We start this discussion from where we left off from the previous Module.

You

may remember that after his great frustration with the way the Dominican priests

were discriminating against the Filipino students in UST, Rizal decided to go to Spain

to complete his course in Medicine. He left the country without informing his parents

not only because, he figured that they will not approve, but also, it would help

maintain his parents’ innocence once Spanish officials start looking for him. Yes, by

and large, the trip to Spain was kept a secret from Spanish officials and friars who

would have prevented the journey. Thus, only close family and friends were aware of

his departure for Spain and at his brother Paciano’s promptings, Rizal used the name

Jose Mercado, name of his cousin, to avoid detection. On May 3, 1882, Rizal

boarded the Spanish steamer called Salvadora going to Singapore. This voyage will

start Rizal’s journey around the globe and life abroad—not as a tourist on sightseeing

tour, but as a man on a patriotic mission to learn everything he can in order to help

his people and country gain freedom from the Spanish oppression.

The travels of Rizal can be divided between his two trips bookended by his

departure and homecoming. The first trip was between May 3, 1882 to July 3, 1887.

While the second trip was between February 3, 1888 to June 21, 1892. Using this as

our main guide for discussion, we shall now look at the timeline of this voyages

paying particular attention to people, places and events that are significant as they

are pivotal in our national hero’s life and therefore to our national history.

Overview of Rizal’s First Trip Abroad

May 3, 1882 – Left for Spain to Study Medicine

Nov. 3, 1882 to Nov, 1886 – Studying Medicine and Specializing in

Ophthalmology in France and Germany

- Nov. 3, 1882 – Enrolled in University of Madrid

-Nov. 1885 to Feb. 1886 - Internship in France with Dr. Louise de Weckert

-Feb. 3, 1886 – Enrolled in University of Heidelberg specialization in

ophthalmology.

-Nov. 1886 – Went to Berlin, for further specialization in ophthalmology.

-Feb. 27, 1887 – Completed Noli Me Tangere in Berlin.

Maximo Viola – loaned the money to print Noli Me Tangere

May 11, 1887 to July 3, 1887 – Grand European Tour

Germany – Potsdam, Dresden

Czech Republic – Leitmeritz, to see Ferdinand Blumentritt. Prague, Brunn

Austria – Vienna, From Lintz to Salzburg via Danube river.

Germany – Munich, Nuremberg, Ulm, Stuttgart, Baden

Switzerland – Reinfall, Schaffhausen, Basel, Bern, Lausanne, Geneva.

Italy- Turin, Milan, Venice and Florence

Homecoming - August 5, 1887 – Back Home in Philippines

Rizal was out of the country from May 3, 1882 to July 3, 1887

Overview of Rizal’s Second Trip Abroad

February 3, 1888 – Left for Hong Kong to be exiled (Patriotic Tour)

Jose Maria Basa – Friend in the second journey

Japan

Feb. 28, 1888 – Arrived in Tokyo, Japan – April 13, 1888 Left for San Francisco

Seiko Usui – aka O Sei San – guide and lover

USA

April 28, 1888 – Arrived in San Francisco (Oakland, Sacramento, Reno Nevada)

Utah, Colorado, Nebraska, Illinois, New York – May 16, 1888 left for Liverpool.

Great Britain

May 24, 1888 – Arrived in Liverpool, then went to London (Stayed with Antonio

Regidor) Befriended Dr. Reinhold Rost to see Filipiniana Section in house library.

May 1888 – While in London he became honorary member/president of La

Solidaridad

France

March 19, 1889 – Arrived in Paris (founded, Kidlat Club, Indios Bravo, Rendecion
delos Malayos).

Belgium

Jan. 28, 1890 – going to Brussels (Trouble started with the land property in Calamba)

Marcelo H. Del Pilar – Lawyer of Rizal in Madrid over land case in Calamba.

Started writing El Filibusterismo.

Spain

August 1890 – In Madrid to defend land case in Calamba.

France

February 1891 – Bairrits for a month long vacation

Fell in love in Bairrits with Nellie Boustead

March 29, 1891 – Completed El Filibusterismo

March 30, 1891 – going back to Paris

Belgium

April 8, 1891 – In Brussels – raising funds for printing El Filibusterismo

June 21, 1891 – Arrived in Ghent

Sept. 18, 1891 - El Filibusterismo was finally printed in Ghent.

Valentin Ventura – financed the printing of El Filibusterismo

France

Sept. 1891 – Paris to say Goodbye to friends – October 1891 left Europe for Hong

Kong.

China

Nov. 20, 1891 – Arrived in Hong Kong – Reunion and Established Medical Practice

Malaysia

March 1892 – In Sandakan negotiating for a Filipino colony in Sabah.

In Hong Kong for 7 months – Nov. 20, 1891 to June 21, 1892

Philippines

June 26, 1892 – Arrived in Manila (left Hong Kong June 21, 1892)

July 3, 1892 – Meeting at Tondo to organize La Liga Filipina with Andress Bonifacio
and Apolinario Mabini.

July 6, 1892 – Arrested and sent to exile in Dapitan (July 14, 1892)

July 17, 1892 – Arrived in Dapitan, Zamboanga, Del Norte.

Exile in Dapitan – July 17, 1892 to July 31, 1896

A typical day of Rizal in Dapitan will start at 5am., tending his plants and animals.

After breakfast he would see patients who have come seeking treatment and would

even go across town using his own boat to treat other patiens there. After lunch, he

will teach pupils he gathered around the community until about 5pm. In the afternoon,

he would go back to farming and his evening will be spent reading and writing.

Rizal’s life in Dapitan could have been more comfortable living in the parish

convent as the Jesuits, in the person of Father Antonio Obach, in their effort to

convince Rizal to retract all his anti-Catholic campaign and return to the Catholic

church, offered such accommodation. But Rizal declined and opted to live in the

military residence called Casa Real. Not giving up on the effort, Father Francisco de

Paula Sanchez, was sent with the same purpose, hoping that as Rizal’s favorite

teacher, he would have some progress. But Rizal, a man of principle, engaged his

mentor in a friendly discussion, standing firm on his position. Doing everything they

can to succeed in getting Rizal’s retraction, the head of the Jesuits society in the

Philippines, Pablo Pastells wrote letter to Rizal but was also unsuccessful.

Even in exile, Rizal lived a productive life. Thinking not only of himself, but of the

good of others and the community in Dapitan, he managed to serve and contributed

to the betterment of his environment by doing the following impressive

Accomplishments;

Community Improvement (Making it a better place)

- developed drainage system with bottles and bamboo joints.

- taught proper hygiene and sanitation for better health.

- taught better way of weaving abaca and fishing nets.

- invented wooden brick making machine.

- paved stairs and pathways in the forest using the bricks

- made map of Dapitan with Fr. Sanchez.

- treated patients – even other ailments.

His curiosity and passion for knowledge was evident even to his last days in

exile. As a scientist and Philolosist, he continued to explore and even

managed to discover spieces which were named after him.

As Scientist and Philologist

- Studied plants and trees

- Named forest and sea creatures (Taxonomy)

Frog (Rhacophorus Rizali)

Beetle (Apogonia Rizali)

Dragon Fly (Draco Rizali)

(sent biological specimens to Europe, to Dr. Adolph B. Meyer. And sent

books in return)

Philologist- studied language, culture, literature.

Rizal’s Visitors in Dapitan

Obviously by now, we get the general picture that inasmuch as Rizal was in

captivity and under guard, he was free to live and work while exiled in

Dapitan. Included here was the priviledge to have visitors. And Rizal had

interesting visitors. One was Matias Arrieta, after receiving medical treatment

from Rizal, he confessed that he was sent by the priest to spy on him while in

exile. Another was Florencio Nanaman (Pablo Mercado) sent by recollect

priests to monitor Rizal. But despite they their adverse intentions, Rizal never

failed to show them kindness while in Dapitan.

Then, in one occasion, Pio Valenzuela arrived as an emissary of Andres

Bonifacio wanting to get Rizal’s approval to start the revolution. Rizal, much

as he was a patriot, declined the request and advocated peaceful means to

gain liberty. However, in the same line of advice, Rizal pointed out that the

Katipunan needed weapons, financial support, and leadership of Juan Luna.

Rizal’s family came to visit as well. In August of 1893, Dona Teodora and
Trinidad came to visit and they were followed later by Maria, Narcisa and

Nephews and Nieces. In 1895 Dona Teodora left for Manila to join Don

Francisco whose health was failing at the time. Also in 1895, Josephine

Bracken arrived in Dapitan and later became Rizal’s common law wife.

Bracken was a stepdaughter of Rizal’s patient in Hong Kong. They had a son

by the end of 1895 who was born prematurely and died a few hours after

birth.

In 1895, information reached Rizal from Blumentritt, that Cuba, another

colony under Spain was facing the epidemic of yellow fever and there was a

great shortage of doctors to treat the infected. In the month of December that

year, Rizal wrote Governor General Ramon Blanco to approve his petition to

go to Cuba as a volunteer doctor. Rizal never got a response and lost interest

about the matter. However, in July 30, 1896, an approval of his petition came

from Gov. Gen. Blanco allowing him to leave and volunteer in Cuba. So on

July 31, 1896, Rizal left Dapitan on board Espana after tearful goodbyes with

his friends and pupils.