FI 'IRST TRAVEL ABROAD AND MEDICAL STUDIES IN SPAIN CHAPTER IV “Genius has 'N0 country. It blossoms everywhere. Genius is like the light, the air. It is the heritage of all” - Dr. Jose Rizal - obiaitives: Toast to the artists Luna and Hidalgo: Madrid, Spain (25 June 1884) t ‘At the end of this chapter, the students will be able to: g $F S 1, Describe the different places visited by Jose Rizal. ss 2. Acknowledge Rizal's impression on his travels abt signifi izal’s impre road and relate it’s significance today. 3. Evaluate Jose Rizal's medical studies and its impact tohis people. : 4, Trace on the world map Jose Rizal's first trip abroad. t s§ I. First Trip Abroad and his secret Mission = s = 3s Being discontented with the obsolete method of instruction, the racial prejudice under the Dominicans, the unfriendliness atmosphere in Santo Tomas and the rumor that he was on the black list of the government, led Jose to follow the advice of Antonio Rivera, father of Leonor, who urged him to flee from the country. This fitted into the ever deepening purpose of his life, for he must get the best education he could find, and answer his life question: what could he do to help his oppressed Motherland? He has to study in Madrid but this plan was kept secret and only few people knew about it. He could not hope to secure a passport from the government, so Uncle Antonio Rivera secured one under the name "Jose Mercado". His brother Paciano gave Jose the money he raised for the journey, three hundred fifty six pesos (Php 356.00) and his oldest sister Saturnina gave him her diamond ring to sell in case of an emergency. He went aboard the Spanish steamer (SS Salvadora bound for Singapore) on May 3, 1882. His departure was kept secret from Spanish authorities and Leonor. No permission from his parents. Rizal was almost twenty-one years old on the day he left. At his tender age, he was deeply touched at the moment of his parting from Paciano and closed friends. Tears welled from his eyes as SS Salvadora sailed farther away from Manila. He wrote in his diary, "My Country, my love, my people, I leave you now, you disappear. I lose sight of you.” 'As the ship sailed for Singapore, Rizal could not help comparing the persons and the things around him, so that he would no longer fee! the pain of being separated from his parents and country, he took paper and pencil and made some sketches. Rizal's attempt to communicate with the passengers was not only helping him ease the feeling of loneliness but at the same time started accomplishing his secret mission. When Jose accepted the plan of finishing his medical course in Madrid, he also envisioned a mission. This was to observe keenly the life and culture, languages and customs, industries and commerce, and government and laws of the European nations in order to prepare himself of the mighty task of liberating his oppressed people from Spanish tyranny. of sailing, the Salvadora reached Singapore. Jose was impressed by its progress, it clean ant benti ener ‘In his two days stop-over in Singapore, he visited some historic places, the botanical garden, art galleries and parks. From Singapore, Rizal boarded the French steamer, Djemnah which was salling to Europe. Tt was bigger and better than the Salvadora. He plunged into an attempt to lear French with untiring eagerness speaking Latin and Spanish and gesticulating and drawing pictures to make him self understood to the delight of the passengers and crew. The steamer made stops at Point Galle, Colombo, Suez, Naples and Marseilles. On Sune 10, 1882, the ship docked at Marseilles. He took a train for Barcelona and arrived there on June 16, 1882. 30trae é ine ee Jose Rizal's sketches of Singapore. IL. In Barcelona Jose Rizal had a bad impression of Barcelona. Even it was considered to be the greatest city of Catalufia and Spain’s second largest city. For Jose, the city was ugly, with dirty little inns and inhospitable. He had this unfavorable impression of Barcelona because he happened to stay on a discolored inn and on the city’s most ugly side. But eventually, he changed his bad impression. It is a great city, place where freedom and liberalism were enjoyed by its people. The people are open-hearted, hospitable and courageous. He met some of his school mates in Ateneo and gave him their warm welcome. They gave him a party at their favorite cafe. ‘The first longed-for letter from his brother Paciano made him go into hiding where nobody could see his tearful eyes as he read: "When the telegram was received in Calamba telling us of your departure, our parents were distracted, but especially our old father, who became silent, staying in his room, and wept, and refused to be consoled by his family the priest, or anybody else. | had to go down fo Manila to find out by what means you had succeeded in making the journey, to satisfy him, and on my return | assured him that your way was paid by some of your Tends to Marta, expecting that this would make him more content, but in spite of everything, | saw that he Temeiney osuasotate, Seeing this and fearing that his silence might develop into an iliness, I told him the witole Stoo) but to him alone, asking him to Keep the secret, which he promised to do: then he seemed to become ayittie content and returned to his usual activities. . . .As for your other friends, acquaintances, and stronger ithe communi, for many days you were the theme of their conversation; they conjectured and Prophesied, but nobody guessed the truth. “iti that you will finish your course in medicine in Barcelona and not in Madrid; as | see se Of Your Oernore inclined. This is why I believe you should go on to Madrid, the center of allthe peices Which etter for you to be there with your countrymen, who will be able to advise you while you are not yet in the current of things. 1a had been productive. He wrote an essay entitled “Amor Patrio” (Love of cou 2 cate stay In aoratc essay, written under the pen name “Laong Laan” and his first article written in Spaim He sent this article In Manila and Basilio Moran, published this in Diariong Tagalog. ‘The publisher was deeply linpreseed ofthis article that he requested Jose to write more. His next article for Diariong Tagalog was entitled "Loe Viajes” (Travels) and followed by “Revista de Madrid” (Review of Madrid) but the latter Was tatumed beezuse the Diariong Tagalog had ceased publication because of lack of funds. 31JIL In Madrid While in Barcelona, provinces. Many people died propia News that cholera has spread in Manila and many neighboring from Chengoy. It was abo were dying daily. Another sad news from the Philippines was the letter ut th sudden departure, without him cay need cd Leonor Rivera who had become sickly and thin, because of his In September i : aoe ial : tee i ‘Tove in to Macrid in order to contin his medical studies. Tn November 3, courses - Medicine and Philosoy re ral University of Madrid (Unibersidad Central de Madrid) in two Sctivties included taking lessons phy and Letters. Aside from his hectic schedule in the University, his other jessons in French, German and Er in painting and sculpture at the Academy of Fine Arts in San Fernando; took SE ae eepan and English under private instructors; and practiced fencing and shooting at the Hall of Arms in Sanz y Cabornell. “He also attended operas and concerts to enhance knowledge and taste of fine music, visited art galleries and museums and read books on various subjects. etter acm Madrid, he wrote his father in which Rizal stated: “| ramember having told you in my formes letter m eigl in the morning until eight fifteen at night, | have classes except for half an hour | use for lunch, and that is, from two thirty to three in the afternoon; the gymnasium is doing me good.” Indeed, Jose led a hectic university schedule and led a Spartan life. Jose knew from the very beginning he came to Spain to study and prepare himself of a mighty task for his country. He budgeted his money on food clothing, lodging and books and never wasted time. After a year or two, as his money slowly diminished, he had to save in every way possible. His father was afraid to send money directly, for he was ret g on land owned by the Dor ican Friars, who hated Jose and might persecute the father on his account. The old man sent what money he could through his cousin Antonio Rivera, Leonor's father, but this grew less and less, for the hard times and the persecution which he feared soon came upon the Calamba household. Even with what Paciano and Mr. Rivera could add, it was only by the strictest economy that Jose could live. "There came a time when he reduced his daily expenses for food to thirty- five centavos. On June 24, 1884, the day on which he.won a prize in a competition in Greek, he did not eat at all, because he lacked money. He ‘used second-hand clothes which he bought from a pawnshop.” The next day he wrote in his diary: “I am hungry and | have nothing to eat and no money.” Poverty and hunger do not make one happy. His only luxury was spending few pesetas for Madrid Lottery. In Madrid Jose joined the Circulo-Hispano Filipino. It is an association formed by Filipino students in Spain composed both of Filipinos and Spaniards. The members asked Jose to write a poem and this was entitled "Me Piden Versos” (They Ask Me for Verses). is the 2" (standing) row, 5" from the right The Iilustrados (Rizal, zal was exposed to liberal ideas and cultural influences. He came in close contact ican Spaniards, who were mostly Masons like, Miguel Morayta Manuel Becerra (Minister of Ultramar), Emilio Junoy ( member of In Madrid, Jose Rit with, prominent Spanish liberal and Republi (Stateman), Francisco Pi y Margal (journalist), 32the Spanish Coes) and Juan Ruiz Zora (Pariamentarian). Jose, impressed by the way the Spanish Masons spol on the noe being young and idealistic, he was really ideas and values befitting a freedom. In March 1883, he joined the Masonic lodge called Acacia. Mason was to secure Freemasonr His reason for joining and becoming a € "Y's aid in his fight against the friars in the Philippines. Since the friars used the Catholic Church as shield to establish themselves in power and wealth and to persecute the Flipino patriots, he intended to utilize Freemasonry as his shi Solidaridad, where he became a Master co combat them. In November 1883, he transferred to Lodge a ae important vent happened in the annals of Philippine history. Two Filipinos won in the National Co eee tan Madrid ~ Juan Luna's "Spolarium” and Felix Resurreccion Hidalgo’s "Christian Virgins esa a to the Populace”. Luna’s painting eared a gold medal, while Hidalgo’s painting earned a siver medal. A banquet was sponsored by the Filipino Community to celebrate the-victory, In this banquet, Jose saluted them whose artistic achievements rise’ above geographical frontiers and racial origin. He delivered a speech that is so magnificent that the audience was so attracted that seiom the Spaniards hear such wonderful delivery from a Fifpino. Tt was almost without equal in nobility of thought, in Spanish Rhetoric, in sincerity of feeling and in deep eloquence. a " tea _ Jose Rizal being a true Filipino at heart missed Philippines so much. The only comfort he found for homesickness was hard work. He never failed in his classes, though in Madrid he carried two courses simultaneously. In Medicine he received "fair" in two subjects, "good" in four, and “excellent” in two. In his course in Philosophy and Letters he received "good"’ in. one (History of Spain), "very good” in one, “excellent” in four, “excellent with prize" in one (Greek and Latin Literature), and "excellent with free scholarship" in two (Spanish Literature and the Arabic language). He was able to carry with ease a heavy schedule of studies in Madrid because he had divided the day in the same methodical manner he had employed in the Philippines: enough time for healthful exercise, but nearly the whole day devoted to study or to outside reading, and not a minute wasted. ‘Among the many books which he read, two made an especially deep impression upon him. The first book was Harriet Beecher Stowe's Uncle Tom's Cabin, which had been such a potent factor in arousing ‘American sentiment against slavery before Lincoln finally issued the emancipation proclamation. The other book, which affected Rizal even more deeply, was Eugene Sue's The Wandering Jew. He says that it aroused in him so much sympathy for the unfortunates that he was willing to risk everything to help them. Rizal talked to some Filipinos in Madrid about these books, and offered to cooperate with other Filipinos in preparing a book about the Philippines which would do for his country what Uncle Tom's Cabinhad done for ‘America, Some either opposed the idea or trifled with it, so Rizal determined to try it alone, After. each day's work, Rizal spent his evenings writing the beginnings of his first book. This was how the novel Noii Me Tangere was conceived. Jose Rizal finished his medical education in June 1884. He was conferred the degree of Licentiate in Medicine. ‘The next academic year, he passed all his subjects leading to Doctor of Medicine but was only able to get his Doctor's diploma in 1887 for he wasn‘t able to pay corresponding fees. He also finished his studies in Philosophy and Letters in 1885. When it time for Jose to read his thesis, the examiners of leamed men of the University were surprised tohear his subject on the error of the angel's song in Bethlehem during the Nativity. Rizal discussed his subject and answered questions directed to him with profound knowledge. After one hour of oral examinations, he came out triumphant and was highly praised by the professor-examiners. He was awarded the degree on’ Licentiate in Philosophy and Letters. His scholastic grade was “Excellent” (Sobresaliente). With this degree, Jose Is now a qualified teacher. 33trivia about Dr. Jose Rizal Rizal's Stinginess There are two incidents in Rizal's life _ Tnapot, the other was pride ard sen sooaraiNg money from which | have never recovered : one was his being usness with which he took his stinginess Rizal was once invited to story short, Rizal was appeal 152" Patty or something. OF course itwas a potluck affair, and to make along studies seriously and his unsolicited ring the champagne. Well, aside from his sermons about taking your Sus mous fOr — Rizal Gi sot eee, inking, gambling, and womanizing - three things the Filipinos Kiljoy fashion told everyone that he idea of supplying the drinks for this party. So he stood up and in typical kljoy fashion told everyone that he was not paying forthe drinks, nabonohan lang nya; so before he leaves, Would wonder why he was not popu irons. ‘was stunned and they knew he was serious. Much later Rizal their association. This is being a bit dense, ae ran smuaaee and could not get elected unanimously to The second incident was the time when his allowance was delaye king fae dat bt ne German landlady know he was missing his meals, so he would leave his apartment SN ra onan time and walk around the city, peeking and salivating while watching people in the i. len he had walked for about an hour or two, he would return to his apartment to give the impression to his landlady that he had gone out to eat. Kawawa naman. Tita id ( during the Period) izal's expenses for ‘expense account through all these lis ould be enough to give an idea. Today I want to show you Ri and notebooks are filled with hero. You will have to browse his one month's expenditures s! shop and the cursed Christmas present 1.10. ae Fone ia spain efuring the nineteenth century they had people greeting you with "Merry petimas, Sit!" and open palms. Rizal, lke all of us today, was not spared.] Jan 5 Los Cuatro Reynos de la Naturaleza subsoription 14.20 dering Jew 10.00 Cetera ng 1 be and Dumas 2.60 [Rizal spent great deal on books] Supper with friends 32.00 January 1884, when he was a student in Madrid. His diaries ts, which gives us a glimpse into the character of our national ists to discern his lifestyle, but because of space limitations,Jan 9 Without spending a cent. (Hooray!) Jan 12 Bath 2. ? have fo pay ‘or eau Eats (oom was probably without a tollet and bath. I's cheaper. So he wil Spain Filipinos are sometrnes os che, PaYS 2 monthly fee. |,do hope he took a daily shower. In Tealto dels Goreng: scolded for bathing daily they say itis an unhealthy practice] Adish .30 Anewspaper and refresment .35 Jan 15 One penknife .30 Jan 16 Postage stamps 1.30 Penknife 1.50 Ball of yarn .50 Jan 20 One-tenth of a lottery 3.00 [Every week Rizal bought what we know today as ‘Sweepstakes’. He never won in Spain, but when he was in exile in Dapitan, he won enough to buy himself an 18-hectare(?) estate called Talisay] Laundry woman 3.00 [I thought he washed his own clothes, hindi pala.) Domestic postage stamp .10 Jan 27 Today | had my picture taken at Otero 10.00 [Rizal loved having his picture taken, which is why we have a full documentation on him.) Half-dozen postcards with cover 3.00 One-tenth of lottery ticket 3.00 Abox of matches .10 Jan 29 Candles (one pound, 6) 1.25 [Before he used an alcohol burner, he used candles in his room,which means his apartment must have really been cheap with no gaslight,] Tickets for the dance 1.00 [In his diary he mentions regularly attending theater and balls and writes, “Today'l was at the masquerade ball which | enjoyed fairly well. | danced almost all the numbers. Two masked persons were teasing me, yet no matter how hard I tried to find out who they were I couldn't."(Can you imagine Rizal dancing?) Coffee, refreshments and tip (Nightwatchman) 1.70 Jan 30 For review for the degree 30.00 Postage stamps for letters and periodicals 2.80 ‘Ahandkerchief 45 Streetcar 30 | Excelsior Ball 2.5p Jan 31 One book 1.00 Arte de Estudiar 2.50 “Money spent 257.88. Food for this month 71.75. Total 329.63. This expense, which for me is largeis due to the review, the mat and the dinner which 1 gave. The books 1 bought also contributed to it.” Ifonly all our heroes left such detailed lists we would not have a hard time figuring out what they were like as ordinary people. Source: . “Rizal Without the Overcoat’ In Commemoration of Rizal’s 150” Birth Anniversary Ambeth Ocampo C.2012} N MEDICA DICAL APPRENTICESHIP IN PARIS AND BERLIN CHAPTER V “Without education and liberty, which are the soil and the Sun of man, no reform is possible, no measure can be give the result desired.” = Dr. Jose Rizal - Indolence of the Filipinos ~ La Solidaridad The Clinic of Dr. Luis de Weckert ‘The University of Heidelberg _ Objectives: ‘At the end of this chapter, the students will be able to: 1. Discuss how European education and life shaped Jose Rizal's ideals. 2, Discuss Jose Rizal's association with German scientist and scholars. 3, Recognize the importance of self — exposure through travel. I Paris When Jose Rizal decided to continue his medical studies in Spain, he also made a promise to himsetf to help our country. After completing his education at the Central University of Madrid, Jose continued his travels and observation of European life, practices, laws and government. Further, Jose specifically went to Paris and Berlin to practice and specialize in Ophthalmology. aaa Rizal was 24 years old when he arrived in Pars. He stayed in this romantic cy for four months. He became an apprentice in the clinic of Dr. Lou's de Weckert: He is the leading French Ophthalmologist, during the period, ioc de Weckert, "the leading authority among the oculsts of France, found Riza such a competent student and admired him so much, that he took him as his clinical assistant. This was exactly what Rizo et deat, for he was getting the best preparation in Europe to extract the cataracts from his mother's eyes, During his free time, he visited his fellow countrymen - Pardo: de Taveras-(Triniad, Fel and Paz) and Juan Luna. Juan Luna one time, painted a historical canvass, “The Blood Compact” in which Rizal posed as Sikatuna and Trinidad as Legaspi. He also posed for a group picture called “The Death of Cleopatra”, wherein hr dressed as an Egyptian priest. 38II. Heidelberg After it - Heidelberg. att Ina coe Prentice in the clinic of Dr. Louls de Weckert, Rizal left Paris and moved to eater andes the a arding house near the University of Heidelberg. He worked at the University Eye lectures of Dr. Becker and Pr Of Dr. Otto Becker, a distinguished German Ophthalmologist. He also attended 3 and Professor Wilhelm Kuehne at the University. Heidelberg is a city in Baden — Wurttembe . sae ries ir rg in West Germany. It is famous for its old universities and beautifl sceneries in the countryside. During his sojoum in this ity, Rizal used totake a walk of the Neckar ver and marveled at the picturesque sceneries that give character, lfe and kaleidoscopic colors in its landscape and teem of flowers of various sizes, shapes, colors and pleasing scents, Because of his fascination of the blooming flowers along the coo! river banks of the Neckar River. Among them was his favorite flower ~ the light blue "forget-me-not’. This flower reminded him of the garden of his home in Calamba, set the mood of Jose's neidetbergy. thus made him write the poem entitled, "A Las Flores de Heidelberg” (To the Flowers of Jose Rizal was also fortunate to have his apprenticeship in the University Eye Hospital because the University of Heidelberg celebrated its Fifth centenary. But saddened at the same time, because he was about to leave the city, which he had come to love. After writing his poem,. "To the Flowers of Heidelberg”, he spent three months on the mountainous village near Heidelberg in the house of Dr. Karl Ulmer. DrUlmer a Pastor, was generous and cordial and very instrumental in the meeting between Jose Rizal and his best friend, Professor Ferdinand Blumentrit. On July 31, 1886, Jose wrote a letter to Professor Ferdinand Blumentritt, a Director of the Ateneo of Leitmeritz in Austria. He heard from Pastor Ulmer that Prof. Blumentritt was an ethnologist and interested in Philippine Language. With his letter, he sent a book entitled “Arithmetica” published in tow languages ~ Spanish and Tagalog by Rufino Baltazar. Upon receiving Rizal's letter, Prof. Blumentritt was deeply impressed and immediately answered the letter and sending Jose two books. Since the, the two had become good friends that lasted for their lives. TI. Berlin Rizal was enchanted by the scientific atmosphere and the absence of racial prejudice in Berlin. He came in contact with great scientists. He met Dr. Feodor Jagor, the author of “Travels in the Philippines”, one of the books of Jose admired during his student days. He also met Dr. Rudolf Virchow, a famous German Anthropologist; his son Dr. Hans Virchow, a Professor in Anatomy; and Dr. W. Joest, noted German Geographer. 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. His membership in these scientific societies proved that his scientific knowledge was recognized by German scientists, He was the first Asian to be accorded such honors. Dr. Virchow recognized Rizal's genius, invited him to give a lecture before the Ethnographic Society in Berlin. To show his gratitude, Rizal wrote a scholarly paper in German, entitled “Tagalische Verkunst” (Tagalog Metrical Art) which Jose read before the society on April 1887 and it elicited favorable comments from the society. In Berlin, Jose lived a realistic, methodical and frugal life. He knew that he was not only a student and € curious tourist but also a person with a mission. By day, he worked as an assistant in the clinic of Dr. Schweigger, eminent German Ophthalmologist. At night, he attended lectures in the University of Berlin. Jose Rizal had five reasons why he stayed in this city: 1. To gain further knowledge in Ophthalmology. 2. To further his studies of sciences and languages. 3. To observe the economic and political conditions of the German nation. 4, To associate with famous German scientists and scholars, 5. To publish his novel, Noli Me Tangere. 39‘The winter of 1886 in Be ino money arrived from Calamb Satumina and sold some of his were old and threadbare, His of this daily diet, he soon be extremely discouraged an Me Tangere. id disay a and he was daily meal came sick erlin was Jose's darkest winter, He was penniless. He lived in poverty because flat broke, He even loaned the diamond ring given by his sister: Second-hand book stores, He could not pay his landlord. His clothes Consisted of bread and water or some cheap vegetable soup. Because intes ith chills, fevers and coughs - symptoms of tuberculosis. He was pointed that he was on the point of burning the manuscript of his novel, Nol books to Or. Rudolf Virchow "Professor Ferdinand Blumentritt Blumentritt Home Dr. Adolph Meyer 40NOLI ME TANGERE CHAPTER VI "The Novel is the first impartial and bold account of the life of the tagalogs. The Filipinos will find in it the history of the last ten years.. Dr. Jose Rizal ~ “The Spaniards did us a lot of good. But we too gave them a lot: the most Precious things they required: blood, lands, lives and that freedom which is the first and best gift of humankind. - Dr. Jose Rizal — Objectives: At the end of this chapter, the students will be able to: 1, Explain the reasons for writing the novel, “Noli : | “Noli Me Tangere”. 2. Enumerate significant characters ofthe "Noll Me Tangere”. 3. Visualize the social ills existed during the Spanish times. 4. Make a comparative study of the social ills existed during Spanish times and as of today. ‘Among the many books which he read, two made an especially deep impression upon him. The first book was Harriet Beecher Stowe's Uncle Tom's Cabin, which had been such a potent factor in arousing ‘American sentiment against slavery before Lincoln finally issued the emancipation proclamation. He says that it aroused in him so much sympathy for the unfortunates that he was willing to risk everything to help them. Rizal talked to some Filipinos in Madrid about these books, and offered to cooperate with other Filipinos in preparing a book about the Philippines which would do for his country what Uncle Tom's Cabin had done for America. Some either opposed the idea or trifled with it, so Rizal determined to try it alone. After each day's work, Rizal spent his evenings writing the beginnings of his first book. This was how the novel Noli Me Tangere was conceived. Jose Rizal was in Berlin when he made some final revisions of the the Noli Me Tangere. But he was penniless. He lived in poverty. And he was flat broke. Out of hunger and desperation, he almost threw it into the fireplace thé original manuscript of the novel. Rizal received a telegrain torm Dr. Maximo Viola, who comes from a rich family in Bulacan, was coming to Beilin. When Viola, arrived in Berlin, he was shocked to find the condition of Jose Rizal. Upon seeing his friend's predicament, Viola readily agreed to finance the printing of the novel. He even loaned Rizal some amount for his daily expenses. ‘After Christmas season, Rizal made some finishing touches on the novel. To save money on the printing cost, Jose deleted the chapter about “Elias and Salome”. On February 1887, the Noli was finally finished and ready for printing. Jose with Viola, who had lent him money for printing, went to different printing shops in Berlin to survey the cost of the printing. Finally, they found a printing shop - Berliner Buchdruckrei- Action-Gesselschaft - which charged them of lowest rate of Php 300 for 2,000 copies. On March 21, 1887, the Noli Me Tangere, a Latin phrase which means “touch me not", is taken from the gospel of St. John, came off the press. Rizal immediately sent copies to his intimate friends including Ferdinand Blumentritt, On March 29, 1887, as a token of appreciation and gratitude, gave Viola the original manuscripts of Noli Me Tangere. He carefully rolled it around the pen that he used in writing the novel and a complimentary copy of the book with the following inscription: "To my dear friend, Maximo Viola, the first to read and appreciate my work - Jose Rizal...” 42The friends of Rizal who read th rpanelous novel. Dr: Antonio Ma, Regigee nov re ion ; tas. te to Risa caaenpressed and commended him for coming out a “If the Quixote immortatizes will bring you an ne Tangere equal It a mortal blow to that have dealt 2 7 - ik with amity and upon di: ‘es and decay. Every Filipino patriot will read your bet be inspired and he regard your book ea line a veracious idea and in every word of fitting advice, he wil peapable of producing grea mistaken on fyi ino and the proof that those who ought yn tying.” From the top, ail that is best in Philippine Ife: + Woman - symbolizing constancy (Maria Clara) + tombstone - religious faith and suffering ‘+ laurel (courage) and the flower of the Pomelo, worn by bride and groom at a Wedding symbolizing purity. ‘The words partly covered by the title are the secret, inner dedication by Rizal to his parents: “Amis Padres” Alescribir esta obra he estado pensando continuamente en vosotros que me habeis infundido los primeros pensamientos y las primeras ideas; a vosotros os dedico este Manuscrito de me joventud com prueba de amor. Berlin, (24 de Febrero de) 1887. To the left of the tite: + the flower mirasol - representing youth seeking the sun ‘The author's name - meaning the green of renewal, mounting up into the green of the most enduring of all Philippine trees, the bamboo. Bamboo - resilience At the bottom, all that is worst in Philippine life: helmet of the Civil Guard ~ arrogance of those in authority the whip = instruments of torture the foot of a friar (a man in a cassock with hairy feet) priests using religion in a dirty way L 1. Summary of Noli Me Tangere Having completed his studies in Europe, young Juan Crisostomo Ibarra y Magsalin comes back to the Philippines after a 7-year absence. In his honor, Don Santiago de los Santos, a family friend commonly known as Captain Tiago, threw a get-together party, which was attended by friars and other prominent figures. One of the guests, former San Diego curate Fray Damaso Vardolagas belttled and slandered Ibarra. Ibarra brushed off * the insults and took no offense; he instead politely excused himself and left the party because of an allegedly important task. visits Maria Clara, his betrothed, the beautiful daughter of Captain Tiago and Seon oer long-standing love was clearly manifested in this meeting, and Maria Clara cannot help but reread the letters her sweetheart had written her before he went to Europe. Before Ibarra left for San Diego, Lieutenant Guevara, a Civil Guard, reveals to him the incidents preceding the death of his father, Don Rafael Ibarra, a rich haciendero of the town. According to Guevara, Don Rafael was unjustly accused of being a heretic, in addition to being a subservient — an allegation brought forth by Damaso because of Don Rafaet's non-participation in the Sacraments, such as Confession and Mass. Damaso's animosity against Ibarra's father is aggravated by another incident when Don Rafael helped out on a fight between a tax collector and a 43 edi iachild fighting, and the former's death was blamed on him, although it was not deliberate. Suddenly, all of those who thought il of him surfaced with additional complaints. He was imprisoned, and just when the matter was almost settled, he died of sickness in jail. Stil not content with what he had done, Damaso arranged for Don Rafael's corpse to be dug up from the Catholic Church and brought to a Chinese cemetery, because he thought it Inappropriate to allow a heretic a Catholic burial ground. Unfortunately, it was raining and because of the bothersome weight of the body, the undertakers decide to throw the corpse into a nearby lake. Revenge as not in Tbarra's plans, instead he carried through his father's plan of putting up a-school, since he believed that education would pave the way to his country’s progress (all over the novel the author refers to both Spain and the Philippines as two different countries as part of a same nation or family, with Spain seen as the mother and the Philippines as the daughter). During the inauguration of the school, Ibarra would have been Killed in a sabotage had Ellas — a mysterious man who had warned Tbarra earlier of a plot to assassinate him — not saved him. Instead the hired killer met an unfortunate incident and died. The sequence of events Proved to be too traumatic for Maria Clara who got seriously ill but was luckily cured by the medicine Ibarra sent. After the inauguration, Tarra hosted a luncheon during which Damaso, gate-crashing the luncheon, again insulted him. Tbarra ignored the priest's insolence, but when the latter slandered the memory of his dead father, he was no longer able to restrain himself and lunged at Damaso, prepared to stab him for his impudence. As a consequence, Damaso excommunicated Ibarra, taking this opportunity to persuade the already-hesitant Tiago to forbid n his daughter from marrying Ibarra. The friar wished Maria Clara to marry Linares, a Peninsularwho had just arrived from Spain, With the help of the Governor-General, Ibarra's excommunication was nullified and the Archbishop decided to accept him as a member of the Church once again. But, as fate would have it, some incident of which Tbarra had known nothing about was blamed on him, and he is wrongly arrested and imprisoned. The accusation against him was then overruled because uring the litigation that followed, nobody could testify that he was indeed involved. Unfortunately, his letter to Maria Clara somehow got into the hands of the jury and is manipulated such that it then became evidence against him by the parish priest, Fray Salvi. With Machiavellian Precision, Salvi framed Ibarra and ruined his life just so he could stop him from marrying Maria Clara and making the latter his concubine, Meanwhile, in Capitan Tiago's residence, a party was being held to announce the upcoming wedding of Maria Clara and Linares. Ibarra, with the help of Elias, took this opportunity to escape from prison. Before leaving, Tbarra spoke to Maria Clara and accused her of betraying him, thinking that she gave the letter he wrote her to the jury. Maria Clara explained that she would never conspire against him, but that she was forced to surrender Ibarra's letter to Father Salvi, in exchange for the letters written by her mother even before she, Maria Clara, was born. The letters were from her mother, Pia Alba, to Damaso alluding to their unborn child: and that Maria Clara was therefore not Captain Tiago's biological daughter, but Damaso's. Afterwards, Ibarra and Elias fled by boat. Elias instructed Ibarra to lie down, covering him with grass to conceal his presence. As luck would have it, they were spotted by their enemies. Elias, thinking he could outsmart them, jumped into the water. The guards rained shots on him, all the while not knowing that they were aiming at the wrong man, Maria Clara, thinking that Ibarra had been killed in the shooting incident, was greatly overcome with ref. Robbed of hope and severely disillusioned, she asked Démaso to confine her into a nunnery. Damaso reluctantly agreed when she threatened to take her own life, demanding, "The nunnery or death!" Unknown to her, Ibarra was stil alive and able to escape. It was Elias who had taken the shots, It was Christmas Eve when Elias woke up in the forest fatally wounded, as it is here where he Instructed Ibarra to meet him. Instead, Ellas found the altar boy Basilio cradling his already-dead mother, Sisa, ‘The latter lost her mind when she learned that her two sons, Crispin and Basilio, were chased out of the Convent by the sacristan mayor on suspicions of stealing sacred objects. (The truth Is that, it was the sacristan Travor who stole the objects and only pinned the blame on the two boys. The said sactistan mayor actually killed Crispin while interrogating him on the supposed location of the sacred objects. It was implied that the ty was never found and the incident was covered-up by Salvi), Elias, convinced that he would die soon, instructs Basilio to bi : uuild a funeral pyre and burn his and Sisa’s bodies to ashes. He tells Basilio that, if nobody reaches the place, he come back later on and dig for he will find - 44ld. He also tells him (Basil Basic to continue dreaming spect te Gold he finds and go to school. In his dying breath, he instructed the dawn break upon my ho lom for his motherland with the words: “I shall die without seeing fallen during the night." Ts dled one shall see it, salute it! Do not forget those who have 11. Characters of Noli Me Tangere Juan Crisostomo Ibarra - He is the He studied in Europe for 7 years, and only son of Don Rafael Ibarra, the richest person in San Diego. is the sweetheart of Maria Clara. Maria Cl She is the girlfriend of Ib: i tan Th f biolosicaly, her fathers Padre Damasg. n= Se Seusher of Keptan Thago and Done Ae sia Mother of fasifo and Crispin. She has a drunkard for a husband. In the novel Sisa portrays loving mother, and it could be assumed that Rizal likened her to his own mother. Sisa is being maltreated by the Spaniards; similarly, our country is being abused by the Spaniards. Dofia Pia Alba - She is the mother of Maria Clara and the wife of Kapitan Tiyago. She symbolizes our country, which ceaselessly gives in to foreign power. Capitan Tiago - The father of Maria Clara, He is sometimes lovable, and sometimes annoying. He is very biased and is only obedient to those who are higher in rank than him. He has money on a pedestal. Fray Damaso - He is the first parish priest in San Diego. He is very abusive. He symbolizes the Spanish friars of Rizal's time. Fray Salvi - He is a Franciscan parish priest of San Diego.Because he is interested in Maria Clara, he and Padre Damaso devised a plan to break Ibarra and Maria Clara apart. They were successful. Dofia Victorina - Her fanatical adulation of the Spaniards leads her to imitate the very actions and attitudes of the Spanish women. She may symbolizes the Filipinos in our society who are ashamed of their own race and nationality, Dofia Consolacion - She is a Filipino woman martied to a Spaniard. Her very actions and way of dressing will lead people to think that she is a prostitute. Elias - He believes that justice can be obtained only through revolution -- reforms simply won't do. He symbolizes the very root ofthe Flipino culture before the coming of the Spaniards, which remained strong and unbroken by the Spanish culture. Pilosopong Tasyo - He is a wise man. He embodies the intligent people, who never left the country but instead educated themselves in a religious institution. 45