’s, a Filipino Spanish mestizo from Leyte who, a
year later, dumped her. Two-timing Consuelo didn't
really catch Rizal's true fancy except that he impulsively
joined the crowd.

4) Fifth Love: O Sei-San, Age 22, The Samurai’s

Daughter (1888)
Rizal had fallen in love not only with the view of
Japan but more to its women, particularly with the 23-
year old Seiko Usui. Rizal affectionately called her O-
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Sei-San. Rizal was attracted by her regal loveliness and charm. Rizal saw in her the
qualities of his ideal womanhood—beauty, charm, modesty and intelligence. Rizal was
almost tempted to settle in Japan with O-Sei-San. Although, she was very dear to him,
his love for his country and fellow Filipinos was greater. Sacrificing his personal
happiness, Rizal had to carry on his libertarian mission in Europe, leaving behind the
lovely O-Sei-San.
“O Sei San, sayonara, sayonara! …. No woman like you has ever loved me. …
Like the flower of the chodji that falls from the stem whole and fresh without stripping
leaves or withering... you have not lost your purity nor have the delicate petals of your
innocence faded--sayonara, sayonara.” Rizal.

5) Sixth Love: Gertrude Beckett, Age 19, (1886)

In May 1888 Rizal visited London for a short
time, boarding the house of the Beckett family: Mr. &
Mrs. Beckett, their two sons, and their four
daughters. The eldest daughter was named
Gertrude.She was a buxom young lady with blue
eyes and brown hair. She fell in love with Rizal and
gave him all of her attention during the family picnics
and gatherings. When Rizal stayed indoors during
rainy days painting and sculpting, she helped him
mix his colors and prepare his clay.
Rizal enjoyed her company. Eventually their
flirtatious friendship drifted towards a blossoming
romance. He affectionately called her "Gettie," and
in return she called him "Pettie."Rizal withdrew
before his relationship with Gettie could become
more serious, realizing that he had a greater mission
to fulfill and that in order to accomplish it he could not yield to the option of marrying her.
He suppressed the yearnings of his heart and decided to leave so that the lady may
forget him. Before he did, however, he finished a number of sculptural works, one of
which was a carving of the heads of the Beckett sisters.

6) Seventh Love: Suzanne Jacoby (1890)

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On January 28, 1890, Rizal left for Brussels,

Belgium. He stayed for a considerable time, paying for
room and board. His landladies had a pretty niece
named Petite Suzanne Jacoby. She was taken by
Rizal's charm and gallantry, and provided him good
company. Rizal could have flirted with the lady,
considering that his beloved Leonor was far away and
he was a lonely man in a strange and foreign land, but
he realized he could not deceive her. Suzanne fell in
love with Rizal, and wept when he left for Madrid in
July 1890.
She wrote to him in French:
"Where are you now? Do you think of me once
in a while? I am reminded of our tender conversations,
reading your letter, although it is cold and indifferent.
Here in your letter I have something which makes up
for your absence. How pleased I would be to follow you, to travel with you who are
always in my thoughts.
You wish me all kinds of luck, but forget that in the absence of a beloved one a
tender heart cannot feel happy.
A thousand things serve to distract your mind, my friend; but in my case, I am
sad, lonely, always alone with my thoughts -- nothing, absolutely nothing relieves my
sorrow. Are you coming back? That's what I want and desire most ardently -- you
cannot refuse me.
I do not despair and I limit myself to murmuring against time which runs so fast
when it carries us toward a separation, but goes so slowly when it's bringing us together
again.
I feel very unhappy thinking that perhaps I might never see you again.
Goodbye! You know with one word you can make me very happy. Aren't you
going to write to me?"

7) Eight Love: Nellie Boustead (1891)

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In 1891, Rizal took a vacation in Biarritz in

order to find reprieve from his troubles in Madrid. He
was a guest of the Boustead family in their winter
residence, Villa Eliada. Mr. and Mrs. Boustead had
two beautiful daughters, Adelina and Nellie. After
having lamented his frustrated romance with Leonor
Rivera on account of the lady's engagement to
another man, Rizal came to develop considerable
affection for Nellie, the prettier and younger daughter
of Mr. Eduardo Boustead. He found her to be
intelligent, morally upright, and full of life. Rizal wrote
to his closest friends about his intention to marry her.
Rizal's friends were delighted to hear that he had
found a suitable girl whom he at last wished to settle
down with. Even Antonio Luna, who had previously
loved Nellie, encouraged Rizal to court her and ask
for her hand in marriage. With all the
encouragement from the friends he held dear, Rizal wooed Nellie (also called Nelly)
who, in turn, returned his affections.
Rizal's marriage proposal failed for two reasons: first, Nellie demanded that he
give up his Catholic faith and convert to Protestantism, which was her religion. Rizal did
not like this idea. Second, Nelly's mother did not approve of Rizal, as she had no
desire to entrust her daughter to a man who was wanting in wealth and persecuted in
his own country. In spite of the circumstances, Rizal and Nellie parted as good friends.

5. Teaching and Learning Activities

The students will answer the following study guides for their Reflection Paper.
TOPIC 1- A STUDENT AT THE ATENEO (1872-1877)
A. How was Jose Rizal able to enrol at the Ateneo Municipal de Manila?
B. Describe the physical characteristics of Rizal at that time?
C. What was the system of education given by the Jesuits?
D. Was Rizal already a perfect student when it comes to his studies?
Explain your answer.
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TOPIC 2- THE UNIVERSITY OF STO. TOMAS (1877- 1882)

A. Why did Rizal’s mother opposes his desire to study for a higher education?
B. What prompted Rizal to study medicine? Did he take it seriously?
C. How did Rizal show his talent in literary works?
D. Why was Rizal unhappy at UST? Explain your answer.

TOPIC 3- IN SPAIN 1882-1885

A. What is the secret mission of Rizal in going to Spain? Is this mission important?
Justify your answer.
B. What organizations did Rizal join in Spain?
C. Identify the accomplishments of Rizal in Spain. How was he able to accomplish
it? Explain your answer?
D. Did Rizal excelled and finished his studies? Justify your answer?

TOPIC 4- CONTINUED STAY IN EUROPE 1885-1887

A. What are the places that he visited in Europe? What were his impressions about
these cities and what did he learned about their culture? What did he accomplished in
visiting these cities?
B. How does Rizal spend his free time in Europe? Are these other activities
important? Justify your answer.
C. Make a comparison of the customs of Filipino women and German women during
the time of Rizal. What have you learned? Explain your answer.

TOPIC 5- FIRST RETURN TO THE PHILIPPINES 1887-1888

A. What were the reasons of Rizal returning to the Philippines? Did he
accomplished his agenda? Explain your answer?
B. What are the controversies about his novel Noli Me Tangere? Did these affect his
stay in the Philippines? Justify your answer.
C. Why did he fail to see Leonor Rivera? Explain your answer.
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TOPIC 6- TRAVELS IN ASIA ( HONG KONG, MACAU AND JAPAN) AND THE U.S.
A. What are the places that he visited in Asia? What were his impressions about
these cities and what did he learned about their culture?
B. What did he accomplished in visiting these cities?

TOPIC 7- REFORMIST WORKS IN EUROPE (1889-1891)

A. What are two the greatest achievement of Rizal when he went back to Europe?
Explain its importance to the lives of the Filipino people.
B. What are the goals of La Solidaridad? What are the contributions of Rizal to this
organization?
C. What are the misfortunes of Rizal when he was in Madrid? How these did
affected him?
D. What is the importance of the Propaganda Movement? What are the
accomplishments of this movement? Was it successful? Explain your answer.
E. Explain the Rizal- Del Pilar rivalry. Do you agree with the decision of Rizal not to
accept the appointment as president and retire from the propaganda movement?
Explain your answer.
F. Was Rizal able to accomplish his secret mission in Europe? Justify your answer.

TOPIC 8- BACK IN HONGKONG

A. Explain the reasons why Rizal leave Europe and went to Hong Kong?
B. What is the Borneo Colonization Project? What is the goal of this project?
C. Why did Rizal wanted to go back to the Philippines? Explain your answer.
TOPIC 9 -
A. Describe the personality of the women that Rizal had relations with?
B. Among the women that Rizal had relations with, who do you think deserves his
love? Why?
C. Explain the reasons why Rizal’s relationship with these women were not
successful?
 Republic of the Philippines
ISABELA STATE UNIVERSITY
Echague, Isabela

6. Recommended learning materials and resources for supplementary reading

a) RIZAL AT ATENEO - https://www.ateneo.edu/grade-school/news/looking-back-

rizal%E2%80%99s-ateneo

b) RIZAL AT UST - http://thelifeandworksofrizal.blogspot.com/2016/06/rizal-at-

university-of-santo-tomas-1877.html

c) RIZAL’S TRAVEL -
http://www.joserizal.ph/tr01.html
https://travels-of-rizal.weebly.com/blog/life-and-travels-of-jose-rizal
https://thetravelingtitasofmanila.com/2017/11/17/chasing-rizal-in-madrid/

d) RIZAL’S WORK- http://thelifeandworksofrizal.blogspot.com/p/works.html

http://www.joserizal.ph/pm01.html
https://allpoetry.com/Jose-Rizal

e) RIZAL AS A MASON - http://thelifeandworksofrizal.blogspot.com/p/rare-

issues.html

f) RIZAL AND THE PROPAGANDA MOVEMENT-

1) http://msc.edu.ph/centennial/solidaridad.html
2) https://www.philippine-history.org/la-solidaridad.htm
3) https://www.oocities.org/mcc_joserizal/reform_lasolidaridad.html

g) RIZAL'SROMANCES- http://thelifeandworksofrizal.blogspot.com/2012/02/rizals-
romances.html

7. Flexible Teaching Learning Modality (FTLM) adopted

A. Online (synchronous) - Video call via Messenger and Zoom meetings
Actual online classes thru live chats, meetings, consultation via the following: Video call
in messenger, Zoom meetings, Google Meet and other online platforms.
B. Remote (asynchronous) - Independent study and work on: self-guided modules,
supplemental videos, readings, lesson plans, research, and check-ins and exchanges
using any of the following: Google Classroom, Messenger, text and call.
 Republic of the Philippines
ISABELA STATE UNIVERSITY
Echague, Isabela

8. Assessment Task- Answer the following tasks:

a. Quiz b. Written Document Analysis
To have a full understanding of this module, let us check your understanding of this
module by answering the following questions:
a.) Quiz
MULTIPLE CHOICE. Write the letter of your correct answer on the space provided
before the number.
_____ 1. The reasons for Rizal’s venturing to Hong Kong were the following:
I. To leave behind his rivalry with del Pilar.
II. To facilitate a Propaganda Movement in Hongkong
III. To be proximate to his family in the Philippines
a) I & II b) I,II III c) I & III d) I only
_____ 2. Despite the many oppositions from friends and relatives, he decided to return
to Manila on the following reasons:
I. To discuss with Governor General Despujol his Borneo colonization project.
II. To form the La Liga Filipina in the Philippines
III. To prove that Eduardo de Lete’s allegations on him and his family in Calamba were
wrong.
a) I & II b) I,II III c) I & III d) I only
_____ 3. Jose adopted the surname ________ at the Ateneo because their family name
had come under suspicion of the Spanish authorities.
a. Rizal b. Mercado c. Alonzo d. Protacio
_____ 4. Ateneo students‘ uniform is consisted of hemp-fabric trousers´ and striped
cotton coat. The coat was called ________ and was adopted as the uniform for Filipino
troops during the days of the First Philippine Republic.
a. Trousers b. Stripe coat c. Rayadillo d. Barong tagalog
_____ 5. What do you call a group of students as part of the Jesuits system of
education wherein it consist of the internos (boarders) with red banners.
a. Jesuits Empire b. Augustinian Empire c. Carthaginian Empire d. Roman Empire
 Republic of the Philippines
ISABELA STATE UNIVERSITY
Echague, Isabela

_____6. What was the first written poem of Rizal, which was dedicated to his mother on
her birthday.
a. Mi Primera Inspiracion c. They Asked Me for Verses
b. To the Filipino Youth d. A La Juventud Filipina
_____ 7. What is the mission of Jose Rizal why he decided to pursue his studies in
Spain?
I. To observe keenly the life and culture, languages and customs, industries and
commerce, and governments and laws of the European nations.
II. In order to prepare himself in the mighty task of liberating his oppressed people from
Spanish tyranny.
III. To be accepted by the Spaniards and free from oppression.
a. I & III b. II only c. I & II d. II & III
_____ 8. Who is the first editor and publisher of La Solidaridad?
a. Graciano Lopez Jaena c. Marcelo H. Del Pilar
b. Jose Maria Panganiban d. Dominador Gomez
_____ 9. Which of the following choices is the cultural organization formed in 1872 by
Filipino expatriates in Europe?
a. KKK c. Circulo Hispano
b. Propaganda movement d. La Solidaridad
_____10. Which of the following choices is an organization created in Spain which aims
to increase Spanish awareness of the needs of its colony and propagate a closer
relationship between the colony and Spain?
a. KKK c. Circulo Hispano
b. Propaganda movement d. La Solidaridad
b.) Written Document Analysys
Direction: Read the following supplementary readings. Answer the written document
analysis worksheet.
a) Class Activity 1: Read Jose Rizal’s Brindis Speech
file:///C:/Users/home/Documents/GEC%209%20-%20PREPARATION%20FOR
%20SYLLABUS%20etc/MODULE%20FOR%20CHAPTER%204/Jose%20Rizal's
%20BRINDIS%20SPEECH.pdf
 Republic of the Philippines
ISABELA STATE UNIVERSITY
Echague, Isabela

b) Class Activity 2 : Read first the issue of La Solidaridad

http://www.bne.es/es/Micrositios/Exposiciones/Rizal/resources/documentos/
rizal_estudio_07.pdf

c) Written Document Analysis Worksheet

https://www.archives.gov/files/education/lessons/worksheets/
written_document_analysis_worksheet_former.pdf

9. References
Books

Ocampo, A. R. (2000). Rizal: Without the Overcoat. Pasig City: Anvil Publishing, Inc.
Purino, A. P. (2008). Rizal, Thre Greatest Filipino Hero. Manila: Rex Book Store.
Viana, A. e. (2011). jose Rizal Social Reformer and Patriot. Manila: Rex Book Store.
Zaide, G. a. (2008). Jose Rizal: Life Works and Writings of a Genius, Writer, Scientist
and National Hero. Quezon City: All Nations Publishing Co. Inc.

Electronic Sources:
http://thelifeandworksofrizal.blogspot.com/p/rare-issues.html
http://msc.edu.ph/centennial/solidaridad.html
https://www.philippine-history.org/la-solidaridad.htm
https://www.oocities.org/mcc_joserizal/reform_lasolidaridad.html
http://thelifeandworksofrizal.blogspot.com/2012/02/rizals-romances.html
http://www.joserizal.ph: http://www.joserizal.ph/in01.html

Jose Rizal's Brindis Speech: A Toast Honoring Juan Luna and Felix
Resurreccion Hidalgo
Jose Rizal's Brindis Speech: A Toast Honoring Juan Luna and Felix Resurreccion Hidalgo
 Republic of the Philippines
ISABELA STATE UNIVERSITY
Echague, Isabela

The following is the English translation of the full text of Rizal's brindis or toast
speech delivered at a banquet in the Restaurant Inglés, Madrid, on the evening of
June 25, 1884 in honor of Juan Luna, winner of the gold medal for his painting,
“El Spoliarium,” and Felix Resurrección Hidalgo, winner of a silver medal, for his
painting “Virgenes Cristianas Expuestas al Populacho” at a Exposición Nacional
de Bellas Artes de Madrid.
This was taken from Gems of Philippine oratory; selections representing fourteen
centuries of Philippine thought, carefully compiled from credible sources in
substitution for the pre-Spanish writings destroyed by missionary zeal, to
supplement the later literature stunted by intolerant religious and political
censorship, and as specimens of the untrammeled present-day utterances, by
Austin Craig, page 34-37, University of Manila, 1924.
 
In rising to speak I have no fear that you will listen to me with superciliousness, for you
have come here to add to ours your enthusiasm, the stimulus of youth, and you cannot
but be indulgent. Sympathetic currents pervade the air, bonds of fellowship radiate in all
directions, generous souls listen, and so I do not fear for my humble personality, nor do
I doubt your kindness. Sincere men yourselves, you seek only sincerity, and from that
height, where noble sentiments prevail, you give no heed to sordid trifles. You survey
the whole field, you weigh the cause and extend your hand to whomsoever like myself,
 Republic of the Philippines
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desires to unite with you in a single thought, in a sole aspiration: the glorification of
genius, the grandeur of the fatherland!
 
Such is, indeed, the reason for this gathering. In the history of mankind there are names
which in themselves signify an achievement-which call up reverence and greatness;
names which, like magic formulas, invoke agreeable and pleasant ideas; names which
come to form a compact, a token of peace, a bond of love among the nations. To such
belong the names of Luna and Hidalgo: their splendor illuminates two extremes of the
globe-the Orient and the Occident, Spain and the Philippines. As I utter them, I seem to
see two luminous arches that rise from either region to blend there on high, impelled by
the sympathy of a common origin, and from that height to unite two peoples with eternal
bonds; two peoples whom the seas and space vainly separate; two peoples among
whom do not germinate the seeds of disunion blindly sown by men and their despotism.
Luna and Hidalgo are the pride of Spain as of the Philippines-though born in the
Philippines, they might have been born in Spain, for genius has no country; genius
bursts forth everywhere; genius is like light and air, the patrimony of all: cosmopolitan as
space, as life and God.

The Philippines' patriarchal era is passing, the illustrious deeds of its sons are not
circumscribed by the home; the oriental chrysalis is quitting its cocoon; the dawn of a
broader day is heralded for those regions in brilliant tints and rosy dawn-hues; and that
race, lethargic during the night of history while the sun was illuminating other continents,
begins to wake, urged by the electric' shock produced by contact with the occidental
peoples, and begs for light, life, and the civilization that once might have been its
heritage, thus conforming to the eternal laws of constant evolution, of transformation, of
recurring phenomena, of progress.

This you know well and you glory in it. To you is due the beauty of the gems that circle
the Philippines' crown; she supplied the stones, Europe the polish. We all contemplate
proudly: you your work; we the inspiration, the encouragement, the materials furnished.
They imbibed there the poetry of nature-nature grand and terrible in her cataclysms, in
her transformations, in her conflict of forces; nature sweet, peaceful and melancholy in
her constant manifestation-unchanging; nature that stamps her seal upon whatsoever
she creates or produces. Her sons carry it wherever they go. Analyze, if not her
characteristics, then her works; and little as you may know that people, you will see her
in everything moulding its knowledge, as the soul that everywhere presides, as the
spring of the mechanism, as the substantial form, as the raw material.

It is imposible not to show what one feels; it is impossible to be one thing and to do
another. Contradictions are apparent only; they are merely paradoxes. In El Spoliarium -
on that canvas which is not mute-is heard the tumult of the throng, the cry of slaves, the
metallic rattle of the armor on the corpses, the sobs of orphans, the hum of prayers, with
as much force and realism as is heard the crash of the thunder amid the roar of the
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cataracts, or the fearful and frightful rumble of the earthquake. The same nature that
conceives such phenomena has also a share in those lines.

On the other hand, in Hidalgo's work there are revealed

feelings of the purest kind; ideal expression of melancholy,
beauty, and weakness-victims of brute force. And this is
because Hidalgo was born beneath the dazzling azure of
that sky, to the murmur of the breezes of her seas, in the
placidity of her lakes, the poetry of her valleys and the
majestic harmony of her hills and mountains. So in Luna
we find the shades, the contrasts, the fading lights, the
mysterious and the terrible, like an echo of the dark storms
of the tropics, its thunderbolts, and the destructive
eruptions of its volcanoes. So in Hidalgo we find all is light,
color, harmony, feeling, clearness; like the Philippines on
moonlit nights, with her horizons that invite to meditation
and suggest infinity. Yet both of them-although so
different-in appearance, at least, are fundamentally one;
just as our hearts beat in unison in spite of striking
differences. Beth, by depicting from their palettes the dazzling rays of the tropical sun,
transform them into rays of unfading glory with which they invest the fatherland. Both
express the spirit of our social, moral and political life; humanity subjected to hard trials,
humanity unredeemed; reason and aspiration in open fight with prejudice, fanaticism
and injustice; because feeling and opinion make their way through the thickest walls,
because for them all bodies are porous, all are transparent; and if the pen fails them
and the printed word does not come to their aid, then the palette and the brush not only
delight the view but are also eloquent advocates. If the mother teaches her child her
language in order to understand its joys, its needs, and its woes; so Spain, like that
mother, also teaches her language to Filipinos, in spite of the opposition of those
purblind pygmies who, sure of the present, are unable to extend their vision into the
future, who do not weigh the consequences.

Like sickly nurses, corrupted and corrupting, these opponents of progress pervert the
heart of the people. They sow among them the seeds of discord, to reap later the
harvest, a deadly nightshade of future generations.
But, away with these woes! Peace to the dead, because they are dead breath and soul
are lacking them; the worms are eating them! Let us not invoke their sad remembrance;
let us not drag their ghastliness into the midst of our rejoicing! Happily, brothers are
more-generosity and nobility are innate under the sky of Spain-of this you are all patent
proof. You have unanimously responded, you have cooperated, and you would have
done more, had more been asked.

Seated at our festal board and honoring the illustrious sons of the Philippines, you also
honor Spain, because, as you are well aware, Spain's boundaries are not the Atlantic or
 Republic of the Philippines
ISABELA STATE UNIVERSITY
Echague, Isabela

the Bay of Biscay or the Mediterranean-a shame would it be for water to place a barrier
to her greatness, her thought. (Spain is there-there where her beneficent influence i"s
exerted; and even though her flag should disappear, there would remain her memory-
eternal, imperishable. What matters a strip of red and yellow cloth; what matter the guns
and cannon; there where a feeling of love, of affection, does not flourish-there where
there is no fusion of ideas, harmony of opinion?

Luna and Hidalgo belong to you as much as to

us. You love them, you see in them noble hopes,
valuable examples. The Filipino youth of
Europealways enthusiastic-and some other
persons whose hearts remain ever young through
the disinterestedness and enthusiasm that
  characterize their actions, tender Luna a crown, a
  humble tribute-small indeed compared to our
enthusiasm-but the most spontaneous and freest
of all the tributes yet paid to him.

But the Philippines' gratitude toward her

illustrious sons was yet unsatisfied; and desiring
to give free rein to the thoughts that seethe her
mind, to the feelings that overflow her heart, and
 
Juan Luna to the words that escape from her lips, we have
 
all come together here at this banquet to mingle
our vows, to give shape to that mutual
understanding between two races which love and care for each other, united morally,
socially and politically for the space of four centuries, so that they may form in the future
a single nation in spirit, in duties, in aims, in rights. I drink, then, to our artists Luna and
Hidalgo, genuine and pure glories of two peoples. I drink to the persons who have given
them aid on the painful road of art!
 
I drink that the Filipno youth-sacred hope of my fatherland may imitate such valuable
examples; and that the mother Spain, solicitous and heedful of the welfare of her
provinces, may quickly put into practice the reforms she has so long planned. The
furrow is laid out and the land is not sterile! And finally, I drink to the happiness of those
parents who, deprived of their sons' affection, from those distant regions follow them
with moist gaze and throbbing hearts across the seas and distance; sacrificing on the
altar of the common good, the sweet consolations that are so scarce in the decline of
life — precious and solitary flowers that spring up on the borders of the tomb.